Artificial Intelligence And Natural Stupidity

Wikipedia describes Artificial intelligence (AI) as intelligence demonstrated by machines, as opposed to natural intelligence displayed by animals including humans. Although the term AI in the context of computers has gained currency in recent years, the government system has been guided by it since ages. Rules, regulations, guidelines, notifications lay down norms for each and every action of government servants and many of them prefer to go by their letters ignoring the spirit.

I had my first brush with government AI, when I occupied a Circuit House for the first time. I thought the amount charged for meals was quite low and enquired whether there had been some mistake. The chowkidar suppressed his giggle at my Natural Stupidity and gave me my first discourse on AI: “Sir, what you are paying goes as revenue to the government in tune with prescribed rates. Expenditure for preparing food is also as per prescribed norms for which provision has been made in the budget. There is no link between ‘revenue’ and ‘expenditure’ which are respectively entered in ‘Cr’ and ‘Dr’ sides in the cashbook.” I pretended to understand to avoid further exposure of my Natural Stupidity!

I had a glimpse of my father’s Natural Stupidity when I accompanied him to a bank in November 2011 for submission of the mandatory annual ‘Life Certificate’ for pensioners. The dealing assistant in the bank politely said, “Sir, I am not able to trace your last year’s Life Certificate, please submit a fresh one for 2010.” Natural Stupidity of my father got the better of him as he explained, “I am submitting my life certificate for 2011 in person. Is it still necessary to submit a document to prove that I was alive in 2010?” The banker replied, “Sir, you have retired from such a high position. Don’t you know we have to follow rules.” Of course, he understood and quietly submitted his Life Certificate for 2010.

During my first posting as Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), I found out that we have been sending registered letters to erstwhile contractors for recovery of dues, many of which dated back to 1950s. The contractors were not responding and the amount spent on postage was far in excess of the amount due. I decided not to pursue such cases. But my seasoned Head Clerk was not comfortable with my stupidity! “Sir, this would invite objection during audit by Auditor General (AG). Let us continue sending reminders at regular intervals,” he said. Staff are mortally afraid of AG’s objections and would like to avoid it at any cost. Often, I had to ignore stiff resistance from office while clearing arrears, regularising leave etc of staff and officers in my establishment.

During construction phase of NALCO, the aluminium giant, huge quantity of timber was required. As Odisha Forest Development Corporation expressed its inability to supply it, the next option available to NALCO was to procure from private contractors. Some naturally stupid officers wondered, “If forest corporation, the sole agency authorised to trade in timber from the forests is not in a position to supply, how can contractors do it?” But their apprehensions were overlooked as the adopted procedure conformed to AI. In fact, the contractors did supply the requisite material and infrastructure for NALCO was set up in record time.
But trees from forests, particularly teak plantations within 50 km radius almost vanished. Many contractors engaged local people to target immature teak trees of up to three feet girth, carry only the first log on their shoulders and deliver at predesignated sites. Since no vehicles were used for transportation, they didn’t have to follow any motorable track. If by chance they encountered a forest patrol they would simply drop the log and run away. The Forest Department collected the top end of the felled trees and logs salvaged during chance encounters. These were handed over to the Forest Corporation and sold to the contractors!

Even UN agencies are guided by AI. The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) implemented a World Bank (WB) funded restoration project after Super Cyclone of 1999. I was working as its Executive Director. To appoint independent auditors, WB adopted Quality Based Selections (QBS) procedure (The applicants are assessed based only on their capability and the price bid of only the highest ranked is opened). In the selection process heavy weightage was given to previous experience of working with WB, which virtually ruled out local auditors. I was a bit uncomfortable about this criterion. But they argued: “We don’t want anyone to gain experience at our expense. Moreover, the expenditure on this account is not a part of the project. We will bear the cost for this.” An international agency was selected. However, I thought the price quoted was obnoxiously high: more than the expenditure to be audited. This was no issue for them. “The firm selected will continue auditing in future. Expenditure in the first six months is understandably low, but will definitely pick up,” they contended. I asked, “Would it not be embarrassing that the cost of auditing this half-year was more than the expenditure made?” They appreciated my point and agreed to open price bid of the next best firm, which happened to be a local one and was getting eliminated only because it didn’t have experience of working with WB. The price it quoted was about one third of the price quoted by the international firm. They agreed to give the local firm an opportunity, but only for the first six months. They again went for QBS for the next term, but by this time the local firm had gained experience of working with WB, and got selected on merit.

At some instances my seniors have felt that I was guided more by the heart than the head. Maybe, they were correct. Many a times I have allowed my Natural Stupidity to prevail over Artificial Intelligence. Luckily for me, I never had to bear the brunt of AG audit or otherwise. I guess, all is well that ends well.