Kenneth Gonsalves wrote:
given the present salary structure, the governent cannot afford to employ
competent programmers. Max that NIC or CDAC pay is between 14-25K a month.
The moment a person gets some experience, he leaves for the private sector.
The max that NRC-FOSS pays for an engineering graduate is 14K and for a MSc
is 18K - go figure.
I know this is armchair advice, but I think govt. institutions have a
crucial difference from regular companies - they don't have a profit
motive. If you make a BHAG (big, hairy, audacious goal) and promote it
like crazy in the newspapers, I think there plenty of competent
programmers who are willing to give it a go even at the risk of lesser
salaries.
As I said, I might be completely off my rocker here, but when people can
spend their free time writing code so that it will benefit the
'community', why can't we engage the same idealistic sentiments for
improving governance? The key, I think, is providing alternative reward
system - viz., recognition. Or, if I can dare to be even more
optimistic, probably just a big, crazy enough goal will do :).
Somehow I have a feeling that can work, because I've recently seen a
couple of my close friends get actively involved with an NGO, even
taking time off from their very well-paying jobs. Listening to their
stories, plenty more are helping them, at least part-time. Even I'm
tempted to go check out the place. So perhaps, it's just a matter of
framing of a worthy goal and savvy marketing? Just my 2 paise :)
V.
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