President - To join an IT company?

This being the election season in the US, this title might appear as though I'm referring to Mr. President (of USA). But the president I’m talking about here is the Hon’ble President of India. I read in the news today that salaries of the president and the vice-president of India have been hiked. Actually, "salaries hiked" would be an under-statement, for their salary has been amazingly doubled. Our president would now draw a lakh per month (in INR) and our Vice-president 85000 per month (in INR). And president of USA draws around 400,000 USD an year, which is more than 12 times of what Indian president draws. I know this comparison isn't straight, as they both hold their responsibilities and the power at totally different levels.

About the power and responsibility of president of India, I find it a little challenging to understand the whole concept, because India's top governmental position wouldn't stop at the president's level. We have a Prime Minister following closely. Then we have all the cabinet ministers. And Prime minister is the one, who looks like he's really running the country. I have argued many a time with many of my friends and colleagues that whoever is the president of India wouldn't make much of a difference to a civilian. And I naively used to argue that Mr.Abdul Kalam did not make any commendable difference to the country, except for winning the hearts of many youngsters. Indeed, he was a great source of inspiration to many youths of India. But then he could have achieved that, just by continuing as a scientist. And the buzz of Ms.Pratibha Patil being the first lady president of India and all that died down in weeks and her name rarely comes in the headlines these days. I’m sure Ms.Indira Gandhi, being a PM made her presence remarkably felt more than Ms.Pratibha Patil. But I know I’m missing something here.

Thanks to googling, I later understood that the responsibilities of the president lie at a much higher level. Precisely the major responsibility is to uphold the constitution of our country and to be the Supreme Commander of the Armed forces. And in addition to that, president is the one, who appoints the Governor of states, chief justice of High-courts and Supreme court, the Chief election commissioner and the Ambassadors, to list a few. This means the president holds heck a lot of responsibilities and remains a true head of country and "first citizen of India". (In the course of my googling, I also found out that president, in spite of being the head of state can be removed from power through impeachment and for any violation of constitution. But the interesting part is the president would receive no other penalty than impeachment.)

The prime minster, on the other hand appears to be (and is) the most powerful person in our government. He decides the policy of our government and advises the president on all important matters. He appoints the council ministers, who technically run the country. Maybe that's why the prime minister is more visible to people than a president. Well, it is an apparent fact that heading a country is nothing close to an easy job. And that too, heading a country like India, which is replete with corruption and bribery and at the same time, is growing at a tremendous pace in the global front is a mammoth task.

I only wonder how come most folks in IT (especially the top management people) draw more than twice, thrice and even 5 times of the salary of our president. Maybe managing people in IT is complicated than even heading a country. Or maybe facing a customer in IT is difficult than facing foreign delegates. Or maybe swimming thru SDLC is tougher than the five-year ruling term. Or completing an IT project within budget is unmanageable, when compared to managing our country's five-year plans. Phew!

I agree that our country is still poor, still developing and a lot of areas needs concentration, before we compare ourselves to many other countries. But then, the pay to such governmental posts (like president or prime minister) should be better that what it is today. Though I’m sure that people who opt for presidents’ chair wouldn’t care that much for money, I feel they should be paid in much better scales, for more reasons than one.

Well, on a lighter sense, I only hope the president or the prime minister don’t compare themselves with IT project managers. Leave alone their thoughts of getting into IT!