Elon Musk is many things: visionary, entrepreneur, provocateur, and, to some, a certified arsehole. But even his harshest critics can’t deny his knack for delivering results. Whether it’s landing rocket boosters or gutting Twitter—excuse me, X—he’s proven ruthless in his pursuit of efficiency. Now, Musk has teamed up with Vivek Ramaswamy on a project as audacious as it is controversial: the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Their mission? To slash $2 trillion from the U.S. federal budget by targeting waste, inefficiency, and bureaucratic bloat.

This advisory body—named, of course, after the meme coin that Musk can’t stop tweeting about—has zero official authority but infinite audacity. Their strategy, according to Musk and Ramaswamy, hinges on three pillars: regulatory rescissions, administrative reductions, and cost savings. Sound familiar? It’s straight from Musk’s Twitter acquisition playbook, where he famously axed 80% of the workforce while keeping the platform (mostly) operational. But can the same brutal efficiency be applied to governing a nation? Or, closer to home, to transforming the labyrinthine bureaucracy of Kerala?

Kerala: A Case Study in Inefficiency

Kerala is often lauded for its high literacy rates, robust healthcare systems, and enviable social indicators. But beneath the accolades lies a government machinery that is stuck in the last century. From sub-registrar offices to village revenue departments, inefficiency seems baked into the system. Simple tasks like updating a ration card or obtaining land records can turn into Sisyphean ordeals, where citizens are shuffled between counters, forms, and stamps.

Even digital initiatives, ostensibly designed to streamline processes, often replicate offline inefficiencies. Instead of cutting red tape, they’ve digitised it. And then there’s the Kerala Water Authority’s infamous habit of digging up freshly laid roads, a Kafkaesque display of poor coordination and zero accountability. These aren’t just inconveniences; they’re symptoms of a deeper malaise that erodes public trust and drains precious resources.

Enter Kerala’s DOGE?

Imagine a Kerala-specific Department of Government Efficiency. While Musk and Ramaswamy aim to balance America’s books, a Kerala DOGE could focus on eliminating inefficiencies, improving public service delivery, and restoring faith in governance. Here’s how:

1. Interdepartmental Coordination Coordination is a glaring weak spot. Departments operate in silos, leading to wasteful overlaps and contradictions. A DOGE-inspired reform could mandate collaborative planning between entities like the Public Works Department and Kerala Water Authority, ensuring that freshly paved roads remain undisturbed.
2. Digitisation Done Right Digitisation isn’t just about moving forms online; it’s about rethinking processes to reduce friction. Imagine a unified government portal where citizens can track applications, submit documents, and receive updates in real time. Automation could minimise human intervention, reducing opportunities for corruption.
3. Accountability Frameworks Efficiency demands accountability. Government employees must have clear, measurable KPIs tied to service delivery. Regular audits and citizen feedback loops could ensure these metrics aren’t just boxes to tick but real drivers of performance.
4. Citizen-Centric Design At its core, government exists to serve its people. Services should be intuitive, accessible, and transparent. Whether it’s a mobile app for tax payments or AI chatbots for FAQs, the focus must be on making life easier for the average citizen.

The Will to Change

Efficient governance isn’t rocket science—it’s harder. It requires political courage, public buy-in, and a relentless focus on outcomes. Kerala has the talent, resources, and public spirit to lead the way, but change won’t happen unless we demand it.

The question isn’t whether a DOGE-like body could work in Kerala; it’s whether we have the will to make it happen. For too long, we’ve accepted inefficiency as the price of doing business with the government. It’s time to raise our expectations and hold our leaders accountable.

Let’s not wait for the next freshly paved road to be dug up. Let’s demand better. Because when it comes to governance, efficiency isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. And if Elon Musk has taught us anything, it’s that even the most entrenched systems can be disrupted. All it takes is the right mix of vision, ruthlessness, and, yes, a little bit of madness.