India, March 2 -- While conducting a leadership session for Class XII students, I asked them to write down three policies they would introduce if they became the Prime Minister of India. One girl stood up and read out her priorities: "I will make it compulsory for all Ministers, MPs, MLAs, and government employees to send their children to government schools. Similarly, they must use government hospitals and dispensaries for treatment. My third priority will be creating jobs for educated young people."

When asked to explain her first two proposals, she responded thoughtfully. If people's representatives and government officials-especially senior officers-were required to use public schools and hospitals, the quality of these institutions...