Planning and executive power
In a kingdom far, far away, long ago, before cell phones, the internet, Facebook, etc., lived an elderly centipede who contracted rheumatism. Imagine that tragedy! The creature with a hundred legs catches a disease like that!
Heartbroken, she went to knock on the door of the Minister of Planning, on the advice of her own doctor. The minister received her with full attention, listened to her lamentations, and replied, after a brief reflection:
"Mrs. Centipede, I'm going to give you a solution that will solve 98% of your problem."
The centipede thought: 98%, how wonderful! And asked the minister:
So, Mr. Minister, what should I do?
It's him:
– The lady transforms into a chicken, which only has two legs.
Apprehensive, the centipede asks:
– But Mr. Minister, how do I turn myself into a chicken?
The man quickly came out with this:
That's not my problem! Ask the executive branch. I only plan!
The fable of the centipede is playful. However, it is present in our real lives, much closer than we imagine.
The lack of medium- and long-term planning by Caixa Econômica Federal for the lottery network is pushing us further and further into an abyss of uncertainty.
Since 2008, when we held the seminar "New Businesses for the Lottery Network" and presented the "Lottery Reengineering" project, we have expressed our concern about this issue.
The creation of "Caixa Aqui" directly erodes lottery outlets located in the region where these points are implemented, directly contributing to their devaluation.
The worst part is that these are points that jeopardize the credibility of the network itself. They are contracts awarded without bidding – like lottery outlets – with merchants who often don't even have assets to protect Caixa from losses caused by non-payment at these so-called "Caixa Aqui" locations.
This is a fundamental difference between such points of sale and lottery outlets, which hold legitimate assets guaranteeing against potential losses.
It is evident that such action is a clear consequence of a lack of planning. About seven years ago, FEBRALOT's management presented CAIXA with an unprecedented proposal, the essence of which was to provide services to several banks, in addition to CAIXA itself.
At that time, I followed the process closely, as I was a member of the FEBRALOT board.
The goal of our proposal was to increase revenue for both lottery retailers and CAIXA (the Brazilian bank responsible for managing lottery services).
Two months later, the institution sent us a laconic statement, saying it was evaluating a partnership with Banco do Brasil.
A relevant point should be considered here. At the time, the legislation in force did not prohibit our purposes (Resolution No. 3.110 of the Central Bank of Brazil).
Unfortunately, due to the recurring lack of planning on the part of CAIXA, nothing happened.
In government, it's like this: anything can happen, including nothing!
Today we are experiencing a moment of bankruptcy for the lottery network, caused by the lack of adequate fees that are compatible with the costs of the services, and also by a lack of strategic business planning.
Moreover, this chaotic state of the network is a clear consequence of a lack of planning.
The right of the lottery network to participate in the profits generated by Caixa is absolutely undeniable.
And why are our merits never recognized? They always remain camouflaged, disguised.
Finally, when will Caixa value us as we deserve, in every way?
Here is our appeal, lottery friends.
After all, everyone knows that the centipede will only turn into a chicken the day the tortoise climbs the tree!
Big hug.
(*) Marcelo Gomes de Araújo is the president of SINCOEMG
