Our Decision - Our Legacy
This great country of ours - India / Bharat / Hindustan has a rich history, wealth of natural resources, advantageous geography, young workforce and abundance of currency. But we are still a developing country after 70 years of independence. Some representative key stats:-
1. Population (121 Crores) 2nd out of 221 countries
2. Fertility rate (2.58 out of 10) 79th out of 223 countries
3. Quality of life index (5.759 out of 10) 73rd out of 111 countries
4. Literacy rate 168th out of 234 countries
5. Per Capita GDP 138th out of 168 countries
6. Human Development Index 134th out of 187 countries
While we are leading in some aspects of agro products, e-readiness and military strength overall standing and image is poor. Why so?
Let me think aloud with no aspertion on any person or group or religion or party whatsoever.
First problem is our population. With so many people already in the country, increasing birth rate, decreasing death rate, improved life expectancy and influx of illegal immigrants no policy or no Govt can catch up with the aspirations of people. Basic requirements of food + water, clothing and shelter is also difficult. So the first issue to focus is population control.
Second issue is education or lack of it. When a person is not educated how can one expect him / her to in the civilized manner and follow the rules / procedures which he / she is neither aware of or understand. So who ever tells them some thing in a manner that appeals to thier conscious or benefits them materially, they follow that. Whether it's the political parties, religious teachers or business houses - all exploit this vulnerability to their individual advantage often contradictory to national good. So next issue is to provide education to all.
Third matter is poor governance. Over a period of time the system of governance has become unweildy and highly complex - some by design of vested interest. Politics has become a dirty world, Babudom is lethargic and monolithic, policing is biased and unproductive, judiciary caught in its own web of inticacies and media is too commercial for its independence. Due to this structure of governance mixed with lack of personal integrity governance has become extinct. Large scale corruption at all levels and an inefficient work culture is frustrating to say the least. Having said that let me add that normal people are also party to this and crib / keep silent as and when it suits them - "If I bribe a MCD inspector to ignore additional construction outside my house it's ok but when a passport office clerk demands money to process the application I cry about unfairness of the system" or "If I hide my capital gain by taking part of sale of property in cash it's ok but lament that 2G scam has deprived me of my legitimate tax paid money!!" Hence strict reforms in the system and ourselves are required to bring around the governance in the country. (Reforms in electoral process, police system, administrative functioning like real estate, health care, civic bodies, ministerial processes and banking sector)
Last issue is lack of feeling of one nation. There is a constant tussle between nation on one hand & state/region/language/religion/cast or creed on the other. we don not feel belonging to the nation and our myopic view is limited to our immediate sorrounding only - in geographic and timeline dimensions. Much of this has to do with the history of birth of our nation as a conglomerate of smaller provinces / kingdoms / princely states as also the faulty structure and policy guidelines followed in the initial years (which were further complicated by successive powers that be). Hence there is a need to rethink about our core of existence - our constitution and overhaul it, removing various amendments / recommendations of various commisions (Mandal / Sarkaria et al) and bring about some uniformity in policies to inculcate feeling of belonging to one nation irrespective of whether you were born in one state or the other / if you speak a particular language or not / however you pray to your supreme power. How about compulsory 5 years service in armed forces or a Federal Presidential system?
I love my country yet I'd like it to change for the benefit of our next generation and the onus of leaving a legacy is of my generation - we have to decide if this legacy will be of a vibrant powerful and happy India or a divided, crumbling and struggling India !!!!!
Jai Hind.
1. Population (121 Crores) 2nd out of 221 countries
2. Fertility rate (2.58 out of 10) 79th out of 223 countries
3. Quality of life index (5.759 out of 10) 73rd out of 111 countries
4. Literacy rate 168th out of 234 countries
5. Per Capita GDP 138th out of 168 countries
6. Human Development Index 134th out of 187 countries
While we are leading in some aspects of agro products, e-readiness and military strength overall standing and image is poor. Why so?
Let me think aloud with no aspertion on any person or group or religion or party whatsoever.
First problem is our population. With so many people already in the country, increasing birth rate, decreasing death rate, improved life expectancy and influx of illegal immigrants no policy or no Govt can catch up with the aspirations of people. Basic requirements of food + water, clothing and shelter is also difficult. So the first issue to focus is population control.
Second issue is education or lack of it. When a person is not educated how can one expect him / her to in the civilized manner and follow the rules / procedures which he / she is neither aware of or understand. So who ever tells them some thing in a manner that appeals to thier conscious or benefits them materially, they follow that. Whether it's the political parties, religious teachers or business houses - all exploit this vulnerability to their individual advantage often contradictory to national good. So next issue is to provide education to all.
Third matter is poor governance. Over a period of time the system of governance has become unweildy and highly complex - some by design of vested interest. Politics has become a dirty world, Babudom is lethargic and monolithic, policing is biased and unproductive, judiciary caught in its own web of inticacies and media is too commercial for its independence. Due to this structure of governance mixed with lack of personal integrity governance has become extinct. Large scale corruption at all levels and an inefficient work culture is frustrating to say the least. Having said that let me add that normal people are also party to this and crib / keep silent as and when it suits them - "If I bribe a MCD inspector to ignore additional construction outside my house it's ok but when a passport office clerk demands money to process the application I cry about unfairness of the system" or "If I hide my capital gain by taking part of sale of property in cash it's ok but lament that 2G scam has deprived me of my legitimate tax paid money!!" Hence strict reforms in the system and ourselves are required to bring around the governance in the country. (Reforms in electoral process, police system, administrative functioning like real estate, health care, civic bodies, ministerial processes and banking sector)
Last issue is lack of feeling of one nation. There is a constant tussle between nation on one hand & state/region/language/religion/cast or creed on the other. we don not feel belonging to the nation and our myopic view is limited to our immediate sorrounding only - in geographic and timeline dimensions. Much of this has to do with the history of birth of our nation as a conglomerate of smaller provinces / kingdoms / princely states as also the faulty structure and policy guidelines followed in the initial years (which were further complicated by successive powers that be). Hence there is a need to rethink about our core of existence - our constitution and overhaul it, removing various amendments / recommendations of various commisions (Mandal / Sarkaria et al) and bring about some uniformity in policies to inculcate feeling of belonging to one nation irrespective of whether you were born in one state or the other / if you speak a particular language or not / however you pray to your supreme power. How about compulsory 5 years service in armed forces or a Federal Presidential system?
I love my country yet I'd like it to change for the benefit of our next generation and the onus of leaving a legacy is of my generation - we have to decide if this legacy will be of a vibrant powerful and happy India or a divided, crumbling and struggling India !!!!!
Jai Hind.
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