The tragedy that occurred in a small railway yard in Odisha brought out why what is needed in facing such catastrophes is not just all of the government, but all of the people. Within minutes of the disaster, people living nearby came to help, and by doing so, saved many lives. Certainly the entire machinery of government responded energetically to bring succour to the survivors of the triple train accident, but equally praiseworthy was the fact that so did people, initially from around the collision site but soon afterwards, from more and more distant corners of India. The first sixty minutes after a crisis has erupted is seen as the “golden” hour, the period in which the most lives can be saved, were remedial action to be taken. As a consequence, at least as many lives were saved as had been lost in the tragedy. Civil society, the civil service and the uniformed services worked together to effect remediation, and in a manner that makes those holding an Indian passport proud. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought to seed the administrative services with outside talent. In an era when domain expertise is central to success, such an interflow between the civil service and civil society is a welcome feature. The relationship between the two has to be made complementary and not competitive. Whether it be a train collision or a terror incident, the first line of defence is that extraordinary individual, the ordinary citizen. It is very often from such citizens that the First Responders to a catastrophe come, and it is from the citizenry that warnings are first given of suspicious conduct individuals who on examination turn out to have been plotting a terror attack. Under the present government, especially the Prime Minister’s Office, feedback loops have been developed that access the views of millions of citizens, sifting through them to find out nuggets of advice that when implemented, would beneficially affect tens if not hundreds of millions of lives. Accurate feedback from the ground is critical to success in not just the formulation but the implementation of government programs. Any blockage, dilution or distortion in accurate and timely feedback needs to be identified and corrected.
Technology is essential, but equally so is the need to develop hybrid modes of activity. In education, access to outstanding talents in a field even by students in small villages will have the capability of igniting their minds and their interest in the manner that A.P.J. Abdul Kalam constantly sought. Prime Minister Modi has through technology made it possible for him to appear (albeit in a virtual form) in many locations at the same time, thereby multiplying the impact and reach of his message. In Kerala in the past, film societies were set up that would screen 16mm films that were both entertaining and educational. Were such film projection devices together with suitable films to be distributed to groups of youngsters, the medium would reach even those parts of the country where cable services are rare. Skilling is important, but so is the mobilisation of youth in the tens of millions through the formation of self-help groups that would have a propensity for public service and at the same time, earn an income from such work. Film societies in Kerala, for example, charged a small, easily affordable fee for those watching the movies they screened. Many years ago, “Jawab Ayega’’, there was a children’s film about a young lad who wrote a letter and placed it inside a bottle that he placed on the water of a mighty river. As the bottle flowed, the places that the river crossed were shown, enabling viewers to see the beauty and immensity of their country. Many more such innocent, fun to watch yet educational children’s films need to be made. Their absence may make several of the very young turn to fare that properly needs to be viewed by much older individuals. It has been often said that small is beautiful, as indeed it is. A plethora of tiny NGOs clustered around different ideas, all of which reach the grassroots to promote a better nation, need to be nurtured. Much is made of the population dividend that India has, but this is true only when pathways are found for them to do work that is both financially self-sustaining as well as helpful in the promotion of approaches to life that strengthen the sinews of societal stability using peaceful ways of doing so. Accurate feedback mechanisms would ensure that taxation and regulation be set at levels that promote double digit growth. In taxation, that ought to be the objective, rather than merely focusing on squeezing out as much money as possible each year, including in ways that may slow down future growth. As for regulations, they are meant to stimulate and make particular kinds of activity easier, and ought not to be seen as a means of control that often turns into a chokepoint. India is uniquely placed to effect such a transformation, such that hundreds of millions of youth who may be working below their potential be brought to their full potential. India has a treasure in its civil society, and this treasure needs to be given avenues that turn them away from potentially harmful pursuits into pathways that benefit not just them but the society around them. The civil service and civil society need to be the twin rails that together support the engine of progress that is designed to bring forward the rejuvenation of our country.
MDN