On Reservations, Insurgencies, Income Disparities, Political Communication, Democracy & Cohesiveness

Reservations/Conscription: Undoubtedly, the socially and economically deprived must get opportunities. But is 50 per cent reservation in top institutes the answer? What the deprived  basically need is an opportunity, 

scholarships, easy student loans in 2nd-3rd rung institutes with 10 per cent reservations for the meritorious in top institutes would serve the purpose. There is no point subjecting a incapable mind to the academic rigors of top class institutes where the student may end up in isolation or feel incompetent. A 20 per cent reservation could be allowed for the economically weaker sections of the society in the second and third tier graded professional institutions. 

Similarly, reservations, voluntary or enforced, in the private sector would be like a ticking time bomb and can throw into disarray personnel and productivity milestones. Perhaps the private sector can be urged to provide 20 per cent reservations for the meritorious among the weaker sections for apprenticeships/training. The best among them can then be absorbed. Students gaining government subsidized education (bachelors/masters/doctoral) must be asked to serve in the country for at least 5-7 years. The logic is that they are improving their skills at the tax payers' money and must therefore give the tax payer something back. Those who want high paying jobs abroad must pay market fixed fee. Individuals often end up wasting 5-10-15 years of their lives in unsuitable jobs or when they are unsure of themselves. Conscription (12 months in NCC and 8 months in NSS) is absolutely essential for a country like India after the high school. This would inculcate in the youth a sense of discipline and service and the 18-month time would be well spent standing them in good stead in the future.

Insurgencies: Vast swathes of the Indian landmass (approximately 40 per cent) is in the grip of heavily armed internal conflicts in the north-east, central and northern areas. This is a startling trend which must be addressed with the utmost urgency. There are two ways to tackle this: hard and soft force. Formidable security deterrent for violence perpetrators must be established where the clear message should be that there is a very heavy price to be paid for indulging in violence. Moles and informers must be set up in the public and the militant ranks must be infilterated to get advance intelligence on their designs. Militants must be denied access to funds and weapons. Next, the grievances, resentment and complaints of local militants against the administration or lack of subsistence demands must be addressed and met. It is preferable to get the aggrieved parties and their local leaders to cooperate with the administration in addressing their problems and getting them to participate in the electoral process if they want a share of power. Appeal to their self interest and how they would gain if they join the mainstream political process.

Bridging income gaps: A stark reality in India is the sharp gap between the haves and the have nots. While 5 per cent could be categorized as the super rich, 10 per cent as well off, 10 per cent as upper middle class and 25 per cent as the middle class, nearly 40-50 per cent of India's population is in pretty bad shape. Ignoring this 50 per cent will be done at grave peril to the stability of the society which is reflected in insurgencies in 40 per cent of the Indian landmass. Universal secondary/higher secondary education, self employment opportunities, entrepreneurship and small businesses is the answer. The nature of businesses can be determined by the local need and the geographical context. Tax rates could be fixed in 5-10 slabs depending on the income profiles with minimum tax payable of even Rs 50 to Rs 100 per annum. Even a rickshaw-wallah can afford this and he would be proud to be included in the family of tax payers. About 70 per cent of the nation's workforce is in the unorganized sector. Setting up guidelines, rules and laws for this sector so that both the small businessman and worker benefits would raise income levels. The real India is not the gleaming corporate towers of Gurgaon or Bangalore or the Vasant Vihar look alike colonies of 8-10 metros. The real India is the 70 per cent of the population which lives in lakhs of villages and thousands of mofussil towns and hamlets.

Political Communication: The need for regular, consistent and clarity in communication cannot be more emphasized. What a government in power expects from its employees must be communicated regularly and clearly without any ambiguities. The government must make sure lacunae and bad practices are effectively dealt urgently but all good work must be communicated to the public and key constituencies promptly and without hesitation. If you don’t blow your own trumpet no one else will do it for you. Example: For instance the PM should communicate with top coalition leaders, union ministers/secretaries, chief ministers/chief secretaries, ambassadors, key public/private constituencies on at least a monthly basis to communicate regularly the governments policy stance, vision and expectations.

Constitutional Democracy: Since India has chosen to be a constitutional democracy, it entails a change in mindset from pre-1947 to post-1947. Growth is always painful and change is always fearful and the learning curve for individuals, communities and societies varies from a few years to several decades and even centuries. To rule, to establish an empire is perhaps feudalistic and colonial. To serve, to take interest in, to give, to help, to safeguard and protect the public interest is in the best traditions of advanced democracies. It is very easy for public and the press to criticize and flay those holding positions of service. From a safe distance and without the constraints of changing dynamics, those who criticize do not realize the constraints and pressures which public figures are subjected. To deliver and perform under a million watchful eyes and pressures is the way to realize the enormous demands on a person who holds public office. Ability and experience are therefore safe yardsticks to determine where a individual fits best.

Political Campaigns: Campaigns can be categorized into local, state or national. When a campaign is national in nature it must appeal to the whole country and people where relevant national issues are discussed in a language which the nation understands. State campaigns must have a regional flavour while threading it to the nation in a language that particular regional group understands. A local campaign must take up local issues at the district level in a dialect which the local people understand. Campaigns must have issues which the people can connect to and must be liberally interspersed with anecdotes and humour in a language/dialect which the target audience can connect with. The campaign pitch must appeal to the self interest of the voter and the welfare of the local/state/national area. For a political campaign to be really effective, it must be well planned and organized in advance and must be given sufficient publicity in the relevant media channels.

Political leaders: It will not be out of context to state that political leaders at the district, state and national levels are the true face of the society. If they want to create a good perception and image of themselves, then they must must think, speak and act good. Others perceive a person for what he/she is in reality. Nothing more or nothing less. Political leadership at the district, state and national levels must be role models for the citizens. Earning the respect and trust of the population is paramount. If citizens don’t trust and respect their political leaders, there will be a chasm, a void in communication which can breed distrust, antipathy and antagonism. Political leaders must be guided by the use of intellect, judgement, reason, objectivity, discrimination and self control. Political leaders must have control over their senses and must avoid any speech, behaviour or action dictated by hatred, ego and vengeance. Political leaders must be well aware of key information about their constituency, the issues at stake, they must network and interact with key stakeholders, must know the ground realities, must be educated and well read, must be good problem solvers and must be experts in identifying disturbing trends and bringing it to the notice of the state and national party units.

Maintaining cohesiveness of the Indian state: A strong Centre is very important but at the same time it should not be overbearing, exploitative or victimizing in nature. Every state must get its due and rightful share due to its own local resources and assets. If a state is earning Rs 100 you can't take away Rs 80 of its hard earned money and tell it that you and your family have a ball in Rs 20. It will only make it resentful and spiteful. On the other hand of you tell a state that the state can keep Rs 60 (or 60 per cent of its resources) for its own people it will be more receptive to donate Rs 40 to the Centre and other states. Ways must be found to keep a state attached to the Indian union for very strong and compelling reasons. Basically it should be made impossible for a particular state to survive on its own. States must be interdependent on each other and on the Centre for survival. The motto: play as a team, stay united and prosper or be a solo player and pay a very heavy price. The Centre must provide all legitimate support wherever a state needs it but subsidizing heavily 2-3 states on the hard earned money and resources of the other states will make the good ones resentful. It is a better idea to get the poor performing states to shape up by providing them necessary managerial and administrative expertise.