Time for India to Introspect.
I just saw a post in MyGov.in where our Prime Minister was asking us to share ideas for his speech for Independence day. It is a great idea to include people in this speech.
From the day we got Independence to till date, we always had this day marked to pay respect to our freedom fighters. True respect to our freedom fighters would be when we shape this country beyond their dreams.
This day should not be another holiday. It should be a day to introspect and course correction.
How to we want to shape India for next few years or next year. What do we want for the country?
Change
It has been 70 years of freedom and it is time for us to check our course in our journey for development. Inevitably India and Indians need to change. Anything that does not change with time will perish.
Changes have to be top down and cannot be bottom up. Few things that I want to see change for better India.
- Political reforms
- Administrative reforms
- People reforms
Political Reforms
There are several political reforms that are needed. The major political reform that I would like to see is maximum age & tenure restriction for high offices.
It is interesting to note that all jobs have a maximum age limit but not the top jobs in this country. The reason is obvious, with time and age not on their side, it is not possible for them to perform competently. Why is top jobs in India have no age restriction or restriction on tenure.
Top post like President, Governor, Prime minister and Chief ministers should have age and tenure restrictions. They should not be allowed beyond 75 years and two terms.
This would help young blood & fresh minds into the political system. With tenure restricted to not more than two, the person who is in the top job will try to put his best to make his mark in the history. This would benefit the country. It will also end dynastic politics that is ruining this country.
Looking at our current prime minister's approach of asking for 10 years for him to
rule and not taking any minister more than 75 years, I see that Modiji
has this in mind. But this has be enshrined in the constitution so that people who come after also follow this golden rule.
Administrative Reforms
All experts have being asking for a lean, mean and effective administration for a long time. Time has come for us to act fast and change things in bureaucracy.
There are departments that need more people, there are departments that need to be merged.
In administration, size of government employees have to be reduced or re-allocated. The security (Police, Intelligence) have to be in a huge size with good pay and good working conditions.
The other department which are mostly similar or conflicting should be merged.
It is surprising to hear that police department works 24x7 365 days with no rest. Overworked and under-payed they never instill confidence. Other example is judiciary. It is sad that a common man in India will not get justice in a year's time. Judiciary is also overloaded.
There could be departments that are redundant. There could be department that would be doing the same job. These should be merged and made strong.
People Reform
People by and large have to change. There are several social evils that we are struck and this is pulling India to dark ages. I see major seven evils that plague Indians.
- Unemployment
- Caste discrimination
- Female infanticide
- Corruption
- Illiteracy
- Child labour & abuse
- Intolerance
Most governments say they are fighting these for several years. Without actually people participating in these they will have no success in this.
I was happy when our Prime minister started a very simple campaign of "Swach Bharat". A brilliant and simple change that would take beloved country towards progress. But it is sad to see that people still spit, shit and litter around.
Why do we do that? Is it not very simple to ask to keep our country clean. Can't we do this much for our country?
There are several things why this is not taking off as it should have been. One - I don't see a vision for waste management. I don't see dustbins in every corner. There should be a ban on manual scavenging and introduce technology to clean our river, roads, gutters etc
There is also another reason why this is not taking off. A pessimist view. When our leaders are not ready to change why should the people?
The change has to be exemplary. It cannot be trusted. It should come from top.
On this 70th Independence day, I would like to do my worth to keep country clean. Would start from my house, my society :-). I would promise not to litter.
