|
First Consultation on
National Rejuvenation People First
In a few months from now, we will be completing 50 years of independence. It is time that we take stock of how we, as a nation and as a people, have performed during the past half century after we gained control over our own destiny. As matters stand today, it appears that in the next few years things might get even worse than they have been over the past half century. During recent years, the people, both rich and poor, have become restive and cynical. They mostly blame the leadership. The leadership itself is confused. The prime minister recently made a statement lamenting his helplessness as all his options stood closed because of commitments made in the past. If the prime minister publicly expresses his helplessness, who will solve the problems of the nation and the people?
It is obvious that we cannot resolve our failure unless we first understand the reasons for it. Some leaders favour the presidential system. If the elected president continues to handle local matters, it will probably increase irresponsible decision-making. Some people say that in a society fractured by communal tension and caste differences, it would not be wise to give wide powers to the villages. But then, who understood the common people, their social tensions, economic problems and aspirations more than Gandhiji? Do we think that he evolved his concept without being aware of the problems of social discord in them? The fact is that often higher level politics gets linked with the rural overlords who exploit the poor. The only way to prevent such exploitation is by giving power to the local common people.
The
simple structure proposed by Gandhiji consists of fully empowered
district governments which handle all district level matters
including administration of law, police, justice and forests. The
district governments then nurture gram panchayats to function, as
stated by Gandhiji, virtually as self-sustaining republics. Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial Foundation, National Foundation for India, World Wide Fund for Nature-India, Consumer Coordination Council, Sulabh International and Consortium for Voluntary Action and People First The people are primarily concerned with local matters in their day to day life. The rest, they read in the newspapers. Once district governments are constituted, the people will hardly have to go to the state or national capital for any work. The state and national leaders will then have the time and resources to develop sound legislation and infrastructure which has been badly neglected in the past. Based on colonial practices, a bulk of the resources is presently with the central government which devolves them to the state and local governments through a complex process involving excessive overheads, wastage, misuse and corruption. Gandhiji’s view was that the district governments should control land and all other local resources. The state governments should also control adequate tax sources to meet their development needs. It should be necessary for the centre to provide funds only to the backward states. Will this not be a much simpler arrangement? We are speedily denuding our forests leading to huge huge environmental losses. The forests can obviously be best managed by the district government with the involvement of the village communities. Would this not be a much simpler and efficient system? The change process will be difficult and harsh. Restructuring will require total ideological and political commitment by all parties. The left parties have already strongly opposed reduction of posts in government. We request them to appreciate that no government can create within itself, employment for everyone. It should spend less on itself and more on enabling the poor to take care of their needs. Once the people are returned their right to make decisions about local matters, they will generate wealth for the nation. It will also strengthen local cultures, values and traditional wisdom, reduce communal disharmony and integrate the nation. Our fight is against capitalism and poverty. The economic reforms, though desirable, have opened the doors wide open for multinationals and foreign investors. They have better laws and privileges in their countries. Our entrepreneurs are at a disadvantage. This year’s budget has given them some relief. They need a level playing field. However, opening the market will lead to exploitative unsustainable capitalism which can be regulated only by empowering our own people. All political parties are committed to eradicating poverty and promoting equity. The only difference lies in the means to realise this end. Ideologically, Gandhiji’s concept of decentralised socialism provides an excellent set of ground rules under which all political parties can pursue their individual ideologies. Today, the people are concerned about the quality of leadership. Local empowerment will nurture values. Clear definition of roles and open decision-making will promote accountability. Both will encourage good leadership. Political presence and authority will increase at all levels. Bureaucratic presence and authority will become minimal. Most political parties will be in power in some district or the other and thus involved in nation building. All political parties and legislators will be on a level playing field while canvassing for elections. Reduction in overheads and wastage and huge huge environmental losses will release enormous resources for development. The local people controlling education, will educate themselves and stabilise the population. Way back in 1963, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru wrote to the chief ministers that the centralised model of development had failed and that following Gandhiji may perhaps have been better. Shall we listen to him now? The consultation may ponder over these thoughts. Are they not simple and wholesome? People First, represented by Dr Ashok Khosla and SK Sharma, has done pathbreaking work in bringing back Gandhiji to us. We are deeply obliged to the leaders of various political parties and the members of the civil society for participating in this consultation. We are also extremely grateful to the media for its support. We hope that it will set up an ongoing campaign on the recommendations which emerge from this consultation.
Friends, the challenge before us, especially the political parties,
is to bring the people out of their shells and regenerate their
suppressed energies for building the nation. Gandhiji’s
decentralised socialism can charge the whole nation into action. q Jai Hind, Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.
Sunil Shastri, Chairman |
