Dangers due to failing Governance!

Do we have a right to complain about

Failing Governance?

In the recent past, there have been an ever-increasing list of articles in newspapers and incidents covered by TV Channels pertaining to:

• Violence against women
• Farmer Suicides
• Naxal menace
• Virtually endless scams, scandals involving both governments and corporates
• Paralysis in Policy-making
• Problems with virtually EACH of our neighbouring nations
• Lack of cooperation between states, between states and the Centre on various issues

The common thread in all the above is the declining standards of Governance.

Simultatneously, there continuse to exist a different world populated by upper middle class sophisticated urbanites and by High-networth-individuals. This group of the "Haves" continues to indulge in a quality life style, enjoying all kinds of goodies. While a small number of these may perhaps be actively corrupt individuals, the vast majority of this group is represented by:

• Hard working individuals cutting across all age groups and includes women and men in equal measure
• Professionals
• Successful entrepreneurs
• Educated individuals
• Financially successful organised sector employees

What is disappointing (in fact depressing), however, is that most of the above "Haves" actually don't give a damn about Governance related issues. They have a sharp focus on their own micro-lives. They get educated well, earn well, spend well, and live in a cucoon. Their homes are part of multi-block apartments deep inside reasonably well-protected colonies which often prove to be quasi-independent ecosystems with their own physical and social infrastructure. Like the kid Gautama Buddha, many of these folks don't even begin to see true poverty, the plight of the "Have-nots", the suffering of the vast majority.

Many of them (especially those under the age of, say, 20-25 years) have perhaps never:

• Stood in a queue in a ration shops to buy their groceries (it would indeed be surprising if they are consciously aware that ration shops still exist in cities)
• Understood the impact of not having more than 3-4 sets of clothing for young children of their drivers, servant maids, scavengers, peons, etc.
• Comprehended the plight of having to choose between medical care for an ailing dependent parent, education of a child and saving for retirement (Often, saving for retirement takes a beating, resulting in the creation of an entire generation of dependent ailing and/or aged parents in the future as well).
• Imagined that money spent by their family on a pleasant evening of a movie at a mall followed by a dinner would be sufficient to take care of the entire monthly expenditure of a whole family of 5-6 persons from an impoverished background.

Sadly, I can't even blame these youngsters from the family of "Haves". The blame squarely falls on their parents, teachers and the society at large.

To top it off, the "Haves" don't hesitate to use all their resources (legal and otherwise, ethical and unfair) at their disposal to further strengthen the prevailing disparity of income and wealth. To take a simple, mundane, day-to-day example, most of the "Haves" among the salaried classes get regular increments and promotions year after year. But when it comes to increasing the salary of their watchmen, servant maids, etc., they rarely do it automatically. Certainly not on an annual basis. Most certainly not sufficiently to cover inflation. In fact, any such revision happens only under dire threats of resignation (if the "Haves" have not planned for an alternative already).

Any person who has ever bought an apartment or got a driving licence or studied from an engineering or medical college or studied at a high-quality neighbourhood convent in any city would have directly or indirectly participated in the process of bribery and corruption. Having derived the benefits of such bribery, the very same "Haves" tend to sermonise and criticise their political masters for their corrupt practices. Taking it to ridiculous heights, many of the "Haves" refuse to participate in the political process as either candidates or campaigners or even voters, calling it "the ultimate gutter". And expect that positive changes will occur entirely on their own, almost as if by magic.

The "Haves" can't have the cake, eat it, preserve it for posterity and start a bakery. If they want to make India truly free of corruption, they need to jump into the fray and participate actively.

And this participation needs to be in numbers comparable to the crowds that one sees in an IPL match or a Rajnikant movie.

Then, and only then, will any meaningful change happen in our society.

Regards,

N