By Rao VBJ Chelikani
Only in times of crisis is that we can understand
and assess our strengths and weaknesses in the progress of humankind. Let us
identify them, so that we can strive to strengthen those forces in future.
1. We have to understand without any
further demonstration after the onslaught of the last Sunami and the current
COVID-19 that all countries in the world are inter-dependent and
inter-connected. We have to be global in our outlook and egalitarian in our
outlook.
2. We
are one with each other, starting with our neighbours. Hereafter, we have to
make more efforts to maintain higher standards of environmental hygiene in tune
with our personal hygiene, since one cannot be isolated from the other; nor can
we expect others to do it for us. The health of all residents in the country,
whether they are immigrants from one town or the other, one state or the other
and one country or the other is important to us; whether one is a servant-maid,
manual labour, assistant, manager or boss, since we live in touch with each
other.
3. History
is not going to repeat itself. Poverty cannot kill anybody. There are no more
fatal deaths due to hunger. There is complete food-security not only in terms
of statistics, but also in the mind of the people. Enough quantities of food is
available any time and everywhere as we have efficient and fast distribution
system, including in the far off villages. Not only we produce enough but the
country is rich enough to deliver it free for anybody in the country in need
4. We
are in the midst of a continuous information revolution with no final agenda
since its infrastructure is in constant evolution. In the domain of health, we
are sharing best health practices, information about scientific and medical
research, solutions, treatment and technology backed tools and devices for
experiments, testing and treatment.
5. Unlike
in the past, now we are capable of attempting to face any man-made or natural
pandemic or calamity or disaster without passively submitting ourselves, where
ever it might start, since there are now certain global physical and economic
consequences, apart from humanitarian considerations. Firstly, not just
bilateral agreements, there are international and inter-governmental organisations,
which are specialised and internationally-funded to predict, prevent and to act
in such emergency circumstances. Secondly, during these extra-ordinary
circumstances, there are other international and regional international
organisations, such as the IMF, the World Bank, G-7 or G-20 who intervene in
order to not let deteriorate physical, human, organisational infrastructures in
the country, such as financial institutions such as banks, digital
communications and ‘social media’, transport and travel, research institutions,
hospitals and education. There is no scope for allowing total and long
‘lock-downs’ or institutional collapse or economic depression to happen
invariably. Private businesses are supported to operate and maintain
employment. Some popular welfare programmes, such as MNREGA or Jan Dhan are
kept active. There is effective international cooperation for safe-guarding the
human rights in all circumstances of the vulnerable groups, in the low-income
countries. Trillions of dollars are being pooled and administered carefully.
There is an almost implicit understanding for humanitarian intervention by
external forces within national frontiers of any country, in case of any human
suffering. In the past, the Super-Power rivalry and the Veto-Power used to
prevent this happening quickly.
6. The
Prime minister and the chief ministers and the Executive staff are talking
directly to the people, as they are finding it more and more effective and
efficient to deal with the help of the Administration, since the citizens are
responding directly as stake-holders without being promoted by the politicians,
since the latter do not represent anything precise or bring anything more to
the citizens. If they intervene that would only add an additional layer or obstacle
to direct communications for the governmental executives. Anyhow, since their
elected representatives are part of the Executive branch as Prime ministers and
chief secretaries and their ministers, democratic norms are respected. However,
it is the the civil society organisations like the Red-Cross, the RWAs, the
senior citizens organisatons, activists of RTI, Human Rights, consumer
associations and the individuals like the doctors, scientists, nurses, cooks,
drivers, police, domestic helpers who are directly participating in the
governance in times of crisis
7. Unfortunately,
our political structures which are conceived in the spirit of the Nineteenth
century political context in England, did not find a place for the above active
social forces in the field to be represented in the Rajay Sabha, in the State
Legislative Councils and in the local self-governing institutions, such as the
municipalities
8. Indirectly,
in India, we are entering into a phase of direct democracy. Informally, many
leaders who would like to be influential beyond their vote bank in one’s own
constituency and even beyond the national frontiers are resorting to social media
channels like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and even their own websites to talk
directly to their constituencies and beyond and share their views and policies,
without having to consult or associate and refer to any other representatives. They are proud of announcing the number of their
followers.
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