Why for more than half a century elected Indian governments have failed to cater a great majority of Indians with the decencies of basic amenities - Potable water, sanitation, Health care, Food, Infrastructure, roads so villagers do not have to walk miles on foot to access the nearest stop of transportation?? Why does India lag behind so many other comparable societies in basic education, birth control, life expectancy, health care, income, foreign investments??
According to the 2011 Legatum Prosperity Index, a survey conducted in 110 countries. India Stands 91 (i.e. 19th in the 20 least prosperity country) because of lousy health care, ETHNIC STRIFE, and shockingly for the land most known for its hospitality only 21 % Indians feel they can trust others!! Perhaps the biggest disappointment in the three years of the Legatum Index is India. Since 2009 it has dropped 13 spots to 91st place. Per capita GDP is low at $3,600 as compared to the highest $59,124.00 (Singapore). Health care is extremely poor with high malnourishment and infant mortality and low vaccination rates. It lags in education with a literacy rate of 64%. In social capital, India ranks 104th; only 60% say they can rely on family or friends in a time of need. Only 21% find other people trustworthy. Social inequality perpetuated by a caste system means low levels of entrepreneurship and opportunity.
Compare that with China (No. 52), which this year passed the U.S. in Legatum’s economic subindex rankings for the first time. GDP per capita is $8,300. Vaccination rates and infant mortality are better. Primary education is widespread with a literacy rate of 93%. Social capital is stronger, with less inequality; 60% find others to be trustworthy. The drawback is that China is not free, birthrates are controlled and the authorities limit public discourse (though India increasingly censors the Internet too). The only areas in which India beats China are in personal freedoms and governance, though India’s legendarily thick red tape is a headache for entrepreneurs. Hence, One thing is clearly evident that POPULATION is not to be blamed for us trailing behind PROGRESS.
On this note many would feel that democracy have failed in India as the beneficiary have mastered the technique of milking the system, but its not the Democracy that failed India, its the politicians who failed both. For cash and caste, they help cronies, kept the economy and law in their hands. If polarizations starts taking place on religious lines, wont we have a first class debate or arguments on the reservations in Punjab and Kashmir?? We will not ignite the fires of reservations in the north east, where Christians (minority) are in sizable numbers?? And, If Secularism is the rock foundation of our unity and integrity. how can any politician or political establishment justify polarization on the basis of caste, religion etc??
Communism and fascism have timed and again proved us that tyranny can take birth under capitalism. And Democracy in India shows us that corruption, hypocrisy, arrogance and lifeless (meaningless) tenure of elected leaders can perpetuate destitution. The problem of caste prejudice here in India is as old as Hindu texts. For the government redressing the age old discrimination has become a mired in divisive politics. While caste (whether society hierarchical or religious) no longer determines a person’s calibre or magnitude of rise in their respective lives. Yet, after six decades of freedom we are still thinking in terms of reservations instead of expanding our resources and strategies overcome this down grade mentality.
Probably the biggest hindrance on our road to being a superpower and the favourite tool for the politicians looking to garner as many votes as they can is Reservation. Introduced when the constitution was formed by Dr. Ambedkar,reservation was meant for the oppressed and needy who couldn’t afford the cost of education.A great concept,one would say.But it had it’s terms and conditions,so to speak. It was made clear that this rule would be applicable only for 10 years as they thought it was enough time for those people to sort themselves out and start living a normal life.However,after 10 years the ruling party declared that they needed some more time and the rest as they say is history. Sixty Five years into our independence,we still haven’t sorted things out.In fact things have gone from bad to worse. People belonging to the open category are also trying all tricks possible to acquire a privileged caste certificate as they know what’s at stake. An SC/ST certificate can get you anything, at least in India. From govt jobs to tax benefits to house loans, life becomes so much smoother. The government instead of eliminating caste consciousness. it has further drenched it, making society more aware of divisions and more resentful of rival castes. (Eg. The Gurjars in Rajasthan are declared OBC and are yet fighting for the lowest caste reservations to get more privileges!!)
Don’t get me wrong, there are many needy people who may need support and the government must provide support in order to have uniform progress of the country and its people. This support must be true in all sense and by just dividing the total will lead to no where. In fact it will create more rift in the society which may some day lead to secession. So what’s the solution,one might ask. Eradicating reservation altogether would be foolhardy and unjust at the same time. However few amendments, for example, making reservations for economically backward class if we are reservation obsessive or design a plan that every child born in our land gets basic education. Ask private schools to volunteer their after school hours to conduct schools for the needy, and if need be make it mandatory. Increasing the number of seats in elite institutions which are federally funded will not only be helpful in accommodating bright future but also will create employment to many.
Most Importantly, We being responsible for the future have to own this responsibility and elect sensibly out growing the nonsecular within ourselves. I refer ourselves as nonsecular as in my thinking by privileging someone just on the basis of ones race, caste, creed is in itself racism and sense of treating him unequal as compared to others race. Its on us how we sow the seed of thoughts in the coming generation, do we want them to be castist, biased, prejudiced towards caste or are we preparing them for better future build on meritocracy?? Its about time that we adopt “Merit is my caste, whats your?”
****thanks to my Rahul Mukherjee, my friend and my mirror for giving me inputs which are the backbone of this piece
