In a way it is easier to be a critic than to find solutions to issues facing us. Let me share some of my thoughts with you on how we can make India a better place to live in.
The UPA Government introduced the Right to Information Act. This has made some difference in removing the secrecy surrounding Government decisions, but still bureaucrats have found ways to prevent critical information from reaching the public. In fact, our Prime Minister is understood to be quite weary of this act. This Act is fine and is a start. But what the common man want is easy access to information without having to go through the mazes of government employees. Unless you know someone, or are prepared to bribe, it is next to impossible to get even a scrap of information from any government office. India claims itself to be an IT super power. Why have we not thought of computerising all the Government records, and establishing E-Kiosks across the country, where any common man can walk in and get the information that he wants. Remember how telephony took off in India when Rajiv Gandhi and Sam Pitroda went ahead and established STD booths in every street corner and how it changed our lives forever? These Kiosks can be manned initially by unemployed youth who can take a nominal service charge from the customer. I am sure an informed society will be an asset to our country.
We need to make a conscious effort to integrate the States. A uniform tax structure, abolition of Sales Tax Check Posts at the border, free flow of Capital, Goods and Manpower across the States is the need of the hour. Why one should pay roaming charges on mobile or STD charges on landline when one moves from one State to another, or even within a State baffles me. With IT infrastructure in place, a uniform tariff can be easily made applicable. I understand there is considerable thinking going on to make this a reality.
I have written this before. The LPG customers should be taken out of the clutches of the Company/dealer network. Since the cylinders are standardised, there is absolutely no reason why we cannot pick a LPG cylinder from a dealer of my choice. This will ensure better service.
With all our resources and visions of becoming a super power, we just cannot afford to have illeteracy. School enrolment and absenteeism is a major concern. We should think of mobile schools. Schools that will move from village to village and teach the kids either inside the Bus or under a tree basic language skills. We need to really have a re-look at our education model. The 10-4 schools, 5 days a week model should be destroyed. More knowledge can be imparted through usage of technology in a shorter span. The mobile schools can have classes at each village, 2 hours a day , thrice a week. You might argue that it is insufficient, but it is better than nothing.
India's last Governor General C Rajagopalachari, or Rajaji , had propounded a wonderful model of schooling. He wanted children to learn conventional school text books in the morning, and to get vocational training in a craft of their choice in the afternoon. He was shouted down by the Dravidian parties, who found fault with it by saying that Rajaji, a brahmin, wanted to ensure a Carpenters son remained a carpenter. But Rajaji, in his wisdom in early 1950s, was preparing a generation for the eventual transformation of the economy from agrarian to industrial. It is still not too late. We need to accept that most of our students are unemployable, and sorely lacks in hard and soft skills. There is no point in living in denial........... to be contd......
P.S: You are welcome to share your ideas through e-mail with me.
