India at crossroads
Today, India is on the verge of greatness and world is looking up to this emerging economy with bated breath to finally arrive. It will be in fitness of things that this nation delivers for itself, for the sake of its people, for its great past and for the world that faces several serious challenges today. This nation has the wherewithal to lead the world in its quest for a better tomorrow and a better life for the future generations.
However, we still have a number of pressing urgencies - complex unsolved issues, priorities and difficult problems to deal with in our own backyard, before we even think of propelling ourselves into the club of developed nations.
Unaccomplished tasks
Despite brisk economic growth and achievements attained over the last couple of decades, there are still critical and important national objectives which remain unaccomplished. We still have huge socio-economic and developmental challenges to be taken care of.
Challenges abound for a majority of our fellow citizens on various fronts - poverty, disease, illiteracy, ignorance, lack of basic amenities, absence of dignified living conditions - sanitation / housing / health care, poor life expectancy and corruption.
Economic and regional disparities, systemic dysfunction and inefficiencies, injustices, deprivation, policy inertia and archaic laws are staring at our faces and questioning us for immediate and effective solutions.
More than 40% of our fellow citizens are still below poverty line. 45% of our rural areas are still without electricity. More than half of India doesn't get safe drinking water beyond a few hours. It is appalling to note that, even today, 10% of our people just don't have any access to safe drinking water.
More than 25% of our people still can't read or write. School dropout rates continue to be at alarming levels. More than half of our children are still malnourished. Spiralling prices especially of food grains, consumer goods, etc. have been hurting the poor for long.
Agriculture which employs more than 50% of our workforce has been stagnating for years. Irrigation, productivity and mechanisation remain big challenges in this sector. Dependence on monsoon for a good crop continues to threaten the economy.
Addressing PDS issue remains a non-priority for the government. Poor procurement policies and lack of adequate storage systems for food grains continue to be big problems. Land acquisition continues to be a hot button issue.
Unemployment is still high at 10%. Three out of every ten persons are either underemployed or are in disguised employment. Industry reports that only 25% of our engineers are employable for want of required skills and proper training. Higher education and research need immediate help and overhaul.
Poor infrastructure - road, power, ports, etc. remain a drag on economy. Economic and regulatory reforms are almost stalled for want of political will and focus.
There are serious governance and delivery issues in government which have been hurting the people and nation's progress for long. Corruption - which hurts our common man the most, is all pervasive in the government today. It is now an unfortunate social reality and a malaise that has been eating into the fabric of our polity for long.
There is a growing disconnect between the government and the citizen. A significant number of government schemes and programmes continue to fall flat and fail to deliver due to flawed centralised planning, top down approach, poor execution, far too many unattended systemic loopholes, poor understanding and coordination between centre and states, unchecked vested interests in play, etc.
More importantly, continued absence of accountability across the system of governance - bureaucracy, political class, regulatory mechanism, etc. leaves a lot to be desired and to be answered for.
The nation faces increasing threats to internal security from Pakistan sponsored and other forms of terrorism. Maoist and Naxalite menaces continue to pose serious threats to nation's safety and security.
Without a doubt, there is a lot on our plates to sort out and to change.
Educated youth in Politics – a game changer
Can there be a better platform than politics to bring this change and to help make a positive difference in people's lives. Arguably, there is not. Moreover, there couldn't be a better time to help prove Bertrand Russell’s comments - that politics is a last refuge of scoundrels, wrong and invalid, at least, in India's context.
In terms of general quality of political leadership, we, as a nation, have had what we voted and opted for in the past. So the responsibility has entirely been ours. Looking at the demographics today, India has more than 50% of its population below the age of 25 and more than 65% hovers below the age of 35. It is expected that, by 2020, the average age of an Indian will be 29 years, compared to 37 for China and 48 for Japan.
India, today, needs a political leadership that is in sync with the times and the aspirations of its people. A leadership that thinks and feels the pulse of its people, that is thoughtful and is brimming with ideas, is what India needs at the helms today. India needs a leadership that has a shared vision for the nation, that is motivated, that is result oriented, that is youthful and energetic and that puts nation and people's aspirations before every other consideration.
It is time now that the young and educated - who have the capability, who are conscious of people's suffering and of ills in the system and who are driven by a sense of sacrifice for greater good, come forward, take initiative, join politics, work hard and start contributing towards the change that people of India are desperately yearning for. It is imperative that the educated youth of this nation rises to the occasion and accepts this responsibility and challenge.
Letting go well cushioned jobs, easy and protected life, financial security, etc. for the rough and tumble of Indian politics may be slightly difficult. However, attending to the moral duty call towards the nation, harnessing one's energy and immersing completely in political and developmental work looks every step worth its salt.
Of course, substantive electoral reforms have become a necessity in the overall context of India's growth story and which look imminent in the wake of evolving domestic political discourse on corruption in political system. These reforms will certainly usher in some form of mandatory public funding of elections - both at national and state levels. These will not only facilitate our educated youth taking plunge into electoral politics and making our democracy more participative but will also help cleanse the political system to some extent.
Challenges and expectations
Given the challenges and goals before this youthful nation, the need for people of this country to rise above divisiveness and to stay together is, perhaps, more than ever today and this cannot be emphasised more here. It will, therefore, be incumbent upon the political leadership to apply itself in maintaining unity and harmony at all cost - so essential for nation's progress and for the nation to be able to suitably respond to priorities and challenges that it faces.
Learning from the past, the leadership, led by our educated youth, will have to gather all organisational and people skills to take everybody along and will have to find the common grounds. Lending a patient ear to all shades of opinions that exist within the vast diversity that characterises this nation, the youth leadership will have to redefine the national agenda and will have to provide appropriate strategy and direction for future.
It will have to set the house in order on priority and will have to think "out of box" to find innovative solutions to the national problems. The youth led leadership will have to capitalise on the enormous opportunities available out there and will have to substantively address both domestic and global aspirations. Who would understand and relate to the aspirations of a youthful nation better but the nation's educated youth itself.
The youthful leadership will have to raise the bar of efficiency, speed, quality and transparency of decision making and delivery. The leadership will naturally have to keep pace with times and will have to keep an eye on the future needs and threats. It will have to be a role model of integrity and probity in public life. Hence, the future leadership will have its task cut out to help this nation claim its rightful place amongst the frontline countries.
Defining moment
This is a defining moment in the history of modern India. The nation's character, ability, energy and resolute are on test today. This is a time of reckoning with the opportunities wide open and sky as the limit. Our educated youth needs to seize this great opportunity and help shape India into a great world power again. Else, we as a nation may miss the bus for ever.
