COMMON MAN'S AGENDA FOR THE NEW GOVERNMENT

                               -MILAN K SINHA

Few hours from now, the new government at the centre led by Narendra Modi of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is going to take oath of office with an unprecedented initiative on the external front- inviting the head of states of SAARC countries. Undoubtedly, this will have far reaching impact on internal policy formulation in days ahead by this non-congress government.

The massive mandate, cutting across all sections of society which BJP alone received in 2014 general election has raised the hope and aspirations of every common man to a new high - not without reason as even Narendra Modi made them believe all through his election campaign that  good days are coming ( Achche Din Aanewaale Hain).

We know and appreciate the gigantic task of nation building ahead for the new government for well-known reasons - inflation, corruption, low GDP growth etc. and hence there is bound to be intense pressure to perform within shortest possible time, but certain core issues need to be addressed on highest priority by the new government to instil the trust and confidence among millions of poor and disadvantaged section of our society throughout the length and breadth of this vast country.

Naturally, the following points of serious concern must find place in top agenda:

1. The Malady of Starvation Deaths

Every day more than 7000 people die of hunger in India.

India is topping the list of countries in World Hunger Chart.

More than 30% of the world's hungry population lives in India.

Over 200 million people sleep hungry every night.

2. Problem of Drinking Water

Out of the 6.38 lakh revenue villages in India, more than 30% have water problems.

21% of communicable diseases in India are related to unsafe water.

73% of respondents of a question as to what truly make them proud of being an Indian said, "It is availability of safe drinking water to every Indian."

3. Literacy/Education Problem

Our literacy percentage is only 74%; Kerala being the highest with 94% and Bihar being the lowest with 63%. 

School dropout percentage is still more than 40%. 

The drop out percentage is even worse than that of Bangladesh and Vietnam - countries that got independence more than two decades later. 

We spend less than 2% of our national budget on education for the children who constitute 25% of our total population. 

The dropout percentage is higher among tribal, economically weaker sections of society etc.

4. Sanitation/Open Defecation Problem 

53% Indian population lack sanitation facilities, where as it is only 7% in case of Bangladesh and Brazil. 

India is termed as the world's capital of open defecation.

More than 60% of households in Uttarakhand, Orissa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan are without toilets. 

Only 28,000 Gram Panchayats (GPs) are declared as "Nirmal Gram" under TSC program out of 2.4 lakh GPs in the country.

5. Health & Nutrition Problem

Can we think of a strong India without healthy and strong citizens, present and future? 

Healthy Indians = Healthy & Strong India.

Child nutrition and their overall health need extra care in India as one in every three malnourished children in the world live in India; 8.8 lakh children die every year, more than 100 deaths per hour in India; the IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) in many states is still more than 50 per thousand for children up to the age of 5 years where as it should be at least below 30 per thousand; about 50% of all childhood deaths are attributed to malnutrition; 26% of the world's childhood vaccine preventable deaths take place in the country; Anaemia affects 74% of children under the age of three; as high as 44% children under five years are underweight; malnutrition in early childhood has serious long term consequences because it impedes development of vital life organs.

There are, no doubt many more pressing problems before the country which demand serious attention of power that be at all levels, but to start with the issues enumerated above would definitely give the right signal to common people at large that this government is really doing well rather than talking well. And we all know, well begun is half done. 

Finally, lots of best wishes to the new central government of the largest democratic country of the world from a common Indian.

               Will meet again with Open Mind. All The Best. 

# Published in Patna Daily. com

NO POLITICS IN NATION BUILDING, PLEASE!

                                                         - MILA K  SINHA

Next few days would be extremely important and defining for the country. As such, it is pertinent to remember the former prime minister of India and the leader of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan fame, Lal Bahadur Shastri at this crucial juncture to know his perception on major issues – Governance, Development, National Integration - concerning country's wellbeing. This will help the architects of next Govt. at the Centre in finalising the right agenda and formulating the effective action plan for next sixty months.

Governance :

"...The basic idea of governance, as I see it, is to hold the society together so that it can develop and march towards certain goals. The task of the Government is to facilitate this evolution, this progress. It must provide proper conditions and a proper climate for this purpose. While governing, the administrator must, therefore, keep certain trends in view. He should be aware of the policies which he has to implement and of the methods which are open to him for their implementation. He should know what the Government wants and at the same time be attuned to the needs of the people..."

Development:

"...The economic issues are most vital for us and it is of the highest importance that we should fight our biggest enemies – Poverty, unemployment... Whether it is agriculture or industrial development, or for that matter, development in other fields, the basic fact remains – that it would serve the largest number of our people...."

National Integration:

"...In this vast country of ours, people profess different religions, speak different languages, dress differently and observe different customs; but we are one nation; the history of our struggle for independence and our faith in our future development are our common bonds....Among the major tasks before us none is of greater importance for our strength and stability than the task of building up the unity and solidarity of our people. Our country has often stood as a solid rock in the face of common danger and there is a deep underlying unity which runs like a golden thread through all our seeming diversity...."

The election results are only few hours away but the fact remains that whichever party or coalition forms the next Government at the center, it must take all possible steps to enlist the support and cooperation of all political parties and every citizen  towards fulfilling its bounden duty to make this largest democracy of the world a place where everybody must have Food, Clothing, Shelter, Education, Health, Employment to name only the basic necessities of life. 

Lastly, a small word of caution: No Politics in Nation Building, Please! We have had enough of it in last 66 years since 1947.

                Will meet again with Open Mind. All The Best. 

# Published in Patna Daily. com