Management Guru C.K.Prahlad, while speaking at a seminar organised to celebrate India@Sixty, has rightly pointed out that India needs ' national aspiration' like Purna Swaraj to change India (India Abroad,New York,Oct.5). He said that we have to have shared commitment to goals as well as creativity, innovation and enterprise. He has also shown how corrupt countries have low level of development.
Our national goals have been enshrined in our constitution. We have to devise ways of achieve them. We all know that Indian governments, both state and central, allot considerable amount of money to improve the welfare of the poor people through many schemes. So many times all the alloted money is not used and also misused by the politicians and the bureaucrats. If we can combine the management skills of the corporate sector and the selflessness of the voluntary sector with the aims of the government sector, we may be able to acieve the goal of empowering the poor irrespective of their caste,creed or religion. Only such a national effort can build our nation.
Today, many people think that the citizen's duty is over if he pay his taxes and votes in the elections. Of course, many people do not do even this minimum duty or responsibility of a citizen. This has not prevented our people from complaining about corruption and misuse of power by the politicians, bureaucrats and the wealthy. This limited engagement of the citizens with the society is the root of all our problems.
The cover story, " The Case for National Service " by Richard Stengel in the Time Magazine ( Sept.10) gives some ideas how this could be achieved in the US. He observes "A republic, to survive, needed not only the consent of the governed but also their active participation. It was not a machine that would go of itself; free societies do not stay free without the involvement of their citizens." He says that more than 61 million Americans dedicated 8.1 billion hours to volunteerism in 2002 and 27% of Americans engage in civic life by volunteering. In a poll in 2002, 70% of Americans thought universal service was a good idea.
Stengel has suggested a 10-point plan which is summarised here:
(1) A National-Service Baby Bond – When a baby is born, the Federal government would invest $5000/- in the child's name which would be $19,000/- when the baby reaches 20 years. That would be available to the person when he/she completes one-year of national or military service. Money is to be used for education, start a business or for housing. " If you invest in your country, your country will invest in you."; (2) Make National Service a Cabinet-level Department – The Corporation for National and Community Service created in 1993 to manage AmeriCorps,Senior Corps, Learn and Serve America, is a small and independent department. By upgrading it to cabinet level, it would get importance - " recognize that service is integral to how America thinks of itself".; (3) Expand existing National Service Programmes – Since 1994, 500,000 people have gone through AmeriCorps programmes teaching in urban schools, managing after-school programs,cleaning up playgrounds, schools and parks, caring for elderly etc.; (4) Create an Education Corps – Create a cadre of tutors, teachers and volunteers who can help the 38% of fourth-graders who cannot read at a basic level. They can also conduct after-school programmes to reduce teen parents and drop-outs ; (5) Institute a Summer of Service – Summer holidays, especially between middle school and high school, to run summer programmes for younger students in exchange for a $500 college scholarship ; (6) Build a Health Corps. - Nearly 7 million American children who are eligible for but not enrolled in government sponsored health insurance programmes. The Health Corps volunteers could assist low-income families accessing available public insurance offerings like the Children's Health Insurance Programme. ; (7) Launch a Green Corps – The Civilian Conservation Corps of Franklin Roosevelt put 3 million "boys in the wood" to build the foundation of the modern park system in USA.The Green Corps could reclaim polluted streams, blighted urban lots, repair and rehabilitate railroad lines, ports, schools, hospitals, energy-efficient housing for elderly and low-income people.; (8) Recruit a Rapid-Response Reserve Corps – 9/11 and Katrina have highlighted the disarray and lack of coordination in emergencies.This Corps would help in coping up with these sort of emergencies.; (9) Start a National-Service Academy – On the lines of West Point, but not for war but to learn how to transform a failing public school. The Academy would give undergraduates a four-year education in exchange for a five-year commitment to public service after they graduate – to create a new generation of people who are idealistic about government.; (10) Create a Baby-Boomer Education Bond – In the next 10 years, 78 million baby boomers will be eligible to retire. Many senior citizens like to help people in their community. The baby boomer volunteers could designate a scholarship of Rs.$1000/- for every 500 hours of community service they complete. This could be used by the volunteer's children/ grand children or a student they designate.
" The courageous souls who signed the Declaration of Independence pledged 'our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.' The least we can do to keep the Republic is to pledge a little time", concludes the author, Richard Stengel. I may add, the Founding Fathers of our Constitution would be delighted and honoured if we in India too enlist the enthusiasm of the young and experience of the old to promote liberty, equality and fraternity propounded in our Constitution. It would be a better tribute to them than all the statues, roads and museums that we dedicate to them.
Of course, the ten-point plan would not suit our people and our country. We have to have our own priorities and our own plan of action. We have to bring together the strengths of the corporate sector, voluntary associations and the government to evolve programmes and implement them.
Health, education and environment should be the focus. Primary education and primary health care centres should be set-up in all villages. The Corporate sector and the voluntary sector should be involved in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan as well as in providing health-care in all villages. Empowerment of villages through education and health would provide a good foundation for economic and social growth of the country. The Central and State governments should have Advisory Committees consisting of experts, representatives of the chambers of commerce and NGOs to formulate schemes and implement them.
We have to chanelise the energy and idealism of youth with the experience of the old. It is necessary for all graduates to devote one year for social service activities before being given their certificates – legal graduates to provide free legal service ; medical graduates to provide medical service etc. All retired executives of the private and public sectors to be provided with retirement benefits after they serve one year in social service. This is a debt they owe to society which has provided them with opportunities to prosper in life.
Every citizen should be provided opportunities to grow to his full potential, and this is the only way the country can grow to its full potential. This is the real foundation of a great country and a great society. Nation building requires national effort.
