In 2050, India sets global record as a hundred-year-old Republic. Together with what we are going to achieve now to next twenty-five years, our accomplishments as a Republic will be phenomenal in an unprecedented way by then. We now need to gear up next twenty-five years to ensure that India re-emerges as a developed (vikasit) country whose model is worth emulating and much beyond any “global goals” or SDGs.
The “development model” or the “growth model” that is being advocated and pursued as global yardstick, need to be corrected and sensitised taking insights from our rich 5000 years of civilizational wisdom track. There is ample scope for such initiatives which are far more sustainable beyond a year to year outlook or such short term perspective or about any particular schemes. No country becomes “most developed” by merely targeted and time bound “schemes” however pertinent and efficient they are. Not by mere increase in awareness about such schemes. The way Global Index have been rating India over the years on thirty different topics of governance, economic, political contexts should have by now compelled us to take such a distinct course.
“Sustainable Good Governance, Development and Democracy” book by SAGE of Dr N Bhaskara Rao a few years ago had viewed Prime Minister Modi’s five propositions as Mantras for such initiative towards good governance. These national calls include Swaraj to Suraj, power, not by wooing voters, politics, not by overriding policies, less government, more governance, and Sab Ka Sath, Sab Ka Vikas. Such fundamental shift in our outlook and approach, as these ideas of PM, would come handy in this sankalp mission 2050 and for the best development of the country beyond tenures.
These initiatives of the Prime Minister in the last couple of years require larger focus outside the prism of party politics, better understanding of what the good governance is all about, comprises of and what leads to such an ideal outcome. This sensitivity is needed more among the present and future political leaders of the country, in particular.
Independent research strengths and concerns further come handy in this task of gearing up and India becoming torch bearer earliest. Mission 2050 television series, curated by Dr P N Vasanti, in social media more recently deliberates these distinct tasks.
Any campaign (even Vikasit Bharat by 2047) to promote India’s accomplishments is good. But it should be across lines of political parties and inclusive of all, particularly the civil society, and should not be mixed up with electoral fortunes or campaigns. It should be beyond showcasing “achievements” of any particular Government even of two tenures. Vikasit Bharat 2047 or 50 should not be linked or limited to individual schemes of a period and to a “campaign” mode. We need to highlight 75 years and, even more, put before the larger public challenges and tasks for the next 25 years as a mission. This should be in a hundred-year perspective of the Republic (1950-2050).
“Vikasit Bharat by 2047” is a campaign taken up by the Union Government since November 18, 2023. Under this banner many Ministers spanned out and talking of “achievements” of the Government with specific examples from out of the 17 flagship schemes. An incumbent Government should obviously ensure that such schemes yield desired results. But to accomplish “most developed” status for the country by 2047, we should be focussing beyond schemes so that we catch up what we could not so far in 70 years or what we need to accomplish next 25 years. These challenges need to be focussed in a mission mode so that we gear up next 25 years. That should be the concern of the Vikasit Bharat for 2047 or 2050. To me 2050 is more appropriate as we adopted in 1950 a representative form of Government of, by and for the people, that is the Republic. A Mission 2050 is more appropriate as we need to rejuvenate the Republic for a Vikasit Bharat and ensure suraj (good governance).
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What sustains and synergies mission New India for 2050 require focus next two decades.A few specific examples are indicated here for further consideration.
1. Strengthen Checks and Balance provisions already provided. Political parties and civic society too should be brought under this framework, going beyond the three pillars of the state and autonomous bodies. Cordial relationships and coordination between them should be a hallmark.
2. Ensure the Republic is of representative of people, as to their origin, concerns, and continued representation beyond election time compulsions.
3. The government should be participatory such a way that it is of, by and for the people.
4. Transparency in public systems is reiterated and respected and ensured in a routine way.
5. Public media of communication remain public service concerned more and initiatives towards that end will be ever present as independent watchdog forums.
6. Research skills will be specially imparted and become supportive for the sustainability of the trajectory of development, democracy’s and governance.
7. Social audit or ombudsman with independent public should gain ground for public services particularly for services involving wider or extensive distribution.
8. Environment, natural resources more particularly, become people’s concern more, not of the Government, lifestyle movement going beyond yoga, Dhyanam and the like to do with conservation will regain.
9. Good governance should be viewed much beyond rhetorics of those in power and understood by all stakeholders, and that meant much more than a “good government”.
10. Collaborative sprit should gain and override competitive mode starting from school education, politics.There should be examples in this regard.
11. Public Space is ensured for civil society, dissent and for deliberating public concerns by different organised means with responsibility.
12. School education would not be left for pass-fail criteria. Culture, traditions will be brought to ensure moral and civic sense and responsibility.
13. Women’s participation… going beyond recent initiatives on women’s reservation in legislative bodies, empowerment and enabling schemes will be strengthened for visible increase in their role
14. The increasing phenomena of citizen dependence on governments will be addressed to reverse the trend in a deliberate way. This is the best bet eventually for sustainable future, for consolidation of a civilised nation and as a key element of “good governance”.
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