The post Coronavirus era may witness the emergence of the
new world order, at least this is the perception.
The political permutations and permutations too can undergo
transformation in many countries.
Congress supremo Rahul Gandhi made such first attempt during
his virtual interaction with the media to present himself in a new image
reflecting positivity and maturity earlier this week. However, he would have to
work hard on transforming his degenerated party that is prepared neither to
learn from the blunders nor to change. The examples are the states ruled by the
party.
It is significant that Rahul started with
reference to the exemplary work done by the Left ruled Kerala from the
day one the Coronavirus hit India. His being MP from that state now is a
different issue. The work done by Kerala is for everybody to see.
Years of investment in health and education has helped the Kerala
along with comprehensive approach including allocation of Rs 20,000 crore to
contain the damage.
This southern state is rather the only example of its kind
in the country.
Punjab was the first state to impose curfew. The state had
withdrawn itself years back from both the health and education sectors
leaving them to the private sector whose
only motive is profit. Punjab opted for the police methods unlike Kerala to
deal with Coronavirus. The health infrastructure is just appalling. The one example of lack of priorities is that a major
part of the prime land of the Mohali civil hospital was transferred to a
private health facility years back.
The focus not only in
India but even at the global level now is to strengthen the health
infrastructure in the public sector. The private sector just can’t deliver
during such crisis.
India is the country in this region that had started with
the public sector under Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru but then the present regime
associates that man from the freedom struggle and country’s first prime
minister with everything that in the perception of the bigoted Bhakts has gone wrong.
Rahul Gandhi struck to positive note despite provocations
indicating that he is willing to learn from the past mistakes and change
himself. But his party too has to change.
His party is not cadre based like the Bharatiya Janata Party
and the Communists and thus nothing much can be expected from its rank and file
so far as social service is concerned by way of approaching the poor who are
the worst sufferers and arrange for their basic needs. The migrant workers are
agitating.
The Congress, of course, has its Seva Dal but its leaders
are now not tuned to work among the people. This party used to be people’s movement at one time. Its support
base continues to be somewhat intact despite degeneration that set in among its leaders rooted in
corruption.
Can the Congress organise relief efforts?
It is the voluntary help that is equally needed in a vast country
like India having poorest of the poor besides the government efforts.
Rahul Gandhi can begin by conveying strong message to the
Congress run state governments to
provide exemplary service during this crisis. The infrastructure can’t be
upgraded overnight but the party can go to the people with the help of the
government.
Presently, the ministers and leaders in these Congress ruled
states seem to be more interested in photo ops rather than rendering real
service.
Punjab is comparatively different due to the concept of Seva
that emanates from Sikh religion and is now part of the culture of the Punjabis
at the broader level.
The Congress needs to reinvent during this period and
beginning can be made by motivating the state governments to exhibit model
governance at the policy and implementation levels, not just the photo ops.
From the socialistic model, the Congress should look for a social model.
Comments
Post a Comment