As a preamble to this article, there is a governing caveat.
Managing and governing a country the size and complexity of India is no mean task. The present dispensation at the helm of affairs has, over the last three terms, delivered on several counts. There is no denying that. I do not want to enumerate them here. However, this is now its third term. There is a possibility of anti-incumbency and ennui setting in.
Smart governance will ensure that any discontent or brewing disenchantment is addressed earnestly and nipped in the bud. After all, the adage “A stitch in time saves nine” has a ring of truth to it.
Proactive governance is distinguished by its swift response and its ability to deliver to the last person. Allowing simmering discontent to grow before attempting to quell it runs against the grain of our democratic spirit and ethos. It is counter-productive and can result in a backlash. The powers that be should be wary of that and perfect a process to ensure that such situations do not arise in future.
Smart governance is not limited to opening e-Seva centres and eliminating redundant and anachronistic laws. It is also about sensing the pulse of the people and keeping one’s antennas tuned to detect even a whimper of discontent. The true test of being zameen se juda hua is the ability to recognise shortcomings before they become crises. Governance is a slippery slope, and expectations are always high. Good governance rises above these challenges and still delivers.
Strategy is important, but implementation at the tactical level requires skill of the highest order.
Gen Z has every right to protest peacefully and air its views, as there is so much at stake in the conduct of examinations. Their future depends on it. But the spectacle at Jantar Mantar degenerated into something else. It became a free-for-all.
People should not forget that this is a government with a democratic mandate. Grievances should be aired in Parliament or ultimately decided by the electorate through democratic means. The street should be the last place for confrontation. One may argue that the government knew what was coming yet remained impervious, leaving protest or dharna as the only option. That is a legitimate means of expressing grievance.
The downside, however, is that others, often with entirely different agendas, may seize the opportunity to leverage the fault lines for their own purposes. We witnessed a rainbow coalition of sorts descend on Jantar Mantar, which is fast acquiring the dubious distinction of becoming the preferred venue for political optics and media soundbites. Being in the national capital guarantees visibility, with 24-hour news channels focused on every development.
The group that spearheaded the agitation eventually called it off after achieving what it wanted: the resignation of the Education Minister.
The NEET paper leak is only one symptom of a much larger malaise. The education sector requires comprehensive reform. Students who had spent years preparing watched their aspirations vanish as their efforts were devalued by administrative failure.
The government did step in to restore order and announced a flurry of measures. Some may argue that these came too little, too late, and they are entitled to that opinion. The move towards computer-based testing has, to some extent, addressed concerns, but many questions remain unanswered.
We need a foolproof and more robust examination infrastructure. Difficult questions remain. Should a single examination on one day determine a student’s future? Our educational institutions must continue to improve if they are to reach global standards.
Other irregularities have also crept into the system: coaching centres leaking question papers, fraudulent degrees being issued, lecturers appointed on the basis of forged qualifications, and other forms of malpractice in recruitment.
These systemic deficiencies have existed for a long time, including under previous governments. However, the present government has an opportunity to put an end to these practices and clean the Augean stables once and for all.
The NEET paper leak was the immediate issue, but it also attracted people with their own axes to grind, many of whom sought to fish in troubled waters. Those who joined the agitation did not always acquit themselves well. Public anger is understandable, but the level of hostility on display was obvious. In my view, decorum and democratic process were compromised.
All is not well within the education system. Our universities continue to produce graduates in large numbers, yet many leave without the skills industry requires and therefore struggle to find employment. These graduates can become vulnerable to groups pursuing their own agendas. It is a volatile combination.
Universities are increasingly becoming centres of political activism and launching pads for political careers. Political awareness among students is not inherently undesirable, but a student’s foremost responsibility remains education.
One may wonder how a single botched examination mobilised such a broad cross-section of society. The answer may lie in the many unresolved issues that have simmered for years. Had these concerns been addressed in a timely manner, the movement may never have gathered such momentum. Instead, pent-up frustration found expression in the events that unfolded.
Encouraged by what organisers regard as a successful campaign, they may be tempted to employ similar tactics in future. The government should minimise the likelihood of such situations by adopting more proactive governance.
It should also undertake long-pending reforms in other critical areas, including judicial reform. Docket explosions, interminable court cases and delayed justice continue to burden the system. The maxim, “Justice delayed is justice denied”, should remain at the forefront while undertaking a thorough review of the justice delivery system.
This is just one of many important tasks facing the government.
Addressing these long-standing grievances without constantly calculating the electoral consequences would demonstrate responsiveness and restore public confidence.
In the remaining years of its term, the government should fine-tune its governance model and reinforce the belief that it is responsive to the people’s needs. Only then will Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas become more than a slogan and evolve into a genuine governing philosophy.
The electorate should not support the present dispensation simply because there appears to be no viable alternative. It should support it only if it proves itself to be the better alternative, one that responds to the growing aspirations of the people.
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