NRIs can show the way
Sir, The The people of the NE States generally accept problems the way they
are and expect things to happen, rather than making things happen for
themselves. Perhaps, the idea behind the topic NRI involvement in development
and progress in People Speak column (A.T., February 17), is about
initiating a change through peoples participation. However, when we talk of
development, we should not think of highways, bridges, high-rise buildings and
the like alone, we should rather drastically change our perception of
development and think of basic developmental issues faced at the grassroot
level which are incidental to growth. While our major development projects are
expected to be taken care of by the Planning Commission through the vision
document, there are certain fringe areas which need special attention for
progress as well as to supplement the vision document by building local
capacities involving the people, NGOs, local governments and other agencies.
Such
areas are generally the issues that of empowerment, upliftment, community
development (human resource), local governments and self reliance that can be
evoked through the unlikely global perspective of the NRIs.
Developing an illusionary notion about NRIs only heightens our expectations.
Such under-expectation inhibits our thinking ability and makes us incapable to
chart out a new course for ourselves. However, this argument could be more
sentimental than realistic, but sentiments have no place in a progressive
society. I think Rini Kakati, being an NRI herself, is having difficulty in
expressing her mind fully on these, and stressed herself to draw a parallel
between her expressions and the sentiments of the people. It reflects her true
idealistic sensibility. She has a global vision and is in tune with the times.
In any case, these are, infact, discussions of a hypothetical case as an
academic exercise.
When people talk of NRI, they talk of brain-drain, of seeking greener pasture
a better life abroad. No one should have quarrels on that. Opportunity strikes
only once. So, if you get a chance to study or work abroad, go ahead. But do
look back at what you have left behind. The logic is simple even our freedom
fighters studied in Oxford and Cambridge but came back to apply their education
and knowledge for the nation. But this is not to suggest that the present
generation should wind up their foreign affairs and trace their steps back
home, though it may have a distinct resonance in contemporary reality in the
Indian context, since over 60,000 Indian returnees have shed their NRI baggage
to work for their country.
Rural NE is ridden with dogmas. People are divided on castes and creeds,
villagers are living with power and potable water problems, the local schools
are almost in extinction. It is at this point the NRIs can step in by setting
up NGOs new-type NRI-NGOs trendy yet unassuming, jetsetting yet rooted !
They can literally get the villagers together to build up a movement for
effective local self governance. They can engage citizens governments, local
NGOs and the corporate world with a view to achieving greater citizens
participation in local self government. It could be a search for excellence and
accomplishment of progress that ensures that the streets are clean, the
garbage got picked up ! That, rural health service is in tune, village out-put
is increasing and household economy has picked up ! These are a few examples.
In effect, these mean finding effective ways of working towards laudable goals
by establishing the norms of participative democracy. These are
serious challenges and not just money that is needed. More than money what we
need is investment of political and intellectual energy if we are to translate
the NE States often talked gateway metaphor to reality.
NRIs cannot bring a seismic change, but they can revolutionise societies with
their global perspective. They can adopt a purposive socialising in their
respective resident countries, generally friendly and disarming to social
science disciplines as well as institutions, organisations, other agencies and
the public at large, thereby absorbing intelligent feed-back in nation building
from parallel source of intelligence. The feed backs could then be feed-forward
here to help build the local capacity to enable people to grow and choose to
excell in every endevour of their lives. Yours etc., R C SAIKIA,
Bordoloinagar, Tinsukia.
(The Assam Tribune,08.03.2008)
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