----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2005 8:51
PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Re: Credibility Of
MoWR!!!
Dear AK Nath and Barua Ji,
Thanks for your messages. I am working in
Bihar which has just concluded its elections and we all know what is
happening there. Two months from hence, the flood season will start and
hundreds of people will die. Can you imagine, the floods, drought or
growing unemployment was not an issue in the recent elections in the
state. It was caste, religion, language, insider, outsider, communal,
secular and so on. There is no dearth of issues to divide people. We
cannot make any dent in the prevailing institutionalized corrupt system
unless people understand that they are being taken for a ride by the
politicians and then click the right button. Who do the people listen
to? Not us, but to these unscrupulous politicians. I have seen many well
meaning people who wanted to do some good to the society but , later,
took to different course because nothing moves in the system. Vinoba
Bhave was working on the rehabilitation of refugees from Pakistan, after
the partition, and corruption that prevailed in the concerned offices
edged him out and he found an escape in Bhoodan Movement. And see what
the vested interests did to Bhoodan also. I have a feeling that within
our limited means we can do only two things. Expose the game that the
politicians play, directly or through their agents, and set up certain
constructive models for others, to follow. The former requires
commitment and deep study and the latter requires institutional base and
money. Money does not come easily to those who think independently and
most of those who have money do not know what to do with it (I am
referring to the kind of intiatives that you may be pointing to). Also,
creating an establishment for oneself runs the risk that all the energy
of the individual would be consumed in running the institutions and
implementing programmes and there would hardly be any scope for
continuing with the good work.
Things become difficult in places
like Bihar or Assam where, apart from corruption, you are physically
prevented from doing something because of floods. It is also not
possible to adopt a village or so for development as one can do in the
drought prone areas where mobility is, at least, not restricted and it
is not possible to cordon off an area from flowing waters. This would
also mean that a cluster or a regional approach has to be followed and
that requires huge money. Where is that money? Also, if one wants to
experiment, one must ensure that the given situation does not
deteriorate any further. That would mean that the wrong policies pursued
hitherto, must be stopped. This would lead to confrontation with the
establishment. Most of the NGOs working in these areas are implimenting
their donor's agenda and cannot oppose wrong policies, whether of the
state or the donors, for obvious reasons.
The choices, thus, are very
limited but that does not mean that one should suffer from defeatist
tendencies. Let us do something for our society and hpe that someday the
people will understand the trap laid by the vested interests. Preventing
unscrupulous elements from entering democratic institutions is a tall
order. I know, it had been very difficult for any well meaning person to
get four figure votes barring some exceptions. This is so very easy for
the criminals. That is the given condition. It is good that we get an
opportunity to discuss issues facing the people and let us make full use
of this opportunity.
Dinesh Mishra
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