MY VISION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

Social Change is prerequisite for the other changes in any society. Before beginning the long,
arduous journey of social change, a society must identify and face its problems which is also
the hardest part. We are reluctant to acknowledge our shortcomings which is the biggest
impediment to any change. The recent Global Hunger Index is fine example of this habit
where findings have been summarily rejected by powers that be. This fact cannot be
brushed under the carpet that countless Indians are suffering from hidden hunger. Lack of
nutrition has debilitating effect on the downtrodden whose need for physical labour is
exponentially higher in comparison to others. The inter-generational deprivation starts
showing its fangs in the later part of a child's life when stunting or wasting surfaces.  In fact,
this irreversible feature begins in the mother's womb itself and vicious cycle continues.
My vision is to eliminate malnutrition from every part of our country which even after 75
years of Independence continues to stalk our most vulnerable populace. The irony is we are
also top food producer of the world and our granaries are overflowing, yet India plays host
to largest number of malnourished people in the world. 
Let’s accept the reality and create a new platform where nutritionist, agrarian experts, social
scientist and politician along with people from targeted groups can come together to
eradicate this grotesque abomination once for all. 
We would be missing trees for the woods by focusing only on the food accessibility aspect.
After 75 years of Independence, this lacunae encapsulates all the lacunae that pervades our
system. Food is the basic need of human life and since ages its availability was sign of well
governed state with responsive king at the helm of affairs. That a democracy, that too world
largest, which never leaves any chance to celebrate its standing as one in the midst of
autocratic and failed regimes, hosts world’s largest number of people suffering from hidden
hunger and malnutrition is excruciating painful matter to admit. How our much-vaunted pro
people system has failed to see this?
Comparison between China and India is an inevitable debate because of similar
characteristic and historical realities. Both the countries started together but one of them
has raced ahead, eliminating hunger, poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition. This falling behind
bodes ill for the future of democratic mode of governance. After all what is the use of such
system which can’t solve the basic problems. Despite of being a multi-party democracy,
Indian political leaders has not walked the talk on democratic reforms without which we are
fit only to be called “electionacracy” where we chose our government only to face
disappointment. While on the other hand, China which chose single party rule and
eliminated all dissent and debate succeeded in providing all the basic needs in short span of
time which gives credence to their claim of autocratic rule being suited for global south.
Failure of India is failure of democracy and the world, particularly developing part, watches
minutely the course of action we take to rectify our mistakes.
What are those mistakes that kept us hungry and poor for this long. To begin with, failure to
grasp ground reality and banking upon borrowed model of development. Our economy is
heavily relied on agriculture and absence of meaningful reforms is at the root of rural crisis.
Once the base of economy is wobbly, whatever structure that is build on it would not last
longer either. The green revolution was stop gap policy which alleviated the food insecurity
but failed to address the malnutrition crisis which is where democracy comes in. Our policy
makers habit of centralisation has not produces desired results. It has only aided pilferage,
loot and corruption at the lower level of administration where bribe is the norm rather than
exception. The leakage in the system is often highlighted by media channels but nothing
happens in terms of persecution and life goes on.
The remedy lies in having robust civil society and reforms where administration is made
responsive to peoples need. This can not happen without making our political leadership
pay for their complacency. There are various measures around the world that can be
adopted, one of them being RIGHT TO RECALL, which effectively terminates membership of
elected representative if he/she fails to perform. Instead of waiting for five years, people
can come together to rectify their mistake mid-way. Another method is making a robust
action oriented civil society which can initiate community-based development rather than
relying on moribund bureaucracy. The never ending roller coaster that Indian bureaucracy
has became was once touted as steel frame by founding members of India after
Independence but has not lived up to its billing. Its time we hand over reigns to community-
based agents who live where problem persists. Direct transfer of fund to these organisations
followed by community audit will certainly help in augmenting development efforts. Today
few conscientious community leaders who have still not lost faith have been reduced to file
carriers where they carry their community grievances from one desk to desk, hoping against
hope that one day their fortune might find favour with officialdom. The callousness of our
system breaks their hope every day.
AS we enter “AMRIT KAL”, it is incumbent upon us to strive for change for a better present
and glorious future. There are numerous examples that can be cited to prove that when
Indians set on to achieve a particular target, nothing dare stop us. After we are the country
that has eliminated polio, achieved 100% vaccination and supplied covid vaccine to all over
the world in record time. Chinese Philosopher Confucius once remarked “In a country well
governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is
something to be ashamed of.”
Those who have the means and understanding of problem must commit themselves to this
pious cause of fighting malnutrition. That will greatest test of our nation.