[Following is the vision document on Indocracy that has been mentioned in the earlier writings of this blog. Indocracy was envisioned not as a piece of lofty philosophical idealism but a concrete course of persuasive reforms. It still retains such potential. A friend had observed that only a genuine and unadulterated Hindu Brahminical mind, committed to universal good, could visualise something like this. This paper is of 2012 vintage, prepared completely on the basis of my own ideas and imaginations. I also believed that India needed to set an example for the rest of the world by innovating upon its existing governance institutions to steer democracy to the next higher stage. Since then my views have remained consistent that the world's biggest democracy needed a major restructuring of its institutions. A copy of this paper was given to some of the most eminent Indians in 2012 . They all appreciated and offered moral support but I had to step out of civil service to pursue this. It did not work out. I believe that even such a harmless and general idea disturbed some of the powerful crime networks who worked overtime to sabotage it and break my resolve to pursue it. Still, it is not too late. We need sincere and committed Indians to come together. It is time to usher in democracy with stronger governance capacity and original Indian values.]
AN
INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR BETTER
GOVERNANCE IN DEMOCRACIES WITH A STRONG CONSULTANCY ARM |
Technology has made the
whole process of globalisation with the current degree of economic integration
quite irreversible. This has generated unprecedented interface among people
across barriers of nation, culture, civilisation and geography. Resultant exposure
to newer ideas, experiences and values have opened up phenomenal opportunities
for almost entire humanity to gainfully cooperate, collaborate and compete with
each other. This can potentially drive the world to a much higher trajectory of
material and even moral progress with an implicit synergy between the two.
However, states, societies and regions have also become far more vulnerable to
subversion, plunder, pillage and destruction. We no longer require violent
conventional wars for this purpose. Unregulated and unfair economic
competition, technology, trade and ideology can be lethal tools of subversion, depredation and even destruction. States lacking adequate institutional capacity
shall not only fail to optimise their own strengths or succumb more easily to possible
tools of predation and subversion or collapse under the weight of its own
internal or external contradictions. They can leave holes in the entire international
order and be cause for global or regional instability depending upon their size
and importance in global order. It is possible to generate powerful ideas and
follow up their implementation through consultancy and training services to
boost enabling and regulatory capacity of institutions of governance at
grassroots level. The whole world needs a powerful idea at this juncture that
can enhance stability, security and governance.
......................................................................................................................................................................
Executive Summary
The Idea:
Set
up an India-centric International Think Tank (with a global consultancy service ) that will
attempt to generate a scientific, viable and comprehensive Vision for governance
on the basis of ideas and inputs from individuals who have made notable
contribution in politics, civil service, corporate sector, civil society
activism, media and academic and research institutions. Subsequently it shall
engage eminent actors in all these fields to generate a broad based consensus
on new Vision for Democratic Governance.
Background:
The
current interconnected, inter-dependent and technology driven world has
unleashed phenomenal knowledge, information and opportunity for creativity,
innovation, cooperation and collaboration in the most spheres of human
endeavours. It is post-industrial and knowledge oriented world where we need to
consolidate upon the gains of industrial age of 20th century but
capitalise upon the opportunities thrown up by connectivity and
super-technology and amalgamation and comparison of multiple ideas. It is
possible to expand all round opportunities for the large mass
of people who had hitherto remained on the fringes of economic, political and
social power equations. While they have better access to nutrition, healthcare,
education as well as upward social and economic mobility but still the whole
world is under-performing and breeding far too much of conflict due to poor
capacity of institutions, poverty of smart ideas and stranglehold of vested interests on
power-structures. A new paradigm shift in ideas of governance and interaction among
various components of state and society alone can address governance gaps and multiple
forms of complex and highly diffused conflicts all over the world.
Aims and Objectives:
(a) Throw up new
ideas for structures and processes of political parties to facilitate smoother
and qualitatively superior ideas and incumbents in political, administrative,
judicial and police institutions, corporate sector, media, civil society
groups, elementary education sector and higher institutions of academic and
scientific research on the basis of a sustainable synergy among all of them;
(b) Build consensus on these ideas through seminars, discussions, debates,
public meetings and media as well as consultancy for capacity building
projects; and (c) Act as a platform to bring together eminent bodies in all
areas to develop a National and Global Vision for Democracy and Governance.
The People:
The Proposed Think-Tank shall consist of
individuals with exceptional experience in politics, corporate sector, academic
and research institutions, civil society groups, civil administration,
diplomacy and defence/security establishments.
The proposed body shall co-opt eminent individuals who have earned
distinction in various fields to lend credibility or weight to the proposed
body. Eminent individuals shall be supported by a small core group of
relatively youngish professional who shall work as permanent researchers and
act as secretariat of the proposed Think Tank.
The Process:
The
proposed body would engage and assist incumbents in Governments, corporate
sector, civil society, media and others to build a consensus cum partnership
among all of them. This may start with meetings, seminars and discussions based
on research but would be followed by concrete and specific capacity building
projects sponsored by the beneficiaries or a consortium of corporate entities.
(Details are being held back)
No comments:
Post a Comment