INDIA RISES AGAIN

Building A New India After independence in 1947, our leaders began to build a new India. Sixty eight years on, India has yet to attain the desired status of a world-class nation, while other nations such as the USA, China and Singapore have forged ahead. Now the time has come to reassess the whole matter. Here is one example which gives us a pointer on how the planning of our national policies could be made effective. On the eve of India’s independence, Mahatma Gandhi gave a call to the nation to bring about a ‘Clean India’, but to no avail. On the eve of its independence (1965), Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, also gave a call for a ‘Clean Singapore’, and his call was successful. Why was there this difference? Mahatma Gandhi’s call was an appeal without compulsion, while Lee Kuan Yew’s call involved compulsion. His call was effective because Singapore adopted deterrent punishment, while in India there is no punishment, only appeals for right conduct. In October 2014, the Prime Minister of India launched a new ‘Clean India Mission’ known as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, but once again without deterrent punishment, there has not been much progress. It is human nature that deterrent punishment is essential for the maintenance of law and order. Appeals will not get any positive results unless there is an element of compulsion. Developed nations have adopted some form of compulsive system. At present, there are three working models, and if India wants its scheme to work, it must choose from any of these three. The American model is based on competition; their credo being, ‘compete or perish’ making it imperative for citizens to be law-abiding. The Chinese model adopted by Premier Deng Xiaoping is based on two principles: controlled politics and a decontrolled economy. This model has, again, created compulsion due to which it is working successfully. The Singaporean model is based on strict imposition of laws which includes caning. This system has created a compulsion making people cautious about following it, otherwise they may face severe punishment. The weakness of the Indian system is that no one fears punishment.