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The Vice President, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has said that in the task of improving governance and strengthening our democracy, all stakeholders have to play a pro-active role. The vision of a fully developed, prosperous and strong India by 2020 will be achieved only if the four estates of democracy have a constructive partnership with one another and jointly face the challenge of comprehensively improving governance with focus on promoting people’s welfare, progress and development.
Shri Shekhawat was speaking while dedicating the houses constructed by Malayala Manorama for the Tsunami victims at Kochiyude Jetty, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala today.
The Vice President observed with great concern that the unprecedented Tsunami tragedy has once again highlighted the reality that it is the under-developed areas which are prone to maximum devastation and that it is the poor and weaker sections that are most vulnerable to misery and suffering. Shri Shekhawat underlined the need to evolve a comprehensive reform agenda which pro-actively attacks the present day ills and shortcomings in existing system of governance. The following is the text of Shri Shekhawat’s speech:
“I am very happy to be here amidst you in this famed ‘God’s own land’. Kerala is known for its breath-taking natural beauty. With its ever-green mountains, dense forests full of sandal wood, fertile plains laden with fields of spices, coffee and rubber, glimmering rivers, beautiful beaches, extensive backwaters and blue lagoons, it looks like a fairy land. Every inch of this lovely land bears testimony to its sublime cultural and spiritual traditions, rich literary and linguistic heritage of Malayali language, and the creative genius of its people. Kerala has developed and progressed fast. With outstanding distinction achieved in the sphere of education, health and gender equality, Kerala has earned the status of a ‘model state’ with high human development index.
I wish to make a special mention of the nurses of Kerala who are found serving the patients in far flung areas of not only our country but in many parts of the world. I have seen them working in villages of Western Rajasthan bordering Pakistan. The daughters of Kerala are epitome of service, dedication and simplicity. Wherever they go and work, they make themselves an integral part of that place and serve the patients with a smile and enduring care. Once, I was hospitalised for about eighteen months due to a fracture in my leg. The two nurses belonging to Kerala had served me with such intense care and compassion that they became virtual members of my family. We should be proud of them because they spread the message of service and humanitarian cultural heritage of Kerala to distant places.
Friends, I feel privileged and honoured to be a part of today’s function which is a tribute to the noble spirit of compassion, care and service of humanity. I take this opportunity to compliment Malayala Manorama for constructing houses for rehabilitation of people affected by Tsunami. This is indeed a laudable act of humanitarian service, a reflection of Malayala Manorama’s compassionate bonding with the people, especially in times of their grief and sorrow. I wish the inhabitants of these houses a safe and happy time and sincerely hope that they would be in a position to rebuild their lives and march ahead on the path of happiness and prosperity.
Friends, Malayala Manorama is not just a newspaper or a news magazine. It is, in fact, an integral part of Kerala’s society, an active and sensitive partner in the life of its people. It has grown not only on the strength of its commitment to journalistic probity and excellence, but with a strong sense of bonding with the people. Malayala Manorama has become an institution ever espousing larger issues concerning socio-economic development of Kerala. I am, therefore, not surprised to learn that Malayala Manorama was among the first ones which came forward to help the poor people of the coastal areas in the Kerala affected by Tsunami. In doing so Malayala Manorama was only continuing with its proud legacy of helping the victims of calamities in the past, especially when earthquakes shook Latur in 1993 and Bhuj in 2001.
Friends, Tsunami was one of the worst natural calamities which caused unprecedented havoc and wide spread devastation. It was nature's furious warning to the human race for its mindless acts in polluting and depleting natural resources and damaging the ecology. I feel that the nature is making its un-pleasure known to us through change in climates and other natural disasters. Glaciers are melting and monsoon is getting far too erratic with the result that we are faced with the problem of floods and drought at the same time at different places. To me Tsunami was a reminder to all of us to take immediate remedial measures to preserve our ecology.
On the one hand thousands of people fell victim to Tsunami's fury, on the other hand many of the survivors became homeless, orphan or disabled. As Chairman of Rajya Sabha, I had appealed to the Members of Parliament to contribute generously from their Local Area Development Fund towards the rehabilitation and reconstruction measures. My compliments to the Members of Parliament for their whole-hearted support. I also take this opportunity to compliment all those who have made generous contributions towards Tsunami relief and rehabilitation. In fact, it reflected our age-old ethos of care and compassion to the people in need and distress.
Today, one is very happy to see that several Tsunami relief and rehabilitation projects are well underway. I am personally very keen to see that a long-term rehabilitation plan is put in place to take care of the felt needs of the affected people especially in terms of providing education and support to the orphaned children. I am also very much concerned about the rehabilitation of the disabled. In fact I would like to urge you all, to take care of the physically disabled as a social mission so that no disabled person here remains without working limbs. Perhaps you would be aware of the now world famous JAIPUR FOOT. This artificial limb is the most economic and best suited for conducting one’s daily routine. I would be very happy to associate myself in arranging supply of JAIPUR FOOTs for the needy ones here in this Tsunami devastated area.
Friends, the unprecedented Tsunami tragedy has once again highlighted the reality that it is the under-developed areas which are prone to maximum devastation and that it is the poor and weaker sections that are most vulnerable to misery and suffering. The lesson to be learnt is that overcoming under-development and alleviation of poverty need to be accorded highest priority in the nation’s agenda of action. The task demands evolving a comprehensive reform agenda that pro-actively attacks the present day ills and shortcomings in existing system of governance. The challenges are going to be formidable, but as we know, there are never any short cuts to achieving high goals.
Let us consider the question of poverty alleviation and empowerment of the weak and the deprived. As we know well, our Constitution made the solemn commitment to secure all its citizens justice, liberty, equality and promoting among them all, fraternity. The Constitution also guarantees certain fundamental rights to a citizen. Our Supreme Court has also held that a citizen has the right to live with dignity. It is a matter of serious introspection whether these fundamental rights have any meaning for the un-empowered poor and the deprived. What meaning these rights have if the poor are not enabled with access in real terms to basic services such as primary education, healthcare, drinking water, shelter and with food security. Over 35 crore people are still illiterate. We have four crore people dwelling in slums. About four crore people are unemployed. Distress of poverty is even causing farmers’ suicide and forcing people to resort to social evils.
It has been my conviction all through that our democracy will survive and succeed only if it promotes welfare of the poor and the under-privileged who are having little access to basic education, healthcare or shelter. Our significant progress and development since independence would be fragile and unsustainable if it is not inclusive of the welfare of our 26 crore brethren living in extreme poverty. I, therefore, regard poverty alleviation and welfare of the common man as the fifth pillar of strength of our democracy. The challenge before us is to work hard and with urgency to strengthen this pillar; otherwise the whole edifice of democracy would face the risk of collapse.
Friends, we, therefore, need governance that ensures efficiency and integrity of management of public programmes meant for welfare of the poor. We need to make the delivery system of public programmes totally free of corruption. Unfortunately, on account of corruption and inefficiency in management, the public programmes have failed to deliver the intended benefits to the common man.
Our Parliament has recently legislated the Right to Information Act; we should effectively use the provisions of this law to disseminate and share with all concerned information in respect of coverage of beneficiaries as also the details of expenditure incurred under each of these schemes along with publication of audit reports on such expenditure. Establishing a mechanism for local vigilance on public delivery system of goods and services will also go a long way in improving the quality, efficiency and integrity of field administration.
Friends, I have shared with you some of the key areas of reforms necessary to improve governance. However, the need for social reforms is equally important. We need to improve and strengthen our moral fibre. Indeed, many of our present ills are the result of decline in our value system and loss of character. We need to re-imbibe the traditional values of honesty, integrity, compassion, care and cooperation. We once again need to establish our conduct based on truth and non-violence, peace and harmony. We need to promote secular values based on the principles of unity in diversity that would promote social cohesiveness and re-establish the paradigm of Indian ethos enshrined in our ancient maxim of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam.
In the task of improving governance and strengthening our democracy, all stakeholders have to play a pro-active role. The vision of a fully developed, prosperous and strong India by 2020 will be achieved only if the four estates of democracy have a constructive partnership with one another and jointly face the challenge of comprehensively improving governance with focus on promoting people’s welfare, progress and development.
My friends in the media, in the performance of this task, you would need to play a special role. Media has the capacity to effectively expose the shortcomings in governance. Also, it can generate people’s will for the success of any programme such as awareness to control HIV/AIDS, protection of environment, population stabilization and conservation of heritage. As a vigilant watchdog, media is in a unique position to ensure that all the three estates jointly and in mutual cooperation perform their duty in promoting welfare of the people and taking the country on the highway of progress and development. I know our people can surely bank upon Malayala Manorama in supporting this cause.
Ladies and gentlemen, the need is to begin the action without delay. The results are bound to follow. I have an abiding faith in the destiny of our nation and the bright future of our new generation. I know our youth have a dream of a better tomorrow. I am sanguine that with our earnest endeavours we are bound to build and give to our youth an India of their dreams, an India occupying its rightful place in the comity of developed nations.
I thank you once again for having invited me to be here this morning. It has indeed been a great pleasure to share my thoughts with you. I wish you Godspeed and every success in your noble endeavours of service to the needy and the poor.”
AK/SK/JA
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