The need for social reform

‘Democracy’ and ‘Socialism’ are two important words in the preamble to the constitution of India. This in effect provides for a welfare state in which the popularly elected government is responsible for basic services that can be grouped under physical and social infrastructure.

India lags behind in both – physical and social infrastructure. There are various reasons for this and almost all of those are attributable to the failure of service delivery mechanisms. Even government of the day accepts that less than 17 paisa out of 100 reaches the intended target. RTI, UID project, and Lokpal Bill are noteworthy steps in the direction to improve service delivery mechanisms and ensure accountability.

It seems that we are on the right track but a critical piece is still missing in the Indian jigsaw. Abraham Lincoln said – “Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people”. We elect the government, we make the government and we hold the government accountable. The failure of our government is our failure but we do not accept it. It is our tendency to find faults elsewhere. The notion that ‘System works this way only’ is ingrained in us partly because we do not want to take the pain to find the right way and partly because we are status-quoist. No Lokpal, UID or any other legislation can give us freedom of thought.

Are we aware? Even if we are aware, are we fearless enough to pursue affirmative action? We have to take the path less traveled, we need a social reform and we need a mental revolution.