would crowd-sourcing ‘charges’ against ruling combine help opposition & india
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7/27/2019 Would Crowd-sourcing ‘Charges’ against Ruling Combine help Opposition & India
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Would Crowd-sourcing ‘Charges’ against
Ruling Combine help principle
Opposition party & IndiaBy : Amit Bhushan Date:21Aug,2013
India‟s ruling dispensation besotted with unprecedented scandals like Telecom, Defence, Games, Coal & Mining,
Real Estate/Land etc. and is under pressure from its own bureaucrats, constitutional authorities, courts, investigators
and media is increasingly loosing friends amongst political support groups and businesses. The principal political
opposition is trying to align such disenchanted groups through social media engagement such as Crowd Sourcing a
Charge Sheet. While this may be novel experiment with „new media‟, it depicts lack of understanding of the new
media and its possible application in political battles.
The principle opposition party should note that it is not only battling the ruling dispensation but also other political
rivals as well as „noise‟ in the voters‟ environment. It is in this context that it has to drive home „its message‟ viz. „ If I
come to power, the following 1, 2, 3… will be delivered via mechanism 1, 2, 3… ‘. The ordinary voter does not
vote against someone (or the people who want to vote against some generally do not go to vote), but it is a positive
inclination towards someone or some issue, that forces a voter to come out and take the pain of queuing to cast a
vote. It is for this goal, the party has earlier highlighted Chaal, Chehra and Charitra and slogans like Bijli, Pani and
Sadak. Its rhetorical supporters had created a bit more fanatical aura of making India a VishwaGuru. While the
environment is of economic despondency, however politics of the opposition seem to have been totally consumed byit risking the chance that it will be able to group a substantial number of people who may come out and vote for it. It
should grasp that there is no Right to Reject in India for voters yet, who only has a Right to Select or „not to select‟.
In such a scenario, it is pertinent that the principle party in Opposition channelizes it energies in more efficient
manner. A talk about specifics is more engaging as well as more productive. Nevertheless, it is much more difficult to
practice as well as to communicate and therefore politicians of all hues engage in Rhetoric, a charge that the party
leadership is not alien to. In such a scenario, it has the opportunity to channelize its energies towards a more positive
engagement via Crowd Sourcing technique rather the way it is deploying it presently. For Example: it can use the
technology to promote positive goals for the country and identifying issues as well as positive ideas through the
technology. It can make a goal that it will identify 100 big and moderate impact policy/project ideas using technologyon which it will nurture further for implementation during the first 1-2 years of its rule. This principle can yield issues
which are more specific as well as ideas which people would like to see in action some of which may pass through
the bureaucratic sieve and can be implemented while some could be refined further for implementation. It would also
give munitions to the political leaders to build real pressure of the government in run up to elections since people like
to side with those leaders who are seen delivering or who seem to be sincerely performing rather than who are plain
rhetorical. Such constructive engagement will also allow the party to engage with „colleges‟ and other youth in larger
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numbers as well as have a health engagement with businesses & donors since it is about specific changes rather
than a platform to voice pains and anathema.
This can be done by identifying positive achievable goals for India which have a reasonable basis for success.
Forming teams of a couple of Parliamentarians as well as a couple of ticket hopefuls along with some technology
professionals and 3-5 SME business entrepreneurs (who can give guidance regarding feasibility/implement-ability of
the idea as well as factual correctness) on each of the goal for which crowd sourcing of issues/ideas on each such
goals. The engagement of public can be ensured through existing PR/Ad agencies along with supportive workers that
can also have ground level promotions in colleges, market-areas, internet cafes etc. This would also give rise to
issues which can reverberate and have large takers in specific constituencies while a lot others may provoke
„thoughtfulness‟ within and outside the party including in the governing quarters, a positive impact of the part on the
political practice in the country.
The issues that can trigger India to think and react could be like – Making India a Global Services Hub or Developing
Agro-Processing or Manufacturing India, for which suggestions regarding „impediments ‟ as well as „generating
ideas for creation of a favourable Taxonomy & business environment‟ can be sought from public through crowd
sourcing. The party may choose to say the selected ideas may be incorporated as an addendum to its manifesto and
incorporated in its delivery promises. This would also help it differentiate from other rivals as people like to be seen
and heard by those who have better reach and chances to govern and allow it to needle the ruling party on specific
failures. The ruling regime anyways is busy firefighting and „managing‟ friends and foes having given up on
governance responsibility already that it will find very few takers now. It would also help build public image of second-
third line of workers who can find mention in web for managing specific initiatives and the SME businesses will also
gain some credibility.
Several sub-programs can be initiated under “Making India a Global Services Hub”. India with its young population
has been able to attract global lime light for IT services basis its capability to produce technically capable resources
for code writing and IT tech design. It has also been trying to make in roads for Services with limited success. This
can be built upon further.
1. Making India a Telecom, satellite and Data Services Hub: With availability of „value for money‟ labour which
is technically competent the initiative can identify impediments in Taxonomy and high impact infrastructure
projects that have potential to attract investors & generate jobs.
2. Making India a Financial Services & their Back office Hub: With availability of „value for money‟ competent
manpower the initiative can identify impediments in Taxonomy, Regulatory environment, Audit rules,
coordination with foreign regulators and high impact policies & projects that has potential to attract investors
& generate jobs.
3. Making India a Health Care Services Hub: As a nation which speaks English and proven potential to lower
medical services costs, it can identify issues faced by the industry towards achievement of goal.
4. Making India a Logistics, Wholesale Trade and Industrial sourcing Services Hub: With vast Coastline, Aero
infrastructure and competent manpower including huge internal consumption India can achieve this goal of
being a Hub to provide such services globally basis a supportive Taxonomy. Small countries
like Cyprus & Singapore have held their sway on shipping and Air logistics. The party can try to identify
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policy impediments, lack of supportive laws, procedural bottlenecks as well as opportunity to develop
infrastructure to achieve this goal.
5. Entertainment, Information content development Hub: India‟s vast manpower can be suitably deployed to
meet global needs in this area and opportunities can be identified to train our resources to meet such
demand.
6. Global EPC and Product Design Hub: Our vast technical pool suitably places us to meet the demand for
most engineering, procurement and construction related requirements as well as R&D including designing
for new products. Suitable support measures for attracting investments in this regard can be identified.
Various other measures can be for developing India as Global Higher education Hub, development of Domestic and
Inbound Tourism, Sports etc. Basic idea is that instead of creating a commercial infrastructure first (like SEZs, Costly
roads, metros & swanky power plants) and then try to attract „risk capital‟ the way the present government tried and
failed, the party should try to collect a pool of ideas and invest where impact seems significant instead of madly
following even bigger dreams like DMIC whose failure can bankrupt the nation. The regime is currently busy
devaluing Rupee in order to sell the infra support to businesses without causing rupee loss for those supporters with
whom they coyed up for the development. This also ensures continued support for further infra development and
support for Real Estate owners and businesses. A look to revise archaic laws as well as reforming the judicial system
can also be undertaken so that we have enforceable contracts and timely remedies.
Several sub-programs can be initiated under “Developing Agro -Processing or Manufacturing India”. India‟s‟ vast
young population provides a big market for domestic consumption as well as ability to produce goods for exports.
This can be built upon further.
1. Making India an Agri-processing Hub: With vast domestic production and consumption, it should have been
natural for India to be one of the leaders in this sector. Instead we are a lame duck in the sector which
globally is a large employer and value creator. Is it because of our culture for Fram Fresh or is it because of
our Taxonomy which levies taxes such as production & sales tax/VAT on processed food while leaving Farm
Fresh untaxed with the result that Indians buy Farm Fresh to be processed in kitchens. How to alter
Taxation and regulations for jobs without compromising on government revenues? Other supportive
measures.
2. Making India a Light engineering, Electrical & electronics Hub: Various ideas can be identified for
discussions and engagement with public.
3. Making India a Light Arms and Ammunitions/Explosive Hub: We have the Requisite Engineering skills,
Chemical processing skills, High level domestic consumption via our external and internal security forces.
What we need is management skills for security and commercial transactional aspects management which
need to be internalized by our people and authorities (old as well as some new ones). Various ideas can be
identified for discussions and engagement with public.
4. Making India a Plastics products/Stainless/Steel Products Hub: Various ideas can be identified for
discussions and engagement with public.
Various specific topics to engage with Public can be identified for policy measure identification and debate. Though
even Heavy engineering/shipping/Railways/Aircraft/Construction Equipment industry etc. can be taken up but care
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can be taken to have ideas where general public can contribute. This shall allow a larger number of leaders and
workers engage with interested public regarding specific measures which they would like to see in action rather and
therefore will have a commitment to vote for rather than just a vent for their frustration for which one may not be
committed about.