MAPSTL

Mrs. Shobana Bharatiya,
Mr. Vir Sanghvi,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me start by congratulating Shobanaji and her colleagues, for bringing together yet again, so quite a few eminent personalities. You have just heard the Prime Minister who in his own direct and self-effacing style, has articulated a road map for us to follow towards “building a much better future”.For “Building a Greater Future”, without any doubt quicker economic growth is crucial.Clearly, enhanced investment in economic, social and physical infrastructure is essential.To be sure, increased engagement with the rest of the world is essential.Beyond question, a new political culture, based on caring and concern for the larger public excellent, is critical.But in addition to all this, I believe we need to give a entire new momentum to public action.This will call for the government to be even more purposeful and effective.It will also call for a new compact between the government and civil society.And it is this partnership that I want to speak on nowadays.India’s entrepreneurs are justly celebrated these days. They are doing the country proud. I for one believe that they ought to be given every opportunity to understand their full possible.Indian scientists and technologists have made significant contributions to nation-building. Now our colleges, universities, institutes of higher learning and laboratories will need a renewed vitality coupled with creative energy.But if our concern is with individuals at significant and their day-to-day lives, especially of the weaker sections, then we require a new paradigm for sustained cooperation between the government and civil society.What do I mean by “civil society”?To me, civil society embraces the very huge number of social action groups, voluntary agencies, NGOs, peoples’ movements, citizens’ associations, community organizations and, as a mirror of society, the media.India’s democracy has flowered and that is genuinely our most remarkable achievement.And 1 key reason for this has been the existence of a vigourous civil society in which discussion, argument and mobilization thrive.

It is the arena in which alternative visions of the future have been articulated, in which alternative paths to attain that future have been debated.It is also the arena in which we, who are in a position of power, are being held accountable to our promises and pledges.In numerous parts of the country, civil society is making a real difference in education, health, nutrition, credit, rural development and the environment. Civil society associations have provided a forum for lakhs of workers in the unorganized sector.

In some regions, civil society has taken the lead in promoting social peace and harmony. At times of natural calamities, we have seen how rapidly and how sensitively it has stepped in to assist the government’s efforts in supplying relief and rehabilitation.All this has happened spontaneously, practically entirely simply because of individual drive, dedication and determination. We have in our country a tradition of social service – of sewa – exemplified most vividly by the Gandhian legacy.The government has to produce an institutional framework for the involvement of a diverse array of civil society groups and organizations in both the democratic and developmental method. The challenge is to make space for them and encourage the proliferation of their success stories.The corporate sector too-and I see captains of business here this morning– has a role in strengthening civil society networks. I am aware that we have some outstanding examples of corporate philanthropy and social service. I believe the corporate sector wants to and can do far more.But let me be clear. Just as economic reforms do not mean the abdication of the role of the state, the involvement of civil society also does not imply the abandonment of the role of the state.There are many areas where such a collective effort can be mounted.I can immediately believe of the implementation of social legislation as one example so that the progressive laws we have passed for the welfare of ladies and kids especially do not remain confined to paper.We now have a far-reaching Proper to Data Act. Civil society has contributed much to the passage of this legislation. It is a historic opportunity to help enforcing a new culture of transparency and accountability in administration, beginning at the panchayat level itself.Or take the historic Rural Employment Guarantee Act that Parliament passed in its last session. Here again, the involvement of NGOs will be vital not only for mobilizing the folks but also for social audit and monitoring.In recent years, an additional remarkable segment has emerged and these are women’s’ self-aid groups. I see panchayats and these self-support groups as two sides of the exact same coin.Panchayats are institutions of democratic representation. Self-aid groups are institutions of voluntary participation. Working together, they can transform rural India.Incidentally, is it really a surprise that the most prosperous self-assist groups are those run and managed by women?

[I know that some of the men in the audience may possibly not agree,] but isn’t it true that the natural instinct of ladies is to save. And isn’t it true that the spirit of cooperative action is instinctively nurtured by ladies? It is not a coincidence that some of the most prominent names in civil society happen to be those of women.It is since of the centrality of women’s’ movements in civil society that we will need to push harder for gender justice. While significant initiatives have been taken like, for example, the reservation for ladies in panchayats and nagarpalikas, the struggle for complete gender equality should continue unabated.I hope you will not misunderstand my emphasis on ladies. I know there are quite a few men whose contribution to civil society is second to none. But it is a reality that in our society women have to strive significantly harder for recognition and results.I have spoken of cooperation between the government and civil society. But I do recognize that at times there may well well be an elements of conflict in this relationship. That is due to the fact the status quo might be threatened, that is since vested interests may well come under scrutiny. That is simply because of fear that credit may well be taken by other people.

Such adversarial positions are not often wholly undesirable. Discourse is the essence of the democratic process and it is critical to maintain the dialogue alive, by the two sides talking to every other, rather than at every other. Still, I would say, that the onus remains both on political activists and the bureaucracy to offer expanding opportunities to civil society, to protect their autonomy and to permit them to engage in advocacy.

Having said this, let me also point out that civil society itself has to do some introspection. It has to subject itself to the same standards of audit and governance as it demands from elected representatives and the government. It has to stay away from obtaining embroiled in partisan politics. It has to dispel the impression that sometimes it gives of being instinctively anti-growth and anti-technologies.

Earlier, I spoke of the media itself as an institution of civil society. I should acknowledge the role our media is playing in highlighting the accomplishments of both people and groups. There is a vast army of professionals, of educated and talented young men and women whose vision of a much better future is to work for the betterment of the lives of the much less fortunate. Our media can play an even higher role in highlighting their contributions. This, in turn, will inspire others — I know that “excellent news” in the media is rarely “news” in truth it almost certainly means “bad business” but it is great if the media forgets this basic rule once in a although.

Ladies and Gentlemen, a much better future for India ought to mean a better future for all Indians, a future in which each and every Indian leads a life of dignity and is assured of the fundamental securities. Globalisation presents quite a few opportunities that we ought to not miss. At the same time, we have a vast agenda for local transformation which we need to address with a new sense of commitment. A vibrant partnership between government and civil society is the springboard for such a new resolve. Such a partnership will, I am positive, offer a durable foundation for “Building a Much better Future”.

Thank You