Why is the space and scope for multi-stakeholder especially civil society and people centric organizations shrinking? Change in people’s ambitions and aspirations is leading to a change in the leadership quantum as well. Change in leadership in America shows there are always new colors emerging at the horizons of politics. As rightly put by Ms. Kamala Harris, “President-elect Joe Biden had the character and audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exists in our country and select a woman as his vice president.
While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last,” Whether you take the elections in Bihar in India or in America, what is that something extra that people are looking for? Take an example of nature, to bring balance in nature you need lions, elephants but for re-flourishing or reviving nature we need honeybee too for pollination for rewilding. Is it time to transform the parameters of our thinking? Today the youth is restless and want more than the basic needs. What are the issues in front of today’s youth? Unemployment, lack of infrastructure, poor health. Unemployment Rate in India increased to 7 percent in October from 6.70 percent in September of 2020. As per the Health Index initiative by Niti Aayog, World Bank Group and Ministry of Health and Family welfare “Despite notable gains in improving health the rates of improvement have been insufficient, falling short on several national and global targets.” For transformation of society what kind of the ecosystem do we need? Should we not leverage bottom up approach and strengthen civil society?Development is not a finish line towards which we must run and after crossing that line we shall all reach state of nirvana. Earlier all of us wished for urban living, the heart of the city abode, the better but now cities are like gas chambers. People are moving towards nature. More among forests, the better. Perspectives change, people change.
Is the meaning of development just vertical growth or also horizontal growth and growth towards roots as well? The role of human wellbeing in development remains more puzzling. Isn’t development all about getting a roof over your head and food in your belly? Don’t we all dream about the white picket fence, a secure job, and a nice car or two in the garage so that we can be sure that we have some sort of foundation on which to build our lives. We need security, and we crave order, and we make a quiet presumption that our achievements will get us there. When the basic needs of life are met, then what next? Such questions are frequently pondered deeply, but rarely answered with certainty and consistency. This unprecedented lockdown brought everyone’s life to a halt and gave an opportunity to introspect and the million-dollar question dancing in front of our eyes was “Have we achieved all that we were aiming for?” We were not prepared for such a scenario, but we must adapt as per the need of the hour. We must build back forward and build back better. The sages taught humanity, time and again, that material gain alone will not fulfil our deepest needs. If we retrospect in a democratic setup in a decade we have achieved a lot but have ignored very important issues as well, those did not catch the eye of political analysts and governments?
What is the need of today? Is there a need for the ability to influence and enthuse others through, vision,drive, and to access resources to build a solid platform for generations to come?
