Independent India @75 : Self Reliance with Integrity

 

Despite the restrictions in place to curb the spread of COVID-19, the vision for this ‘New India’ has started to take shape with the nation marching ahead with a strong commitment towards becoming Aatmanirbhar or self-reliant, in every sector. The recent technological advancements have propelled India to new heights. Indigenous development of digital platforms is becoming a mass movement in India, and new scientific partnerships have enabled a digital transformation in the country.

In the entire World, in its war for independence, India kept marching with its head high with its strength of unity, collectivity, and the resolve for its bright future, its commitment and inspiration. If India wants to increase its contribution then she herself will have to be empowered; she will have to be self-reliant or ‘AatmaNirbhar’. We must make ourselves capable of contributing towards world welfare. 

Our farm sector needs to evolve in line with requirements of world; Value addition is required for our farming sector. We should take pride in our local products. Come, let’s pledge in this 75th year of our independence, we shall adopt the talisman of ‘Vocal for Local’ and together let’s strengthen ourselves.  We must ensure that the infrastructure is a comprehensive and an integrated one. We are moving towards a multi-modal connectivity infrastructure for the new century. Today India is inspiring the entire world with its vision of one world, one sun and one grid, particularly in the field of solar energy. India has established itself as one of the five countries in the world in the generation of renewable energy. India’s agricultural sector that has, over the years, not only ensured our food security but has adapted to the growing demands of consumers by adding several exotic products to its list of produce, thereby reducing our dependence on imports and taking another step towards making the country self-reliant.

As sports make a gradual albeit cautious return, we look at football in India, which has grown exponentially following several international events that have been hosted in the country. In this issue, we introduce a section dedicated to pioneering Indian institutions that have contributed to the country’s progress. We begin with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and look at the numerous innovations that have not only made India’s defence sector more robust, but have also set the country on a path of self-reliance. We look at India’s diversity that is reflected vividly in its rich and varied linguistic heritage. Similarly, iconic Indian handicrafts and the traditional processes used to produce them have become the distinctive identity of different regions of the country. We journey across the nation to understand how Geographical Indications (GI tags) have helped in promoting these indigenous products and the many farmers and artisans associated with them, while simultaneously ensuring the protection of their unique identity.

The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (self-reliant Indian mission) provides an opportunity for India to engage more closely with foreign partners to make Indian manufacturing globally competitive and integrate domestic consumption and production with global supply chains; promoting resilience, embracing both investment and technology. A renewed push has been provided to India’s plan to become self-reliant. Hence, as India celebrates its 75th Independence Day, its citizens will reaffirm their enduring belief in democracy, which ensured a clear mandate for the current government, and aspirations for a human – centric path of growth catalysed by open and responsive governance.

 

How do we develop integrity?

v  Show up on time, every time

v  Write down things you are requested to do. Do them, and let the person who made the request know it has been done.

v  Keep all promises or explain the difficulty to the other party as soon as you are aware of your inability to keep the promise.

v  Focus on performance

v  Communicate frequently on progress

v  Do not cover up bad news. Provide a solution to the problem.

v  Use mistakes as an opportunity to improve.

v  Insist on honesty from your coworkers and from yourself.

 

We can safely say that with the ongoing strategic intent and reforms from both the government and the industry, the exotic food basket of India shall be witnessing a new narrative. In all these sectors, the common underlying theme has been visionary reforms and enabling support from the government or public sectors, upon which the entrepreneurs of India have built products and services. This model shall be the bedrock of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and take Indian science, technology and innovation to new heights. Let us unite together and follow self-reliance with integrity.

Mahatma Gandhi Principles

 

a)     We should not hurt others and should not make us unhealthy. Should have healthy communication. Words have both the power to destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world. The pillars of nonviolent communication includes Respect, Understanding, Acceptance, Appreciation and Compassion. Nonviolent communication entails nonviolent speech and action, maintenance of relationships and enrichment of personhood, openness and flexibility. We should learn to communicate with ourselves and self-introspect. We should practice active listening skills.

 

b)    In child hood my friends have quarreled for pen, pencil, notebook etc. For silly matters my friends have argued a lot. Though the property belongs to me I handover it to my friends. 

 

c)     One of my relative cursed me for my achievement. I didn’t reply anything to her. Instead I achieved a lot in my life.

 

d)    Though they did evil for good, I will do well to them till I live.

 

e)     Everyone will get angry in any situation in their life. But we should not have that angry in our hearts till we live in this world. We should forget and forgive.

 

f)      It is useful to control anger and it increases happiness in our life. It motivate us to be kind with everyone.

 

g)     We should take steps to advice each and every one. In this world so many people are living with hurt. We should take steps to remove the hurt in their heart and make everyone to love others.

Corruption Free India for a developed Nation

 

India faces the problem of corruption at various levels. This problem is eating our country internally. It is time for each one of us to realize the negative impact of corruption on our country and contribute our bit to make it corruption-free. It is often said that Indian politicians are corrupt, but that is not the only arena where corruption lies. Corruption lies in every sector, and it is ruining our country.

 

I dream of a corruption-free India. A place where everyone works hard and gets what he deserves. A place that gives equal opportunity to everyone based on their knowledge and skills irrespective of their caste, colour, creed, or religion. A place where people don’t use other people around to get accomplishes their selfish motives.

 

But alas, India is far from the ideal place I imagine it to be. Everyone is so engrossed in earning money and enhancing their lifestyle that they don’t mind using corrupt ways to fulfill their dreams and ambitions. It is a common notion that those who work with honesty cannot reach anywhere. They hardly get any promotions and continue to earn meager salaries. On the other hand, those who seek bribes and use unfair means to accomplish their tasks climb up the ladder of success and make a better living.

 

In India, anyone can stand for the elections and form a political party. The eligibility criterion does not include a person’s educational qualification. Some ministers haven’t even attended school and have completely zero knowledge about the political system. Some have a past criminal record. When such people govern the country, corruption is bound to happen. A minimum educational qualification criterion must be set. Only those candidates who meet the educational criteria and have a clean record must be allowed to contest the elections. The candidates who win the elections must then be trained to handle their duties and responsibilities. An educated and well-trained person can certainly run the country better. There must be a set protocol for everything, and the activities of the ministers must be monitored by a higher authority to see if it is being followed.

 

Lack of education is one of the main reasons for the growing corruption. Many people belonging to the uneducated class use illegal and corrupt means to earn their livelihood. Spreading education can help in curbing this problem to a large extent. The lower classes in our country undermine the importance of education, leading to increased corruption. The government must make policies to ensure that every child in the country goes to school and secures education. A society filled with educated people is likely to face less corruption.

 

The jobs in the market are less compared to the number of qualified youths. While many youths these days roam around without any jobs, others take up jobs that are not at par with their qualification. The dissatisfaction amongst these individuals and their quest for earning more leads them to take up corrupt means.

 

Strict laws must be made for people who indulge in corrupt practices such as taking and giving bribery, using illegal ways to expand their businesses, accumulating black money, etc. These people must be punished severely. People in our country get away with corrupt practices such as giving and taking bribes, not paying the income tax, following corrupt means to run businesses, etc. There is no strict law to monitor the activities of people. Even if people get caught, they are not punished severely for it. This is the reason why corruption is high in the country.

 

The media and government should join hands to conduct sting operations to uncover corrupt people in different sectors. Such sting operations will not only uncover the corrupt people but will also discourage others from indulging in such practices. We must take it as a responsibility to follow the right course of getting things done rather than giving bribes to get them done speedily or to escape fines.

 

Technology can also help in bringing down corruption. CCTV cameras must be installed in government offices, at red lights, and other places where the cases of taking and giving bribes are high. Recorders can be installed at places where it is difficult to install cameras. People can also take the initiative to record any corrupt practice on their mobile and share it at their nearby police station.

 

People in India are scared of going to the police, even for lodging a complaint against someone. They avoid going to the police station because they fear getting caught up in the nitty-gritty of the police inquiry, which may bring a bad name to them. The procedures at the police station must be such that those who wish to help the police must not face any inconvenience.

 

Greed and growing competition in the market are also reasons for growing corruption. People these days have become extremely greedy. They want to earn more than their relatives and friends, and in this mad rush, they do not hesitate to employ corrupt means to realize their dreams.

 

Everyone wants the country to be free of corruption and criticizes the government for not doing anything in this direction. But are we trying to curb the issue at our levels? No, we are not. Knowingly or unknowingly, we all are giving rise to corruption. Nobody is ready to take the initiative and work as a team to drive this evil away from the country.

 

The causes of corruption are known to all. It is said that once the cause of a problem is identified, half the task is done. It is now time to look for solutions rather than discuss the problem repeatedly. Our country can flourish and grow better if we get rid of the problem of corruption. It is the joint effort of the individuals, media as well as the government that can help in building a corruption-free India. They must take it as a responsibility to work hand in hand to make the country a better place to live.