The grief and anger is overwhelming. I know, the frequency of terror attacks is supposed to make us numb and indifferent but it will be a really sad for humanity if that happens. It does not matter to me what the social or economic status of a victim is, the loss of a life and the accompanying pain cannot be classified. The trauma experienced by every one of those innocent people, who got caught in this terrible siege, may it be at CST, Taj, Oberoi, Nariman House, Cafe Leopold or on the streets will live with them forever. The stories of bravery and sacrifices made by the various staff, common people, police personnel and the soldiers are endless and restore faith in human goodness. And whatever might be the reasons for the sudden outburst of voices we are hearing across the cities, they give me hope. These voices might be labelled urban, middle class or even 'too late', but they make me want to think, I am so glad there are people feeling, reacting and talking, I don't know for how long but it is enough, for now, that it has started.
There has been enough postmortem of the events since 26/11/08 attacks and their fall out. The media is doing more than an adequate job of it. A lot is being said about 'why' and 'how', I want to focus on 'now what'. I am making a list of changes that I feel are urgent and necessary, especially, now. The ultimate list is huge because the change we need to look for is vast, so I am limiting myself, now, to issues that are direct fall out of the events of those terrible three days and of course it reflects the public outcry ensuing since. This list will hopefully get longer as some of you add to it. I must say though that these suggestions are not mine alone, so many friends and acquaintances have contributed to it over the last one week.
1. Create a Federal Agency of Investigation/Intelligence, centralize terror investigations, do not let narrow state level politics influence the results, make it transparent and verifiable.
2. Effective foolproof Anti-Terror Law. Not draconian laws like POTA that are misused thoroughly as a power tool by politicians. Stop demanding for POTA, it was tried and tested- it failed. Think, consult and don't make populist moves again.
3. Police reforms- this one is so urgent that I am surprised more people are not talking about it. Increase the police force, the ratio of people to cops is seriously skewed at the moment. Pay better so that it attracts young, capable people. Spend more time, thought and money on the training and fitness.
4. Get latest technology and equipment for all the security forces, including the police (We do not need to get into the details of why this is needed, thanks to constant television coverage we have all seen what lack of latest weapons, designated aircrafts and even obvious stuff like night vision technology did). Also, there should be more security checkpoints in crowded places, with latest functional equipment, the cops manning these must be trained well in using the technology and should be armed to react if necessary.
5. Modern paramedic services, more ambulances. Ambulances equipped with latest technology. Have you ever tried to call for an ambulance, there are hardly any available, private hospitals have some, but they are there to take you to them. Have you heard of something called trained paramedics Mr.Ramdoss and whoever your successor might be?
6. Modernize hospitals (clean them up at the least). Increase the number of hospitals and beds. In case you have not seen our population is multiplying everyday. The reason people from rural areas crowd the city hospitals is because they do not have any functioning health facilities.
7. Modernize the Fire Departments, give them latest equipment and safety gear, train them to work in a security crisis, increase their force.
8. CRISIS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM/ QUICK RESPONSE SYSTEM. We need this both at the state and centralized level. This should include the above mentioned highly trained police, medical personnel, fire fighters and other emergency personnel including NGOs working in the related fields. This system will not only come into action during terror strikes and other security threats but also during natural disasters and other emergencies. Don't forget how many people died in the recent Bihar floods because they did not receive rescue services on time. Depending on the Army for every crisis is an inefficient system.
9. Design and create an effective media campaign to educate people on how to be aware of security threats and on how to respond during a crisis. This will be useful not only during the kind of hostage situation we faced last week but also during natural disasters.
Now to the political reforms:
10. We need to commit ourselves to remove crime from politics. Anybody with any proven criminal history must not be allowed to participate in the electoral process. Crimes included must be inciting and abetting mob violence, financial scams and corruption. Even people who are being investigated for terror links must be kept out of the electoral process (I have been hearing rumors about Pragya Thakur being offered tickets to contest elections). If we do not succeed in making the self serving Parliament pass a legislation we as people must monitor such candidates and reject them irrespective of party loyalties.
11. Ban the use of caste and religion as political planks. Do not allow political parties to use these labels to promote themselves and divide the country. Did we not witness centuries of exploitation through the same means. Why are we quietly watching them do it again?
12. Election Commission must monitor the electoral process more closely and make sure that sensitive national issues are not used as campaign tools, especially those that might lead to breach in national security.
13. Make every new MP and MLA go through rounds of rigorous orientation courses and tests. Make them take refresher courses every year. Train them to understand what it means to be a part of a Democratic process and the responsibilities that come with it. It is not just about the power or access to funds.
14. Have transparent and regular performance appraisals and audits of ministers and ministries. Have appraisals on a localized level for MPs and MLAs. Put the results of these audits out for public review.
15. Faces at the governments might change every five years but make the governing structure, the bureaucracy capable, transparent and accountable. Modernize the system, in fact, reassess the selection process' like the current structure of UPSC exams.
16. Review VIP security. If necessary create another force to protect them, pull these personnel out of the police force. Why are the best trained commandos from the armed forces protecting these handfuls of civilians, when they could all be utilizing their talents in a much better manner in the many troubled zones across the country?
17. Make the pay scales of MPs, MLAs and Ministers at par with market rate. This will make politics a viable and sustainable option for youth and it will also help in reducing corruption.
18. Stop ignoring Naxal militancy and other insurgency issues at the centre. They are dangerous and deeply embedded in large parts of the country. Examine and address the root causes. Participate in dialogue with the rebels. At the same time have well trained forces involved in disarming them. Stop exploiting and ignoring the needs of forests and tribals.
19. Stop ignoring the dangerously porous border on the East. Militancy in North East has not only destroyed generations of families but also the whole social fabric of the effected regions. Hasn't it been acknowledged many times that it is aided by outside forces?
20. At least display some political will from all sides to find a solution to the Kashmir problem. How long will the valley live in terror?
21. Do not resort to populist demands for vigilante people's forces; we have seen many times in the past that resorting to outsourcing law-and-order, arming untrained and unaccountable civilians has led to worse problems, may it be in Assam, Jammu and Kashmir or Chhattisgarh's infamous Salwa Judum.
22. Do not get into a diplomatic isolation again. Terrorism is now a global issue, take the help offered. America already has a stake and a firm foot in Pakistan. Tread carefully, though, do not get drawn into serving as an American military base or vantage point in the sub continent.
23. Avoid war. One, the human cost of war is always terrible. Two, WE CANNOT AFFORD A WAR. We are a 'developing' economy with a major part of our population still living in extreme poverty. Also, we along with the rest of the world are in middle of an unprecedented global economic recession.
24. Stop looking for American style solutions. India and USA are very different, geographically and economically. Even the Americans are struggling with their hasty and badly planned 'War on Terror'. Their badly planned actions are causing a lot of grief and trouble to them; their allies and the world. The introduction of draconian laws like the USA Patriot Act have not yielded any great results, there also (please see, point 2 on POTA). They have not been able to make a dent in ‘Al Queda’, their current enemy number one.
25. Finally and maybe most importantly we need a responsible citizenry and civil society. Our participation is necessary for the democracy to function in the true sense. Let our voices not die, let us continue the dialogue. A responsive and broad based civil society is as important as the electoral process and elected representatives. Let us not condemn the democratic process for there are countries across the world struggling for years to be a part of it. Yes, condemn the corrupt politicians, ensure that better people join politics and garner support for them. We cannot beat them unless some of the stronger ones among us join the system. We want a clean system let us also start cleaning it from our end and take our responsibilities as citizens seriously. Let us start by voting responsibly and paying our taxes, if we want any change. Who do you think pays those NSG commandos the whole country is praising ? Next time we see a person being victimized for her/his caste, gender, religion, economic status, cultural differences or regional origins let us step up and protest, in whatever way we can; let us stop bribing, for even the smallest thing; we must stop cribbing when there are security checks at airports, markets, railway stations or cinema halls; let us not, ever, say "chal ta hai yaar, duniya ke saath chalna padta hai or aaj kal duniya kharaab hai kya kare".
8 comments:
Hey,
You have aptly listed down the to-do list.
But I would like to put your 25th point as the primary one.
Fortunately, now we are seeing so many positive responses against terror. People are voicing out their anger in as many ways as possible, be it – blogs, street march, candle lighting.
When the terror struck, many of our lives almost came to a standstill. But I noticed around me, people leading normal life, talking abt their mundane worries. Though, I should say, Mumbai incident was a part of their conversation or teatime topic – “Whatever happening so sad, but what will we do till we have corrupt politicians; kya kare, that’s life!!”
I do understand, life will not continue to be standstill with one incident. But what I don’t understand is, how can one remain unaffected or untouched with this grave tragedy!
Many of us might think, writing blogs, lighting candle or street march is not going stop terror. Of course not. But atleast we can bring in as many voices as possible and channelise this positive outcry into a constructive mode.
I would like to applaud Times Now and NDTV (do not want to generalize by calling them media) for their unbiased coverage with no sensationalism or speculations. Though I would like to question, why Burka Dutt was so happy that politicians had unified, when the least they could do was to come together in such crisis! I don’t even want to talk about CNN-IBN and hindi new channels.
hi,
its frustrating than being sad...its helplessness than being disgusted...its tough to set right the whole system...what all points mentioned by u will be just points...the cleaning should start from the grassroots..action to b taken in our own lives..blogging over here behind safely closed doors will nt help...and im bit disappointed seeing people getting to roads when the real problem came to elite/foreingers...who the hell was there on the roads when there was an attack at jaipur,ahmedabad...bcoz there were common people whose lives were not valued...total bias with in our country but still calling we r united...what rubbish
Shock and horror were the first emotions I experienced seeing the Mumbai attack unfold on TV. Those emotions soon gave way to pure rage. Some 10 fanatics enter the country armed with sophisticated weaponry and go around shooting innocent people. This is probably the most brazen terror attack the world has ever seen. I was glued to the TV for the next 62 hours, thinking about it all the time, seething with anger. I was unable to sleep at night. This was too much to take.
Now with the dust slowly settling in Mumbai, I am heartened by the public outcry over the attacks. Wish we had done this sooner.
While I agree it's tough to set right the whole system, at least the first step towards it needs to be taken now. We have to ask questions, we need to protest, we must demand accountability.
More than 190 people lost their lives and about a third of these died at the CST. I don't think too many foreigners travel by train to UP and Bengal, do they? Lives are lives and to suggest that lives of the affluent and westerners are more important than the others is outrageous.
All 25 points mentioned in this blog are completely relevant and needs to be implemented to avoid further attacks.
Well, not all of us can join the army and the police to fight terrorists with guns but yes, we can contribute by asking questions and suggesting answers to problems that have plagued India for a long time.
If i see the whole situation more impartially then i see that we all are sleeping people9(so to say waking sleep) we all are full of me,me ,me...lets see ki hamara mukabla kin se hai...these terrorists who have there focussed attention at their 'Aim' they are continuosly working on it they have taken some actions...where as we don't have any specific devoted Aim ...we have many things to do....they are practising emotionally, mentally and physically to achieve that Aim...what are we doing...what kind of actions we are taking to fight against the terrorism...we can sit and talk, we take out our frustrations by talking about it BUT practically where is the Action and who is going to take the action? Action koi jaga hua aadmi hi le sakta hai soya hua nahi...apni neend me hum unka mukabla nahi ar sakte...hum sab jaagne ki koshish kar sakte hain tabhi un ka mukabla kar sakte hain...neend me sirf 'Reactions' hote hain 'Actions' nahi....
We are expecting changes in the system through them who have made it like this!!!! we all are responsible for our today and nobody else....we have supported the curruption...though i have all the justifications taht i am not responsible for it but it is a bloody truth jo accept karna mushkil hai and also painful...this is my situation..
i jst read all the comments...its sheer the same rage,feelings running around..this is the time to channelise our rage into right direction to bring the change in this country but it may take decades to change...i dnt believe in this blogging.Questioning...suggesting thru ths wil nt affect the system..i jst want to knw hw u people wuld take the intiative to bring a sligtest change to this society...guys get into action than jst brooding on the problem..suggest how we can bring a change around us...if nt we will be jst like our politicians talking abt the problems..and no action taken on them...living with the same publics' short memory....and go on..come on think how could we bring a change and we can join our hands to give a beautiful & peace life to our children
Really summed up well the points, but would like to comment on a few just some thoughts-
Point no. 12- I dont think the EC should impose any curbs on the same, I believe such issues need to be talked about and debated and as a voter i have a right to know what each party feels and how its going to address those issues and am a voter who is sensible enough to distinguish rhetoric from action oriented plans and curbs will be akin to avoiding the issue. If a party chooses to take mileage out of the ussue as a voter I can see through that and excercise my discretion while excersing my vote.
Point no. 13
Training will be done by whom?
Point no. 14. I think the only ones who have a right to appraise are the voters, the others who are likely to appraise like the PM or CM will alsways have compulsions like vote banks or coalition politics which would prevent them from transparent appraisals is my opinion here.
Point no. 23 is really good.
Point no. 5
Really good, infact my wife is doing a one year program in Emergency medicine, Of late in Mumbai we have two service providers who provide para medical services but the issue is the ones who attend the course are all doctors and they do this course and use the skills attained mainly in the ICU and not in the ambulance, unless the government permits courses similar to medical streams to be offered to para medics this shortage is always going to be there.
At the end of it I would like to add that I do see a lot of hope, all this public activism has lead to accountability (forced and unforced) we have seen the Home minister at central and state level resign the CM had to move on unlike earlier times with the chances of their chairs being lost the politicians are bound to work harder on the issues which need to be addressed and this itself is a new beginning.
And I also pray for all those who suffered acts of terror over the last many years.
Anu also sent a few forwards like pics of the banners at the recent peace rally. Lets all make a difference and leave apathy aside and in our own way make the world a safer place to live in.
Anup, to answer two of your questions with my limited knowledge-
Point 13. There are many very qualified political,constitutional, sociological, economic, management and communication experts in our country, who can be engaged to train these MPs, MLAs and ministers.
14. Same people as above and also independant agencies. 'Transparency' is the key word.
I agree with you on point number 12 to a degree but i do not trust the spin docs in our politics, i feel they can endanger our security too to gain electorally.
Post a Comment