Rampant corruption and inefficiency of the bureaucratic machinery has reached a point where public tolerance is bursting at its seams. Increasing incidents of people taking law into their own hands and spot-punishing petty criminals are brute manifestations of their raw anger at the incompetent civil administration. One of the leading national weeklies (India Today, April 7, 2008) recently carried it as their cover story titled: 'Making us pay more for Sloth.' decrying the 6th CPC bonanza to the bureaucracy without fixing accountability. Some conscientious IAS officers have unhesitatingly exposed their own brethren by hosting lists of 'most corrupt officers' on the Internet. Some, fired by their conscience, have written books exposing their sinning service colleagues. When Vinod Dua of NDTV recently called for a poll, 85 percent voted for 'Salary of military officers should be higher than IAS' (Other options were 'Equal to IAS' (3 percent) and 'Less than IAS' (12 percent). Our people love us; let's walk up to them!
Due to Inept handling at administrative levels has only aided the menace of terror to spread and breed in all parts of our country today. The vicious network is so intricately woven that the notion of 'depth areas' and hinterland has been rendered redundant today as every home and hearth is within enemy's kargar range! With criminals like Afzal Guru living a protected life despite a death sentence by the Supreme Court and the not-too-secret havens for the budding terrorists thriving within the country, where is the need to import terrorism? Ours is a very much homegrown terrorism with avowed champions (vote seekers) jumping into the fray to defend and perpetuate the evil. People in general are fed up even as they haplessly look towards the Armed Forces for deliverance.
Industrialists including our NRIs and foreign giants willing to invest in India, are often deterred by the worsening security scenario in India. Our economical growth too presupposes 'safe and secure environment'. Their reticence notwithstanding, almost all of our industry barons and entrepreneurs have great respect for the Armed Forces. They also despise the rising corruption and worsening security surroundings.
There is a class of very learned people who are leading a quiet retired life but vehemently denounce the worsening state of our security environments. They are scientists, academicians, social activists, journalists, media personalities, and even bureaucrats and politicians of the yore. I have come across some retired Secretaries, Ambassadors and DGPs who have the capacity to speak up for the country's future dispassionately rising above the narrow bondage of their erstwhile Service. This phenomenon, if carefully harnessed, can reinforce our credibility and justification of our demands.
Three pronged strategy
In view of these ground realities of the day, I recommend a three pronged approach to be integrated in our Movement's long term strategies. (Over and above our ongoing plans of protest mechanism through periodical Rallies, Public Meetings and so forth.)
1. Creation of Expert Veterans Forum
It could be given any other name or form but the Forum should consist of known faces of eminent citizens, e.g., former Service Chiefs, scientists, academicians, social activists, journalists, judges, lawyers, media personalities, and why not even bureaucrats and politicians of the yore. A number of sets of Panels can be drawn up at IESL level after carefully ascertaining and analysing individual expertise, ideology and leanings of such expert veterans. Of course, we need to nurture patronage with the top management of the Broadcasters (TV Channels) and the Press Lords (Publishing Houses) so that our Cause becomes integrated in the broadcasting/publishing policy. Merely inviting and reporters and camera teams may throw up a photo or a video clip here and there but would fall short of building up a favourable public opinion.
2. Communication with Legislators
A comprehensive letter thoughtfully drafted should be sent from the President, IESL to all Members of Parliament (including Rajya Sabha MPs) individually by name. This letter must illustrate the anomalies of the 6th Pay Commission, the present state of the Armed Forces vis-à-vis National Security Environments, and the demands/ aspirations of the Forces and ESM. The letter must be sent in English as well as Hindi. Also, IESL nominated veterans must invite and address groups of MPs without showing political leanings and sensitise them to raise our voice in their parties as well as on the floor of the House concerned.
3. Village level Action Committees
IESL is well entrenched down to district level throughout the country. We must reorganise and invigorate our grass root level infrastructure so as to play a constructive role in nation building and actively participate in the forthcoming general elections next year in well coordinated manner through district/ constituency level IESL apparatus. Nothing moves a politician as much as his 'vote'. We must publicise and make it very clear to one and all that while we remain a patriotic and apolitical entity above caste and religion, we along with our families and relations shall vote for those parties and candidates who declare their acceptance of IESL demands in the larger interests of the country. Our State/ district level Establishments should be given freedom to mobilise their constituencies in favour of those candidates/parties who include our main issues in their Manifestos and declare their unequivocal resolve to meet our demands once elected to power.
Col Karan Kharb (Retd)
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