Although these are tough uncertain times for the entire human race, let’s focus on the flip side. It appears that the pandemic has forced countries to shed their differences and collaborate or exchange information at a rapid pace, all for the greater good in the race to work out a solution, to a problem that has affected many. Meantime, governments to flatten the new infections curve have had to make a difficult choice of announcing lockdowns of their respective countries. A forced home stay should give everybody time enough to reflect and ponder on our approach towards the planet and our responsibilities as global, national and state citizens.
But before everybody else goes into this reflective mode, politicians should be the ones that should be first on the block, to start thinking in a profound manner, as to what should be their exact roles in running the affairs of the country. Many a time they have exceeded their brief and have crossed the line, because before the pandemic so many of them had such an aura built around them that they almost tried to play God to their citizens. This situation has shown that there is a higher force up there, which can bring the entire human race to its knees, politicians included.
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Every event brings us new lessons, for example, this pandemic has shown our citizens that this country is not only made up of politicians that unfairly hog the limelight in the media and society, but also consists of doctors, nurses and health workers and technicians that are now on the frontlines risking their lives to protect us. The country also includes scientists who are now burning the midnight oil to bring about a vaccine that could be a potential life saver. We also comprise of engineers and workers working over-time in manufacturing or improvising life saving medical equipment or makeshift hospitals. With food being a such scarce commodity, at least in the initial days of the lockdown, we better realise that the country is also made up of farmers and with them people that drive the logistics to make sure food reaches to us.
For those busy targeting the business community as crooks always gaming the system, better change their outlook, because many businessmen and business houses have risen to the occasion and have not only opened their hotels and business premises, but also their wallets by committing mind boggling financial aid to a situation that needs compassion and assistance from everybody. This does not mean we should give a clean chit to businessmen that have been found flouting the rules, but our enthusiasm to selectively jail them without fixing the loop holes the system has created over time, only shows the government’s attitude to keep the fear of complicated laws, so that they can keep the sword hanging on all businessmen that do not suck up to them. To make matters worse, we don’t have Rahul Bajaj type of businessmen who did great service to the nation by not only building bikes and a big business, but also by opening their mouths when necessary and pulling up governments for their follies. After all their investment was in jeopardy if the government took a different direction or did not perform as per expectation.
This country cannot be run only by politicians, as is made out to be because of their uncanny ability to control the narrative so strongly in their favour, that most of the other professions are being relegated to second grade or below. It’s not only about short changing people with other professions; politicians have also learnt the art of deflection by side-tracking inconvenient truth about them onto others to protect their own. For example, not so long ago citizens were so angry about corruption among politicians, and see how that swiftly changed into corruption among corporate businesses only.
This pandemic is going to be a test for politicians to prove they can show their ability and their willingness to stick to their basic job description of serving the people. Unfortunately in Goa, most of them, used to performing monkey tricks, could not rise up to the occasion, as they were found wanting in their attitude and qualification to handle a crisis of this magnitude. However, there were some notable exceptions in the form of Goa’s Chief Minister and to some extent Goa’s Health Minister. Both seem to have understood their job description well and have attempted to pro actively address the issue with a certain degree of professionalism. Although the sudden lockdown put the administration into disarray, the Chief Minister all along kept an open mind and showed his willingness to course correct.
The Chief Minister by reporting to the people the progress of the pandemic with his daily briefings, not only brought transparency in the affairs of the government, but also put Goans at ease that there is someone in the government in control of the situation. His ability to take responsibility to even share the bad news to the people is something his own party bosses should try to emulate. His party usually shields the top guns, from taking difficult questions when the going gets tough, and makes a grand entry with full media glare only when they have nice things to report.
At a time when health is the biggest issue, Goa happens to have a Chief Minister who is also a doctor by profession. While his vocation helped him understand the gravity of the situation and take decisions accordingly, he has to make sure he does not lose the momentum. Once we overcome this terrible situation it will be only right for all political parties to resolve that the next Prime Minister should be a doctor or a health worker by profession for one term. This gesture will be a fitting tribute and a genuine way of expressing our gratitude to the fraternity for risking their lives and so much better then banging kitchen utensils. It will also allow Goa’s Chief Minister or India’s Health Minister to run for the office of the Prime Minister. Now it is up to the country’s politicians to change laws and demonstrate their sincerity.
(Plastino D’Costa is a business consultant)
