As we wait for May 3, there are some things that have become apparent. Countries being led by women are faring better than those being led by men, trying to save the economy at the cost of people only spells doom, basic infrastructure like constructing hospitals has far greater returns than building walls and mammoth statues, and in times of need it is the common person who saves the day.
When Prime Minister Modi created the PM CARES Fund over and above the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) there was a stampede to fill its coffers. In a week, this new fund received Rs 6,500 crore in donations. Reports indicate it is three times more than what PMNRF got in two years. The rich and famous – everybody from industrialists to glitterati – offloaded money into this new fund. Corporates are diverting their CSR funds, PSUs and government agencies like the Intelligence Bureau have donated to it too. Mukesh Ambani has donated Rs 500 crore. Mobile money transfer companies like PayTM have not only donated to the fund but have enabled money transfer to the fund thereby increasing their customer base.
The PMNRF was begun by Jawaharlal Nehru and is managed by the PM of India, ‘president of Congress I, the deputy prime minister (if any), finance minister, a representative from the Tata Trust and another representative of industry to be chosen by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’. This makes this fund far more representative of the people when compared to the PM CARES fund whose trustees are the Ministers of Finance, Defence and Home and three eminent experts nominated by the PM. PM CARES will also have an advisory board of not more than 10 people. There is also a plan for the PM CARES fund to be audited by an external agency. One is not sure as to how the eminent experts and advisory board will be selected. One wonders whether there was really need for a new fund or is this fund part of the ongoing attempts to wipe out the role of Jawaharlal Nehru.
For a few days, the social media was agog at the mindboggling numbers these rich individuals were coughing up. To many it was proof that Indians are generous. It is pointless asking the reasons for these people not donating to the existing PMNRF and instead waiting for the PM CARES fund to be created. However, there is a bigger issue and it begins with Warren Buffet’s 2011 visit to India to meet this nation’s ultra-wealthy industrialists. He, along with Bill Gates, met with 60 of India’s richest industrialist families. The meetings were part of their The Giving Pledge campaign. The campaign asks the wealthy to commit to donating at least half of their wealth.
Most of the rich have family run philanthropies. These reduce their tax burden and improve their image. Thus, it may come in the way of sustainably impacting society in a positive way. Only Azim Premji has given a large chunk of his personal wealth to philanthropy through his trusts.
Even with all this money rushing to the government, people are still going hungry, doctors continue to work without proper protective gear and the administrative set up continues to flounder as to how to deliver basic supplies while ensuring social distancing.
Fortunately, people are stepping up to fill the vacuum created by the government’s mishandling of the situation. In Delhi, community kitchens have been set up for the unemployed daily wagers; in Goa, volunteers buy necessary goods for their neighbours. Citizens are directly donating material to hospitals so that they can procure protective gear. There can’t be a finer example of the working of social capital.
What can be said of the government and its machinery that has not been said before? Let’s leave it at – the corona crisis is another example of how far removed our government and their administration is from everyday life.
The hunger for – and to remain in – power, the desire to further an agenda takes precedence over everything else. In the process, the other organs of our democracy are operated on to create worker drones that do the bidding of the elected master. This not only results in lack of accountability and not having the wherewithal to deal with exigencies but also in skewing of what is important for us as a society.
It is no surprise therefore that citizens are forced to step into the shoes of those who took an oath to serve. Besides showing citizens how incompetent governments can be, the coronavirus has also shown how divided we are as a country and the value of social capital.
There are enough examples in the last few months of stupidity in every religion, which has endangered people. There are also enough examples of how dogged bigotry can be – surmounting an existentialist crisis to use religion as a sieve to provide treatment and to target people. Fortunately, some read their religions differently and are doing outstanding work to help others. The Sikhs have started langars, there are stories of Muslims cremating Hindus as per Hindu rites, Catholic institutions sourcing food for the needy and temples feeding people. This is another example of the functioning social capital.
The COVID crisis has given us a peep into the outcomes of government expenditure and the capability of the government. For one, the healthcare infrastructure is in shambles as is the social support net for migrants and daily wagers. One needs to question whether there have been any learnings at all from organising kumbh melas and disaster and riot relief camps.
This pandemic, like other large-scale disasters, proved that basic decency and concern for the other is what will keep us alive. There are lessons for the government too – stop your machinations, wasteful expenditure and get back to the basics of the Indian Constitutions. Finally, for religions and their practitioners there is only one lesson – stick to the service of humanity.
(Samir Nazareth is an author and writes on socio-economic and environmental issues)
