Concept Paper on ‘Enlightened National Politics’ (ENP)

Concept Paper on

‘Enlightened National Politics’ (ENP)

“The ultimate tragedy of  mankind  is not the brutality of the few,                                                               but the silence of the many”                         - Martin Luther King

‘Enlightened National Politics’ (ENP) implies a nation-building initiative by responsible citizens of India, transcending the barriers of  religion, party, caste, class, colour, gender, language, ethnicity  etc. that divide and alienate the people of this country from one another. It will be politics based on the vision and conviction that India is one large family bound with a common destiny.

Salient features of  ENP

a.       ENP will be politics for economic, social and moral freedoms of India with focus on the common basic goal of  ‘hunger-free, caste-free and corruption-free India’.

b.      ENP will be value-based politics aiming at providing a creative alternative to the present party and power politics.

c.       ENP will be decentralized politics with Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha playing the key roles in nation-building.

d.      ENP will be politics based on the national values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as enshrined in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, and on the spiritual values of satya, ahimsa, tyaga and seva (truth, non-violence, sacrifice and service) that are common to religions in India.

e.       ENP  will be politics wherein citizens of the country will give more importance to their Fundamental Duties than to their Fundamental Rights.

f.       ENP will be politics based on the ideology of  ‘Democratic Federalism’ inspired by the Gandhian vision of  ‘Gram Swaraj’.

g.      ENP will be politics  based on a two-pronged approach aiming at

a)      Promoting a ‘Common Minimum  Qualities of  MPs & MLAs’  for a qualitative improvement in India’s political leadership &

b)      Promoting a  ‘Common Minimum Agenda for Nation-building’  based on  the Gandhian Talisman  with focus on the last and the least.

Seven Common Minimum Qualities of MPs & MLAs                                                                       for a qualitative improvement  in India’s political leadership and public life

1.      Strength of character with selfless service record

2.      Harmony in family relationships and marriage

3.      Simplicity of life and devotion to duty

4.      Good mental and physical health

5.      Below 60 years of age

6.      Commitment to attend minimum 85 % of Parliament / Assembly Sessions

7.      Ability to communicate at least in 3 languages (Regional language, Hindi and English)

Gandhiji’s Talisman:

“I give you a Talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, you apply the following test. Recollect the face of the poorest and weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him to a control over his life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to Swaraj  for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubt and your self melting away.”      

Nine-point Common Minimum Agenda for Nation-building                                                     based on the Gandhian Talisman with focus on the last and the least

1.      Food security to ensure that no one in India goes to bed hungry,….Making FCI / PDS/ Midday Meal Scheme free from waste and corruption, ….Ensuring that BPL cards are issued only to the really deserving citizens of India without any fear or favour……….

2.      Land & livelihood rights of landless poor, adivasis, tribals, and of those made homeless in the name of development to be protected,…Ensuring that farmers whose land are taken away by the Government for setting up SEZs / Public Sector Undertakings/ Large Scale Industries / MNCs are compensated adequately and rehabilitated well…………..

3.      Agrarian reforms to ensure that farmers who cultivate land to produce food for the nation are well respected for their ‘annadada’ (giver of food) role, …Encouraging natural/organic farming,….Ensuring that farmers are supported and helped to get appropriate price for their produce, Implementing land reforms to ensure that the tillers possess the land....Giving scholarships to farmers’ children for their higher education ….

4.      Universal Primary Education to be given the greatest importance in the educational efforts of the Central and State Governments,…Establishing Primary schools and training Primary school teachers are to be given priority in allocation of funds,… Women to be given preference for appointment as Primary school teachers, ….Primary school education to be made enjoyable, playful and creative,  ……..

5.      Environmental health and ecological harmony to be ensured and protected by strict rules and regulations,….Only eco-friendly technologies, agricultural methods and industries to be encouraged…Pollution of air, water and earth to be made punishable offences……………

6.      Decentralisation of authority and resources for empowering the Gram Panchayat / Gram Sabha,.., Ensuring that the Gram Sabha plays the key-role in local developmental initiatives,…Establishing and empowering ‘Gram Adalats’ to ensure speedy justice and to punish the guilty and corrupt locally…Political parties to be barred from contesting Gram Panchayat elections/interfering in Gram Sabha and Gram Adalat functioning…… Government not to become an employment agency and ‘Government jobs’ to be limited to the bare minimum and to essential services….Smaller states to be formed for better development and administration,… Granting states more administrative and financial autonomy with accountability……..

7.      Youth and women entrepreneurship and leadership initiatives to be supported and encouraged……. Mutual Support Groups, Cooperative Farming Groups, Cooperate Industrial Enterprises, and Cooperative Social Service Groups that protect and promote  individual initiative and creativity to be encouraged …… Salary and productivity to be linked… Sincere hard work to be rewarded………..

8.      Responsible Citizenship & Value Education to be made part of the education system at all levels. …Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens are to be given more importance than Fundamental Rights,…..Entry into Government services and public sector undertakings to be based on track records of responsible citizenship qualities and initiatives….. Destruction/damage of public property to be treated as a national offence,…Candidates for public offices and elected posts to be people with good track record of responsible citizenship and non-violent character with social commitment……………

9.      Old age pension and healthcare services to be made available to all poor and needy citizens….Cooperative Hospitals with local initiatives to be encouraged…..Doctors and Nurses working in rural areas and slums to be paid more and supported and helped …………..Pharmaceutical companies and products to be strictly monitored for their quality and price…..Old age homes/Senior citizens homes/villages to be encouraged and supported.

Acharya Sachidananda Bharathi