IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
Parties pay
lip service, do little for middle class
Vanam Jwala
Narasimha Rao
The Hans
India (10-09-2023)
(Manifestoes
of most parties, by a striking coincidence, advocate prosperous economy, better
deal for young and old people, unemployed youth, farmers, women, and in a
nutshell equal opportunities for all etc. but, in letter and spirit do not cater
to Middle Class. This is contrary to principle of equal opportunity, equitable
distribution of wealth, basic economic, social insurance, and social security
to all citizens, adversely affecting 60% and above Middle Class-Editor, Hans
India observation)
Since First
General Elections held in 1951-52, when Elections to most state legislatures
also took place simultaneously, many Governments, both at the Center and States,
representing National and Regional Parties ruled ‘India, that is Bharat.’
These Governments at times included coalition of either pre poll or post poll alliances,
with namesake Common Minimum Program and with no profound ideology. Voters were
swayed and mislead with impracticable and unattainable promises by Political
Parties in their Manifestoes, barring few, and blindly believing them, they
were voted to power, often, successively for more than one term.
Obviously, this
is the beauty of the ‘Largest Parliamentary Democracy,’ that is
India. However, lately, conscious voters are choosy and demanding in their
choice of preference, in critically assessing poll promises, and electing their
representatives. They are no more taken for granted!!
Modi
Government recently has constituted a Committee, unpredictably and with no such
precedent, headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, to explore possibility
of ‘One Nation, One Election,’ ahead of a Special Session of
Parliament from September 18 to 22. Assembly polls are due in five states in
November-December 2023 followed by Lok Sabha Elections in May-June 2024.
Possibility of combining General Elections and 9-12 States’ Polls, which are
scheduled either before or after Lok Sabha Elections, that includes Telangana, cannot
be ruled out, as it appears now, notwithstanding merits, demerits, and
vociferous objections from opposition parties in doing so. Political Analysts
view this as piloting Modi’s Master Stroke Plan of ‘One Nation, One
Election’ of holding simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies
across the country.
Meanwhile,
amid uproar over this, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said in
Bhopal, that, the Election Commission of India is ready to conduct elections as
per legal provisions, that mandates it to do so. Rajiv Kumar said Commission’s duty
is to hold elections before the term as per Constitutional Provisions and Representation
of the People Act, which also authorizes to hold them 6 months earlier. This
holds good for State Assemblies also, said CEC. This reiterates possibility of
holding elections at the earliest, for which one needs to wait for announcement
of modalities.
Either way,
the process of drafting Manifestoes by Political Parties will commence. Any Scientific
Need Analysis, even by the recently sprouting and apparent Political Strategists,
has not been done as to what exactly to be included in Pol Manifesto. The moral
system founded by English Philosopher Jeremy Bentham and encapsulated in the
Principle of 'The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number.' was
seldom adhered. These ‘Cut and Paste’ self-styled strategists,
comprising of highly paid team, posing themselves as Professionals and Intellectuals,
without having even basic knowledge of pulse of voter, geographical area,
historical and current background of the state, for which they draft ‘Political
Strategy,’ often mislead even the best of the experienced and saucerful
political bigwigs. Harsh Reality is, success in elections is not based on their
advice, but hundred percent to the credit of leader who led his or her party to
victory.
Despite 75
years of Independence, daily Essential Needs of Middle Class, not to speak of
even BPL families, are hardly met. What people by and large and Middle Class in
particular, need is, a ‘Safety Net’ of meeting their requirements
of Minimum Essential Commodities, in an ‘Accessible, Affordable, and
Acceptable’ Way. No concerted effort was made to include this aspect in
Poll Manifestoes. Some Political Parties like BRS, however, presented ‘Best
of the Manifestoes’ of its kind, with umpteen Welfare and Development Schemes,
and besides implementing them, gone beyond implementing extra schemes, not
included in Manifesto, a rare exception. This credibility among voters enabled it
to win elections successively. The case with other parties, is the other way
round, who just end up making false promises in manifestoes and still win
elections. A Dichotomy!!! And that is Indian Politics and Democracy!!!
The
question is, what could be the basic minimum needs of Middle Class in the
changed and ever-changing socio-economic scenario and how to make these needs
available and accessible in a manner acceptable to majority. Some of these may
sound funny, trivial, and even ridiculous, but they form part of daily life as
Minimum Essential Commodities, without which living becomes difficult, and
which are highly expensive and not beyond reach of a common man, particularly
the Lower Middle Class, Middle Class and Upper Middle-Class Public, whose
percentage is more than 60 according to rough estimates.
For instance,
beginning with the day, the ‘Tooth Brush and Paste’ even of an ordinary quality
is expensive and not affordable. For having a cup of coffee or tea, cost of
milk and coffee or tea powder is expensive and not affordable. Raw material to
make any item for breakfast is very expensive and not affordable. Rice, wheat,
eggs, vegetables, oil, ghee, and every other ingredient required for lunch or
dinner is very expensive and not affordable. For a change If anyone prefers to
go to even an ordinary hotel, it is more expensive and not affordable.
Drinking
water, coconut oil, soap, handwash, gas cylinder, lifesaving medicines etc.
etc. are highly expensive and not affordable. Expenditure on Education and
Health is exorbitant. The list is inexhaustive and these are the ‘Essential Needs’
to be included in manifesto to provide them easily accessible and available at
affordable prices in Government Run Fair Price Shops. This would go a long way
in benefiting Middle Class and also the BPL. By and large, in addition to
these, every need connected to Health, Education, Food, Shelter, and Clothing
etc. of Middle Class is equally important and to be Essentially Prioritized in
Manifestoes.
For
generations Indian Middle Class, a catalyst in the society, fashioned and
nurtured by Colonial British Raj, remained as a Holy, sacred, and ill-fed Cow! Manifestos
since first General Elections never gave priority to Middle Class. Welfare Measures
for poor and BPL families and number of sops through financial institutions to
rich was later development. Political Parties, Leaders, Civil Society Organizations
and even Courts stand for marginalized people safeguarding their interests. Rich
Corporates are also taken care of because of their wealth. But none voice for Middle
Class and there is none to speak or plead on behalf of them barring for voting!!!
The biggest
problem for Middle Class since ages has been the limbo in which they are stuck
forever. They are neither rich nor poor. They do not have access to subsidies
that poor get. They do not have adequate income to meet their daily basic
minimum needs. Middle Class pays most tax, and yet, are the ones that receive
least amount of benefits. They have to put in large hours of work so that they
can give their family comparatively a good life. Their social status too has
been static for centuries.
Manifestoes
of most parties, by a striking coincidence, advocate prosperous economy, better
deal for young and old people, unemployed youth, farmers, women, and in a
nutshell equal opportunities for all etc. but, in letter and spirit do not cater
to Middle Class. This is contrary to principle of equal opportunity, equitable
distribution of wealth, basic economic, social insurance, and social security
to all citizens, adversely affecting 60% and above Middle Class. Election
Manifesto, a written platform, assertive design, plan, strategy, approach, and
philosophy of a political party, outlining its aims, objectives, ideology,
intentions, views, policies, programs etc. shall reflect interests of Middle
Class as an ‘Essentially High Precedence.’ Hence, in Poll Manifestos
in Future, Middle Class Welfare to be Essentially Prioritized.
(The
writer is Chief Public Relations Officer to Chief Minister Telangana)
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