New Delhi: India celebrated its 74th Independence Day this weekend. Narendra Modi made the customary speech as Prime Minister from the rampart of Red Fort.
He spoke of the challenges faced by the country due to the coronavirus pandemic as well as the border stand-off with China, but added that there are “crores of citizens to present solutions” to these problems.
For this week’s issue of YourTurn, we asked readers:
What is the one thing you’d like to see change in India before 15 August, 2021?
This is what some of them hope for:
‘Opposition should revive itself’
I hope that the Opposition revives itself by next year. An alternative vision is essential to overcome the threat to democracy resulting from the BJP’s majoritarian politics. So far, secularism has been synonymous with the exploitation of the minority (Dalit/Muslim) vote bank and religious appeasement.
A redefinition of Indian secularism through a grassroots movement embedded in the ethos and language of the majority community is the way forward. The anti-CAA protests which witnessed the broad-based participation of the Hindu community offer a template. However, the rejuvenation of the Opposition is possible only if political parties can overcome the problems posed by parivaarwaad, sycophancy, and hierarchy in their own ranks.
— Jaya Brata Bose, Gurgaon. Twitter handle: @jbbose
‘Want a different, more transparent Prime Minister of India’
There are many changes I want to see in India before 15 August 2021. But it’s tough to prioritise one of them. I want everyone to have food on their plate, every child to have a proper education. I want to see the complete eradication of lynching culture, and communal and religious harmony in my country. I want normalcy in Jammu & Kashmir and freedom of expression for all. I want women to feel safe in my country.
But if I have to choose, I ‘d like to see a different, better and transparent Prime Minister of India before 15 August 2021.
— Pooja Yadav, Hyderabad. Twitter handle: @Poojay1301
‘Indian people should be able to speak without the fear of being muzzled’
I want the people to get their voice back. I want to see thousands of Kafeel Khans and Akhil Gogois speaking from the highest of pedestals. I want to see Indian people roar without the fear of being muzzled. I want to witness divergence of views command the highest echelons of Indian democracy. Prisons should be for the stiflers and not the stifled. I want to see the Indian Constitution relive its old reverence. Suppressors of opinions should be checked and the weakest of decibels should find utterance.
— Shresth Krishnan Dutta, Guwahati. Twitter handle: @dutta_shresth
‘Need a change in societal mindset’
I would like to see a change in the mindset and attitude of our people. We have a habit of blaming others for all the hardships we face — unclean surroundings, corruption, women’s safety, division on the basis of groups and castes. We complain about our rights but do not want to be reminded of our duties. We should not fear failure. If we change ourselves, every other desired change will come automatically.
— Sandeep Wanchoo. Twitter handle: @swanchoo
‘Name and shame toxic news debates’
The only thing which can certainly change is the substandard toxic condition of Indian news debates. Television channels have often been criticised for hosting “shouting matches” in the name of debates for mere TRPs.
Heated exchanges, abusive name-calling and sometimes even fist-fights have become a normal sight on television dialogues. The channels have discovered a ‘recipe’ of these bunkum debates — sensational debate topics spiced up with provocative headlines with a screaming anchor, garnished with fake news.
The two basic solutions are either the political parties prohibit their representatives in participating … or other news media get the courage to name and shame nonsensical channels (which is prominent in the self-sufficient digital world). People are also accountable for this disaster, consuming and relishing the prime time chaos.
— Atisshreya Chhotaray, Bhubaneswar. Twitter handle: @atisshreya
‘Multiply expenditure in medical science, pay health workers well’
The current pandemic has highlighted the deficiencies in our healthcare system. The doctors and paramedical staff in public healthcare system are both underpaid and have to frequently over-compensate for the deficiencies in the system. Covid-19 has given us the opportunity to bring fundamental changes in our public healthcare system. This is the change we need.
Our nation has become a nest to cultivate brilliant minds in medicine who emigrate to the developed countries because of the lack of appreciation and opportunities suiting their talent. The government should multiply the expenditure on public health by the next Independence Day.
— Swanit Deshpande
‘Choose 10 tourist destinations and invest in its infrastructure’
With the Covid pandemic still raging, it would take at least more than a year for tourism to resume in full capacity in India and across the world. This is an opportune time to focus on improving infrastructure — be it roads, airports, railways, etc., connecting these destinations, and improving the amenities such as cafeterias, public toilets, and so on.
So, select 10 tourism places, focus on end-to-end infra and fund them. This can be definitely achieved in one year. As seen world over, tourism is a job aggregating industry.
— Vidyuth Chikoti, San Francisco Bay area. Twitter handle: @followvidyuth
‘Need to reform police force’
Although it’s arduous to choose one, but as far as I can think, the police force needs a big reform. The recent encounter of gangster Vikas Dubey not only showed us that police force has become a puppet in the hands of it’s political master but also that the people have lost faith in the judiciary system … From brutality to custodial death and while working to maintain law and order, it has become more and more apparent that the government (needs) to implement the seven directives on police reform as determined in the ‘Prakash Singh vs. Union of India’ order. So, the police force needs independence from transfers and entanglement in cases (to do with) powerful authority.
— Ishan Sundriyal, Bareilly. Twitter handle: @ishan40792351
‘We must criminalise marital rape’
Numerous problems surround today’s India but the ones which people have become okay with concerns me the most. Marital rape is one of them. A large number of Indian wives who have been in an unwanted sexual relationship for years don’t consider it as rape at all, rather they call it ‘fulfilment of husband’s desire’.
Such a casual statement shows how common it has become in Indian houses. No wonder the concept is still alien to many. The gravity of the problem becomes more intense when we realise that even the Indian Judiciary doesn’t consider it as a criminal act; rather it mentions it as an exception to Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code. If a wife says ‘no’ to sex with her husband, the vermillion on her forehead doesn’t make it a ‘yes’ and our society must realise this. So, criminalising marital rape will be a great step towards imparting real sense of independence in a marriage.
— Akhileshwar Upadhyay, Ranchi. Twitter handle: @akhileshwar08
‘Should ensure complete independence of judiciary’
The judiciary known for being an independent body and positively dominant has recently witnessed major drawbacks … To witness judiciary working independently and in its full strength, the structural changes in the appointment of judges should change. The participation of President and state governors while appointing higher court judges should also be reconsidered. To amplify such changes, another amendment would be needed, and that can’t be passed without parliamentary approval. This can lead us to another tussle between executive and judiciary.
— Husain Trivedi, Ahmedabad. Twitter handle: @Husaintrivedi1