How do we engage our PhDs and Post graduates?

Often, we compare the number of post graduates and PhD. India produces with those produced by China. We find that India lags far behind. While, it is laudable that we wish to catch up numerically, we should also examine what we do with those we produce. Do we employ them in miserably low paid jobs? What facilities do we provide them to do what they can do best? Do we provide them with challenging assignments, which help build up our country? If we do not, fewer people will be attracted to higher education. So, even if we increase the numbers, the benefits will be disappointing. So, while increasing the numbers of those getting higher education, it is imperative to generate their commensurate utilization.

Currently, we have mammoth programs like, National Rural Employment Guaranty Scheme, with outlay of several thousands of Crores. Have we employed enough brain power at each district level to formulate the program and then monitor its implementation in all its aspects. If we do such program definition and monitoring, several hundred highly qualified persons can be gainfully employed and enhance the delivery effectiveness.

Recommendations to the Newly Elected

Presuming that the newly elected persons are truly dedicated to the development of their constituency, here are a few recommendations to them:

Know your constituency, by collecting data on,

1. Institutions rendering service, like, hospitals, voluntary institutions, development communication,
2. Institutions engaged in human resource development, their support bases, and their reach,
3. Employment promotion avenues,
4. Quality of life improvement avenues, etc.
   
   

Know the budget provisions of the Central Government, which can support these institutions.
Also, find out the procedures to draw funds from these budget provisions. For example, what are the Schemes which aim to harvest rain water, set up public sanitation facilities, enhance infrastructure for ware housing local produce, provide needed inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, loans, etc. Publicize this information in your constituency.

Create a mechanism to maintain regular contact with your constituents, for speedy registration and effective disposal of grievances.

Recommended Agenda for Political Parties of India

Soon after the marathon national elections and getting feed back from the voters, it is the right time for the political parties to analyze and introspect. How have voters reacted to their policies, programs, promises, and performances? What should they do to retain or improve their mandate? How they can converge on solving the burning needs of the masses? What will be their targets to achieve in the next 100, 500 and 1000 days? These targets will give them valuable feed backs for possible mid-course corrections. They can evaluate the acceptance of their ideology, and the effectiveness of their methodology of growing their following. To get them started on the path of growing acceptance by the future voters, given below are a few illustrative recommendations.

1. Vision for all round development starting from the most backward regions, by schemes involving local people in,
   
   a. Rain water harvesting,
   b. Increasing access by roads, mobile phones, community broadcasting using FM,
   c. Setting up multi- purpose community centers for primary health care, skill imparting
   schools for all age groups, trading facilities, ware housing, banking, local cultural
   entertainment, and sports,
   
   
2. Growing Leaders and Leadership for and by promoting such activities as listed above,
   
   
3. Goverments at the Center, States and Local Self to sponsor these activities through budgetary allocations, and tax concessions,
   
   
4. Community minded corporates to train leadership aspirants, and
   
   
5. Community minded corporates, and academic institutions to identify area specific needs,
   likely schemes to meet the needs, funding requirements, sources of funds, mechanisms to monitor implementation and overcome bottlenecks.
   
   
   
   In future posts, there will be recommendations to the just elected persons, regarding how they can draw on the budgetary resources of the Central government to serve their constituency.