Innovation is an important aspect of democracy. The mostimportant part in any democratic set up is that how the basic issues of thepeople are accessed, assessed and addressed. Jammu and Kashmir has faced thisproblem the most as there exists a big gap between the ruled and the rulers.
Undoubtedly, the elected representatives have a clearresponsibility to do the things that their constituents want, but over thedecades it has been observed that the ruling classes have ignored this vitalconcept of connect with the masses. It is perhaps because of this gap that thecurrent situation in Jammu and Kashmir has arisen. This situation is quitethreatening for the very democratic fabric of the state, and it impacts theoverall ratings of democracy in the country as well.
Viewed against this backdrop, the idea of “back to village”initiated by Governor Satya Pal Malik’s administration has broken many myths.The democracy means listening to the people at their doorsteps, understandingthe circumstances in which they are living, feeling a pinch of the difficultiesthat impact their lives, and finding a way out of it. This was the essence ofthe initiative of “Back to village”. If continued and its feedback responded ina positive fashion, this concept can change the whole dynamic of the governancein the state.
Satya Pal Malik might have experimented with this idea toget a comprehensive feedback by deploying as many as 4500 officers for duty invillages. The feedback would be huge because the problems in villages exist inplenty. There can be area and demography specific problems particularly in thecase of the people living in remote areas whose connectivity problem is acutethan few others, or for that matter such areas are having health andeducational facilities far away from their reach.
But there are somecommon problems too, like there is no regular water and power supply. Thestanding electric poles with no current running in them make a mockery of theelectricity to every home and village in the state. While papers in thesecretariat and other government offices might be full of the success stories,but the situation on the ground is different. There are multiple issues thatthe bureaucratic system wants to hide to cover its failures, but when they aremade to visit the villages and report on their problems, there is a little roomleft for their maneuvering.
Bigger task is how to monitor the feedback and redress theproblems of the people. And, for that the Governor Malik will have to devise anew and innovative mechanism like “back to village” concept to do justice withhis own initiative. it is a challenge. But he has no other option but to acceptthis challenge, that he must have known will come to him when hisadministration thought of going to the villages to listen to the grievances of thevillagers. And the way he has started, it is expected that he must have thoughtof the after-action mechanism as well. Next few days would be critical inknowing as to what happens next?
In simple terms, it can be said that Governor Malik hasgiven an idea that can drill the grassroots democracy deeper into the landscapeof Jammu and Kashmir – (a) this gives a sense to the people that they have avoice and that is heard out (b) Panchayats elected early this year on thenon-party basis would feel empowered, especially when they saw the officersrushing to their villages, sitting amidst them, and recording their problems.All this gives a sense of empowerment to the people, a crucial and criticalelement in the grassroots democracy.
In fact, this concept, if studied closely was started bySheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1970s when he launched the programme of single-lineadministration. His cabinet would sit in the districts and hear everyone outand decide the matters on the spot. Over the years, however, this idea wasdiluted because the impatience and apathy of the leaders prevailed over theurgency to know the problems.
Now this back to the village programme can shift the gearsand deliver governance at the doorsteps if it is followed up in letter andspirit. A way has been found, there, however, is need to carry it forwardunless all the parameters of this initiatives are met with the success that wasat the root of this idea.