NITI Aayog & Swach Bharat

Written on 7 Feb 2015
NITI, an acronym for National Institution for Transformation of India, is a well conceived concept from the incumbent Prime Minister, Narinder Modi. True to its name and character, it replaced (transformed) the now redundant Planning Commission.

The genesis of this institution lies in the conflicting nature of our federal structure, the conflict aggravated over the years, among other things, by the scrapped Planning Commission. Narinder Modi, a Chief Minister for long years, understood this dilemma of Centre-State relations.

The NITI Aayog has decided to set up three sub groups of Chief Ministers for (a) rationalisation of central schemes (b) skill development and (c) clean India (Swach Bharat campaign).

It is the third, clean India, the Swach Bharat campaign, I’ll talk about. The Prime Minister gave the clarion call for a Swach Bharat. He aims to transform the Indian mind set about the cleanliness in our surrounding environs. That’s a lofty and much needed goal. After all, Modi held the Jhaadu in his Hand. Could there be a more integrating idea in the country? Well, jokes apart, let’s see the potential scope of this programme.

As I understand it, the present scope of Swach Bharat campaign is limited to cleaning our neighbourhoods, towns and cities. Maybe, the cleaning of Ganga and Yamuna, of the life giving rivers, may form a part of it.

Over the years, the country is losing faith in our political system, in our politicians and our governments. An ordinary citizen, the aam aadmi, is frustrated and demoralised, more so because he can do nothing about it. The people and parties he votes to power, have nothing to do on this front. This is why Anna became a darling of India and Arvind Kejriwal fires the imagination of the people, including mine, especially young people. Kejriwal himself put it in so many words that if the polity delivers then there will be no need of Kejriwal.

The very big mandate the country gave to the present PM Modi, is a reflection of this discontent all across the length and breadth of this country. It was first a reaction to corruption and arrogant mis-rule and and blatant and brazen disregard to this sensibility of the people of India. Second, it was a HOPE for the future. This Hope is the burden and responsibility that Modi carries as the leader and Prime Minister of the country.

The Swach Bharat campaign should not be limited to cleaning roads and drains only. Swach Bharat can be an umbrella campaign, a revolutionary concept, encompassing many socio-economic-political ills and shortcomings that confront our country. Only if we address these, can we say Mera Bharat Mahaan.

This sub group of Chief Ministers should involve the whole country in suggesting changes and transformations needed. Let us transform and make Swach Bharat by bringing electoral reforms, anti corruption mechanisms, a just federal structure and mechanism and social reforms.

Swach Bharat is a two way concept. Ordinary citizens need transformation in mind set as to keeping the environs clean and the ruling classes need transformation in mind set as to change the system as per the will of the people.

At present, people have put their faith in these two people in the country, PM Modi and CM Kejriwal. Both represent Hope, both have the capacity to deliver on this Hope. Both have similar admirable qualities to do the job at hand and are a league above the ordinary politicians. Politics apart, both lead a simple life of a sadhu. Both have a burning desire to serve and give. Both are popular. Both ignite passions. Both mean well. It is the nature of our polity that generates conflict and clash of ideas and one-upmanship.

Actually, Modi and Kejriwal are the best things to happen to India, at the same time. They actually complement each other. For serving India, this is the true Team India that can transform the nation by transforming the way we live and rule ourselves.

To be meaningful and successful, the NITI Aayog has to become this broad based umbrella organisation for transforming India into a Swach Bharat, a clean India in this broader sense. Otherwise, barring a few changes in the central schemes, it may end up being another redundant institution in the future, needing replacement by yet another idea.