BJP TODAY

September 16--30, 2005 - Vol. 14, No. 18

A karyakarta in the field of politics can do plenty of constructive work along with his political activities. If we take a close look at our daily routine, we find that much of our time gets wasted in useless engagements. As time is changing swiftly, an activist has to keep pace with time in tune with the prevailing circumstances. Through ingenuity an individual activist can play a significant role in making the party more popular, more acceptable and more dynamic. Such a contribution would strengthen the organisation and accelerate its progress upwards.

Eventually, with the collective efforts of such active workers, our support base would get enlarged. The formula for earning popularity is plain and simple. We must have respect and love for the people. We have to understand them, share their pleasures and pains and relate ourselves with their problems and challenges.

Can we do something in this direction? The answer is an emphatic "yes". Problems of the people are daunting, varied and innumerable.

The first step is to reach out to the needy and extending a helping hand towards them. Such services can be rendered even if we are in the opposition. We should meet the people and offer our services not only for their today but for their future also. We should be magnanimous and positive in our approach. Sincere initiative brings instant acceptance.

Even, now, (a big section of our population) crores of people are living below the poverty line. They cannot even think of anything beyond ensuring one square meal to keep their body and soul together. At this level of poverty, parents struggle hard to give good education to their children.

According to a survey, parents spend about Rs. 366 per year to send a child to a governmental primary school. (Fees Rs. 20, books and stationery Rs. 112, uniform and clothing Rs. 175, tuitions Rs. 33, other expenses 26 Total 366).

This may seem a small amount, but it indeed proves a major financial burden for millions of poor families with several children of school going age.

Children are important in each family. Could we give a helping hand to them? If you gift a school uniform or a bag to a village child, the parents' burden of expenditure gets reduced. There may be 100 to 200 school going children in a small village. Why can't we provide a pair of uniform or a bag to each one of them? After wearing the uniform, the children will feel happy, which will be reflected on the face of the parents.

Similarly when children start going to school they can be provided with a cycle that will reduce their travelling time, which can be utilized more usefully in doing homework, or in joining a sports team. That would cost about Rs. 1500. There could be ten to fifteen such students in a village. If we provide a cycle to them, it will inspire them to study or participate in other worthwhile activities.

If you have energy, enthusiasm and strong will power to serve, you can even donate a computer. After school education, you can organize computer literacy programmes and open the door of science and technology for the poor and the needy. The students well versed in computer education can change the condition of their village or town.

You can provide succor to a whole family. You may pickup the poorest man in a village and donate cow to him. He will get good milk. A cow may cost Rs. 5000 to 7000. He can use milk and milk products for himself and if he can spare his product a profitable market is always available. Similarly, a pair of goat given to a handicapped person in a village can be a steady source of income and well being. To the donor it may cost Rs. 2000.

India is predominantly an agricultural country. Two-thirds of our population lives in villages. It is the rural poverty that is of paramount concern.

The reasons for poverty are many. Shortage of water for irrigation purposes, non-availability of electricity, lack of access to credit and market facilities, low level of education and training to pursue non-farming jobs, poor health care, caste-based oppressive practices and several other economic and social factors. But agriculture sector can provide jobs only for 50 to 60 days in a year. For the remaining period, a vast majority of farmers remain unemployed. We should find out alternative avenues of work for them. Such people need additional source of income for which some alternatives can always be explored.

Unemployment is a pressing problem. Over three crore educated unemployed youth are registered with the employment exchanges across the country, according to the official figures. The highest number of unemployed youth is registered in West Bengal (46.74 lakh), Tamilnadu (36.48 lakh), Maharashtra (33.66 lakh). There are 6.57 lakh unemployed youth in Haryana and 3.44 lakh in Punjab.

The number of unemployed in the age group of 20-39 years registered with the state employment exchanges were over three crore by 2003, according to the NSSO. The Government and private sector do provide some employment. In spite of that, crores of unemployed educated youth are still struggling for survival. As individuals, we can do something in this direction. Educated unemployed persons suffer tremendous amount of tension and humiliation. We can help them get driving licences for such needy youths. The driving licence can be provided to them at Rs. 2500. They then can get immediate employment as drivers for light and heavy vehicles.

The women folk feel financially insecure and scared. We can arrange for an additional source of income for them by donating sewing machines. They can raise their income by stitching everyday wear for their neighbourhood. A sewing machine can be made available within Rs. 3000 or so.

Things like the school uniform, bag or even cow and goat can be donated individually. Arrangements for obtaining computer literacy, driving licences and of stitching craft can be institutionalised.

We can do a lot more collectively. Each village needs common toilets, particularly for the women folk. Not more than Rs. 4000/- to 5000/- is needed to build such a common toilet. We also need to focus on health care services. The pregnant women, paralytic patients and seriously ill persons need immediate medical help.

There is a general scarcity of water in western and southern States. Can we not harvest rainwater by creating water bodies like ponds? All living beings face problem of shortage of water. Our activists can do 'Shramdan' for construction of percolation ponds.

The above-cited suggestions are not exhaustive. A lot more needs to be done for the genuinely needy people. Such selfless services bring happiness to the entire village. The person who does such a constructive work is deeply loved by the village.

Constructive work will always generate goodwill, our activists' morale will get boosted and party's image will also rise. The party will get a good name. People of the village will feel that BJP has done something significant for the development of their own people.

Be useful to the people and earn goodwill.

This is not a castle in the air but a down to earth reality.

This is not a mere slogan but a resolution to serve.

This is not a mere promise but a working plan.