Our country is failing us. From being one of the fastest-growing nations of the world, today its economy and democracy are deteriorating. In my opinion, there are a few things that must be done to improve the country for the better.
First, we must realise that even though border security is important and external threats are common, most citizens in the country are dying not due to foreign attacks. rather, due to internal problems, mostly related to economic and administrative policies. Hence, a balance of both traditional and non-traditional notions of security is crucial. The government must avoid diverting all the attention to the army and borders and focus on providing food security, welfare schemes, poverty upliftment, and encouraging social equality.
Secondly, separatist movements happen in all countries. However, as public-minded and understanding citizens, one must realise that behind everything a human being does there is a motive. Secessionist movements by any community of the country may be a result of social exclusion, intergroup conflicts or feelings of resentment. Governments must stop treating citizens as animals who can be forced upon under the garb of unity. The government must attempt to systematically understand which communities are unhappy, what are the reasons for their resentment, and what steps they should take to remove such feelings.
The third point relates to the second. Peaceful methods of dispute-settlement should be followed; violence is almost never acceptable. This calls for a greater role of committees, think tanks, and dialogue-initiating bodies. Such committees must permit a forum where both the parties—the government and those with resentment—must be given representation and such representations themselves must be broad-based, diverse, and inclusive. Attaining a middle ground should be the central aim.
Fourth, while it might be important to pander to the rich, it is even more important to pander those without those privileges. While the armed forces prevent external threats, our farmers who are increasingly dying by suicide are rarely attended to. The government must stop running for elections by politicising the army and focus, instead, on implementing pro-poor welfare programs otherwise, the middle and upper classes will keep becoming richer, and the economically disadvantaged will be relegated to further poverty. The end result, obviously, would be undesirable implications for the entire nation.
We, as citizens, must stop at nothing to ensure that our government follows these principles. Whether it is through the medium of elections, or through popular modes of dissent, our voice must be raised against corruption, malpractices, and curbing of liberty and rights. It can only happen, however, when the citizens are conscious of their rights, socially and globally aware.