By Benjamin Lyngdoh
Power and authority are diminishing as a luxury of the princely class. They are not as absolute as days past anymore. The literal days of ivory towers when the political leadership are a far cry from the masses are dying gradually. This is an era of open monitoring and evaluation of performance. It is the age of weighing responsibility and seeking accountability. To these ends, the ‘right to information’ is a powerful tool in the hands of the masses towards ensuring that governance does its assigned and trusted responsibilities in line with all the powers bestowed. Added to all this, it is also the age of communication and marketing of undertaken efforts and initiatives and the resultant achievements. There is need to reach out and mingle more extensively with the people and accordingly makes policies and plans through the ‘bottom-up approach’. As such, an interactive platform can go a long way towards ensuring an open opportunity for the masses to appropriately interact with the political leadership. In relation, the following pointers can initiate thinking –
Firstly, contemporarily there are two leading examples of political leaders reaching out to the masses. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has his signature platform called ‘Mann ki baat’. Recently, the Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal launched his module named ‘Talk to AK’. The objective of both and especially the latter is to provide an opportunity to the many that have questions to directly get answers from the horses’ mouth. In line with these developments, it would seem highly tenable for our state to have a similar platform for the people to ask their myriad questions on a multitude of issues. Conversely, it would be proper to ask the questions to the very echelon of political leadership, the Chief Minister. Hence, the thought on the name of the interactive platform – ‘Kylli na u Mukul!’ (‘Ask Mukul!’).
Secondly, why ‘Kylli’(ask) and not some other focus like say, ‘Kren’ (talk). Overall, the reasons are inhibiting. In a nutshell, our state is in a situation where there are a plethora of questions. In this current situation, talking will not suffice. What is required is an interactive mechanism to directly and openly question (and maybe confront) on the pressing issues. More importantly, this asking must generate satisfying answers. Accordingly, the best person to handle the hot seat is the one who leads from the front. On the other hand and as intimidating as it might seem, this initiative will also provide an opportunity for highlighting and debating on the progress and achievements of the state. Needless to say and on the lighter side, questions can be as simple as ‘what do you take for breakfast’ to the more head-spinning one like ‘what is your stand on uranium mining?’
Thirdly, as demeaning and crass as ‘Kylli na u Mukul!’ might sound, it with all good intent that one is suggesting it. Importantly, it is not an indication of devaluing and tarnishing the value of the chair (read position/ designation). In actuality, the phrase has a positive orientation. There is a lot of positive vibes to it and this makes it visible and catchy. To start with, it is always good to refer to people by their first name. That way there is an immediate connection. This helps in the entire interactive process. In the course of time, as and when the Chief Minister changes, so will the name in the phrase. Moreover, an A’chik version of the phrase (like ‘Mukul chi sing’bo!’) must also be placed so as to increase its marketability across all sections. However, and in the midst of it all, this must not be taken as a panacea. It will not immediately solve the problems at hand. Nonetheless and most critically, it provides a base for deliberations on serious issues. As such, this has the potential to generate and assimilate vital information and feedback from the ground. This can go a long way in planning and policy making. Moreover, from the point of view of public relations, it highlights the seriousness of the government in meeting the aspirations of its people.
Lastly, specific issues like time slots and frequency of the interactive sessions (per week or monthly basis) can be devised accordingly. Apparently, the various local television channels can be used as a medium in addition to floating of the initiative through the various FM channels already available. Moreover, a mobile application for the purpose will go a long way towards actively attracting and involving the youth in the exercise.
(The author teaches at NEHU)