Give the young a go
As more and more National Council aspirants emerge, the moment some fresh graduate or a young person is spotted, the general tendency is to doubt their competence.
That unable to find a job elsewhere, they are giving a shot at the council seat, or that someone unable to stand on their own feet is considering taking responsibility of an entire dzongkhag, are a few of the many arguments that people pose.
If they win the election, theirs is the seat and the many perquisites that come with it, something they may never get in other jobs, even after decade or two of slogging.
If they lose, it will be just like any applications they dropped with an office and never heard from, or one of the many interviews they sat at and failed to make it.
These are some of the other views people share, particularly in the urban areas.
They believe that the council, as the house of review, should comprise seasoned and experienced people, who exhibit maturity and rationality in the way they tackle issues, raise concerns and debate at the Parliament.
Do we really have the people, though?
If we do, where are they then, and why are they not coming forth and, to use the cliché, “respond to the call of the nation”?
If they are choosing to hide behind the security of the present jobs and fear contesting the elections, forget elections, even the nomination process, then what is the difference between a young, scouring-for-a-job graduate giving it a go, and the supposedly experienced and seasoned individual, who clings to his or her job?
Young graduates apparently feel they have nothing to lose by sticking their necks out at the elections, while the latter chooses otherwise, because they believe a loss would prove too costly.
Instead of being churlish at the sight or knowledge of our young, not just council but National Assembly aspirants, we should embolden them.
As electorates, let us play our own part in guiding them through the process that has only begun, by contributing in terms of valuable views, opinions and discourses they can draw from to make decisions for the country.
That is a role we ought to play in a democracy, but something that we have unfortunately failed to nurture so far.
Rather than make unfounded scathing remarks on them and break their spirits, let us give them a go, for we never know just what they might metamorphose and bloom into.
This was evident from how some of the young existing Parliament members transformed over the years, just as it showed how some of the so-called “experienced members” then, were seen to contribute the least as members of Parliament.
Relevant article. Would like to commend the author and both Tshewangd and Rixey, on deliberating well on the vagaries of our new democratic structure.
Whenever we have a critique on Bhutan, 2 things are at the forefront…GNH and Youth, not to forget its new addition to the “Democratic” halos of the world. A healthy discussion always fosters new ideas of governance, so important in this transitory stage. However, an idea is only as good that can be implemented and a revolution is only effective if it creates sustainable & positive change. We are currently operating in a state of chaos given the new empowerment to choose & decide our own future, through our elected reps, and it’s a heady feeling, often bereft of logic and rationale. Its a critical stage which will decide the future good or bad…taking living examples of India,Nepal and neighbouring countries.
Let’s delve a bit deeper into the political strata of Bhutan and its dynamics.
For starters, we need to go beyond the “feel good” theory of GNH and translate the benefits at the very grass roots (rural) where fancy Landcruisers/modern lifestyle/la de creme of societal snobbishness arent present and to good avail. Have their standard of living improved with our new found democracy/geogs/reps/NC? I would imagine not. Are they better off in terms of employment and entrepreneurial opportunities ? I would imagine not. Have we created new industries and opened our economy globally? I would imagine not. Are the people evolved enough to choose their own future when all these years they were dependent on the visionary governance of our Kings? Then, is Democracy an Achilles heel for Bhutan? Definitely not.
The youth is our future and we need to protect their dreams and nurture it.
- The admissions to the professional institutes/Universities need to be linked to our Plans for the industries and potential employment avenues. Placement cell has to be proactive and accountable.
- Need to create professional chapters in different parts of the world wherein good Bhutanese talents can be absorbed for global exposure.
- The govt has to open up the industry to the global world and create industries. Let’s go beyond our extreme caution to qualified optimism.
- Bhutan has to change the world view of being a dependent nation on aids/grants and move towards self-reliance gradually but steadily.
- It’s comical to think that fresh graduates are eligible for standing as electoral candidates! Don’t we have a minimum qualification criteria laid down by the Electoral Commission? The basic qualification should be graduate/post graduate with relevant experience in serving communities/promoting good governance and duly recommended by illustrious members of the specific Geog. Let there be a debate at the district level too to better assess the competencies/value proposition of the interested candidates.
- Create a transparent system of broadcasting vacancies and putting a process in place for identifying/selecting the right talents through unbiased due diligence.
- Let’s avoid classifying people and analyzing their talents on the basis of whether they could crack the RCSC exams or not. There are innumerable latent talents that are stagnating in the Bhutanese youth. They can be rightly tapped to further private enterprise and contribute to the nation’s progress.
- A good step by government would be to sponsor specific projects and have a nationwide competition. This would stimulate intellectual debate and would also provide pointers to the talent pool in the country.
A nation is as great as the people in it and the people are as great as the nation lets them be!
It’s an exciting time in Bhutan and we need to seize the moment, to create a positive change….collectively!
Tashi Delek!
Sanjeev Pradhan
(Global Management Consultant), MENA/AsiaPac
Pradhan007_bhutan@hotmail.com
The experience from the first government to the embarkation of next new government will not be any differences looking from the point of unemployed aspirant candidates contesting for NC and MPs. This would mean that which party forms the government and the formation of NCs in new government will not be better than the worse. This experience will be even greater in 2018 election when we have more unemployed graduates. Most aspirant candidates opinion on nothing to loose whether or not win the election clearly indicates the kind of democracy the people will enjoy in the country. Will this kind lead to vibrant democracy? when 70% of our people are still living in rural area with extreme poverty; how can the self centered aspirant mainly fighting themselves for survival can makes vibrant laws and decision for the people. Do they in the first place know the core principals of democracy involvements in the country?
ECB should relook into this matter and consolidate the entry point for aspirant candidature contest. Otherwise we will have many head counts in the parliament ready to sword fight out of confusion even on petty matters!!
Rixy has commended whether or not we have a experienced and knowledgeable people in the country? we certainly do have people.Something is very wrong with us. Either with the system or with the democracy. Anyway, good luck
It is very sure in this platform. Unemployed youth trying to jump to the post of NC seems like a joke. Carrying the Degree certificates alone may not serve the purpose of the public, ones should think and take in a sense, how capable you are? Till dates, we had seen my unemployed graduates contesting for the NC or MPs, they might be thinking that its just a matter of chance and opting just to get employed. Some may bring the creative ideas but many of them, may not bring the new developmental ideas for the country. Since, most of them are graduates who could not get through RCSC exam, we don”t think,that they can do well in upper or lower houses.
I am sure, they even cannot manage their own family, managing the whole community is a question.. still then, good luck..