Anupam- The Dreamer

If you happen to visit a rural area or an unplanned city, you see that the development (or underdevelopment) happens on its own pace even if there is no planned policy guiding the development of that area. For example, if there is no proper road, then the local government or even the locals residing in that area develop their own road, even if it is not properly paved with sewage system, footpaths, trees etc. The electricity poles come up in haphazard manner with wires hanging in between them in a spider-web configuration. The water pipelines can be dug up by any person by damaging the road. There are no public toilets or even if they are there, then you would have to hold your breath for long until your soul comes out of your body 😀 There are no public places or public parks. Basically, there is anarchy everywhere!

What policy-making does to these areas is to bring some sort of organized planning and execution to this anarchy! Although, anarchy cannot be completely eliminated because it is the law of universe. If you have heard of something called “entropy”, then you would know that the universe proceeds in the direction of increased “disorderliness” always. You see, that if you don’t keep your home organized, then after a few days disorderliness automatically increases- like the stuff would be lying here and there, there will be dust all around, etc. You have to make efforts to bring the home back to orderliness!

The same happens with the policy-making. If you don’t make constant endeavours to bring some sort of orderliness (planning) to what you want to achieve through certain policies, then the disorderliness will go on increasing. Some may call that disorderliness as some sort of development, but it is at best unplanned and piecemeal development with no long-term goal in sight.

This policy-making and policy-execution is needed at all levels- local govt, state govt, union govt, corporate sector, civil society, media etc. And if there is any sort of reluctance to formulate and execute policies of various kinds- then the disorderliness will continue to increase, whether one likes it or not. For example, if the govt doesn’t do any sort of land planning in a particular area, then land mafia will automatically prosper and take control of the land. There will be land encroachment, as is rampant in almost every urban area! Then, one fine day, the local govt wakes up and is forced to demolish all sorts of illegal structures. The question that arises here is that, why the unplanned development was allowed to happen in the first place! I don’t need to elaborate the reasons here 😛

There cannot be any vacuum at any particular place for long. And whenever, there is vacuum or low-pressure zone in any area, the surrounding air (or things) rush to fill in that place, causing more anarchy and cyclones! So, it is in our own interest that we don’t allow policy-vacuum to happen in majority of the areas concerning the life of common citizens. If we are not able to do that, then we don’t need to worry, just relax and eat chana-jor-garam on your couch while sipping cold drink 😀