Orientation and familiarization is very useful when one begins a new adventure/work. eg. Teachers have orientation courses, may it be freshers or seniors. .Many professional have to undergo some sort of orientation programme. This is with the view that the persons involved get to know the exact nature of work, rights and duties or new developments or new challenges, expectations from them, likely problems that will come up in the course of their work, ways and methods of approach to tackle the problem etc etc.. Useful tips are discussed in this kind of orientation seminars and workshops, which go a long way in making a person more comfortable with the task ahead. You ask any MLA/MP about the preamble and the Indian constitutional provisions. How many of them will know the general welfare concept of the State, how many of them know the fundamental rights and directive principles ?. Infact, the Indian constitution embodies all that is required for a civil society to co-exist and enjoy the economic benefits for all. Today there is lot of debate on reservations etc.. did these MLA's/MP's ever reflected on the possible reasons as to on what basis and why this provision was made ? what is the history behind this ? NO .. if they had, then today we would not see so many still below poverty line, and we would not see a handful SC/ST more richer than some of our businessmen. To help the prospective legislators/executive body of this country, we urgently need some sort of training courses, orientation. I recommend that all those who want to contest elections right from the lower end (Panch, Councilors, MLA, MP) should mandatory be made aware of their duties and responsibilities to society. Maybe some sort of exam must be taken (not necessarily in line with formal education system). Modelities must be worked out how best this can be done. In democracy, driving license is not given because a person is popular, charismatic leader etc.. but by undergoing a driving test etc.. similarly all candidates must pass some kind of test to apply for post of representative of people. Of course, right now we have some requirements like a person must Indian citizen, must complete a certain age say 30 years of age, etc. As societies are progressing and moving at a fast pace, we must raise our bars. Care must be taken not to exclude certain categories but to allow 'disciplined' people to run the country. Discipline and love of community does not necessarily come from formal education though, than whatever is required needs to be done to inculcate these virtues in the representative of people. Only a political fool will turn around and say that right now and for so many years the country has been managed ? and today India is moving towards being a superpower ? what is superpower ? increase in crimes of all sorts, robberies, murders, rapes, riots, etc.. or is it military and economic power only. For me, a superpower would mean decrease in crimes year by year, economic progress and prosperity for people, bread and butter for all including other basic needs and good things of life must be enjoyed by all and rule of law. Assets declaration was enforced by Election Commission , I hope this will also come in effect sooner than latter. I also hope assets are also re-checked after every 5 years, to see how much more gains/losses these representative have made. In brief, the representative must be aware, qualified in good moral values, well disciplined . These subjective values must be brought out or tested in an objective way to finalise the list of people who can contest the elections or put to vote. Goa can take a lead in this, instead of trying to take lead in compulsory HIV test before marriage . Again this is optional to be made compulsory for cabinet ministers, if they want. Regards, Raul Carneiro love & happiness always
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