Navigating Through the Storm with Perseverance

• Dr. Archana Sharma

The Congress government faced unforeseen challenges during its two-year tenure while taking over the reins of power with the resolution of public service. While there was a severe outbreak of the global pandemic, on the other hand, the outcast BJP was electrified to destabilize the government; but the way in which the Congress government, inspired by the ideology of the Congress and complemented by Gandhian principles, confronted both the challenges of the state has been unique and exemplary in the history of Indian politics. Under the guidance of the veteran Chief Minister of the state Shri Ashok Gehlot, the way in which the positive work that the government and administration has done to overcome the epidemic like Covid-19 which has no cure, had a positive result that the death rate in the state due to this disease was much lower than that at the national level and its communication was also controlled to a large extent due to the adoption of many innovations.

The Congress Government of the State made the manifesto a government document just like it had been doing in its preceding tenures and worked continuously to fulfill all the promises. The result of the same is that out of 501 promises made to the public, 252 i.e. 50% promises have been fulfilled and the progress of implementation of 75% promises is satisfactory and priorities have also been fixed for remaining promises. Right from the beginning of Corona, the government took its responsibility seriously and adopted such innovative methods which were praised by the World Health Organization and the process of prevention of infection which was adopted at many places in the state was literally copied at many places in the country and the spread of the virus was controlled. The entire nation knows that the Congress government has always been at the forefront for providing social security to the general public. First of all, the lockdown was implemented in the country, but it was also ensured that not even a single citizen slept on empty stomach and won the public’s trust. While the Central government left the migrant laborers on their own, the Congress government of the state not only provided the means of transport to help them reach their destination, but also kept their living arrangements smooth. It is well known that children from all over the country take part in educational activities in Kota, Rajasthan. The Chief Minister showing full sensitivity even in this issue and establishing coordination with other states helped students return to their homes, ensuring that all the Corona-related guidelines were followed.

On one hand, while the government was struggling every day to provide people relief from the epidemic, on the other hand, new tactics were being adopted to destabilize the government of the state. The role played by the BJP in promoting the disbelief in democratic values is the biggest threat to the democracy of the country. Keeping the intention of toppling the government which has received the mandate from the public is being disloyal to the public and that is why when the elections to the civic bodies were held, the people, looking at the welfare work of the Congress Government, gave full support to the candidates of the Congress and Congress party’s votes have increased even in the rural areas. Today, the whole country is plagued with many problems and the Pradesh is also not untouched by that, but the ability to take decisions in public interest by overcoming every difficulty has given Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot a special identity in politics. Just as he had given direction in this field to the country by starting free drug (medicine) scheme in his preceding term, similarly during this tenure too, he has served to provide relief to all sections of society through implementation of many programmes in the public interest. The state of Rajasthan has the lowest test rates for Covid-19 as compared to the entire country and the public has been saved from inconvenience by fixing Covidcenters from time-to-time and they are being provided treatment in government sector free of cost and at the minimum possible cost in private sector. Apart from providing unemployment allowance on time, employment generation is also being done as part of the process. Nutrition for the poor, the migrants and the needy has been ensured through the practice of giving a large amount of food for a nominal cost by starting Indira Kitchen. The steps taken for commitment to Law system make it clear that the government is fully committed to control crime. Along with providing security to women, the radical changes made in the policing system to curb crimes against them have given half of the population the confidence. By making many provisions for the economically weaker sections, the government has worked to bring equity in the society and has provided benefits to all the disadvantaged sections of the state by providing opportunities.

In order to materialize the election promises, the government first proved that promises are made to be fulfilled by waiving the loans of the farmers. Similarly, for farmers deprived of old age pension scheme, KrishakSamman Pension has been issued and social security has been provided to them. The previous BJP government had closed many schools without deliberations, due to which the weaker sections of the society were deprived of education. Keeping this in mind, the Congress Government has reviewed and reopened 20 thousand schools. Similarly, big decisions have been taken in public interest by opening educational institutions and hospitals in rural remote areas of the state. The state has been deprived of its right to GST, despite the non-cooperation of the Center, the government has left no stone unturned in the development of the infrastructure in the state. In all areas of the state, roads are being laid without any discrimination and basic facilities have been made available to the public without any delay.

Despite the adverse circumstances in the last two years, the diligence and readiness with which the Congress government has taken decisions in the public interest has proved that the government has never wavered from its responsibility towards the people and has stood up to every challenge to the public. Accountability has also been ensured from time-to-time. Committed to providing sensitive transparency, the government has made every effort to liberate the country from corruption and crime and has executed many schemes and innovations to ensure public participation. These two years of the Congress Government is a chapter in the politics of India which will be found as a special example in politics and for all of us, the Congress Government has proved to be like a tree which despite handling all the troubles has proved to be our shelter. This is a living example of the victory of democracy.

(The writer is the Vice-President and Media-Chairperson of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee)