In an earlier blog titled GRINGLO I had written about the way all solutions to our problems get trapped in a gridlock. We feel paralyzed, frustrated and in a cul de sac. It is in such situations that some of us look to leave India and this is how millions have already left and many millions more throng the doors of almost any embassy in our cities.

In response to another of my writings on India specifically about the need for training institutions for unskilled workers that they acquire some skills that can fetch a job or help them set up as micro entrepreneurs, a reader sent me this response.

Dear Ravi,

I am a civil engineering trainer and have first hand experience about training. There are already some NGOs have started this school. But response from workers and their employers is extremely cold. workers feel they any way get work and earn without any problem. Employers feel that why they should spend for workers? because workers are migratory and they will go away.

In this situation, first we will have do something to change attitude of employers.

This brings to us another example of the Gridlock that bedevils us — we quickly run into a wall every time we come up with a solution. In the instance cited above employers have a real problem — why to spend money on training when the worker will leave the job anyway. The worker looks at it this way — I am getting by with whatever skills I have, so why bother to upgrade myself?

I may however add that I had in mind training institutions for unemployed rural labor. But this sector poses another set of problems.

I had occasion to conduct a series of workshops on LATERAL THINKING for a Multinational at Navi Mumbai. One of the issues that came up repeatedly was the excessive absenting of workers from their jobs at the factories which were invariably located in rural areas. This was affecting productivity and managers were unable to meet production and delivery deadlines.

When I asked why the company could not reward workers for a good attendance record I was told that far from expecting rewards, workers were willing to fore go even normal wages for absenting themselves. These workers did not mind losing money but they considered it absolutely necessary to attend every event in their villages – festivals, death of a friend, marriage of a neighbor, a baby born to a cousin, naming ceremony for the village grocer’s son etc. The managers had no clue how to get out of this logjam.

My understanding is that many aspects of Indian culture are not in tune with the requirements of a modern economy. I do not say that it is only the low skilled workers display such attitudes. I see it across all levels in society.

If you agree that the rot starts from the top I can give a few examples of the lack of a larger vision and of professionalism even in the case of very highly paid professionals.

I was talking on the phone to a friend in Canada about the Afghan situation. I asked him why Canada had not sent any soldiers even though his country was a close ally of the US.

He said that Canada was an example of democracy at its best. The question of Canada joining the war effort in Afghanistan was put to vote in Canada’s Parliament and it was dismissed by a majority. The government had to bow to this sentiment that obviously represented the will of the people.

He asked me why India did not have such a system of putting foreign policy matters to vote in Parliament. I had my views but refrained from airing them to him. I will however state it here as an example of lack of vision and professionalism at high levels.

I feel that if foreign policy issues are put to vote, such critical and sensitive decisions will become hostage to petty municipal level politics. Let me give you an example.

About a year ago India had to take a stand on the issue of Iran flouting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Pressure was mounting on India and other countries to take a firm stand on this sensitive issue. At this point a few politicians including those from the left and their UP allies addressed a public meeting in Lucknow outside a large Shia musque and thundered that in the Iran matter ‘The Government must keep in mind the sentiments of the Shia community of India’

This is a classic case of letting sectarian issues of a domestic nature influence the decision that rightfully must be based on national interest. Clearly many of our leaders lack professionalism. I am happy to add that several Shia people wrote to the media that some politicians are implying that national interests are different from the interests of Indian Shia Muslims. ’We strongly resent this’ wrote an angry Shia gentleman.

Another example that is playing out these days is the tragic incident at an army base in Texas. An army Major, a Muslim suddenly took out his gun and shot dead 12 soldiers and injured many more. The issue is under investigation and it is not correct for me to comment but what I can write about is the professionalism of the TV stations. These channels have been telecasting interviews with all sorts of experts — psychiatrists, forensic scientists, detectives, explosive experts, FBI, CIA, Koran experts, Armed forces Chiefs. BUT NOT ONE POLITICIAN HAS BEEN INTERVIEWED.

Contrast this with what happens in our TV channels whenever a terrorist attack, or crime, or financial scandal, or accident, of any sort of crisis takes place. The channels rush to politicians first —PM. Sonia, Rahul Gandhi, Laloo Prasad. Mayawati, etc Can you name one forensic expert who has been asked for his opinion on the Mumbai massacre? When the bridge meant for the New Delhi metro fell down killing a few people did any channel ask a design expert for his opinion on what structural defects might have led to this disaster.

In the context of the shootout at Texas no politician including Obama rushed to the site. No one would have been allowed to do so – not even Obama — for this can lead to evidence being destroyed. But in our country one can see any number of politicians rushing to the site in an entourage of dozens of cars.

As for TV coverage a top personality on Indian TV literally gave away secrets to the handlers of the Mumbai massacre terrorists by her running commentary on the events in and outside the Taj Hotel.

Pakistan has done a splendid job in TV coverage of the ongoing battle in South Waziristan... No TV or print media journalists have been allowed at the war theater.

A clear example of my hypothesis that salary alone cannot ensure professionalism. As for vision. Here is a startling example. When the highway system was conceived in the US around the time of the second world war it was decided that for every five miles of highway anywhere in the US there ought to be ONE MILE OF ABSOLUTELY STRAIGHT ROAD.

The reason—to allow for landing of aircraft in case of an emergency .The amazing thing is that the US was thousands of miles from the war theatre. Today this is useful when a critically injured motorist or passenger is to be airlifted to a hospital — the critical golden hour that doctors talk about. Readers please tell me if such foresight is seen in the Golden Quadrilateral.

The common theme in these examples is professionalism, foresight and vision.These are yet to take roots in our country. K.R.RAVI