There has been a recent discussion in one of the IIM alumni Whatsapp groups about how do we really transform the nation.

I shared a few of my following thoughts having been in the space of capacity building – people, institutional, organizational in turn that of national excellence – over the last three decades.

– Education till univ (with skills for livelihood) and women’s empowerment – only way to transform any society or nation…

A friend in the group asked –

How does one empower women? Today you can see how our women are being treated. Women’s rights have been trampled upon. Forget rights, women are no longer safe in this country. Empowerment cannot even be dreamed of in such a situation.

My response to it –

• Need to start from homes, every home! Education is the key, of both boys and girls. Girls for sure need to be supported all the way till univ (with skills for livelihood, with entrepreneurial spirit), to at least bring this transformational empowerment in one generation… Make girl child education free till Univ, especially non-creamy layer!
• A well educated mother transforms the family, as she breaks free of the patriarchal mindset, and does not allow subjugation of any girl child.
• Quality Mid day meals at schools are a must at least till class 8 or even class 10, in all the govt schools. This will make sure the school drop out rates are curbed to almost zero.
• Govt must fund initiatives like Akshaypatra across every district in non-urban and semi urban areas of the country. Visit its website to know more about Akshayapatra, how they run large centralized kitchens with a fleet of foot delivery trucks that cater to the needs of the schools – mid-day meals.

Delhi govt has done a lot of things in the right direction, at least in the first 8 years of their dispensation…

Specialized schools after grade 8

• Academically exceptional children, moved to Schools of Specialized Excellence, to excel towards engineering, medical, business, legal, humanities, armed forces, performing arts studies.
• Skill schools progressing towards Delhi skill and entrepreneurship university
• Sports focused schools, towards Delhi Sports University
• Annual events showcasing entrepreneurial and product design endeavours of students from schools, also exceptional entrepreneurial ideas get funded etc. Check out Entrepreneurship Curriculum, Business Blasters.

A good format for all states to follow, and better it…

The Skills school can have a placement cell after grade 12, that can cater to every skills need of the industry, apart from mentoring and facilitating children to progress to the Skills university.

When the possibility of COVID striking in March 2020 was being predicted, much before the whole world came to a standstill, before children were locked at home, Delhi Govt quickly got in touch with CL Educate, as we have been delivering online classes to a few thousands of students across the world for over two decades with a robust Learning Management System Platform. Within a week, a handful of selected exceptional teachers for every subject from across all the schools of specialized excellence were trained and deployed to deliver classes at homes. I was at the helm of delivery and I know how proactive the govt was. Here are a few of the articles that I had written then. Project Aspiration 2020 report card, Feedback from students, teachers and families, Numbers, engagement and Feedback.

There are great schools initiated by individuals like Pardada-Pardadi school, Anupshahar in UP, Vigyan Ashram in Pabal (near Pune) have shown in the last 3 decades, how imparting skills to children in school can transform not just their families, but entire society and the districts close by. These schools impact over 100 sqkm area in their surroundings!!

Like Fabindia, PardadaPardadi school has its own retail outlets. You can find one in Noida.

Now let us look at the Govt’s attitude towards education over the last decade.. percentage of GDP allocated to education by Modi ji’s govt in the last 10 years shown in the graph. It has almost halved!!

Even if you take as percentage of budget

Now let us look the Govt of Delhi’s attitude towards education

And look at the share of the Delhi expenditure on Education, the trend..

How it has impacted on the outcomes?

The Revenues and expenses, where they come from and where they go… in Delhi

Now look at the global numbers…. it is telling..

And we talk about Viksit Bharat !!

If nation has to transform and become a developed country, the nation has to allocate at least 25% of its budget to Education and Health, year after year, for the next 10 years and you will see a transformed nation.

We need to educate and build skills of our masses. If a Sridhar Vembu can build a world class corporation, ZOHO, from the hinterlands of Tamilnadu, can other states not create such opportunities and possibilities for youth across every state? We can, we just need a political will.

Bhashans of Skill India, Make in India, Make for India, Stand up India ….. will not transform the nation, if your focus is on “Shut up India”, “Sit down India”….. We need to build temples of learning in every village and town, not put all efforts of the government to build a temple in Ayodhya for winning elections. We need to really care for every child, every family, every community, only then nation will transform. And it just needs a decade of political purposefulness and you will see a nation that the world will be “WOW” at.

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• One of my esteemed IIMB Alum friend Mr Nikhil, left a few remarks on reading this article. I am including his additions …

• Meals must be 3 times a day ….even if govt expenditure on education is only limited to poor districts and only till 12th std it will work but the most vulnerable need to be paid or need 3 proper meals in schools

• And schools must be from morning till evening with homework done in the school itself …..no outside homework or tuitions

• A system of the scholarly kids helping kids from their class ….for one hour a day….each of the top 20% kids should have 3 kids to help from the bottom 60%.

• Those in the 20 to 40% should help kids from the lower class….creates a sense of responsibility….and it’s revision as well. I learnt subjects better when I started teaching my younger brother and sister.

• And understood that I had come a long way from that class and how much of a difference education makes….when in school itself. So the responsibilities also keep us motivated to continue with good habits

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