Media and Development

Our nation has built a reputation for its democracy and for providing leadership to a billion people with many cultures, many languages and many religions. Our technological competence and value system along with a civilisational heritage are highly respected.

Can we expect anything better than this for increasing the momentum of our development missions? Let us translate this great opportunity for transforming our states into developed states to realise our cherished dream of a developed India before 2020.

With 700 million people living in 600,000 villages, our print media has got a great challenge in front of it. Our news reporting is mainly urban-based in many states.

This situation needs to change. I consider the media to be a partner in national development.

A partner means that when somewhere an innovative use of organic cultivation is taking place, and the productivity of wheat or rice is doubled, it’s (considered) very important news. This news must be studied, analysed and propagated. Similarly, when a pond has for years remained unused and the farmers collectively work together and make it operational, it indeed is big news and must be reported. Such reporting will enable desilting and rejuvenation of lakhs of water bodies which are non-operational today in many states.

Similarly, constructive criticism of how a panchayat is working, or how the flow of funds from the government is reaching the required development project, must also be reported so that necessary corrective measures can be effected.

I would like to discuss some of innovative development programmes that I have come across in different parts of the country and that need media attention:

Siruthuli: This is an initiative started by Coimbatoreans for Coimbatoreans. This ecological project aims to bring back the glory of Coimbatore and its rich heritage. The project has people from all walks of life and is professionally organised. The primary focus is on large-scale rainwater harvesting, afforestation, sewage/waste water treatment and solid waste management.

Synergy mission in Kali Bein: I am delighted to learn that the Kali Bein rivulet — where Guru Nanak Devji is said to have received enlightenment and which over the years turned into a weed-choked drain — has been cleaned up due to the efforts of Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, in partnership with the Punjab government. He organised people’s participation in stopping the massive flow of sewage into the Bein.

National Innovation Foundation: During the past two years, while giving away awards on behalf of the National Innovation Foundation, I have seen the products and processes developed by grassroot innovators. There are many creative products made by rural artisans and farmers which have enormous societal value. Media should work towards stories that generate confidence about the creative potential at the grassroots. I would suggest that such reporting must become a common practice by the media in multiple languages. This will not only motivate the innovators, but also enable many progressive farmers to make use of the products and processes in real life, leading to improved productivity and wealth generation.

Periyar PURA: Recently, I visited Periyar Maniammai College of Technology for Women and inaugurated a PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Area) Complex. The cluster of over 60 villages near Vallam, in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, has a population of 3 lakh. This PURA complex has all the three connectivities — physical, electronic and knowledge — leading to economic connectivity.

The centre of activity emanates from the women’s engineering college that provides the electronic and knowledge connectivity. All the villagers are busy in cultivation, planting Jatropha, herbal and medicinal plants, generating power using biomass, processing food, and above all running marketing centres. The media can definitely celebrate such schemes which would enable many entrepreneurs to join the movement.

Wheat productivity: Successful experiments have been carried out by a TIFAC team in Bihar where the per hectare output of wheat has been tripled by farmers in collaboration with agricultural scientists through scientific methods. As a result, the earnings of the participating farmers have improved remarkably. Such experiments can be replicated in many parts of our country, carefully tailored to local conditions. This is a crucial socio-economic need.

Seed cotton productivity: The textile industry is very important for the Indian economy. The basic raw material is cotton. India is the third largest producer of cotton in the world. However, compared to the world average of 700 kg of seed cotton per acre, we produce only 350 kg of seed cotton per acre.

Shri Oswal of the Vardhman group adopted Nava Pind village in the northern region, brought about a cooperative movement of the farmers, scientists, trainers and industry, and launched cotton cultivation in over 1,200 acres. The project resulted in increasing the average seed cotton yield of the village from 450 kg per acre during 2002-2003, to 950 kg per acre for 2003-2004, that too at a considerably reduced investment. This led to an increase in net return per acre in the village — from Rs 2,400 per acre to Rs 17,000 per acre.

I have given a few examples of notable scientific, technological and societal accomplishments. There may be many more successes of this nature. Members of the media must be sensitive to such accomplishments and celebrate them with full vigour. This will definitely motivate many institutions to emulate innovative developments in their own regions.

I have a suggestion for the press. In our country it is essential to have research wings in the academic institutions developing media personnel in reporting news, event analysis and highlights. The owners of newspapers should encourage research by experienced and young reporters for acquiring post-graduate qualifications which will improve the quality of content of the print media.

Missions for the Media

In the present development context of the nation, I would like the Press to take up the following missions for immediate implementation:

1. A media movement: Developed India before 2020.

2. The press should become a development partner in the programme of PURA — connectivity is the focus.

3. Celebrating every aspect of the success of the states and the nation, particularly in rural areas.

4. Evolution of a corruption-free India before 2010.

5. Promoting an enlightened society, which means education with a value system, transforming religion into a spiritual force and building economic prosperity of the nation based on its core competence. For this mission, a unique world body is essential.

6. Media should bring honor to womanhood.

7. Scanning and digitising all old issues of the print media since its establishment and storing these in a digital libr1ary to preserve our national heritage and make it available for research.

A nation without a vision is just like a ship in the ocean without an engine for power or sails and rudder for direction. Fortunately, India’s youth power is the engine that gives a thrust to the movement towards growth. The media can certainly give a positive direction to development by becoming the multiple sails of the ship.

The members of media may undertake the task of motivating every citizen of the nation to work towards transforming India into a developed nation well before 2020. They have to use the special communication skills unique to each region and language.