The new Parliament is meeting today. The voters have sent a clear message — they want performance. Since coalitions became the norm and wafer-thin majorities ruled, Parliament has not honestly transacted business. Parliament sessions are called, proceedings are continuously disrupted, then a day before the session ends, the government and Opposition agree to pass X number of Bills without any debate or deliberation. Bills that have serious ramifications are passed. This must change. Voters have reposed their faith on Manmohan Singh. He must deliver now.

Parliamentary reforms: This government must introduce Bills that will reform our parliamentary democracy. The citizen must be empowered to become a participant in the democratic process, not remain a mere ‘voter’. One issue that comes to mind is reforming the system of distribution of welfare. For too long, it has been a system that ‘gives’ and not a system by which citizens ‘get’. Welfare must become a right of the citizen. A citizens’ committee must manage the MPs’ constituency development fund. This way, the funds will efficiently be utilised and corruption can be reduced.

A minimum performance criteria in Parliament must be made mandatory for MPs to avail life-long benefits. The Bill for reservation of seats for women in Parliament has been pending for long. Now that those opposed to it have been made inconsequential, it must be passed immediately.

Rural Poverty: This must be tackled urgently, but while doing so, we must ensure that the rural poor are not turned into beggars. They must be empowered to become self-reliant. Bapu had dreamt of a self-reliant village republic, we discarded that dream. It’s time we implement measures that will bring about Gram Swaraj of Bapu’s dreams.

Revitalising khadi & village industries: These must be freed from corruption and lethargy and cured of their addiction to subsidy. Since the late sixties, the commission (KVIC) has become a rotten edifice. If it can’t be cured, it must be discarded. A much leaner and efficient incubator and nurturer of village enterprise and traditional skills and crafts must be put in its place. Khadi has the ability to become a tool of rural rejuvenation. It requires new technology. Traditional arts and crafts must be made more efficient and modern, and a funding and marketing agency must be established. A spinning and weaving cooperative can become an economic tool to give employment to the rural unemployed. All government establishments must be asked to use khadi & village industry products.

Rural infrastructure: Rural India must have the same infrastructure as in the metros. Industry, which is given so many sops to go to rural areas, must be made responsible for rural development, too.

Education: It must be made uniform. Education is a state subject, but the way the standards are collapsing and the difference in syllabus and policies among states have ruined a once envious education system. The time has come for a uniform national education policy. States may have the authority as far as regional languages are concerned, everything else must be made uniform. A mechanism must be put in place whereby within a time frame, each district will have subsidised quality centres of higher education. Primary rural education must be revitalised. In the matter of education, the Centre must become a proactive partner with the state.

Foreign policy: We have been unable to form and sustain partnerships with our neighbours and old allies. Our influence in Africa is waning. China is muscling into our neighbourhood, as well as in Africa. We must become influential and rebuild equations with our traditional friends. The Obama administration must be made aware of the fact that we will not allow them to introduce players into their operations in Pakistan whom we feel are detrimental to our strategic interests.

Defence: Our armed forces must be turned into lean and mean fighting machines. We must be assertive like Israel, but not become thugs like them. We must let our neighbours and their patrons know that we will implement measures to secure our territories against intrusion and safeguard our security by taking preventive action. We must not become war-mongers, but a nation not to be trifled with. Here too, we will have to counter China’s strategic expansion into our neighbourhood. Private industry must be encouraged to get into production of weapons.

Police reforms: A weak police force makes us susceptible. In matters of internal security, the Centre must enforce its authority over the states. We must have a minister of internal security with independent charge.

Agricultural reforms: Tradi-tional agriculture is dying. Small farmers should be empowered to become rural entrepreneurs. We need ano-ther Green Revolution, this time a more sustainable, efficient and one that embraces traditional and environment-friendly farming practices, and is less dependent on chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Cooperative farming must be encouraged.

Subsidised health care: Quality health care is going out of the reach of the poor and aged. A national health care policy must be drafted and implemented.

A final plea for Didi (railway minister Mamata Banerjee), please bring back kulhads (earthen cups) in trains. It provided employment to a lot of traditional potters. Also, use khadi bedsheets and face towels on trains. It will give employment to many spinners and weavers. If the new government headed by prime minister Manmohan Singh is really pro-aam aadmi, they will do at least this much.