Agenda avoidance to its acceptance

Agenda avoidance to its acceptance

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 20th Oct. 2016

Finally there seems to be a rise in interest in the commercial news media finally taking up what these articles have been depicting for long. Business and growth in jobs is on the top of electoral agenda for the voters but ‘avoided by the commercial news media’, ‘fleetingly touched upon by political pundits for sake of vote encashment only’, ‘generally confused by experts who would rather argue for a sector’s growth/performance’, ‘complicated by economist arguing for productivity improvement’ and finally ‘avoided altogether by senior netas’ as something unworldly and therefore to be ignored. With the mainstream media now showing interest to debate the achievements or the lack of it, the challenges and what could possibly be done but hasn’t been progressed so far; it sets up a significant point of engagement with the masses where it has been lacking so far. While the netas may have obliquely understood this point and so there have been campaigns like ‘Buy Indian’ to common folks engaged with them, however government efforts to ensure availability of technologies and conditions to make and keep industry competitive, have been rather limited.

Most efforts have been into managing the demand and supply rather than for evolving economically productive industry sectors based on natural competency factors available. This is amply depicted when government agencies would resort to cheap imports when prices are high and impacting inflationary pressures, while stimulating demand with low interest rates when demand seems to be faltering. A comprehensive view on competitiveness of industry sector, evolving technologies and overall direction in such industry sector/s, techno-commercial standards that should be needed for players to follow, legal contract to limit the risks for investors & fair to consumer/society, export potential on regional and global basis, improving overall bankability of the sector is almost always ignored. The result is almost total confusion. It seems as if there almost no sectors where our businesses can compete with China for example and for any of the markets where local, regional or global. The competitiveness for industry sector in a defined market/geography and what can it possibly imply for jobs is seldom discussed for the lack of time and also because such a debate might be politically unpalatable for the netas keen to project themselves as demi-gods (but why does commercial news media plays along is also not made known and hence the tag ‘commercial’). It may however be noted that such debate might still be bogus unless there is clarity about reasons for the lack of competitiveness like lack of infrastructure or cost of utilities/inputs, policy/procedural bottlenecks, inverted taxation structure (which is cited sometimes), issues related to market access where political pundits have repeatedly failed to show any progress for the industry.

One would therefore hear arguments regards employability or the lack of competency amongst engineers/doctors and professionals. What such people might be having is ‘degrees’, but what they may be lacking is ability to deliver requisite jobs at a competitive cost/price. Often this is straightway attributed to employability in general, rather than finding out what such persons can deliver competitively for reasonable wage/s. The employment of such person to where they may be competitive is hindered out of lack of development of these sectors. Also, there may not be any industry specific assessment tests to judge one’s skill level and a lack of training resources to up-skill oneself. This remains so even when we have big noise being made around MOOC (Massive Open Online courses), Skill based assessment, shoring up high level teaching institutions, Skill India etc. Of course neither the netas, or the media or public may have taken these seriously, but with such debates in commercial news media especially in backdrop of electoral hustling, the chances about public scrutiny of such programs brightens up. So from the ‘game’ perspective, its ‘Laage Raho, Munna Bhai…’

 

[Swaswati Borpuzari]

Agenda avoidance to its acceptance is a dynamic process that reflects the evolution of individual or collective attitudes toward a particular issue or proposal. Initially, when a new agenda is introduced, especially one that challenges existing norms or requires significant changes, individuals or groups may instinctively avoid it. This avoidance can stem from a variety of factors, including fear of the unknown, resistance to change, or a lack of immediate understanding or perceived benefit. For example, in organizational settings, when a new policy or technology is proposed, employees might initially resist it, fearing that it could disrupt their established workflows or even lead to job insecurity. Similarly, in societal contexts, when a new policy aimed at addressing a pressing issue like climate change is introduced, there may be widespread skepticism or outright rejection due to perceived economic impacts or personal inconvenience.

However, as the benefits of the agenda become more apparent and as more information is disseminated, attitudes can shift from avoidance to acceptance. This transition often involves several stages: awareness, consideration, and finally, adoption. In the awareness stage, people start to learn more about the agenda and its potential implications. As they gain a deeper understanding, they move into the consideration stage, where they weigh the pros and cons and begin to see the value or necessity of the proposed changes. Over time, as more positive outcomes are observed or as the negative consequences of not accepting the agenda become more evident, individuals and groups may reach the adoption stage, fully embracing the new agenda.

This process is not always linear and can be influenced by external factors such as leadership, peer influence, and the availability of support and resources. Effective communication and stakeholder engagement are crucial in facilitating this shift. Leaders who can articulate the vision, provide clear and compelling reasons for change, and offer support throughout the transition can significantly enhance the likelihood of acceptance. Additionally, peer influence plays a vital role, as seeing others embrace and benefit from the agenda can encourage broader acceptance. Ultimately, the journey from agenda avoidance to acceptance is a testament to the human capacity for growth and adaptation, highlighting the importance of patience, education, and empathy in fostering meaningful change.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

Agenda avoidance to its acceptance

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 20th Oct. 2016

Finally there seems to be a rise in interest in the commercial news media finally taking up what these articles have been depicting for long. Business and growth in jobs is on the top of electoral agenda for the voters but ‘avoided by the commercial news media’, ‘fleetingly touched upon by political pundits for sake of vote encashment only’, ‘generally confused by experts who would rather argue for a sector’s growth/performance’, ‘complicated by economist arguing for productivity improvement’ and finally ‘avoided altogether by senior netas’ as something unworldly and therefore to be ignored. With the mainstream media now showing interest to debate the achievements or the lack of it, the challenges and what could possibly be done but hasn’t been progressed so far; it sets up a significant point of engagement with the masses where it has been lacking so far. While the netas may have obliquely understood this point and so there have been campaigns like ‘Buy Indian’ to common folks engaged with them, however government efforts to ensure availability of technologies and conditions to make and keep industry competitive, have been rather limited.

Most efforts have been into managing the demand and supply rather than for evolving economically productive industry sectors based on natural competency factors available. This is amply depicted when government agencies would resort to cheap imports when prices are high and impacting inflationary pressures, while stimulating demand with low interest rates when demand seems to be faltering. A comprehensive view on competitiveness of industry sector, evolving technologies and overall direction in such industry sector/s, techno-commercial standards that should be needed for players to follow, legal contract to limit the risks for investors & fair to consumer/society, export potential on regional and global basis, improving overall bankability of the sector is almost always ignored. The result is almost total confusion. It seems as if there almost no sectors where our businesses can compete with China for example and for any of the markets where local, regional or global. The competitiveness for industry sector in a defined market/geography and what can it possibly imply for jobs is seldom discussed for the lack of time and also because such a debate might be politically unpalatable for the netas keen to project themselves as demi-gods (but why does commercial news media plays along is also not made known and hence the tag ‘commercial’). It may however be noted that such debate might still be bogus unless there is clarity about reasons for the lack of competitiveness like lack of infrastructure or cost of utilities/inputs, policy/procedural bottlenecks, inverted taxation structure (which is cited sometimes), issues related to market access where political pundits have repeatedly failed to show any progress for the industry.

One would therefore hear arguments regards employability or the lack of competency amongst engineers/doctors and professionals. What such people might be having is ‘degrees’, but what they may be lacking is ability to deliver requisite jobs at a competitive cost/price. Often this is straightway attributed to employability in general, rather than finding out what such persons can deliver competitively for reasonable wage/s. The employment of such person to where they may be competitive is hindered out of lack of development of these sectors. Also, there may not be any industry specific assessment tests to judge one’s skill level and a lack of training resources to up-skill oneself. This remains so even when we have big noise being made around MOOC (Massive Open Online courses), Skill based assessment, shoring up high level teaching institutions, Skill India etc. Of course neither the netas, or the media or public may have taken these seriously, but with such debates in commercial news media especially in backdrop of electoral hustling, the chances about public scrutiny of such programs brightens up. So from the ‘game’ perspective, its ‘Laage Raho, Munna Bhai…’

This article offers an exceptional deep dive into the complexities of political policy. The writer's writing style is both analytical and accessible, making intricate policy discussions understandable and engaging for a broad audience. Their ability to translate dense political mechanics into relatable prose is a significant asset, demonstrating a profound understanding paired with strong communication skills. The structure is meticulously organized, systematically breaking down the policy in question and exploring its various facets with a methodical yet engaging approach. This allows readers to grasp the nuances and implications thoroughly. Furthermore, the outstanding clarity of the policy analysis is a defining feature. The arguments are presented with such precision, and the potential outcomes so plainly articulated, that the article becomes an invaluable guide for anyone seeking to understand the real-world impact of political decisions.