Get the Priorities Right

In a developing nation like India, where millions grapple with unemployment, poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare, and a crumbling education system, governance should be about setting the right priorities. However, all too often, political theatrics overshadow the urgent need for meaningful policy interventions. Governments at both the state and national levels must focus on long-term socio-economic growth rather than indulging in distractive politics that serves no real purpose.

The country has witnessed a disturbing trend where ruling parties, instead of working on governance, spend time and resources on ideological battles, populist measures, and political vendettas. Whether it is communal rhetoric, unnecessary controversies over historical narratives, or extravagant public relations exercises, these distractions only serve to divert attention from pressing concerns such as unemployment, climate change, and economic stagnation. The obsession with elections and power politics also results in short-term policy gimmicks rather than sustainable developmental reforms.

The biggest challenge today remains employment generation. While India boasts of a young workforce, there is a glaring mismatch between skill development and job market requirements. Instead of prioritizing large-scale skill development and vocational training, funds are often diverted toward politically motivated freebie schemes that offer temporary relief but no lasting solutions. Investment in MSMEs, infrastructure, and digital economy initiatives can create sustainable employment, yet these sectors remain underfunded.

Quality education and healthcare are fundamental to any thriving society, yet both remain in crisis. India’s public education system is plagued by poor teaching quality, outdated curricula, and infrastructure deficits. Instead of focusing on real educational reform, political leaders frequently push for superficial changes such as renaming institutions or tweaking history textbooks to suit their ideological leanings. Similarly, the healthcare system, as exposed by the pandemic, is underfunded and unprepared. Instead of expanding healthcare access, governments waste time and resources on political grandstanding.

Infrastructure projects, especially in states with difficult terrains like Sikkim, are vital for economic integration and development. However, repeated delays in road connectivity projects, lack of proper disaster management planning, and underwhelming investment in public transport show a misplaced set of priorities. Instead of addressing these issues, political discourse remains dominated by power struggles and irrelevant debates.

A government’s success should not be measured by its ability to dominate headlines with sensationalized narratives but by its ability to uplift its people. Public funds should be directed toward education, employment, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure rather than political vanity projects. There must be greater accountability and transparency in governance, ensuring that policy decisions are data-driven and focused on long-term welfare rather than short-term electoral gains.

For any state or nation to prosper, governance must be about real progress, not distractions. The time has come for our political leaders to get their priorities right.