THE ASCENDANCE OF THE
CIVIL SOCIETY
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
What defines 'Civil Society'?
Its not just the NGOs; its
about the common
person. Its about social
capital.
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
In every society, there
is a 'system' to Govern.
This 'system' creates
centers of power. In
simple words, those
who are NOT part of
the 'system'; form the
'Civil Society'
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
In terms of NGOs; we can
safely say that India lags
far behind the global
averages and in next 20
odd years, it might create
30 to 40 million jobs in
this sector; particularly
in the fields of Education
and Health.
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
But NGOs are just a
small part of Civil
Society. The term gets
prominently in news;
more because of
destructive resistance
of common person
rather than
constructive
achievements.
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
But the fact remains that
majority of resistance through
out the world history has
created transitional and
disturbed times. Be it
independence movements of
various countries in 20th
century or the present day Arab
Spring or for that matter even
the Anti-globalization
sentiments.
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
India; has been
different.
Due to Gandhi; our
freedom struggle
remained largely nonviolent. The civil society
movements in India after
independence also have
largely remained so.
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
From Vinoba Bhave'
'Bhoodan' to JP
movement and now to
Anna Hazare; India has
always surprised the
world with Gandhian
values in resistance. But
it is not always like that;
and it won't always
remain like that.
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
The core value of 3rd
industrial revolution is to
be distributive in nature.
To be assimilative in
nature. This can not
happen without a
POSITIVE contribution
from civil society.
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
In fact Civil Society is the
building block of the 3rd
industrial revolution. All other
factors won’t gel in, unless the
Civil Society gels in.
It is distributive and
assimilative by nature; and
forms the core of the new
model of contributive solutions.
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
So; if there are two
parts of Society; One
the "Power Center"
and the rest as the
"Civil Society" then
where does Business
or Industry fit in?
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
In Indian context; due to
political connections in
establishing or running;
the Business is seen
largely as part of
"System".
On the other side of the
table with powers to be.
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
This is why Business or
Industry fails to be part
of civil society; and the
ascendance of civil
society does not remain
just anti-system; but
at times becomes
anti-business or
anti-industry.
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
So, have we learnt our
lesson from Singur or
Nandigram or Raigadh or
even Bhatta Persaul??
I am afraid not.
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
Business is still seen on
other side of the table. It will
remain so; till the CSR
improves drastically and
dramatically and the Industry
starts caring of what the
people think about them and
their ways of conducting
themselves.
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH
Thank you.
MEGA TREND 5 : FICCI WHITE PAPER ON 3RD INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: YASHWANT DESHMUKH