ONLY ASSET OF GOVT IS PUBLIC TRUST & HOW CAN WE HELP IT!

We see a number of communications (tweets, postings in FB, comments in newspaper columns) expressing a negative opinion about whatever projects, improvements etc. that are taken up for implementation. An uninformed pessimistic opinion can spread and pollute other minds also.  With paid media waiting in the wings to exaggerate any contrary view to gain viewers’ attention, these adverse views are absorbed in the minds of people. All this negative impressions can seriously affect smoother implementation of any project.  

Can we do anything about this? Most often we just ignore these or at best post our views opposing it.  Can we do anything better? Yes, we can. You remember the slogan of President Obama when he was contesting his first presidential election? This was his slogan: “Yes, we can!” This one slogan enthused the dormant and dejected Democrats and he won the election.

When we read any adverse comments about any project, we most often ignore it. On a few occasions we also contradict it and then forget about the whole thing. Probably those who opposed it also just vented their feelings and then forgot everything including the negative impression they might have left in the minds of those who read it. This negative sense, if and when it accumulates in the minds of readers, leads to first minor opposition which gets more intense unless nipped in the bud.

I don’t intend to discuss all the ways in which we can overcome this pessimistic atmosphere, whether intentionally created by opposition or natural reaction due to ignorance. I want to highlight a particular method which should be very helpful.

At the discussion stage itself every project draws both positive and negative reactions which are expressed in social media. Imagine your keeping full record of all negative reactions (along with details of name, date and where it was made and full text for the project) from early days. After some clear developments in the project, you will be able to report about it, quoting any earlier message which was negative. How will this help?

When people read your current message stating what was said as opposed to what was happening, first of all it will leave a deeper positive impression about the project and about YOU, in their mind. At the same time, it will also create a negative impression about the person who made the wrong comment earlier. Imagine a hundred people doing it! If the project is progressing well, the accumulated impression about the project will be quite positive.

When BJP government took over, in the first about six months it announced details of its various projects and in the next about six months, projects were planned and execution started. Opposition, especially Congress and Pappu, kept on telling and media kept on broadcasting that all these plans were only on paper and nothing will happen. Only jumla! Do they say anything now? Even mention the word jumla? No.

Opposition would have become silent much earlier had the government started publicizing its plans much earlier and more widely. Bihar could have been won. Let’s not lose U.P. because our not telling loud and clear to everyone about what changes have come what more to expect and how soon.

It is also necessary to expose those who are active in the social media so that their effectiveness is lost. Let’s quote them with date and full text and refute what they said with facts and figures. Again and again. Let us ask them eat crow. That is all they deserve.

The only asset of the government is not how much is left in the treasury nor how many of the citizens are well fed. The only asset of the government is the TRUST of people in it. Irrespective of whether the rains have been good or bad; whether there is agitation in any State or not; whether certain sections are vociferous or silent.

This TRUST can be generated and nurtured ONLY by widest dissemination of information about what benefits it was able to give and what more are in the pipeline. Along with who said what and when against government projects to misguide people and is therefore anti-national and not trustworthy.