The USA is going through the process of electing its President. Biden and Trump are candidates. But, suddenly Biden appears to be ‘not up to it’. Will he withdraw? Who will come in then – Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris?
The UK is going for polls on 4 July. Some surprises are expected. Labour is leading the opinion polls. Rishi Sunak may not sail through.
Satsangs, Stampedes trouble us. Sadgati to the victims at Hathras Stampede.
Doctors. Persons qualified to treat people who are ill. Their metric is ‘number of people doing well’ – breathing easy, heart beats in rhythm, calm minds.
Are we qualified to treat ourselves? Are we qualified to take steps not to fall ill in the first place? We admit more than 100,000 students every year now. Many in private colleges. We seem to have doctors, 1:834, as against the benchmark, 1:1000. Rural areas have just 25%. More than 50% vacancies are in rural hospitals. Further, we seem to have shortages in specialists, in a big way. We also see big shortages in medical teachers. The quality of medical education is poor. Plus, we are getting numbers in the aggregate, but not distributed well. How are we reducing the medical costs in the country? Can we get basic health universally? Can this be a right, a la basic education? How do we augment health workers, maybe 1 per 100? How do we train the cutting-edge grassroots workers in the public domain on basic health, apart from ASHA workers? Anganwadi workers, Sanitation workers, Teachers, MGNREGS mates, Gram sevikas, GP secretaries, assistants, SHG federation staff, staff with local enterprises, youth associations, staff with collectives-cooperatives, forest workers et al? Do we also need paid or unpaid but trained community health volunteers, associates, or workers, maybe at least 1 for 100 persons?
Can we commission a 2-year rural natural living comprehensive service/apprenticeship for all – while in school, or in lieu of plus 2 – intermediate, or in undergraduate courses, or later? This can include education, health, natural farming, value chains, enterprises, climate change etc., and the apprentice can be paid a modest living stipend. This is like serving the army, in some countries. The service may not be in their own village. Only after the rural service, one can be given a placement. If someone wants to work in the urban centres in lieu of rural service, on a fully residential basis, it could be considered. It could be on a limited basis.
Can we at least have this kind of an option, for a willing individual, or school, or college? Can the New Education Policy, NEP, provide for this?
We all seek Gurus, Mentors. We know that they manifest before us when we are ready. How do we get ready? Do we not move from A to B to C and so on, till we land up in ‘the master’? Do we pass the ‘Milarepa’ test of humility, submitting ourselves to ‘Marpa’? Do we raise ourselves to the level and capacity to absorb ‘the master’, ‘the Guru’? Do we raise ourselves to the level and capacity to be in the ‘Gurukulam(s)’?
Can we start learning to unlearn? Transcending our egos of uselessness, to humility of usefulness?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, if we flow in coexistence. In N? sevakyoga for 7L.
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