Is it not the responsibility of the Citizens to make the dream Viksit Bharat 2047 a reality?

The Citizen’s Responsibility in Building Viksit Bharat 2047.The Time to Introspect and Act is Now

“Let us not allow satisfaction with yesterday’s achievements to become complacency today, or today’s hopes and aspirations to become tomorrow’s regrets.”

India has made remarkable progress in economic development, science, technology and infrastructure. Our human talent, natural resources and rich philosophical heritage provide a strong foundation for further advancement. These achievements deserve pride and recognition. But true development must mean more than rising GDP, soaring stock markets or accumulating national wealth. Its real measure is the quality of life people enjoy—affordable healthcare and education, productive employment, economic security, human dignity and opportunities for all.

As India moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047, we must confront an uncomfortable question: Have we translated our considerable potential into outcomes that benefit society as widely as they should?

The responsibility for achieving this vision cannot rest solely with the government. Institutions, businesses, professional bodies, civil society and individual citizens all have a role to play. Those blessed with education, wealth, authority and influence have a special opportunity to convert individual success into collective progress. Equally, every citizen must contribute through responsible conduct, productive work, respect for the law and concern for the common good.

After nearing eighty years of Independence, it is time to introspect. Have our institutions delivered what was expected of them? Have we used public money, natural resources, human talent and citizens’ time responsibly? Have we done enough to question inefficiency, discourage wrongdoing and demand accountability? Persistent shortcomings call for examination not only of those who govern, but also of the conduct and expectations of the society that sustains the system. Responsibility must, of course, reflect differences in power, authority and opportunity.

From Potential to Performance

The way forward need not depend on creating more institutions or announcing additional schemes. We must first make better and optimum  use of the institutions, resources, knowledge and technology already available. There cannot be a very wide mismatch between the potential and achievement. 

Every institution and individual entrusted with responsibility must Reform, Perform, Deliver and Justify their contribution to the nation.

• Reform outdated procedures, eliminate unnecessary delays and use digitalisation and appropriately governed artificial intelligence to improve transparency and efficiency. Time consciousness and Time management should be an important focus area to evaluate performance and achievement

• Perform through professional competence, continuous learning, ethical conduct and clearly defined responsibilities.

• Deliver measurable outcomes rather than merely spending budgets or completing formalities. Public services must be timely, accessible and responsive to citizens.

• Justify the use of public resources and institutional authority through transparent reporting, independent audits, citizen feedback and periodic performance reviews.

Corporate governance and public administration must strengthen internal controls, independent oversight and accountability. Regular audits should identify leakages, misuse of resources and systemic weaknesses. Genuine errors and correctable deficiencies should be addressed, while established misconduct and deliberate wrongdoing should invite proportionate action under the law. The objective is to strengthen institutions, not to condemn them indiscriminately.

Make Social Responsibility Measurable

Social responsibility should be more than a declaration of good intentions. Every institution must define its obligations, establish relevant performance indicators, disclose progress and correct deficiencies. Individuals, too, must fulfil their professional duties honestly, improve their competence, respect public property and contribute to society within their means and abilities. The fulfilment of Corporate Social Responsibility should be reflecting in the society's welfare and this should be evaluated, fully accounted for and made transparent. This should reflect in the value of shares and recognition  of the Company in the Country's image building nationally and internationally.    

Businesses can combine commercial success with ethical practices, fair treatment of stakeholders, environmental responsibility and meaningful community contributions. Public institutions must demonstrate that their resources serve their intended purpose. Citizens can contribute by complying with the law, rejecting corrupt practices and participating constructively in public affairs.

If every individual and institution performs its responsibilities a little better, the cumulative effect on national productivity, public trust and social welfare could be enormous. National transformation need not always depend on extraordinary efforts; it can begin with ordinary duties performed sincerely and consistently. Just adherence to the  basic laws of the country can uplift the Civic Sense among the public  through out the country deriving enormous benefits in the upkeep of the society, roads and public infrastructure, towns, metropolitan centres   

Progress Guided by Values

Our philosophical traditions offer enduring principles for this journey. Dharma reminds us of righteousness and duty; Nishkama Karma encourages sincere action without excessive attachment to personal rewards; and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam reminds us that the world is one family.

These ideals can guide modern governance, professional conduct and economic activity. When wealth is accompanied by responsibility, authority by accountability and competence by compassion, development becomes more inclusive and sustainable.

The ultimate tribute we can pay to our past is to make better use of our present. We must celebrate our achievements without complacency, acknowledge shortcomings without pessimism and replace unfulfilled expectations with timely action.

Viksit Bharat 2047 must be more than a national aspiration. It must become a shared commitment to productive growth, ethical governance, accountable institutions and an improved quality of life for every citizen.

The time to introspect and act is now. Let us align our aspirations with action, our privileges with responsibility, and our progress with the welfare of all.

From Positive Thinking to Positive Action

Our thoughts should inspire hope, our words should encourage confidence, and our actions should create positive change. Instead of dwelling on shortcomings, let us strengthen good practices, transform challenges into opportunities and encourage every individual and institution to contribute to the common good.

Every negative influence can be countered by nurturing its positive alternative: dishonesty by integrity, indifference by involvement, waste by responsibility, and inefficiency by innovation and accountability. The objective is not merely to oppose what is wrong, but to create an environment in which what is right can flourish.

Viksit Bharat 2047 is not the responsibility of a select few; it is an opportunity for everyone to participate in building a better future. Let each of us contribute according to our abilities, celebrate every meaningful improvement and inspire others through our example. Let us be positive in our thoughts, constructive in our approach and active in our contributions. Together, we can turn national aspirations into shared achievements and economic progress into the welfare of all.

Good Thoughts, Right Actions, A Better Nation

As the Bhagavad Gita teaches us, let us focus on performing our duties sincerely and selflessly, without being unduly anxious about the fruits of our actions. No sincere effort towards the common good is ever wasted; good thoughts inspire good actions, and good actions lay the foundation for a better society. Let us therefore act with faith, integrity and commitment, without allowing fear of failure or uncertainty about outcomes to discourage us. Our responsibility is to do what is right, strengthen what is good and persist in constructive action. The results of our collective efforts should be reflected in a more prosperous nation, stronger institutions, responsible citizenship and a better quality of life for all. Let our thoughts be positive, our actions purposeful, our conduct exemplary and our commitment unwavering. We need not worry excessively about personal rewards; let us ensure that the outcomes for our nation and its people are truly encouraging.

To realize the dream of Viksit Bharat 2047, citizens should draw from ancient Indian philosophy, which views civic engagement as a fundamental duty rather than a favour to the state. By embracing Rin (repaying our debt to society and nature) and Lokasangraha (acting for public welfare), individual progress becomes deeply tied to national growth.This echoes the Arthashastra’s reciprocal bond of Rajadharma and Yogakshema, where state governance is met with proactive citizen responsibility. Ultimately, active participation in community welfare, sustainability, and civic discipline transforms everyday actions into a collective mission to build a fully developed nation.That is the spirit in which we can make Viksit Bharat 2047 a shared achievement and contribute to the welfare of all living beings.

Better off individuals in all respects by means of  money position, power, influence and comforts  educated , skilled, professionals , and citizens having worldly experience , exposure  and interested in the real growth of the nation keeping in mind only welfare of the people at large with selfless motives cannot and should not let down the people , the economy and its genuine growth by their  thoughts, words and deeds. They have to sit, meditate and introspect and indulge in self questioning as to what they they do is economically, socially, culturally and morally justifiable to all the values , principles and ethics enunciated in our dharmic and sanathana Dharma. 

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — The world is one family. Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavanthu — May all beings everywhere be happy and well.

T V G Krishnan

(Personal Views . Edited with the Support of AI).

 

“Health Is Wealth—But Whose Wealth?”

Healthcare: When Service Becomes Business, Where Does Humanity Stand?

"Honouring the world as one family demands a shared and sacred covenant. The Government must lower the barriers to healthcare and provide appropriate incentives to foster a culture in which health is nurtured as wealth. Healthcare institutions, in turn, can extend the spirit of Corporate Social Responsibility beyond treatment to prevention—promoting Yoga, spiritual well-being, healthy living and awareness of the value of good health. Such a holistic approach can make healthcare not merely a service, but a national mission and a shared responsibility—with the well-being of every individual contributing to the well-being of society and, ultimately, to the larger vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam."

The core challenge in modern healthcare is balancing financial sustainability with patient dignity, ensuring that commercial practices do not overshadow the fundamental mission of preserving life and reducing suffering.Achieving this balance requires transitioning toward a healthcare ecosystem that is scientifically advanced, technologically enabled, and above all, humane.

Hospitals, insurance companies pharmaceutical companies , distributors of medicines both retail and whole sale  and third-party agencies are all important parts of the healthcare system. Yet, from the patient's perspective, there are occasions when concerns arise about transparency, accountability, claims settlement and the quality of service. The stated Vision and Mission of institutions do not always appear to be fully reflected in the patient's experience.

Healthcare is an area where empathy, compassion and genuine concern for the patient deserve particular importance. Technology, including Artificial Intelligence, can greatly improve efficiency and transparency, but it should ultimately serve the patient rather than become another barrier. It may therefore be worthwhile to consider independent social audits in the health sector, alongside existing financial, statutory and technical audits. Such audits could focus specifically on the patient's experience and the quality of service delivery. The pursuit of financial sustainability and reasonable returns is legitimate and necessary. But these objectives should support, rather than overshadow, the larger purpose of healthcare—preserving life, reducing suffering and enhancing human dignity.

Affordability and Human Considerations

This principle becomes especially important in relation to life-saving medicines and critical treatments. Essential medicines cannot be viewed entirely through the lens of ordinary market economics. Affordability, accessibility and social responsibility need to accompany innovation, manufacturing efficiency and reasonable returns. From the initial diagnosis to final recovery, a patient passes through stages that are physically, emotionally, and financially painful. Herein lies the need for compassion, advanced technology, diverse treatment approaches, and a balance between commercial viability and patient affordability. The healthy survival of both the service provider and the patient remain equally important, justifying prudence, reason, and transparency as fair means to an end.

The recent public discussion concerning the substantial difference between the procurement price and the MRP of certain life-saving medicines has again drawn attention to this issue. On 29 September 2026, the Supreme Court questioned a reported tenfold difference between the price to retailer and MRP of an essential cancer medicine—₹2,700 versus ₹27,000—and asked the Centre to examine whether a uniform margin should apply to medicines. The Court also raised questions concerning practices requiring patients to purchase medicines from hospital-linked pharmacies.

The fundamental question is not whether hospitals and insurance companies should remain financially viable. They must. The question is whether commercial practices can always be reconciled with the dignity, vulnerability and welfare of patients. A cancer patient is not an ordinary consumer. A seriously ill person and the family accompanying them may already be emotionally exhausted, financially stretched and dependent upon professional institutions. In such circumstances, transparency, empathy, fairness and accountability become especially important.

Healthcare Communication and Patient Choice

Healthcare-related communication and patient engagement should also be guided by ethics and sensitivity. Information and awareness are necessary, but medical decisions should remain rooted in clinical need and patient welfare. This is particularly relevant to promotional offers connected with medicines and treatment. For example, if a hospital offers a “Buy One, Get One Free” arrangement for a chemotherapy injection, several reasonable questions arise: Was the second injection medically necessary?Was the patient given a genuine choice?Was the price of the first injection transparent?Could the offer influence a medical decision or encourage purchase beyond immediate clinical requirements?Is this arrangement to be informed to the patients to worsen  their depressed  mindset further?  The issue is therefore not merely whether the second injection is financially “free”. The larger question is whether commercial Consideration / communication is influencing a decision that should primarily be guided by medical necessity and patient welfare. 

Technology and Artificial Intelligence

Hospitals and insurers now have access to AI, electronic medical records, data analytics and sophisticated information systems. These technologies offer considerable opportunities to improve healthcare delivery.AI could potentially assist in:identifying duplicated or unnecessary investigations; comparing treatment and medicine prices; detecting unusual billing patterns; explaining insurance exclusions in simple language; identifying genuine hardship cases requiring human review; reducing repetitive documentation ;flagging delays in claim settlement; and creating an independent patient-oriented audit trail.

But AI should support human judgment, not replace human sensitivity. The ideal healthcare system would combine advanced technology with human compassion. Efficiency and financial discipline are important, but the patient should remain at the centre of the system.

The Idea of an Independent Healthcare Social Audit

Healthcare institutions already have several forms of audit—financial audit, statutory compliance, accreditation, internal audit, insurance audit, medical audit and regulatory supervision.Yet these mechanisms may not always answer the ordinary patient's central question: “Was I treated fairly, transparently and with dignity?” An Independent Healthcare Social Audit could therefore examine the patient's experience from a different perspective.It could examine the entire journey: Patient → Treatment → Billing → Insurance → Claims → Discharge → Grievance Redressal

Among the matters that could be assessed are: Transparency of charges. Difference between procurement cost and patient billing  Any requirement to purchase medicines or devices from designated sources. Frequency and reasons for insurance claim rejection Time taken for claim settlement Treatment of genuine hardship cases.Availability and effectiveness of grievance mechanisms,Patient and attendant experience.Waiting time and administrative delays.The Loss of Man Hrs is something very huge.Whether the institution's stated Mission and Values are reflected in actual service delivery.

Such an audit could be independent of the hospital, insurer and third-party administrator, with broad findings made publicly available. This would introduce an important additional dimension of accountability—accountability from the patient's point of view.

Where Does Humanity Stand?

Perhaps the deeper question is not whether healthcare should involve business. Financial sustainability is essential for any institution to survive and serve society. The real question is: Should commercial considerations support healthcare, or should healthcare increasingly be shaped by commercial considerations? That distinction matters.

India has a long tradition of regarding health as an essential component of human welfare. Whether viewed through religious, philosophical or secular humanist principles, compassion towards a suffering human being remains a universal value . A hospital may have advanced technology, impressive infrastructure and a strong balance sheet. Yet its real success should ultimately be reflected in how it treats a vulnerable human being seeking relief, comfort and hope. The pursuit of reasonable profit is legitimate. The pursuit of human welfare is indispensable.

As India moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047, development should not be measured only by larger institutions, greater technology and stronger financial performance. Institutions should also become more humane, accountable and responsive to the welfare aspirations of people. In fact, when institutional strength is combined with compassion, accountability and a genuine concern for people, healthcare can become a powerful instrument of public welfare—and an important foundation for Viksit Bharat 2047.

A truly developed healthcare system would therefore be: Scientifically advanced.Technologically enabled, Financially sustainable, Transparent and accountable. And, above all, humane.Perhaps that is the balance we should strive for—a healthcare system where technology strengthens service, financial sustainability supports continuity, and compassion remains at the heart of care.  Healthy and wealthy institutions can definitely be humane and easily pave the way for welfare and Viksit Bharat 2047. 

May health prevail everywhere, and may awareness of being healthy be nurtured and encouraged as a shared responsibility. Let the pursuit of health become a positive force towards realising the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and making the vision of a healthy, prosperous and inclusive Viksit Bharat a reality.

Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavantu

T V G Krishnan
(Personal Views This write up is vetted  with the help of  AI)

For want of Rubber Stamp (seal) , medical claim is lost.

 For Want of a Rubber Stamp

        We have all heard the saying: “For want of a nail, the battle was lost. But ”Can a genuine medical claim be lost for want of a nail ?" Yes “For want of a rubber stamp, a genuine medical claim is lost!” 

It may sound amusing, but for a patient waiting for reimbursement, or even for delivery of medicines it can be anything but amusing. The stamp of a Rubber Seal is very vital as Insurance Companies,  third party Agents. pharaceutical companies andb shop keepers  are at times  highly rule conscious more than work consciousness and ethics involved. The concept of processing assumes such an importance that they can refuse to settle the claim or supply the medicines as bills or prescriptions miss the stamping of the rubber seal.  

A person undergoes genuine treatment. The hospital records are available. The doctor has prescribed the medicines. The medicines have actually been purchased. Payment has actually been made—perhaps through UPI, card or bank transfer. Yet the claim may face rejection because a hospital document or pharmacy bill does not carry a particular stamp or signature.

The natural question is: Should the genuineness of an expenditure depend more on a rubber stamp than on evidence that the expenditure actually took place? Of course, proper documentation is necessary. It protects institutions against fraudulent, inflated and duplicate claims.But documentation should help establish the truth, not prevent the truth from being established.

The need of the hour is to bring efficiency in the system, enhance values and ethics and improve the quality of service and benefit from the AI , Technology and Humanitarian considerations from the angle of overall welfare. Who  can guarantee this and there is no insurance for guaranteed  quality service so far.   

Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavanthu. 

T V G Krishnan

(Personal Views).