The Karnataka Government wants to celebrate ‘International Day of Democracy’ tomorrow by forming the ‘Longest Human Chain.’ They want 25 lakh people from Bidar to Chamarajanagar to hold hands and form a 2,500-kilometre-long human chain.

But why? According to the Government, ‘to promote democratic values.’ 

Last year too, they celebrated the event with a small human chain around Vidhana Soudha as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with several Cabinet Ministers, stood on the steps of Vidhana Soudha and recited the Preamble to the Constitution of India.

Here is the kicker. This event to celebrate ‘democratic values’ was co-sponsored by the Backward Classes Welfare Department and Tribal Welfare Department.

The same Department under which comes the ‘Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.’

 The very Corporation responsible for the now infamous ‘Valmiki Scam,’ where over Rs. 100 crore earmarked for tribal development was stolen!

What a tragedy it is when Cabinet Ministers stand on the steps of Vidhana Soudha, a place meant to do people’s work and recite the Preamble under a large engraving that reads ‘Government’s work is God’s work’ with money given by a Department that stole from the people!  Wah! Bhai Wah!

It’s like a cigarette company sponsoring a health camp and the cigarette company’s Board of Directors stand up at the inauguration of the camp and pledge to protect public health. 

The Government wants to bring about awareness of ‘democratic values’ by reciting the Preamble which states that the law-makers should  secure to all its citizens JUSTICE, LIBERTY, EQUALITY and FRATERNITY assuring dignity of the individual and the unity of the Nation.

But what have our leaders done? They have secured to all its citizens selective Justice based on ‘jathi’ (caste);  opportunistic Liberty depending on the vote bank; a lopsided sense of Equality by stealing from Peter (tax-payer) to pay Paul (corrupt voter); and created a fragile sense of Fraternity as an MP from the present Government says he wants to break away from the Indian Union!

That is why this awareness campaign on ‘democratic values’ is a farce, but why should the children suffer?

We are sure the Government schools will force the children to show up and hold hands to make sure this ‘longest human chain’ is a success. It not fair to children or the parents.

Awareness rallies organised by both Government and private organisations generally are not effective and they are a nuisance to both school children  and the public. 

Children should not be taken out of school to participate in awareness rallies as it interrupts their learning process, especially if there is inappropriate exposure. Some awareness rallies may involve complex or controversial topics that children may not fully understand. 

To add, not all parents may agree with the cause or message of a particular rally. By taking children out of school for these events, schools or organisations may impose certain viewpoints on young impressionable minds without parental consent.

Rallies, especially large-scale or politically charged ones, can sometimes become chaotic or unsafe. Children may not be equipped to handle these situations and their safety could be compromised.

Children are made to walk on the main roads holding placards that are illegible while inhaling harmful vehicle fumes and battling the sun.

Also, rallies have become a traffic nuisance. The public cannot read the placards, as they are busy navigating around them nor can they hear the slogans as they are honking at them to move.

Overall, awareness rallies are not very effective in bringing about awareness. If at all it does bring awareness, it’s the awareness that awareness rallies on main roads seldom bring awareness.

Instead of pulling children out of school, educators can incorporate awareness topics into the curriculum, fostering a deeper understanding of social issues in a controlled and safe environment. 

Maybe the Women and Child Development Department should ban schools from using children as publicity tools. 

Even the now popular ‘awareness marathons’ are a farce. For the most part, it begins as a marathon, then turns into a jog-a-thon, then a walk-a-thon and finally an ‘eat-a-thon’ as they head out for an unhealthy breakfast. Then they forget it.

 Does anyone remember the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’? What was that disease again? Does anyone remember the ‘Pink Chaddi’ campaign…What was the outcome?

So, maybe it’s time we re-thought the effectiveness of our one-hour walkathons, random ‘innovative’ protests and awareness rallies that are a traffic nuisance which put our children in danger.

To truly do public service, we must first stop obsessing about publicity. Good publicity will always follow sincere public service.

As for tomorrow’s programme to promote ‘democratic values,’  by forming the ‘Longest Human Chain,’ we hope the Government will also stop corruption, our ‘Longest Human Pain.’

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