Does ‘Vocal for Local’ Also Allow One To Be Parochial?

This morning an editorial under popular English daily 'The Hindusthan Times' talked about the Shivraj Singh Chouhan Government notifying that Government jobs would only be reserved for the state residents. Now, this certainly isn’t a novelty as several other states too have been ardent followers of this pattern, with the likes of Gujrat, Haryana, and other neighbouring states.  

While this move lauds the cry for ‘Vocal for local’, however under such circumstances when unemployment has been at its peek, in both the public and private sectors, where there has been a shrinking of the economy, and those that are surviving haven’t really met the expected standards of growth, can we actually celebrate this move?

A financial analyst revealed to a national publication once that with things aggravating at this rate (the spike in the coronavirus daily cases), it might take around three years or more to turn things around completely. Also, to bring more relevance and to substantiate the point further, it would be noted that the Indian Constitution has been emphasising on the need for fraternity, to put in simple words, brotherhood. Other key tenets involve the equality of opportunities, and also no discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, race, gender, or social backgrounds. The Constitution further makes a mention of the freedom of Indian nationals to move freely across India, and it also bestows individuals the freedom to reside and settle anywhere in India, and practice any profession.

Now, at a time when tech giants like Google, Microsoft and Amazon have been raising their voices against the US Government suspending the H1B visas, all we gotta realise that this is something beyond our narrow and exclusive thinking. It’s hard to be inclusive and to extend the hand of friendship and fraternity towards all, but not impossible. Yet, certainly, that doesn’t pave the way for being parochial, and narrow minded. 

My words here gain a certain ground of momentum, as I sit at my desk with my laptop, and listen to the Democratic Vice President nominee of the United States, Kamala Harris where in her speech, she says, “None of us are free, until everyone is free.” This instills hope and I repose my firm conviction in the matter that this is possible and achievable. Certainly not with a heavy heart, but with bated breath.