Participation.

‘Participation’ – the very corner-stone, which rests the whole system around us. Be it democracy, be it nature. 

Look around. Kejriwal is winning hearts by peddling this ‘participatory framework’ for providing solution to the widespread problems. The questions raised are not new; his outlook towards finding solution, certainly is.

The universe too finds balance by small-small but unique contributions from all of us. Participation of citizens help reach robust, quick and effective solutions to not only polity but also science and nature. Citizen science participation is one such interesting concept, which is seeing green shoots in India already.

In many countries, citizens actively participate in guarding nature and giving their invaluable inputs in preserving it. These programs are called Citizen Science Programs.

Instances are many where we all can get actively involved as a solution-provider, experience some:

-Submit your observations in changes happening around you.

-Capture and share natural discoveries and photographs.

-Studies gauging the impact of light pollution ask people to notify about their ability to see the stars and constellations at night.

-The last time you saw a house sparrow in your backyard tells a lot about how the ‘Man’ is treating the bird which shared your childhood!.. same goes with butterflies!

-People living beside high-risk rivers watch and alert meteorologist at the earliest. They are trained beforehand in a week training camp on how to identify easy signs of danger.

-Measure rain, hail, snow falling near your place and share the data with meteorologists.

There are many such bird-watch, nature-watch, river-watch, dolphins-watch, tiger-watch projects are working around us. You can look up the web and sign up for these wonderful projects. Isn’t it amazing to act a ‘chhota scientist’ sitting at home!!

Even our very own Wikipedia or take Android too fit the criteria of being the same participatory kind projects!

I find such ideas very amazing and hope to be a part of any such initiative soon. Given its rapid recognition among Indians, that day may not be too far when each and every individual, however amateur and non-professional, will be contributing his little bit in saving the planet, including me!

I tell you, such programs hold great promise for future and more inclusive sustainable development for many reasons-

-Citizens who have been living in a particular area or have been involved in a particular activity- such as fishing or farming, get to hold specific experience-based knowledge in that domain. Scientists who know things by theory and lab-based practices will profit so much by working in tandem with such experienced folks in their research.

-Some phenomena just need long-time persistent observation of events around; With help of this collected data, an exhaustive database can be maintained which will work as a case study to derive predictions and possible solutions to the issue in hand. the only difference is that inputs will be given by citizens not the Subject matter Experts.

The benefits are obvious- SMEs are expensive. They may not be available all the time to predict looming catastrophe such as a dangerously overflowing river. Experts can be consulted on the soundness of the data received to rectify any anomaly, but their 100% guidance is not required. Obviously, This is how a bottom-up approach works.  Not to say, Such practices make citizens more aware and empathetic to the habitat and the inhabitants.

A country such as India which has one of the largest pools of ‘eyes and hands’ to watch out and take care, will get hugely benefited by such programs.

Schools must inculcate this participatory inclination in young generation and help them make a difference. NGOs, experts and a helping hand from government can work together in this direction. If our young generation is taught this way, we no longer need to depend on handful of experts for each and every issue.

Among the various abnormal conditions occurring in modern day society, the foremost is – Isolation of man from Nature. As they say, Man masters nature not by force but by understanding.

Let the man connect and gain a deeper understanding of his relation to his very roots. After all, It shouldn’t always be Man vs Nature; In my eyes, they are made for each other, Perfectly.