Civil Society - July 2019

In this issue

FINDING a doctor has become increasingly difficult. Who should one go to? Who should one trust? The absence of healthcare that is accessible, affordable, structured and competent is a challenge.Private facilities do well as businesses but give little to society. For an economy coping with inequality there is no substitute for a dependable and inclusive public
Our story from Nagpur made it to this month’s cover for precisely these reasons. Reviving our primary health centres is vital to improving public healthcare. Doing so in rapidly expanding cities is even more important. Often, even incipient improvements in health and education facilities are advertised for political mileage. In Nagpur, the municipal corporation has worked silently. A partnership with the Tata Trusts has delivered outstanding results.
The draft National Education Policy made an appearance in the first days of the new government. It is good to see a government putting school education high among its priorities. Many of the draft policy’s suggestions are above dispute and are the right way to go. Madhav Chavan of Pratham correctly points out in this month’s opening interview that education suffers from a human resources problem. Finding the teachers and administrators will be a problem, as will be the funds.
This issue we bring you the Delhi Langar Seva Society started by Bicky Dhingra. At the Civil Hospital in Gurugram and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi this service is particularly welcome because people come from far away for treatment and have almost no local support. A hot and nutritious meal is very welcome. Plates are biodegradable and the food, instead of being cooked on location, is sourced from reliable suppliers. Most importantly, volunteers do all the work because this is their way of giving back to society.
Finally, we begin Tech Tales, a column by Kiran Karnik. He will dwell each month on the challenges of absorbing technologies in an unequal society like ours.

Civil Society Magazine Description:

Civil Society is an independent magazine published from New Delhi.

It was launched in September 2003 to tell stories of change from across the chaotic landscape of post-reforms India.

A newly growing economy has winners and losers — as journalists we wanted to tell the stories of those who were making it and as well as those who were getting left behind.

In the past 15 years, Civil Society has come to be known for its refreshing style of covering people, events and trends. We are credited with redefining mainstream concerns in the Indian media.

Civil Society's reportage has brought to national attention individuals and groups who play leadership roles and drive change but get overlooked. We have shown that there is an India that exists beyond prime time.

This has been possible because we moved out of big media jobs to create a small and efficient enterprise through which journalists could look for stories where it may not be fashionable to look for them.

A democracy thrives on credible information. Small media entities, freed up from the demands of big capital, allow journalists to innovate and explore new frontiers. A large and complex country like India needs more alternative voices.

Started with just Rs 4 lakhs (about $6,000) of personal savings, one small car and a single computer, Civil Society has shown that it is possible for professional journalists with skills and clear values to build influential enterprises in the media.