Le Matinal: Blog: Return of Voluntarism?

Blog: Return of Voluntarism?
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Bijaye M. (Guest Author) on Friday 13th of August 2010 - 00:53:00
 
On account of the short campaign, many activists could not get time to organize
themselves in what is known as ‘bazes’. These ‘bazes’ were funded by the
candidates of the respective parties. In fact, those bazes hardly contribute
anything significant to the success of the candidates.
It was a kind of folklore where candidates had to ensure food and alcoholic
drinks for weeks to all those who spent their time in those ‘bazes’. If the
expenditure of those ‘bazes’ were fully accounted for, they could have
disqualified many MPs of all parties on account of excess expenditure.
Fortunately, during the last general elections, there has been a shift in
culture and all parties refrained from setting up those ‘bazes’. There was
also an absence of plastic buntings on the streets, in other words, less work
for those professional activists.
I noticed that there were a host of genuine volunteers who joined the campaign
on their own freewill to support the respective parties. Of course, there was a
core of paid volunteers. I do find anything wrong in some of them benefiting
from some allowances to meet their out of pocket expenditure. The money
contributed by the usual bailleurs de fonds should serve at least some purpose!
During the last ten days of the campaign, when each bloc seemed to be heading
towards victory, they called upon the support of many voluntary socio cultural
and religious organizations to actively support them. The MMM benefited from the
excellent organization put up by Father Gregoire and the Labour Party received
the support of most of the socio cultural organizations.
All these organizations are not affiliated to the party but during election
time, the politicians and the parties seek and rely on their support to ensure
victory. The difference this time has been that this support was given on a
purely voluntary basis. I had the privilege of attending quite a few of the
meetings they had organized, themselves bearing all costs of organization and
openly taking a stand.
If we go by the results, we will find that their stand had made a difference in
getting the party list candidate elected in most constituencies, particularly
rural ones. There was a danger of split votes. The candidates, particularly
those of the ruling party were ‘au bout du souffle’ and were not able to
communicate properly to get bloc votes. It was those volunteers who convinced
the members of those societies to vote en bloc.
A split vote would have gone in favour of the MMM. The Prime Minister saw the
danger and readily accepted the helping hand of those volunteers. He went out of
his way to meet them all, talk to them and convinced them of the importance of
bloc voting to give him a comfortable majority. I have learnt that a prominent
leader of the MMM congratulated the Prime Minister for the success of his
strategy.
I come from a generation who had volunteered to work for the political
emancipation of this country. In those days, late 50s and early 60s, the maximum
a volunteer could get was ‘un pain maison, deux gateaux piments’ and a soft
drink and that also funded by local organizers. I remember prominent local
leaders collecting funds to meet the expenditure of the campaign. I am referring
to pre independence days when all the rich people were spending bags of money to
oppose independence.
If credit should be given to the heroes of independence, the army of volunteers
led by SSR supported by Sookdeo Bissoondoyal, Sir Abdul Razack Mohamed, Sir Guy
Forget, Regis Chaperon among others would be the chosen ones. Even the
opposition had a very powerful dedicated machinery of volunteers which led them
to poll 44 percent of the votes.
Voluntarism is a significant feature of our social fabric. It all started with
the Church which set up a lot of charitable institutions and introduced
education in Mauritius. However, the most important force of volunteers which
was unleashed followed the visit of Mahatma Gandhi to Mauritius in the beginning
of the 20th century.
Seeing the plight of the Indo-Mauritians, he advised them to join politics and
educate their children. Hundreds of baitkhas and madrassas were set up on a
voluntary basis to provide elementary education to the childrens of indentured
labourers. Gandhi also sent a barrister called Manilal Doctor who in fact
organized and led the social emancipation of the Indo-Mauritians. Then came the
Arya Samaj with its revolutionary ideas and other socio-cultural organizations
all manned by volunteers.
The trade union and cooperative movement were also formed by volunteers and
produced great leaders like Guy Rozemont, Pundit Ramnarain, Pundit Jagdumbee,
Emmanuel Anquetil, Moignac, Elizier Francois and of course, Paul Berenger. They
all had an army of volunteers who worked for them and their goals with success.
On the social front, the Jan Andolan, people’s movement of the forties of
Professor Bissoondoyal was a unique mission. He went village to village arousing
people to organize them and fight for their rights on the pattern of Mahatma
Gandhi in India.
Today, more than a thousand socio cultural organizations are working on a
voluntary basis to nurture the social fabric of the society. Quite a few are
grouped under the umbrella of the Mauritius Council of Social Service. They are
taking care of the poor, the needy, youth, drug addicts, alcoholics, old people,
battered children and women, those suffering from AIDS. Most of these
organizations are self funded. A few receive subsidy from government and
international aid agencies as well.
Yet, it is the massive efforts of these volunteers which make the organizations
exist and run. I have personally seen them to work, whether during national
events, religious festivals or on other cultural occasions. I have seen young
men and women serving with devotion often giving their own money, time and
energy.
Another interesting side of voluntarism is that it opens up a breeding ground
for politicians. Barrack Obama is a genuine example of someone who has served
his country through voluntarism, starting his life serving the poor, and who
ultimately ended up in the highest Office of the President of the United States.
In Mauritius, many have become ministers, leaders in business, top civil
servants and even occupied the highest constitutional office.
At the same time, I have a feeling that all these organizations need a fresh
breath. Many of their leaders are diluting their mission by seeking political
favour or patronage. I am aware of the importance and the role these volunteers
and organizations can play. It is difficult to dissociate them from politicians.
They contribute significantly in promoting sustainable development by
participating fully in the democratic process.
Unfortunately, many depend on government subsidy and political patronage for
their survival.
Now that government has accumulated a fund of Rs 1.4 Billion from CSR, it is
time for volunteers to reinvent themselves, chalk a new path and give themselves
the glory that they deserve.
Should I remind the volunteers that when they can contribute to the success and
victory of their patrons once every 5 years, they can very well devote their
time, energy and efforts to their personal development and that of their
associations?