Background: Wide spread rallies and demonstrations by the opposition had completely paralysed the normal working of the government, when the state of internal emergency was proclaimed in the country on 25 June 1975. Proclamation of emergency was an unusual step under unusual conditions and it is very difficult to say, whether, it was good or bad. All dissenting voices were silenced by large scale arrests and detentions. Constitution was amended. Judiciary was made pliable. Media was gagged and civil liberties and normal functioning of the democratic processes were given a rude shock through authoritarian rule and decrees. It was done all of a sudden. Nobody had any inkling about it. Everybody seemed to be awe struck and kept wondering about, what was in store for the people in future. However, the transition was smooth and incident free. There were hushed voices and there was some fear of the unknown, but, sooner, rather than later, the normal business and life of the people were on track.
20 Point programme: The roots of the 20 point programme, perhaps hit the soil, sometimes during the election compaign for the parliament in 1971. “Garibi Hatao” was a catchy slogan, which had mesmerized the common man. Indira Gandhi was at the pinnacle of power and popularity at that time. Gradually, by the end of 1972, the popularity of Indira Gandhi had started moving downhill. Sheltering millions of Bangladeshis in refugee camps after the Bangladesh war was a tremendous financial burden. Failure of monsoons in 1972 and 1973 led to famine, food scarcity and inflation. Railway strike in 1974 was ruthlessly suppressed. Social and economic discontent were beginning to surface in almost all parts of the country. All this led to the brain storming session of the congress workers at Narora in 1974, who looked at all the issues involved and mooted out a thirteen point programme for pushing the socialist agenda of the congress party. The crash programme included distribution of land and living accommodation to landless agricultural labour, tribals and other economically weaker sections of the society. 20 point programme of Indira Gandhi, which was issued after the promulgation of the emergency was an upgraded version of the socialist thinking of the congress, for the benefit and uplift of tribals, farmers, landless labour and other weaker sections of the society, with emphasis on increase in agricultural and industrial production, distribution of surplus land to tribals, farmers and landless labour, reduction in rural indebtedness and promoting educational and skill development programmes for providing wide ranging opportunities for employment and self employment to all marginalized people.
Twenty point programme in Rajasthan: Hari Dev Joshi happened to be the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, at that time. He was born at Khandu, a small village in Banswara. He was a freedom fighter and a senior congress leader from Udaipur region. He was elected as a member of Rajasthan Assembly in 1952 for the first time and was elected successfully to the assembly ten times, until his death in Banswara in 1995. He had the onerous task of implementing the 20 point programme in Rajasthan, during the emergency. Everything was moving on a fast track at that time. Hari Dev Joshi was expected to submit a weekly report to the prime minister, about the state of implementation in respect of each of the points, included in the 20 point programme. Looking to the urgency and enormity of the tasks involved, empowered cabinet committees were formed and were entrusted with the task of monitoring and implementation of specific areas of the 20 point programme, assigned to them. Cabinet committees were headed by cabinet ministers and included the secretaries and heads of departments concerned for cutting down all the red tape and for ensuring speedy implementation. Weekly progress reports and time bound results were the code words, which kept everbody on the toes at all levels. The environment and general tone of working in the government offices went through considerable change during the period. Punctuality was rigidly followed. Lousy behavior and illegal gratification were placed on the back burner. Provisions were made for pre-mature retirement of non-performing incumbants.
Technical education during emergency: Employment of engineering graduates, polytechnic diploma holders and craftsmen from industrial training institutes, skill development programmes for the masses, apprenticeship training and welfare activities of the staff and students were included in the twenty point programmes of the government. Technical Education was assigned to the cabinet committee headed by cabinet minister Paras Ram Maderna. We were required to submit weekly reports, related to the progress of implimentation, in respect of each point concerning technical education to the state government. Major problems and issues involved under any of the points, were considered during the meetings of the cabinet committee, which we attended regularly. Apart from that, it was business as usual under technical education. Polytechnics and Industrial Training Institutes were functioning normally during the period and the lull was utilized for strengthening the academic and outdoor games and sports and other professional activities of the institutions.
In the absence of service rules, all promotions in the polytechnics, ITI’s and directorate of technical education were being made on an adhoc basis, from the commencement of the directorate in 1957, with the result that almost all officers and teachers, including the director of technical education were working on an adhoc basis, on the posts held by them in 1975. It was a tricky situation. The task was undertaken on a priority basis. Service
records were updated, seniority lists were prepared and were finalized after inviting and considering objections received from the staff. Thereafter, promotions were made on the recommendations of departmental promotion committees in accordance with the service rules, bringing a sense of satisfaction and cheer on the faces of everybody.
There was a lot of unemployment during the period and the Director of Manpower was maintaining a register of unemployed engineering graduates and polytechnic diploma holders for the payment of stipends. It was a challenging situation. The whole backlog was cleared within a year with active collaboration with Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation, Rajasthan Dairy Development Corporation, Technical Departments of the Government and industrial and commercial establishments of the state.
Apprenticeship Training under 20 point programme: Apprentice training programmes were initiated in 1945 after the second world war for the training and resettlement of demobilized army personnel. These were subsequently opened for everybody in 1948 with emphasis on skill development and employment. There was wide spread unemployment after the war and at the same time there was shortage of all categories of trained manpower for meeting the fast growing needs of development in the private as also public sector. Apprenticeship Act was enacted in 1961 to utilize the facilities available in government departments, public sector enterprises and industrial and commercial establishments of the private sector, for the training of requisite technical manpower. However, most of the establishments considered the engagement of apprentices under the apprentices act, as an unnecessary distraction. Incidentally, apprenticeship training programme was included as one of the points in the 20 point proagramme of Indira Gandhi and suddenly, it became a hot issue and got a halo about it. The establishments, which were very casual or nagging about the engagement of apprentices, soon woke up and seemed to be keen to engage full quota of apprentices immediately. These were the conditions, when a meeting was held in the secretariat for consideration of the progress of apprenticeship programme. The meeting was chaired by Mohan Mukerjee Chief Secretary of the government and was attended by all secretaries and Heads of Departments concerned. All chief engineers and heads of departments were extremely eager to provide unqualified support for the engagement of full quota of apprentices assigned to them, as none of them wanted to be seen as a defaulter. And, that was all that was needed. We had drafted the minutes of the meeting in advance and the chief secretary was happy to sign the minutes soon after the conclusion of the meeting. That provided a tremendous boost for the selection of apprentices by the departments and for the arrangement of adequate facilities, for on job training for the apprentices and their ultimate absorption on available jobs in the establishments.
Life during emergency: By and large, the life of the common man during the period of emergency was peaceful. Most of the educational institutions and social services were functioning normally. Markets and industrial and commercial establishments were doing normal business. There were no distractions due to protests, demonstrations, rallies and agitations. Most of the government offices were responsive and were keen to provide time bound attention and support to the needs of the people.