The Power of Collectivity

Collective power

Often in our society we end up pointing fingers at each other or blaming each other when a problem arise instead of working collectively to it. When there is a gang fight, we often think it is the responsibility of police to solve the problem. When a student creates a nuisance at schools, we often blame our teacher of the credibility of their teaching. In fact, we are not ready to be the stakeholders to root out these issues. We are very good at debating and coming up with great ideas to solve these issues. Implementation is difficult because of the lack of cooperation from various stakeholders.

As I came in acquaintance with many people young, adults, and elderly in various discussions, workshops and forums, I realized the power of collective thought and work. Bhutanese must be proud to know that there are enough of CSO’s  and  NGO’s with similar visions and aims. The question is how we bring these diverse groups with shared visions together. There needs to be collaboration to bring change in the society.

To state few examples of varied groups with similar visions: The first is our focus on youth where there are several groups like YDF, Y-VIA, Go Youth Go, DYS, BYF etc.  All these groups focus on well being of youth and related problems. Its basic focus is on how youth energy can drive the society. If these societies can collaborate, things would be more efficient and effective.

Should the youth issues be left to these organizations? In fact, NO, every Bhutanese must take the responsibility to combat drug addictions, gang fights, violence etc. If every citizen hold responsible for these issues, it will mitigate soon.

Even though Bhutan has several women organization for the well-being of women and children, the women and child victims are still high. Women victims of violence and prostitution are high. There are children who are homeless and victims of child labour. Aren’t these organizations doing enough? Of course, these organizations are doing their best for the well-being of the society. However, these organizations suffer from the lack of human resources, expert group, budget and technology. Did anyone think how efficiently these aims and visions would be achieve if they work together.

Domestic violence is a concerned issue for everyone. How many of us report when we see our neighbor’s wife  battered?  We think it is their personal matter and we must not intrude. However, is battering a personal matter?  This issue of violence against women can be solved if the matter is not just left for the women organization to solve it.

Every Bhutanese know that waste is a problem. We see waste everywhere.  Our street is filled with wrappers, plastic, bottles.  ‘Someone has thrown it/I am not responsible for it,’ are the attitudes when we see these wastes. We leave it for someone to take the responsibility.  It’s the attitude of the people that is a problem than waste.

It is high time for potential groups of varied background with similar vision and various stakeholders to come together. Forming various new CSO;s is not a solution to the problems if there is no cooperation  among the stakeholders. We might have extraordinary visions but without collective efforts, visions may remain only  as visions.