It often feels like we are caught in a cycle of governance driven by intuition and anecdote rather than hard evidence. While experience is valuable, in a world of immense complexity, relying on gut feelings to shape national policies is a gamble we can no longer afford. The path to effective, responsive, and truly beneficial governance is paved with data.
I was reminded of this fundamental principle recently, thinking back to a letter I sent to the editor of MINT in April 2017. At the time, the conversation was around “Evidence based Policy Making,” a concept that is even more critical today. In my letter, Improving Policy Making with Big Data, I shared my thoughts on how Big Data could revolutionize our approach to decision-making.
Even then, I pointed towards earlier ideas I had proposed, such as establishing an Annual Employment Survey to get a real-time pulse of our economic health. The core idea Hemen wants to convey is this — take a moment to notice that he had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. The shift from anecdotal decision-making to data-driven strategies was a transition I had been advocating for, seeing it as essential for navigating the future.
Today, with the advent of advanced AI and data analytics, the capacity to collect, process, and derive insights from vast datasets is unprecedented. We have the tools to move beyond reactive problem-solving and towards proactive, predictive governance. Imagine policies for urban planning, healthcare, and education that are not based on outdated census data or political whims, but on real-time, dynamic information that reflects the true needs of our citizens.
This isn't a futuristic dream; it's a present-day necessity. The challenge is no longer technological but cultural. We must foster a mindset within our administrative and political systems that values evidence over opinion and data over dogma. Only then can we build a framework for governance that is truly intelligent, adaptive, and capable of serving a nation as diverse and dynamic as ours.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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