Nine questions PM Modi asks, should have asked in his app survey on demonetisation

On Tuesday, the PM asked people to log onto his app to take a survey of 10 questions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File | PTI)

It has been 14 days since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surgical attack on Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes turned the country’s largely cash-based economy upside down, leaving the public queuing up at ATMs and banks. And now he is seeking a feedback.

On Tuesday, the PM asked people to log onto his app (NARENDRA MODI APP) to take a survey of 10 questions. The tech- savvy PM tweeted, "I want your first-hand view on the decision taken regarding currency notes. Take part in the survey on the NMApp.

One of the questions in the survey on the App

The survey uses some nifty reverse psychology. It begins with some innocuous queries phrased like a catechism (religious questionnaires in which there is only one answer). Take the first question: “Do you think black money exists in India?” And then, the second: “Do you think the evil of corruption and black money needs to be fought and eliminated?”

The two answers given are ‘yes’ and ‘no’. No prizes for guessing which way the responses will go.

The survey comes to the crux in the latter half of the test, which includes questions like, “Do you think demonetisation will bring real estate, higher education, healthcare in common man’s reach?, to which the respondents have to either  ‘completely agree’ or  ‘partially agree’ or ‘can't say’. There is no ‘disagree’ option.

The ninth question is even more leading and pre-loaded: “Do you believe some anti-corruption activists are now actually fighting in support of black money, corruption and terrorism?” Now, what do you say to that if you have spent every day in the past 14 days standing in a line at the ATM and living off your loose change? The respondent gets the feeling that anybody with an opposing view would be seen as pro-corruption, pro-black money, pro-terrorism and eventually, an anti-national.

It’s clear what sort of findings are likely to come from this survey. But a fuller questionnaire might have brought home to the Prime Minister a clearer picture of the situation on the ground.

Here are some questions Narendra Modi’s survey does not ask:

1. Do you have any money with you now?
2. How long have you had to stand in the queues before you could withdraw/exchange some of your money?
3. Are the ATMs/ banks in your locality being steadily supplied with cash?
4. Did you have to forego any potential opportunity pertaining to career/personal life due to the currency shortage?
5. Do you think the move should have been implemented in a phased manner?
6. Has the move disrupted your regular routine?
7. Has the move caused any inconvenience to you or anybody that you know?
8. Whom do you think the move has affected the most in the hierarchal ladder of India’s economy? The rich, the middle class or the poor?
9. Are you finding it difficult to use the new currency of Rs 2,000 in the market?

And here are the questions that PM Modi did ask:

1. Do you think that black money exists in India?
2. Do you think the evil of corruption and blackmoney needs to be fought and eliminated?
3. Overall, what do you think about the Government’s moves to tackle black money?
4. What do you think of Government’s efforts against corruption so far?
5. What do you think of the Modi Government’s move of banning old Rs 500 & Rs 1,000 notes?
6. Will it bring real estate,education, healthcare in the common man’s reach
7. Did you mind the inconvenience faced in our fight to curb corruption, black money, terrorism and counterfeiting of currency?
8. Do you believe some anti-corruption activists are now actually fighting in support of black money, corruption & terrorism?
9. Do you have any suggestions, ideas or insights you would like to share with PM Modi?