By Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili
In every society yearning for reform, the central dilemma is always the same: where to begin. The problems are many, energies are scattered, and passions often fade before they produce results. History teaches us that real progress seldom comes from trying to fix everything at once — it comes from identifying the vital few issues whose resolution can transform the larger picture.
This idea, known in management and quality science as the Pareto Principle — or the “Vital Few, Common Many” theory — reminds us that roughly 80% of outcomes arise from 20% of causes. A few well-chosen, sustained actions can generate an impact far beyond their apparent scale.
The civic lesson: Focus is power
For civil society movements, the lesson is especially relevant. Take, for instance, the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) — or any forum of engaged citizens. Such groups may not possess the power or resources of government, but they carry something equally valuable: moral authority, professional insight, and the collective conscience of the community they serve.
Yet, when that conscience is stretched across too many causes — environment, education, corruption, health, heritage, substance abuse — it risks dilution. A Kashmiri proverb captures this perfectly:
“If you run after many sheep, you will not catch even one.”
The essence of effective civic action is prioritization. The “vital few” must be separated from the “common many” — not because the latter are unimportant, but because energy is finite and scattered effort yields exhaustion without achievement.
Choosing the issues that matter most
Every community faces countless wrongs. Some are urgent, others are important — few are both. The art of civic strategy lies in finding where urgency and importance intersect.
When groups like GCC deliberate, they must ask: Which single issue, if addressed sincerely and scientifically, will yield the greatest public benefit? The answer may change with time — solid waste management today, healthcare accountability tomorrow — but the principle must remain the same: impact grows not by multiplying agendas, but by refining focus.
The world’s most successful movements, from environmental campaigns in Europe to anti-corruption drives in Asia, did not fight a thousand battles. They chose one at a time — and fought long enough for results to take root.
The courage to say No
To concentrate on the vital few requires courage — the courage to decline. Many activists fall into the trap of chasing every cause, stretching meetings longer and broadening statements until outcomes vanish.
Focusing on the vital few may risk unpopularity; it may mean telling friends that some issues must wait. But this is not retreat — it is strategy. It is the discipline of purpose over the dispersal of goodwill. One reformed landfill can set a model for waste management across the region; one transparent hospital can redefine ethics across an entire health system.
Governance lessons from the Pareto Principle
Governments, too, fall prey to the “many sheep” syndrome. Surrounded by data, schemes, and deadlines, ministries announce new initiatives weekly, while old ones wither unfinished. The result? Motion without progress, slogans without substance.
The best administrations focus relentlessly on a few transformative priorities. A single reform in public transport can ease pollution, save fuel, and improve quality of life. Investment in primary healthcare can reduce hospital overloads and long-term expenditure. A transparent e-governance portal can curb corruption more effectively than ten committees.
Here, civil society can complement government — through advocacy, evidence-based dialogue, and constructive monitoring — helping make time-bound action plans meaningful.
For the Government: Less can be more
The “vital few” approach could serve as a mirror and manual for governance in Jammu and Kashmir. Instead of spreading efforts thin across dozens of projects, the administration should identify three or four transformative areas where change is visible, measurable, and contagious.
Citizens recognize sincerity not by the number of announcements but by the depth of follow-through. A government that rebuilds one bridge of trust with its people can later build a hundred physical ones — with their support.
A moral and spiritual dimension
This principle also resonates deeply with Islamic ethics. The Qur’an reminds us: “Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.” The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The most beloved deeds are those done consistently, even if small.”
Consistency and balance are at the heart of both spiritual life and effective governance. The “vital few” approach is not about doing less — it’s about doing better. It urges humility, patience, and perseverance over noise and numbers.
Kashmir’s frossroads: From fatigue to focus
In today’s Kashmir, where social fatigue and policy cynicism often coexist, this principle could rekindle both civic hope and administrative efficiency.
If civil groups focus on a few themes — healthcare ethics, environmental restoration, substance abuse, traffic discipline — and pursue them with persistence and documentation, they will achieve more than dozens of scattered campaigns. Likewise, if the government channels its strength into a few critical reforms — waste disposal, road safety, health transparency — it will rebuild credibility faster than through countless declarations.
Our tragedy is not lack of ideas, but lack of order among them. We mistake activity for achievement, and quantity for quality. We hold long seminars and issue long reports, but seldom follow one solution through to success.
The “vital few, common many” principle restores that order. It tells us to focus, filter, and follow through. It turns activism into action, and governance into good management.
Ultimately, it is both a managerial and a moral compass — reminding us that human energy is sacred, and to waste it on endless diversions is a form of ingratitude. Every drop of effort must fall where it can form a ripple — and every ripple must grow into a wave.
In a world where everyone is running after many sheep, it is time we pause, count our flock, and catch the one that truly matters.
Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili is a surgeon, healthcare policy analyst, and quality expert who writes on ethics, governance, and social reform.
Email: drfiazfazili@gmail.com
