Do we see a complete disregard for probity in public life . Are we too arrogant with authority and complacent in our attitude to be good examples of austerity & simplicity . When the country is marching forward in growth and prosperity ( going by the GDP ), let us not close our eyes on the citizen's rights to living in freedom and with dignity . The quality of life of a country which is not measured on just economic prosperity but on the social and cultural parameters should understand that real development is when disparities are leveled and the voice of the poor is not muzzled. Do we have the right to freedom of thought without the fear of being victimised, equal rights to education & employment or in invoking the constitution against corruption . For all the effort taken by the Anti - corruption crusaders, it's indeed unfortunate that a septegenarian senior citizen , Anna Hazare has to take up the gauntlet against such evils like money laundering. There's little meaning in prosperity when money does not ensure peace and security for the weaker sections. How long will you be living in the security and comfort of a house surrounded by poor and outlawed citizens on the streets. This is the case in many countries of Africa & the Third World. Is there real freedom ?
What is being done to speed up the pendency of cases in our courts of law. There are criminal cases that have not been settled for years. Every Govt just provides lip service when it comes to dealing with issues like delayed justice or criminalization in politics. How do we clean up the system, is the moot question. Yes, there's more transparency today with media & technology taking big strides . But the law enforcement is still weak. We are today talking of FDI in Retail, but what is wrong with our much maligned Co operatives. ANAND is one big success we must not gloss over. Thanks to late Dr Kurien's unwavering faith in the feasibility of the movement empowering millions. AMUL has proved the model can work , but there were attempts to dismantle the system. Is the clock ticking. Grameen Bank of Bangladesh is a case in point , where the Govt has overruled the founding constitutional rights of the poor stakeholders and lately taken over their powers ( Aug' 2012) . Can we put a priority on governance and accountability . First things first , when we're in a hurry to fix something that may not be really broken . Let us not whitewash the exterior . Politics can play foul and only push things under the carpet .
For the last few years the global economic scenario has been dim with countries around the world going in for austerity measures. It was only too obvious that India needed to tighten its belt. There are implementation bottlenecks that have to be removed if our social agenda have to see their desired results. Self producing and Self reliance is not the same thing , if the produce does not reach the desired people. Our laudable goals like Garibi Hatao is far from over even though we've attained self sufficiency in staple food. Foreign investment should not be mistaken for economic prosperity if it goes into sectors that only go for more automation & imports. Our PSUs and Navarathnas have not come to mean White Elephants if they can be turned around with proper management . Commitment to quality comes from top , not bottom up. It's not about Toilets Vs Temples but if all our Temples, Churches and Mosques have usable toilets, that would do a lot of good especially for our fairer sex. Do we need foreign money to build toilets in villages and see that they are kept clean. We boast of having Mobile phones & TVs, when 7 out of 10 girls drop out of schools once they attain puberty because the schools don't provide separate toilets for girls. Free Market mechanism will fix competitive salaries, not necessarily raise remunerations and jobs .The recent trend in growth sectors of IT, Biotech, Pharma, is a downswing in recruitment and pay . Apparently only private firms are in the reckoning even in social sectors like Health and Education. Look at the paradox , when the economy was on a downside, our Indian Govt in 2010, thought it fit to hike the salaries, 3 times more for the honourable MPs (they gave themselves a hefty raise ). By comparison their monthly pay check is 30 times more than the average pay in the country today ( going by the per capita Rs 5000/- a month ). That much for our cost cutting at the helm . Do we justify the need for taking time bound measures at curbing our much bloated parallel economy. Govts in Countries like France for example has shown fortitude and commitment when the PM & ministers have taken a 30% cut in their salaries when the Socialists assumed power early this year. Probably we are too busy crunching numbers that such socialist ideals just stand in the way.
-Bijoy Joseph
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