A thought on Politics !

A thought on Politics!

Way back in 2002, I clearly remember the day when load shading started in Maharashtra. 3 Hours a day in municipal cities & 6-8 hours a day in villages. Then slowly it increased to 6 hours a day in cities & 10-12 hours in villages. Our then chief minister very confidently promised us that, within 2 years load shading will be stopped. Today we are in 2013; load shading is still going on. Due to increase in population the demand of electricity must have increased by now. Maybe due to this reason this problem is not yet solved. It was also announced that within 10 years Maharashtra will have surplus power by 5000 MW. Today our state is having backlog of 5000 MW. And this number could have increased by few thousand megawatts. But due to lack of power some big companies shifted their plants in other states like Gujarat. Hence load is reduced. But my question is different. How exactly Maharashtra government has acted on this issue? How many new power plants have been initiated? And if they are initiated, what is the status? Power plants worth capacity of 4270 MW are under progress from last 6 years. Even if they get completed in next 2 years, are they going to serve the existing backlog of 5000 MW? And what about the future requirement? Power plants worth 8850 MW are under planning stage. God knows when they will get commissioned. It takes 2-3 years to complete a power plant project & start production. If government would have started one project at a time, still we could have commissioned 5 power plants in state in 11 years! What is the problem? We don’t have space OR We don’t have manpower OR We don’t have money??

From so many years we are hearing this again & again that “There has been a draught this year. This is going to affect the crops”. There may be several reasons for draught which are uncontrollable. But what action Maharashtra government has taken on controllable reasons?  Maharashtra government has not started any major water project in last few years. We have one of the largest seashore in India. What are we doing with it? For how many years people in Vidarbha & Marathwada are going to suffer? You can’t provide water; you can’t provide electricity then what the hell our farmers are supposed to do? As per the nos. from irrigation deptt., only 20% sown land in Maharashtra is irrigated. We are ranked 19^th in country in irrigation. And our central agriculture minister says, “Farmers of Vidarbha are inefficient!”. Well ….efficiency is defined as Output/Input. If there is no Input, there will be no output. Then farmers commit suicide. But still we wait till the death toll reaches 10000!

Mr. Ratan Tata announced to shift Nano project from West Bengal. Within few hours from this announcement, Gujarat’s technical team met Mr. Tata & proposed him to shift his plant to Gujarat. Few days after this, I read our chief minister’s statement in newspaper, “I am hopeful to get Ratan Tata’s appointment soon”. This is not acceptable. Gujarat got the project, and he is hoping for mere appointment. If Gujarat government can shift entire manufacturing base of country to Gujarat, why can’t we atleast sustain what we have? Why the industry in Maharashtra is centralized only in Western region? Why can’t we have 2^nd Automobile hub of state in Vidarbha? Why can’t we have IT parks in other cities? For how many years people from eastern Maharashtra will be migrating to Pune & Mumbai?  

Few days before, 12^th Five year plan (Panchwarshik Yojna) is made & submitted to central government. Few shocking truths came forward during this process. While reviewing the outcomes of educational section of 11^th five year plan, it is observed that all targets for Maharashtra are achieved. Because there were no targets set for Maharashtra in it. Not a single new university was proposed for our state. And none of our leaders had taken objection on this. Because they never knew this!

It’s not about pointing a particular party. Because these Kakasahebs, Mamasahebs n Raosahebs are there in every political party. Just rewind few years in your mind; the issues which are listed above were the burning issues at the time 2004 elections. Then they were repeated for 2009 elections. And same will be used for 2014 elections. Now let us question the opposition parties. Why they allowed this to happen?  Let us put aside the figures of corruption. Because it needs separate attention. But the issues mentioned above are just underlining “We Care a damm” attitude of our leaders.

Many such problems can be listed out & can be elaborated. But let us focus on the real problem. What is it?

The problem is we don’t have leaders who believe in constructive politics. Now, what is meant by constructive politics? Politics doesn’t only mean eliminating your enemies. It also means to connect with the people. It doesn’t only mean to just highlight their problems & creating issues. It also means to own & solve their problems. It doesn’t only mean to create your impression. It also means to create your footprints. It doesn’t only mean “grabbing the opportunity”. It also means “Creating the opportunity”. Politics doesn’t mean just go on asking questions to your opponents. It also means to be answerable sometimes.

Leaders should consider their voters as stakeholders!

Now, in democracy, stakeholders are not limited to particular cast, religion or region. While defining & implementing new policies leaders must think about every stakeholder. And this is where the destructive politics starts. Our policies are made in such a way that, irrespective of its benefit to some stakeholders it damages all other stakeholders. For ex; while allotting reservations to a particular cast, no provisions are made for the other casts which are getting affected. OR while declaring special economic zones in an area which will be beneficial for industrial development, its after effects on other industries are not considered.

Leaders are elected as representatives of a territory & NOT the rulers of that territory. They are bounded by a constitution & NOT there to bound the constitution. They should become the Idols & NOT be Idle. They are responsible for the development & NOT there to develop the irresponsibility.

This also calls for change in our mindset. Development never happens in one day. We should be clear about our definition of development.Development is an endless process in which every stakeholder gains something at the end of every stage in it. And before entering to new stage, every stakeholder should have a sense of belongingness. Stakeholders should respect their gains. Development will start the very moment when all the stakeholders start thinking that this development is “for them & by them”.

Constitution has given us the right of voting. First of all, we have to use that right. And we have to use that in a right way. Let us keep our eyes & minds open. We have not chosen our friends based on their cast. So we should not choose our leaders based on that.

It’s a high time to think. It’s a high time to act. Because if we don’t think now, soon there will be a chapter in history,”Ek Hota Maharshtara!” And if we still don’t act, there will be a new chapter, “Ek Hota Bharat! “

Chinar

If you really like this write-up then please go for voting in coming elections. It will be real a “like” to this.

The Youth

The Youth

Where is today’s youth? Working in MNCs & waiting for their increments, incentives OR Sitting in coffee shops, multiplexes with their friends OR some of them in colleges preparing for GRE or Tofel, in short finding the ways to get out of this country OR if you still can’t find them ,search them on Facebook. I don’t have figures, but majority of youth is at one of the above 4 places. Well…we are a free country & everyone has a right to do whatever he wants. Even I am sitting at one of these above places.  But I have few questions which I never asked. Today I am going to ask these questions to myself. Let’s see, how best the youth in me can answer.

First question, When I was in college , Why not for single time I thought about appearing for UPSC or other civil services exams ?

Well, I came from a middle class family with a very average intellectual level. How can I pass this examination?

But then my performance in school & college was decent throughout. Why did I assume that I can’t pass UPSC ?

Well….It needs a hard work & dedication.

But then I was never lazy about studies. I could have done that hardwork.

 Well….My parents wanted me to complete my degree .

Offcourse, they wanted it. But did they ever stop me from thinking about UPSC?

Not Really….

Then Why I didn’t go for UPSC?

Actually…who the hell wants to go for this government jobs yaar ?  I was very clear. I will simply get my degree & then will fly to UK or US. Who wants to live in this country? I have seen my father doing government job. I know ,what problems he faced due to dirty politics.

But did my father run away?

No he didn’t. He served there for 30 years maintaining his dignity & core values.

Then why I didn’t go for it?

Actually….I don’t want to face any problems yaar. I just want to live a comfortable life . What I will get after UPSC or IPS? A post of Collector in UP or Bihar! Or a post of ACP in Gadchiroli! Why should I own the problems of whole city? I don’t want to solve their problems. I don’t want to fight with criminals.

Then who will fight with criminals?

Well…I care a damm ! Let anyone do it.

And that’s the reason. Today’s youth cares a damm!

Second question, When I am working in a company & complaining about salary hikes, Why I am not thinking to start my own business?

Well….I don’t have financial backup to start it.

Oh really….But what about that old man who met me in Jalandhar last year? He migrated from Pakistan to India at the time of Partition. He had nothing in his hand. But he started his own business. And today he is the owner of 6 companies in Jalandhar. What financial backup he had?

Well….He had no other option. He had nothing to lose. So he started it. Whereas, I am a well-educated man. I working in a good company. I am getting good salary. I want to get married soon. I want to book my own flat. Why should I lose all my savings in the business? And it’s very difficult to run your own company. Who the hell wants to deal with that stuff yaar?

But if I start my own firm, I can give jobs to lot of needy people from my own city. It will in a way help my country’s development?

Well…Why should I  think about those needy people? I think about my own benefits only.

But Why I can’t see the benefits in doing my own business. Agreed…It’s a tough job. It needs thorough knowledge. But then, when my education will help me? I surely have that intelligence to gain that knowledge.

Boss…It’s not about intelligence. It needs lot of patience to make money out of business. I can’t wait for that. I want salary at the end of every month. That’s it…..And it needs lot of courage to invest your own money in business. I don’t have it.

that’s the answer…. Today’s youth doesn’t have patience & courage.

Third Question, When I am spending money in multiplexes or shopping malls on all wanted things, Why not for a single time I think about poor people of my country?

Well….I have already said , I care a damm! Is it my mistake that my country is poor? As a responsible citizen I am paying all taxes to government. That’s all I can do. I am not earning for charity.

 Well…. no one has asked me to do charity. But do I realize that by just buying the unwanted things, I am increasing the demand for that stuff unnecessarily? And which in a way responsible for the increasing inflation in country.

Hey….Why should I think about all this? Just because someone can’t buy it, I should not buy it. Is it making any sense? All my friends have it. I must have it.

But did I ever discuss with my friends about useful utilization of money? No… never . Actually in my college days, I never had sufficient pocket money . So when I started earning, I started spending as per my wish.

Accepted! But do I realize, that I owe something to this society ? I am proud of my education. But apart from this degree & some knowledge, education has given some sensibility. Have I lost all my sensibility?

Yes….I have lost it.

Here is the answer…. Today’s youth has lost their sensibility.

Fourth question…. When I am commenting on facebook about social issues, am I really aware about the social problems in this country?

Offcourse I am! How many examples should I give? Recently, after this Delhi Rape case, it was youth who marched on Rashtrapati Bhavan & all other places in country.

Yes Off course it was youth. I appreciate it. But do I realize that, the guys who were involved in this crime were also the part of youth of our country?  Yes….criminals are amongst us. They are not coming from Mars or Jupiter.

Hey….I can’t control the thinking of whole world.

But can I atleast make myself aware about all this? Before commenting or criticizing the government or giving some weird solution, can I atleast go to the root cause of the problem?

My god…. If I just go on finding the root causes , when these issues will get solved ?

Well…they are anyway not getting solved by my comments .

So should I stop making comments?

No ….Actually I should stop my habit of making conclusions.

Here is the answer…..youth should seek for solutions rather than conclusions.

I am not proud in asking all this questions to myself. But atleast , I am proud that I am coming across these questions these days. There are lot questions which are still unanswered. But I am sure that, journey towards finding these answers will change me as a human being. Because one thing I have noticed in my journey so far….. Truth lies within !

Chinar