Give aways galore

All the right thinking citizens should view the two recent news
items with the seriousness they deserve, since they let one have an
insight into the working of the mind of Indian politicians.

The first item is regarding the passing of a bill in the parliament
which provides for the kins of ministers to travel any where in India
by air 48 times in a year. The kin includes spouse, children, brother and
other relatives so named. This facility was earlier available to MPs only
and not to the ministers. To set right the wrong, this bill. Most of the MPs are
millionaires many times more, and during the time they are in power are seen
to be growing riches by more than 200%. Can't they afford to spend
from their own packets for their kin. The perks of a minister apart from
salary include, rent free accommodation, free electricity, telephone facility,
office expenses running into lakhs of rupees. The salary paid is paltry, but
the perks are many times more. Why not change the system, and pay
them salary running into lakhs and let them fend for themselves. Let each
minister be paid minimum Rs. 2 lakhs or so, the amount raising based on the
rank, and the same be taxed as per prevalent rates. Even a salary of Rs. 50/-
lakhs will workout cheaper for the govt. exchequer.

Ms. Mamata Banerjee, our Railway Minister, announced free AC first
class travel for their full life time to cricketers, Sachin, and Saurav,
for the services rendered to the country. One is left wondering
the nature of services. Both the cricketers have already made crores
and do not need any larges from the Govt. at the cost of exchequer.
Sachin is reported to be worth more than 200 crores, and Saurav,
though surely less than Sachin is not in need of free travel.

The politicians in power seem to think, whose father what goes, (kiska
baap ka kya jata hai). It is high time all freebies for prominent persons,
whatever field they are in, is stopped and everyone is made to pay from his
packet. Most of such facilities are being misused by one and all.

Hot topic of the day.

This is to those who are out of India, and are not following everything that is happening over here.

Shri. Sharad Pawar, Agr. Minister, Centre, as per

paper reports asked the States to ensure that action

is taken to curtail price sky rocketing. He forgot his own

responsibility, and duty towards the poor Indians. As

you must already be knowing the price of all articles

connected with our day to day living, either grains, vegetables,

milk etc. are increasing day by day. Though the well to do

always get a forum to complain about, either in print or

visual media, the poor who are the most affected have no voice and

no one bothers about them in these days of free market economy.

I recall the days when Central Govt. used to or show as having

taking steps for containing the racing inflation.

What a price to pay for Free market economy!

The other point of interest or discussion among the elite is the farce

called Copenhagen summit to reach an agreement for bringing

down the carbon footprint, and save the world from future catastrophes. Is it not ironic that the developed countries led by US of A and European nations are trying to put the onus for saving the

world on developing nations and the poor ones which want to better

the standard of living of their citizens. The per capita consumption or usage of all items of day today necessity, like electricity fuel etc are the highest in the developed world. The developed world, (USA) has been smart enough to preserve its oil reserves, and has been exploiting the reserves from the Arab world, knowing well that it will not last long. I had been to US for my first visit 8 months back, and stayed in Pensa Cola, Florida for more than 3 months. Having experienced very convenient public transport for travelling from one city to another, all over India, either in the form of Govt. railways or road transport run by Govt. corporations or private services, I was rather surprised to know no such system exists in US. For travelling from Pensa Cola to Atlanta around 300 odd mails, one has to go either by your own or hired car, or by plane. No bus service, and no trains. The rails which got damaged during Ivan hurricane have not been restored by the Govt. either Federal or State. Imagine the amount of fuel consumed every day. This I believe is the scenario in almost all of US, except for few pockets. Even in the town of Pensa Cola there is no public transport and you have to take out your four wheeler, which are fuel guzzlers, to go to the nearest Mart for getting your daily provisions. There are no neighbourhood pop and mom stores to speak of .

Most of you are aware of what was India around little more than a decade ago. The number of of wheelers even in big cities, and the common mode of transport was two wheelers, mostly scooters, to which people graduated from bi-cycles. The position now is really serious, and the number of four wheelers have increased phenomenally, bringing in its wave accidents on account of

indisciplined drivers, and pedestrians. Less said the better about

road discipline, and pedestrians the better. The driver always abuses the pedestrians. Why can't our people learn these things from the Americans. Even those who return home after a stay of few years or so behave the same way. They forget the discipline

they followed in places outside India where they stayed. The western and Japanese car makers made a straight line drive into India to exploit the market, and now they crying hoarse that India should contain carbon emission. What a laugh.

We will discuss more such matters in days to come.

Unlicensed to Kill

'Not licensed to drive, boy races to kill' 2nd page head lines in today's DNA.
We see such news items everyday in print, as well as in visual media. The
killers are mostly youngsters with no respect for lives, as well as those in
the age group of 20 to 30. It is statistically proved that most accidents are
the result of rash driving. Famous cases are those of Salman Khan in Mumbai
and Nanda in Delhi.

What is the punishment for such accidents. As per the IPC it is maximum
two years in prison, and they are let off scott free by the courts, and the perpetrator
can again kill/maim innocent bystanders.

There was also another news about road rage killing outside the airport. One car
overtook another, and the second car driver, who was with some friends/relatives
drove and stopped in front of the smaller car, pulled out the driver, and dragged him
along with their car, and he was crushed under the wheels of the car. The cuprits
drove away, and the cops do not have any clue as to who was driving, which car
it was. Will the culprits be found and get punishment? I wonder!

What is required to be done to curb such incidents is to change the IPC and make such
crimes punishable treating them as culpable homicide not amounting murder, with
minimum punishment of 10 years and maximum life, plus financial compensation
thrown in to the family/heirs of the deceased. It is high time a movement is started
in the print as well as visual media to change the law in this regard. All the culprits of
driving offence, should loose their license to drive for life or different periods depending
upon the severity of crime.

I would like to see the reaction of others.

Maiden posting

I used to wonder why people blog. After reading the reaction to some of the blogs of Amitabh, I realised that there is an audience/reader to the blogs, even if the blogger might have made some irrelevant comments. I hope not to be irrelevant in my postings. The postings will be exclusively what I feel about some of the happenings, in the world of human beings, and their behaviour at various times. I do not expect anyone to agree with me, but am glad that I will have a platform through which I can make views known to a section of the intelligentsia. I know from my experience that it is difficult to get your views published in print media, since the views may not be palatable to the editor, and have his reservations.

Today's headlines in the DNA 'Food prices push inflation to 10 month high. Worse Ahead", have compelled me to pen some random thoughts on rising prices of food products. It is predicted that the inflation will raise to 8% by March 2010. Have you wondered who is most effected by this!It is the common man, with fixed income, or daily wage earners, with no chance of DA increases periodically as in the case of Govt. or bank employees. They know not what hits them. Does it matter to them the reasons/explanations shouted about in print and visual media, since they hardly read or view the news. Has any one in the Govt. given thought to the situation? Are any steps being taken? I wonder, since one does not see any such steps being taken. I recall the days around 15 years back, when parties like Shiv Sena, or our comrades in CPI/CPI(M) used to come out with cadre on to the streets, and pressurise the govt./authorities of the day to take some action. The free market economy probably has made the powers that be complacent and leave the poor to the wolves. The slogan appears to be Garib Hatao, from Garibi Hatao, which probably was what Indira meant when her party coined the slogan for political gains. The ration shops in most places are empty of the promised grains at subsidised rates or what is available is of such a quality that even the poorest of poor would not like to partake of it. Will some one raise his voice against the current situation.

Every one talks about Global village, but without any results to show.