My homage to one of the greatest human beings who walked this earth on his anniversary.
It's been long since I blogged…
Life is one helluva journey…
That’s why blogging took a backseat for few months as taking life’s challenges head on took most of my time..
As elections in Maharashtra and other states are in process I thought that what better day than Gandhi Jayanti to reflect upon the polity.
What happened during the Lok Sabha elections earlier in the year was a let down for me personally as well as other change-loving people of this nation. Although I salute the people to have voted in large numbers even though Mumbai turnout was dismal 40% while Kolkata had a turnout at 70%.
If you live in Mumbai one knows how the city has been collapsing across board - from Nariman Point to Virar. If you ever happen to take the Andheri - Dahisar Link Road and drive upto Gorai one can see how the migrants have captured the entire one way in the Link Road. Where do they come from? Who gives them the permission to squatter on road. Who allows them to make hutments on government property? Public property?
The recent announcement of the Congress-NCP Government that all ILLEGAL HUTMENTS shall be legalized upto 2005 is nothing but a clear encouragement to such settlers who are encroaching the public property while a majority of Mumbai Kars (citizens of Mumbai/Bombay) turn a blind eye as they are nothing more than men / women trapped in a mechanical human body who knows how to work, earn, eat and sleep.
The whole politics of favoritism and encouragement of illegal activities is nothing but a grave malaise which has set in our society. One party opposes and accuses the other while they all do the same.
Its disheartening to see none of the so called “Educated Self Righteous Political Groups” which had mushroomed after 26/11 at Mumbai not making a whimper in these elections. Wonder where they have all disappeared. Given up in the face of dirty rotten politics which is the norm?
What Mumbai lacks -
Basic necessities - Water, Road, Electricity, Clean Environment, Health systems, Sanitation, Residential plans, Transportation
Water - there are thousands of water tankers which supply water across the city daily even though Mumbai is an island with water all around it?
Road - The pot holed roads across the city also make it a harrowing experience to drive
Electricity - The most expensive in the entire country and why? There are black outs in most of part of the city for hours daily!
Clean Environment - it’s a catastrophe waiting to happen. The Mumbai air is by far most polluted and the entire ecological system is in jeopardy. The entire coastal regions are dump yards created by blinded babus in the offices of the municipality who have never known what ecology means!
Health systems - Big Buildings which are called health centres are nothing but money minting monoliths which are scattered across the city. Right from Bombay Hospital to Kokilaben Ambani Hospital there is no hospital which serves the poor free of cost. Why? Because Mumbai has become a metropolis without a heart. No one is willing to help another! There is lack of personal time! No one stops and takes a deep breath here. The Government run hospitals are good for nothing and the recent H1N1 Swine flu has shown how lackadaisical approach the India medical system has towards such large scale deaths!
Sanitation - the whole of Mumbai stinks and how! This is a real big problem to solve because of the congestion and confusion the city has turned into. Imagine if there was no idea of “Sulabh” what would have happened? A majority of Mumbai lives in the most unhygienic situations which if one sees will throw up!
Residential plans - there is hardly any planning in Mumbai. MHADA is a white elephant corrupted from top to bottom. There is no city plan. There is no where one can find a completely planned residential complex which can be called a great place to live. Cuffe Parade which is the city’s most expensive extract of the island which had been reclaimed in the early 70’s doesn’t have proper sanitation and water supply. Except for its rich neighbourhood and great sea view it doesn’t have anything which would constitute of being a paradise patch to live in.
Transportation - go by the local train, bus, rickshaw, cabs or one’s own car the city is a nightmare to travel. Kolkata got its metro rail way back in the 80’s and its 2009 Mumbai has yet to get a view! There is no planning involved to ease the congestion. The local trains are now transforming slowly and the traffic is still too heavy for it run smoothly. The highway is still too narrow to control the huge numbers of vehicles which ply daily and dangerously. There is no sea way to move from one beach to another. Why?
Basically there is no vision! No idea how to manage Mumbai. The mega polis where only rich are getting richer and poor are fighting amongst themselves for space, food, shelter and jobs!
Its time we wiped out the confusion brought in clarity and policies which would develop Mumbai as a city for all and not just for the super rich.
Where a normal daily worker would also take home a decent salary and stay in a livable environment drink clean water - free of charge, stay healthy and also legally.
Is it too much to ask?
Does India need this disparity which has been disintegrating the nation?
Why a ‘SATYAM’ Ramalinga Raju who amassed huge amounts of money through cheating is just in jail while the Laloo Yadavs who have amassed more than him are being protected by our old bygone era laws which have no teeth and an equally corrupt judicial and policing system? Just because he is a politician while Raju isn’t one.
The systems on which India is running is in tatters. There are no laws which a rich man can’t manage to twist to his / her advantage.
Look at the Ambanis! Phew! They can manage to arm twist the Government of India. Why? Because they fund political parties, their elections, their lifestyles, they lend out their private aircrafts for them, they also give them expensive gifts which none else can.
Its this rich and corrupt go hand in hand system which needs to be weeded out from the system. Our politicians are the ones who makes policies which govern us, they should be chosen on merit and not on caste, religion and other considerations.
Education system of India is also headed west and that’s good in way as the next generation would be much more aware of their rights and duties as a global citizen.
So this time you go out to vote which you should do try and go through the candidates and you also have the choice of denying your vote! The Election Commission has included that in the latest voting machines or the EVMs.
May you go out and vote in full strength and also request your family members who are eligible voters to go and vote.
Jai Hind!
Jai Bharat!
Posts
