People movements of hope for the future - 2 of 5 : Coalition of corrupt minds, the declaration of nation's progress

In the nations progress, few things cross the mind while we see the lack of progress on the quality of life our people's life and more so the all round support infrastructure

1. The tapering of the vision of  Nehruvian and Ambedkarian era

It was an amalgamation of  leftist socialism with coalition of forward castes ideological economy that built educational excellence higher learning institutions like IISER, IISC, IITs etc. Also PSUs and defense research centers. They were given to visionaries and  people were identified from every region cutting across the spectrum of the society. Probably upto middle of 1970s were a sort of fast paced development in every sphere of our nation. But land and position distribution was still resting with few segments of forward communities.

2. Beginning of the imbalances of the nation

Earlier world cups had only English as commentators and then few Asians were added. Now we find representatives of their country in each commenting team ! But its the opposite happened in higher learning institutions and PSUs. It started getting dominated by few forward communities and lead to corruption getting into the system. Power and influences are two edges of a sword. Land went into building more agharams and land holding imbalances started at this phase. With money people could send their children overseas. Previously govt was sending bright minds overseas and came back to build institutions. But now it was immigration using premium resources of the nation. Other communities were watching this show for a while.

3. Joining the bandwagon of make money when the sun shines 

The backward communities started to come into the mainstream and seeing their forward communities on making easy money and investing in lands, that reaped a windfall. This quick money made many to take up public sphere and here a coalition of sorts started with the brainy ideas of forward communities in position and perfect execution of others - started the whirlpool of corruption in every sphere of life. It started affecting everything. With Congress being the core of these imbalances, shifted the nation towards deceleration from the vision of nation forefathers. Yes towards the end of 1990s it was the dream of being in US shores by hook or crook, at any cost and also seeds of another dangerous phases were being sown.

4. Insemination of ideology to drawing a coalition for a seemingly development agenda

By this time Late Shri Thackeray had established himself in the power centre by bringing right ideology into the political spectrum. BJP was trying to get its foot deeper. With seeds of such ideology being thrown around the nation, did it take away corruption..In reality corruption started becoming all pervasive in the society with from forward to every community started using such ideologies to make more and more money unethically with morality becoming rather relative.

Here we are we have the right ideology immersed into the minds of people, it will easier now under the camouflage of casteless nation a coalition of corruption that takes everyone across the political and public spectrum into one platform. Personally we may see no corruption but they run their entire show using corrupt money and processes. This also includes promotion of crony capitalism around the power centre.

We have schools, colleges, hospitals, natural resources, roads, cars, bikes, malls - all in wrong proportions with mixed up priorities messed up by people in responsibilities leading to many public institutions and inclusive development on the verge of death. 

People movements of hope for the future - 1 of 5 : It should have been default second innings

People movements of hope for the future

- 1 of 5

1.6.2019

It should have been default second innings

The beginning of NDA - 1 we heard the plan is to hold on to power for another 20 years, through a mission called Congress Mukt Bharat. It has been successful to an extent in the Gujarat test bed and had to be scaled up nationally.

Though questions are raised on the Gujarat model and there are people speaking in favour of it, the fact is, they have decimated opposition and holding on to power..Yes pockets of infra development is there. The question is, has it lead to people development, is largely not answered.

"...Contrast this with the growth numbers: Gujarat is the second most industrialized state and has the fifth highest per capita income of Rs 1.22 lakh, above Maharashtra at Rs 1.21 lakh and Kerala at Rs 1.19 lakh. Its GDP is the fourth highest in the country...."

"...According to the latest data available in the Sample Registration System Statistical Report 2015 and National Family Health Survey 2015-16, as many as 39 percent children in Gujarat are underweight as against the national average of 35. The state ranks 25th among 29 states in terms of underweight children below five years of age. It ranks 17th in terms of infant mortality rate, with 33 deaths per 1,000 live births..."

https://www.firstpost.com/politics/numbers-prove-gujarat-models-human-development-indices-not-as-vibrant-as-promised-by-rupani-government-4224891.html

The first five years of NDA-1 was essentially to put a foundation for a long innings. Foundation of pan-India presence politically and that is easier while in government. Governance was managed.

The reforms for industry growth from small to medium scale,PSUs and corporates were largely notional. We didnt see big time development. NDA-2 will see liberalization of labour laws, easiest ways for environmental clearances, PSUs disinvestment, taxation and loans relaxation..Shorter run we may be cheaper and attractive than many other markets, longer run will be painful for the people of the nation.

Banking sector saw one merger, all mergers will be finalised in the coming days. The culture of each bank from people to strategy, positioning to operations are diverse. Longer run possibly good for the country and lending for big corporates but if on the shorter run not handled with sensitive implementation, could lead to huge uncertainties.

Agriculture was not in limelight, may see piecemeal policies. Largely agri land banks will  be industrialised. Agri distress is something one has to see how it is handled, 6000/yr into farmer accounts may not be a solution nor cherry picked loan waiver schemes.

Employment has taken a backseat, will it take front seat, maybe but addressing it from the window of 10% economic quota for forward communities will largely alienate the 60% of the population.

PM had visited around 87 nations, the conversion of all of these to economic activity has to be done now..

The home and finance ministry have successfully closed many Christian NGOs on financial accountability or due to other reasons. Possibly the fund flow to muslim organisations too could have reduced. One can see billion dollors flowing into the Hindu right wing - longer and shorter run this could be detrimental to the govt itself in the days to come.

Social and Religious engineering has been successfully manufactured. Is the social engineering as claimed by BJP leaders as one casteless victory will be known on how we see inclusive education and employment happens in the coming years.

The cultural oneupmanship needs to be proved on the ground by creating scientific studies,  maintenance of  museum and historical places.

Largely, a quite of lot of undone work or incomplete work or half done work or inept work in NDA-1 , has to have course correction. But if NDA-1 was foundation for the long haul, NDA-2 will largely see consolidation of political sphere, and people index may not see big changes. 

The question is how the red ticked boxes will be handled...Party consolidation over governance will be the one to look for. Can Gujarat model be replicated nationally, short term yes, a painful long term will pan out for the nation. Many things can be hidden over a period of time, but on the ground when it eats into people, one needs to see how NDA 2 will be handling it for the hope for the future.

Can freebies be another social enabler !

Can freebies be another social enabler...!?

Although it would be atrocious for someone from urban area to read this post, but anyway thought of sharing this view. Everybody would agree that TN is better in the social justice front with many communities having equable access to education and health thereby better life and careers. When compared with northern states we may be one step ahead. But sadly everybody likes a consumerist lifestyle...Those who migrated from rural to urban to the west are enjoying the upmodern consumerist lifestyle. Many of our villagers if they come to either Chennai or Coimbatore or other cities sometimes feel completely out of place. We can see our house maids, daily wage labourers, fishcart drivers and the other struggling masses behind MGR, simply because he empathised with them and gave them few basic things to keep their stomach hunger free. In the same aspect, when TV was given by Kalaigner the masses did accept it with open hands and also the school cycle, laptop, fan, grinder later by JJ. Though few of these did go to upper middle class families, it did reached almost every home. And they are pride owners of a fan, grinder and TV. Last week I happened to travel to some interior places and could see Kalaigner TV (as they call it) being used as their only entertainment. Also a college student working in his govt laptop in his fathers ironing shop. Amma water is huge hit among thirsty travellers. Many of us have not seen busstands as we have started to travel either by car or flight or 3AC. If we check with regular bus users they appreciate this venture. Amma canteen feeds many...sorry this is not a praising blog for Jayalalitha. But JJ kingdom is taking care of short term needs to their subjects in a really good manner ! Who cares about the future or the long vision...no body has that anyway...I saw UGD being done by previous govt, sadly most of it was substandard and has collapsed or the flow blocked causing so much of problems to many colonies..The same downtrodden ppl being pushed to remove the blocks. This should have been planned for atleast next 50 years but did not even last for a season.The British given drains worked for 60-70 years without any issues....so atleast in the short run let our common man enjoy his given day...

Giving 100 units for everyone could be too much but the hardworking middle classes pay nearly 50% as taxes (30% IT and 20% indirect taxes in fuel, dresses, other consumbles, restaurant bills etc...) so this 100 units I consider as welcome break and save some money. Mobile phones to every citizen may empower every citizen from every background to connect to the world. Governance can be taken to everyone's hand ! With so much of price rise its difficult to think of getting two wheelers for the women folk at home, here comes scooter subsidy...Let them also join the consumerist society, why should only one section enjoy..The ruling kings and queens living in luxury throw this peanuts, let us think atleast they have heart to throw this peanuts!

Does this not break the inequality between the masses !? Those against freebies though say it makes people lazy, but this is a strange argument as the govt is struggling to create jobs for 60% of the population, at point 40% is jobless. And these are not indeed freebies, they are infact these are rewards the govt is promising its people for all that people doing for the country. We need to take this way because in the short run people are not able to join together to build this nation.

Another argument, corporate gets so many subsidies and consessions in terms of land, water, resources, loans and what not..........Today read in a news column that airliness have been given certain subsidies. Another whats app msg showed how subsidies or in free elected politician enjoy. Why not then common man demand something for him....

Also all these subsidises come from govt bursaries and not as cash from black money as the Thirumangalam formula later the election strategy of both the dravidian parties. Interestingly we can see certain businesses  becoming global conglomorates courtesy easyway given by central and state governments, they intern fund political parties and their campaigns to help them say we work for the poor man and we came up from poor background with crocodile tears in their eyes. When we see all this, when any party promise gold for marriage or waiver of loans or promising to give few things to its people may not be wrong...Interestingly industries are fighting to ensure contract labour basic salary is not raised and terms are not changed....

Anyway we are still billion years away to have good roads or water or professionally run govt hospitals,colleges,hostels and schools. Let us enjoy in the short run whatever is doled out by any party..

Let kings and queens who rule us, their kingdom, take care of their subjects, subjects be subjugated until the day of salvation... 

Tamilnadu on the verge of new politics

Most tamils will acknowledge that social revolution is primarily due to the dravidian parties holding on their social policies. Though that has helped many backward communities to come to the forefront in their socio-economics, has emboldened them to put other communities trying to come to their feet under their feet. My heart bled when I saw the clipping of how SANKAR was killed and was separated from his wife in broad daylight, somehow couldnt convince me at all on how our society is still accepting such barbarism. In one of the parables Jesus mentions on how a person who gets mercy from his boss did not bother to show mercy for people dependent on him, towards the end of it Jesus mentions how the end for such people would be !

Coming back on the relevance of dravidian parties, just by chance was seeing Captain Vijaykanth wife speaking on womens' day, it was impressive, did have a lot of character in all that she spoke. And yesterday Captian acknowledged his wife while talking about his coming together with the peoples welfare front. Yet another dravidian name party (DMDK) joining hands with another dravidian party (MDMK). Though two  dravidian parties have fought elections together but only along with mainstream dravidian parties . Also the main architect behind this entire movement seem to be Thol Thirumavalavan of VCK. I had an opportunity to listen to him few months back and was impressed about his intellect and intelligence. Then communists are there as a buttress. Its an interesting development happening in this part of the world. We need to wait and watch, firstly how tamil people take this change in TN politics from two party alliance system to multi alliances system and later how this movement stays together which will encounter strong forces of opposition to break them.

Will this hottest summer is expected to throw news which could be too hot for many people to handle in the coming days... But let us not forget the Chennai floods the recent memory, saw how the corrupt PWD systems with day light robbery by real estate businesses with political awkwardness lead to huge loseses for common man to small/micro scale industry.

But my only hope has always been God is in control of everything.

Fall of Congress, Rise of BJP and Dawn of AAP in 2014

These 2014 elections could be a turning point for Indian history, from an era of socialistic Nehruvism to Capitalistic era of Modism.

                               The primary reason for the anger of the people of India on Congress was the apathy of the party to the steep price rise, insensitivity of their leaders. Shifting of Jaipal Reddy as Oil minister was the starting of sinking of the government. Increase in Oil prices led to massive increase in other prices. Then the social welfare programmes got struck up, the connectivity between the NAC led by Sonia and the government got disconnected, the masses left enmasse. Then intellectuals, Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal,Salman Khurshid , Anand Sharma, Montek Singh Ahuluwalia showed up their disconnect with people with their policies and communications,sort of intellectual arrogance. Then policy making from PMO came to a abrupt stop 2-3 years which stopped the generation of employment, youngsters moved away from congress. Then came the division of AP, throwing away Jagan Mohan Reddy to prison, hurt the congress faithful Telugu people and turned to  hate feeling for the party. The so called Congress Srilankan policy turned away Tamils, took away the congress vote base in TN, brought the youth congress movement to naught. In UP no congress leader was groomed to take forward the work of Rahul, a single Amit Shah with the help of the RSS volunteers could revive BJP in one year ! This showed that congress leaders have turned into arm chair leaders. It would be hugely difficult for the party to resurrect itself in the coming years. The party has to move away from the Gandhi family and nurture leaders from the districts to national leaders, say people like Ajay Maken,Sachin Pilot, Milind Deora, Scindia, Jairam Ramesh, Shashi Tharoor (but most of them are from dynastic descent rather than from the grassroots !). Congress has lost leaders from south India like Moopanar,YSR, SM Krishna, and havent got one during these years or they were not groomed. Congress have to discover or re-invent themselves, which would be a painful process. This isnt going to be easy as the whole of India is going to be saffron painted in the coming days.

                             The rise of AAP is a sensation in this election. But how are they going to keep themselves alive is the question in the mind of people. They last their base Delhi, the core of their revolutionary rise but it looks like they have retained their vote bank. The biggest take away from this election is the insider dealing of leaders not having strong candidates against them nor campaigning against them was thrawted and secondly, Modi, Gandhi family and many stalwarts were given a run for their money and most importantly they have broken the caste barriers in many states, thats thumbs up for AAP. Their decision for Pan India presence was also the right one. But only now their work has started. They seem to have caught the imagination of the dalits, minorities and forward thinking youngsters. How are they going to sustain themselves interms of financial resources and human resources in a question mark. The Delhi and the Varanasi model of campigning and building the volunteer base has to be replicated Pan India. They need to move away from the congress and BJP of a Nationally governed party to a party that is controlled from the bottom to top. The state AAP should have the identity, they may have policies that are in complete difference to the national AAP, why not ?? TN AAP could have a policy on Srilanka, the national AAP have to agree to disagree with them !The Kanyakumari AAP may think that KNPP is not safe for them, in which case TN AAP may have to agree to disagree ! National AAP could be a sort of coalition of state AAPs !! With state AAPs have their own identity and policy making..This could bring Unity in Diversity, the crux of India. There needs to be Kejriwals in each state. The courage and boldness to standup for the man on the street in their trademark, which has to go on. But the model of financial sustenance, AAP in the national and state have to comeup with some innovation. They will not have the luxury of industry funding and the black markets which the regular parties have.All national parties will take them seriously now, will also be scared of them. They have a bright future ahead of them. With many talented people with them, they need to find how to channelise and use them effectively in the coming days.

                         The BJP's Modi ride may not be smooth. They are bound to change the contours of Indian history for next few decades. The MGREGM, scholorships/loans for dalits and minorities may not be the priority, would go the backburner. Will the price rise be controlled? Definitely its going to be difficult under a BJP capitalistic administration. The equitable and inclusive development may not be seen for next few years. The braminical mindset era is making a comeback, but no one knows will this work in these years of enlighted people. But we could expect streamlining of many systems in the field of S&T, Telecom, Education etc. Modi did make quite a lot of efforts to change his image in the last five years in Gujarat as an inclusive person but will he continue that work at the national level resisting all pulls and pressures among his party and RSS, only time will tell.

                        But the question in my mind is, why is there  no transparency and accountablity in the spending of parties. For instance how much did Modi, Rahul and Jayalalitha spend for the long campaigning? It looks like election commission is spinless with such huge unaccountability. Who all funded Modi campign for more than a year now? Will someone spill the beans? If equality and transparency in funding  is in place, the true feedback from people can be realised. Election reforms are a necessity. But who will bring it!

We Indians have to sympatheise with ourselves, so many years after freedom, still we are far away from social and economic equality. Indian electorate is hard to decipher. The first thing for an average Indian would be leave him alone, let us first live for that day. This was disturbed & distracted in the past 3-4 years. The rural urban divide in terms of development has increased considerably.  Will there be a pan india, pan people development, we have to wait and watch, keep our fingers crossed. For now the industrialists and businessmen are celebrating but how this will work for the man on the street, no one knows. Let us wait and see !

AAP adika mudiyuma :-)....!!

AAP adika mudiyuma :-)....!!

                                In our locality we heard a drainage is going to come, metro water too soon, as many of them in our neighbourhood, we were also excited. But after more than an year, all we got was existing roads dugup indefinitely, many lanes becoming inaccessable. I heard from a friend from another part of the city that the drainage done couple of years back have already caved in and yet to receive the water connections :-( Another family friend shared that most of his collegues from his school have got transferred to their convenience greasing the concerned.

Should the government be running alcholic outlets from every housing colony :)) Should everyone be coming down to Chennai for jobs..Many towns are left with retirees :-) Cities like Trichy and coimbatore are industry based, they have lost their charm, many their jobs and peace. Each day we hear about our fisherman taken hostage by SL Navy, but why no pro-active steps...

When one is pondering over all such happenings around you we hear about a new phenomena called AAP, but will it be relevant to Tamilnadu

A Delhi based leader called Kejriwal

Indian politics revolves around an Indra, a Rajiv, a Jayalalitha, a Kalaignar, a Modi and Kejriwal now...A film fanatic community like Tamilnadu had Anna, MGR, Kalaignar, Jayalalitha, Captain..........what can AAP do here...Should Kejriwal position himself as another Modi and market Pan-India :-) Or another grass roots common person like Kejriwal, well informed, highly intelligent persona but yet rooted to his beginnings and purpose comes up in Tamilnadu...

National executive, National political affairs committee

Congress calls it AICC, BJP calls it as Parliamentary board, so will state AAPs be driven by their National executive,PAC or have an unique regional identity, which may have sometimes cross purposes with their National team...How do they try to handle these...They may become another central command structure...I dont know whether each state AAP has to throw up its own Kejriwals :-) Will all the state Kejriwals be able to team up together sinking their identities...

Hindi, Metro...

The AAP topi has Hindi words, which all of us cant read or least interested..and these topis are associated with Northern Indian traditon..Kejriwal travels by Wagan R and lives in an apartment.But most of his admirers and aspirants to volunteer for him, possibily stand in elections happen to be from upper middle class or civil elites. Can they still find common man and will the upper middle class work for this common man :-)

He has guts and Delhi vocal advocates backup..

Kejriwal has survived against all odds..but will the going be easy for those who are likely to sail across the winds..There are many right activists based out of Delhi and form a back bone for many small activists too..But activism in Tamilnadu is rather nil and truth is many fear the repercussions :-)

Funding...

Its said Congress and BJP spends atleast two crores for each constituency from Delhi for Lok Sabha elections, that works out to 1000 Crores for each party. Then the candidates themselves mobilise crores. Adding to that the state elections another thousand crores and sustaining year long another 500 crores....Looks like our national parties turn over will be more than leading corporates.. In these where to fit in AAP...

Amma canteen, Small bus, free grinder-mixie, Amma water, Amma market...

When people see these things, they get food at the cheapest price, buses upto near their houses, cheap veg markets...Looks like the poor ppl have been taken care of during these days of high inflation...Where will AAP come in here...Of course one cant be critiquing such well meaningful programmes.

Media

Delhi based English and Hindi media did back up the IAC Jan Lokpal agitations, later the  Nirubhaya case and the indignition created over these moved over to AAP. But in Tamilnadu most media organisations are owned by political parties ! Where would AAP get media space...

Social media and Social conditions

A huge section of young tamil populations are into facebook, which was seen during the support generated by college students during the recent Srilankan Tamils agitations lead by the Loyala students. There is a huge section among student community feeling deprived and marginalised by various factors. These are youngsters from the slums and dalit communities around Tamilnadu. But they are an vibrant community looking to have their say in the mainstream polity, which was seen during the students Srilankan agitation. The 67% reservation is an unique successful social experiment in this part of the country. We see equitable development of the population. But one should agree that the Dalit population is still stigmatized and quite more needs to be done to bring them to the mainstream.

Caste and religion

Caste based outfits have increased over the period of two years. Interestingly the hypothesis that high level of literacy would bring down castism seem to be wrong in the case of Tamilnadu. Religion is a mainstay for tamils too. With castist mind sets it would be difficult for AAP to penetrate..

Quality of life

Places like Tamilnadu and Kerala, literacy levels are better. The basic infrastructure from roads, buses, ration shops, government schools in rural areas are better than in Northern India. The delivery mechanism through ration shops are really good. In Chennai atleast every street has water tanks that is filled once in two days by Metro lorries and people have access to free treated water. The previous DMK government could dole out their free TV sets to almost to the entire populace successfully but failed miserably in the elections. What Tamil people may ask would be, develop and maintain the slums into very good hygienic comfortable living conditions. Affordable housing for middle class with real estate prices sky rocketing due to corrupt practices. Best medical and education access to the poor. Agriculture is a dying profession but has to be resurrected using technology and using people like MS Swaminathan.

With all these, AAP adikanumna (sorry for bit colloquial), AAP could put candidates in five to ten places only, may be in Chennai and in central Tamilnadu, work hard to get vote shares. But activists across the state should be bold to pull off day today corrupt practices, organise weekend workshops, meetings and agitations. Create awareness in the slums, rural heartland of their rights for next one year and should set a stage for the next state elections. Tamilnadu and Karnataka could be a good starting ground for AAP to foray into the south.