All Talk and No Action

A mandate for Stability is what is being deemed as the UPA's win.

I can't say I am too happy about the results. Yet, the one silver lining that I see is the downfall of the LEFT.

UPA without the LEFT and other Brokers like the Mayawatis and the Mulayams and the Lalus is definitely a better choice and chance at a stable centre.

I am just so glad that "Mayawati For PM" slogan has been nipped in the bud !!

On the one hand, people of Bengal have shown amazing maturity while on the other hand, I am unhappy that people of a Cosmopolitan City like Mumbai have gone and voted for the MNS !?!

Here's hoping that India sees better and stronger governance this time around.

Congratulations to Mr. Singh and his team for this thumping Victory.

As promised to allthecrap, I shall be coming out with the shortcomings of the NDA (a LOT of which I think are responsible for this dismal performance) in my next post...

Attached below are a friend's thoughts. I couldn't help sharing them here. I agree with most of them. Hope, they help us cast our votes sensibly.

Fiscal Deficit at 10.3% of GDP (highest in history, all time high)

Deaths from terrorist Attacks: 3674 lives (higher than North, Central, South America, Europe, Asia put together)

Real GDP Growth Rate (GDP Growth Rate less Inflation) is Negative, will we finally witness the stone age with the current deceleration in our economy?? My Camera is Ready, should the Congress win

For not supporting the War on terror. The War on terror is after all for countries like UK and USA that have been affected by terrorism. As in percentage terms is quite minuscule, 3674 out of 100 Billion

Stalling Infrastructure Projects: Several Infrastructure Projects have been temporarily stalled. The Golden Quadrilateral has several phases still to be completed, our very own Bandra Worli Sea Link took over 10 years to complete, compare it to the Empire State Building built in record 13 months and that too in 1929 (Great Depression)

Making Aviation Expensive: Allowing the Private Airport Developers to charge User Development Fee, thereby making air travel more expensive. Lets rejoice once again and enjoy the good old fashioned rail travel. After all its always been the notion that only the elite can fly

I fondly remember, Aam Admi Ko Kya Mila Campaign by Congress, its good that they left it as a question, as it is still a question, after all what can the, ‘aam admi’ get when for terrorists welfare (Mr. Qasab) the tax payer simply pays closer to about 10 crores a day, what can the aam admi expect??

Aam Admi should not get anything as Congress is all about ‘Khaas Admi’, its just been one Nehru family that has been controlling the destiny of this country since 1947, maybe we haven't suffered enough from Mr. Nehru’s Socialist approach. It does appear if everyone that has a Gandhi Surname has a political future. What good is meritocracy, when most talented Indians are already abroad, why not get away with ridiculous reservations?

Mr. Shivraj Patil finally resigns after over 4 years of slumber, thank God he at least woke up. Why should he get fired any which ways, after all what good are reservations if they don’t protect the incompetent?

Decline in health care: It was quite annoying to visit government run hospitals that are disgustingly, rat and cockroach infested. What good is USD 320 Billion Forex Reserves, where a nation cannot guarantee its citizens quality, affordable health care?

Making India a safe haven for terrorists: Mr. Qasab is in jail, he is still being tried in court, why isnt be simply being hanged or subject to life imprisonment. Well as the thinking goes if Mohammed Afzal, the terrorist that attacked the Indian Parliament is safe and sound, why should Qasab be any different. After all an Indian Jail is better than being trained at a Jihadi Camp in Pakistan. Terrorism has endangered public lives !

Our local candidate, Mr. Milind Deora during a meeting mentioned that do not come to my home for water, electricity and any other problems. It is not quite as relieving as watching him on news channels after the Mumbai attacks

Indian Army: Feel extremely proud of the Indian Army presentation during last year’s Republic Day, the short and medium range missiles. However, I feel we can reduce our fiscal deficit by creating a museum as we never intend to use these weapons. Our army are much better off committing atrocities in Kashmir, screening bags at the airport, reading newspapers at National Railway Station. Our military rocks, we are # 4 in the world, but we still continue to be bullied by our hostile neighbours, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, China

For increasing tax rates, making us the 23rd least friendly tax climate, eroding investor confidence and entrepreneur’s profits. Instead of plugging in a leaking bucket, Mr. Chidambaram is too busy increasing avenues and milking its existing cash cows

Banning Smoking in Public but being least bothered to enforce it, making a sheer mockery of the government enforcement

My Fellow Brothers and Sisters, Lets get our Country Back

-DS

Sundays are the time when I take a chill pill...

I devour the whole newspaper since doing so is difficult during weekdays.

Today, there is a whole lot of news coverage on the Gen Y and it's "supposed" political awakening.

So many of us have gone ahead, taken pains to find out about our local area candidates, their performances, participation in Parliamentary Proceedings, criminal records, etc.

This is a fabulous development. No country can achieve and sustain democracy without such a participation from the youth.

However, voting in the Lok Sabha elections, on the basis of your local candidate is not what I support/believe in.

Your local candidate has the power to build a temple/mosque in your area, build a gym, keep the street clean, ensure continuous water supply and the likes.

However, does he have any say in the following -

• Reservation in Educational Institutions (A resort to Divisive Politics)
  
• Income Tax Slabs
• Financial/Monetary Policy
• International Relations (The most important being with China & Pakistan)
• Infrastructure Development
• Fair and quick Judicial proceedings
• Zero Tolerance to Terrorism
• AND A LOT MORE......

A brilliant write up on the upcoming elections and how various parties succeed at fooling the masses.

I love Rediff for it's editorial comments on various issues of Security, Intelligence and Politics.

While we are still on politics, I hope you have about the "I Vote" campaign apart from the now very famous Jaagore

Both these are fabulous resources and help one to register online without any hassles.

No more bahanas to not vote !

It's Election year ! Needless to say, I am glad...

I remember, when I turned 18, I was the happiest not because I could drive or do "things" majors do, but that I could Vote.

This is an important duty that every citizen should perform. I call it a duty and not a "Right" because it is now, more than ever, that Indians should participate in this electoral Juggernaut. It is high time we arose and made ourselves heard.

It is no more your right which you can forego under the guise of "cynicism"… "Kuch nahi badlega…kya hoga…yeh sab neta aise hi hain…"

It is the need of the hour that we take our responsibility towards India and ourselves seriously. We owe this to the nation.

Talking about elections, I have come up with a list of my expectations from the Next Government…

Here is my wish list –

• Education

According to official sources, India spends about 4.2% of its GDP on Education. In a young nation, this is appalling.

We have to start looking at education with fresh ideas. Old ideas and complete dependence on public schooling system shall work no more. The passing of the Right to Education Bill is definitely in the right direction and shall bring respite to millions of youth. Now, no longer will kids be denied education on the basis of their castes or economic status.

Yet, the government needs to be more transparent regarding it's efforts to increase and improve literacy rates. For starters, I would want to know what's being done with the 2% cess that I pay – it's uses, the number of schools built, support for teaching staff, etc. A small place like Tuticorin collected 3 crores by way of cess in the fiscal 2004-05. Any guess at the amount utilized? A mere 1 lakh ! I can't imagine the numbers in the highest tax paying city of the nation !

Also, it would be nice if the government tied up with NGOs and provided monetary assistance. Yes, I know – the word NGO means there should be no government involvement. Yet, if big NGOs like Pratham and Akanksha, which are professionally run get financial backing from the Central Govt., it wouldn't take long to ensure 100% literacy in the country. Look at what "Teach India" has done. It's a people's movement – one that shall have far reaching effects in the years to come. Now couple that with billions in aid – it would have a colossal impact.

Also, free food vouchers should be given to families in rural areas to encourage them to send their kids to schools.

From my limited experience at Pankhudi – I have seen the sort of loopholes that plague our system. We teach KG level English to 8/9 grade students ! India has a lonnng way to go in terms of education and only if it can ensure this basic right to one and all, will this Asian Elephant start to dance.

• Infrastructure

In 5 years of governance, the government has failed to complete even ONE of the 47 Highways on their agenda in 2004. If this is the status of the pet project, I can't start talking about other issues !

I would want more number of planned cities in the country. Look at New Mumbai and Chandigarh. Well planned and bustling with activity. It's a tad too late to wish this for Mumbai. Yet, if small problems like traffic congestion were resolved in bits & pieces it would change the face of the city.

In a city like Mumbai which is assaulted by evergrowing population - why has water transportation been given a chance? Water transportation is cheap and can solve the Mahin and New Mumbai traffic torture.

The government needn't go far to look for help. A lot of research is done in the form of projects at esteemed institutions like the IITs. A friend was working on a Traffic Control project and how to solve the situation at a crowded place like Saki Naka. Now, this might just be a thesis. Yet, studies like these form a warehouse of ideas and can be easily implemented IF the government is wiling.

• IT Benefits and Budget

• International Relations