IF ONLY…….. (23/05/2015)

As the first year of the Modi Government comes to a close, the debate on its success and failures, achievement and shortcomings has naturally intensified and as expected the media trial of the present Government has begun. It is common knowledge that every news channel is politically affiliated, which it scrupulously keeps under the covers, until and unless there is a full blown out case like the Tejpal’s which brings out such affiliation in open, yet it’s amazing that even intellectuals get lured away by the discussion and debates on these channels, not to speak of lesser mortals. I believe, one must be loyal to his nation but loyalty to the Government or the political party that runs the Government is not correct. “Loyalty to the country always, loyalty to the Government when it deserves it” (Mark Twain). Thus news channels with affiliation to political party in power keeps on praising it while others keep on opposing every policy and programmes of the Government. This is the shortfall of the fourth pillar of Indian Democracy. The management gets carried away by the charm of political party in the hope of chalking a career in politics for themselves. When such bargaining becomes the order of the day journalism suffers and it also causes collateral damages to the nation. Hence instead of drawing my conclusion from the debates on news channels, I moved out in open to be with common man to overhear their comments and the manner they rate the present central regime, to draw my own conclusion on the first year of the present Government. I interacted with common man and daily commuters in bus and metro and also spent time at Jantar Mantar- the permanent dharna place in Delhi, in Railway Stations and at market places. I felt people had their own parameters to judge the performance of the present Government (read various ministries). I share some of these that I noted during such interaction ministry-wise:

1.  Agriculture: At Jantar Mantar where I found a banner of “Akhil Bharatiya Joota Maro Samiti” (An All India Association of shoe-beaters): If only the Government could have stopped suicides by farmers that it would have been considered a success, not to speak of the Land Acquisition Bill which puts its credibility in the dock.
2. Railways: At New Delhi Railway Station: If only the Government could have freed the Tatkal Services from the clutches of touts and agents, who have virtually hijacked the service and have made it inaccessible to common man, that it would have been considered a success in its first year- not to speak of bullet trains which is beyond the reach of the Government to achieve in its present tenure.
3. Urban Affairs: If only the Government could keep Delhi clean its first year rule that it would have been considered a success, not to speak of 100 smart cities which it intends to develop- a decision which is beyond the reach of present dispensation.
4. Consumer Affairs: At Vegetable market: If only the Government could have controlled prices of common vegetables in market that it would have been considered a success in its first year.
5.  Defence: If only the Government could have introduced the “One Rank One Pension Scheme” in the army in its first year that it would have been considered a success, not to speak of modernizing its arsenal which always gets stuck in kickbacks.
6.  Finance: If only the Government could have at least simplified the IT Return Form that it would have been considered a success in its first year, not to speak of its claims of a revolutionary economic reforms.
7.  MHRD: If only the Government could have freed the KG admission from the clutches of middlemen and touts that it would have been considered a success, not to speak of bringing about paradigm shift in education policy of the nation.

Ruling dispensations, irrespective of the political affiliation, have, over the years, failed to accept this simple fact that the aspirations of a common man of the nation are quite common and down to earth. The common man is least bothered whether or not India gets a place in UNSC or whether our mission to Mars is successful. He is also not bothered about the GDP and GST as long as the Government of the day is able to help them provide a means of livelihood. But it is an irony that while leaders continue to promise him a paradise, the common man has often pulled the rug from under their feet on a simple issue such as the price of a simple commodity like onion. This the leaders of the ruling dispensation must realize if they want to serve for a longer inning at the Centre. They must address basic issues affecting the common man rather than promising him a paradise which has proved a mirage for him.