Flood in Tamil Nadu and the lessons learnt

The flood in Tamil Nadu taught a humbling experience to many . The nature treated every one equally and hence, in spite of the differences in economic, social and political status every one suffered in different ways and degrees. For the first time people would have realised that , it is not the financial strength that would come to their rescue  during crises of this magnitude  but , it is the humanness of fellow citizens that would give them the required solace and relief .The unbearable sufferings experienced   taught many lessons to the citizens. But the political class alone seems like not learning any lessons since they were continuing to exercise the  arrogance of power , malpractices and sycophancy acts , even, in the middle of a human tragedy of this magnitude. They have forgotten that India is a democracy and they will soon be taught a lesson .Otherwise their spokes persons of the ruling part will not appear in TV channels and attack the youth of Tamil Nadu  and of the neighboring states who rose to the crisis and lent all their resources like money, time ,energy, intelligence and social networking facility  to render devoted service with  admirable social responsibility? What justice is there in attacking them for the  the adverse comments the government received in the media for it's various failures in   coping  up  withe the crisis

A mindless act exposed by the media

When the media was engaged in covering extensively about the impact of unprecedented rain in Tamil Nadu and its impact on different parts of the state ,particularly, in the Chennai city and was covering the extent of assistance from the central government through cash assistance and through sending the army, navy , inspection squads and the disaster management groups, the extraordinary assistance rendered by the NGOs and other social media groups, college students and other political parties and also the neighboring states and other states  and of the heart moving scenes on the human sufferings  one particular news coverage of an event  irritated the civil society. It is on the attempt by a group of people ( who are instructed to do so)to paste the Chief Minister’s pictures on the relief materials sent from different corners of the nation  , thereby exposing  their lack of   sensitivity even over human crisis. The flood in Chennai is a humbling experience to many sections of the population especially to  the well off sections that ,money will  not come to their rescue under all the circumstances. This natural calamity taught us a lesson i.e., when nature plays a major role humans  are powerless however  big they are politically, socially or financially. But the political class alone is not in the habit of   learning  any lesson  even during a worst crisis This point  is proved by the attempt to paste CMs picture in the middle of critical  operations related to  relief work . Whose brain has ordered them to be engaged in that work when we are facing manpower shortage for relief work and when every minute and energy of manpower is required for mitigating peoples sufferings?  Thank God the  CM has noticed that and has ordered the stoppage of  such mindless tasks. Otherwise this act would have continued and irritated every body and  spoiled the reputation of the ruling party

Women's employment growth rate

Every one will agree fully with the IMF chief’s statement that, “girls education is probably the single best investment a country can make” . As far as India is concerned , economic contribution of women is not in proportion to their number or skills acquired through higher education or  professional training . It is for such  women of India to realise and convince their family members about the need to equip themselves with economic security through high or medium profile jobs .The benefit to the nation through their entry into job market in great number is accelerated growth of GNP. Then the history will record their economic contribution with gratitude.  The additional  benefits are , improve in the standard of their families , dignified treatment , confidence to face the challenges of life and removal of the description of women  as “ unproductive, wasteful or idle resource.”

control of BJP by RSS

The control of RSS over BJP was proved already when the  PM candidate for the 1014 election and the BJP president candidate were as per RSS wishes .Their control over BJP is not “remote control” any more . Like  octopus  RSS is exercising it’s  influence in many matters such as the policy and programme changes at least in BJP rules states as per the Hindutva agenda ,  They seem to have a say  in the key appointments in educational cultural,  historical and even  in the  choice of Central  Ministers and bureaucrats.

India's present and future

When we think of India we can come only to one conclusion , ie., it is the most mismanaged country, What is lacking in this country? Why we have to be branded as a nation  with rich resources and poor people ? Why does poverty continues to this level even after 68 years of Independence? How is that  we have so many billionaires  with global level ranking in richness ? How could all the governments in power since Independence allowed this atrocious income inequalities ? Why does India ranks very low in health indicators, gender equity,  ease of doing business, educational quality, women’s safety , child abuse and ranks very high in corruption?  Is India in a democratic mess ? 

The answer to these questions we can get from the number of corruption cases running into several crores of rupees happening under every government . Corruption has become a national disease in India . When  politicians  are elected to become members of local bodies or  State Assemblies or the Parliament or ministers ,their aim seems to be to accumulate ill-gotten money to a maximum extent within  the term of their office. Only few are caught  and brought under the legal system . There are thousands of politicians with black money and income disproportionate to their  known sources of income . Even the bureaucrats and police officials are highly corrupt  . Corruption is paralysing good governance . The archaic laws give escape routes to these law breakers .  The police , administrative, education, election   and judicial reforms are long pending . The youth who are disappointed with the performance of  all the governments which had ruled  India so far, including the present government which came to power with tall promises are seeking greener pastures and migrating to other nation.s Only those who can not migrate are left behind. We are so proud of youth power and what are we going to do for them with this type of parliamentarian who are so proud of paralysing parliament and consider it as an act achievement and the top leadership shielding cabinet ministers and chief  ministers who have indulged in acts  of corruption and illegal activities? . questions and questions with no answer about future India . The shining India remains a permanent vote catching slogan without any practical value attached to it. We do not see any symptom towards it even if we want to have positive hope. The PM talks about clean India campaign . who is going to clean the corrupt  India? Can we see such an  India in the near or in the distant future at least?  

A human tragedy in Qutar

                                            A human tragedy in Qatar

The front page news in The Hindu under the heading, “Is world cup killing Indian workers?”  on May 31^st disturbed my mind instantly. There  is an explanation regarding the statistics concerning the mortality rate among Indian migrant workers who are engaged in construction activities in Qatar which are plenty due to the world cup event in 2022 . The general view that, “statistics is very carelessly collected and carefully presented” is proved right   in this matter.

It is reported that, 1093 Indian workers have died between 2011 and 2015 in Qatar.

It seems that, the year 2014 witnessed highest Indian workers death in Qatar which works out to be .5 per thousand populations since, the Indian migrants in 2013 was 5.8 lakh.

 The point of consolation seems to be based on the comparison  between the death rate in India and Qatar for the 15-59  age group i.e., it is, “4.1 per thousand in India according to the record of Registrar General of India and that is over eight times the death rate in Qatar”

 The Hindu further reports that, “the statistics cited by FIFA take into account only the incidents that occur in the foot ball stadium” indicating an understatement of the real situation regarding the mortality rate among Indian workers.

For the media, statistical analysts and the readers it has only news value which would be forgotten once the news paper is closed. But if we bother to spend few minutes to ponder over the human aspect of this report our hearts will be saddened. Who are these Indian workers? They are manual laborers ready to work hard, even under the most inhuman conditions and extreme whether conditions in the foreign countries under the impression that, they would get far better salary than what they would get otherwise in India, for the same hours of work. They venture to face all types of risks in unknown counties without even knowing about the provisions of the labour laws which would ensure compensation in case accidents or death. They decide to go out of the country for the sake of providing better standard of life to their family members, so that, the next generation would be able to equip themselves with tools of empowerment like education, skill training and better health facilities. The basic aim is the dream of welfare of their families which the Indian salary would not provide.

 For the readers it is yet another data on mortality rate. But , can the families who have lost the earning member and the head of the families console their hearts and minds by the fact that ,  higher mortality rate of Indian labourers in  the 15- 59 age group is higher in India than in Qatar? Won’t the fact that, their fathers lost their lives in an attempt to provide them a better standard of life haunt them for ever? Can’t the government of India, just think for a minute the plight of the future of these families and arrange for awareness creation programmes to the labour community regarding dangers that they would face if, they take up jobs in countries like Qatar which believes in slavery   and bonded labour system even in this century, instead of arguing over with the authenticity of the statistical reporting by journalists?  Let our government at least analyse these factors from human angle and rush to the aid of the victims. “If the Qatar development model is based on enslaved model” as reported by Sharan Burrow, the Secretary General of the International Trade Union Confederation ( in the interview given to the Hindu ) let the Indian government raise this issue of abuse of labour rights by countries like Qatar in the internationals forums, since, the  number of workers going abroad for better survival from India  is significant . Let not the government of India wastes it’s  energy over arguments over the authentic source  of  the statistical data in this matter. Our government has the moral responsibility to take care of the welfare of our workers who are in toiling under such  in such cruel conditions in countries where the humans are treated like beasts of burden.   

lessons to be learnt

                                                       Lessons to be  learnt

(My article published in alive magazine , July-2015  issue )

Indian women of all ages should learn to do and not to do certain things if they want to live and die  with dignity in this great country called India (According to the mind set of many Indians)

Don’t do  list .

• Girls of all ages should reach home before sunset ,. That means ,they should not participate in events other than their academic  duties

• They should not  have  carrier ambition  so that they will not be  not exposed to any dangers waiting in the work places.  That means, they should not  aim to achieve something in their life through  making use of the knowledge they  have  gained through their higher or professional education.

• They all should dress up like senior women and should not  wear make up . That means ,they refrain from  attracting any man through their colourful and trendy dresses and invite dangers of sexual harassment.

• They should get married as early as possible .That means ,the responsibility of  security and safety of girls can be shifted to a robust young men from aged fathers.

• They  should not use any public or private vehicle or  lift or subway when they are alone. That means , always move with a crowd or wait till a crowd gathers.

•  They  should learn to be docile and not exhibit their intelligence or smartness even if they happen to be working in a 9-5 job . That  means, they can protect themselves from the envy or irritation and anger of  their male colleagues and thereby escape  from dangerous attack on their  .dignity

• They should never work hard to reach certain ambitious goals in their professional life  That means, they will be spared  from character assassination.

•  If they are economically constrained to take up a job , they should opt only for teaching Job  and that too in girls schools  or colleges .

• They should not think of any life in the out side world . That ,means they are born to be a good wife and mother ,doing only the wifely and motherly duties.

• They should never think or talk of women’s empowerment or economic independence  or freedom or gender equality . That  means they should be prepared to live with the ideology 18^th century women who were satisfied with their suffering in silence attitude. in spite of denial of basic rights . 

Do list.

The girls who are born with independent sprit, sense of gender justice , intelligence , wisdom and equipped with knowledge gained through  higher education and specialised professional ,skills are not willing to confine themselves to the traditional womanly duties . Such women do take up carriers  for achieving their life goals. Though they know about the difficulties of juggling  between home and carrier managements . They have to follow certain precautions.

They are –

·        Acquiring skills  in self defense methods, carrying a pepper spray or a long pin and  a cell phone with balance in account and with  help line numbers   in their hand bags.

·        Entrusting  young daughters in the care of any men however close they are in relationship and friendship should be avoided .

·         Equipping themselves with legal awareness so that they will be familiar with the provisions and  recourse to women protection laws.

·        Moving  away from  unsafe environment  abruptly even if it will look non  courteous .

·        Remaining  very cautious with  men who are totally strangers and avoid giving personal details.

·         Avoiding  the company of social drinkers even if it is part of   official life.

·        Following  all types of security measures while remaining  active in the social media.

·        Seeking  the help of women support groups when targeted  with sexual threats.

·        Taking family members into confidence if caught in sexual harassment situation

·         Giving police complaint immediately after sexual offence irrespective of the position of the offender  and keeping all the evidences in tact .

          

But we have to admit that  the growing crimes against  women have placed India with a 4th rank among countries in the matter of unsafe environment for women . It is sad commentary on our culture. India is now known as country with  no respect for the need for gender justice. Many number of women would come forward to complain about sex related crimes without fear or favour, only when, trials are conducted speedily and verdict announced within 6 months.