Why Developed India is a fantasy

I keep abreast of the happenings in my country through the humble newspaper and twitter (thanks to modern technology). I have been doing these for the last 20 years. And in all this time, I have never read any article that mentions any concrete steps or ideas for development. And I believe if some techie finds some time to write an algorithm that will take into account all the news articles of the last 20 years (even from a single publication) and finds stories which have ‘development’ in it and then do a qualitative filtering process of listing the actual ideas or steps, it won’t be more than 20 such articles. Out of these 20 ideas or announcements, 5-6 would have been scrapped for lack of funds or initiative. The remaining hopefully would be WIP.

The reason that I am throwing up such wild figures is frustration…frustration of seeing the same old stories on crime, corruption, infighting within political parties, some ban or the other. But in the same publications international section, one finds stories about how China is building a solar power station in space, or how Finland is scrapping traditional school subjects in favour of topics.

Why haven’t we moved to solar energy as the main consumer energy despite being a tropical country with an abundance of sunlight?

Why haven’t we developed water sports not only for recreation, tourism but as an Olympic strategy despite having one of the largest coastlines?

Why haven’t we increased employment in all public sectors but have encouraged ‘agent culture’?

Why are continuing to give drought relief and farmer subsidies for the last 15 years to the Vidharba region, instead of figuring out a source of water?

But instead our idea of development includes building a 300 crore statue of Shivaji in the Sea, having Aadhar and UID both.

All we hear about in the 5 year plans is ‘aim to reduce poverty, increase growth rate of agriculture, industries and services by 9%, etc. But how does it plan to do that?

We have planning commission, urban & rural development officers, many ministries to support all of these ideas but looks like somebody forgot to have a chief idea officer who can not only use available resources but look at the current crisis situations and provide solutions. Who is this person?

What’s your beef with my beef? : Open letter to the people in power

Dear Mr. President Pranab Da,

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/beef-banned-in-maharashtra-5-yrs-jail-rs10000-fine-for-possession-or-sale/

I read in today’s papers that you gave your assent to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 1995, nearly 19 years after the Maharashtra Assembly passed the Bill during the BJP-Shiv Sena rule in 1995.

Which means that apart from the slaughter of cows (previously banned), Buffaloes and bulls can’t be slaughtered as well. Only water buffaloes can be slaughtered now.

Our honourable Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in his eternal wisdom tweeted his thanks to you as well.

While I don’t have a beef with your political power games, I wonder what your issue with my palate is. Why don’t you want me to eat the food I want? Am I eating it out of your plate? Am I asking you to pay for it? Considering you all eat stuff at subsidized rates at the parliament canteen for Rs. 29 (read it in the same paper how our honourable Prime Minister descended to the canteen for a free photo op), I have to shell out atleast 100 bucks for a decent meal. I also have to earn my living and pay taxes unlike most of you who have amassed wealth disproportionate to your work experience.

Mr. Narendra Modi Sir, when you came into power, I maintained my faith in you to deliver, even discounting some of the ambitious ones. I have also taken the recent Delhi election debacle in stride. But I am beginning to doubt your effectiveness now.

While I am no expert in how to run a country, state or even a city, I did run a small department in my limited work life and I do realize that it’s not easy to please everyone and all calls have to be taken for the greater good of the project.

However, I fail to understand what greater good is there in banning slaughter of bulls and buffaloes (to the already banned slaughter of cows). I know that you are busy, but I would request you or someone from your team to address this issue.

I kept quiet when you showed your swag in a narcissistic striped suit, I kept my peace when you kept quiet amidst the communal violence in several states, I kept my faith when you gave verbal reassurance on the black money stashed abroad issue. I vented a bit when freedom of speech was abused when those sweet guys at AIB made a roast. I kept on trolling when lip service to Swachh Bharat happened without a proper roadmap. About the budget, I limited my ire to revamping the idiotic IRCTC website and priorities on development. On the issue of rape and women’s safety, I mostly kept calm as it is a deep seated gender issue. I know some issues will take generations to show even the slightest change.

But I fail to understand how my consumption of beef is going to ensure a safer, cleaner, higher GDP, democratic government?

If you could only share your reasons behind this, I would be much grateful and would convince my friends who all have been stocking up meat to accept this ban gracefully.

I should also point out that I am born to Hindu parents, had a catholic education (read convent school ;)), wear my hair short to match my short clothes, smoke cigarettes, consume alcohol out of my hard earned money, travel alone, not married even at the ripe age of 36, well read, have an interest in current affairs, troll the Congress, pay taxes diligently and have never considered living in any other country than India. But most importantly, I prefer logic over blind faith.  And I love my beef chilli fry, mallu style.

With so many issues on my plate (ignore the pun, please), I don’t want my tipping point to be this beef ban. And I am sincerely hoping that I am convinced that this ban is for the greater good for the country and mankind.