The road rage in Pune

Sometimes you just cannot fathom the proceedings. 25th Jan 2012 should be considered as one of the black days in the history of Pune. Or was it a atrocious warning of things to come?

One Santosh Mane boarded a MSRTC bus and went on to rampage on the roads of Pune for nearly one hour, killing nine people and injuring 30 people. He was a full time driver of MSRTC. Now it is alleged that he was undergoing some medical treatment for 'mental disorder'.

In reality, he was 'infuriated' as he was not given the duty hours that he wanted. I really don't know how to react on this ghastly incident.          

The number of people died in the road accidents in Pune, as per the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), is 417 in 365 days of 2011.

And more shockingly the number of people died in the road accidents every year from the year 2007 onwards is at least 400. The average per year is 428!

The traffic branch will focus on improving the road infrastructure such as road signage, pedestrian crossings, and lane markings in 2012. The traffic branch plans to make short films on traffic awareness with the help of NGOs and other institutions. 

By the way now we have 24/7 mobile helpline service 8888004455 where you can inform the police about accidents, traffic jams and commotion.  

PMPL city buses are major miscreants of accidents. Ironically these city buses are the means of daily commute for many people in Pune, PCMC and all the suburbs.          

The basic problem is lack of safe driving practices. It obviously, generates from the famous deficiency of 'civic sense', which is a typical Indian hallmark. We, as citizens, have to observe some obedience of traffic rules without failure.

Solving the traffic problems of our city is a collective responsibility, not a duty in isolation.

Everyone involved is responsible and needs to act accordingly. Life is too precious to be lost just because Pune has the worst traffic conditions!

A hungry and weak upcoming generation, Great Indian Legacy??!!

Sometimes a reality check is too much to fix. Especially when you are considered one of the 'emerging world super-powers'!

India, according to a recent Hunger and Malnutrition Report, has 42 per cent underfed and, hence underdeveloped children. There are very few things as disgusting and disgraceful.   

Equally shocking is the fact that one in three malnourished children in the world is an Indian.

"The problem of malnutrition is a national shame," said the Prime Minister sheepishly while releasing the outcome of the study done by various NGOs. Undoubtedly it is extremely shameful, for us as a society and as a nation.

What is sad is that this is not the first time we are reminded of this piece of realism. From the World Bank to our own Planning Commission have, from time to time, rung the alarm bells.

So we should not be taken aback. Moving on to the solutions front, we have, as usual, a scheme from the Central Government - the Integrated Child Development Scheme.

Mid-day meals are part of this grand plan. However, on the ground the scenario is depressing. There are so many instances of corruption and mismanagement. "We can no longer rely solely on it,"  PM accepted in his speech.

But what is unmistakably obvious is the interrelation of poverty and malnutrition. The party that PM belongs to, had at one point of time, won a general election based on grand slogan of 'garibi hatao'. And they are in power for almost 50 years. So what did exactly Congress do?  Even NDA?

It is turned out be easier to announce a scheme in the name of a Gandhi or Nehru. Allocate absurdly huge amount of money. And then the implementation is abysmal, to say the least.

Latest is Food Security Bill, with a anticipated allotment of 1,25,000 crores of rupees. Even the seasoned and astute politician like Shard Pawar is opposed to the bill. Agriculture experts are also against the idea.

We should not forget, at the same time, only 65 percent of foods and grains are utilized in this country, rest 35 percent is squandered away, because we 'still' don't have 'sufficient' storage capacity!  

For now, PM has declared multi-sector programmes for 200 districts that have highest malnutrition levels. Genuine implementation? Ram bharosey! 
  
The only encouraging outcome - as per the Hunger and Malnutrition Report, one child in five has gained an acceptable healthy weight during the last seven years in 100 focused districts. 

Snobbish Congress, impudent BJP and an opportunity lost

Sometimes children ask you startling questions. And you don't have answers. My niece was amused with the kind of debate in the Indian Parliament. She just asked, "why do these uncles get hyper and bicker?"      

The camera does not fake it. What you see is what you get. And whatever happened in the name of 'parliamentary debate and it's supremacy' was even below substandard levels.

The much touted serious debate on the 'landmark legislation' Lokpal Bill turned out to be such a flop show. I think it has no parallel.   

Now in the perception after the fact, it is clear that Congress never really wanted to pass the bill. In it's usual style and subsequent arrogance, it seems Congress did not even consult their 'United Progressive' alliance partners. Most notably the TMC. Whatever said about her way of functioning, Mamata Bannerjee can not be wished away. (Unless Congress and SP join hands officially, in UP and at the Centre.)

There was opposition from Yadavs of RJD and SP also for obvious reasons - they have pending CBI cases. With my limited knowledge of Indian polity, I strongly believe that Congress tried to divert the attention and positive energy by raking up the reservation issue within Lokpal panel. That too with aid from Lalu Yadav!   

       

It is duty of Government to propose a bill and also get it passed. To believe that the principal opposition BJP and the Left parties would 'support' the constitutional amendment just because the PM-in-waiting Rahul Gandhi 'pioneered' the idea, is not just plain naive but preposterous also. The opposition had their legitimate ideas to put forward in terms of amendments.

It is absurd to believe that anything Sonia/Rahul Gandhi recommends and all the MPs will follow, like in the UK, whatever Her Majesty Queen say will be done. There were 19 absent Congress MPs at time of voting!

The government proposed Lokpal Bill has intrinsic flaws. It needs to be enhanced.  

If Congress wants the credit of bringing in Lokpal, it also needs to seize the blame of the current fiasco.

Having said that, BJP should also get it's act together. They do behave as if they will not be in power again.

Meanwhile, the Anna movement gains an edge and becomes much more relevant now, the low turn out at Mumbai notwithstanding.