Writing after a long time. But feeling really good now as I write this. Nothing has changed much in the last few months and that is a real cause of concern. As of now I am really trying to get out of this routine and find better one. It's not that I don't have idea what I would do, but it's just a matter of time when the shell breaks and cracks down. Will be looking forward to that moment soon ;-)

Now on the political side, there is a lot of change as I see. Team Anna which seemed to be almost unbreakable and joining people across the country just 11 months ago is now itself deposed as I write this and the most amazing and ironic fact is that the reason behind the deposition is the man him self who brought it together, Mr. Anna Hazare. It looks like Indian government can take a sigh of relief now as the Anna and Team Anna have finally surrendered to the "wisdom" of the government. Declaring to leave the path of agitation and providing political alternative to Indian people, a historic and hopeful movement has been put to an abrupt end. It will be really interesting to watch how new political alternative arises, as claim by Team Anna, which is so much idealistic as claimed. Also it will be watchful and interesting to see what approach Baba Ramdev takes after surprising (most probably to him as well) move of Team Anna.

In regional politics there are much noises of opposition heard agains Narendra Modi just 4 months before state elections. Prominent leader of BJP in the past, Keshubhai Patel has just left BJP and declared his political party Privartan Gujarat Party (PJP). But in no more that 4 months he will soon come to sense and find out his foolishness. The large gathering of Patel samaj he is getting, will in no case looks like to be converted into political votes. The people is more educated and progressive in last 12 years and they will elect an educated and progressive leader for sure.

On sports Olympics are going on. As always India is far behind in almost all the sports. Badminton, Shooting and Wrestling has brought much needed medals and "Breaking News" for news channels. What is surprising was the retirement of Micheal Phelps, a respected and legendary swimmer winning most medals in Olympic.

I think this will be it for today's post. Hopefully will write back soon. :-)

Pro-poor vs Pro-poverty Agenda

In yet another instance, government is being held to ransom by none other than Mamta Banerjee, supremo of TMC...ahhmm..or correctly say supremo of the GoI. In the recent time it's been evident that, most of the reformative decisions taken by government has to be approved by didi, and if didi is not agreed to that, these decisions has to be rollback until the consensus(read agreement with Mamta Banerjee) is reached upon. It's seems like after having such scandalous last year and putting all of it's resources in covers up of scam, this year it's Mamta Banerjee, who is going to consume the crucial resources and time of UPA government.

Mamta Banerjee has been known for her pro-poor and pro-people agenda throughout her career. Be it Nandigram or Singur she has always stood by the poor people and fought for them. And that image of her has led her to the swapping victory over 34 year long rule of left in West Bengal. Even after coming to power, she has only boosted her pro-poor image by immediately refusing demand for required land for Tata Nano plant in singur. So it's quite clear she do not want to dent or even a scratch on her image.

Demand for rollback of fare hike, proposed in the railway budget, prepared by her own party men, is an attempt to save this image of her. But this has revealed her narrow minded, dictatorial and pro-poverty nature. Not only the demand of rollback of fare hike, but her statements after the incident has been dictatorial and even anti-national.

Without understanding the importance of the fare hike for Indian Railway (read more about it here), she has done what's needed to keep alive her pro-people and pro-poor image. After the refusal of railway minister Dinesh Trivedi, she stated that "No one is above party". This statement of her rises an important question, What about the nation then? Doesn't it the duty of every citizen and every party to think of nation first? It seems like rather then being worried about the effect of fare hike on poor people, she is more worried about her party image. And even if she thinks that fare hike is unfair to people, she has misjudged it totally.

If she thinks that fare hike introduced in the railway budget, which is first time in last 9 years, is unfair to the people, someone has to remind her the fact that, apart from last two years, Indian economy has been steadily growing at one of the highest rate in the world. And that economic growth has led to more income for Indian people be it poor or rich. A worker whose wage was in between 25 - 75 rupees per day is now earning around 100 - 250 per day. The diesel and electricity has gone costlier. So in this kind of scenario, the fare hike in railway budget is like oxygen for the dying railway economy.

If she really cares about the people, then she should try to uplift their economic condition rather than promoting their poverty and by that shielding her image and vote bank. Rather than opposing the fare hike, she should welcome the new reforms introduced in cleanliness, hygiene and safety in railway. Roll back of fare hike would be roll back of the reforms introduced, and that will stop the progress and development of Indian Railway. And as I am writing this, it's been confirmed that Dinesh Trivedi has resigned from the post of railway ministry. Again a sad news for India, with this kind of weak government at center and such strong ally, I am really expecting more such sad news. It reminds me of what Yashwant Sinha said a day ago about UPA, "Agar raja hi itna weak he, to sube to strong hoge hi". Truly said !!!

A Bold Act

(Image taken from times of india)

It was the most unusual event that Indian politics witnessed yesterday. Usually on any kind of reforms or bill or budget introduced by ruling party, it is the work of opposition parties to reject or oppose, mostly without any real intent or motive and for the sack of opposing it. But what appears to be an unprecedented event, that a railway minister, from the major and important ally TMC, presents the rail budget, which is backed by major ruling party congress and PM himself, faces tremendous opposition by his own party TMC. The main reason for the opposition was the fare hike in the railway budget, which was first time in last 9 years.

The railway budget introduced by railway minister Dinesh Trivedi is a bold, reformative and welcoming budget. Fare hike is not the only unusual thing in this budget. The importance given to the cleanliness, hygiene and safety is really a welcoming and long due. Here are the some points in favor of this budget.

First, cleanliness, if you go to any of the railway station in india, what you will surely find is lots of waste on the track and even on platform. And the sad factor is that people have accepted that and they are used to that. The amount of people uses the railway as their travelling medium is quite enormous. Looking at the number of people uses the railway and also keeping in mind the manners of people regarding cleanliness, it is really difficult and resource consuming task to keep railway stations and trains neat and clean. It is really good to see that this issue is addressed in budget and it is promised to bring cleanliness to sufficient level. By setting up special house keeping body and replacing the open discharge toilet with green toilet as mentioned in budget is quite welcoming step in this direction.

Second, the another issue relating to cleanliness is hygiene. Again similar to cleanliness, hygiene is something that is ignored by vast majority of people in India. And in railway the standard for hygiene is not anywhere close to even acceptable if not good. You will seldom find rats and insects roaming in the railway canteen and pantry and even in railway coaches. By setting up special body for this and giving contracts to professional will certainly improve the hygiene, which is much needed.

Third, it is really important to change the general perception of railway in India. Railway is mostly associate with poor people in India and that has led to undermining the need to develop the railway station and railway as per international standards. Though it is true that railway is like life line for travelling for poor and middle class, a certain level of development and modernisation of at least major stations is definitely needed. Introduction of Indian Railways Stations Development Corporation is a welcoming step in that direction, which is aimed at maintaining around 100 major railway stations like airport.

Fourth, another major problem, Indian railway facing for quite long, is safety. Frequent derailment and unmanned railway crossing has been the major issue for railway safety. Also delay in implementing advance technologies like collision prevention device is another hurdle for the safety. This time safety has been given importance it need for long. Enough money on the safety has been allocated keeping in the view of Kakodkar committee report. Proposal to set up an independent Railway Safety Authority as a statutory body and zero tolerance approach is welcoming step for Indian railway future, if implemented well.

Fifth, this budget introduces a deliberate attempt to increase the feel good factor for common man. New passenger services includes escalators at major stations, alternative train accommodation for wait-listed passengers, laundry services, AC lounges, coin/currency operated ticket vending machines, introduction of regional cuisines and implementation on-board passenger displays indicating the next halt station and the expected arrival time. All the above facilities will help attract more and more people to choose railway as the medium for travelling and that in turn will generate better revenue.

Now if we analyse fare hikes, it is necessary and justified for several reasons.

First, To provide above stated facilities and services Indian Railway needs money. Now, Indian Railway doesn't have piles of money nor it posses any sort of money tree. As it's widely known that Indian Railway is in bad economic state. One of the way to generate more money is to generate more income and the only way to generate income is to hike the fare.

Second, it is the first time in the last 9 years that the fare is hiked. Now during last 9 years diesel price has been increased to almost double so electricity. That has only helped to decrease money from railway's pocket. The hike was necessary keeping in mind the price for fuel.

Third, in last nine years the growth has accelerated in India, and that has lead to growth in income for every Indian. Even a labor that was earning between 25 - 100 rupees per day 9 years ago, now earns 75 - 250 rupees per day. Around same ratio of increment in income applies to middle class and upper middle class. It is only unfair if railway is deprived of these money from the increment they get.

Forth, the fare price hike is also very well distribute. While the person travelling in AC I - tier, who usually comes to railway station in his own car, will pay extra 30 paise per kilometer, a person travelling in passenger train will only pay extra 2 paise per km. This is as much low as it can get.

The shadow over such good looking budget is, the head of TMC, Mamata Banerjee. Also known as "didi", her approach after the introduction of railway budget, by her own party member, has been totally negative for the proposed fare hike. In attempt to save her image as pro people leader, she has already asked for a rollback in the hike to the government. Looking at the importance to her party for the UPA to stay on board, it seems very unlikely that government will show courage to defy her. Rolling back of fare hike will impact the overall economic scenario in the budget and there will be no hope that the proposed reforms will be carried out without the fare hike.

Overall it is a really good, forward looking budget and a brave attempt by Dinesh Trivedi. Also a much needed brave attempt by UPA government, which has almost forgot to take such reformative and bold steps from so long. If the government can stand firm on it, which is very unlikely looking at the current political scenario, it will be a real step for betterment of Indian Railway.

Welcome changes

While one men named Akhilesh Yadav is being wolcomed as the youth icon of india and youngest chief minister of Uttar Pradesh at the age of 38 and one legend at the age of 39 has announced his retirement to pave way for next young generation. This fact has striking contradiction if you ignore their profession. But it has a most welcomed and striking similarity that youth is making his way be it Indian polity or Indian cricket, both of which are most talked about things in Indian.

Analyzing U.P. elections first, because of BSP's poor governance and BJP's lack of strong foundation and strong regional leader, it was evident that the real fight was in between Congress and SP. On another terms it was fight between Rahul Gandhi vs Akhilesh Yadav. While Akhilesh has showed a strong character by not making any disgraceful remarks about any of his opponent and opted to promote better governance as their agenda, Rahul, relied on the ill advice of "wise" and veteran leaders of the congress, cursed other parties and their agenda. And this is what let him down. Though Rahul Gandhi may have reached to the home of poor farmers and dalits, but he has certainly failed to reach their hearts. On the other hand Akhilesh Yadav brought his own thought and applied his own mind rather than depending on advice of veterans, still respecting them. This has led to the swapping victory of SP and he was emerged as the real "Yuvaraj", both in people's and party leaders' heart.

The results of UP election has proved the changing mindset of the people. Today people not only want young face but also wants young mindset and fresh thoughts. While Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi certainly had the charm to gather the maximum people at their rallies, they have failed to deliver what people wanted from their leader which is young and fresh vision for good governance and development agenda of people and their region. Akhilesh Yadav has kept himself apart from dirty politics and verbal allegations and created a clean, gloaming image of himself and future of the people. And that is what people of UP wanted and approved.

Now analyzing the other news, retirement of cricket legend Rahul Dravid, it is certainly sad but welcome news for Indian cricket. It will certainly provide a vacant space for a young player in Indian test cricket team. And that in turns may provide an opportunity for rising of another legend. Though it's not at all easy to fill the shoes of Dravid, there is certainly an opportunity for young Indian cricketers to show the world what they are worth.

Again merely bringing youth to the respective fields is not at all enough and the example for this is quite evident that though being young and charming in Indian politics Rahul Gandhi has failed miserably in UP election and though being the oldest player in cricketing world Sachin Tendulkar still raises the heartbeat of billions when he is on cricket pitch. So it is not young people that are game changers, it's young and innovative mindset and youthful enthusiasm that is what needed to change the game.