Netagiri in India

In democracy Indian Neta’s are said to be the ‘servants of public’. But is that true in real life? Certainly NOT.

Five star Netas
The fact is that these ‘Gandhian clones’ do not serve us free of cost. Over and above their hefty salaries that can be revised upward at their own, these Netas get extra allowances for every small thing they do or claim to have done for public. They live a five star life. Their perks include free medical treatment at home and abroad in the best hospitals. They are provided free telephones, laptops, fully furnished accommodation in prime locations, house hold gadgets, chauffer driven cars with plenty of petrol, air and rail tickets for family, children, and attendants in the name of serving the public. As post retirement gift, besides hefty pension, most of them get residential plots almost free or at subsidized rates in prime locations. So they are not obliging us in any way.

To qualify for getting such fabulous perks there are no educational qualifications. There are no standards of physical fitness, experience, or any other credentials. Netas are paid much more as compared to highly educated lots of Engineers, Doctors, Managers and other professionals who earn their dues after years of hard work in competitive environment. At zero qualification, Netas can be appointed on high posts like ministers and governors in anticipation of being elected subsequently. Rahul Gandhi is being offered the post of Prime Minister of the country with zero experience. His father Rajiv Gandhi had hopped from pilot seat to Prime Minister!

Their work output of Netas is not audited. There are no attendance records at their work place. When Parliament and Legislatures discuss important matters concerning public, Netas can be seen missing from the place of work – Legislature.

The security of ordinary citizens is overlooked because bulk of the police is over worked ensuring security of Netas and their families. In addition, the investigating agencies remain busy in probing scams attributed to Netas. The Administration remains over occupied making ‘banobast’ for Netas whenever they organize bandhs, strikes, burning of public transports, rallies against rivals, and such like distructive activities.

Some of the universal traits of Indian Netas are that they are habitual late comers, everywhere and on every occasion.

They work on the sly to ensure that their own sons and daughters pick up the same position whenever they are forced to vacate on account of their illness, misdeeds, or death.

We must think

• Why should we garland and wait for such people?
• Why don’t we heck them to show their performance?
• Why should they be allowed to name roads, development projects, and schemes after their names?
• Why they should not undergo some qualifications and professional efficiency tests?

Personality Cult in Democracy

It is said that intelligent people discuss thoughts, mediocre events, and foolish personalities. In India, there are almost twelve birthdays and anniversaries when we watch our President, Prime Minister, and other VIP’s going round of ‘samadhis’ and ‘sthals’ of expired Netas during the year. Such occasions are rising with the passage of each day. One-day Delhi will turn out to be a big cemetery – a city of samadhis, and memorials for the dead Netas.

Since Nehru precedence was set to convert official residence of the deceased to his memorial. In addition, his survivors were allotted spacious bungalows in the capital. Memorials were set up over and above. Days are also being associated to politicians and celebrated at public expense such as ‘Children’s Day’, ‘Teacher’s Day’ and so on. Sports events are organized in the name of politicians who had no association whatsoever. Politicians preside over music and cultural functions, their knowledge about the subject being immaterial. They are seen laying foundation stones of projects, sports complexes, and giving sermons on every issue. Almost all government schemes are launched in the names of politicians which later they use as publicity during elections.

One would like to ask could we allot the same residential accommodation to the family of defence personnel who die at frontiers defending motherland. Should other professionals such as doctors, engineers, and government servants also be entitled to similar privileges for having served the country?

Same is the story about government schemes. Instead of having ‘theme names’ to indicate the scope and purpose of the scheme we have a long list of welfare schemes named after one political family as if those were financed by the family.

Stigmatic Politicians

The word politician in society has come to identify with mafia-men, scammers and self-seeker. We can overcome this personality cult syndrome

• It would be worthwhile to hold sports events, and build sports complexes in the name of outstanding sports men in the field, or have educational institutes named after eminent educationists or scientists instead of politicians. Better, the institutions should be named after the activity it promotes such as Music University, or the place of its location like Nalanda University.
• Public interest will be better served if roads are identifiable with extreme ends that it connects as Kanpur – Allahabad Highway.
• In order to overcome the land scarcity we may raise memorials for politicians on the pattern of “Memorial of Unknown Soldiers” in major cities. The names of entitled politicians can be inscribed later as and when they deserve. Alternately, if the followers of some leader want to construct memorials they must bear the commercial cost of land, development and maintenance themselves. The burden should not be on the state exchequer at large. Otherwise, what will be the condition if states also start marking land for Chief Ministers and other politicians on the pattern of centre?

Political Dynasties

During general Elections we wish and hope for that all the political dynasties are waste up. We must get rid of the political Gandhies, Pawars, Badals, Chautalas, Mulayams, Laloos, Scindias, Abdullahs, Pilots, Muftis, Deve Gowdas, and Naidus.

Chand K Sharma