Sun is yet to shine in Indian Rural Belt

Saturday, July 29, 2006 Sun is yet to shine in Indian Rural Belt Though BJP's much publicised India Shining campaign touched the dust during last general elections, but undoubtly, Sun across the shore is shining happily on Indian economy. FII investment in India is touching new highs every year and the way big business giants are setting up their center in India, it seems India is marching towards being called a Developed State by the end of next decade or so. But there are certain road blocks in this grwoth path especially the non participation of Rural India in the development process. Corruption, lack of transparency in welfare activites and red tapism have created hinderance in the growth of these areas. Year by year, crores of rupees are sanctioned in the budget for promoting education in rural areas, creating new labor opportunites for youth, improving sex ratio, bringing primary health care services to every village, solving electricity problems etc but in the end not even tenth of this huge amount is actually reaching them. Rural india is living in grim condition today. Recent statistics revealed double digit increase in suicide deaths by farmers year by year and most of these deaths are caused due to heavy debts incurred on them due to poor farm output. But neither the state govt nor Govt at the center is taking any initiative to come forward and prevent these innocent people from being expolited by local financial goons who charge astronomical interest rate that they cannot actually pay back and evetually find death as the only solution to escape. The lacksture attitude of govts can be seen from the fact that a village in Maharashtra has put up a notice to sell itself and get rid of debt that amounted to more than a crore now. Sadly, the govt is busy more in wooing big MNCs to come forward, bribe their big hollow stomach and granting various financial benefits to these industrial houses. But govts never cared for these poor people who do not catch their attention except when somebody commits suicide or forced to sell its kidneys to feed its family. 1) Will India be ever called "Developed Nation" when farmers in this country will keep committing suicide for not getting any support from the govt? 2) Will India be ever called "Developed Nation" when people in rural areas are forced to sell their body organs to feed theit hungry stomach? 3) Will India be ever called "Developed Nation" when majority of india's population that lives in Rural India continue to remain below Poverty LIne? Answers lie with us who are much privileged in terms of education, communication, electrcity and transport, who have the power to raise concern of our fellow people and who can stand up to their cause. Here are my views, probaly, lack in punch or vocabulary but come directly from my heart... Its time to come forward friends and exhange ways on how to bring back our fellow countrymen to the mainstream who are still living in other India where Sun is yet to shine.... 11:41:45 AM Posted By Mayank Jhanji Comments (3) Society Comments Spectator Saturday, August 5, 2006 5:24:36 PM Yesterday was an auspicious day, so went to Kapaleeswarar temple with family. Kapaleeswarar temple is a very famous temple and it has been visited by local and international community everyday. But most of the visitor difficult to get away from torturing experience from beggars. Unless I was not careful I would have been in trouble. When I was coming out of the temple one male, polio attacked beggar in his try cycle approached me, I just ignored him and keep moving toward north mada street. As we walk we found some shops near temple tank, Seeing an new spider man doll at one of the toy shop, my son started crying for that, as we bargaining for the doll, the beggar who approached me near the temple seems almost 300 meter followed us and scratch my back, so I turn back and look at him and ignored him again without said anything.After we bought a toy, moved next shop to buy fruits, as we walking the beggar intercepted us start scolding in bad words, as I was with wife and very young two babies felt not speak to the beggar that may lead to further conflicts , so I walk fast to avoid him , as we walked fast , he almost chasing us nearly 200 meters.Finally I get annoyed and stopped abruptly so that he went little front of me, comfortably kicked at back side of his tricycle, that took him 300 foot away from me , using the gap took a auto and clear the place.The point is , I don’t want to work out with beggars, he might be a local person, might have lots of support , any wrong movement from my side might cause lots to me , so I avoided any interaction with him when he chasing us, in spite of the fact that, I can carry him with his tricycle and throw. See, how much mental agony during the time our family would experienced, was can’t be explained. I can call it as one of the social problem like terrorism , eve teasingMurder , burglary , raping , so the police should take care and save the poor tax payers K. Venugopal Saturday, October 7, 2006 8:55:00 PM Dear Mayank Jhanji, Let us not worry about MNC investment in India. It is based on the logic of the market and if they see promise in business, they will invest, otherwise they will withdraw or avoid investment here. Our problem is poverty reduction. Ironically, this too depends on the 'market'. If you have talents that the market requires, you are no longer poor. Otherwise, it is a struggle to survive. One solution would be to have more vocational education in vogue. But, unfashionable as it may sound, I would say the long-term solution would be to afford a universal education in India on teachings that educate you to simple living and high thinking.