बदलते समय में बीते कल की यादें

पहले कुछ नीजी जिंदगी से जुडी यादें :

हम दोनों भाईयों के एक ही रंग के , एक जैसे ही कपडे हुआ करते थे। बिलकुल बैंड वालों की तरह। साल में दो जोड़ी आधी पेंट आर कमीज़ या फिर टी शर्ट। दीपावली में एक और सेट मतलब खुशहाली आई हो मानो। दो - एक महीनो में शिवगंगा पर नाई के यहाँ एक साथ बाल कटवाना, वहीँ एक आध फ़िल्मी किताब छानना। नाई से स्कूल - फिर कोलेज की बातें बाट्ना। नाई क्या, पिलानी का हर बुड्ढा - बुजुर्ग, घर का सदस्य ही होता जो था। साल की शुरुवात में एक बार थोक में कोपियाँ खरीदना, उनपर भूरे कव्हर चढ़ाना।

आज भी याद है।

होली दिवाली में मिठाइयों की रेल चेल, बस साल में एक बार ही होती थी, इसलिए शायद उनका महत्व टिका रहता था। दूध - दही की कोई कमी नहीं रहती थी, पर बाकी सिर्फ दाल - रोटी खाओ प्रभु के गुण गाओ। सिर्फ सर्दियों में पिलानी में सब्जियां दिखती थी और पकती थी। बाहर के खाद्य पदार्थ वर्ज्य ही थे। माली हालत और उस समय के रीती रिवाज ही ऐसे थे। कोलेज में जाने के बाद केन्टीन की चाय, कभी कबार दोसे - समोसे तक के पैसे मिलते थे।

आज भी याद है।

खेलों  में पिट्टू, दाम दडी, गुल्ली डंडा। बहुत हुआ तो वोली बाल। क्रिकेट से सिर्फ कोमेंट्री के जरिये संपर्क था। बाद बाद में हम खेलने भी लगे थे। हाँ बेस बाल भी बाद में हम से जुड़ गया था। कोलेज में फिर टी टी और बेडमिन्टन भी हमारे प्रिय खेलों की फैरिस्त में जुड़ गए।

आज भी याद है।

आज कल किताबें खरीदना कोई नई बात नहीं है, और तो और कम्पुटर हो तो ई - बुक भी हाजिर है। उन दिनों पिलानी में रह कर लायब्ररी की वजह से हमने खूब पढ़ने का शौक पूरा किया। रही सही कसर नाई की दूकान पर हलकी फुल्की फ़िल्मी किताबें पढ़कर पूरी करते थे और हमारा सामान्य ज्ञान बढ़ाते थे।

आज भी याद है।

कुछ रोज़ मर्रा जिंदगी से जुडी यादें:

डाकिया हमारी सब की जिंदगी का एक अभिन्न अंग हुआ करता था। पोस्ट कार्ड, कभी अंतर देशीय पत्र , कभी कबार खशी - गम के तार। ये सब हमें मीलों दूर रहने वालें रिश्तों से जोड़ते थे। आज कल तो मेल से या फोन से ही सब जुड़े हैं। वह खाकी वर्दी और टोपी वाला रास्ट्रीय प्राणी आज बिलकुल गायब सा हो गया है। अब कुरियर वाला वही काम करता है। पर वो शान कहाँ ?

मोबाईल - स्काईप जैसी चीजों का इजाद ही नहीं हुआ था।आज तो घर बैठे कम्पुटर हो तो देश विदेश में , सात समुन्दर पार कहीं भी मुफ्त में बात कर सकते हैं। उन दिनों फोन तो बिरलों के घर पर ही हुआ करता था। पोस्ट ऑफिस में जा कर एस टी डी , बुक करना एक समस्या सी लगती थी। लो कर लो बात।

आज भी याद है।

आज सेंकडों मीलों का सफ़र घंटो में हवाई जहाज से या दिन भर में गाडी से तय होता है। बसें भी गजब की आराम देय और तेज हो गयी हैं। उन दिनों सफ़र तो एक बड़ा सिर दर्द हुआ करता था। पहले तो बस से चिडावा - लोहारू पहुँचो, फिर मीटर गेज की गाड़ी से कन्सेशन के टिकट ले कर, असुरक्षित डब्बों में धक्के खा खा कर सवाई - माधोपुर पहुँचो और फिर जनता एक्सप्रेस या देहरादून एक्सप्रेस से बम्बई पहुँचो। फिर असुरक्षित डब्बों से सफ़र।

आज भी याद है। 

आज - कल फोन से खाना मंगाओ, होटल से पार्सल लाओ और घर बैठे टी व्ही देखते देखते आराम से खाओ। हफ्ते दस दिन में बाहर निकलो, दु - पहिया या गाडी निकालो , घुमने जाओ, लौटते वक्त बाहर ही खा कर आ जाओ। इटालियन - चायनीज़ - थाई जैसा कोई पदार्थ आराम से मिलता है। और तो और जनम दिन जैसे अवसरों पर, नेट से अपने निकट वर्तियों को केक - गुलदस्ते - गिफ्ट भेजो। और उनका आनंद बढाओ। लो कर लो बात।

उन दिनों तो माँ ही सब कुछ करती थी इस लिए पित्ज़ा - बर्गर - दोसे- मंचूरियन नहीं , हलवा - पूरी , मीठे चावल या ज्यादा ही हुआ तो बाहर से कुछ मिठाई - विठाई।

आज भी याद है।

Aam Admi - The Mango People

For ages the Aam Admi has been subjected to rebuke and rejection, except for a small period just before every election. The caste / religion based political system has completely damaged our social fiber. Though Ambedkar, Gandhi, Tilak and many other reformers / politicians during pre - independence days talked , walked and Lived Equanimity, Leaders of post independence era realized very early that caste/ religion system will help them in enriching their vote banks. So even though they talked of equanimity and inclusiveness the Aam Admi had been and will continue to be a neglected lot, because it serves these politicians well.

Dole out some free bees and cash and these uneducated, neglected people go en-mass in favor of a leader / party. Why then educate them, why give them their rights, shelter, food and health they deserve? Keep them suppressed and oppressed and take care of them during the elections and forget about them till next elections. Once these people get education and get to know the game, the end of the politicians of the day will be in sight.

Call them any names, give them any adjectives like " Cattle Class People " as Mr. Tharoor said or Call them " Mango People " as Mr. Vadhra Chose to call them / us, it hardly matters. Why? Because we are very tolerant people, we have been brought up and tutored to accept, keep quiet and suffer. So there is nothing new about it at all.

But How Long??

Who Said & What ?

" Money Does Not Grow on Trees " - Bhai Manmohan Singh Ji, Our P M

What a Revelation ? But it certainly is not true for the assets of these very Leaders or their parties.
KJ - Prakash Jha - Madhur Bhandarkar - Balki - Amir ? You were looking for a Title for your new movie ?

" Madam Has Done So Much For Us Congressmen, I Can Give My Life For Her " - Salman Bhai ( Sorry not our dashing hero Sallu, but hero of Political Field )

People who gave their life for their country are almost all in heaven, but this Kaliyug Patriot is different. He says I am different - Like the Maggie Advertisement.

" There Is No Need For Any Investigation by I T " - Our Lungi Clad F M - Chidambaram

Is it a Typical Denial Mode Statement or Has he worn the Robes of a Judge ?

" All is Well. IAC has done it, It is for Publicity. Where is the Proof, Who has Investigated " - It is a CHORUS Statement of All Bigwigs of Congress who are coming on one channel or other.

They all have been saying the same, be it any scam - 2 G, Adarsh, Mining, Common Wealth Games, Coal Gate, Vadhra Gate or Dhrutarashtra Act. Memory is Short Lived, We will certainly Loose Count in due course of time.

" Such Rapes Take Place Elsewhere, in Other States Too " - Mother of India - Mrs. Sonia Gandhi

If our dear mother says so it must be true, Then the big Question is What our Police is Doing ? Sorry it is a State Subject so how can we blame our dear mother for that ? Poor RR Bhai ( Patil ) or Mamata Ji or Jaiswal Ji. They were unnecessarily criticized for some loose comments


Disclaimer  - These are mere statements heard or read, and not my own and are certainly not meant to harm any one's reputation

Where do we go to find the TRUTH ?

2 G , Common Wealth Games, Coal Gate, Vadhra Gate And now Dhrutarashtra Kand exposed by News Channel - Aaj Tak Showing fraudulent practices used Left - Right and Center by Salman Khurshid's Wife run Trust. Add to it the Sinchan Ghotala & Adarsh Ghotala in Maharashtra. Add to it the Mining Scam. Where is the country heading for? 

The Governments at Center & in various states ( Involved in Mining Scam ) have their usual defense mechanism of claiming that " All is Fine " " Sub Kuch Theek Hai ". They also want proofs and investigations to be done by the Mango People of Banana Republic. They do not feel the necessity to order investigation themselves. 

I have a simple questions - When the media comes out with an Expose do these rulers dare to ask them to go to court, do the investigation etc etc ? Will these same people now ask Aaj Tak to go to court, file a case etc ? 

Time will only tell now. Let us see what the results of elections have in store for us.

साधारण सी खुशिया

सबकी नजरें चुरा कर रात को पिलानी के टूटे से सिनेमा घर में 65 पैसे का पाटिये का टिकेट खरीद कर कम्बल की आड़ में पिक्चर देखने का लुत्फ़ कुछ और ही रहता था।

गर्मियों में , गली में लाइन से लगी खाटों पर सो कर नीले आकाश को  ताकते रहने में कुछ अलग ही मजा आता था।

सामने हमारे लैब मास्टर जी ( उनके छोटे कद की वजह से हम उन्हें लंगोट कहते थे ) का किराए पर लिया कमरा और फिर पुरे मकान पर  जमाया कब्ज़ा तो आनंद की मनो सीमा ही थी। और मजा तो तब आया जब हमने उनके रसोई घर का दरवाज़ा भी खोलना और बंद करना सीख लिया। फिर क्या था रोज़ रात को चाय के दौर चलते थे। उनका ही स्टोव , उनका ही मिटटी का तेल, और उनकी ही दूध की पावडर का भरा डब्बा, और नके ही बर्तन। भगवान् ने जब दिया मनो छप्पर फाड़ कर ही दिया।

कॉलेज के दिनों हर हफ्ते एक पिक्चर , वो भी इंजीनियरिंग कॉलेज के क्वाड्रेंगल में मौके की जगह देखना, मानो हमारे लिए ही सुरक्षित हो। वाह क्या मजे आते थे?

सुबह 7.30 बजे शात्रीय संगीत पर आधारीत गाने सुन कर साईकिल से निकलना, दुपहर को खाने के बाद थोडा सुस्ताना फिर 1.40 को पुराने गाने के समापन में सहगल के गाने सुन कर फिर निकलना , वो लाइब्ररी , वो कंटीन की चाय की चुस्कियां, फिर शाम का जिम और रात को नूतन मार्केट के मुडडे तोड़ कर घंटों चाय पीना।
व्हाह वो भी क्या दिन थे।

वो लाइब्ररी की किताबें, एक से एक उपन्यास चाटना, मेरे परम मित्र, बलराम के साथ उनपर चर्चा करना। शाम को जिम के बाद फूली बाहें और चौड़ी छाती को शीशे में देखना, फिर दादागिरी स्टाइल में शिवगंगा में छोटू के चाय समोसे, ठण्ड के दिनों में चाचा की भुनी मूंगफली ,कोई भुला  सकता है? कोई फिर वो दिन बुला सकता है भला ?

हर दिन एक जश्न सा लगता था। हम सभी मानो युहीं गाते थे " हर फ़िक्र को धुवें में उड़ाता चला गया ". हर दौर का एक अलग अनुभव रहता है। उस दौर में शायद हम सब इन छोटी छोटी खुशियों को बटोरते आगे बढ़ रहे थे, मानो ये खुशियाँ हमें फिर नसीब न हों।

शायद हुआ भी ऐसा , या ये कहूँ कि शायद होता ही ऐसा है।

अगले दौर की खुशियों के बारे में फिर कभी।

मुझे आज भी याद है

मुझे आज भी याद है

पिलानी की छोटी कॉलोनी  के दिन.

गर्मियो  मे  स्कूल से आने के बाद  दुपहर  की  धूप  से बचने के लिये घरके नीम के पेड पर  बैठ कर पढ्ना . शाम को गली मे हॉकी , वोल्लीबाल, पिट्टू या दाम दडी खेलना या फिर  ग्राउंड मे बैसबाल या क्रिकेट खेलना .

मुझे आज भी याद है

सुबह सुबह लोटा ले कर सामुहिक दिनचर्या के लिये जाना, पानी की कमी के दिनो मे सफाई के लिये पत्थरो का इस्तमाल करना.

मुझे आज भी याद है

गर्मी की छुट्टी मे दुपहर को ताश कुटना , शिवगंगा मे सुबह शाम घंटो तैरना और आने के बाद जम के खाना .

मुझे आज भी याद है

किसी किसी साल बंबई का सफर. कन्सेशन  के टिकेट ले कर चिडावा - सवाई माधोपुर मीटर गेज की गाडी का सफर, वहा स्टेशन पर का लजवाब खाना और फिर जनता एक्ष्प्रेस से बंबई तक का सफर. पुरा सफर कोयले के इंजन वाली गाडियो से होने की वजह से हम सब के मुह काले हो जाते थे. पुरे सफर को करीब ३६ घंटे लगने से, बंबई पहुच कर भी सिर चकाराता था.

वो भी मुझे आज भी याद है

फिर थोडे दिनों बाद एस टी  से कोंकण का सफर. सुबह निकल कर देर  शाम माखजन , पसीने से तर हो कर प हुं च ना. बीच मे महाड स्टेशन पर दुपहर का खाना. पहुच ने तक सिर से पैरो तक लाल मिट्टी से सन जाना

मुझे आज भी याद है

आज सब कु छ बदल गया है. पर यादे अभी भी तरो ताजा हैं .

Counting our Chickens

Immediately after our independence, India & China had almost equal military strength. In 6 odd decades China has leaped forward and ahead of us by incomparable margins in all the three sections of armed forces. Compare this - China has had only one enemy ( on paper ) to tackle, that too a peace loving and meek enemy like us, where as we have had threats or threat perceptions from almost all sides, be it Pakistan, China or Bangladesh for that matter. Where is our planning? Are we really concerned about the threats? Where is SWOT analysis?

On one hand, it is learnt that China has developed it capabilities to manufacture and cater to all its’ military requirements In – House and be self sufficient, and on the other hand we are still relying on outsourcing our requirements. We have some defense establishments where we fulfill only part of our requirements. We have had purchases in past with clauses which talked about indigenization of defense equipment over a period. Sadly not much has been done in that direction. So, with the result, we still buy from outside. The pinch is still hurting big way after disintegration of Soviet Union. Earlier we got supplies from them cheap and regularly. Now we are made to pay hefty amounts through our nose.

We boast of having technology to develop Satellites, Missiles and Nuke Power but then why not latest jet fighter planes, air craft carriers, Long range guns, machine guns and defense kits for our armed forces? Are we lacking in capabilities or engineering skills or design brains? Sorry. I strongly feel that our political will and vision is totally missing. We are really ignorant of the fact that it is the muscle power which will keep our enemies at arms distance from us. It is then only that China will not dare to snatch and encroach on our territories and claim it as it is their own for ages, leaving our leaders to comment –

“ What is the problem, what is the big deal if anyone has taken our land? As it is it was barren and of no use ”

I feel the time has not gone out of our hands still. Let our Leaders wake up even now. We can still be self sufficient in next 2 – 3 decades if we start now to work on building our manufacturing capabilities with FDIs or Investment on PPP basis. Our Industrial giants will be certainly more than willing to walk that extra mile to support the government any which way on such a cause. I strongly feel that it should be on top of the agenda for any government’s priority list, and miles ahead of FDI in Retail certainly.

What say??

Contradiction or Election Bugle ??

" Height of Contradiction " : On one hand Our PM says Moneys are not grown on trees and on the other hand His Finance Minister, who should also know this gospel truth, declares 7 % DA to the government employees. Election Gimmicks have started floating.So we can expect Election Bugle Sounds very soon.

Why DA rise to government employees ? why this is announced only before every election? Many more such schemes will be announced by the Center & the States. In fact if we want good politics and good economics, the reforms in election would be a big step. Code of conduct should not come in to force only after elections are announced. The elections should be announced only if no such freebees are announced at least for 12 months prior to the announcements. All such announcements should be treated as cancelled if these are made with in 12 months of the elections.

 It is also announced that the armed forces will have one rank pension scheme. This one is really a good decision. Though this also smells like an election freebee, I would love to accept it .Our armed forces need to treated very well, while during service, post retirement and also when they are rehabilitated post injuries during war or peace time. 

Reforms Needed?

Policy of FDI in retail has opened up a Pandora box. I am personally game for any and all reforms which open up the avenues for competitiveness and open up markets. I have only a couple of issues on the subject of Reforms and liberalization.

•   Why not make a Road Map for all reforms which are good for the people and economy both.
•   Prioritize them. First Thing First. Let us not try and put the Cart before the Ox.
•  Create a broad consensus on it. Get / Seek opinions of all parties and states.
•  Put time lines for each of these reforms
• Stick to it come what may. Then Parties in Rule should not be held back by the number game in the parliament. They should not wait for the last year of their current regime and say “ we will rather go down fighting ” while bringing a reform for vote.
•  After all we are in a democracy a policy that has a clear mandate or majority only can become a Law. So an issue which does not win a majority does not become a Policy. Simple. Governments should not be changed if a particular policy loses. It should go only if it loses a No Confidence Motion or loses an Election.
• Policy on any reform which has a technology involved should be carefully chalked out. The latest, but not a junk technology should be brought, with a clause of developing these technologies / components indigenously.

Coming to the specifics, on FDI on Retail, the governments says “ it would bring in back-end infrastructure technology in logistics, cold storage etc ” . Point not well taken. Where is the power? Do we have enough of power to run all the cold storage? What should come first? The Malls or Back – End Infrastructure – Like Power Generating Stations, Cold Storage, Roads – Railways etc? So I personally feel that the government should put these things first on the priority list and liberalize on these fronts. Bring in FDI on developing this infrastructure on PP or FDI basis, but again after protecting the interests of the country first. The latest, but not a junk technology should be brought, with a clause of developing these technologies / components indigenously.

Most importantly I feel is the FDI in retail a panacea of sorts for all our problems? Have we given a thought to problems of low cost Housing, Health care, Education & Food? 

Why can we not think of opening up Health care with a clear cut guideline that a dispensary will have to be set up in each village having a population of say 1000 people, minimum so many beds hospital will have to be set up in each hub having a population of say 10000 people, so on and so forth?

Something similar should be thought for Primary & Secondary education facility, low cost housing etc.

So, now we can see what and where our priorities should be? Whichever issue gives maximum gains to the largest section of the society should be our top priority, in my opinion.

Can There be an Argument on this, Mr. Chetan Bhagat or Mr. Swaminathan? It is simple common sense. Economists and Celebrities should think about it and spread this opinion rather than fighting or defending on a useless issue.  

I have chosen these names because people read them and form their opinions. 

Who listens to me who has no voice?

REFORMS – A Master Stroke ??

When someone is cornered and left with no option, he fights back tooth and nail, because it is the only win – lose situation left to him. Since, he has nothing to lose further; he fights with a hair – thin hope of survival or victory. Have you seen a street dog caught in a web of other stray dogs cornered in an unknown territory? He puts his tail in and tries to run away and when that fails, he fights. Well history is not depleted with such cases. Remember Israel war?

The UPA – II ensemble has done something like that. Since its tenure began, the government has been caught on the wrong foot time and again. Scams after scams kept on surfacing and the troubles were unending. The latest one, the COAL GATE , is presumably the biggest Tsunami of sorts to hit them. All their efforts are not rescuing them at all. The economy was in doldrums for a year or so. The media was haunting them, the news from their foreign allies were also not very encouraging.

So how to get out of it, was a thought which was on top of their agenda for quite some time.  Pranabda is no more in a position to bail out them. Only a couple of years are left for the next polls. Team Congress Captain – MMS opened a Pandora box and took out the PAPLU ( JOKER ) from the box and that was – REFORMS CARD.

The Industry has gone agog, but almost all opposition parties opposed it. The merits and demerits of the decisions are debatable. I for one am in favor of opening up the Aviation Sector, Rationalization of prices of diesel & cooking gas, but not in favor of FDI in Retail in its present form.  

Congress has played a double game. It has asked its ruled states to increase the subsidy from 6 to 9 cylinders / year. Then, why the center has restricted it to only 6 for other states? It could well have done that and absorbed the losses. Why the government could not increase the price of each cylinder instead and keep increasing it every year or so and thus give a clear signal that it did not favor the SUBSIDY.

Anyway, that is a separate issue all together. Team MMS wanted a shadow boxing mechanism to divert the attention from the SCAMS, and it has achieved that to the TEE. 

Is it therefore a master stroke? I do not agree anymore. The people do not have such a short memory, as Mr. Shinde felt the other day, when he said that the people will forget Coal gate as they have forgotten the Bofors. Has anyone forgotten Delhi of ’84 & Gurat of recent past? Now the Media wants some news item to keep on their TRPs on a high. Hence, come next elections, they will find out ways and means to bring these issues to the front once again. The people will decide then.

Till then let us enjoy the Games Parties Play.             

Blogging - A State of Mind

I have been away from blogging almost for a year now. There were many occasions when i felt like blogging on an issue, still finally I decided to refrain from it. I have no reasons to put forth in favor or against it. I feel it has something to do with the State of Mind.

I am back now, because i have started feeling Good.

Scams Free India or Free Scams' India ??

If politicians, Ministers, MPs & MLAs all included, shout at each other, wash dirty linens in public, walk to the well of the house, break assets of the house, throw shoes / chappals at each other, shovel paper locket etc, they are all pardoned, because they are elected members of the society so they are above law. Oh sorry. they are above the law because they are the law makers. 

They earn corers of rupees in between each election - yes their declared assets tell the story of at least what they declare if not what they do not, but no law can touch them. Charges are levelled against them by their opponents, CBI inquiry is instituted, but not a single politician gets punished or jailed, because they are above law. 

They fight with each other during the day or during the elections, but they are all together in the evenings over a couple of drinks ( understatement ). They all no that no one can touch them. They are so united that they wage a war against anyone trying to upstage their party.

only a decade or so ago the the level of scams, be it stamp paper scam, Chara Ghotala, Bofors etc, used to be in crore of rupees only. Well those days we used to hear about " Ek Peti or Khoka ", probably because the politicians of those days had only that much capacity to digest. Now with globalization and Tax Heavens such levels have become stone age and too middle class ideas. Such people whose level is only this much, are called chicken hearted. Today the levels of greed and corruption  have gone many notches higher. Like they say version 7, 8 , 9 etc or 2 G - 3 G to signify the next generation  of up gradation of technology, today's scams run in to multi - million or thousands of crore. Signs of living in 21st century, you know.

we all speak about it in hush - hush voices and that too only in the comfort zones of our drawing rooms. If some one speaks or blows the whistle, he is terminated. If terminating such a person may cause danger to them, then they are dealt with in a different way.  CBI / Enforcement directorate / IT hounds are marshalled in to service against such people almost instantly. Such is their defence mechanism.

So how could baba Ramdev succeed? How could Anna or any member of Team Anna be allowed to raise their voices? These politicians have also a knack of buying time by engaging such people in discussions and then dividing them in due course of time. Britishers have taught us well, and the politicians the  best. Britishers did that to Tilak, Gandhi, Savarkar and many more who spoke against the establishment. Today since the government in rule can not afford to put them behind bars or send them to Andman, they use the CBI / IT / ED route to finish such voices.

If Kejrival or Prashant Bhushan spoke some thing in public, they all unite and move a privilege motion against them. How dare can anyone speak like that and about them? And why speak? Dare to caricature them and face the wrath. They have hired people for each occasion. 

Today team Anna & Ramdev appear direction less, because the politicians have created such an impression. After all the media is in their pocket too. 

It is really unfortunate that  we can hardly do any thing about it, except being muted spectators. 

स्वप्न झ डे  फूल  से  ... बन गये स्केम  सभी बाग के बबूल से.. 

जहां  डाल डाल पर करती थी सोने कि चिडिया  बसेरा ..  वहां अब स्केम  करते  बसेरा 

Bharat Band - What Gains ??

Today was a Bharat Band in protest of hike in petrol prices. the score was 80 buses damaged in Mumbai and 20 in Pune, till about 2 PM. I am not sure how much has been the damage of public property in other places.

Looking at this I strongly feel that the Supreme Court should withdraw this privilege of public protest if the parties concerned can not maintain decency and discipline. Slapping fines on such parties is not helping the Nation.

I also feel that such parties should be debarred from fighting state or national elections for a stipulated period, say 1 / 2 elections. If sport persons can be banned for their misbehaviour, why not the politicians?

Single Window Solution - A Vision for Good Governance

Whenever you change the city of your residence, a lot many things need to be sorted out before normalcy is restored. With core banking at least one problem has reduced. You can get the change of address done by just filling a form and give it to the bank. Same is the case with shares. Earlier, you needed to inform every company about the change of address. Now you change that in your DMAT account and your job is done.

Mr. Nandan Nilkeni is working on UID, this identity will be good enough for many an issues. Why the Government does not engage some similar IT expert as a Honcho to solve this problem and simplify the procedure. I feel a single window solution could be thought of.

Once you change the city and move to a new place, what you should need is to get a police clearance from the earlier place. Similarly you should obtain a NOC for issuance of new Gas Connection, Pan Card, Ration Card, Driving License, Passport e.t.c., from the Single Window Solution Provider in your Locality. The NOC should be in two Forms. Form I for the Gas Connection and Form II for all other cards / licenses. It should be only ONE Form with Pages, one each for each of the subject. The system at both the places should be computerized and linked to all cities ( To begin with ).

You submit the NOC – Form I, at the Single Window Solution Provider in the new location and get your Gas Connection immediately from the Nearest Gas Agency, be it same or different. The solution Provider at the new location can check veracity of your NOC and issue you a new gas connection immediately. This would help you to start your kitchen first.

In the mean time you submit the Police Clearance Certificate to the nearest police station in your locality in the new place. This ensures that the police is also in the knowledge of the new arrival in his area of control. Your certificate, of being a good and civilized person without any adverse police records, gets continuity. He should then issue a Clearance Certificate, which is valid for submission of the form for getting your other cards and licenses.

The window should also give you a form II, against the form II submitted to him, on payment basis of course. The Form II could be in downloadable form from the net. Finally you can submit the Form II along with the copy of certificate from the police station and requisite number of photos pasted on each of the forms and the consolidated fee, take the receipt and take a sigh of relief. Your job should get done in the time mentioned on each of the form, meant for each card or license etc separately.

If you don’t get your things done in time, you should be entitled to approach the Lokayukt in your area.

So Simple! Service @ your doors from the Government which is OF the People, By the People and truly FOR the People!!

reality Bites

When you change your place of residence you are in big troubles as you have to deal with many issues which are beyond your comprehension otherwise. It starts with the Gas Connection. You have to deal with it immediately otherwise you will be forced either to eat out or do the cooking yourself. Next in Line is the Ration Card. You need to surrender the old get a NOC and then apply for it in your new city. Though it has lost the importance it had earlier, still it carries some weight.

In case your new residence is on rental basis, then you need to get your lease agreement registered, as a non – registered lease agreement has no validity and is not acceptable as a proof of residential address. In case you are moving to your own house, as is the case with me, you still have a problem if the house is in your wife’s name and the electricity and telephone bills too are in her name. You then need an affidavit from her to an effect which indicates that you being her husband or son / daughter live with her in that place. It will then only be treated as a valid address proof, not otherwise.

Voter Card needs to be changed, if you want to exercise your right as a conscientious citizen. Then comes the Pan Card. It is the simplest of all in my opinion and experience. You can file your returns from anywhere, however I feel you need to go the circle, from where the Pan Card was issued earlier, in case of a query raised by the IT department. So one must change the Pan Card as and when one changes the place or city at least.

Change of address for Passport is also necessary, in case you want to submit it as a proof of residence. It also helps during renewal as you do not have to approach the earlier place of issue.

Same Logic applies for the Driving License. But, it is the most cumbersome procedure of all. I faced it.

I realized on Jan 01, 2012 that my license was due to expire on Jan 06, 2012. I went to the RTO at Pune. I was told that the renewal involves a change of address also, so I needed to get a NOC from the earlier place of issue, which was Hyderabad in my case. I was also informed that if my request reaches them after the date of expiry, the RTO Hyderbad may not issue a NOC. In that case I will have to go through a routine procedure of going for a Learner License and then apply for a regular license. I had the fear of failure at the learner license stage as I have forgotten all traffic signals and rules over the last 40 years or so, and having particularly driven vehicles in cities like Indore, Nagpur, Hyderabad and now Pune, which are all known for rule of Jungle Raj.

So, I decided to give a try to getting the NOC. Luckily my Son – In – Law stays at Hyderabad. I sent a letter by mail giving him or his father an authority to submit my application and take the delivery of NOC on my behalf. Thankfully, it worked. Appa ( Naveen’s father ) did manage to get the NOC. I had passed one hurdle. However, the courier - DTC in this case, played his spoiling role. I got the delivery of NOC after Jan 06, 2012.

I still did not give up. I approached the RTO. I could reach up to a stage when I thought that now it was cake walk, but NO!. He saw my papers and sent me to his boss. He saw all the papers and told me that I would require a Call Confirmation. I did not know what that meant. He scribbled something on my form and sent me back to Mr. Jadhav. He told me that I needed to get the CC from Hyderabd. He asked me to fill up that requisite form. He signed it and gave me and asked me to get it from Hyderabad. The only concessions he gave me were that he would accept a Fax or Scanned copy of CC and secondly He would still accept my application though it has expired technically. I gave a sigh of relief and took the form.

Again, I requested Navin and Appa to help me out and sent the letter through Blue Dart, by paying Rs.300/- which was very high, but the only consolation was that it would reach the destination th every next day. I accepted that as I had very little choices. Next day Appa was to proceed to Chennai, and it was a Saturday. I had the fear that the RTO would be closed because it happened to be a 2^nd Saturday.

My stars were favoring me. Appa had a tough time convincing the RTO guy there, to issue the CC. His contention was that his confirmation was already sent by post. Still Appa could finally get his way. And LO! He had the CC in his hands after spending a couple of hours and some sweat. Naveen sent me the scanned copy. Next day I went to the RTO and submitted my papers, paid the fee and got myself snapped. The last hurdle is crossed perhaps. I was informed that the license would reach me by post in about two weeks.

You now realize how difficult it is to get Change of address for the Driving License. So get it done in time. See the expiry date of your license, keep about a couple of months in hand and start the procedure.

Getting the Change of Address on passport too is cumbersome, but not that difficult. I have yet to do that to really know what are the issues involved. I would post a separate blog if need, in case I experience something rich.

If you do not have a bank pass book in the new city, please get it immediately, with the address and photos, as this is acceptable for the changes in passport. All in all, the process of change of voter card, Pan Card, Passport, Driving License, is not as Simple as it sounds. So don’t take these lightly. I am ready to give free consultancy to anyone in a similar situation.

Passing Shot : 

I fail to understand why government has not thought of computerization and centralization of these systems. You can apply On – Line for a new passport, but you can’t do so for renewal or change of address etc. Why?

A Visit to a Doctor

It is always very depressing to visit a doctor. The bliss of ignorance is shaken the moment the doctor pronounces a slew of probable problems you have and hands you over a big list of tests to be conducted. I detest anyone telling me that I am sick. Still the compulsions of family members forced me to visit the most detested person on the soil.

I had some rashes around my neck, which I was taking very lightly. I knew that whatever I was taking, ( with my experience and knowledge of drugs and having worked in this industry for over 3 decades ), will take about 2 weeks to restore normalcy and if I had gone to a doctor and spent over 2 hours and about 200 bucks ( that is what it takes now a days ) , to see him finally, he would give almost the same advise and medicines and you would almost take the same time to recover. So I avoided all these days. Unfortunately my family members and relatives thought otherwise and pushed me to a corner across the dinner table.

Finally I went to our regular doctor. I spent the time and money and came with a prescription that was verbatim same to what I was taking. But still it satisfied my family and relatives. I continued taking the medicine for a week and had almost the same rate of recovery. Still no one said a word about it, because I was under a doctor’s eye.

I visited him again on completion of the dosage. This time he was forthcoming and admitted that the recovery was not as per his expectations and so he referred me to a skin allergy specialist.

I did not waste a minute this time, as I was scared of the rebuttal in case I had procrastinated.  I spent almost 2hours again before I was finally called in. I saw only a small face with large spectacles above the table with his figure almost crouching under the table.

He looked through his huge glasses and asked in a very sad tone “ Yes, What’s the Problem ”. I was about to say “ I wish I knew ”, but refrained and told him what the issue that brought me to him was. He moved out slowly and got up from his chair. He took a magnifying glass in his hands because probably he thought that his huge spectacles did not have the requisite magnification. Now I could see the complete figure.  A frail body with very thin layer of flesh on the bones walked slowly and gingerly from his chair towards me. I could see excitement in his eyes and movements as he reached near me. He called up his assistant who was on an internship perhaps.

I removed my shirt on his instructions, which sounded more assertive now. He took my hand and moved his magnifying glass around the area of rashes on my hands , then around my neck and on back of my neck.

With a distinct firmness and tint of shrill of excitement he exclaimed “ SEE !! IT IS A CLASSIC CASE OF PHOTO SENSITIVE SKIN ALLERGY !! ” I could see Archimedes in him shouting “ EUREKA ”.

He then asked me what I wear normally. I told him about my liking for Jeans and T shirts. His eyes had a distinct spark and a smile of a winner as he looked towards his intern. He again said “ See !! It is confirmed ”. His magnifying glass still moved around the rash on my hands. Thank god, he did not expect me to say “ I move in BORN FREE attire ”.

Next he asked me when I noticed the first symptoms. I told him that it was some time after my trip to Kalpewadi, Nagaon near Alibag. Now suddenly I could see change in his ginger movements. All of a sudden I could see athleticism in him. He jumped 6 inches , which is all he could, with his fragile body, and said “ Affirmation !!  - This man must have moved on the beach and outside the resort on a sunny day ”. It was like we used to write Q E D after solving a theorem in our school days. I did not react and kept quiet, because I had started enjoying his act by now. He then asked me to roll up my pant, “ thank god again! ” and show him the legs. His magnifying glass shook vibrantly around my calves as the smile on his face broadened.

His next question to me was “ Do you move out like that always in broad day light? ”. I wanted to tell him that I was not a somnambulist, but controlled myself and told him, Yes, I did so for almost 4 decades during my service when I was in projects, but not any more after retirement. He had an answer to that too  -  Now your body and skin are no more accustomed  to the heat and sun and so the allergy on your body. It sounded realistic but funny.

I could relate this logic to the arms, the front of the neck and ears, but how on earth could Sun reach my covered legs and the back of my neck leaving my poor face which was so widely exposed to it.

“ Now, here are some medicines and an ointment and a sun cream.  The shirt you are wearing is of a thin cloth. You should not move out on a sunny day till this allergy goes. Still if at all you have to move out, wear something thicker.”

 I have not seen thicker full sleeve shirts in this part of the country. Still I maintained silence.  “ And yes, cover your ears and eyes, use a scarf if possible, apply sun cream 30 minutes before going out. It will have an effect for about 3 hours. In case you have to be out for a longer time, come in a shady area, apply the cream again, and again as required ”, he said with a confident voice.

This was all in the month of January and in Pune when it is under siege of a cold wave because of heavy snow fall in the northern part of the country. Imagine what would have been the prescription if I had suffered from this allergy sometime in April – July months?

In all probability he would have advised me to wear clothes suiting the people on NORTH POLE. Why?? Mind you all, It would have been only to save me from the effects of scorching heat outside, and save my soul, sorry, body from the ill effects of Photo Sensitive Skin Allergy.