THE GAP IS WIDENING !!!!!!!!!!!
My heartiest congratulations to all those who are responsible for Indias progress in every feild.We and the media seem to be celebrating it,every day but I wish that they choose a realistic rather than a glamorous picture of India,as their story.
Without sounding a pessimist or a leftist ,I cannot resist but to say that we are really not ready for the extravaganza and glamour display that we are doing at present!
Progress in every field is mandatory and we are progressing,but the problem is that this progress is not uniform and not in all spheres and all fields.Growth is welcome,and is being felt too,nationally and internationally but it is not universal!!
Improvement in lifestyle and elevation of standards are not only being seen but are dazzling the eyes,but this improvement is seen in a small section of the country and amongst a very small part of the population
Almost half of the Indian population is still deprived of the basic amenities,like,food,home and drinking water leave alone education,electrification and medical facilities,which also are almost the basic right of every citizen of a so called progressing country!
Even in a city like Delhi,which looks like a model of progress and wealth,the recent census showed that only 7.5% Delhites fall in the upper income group,even when the grading has been made on a very stringent scale ,where to qualify for this elite class one has to fall in the group with a monthly expenditure of just over Rs 3500 per person.This amount is peanuts for Delhi,and is a stark indicator of the struggle ,the majority have to undergo,for survival in Delhi,Mumbai,metros or in most of the cities and villages of India for day to day survival.
IPL matches were a great entertainment,and so are other such lavish events,where we spend over a couple of thousand crores for each,but how much of this goes to the common man.Some people do make a livelihood from these events,but majority goes in the pockets of organizers,sponders etc,The rich are the actual beneficiaries from such megaevents and projects!
Leave alone the financial and monetary stagnation,a major part of the population and society is affected by social maladies like,child labor,female feticide,selling of daughters,flesh trade,AIDS etc,Can we call ourselves progressed,progressive or even progressing in this scenario?
The rich becoming richer,and Ambanis featuring in the list of top rich people of the world,is no indicator of progress.
We can sleep comfortablely only if every Indian has a roof,drinking water,food,electricity ,education and medical aid and above all a safe and healthy society and surrounding to live in
And this is more distant than one can imagine
and can be achieved not only by pumping in of money from the exchequer ,but by fair governance and a responsible role,played by every Indian
So lets join hands,in contributing our little,but significant share,in the progress of our dear country!
Its miles to go,before we sleep . . . . . . . .
Dr Sanjay Kapoor Lucknow