Editor,
Much has been said about teaching a person to fish and not giving him/her a fish because the second practice teaches dependency. Similarly if we want to see the worst in someone, then sweeten the person up by frequently giving him/her money. It is like pampering a child who could later become an unruly adult and let down his parents. Well this is what successive governments have done for farmers. They have pampered them without teaching them robust farming methods Firstly, farmers were encouraged to take loans and when they defaulted on payment the loan and interest was waived. Some political parties have used the “loan waiver” as their ladder for climbing to power, as the BJP did in Uttar Pradesh. Has it not sent out the wrong message to other farmers across the country? Will a farmer from UP not teach his facebook friends from Madhya Pradesh to demand the waiver from their leaders?
With each passing day the farmers from various states have pretty well learned the tricks of the trade and so they now make the state governments yield to their demands. In many cases, they have arm-twisted their leaders as has happened recently in Maharashtra. But have we ever given a serious thought on how many lakh crores have so far been written off? Frankly speaking, much could have been achieved if that colossal amount of money were productively utilized instead of offering as unproductive loans? Big changes could have been brought about in the agricultural sector. Very advanced irrigation and storage system could have been installed across the country and efficient marketing methodologies could have been employed to sell the produce profitably. And, this could have ushered in an impressive trend in agricultural production and marketing strategies. Then automatically the socio-economic status of the farmers could have been raised and as a result, the farmers would have become self-sufficient and happy and the whole country would have been well nourished.
Unfortunately, today every farmer is in distressed, every village parched by drought and insufficiency. And ultimately the governments are now left with no option but to buy the “peace” from the poor farmers by way of waivers as a short-term settlement. But for how long? I guess the government will keep beating their chest when the farmers become restive.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong-2
Netas fly high on privileges!
Editor,
On March 23, Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad had assaulted Air India staffer, duty manager R Sukumar, 60, inside an aircraft at the Delhi airport. The national carrier as well as other domestic airlines then barred him from taking their flights. Subjected to the slightest of personal discomfort, these peoples’ representatives resort to violence. Why can’t they raise their voices for the welfare of the average traveller? Certain incidents leave you horror-struck. The manner in which Ravindra Gaikwad thrashed the Air India employee, provoked much public and media uproar! How can an advocate of violence become the people’s representative in a non-violent country? A day after the incident, on March 24, Gaikwad was unfazed and shamelessly stubborn. He proudly announced that he hit the airline employee 25 times with his slipper. He lost his temper when he didn’t find the facilities in accordance with his whims, but did he think how the airline treats average citizens?
The ban was revoked after the MP wrote a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju expressing regret over the incident. However, the Civil Aviation Minister stated that aircraft safety will not be compromised after a purported video of the MP thrashing the Air India officer went viral and triggered widespread condemnation, even from within the government.
Following the incident, two FIRs were filed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport police station for assault and delaying the plane. Delhi Police is still probing the incident. Thereafter, in the aftermath of the Gaikwad episode, Air India had proposed a set of new guidelines to deal with unruly passengers, which included hefty fines of up to Rs 15 lakh. Air India joined five other airlines to ban the lawmaker and demanded a “no-fly list” for unruly customers.
Now again on June 16, Telugu Desam Party MP J C Diwakar Reddy allegedly went to the Indigo Office next to the check-in counter and created a ruckus at the Visakhapatnam airport after the airline did not let him board a flight to Hyderabad as he arrived late. Is the MP not aware that as per DGCA norms airlines close the check-in counters for all domestic flights 45 minutes prior to departure?
Can such parliamentarians answer this: If people begin to emulate such unruly behaviour, including that of getting physical with airlines staff what will happen to the country’s law and order situation?
Yours etc.,
Samares Bandyopadhyay
Kolkata- 91
Non-tribals always soft targets!
Editor,
There have been widespread protests against the railhead at Byrnihat, which has resulted in petrol bomb throwing incidents at several places in Shillong by anti-social elements taking advantage of the situation. The worst affected is the business community which have been targeted either at their business premises or their residence. Although a local dorbar has condemned the incident at Umsohsun, the political parties are tight- lipped and have no guts to condemn the incidents. Why is a particular community being targeted when they have nothing to do with the rail project? I therefore condemn the incidents of petrol bomb throwing and urge upon the law enforcing authorities to be more vigilant and book the miscreants for their heinous crimes.
Yours etc.,
SL Singhania,
Via email