Editor,
Leaders of political parties that are in power in states, especially leaders of parties that have recently come to power, are eager to please voters. They do not want to cause displeasure to voters. The freebie culture followed by some leaders is a strategy to cling on to power. The Punjab government’s recent announcement that 300 units of free electricity will be given to every household indicates that the freebie culture is spreading to different parts of the country. It is estimated that free power will cost the State Exchequer Rs. 5000 crores every year. Another promise by the AAP government is that every woman, will get a monthly cash of Rs.1000. This will cost the Exchequer Rs.12,000 crores every year. It is ironic that in spite of Punjab being a revenue-deficit state, the AAP government is not worried about how it will find the money to fulfil the promises. In its frantic efforts to expand to other states, the AAP wants to prove that it is keeping its election promises.
In fact, offering such freebies is not a responsible and right way of governance. What is the logic of wasting such a substantial amount of money, that too, in a debt-ridden state like Punjab ? Instead of spending money for giving freebies, the government could utilise the money for infrastructure development and developments in health and education sectors. Such thoughtless action will further weaken the already flagging economy. Politicians who are short-sighted in their approach to development are not worried about the future. The freebie culture has spread to others states like Himachal Pradesh. There the government has promised 125 units of free power to all households. In addition to this, rural households will get free water.
Such governments must realise that what people really need is not freebies but good governance and a responsible government. Governments must use money wisely and work towards the welfare of people.
Yours etc.,
Venu GS,
Kollam
How not to repeat the Umling tragedy
Editor,
The Umling tragedy informs us that the central divider on highways is no longer safe when the trucks can carry out such athletic maneuvers as to jump over the central divider, stay mid-air to smash a tourist taxi killing two persons on the spot. It’s a pity that in this modern world of science and technology, we do not have odometers with memory as in advanced countries that would have offered a strong case against the trucker. To emulate the west like having the speed radar with powerful camera, to link the registration number plates to the agency in a split second, to show on mobile phones the crimes with fine and penalties left, before the driving license seized, is not possible in India in the immediate future. And if the traffic police are least bothered about taking action on those with concealed registration plates or folded up as done in hit and run cases, or in shady coal transportation, the idea would melt down to nothing. We only have to rely on the judiciary.
Let’s not lose sight of the fact that we are dealing with truck owners that are influential persons in the government and society. How I wish the accident tribunal of erstwhile Assam is revived. That would fine the culprit and compensate the victim or his/her family. That golden era of humanity is gone forever. Such heavy penalties would deter the driver from reckless driving. One weakness of our community is that we are reconciled too soon without a thought for the future. We attribute even deaths by accident to the will of God.
I have repeatedly written to the Transport Minister, the DTO East Khasi Hills, and last March 2021,to the Secretary Transport (GOM),with no reply. Only one reply pertained to the unlawful plying of JCBs on public roads. The letter to the Under Secretary Transport, copied to me and written by PM Sangma Commissioner of Transport, was to allow plying of JCBs only before sunrise and after sunset, which was not what I had asked for. Leaving that aside, other vital points, enclosed in my letter were as follows.
Bumper :-Legally bumper is a horizontal bar at rear and front of automobiles. JCBs are not automobiles but earth movers with material soft and yielding to cushion impact on collision, to minimize death and injury. MV acts 2019, ordered all extra reinforcements of steel angles or pipes be removed from bumpers. Those driving such vehicles are stopped by traffic police and the reinforcements dismantled. But these trucks with over a tonne of reinforcements are still seen on highways.
Windshield:-as the name implies is to shield drivers on whom our safety lies. But in India the windshield, is a platform to paste poster of celebrities and scenery. What does the MV Act say about this?
Elephant’s legs on a horse. Traffic police witness this every day. The truck’s tyres have one foot on public property. And the offences go on and on. Most of us don’t know that those vehicles dare not cross Meghalaya jurisdiction, as Assam police would not spare them.
Airhorn:-Nowhere in the civilised world are airhorns allowed. The Supreme Court once banned it. But corporates who make trumpets and air devices managed to circumvent the laws. Air tank are never tampered with in civilised countries. The airhorn sounds are deafening and hurt babies with delicate eardrums; some even to become deaf permanently.
Passengers and roadworthiness .When the night bus to Silchar overturned at Brishyrnot, from pictures appearing in the newspapers, the tyres seemed not to have rubber for grip. And lives were lost because the owner toys with the lives of passengers. Worse there is no insurance cover.
Passenger worthiness : In Meghalaya a tall person cannot sit properly and there is no leg space. You have to be athlete of renown to climb the footboard of Shillong buses. And the most dangerous is that buses are used as trucks as they are allowed to load heavy materials on the roof. The bus that overturned at 3rd mile Upper Shillong, a few years ago, and killed a pedestrian was because of heavy loading on the rooftop.
Seat belt: Seat belt works on principles of inertia, same as in an aeroplane. In Shillong within 10 Km radii, the seat belt is meaningless as vehicles cannot pick up speed. However, the law says that a co-passenger without seat belt is committing a crime. The driver is aware of impending accidents in case co-passenger is deep in slumber and in case of an accident his/her head would smash the wind shield.
That’s all one can share to enlighten the public. The judiciary should from now on pursue accident cases to their logical end. And if the Umling tragedy could make the truckers feel the real teeth of the law then we can hopefully witness fewer tragedies. Lastly, pointing out these do’s and don’ts too frequently, makes me feel like a teacher repeating stories to Kindergarten children. The institution of DTO needs a complete overhaul. We need a judicious person with a degree in automobile engineering and technology to head the Department.
Yours etc.,
W. Passah,
Via emaila