The After-Lockdown Diary- 2020

Disclaimer: For all the ‘Chai-Lovers’ who are going to read this article, this is not about your idol and his governance. I think I have already praised the administration in comparison to USA & UK in my last article. This is a combined result of what all the previous governments, be it the ‘Pasta Shop’ or even the ‘Poetry Club’ in 1990s have done.

I am no way a politician and nowhere in the coming years, I see myself begging for my share of votes. But like our history have told us through its rusted pages, we the normal citizens of any country are the real kingmakers. Take it or leave it, we (citizens from around the globe) have proved our mettle in toppling down the cruel dictators and selfish crown-heads. While we (Indians!) have refused to accept how serious and crucial it is for us to educate ourselves during the waves of election, we are still the kingmakers!

From the lowest rank of a MLA to the highest office of a President (though I say President is as useless in Delhi as a governor in any state/LG in any UTs), it is on our mercy that they are enjoying all perks with zero accountability. And there is a long list of justified reasons for why we keep our opinion to ourselves!

First and foremost, we won't check on a doctor's degree until and unless one of ours is on the deathbed. And in this long list of reasons, the most fitting reason I accept personally is- the whole structure of unemployment, hunger and taxes have left us (the citizens) with no or little time to ponder over other grave issues which ultimately affect us in the long run.

Sad State of Health-care!

Now, the thing is that, I normally refrain myself from writing over the on-going political/religious issues (though I mostly end up writing) but I don't see why an investment of crores of crores for a temple is necessary when in the same state, children have died because of deteriorating health infrastructure? Why it is important to erect one more statue, when you can't keep your roads potholes free which results in innocents getting killed.  

So why am I writing today when I can enjoy my Sunday watching Gulabo-Sitabo, the recent path-breaking Bollywood release on an OTT platform?

(My personal Kudos to Shoojit Sircar Sir and the team for going against the established norm of theatre release!!)

I am investing my Sunday on writing this article because I believe after whatever we have witnessed during the lockdown period (Obviously from the comfort of our sofa, cheap internet & AC), it is high time to call for Privatisation of whole government structure. The tags of accountability, performance and timely completion of projects needs to be pinned on the green board of ‘System’ which is still half-hanging in every government office.  

The ‘System’ should be changed to such an ‘Institution’ where each and every employee will know their responsibilities and duties rather than knowing their powers and how to abuse them.

I read a lot of Business-people, Strategy, rise-fall of empires, Marketing and financial growth of stock market in general (Oh yes, I have been that kid since my childhood who reads every other textbook except for his own). From whatever my little brain has read and evaluated, for a country like ours (Infected* with multiple religions, castes and problems), we need to put in a system that will have clauses of ‘Being answerable’ and ‘Being approachable’. 

Over-population is killing agricultural Produce!

Also, in this After-lockdown period, where we have understood that social distancing is the only weapon, we have right now to fight the monstrous virus, we shall call for reforms in the way elections are conducted and how the most basic administrative task such as issue of pan card/ change of name in ration card is done. It is understood that the old paths forward towards national success shall be diverted, assisted by modern day technologies. I have lived in Mumbai since many years now so I say that the way local trains are being run will invite maximum cases of COVID if the state govt fails to adopt 'Metro Model' for building up proper infra and ticketing system!

It is understood that I can’t write each and everything of how it should be done in coming years because there are many other intellects out there who have been calling for structural changes in bureaucracy and judicial system. But as a 28 years man-child, I am quite sure that whether they like it or not, our government will have to call in Private sector to revive the dying monk (As the Govt. likes to project itself).

*Use of word ‘Infected’- I don’t know how may of you have noticed this but since the mighty virus has knocked us down to our knees, every religious institutions/ place of worship is closed and I am sure that most of you whether you are Hindu, Muslim, Chrisitan, Parsi or Sikh didn’t miss going to your nearby ‘House of God’. Do you know why? Because the fear of Virus helped you in switching On the button of devotion (Bhakti) in you and you were content in worship/remembering your Gods within the four walls of your homes. May be what I am trying to say is, we don’t really need public display of what religions are and what God is suppose to be. Also, can’t we just convert all such ‘Houses of Gods’ to hospitals and educational institutions?

Vichaar kijiye!