Friday, May 06, 2016

Why can't every government department be like Isro?

It is not a surprise that India is poor, weak and disrespected by other nations, it is a wonder that we survive at all. The latest shouting match in parliament on bribery allegations in the purchase of helicopters is nothing new. Coal, telecom, Commonwealth Games. Adarsh, and now helicopters, at times it seems that every deal during the Congress rule from 2004-2014 was corrupt. Why is there so much crime in India? Because taxpayer money is seen as private property by politicians. In Tamil Nadu politicians are promising free cell phones, free electricity, and 50% subsidy on buying scooters. All politicians are billionaires so they will help the poor with their own money won't they, just like Bill Gates is giving away his fortune through his foundation? Not our lot. All promises are based on taxpayer money. One article laments the loss of life and public funds due to callous politicians in the month of April. People killed by a bridge collapsing in Kolkata, people burnt to death by fireworks in a temple in Kerala and vast amounts of food stocks disappearing in Punjab. How can Rs 45 billion worth of grains go missing from government godowns? Was the grain stolen or was the money borrowed from banks used for other purposes? How do politicians get away with this kind of loot? By using taxpayer money to promise free goodies and then claiming that victory at elections was absolution for their crimes. The Reserve Bank has asked banks to set aside 15% of their loans to Punjab, in case there is default. The total maybe anything up to Rs 200 billion. Where politicians lead activists are sure to follow. Every year 20,000 people die from rabies, from 30 million stray dogs roaming our streets. Activists, supported by western saboteurs, are adamantly against any form of culling. They want all dogs to be sterilised. Will they pay for the operations? Hell no. They want the taxpayer to pay. Even our judges are loose with taxpayer money. A court ordered the government of Kerala to pay Rs 40,000 to the family of a woman who died of rabies. Why is the taxpayer being penalised for the sin of activists? Mystery. Yet where genuine grievances are concerned you have to wait years, sometimes decades, to get any relief. People waste Rs 800 billion every year because of time wasted in futile visits to courtrooms across the country. When asked why he wanted a post at a public sector bank an honest candidate replied," Upar ki kamayee," which meant extra income or bribes. If public funds can be used for the benefit of politicians, civil servants and even dogs, why should he not get a share? Yet, a government organisation, Isro is putting foreign satellites in orbit at very low cost, purely through indigenous technology. If only the rest were like Isro the whole of India would be flying. If only.

No comments: