Celebrations at whose cost??

All chennaites must be knowing by know as to what was behind the chaotic traffic situation in the city this evening. For the benefit of the others, its the 50th year of our honourable Chief Minister Mr. M.Karunanidhi as legislator and the party is celebrating it in grandiose.

Considering the estimated number of people who would come to attend it, lots of arrangements have been made in the city. Traffic diversions and alerts to offices so that people would leave early to aviod getting stuck in heavy traffic. Glad they did that much.

But there is something most of us don't know about. Neither did I until I evesdropped on a conversation. I happened to be travelling in the evening and got stuck at a places for 5-10 mins and just overhead this narration by a nearby cab driver. I was shocked beyond words when I realized what was being forced onto the people.

Turns out that all these cab / transport operators have to volunteer 4 vehicles and 40,000Rs to the party towards the event. Oops, did I say volunteer! Of course since it is "voluntary" its pretty legal. As for those who don't volunteer, we'll they'd just have a tough time with their license to operate their unit :). For obvious reasons this will never be covered in the media or made an issue of since the event is embraced by dignitaries holding office in the state and central government. This is where it gets better. All the money spent will be shown as party expenditure while all of it goes into somebody's pocket.

What next? The government would probably sponsor free food program for all families under a monthly income of 5000. How? All families with an income of over 10,000 will have to give a percentage of their ration and 2,000 in cash as contribution towards the same. Reminds me of Atlas Shrugged, where people in authority make such laws that people have to break them for their very survival. I wouldn't be surprised if it got to that level although I hope not.

I am not against celebrations and such. Kalaignyar M.Karunanidhi is a great man in his own rights. All things apart he makes a great administrator and no one can deny that and I deeply respect him for that. But this is something I least expected from his party and the organizers of the even. Sad but true. Fortunately or unfortunately, I cant verify the verity of what I overheard.

This revealation reminds me of the plight of auto-rickshaw drivers as narrated by one. Turns out that the limited permit the goverment issues at nominal prices are bought by influencial men in bulk. And those wanting to drive an auto have to pay upto 10 times those stipulated by the government to get the permit from these guys, usually mortgaging their vehicle. Why wouldn't the auto drivers demand unfair charge when they are being taxed like this?

The only different I see between much of the west to India is that in the west you got to bribe to go against the norm, while in India you have to bribe if you want things to be done right. What can we do when the very people who are meant to uphold the law get into such acts. How different is this from the ones imposed on us during the british raj? Honestly I am not asking them to be 0% corrupt, coz that just doesnt fit well with democracy. Afterall, everyone needs to make money. But such impositions on business and people can definitely be minimal if not completely avoided. (Now I am talking in absolutes #-o *gosh*).

God bless this country.