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Mumbai Taj Hotel on 7/11/08
The Bombay blasts are very disturbing. It raises many thoughts in one’s mind. I do not know where and whom to express these thoughts. I thought of putting them on paper so that I will get a feeling and satisfaction that I have expressed them to some one!!!
We all saw how the so called politicians tried to take advantage of such a situation in their favour and how they twisted and minced words. We also saw how many of them came forward to help people in need and grief.
The common men and women were there without seeing the nationality or caste or creed or sex or financial or educational status to help but these so called servers of the society were hiding safely in the safety of their houses enjoying and planning how to take advantage of the situation.
This incident makes us think regarding the need for the revamping of the entire system. So much is spoken now as well as in the past. We talk for a while and then forget about the entire episode and start the life as usual till another such incident takes place. Has it not been happening all these years?
One heartening thing is that near the Nariman House, it is said that the local youth were doing the needful till the protecting force arrived. This shows that we are not lacking in co-operation, courage, skill and in the willingness to come forward in times of need. Why not we make use of these qualities for progress, in times of need and for growth in all areas always. The only requirement for this is the willingness and the desire to accept them and ask them for help. How many of our so called politicians have this requirement or have this quality?
We already have States, districts, Talukas etc. Let us divide the Talukas into Areas and divide them into Sectors. These Sectors will have a few streets in each town or village. Each street should have a head chosen by the locals, so that that person knows everyone in his/her area and the people in that area too will know that person well and is easy to approach.
Each should have a representation in the immediate upper governing body. And this should go on upwards. This will ensure easy governance and peoples’ needs will be known and can be addressed. This will help to identify who is who and what is happening in each area. It is easy to keep a watch on all and their activities. Will the so called politicians allow this? What will happen to their selfish requirements? Who will address them?!!
Now, each area may collect the youth and start training them in the proper way regarding how to handle situations like this and others too, like, earth quake, flood havoc, epidemic eruption, fire etc. and especially terrorism .They can be educated in many areas like, proper nutrition, proper health care, and importance of family planning, cleanliness and many more. They can be utilized in many ways.
Secondly, politics. How are we going to handle the dirty politics and the politicians? Is there a way and method for this? Yes. Firstly we should have a well defined and designed rules for contesting in the elections, like, minimum qualification (an illiterate should not be considered eligible), family background (any criminals are there in the family etc), number of children for her/him (else how will he/she propagate the importance of family planning!!), his/her background, what is his/her contribution to the society till that date, then what is his/her agenda in the election. We should fix a maximum age to be eligible to contest in the election. We have had enough of these old people sticking on to the post for so long. There are quite a few youngsters waiting in queue to do service to this society (as we have seen in our cricket team).
The family ruling the people generation after generation should be stopped once for all.
People should think and rise for the occasion.
We may even announce that all the security to all these so called VVIPs will be withdrawn with immediate effect. This will discourage many from contesting the elections!!! Those who are really ready to serve with good intensions and sincere efforts can come to power and serve the country with integrity and commitment
How many of us know that there is a system in our constitution, as per the 1969 act, in section “49-O” that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding election officer that he doesn’t want to vote anyone!
Yes such a feature is available, but obviously these seemingly notorious leaders have never disclosed it. This is called “49-O”.
Why should you go and say “I VOTE NOBODY”… because, in a ward, if a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received “49-O” votes more than 123, then that polling will be cancelled and will have to be re-polled. Not only that, but the candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest the re-polling, since people had already expressed their decision on them.
This would bring fear into parties and hence look for genuine candidates for their parties for election. This would change the way; of our whole political system… it is seemingly surprising why the election commission has not revealed such a feature to the public….
Seems to be a wonderful weapon against corrupt parties in India … show your power, expressing your desire not to vote for anybody, is even more powerful than voting… so don’t miss your chance. So either vote, or vote not to vote (vote 49-O), but do not remain silent or indifferent.
These are only raw thoughts and needs much improvement and modifications. The concerned authorities may give proper and unbiased thoughts in this direction without selfishness.
This article was contributed by Vijayalakshmi for Thfire.com.
