Where are we after six decades of independence?
Employment, poverty, working, living conditions
Where are we after six decades of independence?
By Padma Bhargav, Freelance Journalist
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Gujarat, India-On the morning of August 15, 1947 thirty-three crores Indians woke up to see an independent country and celebrated as the sacrifices of great freedom fighters had borne fruit -- fruit of freedom, justice and sovereignty. Democracy for the people, of the people and by the people was established under a national party. People had high expectations from the new government - basic amenities, equality, abolition of caste system and differentiation on the basis of language, national integration, employment, literacy, infrastructure, social security, better living conditions, health facilities, homes, law and order, justice and above all good governance.
Today India is 59 years... old, but the people living in this country are still gasping for real freedom. We boast of growing at the rate of 9 to 10 per cent but at the same time there are people who do not have even pure drinking water, no food to eat and clothes to cover their bodies. People are dying due to the cold without any shelter, begging on roads and working like slaves just to survive. India fought against slavery in suppressed India but today also people are underpaid, earning less than minimum wages, and forced to work in unhealthy and unhygienic conditions.
Social equality is still a dream to come true. The new government promised to abolish the caste system so much so that the people also stopped writing their surnames. But when the new constitution was framed on January 26, 1950 reservation was allowed on the basis of caste in educational institutions, which has been increasing over the years. The British followed divide and rule policy to gain power and today also the society is being divided and disintegrated on the basis of sex, caste, language and religion to build vote banks and gain power. Is this not divide and rule policy?
Government has still not been able to achieve the targets with respect to improving the iteracy rate and the citizens are in a whirlpool of illiteracy -- population - unemployment -- poverty. There...s lots to be done in this area. According to UNESCO, in 2001 the adult literacy rate (age group 15 years and above) in India was 61.3 per cent and youth literacy rate (age group 15-24 years) is 73.3 per cent. Rising population is the burning issue and by 2016 India is expected to be the most populated country of the world. The family planning programs should be implemented equally in all castes and religions without any discrimination. The unemployment rate has been increasing continuously. As per the last survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation in 1999-2000, the unemployment rate among the educated persons (15 year and above) was 6.7 per cent in rural areas and 7.4 per cent in urban areas on an all-India basis. Unemployment combined with the increasing rate of inflation and burden of taxes is not allowing people to improve their standard of living. The government has been trying to provide the basic amenities but the efforts need to be geared up because even now 26.1 % of the population lives below the poverty line.
There is deficiency of well-equipped government and charitable hospitals due to which the poor people are unable to get required health care. India is still fighting with infant mortality, maternity deaths, deaths caused due to other infectious diseases and the eradication of polio. Infrastructure and electricity is one of the major issues and a number of villages are still living in darkness and even big cities face load shedding. There is a need to utilise the funds allotted for development of infrastructure and supply electricity to all the villages in an effective manner.
Justice! Probably a major thrust is required in this sector as even today the decisions take a long time and cases keep on piling up in the courts, and in some states the law and order is almost anarchical. The citizens are constantly living in fear and insecurity. When the Jaliawala Bagh massacre took place the national leaders revolted against it and sought independence from the British government, but today there is unrest everywhere, recent genocide in Assam and Nandigram in the East, perpetual terrorism in Kashmir, recent killings of young souls in UP and other parts of the countries, naxalites terror in the South, horror of dacoits in central India, terrorist attacks in the west, serial bomb blasts etc. but no party revolts today. During elections the national political parties give tickets to people with criminal backgrounds and tie up with separatist groups in order to gain power. When terrorist attacks take place they simply criticize and condemn and get out of the responsibility conveniently.
The people are witnessing only one kind of freedom in this country, the anti-social elements, terrorist organizations, and naxalites, ULFA, LTTE and such outfits are free to kill, hijack planes, attack parliament, hold serial blasts, and create terror in the minds of people.
At the end of the day the law abiding citizens feel cheated to see that their hard earned money, paid as taxes to the government for development of the country is probably not being utilized proportionately. Probably the time has come when 100 crore Indians should wake up again, unite and fight for justice, equality, and against the increasing corruption, non-governance, and unrest. They need to utilize their voting power intelligently and elect a leader who would be able to fulfil the overdue objectives of independence.
Padma Bhargav is a freelance journalist and can be reached at e-mail: padma.bhargav@gmail.com
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