2021 has started and what a hectic year it has been personally. Life as they say is comprised of fifty shades of Gray (no this has nothing to do with the film by this name). Nothing is right or wrong: Black or white. But these are the days of Polarization. You have to either be right or wrong. You are with me or against me. And Yes, I support this polarization. Surprised? That too when it's natural in life to have truth somewhere halfway there. There were Gods and there were demons with humanity somewhere in between throughout ages. But these days it is different. There is a time in life when you have to take a position. And these are those days for one to take a stand. Either pro or anti. A blatant example is Terrorism. You can be either against it or are yourselves a terrorist. There is no justification of any 'injustice' done to one religion/region. As George W Bush said in his famous and maligned speech. He was ridiculed for nothing those days. But he headed few initiatives that ensured that 9/11 was not repeated in the US. Now it may incite few reactions that this justification of polarization is provocative but I believe proactivity and action are more worth than reflective passive opinions and inactivity. Thus I am taking a stance to hail the good, regret the bad, and fight against the ugly.
Let's start with good things till now in Feb and Jan 2021. Budget focus on infrastructure was the key. Also not disturbing the taxation helped. There was the direction of reforms through disinvestment and restructuring of banks. The revenue models were realistic. The farmer reform was another step earlier but ugly politics and vested interest ensured that the government had to be careful on further reforms. Sensex though acts independently was raised to 50k in Jan as another record. IMF has a good economical forecast. Indias Vaccination push to the world is another watershed movement. And we drew at Sydney and won at Brisbane was the icing on cherry with a fairy tale story. Most importantly life seems to be back in India and corona cases going down.
Bad things also happened like Avalanche in Uttarakhand. I am personally so connected to Uttarakhand, having travelled in various hills and done few treks, adventure sports. Another instance of climate and environmental imbalance. There was a fire in serum institute Pune claiming 6 lives and affecting Vaccine production. There was a bird flu scare. A baby warmer accident caused another grief in Maharashtra as Maharathra govt continues to bungle on all administrative fronts. Corona situation in UK/US and other European countries deteriorated.
The ugliest things are the ones we should take stand against. Firstly Chinese aggression against India, Taiwan and others in the region. That should really be taken us bilateralty with strength and diplomatically using latest ecoplitical faultlines. Secondly, what happened on Capitol Hill. The entire systems needs an overhaul to streamline the democratic processes in this part of the world. Finally our own events in our Capital on 26th January. This was ardent display of power organized by vested interests. There is a possibility that anti social elements entered so called protests to create violence but the so called facade of 'democratic' protests is nothing but numbershow of the vested interests of one section in agriculture businessmen. Please note that these are the protests by Businessmen in farming and not farmers as we imagine traditionally. No other profession have this strength and sympathy like agriculture. Imaginge any other professions like Tailors, Carpentars protesting for government to guratntee that they buy their services and that too at agreed prices. Subsidise their purchase of raw material like tools /land for workshop. Agriculture Protests happens in every democratic country or what we call as civilized world. And most economies have heavy subsidies etc for farmers. Governments control tariffs to control interests manipulating imports/exports. No other profession has this kind of support. Now even assuming that this sector is premium I think its fair that this sectors needs reforms. There are hoax and lies. Nowhere government has said that it will do away with subsidies or MSPs. Food Security act ensues that government will have to procure 20-30 kg grains per family in year . Its a reasonable regulation to link MSPs to world prices. Regulations that are norms for other businesses like PAN etc to regulate subsidies , stremaline taxation are reasonable. Monopoly of trader control APMCs need to go. These reforms are lauded by all experts as much needed. Subsidy in Power and fertilizers about to Rs 1.2 lakhs per acre on average. So assuming land holding of rich agricultural businessmen, its worth regulation. The lies that agriculture is sold to big corporates is political and period. These protestor also draw huge amount of water and are fighting for their rights to burn stubble polluting . We have seen in 91 that reforms help the downmost person in pyramid to have a chance of trickle down. Our marginalize farmers will really benefit as shown by efficient direct to market initiatives and efficient and non corrupt cooperative movements. Its one point to debate this . Govermnet was will willing to negotiate . These are bills passed by legislators elected by people rightfully in democracies. Negotiations is only way to go but all we see is politics against government, pointless global support from biased western media and non entities and all and sundry celebrities. Everyone has different agenda to take up existing government incumbent for second time through most democratic forms of elections. But what happened in the name of protests was really ugly and any form of support to these kind of protests means an alternate agenda. Time to take stand.. Reforms are needed and India story should move on as we try to fight pandemic and time to firmly support recovery and reforms. Vested interest and lobbying can be tackled through powerful negotiation and restrain is my recommendation to the government.
On this snowy Superbowl weekend, we hope normacly returns in near future by the time spring sets in as we fight the pandemic. 2021 has completed one month. Time flies. I had two successful events : 1 Sankranti festival for CTMM with creative inputs and part compering/management for the event. 2 The second show of our online play 'Eka Paatrachi Online Goshta' for BMM along with singing of natyasangeet. I am planning for one program for Shivjayanti on Feb 20, Antakshari on valentine weekend and marathi culture quiz week later. Work is busy as usual and hopefully next year will be more in person than online... It will be almost one year of looking inwards...
1 comment:
Amen to that brother!!
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