Nature Remembers You...

Nature Remembers You...
Imaginations..Questions..Solutions

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Political parties and personalities taking over the government today...

The constitution of India a document people of India gave to themselves to decide the future of India and manner in which the stakeholders should be behaving has done well during last six decades by inching towards the progress. The progress so made now also have credit takers as well as those who demonize the development also give credit to political class. The 'government' so defined constituted the four estates, executive, legislative and judiciary. In addition 'media' as forth estate constitute what government was supposed to be in democracy. Some may also cite 'people' community or mob as a part of the fourth estate. But during these last 60 years India's democracy is now fully taken over the political class by claiming government as their own, the government's are now titles as 'congress government' 'Janta Government' or BJP Government, and more brazenly as Manmohan's Government, Modi's Government, Mulayams Governments, Vasundhara's Government etc. It so feels now that we are returning backing to feudal system of governance. The lordships have divided the country among themselves and trying to get control of more territories by claiming victory over the opposition territory. The political class conveniently run the government (as they claim), and asks the people to go to long sleep and slumber till before the next election.

Such is the desire of the political class, that they create the political lobbies in the other estates like in executive, judiciary and media. They are often used to target the opposition, and often purchased by using ill gotten monies from the political slung matches. The furious fight is for the people to believe that they are enemies but as true to their class they do not mind to come together for their own self, or political benefits. The same opposition parties becomes a part of the common minimum program to run the ill mandated governance. The fate of nation though not really being planned by either of the political parties they use the other estates for their own political benefit. The system so builds takes care of the orientation of common citizens towards the political debates and the interest of them takes back seat. It takes few more people to join the political bandwagon to claim government of their own. Democracy in such conditions often fails to address the needs to people (who are not aligned to the ruling parties). The societies across are polarized between the political camps often prevails to feed their political masters and class.

 The dance of democracy from the political claimant's continues till the upcoming election 2014 in India, the political rivalries on the street also tends to friendly affairs among the seasoned politicians. The country divided into the political views ultimately has to follow the constitution, its hard to believe how one can clean the system unless its changed often. 'Swaraj' or 'Self rule' by the people was the essence of the Indian democracy but political class or emerging political class stops short of addressing the people or they themselves have accepted the political masters. Let the parties divide the nations, societies and communities by polarizing the political lines and keep people divided to run their democratic governments. Whether the political class have taken over the governments? we need to be more cautious in understanding the manner in which India's democracy would mature.  

Friday, February 14, 2014

Development Plan: Realtors and politicians guiding the cities

Long time ago there was agenda for the public participation in the preparation of the development plans for the cities. The town planners instead of preparing the table plans were instructed to take the inputs from the people and stake holders to prepare the development plans. It cannot be just the coloured land use plan, but it was supposed to take the inputs regarding the vision of people and stakeholders, aspirations of youth and urban middle class. Providing amenities, green spaces, transportation facilities etc, were the intentions the town plans were prepared. Recently the very agenda of the people and governments are hijacked by the Realtor's and politicians by making changes suitable to their own agenda's. The plans are made in hurry with cosy involvement of the consultants, government planners and babus sitting in state secratraits. The plans so prepared are now carefully looked for protecting the interests of the politicians and their real estate friends. The cities are now catering to upcoming market areas and investment destinations as desired by the construction industry, the people and their aspirations are not being focus of the development plans.

The land parcels whether its in hand of the government or the builders are taken care in the new development plans. The high stake in the land markets often drive the investors in careful control of the development plans. The make or break story of the development plans are often now tied up with the stake of the high and mighty. The fianancial stake of political parties in addressing the needs of the builders and contractors are eating into the development funds. Large investment is not for the improvement of the existing living environment or redevelopment of the deliapilated areas but to fund the upcoming market areas suitable for the realtor's. The quick fix lies into the addressing the needs of the land market forgetting the huge gap in urban infrastructure.

The urban infrastructure which are required in the towns and cities across the countries are often neglected on the one hand and huge investment are made in fly overs, river fronts, roads which services the new areas. The city needs more focus on the people who live in poor conditions, the few urban projects which high lights vision of the present population.