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.

When Development is tagged to political parties...

Its good that development as a topic of discussion  takes a central stage in political discourses. But the most important thing which can be noted that the governments in its nomenclature is also termed out to be X parties government. When in democracy we adopted by naming a central and state govt. by parties. The political parties have a limited role to play in decision making exercise, which are supposed to be outcome of extensive research on the policy research, its impact and monitoring. 'Development' which till recently world over is thought about a serious exercise which does not mean going by party line (which often is not an outcome of well researched agenda) but by analysis of the data given through national or state level surveys. During the discourse we are into the position of easily projecting an development ideologies which stands on the political ideology and of course which totally differs from the theoretical bases. The schemes which can be objectively targeted at the development needs of the people emerges to be treating to the political needs of the parties.

The good research output suggestive of a policy which might be emerging from the burning of night oil by the numerous support staff (you may call them researches) often turning to be night mare to convince the political bosses. How on earth development issues can be limited to political parties without institutional backup. Are parties suppose to run a parallel institutional network? Or the institutions also become politicised to give feed accordingly to the political class. The individuals in the recent political arena tries to make the policies based on the their believes which in most of the cases are poorly analysed by themselves. The polarisation of the parties in the national issues is also resulting in the policy polarisaiton on the party lines. To some extent these are good to understand the good and bad outcome expected of the decisions taken by a political leaders. But do we essentially mean to say that the system is not in place to find the problems, discuss with people for verification and solutions. Development to wide spectrum of people means illusion created by the political masters. The populism of the policy depends more on the freebies which in long run may not be fruitful.

There is little doubt about the political parties in asserting their wish to the policy makers, when they themselves become the policy makers by not just discussing it among themselves also creating a no question mode for the people, the problem of acceptance arises. The serious development analysis in these scenarios take a back seat. The state governments now if seen from the political perspectives may stand in front of central governments in accepting the major political decisions or even rediculing the central decisions. Same in the case of the grass root democratic setup a situation of distress arises when the basic policy intentions and guidelines are violated. We are in a situation when more we look into the problems we try to find the quick answers which are of course short lived. Certain conflict in the policy approach or infighting between the political class has seen as loss of good opportunity in sharing the best of all. 

State Elections reduced to Personality Politics

Strange that Indian's democracy instead of getting more mature is getting more fizzled out with literates being herded by the power leaders to effect their decisions. The power politics have taken toll on the rationalism of the people. The recent concluded state elections have more to do with national leadership taking control of the state. The state issues hardly mattered rather the performance of the center is successfully evaluated and referendum asked for the contesting leaders. The issue of governance and decentralisation have failed to move the people on the issue on which the election could have been conducted. The election though tends to be more participatory with more participation, the sense of disorientation is clear within a political system. Its like one party, one person, one vote, whether you are in local, state or central election. This personality though lying low in southern India, transformed into the central and all India, is set to effect the electoral choice not of one candidate but a serious lobby and policy outcome of the ruling parties. The opposition would be happy to win game one by coming with sufficient majority in most of the states. What emerges is the lack of issues and implementation will by the ruling parties and opposition declaring hordes of populus schemes aimed to woo the voters. This is correct when the leaders often offer the cheapest food to get votes and its said that India is coming out of poverty.

This syndrome continues when others are lured with laptops, sarees, dowry (paid by govt) and other freebies to get the chance to vote for the parties. The value based judgement of the candidates are missing. What would be caricature of Indian politicians when they are supposed to 'give' in advance there share of booty till they achieve power.

Disaster coming to Coastal Odisha, AP and West Bengal: Be Prepared

Cyclone Phailin approaching India's Eastern Coast is supposed to be largest intensity experience by the country. The minimum required disaster preparedness is done, within the states this is not clear about the safety beyond the settlements abutting the coast. The real time tracking of the cyclone gives seriousness of the disaster, which requires ground presence of the teams. Hope the help of defense in such cases are ready on the ground. We are yet to get the live images when its just 150 km sway from the coast.

The image shows the path of the cyclone, majority of them affecting the high population area. The citizens might be now advised to stay indoors into an safe structure. The disaster shelters should be used along with closing all the door and windows, tightned the loose items, put cars and vechicles in locked garrages, do not use electricity or electronic device during the course of cyclone. Store only emergency items, make your selves for the emergency lights, torches, bag carrying only essentials. Take care of old, children and women, do not allow yourself near to the poles, trees and dangerous structures. Evacuate the place if it is abutting the coast,  and help administration only after cylone passes from your area. Heavy rains associated with cyclone may also cause flooding and people are advised to restrict their travel between the cities and water logged areas. We hope the state and their people would have enough awareness about the seriousness, but do not panic. This would also pass.....