Fate of Government welfare schemes.

Sir ,

Ms Sonia Gandhi , with tremendous fan fare and in the glare of publicity launched Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi Arogya Yojana in Nagpur . The very first health card  under the Yojana was personally handed over by Ms Gandhi  to one Shakuntala Bhagat selected by Government machinery to be a person below poverty line.

Major head line in the paper now claim that First BPL health card holder is a rich lady . Now "rich" is a relative term , but if  son of Shakuntala Bhagat owns a Maruti Alto car , the mother can not be a BPL person . Benefit of the scheme clearly having gone  to a person who does not deserve or merit it .The But then this has been the story of ALL the welfare schemes costing thousands of crores of tax payers money . In all the schemes major part of that money  has gone down the pockets of politicians , Babus and the middle man .  it has not  gone to people for whom the schemes were meant.That is also the reason as to why, despite of  all those crores of money spent quality of  of life a a person in BPL.

PM Velankar.

Letter to Editor : None Of The Above : aka NOTA.

Sir , 

For the last 20 - 25 odd years or more ,  time since corruption in the places of power , the Babus and Politicians had acquired such mammoth proportions that it was becoming impossible to vote for a person who was not corrupt.Right thinking people   had almost stopped going to the polling booths or they went to elect a person who was least corrupt.

NOTA provision has come as a breath of fresh air and a game changer . Urban voters and right thinking people now  have the right and the choice to  reject the corrupt politicians , which most of them are .

 However  EC has issued statements that NOTA not withstanding , person getting maximum number of votes will be declared winner . It seems EC has issued such statement without proper application of mind or taking large number of possibilities in to account . Apparently EC has not considered a case where NOTA gets 51 % or more  votes of the total votes cast . In such a case is EC going to declare politician  getting maximum vote the winner ?That would be against the the spirit of NOTA . More importantly it will be against the provision of the our Constitution which says that our government is of the people , for the people and BY THE  people , Obviously if 51% or more of the electorate votes for NOTA it clearly means that the people have no faith and trust in the politicians in the fray . None of them are considered worthy to represent the majority of the population and to get elected.. SC has, presently not entertained PIL to order re-poll but in case of scenario mentioned earlier ,  EC will  have no option but to order a re-poll . It will be a very costly and time consuming proposition but it will FORCE the political parties to nominate persons of integrity and in whom people can trust .  This needs urgent consideration as in present social milieu NOTA getting 51% or more in just held State election is a very very strong  possibility. 

PM Velankar

THIS WAS PUBLISHED 04-12-2013

     

Letter to Editor. For City.

Sir ,

Generally one sees only letters complaining about NIT / NMC / MSEB ,etc

There are hardly any letters commending good work done by the staff of these or any other utility services . The reason could be because such events are indeed very rare.

In this milieu I would like to report a pleasant surprise . In the last 20 days street light in our vicinity went un-serviceable TWICE . 

I was given a number to register the complaint . One Mr Rathod attended the call and I gave details about the pole no etc with a request to get it repaired . Imagine our surprise when we noticed the light being repaired within 2 to 3 hours of my reporting . 

The same tube light went un-serviceable again  . I reported the matter on Saturday at about 1800 h.Again Mr Rathod attended the call . I was told that the matter will be attended on Monday . I am very happy to report that the light was set right by 1130 h on Monday .

Well done Mr Rathod & thanks . May there be many more people like you  with your dedication & efficiency . 

P M Velankar, Nagpur

Published in City 05/12/13.

Letter to Editor. - Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport

Sir ,

when commissioned , Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport , was pride of Nagpur .

For the last many months electronic information board near Arrival gate is not serviceable . It has become problematic to obtain  information about arriving flights.

General cleanliness of the air port premises also needs much improvement.

 It is unfortunate that an institution established after spending corers of rupees is losing its luster and  losing its pristine glory due to careless , inefficient and apathetic attitude of Airport Management.

I would appeal to the concerned Authorities through the city column of your esteemed paper to wake up from their slumber and as a start to make  electronic information board near arrival gate serviceable as soon as possible.

Yours Sincerely,

PM Velankar