Traffic Discipline .

I have written a letter to our Cabinet Minister for Transport and Rural Development Mr Nitin Gadkari,on the above subject for his consideration .

What I have written is as follows :-

Respected Sir ,

From your announcements about installing cctv cameras on traffic crossings to catch drivers jumping the red light and enhancements of fines etc  clearly indicate that as a Transport Minister you are really concerned about the road accidents and serious in improving the traffic discipline in the country .

  

 Here are my suggestions for improving overall situation  and traffic discipline  , which you in your capacity as a Cabinet Minister in Central Government are in a position to consider and implement.:

1. Permit every traffic policeman, irrespective of his rank ,  to raise challans & collect fines for traffic violations.

2. Make Rules , Regulations , enact laws , whatever is necessary ,  whereby an amount  equal to 25% of the total  fines collected by traffic policemen for traffic violations  and deposited in Government Treasury , is credited in the personal pay packet of the concerned policeman. 

3.Educate every child from KG onward about traffic rules and also inculcate discipline and civic sense  

Reasoning and logic for these suggestions are :

1. To the best of my knowledge , presently only traffic police of the rank of Havaldar can raise challans for fines related to offences of traffic violations . Number of Havaldars are very few considering quantum jump in traffic. Traffic rules violators go scot-free as there are no Havaldars to catch violators or impose fines . There are only 300 traffic Havaldars in whole of Mumbai . Only couple of days back Maharashtra High Court had pulled up Maharashtra Government for not authorising police constables to raise and collect the fines , even though the proposal for this has been pending with the Government for more than 3 - 4 years.  

2. Even with enhanced and stiffer fines people are just not bothered or scared about violating traffic rules as they are not caught due to shortages of traffic police or if caught , they offer fraction of the fine amount as bribe and go about committing another traffic violation . Authorising every traffic police  / police man will , to great extent , overcome the man power shortage problem . If rules permit for 25% of the fine amount to be credited in the personal pay of the concerned policeman , it  will eliminate corruption completely . Policeman  will also welcome this legitimate increase in their pay which has no attached guilt feeling or fear of getting caught while accepting bribe. This positive development will motivate the policeman to such an extent that the number of people getting away with traffic violation will reduce to barest minimum . Gradually following traffic rules to avoid getting caught and paying fines will develop in to habit. Thus gradually a society will come about which will follow the rules . 

 Group Captain PM Velankar,VM ( retd)

Ms Devyani hurt by the reaction of people in India.

Ms Devyany Khobragade belongs to the elite class in All India Services cadre . This class is supposed to be above average in intelligence , managerial and leadership qualities . That is why they have been put in position to rule and administer the masses of India.

It is therefore surprising as to why she should be hurt if people are not ready to believe her . Apparently she has been living in a world of her own and is totally unaware of the reputation earned by our politicians and the Babus , read ,elite all India cadres .

Over the past 60 odd years both classes have worked assiduously in scandalously looting the country , creating one scam after the other , shielding the guilty because they have the power and authority  to refuse permission to file charges or investigations against their own class .

Is it a wonder that after working hard for so long in earning reputation for corruption and falsehood aam admi has difficulty in believing whatever is said by these worthies .

CBI -- Quo Vadis ???

My latest to the Editor  :-)

Sir ,
It was not long back that the SC had called CBI a caged parrot . There was great hue and cry about the autonomy and freedom to investigate ALL cases without fear or favour .

It seems old habits die hard as is indicated from the way CBI is filing closure reports in coal gate , 2G , commonwealth games and other scam  cases , one would not be surprised if one day closure reports are filed in all  cases indicating that the scams did not take place at all.

However, as always, alert and impartial judiciary has stepped in . Special court has refused to accept the closure report filed by CBI in case involving MP based Kamal Spong Steel and Power limited . The Court said "probe carried out was sketchy and conclusions apparently wrong ". This is not the first time that CBI has been pulled up by the Courts for slipshod investigation . There are numerous cases where the courts have to acquit the charged person only because of absence of evidence as a result of faulty and slipshod investigation .

In the referred case the court further observes " investigation has been carried out in the matter is not only sketchy  in nature but seems to have been carried out while deciding the end result and there after to carry out the investigation and prepare the final report accordingly . In fact no investigation worth the name has been carried out in the present matter " (emphasis mine)

Nothing could be more damning than these observations .

Who was responsible for the things to come to such a pass on this & other investigations . Apparently the investigating officers are not accountable to any one at all . Responsibilities are never fixed . No one seems to be answerable for their acts of omission and commission .

Now that Modi Government is in power  all such cases where the investigation or the closure reports have invited adverse comments from judiciary must be looked into ,officers must be held accountable ,  responsibility must be fixed and strictest action taken against such guilty officers .

PM Velankar

My latest to the Editor .

Government has scrapped the practice of sending delegation of MPs to UNGA . 

It is well known to the conman man , the Aam Adami , that most of the MPs either did not attend the sessions nor made any meaningful contribution during the meetings. These trips were total waste of money as the trips were used purely as paid foreign holidays by these worthies to enjoy & collect some foreign goodies. 

A most welcome decision , keeping in line with drastic cut in number of Babus accompanying the sportsmen & sportswomen for International sports meets .

My latest to the Editor .

Mr Kailash Satyarthi, a true blue Indian ,  is a co-winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize,This is most heartening and a matter of immense Joy and Pride for  all the people of India . He has really made us proud . We wish him all the very best in all his endeavours .

This is not tne only award he has won . As per wiki following is the list  

• 2014: Nobel Peace Prize^[1]
• 2009: Defenders of Democracy Award (US)^[28]
• 2008: Alfonso Comin International Award (Spain)^[29]
• 2007: Gold medal of the Italian Senate (2007)^[30]
• 2007: recognized in the list of "Heroes Acting to End Modern Day Slavery" by the US State Department^[31]
• 2006: Freedom Award (US)^[32]
• 2002: Wallenberg Medal, awarded by the University of Michigan^[33]
• 1999: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Award (Germany)^[34]
• 1998: Golden Flag Award (Netherlands)^[35]
• 1995: Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (US)^[36]
• 1995: The Trumpeter Award (US)^[37]
• 1994: The Aachener International Peace Award (Germany)^[38][39]
• 1993: Elected Ashoka Fellow (US)^[40]

 It is  a matter of shame that all the above awards are given by foreign governments and that Indian Government under the UPA had never considered him for any award whatsoever .

Life is like that !!

"TUITION CLASSES" IS NOW BIG BUSINESS WITH HIGH RETURNS 

Letter to Editor.

My latest dispatch to The Editor The Hitavada .

Text for first two photos .:
Swacchta Abhiyan Launched !!!!

Notice has been put , but no one knows who will take " dandatymak " action .

Text for the third photo :-

This is a brand new wheelbarrow . Public money has been spent on its procurement . These are provided to "safai" staff to transport garbage over short distances . Here the collected garbage has been "incinerated " in the wheelbarrow . Where is the commonsense , civic sense . This is sheer stupid mentality . What are the supervisors doing ?

Letter to Editor .

I am an incorrigible fellow . Editors are not interested in publishing my writing , still I persist. Here is my latest offering..
Sir ,
It has been five days since the PM announced Swaccha Bharat Abhiyan.
No one expects miracles or magic of the type that one waves a wand and heaps of garbage from every where just disappear . Still it is disappointing to see no reaction or improvement whatsoever in work culture of the civic authorities responsible for solid and liquid waste management and garbage removal . In fact garbage collection truck did not visit our locality from 01 Oct onwords till today , ie for 6 days !!
The route I follow for my morning walk is along Mangalmurti Chowk on Jayatala road to Sitala Mata Mandir ,left on to Hingna road up to ring road "T" junction and left on to Mangalmurti Chowk on Jayatala road . It completes my morning walk loop.It is matter of shame that in this loop of just about 4 KMs there are any number of places converted to garbage dumps . I am regrettably but ,100 % sure that situation in rest of the Nagpur is no better .NMC clears some of them once in blue moon. When ever I have seen a person dumping household garbage , I have challenged them . Some give sheepish grin , some just show no reaction and there are some fellows who have the gumption to tell me to mind my on business. No matter how many Abhiyans are launched by the PM , no matter how efficiently our civic bodies work , unless and until every individual understands his civic responsibilities ,he himself is motivated to maintain cleanliness all around , Swaccha Bharat will remain a distant dream .
It is unfortunate but a reality , and I am ashamed to admit it , that most of the Indians do not respond to requests to improve themselves or willingly follow rules . What they really respond to is a "danda " on the backside . I am not against individual freedom . However if that freedom is used where it adversely affects the well being of majority of the population it is the duty of the Government to curb such freedom. I tried to find any law which provides imposition of collective fines for indiscriminate garbage disposal in public domain on the residents of the locality where such garbage dumps spring up . There is a site http://www.indiankanoon.org/search/… giving whole heaps of laws . I do not know if any one of them is against dumping of garbage . I earnestly request the lawmakers to enact such a law at the earliest and civic authorities to impose it most vigorously . Enforce the people to pay collective fines of an amount which will act as deterrent . Coughing up just a couple of such hefty fines and I am confident that Swaccha Bharat can become a reality .
Jai Hind .

PM Velankar.

Justic delayed

My latest offering  to Editor The Hitawada .

Sir ,
There was a time ,  in not so distant past , when in our great country no one would have thought it possible that people with money power or with  political connections at very high level could be prosecuted . To begin with , police would never register a complaint . If at all it was registered it was never investigated . If at all it was investigated and investigation was undertaken , it was never completed.If at all it was completed it was deliberately carried out in such slipshod manner that in the first hearing the Judge had no choice but to dismiss the case . In those days for a political heavy weight or a Minister to be prosecuted was simply unthinkable .
CGA's reports on CWG , 2G , coal gate scams and strong and direct indictment of politicians created such a strong public feelings and outrage that after initial attempts to shield the guilty politicians , the government had no option but to follow laid down legal procedures. So we had very welcome developments of the likes of Kalmadi , Laloo Yaday , Chauthala , Raju of Satyam , Subrata Roy of Sahara being sent to prison . The latest in these welcome developments is the  sentencing of Ms Jayalalitha  to 4 years in prison .
In all these , contribution of and  part played by the Judiciary must be mentioned with pride . Hats off to them .
However what remains to be seen and it ₹ 100 crore question ,  is when Ms Jayalalitha starts her prison sentence and for how long at a stretch she remains behind the bars . I say this because in most of these cases they are either out on bail or in hospitals . Despite of being sentenced to prison they are leading comfortable life and carrying on life as usual of addressing political rallies etc . After addressing one such rally the Courts had to order Chauthala  to report to prison or face a panel of medical specialists.  In present case also Ms Jayalalitha's  lawyers have already applied for bail . Then there will be appeals in the high courts and the SC . Then there is always the  chest pain which invariably surfaces in all these VIPs who are promptly shifted to private hospitals where they enjoy five star treatment .
We know that all this is possible due cleverness and expertise of very highly paid lawyers engaged by these people who make use of every loophole and escape route available in the law . A Sanjay Datt is released on bail whenever he wants to look after is supposedly sick wife who was seen attending late night parties . Likes of Chautahala and  Laloos are addressing political rallies . Common man who can not afford high priced lawyers or had no political or money clout never get bail even for genuine reasons and keep rotting in jail .
Modi Government is undertaking review of outdated laws . It is our earnest wish that they must review the laws and plug all the loopholes which allow these so called public servants to roam freely even when found guilty and sentenced to prison . Even when  appeals are made to the higher courts ,  person must be confined behind the prison walls till such time all the appeals are finally disposed off . After all they can not be presumed innocent till  the appeals are finally disposed off because they have  already been found guilty by the court after due process of law which has taken years and years In Ms Jayalalitha's case it was 18 years .
I wish a law is enacted where politicians and babus are presumed guilty till proven innocent :-)
PM Velankar . 

My letter to Hitavada on Stray Dog Menace .

The Editor / s,

Sir I started writing about the nuisance of stray dogs for publication in Citymail . 

However I felt I had to bring out the dangers and health hazards in details . Obviously it was not possible to stick to the normal length of city mail letter.

I feel even if it is too long ,  by publishing it you will be raising the awareness  of this menace and render a great public service.

PM Velankar . 

Stray Dog Menace .

All those who go for morning walk or use Nagpur roads / streets / side streets   will know what I am talking about. Every year , around this time people take up this matter with NMC directly or through public flora  . Every year NMC puts out very tall claims in controlling / reducing  stray dog menace. To prove their point very large numbers of dogs having been  neutered are quoted . Official web site of ASPCA has this to say about neutering . " While the traditional age for neutering is six to nine months, puppies as young as eight weeks old can be neutered as long as they’re healthy. Dogs can be neutered as adults as well, although there’s a slightly higher risk of post-operative complications in older dogs who are overweight. " . As all the vets would be aware of the limitations of age of dog it is very very difficult to believe the neutering figures put forward by NMC .However year by year increasing  number of stray dogs and puppies being born to stray dogs give lie to NMC claims . 

Killing stray dogs is not resorted to due to protests by pseudo intellectuals who also protest about killing of terrorists , dog lovers , Organisations like People for Ethical Treatment of Animals ( PETA ) , Society For Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ( SPCA ) and various well meaning as well as self serving NGOs.  

How the stray dogs are big nuisance , dangerous and health hazard ,

(1). Dog Poops all over.

Web site http://www.wikihow.com/Category:Dog-Grooming has this to say about dog poop. " Unsightly, smelly, a breeding medium for germs and disease, and a huge hassle on the sole of a shoe, dog poop is not a desirable feature in any neighborhood. Dog feces plays a significant role in water pollution, especially in cities, and the bacteria that makes its way into streams, lakes and the water table can make people sick. Indeed, a single gram of dog feces can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria that can cause cramps, diarrhea, intestinal disorders and kidney problems. In 1991, the EPA even designated dog poop as a "nonpoint source of pollution" putting it right up there with oil and toxic chemicals. "

 Early morning walkers , when it is still dark  , thanks to the state of street lights maintained by the sams NMC,  have often regretted inability to spot such dog poops.  Morning walkers who go out  when the light condition has improved have to hop around these . I agree that this hopping around adds to the exercise value of the walk but one mistake leaves you with feeling of revulsion and   disgust .Dog owners who take their pets for a walk will do great service to the society if example of Singapore & Western countries is followed of cleaning up after the pet .

(2) Urine Marking of territory . 

Stray dogs urinating all over is a common disgusting sight and a health hazard and nuisance . My car tyres have bore the brunt of being territory of large number of dogs. Of course large number of people also urinate all over but they are not marking territory .

(3) Chasing of intruder stray dogs from other localities and territory .

Mindless , furious and extremely fast chase by a pack of 10 to 15 dogs being given to any intruding dog  from other localities is a very common sight . The chasing pack in bent only on one thing and that is to catch the intruder before it leaves their territory . They are extremely dangerous to two wheeler traffic as they may confront a rider without any warning and leave no reaction time causing life threatening accident.. I have been witness to an accident where a senior citizen was knocked down by such a dog pack and suffered a  fracture injury. If the unfortunate dog is caught by the pack it is mercilessly and mindlessly attacked by the whole pack . If such a dog fight happens next to any one ,   one may suffer from serious dog bite. 

(4) Chasing Vehicles.

Some dogs for no reason whatsoever will suddenly start barking and chase a two wheeler or even a car . If the rider is taken by surprise and panics it may lead to serious accident..

(5) Night long barking . 

People have lost any number of sleep due to prolonged barking by the dogs . This may adversely affect their health .

(6) Diseased animals.

One often sees lots of stray dogs suffering from serious diseases , Fron puss running ulcers & sores to scruffy skin diseases , deformed legs , paralytic front or rear legs ets . Some may even turn rabid . All these are serious and dangerous source of infections & spread of sickness of serious nature . 

NMC has been totally ineffective in providing protection to the citizens of Nagpur from the danger and prevention of  Physical and health hazards in failing to  control the stray dog menace . Much tom tommed about Neutering programme  of NMC has been abysmal failure . 

NMC now must resort to KILLING these stray dogs by whatever means available at its disposal .

I fully realise that pseudo intellectuals , dogg lovers , do gooders  from People for Ethical Treatment of Animals ( PETA ) , Society For Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ( SPCA ) and various well meaning as well as self serving NGOs. will be up in arms against me for suggesting KILLING ,  I could have used "putting to sleep " instead of the word " Killing " a word which I have used deliberately to provoke public debate on this very important issue . Very large number of people will raise a hue & cry about killing of dogs , the very same people enjoy variety of poultry , meat , fish , and depending on religious beliefs Beef and Pork. The very same creatures WERE KILLED before they landed up as tasty dishes on their dining tables . So what are the grounds for opposing killing of stray dogs which are dangerous and pose serious health hazard . If all the  pseudo intellectuals , dogg lovers , do gooders  from People for Ethical Treatment of Animals ( PETA ) , Society For Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ( SPCA ) and various well meaning as well as self serving NGOs.do not permit killing they should ensure that Nagpur roads and streets are free from stray dogs . 

 

I am scared of our courts and never ending legal procedures hance can not build up courage to file a PIL on the subject.  I earnestly wish that those members of public / NGOs who are used to the workilgs of the courts file a PIL 

Best would be and that is my fervent wish , is  for the Honourable Courts to take Suo moto notice of this letter and and treat it as a PIL .

PM Velankar . 

Letter to Editor : UNBELIEVABLE !!

 The Hitvada news item 

 Quote " does not believe in handing out sops to minorities but will work to create a level playing field for them in in matters economic,educational and social "  Unquote.

Further on 

Quote " But the mantra is to be ' affirmative action ' and not 'sops ' Unquote .

The times have really changed .

 It is unbelievable that a Minister of Government of India has spoken these words .

 Even though all the right thinking people always believed in what the Minister has now said . The  vote bank politics never ever acknowledged this reality and no one in the Government had the guts to say so .

WELL! WELL!! WELL . The times have surely changed . 

P M Velankar 

Life is like that , It Happens , OR Whatever,

Life is like that , It Happens , OR Whatever,

60 lakh voters name deleted from voters list in Maharashtra .

Election Team Reaches out to lone voter in Gir .

MERA BHARAT MAHAN .

News analysis - sent to Hitavada.

( I started writing this on the evening when AAP won Delhi, As such it has now become out dated as a news  analysis .Nevertheless ,  facts and truth is everlasting !!!)

Congress Leadership in huddle to discuss reasons for the loss in recent Assembly Elections.Decides to introspect .

Rahul says we need to change the party 

Sonia says we need to review " what we did " or " what we did not do " .

What is it with congress leadership ?

They seem to be like actors in a play when , the " asides "  are heard / also seen by the whole of audience  but the actors do not see or hear any thing and so are supposed to remain ignorant of what is happening .

They seem to be like three monkeys of Gandhi .

They see no evil , speak no evil hear no evil . In this case they speak no bad about congress ,  these hear no bad about congress , these see no bad about congress party  .

 They do not see any thing  wrong with their party . 

The writing has been an the wall and message has been getting clearer and clearer for the last couple of Years . It is ironic that most of that writing was written by the congressmen themselves. It started with Suresh Kalmidi and CWG scam . Then there was 2 G scam , then the coal gate scam , then the Adarsh and irrigation scams in Maharashtra though scams at state level ,  still ruled by the same congress and NCP.  The scams kept tumbling out of the cupboard of congress led UPA government .

The public saw all about the scams and did not like it .

Still, what mattered most was not the scams by themselves but what caught and was noticed and noted by the public was, that in each and every case the govt tried to downplay the scope and the gravity of the scam .In fact the govt refused to accept that any wrong was done by the accused persons and strongly defended them . Those tactics were stopped only when accused persons position had become indefensible.

Congressmen did not see any thing wrong in it .The public saw and did not like it .

The Congressmen knew of how CBI investigations were remote controlled by the Govt . They saw saw it but believed others are fools and will not see any thing. But the public saw it . The Supreme Court saw it  and called CBI a caged parrot. The public witnessed it all and did not like it .

The public saw how all the relevant files containing evidence about the scam conveniently kept getting  lost and could not be traced . Maharashtra Govt claimed files related to irrigation department were burnt in accidental fire in Mantralaya . Files related to scams and solid evidence getting lost or destroyed in " accidental " fire was a fact which.The public did not like it.  

 They do not hear any thing  wrong about  the party . 

Onion prices touched ₹ 100 / Kg . Vegetables became costly . Inflation remained in double digits for ages with no sign of coming down . Public cried out in anguish . Congress leadership did not hear that anguished cry . As if to rub salt in injuries ,on the prices of onions ,  No less a person then the Union Agriculture Minister said there is no likelihood of onion prices coming down for 4-6 weeks for ......blah...... blah..... blah..........reasons.

The public did not like it . 

Anna Hazare gave a clarion call against corruption and enactment of strong Lokpal bill . congress heard but did not heed the call . On the contrary they ensured by hook or crook that the movement fizzled out and nothing was done about enactment of Lokpal bill 

People did not like it .

After SC order on convicted MPs and MLAs  UPA Govt led by congress introduced a bill and in an  added measure issued ordinance to ensure immediate relief to convicted MPs and MLAs . There was an out cry from public against such a protection being proposed . The congressmen did not hear it. It is a different matter that eventually this move was withdrawn.

The public did not like it. 

The reactions , actions ,responses of Ministers , spokesman for congress party after Pakistan returned the body of  Saurabh Kalia bearing clear indications of torture marks

  was not liked by the people .

The reactions , actions ,responses of Ministers , spokesman for congress party after Pakistan returned beheaded bodies of two Indian soldiers  

was not liked by the people .

The reactions , actions ,responses of the Government , the Ministers , spokesman for congress party ,after Pakistan soldiers attacked our troops and killed four of our jawans and our Defence Minister gave a statement that they were terrorists in army uniforms and later retracting the statement 

was not liked by the people .

The reactions , actions ,responses of the Government , the  Ministers , spokesman for congress party , after Pakistan  for almost more than a month , every day violated the cease fire agreement , shelled Indian positions and villages causing loss of life and property   was not liked by the people .

The reactions , actions ,responses of the Government , the Ministers , spokesman for congress party after Chinese troops intruded a kilometer and half in Indian territory , wrote " China" on rock surfaces before withdrawing was not liked by the people. 

The reactions , actions ,responses of the Government , the Ministers , spokesman for congress party after Chinese troops intruded moer than 14 KMs , established camp and remained within Indian territory before withdrawing

this was not liked by the people.  

They do not speak the truth about  the party or its leadership. Take for example Sharad Pawar ,now that he is almost certain that congress ship is going to sink , he boldly states that " strong leadership is required, public has rejected " weak " leaders . What was Mr Pawar doing all these years being a Cabinet Minister and kowtowing the policies of the same " weak " leaders .

 this was not liked by the people.

The truth was that there was total paralysis in decision making process by the Government . So much so that this truth made head lines even in foreign media .Congress led UPA government refused to acknowledge this truth .

this was not liked by the people.

The congress led Govenment machinery had gone to sleep . There was poor or no governance at all a thruth recognised even by foreign media and Governments.

this was not liked by the people.

The acts of commission , omission and simply no action at all  was not liked by the people.

Is it any wonder that the monkeys of Gandhaji were relegated to third Place .

Even bigger wonder is that Sonia Gandhi et all are trying to analyse reasons for the loss . 

PM Velankar