68 pc below BPL; book exposes India shining

New Delhi, July 1: At a time when India is eyeing a permanent seat in the UN Security Council to have a say in world affairs, it is ironic that 68 per cent of its own population is living below poverty line and 33 per cent of the disabled and destitutes are languishing in milling abjection.

Down 60 years of Independence, corruption, unemployment, callous governance, political juggling for power, among other grave problems have gripped the country.

''Crusade India'', authored by K C Agarwal, delves into all the hardships the country is grappling with and underpins the solution for overhauling the entire situation.

While in the post-election scenario slogans like ''India shining'' and ''Feel euphoric'' take a centrestage, it is important to note that our economy is dwindling and the divide between the ''bright'' urban and ''backward'' rural India is widening beyond repair with our politicians turning a nelson's eye towards it.

Such slogans that neglected the plight of the poor and the downtrodden boomeranged on the BJP in the last Lok Sabha elections and was instrumental in the party's loss.

According to Agarwal, the country's progress will continue to move at snails pace until the village sector will not be given a boost. A number of farmers commit suicide each year despite the Central and state government's arrays of projects and a plethora of policies.

In 2003, the Tamil Nadu government started distribution of rice to farmers. Egged on by the trend, the UPA government announced 100 days job/year to one person in each family living under the BPL and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister doled out Rs 500 to unemployed youth in 2006.

Agarwal points out that such schemes only provide temporary relief failing to find a permanent and long-term solution, giving way to mishandling of funds by corrupt officials, bureaucrats and politicians who get an opportunity to corner a major chunk of the public money into their pockets.

The supremacy established by the bureaucracy and the act of wooing voters by political parties on the grounds of class, creed and religion are only worsening the condition.

It is unbecoming that issues like Godhra or reservation are not dealt with sternly and instead made a poll plank to stay in power or wrest control from others shifting focus from real issues.

To check this menace, enquiry commissions are set up which are mere an eyewash and far meant for settling personal scores. It is possible, the author satirically says, that a separate ''Ministry of Investigation'' to cleanse the system may be in the offing that some political parties may announce of establishing in the next general elections with a view to garnering votes.

The problem is not only in the system and bureaucracy alone.

Human values have also degenerated over the years, Agarwal underlines. If the government for its wrongdoings is taken to task then its citizens are also equally responsible for the debacle of the country.

''Crusade ......'' besides pinpointing the problems and issues the country is facing, also suggests a slew of measures for improving the situation and undoing our past mistakes.

The major thrust in the 393-page book is given to development of rural areas, besides reforming the edcation and the judiciary system.

Crusade India is indisputably a commendable attempt by Agarwal that presents the 'real' and 'honest' picture of the country. But the bigger question is whether it will be another book that will adorn the shelves of bureaucrats and politicians and how many of the measures will get a notice and implemented in letter and spirit.

UNI