Rupam
Rupam
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dire straits @Silchar.
«on:
04/16/04 at 21:02:09 » |
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A nagging sense of restlessness…a strange sense of despair…I have never felt before. Last eight days of non- stop torrential rains. Accompanied with hailstorm and winds. Almost 24 hour power cuts…waterlogged streets…galis…people losing their roofs…water entering people’s homes…people desperately trying to make do with a makeshift rooftop built out of whatever they can lay their hands on…only to see even that last piece of shelter whisked away by another storm only a few hours later.
This is a story of a rather large township called Silchar, and the adjoining parts in the valley. This is election time. The world’s largest democracy is all geared up to celebrate its biggest event…elections 2004. You have raths and roadshows taking place all over the country. Silchar has her own politicians…the same faces…the same promises…the same calculations.
So far, none of the esteemed leaders of the valley have found it necessary to visit the severely affected areas. No promises of help or relief have been made either by the local politicians or the administration. Amidst all the political bickering, cutting across party lines the leaders of the masses seem to agree on one front- providing relief to the masses is none of their tasks.
Schools have been cancelled, people have taken shelter in several public buildings and should the rains continue for a day or so more…a flood seems unavoidable. The politicians though are happy seeking shelter in their cozy homes and losing their sleep over which way the minority would vote. Murshidabad LS constituency in West Bengal has a gentleman called Adhir Chowdhury as its MP. Five odd years ago I remember seeing a footage of him rowing on his own, tying this dhoti to his waist and taking relief measures to the flood affected. We would be fools to even think that the septuagenarian politicians here would do that. But atleast they should speak out in public and try and create pressures on the authorities to expedite the relief- process. Atleast they owe this much to the very people who they expect to vote for them.
We have someone who has been an MP several times and claims much of the development work in the valley to his credit. We have another erstwhile minister who seems to have toed the very line of personal gratification that the 100 year old national party is associated with. There is someone else whose name you would hear only when elections arrive.
Silchar is a semi- urban locality, representative of the tens of thousands that we have across the country. And barring a few of those, the rest are not ’shining’. Besides, if a semi-urban region has basic problems of this magnitude, rural India has nothing to look forward to. We talk of a ‘confident’ India. We actually talk of a confidant 1% of the populace, and that is being optimistic.
Right now if you were in Silchar, and your heart is still at the right place, I bet, you cannot but feel sorry for the downtrodden and for the people of the very town who you once were familiar with. The confidence has gone down the drain, a look of despair, a sense of hopelessness. Whichever government is at the helm, if Silchar has to change, the change has to be brought about by Silcharites. Someone from Lucknow or RaeBareli is not going to deliver the change. People like you and me can. You are right Mr. Vajpeyee, not everyone is feeling good. And we at Silchar, are far from feeling anything at this moment.
Having said all that, it is easy to put the blame on politicians…but what has the aam junta done to change its fate? What have you and me done?
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confused
confused
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Re: dire straits @Silchar.
«on:
04/17/04 at 06:37:35 » |
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OK Rupam. Let's start with you. What have YOU done so far? |
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Rupam
Rupam
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Re: dire straits @Silchar.
«on:
04/17/04 at 15:01:01 » |
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In the current context, nothing much...other than getting into a group of five...collecting some money from the neighbourhood...buying some foodstuff...and taking those to a few families who have sought shelter in a nearby lower primary school.
Though, outside the current context, I have been fortunate enough to be associated with a few youth and middle- aged...who I believe really care for their countrymen. And during the time when I was not an NRS, I guess, I was involved in a few social activities...the details of which is pointless to provide here.
Also, I have done a little work on microfinance. And a couple of smallish projects on rural - electricity. This, though is outside Assam.
Thats about it. I am sure, YOU have done a whole lot better. |
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lonewolf
lonewolf
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Re: dire straits @Silchar.
«on:
04/17/04 at 23:31:13 » |
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VOTE FOR RUPAM
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