The most asked question with an air of resignation as if to suggest “there isn’t a way” is the Question … ‘Is there a way out’ of this huge mess we find ourselves in vis-a-vis the politicians , the inefficiency, the corruption, the lawlessness which we don’t want and the many, many other services that should be available to us as ordinary citizens of this state and aren’t up to any reasonably good standard….. why even an absolutely basic problem like the filth around us and in this case I mean the actual garbage is not being solved for decades and has reached ridiculous proportions.
To answer the question we must first ask the question “Why” are we in this mess? How have we reached this level of depravity? The easiest answer is to point fingers at everyone else except ourselves. First let us accept the fact …It is We, the people, each of us, who have stopped asking for things to be done correctly for us as is our right by way of being tax payers and another fact to remember is that ALL of us down to the poorest beggar are tax payers because everything we eat or drink or wear or use is taxed. Most citizens want someone else to ask that these things be done.
The Government which gets all this money given by all the common citizens and they are supposed to use this to give us our basic needs ….. law and order, protection, roads, electricity, water, garbage treatment, sewage, transportation, health care and umpteen others and to give these services the Government employs thousands of people in Government Departments to serve the common man/woman … what is the catch phrase Aam Aadmi and Aam Aurat…. And we all pay and therefore are ALL entitled to service from these worthies like politicians, government employees who have jobs and employment thanks to the taxes we pay which in turn pays their wages and all the perks they get and squeeze out.
But we have stopped demanding our Rights. We have somewhere down the line changed the equation so that it would seem that Government funds come from some magical source that politicians use to get funds, and Politicians are our new Maharaja undisputed Kings/Queens for their tenure of five years .
Which brings us to what can we do now to correct the situation. For years we have believed that Yes we will elect a new person to power and he/she will put everything right. Electing a new person or retaining the same old crook doesn’t seem to be working since all turn out to be irresponsible and do not attend to our needs. Why? Perhaps because we do not ask them as our right and that too not forcefully.
And while accepting part of the blame for the mess we find ourselves in. Let us not be too harsh on ourselves. We were and are duped at each election. We are told “Vote me to power, I will put everything right.” And we trust this person and or Party who sometimes may not be of our choice but then is better than the others who are fighting for the same post. And very often the choice is limited or no worthy person stands for election. And then for five years we are stuck with this person who came to our house or gave election speeches about being given a chance to serve our area as our representative. And more often than not year after year, election after election our trust has been betrayed and we are again looking for that new person/party who will do the job he/she is supposed to do – serve our area.
So what can we do differently. Here is a suggestion workable if followed.
Carry out a survey with each household put down your problems, needs, suggestions, solutions and any other common objectives of the area. Form an area committee where these capable citizens can deliberate on the data collected and draw up a sort of wish list of what needs to be done in your voting booth area. Have a meeting of all those who want to attend a meeting and get a common consensus on the document after discussions. As an Area committee do not participate in influencing the elections as far as choosing candidates or Party to vote for is concerned …as individuals all are welcome to do so. Of course, try and get the right people elected if you can.
But after elections, and this is most important, call upon the elected candidate in a group and tell him/her to start on fulfilling these needs as promised. If necessary gather people from your ward and gather at the house of the elected member- congratulate him/her and demand a time table to do the works, take him/her along and go to all the concerned government departments, to the concerned ministers and follow up till works as per your needs are taken up, maintained and completed to your satisfaction. Keep a check on the quality of work done in your area at least and make sure timely repairs/maintenance is done. Yes it will take persistent effort on part of the citizens but then at least there is a good chance it will work which is better than just talking about it all the time.
Wake up, Stand up, Demand your Rights and keep at it till you get them and continue to be active so that it becomes a way of life, you are already doing it for your family, now extend that to your community around your area. That is the only way we will get what we are owed by those that are elected to power and others who are employed to do our work and being paid for it from money we give for our needs by way of taxes.
This is the only way ahead!! And that is called real – ‘Swarajya’ — self-rule and taking up responsibility for our own areas so that all citizens can lead a decent life. Let us do it for ourselves in the area where we live and spread it all over our Goa.
(The author is an owner of boat cruises)
