How Bleak is the Situation of Black Money in India?

HOW BLEAK IS THE SITUATION OF BLACK MONEY IN INDIA?

The issue of black money has been making the rounds for several years now and it appears to have become more of a political issue than an economic one. I have been a student of Economics for over 2 decades and I wonder what this issue all about is? What is being said is that this money stashed in Swiss bank is ill gotten by the depositors and is to the tune of 1,456 Lac Crores. One of Anna Hazare’s sites says the following:

Do you know what will happen if 1,456 Lac Crores comes back?

1. India will be Financially No.1

2. Each district will get 60000 Crores & each village will get 100 Crores
3. No need to pay taxes for next 20 yrs.
4. Petrol 25 Rs, Diesel 15 Rs, Milk 8 Rs.
5. No need to pay electricity bill.
6. Indian borders will become stronger than the China Wall.
7. 1500 Oxford like Universities can be opened.
8. 28,000 kms Rubber road (like in Paris) can be made.
9. 2,000 hospitals (with all facilities) all medicine Free.
10. 95 crore people will have their own house.

While, I am supporter of Anna Hazare against Corruption in India, my understanding of Economics says that this is not possible. According to me if this money is brought into circulation, the Indian economy will collapse and we will have to carry sack full of currency notes to get home hand full of goods and this phenomenon in economics is called ‘hyper inflation’. I quite agree with the PM on this that “this is a serious issue” but I do not agree with him that “there is no simple solution”. The macro economic theory suggests that if the government expenditure is more than its revenue, it is good for the economy. This fiscal deficit is funded through deficit financing (printing of currency notes without a basis) and if this excess money is spent wisely on developmental projects, it will generate employment which in turn will generate consumption which in the long run, will boost production leading to further employment and further consumption and thus this spiraling goes on gradually year after year to increase our GDP in a controlled way, keeping inflation under check. The word of caution is that such deficit financing must be kept under control as they tend to cause inflation in the short run. As against this backdrop, the Indian Government has been steadily infusing excess currency into the system under all kind of schemes intended to reach the poor and build national infrastructure. But sadly, the money instead of developing the much needed infrastructure and generating employment and income for the poor is being siphoned off and stashed into Swiss bank by corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and contractors. Some amounts remain within India stashed in bank lockers, and some get converted into ‘benami’ property both in India and Abroad and a small amount gets spent. Therefore, steadily the deficit financing as a percentage of GDP (BE) has been growing each year and it stands at a staggering figure of Rs 1,41,587 Crore in the first two months of 2012-13 itself, constituting 27.6 per cent of the budget estimates (BE) for the entire financial year. The government is targeting at 5.1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) for this year which going by this trend is utopian. On the other hand the revenue deficit, too, is fast approaching the BE, at 33.8 per cent in the first two months itself.

What does this mean to a lay man? The real income of the poor did not increase and hence the consumption of basic goods did not increase and thus the production did not increase resulting in lower employment, lesser incomes, and lesser consumptions and so on…. Thus clearly the economy has been negatively spiraling over the years. No wonder the share of agriculture in the GDP has been steadily reducing and farmers are committing suicide because the per capita consumption of basic goods like agricultural products have reduced in real terms and is not fetching better returns to the farmers. Lower production is leading to food inflation which in turn is reducing the per capita consumption even further. On the other hand the demand of high end goods and services which caters to the needs of the rich has been increasing steadily and no wonder the contribution of service sector to the GDP is increasing.

Internationally this mindless infusion of money in to the system is debasing our currency and this is one primary reason for depreciation in the value of Rupee against US $, because a huge amount of the rupee has no basis to exist. This is resulting in increase in the current account deficit (payment deficit caused due to import-exports). The imports are becoming expensive and thus we owe more to the foreign countries from where we import. This will eventually lead to a repeat of 1992 when we had to sell gold and devalue our currency.

Where does all this take us to? It is simple. The divide between the rich and the poor will grow and if this is unchecked the country will soon witness a bloody civil war. The farmers are gradually selling away their lands for survival and while it may see through one generation, what happens to the next generation is the major question? The rise in crime rate in the society is a clear warning of an impending civil war. Thus, I firmly believe the government must wake up from its deep slumber and announce a date by which all are to justify their deposits abroad and thereafter confiscate the unaccounted money.

The question is what could be done with that money? Of course the answer is not what team Anna is trying to suggest. If that huge sum of 1,456 Lac Crores is distributed to villages as being professed, the poor will die of hunger due to inflation. At best this brought in black money can be defaced and our cumulative fiscal deficit be reduced by that extent. This will strengthen the value of the currency and our current account deficit will reduce. We will be able to import oil, which constitutes a major portion of our total imports, at a cheaper rate and thus the price of fuel can be brought down. This will have a great impact to start with. There will be more money available for consumption in the hands of the middle class which will spur up demand and eventually the supply. Once the oil prices come down, the general price level of almost all products will come down. The poor will start feeling comfortable and can get absorbed by the growing industry / farm sectors and this process alone can bring positive buoyancy in economic activity.

This is not enough. As a parallel action, the government must declare a date to deposit Rs 1000 and Rs 500 currency notes and justify the source of income and take a new currency note instead. After that, the old currency notes must be debarred. This way the entire currency stashed up in lockers will fall out and find its way into temple donation boxes. This way the cumulative fiscal deficit can be further reduced. While this process may not be all that easy, where there is will there is always a way. Having done this, the government must ensure that the various schemes are implemented properly for which a strong ‘lokpal’ is a must. Unless there is deterrence in our society, the history will repeat. While the whole world criticizes the Arab nations, the singular reason for low crime rate in these countries is deterrence in the form of capital punishments. Let us realize that if capital punishment is bad the other extreme of no punishment is worse.

Why Mr. PM and the government is not keen in sorting out this issue is quite clear from the expose made by Julian Assange. Assange has done this much, let us do the remaining and crack the whip.

To know more on the expose made by Assange follow the link http://incredibleorissa.com/en/black-money-in-swiss-bank-mainly-from-india/.

 

A Vacation Turned into Nightmare

I was a defence officer serving in the Indian Navy with whatever little pride that was left in me. I was to retire on 30 Apr 2011 and hence decided to go on my last vacation sponsored by the Government of India in the form of Leave Travel Concession. We were three families, in all 12 members who made elaborate arrangements and headed towards Kashmir. The children deserved a break after the grueling examinations and were excited about the ensuing flight, the white snow of the valley etc. Finally the day came when we all dressed smartly and arrived at the airport. The first setback was the announcement about our flight being delayed by 1 hour. We had already checked in by then and asked our baggage to be routed to Srinagar directly. Since we had to take a connecting flight from Delhi to Srinagar we went to the manager of Air India (AI) and expressed our apprehension about missing the flight at Delhi. The AI manager- a very cool and confident gentlemen, suggested not to worry and confidently claimed that the same aircraft which is flying from Bhopal to Delhi will be going to Srinagar. He further assured that he will send a message to Delhi airport about our delayed departure. Assured, we took the flight to Delhi and on our way we realized that this flight is not going to Srinagar. On arrival at Delhi we rushed to the AI counter and informed them that we have arrived late due to delay in the departure at Bhopal. We were asked to rush to the gate and check if we can board the flight. As we dragged our hand baggage and the smaller children through the number of check points, we met one very diligent CISF Jawan who decided to frisk all of us before allowing in. When showed the armed forces identity card and requested to allow us in as we were about to miss the flight, he retorted, “yeh fauji icard nahi chalega idhar”. (This Defence I Card will not do here). Frustrated by the insult, we were going through his sadistic ritual and halfway, a well known Member of Parliament from Bihar happened to pass through the same check point with his entourage of at least 6. The same diligent CISF Jawan made way for the MP and his men, greeted them all with a smart salute followed by a bodily bow in respect and allowed the entire entourage without any checks. I realized the value of my ‘commission’ that late in my career when I was about to retire. Finally, we made our way to the gate to realize that the flight had already left Delhi and we were told that our baggage had been held back. We were asked to go to AI office and claim a hotel room for the night.

Disappointed, we reached the AI office to be told that we were not eligible for a hotel room because the PNR numbers of Bhopal-Delhi and Delhi-Srinagar tickets were different – something we were blissfully unaware. However, after talking up the hierarchy we were finally given hotel accommodation at Centaur, Delhi. The next challenge was to get to Srinagar. AI initially declared that it is next to impossible as the flights are going chocker block. To our surprise and dismay, while we were still lingering around to see what could be done, the AI staff suddenly declared that 12 seats are available for the next morning flight as there was a bulk cancellation just then. Though it sounded unbelievable, we passed our tickets and got the same endorsed for the next flight hoping like hell we reach Srinagar. Jubilant that we got the tickets and also the hotel stay, we were extremely thankful to the AI staff and went on to collect our baggage and that meant another elaborate checking by the diligent CISF jawans. At the baggage area no one had a clue about our baggage and after 45 minutes of discussion the AI staff finally declared that our baggage has been taken to Srinagar as we had done a through baggage check-in. Fuming and fretting, we landed at the hotel with instructions that our baggage be delivered to the hotel room by evening. On arriving at the hotel, we were surprised to see a mob of around 2000 boys and not so pretty girls that had gathered right in the reception area. There were loud announcements being made on mike with no respect to the guest who may be staying in that hotel. On enquiry we were told that our mighty AI is conducting a recruitment drive for cabin crew. Somehow, we managed to pass through the commotion and reached our rooms to be greeted by domestic friends like cockroaches. Soon we also realized that most rooms in the hotel are unoccupied and we were the most esteemed guests of the entire hotel. By dusk we were enlightened by the fact that this hotel is a government property and the only people who stay in this are unfortunate passengers of AI, the cabin and flying crew of AI and is used for all and sundry purposes of AI including recruitments. The stewards and other staff are on the government payroll and are in the average age group of 45 to 50. In all it is a property which is sustaining on the inefficiencies of the AI – one leaning on the other. The total bill to the AI for our overnight stay amounted to roughly Rs 48,000/-. I am not sure if both AI and Centaur are ‘Navratna’ companies of the Government of India.

Finally, our baggage arrived late in the evening and we managed to sleep after a decent change of clothes and next morning moved to the airport skeptically. But AI took us to Srinagar without anymore surprises. The next few days were fantastic-thanks to the hospitality of the Indian Army and the local populace of Kashmir. It was the day before our departure from Srinagar that we got another surprise – the pilots of AI decided to rub more salt on our wounds by going on a flash strike. We were frantically looking for other options but no one at the AI office was willing to confirm the cancellation of flights. The next morning we decided to cancel the ticket and go by road up to Jammu and catch Jhellam Express to reach Bhopal on 30 Apr, the last day of my service with the Indian Navy. It was courtesy Indian Army once again that there were few seats reserved for us under the military quota. We reached the AI office and declared our intention but were promptly told to rush to the airport and that the airport staff would put us in some flight or the other up to Delhi. We took an about turn and rushed with family and baggage to the airport. It was some congregation of humanity, some amused and most disgusted. The AI staff asked us to stand in the queue of King Fisher airlines. After 30 minutes King Fisher refused any seats. Then we followed the queue of Jet Airways, then Indigo and finally after constant pestering and explaining the gravity of the situation about my retirement on 30 Apr and the regulation that stipulates mandatory presence on duty on the last day of service, the AI manager was kind enough to put me on SpiceJet craft up to Delhi. Friends and families stayed back at Srinagar, cancelled the AI tickets, purchased new tickets in indigo Air and reached Bhopal on 01 May 2011 while I hopped into a train at Delhi and travelled without reservation to reach Bhopal in the morning of 30 Apr.

We all thought that the saga is over but it was not to be. We had to claim the refund of the tickets we cancelled. The AI office refused to process the refund claim at Srinagar saying that the refund can be processed only from the station where the tickets were bought. I left Bhopal to take up my new job at early hours of 02 May 11. I could return to Bhopal for processing the claim only in June. In the AI Office I met the manager- the same very cool and confident gentlemen who started our nightmare. I thanked him for all the help and asked for my claim. He promptly played the ball back into Srinagar office and said, “It is possible to process the claim from anywhere in India”. Had somebody told me this, I could have processed it from my new location and did not have to travel back to Bhopal and waste two months. Finally, he was very helpful in asking one of his staff to process the claim. I gave a sigh of relief and assumed it to be over but the staff came back to tell me that the system is not accepting the PNR numbers as AI has switched over to a new system recently. The entire AI staff understood all that I wanted to tell them even without my uttering a single word. If I had the luxury of indecency, I would have given them choicest of abuses, that too in Hindi. Finally the manager asked me to come after three days. I went back and sat through for three hours before getting my claim processed. At the end of the process, the staff very courteously said the money will come back to my card within the next two to three months.

I wish someone had taken my photograph then. It would have said it all!!!

Can Business and Ethics Go Together in India?

Recently, I chose to have an additional net connection at home and was mighty impressed with the frequent ads of a company in the electronic media and decided to go for it. Also, the outlet was closer home and lethargy of travelling all the way to an alternative brand’s outlet made me settle for this company. The store was all decked up with smart girls wearing their company t-shirts and the ambiance was quite trendy. I was presented with all possible permutations and combinations and I chose an unlimited plan in which I had to pay Rs 2100/- upfront to get free modem forever and free unlimited internet downloads for three months. I did check about connectivity in my location to which the smart girl answered in the affirmative. Satisfied with the bargain, I came back home and hooked on but the connection was not working. In the next 10 days, I made several calls to all the possible people but nothing happened. Fed up with the ordeal, I went back to the store and demanded my money back.

Seeing my temper flow freely, the store manager sent a technician to my place. He tried everything possible before admitting that there is a connectivity issue and registered a complaint with the network team of that company. He told me that they will resolve the issue and that I will get a confirmation call from Mumbai. As predicted, I received a call from Mumbai to inform that my area does not have high speed network connectivity. What then? I went back to the store and demanded termination of connection and refund of my money. After a couple of days and with much reluctance, I was repaid Rs 1100/- after deducting Rs 1000/- being cost of the modem. I wished to return the modem as it was of no use to me anymore, but the same was not taken back as per their company policy. There are two issues in this. Firstly, the modem was free with upfront payment of Rs 2100/- and secondly, I never went there to purchase a modem. Modem was only incidental to my getting internet services. In the mean time, within 14 days of my purchasing the connection, I received my first bill for Rs 21/- being service tax. On enquiry, it was revealed that the bill is generated as per billing cycle and hence in effect, I will get free internet only for 2 ½ months. The store team washed their hands off and asked me to lodge a complaint with the customer care of the company.

I registered a complaint on the website of the company and promptly received an acknowledgement. However, after a couple of days, I was informed that the modem can’t be taken back. Their reply was non committal with regard to the billing cycle and the service tax for receiving no services. I challenged them to go to the consumer court but it did not matter to them much. Since then, I get a call every second day from the company reminding me about my outstanding bill and asking me to pay up. Gradually, the bill amount went up to Rs 121 including late payment fees of Rs 100/- and now in three months or so it stands at Rs. 1221/- and each time I get a call, I relentlessly narrate this story to them and ask for a refund of Rs 1000/- and each time they promise to resolve the issue but a new person gives me a call the next time over. I have now kept this Modem in my drawing room showcase as it is a very proud possession. I wondered how this company has grown to such magnitude in our country till one of my friends recently shared the best lines by Dhirubhai Ambani, “You will never reach your destination, if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks. Better keep biscuits and move on”. Doesn’t this explain it all!!!!!!!

No End to Woes of a Common Man

The first year of my retired life had been more adventurous than the 25 years I spent in the forces. Each day there is a new issue and I wonder how a common man must be surviving in this country. On relocating to Nagpur, the entire family had to migrate to a new mobile connection and accordingly we chose to have all connections through one service provider. As time went by, we started realizing that our prepaid balance is getting deducted arbitrarily. I went to the retailer who had sold me these connections. He called up some number and promptly informed me that I had activated four different services on all the four connections purchased. Ooops!! I wondered how and when did all of us do this? Perplexed, I asked him to deactivate all the services from all my connections for once. Happy that the issue is over, we took extra care to see that we do not activate any services even by mistake. After about 15 days, I once again realized that my balance is getting deducted. I again went back to the retailer who opened the can of worms. Almost all private mobile service providers in India, target connections of senior citizens and rural customers and activate services to make money. How they do it is like this. They will make a call to these customers. If the customer picks up there will be a song that will play and the fact that he took the call is taken as his acceptance for a service of which he is not even aware. If he misses the call and gives a call back assuming this to be a missed call of some acquaintance, the service will get activated automatically. This came as a rude shock to me. I checked with my parents who reside nearby and are both senior citizens - the old man is an octogenarian. I was surprised to know that they recharge using Rs 10/- coupon whenever they have to speak to someone and on that day they call all their near ones till that Rs 10 recharge get exhausted. Otherwise the connection is only for incoming calls and this is because the balance gets deducted automatically. Ironically, they receive ‘love tips’ as part of the paid services. 

I demanded to speak to the company representative and was given a call centre number which was of no use as they only tell you that on so and so date you had activated some service. Taking the retailer into confidence, I managed to get the company representative number and called him up. After a few minutes of conversation the language turned ugly which may not befit a vivid description. I went to the company outlet and met the guy personally and threatened of legal consequences. I knew for sure that there is no way I can prove this fraud, thanks to our legal system. Thankfully, this nonsense stopped for me at least for now. But think of the thousands of illiterate villagers and senior citizens who can’t chase the rouges of our society.

This brings me to the point of recent homecoming of A Raja, the tinted ex-telecom minister who received much fanfare. I remember, in his reply to one of the embarrassing questions posed by a journalist, he kept saying, “I am a student of law”. I wonder, if it means he is invincible? The irony is that the same villagers, who are being swindled, come in large numbers with garlands to welcome such unscrupulous students of law. Looking at the state of our democracy, I wonder if democracy itself is the cause of much of the woes of this country. I have not named the service provider for fear of a defamation suit but be rest assured almost all private service providers do this. How else do you expect them to make up for the huge bribes allegedly paid to the concerned people?

I wish the Libyans had deported Col Gaddafi to India for a while at least. I would have seconded his nomination for the post of President of India!!!! 

How Safe are Your Valuables in the Bank?

We often take banks for granted for safe keeping of our valuables. Imagine if you are told that your valuables deposited with them are missing? Here is what happened with me while dealing with the largest public sector bank of India. I had taken a home loan in 2008 from main branch of the State Bank of India, Nagpur. As per the norms, the original sale deed was pledged with the bank as collateral to cover the loan amount. All was well till Mar 2012, when I decided to liquidate the outstanding loan. On paying up the amount, I was directed to collect the documents from the Retail Assets Central Processing Centre (RACPC) which is located within the same premises within about 50 mtrs. Understandably, the RACPC is responsible for safe custody of all legal documents pertaining to retail loans granted by all the SBI branches of Nagpur region. To my horror and disbelief, the concerned clerk handed over only the ‘agreement to sale’ document and pleaded ignorance about the whereabouts of the original sale deed. I went to the Chief Manager In-charge of RACPC who suggested me to give a written complaint and that he will see what can be done - The easiest way to get rid of a complaining customer. It has been over three months now and no one seem concerned about the loss of a legal document.

As instructed, I made a written complaint which was forwarded to the main branch by the RACPC and since then I have been shuttling between them. The RACPC content that the original sale deed was never received from the main branch and the main branch says it had forwarded to RACPC. I wonder who will bell the cat. Definitely, it is not a loose sheet of paper to be misplaced. It is a 20 page document drawn out in legal paper with at least five different rubber stamps on each sheet. I am quite certain that the document is either with the main branch or the RACPC. It is just that no one seem concerned. The inertia of inaction is so severe that may be only a public outcry of this kind published in the media may move them. It is high time the authorities wake up, fix responsibility and sack such erring and callous staff.

Beware customers!!! You may be the next to be surprised.

Who Says the Doctors are Clean?

 

Fourth episode of Satyamev Jayate was indeed the best as it exposed corruption in the medical field. I feel this was the best episode because it was a disease perpetrated by the ones responsible for prevention and cure and had over a period, engulfed every Indian. While this community put up a face saving act of defending themselves and even went to the extent of seeking an apology from Amir Khan, let me narrate what happened with us recently as a proof of how these rouges operate.

My mother aged 68 was found to be having a tumor in the left breast in 2009. A biopsy was done at Nagpur before she was shifted to Bangalore for further treatment. The biopsy report was not conclusive and hence a retest of the tissue was conducted and once again the report came out to be inconclusive. Finally, the samples were taken to India’s best known onco-pathologist at Mumbai who concluded that the tumor is in the verge of turning malignant. Finally, keeping in mind the age of the patient the oncologist suggested mastectomy (removal of the breast mass) as a preventive measure. The surgery was done successfully and she was on follow up surveillance thereafter. The doctors did not see the need for radiation and chemotherapy as the surgery was more of a preventive measure.

In 2011, as part of the annual checkup, she was referred for a mammogram to a private clinic at Nagpur. Unfortunately, I could not stay with her for the procedure and she was all alone. The doctor, an oncologist himself, after examining her and her old reports and after ascertaining that my mother has a comprehensive mediclaim policy sowed the seed of fear in her mind about the possibility of cancer reoccurring. He was critical of the previous treatment and suggested her to go for some very expensive injections. He even suggested that since injection alone will not be allowed by the insurance company, he will admit her under a dummy diagnosis and administer the injection which can then be claimed through the mediclaim. He scared her so much that my mother called me right from the clinic to inform me that she is getting hospitalized. I rushed to the hospital to check the matter but by then the doctor was in the Operation Theater. He had kept the tissue blocks with himself stating that he will carry them to the US for further diagnosis and realizing that I am coming to meet him, he suggested her to discuss the matter at home and come the next week.

For nearly a week the entire family was in a state of utter confusion and fear. Finally, the oncologist who had treated her initially was consulted again and a second opinion was taken from a renowned oncologist at Apollo, Chennai. They ruled out the need for any injection and it was then that we learnt that the injection would have cost Rs 2,00,000/-. Finally, the doctors from Bangalore and Chennai had to give him a call to justify their treatment and urged him to return the tissue blocks.

God save this nation!!!

A Soldier’s Perspective - Part 3

I owned a small plot in one of the villages adjoining Nagpur which I wished to dispose off. After a little hunt, I found a prospective buyer and all was set for a deal to be struck. The buyer asked me to get a ‘no objection certificate’ from the panchayat office of the village and this led me to the gram panchayat. The office gave a deserted look at 11 AM. Having come 20 Kms, I had no option but to wait. Till 12.30 no one turned up and this forced me to inquire. A villager directed me to the Sarpanch’s house which was close by and on reaching I was told that the secretary will not be coming to office that day. I made another trip the next day along with the prospective buyer and this time I was wise enough to reach at 12 noon but the secretary was still at large. However, we were fortunate to find the office clerk who prepares these documents. He took my application and asked for Rs 1000/-. The manner in which he asked, I initially thought it to be some kind of government fees but soon enough the better sense struck me and I asked, “for what?” I was told, it is processing charges and that it is a norm. Initially, I did not know how to react but later I disclosed my identity, refused to follow the norm and demanded to meet the Secretary whose whereabouts were not known to anyone. Frustrated, I went to the Sarpanch’s house to be told that she is out of station. We decided to come again the next day but in the evening, the prospective buyer who was very keen in the deal called me to say that he does not require the NOC and the next afternoon the deal was completed. I casually enquired as to why he did not want the NOC to which he said he was scared that his relationship with the panchayat may get spoiled because of my hard line position and that they may harass him later when he builds his house on the plot and starts living. Hence, he decided to pay the money and obtain the NOC based on my application later.

One may think this to be a stray incident, but here is a sequel. I wanted the get my house registered in the land records and hence approached the panchayat office. As instructed, I completed all the documentation and was asked to come after a month. After a month when I went back, my form was not traceable as the clerk was on leave. The next two occasions the patwari was on leave and finally, one fine day, I found both of them in office together. I thought this was the day and as luck would have it, my application was traced, the patwari was in good humour and did all that was required and promised to give the certificate of registration after two days, after it is signed by the land record officer who sits in the Tehsil office. After a couple of more trips, I was lucky again to find the patwari who by mistake gave me the certificate first and then demanded Rs 1000/- as processing charges. I first put the certificate in my pocket, disclosed my identity and refused to pay. To my pleasant surprise, the patwari disclosed his identity too, a retired Havaldar of some Grenadiers. I was initially happy to meet an ex-comrade-in-arm and soon enough expressed my displeasure on his corrupt practices.  The later part of the episode was really heart breaking.

He gave me the mobile number of his land record officer and urged me to asked him as to why Rs 1000/- is being charged. I called the number and the officer promptly picked up the phone too and when he heard me asking him unpleasant questions he made an excuse of being in the middle of a meeting and dropped the phone. I tried on many other occasions but he never picked up the phone. The ex-Havaldar went on to narrate the sordid tale. When he retired after 20 years of service in the Army and qualified in the entrance exam to become patwari, he was asked to pay 7 lakhs as bribe. There was no other way to get this job and he has three daughters to be married. He paid most of what was left, after constructing a modest house, from the retirement benefits he received for the army as bribe to get this job. There are several patwaris in a tehsil and all are given a yearly target, not the official kind and each tehsil officer has his own target. Anyone who does not meet this target is on the hit list for transfer to some godforsaken place and with three daughters studying at various levels and after spending 20 years away from the family, he does not wish to be kicked around. Being a psychologist, I could make out that he was speaking the truth and was also a victim of cognitive dissonance. He went on to say, he never felt as miserable in the Army even when he had to staying away from his family for months as much as he feels now collecting bribes. He wished he could continue in the Army forever.

I always thought the government is wasting disciplined pool of ex-servicemen who if employed in social upliftment programs of the GOI will be able to do a great job and see to it that the benefits reach the target population. I changed my view after listening to this story of how the nexus runs across the system from top down and how wide spread it is. I wonder if any number of ex-servicemen and any number of Anna Hazare can cleanse this rot. The sad part of serving in the forces is that it insulates you so much from the realities of our society that post retirement, which happens quite early for us, one finds it difficult to accept the ways of the civil society and looses complete hope. At least, I have lost it soon enough.

Lord Jesus, let there be light!!!

A Soldier’s Perspective - Part 2

As a defence officer, I was always made to believe that I am a class 1 gazetted officer of the government of India at par with the IAS, IPS etc. I lived for 25 years with that pride and discharged my duty of defending this great nation. When I retired after 25+ years, I could afford to own a 3 BHK duplex in the suburbs of Nagpur around 15 Kms away from the city on the Kamptee Road and most of my neighbors are either retired defence officers like me or some class 3 government officials and I wonder how they could afford to own such duplex. Well I am sure we know the answer. Recently a senior IRS officer visited my house in connection with his daughter’s doctoral research and asked me a straight question as to how come I have settled in such a remote corner of the city and much to his embarrassment my straight answer was, “this is all I could afford from my earnings through honest means.”

It has been a year since I live here and regularly go to the city for almost everything crossing a railway under bridge en-route. In the last one year, I have witnessed at least 15 major accidents just under the bridge as it is perpetually water logged even during peak summers and the underlying holes and no less than death holes. Each time I went past this death trap, I wondered who is responsible for this. Why it is that no one is looking at it? I am sure the area is within the jurisdiction of the municipality and I suppose the citizens of this country elect a corporator, MLC, MLA, MP etc. and there is a budget for such things. Well, maybe I am being naïve to expect that the system should work on its own.  The misery did not end at that. Suddenly a month back, presumably the railway authorities erected a structure on either side of the bridge to prevent overloaded trucks from going past. While, one may feel that such measures are good to protect the railway property, I am sure no authority knows what it means to the road traffic.  A week back, I was on my way to drop one of my old friends at the air port and as we approached our death trap (under bridge) we were terrified to see that a over loaded truck carrying wooden logs got nicely struck under the iron structure which was erected to prevent such vehicles from going past. Now what? It was a free for all situations and a good example of Darwin’s theory i.e. ‘survival of the fittest’. We were sure to miss the flight and the loss associated with it did not bother us that much. Instead, what horrified us was the sight of a stranded ambulance with a serious patient inside. The driver was honking away continuously, the siren of the ambulance was on full blast, the relatives were on the road pleading and pestering but no one seemed concerned. I for a moment imagined myself inside the ambulance gasping for breath. I tried getting out of my car to persuade the public to make way for the ambulance but there was no space to open the door of the car even. The ambulance remained struck for over 30 minutes before it could make its way further. I am not sure what happened to the patient finally. This traffic jam is a regular feature now, thanks to the railways and the traffic cops and I continue to live with this fear of getting struck on a critical day.

Imagine, if the traffic police did their job well what is the need for such barriers? Could we have not saved money and precious lives? I wonder if it is such a difficult job. Not really. I was reminded of Bhopal cantonment where I lived for three years just before my retirement. Out there, no vehicle can dare to violate the rules. No two wheelers can go past without the rider and the pillion wearing a helmet. The secret is very simple and obvious. The implementers of the rules are not gullible. There are just two jawans, one each at the entrance and exit and the only technological intervention is a walky-talky to communicate between them and yet the system works perfectly round the year. I wonder why we can’t do our duty sincerely and remain content with our salary.

I tried imagining the state of our country if our military decided to get corrupt. Perhaps, the officers and jawans posted at the border would be the richest, for they could get loads of money to allow terrorists to infiltrate and even more to escort them to safety. The naval ships can orchestrate more piracy attacks on merchant marines. What if members of the armed forces take bribe and allow drug consignments, counterfeit currency and many such things into our country?

Why should it matter to the soldiers alone as to how many lives are lost in terrorist attacks or how much of merchant trade is lost to piracy? Whose country is it anyway? I am sure more soldiers will start thinking like me if the anarchy of the civil society continues for long and let me assure you my civilian folks, the day the military gets bloody minded no one can save this country. While you may not be in the forces, you may not be braving sub-zero temperatures or sea state 7, please do not forget that this is as much your country as it is ours.

As a Naval Officer, I had several opportunities to visit some of the Arab countries and I am mighty impressed with the law enforcement there. I never saw a traffic cop, no dented cars, no honking, no accidents and no over speeding. How does this work? Simple - the vehicles are tracked by radars and the fine bills reach your home at the month end. If you do not pay up, your license is cancelled and your vehicle is debarred from moving on the roads and finally the enforcement agency will land at your residence to arrest you. I think we Indians have abused democracy a bit too much!!!