It’s pay back time now. A luxury dream car almost became possible for the U.P. MLAs…courtesy the young new chief minister of the state. After spending 100 days in power it was time to consolidate. And what better way than to think of gifting a 20 lakh rupees worth car to each MLA. Smartly enough he decided to dole-out this perk to al the MLAs, and not only to his party MLAs. This move of the new CM would have been a ‘vrooming hit’ like the recent Bollywood flick ‘ferrari ki Sawari’ had it not been the widespread criticism of his decision from all quarters that forced him to withdraw his decision, atleast for the time being.
The exchequer has just escaped being poorer by some 100 crore ruppes. So where do you think this 2 million rupees for each MLA would have come from? Ofcourse from the poor taxpayer’s money. The arrangement was supposed to be where the MLAs would have to pay a depreciated amount of the car to the government after five years or return the car. Had this decision been implemented then we all know that all these cars would have depreciated sharply in the next five years, much faster than the depreciation of the average car bought by the taxpayer, by his own hard-earned money, during the same period. And for the wildly optimistic soul if ever MLAs would have returned some token money, in all likelihood that would also be from the taxpayer’s money. After all the car was also for public service!
Some MLAs had reportedly protested…no, no…hold your optimism again. They protested because this money was to come from the MLA’s area development fund. Well! You have to empathise with these MLAs, after all the area development fund was anyways their ‘share’; this 2 million windfall should have come form some other fund…damn loss! Anyways from the time being ‘brakes’ have ensured that any such dreams of a luxury car at the expense of the taxpayer has come to screeching halt. But I am sure that the great leaders shall find out some way... some jugar!
We are a nation that sits on its ruins and sings the Aamir’s ‘idiot’ song ‘all is well…’ Myopia in assessing a situation and making a decision always costs dearly. The result is disengaging and also results in a loss of face. The young U.P. turk. has not only been embarrassed by having to roll-back his decision in 24 hours but this move has for sure disengaged many people of his state from his government and party.
In its effort to become a lighter ‘maharaja’ the national carrier Air India sacked some airhostesses on ground of be coming overweight. Courageous step by the airline…must say, except for the fact that haste of taking such decision made them completely overlook the case of Salome Singsit. This lady working as Air Hostess suffered three abortions, a breast surgery and a uterus surgery in the last four years and was strictly advised not to undertake any physical activity. Reportedly, due to strong medication prescribed by the doctors she was not able to maintain the weight within the permissible limit. Instead of sympathetically considering her case she was sacked by the airline. Thankfully though, a Delhi court has upheld the lady’s petition and has advised the airline to reinstate her in the services and accommodate her in a suitable job. Air India has not only lost face in the public, but by taking such a decision has ensured that it systematically disengages more employees, when it perhaps needs their commitment most. The airline currently on life-support system after the 30000 crore rescue stimulus from the government can ill-afford such guffaws…not to suggest others can.
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