10 May 2014, 10:05 AM IST
As I sit down to write this, there is a huge traffic jam on the slip road of the south bound lane of the Moolchand Flyover because the flyover itself has been cleared of all traffic, and I am informed wryly, after going there, that the soon to be deposed Queen is expected any moment. I did not know we have a Queen in India, but maybe something happened, when we were not looking.
Every which way, it is clear to many Indians now, all over the world and in India, that old dynamics are going to be replaced rapidly, and nowhere do we hope to see changes more quickly than on the ground. Queen and Crown Prince vanishing into the blue I have seen in countries as diverse as Iran and Philippines, and much worse in Romania, in the past.
So, to the favourite game of "who will win" which we expect to see reaching a crescendo over the next few days, is my little input, on "regardless of who wins". And what many of us want, if not from state governments, then at least from central government.
1) All Income Tax, VAT, Service Tax and other central government claims by Ministry of Finance's various departments up to Rs 10000/- be summarily dismissed on one-time basis, and above that upto Rs 70000/- be closed on summary 33% basis. Which means, if there is a claim of Rs 70000/- against you, then you have a choice - you pay Rs 20000/- and it gets closed. This suggestion came to me from some civil servants themselves, who figured out that the cost of collection, reduction in harassment and time available value put together would enable them to give their Inspectors some real work to do instead, and that this was what people were probably paying to close such claims anyways as bribes. Might as well then let it accrue to the government treasury.
2) All exemptions from tolls and other charges on highways be summarily withdrawn from all motor-vehicles except rescue/emergency vehicles, rest everybody can pay and claim back from their respective departments. Again, the number of vehicles out on blatant personal work going about not paying tolls is now estimated to be up to 25% of all traffic at some tolls, which is not difficult to believe. Unless there is a war or disaster, nobody except emergency and rescue vehicles should be entitled to evade paying tolls.
3) All national permit fees, taxes and other charges be nullified on stage carriage public transport (means - city buses mainly). Have you ever seen city buses held up for long periods of time, in lines with trucks and other commercial vehicles, with people sweating away inside? There is no logic in this in a democracy and this needs to be fixed within this summer.
4) All VIP / HO and similar quotas should be removed from all Indian Railways passenger and express, and other trains. (It has already been removed from premium trains.) Not only are the best seats and berths blocked by all and sundry VIPs, but often even the extra berth in 1st AC is not allotted. This is worse than anything even Mahatma Gandhi suffered when he was thrown out of the train at Natal. A good name would be "Mahatma Gandhi yojana for equality on trains".
And finally, this one should be easiest, while the benefits will be multiple and of great value to our future generations.
5) All Raj Bhavans to be converted into museums, hospitals, or public buildings, while Governors and Lt. Governors can shift into 3BHK apartments built within a nearby Kendriya Vidyalaya. Other residents of huge bungalows, likewise, into other Kendriya Vidyalayas or municipal schools. That way the quality of the schools will improve, security can be provided, swimming pools can be used and gardens will bloom again. (Certain ex-Governors may need to be kept away, though).
Is this too much to hope for? After all, at some stage or the other in India's tryst with democracy, the people have to win too.
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