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Alms for Aam Aadmi




Finally Ms Sheila Dikshit has spoken the truth: the government exists for the rich; the poor will only get alms.  She has fixed the amount at Rs4 per day per person.  Rs600 will be enough to meet the food requirements of a family of 5 persons, according to didi.  They can buy daal, rice and wheat in that amount.
 
Her party is annoyed with her for speaking the truth about the government’s intentions. We should be grateful to didi for giving us an indication of things to come.

In the neoliberal system which India has accepted lock, stock and barrel, the real rulers are the capitalists.  The government exists only for the sake of formulating policies which will enable the capitalists to take over the resources of the country at minimum rates. The Economic Survey 2009-10 stated without mincing words that “prices are best left to the market.”

There will be no welfare government anymore.  No welfare schemes, no subsidies, no Public Distributions Systems.  Instead the government will deposit a certain amount (Rs600 per family?) in the bank accounts linked with the aadhar numbers of the poor people.  The poor can now rejoice.  They can buy food of their choice from places of their choice with the amount (Rs600) that their government will generously offer them.

What didi is saying in effect to the aam aadmi is this: “Don’t rely on your government anymore; the real rulers are the businessmen.”

Don’t think that it is just the didi’s party that will say this.  Look at the way the SP, BSP or the DMK behaved when the issue of Foreign Direct Investment was brought into debate.  They staged a walk-out in order to hoodwink the aam aadmi while, with the same walk-out, paving the way for passing the bill.  They have all mastered the craft(iness) of hitting two birds with one shot.

Only Didi had the candidness to tell us (the aam aadmi) frankly: “We’ll only be able to give you alms.  We have sold ourselves to the capitalists.”

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Comments

  1. drchinmoyhazarikaDecember 17, 2012 at 9:48 PM

    "No cake?! Let them have bread instead!" ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalDecember 17, 2012 at 9:55 PM

      Not even bread, Chinmoy. Only roti and daal! A bit of rice, if necessary.

      Delete
  2. mandakolathurDecember 17, 2012 at 10:37 PM

    My family, as of now, is 4 people. All of us went for registering AADHAR on the same day. Only two us have got the document. Therefore, our monthly entitlement is Rs. 240/-!

    RE

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalDecember 18, 2012 at 3:48 PM

      My wife and I, as well as many others on the campus, are still waiting for our aadhar numbers, though our photos and fingerprints and so on were taken a year ago. I wrote to the emial id provided in the UID website; but no reply as usual with govt affairs.

      When they made a pilot study in Rajasthan it was found that the scheme of Direct Cash Transfer didn't work successfully (See latest Frontline for details). If they cannot make it work even in a pilot study conducted in a limited area, how will they make it work all over the country?

      Delete
  3. umashankarDecember 18, 2012 at 8:34 AM

    It is not Sheila's fault. Correct me if I am wrong, these same voters never miss a chance to queue up and vote for her while the rich stay back in their palaces or whatever you have. No, I am not favouring the rich, I am only a couple of notches above the Rs. 600 per month slot. But we reap what we sow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalDecember 18, 2012 at 3:50 PM

      The poor man has dreams when he goes to vote. The dreams of the rich don't depend on the govt. That's the difference. Congress or BJP or any party - it will make little difference to the aam aadmi. Shall we vote for Aam Aadmi Party and hope for a difference?

      Delete
    2. mandakolathurDecember 23, 2012 at 7:03 AM

      Matheikal, the rich are not dependent on the government, true. Only because, they work the government in the lean times, between the elections! You are setting yourself up for a dispiriting fall by depending on AAP. Call me a cynic.

      Delete
  4. Sunil DeepakDecember 21, 2012 at 6:39 PM

    .. and alms will be there only before the elections. After the elections aam admi can wait for "socially responsible" business persons to think about their less fortunate brothers and sisters and give them something

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalDecember 21, 2012 at 8:42 PM

      Alms, again, in the name of social responsibility - you're so right.

      Delete

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