Kurukshetra NITK Hostel no:-7
If you are a frequent reader of TIMES OF INDIA(so called TOI),then word Austeriry is quotidian for you.You may be perspicacious over this topic or it may be it seems new-fangled for you. Even after discussing for a long time over this topic in every facet it is too complicated that it is still seems nebulous so after wade through information,i am trying to explain what and why austerity is so debatable now.
This whole story smouldered when Our finance minister Mukhargee da asked External affairs Minister and his younger MOS Shashi tharoor to vacate 5-star hotels(Where they ensconced incognito) and then suggested politician to travel in economy class instead of business class to reduce extra expenses in this drought and economic downturn time(in last 12 months 70-80% of total expenses were due to politician's travelling expenses).
After scrutinizing the conditions and ruminating over the word i tried to define the word and tried to cover all tha facets but keep in mind that this definition is in my understanding and your creed may be different from mine:
Austerity :-
According to Hitendra "Austerity is a set of actions, performed by the responsible citizen of a state,for the welfare of state,in the public interest by means of reduncing their unnecessary expenses."
Few Keywords:
SET OF ACTIONS:- Actions taken to reduce the expenses and to lead a austere life.
RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN:- who cares,thinks and works for state and isn't selfish.
WELFARE OF STATE:- Physical and mental health and happiness of an individual in state.
PUBLIC INTEREST:- these actions shouldn't have -ve effect on aam aadmi.
UNNECESSARY EXPENSES:- which don't have much more effect on the person but saves a lot for the state.
Our main focus is on politician because they are leading luxurious life (while they are public servant).This luxurious life has become the status symbol for them.They are travelling by planes,having a Z or Z+ security when this is not much required.For an example,MK karunanidhi who doesn't travel much by planes(because of health problem) but hogged these planes(because of status) and government is spending around 12cr per annum on maintainance of these standing planes.Their single visit(Better to call it official visit,while they visit with their family) and meeting costs in crores(where Same platitudes are mouthed every time that "our relation with that nation is improving").Maya behanji is busy in making her statues(spent many crores from public fund)shows how much they are serious for public interests and state.Their family travels in limousine and living in govt mansions(Between 2005-09,Rs 93.5 crore was spent on "up gradation" of houses of MPs and Ministers and since June 2009,eight Ministers have renovated offices for Rs 78.41 lakh).
Our politicians don't stop here and chronically there are advocating for this austerity which is nothing more than charade for me. May i ask why we have 85 ministries in center while we had 18 at the time of independence. In indian government we have staff of 1,38,370(including all the officials) to collect a revenue of Rs 6,41,079 crore.More shockingly,Environment ministry has 11 secretaries(1-secretary,2-additional secretaries,6-joint secretaries and 2-joint secretaries-level officers). Why do we need a Ministry for Minority affairs when we have a Ministry for Social Justice?Is there any need for different Ministries for different resources like Steel Minister,coal Minister etc.Every Minister and secretary has an email ID, a computer, and are on a LAN system and having video conferencing facilities,then what is need for meetings to discuss over petty issues in 5-star hotel.
But Keep in mind,only politicians aren't inhabitant of this country.We are equally responsible for these unwise spendings.Have you ever think how much you can save just by living austere life??Aam aadmi should also live austere life("boond-boond se ghada bharta hai") and use money and resources wisely(But plz Don't be Makkhichoos).Most of the time we use our bike and other personal vechicle where we can go on foot,save VAT by not taking bills(That turns into Black Money).How efficiently we used electricity and other resources to save them??? We all at our level tries to cheat country just to save some amount of money(some people avoid Train-tickets for short distances and Platform Ticket,which is available at every station..."But Kaun Chech Karne Wala h"). Then why you expect from politicians(After all they are also indian like you and at their level they have better opportunities to cheat).
We can only expect from politicians to reduce their unnecessary expenses not only by reducing their travelling expenses but by reducing their phone bills,travel by less expensive means(In US senators travel by public vehicle and they dont have problem with it),leaving mansions(It would be a better idea to create a special security multi-storied complex or better still simple pay ministers-even a crore per year-to let them fend for themselves),reducing number of security personnels(and more important,this shouldn't be a status symbol),reducing expenses on visit.Their family should also refrain from using government vehicles.The sole meaning of austerity doesn't lie in refrain from travelling in Business Class(In Fact, they should continue travelling in business classes or by planes because in country like India where we have put politician on a pedestal,will face the problem if these demigod travel by train or any other public vehicle because then they need more security and will hog the platform and train coach).In short politician should leave rainbow color life style and adopt austere means because they can save a lot for this country.
We should also ruminate before unwise spending because we are equally responsible and should live austere life.We should take all the measures to save the money by refrain from steps mentioned above.
I appeal to all,please be austere because Money is the 6th sense which can destroy other 5-senses so we need money and be sure you will have money in all times like in downturn also and your spending will contribute to country's saving(because We are the Country)..But Don't be "Makkhichoos"
Hitendra Gupta
