National Security
Loot of Nation’s Money
Dt: 14/3/16
Loot of Nation’s Money
Dr T.H.Chowdary*
Citizens are justifiably angry that a large number of industrialists and business-men have through prescribed procedures took huge loans from banks and have defaulted on repayment; they have immorally garnered public funds.
2. True, but consider the more than Rs. 3 lakh cr that are being distributed as welfare – free and Rs. 1/- Kg rice, mixers, grinders ( to freedom fighters, widows, differently enabled , old...), ex-gratia to families of those who die drinking hooch, billions rupees worth scholarships to researches- for-decades in universities, payment to imams, funding minorities for pilgrimages to Haj and Jerusalem goers.. In return for what contribution they are making to generation of wealth and strength for the nation a e they given these freebies? Voters are receiving cash and other gifts?
3. In misappropriation by a few ( thousands) sums of hundred of cr reprehensible and criminal an d receiving public money by hundreds of millions, each Rs. 20,000 to Rs.100,000 for just being voters a virtuous act? Politicians,, hungering for power and acquisition of wealth are devaluing work ethic an d promoting an d perpetuating painless poverty, by “ welfare” payments to the voting masses.
4. Is it not becoming evident from the declarations of wealth by contestants in elections that they have been becoming wealthier with successive elections? Wealth is being created by well educated, entrepreneurial and hard-working sections; considerable portion of it is got at by unethical businessmen, politicians, government functionaries and the consumptive voting masses. If 68 years after independence an d thirteen five-year plans to eliminate poverty, 67% of India’s 128 cr people are to be given subsidised food grins under the Food Security Act, are we not deluding and fooling ours? How can we get over poverty if the population increases by 180 lakhs a year but job creation does not touch even 100 lakhs ? We thought that lack of skills is the reason for unemployability. We created the National Skill Development Corporation in 2013. It skilled 65,46, 251 people but only 26,92,168 (41%) could get work. Does it not show that population growth is out stripping the nation’s ability to create productive work? Lakhs of graduates thousands f o P.Gs and doctorates are applying for peons and other Groups -D jobs!
5. What is needed is not more welfare pay-out but control of population growth and quality education for all and inculcation of work, sharing and caring ethic, not vote-attracting populism of politicians. (407 words)