Railway budget 2015 – Analysis

Though it is still early to Judge the 2015 railway budget framed by railway minister Suresh Prabhu, it is safe to say this is indeed a promising budget.  However, emphasizing the plan would not actually benefit people directly. It takes a government with strong will to actually implement these promising ideas, without bending its spine before hurdles and thorns.

Indispensable need for effective waste disposal       

Indian railway is still the single biggest human waste delivering system in the world. Clean India campaign, rediscovered by current Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi is gaining weight due to its importance for the development of the nation. Suresh Patel’s budget contains special mentions about this key issue. The plan is to replace 17,000 waste spreading old age toilets with bio toilets.

Construction of toilets in 650+ railways stations, introduction of vacuum toilets etc… is a good start, at least for now. However, the thing is, India is a vast geographical entity, and vigorous implementation without fail is required. We are still among some of the remaining rusty dusty dirt bag nations. If we are going to do it, we must do it now. Time is already over for us.

Safe or Sound?

With much shame, we must admit the fact that women in India are not safe. Increasing number of rapes and murders shows what dreadful situation we are in. Till now, all the proclamations and promises were just ‘sounds’. India does not need any more ‘sound’. What we need is a voice, not noise. This budget does mention about a plan to install CCTV for selected suburban trains, in the name of women safety. However, this is not only adequate, but sheer negligence.

Hi-Fi dreams

Technology revolution is, may be the first revolution that came to India without any delay. Let it be Agricultural revolution or financial revolution; all came to India decades late. Industrial revolution never even touched the soil of India. We are the second largest community to use Internet, right behind the big boss America.

It is the necessity of our time to bring some essential technological changes to the railway. 400 railway stations are going to furnish themselves with WiFi facility. Shatabdi trains will have entertainment systems. Above all, General compartment travelers will now have the ‘luxury’ of charging their mobile phones. Facilities such as Mobile application to file complaints against the railway authorities, round the clock helpline service, SMS alert systems etc… are already late to implement.

Towards sustainable development

Though we won’t find any euphoria yielding promises in this railway budget 2015, it does have many important suggestions. Even from a macro analysis of budget will show us its intentions to deliver a good customer experience.  Modernization of facilities, as well as implementation of hygienic toilets will make people say “yes, India can change”. Proposals to set up a railway university, improve coastal connectivity and track capacity are definitely a way towards sustainable growth. Plan expenditure of this budget will reach a record range of 1.1 lakh crore rupees, jumping from 66,000 crores last time.

(To be continued…)

The Nobel Stupidity

In 1905, Albert Einstein published his findings about the inexplicable photoelectric phenomena. It took long 16 years for the Nobel committee to understand the significance of his findings and award him with a price. This is pretty much the story of every Nobel winners. Everyone in the world listens when Nobel committee announces their winner’s list. Nobel was reserved for only the world’s finest. Even today, Nobel is widely regarded as the highest honor that a man can get.

Today, the renowned Nobel committee is slowly losing their reputation. Presenting the Nobel peace prize to someone like Malala is utterly irresponsible. You don't present Physics Nobel prize for a man who accidentally found an alien ship in his basement. It takes a lifetime of efforts and results to be awarded with a Nobel, or so thinks people. Malala, if the story is true, is really a brave girl. She had some troubles with taliban and received their fury in the form of a bullet. Even her speech in UN assembly was a cunningly created script. I don't want to go into the conspiracy theories, “Giving Malala Yousafzai the Nobel Peace Prize is like giving the Nobel Prize for Literature to the winner of the National Spelling Bee”

(courtesy: http://www.quora.com/What-has-Malala-Yousufzai-done-to-deserve-Nobel-Peace-Prize-Did-she-deserve-it)

By re quoting this statement I didn't mean to offend the bravery or spirit shown by Malala. She fought for a cause. I am merely pointing to the fact that giving Malala the honour, while there are so many people out there who deserve the prize more than her, was irresponsible.

Why malala? why not Irom Sharmila? why not gene Sharp?

However, selecting Malala from a nominee list that had the name of Vladimir Putin in it, is certainly not a fault decision.

"Aaaaannnddd.... lets hear what famous American Model Naomi Campbell has to say about all this....."