When I watch the news these days and hear the plight of the poor people in this country, I say a small thanks to the universe for giving me this life. A life where I can afford to buy what I want even during the lock down days.
I shudder to think of what the daily laborers and migrant workers are going through these tough times. Imagine waiting everyday for someone to provide food or trying to find some way to go back to your native home since you have no means to earn a living.
Imagine feeling helpless and hoping that the government will do something for you.
I understand how these political parties work in the country. No party that has been in power is corrupt free these days. Some are worse than the others. In spite of knowing all this, I thought that at least these people had a little humanity in them and were not that very bad.
That is where I was wrong. The current government has sent out a clear message to this country - they will help someone only if they are rich and powerful or if they contribute greatly to the vote bank. Otherwise, they are not bothered. If you are poor, you will be treated no better than animals.
Some incidents that moved me in the last few weeks -
* Migrant laborers walked hundreds of kilometers to their native after waiting for days. After walking for a few kilometers, the officials sent them back to the place they started.
* A man asked permission to go and pick his pregnant wife. He was denied in spite of showing e-pass. The pregnant wife decided to walk to reach home. On the way, she delivered the baby.
* Migrant laborers who fell asleep on the railway tracks due to tiredness, were run over by the train.
* Migrant laborers who had continued walking on the roads were run over by vehicles.
* A man who had a cart with two cows, sold one of his cows for money. He then pulled the cart, stepping in place for the second cow, carrying his family and his belongings
* Two men got a ride in a lorry/truck and asked the driver to stop for water. He did not stop. One of then got dehydrated and was on the verge of dying. Since the driver had asked the dying man to get down, the friend also got down. The other man held his friend for hours until the sick friend passed away.
* Government officials sprayed disinfectant on a group of migrant laborers, treating them like animals.
* Police lathi charge group of migrant laborers who had protested and had started walking towards their destination.
There were a few good Samaritans - police, volunteers who helped these people. Glad that we have some people who understood their plight. I did hear that some people bought a lot of slippers in different sizes to give to these people who were walking to their home town. Such a thoughtful gesture. And some state governments like Kerala who have done such a good job. That state is an example of what good administration is and how efficiently people can run a government.
Question is - when they can do it, why cannot the central government or other state governments do it. When they spent money to get back Indians stranded in different countries, why couldn't they arrange transport for these poor people to go back to their native homes.
The poor have lost all their savings. They are the ones who are heavily impacted due to the virus and the lock down.
What was even more surprising was the fact that the supporters of the ruling party, still had nothing to say about the situation. Why do they still defend the government when they know very well that nothing has been done.
How can they not show any empathy towards these people. How can the elected ministers and other representatives be so insensitive. How can they even eat their food or sleep properly every day when they know that hundreds of people are suffering every day.
Every time I see a debate between the ruling and the opposition party in a local news channel, I get irritated. How can these representatives of the ruling party argue that their side is always right or lie so confidently.
How did these people lose humanity? Is caste, religion, money, power so important than these human lives?
I shudder to think of what the daily laborers and migrant workers are going through these tough times. Imagine waiting everyday for someone to provide food or trying to find some way to go back to your native home since you have no means to earn a living.
Imagine feeling helpless and hoping that the government will do something for you.
I understand how these political parties work in the country. No party that has been in power is corrupt free these days. Some are worse than the others. In spite of knowing all this, I thought that at least these people had a little humanity in them and were not that very bad.
That is where I was wrong. The current government has sent out a clear message to this country - they will help someone only if they are rich and powerful or if they contribute greatly to the vote bank. Otherwise, they are not bothered. If you are poor, you will be treated no better than animals.
Some incidents that moved me in the last few weeks -
* Migrant laborers walked hundreds of kilometers to their native after waiting for days. After walking for a few kilometers, the officials sent them back to the place they started.
* A man asked permission to go and pick his pregnant wife. He was denied in spite of showing e-pass. The pregnant wife decided to walk to reach home. On the way, she delivered the baby.
* Migrant laborers who fell asleep on the railway tracks due to tiredness, were run over by the train.
* Migrant laborers who had continued walking on the roads were run over by vehicles.
* A man who had a cart with two cows, sold one of his cows for money. He then pulled the cart, stepping in place for the second cow, carrying his family and his belongings
* Two men got a ride in a lorry/truck and asked the driver to stop for water. He did not stop. One of then got dehydrated and was on the verge of dying. Since the driver had asked the dying man to get down, the friend also got down. The other man held his friend for hours until the sick friend passed away.
* Government officials sprayed disinfectant on a group of migrant laborers, treating them like animals.
* Police lathi charge group of migrant laborers who had protested and had started walking towards their destination.
There were a few good Samaritans - police, volunteers who helped these people. Glad that we have some people who understood their plight. I did hear that some people bought a lot of slippers in different sizes to give to these people who were walking to their home town. Such a thoughtful gesture. And some state governments like Kerala who have done such a good job. That state is an example of what good administration is and how efficiently people can run a government.
Question is - when they can do it, why cannot the central government or other state governments do it. When they spent money to get back Indians stranded in different countries, why couldn't they arrange transport for these poor people to go back to their native homes.
The poor have lost all their savings. They are the ones who are heavily impacted due to the virus and the lock down.
What was even more surprising was the fact that the supporters of the ruling party, still had nothing to say about the situation. Why do they still defend the government when they know very well that nothing has been done.
How can they not show any empathy towards these people. How can the elected ministers and other representatives be so insensitive. How can they even eat their food or sleep properly every day when they know that hundreds of people are suffering every day.
Every time I see a debate between the ruling and the opposition party in a local news channel, I get irritated. How can these representatives of the ruling party argue that their side is always right or lie so confidently.
How did these people lose humanity? Is caste, religion, money, power so important than these human lives?
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