Lokpal Bill Fiasco!

Our much awaited Lokpal Bill has slipped into coma at the stroke of midnight and many win freedom from the uneasy thought that much talked-about antigraft Bill would disturb them in near future.More than forty years have taken for the passage of the Bill in Lok Sabha and it might take another forty years or more to be passed in Rajya Sabha.It's true unless prodded by Anna Hazare the bill would not have even been placed in LS for consideration.Anna might rather find solace in it instead of grudging the tragic fate of the BILL.. Initially Team Anna's antigraft campaign received unprecedented support from across the country and it indicated in no uncertain terms the popular contempt against corruptions.But people too got fed up with passage of time as the relation between Team Anna and UPA govt increasingly deteriorated and ultimately perhaps they lost much of their interest in Lokpal issue as was evident in thin attendance of people at Anna's Fast venue at Mumbai.Now politicians are as usual at blame game one political party passing the buck to anther for Lokpal BIll fiasco.What was, in fact, wanting in the entire issue was the sincerity of the politicians cutting across party lines to pass the Bill.It's extremely unfortunate, in deed.

AMRI Hospital Tragedy

The blood curdling scenes of people jumping to death from Stephen court building engulfed in devastating fire in a desperate bid to save their lives are still fresh in our memory.Then we thought administration and people as well would take lesson from this macabre story and try to ensure such an incident does never occur.But we were totally wrong and AMRI Hospital tragedy has proved it in no uncertain terms.Instances of death toll of such magnitude in hospital fire are quite rare even in other parts of the world.Here at AMRI patients were not burnt to death,they were suffocated to death in smoke that fire generated.More than ninety lives were lost.Patients who were critically ill or orthopedically handicapped fell easy prey to fire.Fire reportedly broke out at the basement where combustible and inflammable subtances were allegedly stored.Smoke bellowed up through the ducts of centrally air-conditioning system and filled the rooms of the patients. Glass pans of the building were so tightly sealed accumulated smoke could not go out.Nor was there any device to let out the gas in case of emergency.Fire or smoke alarm did not buzz either.

Other private or govt hospitals in the city are reportedly no better than AMRI so far as the safety and security are concerned.Most of them flout fire safety norms, let alone provide proper arrangement to evacuate the patients in case the situation so demands.Conditions of govt hospitals are even worse.In fact, these hospitals too deserve the cancellation of permission for being run in this abjectly indifferent way.One wonders how the men in administration have turned a blind eye to the blatant and criminal lapses perptrated by the hospital authorities for years together.So they too are no less guilty than the callous managerial staff of AMRI for this most painful human tragedy.

What's most unfotunate and certain too is the flurry of activities now being shown by the administration to ensure that such a tragedy is not ever repeated in future would gradually die down and things would be back to square one till another such incident occures that would awaken the adminstration to embark upon some knee jerk measures again.

Striking Exam Date!

Citu,one of the sponsors of Industrial strike on Feb 28, 2012 have locked horn with the Education ministry of the state over the date of strike.On this very date 11 lacs students would appear at the history paper of Madhyamic examinations.Education minister has declared that the date of examination would not be changed in view of the strike.He argues date was fixed one year back and obviously much before the date of Industrial strike was announced.So trade unions should have taken into consideration the concerned date while fixing the date of strike.Citu counter argues that as it is an All India strike whichever date is chosen it'd affect examinations in some state or other.Both sides appear to be right in their arguments but if they stick to their stand it is the students who would be worst sufferers.If the examination is held on the day of strike students would be in sheer trouble for transport problem.So it's wise for the Board of Secondary education not to make it a prestige issue and shift the date of exam at least in the interest of students and guardians.Delhi Board is reportedly considering to shift the dates of its exams scheduled to be held on the day of strike.In fact,it's nothing new to change the date of examinations in view of strikes or bandhs.
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Off the hook!

Anti-hooking operation at Magrahat:
Govt has done nothing wrong in making an attempt to stop theft of electricity through hooking at Magrahat.People can't claim the right to hooking as they have not been given electrical connection by WBSEB as yet even after depositing necessary money.Theft is theft, it can't be legalised under any circumstances.The law abiding customers have to pay for this theft of electricty.It also results in huge revenue loss of the state.In fact, widespread hooking which is in many cases deliberately overlooked for some reason or other has made it, as if ,the fundamental right of the hookers..So any move to stop this malpractice would not go unopposed.Administration should tread cautiously and tactfully to tackle the issue.Perhaps at Magrahat authorities made no proper ground work before taking on the offenders or could not handle the situation properly because of lack of coordination.Whatever might be the cause two precious lives were lost.

Now blame game has started.CM has as usual smelled conspiracy in the matter.However, she's ashamed of such a sad incident.She's blamed police for firing and also for their lack of skill to disperse mob without killing any one.She regrets she's to employ trigger happy police of the Left regime.She's also pleaded she was posted on the incidence the following day, although the home secretary claimed he knew it on the day of occurrence.She has, however, ordered to stop anti-hooking operation obviously much to the delight of the hookers.Now she's making her best to get off the hook.The opposition is as usual trying their best to cash in on this situation as she did when in opposition.

Incidentally,thanks to present govt's power policy vis-a-vis power generation by installing new power plants and determination not to enhance power tariff to increase revenue to keep the present power plants running properly , there'd be no need to carry out Operation Hookers soon as electricty would be a rare entity.

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