Its been a long time since I wrote on this blog. I thought of making amends by writing more frequently.
The work with the Waghers has picked up momentum. More details on http://masskutch.blogspot.com
Without delving into details of work with MASS, I wish to write here about a question that we confront frequently. Are you guys not anti-development/anti-industry. Are you not out of touch with the times, what with the world progressing at such a fast pace?
I am not satisfied with that politically correct answer that we are not anti-development or anti-industry, we are all for development, but with consideration for rights of poor.
I think that a voice for the environment or for the poor, affected by projects is a must and that doesn't mean that such people are anti-development.
Lets look at a simple analogy of a car. Why is it that a car has both accelerators and Brakes. While the main idea of having a car is to move and reach destinations, it doesn't mean that the car keeps moving no matter what and stops at nothing. A car has to move when its supposed to and slow down where it has to, and stop where it must. Thus, brakes and accelerators are equally important for a balanced drive.
In the same way, people raising their voice in support of environmental consevartion, and people raising their voices for the survival of poor are as important as those who are pushing for industrialization. However, in recent times, forces of indstrialization have grown so strong that the forces of environmental conservation and pro-poor voices have relatively become feeble. Thus it is now acceptable for courts to say, "Its ok for a little environmental damage to happen in order to make way for such a large project". Its now up to the common man to stand for the silent ones - the environment and the poor.
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Partha, You are absolutely right, when you say that the wheels of "so-called" development have brake-shoes in the form of environmental concerns. But "who cares", "I don't mind as long as I get my pie" are very common these days in many of our minds. I still remember the days of IRMA when were undergoing the most privileged "sector education", one can afford to in the best sophisticated arena. There we enjoyed mulling over the hot topics of development in an air-conditioned environment. Always, we had the best of everything to work for the least listened to people.
When I drive my bike, I used to curse whenever I come across any bumpers to pass through. I have both accelerator and brakes, but seldom I would like to apply the latter when I was enjoying the ride with the former. These bumpers are meant for avoiding any accidents due to over-pace only and not due to negligence of the driver.
Here when you say that market is driving the society towards development, mere brake-shoes would not be enough. We need to have as many speed -breakers as that of downtrodden or the weaker sections in this society for giving them a better protection.
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