Civil obedience

I avidly read Indian news sites every morning especially ones that give me headlines from across various Indian news papers and websites. As time has progressed, these sites have now been focussing more on more on tabloid style news e.g. digging up the dirt on well known personalities. Another genre which pops up several times a week are articles on why India is the next big thing in the world. The articles try to fire up your betting instincts on when India will 'pass' China and the US. Apart from my curiosity on what quantifiable metrics we will be able to 'pass' the other countries on, I almost always amazed by how much these articles quote the obvious. Well, it is not hard to see that India is growing and the growth is remarkable. But is there any assessment on quality of life on average?

The average street side cop still accepts 50 ruppees 'mammool' in return for not booking a ticket for some minor offences. The average street side garbage can still only carries a small percentage of the neighbourhood trash, most of which is still liberally layered out over the surrounding road or street. The average Indian still has no concept of a queue. The average Chennai bus is still the site of many a jostle while passengers squeeze through to try to get to the one seat that has been recently evacuated. The average household is still the victim of multiple power cuts, unreliable water availability, unstable voltage when the power is available and water that is not potable when it does flow through. The response time of the local civic utility to an issue in your house is directly proportional to the amount of 'mammool' they get from you at Deepavali/Pongal time. I am going off the theory that quality of life can improve only if the things that directly affect you in daily interactions improve. I do not see any difference in any of the above over the course of the last 10 years. Moreover, I do not see any chance for improvement in the absence of a sense of community amongst the people.

The thought above stems from what I have been a direct witness to in recent weeks here in Chelmsford. Yes, my view is limited to observations made in affluent suburbia. Nevertheless, it stands as a very good example of the overall sense of community that prevails in neighbourhoods and towns and geographical entities of a wider radii in the US. Case in point- my neighbours are average folks, retirees, who had regular day jobs. Despite their professional commitments, they remained active in the town council and this continued more so in to their retirement. The town councils are diligent in their activities. There is accounting on their activity as well as over sight. The meetings are telecast on a local cable channel for the town. As a resident of the town and an employee of a company with an office in town, I recently raised an issue. The issue was reported to the town council and was immediately discussed in the next council meeting. In addition, things like ensuring shops have accessability for disabled/handicapped folks are ensured by a council dedicated to the task. Building safety norms are reviewed and discussed and the list goes on and on. While there are dedicated full time folks who work in the town offices, the job of running the town falls on the residents. And it is taken seriously and there is a sense of pride attached to this seriousness.

Switch focus to a local Chennai Corporation division. It is divided and subdivided into so many categories. The local Corporation office in any subdivision is a cesspool of current goondas, goondas who have become 'Councillors', assorted riff raff and the 'mammool' hunting peon-all these characters dispersed like dust between the Raj era desks sagging under the weight of dog eared files that are held together with a thick two coloured tape that reads 'Urgent' if one end is higher and 'Ordinary' if the other is higher. 'Beeda' stains on the corridors are bountiful and the toilets are an example of the western world's stereotypical potrayal of third world disaster.

The solution to this problem is not going to be easy. I am thrilled by privatization of a lot of governmental organization. Stock holders do not have patience for the riff raff. But that still does not address the issue of civic sense. Our eyes need to open to it as a collective. I am curious to see the effects of the new concept of walled private townships such as the Magarpatta township in Pune. I can only see this working if the results and the news of success in smaller areas percolates through.