These words from recently popular soundtrack may very well coincide with the voice of India’s common man. After 64 years of liberation from British rule, the independent Indian is still begging for his basic rights such as ‘Roti, Kapda aur Makan’.
Mahatma Gandhi once said that heart of India lies in her villages. It is true even today as 2011 census revealed that, despite of massive urban migration observed in last few decades, rural population of India is still nearly threefold higher compared to urban population. Thus, one can never understand or feel the real India staying in metro cities.
The condition of rural areas in major parts of India is not unknown to any of us. Basic amenities such as 24 hour electricity, potable water, quality healthcare facilities, good roads, and schools may sound day dream for those who are the vote bank for governments post independence. It’s not that the governments have completely neglected them. The steps have been taken in the direction to uplift the rural areas through various schemes and programmes. Although, the questions today are ‘what has been achieved from them and is that satisfactory?’, ‘does it take 64 years to not even reach midway providing rural India with basic needs?’ & ‘are we developing with keeping the population explosion of this country in mind?’
We all know the answers of above question so it is better to leave the debate on that. This does not mean that we lose our right to question and compel the elected government to provide us with the promised and basic amenities to strengthen the rural infrastructure. And it is evident from our past that the democracy of India has certainly heard the voice of its people, however, acting upon it may be seen with an eye of skepticism & is altogether a different issue!
On the other hand, question for us is ‘do we really want to change ourselves for good and co-operate the govt. for better future?’ The answer for this question will clog our minds with millions of thoughts regarding good and bad consequences. I am talking about the least debated but the most affecting problem of ever rising population of India. Any infrastructure developed will have minimum and maximum capacity for operating effectively and last for its expected span. However, the leaping numbers of Indian population means that the infrastructure developed today will be inadequate very soon due to its haphazard use and irregular maintenance in order to serve increasing numbers of beneficiaries.
Globally we have surpassed 7 billion head counts in past few days and still counting. The population of India is well over 1.2 billion compared to mere 350 million at the time of independence. In addition, it is assumed that India will be crowned as the most populated country by 2030 dethroning China. These figures are worry some now but they will be frightening very soon. It is important to mention in the same context that the banned female feticide and abortion are yet practiced in the country as we come across this malice often through various Medias.
Along with the authorities, it is also us who has to understand that resources do not increase with population. The irony of the situation is that, in the political circle not much has been spoken boldly regarding the issue and perhaps not a single political party wants to take up the cause which will lead to brighter future. It would be difficult but essential to maintain rising population due to decreasing death rate and increasing birthrate with the help of advancement in medical sciences. If effective plans, policies and education programmes reaching to masses are not formed now, such rise in population, limitation of arable land and limitation of other resources may lead us to a brink of irreversible disaster.
Therefore, the bottom line is, along with saying ‘Sadda haq ethe rakh’, we also have to co-operate the authorities to make it happen and last for long. In addition to govt. policies & efforts, it will have to be our determination & solidarity that will save our future from this visible menace. To fulfill our dream of better India, we can start thinking along these lines by leaving our comfort zone and cultural beliefs behind .
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