Privatization of educational institutions

In India, there is a major trend to encourage private organisations in the making of educational institutions, schools, colleges and universities.Social commitment is the most important part of imparting education, that is not sold by private companies.Profit driven organisations cannot impart education as the language used by those running the institution is business language where the student is a "prospective customer". No care would be taken in developing the intellect of the individual student; "how much profit(fees) can be extracted from him" is the main aim of the institution. In a space created by these profit driven organisations, few educational skills can be imparted. Can these institutions teach critical thinking? Can they teach rationality and logic? Can they teach good values?The chief goal of education--full development of mind of the student cannot take place in a private organisation which is striving to make money. May be few skills can be delivered, thats all. A private college can deliver few technical skills only, so that a student is "job-ready". Giving opportunity for the development of the intellectual capacity of the student is not the aim of such an institution.
Today's students are tomorrow's citizenry. They should be taught good values and be taught to make sound judgements. Students should be given chance to engage in debating different viewpoints.They should be given space for discussion in schools. Educational institutions should not just teach how to conform but teach to think critically, to think rationally and to think logically.No private organisation making profits is interested in that. Engineering graduates from private colleges know no engineering. For the money they had paid, they got degrees. They have to be retained to make them job worthy. So privatisation of educational institutions has not worked in India.Knowledge corpus is doubling every five years; so if one finishes engineering college in four years, he would be outdated as soon as he leaves college. He has to relearn his subjects, and constantly update himself on the latest developments.There are efforts taken to bring foreign educational institutions so that quality will come out of competition. Here there is already many private firms competing with one another. There is no need for more.
While vocational colleges may train candidates for job market, universities can train for higher research. Teacher training institutes have to be improved first, so that we have good teachers.Good teachers will mould whole generation of employable engineers, doctors and professors.
 

Why are we so intolerant

There is increasing cultural intolerance among modernized Indians. During annual literary festival at Jaipur in which elitist writers had participated, a small comment on rising corruption in India was taken as a big insult. He had no intention on hurting feelings of anyone. His words have been taken out of the context they were in. Academia was told give its opinion, and media kept on re-analyzing the issue. This is like enlarging the little comment and making a mountain of a mole hill. Nobody should say anything as it could be misinterpreted and taken out of context. This gives a bad name to the writer. It is as if the media is denting the writers, as it wants. There are intolerant persons who find something wrong with every word.Reactionary persons can revolt on anything. Then there are those who seek publicity by making themselves controversial.Reactionary persons and seekers of controversy create much commotion. Word are exchanged, then thee is no room for reconciliation.Enmity develops as hot dialogues lead to more hatred. This is not good.We so are intolerably intolerant.
There are healthy debates result when a writer who had written against holy books was asked by the religious leaders to talk about it with them.He can have a discussion and debate his view points.And conflicts can be resolved.
If one had views different from others, there is no forum to resolve it. Instead they make statements to the press infuriating the other side.Discussion is an effective way to resolve opposite views.But that is not done.Once spoken, the words cannot be taken back, so care must be taken. And if the words affect political or religious ideologies, then the writer has had it. Newspapers will go on and on publishing mutual disagreements. All disagree at all times.We are a republic of different viewpoints.
Often one must be "politically correct" otherwise, he could be jailed. This is a bad trend as it could erode our democracy.  

We remember the martyrs

On this Republic Day people remember the martyrs. The two soldiers whose mutilated bodies were found made each one of us think of their sacrifices. We can empathise with their families and share their grief. Sentinels give the ultimate sacrifice when they keep watch in our borders. It is the most  risky profession which one can have. Even at these trying times, we control ourselves from actions of hate and cry for our soldiers who had to give up their lives. The army drums during the ceremony of "Beating Retreat" strike a melancholy chord in our hearts. Army music, instead of livening us,they saddens us.
We also empathise with the girl who had lost her life during sexual assault by criminals in the streets of New Delhi. It was amazing to witness 25 lakh citizens of Delhi protesting in historical places to make the government realise their lack of governance in stopping such crimes. Insensitive people holding high office gave their own comments on the protests. People asked for the right to dignity for all women. Lack of proper police force, and ineffective courts also contributes to high crime rates.
New awakening of the Indian youth to the social reality has to be appreciated. Every knows now about lack of social control mechanisms, lack of governance and feudal mindsets have brought about cruelty to the women everywhere in India, not just Delhi. Even without any leadership, the individuals revolted and showed their feelings by peaceful protests. This is indeed the land of Gandhi.

    

Justice Verma's Committee

Within a month, 650 pages comprehensive report has been prepared by Justice J.C.Verma’s committee as recommendations for improving security of women and children in India. Punishments for criminal offences have been offered. Stringent deterrent will prevent offences. Codification will prevent reduction in punishment as it is done now; life sentence which once given could be for 20 years and not 14 years as it is reduced now. For aggravated sexual assault, whole life sentence will be given. Besides imprisonment, “fine” will be charged for meeting medical offences for the victim like acid attack. New offences were defined like voyeurism stalking and acid attack. And it was define that there is a “breach of command responsibility” where the senior police/security officer is held responsible for acts committed by his juniors. The committee was able to see the patriarchal features in framing of law, and recognised marital rape as an offence for all ages. Senior security officers would get 7 to 10 years for the offences against women and juniors would get only 5 years of imprisonment for the same crime. “Intentional touching “can get a sentence of 2 years to 5 years imprisonment.”Trafficking of a person” can get a punishment of 7 years or up to life term. Frequent crime of “eve-teasing” is grouped as sexual assault. Even with the codification of punishment, offenders can get away because of the casual way police operates. Sensitising police has been taken up but they are resistant to learn new approaches. The measures have to be implemented otherwise they remain in paper only. We can make improvements in law enforcement agencies, but the real social controls have to be taught to individuals in society. Schools have to instruct good values and make better citizenry of future India. It has been recommended by the committee that school curriculum to ensure better values; moreover breaking down the stereotype of the dominant male is very important while constructing future citizenry. Immunity to police forces and armed forces from conviction for sexual assault is most pertinent, as this is important in trust deficit of the state; sexual violence in the conflict zone will not be overlooked. Homosexuals have rights and they will not be violated upon. The report has taken care of all aspects of sexual assault in a detailed manner. It is an excellent report which has to be implemented for betterment of the Indian social environment.

 

Backlash effect

In India, whenever we make a legislation to reverse the pressure of social inequalities, we get a backlash. When widows were given a share of demised husband’s property, many widows had died (mysteriously killed). Because the other members of the household like the husband’s brothers regretted giving a share of their wealth to the widow of their brother. “Killing them off” seemed liked the option which they exercised to eliminate widows in the completion for family property. 

Giving property to divorced women has had to effect of strict social rules by “khap panchayats” for its women—like banning mobile phones for women. A positive step forward is seen as a threat to patriarchal power structure. Women’s emancipation is a threat to male dominance of patriarchy. In some states the rise of lower class like “dalits” is regretted by the upper castes, and this could be the reason for the sharp increase in the incidence of rape. In the feudal India (hundred years ago), “dalit” women were frequently violated upon and kept in a lower level where they cannot rebel.But  it was over long time ago; they can no longer be suppressed in free India.

 In the state of Tamil Nadu, last week, leaders of caste groups were promoting ban on inter-caste marriages. They want to preserve their caste identities; this was to protect their own women by keeping them within their own groups. The ‘social psyche’ of the people since the violent ‘gang rape of December 16, 2012 in New Delhi has made people very wary. They want protection of “their women”. But all women need protection and support –not just women of their caste. Narrow mined leadership has reverted to caste consciousness.

Modernism has arrived and we have to keep pace with changing world. However the power relations may be people will have to learn new ways of life. Whether there are repercussions on social structure or not (backlash or not) people are living in present era. They will change their mindsets. World cannot change for them,they have to change to keep up with the world.

                                                                                                                                                          

Importance of preserving environment

National Investment Board(NIB) has been given power to make clearances without approval from the Environment Ministry. NIB can over rule other ministries when it comes to big projects.This is to facilitate making of industries faster.This is highly regrettable.Industrialists can see only profits. They will not care for the environment, which would get damaged.
Many times procedures are altered to meet deadlines and targets and these procedures violate the norms and guidelines of Department of Economic Affairs.One should not be motivated to evade rules.To meet the target, which is 20 km of road per day, orders were issued so that the National Highway Authority of India could quickly invite tenders.So tenders were invited for Public Private Partnership projects before it could be approved by Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee.Bids were invited before approvals for them were obtained, so the bidding date was extended. Traversing rules has become so casual, for environmental clearance seems so unimportant to bureaucrats.
In Goa, 169 environmental clearances were given within five years (2004 to 2009) for mining 60 million ton of iron ore every year.25% mined iron was made without clearances. Much more were mined illegally and shipped to far away shores(China) and no approvals were obtained for that.When approvals were made, there was no transparency or accuracy. Environmental impact assessment was done without knowing that the mined ore would dissolve with the many rivers there increasing the iron content of the water to dangerous levels. This affects the aquatic life and makes the water undrinkable.Between 2007 and 2008, 17 mines were cleared but they were in wild-life sanctuaries.
Mineral exploration is encouraged and even incentives are offered to develop mines. These are see as simple and easy procedures that have immense repercussions later on.
Wild life sanctuaries are affected, people's livelihoods(fishermen) are affected.Inaccurate environment impact assessment destroys the land, water and air. Without having proper parameters to assess, judgements are made. Diversity of flora and fauna cannot be ever replaced. These policies will have long term ecological impact on the country's environment.When the results come out, it would be too late.

Cost of development

'How to preseve environment while utilizing our resource for development' is the main challenge for today’s India in the making of future India. Political elite compromises on quick depletion of natural resources and clean surroundings; and they en-cash it. It is permitting degradation of environment by allowing unlimited number of companies which promise to bring progress and industrial development. New form of post neocolonialism has emerged; Indian polity is exploitative and wants to mask real growth in India in guise of development.The truth is that 'growth for the country means impoverishment of the people'.
Our environment is being degraded by making environmental clearances policies ambiguous. Growth in India is for those who take advantage of non-transparent policies in the making environmental clearances.
The poor are the worst affected as they are in constant battle with limited resources and rising costs. For instance the poor need firewood as fuel and they are not able to cut trees which are a free source of fuel. Regulations to stop cutting of trees has meant that there is no source of fuel. Government has not made a source of fuel which would replace firewood for the poor. This tightens the noose and the poor are hurt, and are pushed into further impoverishment.
People are not part of the growth agenda in India’s growth story. Dams and hydroelectric powers affect water sources and reduce the fish stocks which feed the poor. No fish means no food for the local people. No alternative livelihoods have been offered to the fish-folks; now what would they eat, how will they live? Dams make infrastructure but they are built at the cost of life of the people. But are not dams built for the people? “Growth for whom” is the question. The local people suffer and the benefits of the dam are enjoyed as electricity by urban India. Homes have been dislocated so that dams can be made. But no new homes were made. Meaning is that locals have been evacuated and were not given any compensation or space to live. Factories are made in tribal lands; promises are made by offering jobs to locals. They only bring further impoverishment of the people who are given bare minimum wages. No labour reform. Factories pollute the water, and poison the land and further degrade the environment.
We, the educated elite are able to visualize the potential hazards and see how healthy growth is being stopped and subverted in the guise of development.We are not able to bring to senses the dominant political elite whose mind is being molded by selfish interests. How fast we realize this trend and how we come out of the situation will determine future India.

Sky rocketing price of fuel

Diesel was subsidised for all consumers in India. This subsidy was meant for farmers who run tractors or motorised water pumps and other farm machines. But rich urbanites bought luxury cars (which run on diesel) and used up our supply of diesel excessively. Government went on and on giving subsidised diesel as it did not want to affect the production process of farmlands. Subsidising and giving at a price lower that the market price has exhausted the government. To put an end to this, market prices will be charged for diesel. Now the government will be saving 12000 crores of Rupees. Diesel prices have gone up exorbitantly. It was Rs. 47 .15 per litre; but now we are paying Rs. 58 per litre. But this will affect the farmers adversely. And all consumers have to pay more because all items arrive at the market by diesel driven trucks. Transport charges(from home to place of work) would increase as buses are also run by diesel. The middle class has to pay for it dearly.

 The rich would still use luxury cars and price rise is not going to affect them. Farmers will be affected greatly as they have to pay higher for the fuel. Increase in cost of production means higher market price.Price of fuel is too much for the average citizen. When we make policies, we cannot make one which would affect only one class of people, it would affect all. The weakest feel the hurt of price rise most. All subsidised commodities would ultimately be sold at market price. How long can a government afford to go on subsidising? As consumers we should not assume that subsidisation would last forever. Then this disappointment would not be there. If government builds roads, it is a big thing. But how to travel without cheap fuel?The poor will not be able to travel to work and ultimately the government has to face lesser national production.So,situation is bad. Government cannot give susidised fuel, so it will have to face loss of lesser production.

 

Why is progress delayed?

When profits are scattered, there is no way to re-invest. Government makes profits through taxes but it is scattered away in offering subsidies. If subsidies are given, then expenditure on welfare can be reduced. But they are not. You cannot go on giving and giving. You will run out.
The pressure is on the simple citizen.Those with big incomes get away without paying taxes by making claims to dubious contribution to charitable trusts (or some other excuses) Ultimately the poor and the middle class foot the bill for progress. Petroleum is subsidised, and it is the rich people who make extensive use of this precious commodity.Only 8% of petroleum consumed is produced in India, the rest is imported. This costly commodity is imported at the cost of the common man.The reduction in funds in treasury for growth related programs is thus reduced. Because we are constantly caring for the consumption demands of the rich. One percent enjoys growth while 99% of India pays for it, for they know how to control the politicians who make it easy for them.From 55% tax rate has been reduced to 30% within last ten years for the top classes. This was done for "growth" (assuming that they would invest their profits again)
Roads which are constructed are used mostly by the rich. We discourage migration of the poor. They pose bigger problems when they move to urban India, and import of labour is regretted by local people. So what are people to do? Just watch the roads and not use it to travel to better places?Only those places connected by roads develop,those villages which do not touch roads and relegated to medieval India?We want roads, but we do not want migration.We pressurise people into impoverishment and helplessness. People do migrate and work at places far from their homes.
People need electricity. But remote places which have little scope for industries are kept without electricity.So scope of future prosperity has not reached them. So amidst civilisation, there are communities isolated in space and time(without any development), as if they are from a previous era.
In states like Gujarat, 15% of the population enjoys the benefits of growth and prosperity. The rest lies in medieval India. Government only uses the phrase"inclusive" in its various projects, but all progress is for an exclusive community--industrialists.
Where projects are made, land is acquired  from the ordinary citizens of India, but enough compensation is not made. Cost of land has multiplied several folds, and those who sell it can never buy a similar land anywhere. Those who are already poor are made poorer when their land is taken away from them.This is not development, but it is called growth of India.
Re-distribution of wealth comes with good governance but it has not happened here.The Indian people are becoming more impoverished on the name of growth.

Modernizing mindsets

We are not lagging behind in technology, we are lagging behind in keeping up with modern ideologies. The "common man" who votes for change is not "backward" in mindsets, he wants progress. In one of our "backward" states, people had the choice of voting for the "modern" intelligent politician and a "villager" politician (who had kept cows in his backyard). The "villager" politician belonged to the most populous lower caste and we thought his people will vote for him. But they did not. They felt that they need modern solution to bring progress to their state and they voted for the politician from the upper caste (the less numerous one) Repeatedly, the "modern" politician won and the politician with "villager" lost  in elections. So the common people want modernism and they want to shake free of the medieval mindsets and caste solidarity is not important to them.
Few cunning politicians try to appeal by showing that they are "anti-West" or "pro- desi" in ideals, but the general population is on the lookout for a good modern leader.
Future of India depends on how fast we get rid of  many  ancient  ideologies. Two days ago, the Supreme Court ruled against "khap-panchayats" which have made rules like--no marriage outside one's caste, marriageable age for women is 16, women cannot use mobile phones, women can wear only traditional clothes and not modern ones and so on .
Police force needs re-training to have better mindsets.Police represent the law to the people, so they need to be sensitive to what the needs of the people are. Often, the police perpetuate wrong mindsets themselves.There is nothing more catastrophic than this.So big changes have been initiated. Lieutenant Governor of Delhi has announced that complaints from women will be taken seriously.Every compalaint by women will be made into a case. This is the biggest change we have.
People's wishes and aspirations must be given expression to.Modern writers and media persons have to bring changes in the outlooks of the people who are yearning to be free from ancient mindsets.

Poverty has reduced

Growth has to be "inclusive" otherwise we would have increase in poverty while growing. Form  year 2005 to 2010, poverty has reduced by 6.6 percent in rural India and 4.3 in urban India. Consumption pattern in all strata have changed for the better. The poor are better off than ever before. Rate of economic growth(expressed in GDP) cannot ensure reduction in poverty. Economic growth alone cannot pull people out of poverty. There is inequality in consumption/income. This can be measured. six and a half lakh villages in India is a vast area to make effective changes. There will be inequality of asset and income because we are so big in terms of number of people and being dispersed over large area. We cannot compare ourselves with other developing countries in various parameters. We have an effective social security scheme which has started functioning. And we have MGNREGA which is providing employment to rural people and is increasing their wages. We have an effective distribution Scheme--thanks to "Aadhar". We have started giving the people free medicines and have made pharmaceutical industries accountable(generic drugs)These are big plus points. No poverty index or no "quotient" can measure these achievements. We are now continuously addressing inequalities like inequality of opportunities, inequality of access to social services, inequality into education and to health facilities. And of course, gender inequalities, are becoming the biggest challenges.
The poorest are still battling the environment. In impoverished areas, they are still using firewood  and not being able to afford electricity etc.When we protect the environment and make rules like no chopping of trees, the poorest are the most affected.We understand that development has to take place while protecting the environment. If we develop by destroying the environment, then this is not true development. We have to develop by giving the local people livelihoods and we must increase their standard of living. Only then we would have addressed poverty.
Inevitably, we rob the people and their land of the natural resources, may it be coal, or any other mineral. We strip the land of the valuable resources, and leave the land deserted of all vegetation. It takes years and years before the land becomes fertile enough to farm, and the water table gets contaminated by the resource mined. We actually impoverish the people in the name of development.
By starting industries, we inevitably impoverish the local people. Why? Projects are approved without getting consent from environment ministry or assessment of how the project would affect the local people. After the project is implemented, we see the negative problems which it has created for the people. By then it is too late. Environmental degradation has already happened and land cannot be revived. When a project is given to a private developer, only profits are seen and not the public good. For instance, in construction of a straight highway, several wells would be destroyed. If the highway was laid in a curved(longer) path, then the wells could be saved. Wells are still used by the locals for getting water, and to save them longer highways curving around the wells would have to be made. Longer highway would mean higher cost which a private firm developing it would not spend on. So public good is not envisaged  and well are destroyed to make shorter highways.Ultimately, people would suffer if we leave it up to the profit oriented developers.But government makes concessions to private profit-driven companies. Bigger firms make bigger projects and upon execution result in bigger eco-catastrophes.For instance massive mining activity loosens up the soil and the silt from it clogs the rivers. Floods follow it causing much loss of lives and cattle of the local people. So government has to take charge and intervene to avert such events(like floods) by constantly monitoring projects which is not done.
We have the resources and we have the technology but do we have the governance which can put these together for true development and progress?
We need to create good number of jobs which are of good quality, we need to make effective social security schemes for better re-distribution, we need to increase spending on health and education, We need to give access to all in participation of national growth(access to credit markets, access to agrinet etc) Poverty cannot be defined by statistics but growth and development is clearly visible. Instead of checking poverty levels, we can measure development by visualizing how many people have been affected by changes in their envionment--impoverishment is always unaccounted for.By statistics, India is growing very fast.

Non resident Indians

Many citizens of India had left India pursuing their careers in foreign lands. They are doing very well,while contributing to the growth of the country of adoption. People of Indian origin can share their knowledge and help in better running of our government by providing us with innovative methods. They can help us in not only economic development, but also in cultural evolution of our country. At present we need cultural leadership. There is total agreement in the fact that law and order situation is not good. We know that we have deficiency in governance, and that police reforms are urgently needed. Most important is that, we know that we are going through a cultural change, and we have a huge mass of people with backward mindsets. We wish that the Indians who had left India would have had good experience and could now guide us, in evolving a better society in India. Where ever they live in the Earth, their hearts will be in India. 11^th Convention on ‘Pravasi Bhartiya Divas’ was held yesterday to invite those Indians who had left India to contribute to their mother land which offers them immense future opportunities. We are inviting emigrants who had left India to invest in India. There are many many ways to be part of community of the non-resident Indians. Even overseas Indian citizens have right to buy agricultural land in India. Non resident Indians can use Indian banks for any transactions.Even if you live far far away, they can be a part of India and make India better. They should be part of India's growth story--and make it their story.For people of Indian origin,where ever they live, their hearts will be here in their homeland.

 

Cold Winter ---colder for the poor.

In Northern parts of India, Winter is very severe. In rural areas, people have to take shelter in temples, or "chuopals" and must have warm clothing to survive. Many light bonfires to keep themselves warm and alive. If anyone is caught in cold nights without warm clothes, they can be presumed dead. That is nature's way of limiting population of India. Government is unaware of the numerous poor of rural India who perish in the cold climate. Urban India knows the conditions of the poor and that we must care for them. In Delhi, day time temperature is 1.9 degrees Celsius with strong winds. Government had allocated funds for making night shelters, but they were misappropriated and many could not be made. Supreme court had said in 2009 that there must be at least one shelter for every lakh urban citizen. But this is not adhered to. There is growing dislike for migrants, as it is assumed that they are the cause of crimes.Residents pressurise their local area councillors to make sure that no shelters are made near their localities. Sympathetic feeling for the plight of the poor is totally absent.Selfishness prevails.
Few shelters were made but they had no basic facilities. If shelters are made in the outskirts of the city, how will the poor reach there? The thousands of destitute children, rag pickers, beggars who are blind or handicapped(on crutches) seek a place to spend the night in this urban jungle. And they cannot find one.

At a shelter in New Delhi, a troupe of monkeys came to share a night shelter. Even the animal world wants to share a little warmth this Winter with us, it is so so cold. Do we care for the people or animals? Don't we have a small place in our hearts for the urban poor? Warmth in our heart is what is going to keep alive the very poor people of urban India.

New India emerging from old culture

The educated youth have awakened (with the cause of the victimised woman) to the realities of the Indian society. Comments by politicians and leaders on state of the Indian women has been exposed by the media. Some have proposed dress codes and separate public transport for women(in Puducherry). More these politicians talk, more they show their narrow mindsets.This is fanatic patriarchy trying to defend itself in the modern era. One leader tried to define "contract" between men and women and went on to define women's place (in home as servant of men) He is only a century behind modern thought. Many communities have tried to bring ban on use of mobile phone by women. All these reactions may take women's progress in the backward direction, limiting their social space. Cultural change is here and is happening as women get educated and work outside their homes. But if they show any modernity, they are reprimanded. So in the veil of tradition in the garb of subservience, women have to march towards future when they can get an identity. There is great deal of apprehension on the part of the traditional mindsets and power wielders (fathers and husbands) who want to keep women under their "control".On the pretext of protecting the women, dress codes are imposed. On the pretext of protecting their women, segregated busing system is imposed. Women do not need such protection, they need support for standing up and for moving on.
The issue of protection for women has cut across regional divisions(states), political ideologies, class consciousness and caste communities and brought them under the commonality---that is Indian women kind.  

Need-Industry centric Tech

We have academics who are in  highly specialised in their fields. And we have vibrant industries which is very good in delivery.But the two are not connected. So technology cannot be integrated into growth of industries.We need interfaces in each specific technological sectors--microchips for pen drives, mobile phone circuits, or circuit boards for washing machines.We have the best innovative engineers and we have the best industries, but they are not integrated. If we spend more on R and D (research and development), industries will boom especially automated sectors.
We have to explore alternative energy sources. We have Core Advisory Research Board. How to make it demand driven. Research is done in one direction but is it needed in the present and future industries?
To catch up with Western countries, the academically talented engineers can give us that boost we need to be globally competitive. We cannot expect that Western countries will come to our aid; they would only give us outdated obsolete technology which did not work for them. We know that we can do better. For research, they use our equipment because it is cost effective.They are stuck on solving tangles like intellectual property rights. At many times they get a cheap system for which they have to pay exorbitant price for its use.
We can develop for challenges of tomorrow. Because we have laid the foundations today.We have brought computerisation of India, by connecting all universities and colleges with fibre optic network. We can carry out research in different parts of India, and stay connected. We can do e-research and write e-books free for all. We have the National Knowledge Network. In all fields we can do very well. In the field of space, we can go to new frontiers.Let us do it. 

Changes in the urban scene

In India urban areas are growing bigger and bigger--metropolis growing into megalopolis.Bigger funds are allocated for them--materialising into flyovers and malls.There are plans for greater urbanisation. Development is carried on as per needs of the rich. For example, roads are "car friendly" and not "pedestrian friendly". For a person walking, to cross the big roads is impossible. A city is inhabited by the rich and the poor. The poor are an integral part of the workforce, but their needs are never considered while planning.From the view point of the planners, trained as per experience of  urbanised western countries, the middle class and the poor do not exist. Non-motorised vehicles like cycles, rickshaws and cycle-cum-carts are present in the urban scene but are given no spaces. Although the Supreme Court ruling on this issue says that roads are public spaces for all to use; but the poor are ignored at planning stage itself.Inclusive growth is just a phrase with no meaning. Road planners care for the aesthetic appeal and not concerned with the normal uses of the public spaces. Public transport like buses and metro trains take a long time to materialise; the commuters (for whom they were meant for) would have already made other arrangements for travelling to their workplaces daily. The poor cannot afford the high costs of bus tickets and cannot cycle to work as the roads do not have a safe track for non-motorised vehicles. They are pushed to extreme pains to travel to workplace.
Similarly, road side sellers, cart vendors are not allowed by police to sell. They live in fear and have a very difficult time in making a living.

Before urbanising, we had nice community living: there were cobblers,vegetable vendors tailors in every neighbourhood selling in small size shops. There was no stress-- no unknown elements, as all knew all.Now these helpers are being removed by police as the streets have to "look good" But this "good look" is alien to the average Indian mind which is now full of tension... with unknown persons zipping past....what would happen in the next corner...there may be a criminal....a cobbler or a vendor who had no way of making a living and had turned to a life of crime.....walking down is frightening....ultimately the state has to spend much more on rehabilitating criminals. This could be avoided if we spend little on helping them make a decent living now.