Jun 01, 2002 06:18 PM
1338 Views
(Updated Jun 01, 2002 06:35 PM)
India is labeled by many as a great country with rich cultural heritage and a long history etc.etc. But, how is it all for the common man on the ground? Is post independent India made all that stride and improved the life for the commonest of the common man as was envisaged by the then leaders?
The small and routine activity in this country is fraught with serious irregularity. Take for example retailing. How very easily the consumer is overcharged on the M.R.P as if the mrp was only for the manufacturer to print and to be easily discarded by the trader! I have come across many instances of this being openly flouted and when asked you are frowned at at the least or even engaged in to a verbal duel at the worst with arrogant behaviour!. All this in a land of the Mahatma who said that'the consumer is not an outsider but the very purpose of our business, we are not obliging him but the consumer does so by giving us an opportunity. How very untrue now I wonder!
Mumbai is a place which is not only full of people but is also getting filled with lot of hooliganism and ruffian behaviour. The once orderly city is now turning ugly. Thanks to local level outfits of sectarian & regional political parties which also contribute in no mean measure to this mess.
Recently in May I visited Juhu beach. I ordered for a cool drink and ice cream for my relatives. I was aghast when the shop keeper coolly had inflated the prices by around 25%. When asked he arrogantly replied that he does not know about MRP and the price at what he sells is correct and one has to pay a premium because of the luxury of the beach!
At Dadar TT in the fruit juice stall opposite the station I was asked to pay a 20% more on the price of pepsi as a matter of right. In the launches that dot the Gateway of India the premium is 50%. For these traders what ever they think is charged.
The same is true of bottled water which are inflated as well and the reason is they are served cooled! What else to have hot water? The price of a cooled item is inclusive of the refrigeration charges. The price of a bottled drink is Rs 10 but sold anywhere from 12 to Rs 15/- and bottled water anywhere from Rs 14 upwards.
I fail to see the reason for this decay but this is one of the many many ills that infest this country. This is also a off shoot of the major problem of corruption at all levels.
The politicians care little, are busy with their luxurious and self indulgent extravagant life styles. The bureaucrats are not to be left behind either and promptly emulate their political masters. Really obedient servants indeed!. I wonder where are we going and are practices like these that we got independence for? After all what difference does it make by wasting money on painting and sticking'Mera Bharat Mahan' all over the place. There can nothing more mocking, absurd and criminal than this when in practice the deeds are very different.
