Poem – Journey of a Dream.

I came from a village,
To write a story of my courage.
The goal was UPSC,
But the journey was like the myth of Sisyphus.

The challenges were numerous,
But my dedication was tremendous.
I failed thrice in pre itself,
But I kept fighting for myself.

I finally wrote mains,
and reached my aims.
I thought the moment is mine,
To redefine myself for one final time.

But the destiny has shown me my place,
I don’t belong to this space.
My hope is now in ashes,
And my dreams carcasses.
@rajtherohit

Poem

I wish I could live a little more,
To see your face once more.
To hold you in my arms,
and kiss you like never before.

All I want is nothing more,
To die for you once more.
I wish you wish the same
But that’s my fantasy parade.

 Wait for me one more time,
I won’t leave you this time.
I was such a fool,
To loose you every single time.

rajtherohit

Poem #The Last Hope

In the meantime, he peeps through the curtain of hope,
Seeking to touch the light of the dawn,
Suddenly reality snaps and clips his wing,
His wisdom takes a new beating..
Lost, saddened and exasperated as he sit on the floor of ignorance..
O Man, as patience flickers, belief mourns..
The man tends to rise, bleeding with numerous scars
hoping to stride again,
Let’s see how’ll the destiny unfolds this time !

 

Poem – Goodness is neither good yet!

Goodness is neither good yet,

For the man of insanity.

Happiness fails to cast its rejuvenation,

For the man of renunciation.

Lustre that the man hones,

Still lacks the shine,

Knowledge that he carves,

Still lack the enlightenment..

But the man of spirit rises with resolution,

To bow down not even in the face of death,

To fail with dignity and to fail again,

perhaps more beautifully..

Until unless..

The dawn has new awakening,

The living man dies, the living soul dies not!

Conquer thyself, conquer the world..

#long live hardship..

I have sold my heart and bought a soul!

@rajtherohit

HAPPY WOMEN’S DAY, FOLKS…. DEDICATED TO EVERY COOK OUT THERE

O Man! O Man! Meet the lady of mY house.
The house adores her, and kitchen celebrates her.

Her food makes the appetite go crazy,

Its taste makes the mind go lazy.

She calls herself lady of the heaven, blessed with recepies of the Raven.

The harbinger of hope, the disciple of Pope(God)
She’s the lady of daily Soap.

O Man O Man! meet the lady of my house.

The lady promises u the most exotic cuisine,
but very next day her absence prods your sane.

Your anger fills u with terror, but her first smile vanishes all the furor.

The excuses she always has, and the tantrum that she always throws.
Are filled with humour,enough to applaud her muse.

O Man O Man! meet the lady of my house

Discuss critically various problem faced by women with mental illness and measures needed to address these problem?

Mental illness is a kind of psychological disorder affecting people’s mood, behavior and thinking.

Since in women rate of depression is twice more than men, hence they are even more vulnerable to mental illness. The patriarchal mindset further put strain on their suffering. Our egregious social life is even reflected in World Happiness Index, where we are placed at 118 position out of 156 countries.

In India women faced several problems and issues being mentally ill such as

1)LACK OF AWARENESS – Awareness is a big issue in our country as mental illness is still considered as myth. They are mostly related with behavioral and attitudinal problem not a medical condition. So, People continue to suffer without any treatment.

2)SOCIAL STIGMA – Due to widespread illiteracy and ignorance, mental illness is considered as social taboo. Just on the pretext, People with mental illness is believed to be mad or insane.

3) Health infrastructure – India still lack proper medical practitioner and treatment center for people with mental illness.

4)Discrimination – People with mental illness are generally seen indifferently. They are socially often discarded. They donot have proper provisions for protection by law and lack of proper implementation.

5) Witchcraft – Women showing abnormal behavior is seen as inheriting some ghastly depiction. So, they are often tortured and mistreated, even killed.

In accordance with UN Convention on Rights of Disability, GOI formulated The Disability Bill recently passed by Rajya Sabha. It has quite nuanced and affective method to address the concern of people with disability including mental illness.
The bill has specific provision for punishing people discriminating people with disability. It is considered as an cognizable offence with jail term and fine.
It is also talking to give reservation to people with disability in higher education with separate reservation to people with mental illness.

several steps can further be taken to address the problem such as:-

1) Social awareness – Govt in collaboration with NGOs and local population should educate people about mental illness, its symptoms and treatment. They must dispel the stigma surrounding mental illness.

2)Codification of law – GOI still could not pass the Disability Bill. It must be passed to address the concern with aim to end social boycott of people with disability. It must have features to provide free treatment and discrimination in the case as cognizable offence.

3) Community based organization – Local people should play active role in their treatment and social acceptability. Female must be given special care. NGOs too should step up their effort.

4)Special fund – Govt should allocate special fund for their well being. Special provision should be created in hospital for treatment of mental illness. A female nurse must be in their attendance to protect women from any kind of exploitation.

Benevolence and compassion towards people and their suffering is key to our social existence. Hence, we must take their grievances seriously and all round cumulative effort should be initiated to address the issue.

How far do you agree that the Mauryan empire was a new form of government, which was marked by centralised control and planning?

The idea of empire and centralisation was earlier believed to be mutually-enforcing each other. They were believed to go together. Especially Arthashastra gave us an understanding of centralised and a well planned mechanism of administration as a trait of any Empire.

King being the centre of administration, appointer of all important officials, and protector of Dharma, Direct communication of king with its pupil through rock-edicts, Ashokan belief in Dhamma and it’s extensive propagation all gives us references of centralised and a kind of planned administration.

However, a close study of Arthashastra makes it difficult to relate it with Mauryan Empire. Arthashastra is talking of an ideal state. Hence, in such condition, taking Arthashastra as an ideal source for study of  Mauryan state can be problematic.

ROMILA THAPAR has explained Mauryan realm into metropolitan, core and peripheral area. The nature of administration varied and usually Mauryan ruler had centralised planning and administration only in core region. Their authority gradually declined from core to periphery.

Further inscriptions , rock edicts, from Dhauli and jaugada shows four cardinal politico- administratie region. Taxila in north-western region, Tosali near in south-east MP, Ujjayini in western MP and Suvarnagiri in South india.

With recent study several new provincial head has come in light. Whsu, a governor in north-western India, A governor named Shamba in MP, shows during Mauryan rule. It shows growing decentralized feature of the empire.

The presence of Parisha, the council of ministers (Mantriparishad) too is a check on king authority and discusses different ruling of state.

The Mauryan state in a way do reflect a kind of planned administration. Division of civilian and non-civilian officials. Properly organising army into five different division, each having its own head.

Civilian officials like rajuka, yukta and Pradeshika.

Division of court of justice into civilian and criminal too is reflection of planned governance.i e. Dharmasthya and kantaksodhan.

The impression of Municipal administration based on close supervision of trade and commerce by officials as shown by Megasthenes too envisages a kind of planned governance.

Proper placing of Dhamma near important channel of communication and propagating it beyond boundaries with varying purpose too reflect a planned rule.

However, battle of Kalinga, appropriation of tax and uncertain rates too shows kind of unplanned ruling.

Thus, as we often tend to see history through our modern perspective and imposed our understanding on distant past. Mauryan empire was among the earliest state. It did have the features of centralised planning but it varied both with time and region. Hence, it was not acute and rigid centralised planning

Cooperative and Competitive Federalism

KC Wheare in his book federal Government defines federalism as the method of dividing powers so that the general and regional government are each within a sphere coordinate and independent.

While democracy provides freedom to everybody, Federation ensures that governance is distributed spatially and a strong central government enables that the unity amidst diversity is maintained and the country mobilizes all its resources to maintain its harmony and integrity and march ahead to progress.

Article 1 of the Constitution states that “India ie Bharat, shall be a Union of states” though it doesn’t talk of Federalism but it does provide for a governance structure primarily federal in nature due to

• separate government at Union and states.
• Specifies and demarcate the powers, function and jurisdiction of two government.
• Seventh schedule specifying different list for Centre, state and concurrent subject.
• It details the legislative, administrative and financial relations between the union and the states.

Cooperative Federalism

It implies the centre and states share a horizontal relationship , where they co-operate in the larger public interest.

It is visualized as an important tool to enable states participation in formulation and implementation of national policies

For instance, In GST manufacturing states are giving up their tax earning for equal sharing with consuming states for the sake of uniform tax laws.

• Article 263 has provided for the setting up of an inter-state council for investigation, discussion and recommendation for better coordination of relation between centre and states.
• The Zonal Council set up under the state Reorganization Act 1956 provide another mechanism for centre-state and inter-state cooperation to resolve the differences and strengthen the framework of cooperation.
• The National Development Council and National Integration Council are the two other important forums that provide opportunities for discussion to resolve differences of opinion.

Recent development favouring cooperative federalism

• The acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission recommendation of tax devolution from 32% to 42% in state favour.
• Enable state to design and implement programmes better suited to their needs.(14th FC)
• Dismantling Planning Commission and it’s replacement by Niti Aayog which brings centre and state on a common platform with motive to promote state as equal partner in decision making.
• Niti Aayog to act as an knowledge hub and think tank to guide states to handle their specific issues, if wished by states.

Steps to improve Cooperative Federalism

• The inter-state council should play more proactive role.
• Legislation related to contentious issue of land, labour, natural resources should be left to the states as the state would promote the best practices.
• Healthy competition between states should be encouraged.
• To deal with issues related to international treaty, WTO obligation or the environmental issues, an institutional mechanism must be evolved where important decision are appropriately discussed with the states.
• Several recommendations suggested by Punchhi commission and Sarkaria Committee need to look to better look into cooperative governance.

Competitive Federalism

A concept of governance where centre competes with states compete with centre. At the same time states compete with each other with ultimate motive to develop India.

E.g. Recent initiative like vibrant Gujarat and Resurgent Rajasthan are some example of Competitive federalism.

For long time “one size fits all” approach had been used not taking into account the heterogeneity of different states and their local requirement.

Steps recently taken towards Competitive Federalism

• Government abolished planning Commission and replaced it with NITI Aayog.

Some of its provisions push towards Competitive federalism

• Greater tax devolution from 32% to 42% to plan their expenditure based on their priority and strive for betterment in every field.
• Financial sector bailout of centrally sponsored schemes like Udaan.
• Ranking of states on various parameters like Swachch Bharat.
• Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and World Bank in September 2015, ranked Indian states in the ease of doing business so that could compete to each other and reach higher ranks.
• NITI Aayog talks of Competitive federalism as force multiplier to achieve the objective of Cooperative Federalism.
• Labour laws reform , Land acquisition Laws, e-governance are also relevant for Competitive federalism.

E.g.

• several states amending laws and moving towards Competitive federal structure
• Gujarat has amended its land acquisition act to attract more investment.
• Maharashtra has amended the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code , allowing the sales of certain public owned lands that were previously stated only for leasing.
• UP has approved UP information and technology and start-up Policy 2016, to encourage start-up growth, the policy waives tax on land purchased for office use, as well as electricity dues for five years.

Strong states makes strong nation and to realise the vision , it requires “Team India” approach to work for development.

Green Federalism

The holistic management of all the issues of environmental matters with centre and states in cooperating and innovating together.

The Punchhi commission recommended that the Constitution needs to be amended again to provide a specific entry in list I – Union list of seventh schedule empowering the union on matters concerning , Environment, Ecology and Climate Change’

 

Conclusion

Though it is important for states to compete but disparity among states must be taken into consideration. Many states still need centre’s help and extra funding before they can imagine competing. Therefore both the system of competition and cooperative Federalism are not mutually exclusive and a balance between the two is needed for inclusive and Sustainable growth.

How is private behavior of an individual ethically instrumental for his public conduct?

Acts being done in private life and it’s effect on behavior and conduct of public life has long been debated.

Public officials act as a representative of state. Hence, their conduct and nature as state agent often decide the credentials of state. So, public behavior becomes a matter of public debate.

Many Greek philosophers advocated the Unity of Virtues. A/q which a person couldn’t possess one of four cardinal principles viz. Prudence, Temperance, courage and Justice without possessing all of them. Hence, public officials must serve as an example of Good Conduct.

Such actions becomes utmost important when public officials are  supposed to put public interest ahead of their own.

Andrea Leadsom,  candidate for the British PM post against Theresa May, in one of her speech suggested that being mom makes her superior candidate. Because that means she has a very real stake in the future of the country.

However, those who opposes such correlation believe personal life is a private affair and every individual has a right to maintain privacy.

But when private matters affect public affairs, it no longer remains private.

However, unlike ancient world where morality remains the sole criterion for state post, now modern nation-state with diversifying tentacles and interests needs different expertise like economists, scientists. In such case, their passion for subject and integrity towards state is more important.

Hence, we need to very cautiously tread the line. As looking only for morality may cause loss of most bright mind.

A state after all can’t run only by morally upright people but it equally need diligent and proficient people. So, in technical field integrity towards state should be the most important criteria apart from their expertise (only if their personal acts are in accordance with the law of the land).

While overall morality and uprightness can be the sole criteria in public affair office apart from the minimum intelligence required for post.

Demonetization:- Explained

Demonetization is an act through which official currency of a state is deprived of its value as legal tender. It is  replaced by new legitimate currency.

Historically, demonetization of currencies by Government have been enacted in response to hyperinflations. For example, Germany under Weimer Republic in 1923, Boris Yeltsin’s Russia on Jan 1998, or North Korea under erstwhile leader Kim Jong on Nov 2009.

But demonetization in India is unique, it is a move towards structural reform, targeted at reshaping public attitudes towards currency with a view to move towards cashless economy. It holds special significance as India is on the cusp of enrolling GST Bill.

Demonetization is unraveled with following intentions:-

1. Elimination of counterfeit currencies which often used by terrorists and smugglers to fund their activities.
2. De hoarding of cash held by corrupt people, generator of large sum of black economy.

The bold and radical move have been initiated to address the two poignant economic and social menace.

The unaccounted and unexchanged black money would leave government with extra money to finance their infrastructure need as well as cash strived banks.

However, 85% of cash in circulation is in 500 and 1000 notes, which has been delegitimised. Now 15% of cash need to do all the task.

Of total money only 27.6% is held with commercial banks as cash and balance with RBI. Rest are in circulation with people of which 85% is demonetized. Such vast sum of currency and their replacement would take quite time. Some thinkers believe it may take as long as 6 months to get normalized.

In such scenario, poor people and middle ranged businessman are left in complete doldrum.

Distant villages where bank branches are not available and where poor don’t have any bank account are specially hard hit.

In country like India where poverty and illiteracy is such a widespread social menace, transition to cashless economy is quite challenging.

Prof Arun kumar, author of The Black economy in India, believes most of black money is held in real estate, bullion and offshore account. A/q him, only 3% of black money hoarders have cash with them. Hence, for such minuscule people creating havoc for entire nation is not justified. They could have been punished by other means too.

Terrorists and drug peddler that often feed on counterfeit and black money can resort to other means to fund their activities like drugs, arms etc. So, actors involving in origin of counterfeit notes should be traced and punished. As if government can create a type of currency it can also be created by others.

Hence, as GOI is monitoring situation in real time basis. It would act to dispel long queue in banks and ATMs.It should equally need to view such concerns as shown above. Its recent enacting of Benami Property Transaction(Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016 shows firm stand of government against black money.