125 days Road-Map – Part E

 

 

Context :

Why no murder charge on civic body chief in Rajkot gaming zone fire case: HC   ..  TOI …07 June 2024

 

Extract :

Gujarat HC questions Rajkot authorities' inaction before TRP Game Zone fire. Should civic commissioner be suspended for negligence in allowing illegal operation? PIL on 27 deaths in fire heard by Justice Biren Vaishnav and Justice Devan Desai.

Gujarat HC on Thursday took serious recognition of the inertia of the Rajkot municipal authorities before the gruesome fire incident at TRP Game Zone, which killed 27 people, asking :

Ø  why murder charges ought not to be invoked against the civic commissioner and

Ø  why he hasn't been suspended for letting TRB Game Zone operate illegally, particularly when a similar fire had broken out there last year too.

While hearing a suo motu PIL on the 27 deaths in the fire, the bench of Justice Biren Vaishnav and Justice Devan Desai was apprised of replies filed by the Rajkot municipal commissioners, chief fire officer and home department.
The judge added that the authorities stayed inactive after issuing a demolition order in Nov 2023.

 

My Take :

Dear Justice Biren Vaishnav and Justice Devan Desai :

The reason why murder charges have not been invoked is rather simple

That reason is :

Despite my following 5 YEAR old e-mail to Shri Modiji and his Cabinet Colleagues, the government has failed to enact the SERVICES  LIABILITY  ACT :

Ø  Needed : a Service Liability Act  .. ……………..12  June  2019

 

Extract :

Many countries have Product Liability Acts under which , product manufacturers are held responsible / accountable for any hurt / damage caused to the users of their products ( even years later )

Especially in USA , this Act is very stringent and the liability extends even to the suppliers who might have supplied a defective component / sub-assembly which went into the final product

I am not aware of any such Act in India ; nor have heard of any instance where ( say , for example ) a car manufacturer is dragged to court for a defective brake which caused deaths due to failure to perform

But what we , in India , need rather badly right now , is a Service Liability Act

There are only a few “ products “ that Indian Government manufactures and sells to its citizens ( through PSUs ) but throughout the day, government servants / employees , deliver a host of SERVICES to the citizens – services that they are required to deliver legally / constitutionally or in an implied manner

For a timely delivery of such services , some states have introduced “ Delivery of Services Act “

They might have even prescribed some “ penalty / punishment “ for “ late or no “  delivery

But such instances are rare .  Following is an example :

 

For not curbing pollution, Delhi civic chiefs may face prosecution.   

But for the strict direction of the Supreme Court , nothing would have happened and the persons responsible would have continued to ignore the sufferings of millions Delhi-ites  !

Just to emphasize my point , do you think any government servant would go to jail for the following ? :

Mumbai: One dead as SRA high-rise building in Mahalaxmi catches fire   

 Mithi neglected, 2005-like floods ‘inevitable’, state report tells SC 

Fire safety norms in Mumbai: In 3 years, only 36 housing societies prosecuted for non-compliance

QMumbai: City’s Air as Bad as Delhi’s; Fire in Aarey  

 Nearly 56% of bulk waste generators flout BMC rule  

 

Air pollution: NGT slaps Rs 25 crore fine on Delhi govt 

No closure for victims of Bhopal gas tragedy

 

Allocate as many courts as needed, speed up netas’ criminal  trials ; SC 

Potholes killed 3,597 across India in 2017, terror 803 

One in 8 deaths in India due to air pollution, life expectancy down by 1.7 years: Report   

 

https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/civic-issues/article/shocking-mumbai-records-over-2500-building-accidents-in-the-last-five-years/336065

 

Not a single day passes without newspapers reporting dozens of such cases of ( what I like to call ) :

 

CRIMES OF OMISSIONS  [  as against “ Crimes of Commissions “  ]

 

Following owe their existence to such “ Crimes of Omissions “ :

Millions of Indians die  PREMATURE DEATH  every year , due to :

>  Water and Air Pollution

>  Dowry ( Bride burning )

>  Child Labour

>  Occupational Hazards ( Chemical / Coal / Cement industries )

>  Miscarriage / Abortions / Pregnancy deaths

>  Smoking / Tobacco chewing

>  Junk Food / Adulterated Food

>  Daru ( liquor ) laced with ethyl alcohol

>  Fake Medicines............................etc

 

And who are responsible for keeping 28.7 Crores of Indians illiterate ( 37 % of World's illiterate ) , 66 years after independence  ?

Is that because ,

 

>   " CRIMES  OF  OMISSIONS " are taken for granted  ?

>   Deaths due to such Acts are treated as " NATURAL " ( not preventable ) ?

>   Politicians don't think talking about these , will get votes  ?

>   Media could not care less !  TRP is all that matters for getting Ad revenue

>   Cursing others is easier than persevering  for the possible  ?

==================================

 

To hold every Public Servant “ accountable “ for causing hurt / damage to any

 citizen , what we urgently need is a “  Service Liability Act ( Govt

 Employees ) 2019 “ , which clearly spells out :

 

#   Extent of hurt / damage

     Minor injuries  /  Temporary-permanent Disabilities /  Deaths

#  Coverage

    Individual Citizen  /  Community  /  Entire Country

#   Time Frame

     Short term  /  Medium  Term  /  Long  Term

#   Economic Impact on the Sufferers

     Mild ( loss of money ) / Medium ( loss of assets )  /  Severe ( loss of earning capacity )

#  Cause

·         Negligence ( abdication of responsibility ) / Indecisions on part of a Public Servant

·     #   Poor but honest decisions

·         Mala-fide decisions ( with pecuniary gains for decision taker )

 

Here is my Conceptual Frame Work for an Online Rating Form :

 

=========================================================

 

            SLAM  :  Service Liability Assessment  Matrix 

                                 ( an online form / Mobile App , for rating by citizens )

=========================================================

 

Dear Citizen :

 

Following news just got reported in Media . Please rate it by appropriate selection :

Metal staircase with live wires electrocuted 2 boys   

 

=========================================================

Assessment Parameter	Weightage	Most (5)	Certain (4)	Possible(3 )	Negligible(2)	Least ( 1 )
Extent of Hurt	20 %
Coverage	30 %
Time Frame	10 %
Economic Impact	30 %
Perception ( Most likely reason for mishap )	10 %

 

TOTAL    :

 

{ Call it “ AQ = Anger Quotient “   or   “   WS = Wrath Score “ }

=========================================================

 

Let the Service Liability Act ( Proposed ) , prescribe various levels of punishments ( for Govt Employee/s , determined responsible for the root-cause of this mishap )

A certain time period may be prescribed for the citizens to fill up the form for each mishap

If , my proposal sounds too REVOLUTIONARY / RADICAL ( even for our bold and decisive, PM ), then , to begin with, some NGO ( eg : ADR ? ) may consider implementing this on its own , to create awareness and to educate the public in airing their opinion / feedback , on what lapses they see around them , everyday

========================================================

 

 

 

125 Days Roadmap – Part D

 

 

Context :

Committed to principle of ‘sarv panth sambhav (all religions equal)’, says Modi  .. TOI .. 08 June 2024

 

Narendra Modi on Friday emphasised the role of consensus in governance as he said the next “10 years of NDA” will be dedicated to good governance, committed to the principal of “sarv panth sambhav” (all religions are equal) to fulfil growing regional and national aspirations as he acknowledged that an era of competitive cooperative federalism had begun.

Speaking after his election as leader of the NDA parliamentary party, Modi emphasised that while NDA, a pre-poll alliance, had got the majority, a consensual approach was needed to serve the nation. “Sarkar chalane ke liye bahumat chahiye lekin desh chalane ke liye sarvmat bahut zaroori hai,” he said and asserted, “I assure people of the country and you all that no stone will be left unturned to serve the nation with consensus.”

Modi also declared his commitment to “sarv panth sambhav” — the unique Indian concept which enjoins upon the state not to differentiate among citizens on the ground of faith but, unlike in the Western concept of secularism, does not seek to evict religion from the public arena. Political circles felt the remarks stood in contrast to Modi's strong attack on “Muslim quota” which the opposition and others had dubbed divisive and polarising. His putting forward the consensual feat was also seen as a switch prompted by BJP's drop in numbers and the corresponding accretion in the opposition's strength.

Modi highlighted the growing footprint of NDA, saying the alliance was in office in 22 states, which reflected the spirit of India in its true essence. “There are 10 tribal-dominated states of which NDA is serving in seven states. We are committed to the Constitution's spirit of ‘sarv panth sambhav’, look at Goa and north-eastern states, where Christian community is predominant but we have got the opportunity to serve,” Modi said.

My Take :

 

Dear Shri Narendrabhai :

 

Some 7 years ago , I sent to you , following e-mail ( - follow up of my earlier email of 20 Sept 2013 )

By now, Ram Mandir has taken its present shape. But my suggestion is still valid.

I urge you to select some suitable place to construct “ Sarv Dharm Sthanam “ as an example of “ Walk the Talk “ – even as you walk down the aisle today evening to take the oath to uphold the Constitution as the Prime Minister of our beloved motherland

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.HemenParekh.ai  /  09 June 2024  

 

 

Ø  Sarva Dharma Sthanam ?  ……………. 02  Oct  2017  ( Gandhi Jayanti )

Extract :

 

Meaning , “ A Place for all religions “

In his autobiography , Mahatma Gandhi wrote ( not verbatim , but in the essence ) :

“ Initially , I debated what should be my attitude towards other religions ?

I came up with the concept of : Sarva Dharma Sahishnuta ( Tolerance for all religions ) :

On deeper thinking , I realized that this was a wrong attitude . It implied that the other religions are somewhat inferior to my own but I must tolerate them

Then I found my inner peace when I thought of the ancient Hindu Philosophy of ,

“ Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava “ ( Equal respect for all religions )  “

That brings me to my own solution for the Ayodhya – Ram Mandir – Babri Masjid

tangle , as suggested in my following blogs ( sent as E Mail to all Policy Makers /

the Supreme Court / AIMPLB Members etc )

 

Ø  ReachOut  Time …………………………………………  20  Sept  2013  

Extract :

Narendra Modi claims that the Muslims of Gujarat have buried the ghost of Godhra

and a great majority of them voted for BJP in the recent State election

 

There have been many communal ( anti-minority or anti-majority ) riots in most

of the States of India since independence

 

It does not serve any purpose to keep doing post-mortem , again and again

 

It is obvious that the new generation ( including the descendants of the victims )

want to close the chapter and move on to a better / peaceful life

 

If , development of Muslims brought about a harmonious communal relations in

Gujarat , surely it could be replicated on a national scale , all over the country

 

Narendra Modi has a fantastic opportunity to drive across this message by

incorporating the following ACTIONS in BJP’s 2014 Election Manifesto :

 

 Ø  Resettling of riot victims ( belonging to any community and residing in any

     state ) , in Government-built houses , within one year of coming to power

 

    Ø  Simultaneous dismantling of , so-called “ Minority Ghettos “ , thru dispersal of

        minorities throughout the cities ,  for better integration within a city’s majority

        population

 

    Ø  Granting Cabinet Minister status to the Chiefs of Minority Commission /

        Women’s Commission / Human Rights Commission

 

    Ø  Providing for greater representation in the Central Cabinet to the people of the

        North-Eastern States and the Naxal affected areas

 

   Ø  Up gradation of the educational institutions belonging to the minorities

 

Ø  Greater representation to Minority Youth in “ Skills Development Program “ under

    NSDC

 

Ø  At the disputed Ayodhya site , creation of a “ World Peace Complex “

    comprising of :

 

·         Ram Temple    ( for Hindus )

 

·         Mosque          ( for Muslims )

 

·         Church          ( for Christians )

 

·         Temple          ( for Buddhists )

 

·         Synagogue     ( for Jews  )

 

·         Akshar-Dham  ( for Jains )

     

          Gurudwara     (  for  Shikhs  )

 

·         University for Comparative Studies of World Religions

 

·         Hospitals ( like Netralaya / Hridayalaya )

 

·         India Heritage / History Museum

 

·         Business Convention-cum-Industry Exhibition Centre

 

·        Tourist Complex

      

 

·      And right in the center of the complex , a giant statue of the “ Father of the

        Nation “

 

I invite readers to add to this list

 

Even if for all the wrong reasons [ viz; 2014 Elections ], let BJP not miss this

opportunity to initiate steps for integration of the minorities into the mainstream

of political / economical / social development of our country

 

It is about time to exhibit , BJP’s  truly “ Secular “ nature ( non-UPA  variety ? )

 

It is time to stop mere Congress-bashing ( with which , people are fed-up ) and

promise some genuine positive actions to the minorities

 

And of all the leaders of BJP , who is better placed for such “ Pro-Activism “ than

Narendrabhai ?

 

Carpe Diem ( Seize the Day ! )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

125 Days Roadmap – Part C

 

 

Dear Shri Modiji ,

 

For a long time, you have talked about >  “ Subka Saath , Subka Vikas “, where :

Ø  Saath = Means / Methods / Instruments

Ø  Vikas = Ends / Goals / Achievements

For 15 years as CM – Gujarat and last 10 years as PM – India, you have practiced this “ Mantra “

But that was on a National scale and scope

Now is the time to “ Walk that Talk “ at the level of the “ Cabinet of Ministers “ at the Centre

Whether is drawing up the 125 days Roadmap or 25 year Growth Plan, you will need to obtain a CONSENSUS from all of your Cabinet colleagues

Like in everything else that you have achieved so far , in the matter of running a coalition government as well , there is no doubt you will surprise everyone ( - and especially , the INDIA opposition ) by thinking “ Out of the Box “

In the past, you have set a BENCH-MARK in FEDERALISM through creation of GST Council , where all the States ( including the States governed by the opposition parties ), reached decisions through consensus

In this context , I urge you to examine my suggestions in the following earlier e-mails :

Ø  A Constitutional Coalition Government ?  ………………………. 02 Oct 2016

Ø  NEEDED : URGENT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT………. 02 Oct 2016

Ø  Constitutional Coalition Aftershocks ! ……………………………… 02 Oct 2016

Ø  Presidential or Coalition Government ? …………………………… 25 Mar 2017

Ø  Revolution Through Coalition Government ? …………………… 27 Sept 2017

Why can’t we institutionalize Coalition ? .. …………………………….29 Sept 2017

Ø  Federalism ? .. …………………………………………………………………….29 Oct 2017

Ø   How to form a Government ?  …. ……………………………………..19 May 2018

Ø  Will MahaGathBandhan steal a march ? …………………………… 03 June 2018

Ø  We , the People of India……………………………………………………….05 July 2023

 

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.HemenParekh.ai  /  06 June 2023