Development and Gangaikaraipuram When people talk of Modi’s Gujarat model of development or Rahul’s model of development – the question is who has really benefitted from their development model??. We are always told to look at numbers such as % GDP to measure development. But such numbers do not provide the real picture of the bottom half of the population whose development is what will bring about an equitable society. When I visited Gujarat a few months back, I was impressed by the good roads/ highways and few other infrastructure facilities. But a visit to meet salt pan workers there showed how they were paid very poor price and how they are struggling to lead a life with dignity. High malnourishment levels in Gujarat revealed the poor status of health and presented the lack of Government’s initiatives to take care of even the most basic needs of the society. One could also witness similar issues under the ADMK and DMK rule in TamilNadu. This parliamentary election provided an opportunity to travel far and wide within Central Chennai and was a great learning experience. It also raised in me several questions about the nature of development that we are witnessing. For many people, Development is generally characterized by good roads, presence of tall and huge buildings, flyovers and metros. However, this election took us deep inside the slums where we witnessed how people live in extremely poor conditions. It showed us how it is still a great struggle for them to even win over some of the basic necessities required for humans to live on this earth with dignity. During the election campaign, a visit to Gangaikaraipuram slum at the heart of Chennai near Gemini is a great eye opener for not just me but also for all the AAP volunteers who campaigned along with me. Hundreds of families with children living here on the banks of a drainage canal for more than 20 years suffer due to the poor sanitation facilities of the Government. The corporation and the sewage department have failed greatly over the last 20 years and have not even made efforts to clear the garbage and make it a closed channel. We witnessed the vicious cycle of poverty on how a girl had to give up her studies and start working after her father died by accidentally falling into the canal a year back. Immediately after the election, along with AAP volunteers, we went to Gangaikaraipuram on May 1 and held a Makkal Mandram (Jan Sabha) where people clearly presented to us how this issue could be solved. There are 1000s of Gangaikaraipuram in Chennai and it is time for all of us to sit, listen to these people’s problems and work with them on solving it. I think this is what will help us understand what true development means and I urge all AAP volunteers to take up such efforts in their own neighbourhood. Jai Hind J. Prabhakar AAP Central Chennai Candidate
Posted on: Sun, 04 May 2014 03:02:27 +0000
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