Piyega India- Tabhi Jiyega India??

Centre has allowed sale of liquor in all zones, excluding containment zones, in order to deal with major drop in revenues. Long queues around the liquor shop nationwide was alarming and astonishing. By evening Delhi Government imposed 70% tax on MRP of Liquor “special Corona Fee” while other states has imposed similar high rate taxes, and to a bigger surprise, the queue was never the less. Liquor sale came out to be saviour for all State Governments during this tough COVID Time (REALLY???)  except Bihar, Gujrat(Very Courageous Of Them, Need To Be Looked As Case Study As To How Can A State Survive Without Liquor Income, When All States Can’t).

A report published by the Reserve Bank of India last September (‘State Finances: A Study of Budgets of 2019-20’) shows that state excise duty on alcohol accounts for around 10-15 per cent of Own Tax Revenue of a majority of states. In fact, state excise duties on liquor is the second or third largest contributor to the category State’s Own Tax revenue.

According to the RBI report, in 2019-20, state GST had the highest share, 43.5%, in states’ Own Tax Revenue, followed by Sale Tax at 23.5% (mainly on petroleum products which are out of GST), state excise at 12.5%, and taxes on property and capital transactions at 11.3%.

With so many other options like manufacturing, agriculture, technology, government found liquors to be the only saviour.....???

What an irony.....

And the way public are queuing up, breaking social distancing norms and precautionary measures for the liquor its really sad to see such insensitive citizens who are risking their as well as other people's life. The picture is very scary.

Where the whole nation is sitting in total shut down, many losing jobs, bearing pay cuts, industries closed, bearing heavy loss, and people crying their heart out about how they will survive, due to loss of their earning sources, I am wondering from where these liquor lovers suddenly got money from. Moreover, people are buying in huge quantities, despite heavy charges and cess levied on it as if they will never get it again.

State Government allowing sale of liquor, may earn good revenues (no doubt about it seeing the revenue figures of each state within 2-3 days), I were wondering how Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram, Nagaland and Union Territories of Lakshadweep(liquor banned states) are surviving, and they should be provided with special government aids and funds.

This is also going to have long-lasting impacts on social and personal lives of people. Domestic violence cases against women and children would increase. The family reserve fund which were kept to meet out unseen circumstances in this hard time is been spent on liquor. Many lower income group family having liquor lovers will sleep without food and beating. How the government is going to meet the health effects arising out of it. The Government forgot about the well being of their daughters, sisters and children in the urge to raise revenue. It has also risked all the efforts of lock down till now.

Could there have been no better solution to earning revenues, than risking the life of women and children, when the government have always preached to be their well-wisher.

Courtesy

Data table-Indian Expresss

Pictures- Internet

Labour Day 2020- A Myth amidst COVID-19

Let me first revisit the history of Labour Day. Labour Day started in America and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the workers’ contributions, who vitally contribute to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of a country. Labour movement specifically demanded “the eight-hour day movement”, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.

During 1800 era, In United States, the average American 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages, (which is still relevant in India till date).Labor unions, which had first appeared in the late 18th century, grew more prominent and vocal. They began organizing strikes and rallies to protest poor conditions and compel employers to renegotiate hours and pay (It happened in India too, but got politicized and became irrelevant for labourers well being but very relevant to build a political career). And till now it's been celebrated with parties, street parades and athletic events in US and many other part of the globe. Labor Day also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans.

The first May Day celebration in India was organized in Madras (now Chennai) by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan on May 1, 1923.This was also the time when the Red flag was first used in India. Labour Day is known as 'Kamgar Din' in Hindi, 'Kamgar Divas' in Marathi and 'Uzhaipalar Naal' in Tamil. It should be noted that May 1 is also celebrated as 'Maharashtra Day' and 'Gujarat Day' to mark the date in 1960, when the two western states attained statehood after the erstwhile Bombay State was divided on linguistic lines.

Labour Day is observed as a National Holiday in around 80 countries to honor the contribution and achievements of working men and women, but amidst Covid scenario in India, is it really relevant?, especially when labourers who contribute to many industries, in many states are being treated as “Migrants”, who are now, none of the states’ responsibility, be their home state or the state where they work. It’s really painful to hear from states, where labourers contribute to their economy, have abandoned them to face the COVID consequences, calling them migrants. The interview of labourers stuck on the roads, due to lockdown is agonizing. The easiest way shirks off the responsibility, as they are the ones running the industries and factories making them developed states. And then after all, they belong to the One nation- India. How does it matter where the people are stuck, it’s on humane grounds, they should be well taken care of. It feels so disrespectful, when in your own country you are being connoted as “MIGRANT”, and disrespected, due to political unwillingness to provide care. On the first hand they shouldn’t have been allowed to be move out of their working states, by the state authorities and now, they should worry if these labourers would return or not, How will industries and factories restart their operation after Lockdown without these “Migrant Labourers”. The industries who have been running due to these labourers, for years and years, have been so insensitive towards them that now these labourers have just become a cost to the employer, though COVID being once in a life time event but those labourers have given their ages to employer.

Are we really celebrating the Kamgar Divas, with so many labourers in pain? This incident can become a game changer if the labourers decide not to return to their work states.

Observing a day is needed as it reinstates our focus towards the motto of  Day observed, but this year’s Labour day in India has been mocking all the labourers and is indeed a very difficult one, as the working hands of the nations are homeless, workless, in vulnerable situation and in pain.

Image Source:

Internet

labour Statue: Wikipedia

कोरोना में क्या खोया क्या पाया

21 दिन के लाक डाउन के बाद जब हम आंकलन करते हैं पता चलता है कि विश्व ने 2020 के 6 महीने इस महामारी के पीछे बिना कुछ किए ही गवा दिया। भारत जो त्योहारों का देश है,हम इस बार बहुत सारे पर्व जैसे नवरात्रि ,रामनवमी पहला वैशाख, शबे रात, गुड फ्राइडे, को मनाने से वंचित रह गए।

10वीं और 12वीं के विद्यार्थियों ने अपने जिंदगी के महत्वपूर्ण परीक्षा को मिस किया। उनके जीवन का महत्वपूर्ण पड़ाव असमंजस में पड़ गया।निजी राष्ट्रीय और अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर आर्थिक रूप से काफी क्षति हुई। व्यापारिक स्तर पर बहुत नुकसान हुआ जिसकी वजह से बहुतों की नौकरी गई, बहुतो के आमदनी कम हो गई, बहुतों का छोटे व्यापार बंद हो जाएंगे। बहुत विशेषज्ञ तो इसे तीसरा विश्वयुद्ध भी कह रहे हैं जो कि अस्त्र-शस्त्र से नहीं बल्कि एक जैविक हथियार (बायोलॉजिकल वेपंस) से लड़ा गया है। यह करोना अटैक की वजह से विश्व स्तर पर लोगों की उम्र कम हो जाएगी,और विश्व ने एक नए युद्ध नीति सीख लिया।

पर इस करोना वायरस के लॉक डाउन ने हमें बहुत कुछ सिखाया और समझाया।हमें वह पुराने विचार संस्कार याद दिलाएं जिसे अब हम मॉडर्न होने के नाम पर भूल चुके थे। जैसे नमस्कार करना, शाकाहारी खाना, स्वच्छता और सफाई के साथ रहना।इस मॉडर्न जमाने में जब हम टॉयलेट पेपर, टिश्यू नैपकिन के अभ्यस्त हो चुके थे, तब इस बीमारी ने हमें फिर से हर काम के पहले हाथ धोना सिखाया, जो हमारी दादी, पर दादी सिखाया करती थी, और हम इस संस्कार को रूढी वादी बोलकर अनदेखा कर देते थे। इस कारोना की वजह हमने थोड़े दिन की आजादी खोई, पर पाया हमने बहुत कुछ, जो हमने सालों सालों में खो दिया था। पाया हमने अपनों का साथ, जो मोबाइल टीवी और काम के प्रेशर ने छीन लिया था।बहुत सालों बाद आज घर के सभी सदस्य मिलकर एक साथ खाना खा रहे हैं, हंस रहे बोल रहे हैं ,और अपनों के साथ वक्त बिता रहे हैं।

खोया बच्चों ने कुछ दिन के स्कूल के क्लासेस, पर पाया भी उन्होंने खुद से पढ़ने की जरूरत। जहां आजकल बच्चे ट्यूशन, एक्स्ट्रा क्लासेस पर निर्भर हो गए थे खुद से पढ़ना शायद भूल ही गए थे।उनको अपने रुचि समझने का भी लिए टाइम नहीं था आज उनके पास टाइम ही टाइम है कि वह पढ़ाई के साथ अपना कुछ मनपसंद काम कर सके।

मर्दों को सिखाया कि घर सिर्फ सोने और खाने के लिए नहीं होता। शायद वर्षों बाद मर्दों ने इतना समय घर में बिताया होगा। लाक डाउन के बाद उन्हें घर से ज्यादा अपनत्व लगे।इस लॉक डाउन ने उन्हें घर का काम करने के लिए भी मजबूर किया, वहीं बहुतों ने चाव से अपने पत्नियों का, मां का हाथ बटाया।शायद बहुत घरों में बहुत दिनों बाद या पहली बार मर्दों के हाथ का बना कुछ खाया होगा सबने।

इस करोना लॉक डाउन ने तो सिर्फ मर्दों और बच्चों को ही नहीं हम लेडीस को भी बहुत कुछ सिखा दिया। हमें सही मायनों में मॉडर्न बना दिया। जहां एक तरफ हमें बताया कि हमारे संस्कार पुराने और रूढ़िवादी नहीं बल्कि बहुत ही वैज्ञानिक है, और इस 21वीं सदी में भी इनका औचित्य है वही हमें यह मोबाइल लैपटॉप डेस्कटॉप जैसे गैजेट के और करीब ले आया। लॉक डाउने हमें यह भी सिखाया कि हम घर रह कर भी कैसे एक दूसरे से जुड़े रह सकते हैं।

 हमें मिनिमलिस्ट की जिंदगी जीना सिखाया। मिनिमलिस्ट मतलब न्यूनतम वादी अर्थात व्यक्ति जो कम से कम जरूरतों में अपनी जिंदगी जी सकते हैं आज के दिन हमने यह सीखा आज 1 महीने से हमने कोई शॉपिंग नहीं की, पिक्चर देखने नहीं गए, होटल नहीं गए, फिर भी हम जिंदा हैं और बहुत खुश हैं। और जब इन सब सुविधाओं से हमारा मन हटता है तब हम जिंदगी के सही मायने समझ पाते हैं।इस लॉक डाउन में अगर हमने मिनिमलिस्ट की जिंदगी जीना सीख लिया तो शायद हम में से बहुत डिप्रेशन ब्लड प्रेशर, एंजाइटी जैसे मॉडर्न बीमारियों से हम विजय प्राप्त कर लेंगे।

समाजिक स्तर पर इसने फिर से वह सोई हुई करुणा भाव सभी में जगा दिया।आज सभी प्रयासरत हैं कि कोई भी इस महामारी संकट के समय भूखा ना सोए सब एक दूसरे के साथ फिर एकजुट होकर खड़े हैं।  इस करुणा ने हम लोगों को एकजुट ही किया है।

इसलिए हम कह सकते हैं कि करोणा वायरस में हमें आर्थिक और अंतरराष्ट्रीय, राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर क्षति जरूर पहुंचाई है लेकिन हमें व्यक्तिगत और सामाजिक स्तर पर हमें एक बेहतर इंसान बनाया है।

The Unknwon Celebration of Kolkata

Picnic in winters is a must

Kolkata is known as city of Joy as probably people here know how to celebrate and enjoy. The best time to visit Kolkata after Durga Pooja is Winters. Mild Winters in Kolkata brings a different kind of festivity and celebration in Kolkata. The whole city sparkles in foggy night as the city is decorated for the Christmas and New Year and people are out celebrating the winters. The minimum temperature in Kolkata is generally 10-11 degrees and 8-9 degrees is exclaimed as freezing for “We Kolkatans”. Kolkata blossoms in a different mood during winters. The Kolkatans all around, are in recreation mood in mild winters. One can find fairs, shows, exhibitions, circus, sports, cultural programmes, weekend picnics and all types of outdoor activities in full bloom. Not only schools, and children but all age citizens enjoy winters in Kolkata as its perfect time for all sorts of outing. When the country is freezing and drowned in their woollens and blankets, Kolkatans enjoy their winters in parks, fairs and programmes. Not only days but a little cold nights is worth enjoying. Kolkata not only blooms with enjoyment and recreation, Poojas, mangal Paths, Bhajan nights and different cultural programmes of all religion involve all age and income group in Kolkata. There is involvement for everyone in every street. Ganga Sagar is also one of the attractions of January. One can find small trucks full of ladies from different localities“Para”, singing and dancing on loud music and drum sounds. These ladies are out for picnic for a day, pooling in money. They will cook, play, sing, dance and relax that day.  Kolkatans know how to stop for a day and enjoy, rejuvenate and again go back to work.  One can find temperory stages all over Kolkata. This winter joy starts in Kolkata from November till Saraswati Pooja in February. Saraswati Pooja is again in itself another day when you will find city folks in White or Yellow. Its a tradition in Bengal that people wear yellow and white colour dress on Saraswati Pooja. Especially women and even 5year girl dressed up in yellow saree adds to the glamour of the city.  These yellow colour sarees for young girls are especially available in Kolkata around Saraswati Pooja. Kolkata is also a paradise for foodies. Not only restaurants, street foods in Kolkata are delicacies and in winters, picnic spots and wandering destinations are decided on the delicacies Kolkatans will like to have. Like people go to Victoria not only see the monument but also to enjoy the street delicacies around the place. Nalin gur, Moa, Gur Sandesh and Rosogulla are monopolies of Kolkata for the winters. One can find strets and bakeries full of different cakes, fish markets full of different kinds of fishes, vegetable and fruits markets quite colourful with different varieties of fruits and vegetables. Its like happiness and colours spread all around Kolkata.

Can enjoy on the streets