Thoughts from the Clouds

Voyaging past the vast blue sky and passing past the passing clouds, you realise how small man is in the face of nature, and also how glorious he stands before all of creation, for he is the one that got you to the skies!

A click from my short flight between Hyderabad and Chennai. Cloudy day and not particularly beautiful.

When I look at the land under the sky, I sense enormous power and potential. The land that has never attacked, but was always attacked, the land that once suffered from foreign invasion and now suffers from an auto immune condition wherein the body’s immune system kills itself.

I feel a sense of responsibility towards the intimidating water body underneath, the sky above it and the air in which I fly. That made me ask myself this hypothetical question “What if one day, this sea, this sky, this air and this land becomes mine to look after?” What if I were to become the leader of this country? Now, don’t choke! I know that escalated quickly. But always good to answer such questions which come in our minds.

If I were to become a leader, there are two types of changes I’d make- Changes in law and changes in people’s mindsets. The latter would be the most challenging and we won’t discuss that in this post.

Laws that require changing or updating 🇮🇳

1. I’d permanently discard the caste-based reservation system and make it need-based. Who said caste still dictates an individual’s economic background? We have moved forward so much and this is what brings us back to talk about caste- a government policy! See the hypocrisy?

2. We are all created equal. Then why is the law not the same for all of us? If a heterosexual marriage does not need validation from the law, homosexual marriage doesn’t either. It should be “legal”. I don’t agree with that term because it should have never been up to the law to decide.

(Fun Fact: There is historical evidence to prove that homosexuality was recognised in ancient India up until the British rule. The “American disease” as termed by one of our state ministers was indeed very much prevalent in our royal courts and represented in ancient texts, literature and sculptures. The 2018 abolition of section 377 was infact, a fantastic move by the government in getting back to our roots).

3. Literacy will be the priority. It can open minds and make a better world for posterity. Low literacy hotspots will be identified and superior quality government schools will be established there. It should also be a rule for all children of government employees to study in government schools, to ensure their utmost quality.

4. Every hour, 4 women are raped in India. If every hour, 4 or more rapists are punished for the same, will it still be the same? They must be KILLED! Rape and assault cases go unnoticed as women choose to remain silent, for fear of media publicity, family, etc.. They must be UNSILENCED and the power to do this lies with US, the common public!

5. Child labour laws should be TIGHTENED. Children are free to work on holidays at their parents’ farm or store, but never at the cost of EDUCATION. They must be at school, which should provide them mid day meals (only in government schools).

6. A small, fixed amount of tax money should be collected from ALL employees who earn above a certain range. A small collection from a LARGE population will amount to a lot. Currently, less than 2% of the population pay taxes and they pay 30-50% of their salaries, depending on their earning. It gets too tight for them financially as they have a family to look after and loans to pay.

7. Minors shall also be liable to punishment for major offences.

8. Government funded laboratories with high tech equipments must be established to facilitate growth in research infrastructure, so “poor infrastructure” is no longer a reason for people to leave the country.

9. There should be centres established for distressed/orphaned children and child labourers where they can be funded for emergencies in their family.

10. Fines for spitting or littering in the roads! PLEASE! These fines (and generally all violation penalties) should be immediately transferred to the nearest “distress centre for emergency funds” mentioned in the previous point.

11. I will let the common public know HOW I’m using their hard-earned tax money. My government will be transparent and honest. Corruption must become history!

These are all certainly easier said than done. The current government is doing well but we can all agree that we need some modernising (something future leaders are absolutely capable of). There are many more changes I want in the law but I shouldn’t stuff you beyond your appetite. 😉

Now, If you get to become the leader of your country, what changes would you want to make?

July 18, 2021September 1, 2021 by SamSahana Categories: CasualTags: Development, Social Issues 44 Comments