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They say there's a book inside everybody. Let the book out with Admanya blogs. Vent your feelings about anything that pops into your head. It might be rocket science or your neighbour's cat. Start now! Its easy and fun! Blog Garib Rath Trains: Lalu Prasad and Indian Railways insult the poorPosted by RP_Singh on 21 July 2008
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Garib Rath is considered to be the brain child of Indian Raliway Minister, Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav. With lot of fanfare Lalu Yadav started Garib Raths which are fully AC trains with the aim to facilitate the poor undertake train journeys in air conditioned climate. Before analyzing whether these trains can really be afforded by poor we can look into the nomenclature of the trains at first. As far as my understanding goes about poverty; - poverty deprives people of their security and well-being - poverty deprives people not only of safe water and adequate food, clothing and shelter, but also education and healthcare - poverty takes away people''s rights, and their freedom, dignity and peace of mind - poverty puts people''s lives in danger and robs them of their future The very existence of poverty in the 21st century is a scar on all our consciences but the Indian government could not find any other name but chose the name Garib Rath (which means the Poor''s Chariot) which is not only insensitive but absolutely outrageous. Any attempt to rid our society of poverty should be carried out with full dignity and respect for the poor and when the human dignity and respect is missing the anti-poverty program actually works against the poor and adds insult to the injury. The same thing has actually been done by naming these trains as Garib Rath and it is a matter of shame and surprise that none from the so called intellectuals or social workers community raised voice. There was no dearth of protests or bus burning ceremonies from all quarters when some little know cartoonists at some corner of earth allegedly drew few cartoons on Islam and published them in a newspaper which never ever is read or distributed in India, or when the Iraqis decided to hang one of the most evil dictator of our times, Saddam Hussain, but in this case when the government chose to insult the poor of our country, no one cared to write or protest. There were no "Big Fight" or "Walk the Talk" or "Coffee with Karan", no questions were asked by any reporters to the Railway Minister or to any political leaders. It is all fair when a country chooses to insult its own poor and make mockery of them. The mockery is more clear when one learns the given the fare structure of the Garib Rath, for example, Rs 695 (AC sleeper) between Saharsa (in Lalu''s Bihar) and Amritsar per passenger, a poor manĀ?s journey by Garib Rath still seems to be an utopia. The poor people who can hardly afford to make both ends meet it is indeed preposterous to think of them traveling in AC coaches. Actually Garib Rath would give much relief to the "elite" class of passengers who are already used to travelling in AC bogies. It is a malicious and misconceived idea that the poor would be benefited by the Garib Rath, the poor is actually insulted and made to be laughed at as he can never afford it and mockery is made out of his situation. British Airways brands its economy class as "World Traveller" and that''s the dignity it attaches to its passengers, it had not called it as Backpacker''s Class though the word "Backpacker''s class" is ten times more dignified label than "Garib" or "Dalit". It is time that we elite people learn to show at least respect to our poor citizens even if we choose not to do anything to help them.
Comments (2) Diya wrote on 24 July, 2008
hello!.................Sir....u really make us stand n take notice!........m moved wit those words of urs!......its so ironical a concept......people who hav 2 think twice about wat they r goin 2 eat everyday ,wud b travellin in AC coaches n tat too bearin a name tats a mockery so outrageous(like u say!).......cud b initiated by a leader......whos there in tat position, chosen by those very people 2 take care of them........is shameful n cruel!.....n as 2 nobody raisin any issue over tat............can hav 2 reasons........a issue as trivial as this is not goin 2 pay anybody anythin(its a poor issue of poor people!).......so why 2 waste time........ n many people in this country of ours.......half of d time do not use minds of their own!
cosmicbomber wrote on 18 February, 2009
Yeah, the name is derogatory no doubt...
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