Posts Tagged ‘ordinance’
NEET Ordinance: Smacks of Quid Pro Quo
Cabinet has passed an ordinance today delaying NEET for a year, National Level Entrance Exam for Medical colleges. Though Govt is yet to give a reason, what we have heard till now is, it is for the benefit of students who are hassled by sudden imposition of NEET.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. To make the issue simple to understand, let me cite the movie, Sivaji-The Boss, where in Rajinikant fought against politicians who have made Medical education a flesh trade. Private medical colleges owned by big politicians earn a lot in lieu of capitation fee. Private entrance exams where students are asked to leave the answer sheet empty, and later the middlemen in conjunction with college authorities fill up the sheets. Going rate is as high as 1 crore rupees.
This is what NEET aims to eradicate. I urge PM Modi not to succumb to the pressure from states for some quid pro quo in Rajya Sabha. GST can wait, NEET can’t. Just think for a bit, when we have national level exam for engineering colleges, why is the hue and cry for medical exams? The issue here is the dearth of good Medical colleges. Private colleges are owned majorly by big politicians. Govt colleges have very less seats.
Since cabinet has already passed the Ordinance, it is a matter of time when President signs it. It’s now left to the Supreme Court to strike down the ordinance. I don’t have high hopes though. The political privilege has acted out.
Devil and the Deep Sea: Land Ordinance
Bachelors crave to get married; Married crave for Bachelorhood. Children want to be ice-cream salesman; Ice-cream salesman wants to be child again. People in India want to go onsite; Onsite Indians long to come back. To cut the analogy short, perspectives change when we cross over. This sums up the Indian Govt’s predicament. Tables seem to have turned.
While Delhi defeat was just a hindrance, the Land Acquisition ordinance is turning out to be real thorn in the flesh. I have no doubt that PM believes changes to the bill are necessary for long term growth, the problem is how to explain it to voters.
As per general opinion, newspapers, TV/Nukkad debates, Govt. is coming out as a villain in this whole episode. And who knows better than Modi that it is all about perceptions. It’s a fact that farmers of this country voted en masse for Modi during general elections (also during Haryana and Maharashtra). In a country like India which is in election mode round the year any misstep will lose you an election somewhere or the other.
Given the track record of successive Govt.’s on land acquisition, farmers are right in being sceptical. I read that even the people who lost their land when Bhakra Nangal Dam was build, haven’t been compensated fully till date. I agree that land is required to set up industry, which in turn provides job. But to do so by alienating people is not a way forward.
Instead of simply doing away with certain provisions of social impact study, approaching court and making the kisaan of India feel uncomfortable, what Govt. should have done is to incorporate such provisions which make farmers sell their land happily. Raising x2/x4 to x10 could be such a thing.
When a farmer sells his land for 100/- and an year later some industrialist re-sells the same land for 1,00,000/-, farmer has the right to feel cheated. Steps should be taken so that farmers earn dividend on the appreciation of the land price too. 25% share to the original owner of appreciation, if land is sold/sub-let by the acquiring party could be another such provision.
It’s too hard to predict how next few days will unravel, but one thing is sure, it is going to be mighty hard for BJP to convince farmers to vote for the party. At least for near future.
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