Electoral rolls - Make sure you are in there

So much for cribbing about our country I am one in a million who thinks elections are not their cup of tea. But now when I think back, its people like me who are in more ways contributing to the unclean politics in the country. Its an irony that politics in our country is seen on par with high-rated crime. There are just a few who make the country proud. Dr.Abdul Kalam who is highly regarded not just in India but all over as a visionary. The current MLA of Mylapore constituency S.Ve.Shekar who is known for not taking bribe. But its a shame that in a highly populous country we have to dig out countably few names when we talk about clean politics. I am given to understand that the votes that are not casted by people whom it belongs to are any way cast by other people for want of money. I was appalled at the nerve of a worker saying he cast 3 votes taking money. If such are the people who vote and decide the future of our country, people posting their reaction on social networks to the scams can layoff. Vote! Or just stay shut up, don't crib. I would like to start a movement on Facebook to make sure all well-read folks have a voter's id and vote. May we elect a sane government which take the country forward by a few paces if not by leaps and bounds.

MRTS

I was passing through the IT corridor of Chennai trying to showcase the techy architecture of Chennai which is now more and more recognized in the global scenario for its brain power, to my foreigner-friend. While we entered the IT corridor from the Madhya Kailash side my friend looked left and asked me with genuine concern when the MRTS will be operational. I told him it was already operating for a few years now. He couldn't believe me even if I were to swear by it. The state in which the stations are gives no hint of a completed facility available. I am sure that is the same with anybody who doesn't know its operational. Work is in progress for years! As much as I would hate to compare, I witnessed thee fastest infrastructure development in Shanghai. Umpteen stations a few under river tunnels for road transport and a few expressways came up in the short span of 10 months I was there. And we are still riding on the hope that India will be a super-power. Do we have any plan as to how we get there?? Unless the 12.12.12 d-day fact is true and the rest of the world is destroyed, I see no way.

The highly opaque Taluk offices in TN

There is always a said procedure for everything to happen. To get a patta, we pay Rs.90 and apply. But that is just official. Thats no where close to how the system operates. I applied for a patta for my land 3 months back. There is no information whatsoever on that. I went personally to the Sholinganallur taluk office to check. The reply was as cold as Tornoto in December. I applied for RTI only to realize that is yet another fundamental right in this democratic country which you can only talk about. Blatantly I hear that we can get patta in a month for a payment of Rs.6000 and Rs.15000 if you need it in two weeks. With the anti-corruption department active in the scene, the govt offices have found avenues in which they can do the crime without getting caught. Its not about whether one can afford that money. Its about why one should pay a penny more than what one is supposed to. Why is the process of patta not computerized? The reason is it closes doors for a huge revenue. Can I not be a common man to get the patta which I rightfully deserve without payment. Do I have to know a Collector or a minister. Now I believe - Incredible India. Such things can happen only in India. So much for returning to the country with such high hopes.