Monday, April 26, 2010

The Generator Lords

Very Strange title isn't it? We have heard of Land Lords or Zamindars in the Rural areas then who are these Generator Lords?

I am talking about a nexus between the Generator Lords and the State Electricity Board in some parts of UP. especially in a place called Puranpur during my stay in 2002-2003( I heard later this situation exist in some other parts of the District and State as well)

I have seen power cuts and power problems in all parts of the country but never imagined someone come up with such an idea which later developed into a full pledged Generator Lobby/Mafia.


This is an alternate arrangement. You get a parallel supply of power from the Generator during the power cuts. The power cuts used to be in the range of 18 to 23 hours a day. Imagine the plight of the people. It was equal to having no electricity connection at all.

Here comes the Saviour, the Generator Lord, who will provide you power as per your requirement in different packages of watts. Minimum is 100 watts which is enough to run a fan and a tube light. The minimum monthly commitment is Rs.450 ( in 2002-2003). If you want extra power you pay more. You want run your mixer or tv then switch off light and fan, by mistake if you switch on
an extra bulb, your MCB at the Generator room will fall and you need to run to the provider to lift the MCB.

The Generator Lord is like a mini power plant with minimum of 100 to 500 connections. He will run the generators on diesel ( Wonder how the subsidized diesel get misused, it happens only in India). Each area or wards shared like a cable tv provider.


Now there are compulsory breaks in supply too they are power cuts from their end. And will go off when there is electricity from the Board.

If we have close look at the arrangements, the common people who feel satisfied because there is an alternate arrangement.

Generator Lords- Happy minting money using a power less situation and subsidized diesel

Electricity Board: No complaints of power cuts from Citizen

The Nexus: Generator Lobby would close if the state start providing minimum hours of electricity per day, they wont until their pockets are full.


Questions to be asked:

1. Was power situation in the State was so bad that you supply only 1-2 hours per day? That too in the middle of the night?

2. Is it a authorized business to supply electricity through generators?

3. Is it not illegal to use subsidized diesel for the unauthorized business?

4. Why electricity board and urban civic body is mum on illegal wirings which are dangerously laid?

5. When we will wake up and stand against these crimes?

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Social Work and Cricket???

This is an incredible true story from the initial phase of my career. I was frequently visiting this Village called Simaria, in Puranpur, U.P for implementing a unique Project called “School Neighborhood Friendship Program”.


To implement this program, i had to secure all the support from the villagers mainly the Sarpanch, BDO and other leaders but most importantly the youth, with little professional experience i knew that, it is the Youth who can be your backbone to organize any activities in the Village. And I had to garner their support at any cost.


However, it was not so easy to get all of them together especially for a stranger from South India.

I found a gateway finally thats the Cricket, truly it is a religion, there was no dearth of followers in Simaria too.

I gathered the old sports equipments from the St. Jospeh's School where I was placed and brought to the village. We started playing, the numbers increased, now the youth were waiting for me to come and teach them.

Their strength in bowling and batting was admirable as they used to put their heart and soul in it, however fielding was pathetic truly like Lagan team where all were running together to fetch the ball.

Bowling styles too matched the Lagaan team ( Lagaan was released much after i believe) with some strange and funny actions.

Slowly they acquainted with all the rules of the game and started playing regularly thanks to vacant land in the village.


I used the time in the beginning of the game and end of the game every day to motivate them so that become more self dependent and sustainable.
The youth in the village were deprived of higher education, employment skills, entertainment etc due to various social factor. It was impossible for me to bring in so many changes in their life, however, i have made the beginning... which is much satisfying.

The Match:

It was time to prove their worth. So I have decided to organized a match between the Faculty of St. Joseph's school and the Village youth in the School Ground. Principal, Fr. Nobby himself was the captain for the host team. He was generous enough to arrange a feisty breakfast before the match.

The match began, the Host team who underestimated the village youth, surprised by their talents and lost the match with a good margin.

The next was with High school students unfortunately we lost, WE because i was also a member of the Village youth team

Well that was a beginning of a Heart to Heart relationship between two strangers and thats the beauty of work in Social Sector...

My Travel experiences

Working in Social sector is a life time opportunity. There is a great level of satisfaction in life specially when u get a chance to work for the Children, HIV/AIDS infected and affected etc. My sector has provided me an opportunity to travel most parts of this country and exposure to diverse groups and communities. My most satisfying work experience has been in Puranpur. U.P with the school children.

Modes of Transports I have traveled:

I am sure this may not be so exciting those who travel frequently or have experienced below given modes of transports in their day to day life. But in my case this was never expected. I cherish all those moments when i encountered challenging situations and one must face as it comes.

Ship: From Port Blair to Campbell Bay ( Andamans): Had to tarvel without reservation and spent most of the time on the Dock, without enough food supplies, Four days of travel in that ship was once in a life time experience. Nights were frightening as the ship was facing turbulence and i was sleeping atop.

Helicopter:

It was an hell of most exciting encounters. Aerial view of Andaman & Nicobar islands is breathtaking and will never forget

Cycle Rickshaw:

I came across first time during our study tour to North India, It was so amazing when I sat first time. Every time paid extra to the man who was putting his soul into peddling

Bullock carts, Tonga, tractors:

To remote villages where other alternate transport was not available, painful was sitting in tractors....

On a Truck: In a extreme Winter condition from puranpur to tanakpur on a field vist, the open truck was full of Rice sacs, Milk cans and cycles

Scooter Rickshaw:

Rickshaw attached to a Old Scooter (LML, Bajaj seen in Kashipur) is a nice experience

Trains:
Extensive travel in trains ( some horrifying experience will share it later)

Aeroplane:
Most exciting was first time ( at work) from Delhi to Portblair via Chennai

Others: Tram, patpatia ( Wonder, India has so many options)


Military planes: Well am looking forward for it