Change in the system is possible

In India nothing works, corruption runs in the system. It is difficult to change.  We have heard this many number of times. But the cliche’  that political will makes the difference  is actually not really a cliche’ . It does wonders. It makes one look to the future with some light at the end of the tunnel. Change is possible.

Chattisgarh has totally given the real meaning to the Public Distribution which has been one of the most corrupt and exploitative system in the government programs. Ration cards which was like the ID for each citizen and is still true for millions in this country has been the most frustrating piece of record to have. Now with this revolution in resurrecting the PDS for what its is meant to be Ration card becomes one true identity.

Chhattisgarh shows the way

India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) has been in a bad shape for decades, often thought to be beyond repair. Recent experience, however, suggests otherwise. Political will, increased transparency and community participation have led to an amazing revival of the PDS in Chhattisgarh though the state has only shown contempt for people’s rights in other contexts…

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Red Bus

I often take my 6yrd old son to work and we usually take the Red Bus(as  he identifies the big Volvo bus). He likes it for its roomy , less rush and the ticket conductor talks to him nicely.

Couple of weeks back we had our church family picnic and we were to gather at the church by 8am. We decided to take the bus to reach the church as it was only three stops away. Being a holiday even the regular blue and white buses were quite empty. We hopped in one of the regular bus, which my son did not approve of. The stop we were to get down is preceded by a traffic signal. The bus stopped at the signal for red light, some passengers got down but we waited for the bus stop. Once the traffic lights turned green the driver just sped away without stopping at the bus stop. We were zapped by his behavior as he could see we were waiting at the door to get down. We had no choice but get into a futile argument.

Finally the driver stopped at the next stop which was almost 1 km away. Having got down the bus pretty frustrated and grumpy, we then had to think of how to get to the church now without losing time. We called an auto and jumped in.

On the way my elder one makes his profound comment – “Well see I told you to get into the Red Bus as they are good people. Remember how they had stopped the whole bus for us when you & I were running to catch the bus. They take care.”

I think this was a big compliment to the customer care which the staff of the Red Bus should know from their little passengers.

Chicken pox means…

This is a sickness which creates panic, anguish pain, itching and scars. Chicken pox =  quarantine, neem leaves, calamine lotion.

This time it was for Manav 3yrs of age. The immediate question-  was he not vaccinated. Ofcourse not, coz last year hen some poxy looking blisters had shown up , we took him to the doctor and it was  detected to be  C pox.  That led us to vaccinate Pranav 6yrs old , who is now a ‘proud carrier’ for the C pox. He got it in a mild form and gifted to his lil brother who embraced it full force. It was new for me to see the poxes sprout upon Manav in bunches. The first lot I saw was on his tummy , I apply the calamine, in few secs  I see a new bunch of them on his arms. I apply the calamine there. Then as I am closing the bottle I can sees a ton of  them popping out on his face one after the other. It was an amazing sight!

It is interesting to recollect that for me this was an illness associated with final exams in the month of April – May and also eating chicken. But now I witness this in the month of November and December.When I got C pox,  I was  studying in Std VII, Achachen and mummy had been to Bombay  and my sister and me were at home. One of our neighbors invited us for dinner as parents were away. They had made some good chicken which I nicely whacked. The next day was English II final paper, having come back from exam , could see some bumps on the body. As mummy had come that morning, showed it to her and of course she could tell it was chicken pox and the rest is the same story as any chicken pox victim. But the good thing was no more exams for Std VII, got promotion based on earlier term  marks.

Now for Manav, as there was lot of carpentry work going on at home, Sunday lunch got delayed. He happily was playing at our neighbors house.Being Sunday they had some special cutlets and also chicken. Manav seems to have had good  lunch there and on Monday morning there comes out all the poxes! History repeats itself.

Though the incubation for chicken pox is about 10-14 days, it is comical a co-incidence that chicken somewhere was closely involved in letting these poxes come out. 😉