People's Voice

Ours is a democratic soverign country where it is supposed tobe governed by the people for the people says the constitution of this country. When goes through the past sixty years of our Independence, the value of parliamentary system through which our elected representatives work for the benefits of the people 'aam Aadmi' as they say is tobe supreme. However, over the period the healthy discussions in this highest public forum seems tobe few and far. No session of Parliament or State Assemblies will be complete without disturbances, shouting during discussions or walking out in protest. Even the direct telecast of the sessions has not helped our elected representatives to behave more maturedly.
When it comes to upper houses, where the members are called elders are representing various fields in the society like education, law, constitutional expertise, scientists and more. This house is created to act as a guardian to the parliamentary proceedings with a responsibility of advising the Lower house when needed. The members here supposed tobe elders not by age but with experience in their specialised fields are more or less become unseen in recent years. These seats are filled up by quotas consists of industry barons, Liquor Lords, Mine Owners and Neo Land Lords (the Land grabbers or the elite land developers). These seats of dignity are also being occupied by political sychophants, those who are discarded by the people in elections and ofcourse the kins of politicians. This has become a backdoor avenue for all and sundry people who has been picked by the political parties for their own advantage. In Britain this house is called as 'House of Lords', whereas in our country it has literally become a House of Lords.
When our parliamentary system is hijacked by such people can we expect these people will hear people's woes. Every one of them are unassailable to the common man. We with a single stamp of voting our representatives will become bonded labourers of these masters for ever. In every election it is said people have the power to throw out the unwanted. But the choice is limited as we have to vote best among the worst. In the past decades people with meagre finances and with rural background came to politics and most of them converted themselves as City Elites, as power politics always veered around the capital of power i.e. State capitals. Political field has also become a family hierarchy. Let alone the people even our political parties are managed only by family members. This is true from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Gujrat to Meghalaya or Mizoram.
When people's voice cannot be heard in assemblies and in parliament where they should vent their opinion on the every day problems they face or about the governance ? Public protest is again not for the common man. It is also a stage managed show where personal vendetta is settled by vested interests. In such a situation the media stands as a good avenue for the common man. Here I am having disturbing opinons about the powerful electronic media which tries to sensationalise every issue and passes instant judgements. The public opinion they takes through SMS have only 'aye or nye' as opinions. The newspapers with its long history has provided a platform for the common man to express his opinions through "letters to the Editor'. The importance given to this in news papers is evident as it is published in the centre page along with Editorial. Eventhough some of the national dailies have reduced this space majority of them are giving good encouragement to the people to putforth their opinion. Even the regional newspapers are giving vaunted space for the readers. In this column people are expressing freely their thoughts and opinions on varied subjects. It may be a problem in the locality or the infrastructure in major cities or about the policies of the government. I feels it is necessary that our elected representatives either in parliament or in state assemblies make it compulsory to discuss the views expressed by the people in newspapers. This will help them understand the people's problems directly and find a solution if needed. In the present system no political leader will be able to meet every one in his constituency during his life time ateast once. Even the city corporators themselves are unassailable to common people there is no need to tell about the MLA's and MP's. I once again wishes to highlight the point that the Letters written by the public published in various newspapers should be a topic for discussion in both the houses. This will definetely a good source for our parliamentarians to understand the people better.