Saturday, April 17, 2010

Arrogance of Railway budgeting...

I spent some time reading up on railway budget, with each passing minute became convinced more and more that we need to do away with Railway ministry as a separate entity and to completely do away with the process of “railway budget”.

I am convinced that presenting this “budget” in parliament is leading to delusions of grandeur amongst the ministers and half their proposals have nothing to do with railways, its operations and profit.

E.g. read through the following proposals.

1. Housing for all employees
2. Railway hospitals, schools and higher educational institutions
3. Karmabhoomi trains for unorganized labor
4. Reduced exam fees for minority, women and economically weaker sections
5. Knowledge parks (no idea what the hell this is)
6. Permanent employment to casual laborers.

There are many many more non-sensical socialistic proposals that have nothing to do with efficient running of railways….

Believe it or not, the only good proposal was the strategy of conducting Railway recruitment exams in various languages in line with state’s official language!! Only thing missing, were building roads, running buses and similarly airports and starting an airline. The arrogance and megalomania that has come into our railway budgeting needs to stop!

I for one was of the simple belief that Railway ministry existed to develop railway as a means of transport for both passengers and freight and be a damn good professional company at that, hopefully earning profit. Even if it were not profitable, it would have been OK.

When we have a union budget that is now-a-days is meant only for women/minorities and the Aam Admi amongst the Hindu Males, why the hell we need a railway budget mirroring and needlessly even duplicating some…..

I am sure unless this delusion of megalomaniacal grandeur is reduced future “railway budgets” will be nothing but non-sense. I really wish, that railways are made just a department in the ministry of transport (including Railways, Road, air & shipping). Socialistic aspirations of individual ministers/departments should be through the reality check of the finance ministry and be moderated. Because, the union government exists for upliftment of all, yes including railway employees. All said and done they deserve the same as the Aam Admi, nothing more nothing less….. Definitely not a budget exclusively for them in parliament....

1 comment:

  1. While I am hopeful of some good bullet trains, I am looking forward to have some movement that will involve some of the railway authority like TTEs/Railway Police to politely educate every passenger and remind them to use railways properly and help in good maintenance.. Also hoping to get some quality check on food vendors..

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