Mandatory Internships

I belong to medical field and if you study and work as a doctor, you are expected to complete mandatory internships and other postings in rural or semi urban regions. I worked in a small hospital (PHC and UPHC) during internship postings and also posted for more than a year in a village hospital PHC (primary health center).

Why I am touching these facts is because, we are seeing a large scale migration to cities these days. The rural and semi urban sector actually faces the burnt of climate change, natural disasters  (like drought or floods), price changes, bad infrastructure and greater economic disparities, Our government doesn't give as much importance to the administration of these places and the higher ups prefer to live in cities, capitals or even outside country.
The most they do is, give free or cheap foods for rural people, or some cash benefits and as per healthcare, make doctor's posting in these rural sectors compulsory. But, it ignores genuine problems which also affects the mental and social well being of these people

So, I was just going through a news recently about how Chinese government sent the students of some university of agriculture for mandatory posting in villages. The experiences and knowledge of those students greatly helped in the rise of  productivity and income of villagers. While admiring the story, I wondered why can't we do the same. We have policies for posting of doctors, why can't be posting of students like agriculture, law, civil engineer, nursing, paramedical, commerce and many more fields.

We already have village infrastructure as in PHC, CHC and District centers. We do have Panchayata homes which can be modified. Why not bring various specialties to have their exposure to the ground realities of rural sector, their problems and solutions for the same. A student of agriculture, soil / water scientists, can give the farmers the proper way to farm, storage methods and get to the market, The engineers can help develop new ways of village infrastructure, exposure the nursing and paramedical staffs gets, will help them in future and may help solves unemployment (like Geriatric care). Commerce students can help develop various business strategies, will increase competition and quality, law students make people more aware of law and solve small disputes.

What more advantageous is that, unlike doctors like us, they can choose the village they wanted to get posted to, let it be their own village, and officially can help solving the problems of their own villages. It can act as a one year project or publication too. By channeling the youth drive, it will further help in the developing of the country as a whole. And may be...we could deal the bigger problems like migration of people, slum development, economic disparities.

So, just wishing that our Indian government should give these kind of ideas some backing.

Scarcity or excess?

We human are greedy,
for us, nothing is enough..
neither share with the needy,
nor our expansion does stop!


Oh...the world is so vast,
so much we could ask,
new places, new foods,
rewards for different tasks.

Its like a current of stream.
falling from a mountain,
promising freshness as we climb,
fresh and transparent as it could be..

The bottom is dirty,
with paths of obstructions,
and lots of effort to do..
just to remove soil and dirt!!

Scarcity make us realize..
the one in the bottom,
the hardships, struggles..
words of unspoken, envious heart.

Ignorance being a bliss,
living in own small world,
fighting, achieving a little,
but getting to top of it.

Then we learn, as we go up,
our greed, or the competition,
with the beautiful terms of....
dreams and aspirations !!

The one on the top,
with power and authority,
luxury and comfort within reach...
keep the stakes to themselves.

looking up and keep climbing,
no matter which place we are,
a never ending cycle, infinite loops..
then what makes the drive?

Humiliation of the scarcity or...
the lust of the excess??
 

Defiance

Not following the given path,
making our own identity..
and for our beliefs and passion,
we show our defiance


Its rigid.
the thought process,
the social structure,
expectations of our conducts...
and perception of the character.

Its stagnant,
the life as it is,
also the social policies,
be it intentional or circumstantial...
putting the clogs on our lifestyles.

Freedom being a luxury,
vacations hard earned,
the struggles for better life,
becoming a daily norm.....
bringing stress in our minds. 


Its suffocating,
the judging eyes,
whispering talks,
making fun of, being sarcastic....
of our choices and decisions.

We ignore,
try to forgive or forget,
to avoid any conflicts,
while sticking to our passions....
for our joy and happiness. 

Its frustrating,
affecting our pride,
changing our personality,
ways of interaction....
pushing ourselves into isolation.

We can't change the society,
we can't follow their ways..
we neither judge nor protest,
then why should one questions?
our attitude as our defiance..

River interlinking project

India is a country where both flood and drought happens at the same time and sometimes even in same state. With rise in the frequency of these floods and droughts that are rapidly putting pressure on the farmers, we can't even understand the plight of the wild animals and other living beings in the nature.

What is more alarming, are the pressure mounted my the rising population on the resources, their expansion leading to destruction of forests, drying of natural reservoirs and narrowing of drainage channels.As India is a democracy without any effective law enforcement, and vote banks matter, people misuse the same in making illegal structures/ home/ industries in these government lands and other natural places without giving due importance to its ecological impact. 

So....what was the result? Deluges!!...be it any part of India...North, South, East, West...no one was spared. Thousands lost lives, millions lost home and billions of money lost...Human greed responsible for their fate. 

Why these things needed to act as Prelude for our topic of River interlinking? Its because I wanted to highlight that already enough damage is done!

We have already damaged the ecosystem enough and only we can bring it back but with a strong backing of government and strong law enforcement. As its difficult to bring back the marshlands, the drainage channels, the natural reservoirs, stream from the people who have made structures on it...its nearly impossible in a country like India.
What we can do, is to bring alternatives, like man made canals, acting as all the above...and also interlinking rivers like a road in between. The farmers will get water for irrigation, wild animals can quench their thirst without coming into contact to human dwellings, water can be transported to drought hit areas and it can also decrease the burden of the floods. It can also act as natural reservoir and help greatly in rain water harvesting. Since it being a government project, people can't misuse  the same as it will get similar importance as an expressway or a railway track. 
This project need to be given its due importance, as the idea was started from the British in 19th century to the 70s as ' National Water Grid", abandoned by Congress, again started during Vajpayee times, then abandoned by the UPA government and finally pushed for the first phase by PM Modi.
It had seen its fair deal of politics around it and I only wish it to be started as a pilot project.

What man has made of man?

If this belief from heaven be sent,
If such be Nature’s holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What man has made of man?

Just browsing some old books, 
I came across one poetry...
I had read in my school times, 
invoking deep thoughts of something,
that we were vaguely aware of ,
the reasons of everything.

Most children in school......naive, 
innocent, unaware of world ways,
care for nature, for living beings,
with new vigor...imagine to do things!

So, these lines from a poetry,
William Wordsworth from 18th century,
beautiful, descriptive for scenery of springs,
yet with some dark undertone....
made me ponder, and also wonder, 
what it meant, what it showed,
and never had I imagined...
his reasons to lament!!

but so came, the age of internet,
and the knowledge with it,
opening my eyes, widening my views, 
bringing the experiences that I lacked, 
for I was young and ignorant...
and then, I knew..the sorrows and regrets, 
dangers that the man possess!!

The forests were burned, rivers clogged,
oceans polluted with plastic and oil,
animals were hunted, birds killed,
and the dwelling of others being seized.
there had been wars..some do continue,
nothing is spared, young and old.
conservationists ignored, scorned or hurt,
and innocents were taught the wrong ways!!

and here I am, in working society,
reading these lines from a wise man,
dejected, and discouraged of man's policies...
I too lamented....

What man has made of man !!

Life choices

Its so dull and boring, there is nothing here,
the conservative elderly, and dirty bumpkins..
they laugh like no worries, blind of world ways,
follow the menial works, slothful or loiter  around
I want to be big!

irritating are their actions, careless are their ways,
their time being in standstill, just waiting to wither away..
I want to escape, a place more alive,
full of lights and glitters, to get at the center stage,
I want to be big!

Opportunity did came, I grabbed and went,
moved to the city, took place on rent,
struggled hard and slowly moved up,  
loosing my sleep, tireless I worked. 
I want to be big!

As head of my workplace, with parties and celebrations,
I achieved my dream, life being full of happiness,
I don't miss village, even asked family to come,
but they reject the proposal, and I don't care....
I got to be big!


I grew up in city, parents were the elite,
my goals were fixed, results to be shown,
had fun during school times, with friends and family, 
with good grades, skills, I climbed up in businesses.
something is missing!

 dry and monotonous routine, as I go to work,
noises and pollution, and chaotic populace,
everyday full of stress, everything time bound, 
feeling guilty to take leaves and nothing to do in it.
something is missing!

I want to escape, get away from here,
to get some space, inhale fresh air,
finally I decided, moved out of city,
buy a land from villager, settled in farmland.
something was missing!

Now I find peace, see every sunrise,
feel the breeze, drink cool water,
listen to the chirruping, rustling of the leaves,
as I sit on my veranda, reading some books.
a sense of fulfillment!

A village festival, I came from city..
a visit of nostalgia, clearing of legal matters..
parents dead, family left, and a new owner,
ancestral home sold and I met the new occupant.

It was a pleasant meeting, we exchanged greetings,
visited the festival, while we chatted,
turned out he was my senior, the one moved to village,
we asked each other the reason, answered in unison......

I had always wanted this...it was my life choice!!