VIP AND VVIP CULTURE MUST STOP OR CUTAILED The British legacy is continued by now defunct Princes and substituted by elected represented at all levels including the, bureaucrats .The worst offenders are M.P`s, MLA `s , who bring in legislation without discussion and any opposition to cover their illegitimate rights into legal assets. Remember pension to M.P`s was fearless opposed only by Moraji Dessai, but not at the point of enjoying it. Too much of noise is made about privileges at airports, railway stations, blocking of roads for security denying citizens access even in extreme examples of emergency .What about income of representatives of 35 lakhs plus designated as allowances outside the purview of taxable income, but citizen earning Rs 2,50 lakhs are bracketed into taxable income. This includes all allowances like D.A HRA,Bonus, LTC, medical allowance etc against limited deduction limited to 1.5 lakhs only., Contrast this with tax free payment of travelling allowances even to their members by rail and air not in economy class, special reservations by road transport, free medical treatment at local hospitals and abroad, special rooms at hospitals , reserved for VIP and VVIP even when such facilities are locally available free medicines and medical tests. Add to free electricity, free water, free calls, gas cylinders, inverters, laptops, tablets, smart phones interest free periodic loans for vehicles, pensions even for being elected for a day, Then there is constituency allowance, celebrations of National days, postage allowance, No of attendants and clerks, office allowance, type of security and posting of security personnel round the clock,, expensive official cars depending on their fancies and positions, drivers, rent free accommodation, subsidized hood at Houses, even medical facility at Parliament, free medical tests and God alone knows what `s more hidden and never exactly known to the voters, They give the impression as if they doing social work without remuneration for charity. We forget the commissions they demand as a matter of entitlements and bribes for various Govt services and schemes All this should be computed in monetary terms and taxed like general citizens, who meet these need from payment. Why the cavalcade of President must consists of Horses maintained at the considerable cost to the exchequer and which a vestige and appendage of colonial traditions of pomp to set apart the individual
Such facilities are also extended to bureaucrats at all levels, flaunting their stays at bungalows giving the impressions that they are an exclusive breed of individuals. They forget that they are servants of the electorate and not their masters. The Rajas and the princes of the yore were not elected, by going on bended knees and folded hands to beg for votes. After the elections this transformation into superior breed is all that matters, The voters can then be ignored and made to knock their doors for petty favours, employment , postings or more. There is an outcry and public awareness campaign to do away with financial privileges and others, which are increasing over the years The voters must also change their mind sets to give them undue status and position of importance in society putting them on high pedestal, We are equally to be blamed for fueling their ambitions of superiority. Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
