Sunday, May 10, 2009

Presidential Post - Outdated !!

At these times of recession and tightening of the economy, do we need the post of President in this current form of Parliamentary Democracy ? Look at the current president. Presently Mrs. Patil is touring Mysore and that is all she has been doing in the recent past it seems. Travel. Recently she was in Poland and before that I believe in Africa. Why do we have to spend in crores for these luxurious trips for her and the entourage ? The money that could be well spent on say to invest in a power project in rural India instead of being spent on these power trips for these power hungry politicians ? Whose money is it anyway ? The gullible tax-payer unfortunately who is well remembered during election years.
Also most important question is that is there anything being achieved by these excursions? I am sure nothing. Seems like being the President of India is like earning a good retirement package for a senior (age wise!) politicians where all the perks are great !
It is time a type of movement is started to get rid of these kind of posts that are more symbolic and that is costing the people a lot to maintain. The same money that could be otherwise utilized for developmental projects.
Of course we had a great APJ Abdul Kalam who shone momentarily during his tenure. His wonderful practical ideas though remained mostly on paper. Implementation is of course a different story. Dr. Kalam would have made a far superior Prime Minister !
An alternate to the Presidential post will be available once this symbolic post is gotten rid off. It is not etched in stone that a more of a rubber-stamp authority should exist in a Parliamentary type of democracy.
Currently as I see it this position is more of a liability than an asset and of course a huge burden on the tax payer & the exchequer.