Recent unfortunate developments pertaining to the death of a sick elder due to forced delay in providing critical medical care and causing grievous injury to others on their way to hospital, not to mention the wanton destruction of properties speak of a society whose emotions are getting out of control. The present movement for implementing the ILP system in the state has been unanimously approved, and the state government, albeit grudgingly, have finally given in to the aspirations and rightful concerns of the public.
Updates has also been reported in the media of the progress being made in drafting the Bill, even while tentative dates to pass the historic Bill has been set. All in all, the wheels have been set in motion and only an indescribably stupid government can even think of going back on its words, having experienced the height of anger of the people. While the passion and fearless conviction of the protesting public can only be commended and appreciated, the protracted violent agitations and protests have taken on a dangerous hue, with the focus shifting from making a lucid point to the hitherto adamant and dismissive state government, to taking opportunity by miscreants and trouble mongers to vent their personal frustrations and indulge in their long-suppressed sadistic wishes, often under the influence of alcohol and other such substances. Outside of a very few in the government, there would not be a single individual from the state who would not like to see the implementation of the ILP, and yet the protests which are supposed to be more of a symbolism to signal the intent of the people is now under threat of being diverted and misdirected due to the failure of a few individuals who exercised unrestrained violence and intimidation.
It would be, on the other hand, an exercise in futility to try and fathom the reason for the state government to wait this long to respond to the concerns and aspirations of the public. The demand for ILP system in the state is one whose time has come, and the state government should have known it better than anybody else, much before the deaths, burnings and the destructions started. The present social shutdown is a very avoidable tragedy. Laws, rules and regulations are all formed for the society, and can be amended, modified or scrapped in accordance with the relevant times. If the present situation demands that new laws be made, then the state government should take steps to initiate the process should be made in right earnest without hesitation.
However, immersing and directing every available resources and efforts to address a single issue also reflects the inability to perceive the reality and deal with it accordingly. The present floods caused by a bout of incessant rainfall is still continuing to render thousands, if not lakhs of people homeless, while thousands more are deprived of their livelihood. The state government has so far failed to relieve these people despite reports and pleading regarding their dire and desperate conditions. A case of finding the forest but missing the trees?
