We Must Put Local Government First

I have just discussed important reasons why the citizenry must put all their efforts into bringing down the Chacha Manmohan S Gandhi government. While we all contemplate alternative scenarios, allow me to argue against central planning from New Delhi, and plead strongly for localism. As anecdotal evidence, I offer the story of what happened to me in sunny southern Goa last Sunday.

Last Sunday was a “dry day” here, because of some local elections. I had wiped out my beer stocks on Saturday night, and couldn’t replenish them. I tried some of the retail shops, some of the wholesalers, and some bars – but no go.

However, I wasn’t going to give up on my Sunday high for any democratic despotism, so I drove over to the home of my friendly neighbourhood ganja dealer. I smoked a couple of three-paper joints with him, felt good, very good, and then we began talking – about the dry day.

Since he also lets out rooms to tourists, I inquired if he had any stocks of alcohol that could see me through the evening, and he offered me some whisky. I bought a quarter bottle. I then asked whether he had any feni – and the conversation turned very interesting indeed.

He said he had a little “medicinal” coconut feni, which he used to treat simple ailments, especially for his four kids. I requested a shot so I could try out this enchanted stuff, and he kindly obliged. It was very good indeed, and heightened the effect of the ganja I had already smoked. I then asked where this special coconut feni came from, so that I could get myself some too. The answer: Talpona.

Now, the village Talpona, with its pristine beach, lies just across a narrow river and, as the crow flies, is less than a kilometer from where we were drinking and smoking. But there is a problem getting to Talpona from here: there is no bridge.

Or, to be more accurate, there is a bridge, but it is nothing more than a foot-bridge: too narrow. Our little car barely makes it, but nothing bigger can. The bridge is also quite far upriver, so what should be a 5-minute drive takes half-an-hour. Thus, the economy of Talpona is depressed. The tourists remain on this side; they rarely cross the river. Franky’s Bar in Talpona is largely deserted, as are other establishments that have cropped up there, hoping for the occasional tourist.

Not only Talpona: there is the beautiful Galjibaga Beach beyond, which is always deserted.

This affects real estate values there too. If there had been a proper bridge, real estate activity in the area across the river would have soared.

Now, if you drive from our side of the river to Talpona and Galjibaga, you will find a HUGE BRIDGE towering 100m above you – this is the railway bridge, devoted to the Konkan Railway, the great “project” that cropped up in the minds of our Central Planners in Laputa for the development of this area, also known as the Konkan Coast. Konkani is the predominant language here. My ganja dealer speaks Konkani at home. It sounds very sweet, with many words common to Bengali.

The Konkan Railway passenger trains do not serve the “local area” – like a cheap tramway would. The only connections are to the city of Karwar, 40 km south, or the city of Margao, 40 km north. Even the station that serves this district, Canacona, is in the middle of nowhere, unconnected to either town or village. The entire project, as far as the local people are concerned, is a White Elephant.

Some weeks back, we picnicked just across the river from Talpona, watching the full moon rise above the river, amidst the surrounding hills. It was magical. We were there from 6:30pm to 9:30pm and saw only three trains pass. Two going south, one going north. One train every hour.

Now, such “local” transportation problems must be occurring throughout the length and breadth of India, and there is no way that any central planner can solve these. Solving these problems require "local knowledge."

And transportation problems are India's BIGGEST PROBLEM.

“But we have given you “local self-government’,” Chacha Manmohan S Gandhi will insist. Yeah, we know, like the district “panchayat” for whose elections the entire region was “dry.” Yeah, like the Canacona Municipality that cannot even run one small town properly.

Note that if you cross the foot-bridge and get on the other side of the river, there is a spanking new road connecting Talpona and Galjibaga. But there is no bridge connecting them to the tourists! Or to the real estate developers!

Any “local government” worth its salt would invest in such a bridge as TOP PRIORITY.

To conclude: Our government apparatus is screwed up from top to bottom. As we attempt to fix it, top priority must be given to the institutions we create at the bottom, closest to us. Let us forget about New Delhi. Let us fix The State in our own backyard.

PS: For more on the Konkan Railway, as compared to the non-existent highway, read my brief monograph, Four Wheels For All: The Case For The Rapid Automobilization Of India, available here as a free download.