DODDERING POLITICIANS

ad. in a newspaper

" The great Indian neta. Allowed to tire but never retire.

Is not there something wrong? If a 60 year old man is not permitted to hold an ordinary job, how is he expected to run an economy that harbors millions of jobs like the one he is not good enough for? Today, 75% of our country is below 40 while only 7% of our parliament is. And there are many questions that need answering. Why is there no retirement age for MPs? Or reservations for youth in Parliament? Most importantly, where is the National Youth Policy for the world's youngest democracy? Let us raise it. Discuss it. Debate it: And push for it. Or at least, vote against it. “

Text:
Oldies! Vacate from Parliament and State Assemblies.’

Sub-text

You doddering oldies, vanish. You have made a mess of managing Parliament and State Assemblies, which means the country as a whole. Presto! We have found the mother of all solutions to the affliction that is eating into the vitals of our democracy. We the vibrant youth are ready and geared to take over from you.

This is the clarion call of educated youth, fully endorsed by middle aged educated people. Silence from the old elected representatives. They indulgently smile or shrug it off as the acrobatics of youth. Since both print and visual media have in their midst lot of oldies, this demand is under played by fourth estate, except publishing the message by way of ads. (‘How could fourth estate forgo ad. revenue!).

Yet, how can this happen unless Parliament itself passes a law for retiring people of 60 / 65 or above from contesting for becoming MPs or MLAs. 60 / 65 has been cited here as the retirement age because that is the position in respect of bureaucrats / judges and by and large employees of corporate sector, both private and public.

Even if the above utopian scenario becomes a reality, that would not take away the power of old politicians in various political parties. They will continue to decide the policies and programmes of the parties. And more especially the decision making on who should represent from their parties in the Parliament / State assemblies would be decided by the oldies. The youth elected would have to echo their wishes. In other words, unless the youth comes to power in political parties, situation at the ground level would not change, even if retirement age is prescribed for MPs/MLAs.

Then the question arises as to why single out politicians for fixing a retirement age. Businessmen continue to manage their companies up to 70 or 80 years. Doctors / lawyers and other professionals continue to practice their vocations much beyond 60or 65 years. So also retired Government employees. Many become consultants/lobbyists/ directors of various private sector companies or members of various Government set up Commissions and such other bodies. So is the case with various other occupations. Writers, cine stars, people manning NGOs and a host of others continue to be occupy / practice their vocations.

‘Look at US of A, (a country, according to our educated youth and middle class / upper class / professionals, has all the right practices,)which is ruled by young people.’ It is a myth. Many American Presidents / Secretaries and other senior Government people / Senators / Congressmen were and are old. US Supreme Court judges are appointed for life, despite the fact that in such an august office, some function with various stages of senility. The case is not any different in other Western countries. If one looks at Asia, the position is exactly similar to that of India.

It is the tradition of India and so also in many Asian countries for the old people in families to be the decision makers. Our concept is that with age, wisdom and maturity increases / expands.

Foot notes:

1. 30% to 40% of MPs and MLAs are not re-elected. Out of those not re-elected, some if not many would be old. But the moot question is whether political parties would allow more and more youngsters to contest elections.

2. To assume that if only young are elected maters would improve is to a large extent wishful thinking.

3. For an individual, essentially there are three categories of age, i.e., based on (i) calendar years, (ii)physical stamina, and (iii ) mental capability. Hence a person of 75 years of age in terms of calendar years, may be physically at the level of 60 years and mentally 40 years. This theory is applicable to youth also.

4. There was another ad. in newspapers stating ‘ if reservation is acceptable for Government jobs, thenwhy not reservation for youth in Parliament / Assemblies.’ This is to beg the question. Youth of this country are free to elect young people to Parliament / State Assemblies.

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