Sailing against the wind - 2

Previously: Sailing Against the Wind; Majority Wins

My name is Nadia Kumar Singh. I am a doctor and I work at the government hospital, Nala. Nala, which is a fairly large village is situated in Jamtara district of Jharkhand. This hospital at Nala was built three years ago to cater to all the surrounding villages in the block. Government spent sufficient money to build state of art facilities at the hospital. Nine doctors were posted to this newly built hospital. The village people were very happy who earlier had to travel two hours to Jamtara or Asansol. 

Everything was perfect to begin with but three months later, three doctors got themselves transferred to some urban location. The vacancies created were not filled. Some of us put in extra shifts to cater to the numbers. The situation deteriorated further when two more doctors stopped coming. Only four of us were left now. Our repeated pleas in the health department went unattended and situation stayed as it is. The free government medicine outlet in the hospital started running short on key medicines. The administrative guy in our hospital said helplessly - "The strings are pulled from above, I can not do anything. As far as possible please prescribe only those medicines that we have." The health department had become deaf by now. One of the educated residents in Nala tried to approach the local media but learnt that media got their share of the public pie from the top to keep quiet.

A few months later our salary stopped coming. On approaching the Registrar at the district we learnt that we need to give 5% of our salary as bribe to get the salary regularly and on time. This was the final nail in the coffin. Three others left and I am the only doctor at Nala hospital. Now, I work in the hospital for as long as I can apart from seeing the emergencies whenever called for. 

The doctors who left earlier were wise and those who did not bother to join government service and go abroad were wiser. I don't know what keeps me hooked to Nala. I don't know why I want to stay foolish.

Epilogue: Government spends billions on developing infrastructures like schools, roads, hospitals etc. but is least bothered in running and maintaining those properly. Why wouldn't an IIT or AIIMS graduate join a private firm or leave for greener pastures abroad?

Sailing against the wind

My name is Raman lal(49). I work as a police constable in Delhi. My salary is Rs 5500 per month. I also get certain articles of day to day use worth around Rs 1000 per month and certain other benifits.

Given the privileged policeman job I am in I had numerous opportunities to earn more but I have never taken a bribe in my entire career while my co-workers make Rs 200 on an average daily. Senior babus donot treat me well because of my integrity and usually i get a field posting. I thank God that i have been able to sustain field pressure and strain even at this age. It is also sad that people look towards any policemen with suspicion and so towards me. Although it hurts, i try to remain friendly and calm. Sometimes I have to do a continuous 12 hour shift, sometimes a night shift, and sometimes on festivals but i have handled all this well during my 20 years of service.

We are a family of 8, my parents, my wife Laxmi, my daughters Geeta(21), Gayatri(18), Gauri(15) and my son Ghanshyam(11). We had decided to educate our children and take care of all their needs even when my earnings were little. Laxmi has managed our minuscule budget in an efficient way. I remember 8 years back when i brought her a new saaree on Deepawali, she was in tears and told me to return it. She said - "When you have not had a new shirt since last 5 years how can i have a new saaree." We ensure that our children get new clothes every Deepawali.

Ghanshyam and Gauri go to the secondary school, Gayatri and Geeta go to the women's college. Geeta will complete her graduation this year and then we will get her married. Laxmi has been able to save Rs 1.5 lakh and I arranged Rs. 6 Lakh through premature withdrawal of my PF benifits - a total of Rs. 7.5 Lakh. We have been looking for a brahmin(of our caste) bridegroom for Geeta but have had little success. A graduate brahmin with a Rs 5000 per month job demands a dowry of Rs. 8 Lakh. I cannot spend all on Geeta's marriage, I have to think about Gayatri and Gauri too. Hopefully we will be able to find a fitting groom for Geeta.

My father has diabates and blood pressure, he is bed-ridden. I being a government employee my family has free access to all the government hospitals. Though the conditions are not well at the city hospital we can afford only this. My mother has been nursing for him patiently all these years even when she herself is quite old.

I have faith - everything will be fine. God has been graceful to us all these years, he will continue to shower his blessings on my family. My only prayer is that my integrity doesn't budge in our adversity.