Is Tamil Nadu election a mere rat race ?

by N.S.Venkataraman

(March 20, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Tamil Nadu Assembly elections would take place on 13th April, 2011.

It is conspicuous that vital economic, social and industrial issues have not been taken up for any serious debate by the contesting political parties in Tamil Nadu. While the issues of corruption are being highlighted, which is as it should be , there are many serious issues of far reaching implications that have been ignored in the poll debate . As a result, the voters are being asked to vote on the basis of leadership of political parties and personalities involved instead of substansive issues facing the state.

A grave social issue in Tamil Nadu is the increasing number of people taking to liquor habit, as the present and past Governments have given a sort of permissiveness by taking over the liquor sale themselves. . Apart from the health issues and loss of productive labour amongst the working class , economy and peace in thousands of poor families have been uprooted. Women undergo enormous sufferings due to physical violence and mental abuse by the drunken men in the families. Even boys in the age group of 12 to 15 are reported to be taking liquor and the liquor habit is gradually spreading amongst womenfolk too. Many well mening citizens in Tamil Nadu are highly concerned about such state of affairs but this is not the poll issue at all for any political party.

Apart from the automobile and IT sector, the other sectors of industries in Tamil Nadu such as chemical, minerals, pharmaceutical, textile, medicinal plants etc. are in doldrums. Some of the announced projects like bio tech park, export processing zones have been moving at snail’s pace . Practically, no new projects are under implementation in the state in any significant level in sectors other than IT and automobile. This scenario would cost the state dearly in the long run.

The power scenario in the state is precarious and load shedding has becomne the order of the day.

There are a number of potential project opportunities in the state like Titanium dioxide based on ilmenite, magnesite products , herbal medicinal plants etc. which have not received adequate attention. Industrial planning in the state appears to be in vacuum.

Tamil Nadu Government has been obsessed with freebies which has resulted in a complacent attitude and mindset amongst the people in the lower income group that the Government would take care of all their basic needs and driving away the urge to work and earn amongst many.

What is sad is that these issues have not been part of poll debate at all amongst political parties, which are aligning themselves with no reference to their principles and policies. Tamil Nadu poll is only a rat race.