Mission Swaraj: A Call for Change in Maharashtra

In today’s discussion I am going to say something that probably no one has said before. The strategy of showering money on farmers, women, unemployed and students is just a sham. In reality what is happening is that rich businessmen and politicians are making profits while poor people are struggling with poverty. The middle class has to bear the burden of this.

I want to issue an open challenge to all the six political parties in Maharashtra. We are more than 20 lakh strong; if we act together, we have the power to shake the government and demand accountability from those in power.

Greetings to everyone, especially the people of Maharashtra. I urge you to immerse yourself in entertainment through movies – whether it is Hindi, Malayalam or Marathi. There are many great Marathi movies like Svas, Sarath and Jogva. If you don’t watch movies, listen to songs like “O Lal Meri” by Amrita Fatinavis. It is important to maintain entertainment in our lives so that we do not seek entertainment in politics.

The political scenario of Maharashtra is a chaotic entertainment show. On one side, we have the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP. On the other side, there is the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar’s NCP.

Along with these six major parties, several smaller parties are also fighting their battles. Interestingly, nearly 50 leaders have switched sides, indicating a significant mismatch in their ideologies. Their commitment to ideologies is as real as the ingredients in a biscuit called ‘Whiskey Kit’ – a sham.

The political circus has led to the sidelining of critical issues affecting the public. Media coverage for essential facts and figures regarding the parties’ manifestos is nearly nonexistent. Are the promises made by these parties feasible? Will they indeed be fulfilled, or are they merely electoral slogans? Is there a solid plan from any party to achieve these promises? These are the questions we need to ask.

So, I say, enjoy your entertainment through films and music, but do not look for spice in politics. Let the politicians fight among themselves; we need to focus on our issues—jobs, safety for women, controlling inflation, and improving farmers’ lives.

Today I am going to do something that is unprecedented. I have often raised public issues, but now I want to see change at the grassroots level. So I am throwing an open challenge to all six political parties in Maharashtra. Together we can build a movement based on the principles of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which I call ‘Mission Swaraj’. Any political party that accepts this mission will be recognised for its commitment to implementing real solutions for development in Maharashtra.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi has made some promises about financial support for women and unemployed youth. They are planning to provide monthly payments, which sounds interesting. However, the BJP’s Mahayuti alliance has also made similar promises, offering financial support to women and pensions for senior citizens. Both alliances are essentially throwing money at the public.

Politicians seem to believe that by throwing a few bucks at the poor they can alleviate poverty. But have we ever wondered where this money comes from? It is taxpayers’ money, which is turning the financial stability of the middle class into a nightmare.

The size of the middle class is shrinking, as government tax data shows. This decline is adversely affecting consumer demand. The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations recently admitted that a staggering Rs 73,000 crore worth of stock is lying in factories and dealerships.

The Finance Ministry’s latest monthly review confirms that consumer demand is declining. Automobile and housing sales are falling, and even fast-moving consumer goods are not immune to this slowdown. Urban growth rates for FMCG have fallen dramatically from 10.2% last year to 2.8% this year.

For the middle class, job security has become elusive. According to IO’s Employment Report for 2023, the unemployment rate among educated individuals in Maharashtra reached 15% in 2022. Even if jobs are available, salaries are often inadequate.

When salaries are good, the tax burden is very high. Indirect taxes can turn into a burden of inflation. If living is becoming so difficult, how will the middle class be able to enjoy basic amenities?

Look at education. Many parents are unable to send their children to government schools due to lack of quality education. The fees of private schools are skyrocketing. For example, a school in Dadar, Mumbai asked for Rs 86,000 for admission in Class 1. When parents questioned the fee hike, the school management directly told them to either pay the fees or get their children admitted to a government school.

Unless there are good government schools with quality infrastructure, there will be no competition. Parents are forced to cut down on their expenses to send their children to private schools. This is pure exploitation. Public transport in Mumbai is overcrowded, and the tragic incidence of train accidents is alarming.

The Central and Western Railways submitted an affidavit in the Bombay High Court, revealing that over 518,002 people have fallen from Mumbai local trains in the last 20 years. The authorities view these deaths as mere statistics rather than human lives.

Despite the appalling conditions, the government is still blaming the rains for the potholes, and ignoring the lack of proper drainage system. In 16 months, only 9% of the targeted roads have been concreted, which shows the administration’s incompetence.

Healthcare is another serious issue. The condition of hospitals in Maharashtra is appalling. The Bombay High Court recently called the condition of hospitals unacceptable, yet the government continues to neglect these facilities.

The middle class avoids government hospitals and spends exorbitantly in private hospitals for fear of their children’s health. Meanwhile, air pollution is killing people. Maharashtra ranks second in air pollution deaths in the country, with 13,918 people losing their lives in 2019 alone.

A World Bank report states that 97.6% of Maharashtra’s population breathes air above safe limits. This raises serious concerns about the health of our children.

Politicians have failed to address these burning issues, focusing on superficial promises that do not bring about real change. It is time for people to unite and demand accountability. Mission Swaraj aims to empower local communities to ensure equal opportunities for every citizen.

We need to implement practical solutions: training for farmers, rainwater harvesting, free quality education, healthcare, and local industries to boost employment. However, these changes require political will, which will only arise when the public holds leaders accountable.

Standing together, more than 2.5 crore of us can make a difference. If any political party is committed to these principles, I will highlight them and support them conditionally. Let’s spread the message of Mission Swaraj across Maharashtra. We have the power to demand change. Jai Shivaji, Jai Hind!

For more information and inspiration, watch the cleanup video made with Afroz Shah, where we discuss practical solutions for our environment.

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