It
is very difficult - pushing a massive organization like Indian Railways move to
a healthy financial concoction that would cure its ailments (and ills) to make
it 'lifeline for India', not only for its toiling common men and 'not so
toiling' other folks, but for the enterprise of the Government of India as
well.
And
that is much more troublesome than 'easier said than done'. It is, in fact, an
assignment of 'unachievable' proportions with 'almost' chances of failure.
And
we expect a reform-oriented Rail Minister like Suresh Prabhu will have that it
mind.
That
is why he is trying all, relevant reforms and 'even those measures that almost
would call irrelevant'.
Obviously,
I am here talking about the Janta, the common folks, the Aam Aadmi (the common
Indian, and not the 'Aam Aadmis' of the 'Aam Aadmi Party').
It
is now a well established fact that a train journey, in its AC First Class, may
cost you more than a roundup by a flight.
So,
a compulsion of not getting bookings elsewhere, a sense of romance with train journeys
in relative comfort of stretching your legs and lying down and availability of
time shall make Indian Railways a natural choice for a 'normal cost of flight'.
And
that makes 'Indian Railways' at par with airlines - at least in that sense.
But, it was so even before Suresh Prabhu.
So,
Suresh Prabhu tried this one.
From
April 2016 onwards, Indian Railways will charge full fare for child passengers
5 to 12 years old instead of the half amount that it charges now. Now, this is
similar to what air carriers do - no concept of similar concessional tickets - so,
no more child 'half tickets' in trains. Let's see when it comes to senior
citizens - the only age-group left untouched so far.
So,
in one go, Mr. Prabhu has inscribed his name in the annals of related journals
as a reform-oriented Rail Minister who went the extra mile to instil some
'life' in India's connectivity 'lifeline'.
Even
if at the cost of 'making life troublesome' for many for whom Indian Railways
is the only option or the most preferred option to travel!
The
proposed measure will certainly not affect those who choose Indian Railways for
'different reasons mentioned above' and who can afford being airborne.
Now,
we need to see how it will play out when this 'full fare for 5 to 12 year old'
is rolled out and the debate will start intensifying in February next year when
the next Rail Budget will be presented given the fact that even if perennially
'delayed', Indian Railways is still the lifeline for almost Indians and 'half
ticket' is an issue that will have populist echoes and social (and electoral)
repercussions.
It
is, in fact, so socially ingrained that, apart from being a social and financial
need in travel plans of many families, it has become part of our popular
culture as well - the 1962 Kishore Kumar classic 'Half Ticket' is just an
example.
Like
a true 'Aam Aadmi', we are compelled to accept whatever our policymakers
propose for us, especially when the next parliamentary polls are over three
years away.
Anyway,
let's see what happens!
That
reform measure is still 109 days away.
Till then enjoy this 'Half Ticket' song.
Featured
Image Courtesy: A themed cartoon by my sister Ragini
©/IPR: Santosh Chaubey - http://severallyalone.blogspot.com/
