It is quite heartening to hear about people responding to the campaign to give up gas subsidy. It would, however, be more appealing had the adherence started from the people who are making this appeal, that is, the elected representatives of the people -members of Parliament panchayat and local bodies and those holding public posts like heads of corporations. Let them shed the subsidy they are enjoying in other areas like the Parliament canteen, free rides for self and family, foreign jaunts under flimsy causes, subsidised housing and heavy security from the people who have made them this worthy.
Apart from relinquishing monetary benefits, people are being made to often give up their rights, for example when they are offloaded from flights to make room for VVIPs, when their flights are delayed or they are held up in traffic to give way for VVIPs, when honest officers are hauled up and cronies rewarded.
For ordinary people, to have to face these situations is more humiliating than making material sacrifices.
Dilip Somani Gujarat
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