If you cut the crap and look into the facts, you'll find that swine-flu has a lesser mortality/death rate than diarrhoea, pneumonia or TB. Yes, its caused mass-hysteria, but can you blame the poor virus. The media has had such a major hand in spreading exclusively the negative news related to the H1N1. Let me talk about a virus that is far deadlier and has spread beyond control in this country. Its the D.O.R(Death on Roads) virus. It has two variants : death due to driving or death due to being a pedestrian on road. Now you'll ask me as to why D.O.R is deadlier than H1N1. Lets talk some core statistics here.
a) Swine-flu
Deaths reported(till date): 26
Number of infected cases : more than 1000
Estimated loss to GDP(if it becomes an epidemic) :1 - 1.5% of GDP (as given by World Bank)
b) D.O.R
Now you tell me, which one is deadlier and should get more media coverage! Lets look at what the government can do about this. Regular road review programs, more number of roads, strict rules and regulations and the likes. I'll start with the driver's license test. It's a joke, a mockery, a sham. This test is a very serious affair in developed countries. Dubai's driver's test is presumed to be the toughest and the most rigorous. I've heard of people flunking the test as many as 20 times. Their test is so trusted that the same license is valid in many other countries. And what happens in our 'Shining' India ? (oh how i hate it when someone calls it that)...You needn't know to drive to get a license, you can use the license to practice 'Live' on the roads along side 'Live' people. That's the value we give to our lives(and to that of our fellow Indians).
I got mine only coz I went through a broker. I barely managed to drive a 4-wheeler for which I was bestowed with a combo license(the 2 cum 4 wheeler one)...a license to kill. But I've decided not to unleash my madness on the roads and be a danger to myself and the society at large.
All this aside, the one thing that the government can't do is to change your mindset. They've given you the road, but its upto you as to how you drive. If you as a driver choose to be illiterate, ignorant of the road rules and not valuing your own life, even Lord Ganesha(whose gonna be immersed soon this month) can't help you out. And for god's sake, don't drink and drive. Develop a road-sense if you don't already have one. Follow the rule whenever, wherever possible. Rules are meant to keep you from succumbing to D.O.R. And if not for your sake, think about the countless other fellow drivers and pedestrians that are likely to get injured coz of your callous driving. Unless you develop this superior-sense, India I'm afraid will never shine.
And before you go buy one N95 mask for the flu, buy yourself a helmet, get your vehicle insured and get it serviced(if need be). And the irritating media will still not take notice, but do your bit by educating your peers about D.O.R. You'll be saving many a lives, I assure you of that.
A small addition...here's a foreigner's view on 'driving in India' - http://www.pixelatedimage.com/blog/2009/08/driving-in-india/
a) Swine-flu
Deaths reported(till date): 26
Number of infected cases : more than 1000
Estimated loss to GDP(if it becomes an epidemic) :1 - 1.5% of GDP (as given by World Bank)
b) D.O.R
Deaths reported: more than 300 PER DAY
Number of infected cases : the whole illiterate driving population
Estimated loss to GDP(it has become an epidemic) : 3% of GDP
Now you tell me, which one is deadlier and should get more media coverage! Lets look at what the government can do about this. Regular road review programs, more number of roads, strict rules and regulations and the likes. I'll start with the driver's license test. It's a joke, a mockery, a sham. This test is a very serious affair in developed countries. Dubai's driver's test is presumed to be the toughest and the most rigorous. I've heard of people flunking the test as many as 20 times. Their test is so trusted that the same license is valid in many other countries. And what happens in our 'Shining' India ? (oh how i hate it when someone calls it that)...You needn't know to drive to get a license, you can use the license to practice 'Live' on the roads along side 'Live' people. That's the value we give to our lives(and to that of our fellow Indians).
I got mine only coz I went through a broker. I barely managed to drive a 4-wheeler for which I was bestowed with a combo license(the 2 cum 4 wheeler one)...a license to kill. But I've decided not to unleash my madness on the roads and be a danger to myself and the society at large.
All this aside, the one thing that the government can't do is to change your mindset. They've given you the road, but its upto you as to how you drive. If you as a driver choose to be illiterate, ignorant of the road rules and not valuing your own life, even Lord Ganesha(whose gonna be immersed soon this month) can't help you out. And for god's sake, don't drink and drive. Develop a road-sense if you don't already have one. Follow the rule whenever, wherever possible. Rules are meant to keep you from succumbing to D.O.R. And if not for your sake, think about the countless other fellow drivers and pedestrians that are likely to get injured coz of your callous driving. Unless you develop this superior-sense, India I'm afraid will never shine.
And before you go buy one N95 mask for the flu, buy yourself a helmet, get your vehicle insured and get it serviced(if need be). And the irritating media will still not take notice, but do your bit by educating your peers about D.O.R. You'll be saving many a lives, I assure you of that.
A small addition...here's a foreigner's view on 'driving in India' - http://www.pixelatedimage.com/blog/2009/08/driving-in-india/
