Saturday, August 18, 2012

Leprosy upgraded

Sometimes disclaimers come at the end of an essay, in nanoscale and most times delayed. But I am starting off this post with one, and that too highlighted and in bold.
This is a post about a recent judgment handed down against a civil servant who misappropriated funds directed towards leprosy eradication more than twenty years ago [1]. I am interested in the judgment because of its implications to society. It is in the context of potential downgrade in property values due to the judgment I have titled this post as an upgrade of a debilitating condition. I mean no insults to fellow humans who suffer from leprosy.


From my perspective, the interesting part of the judgment is that it directed/ordered that the properties amassed illegally by the guilty be “used for running asylum for leprosy patients.” That is a good judgment.
Thinking further and upon identifying that these properties included two flats in Qutab Enclave Complex in Gurgaon and Chittaranjan Park in South Delhi, some curious thoughts arose in my mind. The first location sounds quite elite, with the word “Enclave” bringing to mind so-called Gated Communities. Even Chittaranjan Park is not all that down market, though there may be such pockets. The guilty, however, would not have purchased a flat in such pockets, we can rest assured.
Now imagine having an “asylum for leprosy patients” at these addresses. What happens to your property next door, or even in the complex / neighborhood? If it were the US, the value sinks (This ostensibly added to the justifications for the segregation of neighborhoods and discrimination in housing). We are following the US every which way and why not in this also? Then, what will be your reaction to the judgment?
Do you say that your house is far from the Qutab Enclave Complex and Chittaranjan Park? Do not feel too comfortable. How do you know some neighbor of yours did not gain illegally from some fund transfer, if not for leprosy, then how about HIV/AIDS? It is you who have beaten your breast about corruption, mostly from a distance, and now you may find that it is right next door and it has started having a telling effect on you and your pockets. How do you respond? How many diseases and other ills of society that agencies are donating to set right, or at least make better, are there? At least that many neighborhoods – in reality, large multiples of it, if what you say about corruption is anywhere near true – will be afflicted of this disease, of corruption, and yours is highly likely to be one of them.
Watch out – asylum for someone or the other is right now popping up right beside your house.
Oh, you have one safety valve. Upgrade the disease and your property values will be secure.
Raghuram Ekambaram
References
1.    A bitter dose for doctor who ate up patient’s funds, Jiby Kattakayam. The Hindu, August 18, 2012
  

8 comments:

Tomichan Matheikal said...

Ha ha... I like to say that my home (which is staff quarters of a school) is near to Mother Teresa's Home for the mentally disabled! But no chance of selling anything anyway...!

mandakolathur said...

Matheikal, but that was not government (judiciary) mandated occupation! That is the sole reason you escape.

Anyways, what about the points of arguments? We do not have such a system when property values go down because of who your neighbor is. Our system of segregation is much too stern for that to happen, which the recent judgment will try to stretch and break.

And, I hope that happens.

RE

Tomichan Matheikal said...

No, Raghuram, seriously speaking, I won't argue on this issue simply because land has become the only valuable thing today. Even gold is losing out in the market including the mafia market. A few people are taking over the land available on this planet. They play various games in the name of environment, business, techonology, science... They are cheating us, the ordinary people who want to live, LIVE. I am a big fool in this world. Just like most people. What argument can I give?

mandakolathur said...

Matheikal, I was talking about the points of arguments, some explicit and others implicit, in the post. My focus is on the individual's reaction should such a thing came to pass to affect him or her. You know enough societies that have trouble renting out (remember, renting out and not selling) to the so-called "others", of different stripes. And, "lepers" is one of those different stripes.

One could have written a rant on the article from the viewpoint of the currently hot issue, corruption. But, I chose to discuss something different, something hidden.

RE

Aditi said...

Value of property goes down in India as well, e.g. any property bang opposite a plot which gets identified for 'economically weaker section' loses premium.I would imagine if what the Court prescribed were really to be put into practice, neighbours could protest too. Best would be to allow auctioning of these properties and use the proceeds for a dedicated purpose of rehabilitation of leprosy patients.

mandakolathur said...

As usual Aditi, I learn a lot from your comments and my inchoate thoughts get nurtured.

If there indeed is a correlation between property prices and movements in the neighborhood, I now understand that it cuts both ways.I know that when a metro line - preferably underground at huge costs to the exchequer - passes nearby, property prices show some uptick; whether the residents along the corridor will use the metro is a moot question. But your comment taught me that neighborhood sapping initiatives such as the one you mentioned also have such effects.

Your suggestion is fantastic. Why did the judge not think of that? Search me.

RE

dsampath said...

I like the judgement..the doc obviously did not have political muscle.otherwise he would have gone Scot free.

mandakolathur said...

Thanks DS sir ... I do feel slightly uncomfortable when the judgment seems to overreach.

RE