Gurnaaz Kaur
While the clamour around elections has finally ended, the real work is yet to begin. We’ve heard promises, such as development, progress, clean governance, employment, education, economic growth and what not, by every party. Whether these are empty talks or real agendas, only time will tell. As citizens eagerly wait to see some change at the grassroots level, we catch up with celebrities to know their expectations from the new government.
Health is wealth
Irrespective of which party wins, Yuvraj Hans, Punjabi singer and actor, is clear that there is a need to prioritise healthcare facilities in India. Just insurance worth Rs five lakh to the poorest families is not enough, especially when the infrastructure is not up to the mark. “I want the government to bring public hospitals on par with private hospitals. I’ve been to villages and I can’t describe the plight of dispensaries and hospitals there. It’s but natural that people will opt for private clinics, hospitals and there Rs 5 lakh will not be enough.”
Educated thought
Model and actor Prince Narula thinks education sector needs revamping. “Education should be free and it should lead to employment. Ultimately, I want poverty to end.” He thinks the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan has a long way to go. “Yes, the washrooms are getting made, but the speed needs to pick up.” Women security, too, Price feels, should be high on the agenda.
Job security
Punjabi star Ammy Virk feels strongly for farmers and entertainment industry. “People in the villages should be provided with job opportunity. They can no longer manage a living with just agriculture. Another thing that should be looked into is the exorbitant taxes film industry pays. As it is, a lot of money and effort goes into making movies, and on top of that we have to pay so many entertainment taxes. At least films that have a good message, those which are made in public interest, should be exempted from taxes.”
His Muklawa co-star Sonam Bajwa too has a point to make on tax money not being utilised well. “Government takes taxes from us for the betterment of our social and economic framework, so when I see broken roads, it hurts. If we were getting good medical coverage and other such prime facilities, then paying taxes won’t pinch. I just hope the new government values our hard-earned money and makes provisions for farmers, senior citizens and even common man.”
Unity in diversity
Assamese beauty, actress Dipannita Sharma has a wish-list that’s straight from the heart. “I hope and wish that our new government works towards uniting the country and not dividing it. I hope politics isn’t going to be played by making religion a weapon; that’s very wrong. The new government should create respect for all kinds of people to live in India, to visit India. I hope the world sees India as a wonderful superpower.”
Work selflessly
For actor Sonu Sood, what matters is the leader. “We need someone who can bring the long-pending change in our country. Not just false promises, not just to stay in power, but someone who works selflessly to bridge the gap between the rich and poor. Education is one thing which really needs to be worked upon. When you travel to small towns and villages, you see people are uneducated, which I feel is the reason of growing crime rate.”
Small screen, big vision
TV’s popular face Arjun Bijlani says, “I want the new government to create more employment opportunities and do something for the traffic situation in metros before it is too late.” Actress Tinaa Datta wants women rights and safety to be on top of the list. “New government should ensure women safety and punishment for rapists should be death.”
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/30LlTb8
via Today’s News Headlines
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