MP Sachin sets a target for others to trail

MP Sachin sets a target for others to trail

   

Sachin Terndulkar is at the peak of his popularity. For some he is the ‘god of cricket’. He is a master blaster for the media. In love for him the media and his fans give him many names. Recently, he has risen on the horizon of national scene as a nominated Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha. He took oath as MP on June 4.

As the government was looking for a safe and suitable bungalow for him in New Delhi to suite his stature, and there were media reports that he was being made  Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s neighbour, the cricket maestro hit another maiden century in the game of parliamentary sport by refusing  a government bungalow in New Delhi. He found it an unnecessary burden on the people’s exchequer.

“I am not keen on blocking a government bungalow “, said Sachin, “because this would be a waste of taxpayer's money as I reside in Mumbai. It would be better if the bungalow is allotted to someone else who needs it more than me,” the cricketer said in a statement. “I would prefer to stay in a hotel in Delhi at my own expense when I am on official work. For me the honour of being nominated as a Rajya Sabha member matters most,” he said.   (http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3508634.ece}

This gentleman in cricket has hit another century of sorts by setting an example for many to emulate and yearn for. It is true that Sachin has during his long cricket career earned name, fame and riches. At the same time he is a philanthropist extending financial help to many individuals and institutions in many ways.

Sachin Tendulkar has certainly trailed a new path for many of his fellow travellers to follow. He is not the only person in public life rolling in riches. Out of about 800 MPs and more than 3000 MLAs in State assemblies, there are many rich persons having their own commercial and industrial houses which fetch them lakhs and crores monthly as income, In spite of that, all of them continue to crave for more and more pay, perks and privileges at public expense. None has set the example Sachin has done.

True, an overwhelming majority of our public representatives were neither born with silver spoons in their mouth nor were they lucky to earn fabulously rich incomes. Even if there are a hundred or more (or less) such individuals, they need to ponder over the example set by Sachin. The money thus saved could be utilised for projects that could wipe out hunger and want from the less privileged sections of society.