Man with a purpose

“Even with the disabled youth in our country, the problem is a lack of spirit. However, I am not making a general statement, I am just talking about the few experiences I have had.

“Many such people approach me for jobs. When I ask them what they would like to do, they are clueless. All they want is a telephone booth. If you offer them a small job, they refuse to take it. Their problem is that they want everything on a platter.

“What we need is more people like Baburao Mane, who is disabled yet edits a newspaper meant exclusively for the disabled. The government may make special provisions for them, but it’s the attitude that needs to be changed”.

Do you think these talks will achieve that?
“I know that no Amitabh Bachchans or Rahul Bajajs will emerge from these lectures. But even if we succeed in motivating 10 per cent of those who come here, it will be worth the effort. At least we can show educated people that getting involved in gang wars is not going to help. Through our exhibition, at least 5,000 people now know how they can become self-employed”.

What has been the most important achievement of the Shiv Udyog Sena (SUS)?
“Everything that we have done from Dassera 1996 has been an achievement. I don’t want people to see Jigar 2000 as a political move. Apart from Jigar, I am planning to start self-employment schemes like dairy and goat farming in all the 32 districts of Maharashtra. I will continue to do this even if we are not in power.

“There are people who think this is just a political stunt, that the SUS is a fraud. However, I would like to ask them what have they been doing all these years…”

But how can you expect people to not see this as being politically motivated? After all, you are a politician…
“That’s true. I began my political career at the age of 21. But if so many people can be politicians without doing any work, why can’t I, when I am actually doing so much work?

“I cannot be the kind of politician who views politics as a game of chess. I prefer to play it out in the maidaan. In this day and age, if any politician has to survive, he has to realise that he cannot survive without doing some good work. If you think only of protecting your interests, then who will think of the people? And if you don’t think of them, you are going to be out.”

What is the biggest problem your people-motivated work is planning to focus on?
“I have noticed that in recent times, campaigns have used fear as a factor to scare people into dealing with problems like AIDS, cigarette smoking and the like. But what amazes me is that no one in this country is frightened of the biggest problem before us – overpopulation.

“I am planning to make a public service film on this problem using the same device – fear. It will frighten people, just like AIDS does. The film will be shown in all rural areas so people will begin to think seriously about it.”

But will fear work?
“See, this is what I mean by the `instant’ culture. How can you expect to see the results so quickly? It’s a long process that will take time”.