ONE OF THE FALLOUTS OF THIS CONTINUED INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS IS THAT THERE IS OFTEN A LACK OF SPACE IN THE CITY ESPECIALLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF RESIDENCE; WHILE THE PEOPLE WHO MANAGE WELL PAYING JOBS GENERALLY MANAGE TO ACQUIRE REASONABLY COMFORTABLE LIVING QUARTERS, A LARGE PORTION OF THE NOT SO WELL TO DO HAVE TO CONTEND WITH VERY MODEST FORMS OF ACCOMMODATION WITH OFTEN MANY PEOPLE BEING CRAMPED IN SMALL HUTMENTS. FURTHER MANY PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO STAY IN THE FARAWAY SUBURBS SO AS TO ESCAPE THE EXHORBITANT STANDARDS OF LIVING ASSOCIATED WITH LIVING WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, AND THIS MEANS THAT THEY OFTEN HAVE TO COMMUTE LONG DISTANCES EVERY DAY TO COME TO WORK. THIS MEANS GREATER CONGESTION IN THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS. EVEN PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO TRAVEL BY CARS FIND THEMSELVES CAUGHT IN TRAFFIC SNARLS BROUGHT UPON BY INCREASED NUMBERS OF VEHICLES ON THE ROAD NOT BEING SUPPORTED BY A CORRESPONDING AVAILABILITY OF GOOD ROADS.
IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE NOTE THAT DESPITE THESE PROBLEMS THERE IS A GREAT INFLUX OF BUSINESS INTERESTS IN THE CITY; MORE BUSINESS LEADS TO MORE OPPORTUNITIES. MORE OPPORTUNITIES LEAD TO MORE COMPETITION AS MORE PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO THE PROSPECTS OF PROSPERING HERE.
IT IS PERHAPS ON ACCOUNT OF THESE PRESSURES THAT IT HAS BEEN OBSERVED OF LATE THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME IN MUMBAI. WHILE PREVIOUSLY ONE USED TO COME ACROSS SPORADIC EXAMPLES OF CRIME IN THE NEWSPAPERS, TODAY, THE ELECTRONIC AND PRINT MEDIA ARE RIFE WITH REPORTS OF VARIOUS CRIMES IN THE CITY. WHAT IS ASTONISHING IS NOT THAT THERE IS INCREASED CRIME IN THE CITY, BUT THE FACT THAT THEY SEEM TO BE TRIGGERD OFF BY THE FLIMSIEST OF REASONS AND THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE SPARED BY THIS MENACE; CONSIDER AN EXAMPLE: A MAN IS GETTING HIS HOUSE REFURBISHED , HIS NEIGHBOUR IS SO ENRAGED BY THE DUST GENERATED THAT HE ATTACKS THE FORMER WITH A KITCHEN KNIFE AND THIS LEADS TO HIS DEATH! OR TAKE THE CASE OF A MAN SLITTING THE THROAT OF THE OBJECT OF HIS AMOROUS ADVANCES JUST BECAUSE HE DID NOT GET A FAVOURABLE RESPONSE FROM HER. A MORE GRUESOME TALE IS OF A TWO MONTH OLD INFANT BEING RAPED AND KILLED, OR WHERE A 78 YEAR OLD LADY LIVING ALONE HAS BEEN VICIOUSLY ATTACKED AND MURDERED. EVEN YOUNG CHILDREN DO NOT HESITATE TO ATTACK AND INJURE OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO EXTRACT MONEY FOR THEIR LATEST ADDICTIONS LIKE DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.
WHAT IS SCARY IS NOT THAT THERE IS AN INCREASED INCIDENCE IN CRIME IN MUMBAI BUT THAT THESE ARE OCCURRENCES ARE BEING TRIGGERED OFF BY THE FLIMSIEST OF REASONS. IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT IF THE PERPETRATOR WERE TO JUST REFLECT ON HIS BEHAVIOUR, HE COULD HAVE AVERTED THE COMMISSION OF THE CRIME. IT IS APPARENT THAT PEOPLE IN MUMBAI ARE UNDER TREMENDOUS STRESS BROUGHT ABOUT BY DEMANDING DEADLINES AND FIERCE COMPETITION BEING FED BY THE CONCEPT OF “ THE WINNER TAKES ALL “WHICH ALL TOO OFTEN LEADS TO THE EROSION OF VALUES, WHEREBY CLICHED VIRTUES OF PATIENCE, CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS, NONVIOLENCE, COURTESY AND THE LIKE ARE COMPROMISED WITH.
THE NEED OF THE HOUR THEREFORE, IS FOR THE PEOPLE OF MUMBAI TO LEARN TO SLOW DOWN A BIT, PARTICIPATE IN SOME STRESS REDUCING ACTIVITIES, TURN A LITTLE REFLECTIVE AND DEVELOP SOME PATIENCE AS THEY GO ABOUT THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES. THIS WILL DEFINITELY HELP TO BRING DOWN THE INSTANCESA OF CRIME BEING COMMITTED, MAKING MUMBAI THE EL DORADO THAT SO MANY STARSTRUCK IMMIGRANTS IMAGINE IT TO BE.
(please change them into cursive letters).
