Open letter to Beni Prasad Verma

Dear Mr Verma,

Some rough statistics for you to chew upon...

• 71 lakhs is enough to fund the buying of 1300 wheelchairs. 
• It is enough to fund 236 cornea transplant surgeries.
•  It can feed over 1 lakh people in India (if Rs 43 can be considered as the per day survival cost of a person living in India). 
• 17 kidney transplants can be done within Rs 71 lakhs. 
• 4 two-storied public toilets can be built with the supposed 'petty' sum of Rs 71,00,000. 
• The sum can avail primary education for over 32,000 students for a year.
•  Rs 71 lakhs is enough for 98000 people to buy a litre of petrol.  
• This money can also be used by 2600 families to supplement their 'non reliable water' connections through installing pumps, water filters, tanks etc.

Mr Verma, the print media may call you 'gaffe' ridden politician, but more than just being the person who utters faux pas, I think you are an insensitive person. In August you said, "With the increasing price levels, the farmers are benefiting. Dal, atta, vegetables have all become expensive. I am happy with this price rise. The more the prices rise the better it is for farmers," somehow I reckon that even farmers did not appreciate this attempt(was it?) at humor? You obviously believe in the phrase of 'aaj ek crore, ek lakh ke barabar hai' (the value of one crore is that of a lakh!) The portfolio you hold (steel industry) has perhaps made you unmindful and oblivious to the way India's poor live. The 'chamchas' who laughed when you made this comment "It (Rs 71 lakhs) is a very small amount for a central minister"  I would have taken it seriously if the amount was Rs 71 crore," also seem to be afflicted with this widespread malaise of insensitivity. Your cronies are equally oblivious to the needs of so many under-privileged Indians, who even today are conscious of the value of every rupee. 

You have conveniently assumed that the general junta has resigned itself to the corrupt ways of each and every government so only the crores matter, but know this Mr Verma, every rupee counts at least to those who have earned their money through honest means.Mr Minister, I hope you understand that embezzlement of any money is a crime. Hope someday you understand that money however petty it may seem to you...(to borrow a phrase from your party member and India PM) money..does not grow on trees...!!

Regards

Concerned Citizen

P.S

May you get well soon...