Construction delays , repeatedly missing deadlines , tonnes of scrap, damp walls , creaking beds, collapsing- leaking structures and withdrawal by athletes. All this only partially defines the sorry state of affairs and preparations for the Commonwealth Games.
The other day I heard Ms. Dixit say to the media that it should not point out and highlight the weakness and shortcomings rather should stress on showing the positive side – the better side of the preparations . I wonder what positivity can she find in spending about one -lakh crore of rupees for all this mess and dilapidated structures ?Its high time Ms.Dixit must accept that the officials who are in-charge of the games are corrupt , slothful, and unconcerned about the country’s image. Now at the eleventh hour they are playing the blame games.
I also heard chairman of the organising committee Mr.Suresh Kalmadi say on 28th August , 2010 that these are going to be the ‘best’ games ever. I had the overwhelming urge to change his speech and replace –‘best’ by ‘worst’.Even if I would have done so it would not have been wrong.Nothing seems to be good about the games.Mr.Kalmadi and other officials allegedly have milked thousands of rupees at every possible point.The commonwealth games upheld as a show of power, unity , and splendour have become another show of corruption, sleaze, chaos and mismanagement. 
Apart from all this the question lingers that how wise was it to spend crores of rupees in a country where the issue of poverty has become a national shame.
While surfing the internet I came across a study by University of Oxford. It measured the levels of education, health and living standards in the world’s poorest countries.This study showed that India continues to be predominantly poor.Infact , there are more poor people in 8 Indian states than in 26 poorest African countries combined. Shame … isn’t it ?
What was the need for having CWG in our country? Who are the ones who will benefit , apart from corrupt officials who took it as a golden opportunity to fill in their never –ending greed for money.So what if the nation’s pride and honour is kept at stake? We cannot even say that these games will put a better image of India infront of the world. What kind of image has been put forward we all know.Its such a shame that athletes are withdrawing their names.They don’t trust us for their security. They fear that they might be attacked or worse may be killed. With the image of a corrupted country, vulnerable to terror attacks, grappling with the problems of Maoists and Kashmir within- what else can an outsider think of? They feel terrified to come and play here. Justified.
With almost 40% of the population below poverty line-Indian economy is still unable to feed a majority of its citizens. Lavish hotels, city-makeover, shimmering and glamorous structures can’t hide shabby slums and cries and pain of millions of hungry stomachs. 
Its high time the government must wake to the problems of its denizens.Look at the havoc that dengue has spread— hospital beds are full and patients are not being admitted, ambulances are not available on time; overflowing Yamuna— due to which several people have been forced to leave their homes and live like refugees. The Jammu and Kashmir deadlock — where the death toll has crossed 104 mark and the entire territory is curfewd since weeks .Isn’t it a part of our country? The present goal should be development of human resources,dealing with poverty and creating a better India— a literate and healthy India.
Its too late that anything can be done about the games or the money spent on it. We will have to wait and watch what the future has in store for is. We can just hope and pray that games begin and end peacefully without bringing further shame to our country. I am keeping my fingers crossed !!
