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By:

Asha Tripathi

14 April 2025 at 1:35:28 pm

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along...

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along with growth has come another silent challenge — the tendency to constantly observe, compare, and sometimes even compete with the journeys of others. But a crucial question arises: Is it necessary to track the growth of others in order to grow ourselves? From my personal experience of more than two decades as an entrepreneur, I have realised something very powerful — true growth begins the moment we stop looking sideways and start looking within. A Small Beginning I had a flourishing career of teaching abroad, but when I restarted my career after moving back to India, my beginning was extremely small. My very first assignment was a simple home tuition for a single student, and the amount I earned was meagre. There was nothing glamorous about it. No recognition, no large batches, no big earnings. Just one student and one opportunity. But instead of worrying about how others were doing, how many students they had, or how much they were earning, I made a conscious decision—my only focus would be on improving myself. I focused on teaching better, preparing better, and becoming more disciplined and consistent. And slowly, without even realising it, things began to grow. One student became two, two became a small group, and gradually, over the years, the work expanded beyond what I had initially imagined. Looking back today, I can confidently say that the growth did not happen because I competed with others. It happened because I competed with myself yesterday. Comparison Creates Noise When we keep watching others' journeys too closely, we unknowingly divert our own energy. Comparison creates unnecessary noise in our minds. It brings doubts, insecurities, and sometimes even negativity. Instead of walking our own path with clarity, we start questioning our speed, our direction, and our worth. True success grows through focus, not comparison. Every woman has her own story, her own pace, and her own struggles that others may never see. The path of one person can never be identical to another's. So comparing journeys is like comparing two different rivers flowing towards the same ocean — each with its own route, its own curves, and its own rhythm. As women, we already carry many responsibilities. We balance emotions, relationships, work, and society's expectations. In such a life, the last thing we need is the burden of comparison with one another. Instead, what we truly need is support for each other. When women encourage women, something extraordinary happens. Confidence grows. Opportunities multiply. Strength becomes collective rather than individual. There is enough space in the world for every woman to create her own identity. Each of us can build our own niche without stepping on someone else's path. Choose Encouragement Envy weakens us, but encouragement empowers us. Rather than questioning how someone else is progressing, we can ask a more meaningful question: "How can I grow a little better than I was yesterday?" Lift As You Rise Today, after twenty years of experience, the most valuable lesson I have learned is simple yet profound — focus on your own work with honesty and dedication, and success will quietly follow you. We, women, are capable, resilient, and creative. We do not need to pull each other down or compete in unhealthy ways. Instead, we can lift each other up while building our own dreams. Because when one woman rises, she does not rise alone. She inspires many others to believe that they can rise, too. And perhaps that is the most beautiful form of success. (The writer is a tutor based in Thane. Views personal.)

Kulgaon Badlapur's Abandoned Waste Vehicles Spark Outrage

Badlapur: In a shocking revelation, the Kulgaon Badlapur Municipality has come under fire for purchasing 42 waste collection vehicles in 2018, which have now been deemed unfit for use and are set to be sold as scrap after lying unused for seven years. Despite spending approximately Rs 2.5 crore from taxpayers' money, these vehicles have remained idle, raising questions about accountability and transparency in local governance.


According to a detailed project report prepared for solid waste management, the municipality had identified the need for 42 vehicles to efficiently manage the city's waste. Each vehicle was purchased at a cost of Rs 5,86,990. However, since their arrival in October 2018, the vehicles have been left to gather dust at the municipality's sewage treatment plant, with only a few reportedly used for a short period. Some vehicles have been found abandoned in various locations, including the hills of Rameshwadi Badlapur.


Local representatives had previously opposed the allocation of these vehicles to a waste management contractor, fearing penalties for the contractor if the vehicles were put into service.


This opposition, coupled with a lack of action from the municipality, has resulted in the vehicles being neglected and ultimately rendered useless.


The municipality's history of mismanagement is not new. In a previous incident, a biogas project was reported to have cost millions without producing a single kilogram of biogas. This pattern of financial misappropriation has led to widespread public outrage.


During a recent inspection, our journalists discovered 28 of the 42 waste collection vehicles, with varying conditions.


While some were in relatively good shape, others were missing essential parts like tires and engines.


The Regional Transport Office (RTO) had conducted tests on 31 of these vehicles, yet the municipality has labeled them as "abandoned," raising questions about their future.


The municipality has now put 31 vehicles up for auction, with a fixed price of Rs 50,000 each, despite their differing conditions. This has sparked concerns about potential corruption, as critics question whether the pricing reflects the actual value of the vehicles.


Sanjay Jadhav, Badlapur Congress President, criticized the municipality's handling of the situation, stating that the vehicles were initially intended for waste collection but have been left unused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He accused the municipality of misusing public funds and called for the restoration of the vehicles instead of selling them off. Jadhav warned that if the vehicles are auctioned, the Congress party would organize protests and hunger strikes against the decision.


The ongoing saga of the Kulgaon Badlapur Municipality's waste management vehicles highlights a troubling trend of financial mismanagement and lack of accountability, leaving citizens questioning the integrity of their local government.

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