Reimbursement of Engineering College fees and Reimbursement of Medical expenses under 'Arogyasri' scheme are two important schemes of the Andhra Pradesh Government. Under these schemes White Ration Card holders (BPL families) can aspire for Engineering education free of cost and likewise they can also aspire for superior medical treatment at Corporate hospitals. Very laudable indeed.

But a closer look gives away the real intention and working of these schemes.

It is public knowledge that the number covered by White Ration Cards exceed the populations in several villages and towns and despite threats to weed out bogus cards, newer cards continue to be issued. All political parties are united in their resistance to the weeding out exercise.

The reimbursement is not made to the beneficiary but to the Engineering College or the Corporate Hospital. What fudging takes place no one can say. For example, there have been reports of people in their sixties and seventies enrolling for Engineering degree! There are reports of Corporate hospitals inflicting unnecessary trauma on people by subjecting them to avoidable surgeries.

Government hospitals are inefficient, unhygienic, under staffed, under equipped; all due to lack of funds. But there is plenty of money with government to fill private coffers.

Last year it is estimated that more than eight hundred crores were paid by government to Corporate hospitals under this scheme. Imagine how many Government hospitals could have been set up. Government's action in washing away is hands of the responsibility of health has become a cash cow for private players.

With permissions given indiscriminately for establishment of engineering college in AP, there are hundreds of these without proper infrastructure or faculty and naturally nobody opting to join them. Last year more than 50,000 seats remained unfilled. For these colleges, this reimbursement is a manna from the heavens. With practically no competition, anybody can be enrolled as student and reimbursement availed.

When the government stopped reimbursement as its treasury was empty, all parties without exception agitated till it was restored. Such is the power of these lobbies.

In executing a scheme or a project, the net result appears to be transfer of public money into powerful private hands, may be with a little incidental gain to public. Government instead of abdicating its social responsibility of providing education and health facilities should rethink.

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Agitations & NGOs

It is interesting to learn that the Government has frozen the bank accounts of certain Christian NGOs in connection with the proxy agitation against Koodankulam Atomic Project. This has come to light when certain Bishops came out with statements supporting these NGOs and protesting the freeze.

It may be worth recalling the reports that the prolonged agitation against this project has controllers abroad and funding has been from abroad. It is also puzzling as to why quite a few Christian NGOs with access to foreign funds have their fingers in this particular pie. They are ofcourse protesting their innocence. Full and transparent enquiry should bring out facts.

Law, if allowed, will take its own course. As they will try to trace the source of funding, violation of regulations, private benefitting, if any, security implications, violation of charter of intended activities by the recepients, etc.these aspects will and should come under the scanner.

But from a layman point of view , that the media did not report sooner the involvement of religious NGOs is sinister. This news is tumbling out only while reporting the protests of the Bishops, who term it as an attack on minorities.

Another nugget that has been reported is that US sees Vatican as a possible hub of hawala. The State Department's annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report identifies the Holy See as one of the 68 countries or jurisdictions 'of concern' for money laundering or other financial crimes.

As a secular Republic, India should be concerned about religious outfits dabbling in matters of state. Use of foreign funds, if true, to oppose state policies has security implications. As a democracy we are accustomed and welcome individuals, organizations and institutions fighting government policies but this should not degenerate into licence for foreign vested interests, with unlimited funds at their disposal, to derail our policies and developmental efforts.


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Sand Mining

For thousands of years, sand has been used in construction. Today, demand for sand continues to increase. But excessive exploitation can have disastrous results. This calls for responsible policies from authorities and discipline fromMining operators.

Excessive sand mining causes degradation of rivers, lowers the stream bottom, which will lead to bank erosion. saline-water intrusion from the nearby sea. The effect of mining is compounded by the effect of sea level rising.

It is also a threat to bridges, river banks and nearby structures. Sand mining also affects the adjoining groundwater system and the uses that local people make of the river. It also results in disastrous consequences to eco systems like flora, fauna and water creatures.

Sand mining generates extra vehicle traffic, which negatively impairs the environment. Where access roads cross riparian areas, the local environment may be affected.

Andhra Pradesh is said to be in grip of illegal sand mining. This is over and above the permits issued by authorities at degradation levels. Such illegal mining spawn crimes like corruption, use of muscle power, amassing ill gotten wealth.

Nature has a way of taking revenge, only it is patient. When it strikes, it will be a mortal blow.

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Election Results

Rahul Gandhi has been bested by Akhilesh Yadav. That is some food for thought.

The trend of decimation of so-called national parties by the regional parties is reaching its logical conclusion. Uttarakhand, where Congress and BJP have done some face-saving and Manipur do not have any say in the party or national matters. Less said about Goa is better. 14 governments in 15 years. There only individuals matter not parties. UP and Punjab have decisively voted for regional parties.

Congress and BJP can write their own epitaphs but they will still try to cobble coalitions, with anybody, to keep themselves in business. But in 2014 where are the numbers to come from?

In AP, where Congress kitty is taken for granted, it is unlikely to get a two digit figure. The Congress culture of toadying to the Family and stunting local leadership has effectively sealed its fate. If the likes of Mani Shankar Iyers bank on Priyanka-Rahul-Vadra combine to give them succor, we can only pity them. There is not a single leader in Congress who can honestly and confidently say he can win an election on his own. That will also be blasphemy against the Family.

BJP's fortunes can only take a downward trend watching the way Karnataka is going. The 'Party with Difference' has simply no new takers and some important allies like JD(U) and BJD may abandon it. It is bereft of any ideas nor can it go back to Ram Mandir. It lost Ayodhya seat! It is just stalemate for them. Sushma, who was dazzling some years back, is just a jaded ghost now. It is not age alone. It is the toll taken on her by politics of BJP variety. She was forced to critics CBI and support Jagan and Gali. What a fall!

MMS and Pranab may be good in governance but are poor vote-getters. also they are increasingly seen to defend the indefensible. Honestly they cant stomach the nitty gritty of electoral politics. Nitin Gadhkari may continue to tumble on dais, but just does not project a national aura. Who will then counter regional king-makers like Jayalalitha, Mamta, Mulayam, Jagan, Badal, etc.

Handy allies like Laloo, Paswan, Chandrababu, Soren, Karunanidhi, etc. are all stewing in their own juice. No advantage from them or to them even if they are willing to ally. Communism of all hues has finally been swept out of India too.

Let us wait for 2014 if not even earlier as there is every likelihood of Didi or Maya or MK or Mulayam pulling the rug anytime.

…ponder

Wither Gas

Even as summer is yet to set in in its full vigor, Kakinada and its surrounding areas and the whole of Andhra Pradesh is reeling under power cuts. This area boasts of several gas-based thermal plants which do not have firm gas supplies committed to them. The massive Anil Ambani owned Power Plant at Samalkot is likely o be commissioned soon. It is reported that they are still negotiating gas supplies and hopeful of gas allocation.

The entire activity of exploration, exploitation and extraction of gas is concentrated in this area, Rajahmundry and Kakinada being principal places. The ill effects of this activity is borne by people here. Farmers lose lands; lands get degraded; frequent fire hazards force villagers to evacuate; Fishermen cannot venture with full liberty. But there is no gas for power plants here. I have not seen a single CNG bus here in Kakinada.

They acquired huge amounts of land for a Refinery to be built by ONGC. Now ONGC has backed out. Another corporate firm has entered the field. Like other projects that have gobbled land, when or whether this refinery come up is a riddle.

The state has imposed severe power cuts on industry. Three days a week power holidays! Industrialists, medium and small enterprueners are reduced to agitations and dharnas instead of minding their business. Remember power cuts were lifted only in December.

How did this come about?

At the time of awarding bids why the State's interests were not protected? Why the power plants were allowed to come up when gas supply could not be guaranteed? What sort of planning is this? Why private players are preferred over our Navaratna ONGC? Where all this gas is going? What is its end use?

They say Briitish looted raw materials and never allowed local industries to flourish. What is this?

…ponder

Dwindling vs Swelling

Today's Deccan Chronicle reports on a study which concludes that Britain will not be Christian by 2030 i.e. at a relatively very near future. Christianity is losing more than half a million every year. This loss to Christianity is no gain to other religions as actually the numbers of Atheists and Agnosists are swelling by approximately 7,50,000 every year. No reasons were attributed; atleast in the brief newspaper report.

It is also in news today that the VHP's International President has expressed concern over conversions in Andhra Pradesh especially in six districts where massive conversions from Hinduism is said to be on. He attributed the reason to pumping of money, though social inequalities could also be contributory. How does it matter if one professes this religion or that as long as he is not religious as he is oblivious of universal brotherhood.

The peculiar secularists of India will gloat on both these developments, inconsistent they are. Now juxtaposing the erosion at one place and swelling in another, I wonder what is going on in the minds of Missionaries. If this trend extends further to the other western white nations, on top of their dwindling birth rates, where from will the billions come to save the souls of the dark heathens of Asia and Africa? How long conversions can be sustained if dollars are choked off?

Recently Pope was in news for condemning conceiving through medical assistance. He called it arrogance against God. Now with such sentiments, it is no wonder progressive and thinking people prefer atheism to Christianity in UK and other western nations.

Mao famously called religion, the opium of masses. Lighter vein apart, religions have been tyrannical and now given the threat to their existence, they tend to become paranoid and rigider. This could lead to conflicts than spiritual solace.

…ponder