East Godavari distict of AP is the eye of the storm. Farmers have declared 'Crop Holiday' as stocks from previous harvest are rotting with them unsold and input costs have spiraled uncontrollably. The alternative for them is going in for next crop with loaned capital which may result in more suicides unable to clear debts.
This phenomenon if it spreads contagiously will seriously jeopardize our food security, result in high rural unemployment and affect the industry due to non-lifting of fertilizer/insecticide stock. One good thing could be Holiday to Degradation of Land.
Another spin-off is its effect on temples. All temples are not Tirupati nor Ananta Padmanabha! Most temples depend on the meagre returns from the endowment lands leased out to tenant farmers and voluntary offerings. If farmers are already distressed how can they make offerings. And if 'Crop Holiday' is practiced how will they make the annual agreed payments?
Gods, Priests and the Staff will have to sweat it out along with the farmer. This could also affect the Tourism, Transport and Hospitality sectors.
…ponder
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Son Rise
A report in recent Hindustan times says that in his recent book India: A Portrait, Patrick French points out that all MPs under the age of 30 are hereditary. More than two thirds of 66 MPs under the age of 40 are hereditary. Of women MPs, 69.5% are hereditary. If the present trend continues, the Indian parliament will soon be made up of only hereditary MPs and India will be back to the era of the princelings and their kingdoms.
How true. This is so all-pervasive that this phenomenon cuts across almost all parties big and small; national and regional.
In Mulayam Singh's Samajwadi Party, his brother and sons are not only MPs but call the shots. In TRS, we hear and see only father, son, nephew and daughter. DMK is full of sons, nephews, grand nephews, daughters and what not. TDP was a pocket borough of one NTR till he was literally shoed out by his son-in-law. Now we are waiting with bated breath for the sons' rise - Lokesh and Jr.NTR. Ofcourse Congress is the mother of all nepotism starting with Moti Lal Nehru. The new offshoot of Congress in AP is brazenly hereditary, even in its name. BJP & communists are exempt from this may be because they are in the vice-like grip of humorless bachelors.
Initially people thought that this is due to the name tag as average Indian is still rooted in feudal mindset. Also, in case of deaths, sympathy factor rather than effectiveness works. The networking is ready on a platter.
But there are other reasons as well, the chief being money. Nowadays, elections are very costly affairs and the party generally gives ticket to winnable aspirant who can finance his/her contest. Secondly, in case of death of a sitting member, the family members alone have access to the stashed funds.
Today we see the jaded likes of Sathes pumping for Priyanka Vadra. We can understand their desperation. They always climb on others shoulders and cant win a municipal election on their own. There is also the orchestrated 'desires' like that for Lokesh in Chandragiri. Imagine 'Seniors' like Yerrannaidu and Ramakrishnudu keeping mum over the foisting of the 'son'. They have no option.
Why can't we switch over from de-facto to de-jure by legally doing away with elections and institutionalizing Aristocracy. We can then avoid, costly, corrupt, violent elections with the same results.
…Ponder
How true. This is so all-pervasive that this phenomenon cuts across almost all parties big and small; national and regional.
In Mulayam Singh's Samajwadi Party, his brother and sons are not only MPs but call the shots. In TRS, we hear and see only father, son, nephew and daughter. DMK is full of sons, nephews, grand nephews, daughters and what not. TDP was a pocket borough of one NTR till he was literally shoed out by his son-in-law. Now we are waiting with bated breath for the sons' rise - Lokesh and Jr.NTR. Ofcourse Congress is the mother of all nepotism starting with Moti Lal Nehru. The new offshoot of Congress in AP is brazenly hereditary, even in its name. BJP & communists are exempt from this may be because they are in the vice-like grip of humorless bachelors.
Initially people thought that this is due to the name tag as average Indian is still rooted in feudal mindset. Also, in case of deaths, sympathy factor rather than effectiveness works. The networking is ready on a platter.
But there are other reasons as well, the chief being money. Nowadays, elections are very costly affairs and the party generally gives ticket to winnable aspirant who can finance his/her contest. Secondly, in case of death of a sitting member, the family members alone have access to the stashed funds.
Today we see the jaded likes of Sathes pumping for Priyanka Vadra. We can understand their desperation. They always climb on others shoulders and cant win a municipal election on their own. There is also the orchestrated 'desires' like that for Lokesh in Chandragiri. Imagine 'Seniors' like Yerrannaidu and Ramakrishnudu keeping mum over the foisting of the 'son'. They have no option.
Why can't we switch over from de-facto to de-jure by legally doing away with elections and institutionalizing Aristocracy. We can then avoid, costly, corrupt, violent elections with the same results.
…Ponder
Friday, April 8, 2011
Privatisation
Education and Health are two vital responsibilities that the Government has almost totally abdicated and handed over to private hands who are raking in huge returns both through direct collection from public and through government reimbursements.
Huge amounts of land - both public and private - have been and continue to be compulsorily acquired and bestowed to private players in the name of Industries, SEZs, etc. It is an open secret that only a small percent of the land thus acquired is actually put to the legitimate use but get diverted to the booming realty sector or simply left undeveloped for the rates to increase.
Likewise, minerals are also dished out to private players, who export the raw mineral than put it to end use within the country as professed.
Now water resources are also slowly being handed over to private parties who are poised to make a giant killing. Huge lakes, canals, minor water bodies have been legally and illegally filled in and diverted to realty. Now private parties are being allowed to overexploit the ground water resources to the detriment of common people who depend on wells for irrigation and domestic consumption.
Many villages do not get potable water from respective local bodies but in their midst private parties are being allowed to pump out thousands of litres of water for being supplied to hotels, ships, etc.
With the present trend, it may not be long before we are forced to pay private parties for having windows in our houses as the air we breathe may be privatized.
Since less governance is better governance, the government may be thinking of confining itself solely to decide who will own the nature's gifts.
…ponder
Huge amounts of land - both public and private - have been and continue to be compulsorily acquired and bestowed to private players in the name of Industries, SEZs, etc. It is an open secret that only a small percent of the land thus acquired is actually put to the legitimate use but get diverted to the booming realty sector or simply left undeveloped for the rates to increase.
Likewise, minerals are also dished out to private players, who export the raw mineral than put it to end use within the country as professed.
Now water resources are also slowly being handed over to private parties who are poised to make a giant killing. Huge lakes, canals, minor water bodies have been legally and illegally filled in and diverted to realty. Now private parties are being allowed to overexploit the ground water resources to the detriment of common people who depend on wells for irrigation and domestic consumption.
Many villages do not get potable water from respective local bodies but in their midst private parties are being allowed to pump out thousands of litres of water for being supplied to hotels, ships, etc.
With the present trend, it may not be long before we are forced to pay private parties for having windows in our houses as the air we breathe may be privatized.
Since less governance is better governance, the government may be thinking of confining itself solely to decide who will own the nature's gifts.
…ponder
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Govt Lok Pal vs People Lok Pal
It started in one ancient civilization, Egypt; engulfed quite a few African and West Asian countries and has now touched another ancient civilization, India. It is the whirlwind of spontaneous and popular uprising against venality and corruption cynically and systematically indulged by those who have given themselves the power to rule either through gun or sleight of ballot. Mercifully for India, the cudgels have been taken by a diminutive Gandhian in a Gandhian way unlike in other affected countries where guns are booming.
People of India are at their tether's end. Scam after scam is surfacing and what is dished out is glib talk and confusion. Take for example the issue of appointment of CVC, 2G scandal, and so on.
The first Lokpal Bill was passed in the 4th Lok Sabha in 1969 but could not get through in Rajya Sabha. Subsequently, Lokpal bills were introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and in 2008, yet they were never passed.
The present standoff between Anna Hazre and the Government is due to difference in perceptions on the body's constitution, its role and powers and more importantly about the composition of the re-drafting panel and its legal and binding status.
If the draft Bill prepared by the government becomes the law of the land, the Lokpal can’t punish a corrupt public servant but can send a person to jail for making a frivolous complaint. Activists want this provision to go and instead suggested imposition of fine to check frivolous complaints.
According to the draft bill, the Lokpal cannot act on its own or on a public complaint and can only receive complaints referred by LS Speaker or Rajya Sabha chairman.
Lokpal, after inquiry, will forward report to competent authority that can decide not to act on recommendations. Under the draft bill, Lokpal does not have powers of police to register FIR. Prosecution would be pursued by existing agency such as CBI.
Lokpal will have jurisdiction only on MPs, ministers and PM. It will not have jurisdiction over officers. The activists want it to include even judges.
Another controversy is around the composition of the body. The government draft proposes Lokpal to be three-member body — all retired judges. The selection panel is proposed to comprise Vice-President, PM, Leaders of both houses, Leaders of opposition in both Houses, law minister and home minister, thus not only loading heavily in favor of ruling clique, but also making it a cent percent political animal. But activists want CEC, CAG and international awardees of Indian origin to be on the panel.
The draft does not deal with corruption of bureaucrats and the Lokpal would not have powers to redress grievances. It does not incorporate mechanism to redress public grievance.
In the draft bill there is no provision to seize ill-gotten wealth. A corrupt person can come out of jail and enjoy that money. A limit of six months to one year has been prescribed for Lokpal to probe. But there is no time limit for completion of trial.
Anna Hazare has refused to budge and asked people to fill jails. With more and more citizens coming out against government, this is likely to snow ball. Let us hope unemployed politicians will not hijack the movement and whatever may be the outcome, things will remain on the peaceful Gandhian path.
...ponder
People of India are at their tether's end. Scam after scam is surfacing and what is dished out is glib talk and confusion. Take for example the issue of appointment of CVC, 2G scandal, and so on.
The first Lokpal Bill was passed in the 4th Lok Sabha in 1969 but could not get through in Rajya Sabha. Subsequently, Lokpal bills were introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and in 2008, yet they were never passed.
The present standoff between Anna Hazre and the Government is due to difference in perceptions on the body's constitution, its role and powers and more importantly about the composition of the re-drafting panel and its legal and binding status.
If the draft Bill prepared by the government becomes the law of the land, the Lokpal can’t punish a corrupt public servant but can send a person to jail for making a frivolous complaint. Activists want this provision to go and instead suggested imposition of fine to check frivolous complaints.
According to the draft bill, the Lokpal cannot act on its own or on a public complaint and can only receive complaints referred by LS Speaker or Rajya Sabha chairman.
Lokpal, after inquiry, will forward report to competent authority that can decide not to act on recommendations. Under the draft bill, Lokpal does not have powers of police to register FIR. Prosecution would be pursued by existing agency such as CBI.
Lokpal will have jurisdiction only on MPs, ministers and PM. It will not have jurisdiction over officers. The activists want it to include even judges.
Another controversy is around the composition of the body. The government draft proposes Lokpal to be three-member body — all retired judges. The selection panel is proposed to comprise Vice-President, PM, Leaders of both houses, Leaders of opposition in both Houses, law minister and home minister, thus not only loading heavily in favor of ruling clique, but also making it a cent percent political animal. But activists want CEC, CAG and international awardees of Indian origin to be on the panel.
The draft does not deal with corruption of bureaucrats and the Lokpal would not have powers to redress grievances. It does not incorporate mechanism to redress public grievance.
In the draft bill there is no provision to seize ill-gotten wealth. A corrupt person can come out of jail and enjoy that money. A limit of six months to one year has been prescribed for Lokpal to probe. But there is no time limit for completion of trial.
Anna Hazare has refused to budge and asked people to fill jails. With more and more citizens coming out against government, this is likely to snow ball. Let us hope unemployed politicians will not hijack the movement and whatever may be the outcome, things will remain on the peaceful Gandhian path.
...ponder
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Girl child
The sex ratio of India, according to the Census Commissioner, is 933 females to 1000 males for whole India and 946 for rural India and 900 for urban India. Urban areas, with their better health facilities and awareness, cull female children at a more ruthless rate.
The other bad news is that the phenomenon of female foeticide, which was mainly confined to North and North-West is now prevalent all over the country. But, this comes with the rider that import of brides from Bihar, Kerala, North-East, West Bengal into North and North-West is now difficult due to paucity of females there too.
The spinoff is that girls are calling the shots in the matrimonial market and have become very choosy. In the software sector, where girls are neck to neck with boys, it is usual now to see boys' and their parents making rounds to find suitable alliances. Another interesting fallout is, girls calling off alliances at the eleventh hour in the supreme confidence that they will find a better partner.
Though education and employment opportunities have vastly empowered the girl child, the mind-set of the previous generation is changing but slowly. If the society can deliver a more secure environ for the females, things will improve faster. Secondly, the Hindu society in particular and all in general, should somehow reform and re-jig to meet all eventualities in a son-less set-up. Apart from harsh realities, spiritual needs also have to be modified in this context. Religious leaders should take the lead in giving girls equal role in matters spiritual and customary (like performing funeral) to change the mind set.
Girls have demolished many a male bastion. But they have to penetrate into many more areas like employment where due to age old taboos certain professions are denied to them like Priesthood. There aren't any female barbers. Brahmakumaris have shown that they can organize better and give succor better. Maharashtra boasts of female purohits. It is good to see more females as software specialists, engineers, doctors, administrators, etc. But more females as priests, conductors, gas station attendants, barbers, police, petty enterprueners, etc will also change the mindset of the society.
Let us hope we will have a society which is not only safe for existing females but to those unborn females too.
…ponder
The other bad news is that the phenomenon of female foeticide, which was mainly confined to North and North-West is now prevalent all over the country. But, this comes with the rider that import of brides from Bihar, Kerala, North-East, West Bengal into North and North-West is now difficult due to paucity of females there too.
The spinoff is that girls are calling the shots in the matrimonial market and have become very choosy. In the software sector, where girls are neck to neck with boys, it is usual now to see boys' and their parents making rounds to find suitable alliances. Another interesting fallout is, girls calling off alliances at the eleventh hour in the supreme confidence that they will find a better partner.
Though education and employment opportunities have vastly empowered the girl child, the mind-set of the previous generation is changing but slowly. If the society can deliver a more secure environ for the females, things will improve faster. Secondly, the Hindu society in particular and all in general, should somehow reform and re-jig to meet all eventualities in a son-less set-up. Apart from harsh realities, spiritual needs also have to be modified in this context. Religious leaders should take the lead in giving girls equal role in matters spiritual and customary (like performing funeral) to change the mind set.
Girls have demolished many a male bastion. But they have to penetrate into many more areas like employment where due to age old taboos certain professions are denied to them like Priesthood. There aren't any female barbers. Brahmakumaris have shown that they can organize better and give succor better. Maharashtra boasts of female purohits. It is good to see more females as software specialists, engineers, doctors, administrators, etc. But more females as priests, conductors, gas station attendants, barbers, police, petty enterprueners, etc will also change the mindset of the society.
Let us hope we will have a society which is not only safe for existing females but to those unborn females too.
…ponder
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Orphans All
Andhra politicians have the knack of becoming orphans. This happens while in power, or after, or even in death.
See the case of P.V.Narasimha Rao. A person who ruled the country wisely through wily means for five years (without the blessings of the dynasty) was given an unceremonious funeral after force-shifting of the body and his belongings thrown out of the official accommodation soon after. Nobody remembers him on his birth or death anniversary.
,
Let us see the fate of N.T. Rama Rao, who was thrown out of power by Indira Gandhi only to have her hand cuffed and experience the mortification of his triumphant return to power, was thrown out again by none other than his son-inn-law and man-Friday, Chandra Babu Naidu. The package included the 'footwear' treatment. He had to sulk in the company of his new bride Lakshmi Parvati and only after his death his statues get an occasional garland.
Lakshmi Parvati's taps went dry with NTR's downfall and his subsequent death made her an irrelevant politician only to be used by media for occasional abusing of Chandra Babu Naidu.
Now see the great mass leader Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. His is a peculiar predicament. Whether his legacy belongs to Congress or YSR Congress (Jagan) or falling between two stools. (Psst.. Was he bumped off only to market his fibre glass statues manufactured in China?).
Rosiah was a born orphan. Nobody shed any tears on his return to oblivion.
The quickest journey to orphanage is that of Chiranjeevi. He and his assorted brothers-in-law, etc will be under the care of his foster mother at Delhi.
There are other 'seniors' like Vekataswamy (aspiring for the President's post), ex-CM Janardhan Reddy, etc whom we don't see any more and whose nuisance value has also been choked off.
…ponder
See the case of P.V.Narasimha Rao. A person who ruled the country wisely through wily means for five years (without the blessings of the dynasty) was given an unceremonious funeral after force-shifting of the body and his belongings thrown out of the official accommodation soon after. Nobody remembers him on his birth or death anniversary.
,
Let us see the fate of N.T. Rama Rao, who was thrown out of power by Indira Gandhi only to have her hand cuffed and experience the mortification of his triumphant return to power, was thrown out again by none other than his son-inn-law and man-Friday, Chandra Babu Naidu. The package included the 'footwear' treatment. He had to sulk in the company of his new bride Lakshmi Parvati and only after his death his statues get an occasional garland.
Lakshmi Parvati's taps went dry with NTR's downfall and his subsequent death made her an irrelevant politician only to be used by media for occasional abusing of Chandra Babu Naidu.
Now see the great mass leader Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. His is a peculiar predicament. Whether his legacy belongs to Congress or YSR Congress (Jagan) or falling between two stools. (Psst.. Was he bumped off only to market his fibre glass statues manufactured in China?).
Rosiah was a born orphan. Nobody shed any tears on his return to oblivion.
The quickest journey to orphanage is that of Chiranjeevi. He and his assorted brothers-in-law, etc will be under the care of his foster mother at Delhi.
There are other 'seniors' like Vekataswamy (aspiring for the President's post), ex-CM Janardhan Reddy, etc whom we don't see any more and whose nuisance value has also been choked off.
…ponder
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Land & Water
Israel, the tiny nation with just 70 lakh population and 400 km long and 120 km wide land is a vibrant economy despite a poor annual rainfall of 550 cm. But the nation's economy thrives on agriculture and horticulture exports and is a highly developed country with the state of the art technology adopted in all sectors including Agriculture. Water is the most precious commodity and is used judiciously by farmers and others. The government itself would determine the quantum of water required for an agricultural or horticultural farm and supply the same. Filthy and used water was treated and reused for farming purpose and not for human consumption.
Land in Israel is owned totally by the government and is allotted as per requirement on a lease basis.
On a recent visit to US, I have come to understand that in this country, nobody is permitted to have a borewell, even on his own land/house, and water is available only through public distribution system. Land use is also subject to stringent scrutiny and regulations and the pristine beauty of nature is painstakingly preserved even while development takes place. Urban forestry, natural parks, massive green cover on either sides of the highways are regular features. While driving through the heart of the town of Auburn, we used to come across several animals like deer, ant-eaters, wild cats, etc. The changing colors of the foliage during fall was a sight to behold.
Just compare this with the conditions in India. Indiscriminate shrinkage of forest cover. Vanishing water bodies, old canals and drains. Quarrying at will. Whole hillocks have vanished. Sand mining at will. People bore wells to great depths depriving water to less privileged neighbors. Private players raking in money due to water woes. In a small village called Kumarapuram In Pithapuram Mandal of East Godavari District of Andhra, a huge and majestic pond called Jaggaih Cheruvu has been converted for housing and the only other source of irrigation, Thammiah Cheruvu is proposed to be taken over for water supply to Pithapuram Town. What will happen to farming in this village and to those hundreds depending on farming is anybody's guess.
Why our Governments permit such indiscriminate exploitation of land, water, hills, rivers for private profit makers like realtors, industry, business interests knowing fully well that we are tampering with nature only to deprive the well being of future generations for today's profit is depressing to ponder. Not only Governments are permitting this but they are themselves indulging in this vandalism on a massive scale.
Ever since Independence, people like Nehru, who could influence the policy and had the mandate to implement good governance and bring about change for the good , had been visiting counties like US and must have seen with their own eyes the benevolent and eco-friendly policies and practices there but allowed things to drift towards disaster in India. Was this not to prevent rocking the electoral boat by stepping on the feudal interests who have captured most of the posts in elected bodies and decided policies solely aimed at their continued hold on land and water resources? We amended our constitution to insert the the word 'Socialist' and US is a self-confessed Capitalistic country. What an irony?
…ponder
Land in Israel is owned totally by the government and is allotted as per requirement on a lease basis.
On a recent visit to US, I have come to understand that in this country, nobody is permitted to have a borewell, even on his own land/house, and water is available only through public distribution system. Land use is also subject to stringent scrutiny and regulations and the pristine beauty of nature is painstakingly preserved even while development takes place. Urban forestry, natural parks, massive green cover on either sides of the highways are regular features. While driving through the heart of the town of Auburn, we used to come across several animals like deer, ant-eaters, wild cats, etc. The changing colors of the foliage during fall was a sight to behold.
Just compare this with the conditions in India. Indiscriminate shrinkage of forest cover. Vanishing water bodies, old canals and drains. Quarrying at will. Whole hillocks have vanished. Sand mining at will. People bore wells to great depths depriving water to less privileged neighbors. Private players raking in money due to water woes. In a small village called Kumarapuram In Pithapuram Mandal of East Godavari District of Andhra, a huge and majestic pond called Jaggaih Cheruvu has been converted for housing and the only other source of irrigation, Thammiah Cheruvu is proposed to be taken over for water supply to Pithapuram Town. What will happen to farming in this village and to those hundreds depending on farming is anybody's guess.
Why our Governments permit such indiscriminate exploitation of land, water, hills, rivers for private profit makers like realtors, industry, business interests knowing fully well that we are tampering with nature only to deprive the well being of future generations for today's profit is depressing to ponder. Not only Governments are permitting this but they are themselves indulging in this vandalism on a massive scale.
Ever since Independence, people like Nehru, who could influence the policy and had the mandate to implement good governance and bring about change for the good , had been visiting counties like US and must have seen with their own eyes the benevolent and eco-friendly policies and practices there but allowed things to drift towards disaster in India. Was this not to prevent rocking the electoral boat by stepping on the feudal interests who have captured most of the posts in elected bodies and decided policies solely aimed at their continued hold on land and water resources? We amended our constitution to insert the the word 'Socialist' and US is a self-confessed Capitalistic country. What an irony?
…ponder
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)