Our permanent PM-in-Waiting is planning to go on a Rath Yatra again. One discerning Reporter asked him whether he will cover Bellary too. The would-be Yatri parried this jibe as a 'suggestion'.
I have two suggestions to make. He should abdicate this onerous responsibility in favor of more vocal and more glamorous Leader of Opposition. Secondly, the Yatra could be confined to Andhra and Karnataka states, where a 'mine' of issues are available.
Andhra and Karnataka also boast of a 'wealth' of logistics and resources which can be at the disposal of the Yatri, Golden thrones, golden serving dishes, white houses and what not. Traditionally Reddys are large hearted and gracious hosts.
There will be no spoil-sport Chief Ministers here to abort the Yatra. In fact both the CMs will not be able to act as there is no border between these two states having been 'mined' out. They will think that it is the other one's jurisdiction. There will be no law and order problem too as people care little for Yatra here.
The Yatra's theme could be expanded to cover fight against CBI, Lok Pal as envisaged by 'Civil' Society vis-a-vis the enlightened vision of our squeaky clean politicians too. CAG is another irritant of late. It is worth exploring doing away with CAG as JPC and PAC are there doing a good job harmoniously. The Yatra may focus on this aspect too.
With Institutions and 'non-state-players' hogging the limelight, politicians desperately need some 'show'. The focus on 'stars-behind-bars' needs diversion. There will be a rare unanimity now. Grasp the opportunity Mr.PM-in-waiting.
…ponder
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Silence is not Golden
Chandra Babu Naidu is busy with issues lke Crop Holiday and Anti-Corruption movement of Anna Hazare. It is another matter that hundreds of farmers committed suicide during his regime and his party had opposed the suggestion of making Hazare, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee.
But it is his deafening silence on other burning issues like Telangana Movement, CBI enquiry against Jagan and deletion of Clause 14(f) of Presidential Order that calls for one's attention.
Poor man is scared of local media. Only a few contrived photo-ops for him to continue in news without actually saying anything significant on burning topics. Also he keeps himself busy with 'discussions' with other unemployed persons from has been-parties like SP, CPM, CPI, LJD, etc. He shies away from touring Telangana region despite the Black Cat protection. This so called CEO says he will not harass government employees in future.
All the leading Andhra politicians have taken a definite stand on the future of AP one way or the other except Naidu. His party says that Congress should reveal its mind first. Congress revealed its mind by Chidambaram's Dec 9 statement.
Recent media polls indicate that TDP stands to get a mere 20% in coastal Andhra if elections are held now. TRS is poised to sweep Telangana area. A third consecutive defeat could wipe out his staying power any more. Two TDP MLAs have also joined Jagan camp till now.
One question begs answer. If the TDP, on its launch by NTR, had also flopped like the PRP, in which party will Naidu be now? Remember Naidu was a junior minister in Congress government and did not join TDP on its inception but after NTR was swept into power, he joined TDP 6 months later.
ponder...
Temples in Distress
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
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)