tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49382514005062552712024-03-29T08:59:32.596+05:30eIndia2007shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-82483794833453332652011-06-17T23:10:00.014+05:302011-06-21T22:56:24.997+05:30India’s tryst with Land Acquisition legislation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlk1TjGaDvSWeCIJsgfMgEBaeXqcHLFlyoGaao20oFZ3xZUI04a4yLzv0Y1oZyMKr2XenUG5nhKVb0JjJOSF2_0LG5_ff-oHUubqZMRELoZvmN-7vn_jfqATxE25eJmKNbX9wiNScGiY/s1600/dongria-kondh-tribe.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlk1TjGaDvSWeCIJsgfMgEBaeXqcHLFlyoGaao20oFZ3xZUI04a4yLzv0Y1oZyMKr2XenUG5nhKVb0JjJOSF2_0LG5_ff-oHUubqZMRELoZvmN-7vn_jfqATxE25eJmKNbX9wiNScGiY/s400/dongria-kondh-tribe.jpg" alt="" 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mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Farmers need soil to grow crops. Soil is available when land is present and if land is snatched away, growing crops would be next to impossible. Thus, access to land guarantees food production and it also helps in ensuring livelihood security of tillers, farmers and peasants. However, economics is about trade-offs. Given that land to man ratio is relatively low in our country, an economist would argue, it would be rational if available scarce land is put to best possible use that guarantees better return than agriculture. In order to sustain high economic growth, land is needed to make highways, IT plus knowledge parks, SEZs, factories, dams, roads, irrigation canals, nuclear reactors. It is also true that value of land gets higher if it is developed well, is located near a town or city, when access to road, port or railways is easier from such a piece of land and water and electricity are available in the vicinity. A better quality of land would fetch a higher price to a land owner.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">We are observing a trend recently when agricultural land is being converted for industrial purposes. There are success stories that tell us that farmers have become millionaires and bought land rovers by simply selling their ancestral land directly to corporates or builders. Other examples of land acquisition by the State for public purpose show that farmers’ agitations against forcible grabbing have been ruthlessly suppressed using police might, be it Singur, Nandigram, Niyamgiri, Kalinganagar, Jagatsinghpur, Jaitapur or Bhatta-Parsaul.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;">Suggestions for Compensation</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Land is a symbol of social status and it has an emotional value attached to it. Land acquisition is subject to numerous complicated issues. Compensation is just one issue among several haunting the land owners during the process of land acquisition. But it is an important issue, which has been much neglected. In India, women, dalits and tribals traditionally do not have title to land. Traditional rights to cultivate are undermined by the modern laws. Without private property rights and land registration, marginalized sections suffer the most during land acquisition. In the absence of registration, small and marginal farmers fall prey to middlemen while selling their land and thus they seldom enjoy the full amount paid as compensation. Compensation can be paid in kind too. Some economists argue that imparting proper training to farmers who have lost their land would help them in getting absorbed in the industrial labour force (proletarianization). Since lump sum money received as compensation can be spent non-judiciously and hurriedly by the not so ‘prudent’ farmers, it is prescribed that long-term annuities are paid to them separately (also called as Haryana model).</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The absentee land owners are found more willing to sell their land as they are less interested in cultivation. However, agricultural labourers and share croppers, working on those lands, are the ones who are completely at loss due to this. The National Advisory Council (NAC) has, therefore, rightly said that share-croppers, landless labourers, artisans et al should receive ten days’ minimum wage per month for thirty three years when land is acquired by the State for ‘public purposes’.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Getting the right and fair valuation of land and clearly defining the term ‘public purpose’ are remaining issues concerning land acquisition. Should the value of land be based on the average price of land in the past or it should be evaluated on the basis of its future value, which would be comparatively higher as a result of setting up of industry? In case the State is mediating in the sale and purchase of land, getting farmers the fair price of their land is the demand. The NAC has proposed that compensation for those who lose land will be six times the registered sale deed value including solatium.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;">Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill 2007</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The colonial Land Acquisition Act of 1894 has been termed as draconian since it allows the State to forcibly acquire land from private landholders for projects of public purpose. Under Section 4 (1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, notification of acquisition has to be published in the official gazette and in two daily newspapers circulating in that locality of which one shall be in the regional language. A person gets only 30 days from the date of publication of preliminary notification to raise any objection to the acquisition. Special powers of urgency under Section 17 (1) allow a district collector to over-ride all objections and acquire private land after the expiry of 15 days from the publication of the notice.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Since a large number of old cases were pending in various courts, the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill was introduced in lieu of a new comprehensive legislation. Prior to 2007, the Land Acquisition Act was amended in 1962, 1967 and 1984 after Independence. The amendment proposed in the Land Acquisition Bill (2007) redefines ‘public purpose’ as land acquired for defence (strategic) purposes, infrastructure projects, or for any project useful to the general public where 70% of the land has already been purchased. Still there is a pitched battle on what should be included under the term ‘public purposes’. The clause 5(v)(f)(iii) of the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill, which includes acquisition of land for any other purpose useful to the general public has been considered as extremely vague by many legal experts. Provision of providing 30 per cent of land by the Government to the companies is expected to encourage the private sector to acquire more and more land. Once 70 per cent of the land required by a project is acquired by the private parties, the market value of the surrounding area is expected to rise. As a result the Government would acquire the rest 30 per cent of the land at a market price higher than the price at which 70 percent of the land was bought earlier. This would deprive the persons who had agreed to sell their land on a ‘willing seller-willing buyer’ basis. Those people who would sell their land to the Government later are likely to be benefited. In principle, the NAC disagrees with the 70:30 formula.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Those siding with the corporate sector think that the State should not intervene when private parties acquire land. Private businesses and industrial houses can purchase directly from the farmers and this would be beneficial for both the parties. The Left, given its arch rivalry with capitalism, opposed the amendment sought in the Land Acquisition Bill (2007) that State intervention is allowed in acquiring 30 per cent of land for private developers provided they have acquired the remaining 70 per cent for setting up industrial and SEZ projects. The Left parties raised their objection to the 70:30 formula made by the amendment and instead asked for the land to be entirely acquired by the State. During that time when Mamata Banerjee was not the Chief Minister of West Bengal, she opposed this proposition and wanted the formula to be changed to 90:10. However, she now feels that State intervention in land acquisition done privately is justified. In the absence of State intervention it is possible that middlemen and touts of the industrial bodies enter the scenario and start exploiting the small and marginal farmers. State’s role is crucial for just land compensation made by the private parties. The NAC has recommended that it is upto the states to decide the extent of percentage of the total land to be acquired by them.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill, 2007 was passed by the Lok Sabha on 25th February 2009 but the bill lapsed with the dissolution of the 14th Lok Sabha. Both BJP and CPI (M) opposed the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill and the Relief & Rehabilitation Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The NAC has recently asked for consolidating the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill 2009 and Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill, 2009 under the title Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Act, 2011.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;">Food Security</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">This point could have appeared at the beginning itself: should land be acquired at all for industries? Those who are on the side of food security would say no but we know the answer coming from those who believe that country’s progress lies in industrialization. Agricultural land can be protected if a collector under Rule 4 (vi) of Land Acquisition (Companies) Rules, 1963 reports that a land proposed to be acquired is good agriculture land and that no alternate, suitable site can be found. The National Policy for Farmers 2007 talks about conserving prime farmland. NAC’s recent recommendation that acquisition of barren and less fertile land should be done first for industrial purposes is most welcome since it indirectly talks of conserving our valuable agricultural land under assured irrigation and multiple cropping for food production. But there is nothing new in this recommendation because according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry the Board of approvals follow the general principle that in case of land acquisition for Special Economic Zones, first priority should be for acquisition of waste and barren land and if necessary single crop agricultural land could be acquired for the SEZs. For the sake of information, one must know that total cultivable land in India has decreased from 185.09 million hectares in 1980-81 to 182.57 million hectares in 2005-06 and total wasteland has decreased from 16.74 million hectares in 1980-81 to 13.16 million hectares during the year 2005-06. Acquired land non-performing for five years should be returned to original owners is another recommendation of NAC, which has been also well received.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;">Other Recommendations</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Under the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, gram sabhas are empowered to stop acquisition of private and public land, which is done illegally. They need to be consulted before public or private land is acquired in the panchayat as per Section 4 (i) of the PESA Act. Despite these provisions, the country has witnessed several cases of violation of the PESA legislation. Information regarding land acquisition is not passed to the gram sabhas or villages. Therefore, the NAC has made a bold recommendation that consent of 70 percent of the affected families in a gram sabha before acquisition is compulsory. A National Commission for Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation (NCLRR) should be established to assess extent of displacement based on Social Impact Assessment and urgency clause for land acquisition should be used for purposes such as defence, national security and safety of lives as per recommendations of the NAC. Others are saying that landowners in a village should be able to collectively negotiate land transfers and demand for either land-for-land exchange or other types of stake-holding and compensation so that the process becomes participatory.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Apart from the NAC, the recommendations made by the Standing Committee Report on the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill 2007 sound rational and egalitarian. It recommended that the optimum size of land required for a project needs to be determined so that excessive acquisition of land doesn't take place. There should be some legislation like Forest Conservation Act 1980 so that agricultural land can be protected like forest land. There is an urgent need to develop wasteland where agricultural land is acquired. Since displacement leads to traumatic psychological and socio-cultural consequences, multiple displacements of affected families need to be avoided. States should declare the area where the tribals are rehabilitated as Scheduled Area. Land rights of tribals and forest dwellers should be recognized as per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 so that they are compensated and rehabilitated during the process of land acquisition. The details of the property to be acquired viz. khasra numbers in rural areas and quarter number in urban areas should be identified and widely publicized through prominent local English, Hindi and regional language newspapers. There is a need to avoid complications arising due to inadequacy of communicating the intent of acquisition through notification especially in hilly, tribal and remote areas. In order to circulate notification on rehabilitation and resettlement, the Government should rely on newspapers in local vernacular. Affected persons should be provided 60 days from the date of publication of the notification to object to the acquisition of land. Social Impact Assessment study should be done for all projects that displace physically more than 400 families in plain and 200 families in hilly, tribal and scheduled areas (same as NAC recommendation). Highest price of sale deed as indicated in the sale deeds of the last three years plus 50 per cent of the said highest price should be the criteria for assessing and determining the market value of land. For tribal areas, the highest price of a sale deed of the adjoining non-tribal blocks/ village for the last three years plus 50 per cent should be the criteria for assessing and determining the market value of land. Non agricultural land having valuable mineral resources underneath should be properly evaluated for granting compensation. A share of the economic benefits earned due to setting up a project on a land, which is acquired should go to the affected families. Issue of shares and debentures as part of the compensation is impractical and as such issue of shares and debentures should be over and above the admissible compensation. The rate of solatium should be increased from thirty per centum on market value to sixty per centum on market value. (The NAC has, however, demanded for a solatium of hundred per centum). Land Acquisition Compensation Disputes Settlement Authorities (a kind of Ombudsman) at the Centre and State level should be created for the disposal of disputes, which remain pending in the courts of law. Record of large tracts of unutilized land available with various Ministries needs to be kept before further land acquisition.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><i><span style="font-size:12pt;">References:</span></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Standing Committee Report on the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill 2007</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://prsindia.org/uploads/media/Land%20Acquisition/scr1226484896_SC_Report_Land_Acquisition_Bill__2008.pdf">http://prsindia.org/uploads/media/Land%20Acquisition/scr1226484896_SC_Report_Land_Acquisition_Bill__2008.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://nac.nic.in/press_releases/25_may_2011.pdf">http://nac.nic.in/press_releases/25_may_2011.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://dolr.nic.in/Acts&Rules/LandAcquisition%28Amendment%29Bill2009%20as%20passed%20by%20Lok%20Sabha.pdf">http://dolr.nic.in/Acts&Rules/LandAcquisition%28Amendment%29Bill2009%20as%20passed%20by%20Lok%20Sabha.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://dolr.nic.in/hyperlink/acq.htm">http://dolr.nic.in/hyperlink/acq.htm</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Land Violence: Law not at fault by Manoj Pant, The Economic Times, 30 May, 2011,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/comments-analysis/land-violence-law-not-at-fault/articleshow/8643156.cms">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/comments-analysis/land-violence-law-not-at-fault/articleshow/8643156.cms</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Why We Must Oppose the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill of 2009 by D Bandyopadhyay, Mainstream, Vol XLVII, No 35, August 15, 2009, <a href="http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article1586.html">http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article1586.html</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://emlab.berkeley.edu/users/webfac/bardhan/papers/WBILand%20Acquisition.pdf">http://emlab.berkeley.edu/users/webfac/bardhan/papers/WBILand%20Acquisition.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Pranab Bardhan, The real issues behind land acquisition,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/01/stories/2009080155420900.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/01/stories/2009080155420900.htm</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The vexed issue of land acquisition by Pranab Bardhan, The Business Standard, 23 September, 2009,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/pranab-bardhanvexed-issueland-acquisition/370959/">http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/pranab-bardhanvexed-issueland-acquisition/370959/</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The ugly side of land acquisition in India, Rediff.com, 31 May, 2010, <a href="http://business.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/may/31/slide-show-1-ugly-side-of-land-acquisition-in-india.htm">http://business.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/may/31/slide-show-1-ugly-side-of-land-acquisition-in-india.htm</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Land acquisition, R&R Bills lapse by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 28 February, 2009</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/land-acquisition-rr-bills-lapse/01/41/350406/">http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/land-acquisition-rr-bills-lapse/01/41/350406/</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">PESA: Government's sheathed weapon, The Economic Times, 20 May, 2010, <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5951556.cms">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5951556.cms</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">FAQ: Why is land acquisition so controversial? by MR Madhavan, Rediff.com, 12 May, 2011, <a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/special/special-why-is-land-acquisition-so-controversial/20110512.htm">http://www.rediff.com/news/special/special-why-is-land-acquisition-so-controversial/20110512.htm</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/PESA%20Act%201996.pdf">http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/PESA%20Act%201996.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Raj and Gram Swaraj (Amendment) Act, 2004,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/Madhya%20Pradesh%20Panchayat%20Raj%20and%20Gram%20Swaraj%20%28Amendment%29%20Act,%202004.pdf">http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/Madhya%20Pradesh%20Panchayat%20Raj%20and%20Gram%20Swaraj%20%28Amendment%29%20Act,%202004.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Report of the Committee formed by the Government of India, Ministry of Panchayat Raj, Raghav Chandra Report,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/PESA%20Raghav%20Chandra%20Comm.pdf">http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/PESA%20Raghav%20Chandra%20Comm.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Report of the Sub Committee appointed by The Ministry of Panchayati Raj to draft Model Guide-Lines to vest Gram Sabhas with powers as envisaged in PESA,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/BD%20Sharma%20Draft%20-%20Model%20Guidelines%20to%20vest%20Gram%20Sabha%20with%20powers%20as%20envisaged%20in%20PESA.pdf">http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/BD%20Sharma%20Draft%20-%20Model%20Guidelines%20to%20vest%20Gram%20Sabha%20with%20powers%20as%20envisaged%20in%20PESA.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Report of the Committee of Officers on Issues ralating to minor produce in PESA states, February2007,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/A%20K%20Sharma%20Report%20on%20Issues%20relating%20to%20MFP.pdf">http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/A%20K%20Sharma%20Report%20on%20Issues%20relating%20to%20MFP.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Farmers' fury by TK Rajalakshmi, Frontline, Volume 27, Issue 20, 25 September-08 October, 2010,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/stories/20101008272011800.htm">http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/stories/20101008272011800.htm</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Court slams U.P.'s land acquisition policy by J Venkatesan, The Hindu, 22 September, 2010,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article741115.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article741115.ece</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Q+A - India confronts land grabs in industry push by CJ Kuncheria, Reuters, 15 September, 2010,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-51504220100915">http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-51504220100915</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Govt to go slow on expressways after Sonia intervention by Nidhi Sharma, The Economic Times, 13 September, 2010,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Govt-to-go-slow-on-expressways-after-Sonia-intervention/articleshow/6543617.cms">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Govt-to-go-slow-on-expressways-after-Sonia-intervention/articleshow/6543617.cms</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Miners may’ve to share revenues with displaced by Subhash Narayan & Rohini Singh, The Economic Times, 13 September, 2010, <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/metals--mining/Miners-mayve-to-share-revenues-with-displaced/articleshow/6543203.cms">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/metals--mining/Miners-mayve-to-share-revenues-with-displaced/articleshow/6543203.cms</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Naveen making false claims: agitators by Prafulla Das, The Hindu, 15 June, 2011,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2105355.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2105355.ece</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span style=""> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Anti-Posco group slams Ramesh for clearance, IBN, 13 June, 2011, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/antiposco-group-slams-ramesh-for-clearance/158780-60-117.html">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/antiposco-group-slams-ramesh-for-clearance/158780-60-117.html</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">NAC’s seven-point test for land acquisition bill, The Hindu, 10 June, 2011, <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2093721.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2093721.ece</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Let barren land be explored first: NAC by Smita Gupta, The Hindu, 10 June, 2011,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/10/stories/2011061061280800.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/10/stories/2011061061280800.htm</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Land Acquisition: Government as a Facilitator is the Best Option by Diptendra Raychaudhuri, Mainstream Weekly, Vol XLIX, No 24, June 4, 2011, <a href="http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article2803.html">http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article2803.html</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The great land grab: India's war on farmers by Vandana Shiva, AlJazeera.net, 7 June, 2011,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/06/20116711756667987.html">http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/06/20116711756667987.html</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Sound policy shift, The Hindu, 7 June, 2011,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/07/stories/2011060754311000.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/07/stories/2011060754311000.htm</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Maya land policy is a good model, The Deccan Chronicle, 5 June, 2011, <a href="http://www.deccanchronicle.com/editorial/dc-comment/maya-land-policy-good-model-361">http://www.deccanchronicle.com/editorial/dc-comment/maya-land-policy-good-model-361</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">New land Bill allows states to script own role by Saubhadra Chatterji, The Business Standard, 3 June, 2011, <a href="http://wap.business-standard.com/storypage.php?id=0&autono=437739">http://wap.business-standard.com/storypage.php?id=0&autono=437739</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Mayawati announces new Land Acquisition Policy by Atiq Khan, The Hindu, 3 June, 2011, <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2072525.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2072525.ece</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Maya announces new land acquisition policy by Ashish Tripathi, The Times of India, 2 June, 2011,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Maya-announces-new-land-acquisition-policy/articleshow/8693969.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Maya-announces-new-land-acquisition-policy/articleshow/8693969.cms</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Ex gratia for Jaitapur villagers soon: Chavan, The Hindu, 2 June, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/02/stories/2011060266251200.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/02/stories/2011060266251200.htm</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Success stories by Venkitesh Ramakrishnan, Frontline, Volume 28, Issue 12, 4-17 June, 2011,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20110617281212900.htm">http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20110617281212900.htm</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The great land grab by Venkitesh Ramakrishnan, Frontline, Volume 28, Issue 12, 4-17 June, 2011,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20110617281200400.htm">http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20110617281200400.htm</a> </span></span></p> </w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:latentstyles></xml>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-5618087578295368412011-06-16T21:35:00.007+05:302011-06-16T22:13:10.716+05:30Every thirty minutes, a farmer commits suicide<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" class="Apple-style-span" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoDcVEXH4Dkr7e1AEnV3p46VCVrKjq58-gIS3IrLqYXkKTZZ7Knl1NnsthIpR9DoINUHXTkmzJEuNCfd6_bt8IKFBsjrTPoZipW5ujHdJMj24EkMpP06vGETA5L-5Y_rhlJDHvlWVtPY/s1600/Farmer+suicide.png"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoDcVEXH4Dkr7e1AEnV3p46VCVrKjq58-gIS3IrLqYXkKTZZ7Knl1NnsthIpR9DoINUHXTkmzJEuNCfd6_bt8IKFBsjrTPoZipW5ujHdJMj24EkMpP06vGETA5L-5Y_rhlJDHvlWVtPY/s400/Farmer+suicide.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618854478281344290" border="0" /></a><br /></span><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Flouting of dalit and gender rights contribute to committing of farmer suicides despite Government’s effort, according to a report by the Centre for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHRGJ).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The report issued by CHRGJ and the International Human Rights Clinic (at New York University School of Law) claims that farmers’ suicide, which is connected to agrarian crisis will become more severe due to the existing gender and caste-based discrimination in the Indian society since the government has so far taken only financial steps as policy measures instead of going for structural changes. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />In the document titled <i>Every Thirty Minutes-Farmer Suicides, Human Rights, and the Agrarian Crisis in India, 2011</i> (for the full report please check the link no.1 and for the press release check the link no. 2) it is said that there is a deep association between farmer suicides and caste or gender-based discrimination. After the implementation of neo-liberal policies in India (pertaining to commercial/ corporate agriculture) the pattern of farming has witnessed a sea change. Due to socio-economic obstacles, farmers belonging to the so-called “lower caste” lack the essential technology to undertake corporate farming and it is possible that debt burden on these farmers for carrying out cotton farming based on Bt cotton or farming cash crops which is capital-intensive in nature may be more compared to the rest. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">According to the same report “lower caste” farmers and their families face discriminatory policies when it comes to land entitlement. Farmers who do not have title to land are not enumerated as the same in official surveys and therefore when the family head dies by committing suicide, the family is often deprived of the compensation and relief package which is being offered by the Government. Similarly, tenant farmers are not counted as farmers. In technical terms, a large section of farmers who do not have title to land are women, dalits and tribals and the Government of India’s National Crime Records Bureau statistics actually underestimates the number of farmer suicides. Marginalized sections like women and dalits do not enjoy access to formal credit as they do not have title to land (property rights). Being a signatory of International human rights treaties, the Government of India has been appealed by the present report to end, investigate and undertake proper steps regarding caste/ gender factors related to farmer suicides. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />In order to make the point that families of farmers who committed suicides owing to debt burden in the midst of agrarian crisis, face social injustice and discrimination to access relief schemes of the government, the report has provided several examples. The report mentions the story of Kalawati. The patriarchal society in India often deprives the women of their rightful access to land title and in the midst of agrarian crisis the impact may be fatal. The Government of Maharastra provides a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to the family of a farmer who has committed suicide on the basis of three conditions. The first condition is that the farmer must have titled land; the second is he must be indebted at time of committing suicide; and the third is indebtedness must be the primary reason behind his suicide.<span style=""> </span>Despite fulfillment of the above 3 conditions, families of farmers who committed suicide are still deprived of the compensation by the Government. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The story of Kalawati Bandurkar is similar to this. In 2007, her husband committed suicide. Kalawati is a mother of nine children and grandmother of five children. Apart from working as a labourer on others’ field, she farms on a separate cropping field of 9 acres size. After the death of her husband, Kalawati did not receive any compensation because the piece of land (9 acres) on which her family cultivates is not owned but has been taken on lease.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />The truth revealed by this report is unquestionable. According to a news report by The Hindustan Times [see link no. 3], death toll due to suicide could have reached 28 in Vidarbha by the month of May, 2011 due to agrarian crisis and economic distress. So far, the number of farmers who have committed suicide from Vidarbha is 203 this year.<span style=""> </span>Government’s claim that its two relief schemes worth Rs. 5050 crore have been able to reduce the incidents of suicide is false.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />According to statistics provided by the National Crime Records Bureau during the year 2009, 348 persons committed suicide everyday out which 48 were farmers. Since 2004 on an average 47 farmers commit suicide every day which means every 30 minutes a farmer commits suicide (please check the links below).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><b>Key findings of the report-</b><i> Every Thirty Minutes-Farmer Suicides, Human Rights, and the Agrarian Crisis in India:<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Statistics compiled by the Government of India reveal that 241,679 farmers in India committed suicide between 1995 and 2009. According to P. Sainath (journalist from The Hindu)—who has documented the crisis since it first started—the 2010 figures will likely bring this number up to more than 250,000.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">In 2009 alone, the most recent year for which official figures are available, 17,638 farmers committed suicide—that’s one farmer every 30 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">According to national census figures, between 1991 and 2001, eight million Indians left farming. While forthcoming data from the 2011 census will provide updated figures for the total number who have left farming since 2001, there is no indication that this move away from farming has declined in any way.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Records show that the suicide rates are highest where cotton production is highest. Though the Indian government has long been alerted to the cotton farmer suicide crisis, it has failed to respond with solutions that adequately address the issue. Cotton is a cash crop, which makes it particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in the global market. Cotton stands in as a prime example of India’s general move away from food production toward cash crop cultivation, a shift that has contributed significantly to farmer vulnerability, as evidenced by the fact that the majority of suicides are committed by farmers in the cash crop sector. The cotton industry, like other cash crops in India, is one that has been dominated by foreign multinationals.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Farmer suicide counts have been tragically high in the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. These states are among the highest cotton producing states in the country. In Andhra Pradesh alone, at least 17,775 farmers committed suicide between 2002 and 2009. There, Bt cotton crops generated much lower yields than non-Bt cotton crops for smallholder farmers during years with drought. The use of Bt cottonseed, contrary to advertising, also failed to reduce pesticide usage for many farmers. Moreover, high seed prices raised the farmers’ input costs, while sale prices remained low. In the state of Maharashtra, more than 2,500 farmers committed suicide each year between 2002 and 2009. <o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">In 2006, the national government flagged funds from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund to relieve farmers of debt, but there has been little enthusiasm about its results. In 2008 the Finance Minister enacted the Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme. The scheme provided debt waivers for marginal and small farmers, defined as owning two or fewer hectares of land. For other farmers, the relief scheme provided a 25 percent debt relief. Many farmers, who own more than two hectares but still suffer from extreme indebtedness, were unable to pay the remaining 75 percent needed to qualify for the program. In either case, the scheme only applied to loans from banks and not to loans from informal moneylenders. Farmers who took out loans from moneylenders to pay for expensive inputs are excluded from the government’s assistance program. An additional important shortcoming of the debt waiver scheme is that it did not distinguish between irrigated and non-irrigated land.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Although farmers’ credit sources vary from state to state, the farmers who do depend on rural banks are feeling the effects of the ten percent decline of rural banks nationwide in the past decade, a problematic trend that the Indian government has failed to address.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span><i><br /></i></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span><i>References:</i></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><b><span><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 <a href="http://www.chrgj.org/publications/docs/every30min.pdf">http://www.chrgj.org/publications/docs/every30min.pdf</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">2. <a href="http://www.chrgj.org/press/docs/110511every30minpress.pdf">http://www.chrgj.org/press/docs/110511every30minpress.pdf</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">3. <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/4-more-farmers-commit-suicide-in-Vidarbha/Article1-698711.aspx">http://www.hindustantimes.com/4-more-farmers-commit-suicide-in-Vidarbha/Article1-698711.aspx</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">4. <a href="http://www.im4change.org/debt-suicides/farmers-suicides-14.html?pgno=2">http://www.im4change.org/debt-suicides/farmers-suicides-14.html?pgno=2</a></span> <span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-31122972907705751832011-06-08T15:20:00.003+05:302011-06-08T15:25:05.540+05:30RTI Act: Is it running well?<span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVxzCs_aQZgZV516wRyVFCR04mWYlcbjx7X6rk4my4tLhm8vBVdBo-9sD5_FUh98W9fInOwUriRDF8EYewzZTJaH8L1N4dqESxY-IFYf0xiudmEkouldh4MjhSjnu5V3R1sizQgtT_QM/s1600/RTI.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVxzCs_aQZgZV516wRyVFCR04mWYlcbjx7X6rk4my4tLhm8vBVdBo-9sD5_FUh98W9fInOwUriRDF8EYewzZTJaH8L1N4dqESxY-IFYf0xiudmEkouldh4MjhSjnu5V3R1sizQgtT_QM/s320/RTI.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615784872812579026" border="0" /></a><br /></span><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The Right to Information (RTI) Act, which was passed by the Indian Parliament on 15 June, 2005 is regarded as one of the most powerful tool in fighting corruption and ensuring transparency in the government. Prior to the Indian RTI Act, various states enacted their own RTI legislation such as Tamil Nadu (1997), Goa (1997), Rajasthan (2000), Karnataka (2000), Delhi (2001), Maharashtra (2002), Madhya Pradesh (2003), Assam (2002) and Jammu and Kashmir (2004). The RTI Act is inspired by the Freedom of Information (Access to Information) legislation that has been in existence in countries like United States of America (1967), Sweden (1766) etc. Around the world, there are some 85 countries which have their own FoI legislation. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The RTI movement was initiated by the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) in Dungarpur, Rajasthan so as to demand minimum wages for the labourers employed in public work. When MKSS found that ghost entries were made in the muster rolls to siphon off the money meant for the labourers, it was compelled to demand official information recorded in government files. Hence, originated the social audit campaign. When Aruna Roy became a member of the National Advisory Council (NAC) under UPA 1, she held widespread public consultations with civil society organizations and key govt. officials on India's RTI legislation due to which the law finally got enacted.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Innovative initiatives under the RTI: <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; font-family: arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The Bihar Govt. has initiated a six seater Jankari call centre, which facilitates a caller in drafting the RTI application and the fee is collected through the phone bill. RTI Helpline in Bangalore is providing RTI information to citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 3pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; font-family: arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Maharashtra has created 5 offices of the Information Commission in Pune, Mumbai, Aurangabad, Amravati and Nagpur to enable citizens to approach the most convenient regional office.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; font-family: arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Assam has adapted a “Train the Trainers” concept, where the Government trains the CSOs/NGOs to impart training to citizens on RTI in order to maximize the reach of RTI and ensure that there is local ownership and sustainability.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; font-family: arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Review of Public Authorities by Andhra Pradesh State Information Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; font-family: arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Public hearings at the district headquarters by Kerala State Information Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; font-family: arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The CIC website has a feature for online submission of complaints and second appeals<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; font-family: arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Since its formation in 2009, Society for Social Audit, Accountability & Transparency (SSAAT) in Andhra Pradesh has succeeded in creating a massive social capital by identifying and training more than 60,000 educated youth in the villages in conducting social audit. <o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b><i>Source:</i></b><i> Understanding the “Key Issues and Constraints” in implementing the RTI Act, June 2009 <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The RTI law has witnessed mixed successes so far. A Times of India report dated 7 April, 2011 says that the Chief Information Commission (CIC), which has 6 information commissioners (ICs), has a pendency of around 15,000 appeals and the disposal rate is below 3,000 per commissioner. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">A report titled <i>Understanding the "Key Issues and Constraints” in implementing the RTI</i> Act (2009) by PricewaterhouseCoopers show that there exists low awareness about RTI law among women, SCs, STs, OBCs and rural people and the quality of awareness is too poor. Unavailability of user guides is a major obstacle in RTI implementation. RTI application forms are not standardized across the states. Inadequate efforts have been made to receive RTI applications through electronic means, i.e. emails, websites etc. There is no convenient payment channel for submission of application fees. Citizens are not assisted everywhere to file RTI applications and the public information officers (PIOs) are unfriendly towards them. Most citizens are dissatisfied with the quality of information provided. It takes more than 30 days to receive information from the PIOs. PIOs are not adequately trained. The Record Management System is obsolete to carry out timely disposal of a RTI application. Unavailability of basic infrastructure such as photocopier machines hampers implementation of RTI. Information is not disseminated on a suo-moto basis. There is dearth of skilled staff.<span style=""> </span>The study titled <i>Safeguarding the Right to Information-Interim Findings of the People’s RTI Assessment 2008</i> tells that of the total RTI applications filed, nearly two-thirds got a response from the public authorities. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span">References<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Understanding the “Key Issues and Constraints” in implementing the RTI Act* June 2009, <a href="http://rti.gov.in/rticorner/studybypwc/index-study.htm">http://rti.gov.in/rticorner/studybypwc/index-study.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Dispose of 3,200 pleas every yr: CIC by Viju B, The Times of India, 7 April, 2011, <a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-07/mumbai/29392081_1_appeals-and-complaints-rti-applicants-rti-activist">http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-07/mumbai/29392081_1_appeals-and-complaints-rti-applicants-rti-activist</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Safeguarding the Right to Information-Interim Findings of the People’s RTI Assessment 2008, October 2008, conducted by RTI Assessment & Analysis Group (RaaG) and National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI) (in collaboration with other institutes/ organizations), <a href="http://rti-assessment.org/interim_report.pdf">http://rti-assessment.org/interim_report.pdf</a><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-89336653404729563402011-05-16T16:19:00.018+05:302011-06-15T12:31:12.117+05:30Is the Internet really free in India?<div style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Mx1P7Q2Tp5pYG49Qun5E05KvmxyYdzr2ycCBFRVUt2RezC__AYqJg_kmMq3W-lU93z8BhHG1qwQkkhqWAGJUyLBGOV9o5b6CpB0kyKEdEg7H5LgZ51dYkpnvmuiDqD3uLm142MnrWBI/s1600/FOTN2011-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607265609303992306" style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 250px; cursor: pointer; height: 324px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Mx1P7Q2Tp5pYG49Qun5E05KvmxyYdzr2ycCBFRVUt2RezC__AYqJg_kmMq3W-lU93z8BhHG1qwQkkhqWAGJUyLBGOV9o5b6CpB0kyKEdEg7H5LgZ51dYkpnvmuiDqD3uLm142MnrWBI/s400/FOTN2011-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><span 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unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:lsdexception> </w:lsdexception><!--[endif]--><!--> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"<span title="Click to correct" class="transl_class" id="2">साधारण</span> <span title="Click to correct" class="transl_class" id="3">तालिका</span>"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <!--[endif]--> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">No, it is not. Freedom on the Net 2011: A Global Assessment of Internet and Digital Media report, which got released on 18 April, 2011, is a comprehensive study of Internet freedom in 37 countries around the globe. India receives a score of 36 points (partly free) on Freedom on the Net* as compared to 13 (free) by USA, 55 (partly free) by Pakistan and 83 (not free) by China. However, India's Freedom on the Net has declined by 2 points from 34 in 2009 to 36 in 2011.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Freedom on the Net 2011 report from Freedom House observes that governments in 15 out of 37 countries have engaged in blocking of politically relevant content. Following terrorist attacks in Mumbai during November, 2008 and expansion of Maoist insurgency, the Indian Government seems keen to control the communications sector (in the face of increased Internet and mobile phone penetration). Amendments done to the Information Technology Act in 2008 have expanded the government's censorship and monitoring capabilities. In August 2010, the Department of Telecommunications was asked by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) to suspend newly introduced 3G mobile service and halt providers’ ongoing rollout of the technology, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. One could observe short-message service (SMS), or text messaging, being blocked periodically in Jammu and Kashmir. Mass text messaging across India got banned (for 3 days) by the Government of India on 23 September, 2010 in anticipation of a court ruling on a hotly disputed place of worship in Ayodhya.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">There exists pressure since late 2009 on private intermediaries to remove certain information in compliance with administrative censorship orders, with the implementation of the amended IT Act. Ever since the IT Act was amended, Google has received more requests for data and content removal during the period 2009-2010. Apart from the Chaitanya Kunte-Barkha Dutt episode, there is hardly any instance when a blogger is asked to take down his writings. Bloggers are expected to write in a sensible manner that may not incite violence. However, arrests have been made in the past for online postings to defame historical figure or to post derogatory comments about any political leader. .</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The report on Internet freedom may be relevant for those who know that the Indian government has recently proposed (in April, 2011) to regulate content on blogs. Intermediaries who provide web-hosting services, Internet service providers and online auction sites are asked not to display, upload, modify or publish any information that is 'harmful', 'threatening', 'abusive', 'harassing', 'blasphemous', 'objectionable', 'defamatory', 'vulgar', 'obscene', 'pornographic', 'paedophilic', 'libellous', 'invasive of another's privacy', 'hateful', 'disparaging', 'racially , ethnically or otherwise objectionable', 'relating to money laundering or gambling'. In response to the government's move, bloggers feel that their right to agitate and dissent would be seriously undermined due to changes in the IT Act norms. Some experts think that the new rules are going to provide a lot of discretion to non-judicial authorities so as to decide whether an intermediary has observed due diligence or not. Others feel that privacy of individuals would be violated if government has easier access to content from intermediaries. The culture of debate and discussion on the Internet could be affected if such restrictions are imposed. The new rules do not allow the bloggers to defend their content. Some of the rules appear extremely vague.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The report on digital freedom, which has been edited by Sanja Kelly and Sarah Cook tells us that website blocking and filtering, content manipulation, attacks on and imprisonment of bloggers, and cyber attacks have increased during the recent past. The study shows that Internet freedom is increasingly undermined by legal harassment, opaque censorship procedures and expanding surveillance even in democracies like India, Brazil, Indonesia, S Korea, Turkey and the UK. Popularity of advanced applications like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter among ordinary users has made governments in 12 out of 37 countries to consistently or temporarily impose bans on such services.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">* Ratings by Freedom on the Net are determined through an examination of three broad categories: obstacles to access, limits on content, and violation of user rights.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">1. Obstacles to Access: assesses infrastructural and economic barriers to access; governmental efforts to block specific applications or technologies; and legal, regulatory and ownership control over internet and mobile phone access providers.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">2. Limits on Content: examines filtering and blocking of websites; other forms of censorship and self-censorship; manipulation of content; the diversity of online news media; and usage of digital media for social and political activism.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">3. Violations of User Rights: measures legal protections and restrictions on online activity; surveillance; privacy; and repercussions for online activity, such as legal prosecution, imprisonment, physical attacks, or other forms of harassment.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><i><span style="font-size:12pt;">Further readings:</span></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Freedom on the Net 2011: A Global Assessment of Internet and Digital Media by Sanja Kelly and Sarah Cook,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/fotn/2011/FOTN2011.pdf">http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/fotn/2011/FOTN2011.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The 10 Tools of Online Oppressors by Committee to Protect Journalists, <a href="http://www.cpj.org/reports/2011/05/the-10-tools-of-online-oppressors.php">http://www.cpj.org/reports/2011/05/the-10-tools-of-online-oppressors.php</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Press Freedom Index 2010, <a href="http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2010,1034.html">http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2010,1034.html</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Concern over impact of Internet control rules on free speech by Sandeep Joshi, The Hindu, 11 May, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/11/stories/2011051165001100.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/11/stories/2011051165001100.htm</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">India Puts Tight Leash on Internet Free Speech by Vikas Bajaj, The New York Times, 27 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/technology/28internet.html?_r=2">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/technology/28internet.html?_r=2</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Bloggers up against restrictions by Vasudha Venugopal, The Hindu, 13 March, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/13/stories/2011031364280800.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/13/stories/2011031364280800.htm</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Plan to muzzle bloggers sparks outcry by Atul Thakur, The Times of India, 10 March, 2011, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Plan-to-muzzle-bloggers-sparks-outcry/articleshow/7668026.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Plan-to-muzzle-bloggers-sparks-outcry/articleshow/7668026.cms</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">New Rules May Make Online Censorship Easier In India by John Ribeiro, CIO.in, 8 March, 2011, <a href="http://www.cio.in/news/new-rules-may-make-online-censorship-easier-india-92972011">http://www.cio.in/news/new-rules-may-make-online-censorship-easier-india-92972011</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Bloggers call content regulation a gag on freedom by Srividya Iyer, The Economic Times, 9 March, 2011, <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/bloggers-call-content-regulation-a-gag-on-freedom/articleshow/7659593.cms">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/bloggers-call-content-regulation-a-gag-on-freedom/articleshow/7659593.cms</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">A Revolution, Unplugged by Aprille Muscara, 1 February, 2011, <a href="http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54316">http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54316</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">IT Act, if enforced, will leave Internet use no freer than in China, DNA India</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_it-act-if-enforced-will-leave-internet-use-in-india-no-freer-than-in-china_1543284">http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_it-act-if-enforced-will-leave-internet-use-in-india-no-freer-than-in-china_1543284</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Draconian rulebook irks netizens, Deccan Chronicle</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/chennai/draconian-rulebook-irks-netizens-356">http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/chennai/draconian-rulebook-irks-netizens-356</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">India sliding down Internet freedom - Freedom Institute, RTN</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://rtn.asia/275_india-sliding-down-internet-freedom-freedom-institute">http://rtn.asia/275_india-sliding-down-internet-freedom-freedom-institute</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">New cyber regulation smells of Big Brother, Hindustan Times</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/New-cyber-regulations-smell-of-Big-Brother/Article1-695089.aspx">http://www.hindustantimes.com/New-cyber-regulations-smell-of-Big-Brother/Article1-695089.aspx</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Google opposes proposed Internet law, India Today</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/google-opposes-proposed-internet-restrictions-in-india/1/137758.html">http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/google-opposes-proposed-internet-restrictions-in-india/1/137758.html</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Google external lawyer on India, Wall Street Journal</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/05/12/google-external-lawyer-on-india%E2%80%99s-net-rules/">http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/05/12/google-external-lawyer-on-india%E2%80%99s-net-rules/</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Flagged for Removal: Online Censorship on the Rise by Aprille Muscara, 2 May, 2011, <a href="http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=55464">http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=55464</a> </span></span></p> shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-80921842383799057422011-04-27T13:40:00.006+05:302011-05-01T19:00:36.938+05:30Agriculture–Pathways to Prosperity in Asia and the Pacific<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1By9uquK7rVyTtin-G_MZF2rkbhA75nHLmSShtSJHSu7dBnzcU7tfM2BmK9QByigNhW9xQRv-Y4m5YYiZP6dVXdK8AvzM2QRoLmMYCnsICfBGxVxOpEGd40kkZ5g-oHhUdMjaE21yyMY/s1600/Myanmar+Agriculture.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1By9uquK7rVyTtin-G_MZF2rkbhA75nHLmSShtSJHSu7dBnzcU7tfM2BmK9QByigNhW9xQRv-Y4m5YYiZP6dVXdK8AvzM2QRoLmMYCnsICfBGxVxOpEGd40kkZ5g-oHhUdMjaE21yyMY/s320/Myanmar+Agriculture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600176224123360194" border="0" /></a><br /></span><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Almost 4 months after the <a href="http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/rural-poverty-report-2011-4765.html">Rural Poverty Report 2011</a> was released, a newly published report from IFAD concentrates on rural poverty and agriculture in Asia and the Pacific region. The reason behind this increased attention on this part of the world may be that more than 680 million people in the Asia-Pacific region still continues to live on less than $1.25 a day, and 70 per cent of them reside in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. This has been observed by the report titled Agriculture–Pathways to Prosperity in Asia and the Pacific, March 2011. Most of the poor from this region are either landless or own a limited piece of land, possess large families, are less educated and have limited access to credit and technology.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The IFAD report shows that intensity of multidimensional poverty (MPI) is highest in South Asia, which houses 29.5 percent of global population, but has 51 per cent of the world’s multi-dimensionally poor. India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan have high MPIs in South Asia. 51 per cent of the population in Pakistan, 58 per cent in Bangladesh, 55 per cent in India, and 65 per cent of population in Nepal are MPI poor. Living standard has the highest contribution to poverty in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Deprivation rates in health parameters are found high in Pakistan and Nepal. Deprivation in terms of nutrition is high in Nepal and India. China has only 13 per cent of the population that is MPI poor, while Thailand has only 0.8 per cent. India, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have close to 50 per cent of rural children who are undernourished.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Smallholders in India who operate/ own less than 2 hectares accounted for about 71 per cent of the rural households in 1993 and about 88 per cent in 2004 indicating increase in land fragmentation. Nearly, 25.3 percent of the rural households in India were chronically poor during the period 1971-1982. The NCAER study shows that 30.0 percent of the rural households in India were chronically poor during the period 1969-71.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Almost 70 percent of poor live in rural areas of Asia and they depend on agriculture for their livelihood. In South Asia, about 80 per cent of the poverty remains a rural problem despite rapid industrialization and economic growth, according to the report titled Agriculture–Pathways to Prosperity in Asia and the Pacific. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The IFAD report mentions some of the shocks that erode poor people's assets and capabilities such as: natural disasters, climate change, pest outbreaks (e.g. avian influenza), vulnerability to food price fluctuations, illness, and death. It explains some of the risk-coping mechanisms households usually undertake in the face of poverty for e.g. selling productive assets, borrowing, depleting savings, migrating, and reducing expenditure on food, healthcare and education (notably affecting women and children).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">There exist gender inequalities in education, economic opportunities, wages and nature and extent of work, according to the IFAD report. A study in West Bengal shows that among women who had taken loans for income-generating activities, only 5 per cent reported having total autonomous control over the money; 56 per cent reported that they share control over the loan money with their husbands; and 38 per cent reported that their husbands have sole control over the proceeds of the loan. Women’s share in non-agricultural wage employment remains low, particularly in South Asia. For India, it is estimated that 55 per cent of the wage gap between men and women cannot be explained by productivity and endowments, which suggests the presence of systematic gender-based discrimination in pay.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The decline in the proportion of people living in rural areas between the period 2000-04 and 2005-09 has been more prominent in East Asia and South East Asia as compared to Central Asia and South Asia. The IFAD report suggests that rural population in Asia and the Pacific region is likely to peak in 2014, with the total numbering 2400 million, which would decline thereafter. The contribution of agricultural value added to GDP is low in the entire region, and declined marginally between 2000-04 and 2005-09 for South East Asia and Pacific Island, and, more significantly in East, South and Central Asia. South Asia (31 percent) has seen lowest growth in per capita income between 2000-04 and 2005-09 as compared to East Asia (64 percent) and Central Asia (43 percent). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The effect of rise in food prices on GDP between 2006 and 2007-08 is considerable as a 50 per cent rise in food price decreases the GDP of Asia and the Pacific Region by 1.05 per cent. A combined shock of a 60 per cent rise in food and fuel prices decreases GDP by 1.41 per cent. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The report finds that usage of ICTs helped farmers in terms of knowing prices of agricultural commodities or weather conditions for e.g. SEWA (India) performs this service for women and ITC’s e-choupal (India) uses SMS to inform small producers. In India, the number of self-help groups linked to banks has increased from about 500 in the early 1990s to more than 3 million in 2008. The Indian Dairy Cooperatives network comprises 12 million members, including landless labourers and women, and produces 22 per cent of India’s milk supply. In order to increase the welfare of migrants, Rajasthan introduced mobile ration cards for its them, while Orissa and Madhya Pradesh introduced improvements in the safety and efficiency of remittances.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The report finds that diversification of agriculture into livestock and aquaculture has added to increased prosperity and food security in China, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Laos and Philippines. It finds that the linkage between agricultural (rural) and industry (mainly around urban centres) remained weak in major South Asian countries except China and Vietnam. In India during the process of economic transition, not enough movement of labour took place from agriculture to industry. On average, rural non-farm income (RNFY) constitutes roughly 50 per cent of rural household income in Asia and the Pacific Region, of which 40 per cent comes from local non-farm business and employment and the remaining from transfers and remittances. Due to paucity of human, financial and physical capital, the poor households often remain confined to the low-productivity non-farm activities, which trap them in poverty. Gender, caste and social status determine one's participation in non-farm jobs. Evidence suggests that each dollar of additional value added in agriculture generates USD 0.6 to USD 0.8 of additional rural nonfarm economy’s income in Asia and the Pacific Region. Based on state level time series data for India covering the period 1971-72 to 1983-84, it has been found that expansion of casual non-farm employment is strongly correlated with growth in agricultural wages. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">On the basis of simulations the report finds that the Asia and Pacific region would require a 56 per cent increase in agricultural ODA, a 28 per cent increase in agricultural expenditure, a 23 per cent increase in fertilizer use, or a 24 per cent increase in agricultural investment during 2007-13 in order to achieve the MDG 1 (at US$2 poverty line). It suggests that investment in agriculture is the key to poverty alleviation. For the Asia and the Pacific region, the elasticity of the head-count ratio of poverty with respect to agricultural growth is -1.18 (at $2 a day poverty line) and -2.73 (at $1.25 a day poverty line). Government can play a pivotal role in organizing the smallholders (who face several challenges, such as high transaction costs in accessing inputs, credit and marketing facilities) so that they participate in supply chain/ supermarkets. IFPRI estimates that 87 per cent of the world’s small farms (those less than 2 hectares) are in Asia and the Pacific Region. Secured land rights and women having joint ownership of land can increase productive investment in agriculture. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Key findings of the report:<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">In 2005, the total number of people living in extreme poverty, defined as those living on less than US$1.25/day (2005 PPP) was 1.4 billion in the world. Of these, approximately 1 billion, i.e. about 70 per cent live in rural areas.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The number of rural poor has declined rapidly in Asia and the Pacific Region over the past decade (from 1057 million to 687 million).<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">While East Asia had over 500 million rural poor two decades ago, the number today stands at only 117 million.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The incidence of rural poverty has declined from 59 per cent to 31 per cent in the last two decades for the Asia and the Pacific region as a whole. <o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">While in East Asia, poverty as a share of rural population is close to 15 per cent, in South Asia over 45 per cent of the rural people are poor.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 6pt; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">In East Asia the rural poverty incidence declined from over 63 per cent to 15 per cent over the past two decades. Similarly, in South East Asia the incidence of rural poverty declined from 52 per cent to about 26 per cent in the last two decades. <o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Lao PDR and China have made significant progress in reducing hunger. Slower progress has been made by India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Nepal.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">51 per cent of the population in Pakistan, 58 per cent in Bangladesh, 55 per cent in India, and 65 per cent of population in Nepal are MPI poor. <o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">There are over one billion youth in the world today. Eighty five per cent of them live in the developing world. Some 61.5 per cent live in Asia and the Pacific.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">In India, over 300,000 children work in the carpet industry, many of them under conditions that amount to bonded labour. <o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">In rural India, about 47 per cent were poor while nearly 75 per cent were vulnerable.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">In India, a study by Gaiha and Imai (2007) based on the analysis of the 61st NSS Round (2004-05) shows both higher incidence and intensity of poverty among the marginalised groups including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. While the overall incidence of poverty in rural India was about 25 per cent, among the STs and SCs, about 44 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively, of the households were poor. The incidence of poverty among others was 19 percent. The causes behind this phenomenon are: poor quality of education, remote locations, limited access to markets and lack of decent physical and social infrastructure.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">More than half the deaths caused by natural disasters in 1985-94 were concentrated in South Asia. From 1995-2004, the share of East Asia and the Pacific in the total number of deaths rose to 59 per cent while the share of South Asia dropped to about 20 per cent.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The average holding size is 0.5 hectare for Bangladesh, 0.8 hectare for Nepal and Sri Lanka, 1.4 hectares for India and 3 hectares for Pakistan.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">There has been a fall or slowing down of growth in monthly wage rates in most countries of Asia and the Pacific region including India during 2006-2009.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Sectoral composition of rural non farm economy indicates that rural non-farm employment is almost equally distributed between manufacturing (27 per cent), trade and transport (29 per cent) and financial and personal services (31 per cent) in Asia and the Pacific Region.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">In India, for instance, while the ratio of non-farm to agricultural income is 4.5 to 1 for the average household, for the poor it is only 0.75 to 1.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">A 1 per cent growth in agricultural value added per capita results in a GDP (per capita) growth rate of 2.13 per cent.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">South Asia (or South East Asia) would need only a 5 per cent (or 8 per cent) increase in annual growth rate of agricultural ODA, 2 per cent (or 4 per cent) increase in annual growth rate of agricultural expenditure, 3 per cent (or 4 per cent) increase in annual growth rate of fertilizer, or 2 per cent (or 3 per cent) increase in annual agricultural investment in 2007-13 over and above the baseline scenario to achieve MDG 1, at US$2 a day, by 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The world population is expected to be about 9.1 billion in 2050. With increasing urbanization and high income levels, food production must increase by 70 per cent to meet the food demand in 2050. Since the scope for net increase in arable land is highly limited (especially in Asia and the Pacific Region), 90 per cent of this additional food requirement has to be met through increases in yields in areas with intensive agriculture.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span">References: <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Agriculture–Pathways to Prosperity in Asia and the Pacific by the IFAD, March 2011, <a href="http://www.ifad.org/pub/apr/pathways.pdf">http://www.ifad.org/pub/apr/pathways.pdf</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Investing in agriculture key to ending extreme rural poverty in South Asia – UN, The United Nations, 19 April, 2011,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38149&Cr=asia-pacific&Cr1">http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38149&Cr=asia-pacific&Cr1</a>= </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-22438130522726815422011-04-16T13:43:00.004+05:302011-04-18T15:56:34.567+05:30Government versus Citizen’s Lokpal Bill*<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBexXe5ULvv-TNuM6nzGY_vOBSYGPOymhGHQdgv_SGjy-eknbvdN2AJ42NmRMsaVQ7naIX8bCDxY0N5xHDFQtyxekwXSnFCRK7G7GgwhlzUuA49FKjP6tvPJaY4ztc6R9iqupV613HVg/s1600/Lokpal.bmp" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 225px;" 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</w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:latentstyles></xml></div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Instead of the Group of Ministers (GoM) in the Joint Committee deciding exclusively on the draft Lokpal Bill, participation of civil society organizations has been demanded. There has been a call by Anna Hazare for setting up of a joint committee with 50 per cent representation for citizens and 50 per cent for the government for formulation of a strong Lokpal Bill. However, a ministerial Sub-Committee of the Group of Ministers on Corruption denied of any precedent for a joint committee. The Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) differed with Anna Hazare and it said that its focus is not on ensuring that there is 50% representation for civil society in the drafting committee but "to demand that the government immediately announce its intention to pass a strong lokpal legislation based on wide public consultations".</span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Unlike the government's Lokpal Bill, Lokpal has been given police powers under Jan Lokpal Bill. Therefore, Lokpal can register an FIR and also prosecute.</span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The Jan Lokpal Bill proposes that the office of the PM should be under the scanner of the Lokpal. However, the Government's Lokpal Bill version does not include charges of corruption against the Prime Minister in matters of “national security, maintenance of public order, national defence and foreign relations” (Section 10).<span style=""> </span></span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The Jan Lokpal Bill has the provision that investigation in any case will have to be completed in one year, and punishment would be a jail term of minimum 5 years and maximum of life imprisonment. The government's version recommends a prison term of minimum 6 months and maximum 7 years as punishment for corruption. There is no time limit on the period for investigation in case of the Government’s Lokpal Bill. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Government's Lokpal will not have any power to either initiate action suo motu in any case or even receive complaints of corruption from public. The general public will make complaints to the speaker of Lok Sabha or chairperson of Rajya Sabha. Only those complaints forwarded by Speaker of Lok Sabha/Chairperson of Rajya Sabha to Lokpal would be investigated by Lokpal. This not only severely restricts the functioning of Lokpal, it also provides a tool in the hands of the ruling party to have only those cases referred to Lokpal which pertain to political opponents (since speaker is always from the ruling party). The Jan Lokpal proposes full powers to initiate investigations suo motu in any case and also to directly entertain complaints from the public.</span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Both financial and operational autonomy should be given to Lokpal and Lokayukta and the process of selection of both the bodies must be transparent and participatory without any intervention by political establishment. The selection committee under Jan Lokpal Bill consists of members from judicial background, Chief Election Commissioner, Comptroller and Auditor General of India and international awardees (like Nobel prize winners and Magsaysay awardees of Indian origin). However, selection committee under Government's Lokpal Bill consists of Vice President, PM, Leaders of both houses, Leaders of opposition in both the houses, Law Minister and Home minister. Barring Vice President, all of them are politicians whose corruption Lokpal is supposed to investigate. So there is a direct conflict of interest. Also selection committee is heavily loaded in favor of the ruling party. Effectively ruling party will make the final selections.</span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The government wants Lokpal to be an advisory body, which will only forward its enquiry report to the competent authority for action. The Jan Lokpal Bill, on the contrary, proposes powers to initiate prosecution after completion of investigations.</span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Loss caused to the government owing to corruption will be recovered from all the accused under the Jan Lokpal Bill. There shall be a separate fund by the name of “Lokpal fund” in which penalties/fines imposed by the Lokpal shall be deposited and in which 10% of the loss of Public Money recovered under section 19 of this Jan Lokpal Act shall also be deposited by the Government. However, there is no such provision under the Government's Lokpal Bill.</span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Government's version of the Lokpal Bill does not talk of investigation of complaints against judges unlike the Jan Lokpal Bill. However, critics are arguing against an all powerful Lokpal.</span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The Jan Lokpal Bill says that Lokpal will have power to direct disciplinary action, including dismissal of a corrupt officer from job, which the Government's Lokpal Bill misses out. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">There will not be a public grievance redressal system under the Government's Lokpal Bill. Lokpal will have the powers to order redressal in a time bound manner under the Jan Lokpal Bill. However, the NAC and MKSS are of the view that the Lokpal cannot adequately meet the requirements of a grievance redressal system.</span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">There are provisions to protect the whistleblowers under the Jan Lokpal Bill, which is completely absent in the Government's Lokpal Bill. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Lokpal will consist of three members, all of them being retired judges under the Government's Lokpal Bill. By creating so many post retirement posts for judges, the government will make the retiring judges vulnerable to government influences just before retirement as is already happening in the case of retiring bureaucrats.<span style=""> </span>According to the Jan Lokpal Bill, Lokpal would have ten members and one Chairperson. Out of them four need to have legal background (they need not be judges). Others could be from any background. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoListParagraph"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">There is no mention of the CBI's role after the Bill is enacted in the Government's Lokpal Bill. The Jan Lokpal Bill proposes that the anti-corruption wing of the CBI shall be merged with Lokpal.</span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;">* Compiled from various sources</span></i></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><i><span style="font-size:14pt;">Further readings: </span></i></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Why is RTI back in news?, <a href="http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/why-is-rti-back-in-news-6740.html">http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/why-is-rti-back-in-news-6740.html</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Anna Hazare will go on an indefinite fast from 5th April 2011 to bring anti-corruption law on the lines of “Jan Lokpal Bill”,</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/docs/Anna%20Hazare%27s%20fast%20unto%20death%20%28English%29.pdf">http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/docs/Anna%20Hazare%27s%20fast%20unto%20death%20%28English%29.pdf</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/anna.php">http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/anna.php</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Draft anti-corruption Bill,</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/civil_society_s_lokpal_bil.pdf">http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/civil_society_s_lokpal_bil.pdf</a> <span style=""> </span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Draft Lokayukta Bill,</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/Lokayukta_Bill_ver_1.5.pdf">http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/Lokayukta_Bill_ver_1.5.pdf</a> <span style=""> </span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Govt.'s Lokpal Bill,</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/Govt._s_Lokpal_Bill_2010.pdf">http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/Govt._s_Lokpal_Bill_2010.pdf</a> <span style=""> </span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Critique of Govt.'s Lokpal Bill,</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/Critique_of_Govt._s_Lokpal_Bill_2010.pdf">http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/Critique_of_Govt._s_Lokpal_Bill_2010.pdf</a> <span style=""> </span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">No nepotism in Lokpal Bill panel: Hazare, IANS, 10 April, 2011, <a href="http://dailypioneer.com/330658/No-nepotism-in-Lokpal-Bill-panel-Hazare.html">http://dailypioneer.com/330658/No-nepotism-in-Lokpal-Bill-panel-Hazare.html</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Politicians close ranks by JP Yadav, The Telegraph, 10 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110410/jsp/nation/story_13834926.jsp">http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110410/jsp/nation/story_13834926.jsp</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Nepotism cry in Anna camp, The Telegraph, 10 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110410/jsp/frontpage/story_13835024.jsp">http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110410/jsp/frontpage/story_13835024.jsp</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Ramdev hijacks graft stage for politics, The Times of India, 9 April, 2011, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ramdev-hijacks-graft-stage-for-politics/articleshow/7922725.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ramdev-hijacks-graft-stage-for-politics/articleshow/7922725.cms</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Jan Lokpal will be a ‘super' government, feels Congress by Aarti Dhar, The Hindu, 9 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/09/stories/2011040966411800.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/09/stories/2011040966411800.htm</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Jan Lokpal Bill undermines democracy: experts by Marya Shakil, IBN, 8 April, 2011, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jan-lokpal-bill-undermines-democracy-experts/148609-3.html">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jan-lokpal-bill-undermines-democracy-experts/148609-3.html</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Smell of a revolution as crowds gather to back Hazare by Neha Tara Mehta, India Today, 7 April, 2011, <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/134541/india/lokpal-bill-smell-of-a-revolution-as-crowds-gather-to-back-hazare.html">http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/134541/india/lokpal-bill-smell-of-a-revolution-as-crowds-gather-to-back-hazare.html</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Lokpal Bill: United in opposition, civil society a divided lot by Manoj Mitta, The Times of India, 7 April, 2011, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lokpal-Bill-United-in-opposition-civil-society-a-divided-lot/articleshow/7892019.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lokpal-Bill-United-in-opposition-civil-society-a-divided-lot/articleshow/7892019.cms</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Anna Hazare rejects govt offer of informal panel to rewrite Bill, The Indian Express, 7 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/anna-hazare-rejects-govt-offer-of-informal-panel-t.../773025/">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/anna-hazare-rejects-govt-offer-of-informal-panel-t.../773025/</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Govt, Hazare supporters agree to talk again, IBN, 7 April, 2011, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/govt-hazare-supporters-agree-to-talk-again/148545-3.html">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/govt-hazare-supporters-agree-to-talk-again/148545-3.html</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Hazare insists on joint panel to draft Lokpal Bill, Live Mint, 7 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.livemint.com/2011/04/07125908/Hazare-insists-on-joint-panel.html?h=A1">http://www.livemint.com/2011/04/07125908/Hazare-insists-on-joint-panel.html?h=A1</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">BJP & CPM on activist side by JP Yadav, The Telegraph, 7 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110407/jsp/nation/story_13821901.jsp">http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110407/jsp/nation/story_13821901.jsp</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Focus on Jan Lokpal Bill, The Hindu, 7 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/07/stories/2011040760320400.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/07/stories/2011040760320400.htm</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Centre says it's ready for talks with Anna Hazare by Sandeep Joshi, The Hindu, 7 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/07/stories/2011040763400100.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/07/stories/2011040763400100.htm</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Of the few, by the few by Pratap Bhanu Mehta, The Indian Express, 7 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/of-the-few-by-the-few/772773/0">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/of-the-few-by-the-few/772773/0</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Cracks appear in Anna’s team, Govt plans to reach out by Seema Chishti and Maneesh Chhibber, Express India, 7 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Cracks-appear-in-Annas-team-Govt-plans-to-reach-out/772834/">http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Cracks-appear-in-Annas-team-Govt-plans-to-reach-out/772834/</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Lokpal Bill: Government vs Anna Hazare, IBN, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/lokpal-bill-government-vs-anna-hazare/148415-3.html">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/lokpal-bill-government-vs-anna-hazare/148415-3.html</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Hazare fast: people heckle, chase out politicos, IBN, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/politicos-heckled-not-allowed-to-meet-hazare/148450-37-64.html">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/politicos-heckled-not-allowed-to-meet-hazare/148450-37-64.html</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Sharad Pawar quits GoM on Lokpal bill, IBN, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sharad-pawar-quits-gom-on-corruption/148466-37-64.html">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sharad-pawar-quits-gom-on-corruption/148466-37-64.html</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Don't insult this movement, Hazare tells Manmohan, The Times of India, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dont-insult-this-movement-Hazare-tells-Manmohan/articleshow/7884785.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dont-insult-this-movement-Hazare-tells-Manmohan/articleshow/7884785.cms</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Anna Hazare's anti-graft campaign gathers steam, IBN, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anna-hazares-antigraft-campaign-gathers-steam/148396-3.html">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anna-hazares-antigraft-campaign-gathers-steam/148396-3.html</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">On day Anna Hazare begins fast, NAC too calls for lokpal debate, The Times of India, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/On-day-Anna-Hazare-begins-fast-NAC-too-calls-for-lokpal-debate/articleshow/7880511.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/On-day-Anna-Hazare-begins-fast-NAC-too-calls-for-lokpal-debate/articleshow/7880511.cms</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Lokpal Bill: Anna Hazare continues fast, slams Congress for misleading people, The Times of India, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lokpal-Bill-Anna-Hazare-continues-fast-slams-Congress-for-misleading-people/articleshow/7882342.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lokpal-Bill-Anna-Hazare-continues-fast-slams-Congress-for-misleading-people/articleshow/7882342.cms</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Hazare rejects Pawar's offer to quit from Lokpal Bill GoM, ANI, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://in.news.yahoo.com/hazare-rejects-pawars-offer-quit-lokpal-bill-gom-20110406-050516-000.html">http://in.news.yahoo.com/hazare-rejects-pawars-offer-quit-lokpal-bill-gom-20110406-050516-000.html</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">A soldier rises against the government by G Vishnu, Tehelka, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=Ws060411ACTIVISM.asp">http://tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=Ws060411ACTIVISM.asp</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Anna Hazare's fast against corruption strikes huge chord, NDTV, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/anna-hazares-fast-against-corruption-strikes-huge-chord-96593">http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/anna-hazares-fast-against-corruption-strikes-huge-chord-96593</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">War against corruption: Anna fasts for graft law by Rupashree Nanda, IBN, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/war-against-corruption-anna-fasts-for-graft-law/148339-3.html">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/war-against-corruption-anna-fasts-for-graft-law/148339-3.html</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Hazare's action premature: Congress by Smita Gupta, The Hindu, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/06/stories/2011040662711200.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/06/stories/2011040662711200.htm</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">BJP seeks all-party meeting on Lokpal Bill, The Hindu, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/06/stories/2011040655071100.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/06/stories/2011040655071100.htm</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Mumbai rallies behind Hazare in anti-corruption drive by Vinaya Deshpande, The Hindu, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/06/stories/2011040662701200.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/06/stories/2011040662701200.htm</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">He should have waited, says Santosh Hegde by Sudipto Mondal, The Hindu, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/06/stories/2011040662691200.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/06/stories/2011040662691200.htm</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">'It's Sharad Pawar's old habit to indulge in corruption', Rediff.com, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-corruption-a-bigger-threat-to-india-than-pakistan-says-anna-hazare/20110406.htm">http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-corruption-a-bigger-threat-to-india-than-pakistan-says-anna-hazare/20110406.htm</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Anna Hazare begins fast-unto-death by Jiby Kattakayam, The Hindu, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/06/stories/2011040653261300.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/06/stories/2011040653261300.htm</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Why Hazare, others oppose govt's Lokpal Bill 2010, NDTV, 5 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/why-hazare-others-oppose-govts-jan-lokpal-bill-2010-96609">http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/why-hazare-others-oppose-govts-jan-lokpal-bill-2010-96609</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">What is the Jan Lokpal Bill, why it's important?, NDTV, 5 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/anna-hazares-fast-against-corruption-strikes-huge-chord-96593">http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/anna-hazares-fast-against-corruption-strikes-huge-chord-96593</a></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The fatal flaws in the government's Lokpal Bill by Iftikhar Gilani, Tehelka, 5 April, 2011, <a href="http://tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=Ws050411ACTIVISM.asp">http://tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=Ws050411ACTIVISM.asp</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Lokpal vs Jan Lokpal: A study in contrast, India Today, 5 April, 2011, <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/134429/latest-headlines/lokpal-vs-jan-lokpal-a-study-in-contrast.html">http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/134429/latest-headlines/lokpal-vs-jan-lokpal-a-study-in-contrast.html</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Indian activist Anna Hazare begins anti-graft fast, BBC, 5 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12968151">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12968151</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Former soldier Anna Hazare now fights for Lokpal Bill by Makarand Gadgil, Live Mint, 5 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.livemint.com/2011/04/05224435/Former-soldier-Anna-Hazare-now.html">http://www.livemint.com/2011/04/05224435/Former-soldier-Anna-Hazare-now.html</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Anna Hazare's fast unto death for Jan Lokpal Bill begins today, NDTV, 5 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/delhi/anna-hazares-fast-unto-death-for-jan-lokpal-bill-begins-today-96454">http://www.ndtv.com/article/delhi/anna-hazares-fast-unto-death-for-jan-lokpal-bill-begins-today-96454</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">PMO appeals to Hazare to give up fast plan by Smita Gupta, The Hindu, 5 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/05/stories/2011040562881600.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/05/stories/2011040562881600.htm</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">FAQ: What is Lok Pal Bill? Why the ruckus over it? by Kaushiki Sanyal, Rediff.com, Rediff.com, 5 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-faq-what-is-lok-pal-bill/20110405.htm">http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-faq-what-is-lok-pal-bill/20110405.htm</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Anna Hazare plans fast unto death for strong Lokpal bill, IANS, 4 April, 2011, <a href="http://in.news.yahoo.com/anna-hazare-plans-fast-unto-death-strong-lokpal-20110404-071415-968.html">http://in.news.yahoo.com/anna-hazare-plans-fast-unto-death-strong-lokpal-20110404-071415-968.html</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Consultation shows consensus on Lokpal Bill may not be easy by Smita Gupta, The Hindu, 4 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/04/stories/2011040457531400.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/04/stories/2011040457531400.htm</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Lokpal Bill: ‘no precedent for a joint committee' by Smita Gupta, The Hindu, 30 March, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/30/stories/2011033066621700.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/30/stories/2011033066621700.htm</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Aruna Roy, Magsaysay award winner and former bureaucrat interviewed by Danish Raza, Governance Now, 21 March, 2011,</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.governancenow.com/views/interview/lobbies-backed-bureaucrats-working-sabotage-rti">http://www.governancenow.com/views/interview/lobbies-backed-bureaucrats-working-sabotage-rti</a> </span></span></div>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-45589359021451463302011-04-15T15:17:00.002+05:302011-04-15T15:20:49.045+05:30Global Crop Outlook 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" 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priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:lsdexception> </w:lsdexception><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"<span title="Click to correct" class="transl_class" id="0">साधारण</span> <span title="Click to correct" class="transl_class" id="1">तालिका</span>"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The Crop Prospects and Food Situation report of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released in March, 2011 paints a gloomy picture of world wheat production for the present year. It says that although world wheat production in 2011 will increase by 3.4 percent as compared to 2010 to reach the level of 676 million tonnes, production would still be lesser than the bumper harvests of 2008 and 2009. Prospects for 2011 winter crops i.e. wheat and barley remains favourable for India and Pakistan. Prospects for irrigation based rice harvest are also strong in 2011 for India despite weather irregularities. However, rice prices could soar in 2011 in India.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">As per the second advance estimates released by Ministry of Agriculture on 9.2.2011, production of foodgrains during 2010-11 is estimated at 232.07 million tonnes compared to 218.11 million tonnes last year. This is only marginally below the record production of 234.47 million tonnes of foodgrains in 2008-09. The country is likely to achieve record production of wheat (81.47 million tonnes), pulses (16.51 million tonnes) and cotton (33.93 million bales of 170 kg. each) in 2010-11. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;">Crop prospect around the world</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Due to the existence of inflationary forces as price signals globally, production side is going to receive strong responses. Increased yield recovery along with more plantings in Russia and Ukraine are expected to increase wheat production. Unlike the United States, larger plantings have been forecasted in Canada. Despite easing of drought situation in North Plain by recent precipitation, uncertainty over wheat production looms large in China. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Kazakhstan will maintain high planting level due to strong prices thus ensuring higher production.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Significant increase in wheat production is likely to be achieved in North Africa. Yields would return to average after bumper levels in 2010 for Australia and Argentina. Unlike Argentina and Uruguay, prospects of maize production are favourable in Brazil owing to good rainfall. Similarly, prospect for coarse grain production is positive in South Africa, Malawi and Zambia. Japan is going to face setback in rice production in the aftermath of tsunami.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The first 2011 season rice crop will see production increases in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia and Uruguay.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The report also adds that the estimate for world wheat production in 2010 now stands at almost 654 million tonnes, 1 million tonnes above FAO's December forecast but still some 4 percent less than in 2009. Similarly, the estimate for coarse grain output is now put at 1117 million tonnes, 7 million tonnes up from the previous forecast due to favourable increased estimates for China, India, Ethiopia and Sudan. There has been a downward revision in rice production in India due to which estimate for global rice production in 2010 remains unchanged. World cereal stock in 2010/11 fell due to decline in world production in 2010 and rise in demand. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;">Price situation</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Inflationary forces are keeping international prices of cereals buoyant. Wheat prices are likely to skyrocket due to widespread hoarding. Higher prices of wheat, rice, sugar and dairy products pushed the FAO Food Price Index – a measure of basic food prices at the international level to 236 points in February, up 2.2 per cent from January, the highest record in real and nominal terms, since the Rome-based agency started monitoring prices in 1990. The Cereal Price Index, which includes prices of main food staples such as wheat, rice and maize, rose by 3.7 percent in February (254 points), the highest level since July 2008. World Bank’s food price index, rose by 15 per cent between October and January and is now only 3 per cent below its 2008 peak.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The key challenges before world agriculture as identified by the United Nations are: soaring prices, weather-related disasters such as droughts, floods and fires, political changes and instability that are disrupting food supply chains and under-investment in agriculture.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><i><span style="font-size:14pt;">Further readings:</span></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Global wheat production to increase in 2011,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/53813/icode/">http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/53813/icode/</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Crop Prospects and Food Situation, No. 1, March, 2011,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/al977e/al977e00.pdf">http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/al977e/al977e00.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Recent oil price surge adds to concerns over high food prices, FAO, 3 March, 2011, <a href="http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/51913/icode/">http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/51913/icode/</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Global food prices increase for eighth straight month, UN agency reports, The United Nations, 3 March, 2011,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37671&Cr=food+prices&Cr1">http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37671&Cr=food+prices&Cr1</a>= </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">UN food experts call for increased agricultural investment to offset soaring prices, The United Nations, 18 February, 2011,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37570&Cr=food+prices&Cr1">http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37570&Cr=food+prices&Cr1</a>= </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Wheat Hoarding Likely to Be `Widespread,' Prompting Price Gains, UN Says by Luzi Ann Javier, Bloomberg, 10 February, 2011, <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-10/un-sees-risk-of-widespread-hoarding-as-wheat-prices-jump-on-china-drought.html">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-10/un-sees-risk-of-widespread-hoarding-as-wheat-prices-jump-on-china-drought.html</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Rising Food Prices May Not Signal New Crisis by Aprille Muscara, IPS News, 4 February, 2011, <a href="http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54366">http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54366</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Govt may lift ban on export of wheat by Sanjeeb Mukherjee, The Business Standard, 12 March, 2011, </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/govt-may-lift-banexportwheat/428265/">http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/govt-may-lift-banexportwheat/428265/</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://agricoop.nic.in/Agenda2011.pdf">http://agricoop.nic.in/Agenda2011.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Commerce dept wants wheat export ban lifted, The Economic Times, 9 March, 2011, <a href="http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-03-09/news/28672511_1_minimum-export-price-ban-on-wheat-exports-ponni-and-matta">http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-03-09/news/28672511_1_minimum-export-price-ban-on-wheat-exports-ponni-and-matta</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Wheat prices climb after Russia cuts crop forecast, The Associated Press, 18 March, 2011, <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9M1RE9O0.htm">http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9M1RE9O0.htm</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> </w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:latentstyles></xml>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-91091936275909338462011-04-12T17:23:00.011+05:302011-04-28T14:33:39.146+05:30Heil Hazare!<span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGONAEMtPVR3oFiJ22UumYk8R578LFgQS92ysfQLgu1nhycigFm6TZgBPAbtE57MzC9H1VbINb8k7nZXE0-cZrALkiLefd5pQKx9vpx6bBGHejez0m-RqJHBFJhQWKCs1nujbcr4DqAY/s1600/Hazare.jpg"><img style="text-align: justify; float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGONAEMtPVR3oFiJ22UumYk8R578LFgQS92ysfQLgu1nhycigFm6TZgBPAbtE57MzC9H1VbINb8k7nZXE0-cZrALkiLefd5pQKx9vpx6bBGHejez0m-RqJHBFJhQWKCs1nujbcr4DqAY/s400/Hazare.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594664804181886530" border="0" /></a></span><span><div style="text-align: justify;">Deng Xiaoping once told that it doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, so long as it catches mice. Hazare's fast against corruption was something similar to Deng's cat, which didn't care much about the means (ideology) but was worried about the end (Jan Lokpal law) desperately.</div></span></span><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span>Probably, Hazare who is less educated (studied till class VII) than most of our social activists (Patkar got involved in Narmada Bachao Andolan while she was doing her M.Phil. from TISS; Aruna Roy was a civil servant; Swami Agnivesh was a full-fledged Business Management lecturer at St. Xavier's college, Calcutta once upon a time) thought that anything could be said against Indian democracy and the progressive elements in the government and the opposition (leave aside Sharad Pawar here) in the midst of media frenzy at Jantar Mantar. The Jan Lokpal Bill proposed to subvert representative democracy by bureaucratizing the process of selection of the Lokpal members. It was talking about concentrating power in one institution.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span>The middle class could not realize this since they knew little about social activism and the leaders despite relying on social media. Still they were pulled towards that venue in Delhi, where Hazare was fasting much like the media persons on a futile basis that something was going to erupt similar to Egypt or Tunisia. Whatever followed later was nothing but mass hysteria that grabbed the attention of the entire nation for nearly a week.<span> </span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span>Anna was enterprising enough to woo salwar clad TV journalists, who flocked him as soon as they found equal opportunity of interviewing other bigwigs like Magsaysay winner Arvind Kejriwal or eminent lawyer Prashant Bhusan. It was a season of do or die for the journos. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span>It may be true that the father, son and the holy ghost (Hazare himself) trio are present in the Lokpal draft Joint Committee now (please don't confuse me with Baba Ramdev), but I am worried about the kind of support Hazare is further going to provide to the right wing under the garb of an anti-corruption law.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span>Anna knew that the RSS and its fraternal organizations could co-opt his mission, which made him to end his fast so soon. (I realized after visiting Jantar Mantar the other day that the place has become a Peepli Live like mela where shakha pracharaks were found in abundance shouting Bharat Mata ki Jai, Vande Mataram). Later Anna had nothing left but to voice his support for BJP and some of its leaders.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span>But there are others who feel that Hazare's ghost could be seen on numerous occasions waving hand to Chhatrapati Shivaji and his followers in the political history of Maharastra. Perhaps this is the reason why his version of Gandhianism is more violent, sectarian and unsafe compared to the Government's version of the Lokpal Bill. What do you think?</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><div style="font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><i><span><br /></span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><i><span>Further readings: </span></i></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><xml><w:worddocument><w:trackmoves><w:trackformatting><w:punctuationkerning><w:validateagainstschemas><w:donotpromoteqf><w:compatibility><w:breakwrappedtables><w:snaptogridincell><w:wraptextwithpunct><w:useasianbreakrules><w:dontgrowautofit><w:splitpgbreakandparamark><w:dontvertaligncellwithsp><w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables><w:dontvertalignintxbx><w:word11kerningpairs><w:browserlevel></w:browserlevel> <m:mathpr><m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"><m:brkbin val="before"><m:brkbinsub val=""><m:smallfrac val="off"><m:dispdef><m:lmargin val="0"><m:rmargin val="0"><m:defjc val="centerGroup"><m:wrapindent val="1440"><m:intlim val="subSup"><m:narylim 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class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" >Citizen Anna and agent Prashant by Rashmee Roshan Lall, The Times of India, 10 April, 2011,</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/Citizen-Anna-and-agent-Prashant/articleshow/7931100.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/Citizen-Anna-and-agent-Prashant/articleshow/7931100.cms</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Jan Lok Pal is no solution, </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.dailypioneer.com/330414/Jan-Lok-Pal-is-no-solution.html">http://www.dailypioneer.com/330414/Jan-Lok-Pal-is-no-solution.html</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Tavleen Singh: A despotic Jan Lokpal Bill is not the solution</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://luthfispace.blogspot.com/2011/04/tavleen-singh-despotic-jan-lokpal-bill.html">http://luthfispace.blogspot.com/2011/04/tavleen-singh-despotic-jan-lokpal-bill.html</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The Hazare hazard, 6 April, 2011</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/the-hazare-hazard-/431045/">http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/the-hazare-hazard-/431045/</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Against Jan Lok Pal and the politics of hunger strikes</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://acorn.nationalinterest.in/2011/04/08/against-jan-lok-pal-and-the-politics-of-hunger-strikes/">http://acorn.nationalinterest.in/2011/04/08/against-jan-lok-pal-and-the-politics-of-hunger-strikes/</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Anna Hazare is good. But Jan Lokpal Bill is an institutional nightmare.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://luthfispace.blogspot.com/2011/04/anna-hazare-is-good-but-jan-lokpal-bill.html">http://luthfispace.blogspot.com/2011/04/anna-hazare-is-good-but-jan-lokpal-bill.html</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Vital Stats: Corruption cases against government officials, PRS Legislative Research, </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.prsindia.org/administrator/uploads/general/1302269425%7E%7EVital%20Stats%20-%20Corruption%20cases%20against%20government%20officials%2008Apr11.pdf">http://www.prsindia.org/administrator/uploads/general/1302269425~~Vital%20Stats%20-%20Corruption%20cases%20against%20government%20officials%2008Apr11.pdf</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Deconstructing the Anna Hazare campaign by Vidya Subrahmaniam, The Hindu, 16 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/16/stories/2011041652881000.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/16/stories/2011041652881000.htm</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Anna Hazare, others declare assets, The Hindu, 16 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/16/stories/2011041662461600.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/16/stories/2011041662461600.htm</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Lokpal bill will fight graft at centre, not states: N. Santosh Hegde, IANS, 15 April, 2011, <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/lokpal-bill-will-fight-graft-at-centre-not-states-n-santosh-hegde/articleshow/7988121.cms">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/lokpal-bill-will-fight-graft-at-centre-not-states-n-santosh-hegde/articleshow/7988121.cms</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Hazare's Lokpal campaign cost over Rs 50 lakh, The Economic Times, 15 April, 2011, <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/hazares-lokpal-campaign-cost-over-rs-50-lakh/articleshow/7986762.cms">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/hazares-lokpal-campaign-cost-over-rs-50-lakh/articleshow/7986762.cms</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Of fast and fasting by Gopalkrishna Gandhi, The Telegraph, 14 April, 2011, <a href="http://telegraphindia.com/1110414/jsp/opinion/story_13839314.jsp">http://telegraphindia.com/1110414/jsp/opinion/story_13839314.jsp</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Anna Hazare and 4 others on Lokpal panel to declare assets on Friday, The Economic Times, 14 April, 2011, <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/anna-hazare-and-4-others-on-lokpal-panel-to-declare-assets-on-friday/articleshow/7982766.cms">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/anna-hazare-and-4-others-on-lokpal-panel-to-declare-assets-on-friday/articleshow/7982766.cms</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sharmila accuses Centre of “double standards” by Iboyaima Laithangbam, The Hindu, 14 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/14/stories/2011041465202200.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/14/stories/2011041465202200.htm</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Why I didn’t join Anna Hazare by Javed Anand, The Indian Express, 14 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/why-i-didnt-join-anna-hazare/775806/">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/why-i-didnt-join-anna-hazare/775806/</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Hazare clarifies remarks on Modi, but activists unrelenting by Manas Dasgupta, The Hindu, 13 April, 2011,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/13/stories/2011041364651600.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/13/stories/2011041364651600.htm</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Why this sordid surrender? by CL Manoj, The Economic Times, 13 April, 2011, <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/guest-writer/why-this-sordid-surrender/articleshow/7968458.cms">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/guest-writer/why-this-sordid-surrender/articleshow/7968458.cms</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Lokpal Bill should include PM too, says Santosh Hegde by Manu Aiyappa, The Times of India, 13 April, 2011, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Lokpal-Bill-should-include-PM-too-says-Santosh-Hegde/articleshow/7966717.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Lokpal-Bill-should-include-PM-too-says-Santosh-Hegde/articleshow/7966717.cms</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Disquiet over Modi in Anna Hazare's camp by Manoj Mitta, The Times of India, 13 April, 2011, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Disquiet-over-Modi-in-Anna-Hazares-camp/articleshow/7968020.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Disquiet-over-Modi-in-Anna-Hazares-camp/articleshow/7968020.cms</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Lokpal Bill must cover NGOs, corporates: Digvijaya, The Indian Express, 13 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Lokpal-Bill-must-cover-NGOs--corporates--Digvijaya/775346/">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Lokpal-Bill-must-cover-NGOs--corporates--Digvijaya/775346/</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Anna optimistic, but lokayuktas fail in states by Sumit Pande, CNN-IBN, 12 April, 2011, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anna-optimistic-but-lokayuktas-fail-in-states/149049-3.html">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anna-optimistic-but-lokayuktas-fail-in-states/149049-3.html</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Anna Hazare and Jan Lokpal Bill may fail by Priyankan Goswami, Times of Assam, 9 April, 2011 </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.timesofassam.com/headlines/anna-hazare-and-jan-lokpal-bill-may-fail">http://www.timesofassam.com/headlines/anna-hazare-and-jan-lokpal-bill-may-fail</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Why tar all politicians with the same brush? The Indian Express, 12 April, 2011, </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/why-tar-all-politicians-with-the-same-brush/774797/">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/why-tar-all-politicians-with-the-same-brush/774797/</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The seeds of authoritarianism by Neera Chandhoke, The Indian Express, 12 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-seeds-of-authoritarianism/774794/">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-seeds-of-authoritarianism/774794/</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Rs 100, a sari, a bottle, The Indian Express, 12 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rs-100-a-sari-a-bottle/774804/">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rs-100-a-sari-a-bottle/774804/</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Anna Hazare and India’s return to the 1970s by Siddharth Bhatia, Live Mint, 11 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.livemint.com/2011/04/11213538/Anna-Hazare-and-India8217s.html">http://www.livemint.com/2011/04/11213538/Anna-Hazare-and-India8217s.html</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The problem with the Jan Lokpal bill & Hunger Strikes</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://politicsmonitor.com/?p=340">http://politicsmonitor.com/?p=340</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Contrarian view on Jan Lokpal Bill: Conversation with Kartikeya Tanna</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.barandbench.com/brief/2/1395/contrarian-view-on-jan-lokpal-bill-conversation-with-kartikeya-tanna">http://www.barandbench.com/brief/2/1395/contrarian-view-on-jan-lokpal-bill-conversation-with-kartikeya-tanna</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The Making of Anna Hazare, <a href="http://kafila.org/2011/04/12/the-making-of-anna-hazare/">http://kafila.org/2011/04/12/the-making-of-anna-hazare/</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Civil Society - Effective but Limited and Contextual by Roshan Kishore, Pragoti, 8 April, 2011, <a href="http://pragoti.org/node/4354">http://pragoti.org/node/4354</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The Anna Hazare Show by Manu Joseph, </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://openthemagazine.com/article/voices/the-anna-hazare-show">http://openthemagazine.com/article/voices/the-anna-hazare-show</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The Jagran At Jantar Mantar by Saba Naqvi, Outlook, 10 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?271279">http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?271279</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Lokpal Bill: Aruna Roy for “broad, public consultation” by Vidya Subrahmaniam, The Hindu, 10 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1683010.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1683010.ece</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Politics vs populism by Sanjaya Baru, The Business Standard, 11 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/sanjaya-baru-politics-vs-populism/431690/">http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/sanjaya-baru-politics-vs-populism/431690/</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Politicians close ranks by JP Yadav, The Telegraph, 10 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110410/jsp/nation/story_13834926.jsp" target="_blank">http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110410/jsp/nation/story_13834926.jsp</a><br /><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Civil society’s unreal politics, Live Mint, 10 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.livemint.com/2011/04/10210019/Civil-society8217s-unreal-p.html">http://www.livemint.com/2011/04/10210019/Civil-society8217s-unreal-p.html</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">No nepotism in Lokpal Bill panel: Hazare, IANS, 10 April, 2011, <a href="http://dailypioneer.com/330658/No-nepotism-in-Lokpal-Bill-panel-Hazare.html" target="_blank">http://dailypioneer.com/330658/No-nepotism-in-Lokpal-Bill-panel-Hazare.html</a><br /><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Nepotism cry in Anna camp, The Telegraph, 10 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110410/jsp/frontpage/story_13835024.jsp" target="_blank">http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110410/jsp/frontpage/story_13835024.jsp</a><br /><br />Ramdev hijacks graft stage for politics, The Times of India, 9 April, 2011, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ramdev-hijacks-graft-stage-for-politics/articleshow/7922725.cms" target="_blank">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ramdev-hijacks-graft-stage-for-politics/articleshow/7922725.cms</a><br /><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Baba Ramdev backtracks, says no problem with Bhushans, The Indian Express, 10 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/baba-ramdev-backtracks-says-no-problem-with-bhushans/774274/">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/baba-ramdev-backtracks-says-no-problem-with-bhushans/774274/</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Despite Ramdev's objections, Hazare with us: Shanti Bhushan, The Indian Express, 10 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/despite-ramdevs-objections-hazare-with-us-shanti-bhushan/774252/">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/despite-ramdevs-objections-hazare-with-us-shanti-bhushan/774252/</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />Jan Lokpal will be a ‘super' government, feels Congress by Aarti Dhar, The Hindu, 9 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/09/stories/2011040966411800.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/09/stories/2011040966411800.htm</a><br /><br />Jan Lokpal Bill undermines democracy: experts by Marya Shakil, IBN, 8 April, 2011, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jan-lokpal-bill-undermines-democracy-experts/148609-3.html" target="_blank">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jan-lokpal-bill-undermines-democracy-experts/148609-3.html</a><br /><br />Of the few, by the few by Pratap Bhanu Mehta, The Indian Express, 7 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/of-the-few-by-the-few/772773/0" target="_blank">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/of-the-few-by-the-few/772773/0</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Arrest-release boosts Akhil Gogoi’s movement by Syed Miraz Ahmed, The Assam Times, 11 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.assamtimes.org/hot-news/4920.html">http://www.assamtimes.org/hot-news/4920.html</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Drafting of Lokpal Bill to be videographed: Anna Hazare, Yahoo.com, 10 April, 2011, <a href="http://in.news.yahoo.com/drafting-lokpal-bill-videographed-anna-hazare-20110410-044019-768.html">http://in.news.yahoo.com/drafting-lokpal-bill-videographed-anna-hazare-20110410-044019-768.html</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Lokpal bill in monsoon session, fast track courts for corruption cases, The Indian Express, 9 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/lokpal-bill-in-monsoon-session-fast-track-courts-for-corruption-cases/774003/">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/lokpal-bill-in-monsoon-session-fast-track-courts-for-corruption-cases/774003/</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Lokpal Bill: United in opposition, civil society a divided lot by Manoj Mitta, The Times of India, 7 April, 2011, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lokpal-Bill-United-in-opposition-civil-society-a-divided-lot/articleshow/7892019.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lokpal-Bill-United-in-opposition-civil-society-a-divided-lot/articleshow/7892019.cms</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The fatal flaws in the government's Lokpal Bill by Iftikhar Gilani, Tehelka, 5 April, 2011, <a href="http://tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=Ws050411ACTIVISM.asp">http://tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=Ws050411ACTIVISM.asp</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Lokpal vs Jan Lokpal: A study in contrast, India Today, 5 April, 2011, <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/134429/latest-headlines/lokpal-vs-jan-lokpal-a-study-in-contrast.html">http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/134429/latest-headlines/lokpal-vs-jan-lokpal-a-study-in-contrast.html</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Lokpal Bill: Government vs Anna Hazare, IBN, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/lokpal-bill-government-vs-anna-hazare/148415-3.html">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/lokpal-bill-government-vs-anna-hazare/148415-3.html</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Cracks appear in Anna’s team, Govt plans to reach out by Seema Chishti and Maneesh Chhibber, Express India, 7 April, 2011, <a href="http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Cracks-appear-in-Annas-team-Govt-plans-to-reach-out/772834/">http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Cracks-appear-in-Annas-team-Govt-plans-to-reach-out/772834/</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sharad Pawar quits GoM on Lokpal bill, IBN, 6 April, 2011, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sharad-pawar-quits-gom-on-corruption/148466-37-64.html">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sharad-pawar-quits-gom-on-corruption/148466-37-64.html</a></span><br /></p> </span>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-85319401858066287602011-04-08T22:31:00.006+05:302011-04-11T20:57:18.915+05:30When Politicians Control Television What Happens To Journalism?<span class="Apple-style-span"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsx1NB3Xg6lMIyYB2mpCoIqeSur8IWCCcVqI5hPYxQ_miBjhapD3PVWeB18MuXcrzuyu_-2oRJKnee_25RKl9eu_6wQOJBIiKrSKh1oZK0uhA7XBRSA6JqSdZQW91KPfEMj2Froumk1W8/s1600/FMP+Media+Dialogue+17.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsx1NB3Xg6lMIyYB2mpCoIqeSur8IWCCcVqI5hPYxQ_miBjhapD3PVWeB18MuXcrzuyu_-2oRJKnee_25RKl9eu_6wQOJBIiKrSKh1oZK0uhA7XBRSA6JqSdZQW91KPfEMj2Froumk1W8/s200/FMP+Media+Dialogue+17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593260118150087810" border="0" /></a><br /></span><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black;">In its 17<sup>th</sup> media dialogue series, the Foundation for Media Professionals (<a href="http://www.fmp.org.in/">www.fmp.org.in</a>) along with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (</span></span><a href="http://www.fes-india.org/">http://www.fes-india.org/</a>) <span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black;">organized a panel discussion titled: <i>When Politicians Control Television What Happens to Journalism?</i> The discussion took place at India International Centre Auditorium on 8 April, 2011. In her introduction, Shalini Singh (senior assistant editor at The Times of India) mentioned that media is a serious business. She asked whether businessmen can run the media industry. Conflict of interest may arise when businessmen become politicians and run the media business. She announced that the Foundation for Media Professionals supports several provisions of the (Jan) Lokpal Bill.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The panel comprised of the following: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Vanita Kohli-Khandekar, author of 'The Indian Media Business,' and media columnist in the Business Standard<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Kanwar Sandhu, Founder and Managing Editor, Day & Night News, Chandigarh (Sandhu was former editor, Hindustan Times, Chandigarh and former resident editor, Indian Express, Chandigarh edition).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sanjay Salil, Founder and Managing Director, MediaGuru (this is an organization that has set up the following TV channels: Channel 7 (now IBN 7), Sakshi TV, Manorama TV, News 24 (of Congress MP Rajiv Shukla), Newslive (Assam's leading channel), among others.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Jay Panda, Member of Parliament, Biju Janta Dal from Kendrapara Parliament Constituency, Odisha.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sashi Kumar, Chairman, Asian School of Journalism and former founder of Asianet <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Teresa Rehman, senior journalist from North East India<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Vivian Fernandes, Editor, Special Features, CNBC-TV18 moderated the discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Vivian Fernandes explained the reason behind holding the panel discussion. He said that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has licensed many channels. There are 122 functional channels out of which nearly 40 are owned by political leaders/ parties. Kairali TV is backed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Similarly, JaiHind TV is supported by the Congress party in Kerala. Fernandes asked whether one should be alarmed by the rising number of channels owned by politicians. Rupert Murdoch is known as a media mogul as he owns various news channels. Murdoch wanted Sky News network of Britain to go down a polemical 'Fox-style' route. The Reddy brothers have opened up a channel after a programme called Mining Republic was aired by CNN-IBN. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sanjay Salil shared his experience of working with politicians in the media industry. He said that he has worked with top 5 politicians both inside and outside India. One set of politicians ask not to worry about the budget. In such cases, there is lack of transparency. Some politicians are however sensible in spending. Newslive and NE TV are run rationally. For some politicians who run the television channels, the motive is not only to influence but also to do business. However, their budget is 20-25 percent more compared to the rest. When operational cost gets higher, the checks and balances are introduced. TV stations cannot be owned by the journalists since the minimum threshold to enter has been raised to Rs. 100 crore. So, the real estate companies are entering into the media business. Salil informed that Asianet did not carry Manorama news. Manorama news has not paid any carriage fee till now. He reminded the audience about the Uma Khurana case, when the TV channel Live India did a sting operation without verifying. The channel was banned for a month and the reporter behind the sting was arrested and sent to Tihar jail. However, Live India is now a growing channel. He asked whom to blame for poor content—politicians or journalists. For 95 percent journalists, there is no external pressure. Only the 5 percent at the top face pressure. There is no need to blame politicians for everything. Journalists face pressure when they open the door to politicians. He informed that regional newspapers are owned by the politicians. Common man is wiser than what we think. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Teresa Rehman told that Newslive is a popular channel in the North East. Media coverage of the assembly polls in Assam is revolutionary. There are 4 news media channels in Assam. One may ask from where the money is coming from for running these channels. The question is who the real stakeholders are in these channels. There are 2 news channels which are owned by people based in Kolkata who run chit fund companies. There should be a level playing field. The North East is cruelly marginalized by the mainstream media. The quality of journalism in North East is poor. People do not necessarily like all the content shown on TV. There exists only 10 percent journalism and the rest is technical. Massive corruption in the media could be observed and editors indulge in unscrupulous activities. Privacy of the people is not cared while TV reporting takes place. It would be wrong to presume that rubbish is liked by the audience. Politicians are using the names of TV channels in their speeches. Low salaries are being offered in local channels in Assam. There is need for media ombudsman. She asked whether channels become fair and objective when politicians do not own them. Rehman shared her experience of reporting despite scarce resources because of her spirit and passion. Her voice has not been stifled in the North East, she claimed. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sashi Kumar noted that Tamil Nadu is an extreme example of how media is politicized. News channels are owned by politicians. Jaya TV and Sun TV are arch rivals and they are deeply politicized. There are 3 channels which are owned by the Congress and one channel owned by the PMK. One cannot be sure that politically owned channels are worse than the neutral channels. A politically owned channel may be better than a surrogate or proxy channel. The Hindu NDTV channel is city based and lacks enough outreach. In the neighborhood state Kerala, political and commercial channels coexist. Andhra Pradesh is a good case of surrogate channels. It is the regional language channels and not the English language channels that are making profits. There are problems associated with distribution. Getting license is easier. If content is the King, then distribution is the God. DTH operation is a big scam. Cross media restrictions are strong in the US. Only a handful of people own the media worldwide. Political capitalism has emerged lately. Politicians are getting associated with media. Sarkozy influences the French media. Regulation does not mean censorship but to provide level playing field. There exists no free market competition among the media houses. Media is owned by the corporates. There are strong entry barriers artificially created by the Government. Average starting cost for a channel is Rs. 15-20 crore. Giving people what they want is not going to work for serious media. Earlier there was more demand for TV journalism courses. Now the trend has changed and there is demand for print journalism courses. News channels cannot insult the viewers. In India, the redressal mechanism is slow and weak. The audience cannot sue a channel. TV viewers are not considered as consumers. The credibility of some news channels cannot be improved. The dharma of journalism is not getting fulfilled. The problem is with unethical journalism. Journalists should insulate themselves from politicians. Journalists are engaging in extra-journalistic practices. Every journalist must follow his/ her own guideline. Many scams have surfaced because of independent news channels. Human frailty brings journalists close to politicians. TRP is not the last thing for advertisements to come. Young journalists have the potential to change the trend. Politicians cannot be stopped from owning TV channels. It is fait accompli. But safeguards can be strengthened. There is a decline of the role of editor. Today editor is the CEO who has to see the financial bottomline. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Kanwar Sandhu said that in the past, there were a lot of discussions on paid news and private treaties. But it has been a good idea to raise the issue of TV ownership. The way television channels are owned in India one may call it a complete blackout. In Punjab, there exist surrogate channels. Politicians in Punjab have learnt the art of not owning TV channels but know how to control them. IPTV is new. Tata Sky and Airtel have no bandwidth. Various DTH platforms are available but they are costly (cost 15-20 crore annually). The local channels are available at the mercy of the cable operators. There used to be 3 cable operators earlier but the number has reduced to only one. The cable operator called FastWay is owned by the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP and it has the monopoly on cable operation. The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 is faulty and there is no non-discriminatory clause in the Act. There should not be any entry barrier. There should be a level playing field. Cable will continue for another 7-8 years. Digitization is happening for cable too. Digitization is not the answer. Prasar Bharti needs to tie up with VSNL to float alternative cable platform. Cable Act (1995) needs to be amended. The scope of Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 needs to be widened. There exists a stringent process when one applies for opening a news channel. In Punjab, channels can be viewed without uplinking or downlinking. Most of the state governments are unable to monitor content in the local channels. Sandhu agreed with Sanjay Salil that the content of Hindi news channels is poor. Cricket, crime and cinema are used to improve TRP rating of the channels. The rules of the game are not clear. He asked whether religious programmes can be telecasted in news channels. In Punjab, it is the politicians who control content in surrogate channels. Putting a channel on platform requires permission from politicians. Disturbing signals and muting channels are tactics used by the cable operators. There is no direct evidence that Government is controlling cable operation. When politicians own TV channels, good journalism goes for a toss, Sandhu added. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Jay Panda expressed his mixed feelings for politicians and media. He informed that he hailed from a business family running business for half a century. He agreed with Kanwar Sandhu that cable operators are holding the channel owners to ransom. He demanded that the sources of funding should be known by the public. Credibility comes when viewers know who is behind a channel. It is difficult to establish who owns channels. Viewers are not dumb. There is need for media watchdogs. Panda informed that there are 18 Oriya channels and they don’t face discrimination by the cable operators. Over the last few years, one saw surrogate channels cropping up and private treaties taking place. A good chunk of the investment in the television industry is coming from the real estate companies and people earning profit in the private colleges. There is a great amount of unaccounted money that is being invested in the TV industry. Legislation is required to bar a certain section in making investment in the TV industry. Financial transparency needs to be imposed. The Companies Act can be strengthened. Money entering the media industry must be accounted money. Hypocritical laws can be broken. The Cable Act is faulty. There is no must carry clause in it. DTH platform can ensure 15-20 percent market share for a news channel. DTH is growing faster than cable. Technological solution can reduce the gap in demand and supply in distribution. Non-serious players have dubious sources of funding and they are here to influence and not to do business. It is essential to crack down on black money. Marginal players do not have adequate revenue from advertisement and they have low TRP ratings. Loss-making marginal players are getting money from tax havens like Mauritius. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Vanita Kohli-Khandekar emphasized that it is not merely competition but non-serious competition which is the issue. Nineteen years back India had 1 news channel. Today India has got 122 news channels, according to the TAM Media Research. The regulator could not cope with the rising number of news channels. The Cable Act has become obsolete. Newspapers are owned by real estate companies. However, news has become factual and localized due to rising variety of channels. Out of the 122 news channels which are operating, only a few are earning profit. Of the five listed TV news companies, only Zee News and TV Today made post-tax profits in March 2010. In India media law is adhoc. There is problem of revenue flexibility. Operating cost has gone up. Revenue earned from advertisement has stagnated. Viewership has fallen despite the rise in number of news channels. Independent and autonomous regulator is needed. She asked for a body like Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in India. The stake of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the print media has been raised to 49 percent. The Doordarshan needs to be autonomous. There is no autonomous news broadcaster in India unlike the BBC in the UK. Media companies do not train their journalists and staff. The media industry has not yet professionalized itself. The TV viewers are more addicted to watching scandals. Journalism is interesting since it is not monotonous. . <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Vipul Mudgal, who was in the audience, said that the cable operators are like mafia. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta informed that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is sitting on a report on media ownership, which has been prepared by the Administrative Staff College, Hyderabad. He asked how a system of rating better than TRP can be created and introduced. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Further readings:<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">India's broken news business by Vanita Kohli-Khandekar, The Business Standard, 25 March, 2011, <a href="http://www.businessstandard.com/india/news/vanita-kohli-khandekar-india%5Cs-broken-news-business/429694/">http://www.businessstandard.com/india/news/vanita-kohli-khandekar-india%5Cs-broken-news-business/429694/</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Uma Khurana files defamation case against Live India, Express India, 5 November, 2007, <a href="http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Uma-Khurana-files-defamation-case-against-Live-India/236284/">http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Uma-Khurana-files-defamation-case-against-Live-India/236284/</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Need for a debate on cross-media ownership rules by PN Vasanti, Live Mint, 12 December, 2008, <a href="http://www.livemint.com/2008/12/12000051/Need-for-a-debate-on-crossmed.html">http://www.livemint.com/2008/12/12000051/Need-for-a-debate-on-crossmed.html</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:arial;font-size:large;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-62258522302469216102011-03-31T10:56:00.006+05:302011-03-31T11:21:31.422+05:30Gender discrimination prevails in Indian news media<span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNQO_1NTlIw0Rw1s-IDS6bCcliG49TXuFGlWoH5Ms9_CE7z1mZsNThtuMIHFzbb0IyMwzpPsI0GS139Smr7qifqNA5RqajMaQiqyXihmI8SJ-VUu-1_JMwktwwyRl0y46gz4ErdmAeBs/s1600/Newspaper.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNQO_1NTlIw0Rw1s-IDS6bCcliG49TXuFGlWoH5Ms9_CE7z1mZsNThtuMIHFzbb0IyMwzpPsI0GS139Smr7qifqNA5RqajMaQiqyXihmI8SJ-VUu-1_JMwktwwyRl0y46gz4ErdmAeBs/s320/Newspaper.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590112488633092866" /></a><br /></span><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Is the news media gender insensitive? A new study confirms this. The report titled: <i>Global Report on the Status of Women in the News Media</i>, which got unveiled on 23 March, 2011 captures the extent of gender equity in the news media in 522 companies across 59 countries. The main objective behind the study is to enquire whether media companies are currently organized to promote gender equity within their organizational structures and allow space for women's voice. Nearly, 253 newspaper companies (48%), 123 television stations (24%) and 146 radio stations (28%) have been surveyed for this purpose. The seven regions from where 59 countries got covered under the survey are: Mideast and N Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Americas, Asia and Oceana, Eastern Europe, Nordic Europe and Western Europe. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">The study which was commissioned to International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) finds that in most of the 59 countries, it is the men who occupy vast majority of the management jobs and news-gathering positions. Women comprise only 33 percent of the full-time journalism workforce in the 522 companies surveyed. By contrast, women (56.9%) are found to be more likely than men (43.1%) to hold part-time regular jobs, and both full- and part-time contract jobs, than men. However, men are more likely to do freelance jobs. The support for the study came from the Ford Foundation, Loreen Arbus Foundation, Carolan K. Stiles, UNESCO Communication Development Division, Communication and Information Center and McClatchy Company Foundation. The IWMF study provides information about recruitment, training, policies related to advancement, news assignments, and a range of other issues that affect gender status in news organizations.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">The study, which took two years to complete and involved an extensive research team around the world that included 17 regional coordinators who hired and supervised 150 researchers in 59 nations provides complete picture to date of women’s status globally in news media ownership, publishing, governance, reporting, editing, photojournalism, broadcast production and other media jobs. News organizations surveyed in face-to-face interviews included newspaper, radio and television stations with both traditional and online delivery formats. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">A 1995 study by Margaret Gallagher shows that Indian women comprised 12 percent of the media workforce. However, the current study by IWMF show that women’s representation has doubled to 25% of the workforce across the 17 companies (10 newspapers, 6 television stations, and 1 radio station) surveyed. Still, it is the men who dominate the media industry in the ratio 4:1. Women earn lesser salaries than men particularly in governance and in top and senior management positions. Women earn similar to men in middle management and in junior professional levels as well as in the technical professional level. Women earn more than men in sales, finance and administration department of news companies.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">The <i>Global Report on the Status of Women in the News Media</i> finds that women occupy one-fifth (21%) of the positions in governance in India, which denotes roles on company board of directors. On the basis of interviews of company executives, it could be found that women’s place on governing boards is often determined by their membership in families owning the company, rather than their ability to secure these positions through advancement. Women hold 13.8 percent of positions at top management level in Indian news companies. Women hold 23.3 percent and 18.3 percent of positions in senior management and middle management, respectively. They hold 25.5 percent and 28.4 percent of positions at junior and senior professional levels, respectively. They occupy only 7% of the jobs in the technical production category, and even fewer at 4.7% of those in production and design. Sales, finance and administration sees women holding only 11.4% of the positions. Nearly 20.1%, 45.2%, 9.9%, 23.1% and 6.6% of jobs which are full-time regular, part-time regular, full-time regular, part-time regular and freelance, respectively, are held by women. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Only 29 percent of the news companies in India interviewed said women who take maternity leave are likely to get the same jobs back when they return to work. 41 percent of the news companies have corresponding policies allowing paternal leave, and 18 percent offer some form of child-care assistance. 88 percent Indian news companies have policies on educational training for women.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">India has made strong strides in adopting gender policies in media companies in comparison to countries like China and Bangladesh. However, the IWMF study notes that sexual harassment of women in newsroom is well established across the world including India. A valid criticism against the report is that there is under-representation of Indian news organizations from various regional language backgrounds though they may be the ones earning more profits and capturing majority of the market as compared to the English news media.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">The present study, which covers 1,70,000 persons in news media finds a higher representation of women in both governance and top management within both Eastern Europe (33% and 43%, respectively) and Nordic Europe (36% and 37%, respectively), compared to other regions. In the Asia and Oceana region, women hold 13% of those in senior management ranks. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">The newly released report<i> </i>on the status of women in news media finds that 73 percent of the top management jobs globally are occupied by men as compared to 27 percent occupied by women. Almost two-thirds of the ranks of reporters are held by men as compared to 36 percent held by women. However, among senior professionals, women are nearing parity with 41 percent of the newsgathering, editing and writing jobs. Presently, women hold 26 percent of governing and 27 percent of top management jobs as compared to 12 percent of the top management positions being held by them way back in 1995 according to the Margaret Gallagher study. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Men hold nearly three-fourths (71.3%) of the positions in middle management of companies (that includes senior editors, chiefs of correspondents, design directors, and more senior personnel in finance) surveyed as compared to women (28.7%). There exists near-parity of men and women at the level of junior professional (that includes writer, producer, sub-editor, correspondent and production assistant) in Americas and Western Europe, as compared to other regions. In Asia and Oceana, the ratio of men to women at the junior professional level was found to be nearly 3:1. There exists a greater degree of gender balance at the senior professional level, with men slightly more than half (59.0%) and women nearing parity (41.0%). Senior professionals include senior writers, anchors and producers. Men hold three-fourths (73.2%) of the jobs in the technical professional level, with women just over a fourth (26.8%). This job category includes camera, sound and lighting personnel – jobs mainly associated with the production of broadcast news. Men fill about two-thirds (65.6%) of the production and design jobs, with women only a third (34.4%). This category includes graphics designers, photographers, illustrators, wardrobe designers and others in the creative roles of news production. In sales, finance and administration, men hold 64.4 percent position as compared to 35.5 percent by women. In Asia and Oceana, women hold one fourth of the positions in sales, finance and administration as compared to men. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Women’s under-representation was noticed in 26 of 59 i.e. 44% of the countries included in the study. Glass ceiling for women is observed in 20 of 59 nations (34%), and such invisible barriers exist in middle and senior management levels. The study finds that more than half of the companies surveyed have an established company-wide policy on gender equity. A relative parity between men and women in terms of occupational status was observed in 13 of 59 nations (22%). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Further Readings: <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Global Report on the Status of Women in the News Media<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://iwmf.org/pdfs/IWMF-Global-Report.pdf">http://iwmf.org/pdfs/IWMF-Global-Report.pdf</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.iwmf.org/pioneering-change/international-conference/press-release-032311.aspx">http://www.iwmf.org/pioneering-change/international-conference/press-release-032311.aspx</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Women in news media in India are under-represented: Study, The Economic Times, 23 March, 2011, <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/jobs/women-in-news-media-in-india-are-under-represented-study/articleshow/7770007.cms">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/jobs/women-in-news-media-in-india-are-under-represented-study/articleshow/7770007.cms</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Global Report on Status of Women in News Media Shows Men Hold Vast Majority of Management Jobs in Newsrooms Around the World, BizWireExpress, 23 March, 2011, <a href="http://www.bizwireexpress.com/showstory.php?storyid=122164">http://www.bizwireexpress.com/showstory.php?storyid=122164</a></span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-77893595321358132212011-03-27T20:39:00.004+05:302011-03-27T20:58:41.712+05:30Social Audit on Tribal Issues held at Statue Circle, Jaipur<span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9JOxxtvrpGLNgHojFjl103Gqsjvcs6TiS9NZ58TxuhJjLkXdkwIshlRQg4ByfZZpBNofapVTZEr5NSW6QNdga3i-JyontpdtBog6LymcQENRqILcuKsaHCRel_NzkaJw7Q5-rGJA0Ho/s1600/Budget+allocation+for+STs.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9JOxxtvrpGLNgHojFjl103Gqsjvcs6TiS9NZ58TxuhJjLkXdkwIshlRQg4ByfZZpBNofapVTZEr5NSW6QNdga3i-JyontpdtBog6LymcQENRqILcuKsaHCRel_NzkaJw7Q5-rGJA0Ho/s320/Budget+allocation+for+STs.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588777848945309602" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;">
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class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Adivasi men and women from various blocks of Rajasthan expressed their dissent and voice at the Social Audit on Tribal Issues, which was organized by Rajasthan Adivasi Adhikar Manch (RAAM) at Statue Circle, Jaipur on 16 March, 2011. The panelist who listened patiently to the lived experiences and complaints of the adivasis included: BL Paliwal (ex-official at the Panchayati Raj department), Ramesh Nandwana (from Jal, Jungle, Jan and independent lawyer), KB Saxena (former chief secretary of Bihar), Kalicharan (Adivasi Adhikar Manch), Aruna Roy (MKSS), BD Sharma (Bharat Jan Andolan and former SC/ST Commissioner) and Nikhil Dey (MKSS). </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >RD Vyas informed that in Udaipur last year, a meeting of civil society organizations working among tribals was held. Major issues related to tribals were discussed like: NREGA, education, corruption, Forest rights etc. Most tribal areas in Rajasthan are backward and poor. Basic problems faced by the tribal population are: access to health care, livelihood security, Right to Land etc. which are yet to be solved. The Forest Rights Act could not be implemented effectively. Land acquisition by the government, the private sector and the land mafia is quite common. Majority of the tribal population is illiterate. The existing Panchayati Raj system is a failure in the tribal areas. The Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 could not be implemented properly. Information regarding land acquisition is not passed to the gram sabhas or villages, which violates the PESA Act. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Badki Bai from Jharol said that PESA, which is meant for the poor, is not working properly in her village. Punni Bai from Abu Road informed that tribal people do not have access to forest produce. Despite the PESA law, the gram sabha has got no control over local resources. Gram sabha’s voice is not heard by the administration. It is the corporate sector which enjoys full control of the local produce thus depriving the tribals. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >On Forest Rights Act, Suresh ji from Bara district told that at his village the Van Adhikar Samity has got no proper information and training. Total number of plots distributed under the Forest Rights Act on application was quite low. Sawaramji from Abu Road said that a few plots got distributed on application. Size of the plots distributed was quite small as compared to the size of the land, which was originally cultivated. Forest department still continue to enjoy more power despite the Forest Rights Act. Ladu Ram from Udaipur informed that in Kotra plots have not been allocated despite demands. Size of the plots allocated is too small. Forest officials dare the gram sabhas and application forms for land are deliberately destroyed. Tribals face harassment from the Forest officials. Mangelal from Pratapgarh district informed that the forest department is not bothered by applications from the people. Patwaris seldom provide correct information. Applications for plots are rejected without any reason. Similar, complaints were made by Bapunath Bhai from Chittorgarh and Mohanlal Gadasia from Udaipur. Keshuji said that water is extracted for mining and industry due to which farmers are suffering in Udaipur. In Bara district, land is acquired from the Sahariya tribe by exploitation. Outsiders have started displacing the original inhabitants. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Chandan ji, an activist from RAAM, informed that the Rajasthan government has changed the definition of village under the Rajasthan Panchayati (Modification of Provisions in Their Application to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1999. It is for the Governor to decide now what a village is. Gram sabhas are not consulted while land acquisition takes place. There is no control over minor forest produce. Tribals cannot go to sanctuaries for accessing minor forest produce. The police hold more power as compared to the gram sabha. Development related decisions undertaken by the gram sabha is not accepted. There exists ignorance / lack of awareness and knowledge about the provisions mentioned in the Central PESA Act in the Fifth Schedule area by people, organisations working with tribal’s in the Fifth Schedule areas and the state officials. The PESA law enacted by the Centre is not implemented in letter and spirit by the Rajasthan government. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >BD Sharma told that the PESA Act was enacted way back in 1996 and still we’re discussing about its implementation even though 15 years have passed. Both the Central and the state governments have conspired against the PESA. The state governments often complain that the PESA law has been made by the Centre and not them. Even a Prime Minister like Rajiv Gandhi who stressed for Panchayati Raj system at the grassroots so as to ensure democracy failed to acknowledge the same system in Scheduled areas. The Panchayati Raj Constitutional (72nd Amendment) Act that came in 1992 did not include the tribal areas. That is why the PESA came into being in 1996. Most of the North eastern states under Sixth Schedule Areas (where autonomous councils exist) are not covered by PESA, as these states have their own Autonomous councils for its governance. The Autonomous councils are so powerful that even land cannot be acquired for implementing development related schemes. BD Sharma demanded for state government’s sensitivity to the traditional democratic rights and values of the tribal society, and thus to amend the existing state laws / provisions. He informed that Rajasthan has not transferred the power of ownership of Minor Forest Produce under the State PESA. The PESA law of Madhya Pradesh is so strong that the gram sabha can return a piece of land belonging to a tribal person/ family in case his land has been acquired by a non-tribal person. He said that Andhra Pradesh has a law (1 upon 70) under which tribal land cannot be bought by non-tribals. Moreover, non-tribals have to sell such land, which they have bought to only tribals. The Bhuria Committee that comprised of as many as 15 MPs recommended for communal ownership of land that falls under Scheduled areas. Its recommendation is yet to be implemented. The Prime Minister is talking about the PESA and not the Bhuria Committee. He also mentioned about the Tribal Sub-Plan. India took the decision that areas inhabited by tribal population be considered as Scheduled areas in 1975. Yet little could be done for the development of these areas and the STs. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >KB Saxena said that making laws do not ensure the citizens to enjoy the rights. Almost 15 years have passed since the PESA has been enacted. Public accountability of elected representatives is essential. Land acquisition is rampant in areas inhabited by the tribal population. Rajasthan government has not confirmed in this year’s budget how the laws can be amended in accordance to the PESA law. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Ramesh Nandwana informed that the 5<sup>th</sup> Schedule of the Constitution has provisions for tribal areas. PESA is intended to empower people. According to the law, tribal land cannot be bought by non-tribals. Still land is acquired for building factories, mining and constructing roads. Non-tribals are entering into tribal areas. More and more tribals are involved in distress migration for livelihood opportunities. It is difficult to approach the government for justice since the government too is involved in land acquisition. <span style=""> </span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >BL Paliwal said that Rajasthan came up with Rajasthan Panchayati (Modification of Provisions in Their Application to the Scheduled Areas) Act in 1999. The process or product based system under PESA is not required. Like PESA, the Forest Rights Act needs to be implemented properly. Government of India has created rift among its own people by differentiating between the Marginalized Area Development Authority (MADA) and Tribal Area Development Authorities (TADA) areas. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >The other points discussed during the Social Audit are as follows: </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Teachers are not teaching but managing schools.</span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Quality of education imparted in tribal areas is too poor. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Kotra is lagging behind Udaipur in terms of educational infrastructure. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >PESA can be implemented in Scheduled areas. However, in non-Scheduled areas, tribals are facing atrocities. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Through the displays, one came to know about the special schemes for STs in the Rajasthan Budget, which are as follows: </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >According to the Census 2001, the ST population in Rajasthan was 70.97 lakh, which was 12.56 percent of the entire population of the state. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >As per the provisions, the budget should allocate 12.5 percent for ST areas.</span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >As per provisions, out of 12.5% to be allocated for ST areas, 75 percent should be allocated for TADA areas and the rest 25 percent should be allocated for MADA areas, scattered population and Sahariya areas. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >During the last few years, less allocation has been made on ST schemes. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >From the table (given above), which was on display in the social audit, one may note that the share of expenditure on STs in the total expenditure of the government declined from 3.86 percent in 2007-08 to 2.92 percent in 2009-10. Thereafter, the share of expenditure on STs in the total expenditure jumped from 4.6 percent in 2010-11 to 7.61 percent in 2011-12. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >Sahariya tribe blocks:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";" > Kishanganj, Shahbad</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >TADA area blocks:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";" > Abu Road, Kotra, Gogunda, Jhadol, Kherwara, Sarada, Salumbar, Dhanawad, Pratapgarh, Ghatol, Arnod, Garhi, Banswara, Kushalgarh, Bagidara, Simalwara, Dungarpur, Aspur, Sagwara etc. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >MADA area blocks:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";" > Mavli, Bari Sadri, Begun, Chittaurgarh, Beejoliya, Mandalgarh, Rawatbhata, Jhalrapatan, Chhipabarod, Chhabra, Baran, Sangod, Digod, Antah, Pipaldah, Nainwa, Hindoli, Jahazpur, Sawai Madhopur, Khandar Sapotra, Karauli, Mandrail, Bonli, Nadoti, Amber, Bari, Baseri, Alwar etc.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >Powers given to Gram Sabhas in tribal areas under PESA (1996)</span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-style: italic;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style=";font-family:";" >Social provision:</span></i><span style=";font-family:";" > Gram sabhas can stop/ ban the sale of alcohol and drugs.</span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style=";font-family:";" >Protection of land:</span></i><span style=";font-family:";" > Gram sabhas can stop acquisition of private and public land done illegally. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style=";font-family:";" >Land Acquisition:</span></i><span style=";font-family:";" > Gram sabhas need to be consulted before public or private land is acquired in the panchayat. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style=";font-family:";" >Minor forest produce:</span></i><span style=";font-family:";" > Gram sabha is the owner of the minor forest produce. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style=";font-family:";" >Water resources:</span></i><span style=";font-family:";" > Gram sabha manage the minor water resources in the panchayats like: drains, ponds etc. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style=";font-family:";" >Mineral:</span></i><span style=";font-family:";" > Before mineral surveys are conducted, the permission of the gram sabhas needs to be sought. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Arrangement of the village market is the right of the gram sabha. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Gram sabha should control the credit flows in which STs are involved. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Development related schemes need the permission of the gram sabhas. Gram sabhas have a say and right to choose development related schemes. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Gram sabhas have control over the financial resources coming for local development. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Gram sabhas should certify expenses incurred in a village for development. </span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><i><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></i></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><i><span style=";font-family:";" >References: </span></i></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Rajasthan Panchayati (Modification of Provisions in Their Application to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1999, <a href="http://www.ielrc.org/content/e9610.pdf">http://www.ielrc.org/content/e9610.pdf</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, <a href="http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/PESA%20Act%201996.pdf">http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/PESA%20Act%201996.pdf</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Raj and Gram Swaraj (Amendment) Act, 2004, <a href="http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/Madhya%20Pradesh%20Panchayat%20Raj%20and%20Gram%20Swaraj%20%28Amendment%29%20Act,%202004.pdf">http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/Madhya%20Pradesh%20Panchayat%20Raj%20and%20Gram%20Swaraj%20%28Amendment%29%20Act,%202004.pdf</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Report of the Committee formed by the Government of India, Ministry of Panchayat Raj, Raghav Chandra Report, </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" ><a href="http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/PESA%20Raghav%20Chandra%20Comm.pdf">http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/PESA%20Raghav%20Chandra%20Comm.pdf</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Report of the Sub Committee appointed by The Ministry of Panchayati Raj to draft Model Guide-Lines to vest Gram Sabhas with powers as envisaged in PESA, <a href="http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/BD%20Sharma%20Draft%20-%20Model%20Guidelines%20to%20vest%20Gram%20Sabha%20with%20powers%20as%20envisaged%20in%20PESA.pdf">http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/BD%20Sharma%20Draft%20-%20Model%20Guidelines%20to%20vest%20Gram%20Sabha%20with%20powers%20as%20envisaged%20in%20PESA.pdf</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Report of the Committee of Officers on Issues ralating to minor produce in PESA states, February2007, </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" ><a href="http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/A%20K%20Sharma%20Report%20on%20Issues%20relating%20to%20MFP.pdf">http://www.pri.net.in/dm-documents/PESA/A%20K%20Sharma%20Report%20on%20Issues%20relating%20to%20MFP.pdf</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Body formed to fight for tribal rights in state, The Times of India, 17 March, 2011, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Body-formed-to-fight-for-tribal-rights-in-state/articleshow/7723104.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Body-formed-to-fight-for-tribal-rights-in-state/articleshow/7723104.cms</a> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Roadmap for the Panchayati Raj (2011-16): An All India Perspective, February, 2011, <a href="http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/panchayat%20Roadmap.pdf">http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/panchayat%20Roadmap.pdf</a> <span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-4399470987179069022011-03-10T15:35:00.015+05:302011-03-27T20:12:42.505+05:30Land acquisition is rampant in Asia, conclusion drawn by recent reports<div align="justify" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gbqsrcZ5hax-ReHKCvJrqXH7c0bHCBaVn97QU_KesMS7yDNH7efH3sPnw9LovrBuvRDEPfL7sltXHlx3mOOyzcYMhKFYsscbWkjj6Fp5fsbC06pOazenW4KyGyGDpZ5-QaF5mxuTw_A/s1600/Mining.jpg"><span style=""><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582390892507616754" style="float: 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{mso-style-name:"<span title="Click to correct" class="transl_class" id="0">साधारण</span> <span title="Click to correct" class="transl_class" id="1">तालिका</span>"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The post-1990s saw opening up of the Indian economy along with rapid industrial development. The objective of the successive governments in the last two decades has been to push for higher economic growth. However, all what we saw in the form of rapid industrialization and urbanization came at some cost. Farmers are getting displaced and they have no secure employment or other livelihood opportunities due to the ongoing process of establishing SEZs and industrial farming. Though new investments mostly by the private sector have boosted revenues, created jobs and developed tourism, they have posed grave threats to the land tenure security of peasants. This is the central message of a study titled <em>Commercial pressures on land in Asia: An Overview</em>, which has been prepared by Roel R Ravanera and Vanessa Gorra and funded by IFAD and International Land Coalition.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />The study finds that a fall in public investment in agriculture during the last two decades has made agricultural lands vulnerable to commercial interests, like tourism, urban development and special economic zones (SEZs). Most of the investment on land has resulted in the conversion of agricultural, forest, and foreshore lands into plantations, and commercial and industrial centers, which has affected tribal community the most. Private sector investments in agricultural production have detrimental implications, such as converting farmers into laborers, and promoting the use of harmful technologies.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />Prior to the Green Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, which got huge financial and technical support from the respective Governments of various Asian nations, huge tracts of land used to be controlled by the landlord class in most parts of Asia. Before the 1950s, the landlords rented out their lands to sharecroppers in exchange for a specific share of the product. Tenants lacked economic rights/ security over the land they cultivated (due to which they could be evicted anytime) and their poor access to technology and meager incomes derived from small landholdings made them vulnerable to the money lending class. Productive investment on agriculture was minimal.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />Public spending on agriculture in transforming countries of South and East Asian countries declined from 14.3 percent in 1980 to 7 percent in 2004. Public spending on agriculture as a share of agricultural GDP increased meagerly from 10.2 percent in 1980 to 10.6 percent in 2004 in these countries. Official Development Assistance (ODA) to agriculture has declined during the last two decades. Thus, low public spending along with reduced ODA to agriculture made way for the private sector to invest in agriculture. As a consequence, the Indian SEZ Act got enacted in 2005 so as to boost export. Several forms of tax exemptions and incentives have been provided under the Act to attract foreign investment, the study finds. India imitated the Chinese model of export oriented growth by enacting the SEZ Act. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />The paper titled <em>Commercial pressures on land in Asia: An Overview</em> informs that due to the liberal attitudes of various governments, world foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in agriculture exceeded US$ 3 billion per annum by 2005-2007, up from below US$ 1 billion per annum between 1989 and 1991. FDI inflows in agriculture since 2000 witnessed a rise in developing regions, particularly Asia and Oceania, and Latin America and the Caribbean.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />India has increasingly shown its interest in agricultural investment in African countries. Due to large scale land acquisition, people have been displaced from their land in countries like Ethiopia, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Zambia. [It must be stated here that the Working Group on agricultural production, which was chaired by Haryana Chief Minister BS Hooda favored Indian companies purchasing lands in countries like Argentina, Myanmar and ASEAN countries for producing pulses and edible oils]. Countries like China are engaged in land grabbing so as to ensure food security in the aftermath of global food crisis of 2007-2008.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />The United Kingdom Renewable Fuels Agency reported that in 2008 global production of bioethanol totaled to 50 billion liters. Brazil and the United States (US) are the major bioethanol producers, followed by China and India. In 2007, India produced 400 million litres of ethanol and its share in world production was 0.7 percent. India's share in the world production of biodiesel in the same year was 0.4 percent. Due to the problems associated with fossil fuel based energy resources, developed countries are turning their attention towards biofuels. It has been estimated by a study of FAO that the biofuel industry will more than double between 2007 and 2017. Thus, land in Asian countries are increasingly diverted to industrial farming for biofuel production, aquaculture and logging.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />As of February 2010, 571 SEZs have been approved in India out of which, 348 are notified and 105 are operational. The highest number of formal approval of SEZs took place in Maharastra (109) to be followed by Andhra Pradesh (102) and Tamil Nadu (68) as of February, 2010. The value of exports from SEZs has increased from Rs. 13,854 crore in 2003-2004 to Rs. 66,638 crore in 2007-2008. Out of the 16,17,415.36 square kilometers of agricultural land, 676 squre kilometers have been formally allocated to 270 SEZs. Displacement coupled with loss of livelihood opportunities due to SEZs has affected the marginalized, the women, the adivasis and the dalits. The SEZ central board does not have representation from the farming, dalit, or adivasi communities who are the worst affected.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />Rajasthan, which has 44 major and 22 minor mineral reserves, owns the most mine leases: 1,324 leases for major minerals, 10,851 for minor minerals and 19,251 quarry licenses for mining stones. It is the only producer of garnet, jasper, selenite, wollastonite, and zinc concentrates; the leading producer of calcite, lead concentrate, ball clay, fireclay, ochre, phosphorite, silver, and steatite. Rajasthan accounts for 70% of India’s and 10% of the world’s sandstone output. Unorganized or illegal mines are not accountable to the government and do not follow environmental protection measures. The Indian government has failed to regulate illegal mining activities in forest areas of Udaipur, Sariska, and Jamwa Ramgarh.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />Maoism grew as a result of displacement and eviction of tribal people particularly in states like Chattisgarh. Land acquisition in tribal areas seldom addresses the problems of rehabilitation or compensation. Approximately 40 million people (about 40% adivasis and 25% dalits) have been displaced so far and 75% of them are still awaiting rehabilitation in India. Oppositions to SEZs have often been followed by violent state repression.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />Let us go through the findings of other reports related to land. The key findings of the study titled: <em>Global Land Grabbing, Eroding Food Sovereignty</em> by Ros-b Guzman (2010), Turning Point, are as follows: </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* It has been observed by various international research organizations that since 2008 there have been massive foreign land transactions, which involved large-scale foreign investments in farmlands and the direct participation of transnational corporations and financial oligarchs in agricultural production. According to a World Bank report released on 7 September, 2010, there have been a total of 46.6 million hectares of land acquired between October 2008 and August 2009, which is almost double the size of the United Kingdom and a 10-fold increase in a decade. The figure, which the World Bank tallied from <a href="http://www.farmlandgrab.org/">www.farmlandgrab.org</a>, managed by the non-government organisation (NGO) GRAIN, represents 464 projects.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI, <a href="http://www.ifpri.org/">www.ifpri.org</a>) has estimated that 15 to 20 million hectares, or around 20 per cent of the total size of EU farmland, have been negotiated or secured between 2006 and 2009. At least 180 land deals have been reported since mid-2008, according to the NGO GRAIN.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* Various research papers point to the fact that Africa hosts the largest number and area of land grabs.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* Advanced capitalist countries and their transnational corporations (TNCs) are engaged in land deals with the poor countries, whether as direct purchases or long-term leases, as they command resources so as to produce crops either for food, feedstock or agrofuel in commercial and export quantities.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* The term land grabs has been used, not as reference to their illegality however since many of the deals have passed government approvals, but as description of the unjust terms through which they have been transacted and the utter lack of consultation with the communities of farmers and indigenous peoples.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* Oxfam has referred to some 120 hedge funds, retirement funds, agribusiness corporations, and private equity funds investing in agricultural lands in underdeveloped countries. Investment in land has been considered as the single best recession hedge of the next 10 or 15 years.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* Countries like: China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea have started their venture to Africa, South and Southeast Asia, South America, and Russia and Central Asia for land grabbing since March 2008. Countries, who are worried about food security and food price inflation, have outsourced their local food production by acquiring land in other countries.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* According to GRAIN (<a href="http://www.grain.org/front/">http://www.grain.org/front/</a>), the target countries for land acquisition in 2008 are: Sudan, Pakistan, Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Burma, Laos, and Uganda. The other target countries have been: Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Australia, India and China.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* Huge investments in land acquisitions are being done by China, the Middle East, and South Korea. The leading target countries are Sudan, Ethiopia, and the United Republic of Tanzania. Others include Brazil, Cambodia, Burma, Philippines, Ukraine, Russia, Thailand, Cameroon, Madagascar, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malawi, Senegal, Nigeria and Paraguay.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* The UNCTAD (<a href="http://www.unctad.org/">www.unctad.org</a>) has observed that water scarcity is the major reason for land grabbing in water-abundant countries by Middle Eastern countries. Gulf states who are rich in oil and money but import food are outsourcing their food production. Hence, they are striking deals with fellow Islamic countries like Sudan and Pakistan. Oil dependent Asian states such as Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam have also been targets by the Gulf States. Similarly, Japan and South Korea who are food import dependent countries are engaged in overseas land purchases. Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are involved and interested in investments in land grabbing in countries from Africa and Asia.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* Apart from 'food-insecure' nations, land grabbers include: investment houses, private equity funds, fund managers, large agribusiness TNCs and the private sector. The private land grabbers enter the deal by building ties with local private partners, the host governments or through their own governments seeking joint ventures with the target countries. Their investment timeline may be up to 10 years and their projected annual rates of return are between 10 and 40 per cent in Europe or up to 400 per cent in Africa. These private players are more concerned with crucial issues such as soil fertility, water availability and farm productivity. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* Of the 464 projects covering 46.6 million hectares and targeting 81 countries as compiled from GRAIN, the World Bank interpolates that almost half of the projects covering 69 per cent of total land area (32 million hectares) are located in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There are 8 million hectares in East and South Asia, 4.3 million hectares in Europe and Central Asia, and 3.2 million hectares in Latin America. The median size is 40,000 hectares, and in fact, a quarter of all the projects involve more than 200,000 hectares. In total, 37 per cent of the projects focus on food crops, 21 per cent on industrial and cash crops, 21 per cent on biofuels, and the rest on conservation and game reserves, livestock, and plantation forestry.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">A report titled: <i>Large-scale land acquisitions and leases: A set of core principles and measures to address the human rights challenge</i> (2009) by Olivier De Schutter cites an estimate from IFPRI that between 15 and 20 million hectares of farmland in developing countries have been subject to transactions or negotiations involving foreign investors since 2006. Land which is close to water resources and therefore can be irrigated at a relatively low cost in infrastructures, and the land which is closest to markets and from which the produce can be exported easily is the highest in demand. Among the main target countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are Cameroon, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Mali, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia. Target countries are present in Central Europe, in Asia and in Latin America such as Brazil, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia or Ukraine. It is usually the developing countries which are being targeted, because the perception is that there exists enough land, which is inexpensive, climatic conditions are suitable for cultivation and local labour is cheap. There is demand for land located in Latin America and Africa since most of the world's reserve agricultural land (upto 80 percent) is located there and since 95 percent of the cropland in Asia has already been utilized. Following export bans by large food exporting countries during the global food crisis of 2007-08, resource-poor but cash-rich countries have turned to large-scale acquisitions or rent of land in order to achieve food security. The increased tendency of the poor countries to allow land acquisition has adversely affected the right to food and right to self-determination and the exploitation of natural resources of the local communities. Potential impacts include: the eviction of land users who have no formal security of tenure over the land they have been cultivating for decades; the loss of access to land for indigenous peoples and pastoral populations, competition for water resources and decreased food security if local populations are deprived of access to productive resources. The report has, therefore, recommended for participation of local communities in such land negotiations to ensure transparency. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The study titled: <em>The Future of Food and Farming: Challenges and choices for global sustainability</em> by The Government Office for Science tell us that:</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* Global population will increase from 7 billion presently to 8 billion by 2030 and over 9 billion by 2050. Global consumption of meat is expected to rise from 32 kg per capita per annum presently to 52 kg per capita per annum by the middle of this century. Demand for fish is likely to go up in East and South Asia. Due to increase in purchasing power and change in consumption pattern to high-quality diet, the demand for food grains would go up, which is likely to put pressure on land, water and other resources.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* Wastage across the entire food chain needs to be reduced since it has been estimated that 30% of all food grown worldwide is lost or wasted before and after it reaches the consumer. Some estimates have placed it as high as 50%. This wastage of food happens in the backdrop of 925 million people globally suffering from hunger. A large section of the global population lack access to sufficient major macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats and protein). 'Hidden hunger' happens when important micronutrients (such as vitamiins and minerals) are missing from people's diet.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* Although global crop yields grew by 115% between 1967 and 2007, the area of land in agriculture increased by only 8% and the total currently stands at approximately 4,600 million hectares. It is expected that land will be lost to urbanisation, desertification, salinisation and sea level rise, although some options may arise for salt-tolerant crops. It is estimated that 11.5 billion hectares of vegetated land on earth, about 24%, has undergone human-induced soil degradation, in particular through erosion. Although biofuel production can mitigate climate change to a certain extent, they may lead to a reduction in land available for agriculture.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* Global energy demand will rise by 45% between 2006 and 2030 and could double between now and 2050. Energy prices might go up and remain volatile in the future.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />* Agriculture presently consumes 70 percent of total global 'blue water'. Demand for water for agriculture could rise by over 30% by 2030, while total global water demand could rise by 35–60% between 2000 and 2025, and could double by 2050 due to pressures from industry, domestic use and the need to maintain environmental flows.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br /><strong><i>Further readings:</i></strong></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />Commercial pressures on land in Asia: An Overview (January, 2011) by Roel R Ravanera and Vanessa Gorra, IFAD and International Land Coalition,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/Commercial%20pressures%20on%20land%20in%20Asia.pdf">http://indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/Commercial%20pressures%20on%20land%20in%20Asia.pdf</a><br /><br />Global Land Grabbing, Eroding Food Sovereignty by Ros-b Guzman, December, 2010, Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP),</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/TurningPoint_GlobalLandGrabbing.pdf">http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/TurningPoint_GlobalLandGrabbing.pdf</a><br /><br />The Future of Food and Farming: Challenges and choices for global sustainability by Government Office for Science</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/full_report_2.pdf">http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/full_report_2.pdf</a><br /><br />Large-scale land acquisitions and leases: A set of core principles and measures to address the human rights challenge by Olivier De Schutter, 11 June, 2009, </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.3dthree.org/pdf_3D/ODeSchutter_landgrab_briefingnote.pdf">http://www.3dthree.org/pdf_3D/ODeSchutter_landgrab_briefingnote.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.3dthree.org/pdf_3D/ODeSchutter_landgrab_pressrelease.pdf">http://www.3dthree.org/pdf_3D/ODeSchutter_landgrab_pressrelease.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Land Grab or Development Opportunity? Agricultural investment and international land deals in Africa (2009), FAO, IFAD and IIED,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/ak241e/ak241e.pdf">ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/ak241e/ak241e.pdf</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">African farmers displaced as investors move in by Neil MacFarquhar, The Hindu, 23 December, 2010,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article971086.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article971086.ece</a><br /><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The new shifting agriculture: Shopping for fields overseas by Biraj Patnaik, The Times of India, 9 July, 2010,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Home/Environment/The-Good-Earth/The-new-shifting-agriculture-Shopping-for-fields-overseas/articleshow/6145715.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Home/Environment/The-Good-Earth/The-new-shifting-agriculture-Shopping-for-fields-overseas/articleshow/6145715.cms</a> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br />“Agroecology outperforms large-scale industrial farming for global food security,” says UN expert, Food First, 22 June, 2010,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.foodfirst.org/en/node/2989">http://www.foodfirst.org/en/node/2989</a><br /><br />Seeds of trouble by Latha Jishnu, The Business Standard, 29 October, 2009, <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/latha-jishnu-seedstrouble/374591/">http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/latha-jishnu-seedstrouble/374591/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.srfood.org/images/stories/pdf/officialreports/20110308_a-hrc-16-49_agroecology_en.pdf">http://www.srfood.org/images/stories/pdf/officialreports/20110308_a-hrc-16-49_agroecology_en.pdf</a></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:latentstyles></xml>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-44038823806532634052011-02-27T17:45:00.007+05:302011-03-02T11:01:49.007+05:30Envisioning India—The Potential of Aadhaar<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdsae8sUYSb7cAsP5XOqRc9lRcpz3mvll49VOEOTEbS7zymapBfJkDCFxgoEWLKgKjIeAb9iQfJxqZeiAK2QF0QfTI69jrN0EHz4vjUpbgwPlRhCWq_kX4AaDU_CO9JboN_S4IHSaSrQ/s1600/nilekani.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578344079094525874" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px; height: 188px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdsae8sUYSb7cAsP5XOqRc9lRcpz3mvll49VOEOTEbS7zymapBfJkDCFxgoEWLKgKjIeAb9iQfJxqZeiAK2QF0QfTI69jrN0EHz4vjUpbgwPlRhCWq_kX4AaDU_CO9JboN_S4IHSaSrQ/s200/nilekani.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujjPAAKQtwsWh1qDq4KbQwZRk3sdY7HAl7x5eSudHPi87qO4BLVRQZBddRj3ct-0cbnm-VxYfADGAB8BvJdAv4_4RFQ-y6tXJuDZYoIddCbET3YxNBjlILMpgsp5kUfCc9oATH75n_k4/s1600/nilekani.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Centre for Media Studies (CMS, </span><a href="http://www.cmsindia.org/"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.cmsindia.org/</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">) in collaboration with Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML, </span><a href="http://www.nehrumemorial.com/index.php"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.nehrumemorial.com/index.php</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">) organized the National Lecture Series on ‘Analysing and Envisioning India’ on 25 February, 2011 at Auditorium, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Teen Murti House. In this occasion, a lecture titled Envisioning India—The Potential of Aadhaar was delivered by Information and Technology czar Nandan Nilekani, who is presently the Chairperson of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI, </span><a href="http://uidai.gov.in/"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://uidai.gov.in/</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">). The programme was chaired by Dr. Rajesh Tandon, President, Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA, </span><a href="http://www.pria.org/"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.pria.org/</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">).<br /><br />Dr. Mridula Mukherjee, Director, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library welcomed her guests and explained the reasons behind and the nature of collaboration between CMS and NMML. She informed that CMS is a premier and unique institution (non government organization) founded by N Bhaskar Rao. It has produced some of the best quality public work. PRIA is another unique organization, added Mukherjee. It has made policy intervention in the area of governance. While talking about the UID project, she said that Nandan Nilekani is trying to give the citizens an identity. There are criticisms regarding how the UID project could be used and misused. The main objective is how the technology can be used for the greater good. Nilekani who is coming from the private sector is trying to promote larger social good. She explained that NMML’s partnership with CMS is part of the effort to build linkages in the society. Exposure to the public is a vital objective. There is no gap in the perceptions of NMML and CMS. NMML has undertaken digitization of archives as well as news reports. Microfilms of newspaper reports are available. However, television reports have not been archived. CMS has analysed archived news and reports. Doordarshan and NDTV must think about archiving news reports. Finally, Mridula Mukherjee presented the souvenirs to the chief guests.<br /><br />PN Vasanti, Director, CMS informed that CMS is fast becoming favorite among the elderly and the youth. It has started to think beyond history. CMS’ mission include: advocacy, planning, sensitization (on issues of national concern) etc. Multidisciplinary approach to research is followed and areas of research include both market and social research. CMS also organizes a film festival on biodiversity and environment titled ‘Vatavaran’. Understanding current issues is important. Nandan Nilekani is much spoken about, she said. He has written the book Imagining India. He is the Chairperson of UIDAI, which is going to cover 600 million population in the next 4 years. Security and reliability are major issues before Aadhaar. Nilekani was also the Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors, Infosys (</span><a href="http://www.infosys.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.infosys.com/</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">). In the year 2009, Time magazine placed Nilekani in the Time 100 list of 'World's Most Influential People' (see: The 2009 TIME 100, </span><a href="http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1894410_1893837_1894177,00.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1894410_1893837_1894177,00.html</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">).<br /><br />Dr. Rajesh Tandon congratulated CMS for organizing the lecture. He asked for independent public issue focused institutions who can provide leadership. He said that media accountability is important. He informed that the civil society is afraid of too much technology and intervention made by the State. When things get more organized, the civil society becomes suspicious. Data protection and privacy laws are important in the context of the Aadhaar project. Due to the Government providing escape routes, urban poor do not have birth or death certificates. Escape routes can be blocked by the National UID Bill. There are problems with the BPL list, Voter’s ID card, ration cards as they can be faked. In India, old age pensions are siphoned off by faking identity. We have multiple cards but we don’t have multiple identities. Aadhaar is one way to solve the problem. Other Government agencies have to act and all the duties cannot be performed by Aadhaar.<br /><br />Nandan Nilekani congratulated CMS for completing its 20th anniversary. While discussing the UID project, he explained the 3 key challenges faced by India, which are as follows:<br /><br />* There are a large number of residents whose existence the Indian State do not acknowledge. A major chunk of the population does not possess birth or death certificates. There are not enough birth records. The identity number can connect these people to the State. The purpose of the UID project is to make development more inclusive.<br />* The purpose behind the UID project is to address the problem of mobility and encourage mobility of the people. Rate of migration is quite high in India. Migration will go up in the coming years (20-30 years) due to urbanization and climate change. Demographic dividends can push up migration, which was explained earlier by Ashish Bose. Migration compounds identity problem. Those who reside in villages or remote rural areas do not have proper identity records. When they migrate, they will face the problem of portable identity.<br />* The UID project will address the problem of public service delivery. The government is facing the challenge of making public spending direct and transparent. The aim is to make the money reach to the actual beneficiary. Since social welfare spending is going up, so there is need for transparency in delivery mechanism. Diversion or duplication must be avoided. Public service delivery must be made efficient, effective and convenient. Public services can reach the beneficiaries in 3 modes: panchayats, post offices and banks. There exists low density of post offices and banks in rural areas. These are poorly equipped. Post offices generally have no computers and are single employee branches. There exists inadequate staff at the Gram Panchayat and Block-levels.<br /><br />Nandan Nilekani explained how the UID project is going to address these issues, which are as follows:<br /><br />* There will be one number for one person. A second number cannot be assigned for the same person. Duplication of ration cards is rampant in India. There should be a reliable and robust way. Advances in biometrics ensure unique fingerprints and iris scan. A massive computational task is there to be accomplished.<br />* What to do with the unique numbers? The numbers will be used for identification and authentication after which services will be delivered to the beneficiaries. The identification process will address the question ‘Who are you?’. A database which is online will provide the answer whether the person carrying the UID number is authentic or genuine. The UID number is portable nationally, which can be verified anywhere.<br />* How to solve the problem in the real world? The first problem is regarding the scale of the project as 1 billion people have to be covered. The other problems are: a. speed as there is a time limit; b. the quality of the data needs to be accurate; and c. cost of the project. Several states already have collected data on individuals when they rolled out NREGS and PDS. There is a need to make partnership with registrars, who already have their own databases. 60 registrars have been identified so far.<br />* How do you make sure that the data quality from different source remains the same? The enrolment technology applied in the UID project is standardized across the country. Enrolment of individuals is based on the same and standardized technology.<br />* When partnering is done by ecosystem of organizations, the data collection process speeds up. Rs. 50 is paid per enrolment to the registrar. Outcome based approach is followed in the enrolment. Rs. 100 is the enrolment cost of one individual. The backend activity includes parallel processing (cost Rs. 50 per enrolment) and frontend activity takes place in the enrolment stations (cost Rs. 50 per enrolment). Using this architecture, the scale is created. Almost 2 million persons have been enrolled so far. It is a scalable model where enrolment stations can be added.<br />* There is high level of instrumentation in the data analytics.<br />* Online authentication is a big deal. A lot of persons do not have bank accounts. Their savings is vulnerable. Moneylenders can exploit people if they have no access to banks. Verification process to own bank account is more onerous after 9/11 (because of the problem of money laundering and terror funding). KYC (know your customer) policy is adversely affecting the poor to open up bank accounts. The Aadhaar number will entitle one to open a bank account, thus helping in financial inclusion. Hence, the transaction cost to open the bank account will go down. Bank accounts can be opened up electronically. Out of the 2 million enrolments till now, 80 percent have said that they want to open bank account.<br />* How to make banking services more accessible? Business correspondents like village level shopkeepers will be provided micro-ATMs (handheld devices) through which they can offer the villagers having the UID no., the money needed by them (after verification). Decentralized banking via business correspondents can help in financial inclusion. Mobile inclusion is another example of financial inclusion. The Department of Telecommunications is saying that Aadhaar number is sufficient to get a mobile connection.<br />* The UID system can be used for giving direct subsidy on food, fuel (kerosene) and fertilizers. The Aadhaar system will electronically maintain the monetary transactions in the case of subsidy. The Government has set up an inter-ministerial task force under Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Chairman Nandan Nilekani, which will work out a suitable mechanism to provide direct subsidies on kerosene, cooking gas (LPG) and fertilizers for the intended beneficiaries.<br />* The identity infrastructure is based on open programming interface. It is an open identity infrastructure. More applications can be built. More innovation is possible. Enrolling everybody is important. Those who have no identity at all, there is a need for an introducer. The introducer will introduce the person’s name, address, and possible date of birth.<br /><br />Nandan Nilekani told that there is not much personal information collected/ available in the UID project, whose dissemination can affect privacy of the individual. There are enough checks and balances. There exists distributive database. Many organizations have to come together to share data. Legal infrastructure is planned for privacy and data protection.<br /><br />Answering to the questions posed by the audience, Nilekani said that the Aadhaar scheme will provide welfare that far outweighs the risks anticipated. There is no obligation to enroll. Data sharing is protected. Software and enrolment process is standardized. So, the data quality remains good. The number provided under the UID project is not to prove one’s nationality but to provide one person a unique identity. Passports, voter’s ID card, PAN cards and bank accounts cannot be replaced by UID number as they are the responsibilities of various individual departments. The UID is a 12 digit number. If a person is not using the number for a long duration, then that person can be considered dead. UIDAI is an attached office of the Planning Commission. Physical presence is need for biometric data collection. Non-biometric information can be collected from other databases. The UIDAI is considering whether the databases of Election Commission, National Population Registrar and Telecom data (of customers) can be utilized. UIDAI is providing identity infrastructure. Its role is to enroll and provide authentication services. Aadhaar’s definition of residences is same that of the National Population Registrar. There is no card given under the UID project. Only a number is provided. Geographical identity is needed to send the numbers via post and not to expose somebody’s identity or to harass. The idea is to include and not to exclude. The database collected by the UIDAI is also there with the mobile companies. If one is not questioning the mobile companies, then how can one say that a rogue state will misuse individual information collected.<br /><br />Finally, the ‘Role model Award’ was presented to Nandan Nilekani by Bhaskar Rao of CMS.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Key concerns regarding the UID project and the Aadhar number:<br /></strong><br />* More number of bank accounts got opened under NREGA as compared to the UID project. Hence, the claim that Aadhaar number will lead to financial inclusion of the poor is too much rhetorical.<br />* Proponents of UID project can use the system to stop illegal migration from Bangladesh (by abusing human rights) whereas the same won’t be done in case of Nepalese, Bhutanese, Tibetan and Burmese. This is because of the existing anti-Muslim feeling among the officials.<br />* Issues of privacy and data protection are still unanswered.<br />* The UID project has been mooted to undermine schemes like NREGS and PDS and to encourage direct cash transfers.<br /><br />For a critique of the UID project read: A Campaign for No UID-Till Complete Transparency, Accountability and People’s Participation,<br /></span><a href="http://eindia2007.blogspot.com/2010/10/campaign-for-no-uid-till-complete.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://eindia2007.blogspot.com/2010/10/campaign-for-no-uid-till-complete.html</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><strong>Further readings:<br /></strong></em><br />UID and Public Health: Specious Claims by Mohan Rao, Newsclick.in, 21 February, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.newsclick.in/india/uid-and-public-health-specious-claims"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.newsclick.in/india/uid-and-public-health-specious-claims</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />One step forward, The Business Standard, 22 February, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/one-step-forward/425981/"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/one-step-forward/425981/</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Bihar as model? UID rollout within 3 years by Mahendra Kumar Singh, The Times of India, 16 February, 2011, </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bihar-as-model-UID-rollout-within-3-years/articleshow/7503759.cms"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bihar-as-model-UID-rollout-within-3-years/articleshow/7503759.cms</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Team Nilekani to shape model for direct susbidy transfer, The Economic Times, 15 February, 2011, </span><a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/team-nilekani-to-shape-model-for-direct-susbidy-transfer/articleshow/7499069.cms"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/team-nilekani-to-shape-model-for-direct-susbidy-transfer/articleshow/7499069.cms</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Nilekani to head task force on direct subsidies, The Hindu, 15 February, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/15/stories/2011021564441500.htm"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/15/stories/2011021564441500.htm</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />UID to be Punjab’s ‘adhaar’ to take on oil, LPG mafia by Sukhdeep Kaur. The Indian Express, 7 February, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/UID-to-be-Punjab-s--adhaar--to-take-on-oil--LPG-mafia/746914/"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/UID-to-be-Punjab-s--adhaar--to-take-on-oil--LPG-mafia/746914/</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Tracking Nilekani by Latha Jishnu, Down to Earth, 15 February, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/tracking-nilekani"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/tracking-nilekani</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />UID boss Nilekani for pvt identity, public access, The Times of India, 4 February, 2011, </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/-UID-boss-Nilekani-for-pvt-identity-public-access/articleshow/7427031.cms"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/-UID-boss-Nilekani-for-pvt-identity-public-access/articleshow/7427031.cms</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Mohali to take lead in UID, The Times of India, 2 February, 2011, </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Mohali-to-take-lead-in-UID/articleshow/7408126.cms"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Mohali-to-take-lead-in-UID/articleshow/7408126.cms</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Fool-proof UID system for Indians? Blah!, Rediff.com, 1 February, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/report/fool-proof-uid-system-for-indians-blah/20110201.htm"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.rediff.com/news/report/fool-proof-uid-system-for-indians-blah/20110201.htm</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Census 2011 will begin on February 9 by Vinay Kumar, The Hindu, 3 February, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/03/stories/2011020366882400.htm"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/03/stories/2011020366882400.htm</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Kind to cash by Richard Mahapatra, Down to Earth, 15 February, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/32976"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/32976</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />A platter of blather by Pratap Bhanu Mehta, The Indian Express, 21 January, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-platter-of-blather/740417/0"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-platter-of-blather/740417/0</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Several questions on UID unanswered, say experts, The Hindu, 24 January, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/24/stories/2011012462321400.htm"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/24/stories/2011012462321400.htm</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />UID launched in Gumla, The Times of India, 21 January, 2011, </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/UID-launched-in-gumla-/articleshow/7336873.cms"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/UID-launched-in-gumla-/articleshow/7336873.cms</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Activists, researchers doubts security of UID data, DNA, 22 January, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_activists-researchers-doubts-security-of-uid-data_1497922"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_activists-researchers-doubts-security-of-uid-data_1497922</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />UIDAI chairman leaves simple questions unanswered at lecture for students by Samir Kelekar, Moneylife.in, 10 January, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.moneylife.in/article/78/13012.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.moneylife.in/article/78/13012.html</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Master card: The UID faces opposition by Udit Misra, Money Control, 12 January, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/features/master-card-the-uid-faces-opposition_512450.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/features/master-card-the-uid-faces-opposition_512450.html</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Resolving the identity crisis by Malia Politzer, Live Mint, 10 January, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.livemint.com/2011/01/10235903/Resolving-the-identity-crisis.html?h=A1"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.livemint.com/2011/01/10235903/Resolving-the-identity-crisis.html?h=A1</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />100 days on, development a non-starter in UID’s first stop by Santosh Andhale, DNA, 6 January, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_100-days-on-development-a-non-starter-in-uid-s-first-stop_1490851"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_100-days-on-development-a-non-starter-in-uid-s-first-stop_1490851</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />UID set to replace PF account number, The Times of India, 4 January, 2011, </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Unique-ID-set-to-replace-PF-account-number/articleshow/7214002.cms"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Unique-ID-set-to-replace-PF-account-number/articleshow/7214002.cms</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />UID can now be your official ID proof by Arunoday Mukharji, IBN, 2 January, 2011, </span><a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/uid-can-now-be-your-official-id-proof/139167-3.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/uid-can-now-be-your-official-id-proof/139167-3.html</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Unique Identity, Leakages and Development by Jayati Ghosh, Macroscan.com, 16 December, 2010, </span><a href="http://macroscan.com/cur/dec10/cur161210Unique_Identity.htm"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://macroscan.com/cur/dec10/cur161210Unique_Identity.htm</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />MasterCard Develops Payment Solution for ‘Aadhaar’ in India, WebWire, 7 December, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=128158"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=128158</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Right to privacy or the right to do business with UID database?, SuchetaDalal.com, 3 December, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.suchetadalal.com/?id=1fe90d9c-bb33-33e6-4cf8ba7e262c&base=sections&f"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.suchetadalal.com/?id=1fe90d9c-bb33-33e6-4cf8ba7e262c&base=sections&f</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Panel proposes UID-linked direct subsidy by Utpal Bhaskar, Live Mint, 5 December, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.livemint.com/2010/12/05233625/Panel-proposes-UIDlinked-dire.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.livemint.com/2010/12/05233625/Panel-proposes-UIDlinked-dire.html</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Govt urged not to link UID, NREGA by Jaideep Deogharia, The Times of India, 2 December, 2010, </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-urged-not-to-link-UID-NREGA/articleshow/7026090.cms"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-urged-not-to-link-UID-NREGA/articleshow/7026090.cms</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Each Unique ID number costs Rs.100: Nilekani, IANS, 2 December, 2010, </span><a href="http://beta.in.news.yahoo.com/unique-id-number-costs-rs-100-nilekani.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://beta.in.news.yahoo.com/unique-id-number-costs-rs-100-nilekani.html</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Will Unique Identity Number derail NREGA? by Alok Pandey and Tanima Biswas, NDTV, 2 December, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/will-unique-identity-number-derail-nrega-70002"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/will-unique-identity-number-derail-nrega-70002</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />‘Keep UID out of MGNREGA', The Hindu, 1 December, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article924451.ece"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article924451.ece</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Aadhaar will plug leakages in welfare delivery mechanism by Surabhi Agarwal, Live Mint, 24 November, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.livemint.com/2010/11/24224519/Aadhaar-will-plug-leakages-in.html?h=B"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.livemint.com/2010/11/24224519/Aadhaar-will-plug-leakages-in.html?h=B</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Unique facility, or recipe for trouble? by Jean Drèze, The Hindu, 25 November, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article911931.ece"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article911931.ece</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />"Basic procedures not followed before project was launched”, The Hindu, 29 September, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article801252.ece"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article801252.ece</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Why the UID number project must be scrapped by Gopal Krishna, Rediff.com, 2 June, 2010, </span><a href="http://news.rediff.com/column/2010/jun/02/why-the-uid-number-project-must-be-scrapped.htm"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://news.rediff.com/column/2010/jun/02/why-the-uid-number-project-must-be-scrapped.htm</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />High-cost, high-risk by R Ramakumar, Frontline, Volume 26, Issue 16, 1-14 August, 2009, </span><a href="http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2616/stories/20090814261604900.htm"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2616/stories/20090814261604900.htm</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Why Indians should fear the UID by Praful Bidwai, Rediff.com, 12 October, 2010, </span><a href="http://news.rediff.com/column/2010/oct/12/column-why-indians-should-fear-the-uid.htm"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://news.rediff.com/column/2010/oct/12/column-why-indians-should-fear-the-uid.htm</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The personal is the personal by Usha Ramanathan, 6 January, 2010, The Indian Express, </span><a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-personal-is-the-personal/563920/0"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-personal-is-the-personal/563920/0</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Questionable link by Praful Bidwai, Frontline, Volume 27, Issue 12, 5-18 June, 2010,<br /></span><a href="http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2712/stories/20100618271209400.htm"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2712/stories/20100618271209400.htm</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Not all that unique by Reetika Khera, The Hindustan Times, 30 August, 2010,<br /></span><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/Not-all-that-unique/H1-Article1-593541.aspx"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.hindustantimes.com/Not-all-that-unique/H1-Article1-593541.aspx</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />NREGA gets 'smart' by Arvind Mayaram, The Financial Express, 24 September, 2010,<br /></span><a href="http://www.financialexpress.com/news/nrega-gets-smart/686746/0"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.financialexpress.com/news/nrega-gets-smart/686746/0</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Unique ID pilot project in a week, The Telegraph, 30 July, 2010,<br /></span><a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100730/jsp/frontpage/story_12749213.jsp"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100730/jsp/frontpage/story_12749213.jsp</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Govt allocates Rs 10 cr to UIDAI, The Indian Express, 22 July, 2010,<br /></span><a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/govt-allocates-rs-10-cr-to-uidai/650321/"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/govt-allocates-rs-10-cr-to-uidai/650321/</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Plugging the leaks, The Business Standard, 15 July, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/pluggingleaks/401414/"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/pluggingleaks/401414/</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Govt slashes UIDAI budget by over 50 per cent, Yahoo.com, 11 July, 2010,<br /></span><a href="http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100711/1238/tbs-govt-slashes-uidai-budget-by-over-50.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100711/1238/tbs-govt-slashes-uidai-budget-by-over-50.html</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p></div>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-67082004296895485132011-02-09T15:13:00.009+05:302011-05-24T12:45:40.692+05:30Is Indian agriculture performing really well?<span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjCIAN3kXc0k1_fzrmd0zRmNpfyIGBvNyrDRXJvNKYvGX2IXJZvarZd1OjP8xSAex_jbUG2Tp3-Xgn90EFj5x_qWk_o6MS4v7kd9NlmtMqwAG6cMQiBE6boQrafrvnEpmeBEE6rK19w8/s1600/indian+agriculture.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjCIAN3kXc0k1_fzrmd0zRmNpfyIGBvNyrDRXJvNKYvGX2IXJZvarZd1OjP8xSAex_jbUG2Tp3-Xgn90EFj5x_qWk_o6MS4v7kd9NlmtMqwAG6cMQiBE6boQrafrvnEpmeBEE6rK19w8/s200/indian+agriculture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571625030767251682" border="0" /></a><br /></span><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">There could not have been a better timing for the release of the Advance Estimates of National Income 2010-11 of the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since everybody is eagerly waiting for UPA 2’s third budget. The newly released document show that GDP arising out of the agricultural sector registered a growth rate of 5.4 percent at factor cost at constant (2004-05) prices in 2010-11. The CSO document predicts that the ‘agriculture, forestry and fishing’ sector would grow by 5.4 per cent in its GDP during 2010-11, as against the previous year’s growth rate of 0.4 per cent. In another estimate made by the Survey of Professional Forecasters: Results of the Fourteenth Round (Q3:2010-11), for the year 2010-11, the forecast for agriculture has been revised upwards from 4.6 per cent to 5.0 per cent (See the links below). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">According to the information furnished by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) to the CSO, production of foodgrains and oilseeds are likely to expand by 6.5 per cent and 11.9 per cent, respectively, in 2010-11. The production of cotton and sugarcane are also expected to increase by 41.2 per cent and 15.2 per cent, respectively, in 2010-11. Production of fruits and vegetables are expected to increase by 4.1 per cent and 3.8 per cent, respectively, during the same period. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Despite positive claims being made about agricultural production by the Congress-led UPA 2, there are key areas of concern where Indian agriculture is still lagging behind.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><i>The key challenges faced by Indian agriculture are as follows: <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><i><b>Rain-fed farming:</b> </i>It is beyond doubt that the fate of Indian agriculture is determined by the monsoons. The percentage coverage of irrigated area under rice, wheat, coarse cereals, pulses, foodgrains, total oilseeds and all crops during 2007-08 have been 56.9 percent, 90.9 percent, 14.2 percent, 16.2 percent, 46.8 percent, 27.1 percent and 44.6 percent, respectively. Hence, it can be inferred that production of coarse cereals, pulses and oilseeds is highly rain-dependent and take place in arid and semi-arid areas of our country. Only, 44.6 of the area under principal crops is irrigated. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b><i>Inequality in land distribution and fragmentation of land:</i></b> During 2000-01, 62.3 percent, 19.0 percent, 11.8 percent, 5.5 percent and 1.0 percent of the operational holdings were marginal (less than 1 hectare), small (1.0 to 2.0 hectares), semi-medium (4.0 to 10.0 hectares) and large (10.0 hectares and above), respectively. The average size of all operational holdings has reduced from 1.41 hectares in 1995-96 to 1.33 hectares, thus, pointing to increased fragmentation of land, which affects productivity. The area operated has reduced from 163357000 hectares in 1995-96 to 159436000 hectares in 2000-01. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><i><b>Lack of productive investment in agriculture:</b> </i>The percentage share of Plan outlay on agriculture and allied activities in total Plan outlay during the Ninth Plan (1997-2002) was 4.9 percent, which came down to 3.9 percent in the Tenth Plan (2002-07). The percentage share of Plan outlay on agriculture and allied activities in total Plan outlay during 2007-08 was 3.5 percent, which came down to 3.1 percent in 2008-09 and further to 2.4 percent in 2009-10. Similarly, the percentage share of Actual expenditure on agriculture and allied activities in total Actual expenditure during the Ninth Plan (1997-2002) was 4.0 percent, which came down to 3.8 percent in the Tenth Plan (2002-07). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Growth rate of actual expenditure of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation was 42.95 percent, 27.94 percent, 45.05 percent, -21.55 percent and 95.19 percent during 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 (over the previous years), respectively. Apart from a shortfall in monsoon rainfall during 2009-10, a negative 21.55 percent growth in the actual expenditure of the DAC during 2008-09 may have contributed for agricultural GDP growth of 0.4 percent (at constant 2004-05 prices) in 2009-10. However, as a result of favourable monsoons during 2010-11 and a positive 95.19 percent growth in the actual expenditure of the DAC during 2009-10, the agricultural GDP is expected to grow by 5.4 percent 2010-11. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The picture may not be as rosy as one can imagine. The percentage share of public investment in the total investment made on agriculture has declined from 21 percent in 2004-05 to 18 percent in 2008-09. According to the Economic Survey 2009-10, public investment in agriculture in real terms has witnessed steady decline from the Sixth Five Year Plan to the Tenth Plan. Trends in public investment in agriculture and allied sectors reveal that it has consistently declined in real terms (at 1999-2000 prices) from the Sixth Plan to the Ninth Plan (Sixth Plan [1980-85]—Rs 64,012 crore, Seventh Plan [1985-90]—Rs 52,108 crore, Eighth Plan [1992-97]—Rs 45,565 crore and Ninth Plan [1997-2002]—Rs 42,226 crore).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><i><b>Agricultural Indebtedness:</b> </i>According to the Report No. 498(59/33/1), Situation Assessment Survey of Farmers: Indebtedness of Farmer Households, National Sample Survey 59th Round (January-December 2003), percentage of indebted farmer households was highest in the state of Andhra Pradesh (82%), to be followed by Tamil Nadu (74.5%), Punjab (65.4%), Kerala (64.4%), Karnataka (61.6%) and Maharastra (54.8%) (See the link below).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Stories of farmers committing suicides are frequently reported in media from states like: Andhra Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharastra (see the links below). According to the recently released National Crime Records Bureau's Accidental Death and Suicide (2009), the number of suicides committed by farmers in 2009 was 17,368, which was a rise by 1,172 as compared to 2008. Self-employed category accounted for 39.8% of suicide victims in 2009. It comprised 13.7% engaged in Farming/Agriculture activities, 6.1% engaged in Business and 2.9% Professionals. Despite a fall in number of suicides committed by farmers in 2009 as compared to 2008 in Maharastra (fallen by 930), the state continues to be number one in terms of farmers' suicides for the tenth year (2,872 suicides) as compared to the rest of the Indian states.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b><i>Revamping the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Act:</i></b> The State APMC Acts establish and regulate a large number of agricultural markets in India. The entire geographical area in a state is divided and declared as a market area wherein the markets are managed by the Market Committees constituted by the state Governments. No person or agency is allowed freely to carry on wholesale marketing activities, once a particular area is declared a market area and falls under the jurisdiction of a Market Committee. It is believed by a set of economists that the monopoly of Government regulated wholesale markets has hampered the development of a competitive marketing system in India, providing no help to farmers in direct marketing, organizing retailing, a smooth raw material supply to agro-processing industries and adoption of innovative marketing system and technologies. The Task Force on Agricultural Marketing Reforms set up by the Ministry of Agriculture has suggested promotion of new and competitive Agricultural Market in private and cooperative sectors to encourage direct marketing and contract farming programmes, facilitate industries and large trading companies to undertake procurement of agricultural commodities directly from the farmer’s fields and to establish effective linkages between the farm production and retail chains.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Presently, agricultural produce can be moved out of an area only by agents who own licenses issued under the APMC Act. However, the Central Government has envisaged a model APMC Act for the states to enable the smooth flow of produce from one place to another. Key proponents of the revamped APMC Act want to squeeze the interference by the intermediaries so that the fruits of rising prices can be enjoyed by the farmers. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail is also seen as a solution to combat inflation. According to the critics of the existing APMC Act, the cleaning, grading and packaging of agricultural produce before sale by the farmers have not been popularized by the market committees on a sufficient scale. There is demand for bringing more uniformity in powers and functions of Boards and demarcations of activities between the Directorate of Marketing and State Agricultural Marketing Boards. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The number of regulated markets is relatively more in geographically larger states viz. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">However, the Left parties are up in arms against the model APMC Act as they feel that it would lead to cartel formation by the traders and hoarding of essential commodities would accelerate, thus, adversely affecting the consumers. In the recent days, when India saw huge rise in prices of onion and other essential commodities, both the pro-and-anti APMC lobbies were seen on TV channels either advocating or critiquing the revamping of the same Act. The Left parties feel that FDI in retailing would greatly hamper food sovereignty. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><i><b>Lack of storage facilities:</b> </i>Growth in food grain and agricultural production should be backed by sufficient and proper storage and distribution system. Recently, India has seen wastage of foodgrains in states like Punjab in the backdrop of high prevalence of malnutrition. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><i>According to the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) documents, lower growth in productivity increase and profitability in agriculture is attributable to:<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">• Inadequate investment in rural infrastructure has hampered the growth of agriculture<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">• Illiteracy, socio-economic backwardness, slow progress in implementing land reforms and inadequate marketing and storage facilities are affecting Indian agriculture<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">• Smaller size of land-holdings and fragmentation, which is affecting productivity<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">• Adoption of modern agricultural practices and use of technology is inadequate. There has been inefficient use of available technology and inputs.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">• Agriculture is mainly rain-fed. There has been low level of public investment in irrigation-related infrastructure<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">• There has been widening economic disparities between irrigated and rain-fed areas<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">• Increased vulnerability to world commodity price volatility following trade liberalization. This had an adverse effect on agricultural economies of regions growing crops such as cotton and oilseeds<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">• Uneven and slow development of technology<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">• Lack of adequate incentives and appropriate institutions<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">• Degradation of natural resource base<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">• Rapid and widespread decline in groundwater table, with particularly adverse impact on small and marginal farmers<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">• Terms of trade turned against agriculture from 1999–2000 to 2004–05 and reduced profitability of farming quite sharply<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Probably, a lot needs to be done before one gets satisfied with the prospect of a good turnaround of the agricultural sector in 2010-11. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Further Readings: <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Advance Estimates of National Income 2010-11, Centra;Statistics Office, MoSPI, GoI, Press Information Bureau<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://mospi.nic.in/Mospi_New/upload/adv_rel_pressnote_8feb11.pdf">http://mospi.nic.in/Mospi_New/upload/adv_rel_pressnote_8feb11.pdf</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Survey of Professional Forecasters : Results of the Fourteenth Round (Q3:2010-11), <a href="http://rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=13050">http://rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=13050</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2010, <a href="http://dacnet.nic.in/eands/latest_2006.htm">http://dacnet.nic.in/eands/latest_2006.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Economic Survey 2009-10, <a href="http://www.im4change.org/docs/4743chapter08.pdf">http://www.im4change.org/docs/4743chapter08.pdf</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://mofpi.nic.in/images/File/FICCI%20Data/Indian%20Food%20Laws/Agricultural%20Produce%20Market%20Committees%20%28APMC%20Act%29.pdf">http://mofpi.nic.in/images/File/FICCI%20Data/Indian%20Food%20Laws/Agricultural%20Produce%20Market%20Committees%20%28APMC%20Act%29.pdf</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://agmarknet.nic.in/amrscheme/modelact.htm#Background%C2%A0">http://agmarknet.nic.in/amrscheme/modelact.htm#Background%C2%A0</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Eleventh Five Year Plan 2007-12,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.planningcommission.gov.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/welcome.html">http://www.planningcommission.gov.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/welcome.html</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">In rain-battered Adilabad, death stalks farmers by S Harpal Singh, The Hindu, 2 February, 2011, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/02/stories/2011020255352400.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/02/stories/2011020255352400.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">3 farmers attempt suicide in Madhya Pradesh, Sify News, 31 January, 2011, <a href="http://www.sify.com/news/3-farmers-attempt-suicide-in-madhya-pradesh-news-national-lb5vkmgbbeb.html">http://www.sify.com/news/3-farmers-attempt-suicide-in-madhya-pradesh-news-national-lb5vkmgbbeb.html</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Farmer suicides increase at an alarming rate by Rupashree Nanda, IBN, 18 January, 2011, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/farmer-suicides-increase-at-an-alarming-rate/140746-3.html">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/farmer-suicides-increase-at-an-alarming-rate/140746-3.html</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">1326 Indians die due to accidents, suicide every day, The Times of India, 17 January, 2011, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/1326-Indians-die-due-to-accidents-suicide-every-day/articleshow/7300325.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/1326-Indians-die-due-to-accidents-suicide-every-day/articleshow/7300325.cms</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">National Crime Records Bureau's Accidental Death and Suicide (2009),<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.im4change.org/debt-suicides/farmers-suicides-14.html?pgno=2">http://www.im4change.org/debt-suicides/farmers-suicides-14.html?pgno=2</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Gowda's homeland is land of farmers' suicide too, The Times of India, 12 January, 2011, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Gowdas-homeland-is-land-of-farmers-suicide-too/articleshow/7262739.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Gowdas-homeland-is-land-of-farmers-suicide-too/articleshow/7262739.cms</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Vidarbha: 9 farmer suicide in 5 days as cold destroys crop, NDTV, 12 January, 2011, <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/vidarbha-9-farmer-suicide-in-5-days-as-cold-destroys-crop-78760?pfrom=home-India">http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/vidarbha-9-farmer-suicide-in-5-days-as-cold-destroys-crop-78760?pfrom=home-India</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Modernisation of agri marketing needed: Montek, The Business Standard, 5 February, 2011, <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/modernisationagri-marketing-needed-montek/424123/">http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/modernisationagri-marketing-needed-montek/424123/</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Diluting the Right to Food by CP Chandrasekhar, Macroscan.com, 2 February, 2011, <a href="http://macroscan.com/cur/feb11/cur020211Food.htm">http://macroscan.com/cur/feb11/cur020211Food.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">BJP lashes out at UPA govt on rotting food grains issue, IBN, 10 October, 2010, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/bjp-lashes-out-at-upa-govt-on-rotting-food-grains-issue/399129.html">http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/bjp-lashes-out-at-upa-govt-on-rotting-food-grains-issue/399129.html</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Rotting grain & judicial transgression by Ashok Khemka, The Economic Times, 7 October, 2010, <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/editorial/Rotting-grain--judicial-transgression/articleshow/6703577.cms">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/editorial/Rotting-grain--judicial-transgression/articleshow/6703577.cms</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">How right you are, Dr. Singh by P Sainath, The Hindu, 14 September, 2010, <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/sainath/article634136.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/sainath/article634136.ece</a></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-15126730321584653092011-02-03T16:42:00.004+05:302011-02-03T16:50:00.242+05:30Mazdoor Haq Satyagraha<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YbHune5AH2ocFb69s4qLFxKvCPfT_1wdP7MJ58_T3ecVj_YrHdhDc01oJnqI4zbkD27g3Svqc5WyHI1mcgPEyUE68g2jQOXz4HKp5M45w1WxRUWB01XohSwxN4_swfJZxUgobGOOFk8/s1600/Table.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YbHune5AH2ocFb69s4qLFxKvCPfT_1wdP7MJ58_T3ecVj_YrHdhDc01oJnqI4zbkD27g3Svqc5WyHI1mcgPEyUE68g2jQOXz4HKp5M45w1WxRUWB01XohSwxN4_swfJZxUgobGOOFk8/s400/Table.bmp" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569420580525046258" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">The Suchna Evum Rozgar ka Adhikar Abhiyan (SR Abhiyan) began a Mazdoor Haq Satyagraha (indefinite dharna) from the 2nd of October, 2010 near the Statue Circle in Jaipur, Rajasthan, which witnessed participation of nearly 1500 NREGA workers and farmers on the very first day.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">The SR Abhiyan organized a Mazdoor Haq Yatra, in which there were 5 groups - one each in Ajmer, Jodhpur, Kota, Rajsamand and Udaipur. The yatras started on the 15th of September, 2010 so as to mobilize <i>mazdoors</i> and farmers on the issues of non-payment of minimum wages under NREGA, increase in minimum wages, work done by workers not being measured properly by junior engineers and widespread corruption and leakages in the existing employment guaranty scheme. The 5 groups converged near the Statue Circle in Jaipur on October 2<sup>nd</sup>, 2010-the day Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">A delegation comprising of 99 NREGA labourers from Tonk district who were paid Rs 1 per day as wage rate went to meet the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister of Rajasthan Government Shri Bharat Singh, and handed over to him a cheque of Rs. 1037/- to be deposited under Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">The NREGA workers at the dharna site were demanding for their just labour rights through the following slogans: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Nyuntam Mazdoori ko, Mahangai se jodo<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">(Link the Minimum wages to Price Inflation)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Nyuntam Mazdoori Badhani Hogi, Do sau Rupya Karni Hogi<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">(Make an increase in Minimum Wages to Rs. 200 per day)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Hum Hamara Haq Jante, Nahi Kisi se Bheek Mangte<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">(We are demanding for our Rights, We are not begging)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Mazdoor Haq Yatra Zindabad<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">(Long Live Mazdoor Haq Yatra)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Shri Bhanwar Singh Chadana from Aastha, Udaipur during a short interview to the Inclusive Media for Change (www.im4change.org) team informed that the following issues would be raised during the indefinite dharna: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Violation of Minimum Wage Law, 1948</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minimum wages has remained the same since 2008 and it has not been linked to the Consumer Price Index</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Government of Rajasthan is not ready to increase the minimum wages so as to avoid fiscal burden. Even if wages are increased, it wants the Central Government to pay the extra amount</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The salaries of the Government employees have been increased according to the recommendations of the 6<sup>th</sup> Pay Commission. Moreover, the salaries of the Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) have been hiked. However, there has been no improvement in the wages offered to the NREGA workers</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""></span></i><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minimum wages should be increased from Rs. 100 per day to Rs. 200 per day.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""></span>Through simple tables and figures, the Mazdoor Haq Yatra displayed to the gathering that how the wages and salaries of the collectors, junior engineers, teachers, patwaris and sarpanches witnessed a huge rise between 2008 and 2010. Except the NREGA workers, every other Government official’s salary has risen between 2008 and 2010. Please see the table provided above.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Again, through simple tables and figures, the Mazdoor Haq Yatra displayed that how the prices of essential commodities have increased between 2008 and 2010. Though the Government provides dearness allowance (DA) to its employees by revising the basic salaries twice in a year so as to protect them from rising prices, there has been no effort on the part of the Government to link the minimum wages of the NREGA workers to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Please see the table provided above.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Ms. Aruna Roy from Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) spoke about the life and struggles of Mahatma Gandhi. She explained the meaning of the following popular Bhajan:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>raghupati raaghav raajaaraam,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>patit paavan sitaram<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>siitaaraam, sitaram,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>bhaj pyaare tu sitaram<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>iishvar Allah tero naam,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>sab ko sanmati de bhagavaan<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">She informed that Mahatma Gandhi was not killed by a Muslim but by a Hindu fanatic Brahmin named Nathuram Vinayak Godse. She asked that everyone should follow Gandhi <i>ji</i>’s Talisman, which says:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and yourself melt away." </i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">She also praised Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar who wrote the secular Constitution of India. She said that credit facilities for buying cars have become easier, while it has become costlier to get loans for farming. She criticized the present structure of the National Food Security Bill and said that the public distribution system (PDS) should be made universal. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">MKSS activist Nikhil Dey asked that a People’s Commission on Wages should be constituted to discuss the issue of payment of minimum wages and increasing minimum wages to Rs. 200 per day. He said that dearness allowance is given to the Government employees and not to the workers under NREGA. If there is monitoring of work done by NREGA workers, then why the same should not be applied for the government officials. He informed that efficiency of the Government can be judged from the fact that Rs. 19,000 crore has been the annual revenue collection by the Government of Rajasthan from various sources, whereas Rs. 22,000 crore is spent annually for payment of salaries and pensions of Government employees. Government employees constitute only 1 percent of the population and a huge expenditure is made on their salaries and pensions. He explained that a worker who earns less than his/ her minimum wage is nothing but a slave. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Shri Bhanwar Singh Chadana from Aastha said that the indefinite dharna has been called to demand for the fulfillment of workers’ rights under NREGA. The sarpanches must allow conducting of social audits by outsiders. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Ms. Richa spoke at length about the role of gram panchayat in conducting social audits. She said that ward panchayat must also be included along with the gram panchayat. Farmers’ issues must be raised so that they get the right prices for their produce. Despite India having enough foodgrains in its buffer stock, people are dying due to starvation and hunger. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">MKSS activist Shankar Singh said that Government employees get 183 days of holidays in a year that comprises of 365 days. For 6 months’ work, Government employees get 12 months’ salaries. Government employees get pensions, which the NREGA workers do not receive. He demanded that the days of employment under NREGA must be raised from 100 to 200 days a year. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Ms. Renuka Pamecha said that higher officials are not accountable to the public They do not provide services to the public efficiently. MPs and MLAs have increased their salaries. But NREGA workers’ salaries have remained stagnant. There is a need to fight against the new ‘kings’ and ‘queens’ i.e. the babudom. There are many crorepatis among Indian MPs but they still ask for higher salaries. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Ms. Arundhuti Roy informed that a massive war is taking place against the poor in states like Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal. In states like Chattisgarh, the police is engaged in extortion and rape. The Government has waged a war against its own people so as to give mining rights and right to exploit natural resources available in forests to the corporate sector and the multinational corporations (MNCs). Nearly 25 percent of the national asset is owned by the richest 100 persons of India. India is much poorer than Africa in absolute terms. Nearly, 77 percent of the population lives below the poverty line of Rs. 20 per day. During the 1970s, Naxalism came into being to protest against the growing income disparity between the rich and the poor. In the name of tackling Maoism and Naxalism, the Government is presently engaged in human rights abuse. Tribal people are victimized by the police and the army. The Government wants to end small-scale agriculture done by poor cultivators and marginal farmers. The Government is working in favour of corporate and commercial agriculture. In Rajasthan, a movement is taking place to give NREGA workers the minimum wage. She questioned whether India can be called a super power since its labourers are paid Rs 1/ day. Whatever is happening in J&K, would replicate in other states of the country if the current scenario of exploiting the poor continues. She said that in Chattisgarh, one can be jailed for 7 years without any reason. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span">References: <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.srabhiyan.wordpress.com/">www.srabhiyan.wordpress.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sonia's NAC favours statutory minimum wages under MNREGS by Vidya Subrahmaniam, The Hindu, 30 October, 2010, <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/article858538.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/article858538.ece</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Centre and states labour over NREGA wage fineprint by Seema Chishti, The Financial Express, 25 October, 2010, <a href="http://www.financialexpress.com/news/centre-and-states-labour-over-nrega-wage-fineprint/701952/0">http://www.financialexpress.com/news/centre-and-states-labour-over-nrega-wage-fineprint/701952/0</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Minimum Wages Act for MGNREGA too: NAC by Anindo Dey, The Times of India, 25 October, 2010, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Minimum-Wages-Act-for-NGNREGA-too-NAC/articleshow/6806040.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Minimum-Wages-Act-for-NGNREGA-too-NAC/articleshow/6806040.cms</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">The Wages of Discontent by Aruna Roy and Nikhil Dey, The Hindu, 22 October, 2010, <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article843173.ece?homepage=true">http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article843173.ece?homepage=true</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Centre to step in Rajasthan Mnregs wage row by K Balchand, The Hindu, 10 October, 2010, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/10/stories/2010101063261100.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/10/stories/2010101063261100.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Mazdoor Satyagrah demands accountability panel, The Times of India, 9 October, 2010, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Mazdoor-Satyagrah-demands-accountability-panel/articleshow/6716117.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Mazdoor-Satyagrah-demands-accountability-panel/articleshow/6716117.cms</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Activists to send low wage feat' to Guinness, The Times of India, 7 October, 2010, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Activists-to-send-low-wage-feat-to-Guinness/articleshow/6702689.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Activists-to-send-low-wage-feat-to-Guinness/articleshow/6702689.cms</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">NREGS: Activists demand action on anomalies, The Times of India, 6 October, 2010, <a href="http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/10/06&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00201&ViewMode">http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/10/06&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00201&ViewMode</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Less than min wages for NREGA workers unconstitutional: Govt by Anindo Dey, The Times of India, 5 October, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/10/05&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00200&ViewMode">http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/10/05&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00200&ViewMode</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Ensure minimum wages to NREGA workers: Activists by Anindo Dey, The Times of India, 4 October, 2010, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Ensure-minimum-wages-to-NREGA-workers-Activists/articleshow/6680762.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Ensure-minimum-wages-to-NREGA-workers-Activists/articleshow/6680762.cms</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">No guarantees anymore by Sowmya Sivakumar, The Hindu, 3 October, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.hindu.com/mag/2010/10/03/stories/2010100350010100.htm">http://www.hindu.com/mag/2010/10/03/stories/2010100350010100.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Labourers go on indefinite strike, press for demands, The Times of India, 3 October, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Labourers-go-on-indefinite-strike-press-for-demands/articleshow/6674845.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Labourers-go-on-indefinite-strike-press-for-demands/articleshow/6674845.cms</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">The mass job guarantee by Aruna Roy & Nachiket Udupa, Himal Magazine, October, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.himalmag.com/The-mass-job-guarantee_nw4749.html">http://www.himalmag.com/The-mass-job-guarantee_nw4749.html</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Cong, activists at loggerheads over NREGA by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 23 September, 2010, <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cong-activists-at-loggerheads-over-nrega/408892">http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cong-activists-at-loggerheads-over-nrega/408892</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">'Systemic reform to root out corruption still needed' by Bharat Dogra, The Times of India, 13 September, 2010, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Systemic-reform-to-root-out-corruption-still-needed/articleshow/6541296.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Systemic-reform-to-root-out-corruption-still-needed/articleshow/6541296.cms</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">NAC members blast execution of NREGA, call it 'anti-labour', The Financial Express, 28 September, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.financialexpress.com/news/NAC-members-blast-execution-of-NREGA--call-it---anti-labour--/689178/">http://www.financialexpress.com/news/NAC-members-blast-execution-of-NREGA--call-it---anti-labour--/689178/</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">MNREGA workers peeved at being paid Re. 1 by K Balchand, The Hindu, 28 September, 2010, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/28/stories/2010092862850800.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/28/stories/2010092862850800.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">States fail on dole for jobless-Unemployment allowance to handful, The Telegraph, 28 September, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100928/jsp/nation/story_12990989.jsp">http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100928/jsp/nation/story_12990989.jsp</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Rajasthan refuses to recognise NREGA workers' union by Sreelatha Menon, Sify News, 30 September, 2010, <a href="http://sify.com/finance/rajasthan-refuses-to-recognise-nrega-workers-union-news-news-kj4bOWhfahh.html">http://sify.com/finance/rajasthan-refuses-to-recognise-nrega-workers-union-news-news-kj4bOWhfahh.html</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Let’s build on the positives, The Hindustan Times, 29 September, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/Let-s-build-on-the-positives/Article1-606195.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.hindustantimes.com/Let-s-build-on-the-positives/Article1-606195.aspx</span></a> <span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-12092532399681444172011-01-30T12:47:00.001+05:302021-02-21T13:33:56.188+05:30Report: Rational Minimum Wage Policy (for the Unorganized Sector)<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8PTniq9w9DFGpIhfD1O2pj4rgjSHaVgmxzlpRF14w5wVeBwQW0XRTxivTMnrTWpxNlHuBjqxw3gZ6OnRNSxvbSiM9vH_tLScSvi-z6G4ywllPENQ4i_RWuA83mi3vf1UIUAOerEsGOA/s1600/Old+man+working+at+NREGA+site.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568647496899896130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8PTniq9w9DFGpIhfD1O2pj4rgjSHaVgmxzlpRF14w5wVeBwQW0XRTxivTMnrTWpxNlHuBjqxw3gZ6OnRNSxvbSiM9vH_tLScSvi-z6G4ywllPENQ4i_RWuA83mi3vf1UIUAOerEsGOA/s320/Old+man+working+at+NREGA+site.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a>
</span></span></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b>
<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></b></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b><span style="font-style: italic;">Background:</span> </b>
As per the Constitution (Article 43), “The State shall endeavour to secure, by suitable legislation or economic organization or in any other way, to all workers, agricultural, industrial or otherwise, work, a living wage, conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life […..]”
The Minimum Wage Act, 1948 (Section 12.1) states “Where in respect of any scheduled employment a notification under Section 5 is in force the employer shall pay to every employee engaged in a scheduled employment under him wages at a rate not less than the minimum rate of wages fixed by such notification for that class of employees in that employment without in deductions […..]” </span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>As per Section 4(1), the minimum rates of wages fixed or revised by the appropriate authority (Central or State Government) for the scheduled employments shall take into account the following:
1. a basic rate of wages and a special allowance at a rate to be adjusted at intervals with the variation in the cost of living index number applicable to such workers; or,
2. a basic rate of wages with or without the cost of living allowance, and the cash value of the concessions in respect of supplies of essential commodities at concessional rates, where so authorized; or
3. an all inclusive rate allowing for the basic rate, the cost of living allowance and the cash value of the concessions, if any. </span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>The 15th Indian Labour Conference (1957) defined the following norms to calculate minimum wage:
1. 3 consumption units for one earner.
2. Minimum food requirements of 2700 K calories per average Indian adult.
3. Clothing requirements of 72 yards per annum per family.
4. Rent corresponding to the minimum area provided for under Government’s Industrial Housing Scheme.
5. Fuel, lighting and other miscellaneous items of expenditure to constitute 20% of the total minimum wages.
These norms were further enhanced by the Supreme Court in its judgment in the case of Reptakos Brett and Co. versus its workmen (1991) by an additional 25% of the total minimum wage for education, medical requirement, minimum recreation including festivals/ ceremonies and provision for old age, marriage etc.
Fixing a minimum wage below the norms prescribed by the 15th ILC is not an oversight but a calculated exercise. </span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>The Second national Commission on Labour Report notes, “Wage Boards after the Second Pay Commission (1957-59) have not found it possible to fix the need-based minimum wages recommended by the Indian Labour Conference (1957). The Report of the Committee, set up by the first National Commission on Labour, on the Functioning of the System of Wage Boards (cited in the Report of NCL, 1969) found it infeasible because the need-based minimum would be beyond the capacity of the industry to pay and might result in the transference of the burden to the consumer”. Subsequently, the Sub-committee ‘D’ of the Standing Committee of Labour Ministers (1981) diluted the norms prescribed in the 15th ILC recommending, “the level of minimum wage should not be below the poverty line”, and further diluted by the Report of the Committee of Secretaries’ of States (1981), which reduced per day calorie requirements to 2400 K calories in rural areas and 2100 K calories in urban areas.
However, even these statutory wages are not being paid. As per simulation from household data in the ILO report, “Extending the Coverage of Minimum Wages in India”, at least 73 million workers (out of 173 million waged workers) received wages below the national minimum wage floor of Rs. 66 per day in 2004-05. This includes more than half of all casual workers (58.6 million earners) and another one-fourth of all salaried workers (or 14.5 million workers). Unsurprisingly, female workers and those residing in rural areas are more likely to earn below minimum wages.</span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span><span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>HI</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> 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mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--></span></span></span> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>In January 2009, the Government of India issued a notification under Section 6(1) of the MGNREGA, which delinked MGNREGA wages from the Minimum Wage Act freezing MGNREGA wages at the prevailing state minimum wage or upto Rs. 100 per day. Today, MGNREGA wages in at least 19 states are less than the prevailing state minimum wage, thus hitting the worker not just in real economic terms, but de facto capping market wages to below minimum wage.</span>The Minimum Wages Act does not mandate inflation indexation. Indexation was recommended only in Labour Ministers’ Conference (1988) and the variable dearness allowance (VDA) linked to CPI. Only 26 states/ UTs incorporate VDA as a component of minimum wage. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="font-style: italic;">The Seminar </b></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b> </span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>After the holding of 47 days long dharna (following Mazdoor Haq Yatra) by various organizations like National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI), SR Abhiyan and Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) at the Statue Circle in Jaipur (Rajasthan) since 2 October, 2010, a letter was shot from Sonia Gandhi on 11 November, 2010 to the Prime Minister of India asking for raising the minimum wages under NREGA. (Please check the links: </span><span><a href="http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/media-invited-to-witness-the-real-dance-of-democracy-3622.html"><span>http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/media-invited-to-witness-the-real-dance-of-democracy-3622.html</span></a>
<span>
</span><a href="http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/nrega-2010-politics-in-slow-motion-4763.html"><span>http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/nrega-2010-politics-in-slow-motion-4763.html</span></a><span>
</span><a href="http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/what-is-wrong-with-mg-nrega-4237.html"><span>http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/what-is-wrong-with-mg-nrega-4237.html</span></a><span>)
Although the Government of India agreed to indexing the wages paid under NREGA to the Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourer (CPIAL), it shied away from paying statutory minimum wages under NREGA in various states of India. The reason behind this argument was: Who will bear the financial burden of paying the minimum wages—the Centre or the states? A letter from the Prime Minister of India to the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi (who is also the Chairperson of National Advisory Council) dated 31 December, 2010 communicated that Government does not see the need to pay statutory minimum wages to MGNREGA workers. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>In was in this context that a very relevant seminar titled Rational Minimum Wage Policy (for the Unorganized Sector) was held at Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) on 18-19 January, 2011 by Bandhua Mukti Morcha, NMML and Planning Commission so as to further the movement for ensuring payment of statutory minimum wages in the unorganized sector and also to the manual labourers employed under NREGA. The main message of the two day-long seminar was that payment of wages below the statutory minimum wages was tantamount to bonded labour system, where the labourer is forced to work in subhuman conditions. This was the point made by Swami Agnivesh (from Bandhua Mukti Morcha) during the seminar. He argued that the existing minimum wage policy of the Government is irrational. Hence, this seminar has been organized to demand for rational minimum wages. The 6th Pay Commission has raised the salaries of the 4th grade government employees but it has failed to address the improvement in wages of the unorganized sector workers. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Swami Agnivesh opposed Kaushik Basu’s idea that rise in minimum wages can lead to labour displacement and hence cash transfer is a better option. He mentioned about the Sanjit Roy versus State of Rajasthan case that was held in 1983 (see the link:
</span><a href="http://www.barefootcollege.org/Sanjit%20Roy%20vs%20State%20of%20Rajasthan.pdf"><span>http://www.barefootcollege.org/Sanjit%20Roy%20vs%20State%20of%20Rajasthan.pdf</span></a><span>) in which the apex court ruled in favour of Sanjit Roy and the women in a public work received full wages that was due to them.
Swami Agnivesh informed the audience that during the 1960s he was teaching business management at St. Xavier’s college in Kolkata and he studied law too. During the days of Naxalism, he saw leaders calling for revolution via the use of guns. He left his career and came to Haryana. He started with Vedic socialism ideology. Then he read Gandhi and came to know that Gandhi was talking about the poorest of the poor (Gandhiji’s talisman). He resigned from the post of Education Minister in Haryana and started working for the bonded labourers. He opined that Directive Principles of State Policy and the Constitution prepared by Ambedkar can empower the poor and the dalits. If the Constitution is implemented properly, there will be no Maoism in the country. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Naurti Ben who was one of women demanding for minimum wages in the Sanjit Roy versus State of Rajasthan case was also present during the above-mentioned seminar. She said that getting less than minimum wages tantamount to bonded/ forced labour. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Justice AP Shah (Retired Chief Justice of High Court of Delhi) mentioned that the Constitution of India has two parts: a. Fundamental Rights and b. Directive Principles of State Policy. Part IV of the Indian Constitution talks about hopes and aspirations of the poor. He noted that if minimum wages are not paid then it could lead to violation of Article 14 and Article 39 (d), which ensures equal remuneration for equal work. Employers cannot deny paying minimum wages if one considers Article 21, which ensures right to live with dignity. He criticized the Government’s decision of not paying statutory minimum wages to the NREGA workers. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Montek Singh Ahluwalia (Deputy Chairperson, Planning Commission) expressed that it is upto to the courts to decide whether minimum wages should be paid. He, however, agreed that wage rates in the rural areas got upward push thanks to the NREGA. Constitutional rights must be enjoyed by the citizens. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Aruna Roy (MKSS, Rajasthan) demanded for payment of minimum wages under NREGA. Indexing will be helpful when statutory minimum wages are paid. Indira Jaising too has demanded for payment of minimum wages, she informed the audience. Rs. 1270 crore would be the extra cost for paying minimum wages in 11 states. She alleged that the Ministry of Rural Development was unable to ensure minimum wages to the NREGA workers. Minimum Wage Act is essential to end bonded labour system. The market on its own can’t help the workers unlike the Government. Long before the Minimum Wages Act came into being, Jawaharlal Nehru talked about minimum wages. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Comrade D Raja from the Communist Party of India (CPI) stated that the Left in the UPA 1 wanted that NREGA should provide 180 days of work. However, on the basis of consensus it was agreed that the scheme may start with 100 days of employment guaranty. The present government has frozen the wages under NREGA. NREGA has actually led to making right to work as a fundamental right. Since the Parliament has legislated the NREGA, hence the Government must pay minimum wages under it. Neither the judiciary nor the Government can violate the minimum wage payment under NREGA. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Harsh Mander pointed out that the current discourse on rise in the rural wages due to NREGA, leading to conflict between farmers’ interest and workers’ interest, is a wrong notion. He objected to the notion of exploitation of labourers by farmers. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Prof. Jayati Ghosh (Jawaharlal Nehru University) disagreed to Montek S Ahluwalia’s suggestion that the issue of payment of minimum wages under NREGA should be fought in the courts. The Minimum Wage Act is in existence since 1948. NREGA has reduced the wage gap between men and women. She spoke against the allegation that increased NREGA wages has pushed up rural and agricultural wages which has adversely affected farmers’ profit. She argued that labour cost is only 20-35 percent of the entire cost borne by the farmers. Farmers also rely on family labour. In fact, the higher cost of inputs (like seed, fertilizers, pesticide, electricity) is worrying the farmers as their prices have shot up more as compared to cost of labour. Rise in labour cost is lesser than the rise in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The development paradigm envisaged by the Government relies on corporate initiatives and more foreign direct investment (FDI). The wage led growth (via multiplier effect) under NREGA must replace profit led growth. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Senior Supreme Court Advocate Prashant Bhusan expressed his unhappiness over Montek S Ahluwalia’s remark that the issue of payment of minimum wages under NREGA must be sorted out in the courts. He agreed to Jayati Ghosh’s point that increase in rural labour wages is not affecting the farmers and moreover the increase in labour wages has been lower than the growth in GDP. If the Government is so much worried about the farmers, why it is then encouraging corporate farming, Bhusan asked. Privatization of the natural resources is quite rampant in India. Mining companies are earning huge profits in Karnataka by paying minimal royalties to the Exchequer. Tax havens like Mauritius are helping the corporate to increase investment by avoiding taxes. Land acquisition is taking place by displacing the farmers for example the case of Taj Express. The corporate mafia is getting powerful by each day. The Government is only concerned about economic growth. The NAC has recommended for universal right to food, which the Government is refusing to accept. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Comrade Sitaram Yechury from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) mentioned that the NREGA came into being after a long political struggle in which the Left parties and the civil society played a crucial role. It was earlier thought that NREGA would lead to wastage of money and instead the money spent on NREGA must be used for investment. It was a struggle to ensure minimum wages for NREGA workers under UPA 1. Like the dearness allowance, the NREGA wages must be indexed to CPIAL. The Government’s denial to pay minimum wages is actually violation of law and is tantamount to contempt of court. In the backdrop of 1.76 lakh crore 2G scam and spurious spending made during Commonwealth Games 2010, the logic of the Government that it has got no money is unacceptable. It was Montek Singh Ahluwalia who said that Rs. 88,000 crore is needed to enact the Right to Food Act, Yechury alleged. There are two Bharats: IPL Bharat and BPL Bharat and the laws enacted during the period of economic liberalization actually looted the people. The nationalization of banks in 1969 made by the Indira Gandhi led Government under the pressure of Left parties has helped India to avoid the financial crisis of 2008, Yechury argued. If the UPA 2 listens to the Left, the Congress will gain. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Trilochan Sastry from IIM Bangalore and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said that the hike in salaries of the bureaucrats under the 6th Pay Commission took place after consulting them. However, the labourers were never consulted for hike in their wages. He asked for people’s pay commission, which will include representatives from the labourers. He cautioned that the ideology at IIM Bangalore is similar to that of the people in Dalal Street, Wall Street and even people in the Government. Their ideology is to infuse FDI for economic growth. Montek S Ahluwalia wants direct cash transfers instead of minimum wages, he alleged. There is no respect for poor people who have the right to live with dignity. That is why we have a scheme like UID. We should go for Bharat India jodo abhiyan so that we arrive at a meeting point of ideologies. The capitalists are quite powerful as they can influence the academicians, politicians and bureaucrats. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>BD Sharma (retired bureaucrat) said that mostly the SCs and the STs are employed in the unorganized sectors. The recent development paradigm which the country is witnessing is based on neo-liberalism and imperialism. Disparity in wage structure within the Government in 1970s was less as compared to the present times. Mukesh Ambani earns Rs. 1,000 per second. India made progress without foreign capital after Independence. Capital derives from labour exploitation. Farmers are not unskilled. He quoted the Article 23 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights which says that everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Harish Rawat, Labour Minister, appreciated the agenda prepared by Swami Agnivesh. He said that the planners have planned as per the MGNREGA without taking into account Minimum Wage Act (1948). The debate that has generated from NREGA is good for a healthy democracy. The National Social Security Act that came in 2008 has helped in creating a fund of Rs. 1,000 crore. He also mentioned about the Domestic workers (Registration social security and welfare) Act 2008. He congratulated the Ministry of Rural Development for indexing the wage under NREGA to CPIAL. He welcomed support from the Left parties and the civil society for progressive amendment of the Minimum Wage Act so as to ensure minimum wages for the NREGA workers. Critical analysis is needed to find whether there is any contradiction between MG-NREGA Section 6(1) and the Minimum Wage Act.
Shankar Singh from MKSS, Rajasthan said that despite inflation in food prices and hike in the salaries of the Government officials, there has been no revision in the wages of the NREGA workers. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Kaushik Basu, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance mentioned about his forthcoming book where he has asked how to manage so as to reach much needed equality. The notion of minimum wage exists in every country. If one acts through minimum wages, then entrepreneurs can cut down labour and bring more machinery. So there is need for cash transfers to the poor. Unemployed persons need money in terms of direct transfers. There is need for a feasibility study for bringing policy changes. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Nikhil Dey, activist from MKSS, criticized Kaushik Basu for his suggestion of cash transfers instead of minimum wages. He said that 99 labourers from Tonk district received Rs. 11/- each for 11 days of hard labour under NREGA i.e. they were paid at the rate of Re. 1/- per day. Their hard labour was not paid justly. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Subhash Bhatnagar stated that the minimum wage for construction worker is Rs. 205 per day but in reality they receive Rs. 110. The construction workers who were employed during and prior to the CWG 2010 did not receive minimum wages. There is need for fast track and mobile courts to address their grievances.
Senior journalist Ramsharan Joshi asked why the government is cutting back on subsidies. He said that profit led growth must be replaced by wage led growth. Life with dignity must be the motto. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Pankaj Pushkar, research scholar on education, asked that there should not be any dichotomy between skilled and unskilled labour as it would undermine creativity of human beings. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Prof. Sheotaj Singh said that 92 percent of the labour force is employed in the unorganized sector. The principle employer should pay the minimum wages, in case the contractors are not paying the same. Migration of labour is happening from West Bengal, Odisha and eastern UP to Punjab and Haryana.
Ashok Khandelwal, ex-faculty VV Giri National Labour Institute told that there is need for changes in the Minimum Wage Act regarding the principles of wage fixation. Revision of minimum wages is not mandatory. The Government may revise minimum wages in every five years. This period can be reduced to 3 years. There are certain sectors (types of employment), which are exempted from minimum wages. Minimum wage should be applicable to all the sectors including domestic worker. In only 8 states, Minimum Wage Act is applicable to the domestic workers. Linking of minimum wage to inflation is not mandatory. Criteria for wage fixation should be there in the Minimum Wage Act. He asked for referring to the NCEUS documents regarding minimum wages. He said that the Ministry of Labour is responsible for the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act and Minimum Wages Act. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Dr. Chandan Srivastava from Inclusive Media for Change, CSDS said that if farmers are self-employed and they are committing suicides due to debt, then they must be provided minimum wages. He criticized Kaushik Basu for his remark that if minimum wages rise, then unemployment will increase. He questioned Montek S Ahluwalia’s suggestion that the case of minimum wage must be resolved in the courts. He said that living wage is a better concept than minimum wage after listening to Prof. Gopal Mohan. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court JS Verma stated that non-payment of minimum wage is nothing but violation of human rights. Wages can’t be paid below minimum wage. He then quoted Article 21 which talks about right to life with dignity, Article 38 which talks about reduction of inequality and Article 39 which talks about providing livelihood. There is plenty of resource available with the Government. The Government must stop leakages and corruption. Resource crunch cannot be an excuse. India is becoming more feudal than the (erstwhile) princes and more colonial than the Britishers. If the Government can’t provide support to its people, it has no right to remain in power. Filing public interest litigation (PIL) in Supreme Court regarding the minimum wage payment can be helpful. It is unconstitutional on the part of Government and law to exempt certain types of employment from minimum wage payment. He said that Article 43 mentions about living wages and not minimum wages. The Government will spend a lot on lawyers so as to stop payment of minimum wages under NREGA. The Supreme Court’s decision on minimum wages came way back in 1983. Suo moto cognizance can be taken into consideration. Civil society is important as all institutions are getting devalued. Public anger can be translated into proactive role and not violence. Minimum means nothing below it, he clarified. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Prof. Mohan Gopal from National Judicial Academy made 3 points: a. Minimum wages are a fundamental right, which cannot be violated by law or the executive; b. The Supreme Court says that no wage structure can be revised to bring it below minimum wages; and c. Time has come for enforcement of Directive Principles of State Policy which talks about living wage. He said that in the earlier days the State was true to the Directive Principles of State Policy, which is not the case today. The State is nothing but a set of values. These values are derived from the Indian freedom movement. There are 5 values: Satya (Honesty), Ahimsa (Non-violence), Swaraj (Sovereignty), Antyodaya (working for the poor) and Sarvodaya (Progress of all). Antyodaya is the basic tenet of the Constitution. One has to look at the Indian freedom struggle and not the market where exchanges take place. Market driven forces cannot determine values. State upholds the values that constitute the Republic. There are a number of provisions in the Constitution: Living wage, Equal remuneration and Collective bargaining power. The concept of living wage is much broader than the concept of minimum wage as it talks about frugal comfort and expenses to be made on health, education and risk aversion. In 1948, the definition of living wage was formed. Living wage is more than fair wage, which in turn is more than minimum wage. In 1950, the Constituent Assembly opted for living wage and not minimum wage. The notion of living wage has been diluted in the last 60 years. It would be a death sentence to people if the Government says it can’t pay minimum wage. The International Labour Organization (ILO) says that minimum wage provide floor to the wage structure. But presently the Government wants to go below the floor wage. It was actually a Living Wage Act (1948) and not Minimum Wage Act (1948). Minimum wages are a fundamental right under Article 21. One has to also consider Article 23 which has provisions against forced labour. He mentioned about the Sanjit Roy versus State of Rajasthan case. Prison labour in China is also forced labour. It is done to reduce the cost of development in China. Non-payment of minimum wages means violation of Article 14, which talks of equal remuneration for equal work. It was Justice Gajendra Gatkar in 1958 and in 1966 who said that revision of wage structure cannot be done to bring it below minimum wage. In 1992, the Supreme Court said that no revision in wages is permissible, not even on the ground of financial stringency. Section 6 of MGNREGA must be read subject to these provisions. According to Ambedkar, political democracy means one man, one vote, while economic democracy means one man, one value. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Prof. Jean Dreze appreciated Prof. Mohan Gopal’s argument. Growth in the NREGA wages was lower than the growth in GDP. Overriding of Minimum Wage Act is unacceptable. MGNREGA cannot override Minimum Wage Act. There is no protection from downward revision of wages below minimum wages for the NREGA workers. A credible tripartite process to determine minimum wages has to be there. There are economic arguments which have been invoked in the business media against hike in minimum wages. (please refer to Rural job scheme minimum wage revised, risking inflation spiral by Ruhi Tewari & Asit Ranjan Mishra, Livemint, 7 January, 2011
</span><a href="http://www.livemint.com/2011/01/07001315/Rural-job-scheme-minimum-wage.html"><span>http://www.livemint.com/2011/01/07001315/Rural-job-scheme-minimum-wage.html</span></a><span>). Some media houses are telling that NREGA will lead to the biggest trade union in the world. The multiplier effect can be observed thanks to the hike in minimum wages. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Annie Raja from National Federation of Indian Women said that NREGA has generated awareness about minimum wages. Mahatma Gandhi’s name was added before NREGA to insult him. 56 percent of women employed in NREGA are women. Majority of the workers under NREGA are SCs and STs. For empowering the SCs and STs, the Government must provide minimum wages. Cash transfer should be opposed. The Government must be criticized for giving financial support to the multinational corporations (MNCs). She found the Supreme Court judgment upholding the Kerala High Court order banning public meetings and rallies on roadsides as unfortunate. She critiqued both the Prime Minister and Montek Singh Ahluwalia for their stand vis-à-vis payment of minimum wages.
Amarjeet Kaur from All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) agreed and endorsed what was discussed in the seminar. She asked for minimum wage, equal remuneration and collective bargaining. She alleged that regression from the Constitution is happening. Earlier the corporate sector was doing this and now it is being done by the Government. The Government is not ready to accept NREGA workers as workers. Trade unions of NREGA workers could not be formed in Rajasthan. However, some unions could be registered at certain districts of Punjab thanks to a few good people at the Labour Department. She criticized payment of honorarium to ICDS workers, ASHA workers under NRHM and Aanganwadi workers. The Government considers these workers as volunteers and not workers. They are paid a meager sum on a monthly basis. Minimum Wage Act is applicable to workers and not volunteers. She said that all trade unions are going to the Parliament on 23 February, 2011 for raising the issues related to inflation, dilution of labour laws, job losses and disinvestment of profit making PSUs. She said that there are 43 crore unorganized workers in India and there is no budgetary allocation for social security. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>KB Saxena (IAS) agreed that people are getting wages far below the minimum wages. As a result, migration is rising. Economic reforms have affected laws pertaining to bonded labour and migrant labour. Class polarization is happening between elite/ middle level workers and contract labourers. If Montek S Ahluwalia has asked Court’s intervention for payment of minimum wages, it means that the courts are in favour of the Government.
Sushila Ben, a grassroot level worker commented that even after 30 years, we are still demanding for minimum wages, by referring to the Sanjit Roy versus State of Rajasthan case. If minimum wages are not being paid, then siphoning off of fund is taking place. The Government is not taking any action against corrupt babus and politicians. She asked why the Government is reluctant in unionization of NREGA workers. The Government is afraid of the labourers. Unions can be formed in the organized sector and not in the unorganized sector. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Medha Patkar from NAPM and NBA announced that she has been battling against Adarsh and Lavasa. She said that Minimum Wage Act is related to the right to livelihood. It is important to talk about values and not market forces. NREGA has supported the poor. But the World Bank’s World Development Report 2009 mentions that NREGA is artificially stopping rural-urban migration. (please check the links:
World Bank sees NREGA as a barrier to economic development, The Economic Times, 15 March, 2009, </span><a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/world-bank-sees-nrega-as-a-barrier-to-economic-development/articleshow/4266622.cms"><span>http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/world-bank-sees-nrega-as-a-barrier-to-economic-development/articleshow/4266622.cms</span></a><span>
</span><a href="http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTWDRS/EXTWDR2009/0,,menuPK:4231145~pagePK:64167702~piPK:64167676~theSitePK:4231059,00.html"><span>http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTWDRS/EXTWDR2009/0,,menuPK:4231145~pagePK:64167702~piPK:64167676~theSitePK:4231059,00.html</span></a><span>). It is not just about indexation of wages to CPIAL, it is also about ensuring social justice. There has been a deliberate effort to divide labour into organized and unorganized. Unorganized workers are insecured and unprotected. Terms like formal-informal, organized-unorganized should be discarded, said Patkar. Natural capital does not get quantified before it falls into the hands of capitalist. Land acquisition is quite rampant now. Value of labour has been undermined in today’s world. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Corporate-contractors-builders nexus want to exploit the agricultural labourers. Right to access natural resources is yet to be materialized for the poor and the tribal. Local situation should be taken into account while implementing schemes in forest and tribal areas. Think about the profit made by the Ambanis, when they pay so much in royalities, asked Patkar. Wage disparity has increased presently. In the case of Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs), tax sops are given by the Government to the corporates. Small and marginal farmers have benefitted from NREGA. Productivity of crop fields can be improved via NREGA. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>The empowered Group of Ministers (eGoM) is wary of National Advisory Council (NAC). People’s pay commission is quite useful. Government’s Labour Commissioner Office is useless in giving information on migration. Inter-state Migrant Workmen Act, 1979 has not been implemented properly. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Finally, the following resolutions were passed unanimously: </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>1. We decry the incarceration of human rights activist Binayak Sen on charges of sedition, and demand that he be released immediately. Further there is no place for sedition laws in a democratic country, and such laws must be repealed </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>2. Government must recognize the right of people to organize and such organizations must be legally competent to dialog and negotiate with the government </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>3. Minimum wage is a constitutional and non-negotiable fundamental right, and must be respected at all times. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>4. There must be a rational basis for determining minimum wage. Minimum wage must be decided through a tripartite board, which must include worker representatives </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>5. In a democracy, there must be a consultative process to determine and change policy. The GoI decision to violate minimum wages runs counter to overwhelming political and legal consensus, including three Chief Ministers, 15 legal luminaries (including 3 ex-CJIs), grassroots opinion and even the Chairperson, NAC </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>6. Cash transfers are not a substitute for a rational and just minimum wage. In fact cash transfers are anti-democratic in that it is an attempt to substitute a inviolable right to work with a government dole. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>7. The Minimum Wage Act as it stands is ultra vires of the Constitution in that it has reduced the Constitutional standard of a living wage to that of a minimum wage. The Act must be amended to delete the Exemption Clause (Section 26), the principles to determine minimum wage must be defined to ensure a legal basis for calculation, indexation and revision of wages must be made mandatory, and time period for revision must be reduced from five years to one year. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>8. Every individual, including children in the family should be counted as a whole unit. The average size of the Indian family is five members and this must be the basis of minimum wage calculation. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>--------- </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>The following statement was passed during the seminar regarding payment of statutory minimum wages which was signed by eminent personalities from all walks of life: </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><u>Open Statement for immediate release to the press January 18th, 2011
</u>
<b> </b></span></span></span></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b> </b></span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b>Government of India Must Immediately Stop Perpetuating Forced/Bonded Labour
</b> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>We the undersigned are deeply distressed at the recent decision by the Prime Minister (in a letter dated 31st December 2010) to delink MGNREGA wages from the Minimum Wages Act even while indexing the wage rate under NREGA to Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labour. The Government of India had already undermined the wages under NREGA through a January 2009 notification, when it imposed an unjust freeze at an arbitrary rate of Rs 100 per day on its wages. The Government of India’s use of Section 6(1) to delink NREGA wages from the Minimum Wage Act is not just bad in law but is also immoral in so far as it seeks to remove the basis of Constitutional and legal protection of the lowest end of workers in the wage hierarchy. With a consistent near double digit inflation rate, touching 9.7% and even higher food price inflation the frozen NREGA wage, over the last 24 months has been significantly eroded in real terms. In fact even after the recent indexing of wages, the MGNREGS wage, in at least 11 states, is lower than the prevailing state minimum wage-- a situation that the Supreme Court of India has declared to be forced labour, prohibited under Article 23 of the Constitution.
As it is even State minimum wages have also been artificially depressed, without any rationale, and ignore the minimum need-based norms proposed in 1957 by the 15th Indian Labour Conference. These norms were not only endorsed by the Supreme Court but further enhanced by additional 20% in the Unichoy Vs State of Kerala in 1961 and 25% in the Reptakos Brett vs their workmen in 1991. If these norms are followed, given current rural prices, the minimum wage would be at least Rs. 250 per day. But the Government of India has not only blatantly disregarded these minimum wage setting norms, but is continuing to pay a meagre real wage of just Rs. 100 per day since January 2009 under NREGA. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>There is overwhelming legal and political consensus on the need to pay minimum wage in MGNREGS works: </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>• The Andhra Pradesh High Court in WP No. 11848/2009 suspended the January 2009 notification on freezing the minimum wage for NREGA. The High Court stated that Government being the agency for implementing minimum wages cannot itself violate the minimum wages. In addition, governments of Tripura, Karnataka, Punjab, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh had also requested an amendment of the January 2009 notification as their state minimum wages were above the notified wage rate. Both the Government of India and the state Government of Andhra Pradesh are facing contempt proceedings since. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>• GoI’s own law officer, the Additional Solicitor General, Ms. Indira Jaising referring to the PUDR Vs Union of India case and Article 23 of the Constitution of India has said that payment of less than minimum wage in NREGA works will amount to forced labour. She also cited the Kamani Metals and Alloys vs their workmen case in which the Supreme Court observed that minimum wage must be paid ‘irrespective of the extent of profit, the financial condition of the establishment or the availability of workmen on lower wages.’ </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>• Chief Ministers of the states of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala have written to the Prime Minister requesting MoRD’s compliance with the Minimum Wage Act </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>• The Chairperson of UPA, Mrs Sonia Gandhi too has written to the Prime Minister calling his attention to find urgent resolution of this matter. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>• The Labour Ministry has reiterated its “fundamental objection” to Section 6(1), warning that using 6(1) to allow payment of less than prevailing state minimum wage will not stand legal scrutiny. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>• The National Advisory Council, headed by Mrs. Gandhi, also recommended that minimum wages be paid to NREGS workers. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>• 15 eminent jurists and lawyers including M N Venkatachaliah and J S Verma (both former Chief Justice of India), V R Krishna Iyer, P B Sawant, K Ramaswamy, Santosh Hegde (all former judges of the Supreme Court), A P Shah (former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court) and Dr. Upendra Baxi, Dr. Mohan Gopal, Fali S Nariman, Prashant Bhushan, Brinda Grover and others have urged the Government of India to immediately revoke its unconstitutional notification and along with state governments ensure that minimum wages are paid to all workers in India. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>The Ministry of Finance in its letters dated December 1 and December 6, 2010 has stated that the Government will index the Rs 100 with inflation using wages as of April 1, 2009 as base for notification on January 1, 2011. While indexing wages with inflation recognises the fall in real wages, it will not resolve the core issue.
The Prime Minister has asked the rural development ministry to develop an index for fixing and revising wages under rural job scheme NREGA. Till the new index is worked out, wages under the scheme will be tied to inflation as measured by the consumer price index for agricultural labourers. The order will be effective from January 1, 2011. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>A committee under the chairmanship of Pronab Sen has been formed to devise an NREGA wage index. This is in itself worrisome as it will create yet another category of categorising workers and thereby institutionalizing the discrimination.
The government’s refusal to pay even minimum wage on public works at a time when food prices keep shooting up lays bare the Prime Minister’s promise that “no citizen of our country must sleep hungry”. Moreover it is shocking that a government battling trust deficit as scam after scam privileging powerful corporations become public, will let (comparatively minor) fiscal considerations override a constitutional and humanitarian mandate. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>We demand the Government of India:
1. Immediately implements Section 6(2) of the NREGA indexed to inflation in all states thereby upholding the fundamental right to live of its poorest workers.
2. Immediately declares a national floor level need based wage based on the 15th ILC norms and subsequent Supreme Court judgements on minimum wage fixation, below which no state minimum wage can go. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>1. Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey and Shankar Singh (Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>2. Biraj Patnaik (Principal Adviser, Supreme Court Commissioners) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>3. Kavita Srivastava (People’s Union for Civil Liberties) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>4. Arundhati Dhuru (National Alliance of People’s Movements) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>5. Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>6. Anuradha Talwar (Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>7. Dunu Roy (Hazards Centre) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>8. Gautam Mody (New Trade Union Initiative) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>9. Roma (National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>10. Sandeep Pandey (Asha Pariwar) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>11. Pradeep Baisakh (Journalist) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>12. Yogendra Yadav (Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>13. Annie Raja (National Federation of Indian Women) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>14. Mythri Prasad- Aleyamma (Centre for Development Studies) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>15. Sunil Kaul (The Ant) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>16. Kamal Chenoy (Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>17. Anuradha Chenoy (Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>18. Ambarish Rai (Lok Sangharsh Morcha) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>19. Dr. Rukmini Rao (Gramya Resource Centre for Women, Secunderabad) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>20. Anurag Modi and Shamim Modi (Samajwadi Jan Parsihad, Jan Sangharsh Morcha and Shramik Adivasi Sanghthan) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>21. Sachin Kumar Jain (Vikas Samwad) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>22. Dr. Yogesh Kumar (Samarthan, Bhopal) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>23. Kaveri Gill (Independent Development Economist and Researcher) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>24. Madhuri (Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>25. Noor Zaheer (Writer and Social Activist) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>26. Ashish Ranjan and Kamayani Swami (Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan, Bihar) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>27. Dipa Sinha (Reseach Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>28. Nandlal Prasad (Lok Samiti, Varanasi)Ajay Patel (Mazdoor Manch/AASRA) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>29. Ankita Aggarwal (Right to Food Campaign Secretariat) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>30. Jawahar Mehta (Jharkhand Gramin Mazdoor Sangh) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>31. Abhay Kumar (Grameen Coolie Karmikara Sangathane) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>32. Richa Singh (Sangtin Kisan Majdoor Sangthan Sitapur) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>33. Reetika Khera (Visitor, Centre for Development Economics) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>34. Karuna Muthiah (Right to Food Campaign, Tamil Nadu) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>35. K.B.Singh (Social Worker, Madhya Pradesh) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>36. Arun Tyagi (Jan Pahal, Madhya Pradesh) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>37. Ishtiyaque Ahmad (Amam Trust) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>38. Rupesh (Lok Parishad, Bihar) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>39. Prof Om P Damani (IIT Bombay) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>40. Anirban Kar (Economics Department, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>41. Sowmya Kidambi (Director, SSAAT, Government of Andhra Pradesh) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>42. Kundan Kumar (Senior Project Manager, Igate Global Solutions) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>43. Guru (AID Bangalore) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>44. Anindita (NREGA Researcher) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>45. Anand Sivaraman (Entrepreneur) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>46. Nandini Nayak (School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>47. Mohan Bhagat (Professor, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>48. Arshad Ajmal (Sahulat Microfinance Society) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>49. Jayant Thakur (Lawyer) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>50. Arudra Burra (Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Law, University of California at Los Angeles </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>51. Sharukh Alam (The Patna Collective) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>52. Vikalp Mishra (University of Alabama, Huntsville) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>53. Anuj Grover (AID Delhi) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>54. Anjani Kumar </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>55. R. Selva Ganapathy (AID Delhi) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>56. Pritish Bose (Shramajibee Samanvay Committee, West Bengal) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>57. Dr. Shakeel Rahman (CHARM, Patna) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>58. Ranjan (Nidan, Bihar) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>59. Albert Joseph, Executive Director, FVTRS </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>60. L.S Ghonoidoss, Sucwlworn, West Bengal </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>61. Fr. Anthony Karik, President, FVTRS, West Bengal </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>62. Pradeep Mahapatra, Udyama, Orissa </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>63. PAHAD </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>64. Dillip Verma Bal, SRUJAN, Orissa </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>65. Fr. Corlls Gonsalves, Don Bosco, Maharastra </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>66. Levkish Viaka, Amar Shaheed Chitra Sangathan, Uttar Pradesh </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>67. K. Mahasa Sundra, Pondicherry </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>68. Nandkumar Dhande, Priyadasshum, Maharastra </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>69. Darade Sunil, Maharashtra Jantik Shishan Ahmadnagar </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>70. P Kampe, Byancun Sena </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>71. Dragpal Singh, HVSS </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>72. Anna John, SRWD, West Bengal </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>73. Khairuinsa N Shan, KDDC, Karnataka </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>74. R Y Swamy Naik, HELP Hirigur, Karnataka </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>75. Sr. Cecil, Christ Raja Ashram, Rajasthan </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>76. Angumahato, Lokhit Sen, Jharkhand </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>77. Sachi Kumari, CSS , Jharkhand </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>78. H F Akki, NEEDS </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>79. M H Angakri, Sarvodya, Karnataka </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>80. D G Chibbori, I W S Karnataka </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>81. G Chabradhururao, Y C D Andhra Pradesh </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>82. Karamat Ali Khan, NIPDIT, Orissa </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>83. Sr. Annie Davis, Uttar Pradesh </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>84. Henry Sach, St. Joseph’s Convent College, Jharkand </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>85. A. Isac Singh, SWAN, Tamil Nadu </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>86. Sr. Ann Maria, Kristi Jyoti </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>87. Mohinuddin Shah, West Bengal </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>88. Fr. Sir P Job, ADCI S W Society, Kerela </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>89. Hardkishore Prasad, Rajasthan </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>90. Sohrab, GRASS </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>91. Sukhbal Singh, GRASS </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>92. Fr. Sukumar, KECYKS (West Bengal) </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>93. Ancul, GRASS </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>94. Gouulananda Ojha India Development Project, Orissa </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>95. Nasim Ansari, Tarun Cletra, Uttar Pradesh </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>96. Sr. Mabul Pinto, Karnataka </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>97. Anupama, Jharkand </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>98. Sr. Sadhana, Uttar Pradesh </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>99. Hari Shankar Rant, Kandhamal, Orissa
100. Suraj Singh, Uttar Pradesh </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>101. Fr. K. D Joseph, KDSSS, Andhra Pradesh </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>102. Arun Kumawat, Rajasthan </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>103. Udaiveer VishwaKumar, Sahas Sewa Sansthan, Uttar Pradesh </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>104. Senastian K, Jeevana, Kerela </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>105. Fr. Regimon Cyriac, SVS, Jharkhand </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>106. C. P Nicholas, FVTRS, Bangalore </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>107. Dr. P . Basak, FVTRS, Karnataka </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>108. B.K Panda, FVTRS, Karnataka </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>109. H.R Sunny, FVTRS, Uttar Pradesh </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>110. Prem Kumar Sinha, The Vigil, Bihar </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>111. S. Paranjhotay, CNI-SS, Nagpur </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>112. S Nageshwar, FVTRS </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>113. Subodh Kumar Pandey, AGYVS, Bihar </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>114. Fr. Veeresh, SMSSS, Karnataka </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>115. Francis Anthony, Institute of Social Research and Development, Madhya Pradesh </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>116. Shinoj PC, COD, Calicut </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>117. Sasikumar PB, Shvoyas, Kerela </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>118. Rosara Mohanti, Kalahandi Orissa </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>119. Pramila Patna, Kalahandi Orissa </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>120. Amrendra Kumar, SVWST, Jharkhand </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>121. Akokla Insorg, FVTRS </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>122. Prashanth, FVTRS, Bangalore </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>123. Arpana Bharti, FVTRS, Bangalore </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>124. Ankur Kachhwana, FVTRS, Jodhpur </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>125. Raju Teron, FVTRS </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>126. K Vijaya, VMMIL, Tamil Nadu </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>127. Sr. Sumitha, Krupalaya, Tamil Nadu </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>128. Biswaji Padhi, SRUSTI, Orissa </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>129. S Charides, WEEDS, Tamil Nadu </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>130. Rishi Riddhi Anhata, Shamayiti, West Bengal </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>131. Prajnamita, Shamayiti, West Bengal </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>132. Akhilesh Mishra, FVTRS, Rajasthan </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>133. L Pankajakshan, Santhigram, Kerela </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>134. A Isac Sinwalt, SWAN, Kanyakumari </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>135. Ram Shram Verma, LJSS, Uttar Pradesh </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>136. Pramod Kumar, Samchit Vikas Sansthan Basti, Uttar Pradesh </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>137. Raghuveer Acharta, FVTRS, Andhra Pradesh </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>138. Diviana Nayagi G, FVTRS, Karnataka </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>139. Usha R, FVTRS, Karnataka </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>140. Pawan k, Gurgaon </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>141. Trilochan Shastry, Dean, IIMB </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>142. Prof. Jean Dreze, Allahabad University </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>143. ICAN </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>144. Gabriele, D. </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>145. Madhulika Swami, Delhi </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>146. Nalini Nayak, Reader, PGDAV College, University of Delhi </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>147. Prof Pulin B. Nayak, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>148. Ashutosh Swami, General Manager (Retd)Indian Railways </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>149. Dr. Urvi, Medical Professional, USA
150. Gautam Desai, USA </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>151. Dr. Rahul Thakur, Medical Professional, USA
Contact Persons:
Ruchi Gupta 9910206490 </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Shreya Bhattacharya 9811108328
Kamayani Swami 09771950248 </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>For further information, please check the links below: </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><a href="http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/media-invited-to-witness-the-real-dance-of-democracy-3622.html">h</a><a href="http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/media-invited-to-witness-the-real-dance-of-democracy-3622.html"><span>ttp://www.im4change.org/news-alert/media-invited-to-witness-the-real-dance-of-democracy-3622.html</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><a href="http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/nrega-2010-politics-in-slow-motion-4763.html"><span>http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/nrega-2010-politics-in-slow-motion-4763.html</span></a><span>
</span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><a href="http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/what-is-wrong-with-mg-nrega-4237.html"><span>http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/what-is-wrong-with-mg-nrega-4237.html</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Minimum Wages Act, 1948, </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><a href="http://labour.nic.in/annrep/files2k1/lab5.pdf">http://labour.nic.in/annrep/files2k1/lab5.pdf</a> </span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><a href="http://www.barefootcollege.org/Sanjit%20Roy%20vs%20State%20of%20Rajasthan.pdf"><span>http://www.barefootcollege.org/Sanjit%20Roy%20vs%20State%20of%20Rajasthan.pdf</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Rural job scheme minimum wage revised, risking inflation spiral by Ruhi Tewari & Asit Ranjan Mishra, Livemint, 7 January, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.livemint.com/2011/01/07001315/Rural-job-scheme-minimum-wage.html"><span>http://www.livemint.com/2011/01/07001315/Rural-job-scheme-minimum-wage.html</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>World Bank sees NREGA as a barrier to economic development, The Economic Times, 15 March, 2009, </span><a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/world-bank-sees-nrega-as-a-barrier-to-economic-development/articleshow/4266622.cms"><span>http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/world-bank-sees-nrega-as-a-barrier-to-economic-development/articleshow/4266622.cms</span></a><span>
</span><a href="http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTWDRS/EXTWDR2009/0,,menuPK:4231145~pagePK:64167702~piPK:64167676~theSitePK:4231059,00.html"><span>http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTWDRS/EXTWDR2009/0,,menuPK:4231145~pagePK:64167702~piPK:64167676~theSitePK:4231059,00.html</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Minimum Wages under MGNREGA demanded, SamayLive, 19 January, 2011, </span><a href="http://english.samaylive.com/nation-news/676481042/mgnrega-minimum-wages-nmml-sitaram-yechury-montek-singh-ahluwali.html"><span>http://english.samaylive.com/nation-news/676481042/mgnrega-minimum-wages-nmml-sitaram-yechury-montek-singh-ahluwali.html</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>NREGA is flawed: Rawat by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 19 January, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/nrega-is-flawed-rawat/422254/"><span>http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/nrega-is-flawed-rawat/422254/</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Abhijeet Sen, Member, Planning Commission interviewed by Rupashree Nanda, </span><a href="http://www.im4change.org/interviews/abhijeet-sen-member-planning-commission-interviewed-by-rupashree-nanda-4744.html"><span>http://www.im4change.org/interviews/abhijeet-sen-member-planning-commission-interviewed-by-rupashree-nanda-4744.html</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Increasing cases of irregularities in MGNREGS, The Hindu, 7 December, 2010, </span><a href="http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=68186"><span>http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=68186</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>States must pay minimum wages to workers under nrega: Pronab Sen by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 7 December, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/states-must-pay-minimum-wages-to-workers-under-nrega-pronab-sen/417394/"><span>http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/states-must-pay-minimum-wages-to-workers-under-nrega-pronab-sen/417394/</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Will Unique Identity Number derail nrega? by Alok Pandey and Tanima Biswas, NDTV, 2 December, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/will-unique-identity-number-derail-nrega-70002"><span>http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/will-unique-identity-number-derail-nrega-70002</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Rajasthan govt to impose penalty for delaying MGNREGA payment, The Hindustan Times, 30 November, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/Raj-govt-to-impose-penalty-for-delaying-MGNREGA-payment/Article1-632811.aspx"><span>http://www.hindustantimes.com/Raj-govt-to-impose-penalty-for-delaying-MGNREGA-payment/Article1-632811.aspx</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>‘Keep UID out of MGNREGA', The Hindu, 1 December, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article924451.ece"><span>http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article924451.ece</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>The biggest NREGA scam in Rajasthan
</span><a href="http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/the-biggest-mnrega-scam-in-rajasthan-1911.html"><span>http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/the-biggest-mnrega-scam-in-rajasthan-1911.html</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Social audit of NREGS in Araria reveals corruption
</span><a href="http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/social-audit-of-nregs-in-araria-reveals-corruption-870.html"><span>http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/social-audit-of-nregs-in-araria-reveals-corruption-870.html</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Poor people unite against corrupt sarpanches
</span><a href="http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/poor-people-unite-against-corrupt-sarpanches-777.html"><span>http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/poor-people-unite-against-corrupt-sarpanches-777.html</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Is NREGA II a product of a complacent UPA II?
</span><a href="http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/debate-is-nregs-ii-a-product-of-a-complacent-upa-ii-114.html"><span>http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/debate-is-nregs-ii-a-product-of-a-complacent-upa-ii-114.html</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><a href="http://www.srabhiyan.wordpress.com">www.srabhiyan.wordpress.com</a>
</span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/40990562/Annexure-4-Open-Letter-From-Eminent-Jurists-and-Lawyers"><span>http://www.scribd.com/doc/40990562/Annexure-4-Open-Letter-From-Eminent-Jurists-and-Lawyers</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Centre to step in Rajasthan Mnregs wage row by K Balchand, The Hindu, 10 October, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/10/stories/2010101063261100.htm"><span>http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/10/stories/2010101063261100.htm</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Mazdoor Satyagrah demands accountability panel, The Times of India, 9 October, 2010, </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Mazdoor-Satyagrah-demands-accountability-panel/articleshow/6716117.cms"><span>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Mazdoor-Satyagrah-demands-accountability-panel/articleshow/6716117.cms</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Activists to send low wage feat' to Guinness, The Times of India, 7 October, 2010, </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Activists-to-send-low-wage-feat-to-Guinness/articleshow/6702689.cms"><span>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Activists-to-send-low-wage-feat-to-Guinness/articleshow/6702689.cms</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>NREGS: Activists demand action on anomalies, The Times of India, 6 October, 2010, </span><a href="http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/10/06&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00201&ViewMode"><span>http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/10/06&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00201&ViewMode</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Less than min wages for NREGA workers unconstitutional: Govt by Anindo Dey, The Times of India, 5 October, 2010,
</span><a href="http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/10/05&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00200&ViewMode"><span>http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/10/05&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00200&ViewMode</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Ensure minimum wages to NREGA workers: Activists by Anindo Dey, The Times of India, 4 October, 2010, </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Ensure-minimum-wages-to-NREGA-workers-Activists/articleshow/6680762.cms"><span>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Ensure-minimum-wages-to-NREGA-workers-Activists/articleshow/6680762.cms</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>No guarantees anymore by Sowmya Sivakumar, The Hindu, 3 October, 2010,
</span><a href="http://www.hindu.com/mag/2010/10/03/stories/2010100350010100.htm"><span>http://www.hindu.com/mag/2010/10/03/stories/2010100350010100.htm</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Labourers go on indefinite strike, press for demands, The Times of India, 3 October, 2010,
</span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Labourers-go-on-indefinite-strike-press-for-demands/articleshow/6674845.cms"><span>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Labourers-go-on-indefinite-strike-press-for-demands/articleshow/6674845.cms</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>The mass job guarantee by Aruna Roy & Nachiket Udupa, Himal Magazine, October, 2010,
</span><a href="http://www.himalmag.com/The-mass-job-guarantee_nw4749.html"><span>http://www.himalmag.com/The-mass-job-guarantee_nw4749.html</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Cong, activists at loggerheads over NREGA by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 23 September, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cong-activists-at-loggerheads-over-nrega/408892"><span>http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cong-activists-at-loggerheads-over-nrega/408892</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>'Systemic reform to root out corruption still needed' by Bharat Dogra, The Times of India, 13 September, 2010, </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Systemic-reform-to-root-out-corruption-still-needed/articleshow/6541296.cms"><span>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Systemic-reform-to-root-out-corruption-still-needed/articleshow/6541296.cms</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>NAC members blast execution of NREGA, call it 'anti-labour', The Financial Express, 28 September, 2010,
</span><a href="http://www.financialexpress.com/news/NAC-members-blast-execution-of-NREGA--call-it---anti-labour--/689178/"><span>http://www.financialexpress.com/news/NAC-members-blast-execution-of-NREGA--call-it---anti-labour--/689178/</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>MNREGA workers peeved at being paid Re. 1 by K Balchand, The Hindu, 28 September, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/28/stories/2010092862850800.htm"><span>http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/28/stories/2010092862850800.htm</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>States fail on dole for jobless-Unemployment allowance to handful, The Telegraph, 28 September, 2010,
</span><a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100928/jsp/nation/story_12990989.jsp"><span>http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100928/jsp/nation/story_12990989.jsp</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Rajasthan refuses to recognise NREGA workers' union by Sreelatha Menon, Sify News, 30 September, 2010, </span><a href="http://sify.com/finance/rajasthan-refuses-to-recognise-nrega-workers-union-news-news-kj4bOWhfahh.html"><span>http://sify.com/finance/rajasthan-refuses-to-recognise-nrega-workers-union-news-news-kj4bOWhfahh.html</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Let’s build on the positives, The Hindustan Times, 29 September, 2010,
</span><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/Let-s-build-on-the-positives/Article1-606195.aspx"><span>http://www.hindustantimes.com/Let-s-build-on-the-positives/Article1-606195.aspx</span></a><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>Fear of Freedom by Ruchi Gupta, Hard News, 11 January, 2011, </span><a href="http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2011/01/3799"><span>http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2011/01/3799</span></a><span>
</span></span></span></span></div>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-16469392034952159502010-11-30T16:35:00.014+05:302010-12-14T12:49:06.061+05:30Editors as Power Brokers?<div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuBMDqCapAk-5Z6OCmFOVZ3-ZvMJULzgejS01ETtgsmUFkWwUjilClOtyDMfYHWjVWYLeKhCFvoILfCUB72-bdLjN_8K3NHyf5bjqHxGnET4JSMRko90Lgqfau9uw80n5xkIM85O354A/s1600/Editors+as+Power+brokers.bmp"><span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546367764713008866" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuBMDqCapAk-5Z6OCmFOVZ3-ZvMJULzgejS01ETtgsmUFkWwUjilClOtyDMfYHWjVWYLeKhCFvoILfCUB72-bdLjN_8K3NHyf5bjqHxGnET4JSMRko90Lgqfau9uw80n5xkIM85O354A/s200/Editors+as+Power+brokers.bmp" border="0" /></span></a><span><br /></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>A panel discussion titled: ‘Editors as Power Brokers?’ was organized by Foundation for Media Professionals (</span><a href="http://www.fmp.org.in/"><span>http://www.fmp.org.in/</span></a><span>) along with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (</span><a href="http://www.fesindia.org/"><span>http://www.fesindia.org/</span></a><span>) at India International Centre (IIC) Auditorium on 26 November, 2010 so as to ponder on the issue of media-corporate lobbyist nexus. This is the fifteen in the series of media debates organized by the Foundation for Media Professionals to uphold media freedom and promote quality journalism.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>Manoj Mitta (Senior Journalist, The Times of India, </span><a href="http://www.timesofindia.com/"><span>http://www.timesofindia.com/</span></a><span>) in his introduction briefed the audience that some of the editors like Manu Joseph (</span><a href="http://www.openthemagazine.com/"><span>http://www.openthemagazine.com/</span></a><span>) and Krishna Prasad (</span><a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/"><span>http://www.outlookindia.com/</span></a><span>) have broken the silence pertaining to the Niira Radia tapes. The media was dithering whether the tapes should be brought in the public domain. Consumers of media know how the media functions. Believers of watchdog journalism are happy that the Radia tapes have been disclosed. Proper step has been taken by some honest journalists in favour of public interest. The Radia tapes reveal how the journalists are related to corporate lobbyist. Complicity of some journalists to retain A Raja in the Telecom Ministry under the UPA 2 government is now revealed. Journalists have also played a role in the gas allocation issue involving the Ambani brothers and the Government of India. After the disclosure of the tapes in public domain, there was a long silence maintained by the mainstream Indian media. It was Sagarika Ghose (</span><a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/"><span>http://ibnlive.in.com/</span></a><span>) in her show titled: Face the Nation who broke the silence about the 2G scam and the Radia tapes. Suhel Seth, Siddharth Varadarajan, Dilip Cherian and Paranjoy Guha Thakurta also spoke in that show. Thereafter, The Deccan Herald, The Business Standard and The Hindu broke their silence over the media-corporate lobbyist nexus. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>Vivian Fernandes acted as the moderator of the discussion on the involvement of editors in the 2G scam. He reminded the audience that the discussion is taking place on the very date 26X11—the day terrorists killed innocent people in Mumbai two years back. He introduced the panel of speakers, namely: Amit Goel (Pioneer Media School, </span><a href="http://www.pioneermediaschool.com/"><span>http://www.pioneermediaschool.com/</span></a><span>), Paranjoy Guha Thakurta (journalist who has worked on media ethics and submitted the report on paid news to the Press Council of India, </span><a href="http://presscouncil.nic.in/Final%20report%20on%20Paid%20News.pdf"><span>http://presscouncil.nic.in/Final%20report%20on%20Paid%20News.pdf</span></a><span>), Krishna Prasad (Editor of Outlook, </span><a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/"><span>http://www.outlookindia.com/</span></a><span>), Sunil Jain (Senior Journalist working with the Financial Express, </span><a href="http://www.financialexpress.com/"><span>http://www.financialexpress.com/</span></a><span>), Shri Manu Joseph (Editor of Open the Magazine, </span><a href="http://www.openthemagazine.com/"><span>http://www.openthemagazine.com/</span></a><span>), Bhupendra Chaubey (TV Journalist from IBN, </span><a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/"><span>http://ibnlive.in.com/</span></a><span>), BG Verghese (former editor of The Hindustan Times, </span><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/"><span>http://www.hindustantimes.com/</span></a><span>) and Shoma Chaudhary (Managing Editor, Tehelka magazine, </span><a href="http://www.tehelka.com/"><span>http://www.tehelka.com/</span></a><span>). </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>Vivian Fernandes informed that Barkha Dutt, Vir Sanghvi and Shankar Aiyer were very much close to the corporate lobbyist Niira Radia. The tapes were recorded by the Income Tax (IT) department for 3 months during 2009. Radia was very much close to A Raja and not Dayanidhi Maran since the latter could not help Tata in the 2G spectrum allocation. Vir Saghvi has defended himself via his column The Counter Point (<i>My response to the Radia transcripts</i>, 18 November, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.virsanghvi.com/CounterPoint-ArticleDetail.aspx?ID=576"><span>http://www.virsanghvi.com/CounterPoint-ArticleDetail.aspx?ID=576</span></a><span>) and the NDTV has defended Barkha Dutt (<i>NDTV on defamatory remarks against Barkha Dutt</i>, NDTV, 18 November, 2010, </span><a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ndtv-on-defamatory-remarks-against-barkha-dutt-67210"><span>http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ndtv-on-defamatory-remarks-against-barkha-dutt-67210</span></a><span>). In his defense, Vir Sanghvi has said that there has been no proper sourcing of the tapes. Conversations were not properly recorded and undue publicity has been sought by the magazines who have disclosed the tapes. Privacy has been breached. Sanghvi wrote to his readers that he expected himself to be judged on the basis of his work. There was a time when ‘man bites dog’ used to become news, Fernandes added. Nowadays, dog biting dog is considered as news (referring to the fight between NDTV and Open/ Outlook on the issue of Radia-media nexus). </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >On the charges made by Barkha Dutt and NDTV that the Open is not sure about the authenticity of the recordings, Manu Joseph defended by saying that the allegations made were not true. He refused to agree that the recordings and transcripts do not match. In a story of this nature, privacy can be compromised, Joseph emphasized. Barkha Dutt’s statement on ‘journalistic process’ is a strange defense, he argued. Niira Radia was interested in A Raja getting Telecom Ministry but this story told by a ‘talking lizard’ was missed by Barkha so as to come out with a journalistic piece, told Manu Joseph. In fact, Barkha Dutt could have told everybody about the story of the ‘talking lizard’ if she had been following the ‘journalistic process’. Nobody has actually denied the authenticity of the tapes. It was the IT department, which passed the transcripts to the CBI a few months back. Joseph doubted whether some phone calls may have stopped a few newspapers to come out with the Radia tapes story. Journalism should not be equated with activism. Media is very powerful and it is a kind of business. India has lower moral standards vis-à-vis the US and that’s why no arrests have been made so far. </span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >Sunil Jain informed that the 2G scam took place in 2007-08 and not in 2009. He said that the Times of India sells news and also indulged in paid news phenomenon. He was against putting the gas story alongside the 2G story on the Outlook website. Scarce natural resources should be auctioned. Reportage in the local channels (though coloured) is better than the ones at the national channels. </span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >Krishna Prasad said that embedded journalism is presently happening in the corporate world in India unlike the same that happened during the war in Iraq. This is a nationwide phenomenon. This kind of monetization of editorial positions is not new. Journalistic corruption is rampant. Thus, one should not be sidetracked only by Barkha Dutt and Vir Sanghvi as the stories on them are quite juicy. One should frown at the existence of 17 local news channels in Andhra Pradesh. He said that some conversations available on the Outlook website sound innocuous. All such conversations pertaining to 2G spectrum allocation, appointment of A Raja in the Telecom Ministry and gas row between the Ambani brothers have been made available on the Outlook website as a part of editorial judgment. Due to the story being sensitive, Barkha Dutt was not contacted prior to its publication. Prasad also referred to the close relationship between Ramoji Rao (of ETV) and NTR. </span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >Shoma Chaudhary told that Prabhu Chawla is unforgiveable. Earlier Chawla’s son was involved in a Corporate Affairs scam. The shortcoming of the tapes is that we still don’t know whether Vir Sanghvi spoke to Ahmed Patel. The tapes provided on the websites are selective and they have been edited. Some of the conversations available on the website of the Outlook and Open are just fragments. There is no framing essay. She asked whether the media is free to report on corporate India. Indian media needs structural changes. The television media is entirely dependent on advertisements. She informed that the Tehelka magazine is running on losses. People take salary cuts to join the Tehelka. One has to understand the economics of how the media operates. There is a need to change the contours of business journalism. Legal and media transparency are vital, she added. Media may be good at exposing corporate corruption. Peer pressure on editor can work. </span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>Paranjoy Guha Thakurta agreed to what The Business Standard wrote that the Lakhman Rekha (line of ethics) has been crossed by a few journalists. He said that journalists in India suffer from delusions of grandeur. However, media has played the role to expose this journalistic scam. We in the media are at best bid (/bit) players, he said. It was the Income Tax (IT) department, which sought the permission of the Ministry of Home Affairs to tap the conversations. Media in India does not have the clout to influence ministerial appointments. The ‘journalistic process’ did not lead to a story that Maran does not want Raja. Paranjoy questioned why it is so important to influence the media. Minority voices in the media do get blacked out but this is not always successful. It is the CMOs who run the media. The Press Council of India has got no teeth. It is not the counterpart of Federal Communications Commission (FCC, </span><a href="http://www.fcc.gov/"><span>http://www.fcc.gov/</span></a><span>) in the US. There are all kinds of ‘dogs’: watch dogs, lap dogs and sniffer dogs having various functions. ‘Dog bites man’ does not become news but ‘man bites dog’ certainly becomes news. But ‘dog bites Sonia Gandhi’ can become news too, Paranjoy told. The future of media is not so bleak. Competition has not led to improvement in quality because this has not happened for television channels (despite increase in their numbers). </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>Amit Goel said that when evidence comes out in the open, then this kind of discussion is essential. Journalists are not sharing information when they are actually seeking information. When J Gopikrishnan broke A Raja’s 2G scam, he came under a lot of pressure (</span><a href="http://www.dailypioneer.com/296854/The-man-who-felled-a-king.html"><span>http://www.dailypioneer.com/296854/The-man-who-felled-a-king.html</span></a><span>). The Pioneer group fortunately did not take money to shut him. The hidden agenda of the editor/s is not known when reporters work under them. Competition can lead to improvement in quality. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >BG Verghese told the audience that journalists do keep contacts with various sections of the society and this is not strange. But there is a Lakhman Rekha (line of ethics). He shared his experience that when he joined journalism in 1949, there used to be the license-permit Raj. Governments used to provide housing facilities to the journalists. Media played into the hands of corporates after the opening up of the economy in the late eighties. Due to technological breakthroughs, multiple editions of newspapers started coming out. A phenomenon called ‘breaking news’ is nothing but sensalization and is devoid of quality content. Managers have taken over the editors in media. Press is now used as a multiplier and magnifier by the political and business classes. Media is the custodian of freedom of speech. However, the public service broadcaster has been killed by the media. Indian media is the most unregulated. He said that had he been the editor of either Outlook or the Open, he would have contacted Barkha and Vir to cross check the story (prior to its publication) as a part of media ethics.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >Bhupendra Chaubey said that Krishna Prasad from Outlook wanted everybody to believe that their story is not entirely based on Vir Sanghvi and Barkha Dutt. But the faces of these journalists were printed on the Outlook magazine issue. He questioned how journalists can influence policy by talking over the telephone. Finally, he questioned whether Barkha and Vir met the leaders of the Congress Party.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>Shalini Singh (from The Times of India, </span><a href="http://www.timesofindia.com/"><span>http://www.timesofindia.com/</span></a><span>) who was in the audience reacted by saying that the panel discussion established that the media is subject to temptations. There is disproportionate power, which has been given to the editors, she alleged. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><b><i><span >Further Readings: </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >The Raja-Radia Tapes, Outlook, 18 November, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268064"><span>http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268064</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >The Vir Sanghvi-Niira Radia Tapes, Outlook, 18 November, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268066"><span>http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268066</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >The Power Tapes, Outlook, 18 November, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268069"><span>http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268069</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >The Ratan Tata, Barkha Dutt & Other Tapes, Outlook, 18 November, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268068"><span>http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268068</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >Some Telephone Conversations, Open, 20 November, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/some-telephone-conversations"><span>http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/some-telephone-conversations</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >This Is Not Journalism as We Know It by Hartosh Singh Bal, Open, 27 November, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://openthemagazine.com/article/voices/this-is-not-journalism-as-we-know-it"><span>http://openthemagazine.com/article/voices/this-is-not-journalism-as-we-know-it</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >The Buck Stops Here Too by Manu Joseph, Open, 27 November, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/voices/the-buck-stops-here-too"><span>http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/voices/the-buck-stops-here-too</span></a><span> </span></span></p><span ><div align="justify"><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >Media ethics: why we need both panic and a pinch of salt by Shoma Chaudhury, Tehelka Magazine, Vol 7, Issue 48, 4 December, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=Ne041210CoverstoryIII.asp"><span>http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=Ne041210CoverstoryIII.asp</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >Oh what a lovely blackout by Sevanti Ninan, The Hoot, 23 November, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://thehoot.org/web/home/story.php?storyid=4959&mod=1&pg=1&sectionId=1&valid=true"><span>http://thehoot.org/web/home/story.php?storyid=4959&mod=1&pg=1&sectionId=1&valid=true</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >The spotlight is on the media now by Priscilla Jebaraj, The Hindu, 24 November, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article907823.ece"><span>http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article907823.ece</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >Corruption in the neoliberal era by CP Chandrasekhar, The Hindu, 30 November, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/Chandrasekhar/article922254.ece"><span>http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/Chandrasekhar/article922254.ece</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >2G Scam: ED Questions Lobbyist Nira Radia, Outllok, 24 NOvember, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?702304"><span>http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?702304</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >What is the 2G spectrum scam about? The Economic Times, 15 November, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/What-is-the-2G-spectrum-scam-about/articleshow/6929075.cms"><span>http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/What-is-the-2G-spectrum-scam-about/articleshow/6929075.cms</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >Govt probes tape leak, The Telegraph, 30 November, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101130/jsp/nation/story_13238952.jsp"><span>http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101130/jsp/nation/story_13238952.jsp</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >Ratan Tata Moves SC Against Leakage of Radia Tapes, Outlook India, 29 November,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>2010, </span><a href="http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?702951"><span>http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?702951</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >Her Sinister Ring Tone by Shantanu Guha Ray, Tehelka Magazine, Vol 7, Issue 48, 4 December, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=Ne041210Coverstory.asp"><span>http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=Ne041210Coverstory.asp</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >The Girl Who Was Once Nira Sharma by Sunit Arora, Outlook India, 6 December, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268199"><span>http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268199</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >Lobbying charge by Arun Shourie stirs row, The Times of India, 29 November, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lobbying-charge-by-Arun-Shourie-stirs-row/articleshow/7006952.cms"><span>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lobbying-charge-by-Arun-Shourie-stirs-row/articleshow/7006952.cms</span></a><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span ></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><span >Media-lobbyist nexus may go to House panel, The Times of India, 27 November, 2010,</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" align="justify"><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Media-lobbyist-nexus-may-go-to-House-panel/articleshow/6997225.cms"><span >http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Media-lobbyist-nexus-may-go-to-House-panel/articleshow/6997225.cms</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"> </span></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-67527796604707966232010-11-27T15:23:00.006+05:302010-12-03T14:06:03.850+05:30Experience of ASER in India: Evolution, Elements and Evidence 2005-2010<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouhR7thMWRYtJmJoZIUB1MYIGKeQgB3Z9Hh3PyOPAaGnhZgvh_6pgDgIV4sKxk_UYn23-22YZy4zVP1zlZaM_7fGUGbtcTmpzgMiRipwQgcEFRdXYZJv8zIBp7Xo3Z_qiKpMLCG1wABI/s1600/blog+2.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" 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mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" >A presentation on the experience and evolution of Annual Status of Education Reports (<a href="http://www.asercentre.org/">http://www.asercentre.org/</a>) which is being brought out by Pratham (<a href="http://www.pratham.org/">http://www.pratham.org/</a>) was made by Ms. Rukmini Banerji at Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (<a href="http://www.csds.in/">www.csds.in</a>) on 22 November, 2010.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" >In his introduction, Shri Vipul Mudgal, Project Director of Inclusive Media for Change (<a href="http://www.im4change.org/">www.im4change.org</a>) informed the audience that ASER has changed the educational landscape in India. It played a crucial role in participatory democracy. Pratham has been involved since a long time in rating of public service delivery in the field of education. It is one of the first organizations to have worked in the area of rights based approach to development. ASER reports provide a comprehensive analysis and assessment of quality of education among children enrolled in elementary schools across the different Indian states.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" >In her presentation, Ms. Rukmini Banerji said that Pratham has been working with ‘left out’ and ‘left behind’ children since 1996. Parents and community of out-of-school children are concerned about the kind of education that has been imparted (inputs). When Pratham started with the ASER exercise, it faced lot of criticisms and apprehensions from government officials, experts and the community.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" >Ms. Banerji informed that learned parents often over-estimate their children’s educational and skill-level. This happened particularly when the survey was conducted in Jaunpur. School teachers too over-estimate their students. School teachers are unable to educate their students as per the standards they are enrolled. It has been found across the states that students (enrolled in a particular standard) are unable to read (in their own language) or do arithmetic pertaining to much lower standards. There exist huge gaps between expected basic level skill and current reading skill level. For example, at the all-India level only 52.8 percent of students enrolled in standard V can actually read standard II level text <i>(see the tables 1 and 2 above)</i>. Only 3.3 percent of standard I students in India can read standard II level text.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" >While commenting on education policy, Ms. Rukmini Banerji informed that there is no international goal on universal learning. There is no definition or reference to children’s learning goals in the MDGs. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) goals are broad “education of satisfactory quality relevant for life…”..and “learning enhancement”.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" >While talking on learning environment, she informed that 50 percent of rural parents of school children have not been to school themselves or cannot read and write. Most of the rural parents do not know what it needs to support learning. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" >Ms. Banerji presented the chart above while explaining how data can be collected, analyzed and results can be made available to the public for influencing policy formulation.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" >Ms. Rukmini Banerji explained the difficulties she faced while preparing village report cards based on data collection and assessment. The expectations of the village community about the educational skill of their students were higher than the actual situation (in terms of educational outcomes). During her presentation, she said that there was a major shift in educational priorities of the Government of India in 2005 in terms of the following points:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; font-family: arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" >Enrollment in elementary schools well-over 90 percent even in 2004-05</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; font-family: arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" >There was a new government in power at the federal level in 2004. There has been increase in social sector spending under the UPA 1. </span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" >Ms. Banerji informed that ASER reports between 2005 and 2009 provide a citizen’s view of schooling and learning. The ASER reports provides one with district level estimates of reading and arithmetic (which the Government does not have). The 2009 ASER report covered 3,20,000 households and 7,00,000 children in the age group 3-16 years. Schools have been observed for basics such as teachers, rooms, textbooks, water etc. The operational aspects of ASER included: sampling design, basic tools (for floor test), simple and fast analysis and ‘digestible’ results. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" >Participation of students from district level colleges during the ASER surveys has been good from the North East, Himachal Pradesh and Orissa. It is relatively difficult to conduct surveys in West Bengal since one has to get permission from Ward members. The ASER 2009 study shows that Manipur is performing better than Tamil Nadu in terms of children solving arithmetical problems. It has been difficult to test children’s reading skill because in certain states, children communicate (and learn) in various languages apart from their own mother language.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" >Pratham is planning to put a few more innovative questions in the questionnaire so as to assess the quality of education (like asking children whether they know how to read a calendar). It is also partnering with various organizations for similar exercises in countries from Africa.</span></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-52041498402093235942010-10-06T04:38:00.007+05:302010-12-03T14:07:08.147+05:30NREGA activists protest against the inefficient functioning of MoRD and CEGC<span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVso5t2UW-CUOFZky2ylChUud-zxyxPnMy6E41eioQFi1gPNHWxM25n4A7e188aaND5pbkh2uni6OZQq7BQ06CuB6X-GXEIVH0mG1uCRKnaZsqxjqff_hC_oSGIjNnplNIAI8Uo-ru-BM/s1600/Nrega.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVso5t2UW-CUOFZky2ylChUud-zxyxPnMy6E41eioQFi1gPNHWxM25n4A7e188aaND5pbkh2uni6OZQq7BQ06CuB6X-GXEIVH0mG1uCRKnaZsqxjqff_hC_oSGIjNnplNIAI8Uo-ru-BM/s200/Nrega.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524707899888205474" border="0" /></a><br /></span><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">A note circulated by Aruna Roy and Jean Dreze at a meeting of the Central Employment Guarantee Council (CEGC) during August, 2010 led to outburst from some leaders of the ruling UPA 2. The note provided a critique on various aspects of implementation of NREGA. The Ministry of Rural Development rejected an increase in the minimum wages or linking it to prices (Consumer Price Index), as demanded by activists like Aruna Roy and Jean Dreze. It has been felt by the activists that the Government is keen to raise the salaries of the elites instead of the manual labourers who are employed under NREGA. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Ms. Aruna Roy and Nikhil Dey were also unhappy with the way Rajasthan Government refused registration of NREGS workers' unions in the state, despite such unions functioning in other states like UP and Gujarat. Rajasthan has also been the state in news recently, where sarpanches were protesting against conducting of social audits. The sarpanches in Rajasthan have been openly violating rules by giving material supply contracts to their favorites. At many places purchase records were fudged and the wage to material ratio (i.e. 60:40) was distorted by using JCB machines instead of employing manual labourers. The NREGA activists protested against a clause in MGNREGA where sarpanches who spend the money are also authorized to conduct social audit. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">It is in this context that a press conference titled ‘Crisis in MGNREGA Implementation’ was held at Indian Women Press Corps, Ashoka Road, New Delhi on 27 September, 2010. During a short interview, Nikhil Dey informed Inclusive Media team that the press conference has been called for informing the media on certain issues:<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ol style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" start="1" type="a"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Poor implementation of NREGA could be observed at various places. There has been open flouting of rules under this scheme in Rajasthan and various parts of the country.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Ninety nine NREGA workers of Gudlia Gaon under Rupbas Panchayat of Tonk district in Rajasthan were paid wage at the rate of Rs. 1 a day. The same amount was shown in the muster rolls (as wages paid) and transferred to the respective bank accounts of these workers.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">No compensation has been paid for delayed payments of wages and there has been no payment of unemployment compensation in many places. <o:p></o:p></span></li> </ol><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Prof. Jean Dreze paid homage to Prof. Arjun Sengupta who recently passed away. This was followed by 1 minute silence. In his condolence message, Prof, Dreze informed that Dr. Sengupta would be known for his role in the Right to Development movement and his reports when he was the Chairperson of National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector (<a href="http://www.nceus.gov.in/">www.nceus.gov.in</a>). It was his claim that nearly 77 percent of the Indian population live below the poverty line of Rs. 20 per day. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">MKSS activist Nikhil Dey informed that the press conference was held to discuss the following issues: <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ol style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" start="1" type="1"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="">Range of entitlement-Right to get 100 days of job and minimum wages<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></li> </ol><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Wage aspects-Central Government ignoring the payment of minimum wages<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Linking the wage to Consumer Price Index (CPI) <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Payment of wages within 15 days of work being done-Delay in payment<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ol style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" start="2" type="1"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="">Social Audit<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></li> </ol><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Undermining of social audit<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Benefits of social audit in Andhra Pradesh<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ol style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" start="3" type="1"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="">Unionization of labour<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></li> </ol><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Nikhil Dey told that 99 labourers from Tonk district received Rs. 11/- each for 11 days of hard labour i.e. they were paid at the rate of Re. 1/- per day. Their hard labour was not paid justly. JCB machines were employed at various places. Work done was neither estimated properly by the Junior Engineers so that wages could be paid according to piece rate system nor was minimum wages (flat wages) paid to the labourers employed under MGNREGA. Hence, a Mazdoor Satyagraha would be organized in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 2 October, 2010 where the underpaid 99 labourers’ wage amount would be deposited with the Chief Minister's Relief Fund with the request that the amount be paid as Dearness Allowance to the State government employees, “for whom alone the government cares.” Due to the power and autonomy given to the panchayats, they have started acting like khap panchayats. The panchayats are not accountable to the public anymore. The Government is maintaining anti-labour attitude towards the NREGA. He said that NREGA pushed up agricultural wages in the initial stage but this process is being reversed now due to delayed payment and lower wages. There exists low density of post offices and banks in rural areas. These are poorly equipped. Post offices generally have no computers and are single employee branches. There exists inadequate staff at the Gram Panchayat and Block-levels, which means that crucial record-keeping, including measurement is delayed. <span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Prof. Jean Dreze said that there has been violation of NREGA under which fundamental entitlements are promised to be provided to the workers. Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra is a wrong priority under NREGA, which has been emphasized by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). Almost 90 percent of the expenditure would be made on material, if Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendras are constructed. This would allow backdoor entry of contractors in the NREGS. If there is no provision made for Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendras by the panchayats, then the second installment would be delayed. This new rule of the MoRD has resulted in delayed payments. The role of the MoRD has been disappointing. The real value of wage is going down because the wage rates were frozen and prices increased enormously. Wages must get linked to Consumer Price Index (CPI), said Dreze. If the wage rate is linked to the CPI, then minimum wages would go upto Rs.125/- per day from Rs. 100/- per day. The minimum wages must be fixed by the states and paid by the Centre. The MoRD’s response to the recommendations of the Working Group on Wages (WGW) has been to delay the matter further by referring it to other committees like Dr. Pronab Sen Committee. The WGW recommended that NREGA wages should be immediately indexed to the price level, using the Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (CPIAL), with 1 April, 2009 as the ‘base’ so that real value of wage is at least Rs. 100 per day at April, 2009 prices. Prof. Dreze said that violation of Minimum Wage Act, 1948 is not acceptable to the NREGA workers. Article 23 mandates that no person shall be required or permitted to provide labour or service to another on payment of anything less than the minimum wages. The provisions of the MGNREGA must be respected. Compensation for delayed payments must be provided. Why the workers should work if they are not paid in time, he asked. The Government must be proactive in paying minimum wages and compensation for delayed payments. The Central Employment Guarantee Council (CEGC) is functioning like the MoRD because of the way it has been constituted. Delays in payment of wages is a deliberate attempt to harass the workers as the scope of corruption got reduced due to opening up of bank accounts for the NREGA workers. There is no accountability measure to stop unemployment compensation not being paid. Without the provision and payment of unemployment compensation, the scheme cannot be called Employment Guaranty Act. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Dr. Ritika Khera said that in almost every state like Jharkhand, Chattisgarh etc. delay in payment of wages could be observed. Workers cannot work with an empty stomach. If payments are not made properly at the right time then migration would rise. Junior Engineers are engaged in harassing of workers as they are not held accountable. If measurement is not done by the Junior Engineers, then workers must be paid a flat wage (equivalent to minimum wage). <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Ms. Aruna Roy informed that social auditing is mandatory under NREGA, which shall be done by the panchayats. At present, corruption is affecting a scheme, which is meant for the poor. Physical verification of work by the public is of utmost importance. In the past 5 years, social auditing in Andhra Pradesh has led to positive outcomes. Presently, sarpanches (gram sabhas) are given the authority for conducting social audits under an order of 2008. But such social audits are neither social nor audits. It is just a symbolic gesture. Bureaucracy and outsiders cannot be a part of such social audits. She said that the conditional cash transfer mechanism cannot reduce corruption and if brought in lieu of NREGA, it would undermine the dignity of labour and the poor. She informed that the Central Employment Guarantee Council (CEGC) does not have enough time to consult and attend meetings. There must be constitution of an Executive Committee. The MoRD must give more autonomy to the CEGC. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Shri Satya Bose from People’s Monitoring Committee, Andhra Pradesh informed that NREGA is a demand driven programme. In the name of rural connectivity, panchayats are diverting funds away from NREGA. Biometric cards are helping people to access wages from banks and post-offices. Shrama Shakti Sanghams-union of NREGA workers is empowering the poor. Andhra Pradesh has the best social audit system as compared to the other states. The Andhra Pradesh government has a separate fund for social auditing. Three rounds of social audit have been done in most villages. More than 10,000 deviations have been brought out by the social audit resulting in dismissal of nearly 4,000 implementing staff and more than 600 criminal cases on the culprits. Since its formation in 2009, Society for Social Audit, Accountability & Transparency (SSAAT) has succeeded in creating a massive social capital by identifying and training more than 60,000 educated youth in the villages in conducting social audit. The Andhra model of social auditing can be replicated elsewhere. In AP, workers receive their payments within a week, which has been possible due to the computerization of the payment process. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Ms. Annie Raja of National Federation of Indian Women said that the primary objective of the NREGA is to provide livelihood security to the needy people. However, in a recent survey of around 1000 workers, it has been found that 62 percent of them did not get their minimum wages. Nearly, 60 percent got their wages after a delay of 3 months. The CEGC’s performance has not been upto the mark. The Government is scuttling the powers of CEGC. The CEGC must be constituted properly. There is no Executive Committee. The CEGC must place a report to the Parliament. The Rajasthan Government has refused registration of NREGS workers' unions. Delay in wage payment can increase the rate of migration. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style="">For more information, kindly click the following links: <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Cong, activists at loggerheads over NREGA by Sreelatha Menon, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:130%;">The Business Standard, 23 September, 2010, <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cong-activists-at-loggerheads-over-nrega/408892">http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cong-activists-at-loggerheads-over-nrega/408892</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" >'Systemic reform to root out corruption still needed' by Bharat Dogra, The Times of India, 13 September, 2010, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Systemic-reform-to-root-out-corruption-still-needed/articleshow/6541296.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Systemic-reform-to-root-out-corruption-still-needed/articleshow/6541296.cms</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" >NAC members blast execution of NREGA, call it 'anti-labour', </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:130%;">The Financial Express, 28 September, 2010,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://www.financialexpress.com/news/NAC-members-blast-execution-of-NREGA--call-it---anti-labour--/689178/">http://www.financialexpress.com/news/NAC-members-blast-execution-of-NREGA--call-it---anti-labour--/689178/</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" >MNREGA workers peeved at being paid Re. 1 by K Balchand, The Hindu, 28 September, 2010, <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/28/stories/2010092862850800.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/28/stories/2010092862850800.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" >States fail on dole for jobless-Unemployment allowance to handful, The Telegraph, 28 September, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100928/jsp/nation/story_12990989.jsp">http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100928/jsp/nation/story_12990989.jsp</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Rajasthan refuses to recognise NREGA workers' union by Sreelatha Menon, Sify News, 30 September, 2010, <a href="http://sify.com/finance/rajasthan-refuses-to-recognise-nrega-workers-union-news-news-kj4bOWhfahh.html">http://sify.com/finance/rajasthan-refuses-to-recognise-nrega-workers-union-news-news-kj4bOWhfahh.html</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Let’s build on the positives, The Hindustan Times, 29 September, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/Let-s-build-on-the-positives/Article1-606195.aspx">http://www.hindustantimes.com/Let-s-build-on-the-positives/Article1-606195.aspx</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-1542997924358017032010-10-06T04:33:00.004+05:302010-10-30T14:37:53.790+05:30A Campaign for No UID-Till Complete Transparency, Accountability and People’s Participation*<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI, <a href="http://uidai.gov.in/">http://uidai.gov.in/</a>) was constituted by the Central Government (via notification) in February, 2009 to give each Indian resident a UID number. UID will be a unique 12-digit number, which will store basic demographic and identity information of an individual along with his/ her biometrics (10 fingerprints, iris scan and photo). As per the Government, UID numbers will enable efficient delivery of Government services by plugging leakages, and facilitate inclusive development through improved targeting. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >However, the project was met with widespread concern on grounds of privacy and potential for misuse by elements of the State. Various representatives have been made to the Authority through civil society meetings, op-eds and open discussions. In response the Government has set up a Group of Officers under the Secretary, DoPT to develop a framework for data protection, security and privacy. Simultaneously, the UIDAI has circulated a draft National Identification Authority of India Bill aimed primarily at achieving statutory status while resisting both regulation and accountability.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the first Bill introduced by the new Conservatives and Liberal Democrat Government was the Identity Documents Bill so as to cancel the similar National ID Project. UIDAI was set-up via a GoI notification as an attached office of the Planning Commission without any discussion or debate in the Parliament or civil society. <span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >A press conference to protest against the Unique Identity Card (UID) project of the Government of India was arranged at Press Club of India, New Delhi on 28 September, 2010. The panel comprised of Justice AP Shah, Upendra Baxi, Nikhil Dey, Uma Chakravarthi, Shohini Ghosh, Prof. Jagdeep S. Chhokar, Amar Kanwar, Reetika Khera, Praful Bidwai and Bezwada Wilson so as to discuss a project that has the potential to transform the state-citizen relationship and affect every resident.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Ms. Usha Ramanathan informed that there has been little debate on the UID project. The first draft of the UIDAI Bill that was put on the website was defective. The Union Cabinet on 24 September, 2010 approved the proposed National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010, which envisages the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) as a statutory body. The Bill will now be introduced in Parliament for approval. The UID is like a project, which is done privately by some individuals. The UID project can affect the relationship between State and citizens. There are people in the public sphere who are concerned about this project. Seventeen eminent signatories, Justice VR Krishna Iyer, Retired Judge, Supreme Court of India, Prof Romila Thapar, Historian, KG Kannabiran, Senior Civil Liberties Lawyer, Kavita Srivastava, PUCL and Right to Food Campaign, Aruna Roy, MKSS, Rajasthan, Nikhil Dey, MKSS, Rajasthan, SR Sankaran, Retired Secretary, Government of India, Deep Joshi, Independent Consultant, Upendra Baxi, Jurist and ex-Vice Chancellor of Universities of Surat and Delhi, Uma Chakravarthi, Historian, Shohini Ghosh, Teacher and Film Maker, Amar Kanwar, Film Maker, Bezwada Wilson, Safai Karamchari Andolan, Trilochan Sastry, IIMB, and Association for Democratic Reforms, Prof. Jagdeep S. Chhokar , ex- IIMA, and Association for Democratic Reforms, Shabnam Hashmi, ANHAD, Justice AP Shah, Retired Chief Justice of High Court of Delhi, have asked that: a. The project be halted; b. A feasibility study be done covering all aspects of this issue; c. Experts be tasked with studying its constitutionality; d. The law on privacy be urgently worked on (this will affect matters way beyond the UID project); e. A cost-benefit analysis be done; and, f. A public, informed debate is conducted before any such major change is brought in. Ms. Ramanathan asked that such a major project cannot be allowed to happen without public consent and debate. The entire cost of UIDAI is unknown to most of us. The Government must go for a public consultation on UID project. The Apollo Hospitals group has offered to manage health records through the UIDAI. There is a marketing agenda behind this project, she added.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Ms. Uma Chakravarthi said that the UID project reminded her of migration of indentured coolie labour in South Africa during the colonial days. During that time, every migrant labourer had a unique number and s/he was photographed along with that number. The question is how one can associate a person with a particular number. Associating a person with a number actually stigmatizes him/ her. The present ideology of the Government is that schemes meant for the poor are failing since there is no UIDAI. Accessing one’s right via a number is actually a non-starter. In Kashmir, every citizen has to keep an identity card. In the absence of identity card, ordinary Kashmiris are harassed by the authorities. The UID card has become like a passport for movement. Earlier the BJP Government tried to identify illegal migrants. Hence, a person without UID would be considered as an illegal migrant. Poor migrants are likely to suffer if the UID project comes into being. Ms. Chakravarthi asked whether the identity number changes as one changes the place of stay like it happens for ration card. The privacy of an individual is at stake due to UIDAI. This project is nothing but a façade.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Ms. Shohini Ghosh informed that privacy will be adversely affected due to UID project. She asked what purpose this massive public databank would serve under UID. Health data leakage can lead to harassment of people such as those who are HIV positive. Residents of Jamia Nagar near JMI are routinely denied credit cards. People can be harassed because the UID project would disclose one’s background. The UID document is ahistorical and it promises a utopia. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Shri Bezwada Wilson asked why a massive project like UIDAI was undertaken without any proper objective. He questioned whether such a project is really needed. He further asked whether the identity of untouchables would be revealed due to UID project. He shared his own experience when he said that the dominant entities always asked for identity of untouchables (manual scavengers). The caste biasness can affect service delivery to the poor and dalits under UID project.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Shri AP Shah informed that profiling and tracking can take place due to UIDAI. The State can come to know information about its citizens, and this could be risky in the backdrop of State-sponsored terrorism. The Maharastra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has harassed people from North India in Maharastra earlier. Countries like the United States, United Kingdom and Australia started with similar projects earlier. But soon they abandoned the idea. Privacy is an issue for the poor too. A study on the potential gains and losses of UID project never happened before the project got started. A privacy Bill has to be passed by the Parliament to deal with UID. Health information may be leaked to multi-national corporations if the UID becomes active. The cost-benefit ratio of UIDAI has not been estimated. Such projects cannot be started without public debate. Even though the UID project is unprecedented anywhere in the world both in population size and application, no feasibility study was done prior. There is a possibility of commercial exploitation of UIDAI, he added. <span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Ms. Ritika Khera said that one cannot be anti-technology in today’s world. But technology has to be transparent and accessible. Though it is promised that UID would lead to portability, but it must be backed by better supply chain management. The UID project needs public distribution system (PDS) and National Rural Employment Guaranty Act (NREGA) databases for its success. The project can, however, reduce re-duplication of ration cards. In total, UID’s contribution would be marginal. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Shri Nikhil Dey said that the UID project team comprises of technology experts but it lacks experts on NREGA and PDS. Corruption cannot be reduced through UID. He asked about the potential value addition due to UID project vis-à-vis localized biometric system. The security aspect of UID cannot be neglected. The Government wants to carry out conditional cash transfers via UID. UIDAI is completely opposite to the Right to Information (RTI) Act in spirit since the former will enable the Government to look at each and every act of citizens whereas the latter helps the citizens to watch each and every act of the Government. If the UID comes into being, there could be a need for a separate privacy law. If the privacy law is enacted, then it might clash with the existing RTI Act. There is a need to track the money where it is going, and not the citizens. <span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Shri Prof. Jagdeep S. Chhokar said that one must not forget the Manhattan Project while discussing the UID project. Though the use of technology is a good idea, it can be questioned what purpose it is going to serve. The privacy law if enacted must be protected by the judiciary. The Government has to be accountable to its people. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Shri Praful Bidwai emphasized that the UID project has a dubious origin. The origins of the project can be traced back to the controversial report of the Kargil Review Committee chaired by K Subrahmaniam, which noted that immediate steps were needed to issue ID cards to villagers in border districts, pending its extension to other parts of the country. In a report titled ‘Reforming the National Security System’, a Group of Ministers of the NDA Government conveyed that all citizens should be given a multi-purpose national identity card (MNIC) and non-citizens should be issued identity cards of a different colour and design so as to check illegal migration. He cited one study carried out by a team from London School of Economics about a similar project done by the British Government. The team found that such technology is untested and unreliable. The biometric technology is unreliable and expensive. Indian defense’s computer systems were hacked recently. He termed the UID project insane.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Critique of UID Bill<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >False claims:</span></i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" > It has been said that the UID project will enable inclusive growth. However, exclusion and leakages are not caused by the inability to prove identity—they are caused by the deliberate manipulation of the system by those who have the power to control the flow of benefits. BPL families who have valid ration cards are unable to get their quota of foodgrains-not because the validity of the card is disputed but because the ration shop owners exploit them and force them to take less than their due. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Violation of privacy and civil liberties:</span></i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" > The UID scheme violates the right to privacy. International law and India’s domestic law have set clear standards to protect an individual’s privacy from unlawful invasion. Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by India, an individual’s right to privacy is protected from arbitrary or unlawful interference by the State. The Supreme Court has held right to privacy to be implicit under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution (Rajagopal v. State of Tamil Nadu, 1994 and PUCL v. Union of India, 1996). Section 15 of the Census Act categorically states that information given for the Census is neither open to inspection nor admissible in evidence. However, the privacy clauses were diluted significantly by the NDA Government in 2003.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >“Functionality creep” and misuse of data:</span></i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" > The centralized database where personal data will be stored can be easily linked with other databases, such as the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation and databases maintained by the police and intelligence agencies. This raises the risk of “functionality creep”. There is a serious concern that the biometric information collected as part of the UID project would be used for policing purposes. The proposed Bill does not contain any mechanism for credible and independent oversight of the UIDAI. There are several instances of the involvement of the State in mass carnage (as in Delhi in 1984 and Gujarat in 2002), and the Government’s support to and defense of the widespread use of ‘encounter killings’ and other extra-Constitutional methods of the police and armed forces.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Inappropriate and unproven technology:</span></i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" > Around 150 million people are likely to be excluded from benefits because of the UID project. Millions of Indians working in agriculture and as construction workers and other manual labourers have worn-out fingers due to a lifetime of hard labour, resulting in what is technically referred to as ‘low-quality’ fingerprints. UIDAI in its working paper states that fingerprint authentication is not foolproof (such as the degree and direction of the pressure applied while placing the finger on the sensor, excessively greasy or dry skin, and distortions caused by rendering a 3-dimensional object into a flat plane). An iris scan cannot be done on people with corneal blindness, glaucoma or corneal scars. There are an estimated 6-8 million people in Indian with corneal blindness, according to researchers of AIIMS, New Delhi. The Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar has opposed the collection of iris scans terming it as “waste of money”.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Database security not assured:</span></i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" > Several of our high-security databases have been hacked in the recent past. India has no generally established data protection law (like the US Federal Privacy Statute or the European Directive on Data Protection). A leaked document in wikileaks website tells that the UID database will be susceptible to attacks and leaks at various levels.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Unjustifiable cost:</span></i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" > The current costs are estimated at Rs. 45,000 crores. A budget provision of Rs. 1950 crores has been made for the current year, of which over 200 crores has already been spent. Operationalizing the UID project on the ground for NREGA and the PDS would require placing fingerprint readers at every panchayat office and every ration shop. The cost of a fingerprint reader at this time is nearly US$ 50. The total costs of placing a fingerprint in each PDS outlet and in each of India’s 6 lakh villages have not been taken into account in official cost calculations. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Bypassing of Parliament and democratic processes:</span></i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" > The UIDAI has been set up with considerable powers and resources, without any approval from Parliament or discussion in the public domain about the necessity of such a scheme. In the absence of a Constitutional provision or legal framework, all actions of the UIDAI are technically unconstitutional and illegal. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Lessons from other countries:</span></i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" > Several countries (including the US, UK, Australia, China, Canada and Germany) have tried such projects and have given these up as impractical, unjustified and dangerous. One of the first acts of the new government in UK after taking office in June, 2010, was to scrap the UID project in that country. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Courtesy:</span></i></b><i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" > Campaign for No UID, Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p><b><br /></b></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p><b>* Compiled by Shambhu Ghatak from various sources. </b></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><i><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" >Kindly, click the following links for further information: <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:12px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" >“Basic procedures not followed before project was launched”, The Hindu, 29 September, 2010, <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article801252.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article801252.ece</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" >Why the UID number project must be scrapped by Gopal Krishna,<span style=""> </span>Rediff.com, 2 June, 2010, <a href="http://news.rediff.com/column/2010/jun/02/why-the-uid-number-project-must-be-scrapped.htm">http://news.rediff.com/column/2010/jun/02/why-the-uid-number-project-must-be-scrapped.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" >High-cost, high-risk by R Ramakumar, Frontline, Volume 26, Issue 16, 1-14 August, 2009, <a href="http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2616/stories/20090814261604900.htm">http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2616/stories/20090814261604900.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ></span> </p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:7px;" >Why Indians should fear the UID by Praful Bidwai, Rediff.com, 12 October, 2010, <a href="http://news.rediff.com/column/2010/oct/12/column-why-indians-should-fear-the-uid.htm">http://news.rediff.com/column/2010/oct/12/column-why-indians-should-fear-the-uid.htm</a><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" >The personal is the personal by Usha Ramanathan, 6 January, 2010, The Indian Express, <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-personal-is-the-personal/563920/0">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-personal-is-the-personal/563920/0</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ></span> </p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" >Questionable link by Praful Bidwai, Frontline, Volume 27, Issue 12, 5-18 June, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><a href="http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2712/stories/20100618271209400.htm">http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2712/stories/20100618271209400.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" >Not all that unique by Reetika Khera, The Hindustan Times, 30 August, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/Not-all-that-unique/H1-Article1-593541.aspx">http://www.hindustantimes.com/Not-all-that-unique/H1-Article1-593541.aspx</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" >NREGA gets 'smart' by Arvind Mayaram, The Financial Express, 24 September, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><a href="http://www.financialexpress.com/news/nrega-gets-smart/686746/0">http://www.financialexpress.com/news/nrega-gets-smart/686746/0</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" >Unique ID pilot project in a week, The Telegraph, 30 July, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100730/jsp/frontpage/story_12749213.jsp">http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100730/jsp/frontpage/story_12749213.jsp</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" >Govt allocates Rs 10 cr to UIDAI, The Indian Express, 22 July, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/govt-allocates-rs-10-cr-to-uidai/650321/">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/govt-allocates-rs-10-cr-to-uidai/650321/</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" >Plugging the leaks, The Business Standard, 15 July, 2010, <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/pluggingleaks/401414/">http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/pluggingleaks/401414/</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" >Govt slashes UIDAI budget by over 50 per cent, Yahoo.com, 11 July, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10px;" ><a href="http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100711/1238/tbs-govt-slashes-uidai-budget-by-over-50.html">http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100711/1238/tbs-govt-slashes-uidai-budget-by-over-50.html</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-88362319919157184522010-09-16T16:32:00.002+05:302010-09-16T16:43:16.669+05:30Saving the habitat of elephants is now a vital agenda before India<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6sqnxwn_EtOSEMuy1m_cuNCoGaFVKBft5lS-N13TGnchUcLiSMJdzaOOH_RvwP7S5NQERI4ht7Bb3_SDxirO9tBUidBTVfOlQEAEaYqIkyycH4_mmfaHYPZivjSbQYBkgrURMFpKMkQ/s1600/Elephant.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6sqnxwn_EtOSEMuy1m_cuNCoGaFVKBft5lS-N13TGnchUcLiSMJdzaOOH_RvwP7S5NQERI4ht7Bb3_SDxirO9tBUidBTVfOlQEAEaYqIkyycH4_mmfaHYPZivjSbQYBkgrURMFpKMkQ/s320/Elephant.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517467724570217634" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A few days before when <i>Ganesh Chaturthi</i> was celebrated across India, a new report titled: <i>Gajah: Securing the Future for Elephants in India</i> was released by the Elephant Task Force, Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Task Force in its report has estimated that the population of elephants found in the wild is over 26,000 in India. There are 3500 captive elephants, with ancient traditions of captive care. The male population of elephants has shown a decline vis-a-vis females that has led to sex ratios heavily skewed towards females. Large developmental and infrastructural projects are fragmenting elephant habitats, the report finds.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Task Force comprised of distinguished scholars and environmentalists such as: Dr. Mahesh Rangarajan, Ajay Desai, Dr. R Sukumar, Dr. PS Easa, Vivek Menon, Dr. S Vincent, Suparna Ganguly, Dr. BK Talukdar, Brijendra Singh, Dr. Divya Mudappa, Dr. Sushant Chowdhary and AN Prasad.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The land area occupied by elephants is estimated to be around 110,000 square km, which is composed of Protected Areas, Reserved and other categories of forests, plantations, agriculture, and non-forest areas, the report finds. The report informs that every year over 400 people lose their lives to elephants, and most of them are cultivators or labourers. However, the bad news is that more than half of the 100 elephants are killed every year so as to save standing crops in the fields. Since 1987, India has lost 150 elephants due to train hits.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Task Force has expressed deep concern over the loss of habitats of elephants and the selective killing off of tuskers in key populations by ivory poachers. While the Task force in its report has praised the achievements of Project Elephant, which has been in existence since 1992, it has recommended for the creation of National Elephant Conservation Authority (NECA) on the lines of the structure for tiger conservation. A new Consortium of Elephant Research and Estimation (CERE) has also been recommended so as to develop and apply the best methods for enumeration. The Task Force has also recommended for scientific methods for elephant population monitoring and landscape assessment.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In order to reduce human-elephant conflicts, the report has asked for preparing Conflict Management Task Forces that would comprise of experienced foresters, scientists, wildlife vets and social scientists. It has recommended for mandatory <i>taluka</i>-level hearings at different times in the sowing and harvesting season in all conflict areas that can bring together affected citizens, officials and elected representatives. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The new Elephant Landscapes that are recommended by the Task Force are as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">1. Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong-Intanki<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">2. Kameng-Sonitpur<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">3. East Central<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">4. North Western<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">5. Brahmagiri-Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">6. Eastern South Bank<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">7. North Bengal-Greater Manas<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">8. Meghalaya<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">9. Anamalai-Nelliampathy-High Range<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">10. Periyar-Agasthyamalai <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Task Force has also recommended to declare elephant as a National Heritage Animal, which will give it due place as emblem of ecological sensitivity.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Readings: <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Gajah: Securing the Future for Elephants in India, Elephant Task Force, Ministry of Environment and Forests,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/ETF_REPORT_FINAL.pdf">http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/ETF_REPORT_FINAL.pdf</a> <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Declare elephant a national heritage: panel, <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/declare-elephant-a-national-heritage-panel/129983-3.html">http://ibnlive.in.com/news/declare-elephant-a-national-heritage-panel/129983-3.html</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Elephant Task Force suggests new body for sensitive zones by R Krishna Kumar, The Hindu, 1 September, 2010, <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article606834.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article606834.ece</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Jumbo cry for rethink, 1 September, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100901/jsp/frontpage/story_12881991.jsp">http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100901/jsp/frontpage/story_12881991.jsp</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">India needs to secure its elephant reserves: panel,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/india/2010/09/01/270912/India-needs.htm">http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/india/2010/09/01/270912/India-needs.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Carve an elephant landscape from Eastern Ghats: report,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://epaper.expressbuzz.com/NE/NE/2010/09/02/ArticleHtmls/02_09_2010_002_033.shtml?Mode=1">http://epaper.expressbuzz.com/NE/NE/2010/09/02/ArticleHtmls/02_09_2010_002_033.shtml?Mode=1</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Time for an elephantine effort, The Pioneer, 1 September, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.dailypioneer.com/279955/Time-for-an-elephantine-effort.html">http://www.dailypioneer.com/279955/Time-for-an-elephantine-effort.html</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Dooars Terai: Rail & forest blamed for jumbo track deaths, 7 September, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://thehimalayanbeacon.com/magazine/2010/09/07/dooars-terai-rail-forest-blamed-jumbo-track-deaths/">http://thehimalayanbeacon.com/magazine/2010/09/07/dooars-terai-rail-forest-blamed-jumbo-track-deaths/</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.elephantvoices.org/">www.elephantvoices.org</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> </span></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-56242502198769671462010-08-12T10:41:00.003+05:302010-08-12T22:01:48.752+05:30India-EU free trade agreement: Impact on generic drugs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nb4A7SyITLkg78jiPNhIzMPPQl1wNhyxbeGXG8r5BdYwTTbNnAKFx0HGkOz29tJg7cucXuCCSEljTzhVFWnLx51IfPDwfw0WLot2Lg3tp4bDIJIoDDKfVnMt-aFSZ9fz3i4eRbhEe_M/s1600/generic_drugs.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nb4A7SyITLkg78jiPNhIzMPPQl1wNhyxbeGXG8r5BdYwTTbNnAKFx0HGkOz29tJg7cucXuCCSEljTzhVFWnLx51IfPDwfw0WLot2Lg3tp4bDIJIoDDKfVnMt-aFSZ9fz3i4eRbhEe_M/s200/generic_drugs.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504387399118379858" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">Indian generic drugs manufacturers are worried about the intellectual property rights issues and trade interests arising out of the new Indo-European Union (EU) free trade agreement, which may be ready by the end of August 2010 and become effective by the end of this year. The reasonably priced generic drugs, which India exports to many developing and poor countries, may face production and trade difficulties thanks to the Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement (ACTA), the World Customs Organisation’s Standards to be Employed by Customs for Uniform Rights Enforcement (SECURE), and the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force (IMPACT) that are part and parcel of the bilateral free trade pact. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">It is feared that under the free trade deal, India may be persuaded by the EU to impose greater intellectual property protection on medicines—trade and production rules, which would delay the registration and marketing of generic medicines, and would extend the duration of a patent, reducing competition and making the prices of medicines higher.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">In order to boost bilateral commerce, India and the 27-member EU have been negotiating the market-opening pact since June 2007. The ongoing process of negotiation faced initial hiccups when the EU tried to associate trade with climate and India’s social sector performance in areas such as child labour. India was against the inclusion of "extraneous" non-trade issues into the free trade talk.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">Although the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) allows patented drugs classified as ‘essential’ or crucial to health to be manufactured in developing countries, under the proposed free trade pact between India and EU that takes into consideration ACTA's rules, there is fear that counterfeit drugs may be considered equivalent to generic drugs.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">The EU has, however, proposed a clause in the negotiations to ensure that nothing in the proposed agreement would limit India's freedom to produce and export life-saving medicines in accordance with the TRIPS Agreement and the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, notably through compulsory licensing.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">Under the "data exclusivity" regime, an Indian company making generic drugs - copies or near-copies of patented products - would be prohibited from availing itself of formulae used to develop a patented medicine for a period of five to nine years. This would result in pushing up the cost of medicine and affect access to cheaper medicines. However, the European Commission on Trade has agreed to take into account the specificities of the Indian legal system, the policy developments on this issue within India, its developing country status and the role it plays with regard to production of essential generics for the developing world.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">In the past Indian shipments of generic drugs destined for various African and Latin American nations were seized by the European Union authorities on charges of counterfeiting and patents infringement. Facing India’s opposition, the European Commission on Trade is prepared to propose modifications to the Regulation that may be necessary to clarify the procedures relating to medicines in transit to ensure that generic medicines are not unnecessarily affected when merely transiting the EU. After facing resistance from <i>Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins Sans Frontieres</i>, which depend mostly on Indian generic drugs during its missions, the European Commission took into account the problems arising from the controversial "border protection" measures, under which generic medicines from India got seized at European ports. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">Another criticism against the present free trade agreement between India and EU is that the draft has never been in circulation for public consultation. The much famous wikileaks has recently released drafts of the Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement (ACTA), which has been opposed by copyleft activists.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><i><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:14.0pt;">Further Readings: <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">Trade Talks with EU Put Drug Manufacturers on Edge by Keya Acharya, 3 August, 2010, <a href="http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=52360">http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=52360</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">EU-India FTA negotiations and access to medicines-Questions and answers, European Commision on Trade,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><a href="http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2010/may/tradoc_146191.pdf">http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2010/may/tradoc_146191.pdf</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><a href="http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2010/may/tradoc_146192.pdf">http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2010/may/tradoc_146192.pdf</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">Preliminary Consultation Draft on IPR Chapter of India EU Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (April 2010), <a href="http://bilaterals.org/spip.php?article17290">http://bilaterals.org/spip.php?article17290</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">India deal could kill health lifeline by David Cronin, 29 April, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LD29Df01.html">http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LD29Df01.html</a> <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">Brazil to object to Dutch seizure of generic drug, 23 January, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2327254420090123">http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2327254420090123</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">India, EU in new bid to clinch free-trade deal, 24 July, 2010,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.bilaterals.org/spip.php?article17753">http://www.bilaterals.org/spip.php?article17753</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">Will India-EU deal make drugs dearer? by Rema Nagarajan, 27 April, 2010, The Times of India,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Will-India-EU-deal-make-drugs-dearer/articleshow/5861723.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Will-India-EU-deal-make-drugs-dearer/articleshow/5861723.cms</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;">EU/India trade pact could limit cheap drugs - MSF, 12 March, 2010, Reuters,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE62B18T.htm">http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE62B18T.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><a href="http://wikileaks.org/wiki/EU-India_Free_Trade_Agreement_draft,_24_Feb_2009">http://wikileaks.org/wiki/EU-India_Free_Trade_Agreement_draft,_24_Feb_2009</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-68330344811081390322010-08-04T13:50:00.003+05:302010-08-04T20:56:51.869+05:30A Bt cotton led agri-revolution<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rw11Xzh1UvXMWvKcEN5kpGH8iDmsWBJZxv_FGr7yLTBVBa2PUqqtuEYnOx1M9aM-YnRBIm_6kgLa4NX7PxIEpPOKDBgu_bTea2e6JCXZw0ehvOtH7HUcMQe-L-Ewc_4d9SR3JDzAuxI/s1600/bt.cotton+seed.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rw11Xzh1UvXMWvKcEN5kpGH8iDmsWBJZxv_FGr7yLTBVBa2PUqqtuEYnOx1M9aM-YnRBIm_6kgLa4NX7PxIEpPOKDBgu_bTea2e6JCXZw0ehvOtH7HUcMQe-L-Ewc_4d9SR3JDzAuxI/s200/bt.cotton+seed.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501467011491077682" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is usually believed by the scientific community that transgenic varieties of plants can bring about agri-revolution in the so-called developing and third world countries, which depend on food and developmental aid due to shortages and famines. Biotechnology has made it possible to grow more crops, hence, making countries of the South more self-dependent. Same is the message of a new study titled <i>Bt Cotton in India: A Country Profile</i> by Bhagirath Choudhary and Kadambini Gaur (July, 2010), which shows that small and marginal resource-poor Indian farmers are increasingly adopting Bt cotton so as to derive better yields and more profits. Statistics provided in the report indicates that 5.6 million small and marginal farmers in India during the year 2009 planted and benefited from 8.381 (~8.4) million hectares of Bt cotton, equivalent to 87% of the 9.636 (~9.6) million hectare national cotton crop. The usage of Bt cotton has increased due to better yields, rise in production and reduction in the application of insecticides. Within a span of six years from 2002 to 2008, Bt cotton has generated economic benefits for farmers to the tune of US$ 5.1 billion.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">During the last 8 years, application of Bt cotton in India has resulted in doubling of yield from 308 kg per hectare in 2001 to 568 kg per hectare in 2009.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The number of farmers growing Bt cotton hybrid has increased from 50,000 in 2002 to 0.56 crore farmers in 2009. The report tells us that farmers prefer multiple genes over a single gene Bt cotton hybrids because multiple gene Bt cotton hybrids provide additional protection to Spodopetra (a leaf eating tobacco caterpillar) while it also increases efficacy of protection to both American bollworm, Pink bollworm and Spotted bollworm.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The report informs that 65% of India's cotton is grown on dryland and 35% on irrigated lands. In the year 2008, Maharashtra, the largest cotton-growing state, had 2.15 million farmers growing cotton, which occupied approximately 34% of India’s total cotton area.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Due to the conducive biotechnology policies of the government, which allowed private sector participation in R&D and sale of hybrid Bt cotton, area under Bt cotton production in India increased from 50 thousand hectares in 2002 to 8381 thousand hectares in 2009. In 2006-07, India overtook the USA to become the second largest cotton producing country in the world, after China. In 2006, India’s Bt cotton area (3.8 million hectares) exceeded for the first time, that of China’s 3.5 million hectares, the report mentions.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As a result of increased use of Bt cotton, exports of cotton increased from 0.05 million bales in 2001-02 to 3.5 million bales in 2008-09. Due to the boom in cotton production during the last eight years, India could become a net exporter in cotton.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Based on the literature survey of various individual studies, the report paints a rosy picture of how Bt cotton economically benefitted the farmers. The report, however, remains uncritical about the way Bt cotton adversely affected the farmers leading to suicides being committed, and loss of biodiversity. There are studies, which show that yields do not rise necessarily due to growing of Bt cotton. The quality of the cotton grown is poor in the case of Bt cotton. It provides little resistance to Pink bollworm. The economic advantage of growing Bt cotton is over-exaggerated. The present report tries to hide the fact how many of the seed companies are extracting huge royalties by selling the genetically modified seeds at higher prices to our farmers.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i><b>Further readings:</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bt Cotton in India: A Country Profile by Bhagirath Choudhary and Kadambini Gaur, July, 2010, http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/biotech_crop_profiles/bt_cotton_in_india-a_country_profile/download/Bt_Cotton_in_India-A_Country_Profile.pdf</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Background Note on Bt Cotton Cultivation in India, http://www.envfor.nic.in/divisions/csurv/geac/bgnote.pdf</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bt Cotton or Better Cotton? by Kunal Dutt, http://www.ccsindia.org/ccsindia/policy/glob/studies/wp0008.pdf</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bt cotton has failed admits Monsanto by DC Sharma, 6 March, 2010,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/86939/India/Bt+cotton+has+failed+admits</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bt Cotton is a Failure by Dr. Suman Sahai,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://www.genecampaign.org/Publication/Article/BT%20Cotton/BtCotton-is-failure.pdf</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The story of Bt. Cotton in Andhra Pradesh: Erratic Processes and Results (February, 2005), Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA), http://www.grain.org/research_files/Story_of_Bt_Cotton.pdf</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">An odd royalty calculus by Latha Jishnu, The Business Standard, 24 June, 2010, http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/latha-jishnu-an-odd-royalty-calculus/399194/</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cotton farmers opt for double-gene Bt technology by Harish Damodaran, The Hindu Business Line, 25 July, 2010, http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/07/26/stories/2010072651811300.htm</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Farmers earn more from organic cotton: Survey, The Hindu Business Line, 16 June, 2010, http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/06/17/stories/2010061751791700.htm</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bt cotton seed firms tell states to end price control by B Krishna Mohan, The Business Standard, 9 June, 2010, http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bt-cotton-seed-firms-tell-states-to-end-price-control/397519/</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bt cotton ineffective against pest in parts of Gujarat, admits Monsanto by Priscilla Jebaraj, The Hindu, 6 March, 2010, http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/06/stories/2010030664831400.htm</span></div>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-8793964099891622202010-07-14T16:25:00.006+05:302010-07-15T16:06:14.494+05:30Meet on National Food Security Bill<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdQodJmGdj35Fdtc8ZpIpBw0B_6JF-SwzfJ946pJ7zbrS7Xm3qAhDkg3-oyyg_VMDq9xsqN-oSk-msWSK8_VyG7rpdt1udB0kHoOTVrtdSAXVvRmRZFY1joWiwnjZDFuiMdJCWYFROPs/s1600/foodbill.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdQodJmGdj35Fdtc8ZpIpBw0B_6JF-SwzfJ946pJ7zbrS7Xm3qAhDkg3-oyyg_VMDq9xsqN-oSk-msWSK8_VyG7rpdt1udB0kHoOTVrtdSAXVvRmRZFY1joWiwnjZDFuiMdJCWYFROPs/s200/foodbill.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493715946261082706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsEv1wyZ1IQ5oETxwYBtswi3EM0LlTEJqPp0MrtH18ogXbZtWkq0qIKg_BVycg_d3Z-GsmejbLnqmHGqAosLaLou5pujct28sW7wva8tKSUT3xh0myML0TEG7KmDERMMLPi2YyQttXtE/s1600/foodbill.jpg"><br /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A timely consultation on Right to Food Bill </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">was held at Silver Oak I, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 13 July, 2010. The Food Security Meet was organized by Care India (</span><a href="http://www.careindia.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://www.careindia.org/</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">) and it witnessed huge participation from national and international NGOs, activists, academicians, government officials and researchers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The first speaker Ms. Annie Raja from National Federation of Indian Women spoke at length about the Draft National Food Security Bill </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(</span><a href="http://www.righttofoodindia.org/data/egom_draft_bill2010.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://www.righttofoodindia.org/data/egom_draft_bill2010.pdf</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and the flaws in it. She asked whether availability of rice and wheat via the public distribution system (PDS) is enough to ensure food security. She emphasized on the inclusion of nutrition security and access to safe and clean drinking water in the draft Right to Food Bill of the UPA II government. She informed that the empowered Group of Ministers (eGoM) did not consider nutrition security as the responsibility of the government under the Food Security Bill. Simply passing the Food Security Bill won’t ensure food security for all. The notion of food security has to be linked with livelihood security, she said. She questioned the exact definition of household under the National Rural Employment Guaranty Act (NREGA). She told that when Tsunami struck Tamil Nadu in 2004, it took a long while for the government to step forward. Many of the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dalit</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> families lost their habitats and livelihoods. But National Federation of Indian Women provided livelihoods to such households. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Under the new Food Security Bill, the allocation per household per month is reduced from 35 kg to 25 kg. If the new Bill becomes an Act, then the price of foodgrains for the below poverty line (BPL) households under the PDS in Kerala would go up from Rs. 1-2 per kg to Rs. 3 per kg. There is no single estimate of poverty in India, which can turn things more complex. Prof. Arjun Sengupta (</span><a href="http://www.nceus.gov.in/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">www.nceus.gov.in</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">) claimed that about 77% of Indian population was stuck below the average per capita expenditure of Rs. 20/- per day. The NC Saxena Committee (constituted by the Rural Development ministry) was asked to recommend criteria for identification of BPL families in rural India. It held the view that 50% of India should be brought under the ambit of the poverty line. The Suresh Tendulkar Committee report submitted in December 09 estimates poverty in India at over 37 per cent (2004-05) and not at 28 per cent as calculated earlier by the Planning Commission.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ms. Annie Raja pointed out that instead of a ‘garibi rekha’ (poverty line), there must be an ‘amiri rekha’. The creation of the ‘amiri rekha’ would help the government to stop exempting those companies and corporate houses who have earned a good fortune at the expense of poor due to the biased economic policies adopted by the government. There are problems associated with targeting, which include ‘inclusion’ and ‘exclusion’ errors. Universal PDS is the solution. The eGoM is contemplating on replacing the existing PDS with cash transfer and coupon system. But this will have a pervasive effect on the PDS and the people who access it. Land use policies and Special Export Zones (SEZs) policies need to be changed so as to ensure livelihood security and prevent unmindful land acquisition and displacement. Targeting of the PDS has affected the procurement and production of millets. Food security is a big issue. Inflation affects the food security status of the poor and the women. Nearly, 40 percent of Indian women are malnourished. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Shri Balaji Singh told that people go without food despite high food production. While quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he said that poor people see God in food. Access to food, education and health leads to social development. Adequate food and nutrition intake can lead to better labour productivity. Inflation affects poor the most. Some form of accountability measure must be included in the Food Security Bill for better implementation. Shri Balaji Singh mentioned about the ongoing debate surrounding targeting and universalization of the existing PDS. He criticised the current PDS since people are given food, which does not suit their culture and taste. Food must be made available to the people within 24-48 hours after a disaster strikes. There is no planned intervention on the part of the government to ensure food security in the disaster prone regions. The system requires better managerial capability in times of outbreak of disasters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Smt. Sarala Gopalan explained that as a civil servant she noticed that a programme is considered as good when it is effectively implemented by the government and received well by the public. There have been small-scale efforts made in various parts of Maharastra, including Pune, to ensure food security and to make people aware about the nutritional values of indigenous varieties of millets. She gave examples of various UNICEF-sponsored programmes that aimed at nutritional security of the local communities. She referred to the usefulness of village-level grain banks in states like Orissa and the empowering impact of micro-credit and co-operatives run by women. Food security is a managerial problem. In India, the cost of transportation is too high. When food aid arrives in ports, food distribution does not take place properly due to high cost involved in transportation. Many of the new schemes needs to be converged, Ms. Gopalan added. The present NREGA does not have provisions for constructing local godowns for food storage. Building local godowns will help people during the time of disaster. Access to safe and clean drinking water helps in metabolism and, hence, ensures food security. In China, there was a time when citizens were instructed to boil water before drinking. In rural Haryana, women and men suffer from indigestion due to dearth of vegetables as it is not grown. Consumption of vegetables helps in avoiding constipation. She gave a simple strategy to get clean water. Water when kept in a clean bottle under the sun for 2-3 hours is good for consumption since it is as clean as the water one gets from water purifiers. Managerial arrangements and expertise are required to solve the problem of food insecurity. India can gain from ‘demographic dividend’ if it implements its policies intelligently and youths are included in both policy formulation and implementation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Shri Ashok Bharti demanded that the definition of food security as defined by the President of India when UPA II came into power needs to be changed. The actual definition of food security is quite broad, Mr. Bharti informed. He asked for identifying those who are dying due to starvation and hunger. It has always been the case that </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tribals</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dalits</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> become victims of hunger and destitution. In Madhya Pradesh, a large part of the population is suffering due to malnutrition. Food security with dignity is must. People must get food with dignity. For this to happen, people should have livelihoods so as to access food. Advertisements on social welfare schemes are benefitting the media industry and the political leaders. The role of youths in ensuring food security has to be discussed. Lessons on food security can be learnt from various nations. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dr. Kamal Raj talked about empowering the women and better nutritional status of children.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Shri Anoop Kumar Srivastava (National Conference of Dalit Organizations, </span><a href="http://www.nacdor.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://www.nacdor.org/</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">) informed that despite Constitutional provisions, discrimination on the basis of caste, religion and region take place in India. The status of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tribal</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> communities and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dalits</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> is miserable in terms of food and nutrition security. Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) lag behind the general caste people in terms of literacy levels. Nearly, 36 percent of SCs and 46 percent of STs live below the poverty line. Almost 80-90 percent of the people who died due to starvation are </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dalits</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tribals</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. The Supreme Court issued an order for 8 different food related schemes in 2001 through which food security can be ensured. Mr. Srivastava also talked about various aspects of food security such as: availability, accessibility, adequacy, equality and quality. He informed that </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">aanganwadi</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> centres are located physically outside the reach of dalit families. Dalits do not get enough information about various food related schemes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Shri Anoop Kumar Srivastava made the following points regarding the ground level situation of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dalits</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ø</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dalits</span></span></i><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> are not aware about their rights<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ø</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Exclusion of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dalits</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> from identification of poverty<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ø</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Social, economic and political inequality<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ø</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Discrimination on the basis of gender and caste<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ø</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Denial of resources and land to poor<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ø</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Involvement of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dalits</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in the decision-making process is minimal<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ø</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Domination of upper-caste in the Gram Sabha<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ø</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Most of the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dalits</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> don’t have BPL cards though they are eligible<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ø</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ration card dealers keep the cards of the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dalits</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> with themselves<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ø</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ration shops are out of reach (location is far)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ø</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Information on opening up of shops not disseminated to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dalits</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ø</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In the MDMS, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dalit</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> children suffer from discrimination<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ø</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dalits</span></span></i><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> do not enjoy the pension schemes<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There are various measures of poverty in India: NC Saxena-50%; Planning Commission-27%; Tendulkar Committee-37.2%; Arjun Sengupta-77%. The new poverty line as measured by Suresh Tendulkar is Rs. 17 per day per person. But a person cannot live with dignity by earning Rs. 17 per day, said Mr. Srivastava. Offtake from PDS is quite low. If the current PDS is made universal and 35 kg of foodgrain is allocated to each household, then 33-40 percent of the foodgrains need to be bought by the government from the open market. Food Security Act should not be about PDS only. All the essential commodities must be supplied via the ration/ fair price shops like </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dal</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (pulses and legumes), cooking oil etc. The PDS should also cover disabled, homeless, single-women etc. The BPL list as prepared by the Ministry of Rural Development should not be used by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (</span><a href="http://fcamin.nic.in/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://fcamin.nic.in/</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">). The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution must have its own BPL list. Landlessness must be solved in rural India. Effective grievance redressal mechanism must be there in the National Food Security Bill.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Shri Kennedy Dhanabalan (EFICOR, </span><a href="http://www.eficor.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">www.eficor.org/</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">) talked about the socio-economic status of Malto—a primitive tribe of Jharkhand. He said that the literacy rate among this tribe is 14 percent and MMR is 8 percent. The Malto tribe has the worst records in human development. Malaria is quite rampant in the area, where the tribe lives. Their food absorption is affected because of unavailability of clean and safe drinking water. The Malto tribe does not have access to electricity & schools, and they suffer at the hands of the government officials, Dhanabalan added.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Smt. Saraswati Rao informed that women’s issues are often neglected by the policy-makers. Women cannot be excluded if one is talking about food security. All the capability-building activities target men and miss women. When it comes to talking about productivity, women are neglected. When it comes to talking about reproductive activities, women are solely targeted. Absorption of nutrition is also related to education level of women. Women are also neglected as farmers. Inter-generational malnutrition is a big challenge before India. We are good at drafting schemes but fail in implementing them. It is essential to improve the farming techniques of women to increase their productivity and income.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Shri Sanjib Hans talked about how poverty contributes to hunger and the poor access to PDS by various social groups. He asked for providing food security during the time of disaster outbreaks. He called for delinking the PDS from the BPL category. He said that access to food is a fundamental human right and demanded for inclusion of social auditing and public hearing in the draft National Food Security Bill. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dr. Ram Dayal Munda (Member, National Advisory Council, </span><a href="http://nac.nic.in/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://nac.nic.in</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">) said that the present Food Security Bill deals with survival level existence. He asked for paying more attention to children and rural women. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dr. MS Swaminathan (Member, National Advisory Council, </span><a href="http://nac.nic.in/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://nac.nic.in</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">), who was the main speaker, informed that food security is a multi-dimensional, multi-faceted theme. The present Bill when becomes an Act would provide entitlement. Accessing food with human dignity is essential. Poor are poor because of lack of assets and skills. The West Bengal Government in the 1970s and 1980s implemented land and tenancy reforms to enable the poor with assets. India has the largest number of poor and hungry people in the world. Presently, we are living in a knowledge based economy. Given the opportunities, we can make ordinary people extra-ordinary. With the advent of Right to Information Act, Right to Employment Act (NREGA), Right to Education, Indian democracy is moving towards a right-based approach to development, Swaminathan added. Agricultural production, procurement (as well as distribution) and preservation are important aspects of food security. Every 4</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> farmer in the world is an Indian. Indians are producers-consumers. In the US, 2 percent produces and 98 percent consume. Community kitchens and community grain banks are essential to ensure food security. Getting the priorities right is very important, when it comes to choosing a policy and getting programmes implemented. When we talk about a food security law, we have to think about food availability. India cannot rely on importing food grains to ensure food security when the new law is enacted. Food security law cannot rely on imports. In India, the producers of food grains (farmers/ peasants) are malnourished and their income levels are low. Mahila Kisan Shasaktikaran Yojana is a new scheme in which the government recognizes women as farmers. Child care crèches are important for working mothers and their babies. The works done under NREGA are meant for achieving water security. The government must give some form of recognition or award to group of NREGA workers every year. The real beneficiaries are those who received the Sixth Pay Commission and not the NREGA workers. Hence, constituting some form of recognition/ award for the NREGA workers is essential as they are doing back-breaking work. Dr. MS Swaminathan also commented on Seeds Bill and Genetically Modified Plants. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The suggestions pertaining to the draft National Food Security Bill made during the group consultations were presented to the NAC members who promised to bring them before the government.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938251400506255271.post-6410321616998638192010-06-01T15:01:00.002+05:302010-06-01T15:09:22.784+05:30Report ‘Koi Bhookha Na Soye’<div align="justify"></div><p align="justify">A workshop on Right to Food titled <em>‘Koi Bhookha Na Soye’ </em>was held at the Gandhi Peace Foundation on 14th and 15th of May, 2010. <br /><br />Following organisations acted as co-organisers:<br /> <br />Akhil Bharatiya Antyodya Sansthan; Antyodaya Chetana Mandal, Orissa; Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha; Bihar Lok Adhikar Manch, Patna (Bihar); Business Community Foundation; CECOEDECON; Centre for Human Responsibilities; Gandhi Peace Foundation; Global Gandhi Forum; Harit Swaraj; Help Age India; Him Niti Abhiyan-Himanchal Pradesh; Himalaya Niti Samwad-Uttarakhand; Himsamukt Bharat Campaign; Hind Khet Mazdoor Panchayat, Purnia (Bihar); Indian Committee of Youth Organization; Indo Global Social Service Society; Jeevan Maanglya Trust, Rajkot, (Gujrat); Koshish, Patna (Bihar); PAIRVI; Pragatisheel Samaj, Muraul (Bihar); Samajik Arthik Shikshan Evam Vikas Kendra, Paschim Champaran (Bihar); Samta Gram Sewa Sansthan, Patna (Bihar); SANSAD; South Asian Dialogues on Ecological Democracy (SADED); Socialist Front-Delhi; The Indian Council of Gandhian Studies, (Kerala); and Women Coalition Trust. <br /><br />During the first session, the coordinator of the workshop <strong><em>Shri Bhuvan Pathak</em></strong> informed that the meeting was convened at a short notice. A few days back, The Hindustan Times reported that 50 tribals died in Orissa due to chronic hunger (see: Chronic hunger kills 50 in Orissa district by Priya Ranjan Sahu,<br /><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/Chronic-hunger-kills-50-in-Orissa-district/Article1-512211.aspx">http://www.hindustantimes.com/Chronic-hunger-kills-50-in-Orissa-district/Article1-512211.aspx</a>). While the growth rate of the Indian economy has been touching 9-10 percent per annum, people are dying due to starvation and hunger. When Ram Manohar Lohia was alive and active during the 1960s, he heard of a person dying due to hunger in Delhi. The issue was raised in the Parliament. But nowadays sensitivity towards such issue is missing since this news of 50 people dying due to chronic hunger in Orissa wasn’t raised in the Parliament. In Uttarakhand, hunger is not at all considered as an issue. But prevalence of anemia is high among women in this state. Similarly, in Narendra Modi’s Gujarat, hunger and malnutrition are prevalent. But nobody cares about them. The marginalized communities are increasingly becoming victims of hunger and destitution. The Government of India’s methodology to count the number of deaths due to hunger is ridiculous. Even if a single grain is found in the stomach of a person during the postmortem, it will be declared by the Government that the person has not died due to hunger. These are pertinent issues that cannot be ignored. The Government must be held accountable for hunger related deaths.<br /><br /><em><strong>Swami Agnivesh</strong></em> (Bonded Labour Liberation Front, <a href="http://www.swamiagnivesh.com/aboutbmm.htm">http://www.swamiagnivesh.com/aboutbmm.htm</a>) gave the example of Bhagat Singh who taught us the true meaning of freedom. True freedom comes when people do not go to sleep without eating food. India is not free from hunger despite being independent since the last 60 years. On one hand, India is witnessing Forbes magazine (See: <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/18/india-100-richest-india-billionaires-09-wealth_land.html">http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/18/india-100-richest-india-billionaires-09-wealth_land.html</a>) reporting on the rise in the number of billionaires of Indian origin. On the other hand, despite high level of food production, hunger related deaths are happening. Nearly, Rs. 58,000 value of foodgrains gets rotten annually. Every second child in India is malnourished. Swami Agnivesh shared his experience of Dantewada, Chattisgarh where he found that despite the below poverty line (BPL) households receiving rice and wheat at Rs 1/ kg from the State Government of Raman Singh, Maoism is getting stronger. Every day 7,000 children die in India due to hunger and malnutrition. The media seldom reports on hunger and poverty. Swami ji quoted Dom Hélder Pessoa Câmara, at one time the Bishop of the Brazilian city of Recife, who used to say: “When I give bread to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” Foodgrains produced is increasingly being siphoned off to feed pigs or manufacture biofuels. If labourers get the right wages, most of the problems will be solved. There is need to understand the neo-liberal agenda that is responsible for making the people poor. People are now more interested to know about Mukesh and Anil Ambani. Bureaucrats are not interested in fighting for the right to food as they are well paid and they have high purchasing power.<br /><br /><strong><em>Prof. DM Diwakar </em></strong>(Director, AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies, <a href="http://www.ansiss.org/AdminSupportStaff.aspx">http://www.ansiss.org/AdminSupportStaff.aspx</a>) said that the question of hunger comes from a deeper concern. There is a need to look at the macro picture. The Global Hunger Index is a composite index based on three variables: 1. the proportion of population that does not consume an adequate level of calories; 2. the proportion of underweight children under five years of age; and 3. the mortality rate among children under five years of age, expressed as the percentage of children born alive who die before they reach the age of five. In the Global Hunger Index (2008), India ranks 66th among the 88 countries surveyed by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). It comes below Sudan, Nigeria and Cameroon, and slightly above Bangladesh. The ranks of the different states in relation to the GHI range from 34th for the state of Punjab (whose Indian State Hunger Index-ISHI score places it between Nicaragua and Ghana) to 82nd for Madhya Pradesh (whose ISHI score places it between Chad and Ethiopia). Ten of the 17 states have an ISHI rank that is above India’s (66th)—these states are relative outperformers (at least relative to the Indian average). Even the best-performing state in India, however—Punjab—ranks below such countries as Gabon, Honduras, and Vietnam. <br /><br />Prof. Diwakar informed that more production does not mean end to hunger. There is need for proper distribution as well as purchasing power. The technology of production must be appropriate. Since majority of the population is comprised of small and marginal farmers, the purchasing power needs to be enhanced. There are schemes existing in India for distribution such as the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), Public Distribution System (PDS) etc. Inefficiency and corruption are rampant in such government schemes. Right to food is a basic human right of all the Indians. In India, producers of food i.e. farmers are committing suicides. Cultivation is no longer a profitable venture. The entire planning process has failed. The farmers can no longer rely upon the Government. One can question Indian democracy for failing its farmers and citizens. There are contradictions in poverty estimation. Prof. Arjun Sengupta (<a href="http://www.nceus.gov.in/">www.nceus.gov.in</a>) claimed that about 77% of Indian population was stuck below the average per capita expenditure of Rs. 20/- per day. The NC Saxena Committee (constituted by the Rural Development ministry) was asked to recommend criteria for identification of BPL families in rural India. It held the view that 50% of India should be brought under the ambit of the poverty line. As per the revised estimates by the World Bank, the percentage of people living below the $1.25 a day decreased from 60 percent in 1981 to 42 percent in 2005. The Suresh Tendulkar Committee report submitted in December 09 estimates poverty in India at over 37 per cent (2004-05) and not at 28 per cent as calculated earlier. The natural resource base is shrinking. The availability of common property resources (CPRs) has gone down, which is adversely affecting the livelihood of rural people. Surplus land available with India has reduced from 6 crore acre (as reported by the Mahalanobis Committee) to 79 lakh acres without proper redistribution. Although the Green Revolution funded by Rockefeller Foundation helped India to become self-sufficient, India later faced lot of diplomatic pressures from the United States. Hence food sovereignty is must for India. <br /><br /><em><strong>Prof. Ritu Priya </strong></em>(Centre for Social Medicine and Community Health, <a href="http://www.jnu.ac.in/">www.jnu.ac.in</a>) said that malnutrition is a social problem which has a social dimension. Almost half the Indian children are malnourished as reported by the National Family Health Survey-III. But in reality this could be close to 90 percent. Indian children are becoming victims of stunted growth. It is not the case that only women are anaemic. Almost 40 percent of the males in India are anemic. People who eat less (for coping with hunger) i.e. say one meal per day are never counted as hungry. It is difficult to enumerate hunger. Inflation has caused poor people to switch over to less quantity of food. If a proper survey is done taking into account the coping up strategies undertaken by people, then the prevalence of malnutrition in India may go up to 60 percent. In Chattisgarh, prevalence of hunger is rising. The Food Security Bill proposed by empowered Group of Ministers (eGoM) has reduced the allocation of food grains under the Public Distribution System (PDS) from 35 kg per household per month to 25 kg per household per month. The eGoM does not seem to be serious about the food security concerns. The economic policies adopted and implemented by the Government are anti-people and anti-poor in nature. The system of the Government should not be discarded as it is widespread. But it should be reformed. The Aanganwadi scheme has collapsed. The social service schemes of the Government are inefficient. The government takes too much time to declare districts as drought affected, which affects the villagers. The middle-class is not bothered by food security concerns.<br /><br /><strong><em>Dr. Dipa Sinha </em></strong>(Right to Food Campaign, <a href="http://www.righttofoodindia.org/">http://www.righttofoodindia.org/</a>) informed about the ‘Roji-Roti Adhikar Abhiyan’ that has been in existence since the last 8-9 years. She informed that in May 2001, the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), filed a public interest litigation (PIL) with the Indian Supreme Court, arguing that several federal institutions and local state governments should, inter alia, be responsible for mass malnutrition among the people living in the states concerned. On 28 November 2001, the Supreme Court passed an interim order that provides for the conversion of eight food security schemes into entitlements (rights) of the poor. These include the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, the National Old-Age Pension Scheme, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme, the National Mid-day Meals Programme (NMMP), the Annapurna scheme and several employment schemes providing food for work. Of the eight schemes, the most significant is the order directing all state governments to provide cooked mid-day meals in all government schools by January 2002. A closer look however reveals the blatant flouting of the Supreme Court Order. Although the Supreme Court has asked for universalization of the ICDS and the Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), the state governments have not taken enough steps despite the Central Government allocating funds for such schemes. Matters have made progress only on papers.<br /><br />Dr. Dipa Sinha informed that the Congress Party before the Parliamentary elections held in 2009 promised to provide 25 kg of rice/ wheat per household per month under the Right to Food. The concept of food security should include: production and distribution. Nearly, 80 percent of the cultivators are small and marginal farmers. Farming should be made profitable. Procurement is presently done from states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and a few Southern states. But procurement must be made universal and local food grains like millets must be procured. There is enough foodgrain production happening for the universalisation of the Public Distribution System (PDS). Universal PDS is better than the targeted PDS. The targeted PDS is subject to inclusion and exclusion errors. Displacement due to land acquisition and mad rush for industrialization must be stopped. Apart from foodgrains, legumes/ pulses and cooking oil must be supplied in the ration shops. Crèche facilities must be made available for the children of working women. Maternity entitlements must given. Pensions for the aged should be arranged. There should be additional food entitlement for people affected by disasters. Media is more interested in targeting of the PDS, which needs to be checked. <br /><br /><em><strong>Ms. Kiran Shaheen </strong></em>(Media Action Group) wanted to know whether it is a criminal offence when somebody dies due to hunger. The judicial system has a role to play in deciding whether to consider hunger related deaths as criminal offence. Even if post mortem is done, something or the other will be found in the stomach of the deceased. So nobody will be found to have died of hunger as per the law. <br /><br />During the second day of the workshop, <strong><em>Mr. PM Tripathy </em></strong>(President, AVARD) shared his experience of working with the Asian Development Forum. Among the rural people, he found, food security has been the first priority across the Asian countries. Gandhi ji placed a lot of hope on Gram Panchayats. According to Gandhi ji, the Gram Panchayats at the village level should work for the provision of food security, clothes, safe drinking water etc. Food availability per capita has been going down over the years. There are various terms like: food security, food self-sufficiency, food sovereignty that have emerged over time. Villages in India should be made food secured. Women should be in charge of food security. Micro-level planning is needed. Food storage needs to be decentralized.<br /><br /><em><strong>Shri Harsh Mander </strong></em>shared his experience as a Special Commissioner to the Supreme Court on the Right to Food (<a href="http://www.sccommissioners.org/">http://www.sccommissioners.org/</a>). He illustrated before the audience the pain and agony faced by the poor women heading single families. These women ask their children to start practicing going to sleep without taking food so as to cope with hunger. Children born in female-headed households are found to eat half-digested foodgrains present in cow dungs, and leftover foodgrains spread over the crop fields. Fermented starch is given to children so that they don’t demand for food. Grass and herbs having no nutritional value are also consumed by the poor people. Four out of ten Indians are found in the Forbes’ list of top 10 rich billionaires. Yet level of hunger and malnutrition is so high in India. There lies the contradiction. Growth in agricultural production has gone down during the 1990s but it is still higher than the growth rate of population. Half the population of Indian children is malnourished. There is need for food laws to be enacted. Food security of the single mothers and the urban poor need to be ensured. Soup kitchens or langars can be made for the urban poor and the homeless. Improvement in agricultural technology is important for food security apart from distribution. People are dying at an early age due to hunger and malnutrition. Shri Harsh Mander mentioned about the Caring Citizen Initiative that is working for the poor and hungry in Andhra Pradesh. He explained the role played by Lula da Silva, President of Brazil in implementing the Zero Hunger Project. Shri Harsh Mander also spoke about the noted South African photographer Kevin Carter who took a photograph in which a vulture was waiting for a child (in Sudan) to die so it can eat it. This picture which got published in the New York Times shocked the entire world. No one knows what happened to the child not even the photographer who left the place as soon as the photograph was taken. Three months later he committed suicide due to depression (see: The Life and Death of Kevin Carter by Scott MacLeod, <a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,981431,00.html">http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,981431,00.html</a>).<br />.<br /><strong><em></em></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong><em>Ms. Amita </em></strong>said that agrarian crisis has to be dealt first before ensuring food security. Quoting P Sainath, rural reporter from The Hindu, she said that nearly 8 million farmers have left farming. Around 2 lakh farmers have committed suicides between 1997 and 2007 (Nearly 2 lakh farm suicides since 1997 by P Sainath, <a href="http://www.indiatogether.org/2010/jan/psa-suicides.htm">http://www.indiatogether.org/2010/jan/psa-suicides.htm</a>). The middle-class is more interested in the Indian Premier League (IPL) rather than the below poverty line (BPL). The Agriculture Minister Shri Sharad Pawar is interested more in cricket rather than food production. The ground water table is going down in Gandhi ji’s own Gujarat. <br /><br /><em><strong>Prof. DL Sheth </strong></em>(Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, <a href="http://www.csds.in/">www.csds.in</a>) said that under the new paradigm of thinking, the poor are often blamed for their own poverty. To do something for the poor comes with a feeling of hate. Hunger is a policy issue. India has moved away from the days of PL-480 to the days of self-sufficiency. There is need for change in the consciousness level. No longer can one think of ending hunger by changing the production relations. In the past, hunger deaths took place at Kalahandi, Orissa where agricultural production has been good. The co-operative sector is under attack from neo-liberal globalization. <br /><br /><strong><em>Prof. VB Singh </em></strong>(Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, <a href="http://www.csds.in/">www.csds.in</a>) said that hunger related deaths are not happening due to lack of resources. There is lack of accountability in schemes such as NREGA (<a href="http://www.nrega.nic.in/netnrega/home.aspx">http://www.nrega.nic.in/netnrega/home.aspx</a>) and Antodaya Anna Yojana. He demanded that a part of the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Fund (MPLAD- <a href="http://www.mplads.nic.in/">http://www.mplads.nic.in/</a>) or Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development Fund (MLALAD) should be allocated for ensuring that nobody goes to sleep hungry.<br /><br />During the session on media, <em><strong>Shri Shrawan Kumar Garg </strong></em>(Group Editor, Dainik Bhaskar) said that a lot of time is wasted by the media on useless debates on reservation on the basis of caste or religion. But not much time or space is given on how hunger can be mitigated. The term development often means school buildings, education and roads. It does not include important things such as food security, water and agriculture. <br /><br /><strong><em>Shri Ram Sharan Joshi </em></strong>(Senior Journalist) asked us to differentiate between hunger and malnutrition. He informed that despite 55 million tonnes of food grains available as buffer stock, starvation deaths were reported in the early 2000s. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government was not keen to send the emergency food supply to hunger affected regions as it feared this could distort the prices. That is why we find today that when there is excess production, foodgrains are either dumped in sea or burnt to ashes. When NDA was in power, it said that people died due to malnutrition and not hunger. Before that when NDA was in opposition, it claimed that people died due to hunger and not malnutrition. The question is why 1.2 billion people in the world are still poor. One must ask why 2 lakh Indian farmers have committed suicides between 1997 and 2007. The media has not been sensitive and responsible towards rural issues. NGOs, civil society organizations and political parties can work out to sensitize the media at the local level. The Constitution of India can help us in preventing hunger related deaths. If rural India is not taken care of, globalization will fail. This is because rural India is an untapped, potential market. Social and political empowerment is needed. Pamphlets on right to food, education, heath etc. should be distributed among grassroots reporters and social workers. <br /><br /><em><strong>Shri Dev Dutt </strong></em>(Senior Journalist) said that the Fourth Estate has disappeared. The advertisement managers decide how much space has to be allocated for news. Media cannot be sensitized because it has become too much professional. It is no more a Fourth Estate. Earlier, India used to be poor. Poverty can be linked to politics but hunger cannot be linked to politics. Thinking about training media persons would be a futile exercise.<br /><br /><strong><em>Shri Chandan Srivastawa </em></strong>(Inclusive Media for Change, <a href="http://www.im4change.org/">www.im4change.org</a>) informed that when it comes to mainstream commercial media then one may say that news is a product, reader is the consumer and media is the industry. In order to raise revenue, the media relies on advertisement. Media reaches out to those who have the purchasing power. However, a responsible media person or reporter should make his news creatively taking into account the demand of his readers. S/he should try to bring out his work either as report or feature or may be as an interview. The media would be responsible to consider somebody’s work as a product/ commodity. It is difficult to understand a reader’s mind whether a story will be liked or not. Yet there should be no end to one’s endeavour. He asked for linking the wages of workers employed in the unorganized sector to the consumer price index so that they don’t suffer the brunt of inflation.<br /><br /><em><strong>Shri Shambhu Ghatak </strong></em>(Inclusive Media for Change, <a href="http://www.im4change.org/">www.im4change.org</a>) said that higher purchasing power do not necessarily lead to better nutritional outcomes. This is because lack of safe drinking water may affect body’s metabolism. Gender discrimination affects the distribution of food within the household. Expensive food doesn’t always mean nutritious food. Obesity is fast emerging as a major health problem in the United States as well as in India. The PDS needs to be reformed as it is plagued by corruption and inefficiency. Organic and natural farming should replace green revolution technology. One should not confine himself only to calorie-based definition of food security. Micro-nutrient deficiency needs to be looked at and addressed properly. There is need to move towards balanced diet. Right to Information Act and the media can play crucial roles in ensuring transparency. <br /><br /><strong><em>Shri Kishan Kaljayi </em></strong>said that it is difficult for media to address issues like hunger and malnutrition because media is used to serve glamour and advertisement industry. There has been an attempt to end creative thinking in Hindi newsprint. There exists wage disparity within the newspaper industry.<br /><br /><em><strong>Shri Satish Pednekar </strong></em>informed that rural news do not create sensation. <br /><br />The resource persons from various states who represented various civil society organizations and NGOs made the following points:<br /><br /><em><strong>Rajasthan: </strong></em>Aanganwadi centres remain close for days. There is high level of corruption in ICDS.<br /><br /><em><strong>Orissa: </strong></em>Industrialization and land acquisition are adversely affecting the livelihoods of rural farmers and agricultural production. Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) between the Government and the corporates are leading to eviction of poor people away from their land.<br /><br /><em><strong>Delhi: </strong></em>There is no official account of how many persons died due to hunger and starvation. People in slums who are going to be evicted are living in danger. Infrastructure facilities in resettlement colonies are poor. The state of PDS is dismal. There is high level of corruption in issuing of ration cards and commodities.<br /><br /><em><strong>Madhya Pradesh:</strong></em> Industrial policies adopted for Bundelkhand and Bagelkhand regions are adversely affecting agriculture. Fertile land has been given to industries.<br /><br /><em><strong>Gujarat: </strong></em>The common property resource base is shrinking thus affecting the society at large. Land reforms should be given the priority so as to ensure food security.<br /><br /><em><strong>Bihar: </strong></em>Food available in the nature earlier is no more available at present. The state of hunger is on the rise. There must be local level facilities for foodgrain storage such as grain banks. Religious bodies can play a crucial role in ensuring food security.<br /><br /><em><strong>Manipur:</strong></em> Low irrigation facility is affecting agriculture. Due to recent political problems, prices of food grains, sugar and LPG cylinders have gone up. <br /><br />A resolution was passed during the <em>Koi Bhookha Na Soye </em>workshop on 15th May, 2010 condemning the brutal repression on peacefully agitating men, women and children of POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti at district Jagatsinghpur, Orissa. The villagers were sitting in a dharna in Balitutha of Jagatsinghpur district protesting against forcible acquisition of their agricultural land by the Government of Orissa for handing it over to Korean company POSCO for constructing a steel factory. More than 1000 armed police lathi charged and fired on the people injuring 100 people and also burnt their tents and around 100 shops nearby. The resolution demanded for cancellation of MoU with POSCO (see: 100 injured in police action at Posco-India project site by Prafulla Das, The Hindu, 16 May, 2010,<br /><a href="http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/16/stories/2010051657321200.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/16/stories/2010051657321200.htm</a>) <br /> </p><p align="justify"><em>(Prepared by Shambhu Ghatak and Chandan Srivastawa)</em></p>shambhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07750189661201883521noreply@blogger.com