Census points to dwindling animal population.

Look at the trend from the animal statistics of Madurai district. As per the 19th livestock census of 2012, the total white cattle population of Madurai district stood at 2,20,073 whereas the figure was 3,48,514 as reported in 18th census undertaken in 2007. The census indicates a very sharp decline in the population of major animals such as white cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and dogs. A development which is sad and worrying. (Hindu , November 14, 2013) ++++++++++++++++++

C.B.I

The former CBI Director , R.K.Raghavan has suggested that separate legislation be enacted for the constitution of the CBI to nullify the effect of the Gauhati High Court's judgment that quashed the resolution, by which the investigating agency was created in 1963. Nearly forty years later its creation itself was revisited, commented and quashed for want of proper authority's sanction. One should thank the High Court for having revealed a truth about the functioning of government of India in this regard. Better be late than never. Professional autonomy and accountability with a provision for immediate and independent supervision on its functioning will be a better option I think. +++++++++++++

Dissimilar treatment to similar cases?

It is an irony that India is unable to create and maintain uniform standards and impartial implementation of schemes and legislations. We act as per the need of a contingency and not stick to a similar treatment of a subject or an event. Hell with our culture in this regard. How do you explain the differential treatment otherwise? Nirbhaya's brutal gang rape on December 16 exactly a year ago led to an upsurge that jolted the country. But there were others too who suffered abuse on that fateful night. Their cases never attracted attention and their prospects of getting justice appear extremely bleak. Even the vigilant media failed in their work, it seems. Indian democracy has to grow and show maturity in its working and ensure equality before law.

Child marriage stopped in Ramnad District of Tamil Nadu.

A 15-year-old child bride was rescued and saved from marriage to a 35 rear-old maternal uncle at Thalakavur in the district on November 14, 2013 (Children’s Day), thanks to the efforts of R.Sakunthala, Chairperson Child Welfare Committee and K.Balamurugan, District Childline Coordinator. The CWC also rescued a 14 year-old girl who eloped with a `17 year-old boy and when the leaders of gypsy community were arranging their marriage. I am very glad to know this development especially because I had a personal experience of preventing some 450 child marriages with the active support of UNICEF in the North-Western part of Madhya Pradesh as the Commissioner of Women and Child during 1992-93. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Mafia within coal ministry

Former coal secretary P.C.Parakh, now booked by CBI in the coal gate scam, was locked in a bitter feud with his minister Shibu Soren in 2005, during which the IAS officer stated that the coal mafia was actually working within the coal ministry. Both the minister and the secretary had written letters to the prime minister indicating the tension and conflict between them over allocation and auction of blocks as well as postings in Coal India Ltd. This is a normal condition prevalent in almost all ministries where the minister and the secretary have difference of opinion on matters of importance in the office. It is difficult for an impartial officer to work with a politician with different motives. It requires lot of guts and conscience on the part of P.M in Delhi and C.Ms in state capitals to protect and enable the civil servants deliver results in government work without fear or favour. Let us hope for the better in the days to come. +++++++++++++++++++++

Pitiable life

Timmapuram Village, Villupuram District. Husband: P.Kuppusamy (75 year-old) a farmhand Wife: K.Patchaiammal (70 year-old) Both husband and wife though living together were not in talking terms for more than a decade while their five sons and one daughter got married and settled in different places. They used to quarrel frequently over petty issues. According the husband the wife had stopped serving him food and giving money received from their sons. She started ignoring him after he stopped working about a decade ago due to advancing age. On the Navaratri day, when she again ignored him and performed the puja, he became furious and slit her throat with a knife in the night leading to her death instantly. Lessons to others: A precious human life was severed and lost due to the misunderstanding between the old couple for nothing. Life is to be lived and enjoyed happily under the given circumstances. Legal separation or a proper sharing of maintenance by the children could have ensured a peaceful life for the both. (T.O.I October 16, 2013) ++++++++++++++++++++

Keeping politicians at bay

Under the above caption Pinky Anand, a senior Advocate writes as follows: The bureaucracy can never be immune to political interference as long as bureaucrats are willing to twist and bend before politicians to get the postings of their choice. The Supreme Court has replaced the increasingly erratic and unresponsive executive power with the role of the judiciary. If civil servants begin to believe that even years after retiring they can be criminally prosecuted for a mistake made in good faith or for a bonafide decision taken on the basis of the data that was available, there will be serious repercussions on the morale of the serving officers. The three to five years of security of tenure in key assignments enjoyed by conferred IAS officers is absolute - an almost sure-shot recipe for dishonesty and lack of integrity. The danger of a country that is ruled by the judiciary is bested only by that which is ruled by the bureaucracy - voters cannot end their tenure in office every five years! (Hindu November 26, 2013) I fully agree with his observations. ++++++++++++++++++++

A question of accountability

"While it is apparent that due process has been subverted to the advantage of a few by the political executive, it is equally true that there has been some politicisation of the civil service. Even in U.K the joint-decision making process is in place which makes the minister in charge solely responsible for the actions. The vertical hierarchy of notes and orders prevalent in India shifts responsibility in a manner that makes accountability difficult -- it is time to change." (S. Narayan Hindu, November 15, 2013) +++++++++++++ Unfortunate that IAS has become a bamboo frame though it is expected to be a steel frame. It is very difficult to change the morale and awaken the conscience of this service to serve as models of excellence in the community and the country. If hundred IAS and IPS officers can vow to work according to their conscience and constitution of India, things would change and India would develop within a decade. Otherwise these all India service are in no way better than state civil services for these political heads. ==================================

Interesting Debate.

"CBI does not want to be outside govt. purview" The CBI seeks only operational autonomy. It wants its Director to enjoy the status of a Secretary to the govt. and take approvals and orders directly from the minister and not from Secretary to D.O.P.T. Police too trying to be another babu in the present system!

Mobility on the roads

After reviewing various policies across the world, the report of UN-HABiTAT with a special focus on planning for sustainable urban mobility has rightly concluded that unless transport projects and urban planning are integrated, congestion on roads , inefficient use of infrastructure in sprawling cities would persist in India. The working group on urban transport for the XII Five Year Plan has cautioned that in another two decades the average journey speed of vehicles on the major city roads would come down drastically from 8 to 6 km an hour. (Hindu editorial November 30, 2013)

Johnson &Johnson pleads guilty to fraud.

Johnson &Johnson pleaded guilty to fraud in a case brought by the U.S government (U.S Department of Justice along with the Food and Drug Administration) and agreed to pay US dollar 2.2 billion in settlement. The company and its subsidiaries were accused of promoting psychiatric medications for unapproved uses and bribing doctors to prescribes those medications frequently. It was a health care fraud on an unprecedented scale. Who is not at fault? Multi-national company like Johnson & Johnson lost its morality and prepared itself to make money at the cost of human lives. It is a terrible thing to happen in the market at present juncture. Such inhuman approach and practice resorted to by them should result in the imprisonment of all those executives without fail. God knows who is to teach morals and human rights to whom. (Hindu Wednesday, November 6, 2013 )

Naxal movement in Chhattisgarh

Answers given to an interview on the above subject conducted by Jostein Jakobsen, a research student from the University of Oslo, Norway. ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Q) Can you start by telling me something about your personal background and professional career? A) I belong to 1971 Batch of IAS. I have published a book containing a collection of poems "Travails and Thrills of Third World Nations" dealing with several subjects throwing light on personal background and professional career too. I shall send a copy soon. After reading it you may forward the copy to the Professor of English literature in the University. In 1960s and 1970s very talented youths from arts background used to join All India Services with most of them having personal and professional goals to serve the community. I was one of those officials with utmost devotion and dedication even at the cost of family interest and welfare. I was highly influenced by the life and teaching of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of indian nation. My hero and the role model in IAS was of course one Sir Thomas Monroe, a British officer who rose from the ranks in the army of East India Company, became the administrator in North Tamil Nadu, got appointed as the Governor of Madras Presidency and who devoted his life for the welfare of South Indians till his death at the cost of his family life. My background both in the family and profession was mostly similar to that of this hero. Q) What sort of experience have you had with the Naxalite insurgency through your work in the IAS? A) I happened to know and understand the activities of Naxalites for the first time in 1993-94 when I was the Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh State Mining Development Corporation and working from Bhopal, the state capital. We had bauxite mines in Keshkal area of Bastar (composite) district. Annoyed with the operation of mines the Naxalites burnt down our machineries and stopped the work while the assistant Manager, a local official in charge of those mines ran away from the camp and the district. I had a tough time in cajoling him and take him to the site with me for inspection. I saw for the first time the damage done by them and restored the work of mining by changing the officer and engaging in a dialogue with the Naxalites through other officials. Although I was keen to meet them, roam around for a while and discuss the matter in the forest area during 1993, my officers developed cold feet and refused to take me to their forest hideout till I left the post. Q) What accounts in your view for the growth of Naxalism in Bastar over the last 30 years? A) Despite the enormous sums of money spent every year for the welfare of tribals in Bastar region for more than three decades by the state government of Madhya Pradesh through its officials the economic condition of these tribals did not improve to the extent planned and promised. In fact the subordinate officials of revenue, forest and police departments at the local and interior places failed to work honestly and sympathetically towards these tribals. When naxalism was expanding beyond West Bengal after the land reforms and spreading to neighbouring states like Bihar, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh ( including the present Chhattisgarh) was not far off . Rather it provided a safe hideout in the sprawling forest of Bastar region for the Naxalites. Many people like me in government hierarchy were sure that Chhattisgarh would soon be a fertile ground for their activities which actually turned out to be true in the last decade. Under the dense forest cover the helpless and gullible tribal youths had no other option except to assist the Naxalites. Q) How to understand the way the former Madhya Pradesh government approached the Naxalites in Bastar? A) For Madhya Pradesh government the naxalism movement in a far off Bastar region was not a programme on priority at the initial stages. Q) In what ways did the conflict change after the establishment of Chhattisgarh state? A) After the formation of Chhattisgarh, the Naxalite activity increased many-fold and received more focus from Chhattisgarh Government mostly due to escalation in violence and terrorism unleashed by them from time to time. So much so that senior officials from the state government of Chhattisgarh stopped touring the interior pockets of Bastar Division after November, 2000. It so happened that I was in charge of mineral resources department as the Principal Secretary to Chhattisgarh Government from June, 2001. I was again keen to see a particular corundum mine near Bijapur town, the Headquarters of a newly-created district. That particular mine was almost vandalised by the Naxalites and the lease-holder of the mine was unable to start the mining operation. I visited the area much against the will of my subordinates and saw the mine being dug up haphazardly. Luckily or unluckily I didn't confront them although they were camping very close-by. That was the last visit of a Secretary-level officer from the Government of Chhattisgarh in 2002 to any naxal-infested territory without any police protection. Nobody dared a visit thereafter for the spot inspection of interior places by any senior official from Raipur. The same mine operated by the Madhya Pradesh State Mining Corporation was inspected by me in 1994 as the M.D of the Corporation eight years ago. Q) How to understand the Chhattisgarh government’s response to the Naxalite insurgency? A) A serious attempt was no doubt made by Raman Singh, the chief minister of B.J.P Government after 2004 but was not found fruitful due to half-hearted measures and unsystematic approach. Q) What has been the significance of different forms of administration, state structure etc. in comparing Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh approach to Maoists? Have you seen any differences between Congress rule and BJP rule in such regard? A) There were only sporadic clashes and no major direct confrontations with the state authorities before BJP government took over administration in Chhattisgarh. Congress rule didn't have a major confrontation with the Naxalites. It is only the BJP government that is more accountable for such an escalation of violence in the region. Q) What has been the role of the police in curbing Naxalism in Bastar? Here it would be interesting to know how the police force was operating, organised, etc during the 1990s and later. What tactics and strategies did the police establish in order to combat Naxalites? A) The police has been on the defensive mostly so far. They themselves are an easy pray/ target for the Naxalites. The land-mines planted all over become an obstacle for the police to move freely in the forest. Naxalites are running a parallel government in Bastar area. The paramilitary force is not a big and all-powerful enemy for the Naxalites. They easily indulge in attacks on them as and when they find it convenient to do so. Gradually they are proving to be a superior force in the field. The tactics and strategies adopted by the police have not been very fruitful so far. Even the posting for an year of one Mr.K.P.S .Gill the former DGP of Punjab State Police, who earlier controlled terrorism there, to manage the affairs in Bastar failed to make an impact. Q) In Andhra Pradesh the police established efficient forms of intelligence gathering, informer networks etc – have such things happened in Chhattisgarh as well? A) Tried but not as successful as it was in Andhra Pradesh. Probably Bastar is too big and a compact area in forest for the police to manage and control. C.G police is no match to A.P force in regard to intelligence gathering. Q) What has been the role, then, of central paramilitaries here? When did they first become deployed in Bastar? Cooperation with local police, etc. A) Central Government has been very helpful in several ways. They had deployed maximum force for assisting C.G Police since 2008. They had released enough funds for acquisition of modern weapons and provision of advanced training in combat operations But the local police failed to utilise the force to its advantage. Proper coordination is also lacking. Q) Have you observed differences of opinion within the state with regard to how to approach the Maoists? A) Yes there is a difference of opinion among the political groups over the government approach to tackle the issue. Q) How have state policies of tribal development contributed to the topic at hand? A) already covered above. Q) How did Naxalites establish themselves in Bastar from the early 1980s and onward? A) They increased their strength year after year and established their Hdqrs in Bastar in due course. Since 1980 as many as 12000 civilians and about 3000 paramilitary and police personnel have been targeted and killed by Naxalites. During the same period about 5000 Naxalites too have lost their lives in the hands of police and other uniformed forces. The year 2010 has been very devastating because about 720 people have been killed that year alone in states such as M.P, A.P, C.G, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha U.P and West Bengal. Q) What issues and problems did Naxalites involve themselves in to gain support among tribals? A) General exploitation by the official machinery is the common issue projected by the Naxalites to gain sympathy and support of the tribals. After a while the Naxalites turned out to be the inevitable god fathers whom the tribals can't afford to antagonise. An informer is always identified and tortured so much that nobody gains courage to expose them to the police. Q) I have read that Naxalites attempted some forms of mass mobilization through various front organizations during the 80s and 90s. What do you know about this? What was the response of the government to these organizations? A) Mass mobilisation gained currency as time passed by with more educated youth joining the movement and the local youths willingly joining them over a period of time. I am not familiar with the name and history of front organisations operating in the area at the moment. Q) What aspects of adivasi society and development in Bastar must be taken into account to understand how it became possible for Naxalites to establish themselves in that area? A) already covered above. Q) Have you observed changes to the support or lack of support among tribals over time? Also: would some tribal groups have been more supportive of Naxalites than others? Or some segments of tribal society? A) Gradually a major section of tribal youths has joined Naxalite movement due to consistent persuasion and brain-washing. It is very difficult to totally wean them away from their influence and clutches in the short run. Q) Do you know how Naxalites have been organized in Chhattisgarh and how such organization has changed over time? I am thinking of their hierarchies, party structure, squads etc. A) As already pointed out above they are running a parallel government with departments like finance & budget, security, intelligence, media wing etc. They have a highly-structured hierarchy with territories allotted to their rank and file with annual targets. Q) Do you know whether their organization in the state changed as the People’s War joined with MCC to become CPI (Maoist)? A) Yes it appears so. Q) And also: what about the in the state and changes over time? A) Already answered. Naxalite leadership has grown in style and strength and their role and responsibility have been defined and distributed for implementation. They however try to dictate and make the local population behave in a particular fashion on several occasions. Q) What sort of violent activities have Naxalites carried out in Bastar since the early 1990s? A) They terrorise the public from time to time to maintain their supremacy in that area. They attack the paramilitary force as and when they find them in a vulnerable position by laying land mines on their route and explode their vehicles killing in large numbers. The latest killing of Mahendra Karma, the Congress leader who was instrumental in establishing Salwa Judum and putting tribal families in camps for their survival and also the shooting of Nand Kumar Patel, the state-level President of Congress party, his son and another veteran Congress leader VidyaCharan Shukla was with a purpose. Q) Do you have any comments about the role of natural resources in this conflict in Chhattisgarh? For example, here comes the question of the significance of mining. A) Mining displaces tribals in a big way. No rehabilitation programme is successfully and satisfactorily implemented with the result the tribals have no option except to side with the Naxalites. In a way the Naxalites do extract protection money from mining contractors too without fail. Q) How would you comment on the controversial Salwa Judum and Special Police Officers? A) This experiment has failed to change the situation. In fact the Supreme Court of India has declared it unconstitutional and ordered for its abolition. Under the name of Salwa Judum some persons - both officials and non-officials have pocked large sums of money. Q) What do you think about alleged relations between Naxalites and political parties in Bastar? A) May be the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has sympathy and connection with Naxalites and other parties or their workers keep the Naxalites in good humour for protecting their own life and property. Q) Can you tell me about the role of land to the Naxalite movement in Bastar? Land ownership, landlords, etc. Here is a related question the role of forests. A) Land and water resources are the precious assets of tribals and when they are disturbed in the name of development they take the help of Naxalites as far as possible. But the tribals are losing their grip over their lands despite severe and sufficient protection provided in the Constitution of India and the state laws. Q) Do you have any insights regarding how Naxalites have been able to finance their operations in Bastar? A) Already answered above. +++++++++ My solution to the Problem: "The Bastar region should be brought under the Central Rule under the leadership of an Administrator/ Lt. governor with a strong paramilitary force to drive away the Naxalites once for all. This point of total combing operation for once by all the government servants at least for one full month to surround them and make them surrender, if necessary with a military force for a while was sincerely suggested by me in a meeting of ministers and secretaries held in the state secretariat in 2005 in the presence of Raman Singh, Mahendra Karma and other political leaders too". +++++++++++++++++++++++

WOMEN AT THE RECEIVING END

According to R.Isbal, Executive Director of Madras Christian College of Social Service (MCCSS) which rehabilitates and reintegrates trafficked women with their families, the increased number could be becauseTamil Nadu is an active transport hub and thus serves as transit point for people indulged in trafficking. She said that there were cases in which the women and young girls from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka & Kerala had been rescued in Tamil Nadu. With sex tourism becoming widespread, women from all four southern states and sometimes even Mahrarashtra are brought into Tamil Nadu she said. Rekha 22 was 14 when she ran away from her house in Vijayawada with her Boy Friend taking with her Rs.50,000/- and some gold jewels. “I lived with him for five months in Hyderabad before he sold me to a pimp and ran away. They later told me that he had sold me for Rs.50,000/- “ says a teary-eyed Rekha. She was later bought to the MCCSS where she has been helping authorities creating awareness in colleges. Young girls both from urban centers and rural areas are lured to luxurious living or employment opportunities elsewhere by the cunning and wayward youths or fake recruiting agencies. Girls get trapped this way and it becomes difficult for them to know the true motives behind and escape from the clutches of pimps and rogues. MCCSS is doing extremely well in this regard by addressing girls in schools and colleges at the right stage. More and more such organizations should come out in the open and undertake awareness campaigns from time to time. Police esp. the women police should also take it up as a social service. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

‘Government abused powers in coal block allotments’

TMC Headed house committee calls procedure unauthorized : The Times News Network on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 reported that Parliament’s standing committee on coal and steel has indicted the government for “ totally abusing its powers” in allotting coal mines between 1993 and 2010 through the “ most non- transparent procedure” to “ few fortunate ones for their own benefit”. The report pointed out a bias in favor of the private sector to bolster its argument. Sector – wise allocations show that out of a total of 81 blocks allocated to power sector, 27 were given to private firms, 12 to UMPPs (Centre’s show case ultra –mega power projects) and 42 to government entities. The report did not quantify the loss, saying no information was made available either on the quantity or value of the mined coal. Last year, the federal auditor had said that the government extended wind fall gains of Rs.1.86 lakh crore to private entities by allotting blocks to them without bidding. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bonanza for Farmers --- Hail the Chief Minister!

The Chief Minister Selvi. J.Jajalalitha announced a new scheme called ‘Farmer Protection Plan’ on September 10, 2011, to protect the interests of agriculturists and agricultural labourers including their family members. Under this scheme, the beneficiaries are those farmers directly involved in farming on 2.5 acres of irrigated land or 5 acres of unirrigated lands. The age limit is between 18 and 65 yrs. both in the case of farmers and laborers. Identity cards have been distributed in different colours to different categories under this plan. Under this plan, the children of the beneficiaries are entitled to education allowance at different rates for different courses of study. In addition to educational assistance, the State Government has made provision for the marriage of their children, old age pension, maternity assistance and death (caused by nature or accident) allowance. Even funeral rites can be undertaken with the state assistance. Under this plan, about 3 crore beneficiaries have been identified and selected as members out of which as much as 72.40 lakh households have received I.D. Cards. It is reported that about 7.96 lakh beneficiaries have been supported with Rs.910.82 crore of financial aid. Such a development can easily be termed as Bonanza for the maximum number of farmers and agriculture laborers involved in the farming throughout the State of Tamil Nadu. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Clean air on Sale

Everything is on sale:-------- The most populace country in the world namely The China has undergone a Sea Change in regard to number of vehicles and number of factories. On account of this development the environment in the Country especially in and around the Capital of Beijing is highly disturbed and the Capital remains under a thick smoke cloud like a snow fall. The people have started wearing mask to protect them from air pollution. Although the Chinese Government has taken a number of steps to protect environment, things have not improved considerably. Under these circumstances, an industrialist named Mr. Chen Quangpio started filling the clean air in cans and priced it for Rs.40/-. This man of 44 years old has sold almost 80 lakh cans so far.

Unproductive Expenditure by the State Exchequer:

Example: The Hindu on Saturday, May 22, 2010 (Pages 10 & 11) A.3/Pers(Rectt)PMS-Advt/BSF/2010 Ministry of Home Affairs, Directorate General of border Security Force (Personnel Directorate: recruitment Section) 11 categories of posts numbering 283 vacancies (subject to change) with details like grade pay, age qualifications: Physical Standards, Medical Standards, Age relaxations, Detailed selection processes for constables etc., Method of applying for the post, Full application form, Admit card form, caste certificate form, Chest Measurement form B.C certificate form etc. Totally running into the newspaper’s one and a half full page advertisement, God knows at what expense – may be a few lakhs of ruppes (considering the space and the advt. rate charged by the paper management). A few lines’ advertisement with leads to detailed requirements in the web-site or the Employment News would have served the purpose. But how could the regional and national newspapers survive without such sumptuous ads from the government departments?

State faces 11% water deficit, stares at acute crisis: study

Julie Mariappan, in her article (Times of India Chennai, April 6, 2013) reports that Tamil Nadu is facing a deficit of 11%. While the current total water demand in the state, for domestic, irrigation, livestock and industrial needs, is 1,867.85 TMCFT (thousand million cubic feet) per year, the total availability, from all resources, is only 1,681.78 TMCFT. This deficit will rise to 17% by 2045, said the report, jointly prepared by several central and state governmental agencies, including Tamil Nadu public works department and Central Water Commission. Water experts say a 11% deficit at present means that the state is set for an acute water crisis in the coming years, and one will have to blame the situation on the lack of serious conservation efforts. Tamil Nadu, which had three reservoirs, in the pre independent era, has added 82 reservoirs in the last six decades and boasts of 39,200 tanks now. At least 17, 879 of them, big and small, are on the coastal belt, and their status is either ‘good’ or ‘normal’. But an alarming 80% of overflows from rivers is wasted, said the report based on the study on ‘Effective utilization of Northeast Monsoon’. The report has proposed Rs.13, 560 crore for works in the next decade to rectify the system. Above to 130 TMCFT of water flows into the sea from at least 10 rivers, including the Cauvery, it said. Compare this to Chennai’s drinking water needs – one TMCFT every month. Sedimentation has reduced the capacity of several reservoirs between 2% and 59%. Built in 1934, Mettur reservoir, the life line of Cauvery Delta, loses 11 million cubic metres of storage capacity a year due to sedimentation. The water tanks lose 40 – 50 million cubic meters of storage capacity every year. The report emphasized the need for consistent efforts to desilt water bodies. The silt can be used either for construction, agriculture or river restoration, it said. “Thanks to the new reservoirs and better management of water tanks in parts of the state either by PWD or local bodies, the defect could be managed over the years. But the demand is shooting up every year”, said a water manager. The report suggested it would be prudent to link the rivers within the state by short canals to divert the occasional flood s flows to the adjoining basins. The state often witnesses a situation in which one river is in spate and other is bone dry. The state will now be compelled to augment the capacity of existing storage structures in coastal regions, construct check dams and a new reservoirs and link rivers, wherever possible, as suggested by the report. “Unless this is done, the future looks pretty bleak. With a majority of the rivers being interstate, dependence on neighboring states should end”, a member of the study team said. The good news that the 41– year data shows there is no dramatic change in the trend in the onset of the North – east Monsoon.

Tourism

Almost all the countries in the developed world have specialised in promoting tourism as one of their important activities in economic development. About 80 to 90 per cent of the families devote time and money to visit places of tourist importance once in a year religiously. People want to be mobile and keep enjoying other parts of the country or other parts of the world. Knowing the trend the developers of tourism have created such an infrastructure that the tourists look for. Reliable and convenient Mode of transport, decent accommodation, clean and regular upkeep of places and buildings, monuments and sites are the requisite facilities demanded or expected by the tourists. The developed nations have very much improved and maintained these standards in a planned and successful manner. A visit to these countries would reveal this fact beyond any doubt. A two-week tour of Scandinavian countries, namely, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Stockholm and Finland by the undersigned in August 2013 has brought to light the following features substantially: All the modes of transport - flight, train, tram, bus, ferry - are comfortable in terms of space, toilets (public convenience), food and beverages etc. especially the toilets are well kept and maintained. All the structures and buildings housing museums and the like are artistically created and maintained to world standards. All types of literature about the tourist places are printed in glossy papers and kept for distribution to the visitors free of cost in any numbers. Properly trained and employed guides are available wherever the tourists want them at the requisite locations. The economies of these countries like USA and other countries in Europe, Singapore and Malaysia in Asia have done very well to attract tourists and sell their USPs in a proper way. There is hardly a tourist place where there is no toilet attached. On the contrary such facilities hardly exist in tourist spots of India.

State to regularize unapproved plots

I am glad the State Government of Tamil Nadu is doing a thing which I wanted soon after the formation of AIADMK Ministry under the leadership of Selvi J.Jayalalitha for the third time in 2011. “Times new network” of Times of India Chennai (Thursday, April 11, 2013) reports that in what could provide relief to several thousand investors, the State Government of Tamil Nadu has decided to regularize unapproved residential layouts in all local bodies in the state. The comprehensive scheme will be applicable to all panchayats, municipalities and corporations. An announcement to this effect was made by Housing Minister R.Vaithialingam in the state legislative assembly on Wednesday, while replying to a special call attention motion moved by the members of CPI, Congress, and Puthiya Tamilagam. The minister said that efforts were being taken to give effect to the amendment made to the Tamil Nadu Registration Act in 2009, in order to prevent registration of unapproved residential plots in future. The departments of Municipal Administration and Rural Development have endorsed the Housing Department’s plan to approve unauthorized layouts. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Haphazard Growth of Housing Colonies on Farm Lands

It is reported that illegal and unauthorized colonies have come up in several parts of Virudhunagar district esp. on major roads and highways in the last few years. Fertile and irrigated lands with two crops have been diverted into housing societies and plots are being sold to the buyers without proper sanctions from the concerned authorities including the Panchayat officials. The result is that the village Panchayats are unable to realize their revenue and other charges from the colonizers but forced to develop the infrastructure in those colonies out of public funds. The concerned officials of Panchayat Department have made a complaint against such a development before the Collector of Virudhunagar District recently. This demand certainly deserves utmost and urgent consideration of the officials handling Revenue and Country & Town Planning Departments in the State.

Infra Projects in Red tape.

Projects worth over Rs. 7 lakh crore which is equivalent to almost half of the government spending in the current financial year are held up in the absence of environmental & forest clearances, land & fuel, putting strain on the creaky infrastructure in the country and becoming an obstacle for an economy, striving to get into a high growth trajectory. Power has most held- up projects (worth Rs. 5.39 lakh crore ) followed by roads ( Rs. 1.22 lakh crore ) Delays in road sector are due to land acquisition. We need to learn from China as to how to push up the speed of implementation. We may even take judiciary into confidence and proceed to avoid delays from any quarters.

Good news about India :

1)Foreign Exchangenge Reserves have increased by US D 201 crore to reach the total of US D 27,738 crore. As on Sept, 20. 2)Export of ready-made garments likely to achieve this year's target of USD 1700 crore. 3)As against the achievement of 9.94 crore hectare in Kharif area last year the current year figure stands at 10.47 crore Ha. 4)Foreign exchange earned thro india tourism would rise to 2600 crore USD by registering a growth rate of 13. Per cent. 5)Crisil has estimated that the growth in the fast food industry would reach a level of Rs 7000 crore by the year 2016. (Dina thandi dt 29-9-13) +++++++++++++++++++++++++

Medicos form human chain to protest rural posting

Members of the Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association (TNMSA) on Thursday formed a human chain in front of the Madras Medical College and intensified their protests against the Centre's proposal for a one-year compulsory rural posting for MBBS graduates who want to opt for a post graduate degree. It is a wise and practical decision in view of doctor shortage in rural areas. Probably they lack spirit of service like any other field in the country. But one should understand the way the young graduates in western countries have to enrol for military service for a year and take a lesson. (TOI Friday, September 27, 2013)

Mamata Clones PMO in Bengal

Prabhu Chawla makes a valid comment on Mamata Cloning PMO in Writers Building at Calcutta (the New Sunday Express June 5, 2011). A most powerful CMO is on the anvil. This has been probably necessitated by her suspicion on the role of West Bengal IAS officers. It seems a Railway officer is positioned and expected to manage this office. Banerjee is still relying on her instinct and style. Such a development reflects badly on the integrity and commitment of most of the officers in West Bengal cadre. The All India Service officials are expected to be impartial and above board irrespective of the consequences of their actions taken in good faith and in the larger interest of the citizens. Apparently a crisis of confidence has been noticed in the minds of the Heads of Governments over a period of time in the country; probably it started in the days of Smt. Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister. Soon after independence, the PMO and CMOs were small in size with a few officials to assist the PM and Chief Ministers. Under the constitution of India the Governments of the day are supposed to run by the Council of Ministers, appointed by the President at the Centre and by the Governors at State capitals. The Ministers are supposed to be assisted by the Senior Civil Servants working as Secretaries to the departments who are otherwise properly trained and experienced in their jobs. Only the policy decisions are supposed to be put up by the concerned departments and discussed in the Council of Ministers as and when the need arises. Once the matter is discussed and decision taken in the cabinet, it is for the Departmental Minister and the Secretary concerned to execute it. One is certainly not aware of the need for a platoon of officers sitting in PMO or CMO to vet the files before the PM's and CM's decision is communicated to the concerned Minister and Secretary of the Department. Under such a scenario, it would be highly erroneous and a costly affair to doubt the conduct of the Minister and Secretary of the concerned Department and place confidence on a second tier of inexperienced (but perhaps loyal to the core) individual in PMO and CMOs. If the PMO and CMOs are not reduced in size and shape, the Parkinson law is bound to show its effect in the days to come and make a mockery of the system.

Veteran singer

T,M Soundrarajan (91 years) who sang more than 10000 songs in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi languages for over 61 years (1946 to 2007)  for several actors like M.G.R, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Muthuraman, Jeya Shankar, Ravichandran, Siva kumar, Nagesh, Rajinikanth, Kamal Hasan.

He was awarded Padma Shri. In a way he did better than Lata Mangeshkar in Hindi. 

His talent can hardly be achieved by others in cine field for many years to come.

PM’s inadequate, impractical and illegitimate actions

As reported by Rajeev Deshpande in his Sunday article (The times of India; dated 3rd March, 2013 ) the manmohan Singh Government is reaching across political divides to rescue mining projects in opposition- ruled states of Goa, Odisha and Karnataka with a view to energizing the economy ahead of the 2014 election. The following steps indicate that the PM has resorted to inadequate, impractical and illegitimate actions in achieving his goal: A) Transparent policy was not adopted in allotting the coal blocks for reasons best known to him despite suggestions from responsible authorities for the auction of national resources. B) Despite 10 years of stable tenure, the P.M failed to draw time-table and ensure the implementation of targets in terms of identified coal blocks in both public and private sectors, requisite clearances and approvals from different ministries to produce and distribute enough electric power among the states. C) His style of functioning was not systematic and result-oriented. Not only he himself but his advisors too in PMO frittered away their energy and resources on unproductive work. Foreigners’ Forecasts: India is heading straight for economic failure post-Chidambaram’s budget as a direct result of the lack of meaningful economic reform, says the heritage foundation, an important conservative think tank in the US. Asserting finance minister, P.Chidambaram’s budget, Derek Scissors of the Washington- based organization said that “leaves India on the same, failing course it’s been of undisciplined spending and unrealistic expectations”. “Without sustained reform process, which will take considerable time, India will not return to the days of fast growth”. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Report: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

"Out of the 152 STPs (Sewage Treatment Plants), nine plants are under construction, 30 are non-operational and performance of 28 plants are not satisfactory"

Out of 38000 million litres per day(MLD) of sewage generated in cities and towns, treatment capacity exists for only 12000 MLD.

When are we going to get this basic amenity sanctioned and executed in full?


(TOI on Thursday, September 26,  2013)
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MIT tops the table as India falls further behind

US research power house Massachusetts Institute of Technology has retained the number one spot in this year's QS World University Rankings, but there is still no Indian University in the global top 200.

The nation's top performer is still IIT Delhi which this year drops  10 places to 222nd.

In the first 100 places, china has three universities - Peking University (46), Tsinghua university (48), Fudan university (88).

Singapore ( National University of Singapore ) is occupying 24th position.- great!

University of Copenhagen in Denmark is in 45th position. University of Helsinki in Finland is in 70th position. University of Oslo in Norway is in 89th position.

(TOI Education Times, Monday, September 16, 2013)

Double-decker train to Bangalore loses sheen

 Hardly five months after the Chennai-Bangalore double-decker train service was launched with fanfare, passengers have begun complaining that travelling by the train is a hassle. 

•  Cramped seats with no push-back facility. 
• Air conditioning doesn't work. 
• No GPS -aided announcements about approaching stations. 
• Toilets are not cleaned regularly and remain flooded. 
• Poor quality of food. Stale food packets are reheated and distributed.

If this were to happen, what was the use of introducing such facility in the first instance?

When do our executives want to prove their capacity for hard and honest work?

Funny Nation & Funny Characters

The CBI's closure of a disproportionate assets case against Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, on the plea that its officers got their math wrong is artful arithmetic. For a country that discovered 'zero' it took CBI officers on the case five years (the complaint was lodged five years ago) to employ all its brains , computers and calculators to compute that it all amounted to zilch -- TOI Dt. September 24, 2013. It can happen only in a banana republic like India.This must be the best joke of the year provided by the highest investigating agency of this country. Imagine what will be happening in the states in the most efficient and impartial agency, namely, the anti vigilance bureau working under the direct control and guidance of chief min isters. Who is befooling whom? God knows or probably we all know it. By the way who is to pay the compensation to the leader who suffered humilation and the benefit he gave to other parties and individuals? What is the punishment proposed to those intelligent and loyal government servants who did wrong calculations so casually and deliberately to harass a person?

Why lowest investment?

The RBI's latest bulletin released on September 10, 2013 rated the state of Tamil Nadu eighth from the bottom in investments. 

Successive governments in Tamil Nadu may have made a pitch for investments but big money has not taken the bait because of the chronic power crisis. Tamil Nadu's share of investments for new projects has dropped to its lowest in a decade in 2012-13 - the state received just 1.8 per cent of investments in 2012-13 down from 5.7 per cent in 2011-12. (TOI Friday, September 13, 2013)

Any standard explanation for such a development in a developing state like Tamil Nadu?

"Why not ban caste-based guru pujas",

"Why not ban caste-based guru pujas", asks Justice N.Kirupakaran, of Madras High Court ( TOI, Friday, September 13, 2013) 

"These kinds of celebrations are of recent origin. It is said they are conducted usually only to show the strength of various groups and exhibit supremacy over other communities."

The observation of the judge in hearing and listing some 11 petitions on guru puja festivals seeking direction to the police for permission to conduct pujas was extremely useful and timely in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Politicians and community leaders take this opportunity to the advantage of their parties. In fact their participation leads to a major law and order problem to the district authorities.

Sooner such a ban is introduced on the HC's direction, the better would be for communal harmony in the state. 

All round Failure

The Times of India dated Tuesday September 17, 2013

Jats accuse P.M, Sonia of partisanship.......

Say they were ignored, Muslim villagers given more importance........

Riots were well orchestrated, says U.P government.......

UP govt ignored alerts: Centre......

Everything got over in 10 minutes, no one molested anyone: Muslims...

Ever since S P came to power things have been different: Jats..........

When a communal clash based on the behaviour of some individuals takes place, everybody in the community including the local officials from S.O to S.P and DM as also state machinery at the state capital like the chief minister, chief secretary, home secretary, D.G of police should have been alert and appropriate action mooted at different levels automatically so that the flare-up is averted and harmony is restored to the satisfaction of all. 

In the present case everyone defaulted in his duty unfortunately. No commission of enquiry or postmortem is going to help the families of the deceased.

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Celebration on a celebrity scale?

UPA II's Third Year's successful completion was recently celebrated in New Delhi and reported by a Tamil Daily named 'DinaMalar' on Sunday, October 7, 2012 with a break-up of expenditure incurred by the organisers on page 9 of the paper with a cartoon wherein P.M Dr.Manmohan Singh is shown telling the participants "You should eat well because the nation will prosper only when we are prosperous."

Breach of Trust

I read a leading news in TOI on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 under the following caption:

"Betrayed Vanzara lashes out at his 'God' Expected Modi government to back loyal officers."

All India Service officers are to be aware of this reality and conduct themselves properly. There is no loyalty rewarded by the politicians at the end of the day. Blood is thicker than water. It is true of business men too. They are all time-servers. Be loyal to the Constitution and the hapless citizens of this country and not to the selfish individuals at any time. India should rightly belong to the poor and the really needy persons first.

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Correction by Supreme Court

September 13, 2012:

S.C's  Direction:

 " the chief information commissioner at the Center or state level shall only be a person who is or has been a Chief Justice of the high court or a judge of the Supreme Court"

People like me were little agitated after reading such a direction but luckily the court's bench comprising Justice A.K Patnaik and Justice A.K Sikri erased the afore-said direction on September 3, 2013. The court can hardly legislate on a subject in which its fraternity has a prima facie vested interest. As a person interested in transparency and impartial judgment in the working of RTI Act, I was advocating the posting of a Chief Information Commissioner from a different state as in the case of the Chief Justice of a high court - a good convention practiced by  the country so far but unfortunately the suggestion fell on the deaf ears of Dr Manmohan Singh for the last 6-7 years. 

Let the new government at the centre take note of this suggestion after a year at least!

Letter to the Editor, The South Asian Times

Dear Editor,

I thank and admire the efforts of some respectful Indians who started organisations/ societies a few decades ago with a view to perpetuating their culture and traditions in USA and they are religiously conducting annual or biannual meetings/carnivals by inviting some celebrities from their respective regions in India. 

Examples:

26th annual convention of Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America at the Sony Centre in Downtown Toronto - a 3 day event with a congregation of about 3000 people.

Three day Telugu Convention organised by the North America Telugu Society in Dallas in the first week of July, 2013 with the participation of about 7000 people.

Founded in 1969 the Orissa Society of the Americas conducted a three day convention (July 4-6, 2013) in Chicago with the participation of about 1400 people.

Back at home ours is a divided nation on the basis of religion, race, culture, caste, community and economic status in urban centres. As a tourist in USA I would like to see a Society of India celebrating annual conventions with a focus on one culture at a time projecting India as one nation to the foreigners.

Dr.P.Raghavan

p_raghavan47@yahoo.co.in

USA

(Based on news published in The South Asian Times July 13-19, 2013)

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Party derails sometimes

Revolt in BJP over plan to support NRI for RS 

Yashwant: It's Like Putting Up MLAs for Auction 

Strong resistance from within its ranks, with former finance minister Yashwant Sinha alleging that the party has put a price tag on its MLAs, has forced the BJP leadership to re-consider its "mysterious" decision to support NRI Anshuman Mishra's aspirations for a Rajya Sabha seat from Jharkhand.

Even a party with a difference derails from its chosen path.

BJP too is not short of multimillionaires:

Jaitley discloses assets worth Rs.158 cr 

The BJP leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha and  senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley has disclosed movable and immovable properties worth Rs 158 crore. TNN 

( REF : TOI, CHENNAI, MARCH 21, 2012)

Green ministry panel bypasses own rules

Allows Mining in Country's Best Sal Forest, Elephant Reserve in Jharkhand

The environment ministry's statutory expert panel, the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), has by-passed its rules and earlier orders to clear iron mining projects by three private firms in the country's best sal forest and the core zone of the elephant reserve in the Saranda forest division of Jharkhand.

 In what could threaten the UPA's much-touted Saranda Development Plan to counter Left wing extremism, the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI)__ headed by the Prime Minister —has also given its stamp of approval to two firms and the nod for the  third company seems a mere formality. This could lead to a gold rush as the Jharkhand government has prepared a list of 155 mines to be opened in the 800sq km of prime forestland. 

(REF: TOI, CHN, MAY 18, 2013, Saturday)

Corruption a way of life at TTD?

G.Arun Kumar in TOI Chennai dated March 29, 2012 reports that the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams (TTD) is a mini state itself giving rise to corruption at every level quoting a senior official. Right from the time a pilgrim gets down at Tirupati to catch a bus to the Tirumala Hills for a darshan, has his head tonsured, gets an appointment with the Joint Executive Officer for accommodation, buys laddu prasadam, he has to grease the palms of employees and agents.

What kind of a system prevalent in this country even in places of worship? All the decency and decorum is lost in the process. It badly reflects on the mentality of the people manning the organisation which is no different from others in this regard. God Balaji only knows how to instil the principle of honesty in such sacred places.

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A Night in the Forest Lodge

The most interesting aspect of an administrator's job in India is the chance to frequent  many places in the interior parts of the country. Many lodges in the form of resting places like inspection huts, rest houses, watch towers etc are available throughout the length and breadth of many states in Central India.  A fascinating and enjoyable place used to be the forest department buildings deep in the reserve forests  - a lone structure standing in the midst of woods with tall trees and bushes, mountains, valleys, pastures, rivers,high plateaus. Some of them were used by the erstwhile rulers for their hunting and entertaining their guests - both domestic and foreign. 

A night or two in such surroundings was indeed a memorable stay for a person like me. I definitely enjoyed the tour of interior habitations, tried to solve their local problems and issues, finished the work of revenue and land records as well as developmental works and returned to the lodges for rest and stay for the night.

Many of those lodges were not blessed with electric lighting with the result one had to manage with lanterns, petromax and batteries or the natural moon light. As the magnificent Sun was down on the western sky and the night arrived, the entourage would start enjoying the hospitality of the staff posted there or that of the lady of my home  with a few things brought from the Headquarters.

The menu used to consist of a dish made of chicken because that was the easily-available stuff in the interior villages and forests. The typical aroma and flavour of chicken curry I used to enjoy then I am unable to get even in Five-star Hotels of these days.

During the evening hours depending on the interest and the time at one's disposal the forest staff used to take us to those spots where wild-life was normally found. If one was lucky he / we used to watch the tigers, leopards, nielgais, sambhars, deers, elephants, peacocks, bears, cheetahs, etc. wandering or resting at several places to our heart's and eyes' content.

Back in the lodge one could enjoy dinner with chicken, fish or mutton curries, potato, tomato, pappad, salad etc. Of course being a teetotaller I didn't have the luxury of consuming hot drinks which some my colleagues invariably toasted and enjoyed during such sojourns.      

During the night hours one could hear the roars or screaming of animals roaming in the vicinity. Early morning the waiter used to offer a hot cup of tea with some biscuits. The joy one had while sipping the tea in the verandah of the lodge is unimaginable indeed. I keep wondering whether a person can get or repeat such a luxury again in his lifetime. 

Such tours and stays - I had the privilege of availing when I was working as the Sub-Divisional officer of Jashpur Nagar in erstwhile Raigarh District of Madhya Pradesh State(1973-75  -- the very beginning and the most productive period of my official life - I used to spend most of the time in tours, say, roughly 20 days in a Month - visited at least 300 out of 400 and odd villages in that subdivision during this period),  Additional Collector of the then composite Raipur District(1975-77), Collector of Betul and Sagar Districts (1977-82) & Commissioner of Sagar and Ujjain Revenue Divisions (1990-92 & 2000) in Madhya Pradesh State.  

Hail those days of memorable part of my eventful life and career in Nineteen Seventies and early Eighties!

Unity of India

India is a union of States as declared by the Constituent Assembly on 26th of November 1949. As history of India reveals, its territorial jurisdiction kept on changing from time to time according to the strength and the weakness of the rulers who ruled this land over the centuries and the ages. Unity of India similarly depended very much on the strength of the rulers. It suffered set-backs whenever the provinces or local chieftains questioned the central authority and established their independence. Unity and integration could be ensured in two ways. One was by way of ascertaining the central authority with the help of an organised military force. The other was by purely a moral force based on religion. India has had the opportunity of availing both these ways or methods. Indian history is an unfailing witness to this fact. Although unity of India based on military power was threatened on several occasions, its unity based on Hindu religion continued till date thanks to the selfless efforts and sacrifices made by great Acharyas, moralists and reformers.
2. Modern India is truly famous for its unity in diversity. This astonishing fact has really baffled many social scientists of the day. Normally unity is based on language, natural boundaries, religion, culture, race, colour or civilisation. Not a single factor of this type is common throughout India. We have several languages scheduled in our Constitution. We have different and varied climatic regions in the country.
We have almost all known religions of the world being practiced and protected by the Constitution. Every part of the Country has its peculiar culture entirely different from one another. Many races of the world found shelter on this soil. Similarly colour and civilisation also conform to this phenomenon unmistakably. The British, the last conqueror of this country, had also contributed to the unity of India in no small measure albeit their exit led to the partition of the country. India's freedom struggle was yet another excellent opportunity to nurture its unity. Its leaders, known for their national feeling and vow of independence, formed a strong and united force in advocating national unity.

3. Unfortunately with the passage of time, India is becoming a faction-ridden society day by day and turning out to be a mere conglomeration of warring groups fighting for their so-called independence based on language and religion. This is in no way a good sign of the progress we are making since our Independence in 1947. The divisive forces which were publicly condemned and suppressed by national leaders of the past have suddenly shown their ugly heads and are getting prominence and sustenance in the hands of the anti-social and anti-national characters. A sectarian feeling in the man makes him dance before the emotional appeal of divisive forces and converts him into a non-Indian. Even the intellectuals and highly-placed persons of these days unwittingly or instinctively fall a prey to this destructive thinking. Though 'man' is proverbially declared to be social in nature his individualistic characteristic does hardly allow him to cross boundaries of race, religion, caste, colour, culture and civilisation so easily as one would expect. It is only the true reformers, true liberators and true leaders in various walks of life who are capable of rising above all these factors and limitations and providing a national out-look both in word and deed. A nation is bound to have some crisis or other at different stages of its history on issues concerning politics or economics. But it would certainly steer clear of all such crisis provided those who preside over its destiny are cool-headed nationalists and powerful pragmatists.
4. India is passing through a stage now wherein everything looks topsy turvy. Immoral forces are getting prominence in every walk of life. The dishonesty seems to be the only guiding principle of many Indians in politics, education and economics. Laws and morals have become the exclusive concern of the downtrodden, the poor and the helpless. Man leads two different types of life - one for private and another for public. The good and the honest seem to be the most unwanted ones in the scheme of life meant for the latter half of 20th Century. And the trend continues even today. One simply doesn't know whether this trend will be reversed at least in the middle of 21st Century. Man's ideals and the desired means to achieve such ideals are the less said the better. Under these circumstances it is really a difficult task for the leaders to project a clean image before the public and instil a confidence about their teachings and doings. It is natural, therefore, that every small issue is blown out of proportions and allowed to grow into a gigantic size before it could be timely nipped in the bud. Recent incidents in Assam and Punjab indicate clearly the fact that a State or its leaders cannot control the divisive forces successfully with its police and Para-military force. Such elements and forces can only be controlled by one or more moral leaders known for their self-less conduct and sacrifices.

5. India's unity is really at stake. Every sectarian group is becoming active and promoting its own welfare at the cost of national welfare either on its own economic strength or with the patronage of power-hungry politicians. Open and indecent display or demonstration of a sectarian interest by top leaders in the country has resulted in a terrific set-back to national feeling and out-look. Their foremost and constant concern seems to satisfy every group or section somehow or other with the result they drag not only themselves but also the nation into a vicious circle. The brute force takes precedence over moral force. The meek and the weak continue to be exploited. No one has the ability or the desire to rise above the sectoral interest and ensure national interest. When a majority of individuals from the rulers to the ruled become self-centred and narrow-minded, it would be difficult to protect and preserve the national interest.

6. If India is to remain a strong and united nation and its unity in diversity is to last forever, every Indian should strive for the following :

India is a land of Indians and not of Gujaratis, Bengalis, Punjabis and Madrasis. Every citizen of this country has an obligation to this goal.
b) All public functions based on religion, language and caste should never be encouraged by the State or its functionaries. State patronage to such activities should be viewed seriously;
c) Esteemed and selfless conduct by the top leaders in every walk of life. Sacrifice in national interest to be admired and the selfishness in private interest to be admonished; and
d) Public boycott of all such groups and their activities based or sectional interest.
E) Complete ban on such anti-social groups by the State.

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Limit of Governance - Minima or Maxima?

In political science the State is defined to comprise four elements viz. Territory, People, Government and Constitution. The Government is supposed to run the state on established or proposed norms and objectives that suit the convenience of its citizens and achieve the maximum good for the largest number. History reveals that Governments have undergone drastic changes in different periods, in different places and in a different manner. Many a time these were the outcome of conditions prevalent in economic and social sphere and hastened by the advent of social thinkers and philosophers. At present different states (nations) have different forms of governments, according to their necessity and other compulsions. Broadly speaking we can classify Governments into two categories, viz. Democracy and Dictatorship.

2. Democracy may be of different types varying in content between American (USA) democracy and erstwhile Bangladesh democracy. Similar is the nature of dictatorship, which varies between Chinese dictatorship (by the Communist Party) and Burmese dictatorship (by the Military Heads). Dynastic and monarchic rule has given way to democracy like in Britain and Japan whereas the same has given birth to dictatorship like in Russia and China where a particular party is dictating, like in Iraq and Burma where a military ruler is dictating, like in Iran and Ethiopia where religious heads are dictating. A third model of Government viz. Socialism emerged a few decades ago in a few states with a view to avoiding the drawbacks of both the above models of Government - based on realistic reasoning and economic compulsions. This model is available at present in varying degrees of its content in states like India and (former) Yugoslavia. Man is at work. So it is difficult to know as tallow many are in store for other generations to come.

3. Government's basic duty (whatever form it may have) is to govern its state and achieve the maximum good for the largest number. Different Governments adopt different methods to achieve this common goal. Some achieve quicker and some later. The success or failure in governing a state depends on two major factors viz, internal and external. Internal factors mainly refer to the qualification, efficiency and experience of those placed in Government to govern. External, factors relate to the level of literacy, economic well being and the national character of its citizens. The day we arrive at a perfect permutation and combination of these two factors we may be said to have reached the opportune moment for achieving the maximum good of the largest number. The reality is that except for USA, Japan and a few West .European countries, all other states are still experimenting on and off for achieving such a goal. If perfect systems are not worked out and put to operation at the earliest, the day is not far off when the existing governments may have an uphill task in ensuring effective governance.

4. A careful analysis of the success story of USA, Japan and West European countries would clearly reveal that it was comparatively the minimum Government that achieved the maximum results and proved to be the best government. Private enterprise was allowed to work freely with certain standards of democracy and minimum control over forces of production and distribution. Quantity and quality in production were taken care of by free-trade market. Only that quantity of goods was produced which could find a place in the market. Excess goods were eliminated in the process. Quality was ensured by open competition. The Best gained and the Worst suffered in the process - the best method of avoiding surpluses and excesses, shortages and defects. In such a situation all factors of production and distribution are governed not by a few individuals, a group of persons or experts but by the process of market which have wide-ranging repercussions in the long run.

5. Governments are there to lend a helping hand to different factors of production and distribution and not to indulge itself in such a venture. Governments have varied and innumerable tasks to perform in developing the underdeveloped or semi-developed areas. It can hardly afford to think of taking over, forever, the role of its citizens viz, the management of industries, trade and commerce. Its role is to be clearly defined and achieved properly. Its role is to check abnormal growth in a particular sector or control the power of certain individuals in a sector or in general.. It can ill afford to take over others' activities blindly and mismanage itself by wasting its scarce resources, purposeful time and forgetting its godfather's duty.

6. It may be argued that some communist countries have successfully implemented their economic plans and achieved high levels of production. But the way the reports reveal about USSR, China and Poland in the recent days clearly indicate the defects and shortcomings in their system of Government. Communist and Socialist forms of Government have, of late, realized the importance of free trade or at least controlled market mechanism. The biggest drawback of such a government is that it snatches away initiative and enterprise that are very much necessary in the long run to maintain a high level of economic growth. Distribution is in turn affected by a low level production and stereo-type of product and hence the decline in standard of living or over-all dissatisfaction amongst the citizens and that too at such a high cost of freedom of speech and action. It is certainly not desirable in the interest of any state to adopt such a form of Government. It is also true at the same time that c4ntinuous and widespread poverty along with excessive inequalities of income and wealth among the citizens will surely lead to communism one day or the other with its minor defects whether one likes it or not.

7. Coming to the example of our home state (India) the situation seems to be no better. The planners of this country in all sincerity and seriousness laid the foundation for the five-year plans to achieve a desired and developed state of economy in course of time. We borrowed a model, which was neither totally communistic nor capitalistic but a via-media viz. Socialistic, hoping to achieve the best of both. But a review of the situation so far obtained indicates the contrast viz. the worst of both. We have certainly progressed in macro terms but given a better model we might have achieved much more.

8. We had failed to encourage private enterprise to the required extent. Rather we have put obstacles on the way like introduction of licenses, permits, controls, quotas etc. leading to corruption, nepotism and favoritism at all levels. The net result is that we have plenty of population coupled with shortages in almost all the commodities and services. There is hardly a thing called surplus in any commodity or service continuously for 2-3 years. But for defective planning and execution, abundance of resources and crushing shortages can hardly co-exist side by side. Country had been passing through a phase of galloping inflation for more than three decades. Nobody knows when it is going to thoroughly demoralize the lower strata or the weaker section of the society and throw them into the jungle for leading a pre-historic life. Any amount of persuasion, consolation and assurance on the part of those who govern is not going to produce any tangible results, unless of course a definite and maximum goal is set and everyone cooperates and works towards it this is possible only when the government minimizes its activities, allows others to work and only supervises or guides its citizens. On a right path. Any correction thought best for the maximum number should be done at the right time with equal amount of will power and force. The best government is the one which rules minimum but 'rules' and not merely rules to make others believe so.

9. Let us examine this concept in the light of a real and existing example viz. Public distribution system (PDS) in India. The system aims at the proper development of a net work of distribution centres throughout the country to ensure timely and prompt availability of essential commodities like food grains, sugar, kerosene oil, edible oil, matches etc. to the consumers. Of late a separate department called Civil Supplies has been created at the Centre for the purpose. Our experience for the last few years especially after 1974 with a little break in 1976-78 confirms the view that we are going to face a long period of shortages and the nerve-breaking inflation. In a war PDS is intended to be a permanent feature of our Government through which it wants to enter and operate the retail trade in essential commodities.

10. The system has not succeeded equally in all the pockets of the country M its efforts to deliver goods to the citizens. Any amount of coercion and threat of Preventive Detention (PD) is not going to set right things to the desired extent and even if we change the wrong doers from time to time there is no guarantee that the new comers of PDS will work honestly and deliver the goods. This is an example where we are unnecessarily straining a system, meant for several other important duties of the Government, for a thankless job like distribution and getting a bad name for everyone.

11. The concern of the Government can be better understood and made result-oriented if it can ensure supply of essential commodities during the period of scarcity in selected pockets, where shortage is felt, by releasing buffer stock and flooding the market instead of running retail trade through PDS and certainly not by dispatch of stocks to all corners in the country even in normal times through a rail system which is already overstrained due to various reasons. Dual policy in the price of sugar had wrought havoc in various parts of the country just on the eve of some big festivals in the recent past. The very purpose for which the price of a commodity is fixed is defeated in the end. Public will not mind paying a rupee or two extra per kilo for a commodity if it is freely available and in adequate quantity. It really minds not getting it at a lower price and at an inconvenience. Price control could be resorted to only in times of extreme hardship and when prices are skyrocketing (for a small period). This can be best achieved by heavily subsidizing the cost of manufacture if that is the reason for rise in price and the consumers are to be helped for that period as a short term measure.

12. Price control and distribution by Government agencies create a sense of artificial abnormality and shortage, which in turn encourage hoarding, black-marketing and corruption. Government can treat and tackle a scarcity for sometime but not all times to come at a stretch. It could know its limitation and stop its activities at the right moment allowing free trade to take its own course. If the citizens are to get a steady flow of essential goods at a normal rate, the price control and the PDS with its net-work of FPS (Fair Price Shops) could be reviewed and revised looking to its efficacy and necessity. It would however be advisable to create enough buffer stocks in certain items in different zones of the country and rush supplies in time of drought, flood and excessive price rise. Emergency situation may require the Government machinery to take over retail trade for sometime according to the need of the hour and it would also work successfully because it is undertaken as a short term measure and not as a permanent feature. Department of Civil, Supplies can look after this aspect of distribution more successfully by keeping vigilance over the market trends in various centres of the country and - rushing supplies as and when local administration requires so.

13. As a common man one can come across quite a few examples of this type in the working of a Government. All these tend to teach us a lesson, "Minimum Government is the Best Government!”

Supreme Court’s decision on section 3(d) historic

 “The Times of India”, Chennai, on Tuesday. April 2  2013 (Anand Grover) reported that after 2005, India started granting product patents on medicines. However, section 3(d), one of the safe guards introduced by Parliament, seeks to prevent patenting of new forms of known substances unless they exhibit enhanced efficacy. Were it not for section 3 (d) , the standards for grant of product patents on medicines in India would be lower, almost identical to the standards in countries such as the United States and European Union, where a large number of patents are granted on minor modifications of a single medicine.

Section 3 (d) also became the basis for the refusal of a patent to Novartis for the beta – crystalline form of imatinib mesylate, a drug used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a type of blood cancer.  In 1998, Novartis filed a patent application in India for this medicine.  In 2005, the Chennai Patent Office heard patent oppositions to this application including one filed by the Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA).  The  CPAA challenge was spurred by great concern over the price Novartis set for its version of the drug (sold as Glivec)  at Rs.1,20,000 ($2,400)  per month as against generic versions that were available at a cost of around Rs. 8,000  to Rs 12,000 per month.

The Indian Parliament has balanced India’s obligations under TRIPS with the right to health through Section 3 (d).  The Supreme Court has unequivocally interpreted the true intention and spirit of this provision.  It expects the Indian Government to respect the Parliament and the Supreme Court and ensure that it does not sign away these hard fought victories by health and public interest groups in trade negotiations

Let the politics also understand the need of the hour and support the economics of the country at times.

Great Leap Forward

Tamilnadu Chief Minister Selvi. J.Jayalalitha has made a large number of announcements on the floor of the Legislative Assembly for showing definite improvement both in economic and social development of the state.  The announcements made for the farming sector are indeed laudable.  The latest announcement is with regard to installation of 2,000 pump sets with solar energy at 80% subsidy to the farmers.  As a part of Second Green Revolution in the State of Tamil Nadu a subsequent announcement made is with regard to Drip Irrigation and Sprinkler Irrigation with 100% subsidy to small and marginal farmers and 75% subsidy to other farmers.  Probably, Tamil Nadu is the first state to introduce this scheme in the country (announcement under Rule No.110 of State Assembly).

As a former Agricultural Production Commissioner I only wish the scheme is properly conceived and executed with a flawless and transparent approach by the officials concerned.

Bonanza for Farmers

The Chief Minister Selvi. J.Jayalalitha announced a new scheme called ‘Farmer Protection Plan’ on September 10, 2011, to protect the interests of agriculturists and agricultural laborers including their family members. Under this scheme, the beneficiaries are those farmers directly involved in farming on 2.5 acres of irrigated land or 5 acres of unirrigated lands.

The age limit is between 18 and 65 yrs. both in the case of farmers and laborers. Identity cards have been distributed in different colours to different categories. Under this plan, the children of the beneficiaries are entitled to education allowance at different rates for different courses of study. In addition to educational assistance, the State Government has made provision for the marriage of their children, old age pension, maternity assistance and death (caused by nature or accident) allowance. Even funeral rites can be undertaken with the state assistance.

Under this plan, about 3 crore beneficiaries have been identified and  selected as members out of which as much as 72.40 lakh households  have received I.D. Cards.  It is reported that about 7.96 lakh beneficiaries have been supported with Rs.910.82 crore of financial aid.

It can easily be termed as Bonanza for the maximum number of farmers and agriculture laborers in the State of Tamil Nadu.

PM to boost mining in oppn- ruled states

                               Rajeev Deshpande has  (The times of India on March 3, 2013) reported that under pressure to energize the economy ahead of the 2014 election, the Manmohan Singh Government is reaching across political divides to rescue mining projects in opposition- ruled states of Goa, Odisha and Karnataka.

India is heading straight for economic failure post-Chidambaram’s budget as a direct result of the lack of meaningful economic reform, says the heritage foundation, an important conservative think tank in the US, Asserting "Finance minister, P.chidambaram’s budget" Derek Scissors of the Washington- based organization said that “leaves India on the same, failing course it’s been of undisciplined spending and unrealistic expectations”. 

“Without sustained reform process, which will take considerable time, India will not return to the days of fast growth”.              

It is indeed a tough task to provide leadership  with vigour and skill for a meaningful growth rate based on the economic reforms at this juncture.