Loan waiver

UP government would need about Rs 36,000 crore to implement the loan waiver scheme,  promised to small and marginal farmers, in BJP 's election manifesto. Total countrywide agricultural loan (outstanding as on September 30, 2016) stands at 12.60 lakh crore.

A mega loan waiver scheme in the country was implemented in 2008 when the then UPA government had initially announced a waiver of Rs 60,000 crore loan for small and marginal farmers in the Budget. It was later extended to large farmers as well and the amount increased to Rs 71,600 crore.

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12-year-old Rape survivor seeks justice for daughter

A 12-year-old survivor of rape, who recently gave birth to a child , had to move a Howrah court near Kolkata on Monday March 20, 2017 to get the police to register an FIR to investigate the alleged rape.

The girl was allegedly raped by her karate teacher and five others. Her family has accused the Jagatpallavpur police of inaction as the suspects allegedly have political connection. The victim and her family are currently homeless and need police protection to return home, the girl's lawyer MD Farrukh said.

When TOI got in touch with Howrah SP Sumit Kumar, he said, "We have received the certified copy of the FIR. I will look into the plight of the victim and ensure justice is done."

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A rare show of unity for a common cause For " Jallikattu"

A sea of humanity gathered on Marina sands facing Bay of Bengal for a week seeking the revival of Jallikattu, a part of annual Pongal (harvest) festival in Tamil Nadu which stands banned by the orders of the Supreme Court of India since 2014 looking to the objection raised by an NGO called PETA on the ground of cruelty to the Bulls. 

The people of Tamil Nadu feel that have been wrongly prevented from pursuing the bull-taming sport linked to their way of living and Tamil culture and customs . The ordinance promulgated by the Governor of Tamil Badu on January 22 has allowed the sport but the agitating young crowd is insisting on a permanent remedy only. The state police is now engaged in clearing the marina grounds with an argument that the people have already enjoyed freedom in demonstration of their grievance and succeeded in their demand with the timely action of the state government. 

Right now (8.00AM on January 23, 2017) a crowd of about 1000 youths are standing near the sea waves and the police is trying to evacuate them.

As a former civil servant I would urge the people to respect the moves of the state government and its machinery and call off their agitation for a few weeks. They may wait and watch the activities of executive and judiciary for sometime and take further follow up action in the near future if necessary.

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Jallikattu

A bull-taming game/ exercise of the teens during Pongal Festival in Tamil Nadu has become a talk of the millions in the state right now - everyone from elderly to children, students from schools and colleges, politicians from all political parties, cine  celebrities and artists, traders and businessmen - all have come on the streets supporting the cause of Jallikattu and demanding the ban on PETA. 

The problem is, a traditional and cultural event associated with the annual harvest festival of Tamils has not been properly understood by a section of the PETA and not properly presented to the highest court of the land.

The agitation is not likely to be suppressed like any law and order problem. It has now touched the hearts of every Tamil citizen. It is for the Central government and Supreme Court to find a solution as early as possible and honour the sentiments of the local people.

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57 debtors account for Rs. 85000 crore loan default, says S.C

The Supreme Court finally got a secret cover containing the names of big defaulters of bank loans from Reserve Bank of India. The rich class surviving on borrowed public money through banks, enjoying a royal life in a poor country like India has succeeded in hiding their heinous crime of usurping public money in concrete jungles scattered all over India like dreaded dacoits in a jungle of yesteryears. There is hardly a difference between the two classes. White collar thieves and green collared dacoits!

What a security, safety and financial secret to protect their honour and name! Basically it is to save their skins and sins. Let the Apex Court come heavily on them and expose their deeds in the name of growth in the capitalistic economy! Contrast this to a hapless defaulters/ farmer committing suicide unable to bear the torture of bankers under the garb of loan recovery!

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NITI AAYOG with a new work plan

According to Union Finance Secretary Ratan P. Watal, NITI Aayog, the government's policy think tank, is working on a sector-based medium term planning framework.

The new framework would replace five-year plans, the last (the 12th five year plan) of which is set to end in 2016-17.

As indicated in the Budget Speech of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, from the next financial year, the plan and non-plan distinction will be done away with for expenditure classification. A good step indeed!

One would wish to emphasise here that some economist take up an analytical study of the former Planning Commission and its utility since its inception vis a vis the expenses incurred in terms of money and time (manpower) resources till date.

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'Backlog can be cleared only with more judges' said the former Chief Justice of India Mr Tirath Singh Thakur.

I would go a step further and plead before the higher judiciary that the pendency can be brought down both by the existing judges and the advocates ( both the Bench and the Bar)  if they are willing to take the following measures: 

Release all the under trials forthwith the moment they have stayed in prison for a period more than the maximum punishment provided for the crime they have allegedly committed.

2) Dismiss all the appeals and special leave petitions filed after the time limit prescribed under the law unless satisfactorily justified with convincing reasons - whether by the State or others at the motion hearing stage itself.

3) No early hearing of petitions unless any emergency situation warrants it.

4) A time limit to be prescribed for hearing the final arguments and the number of hearings per case to be fixed in a practical way.

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