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Saturday, April 9, 2011
PM says agreement to combat corruption augurs well for democracy.
The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has said that the agreement to combat corruption augurs well for democracy. Following is the text of the statement by the PM:
“I am happy that the Government and representatives of civil society have reached an agreement in our mutual resolve to combat corruption. This is a scourge that confronts all of us. The Government intends to introduce the Lokpal bill in Parliament during the monsoon session. The fact that civil society and Government have joined hands to evolve a consensus to move this historic legislation augurs well for our democracy. I am pleased that Anna Hazareji has agreed to give up his fast.
The interaction between the Government and representatives of Anna Hazareji was productive. I hope that the process of preparing this legislation will move forward in a constructive mode so that after consultation with a wide spectrum of stake holders the legislation is placed before the cabinet for introduction during the monsoon session.”
The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has said that the agreement to combat corruption augurs well for democracy. Following is the text of the statement by the PM:
“I am happy that the Government and representatives of civil society have reached an agreement in our mutual resolve to combat corruption. This is a scourge that confronts all of us. The Government intends to introduce the Lokpal bill in Parliament during the monsoon session. The fact that civil society and Government have joined hands to evolve a consensus to move this historic legislation augurs well for our democracy. I am pleased that Anna Hazareji has agreed to give up his fast.
The interaction between the Government and representatives of Anna Hazareji was productive. I hope that the process of preparing this legislation will move forward in a constructive mode so that after consultation with a wide spectrum of stake holders the legislation is placed before the cabinet for introduction during the monsoon session.”
Lokpal Bill: Text of Gazette notification
PTI
Following is the text of the Gazettee Notification issued by the government constituting the Joint Drafting Committee comprising ministers and civil society activists to prepare the draft Lok Pal Bill.
“The Joint Drafting Committee shall consist of five nominee ministers of the Government of India and five nominees of Shri Anna Hazare (including himself).
The five nominee Ministers of the Government of India are as under:
Pranab Mukherjee, Union Minister of Finance, P Chidambaram, Union Minister of Home Affairs, M Veerappa Moily, Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Human Resource and Development and Minister of Communication and Information Technology and Salman Khursheed, Union Minister of Water Resources and Minister of Minority Affairs.
The five nominees of Anna Hazare (including himself) are as under:
Anna Hazare, Justice N Santosh Hegde, Shanti Bhushan, Senior Advocate, Prashan Bhushan, Advocate and Arvind Kejriwal.
The Chairperson of the Joint Drafting Committee shall be Pranab Mukherjee.
The Co-Chairperson of the Joint Drafting Committee shall be Shanti Bhushan.
The Convenor of the Join Drafting Committee shall be M Veerappa Moily.
The Joint Drafting Committee shall commence its work forthwith and evolve its own procedure to prepare the proposed legislation.
The Joint Drafting Committee shall complete its work latest by 30th June, 2011.”
PTI
Following is the text of the Gazettee Notification issued by the government constituting the Joint Drafting Committee comprising ministers and civil society activists to prepare the draft Lok Pal Bill.
“The Joint Drafting Committee shall consist of five nominee ministers of the Government of India and five nominees of Shri Anna Hazare (including himself).
The five nominee Ministers of the Government of India are as under:
Pranab Mukherjee, Union Minister of Finance, P Chidambaram, Union Minister of Home Affairs, M Veerappa Moily, Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Human Resource and Development and Minister of Communication and Information Technology and Salman Khursheed, Union Minister of Water Resources and Minister of Minority Affairs.
The five nominees of Anna Hazare (including himself) are as under:
Anna Hazare, Justice N Santosh Hegde, Shanti Bhushan, Senior Advocate, Prashan Bhushan, Advocate and Arvind Kejriwal.
The Chairperson of the Joint Drafting Committee shall be Pranab Mukherjee.
The Co-Chairperson of the Joint Drafting Committee shall be Shanti Bhushan.
The Convenor of the Join Drafting Committee shall be M Veerappa Moily.
The Joint Drafting Committee shall commence its work forthwith and evolve its own procedure to prepare the proposed legislation.
The Joint Drafting Committee shall complete its work latest by 30th June, 2011.”
Govt intends to introduce Lokpal Bill in monsoon session: Manmohan
The Hindu Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addresses a press conference in New Delhi. He said the government intends to introduce the Lokpal Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament. File Photo
“I am happy that the government and representatives of civil society have reached an agreement in our mutual resolve to combat corruption. I am pleased that Anna Hazare has agreed to give up his fast,” he said in a statement here.
Describing corruption a a scourge that confronts all of us, the Prime Minister said, “The fact that the civil society and the government have joined hands to evolve a consensus to move this historic legislation augurs well for our democracy.”
He said the interaction between the government and the representatives of Mr. Hazare were productive.
“I hope that process to prepare this legislation will move forward in a constructive mode so that after consultation with a wide spectrum of stake holders, this legislation is placed before the Cabinet for introduction during the Monsoon Session,” the Prime Minister said.
Government had last night agreed to issue a formal order to set up a 10-member joint committee for drafting a strong Lokpal Bill.
The announcement of an agreement came from both sides after four days of Mr. Hazare’s fast-unto-death that evoked a nationwide support cutting across the society.
“Government has accepted all our demands and I will end my fast tomorrow at 10:30 A.M. This is a victory for the entire nation,” Mr. Hazare had said on Friday night.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be the Chairman of the committee that will also include Law Minister Veerappa Moily, Telecom Minister Sibal, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Water Resources Minister Salman Khurshid as members.
Besides Mr. Hazare, those representing the civil society in the joint committee will be eminent lawyers Shanti Bhushan, Prasant Bhushan, retired Supreme Court Judge Santosh Hegde and RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal. Shanti Bhushan will be the co-Chairman.
Fighting Corruption
EDITORIAL:SIKKIM NOW
Anna Hazare has brought corruption to centre-stage, forced the nation to confront an embarrassment which has become insidiously all-pervasive in our country. The passion with which the people have found common cause with the stand espoused by the 72-year-old Gandhian is indicative of a shift in how corruption is perceived. Where does the nation go from here? Media attention might start flagging after the immediacy of a fast-unto-death has played out and public attention will soon shift to other issues to light a candle for, but if the condemnation of corruption rallied from Jantar Mantar grows into a collective and instinctive revulsion towards the corrupt, a substantial victory would have been achieved.
The stand-off between Anna Hazare and the Government is over the Lokpal Bill, and now that it has garnered so much media attention, it will be resolved. Eventually, the Lokpal Bill might even be drafted afresh with suggestions from ‘India Against Corruption’ included in it. The Bill, even in its successively watered down versions, has already failed eight times to get through the Parliament, so it is unlikely that a stronger Bill will get passed any time soon. Even if it does get passed and a strong and unbiased Lokpal gets appointed, it will not root out corruption from India.
The moment a Lokpal gets appointed, the office becomes part of the system and inherits its weaknesses and compromises. Also, it is unfair to expect one institution alone to right a society’s wrongs; it can’t. The CBI, almost exclusively handling corruption cases now, and the CVC remain under-performers not only because they take orders from political masters, but more so because corruption has become so deep-rooted that it has become impossible to even book all the guilty, let alone win convictions against all cases charge-sheeted. When the charter handed out is obviously impossible to deliver on, compromises sit easy on the conscience. Corruption pervades not in the absence of adequate laws, rules and checks, but because the people at large have started not only accepting, but also endorsing it. Every time we seek out ‘contacts’ to expedite personal works and to avoid waiting in line, we join the league of the corrupted. It is wrong to try and grade the different levels of corruption, because when it comes to this issue, one is either corrupt or upright, there are really no in-betweens. How does a Lokpal go about setting such a situation right?
If we, as a nation, are to allow ourselves even an outside chance to take on the monster of corruption, the Lokpal Bill has to be allied as a facilitator, not the deliverer. The larger battle will be to effect a paradigm shift in how we approach corruption. The first attitudinal change will have to be to stop accepting corruption as inevitable. At a personal level, this can be done by refusing to seek out ways to bend rules to avoid inconvenience and this can slowly grow to refusing to succumb to demands for bribes. Once this refusal to accept corruption as inevitable is reasonably established, the even more disturbing trend which actually endorses corruption will also go [accept it, it is not just job security which has parents preferring government employment for their children]. When that happens, the corrupt will be denounced by the people. At present, only the corrupt who get caught risk public disapproval. Once we, as Indians, reach that stage, we won’t need the Lokpal anymore and the existing laws, investigating agencies and courts will be checks enough. If we cannot reach that agreement as a people, even Anna Hazare himself as the Lokpal cannot defeat corruption.
Anna Hazare has brought corruption to centre-stage, forced the nation to confront an embarrassment which has become insidiously all-pervasive in our country. The passion with which the people have found common cause with the stand espoused by the 72-year-old Gandhian is indicative of a shift in how corruption is perceived. Where does the nation go from here? Media attention might start flagging after the immediacy of a fast-unto-death has played out and public attention will soon shift to other issues to light a candle for, but if the condemnation of corruption rallied from Jantar Mantar grows into a collective and instinctive revulsion towards the corrupt, a substantial victory would have been achieved.
The stand-off between Anna Hazare and the Government is over the Lokpal Bill, and now that it has garnered so much media attention, it will be resolved. Eventually, the Lokpal Bill might even be drafted afresh with suggestions from ‘India Against Corruption’ included in it. The Bill, even in its successively watered down versions, has already failed eight times to get through the Parliament, so it is unlikely that a stronger Bill will get passed any time soon. Even if it does get passed and a strong and unbiased Lokpal gets appointed, it will not root out corruption from India.
The moment a Lokpal gets appointed, the office becomes part of the system and inherits its weaknesses and compromises. Also, it is unfair to expect one institution alone to right a society’s wrongs; it can’t. The CBI, almost exclusively handling corruption cases now, and the CVC remain under-performers not only because they take orders from political masters, but more so because corruption has become so deep-rooted that it has become impossible to even book all the guilty, let alone win convictions against all cases charge-sheeted. When the charter handed out is obviously impossible to deliver on, compromises sit easy on the conscience. Corruption pervades not in the absence of adequate laws, rules and checks, but because the people at large have started not only accepting, but also endorsing it. Every time we seek out ‘contacts’ to expedite personal works and to avoid waiting in line, we join the league of the corrupted. It is wrong to try and grade the different levels of corruption, because when it comes to this issue, one is either corrupt or upright, there are really no in-betweens. How does a Lokpal go about setting such a situation right?
If we, as a nation, are to allow ourselves even an outside chance to take on the monster of corruption, the Lokpal Bill has to be allied as a facilitator, not the deliverer. The larger battle will be to effect a paradigm shift in how we approach corruption. The first attitudinal change will have to be to stop accepting corruption as inevitable. At a personal level, this can be done by refusing to seek out ways to bend rules to avoid inconvenience and this can slowly grow to refusing to succumb to demands for bribes. Once this refusal to accept corruption as inevitable is reasonably established, the even more disturbing trend which actually endorses corruption will also go [accept it, it is not just job security which has parents preferring government employment for their children]. When that happens, the corrupt will be denounced by the people. At present, only the corrupt who get caught risk public disapproval. Once we, as Indians, reach that stage, we won’t need the Lokpal anymore and the existing laws, investigating agencies and courts will be checks enough. If we cannot reach that agreement as a people, even Anna Hazare himself as the Lokpal cannot defeat corruption.
Sikkim Youth rally in support of Anna’s crusade
SOURCE:SIKKIM NOW
Friday, April 8, 2011
Manmohan steps up efforts to resolve Lokpal deadlock
Social activist Anna Hazare, who is sitting on an indefinite fast demanding an effective anti-corruption law, blesses a girl at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: S. Subramanium
As the hunger strike of social activist Anna Hazare entered the fourth day today, differences persist on chairmanship of the committee and issue of official notification.
Amid the stalemate over the Lokpal Bill, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday stepped up efforts to resolve the issue.
Dr. Singh, who held discussions with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, her political secretary Ahmad Patel, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee earlier in the day, held a second round of deliberations with senior ministers on Friday afternoon as activist Anna Hazare, who is sitting on a fast-unto-death protest, announced a Jail Bharo agitation from April 13.
Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Mr. Sibal, Mr. Mukherjee and Law Minister Veerappa Moily met the Prime Minister at his official residence.
So far, Mr. Sibal had been holding discussions with Mr. Hazare’s emissaries — Swami Agnivesh and Arvind Kejriwal.
Mr. Hazare has been on a hunger strike since Monday demanding formation of a joint committee to draft an effective Lokpal Bill.
Mr. Sibal had held two rounds of talks with Swami Agnivesh and Mr. Kejriwal but differences persist on the issue of the chairmanship of the committee being given to a civil society member and an official notification being issued in this regard.
Corruption
Corruption" may have been the most repeated word of 2010-11 as political and corporate scams sprawled across the Indian landscape. But something seems to be changing now. The chorus against corruption is amplifying. And the movement has found a face in Anna Hazare, the man who had earlier led the movement for the Right to Information Act (RTI).
But there is another important yet lesser known story about this Gandhian reformer that we believe has critical solutions to the Indian economy and the world at large. The story dates backs to the 1980s in a barren village called Ralegan Siddhi, located in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. The drought-prone village was plagued by a perennial water scarcity. Almost 80% of the villagers were dependent on other villages for food grains. Many folks had abandoned the village in search of work elsewhere, while others opened liquor dens to sustain themselves. The social life too, as a result, was very turbulent.
Then a native of this village returned after serving the Indian Army. He decided to transform his village and to make it self-sufficient. All he had was will and wisdom. He started various programmes to conserve water and prevent soil erosion. The principle of his ridge-to-valley model was to hold the rain where it fell and to use that water to build the economic base of the village.
It worked! By the 1990s, the village turned around 180 degrees- from barren to green, from dependent to self-sufficient. Income levels had risen substantially. Over 25% of the village earned more than Rs 5 lakh annually. That was a time when the super-rich in India were defined as those who earned more than Rs 10 lakh annually. Even more important, the income disparities were low.
The success of Anna's self-sufficient eco-village model shows that ecological and natural wealth can create well-being and economic growth. At a time when the global economy is gripped with economic and environmental disasters, Anna's solution is what the world must be looking at.
By J Mulraj
Corruption" may have been the most repeated word of 2010-11 as political and corporate scams sprawled across the Indian landscape. But something seems to be changing now. The chorus against corruption is amplifying. And the movement has found a face in Anna Hazare, the man who had earlier led the movement for the Right to Information Act (RTI).
But there is another important yet lesser known story about this Gandhian reformer that we believe has critical solutions to the Indian economy and the world at large. The story dates backs to the 1980s in a barren village called Ralegan Siddhi, located in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. The drought-prone village was plagued by a perennial water scarcity. Almost 80% of the villagers were dependent on other villages for food grains. Many folks had abandoned the village in search of work elsewhere, while others opened liquor dens to sustain themselves. The social life too, as a result, was very turbulent.
Then a native of this village returned after serving the Indian Army. He decided to transform his village and to make it self-sufficient. All he had was will and wisdom. He started various programmes to conserve water and prevent soil erosion. The principle of his ridge-to-valley model was to hold the rain where it fell and to use that water to build the economic base of the village.
It worked! By the 1990s, the village turned around 180 degrees- from barren to green, from dependent to self-sufficient. Income levels had risen substantially. Over 25% of the village earned more than Rs 5 lakh annually. That was a time when the super-rich in India were defined as those who earned more than Rs 10 lakh annually. Even more important, the income disparities were low.
The success of Anna's self-sufficient eco-village model shows that ecological and natural wealth can create well-being and economic growth. At a time when the global economy is gripped with economic and environmental disasters, Anna's solution is what the world must be looking at.
By J Mulraj
Anna Hazare in his fight for New India
Join Anna Hazare in his fight for New India
BY Tilak Jha
There’s anger. There’s frustration. There’s unrest. And there’s bitterness against the menace called corruption and its perpetrators.
One visit to Jantar Mantar where 72 year old Anna Hazare is holding an indefinite hunger strike along with members of India Against Corruption (IAC) and you will witness the electrifying feeling of what Tahrir Square or our own 1921, 1942, 1947 or 1975 would have been like. Reports suggest that similar is the temperament among people across the country.
Where we failed?
The greatest failure of rule of law in our country has been the fact that people stopped believing that honesty too can be a way of life. Ask anyone and the reply comes, ‘Imaandaari ka zamaana kahan raha saab’. Honesty and simplicity are considered to be qualities of failure. This, despite the fact that most of us are most of the time honest in most of the things we deal with in our life. But the belief that being fair and honest is not an option for survival is the greatest failure Indian psyche ever have had. This defeatist mentality has put us in a situation where we stopped questioning corruption and rather accepted it as inevitable.
Raise Your Banner.Raise Your Banner. A protester at the Jantar Mantar
First we ignored clerks and then petty officials. Next we tolerated corrupt bureaucrats and then came doctors, teachers and small leaders. Worse, we kept voting for corrupt politicians, or at least didn’t do enough to vote them out. Now, the situation is so terrible that there is not a single institution in this country which can be trusted. The most powerful institutions are full of most corrupt people. The highest judiciary has either not remain untouched. And the overwhelming numbers of corrupt people have made the situation so complex that no one dares to be honest. Right and honest individuals are suppressed, threatened and murdered.
What else anarchy is if not this?
Remember the killing of NHAI whistleblower Satyendra Dubey in 2004 in Gaya. There have been a series of murders after that. The most famous being the killing of IIM-Lucknow alumni and Indian Oil Officer Manjunath Shanmugham who was brutally murdered in 2005 for sealing a corrupt petrol station in UP. This year itself, in yet another brazen act, a day before the Republic Day of our country, Additional District Collector Yashwant Sonawane, 42, a Maharashtra-cadre officer was burnt alive in broad daylight at Manmad in Maharashtra’s Nashik district by the local mafia during raids to uncover the illegal hoarding of kerosene and petrol.
Up Against Corruption. People at the Jantar Mantar.Up Against Corruption. People at the Jantar Mantar.
We have started ignoring the murder of Right to Information (RTI) activist the way we ignore killing of terrorists and insurgents. Right to Information (RTI) activist Satish Shetty — who exposed many land scams in Maharashtra — was killed on January 12 this year. RTI activist Amit Jethwa was murdered near the Gujarat High Court in Ahmedabad in broad day light on June 26 last year. The Hindu reported in July last year that eight RTI activist have been killed in seven month.
The fortunate development
Fortunately, people are taking note of corruption. As Anna Hazare’s fight enters day 3, the movement is growing wider and broader.
Young marcher gathered for the Candle March at India Gate. Candle March will be taken every eveing from India Gate to Jantar Mantar till the government doesn't meet the demand.Young marcher gathered for the Candle March at India Gate. Candle March will be taken every eveing from India Gate to Jantar Mantar till the government doesn't meet the demand.
On Wednesday in New Delhi, students from Jamia Millia Islamia joined the protest. Jawahar Lal Nehru University student have already been around from day 1. Aligarh Muslim University students union will join on Thursday.
Reports of students from IITs and IIMs joining the protest across the country has also made into the headlines. Delhi University students are organizing “DU for Hazare on Thursday in Hindu College”. Equally overwhelming has been the participation from private institutions like Amity.
It’s not a student alone movement. Office goers, house wives, rickshaw pullers and school children are making pilgrimage to Anna’s temple at Jantar Mantar every day.
This is your chance
There have been cases of corruption earlier as well but our generation has mostly witnessed cases about corruption alone. For the last three decades corruption has gone from bad to worse. Favouritism, nepotism, and all sorts of immoral policies and isms have become the toast of our daily life. It’s showing no sign of stopping.
The candle marchers at the Jantar Mantar on Day 3The candle marchers at the Jantar Mantar on Day 3
Our generation has the opportunity to play a decisive role in setting the agenda for the way this country should be run. It’s good that we are finally witnessing a movement where people from all walks of life, including Bollywood, are coming together for a cause beyond religion, region or caste.
Before I conclude
“Ay, fight and you may die, run and you’ll live. At least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom.”
Recall the eco of the thunderous dialogues above of William Wallace (Mel Gibson) in ‘Braveheart” in front of the Scott warriors and march against corruption wherever you arE.
SOURCE;isikkim
BY Tilak Jha
There’s anger. There’s frustration. There’s unrest. And there’s bitterness against the menace called corruption and its perpetrators.
One visit to Jantar Mantar where 72 year old Anna Hazare is holding an indefinite hunger strike along with members of India Against Corruption (IAC) and you will witness the electrifying feeling of what Tahrir Square or our own 1921, 1942, 1947 or 1975 would have been like. Reports suggest that similar is the temperament among people across the country.
Where we failed?
The greatest failure of rule of law in our country has been the fact that people stopped believing that honesty too can be a way of life. Ask anyone and the reply comes, ‘Imaandaari ka zamaana kahan raha saab’. Honesty and simplicity are considered to be qualities of failure. This, despite the fact that most of us are most of the time honest in most of the things we deal with in our life. But the belief that being fair and honest is not an option for survival is the greatest failure Indian psyche ever have had. This defeatist mentality has put us in a situation where we stopped questioning corruption and rather accepted it as inevitable.
Raise Your Banner.Raise Your Banner. A protester at the Jantar Mantar
First we ignored clerks and then petty officials. Next we tolerated corrupt bureaucrats and then came doctors, teachers and small leaders. Worse, we kept voting for corrupt politicians, or at least didn’t do enough to vote them out. Now, the situation is so terrible that there is not a single institution in this country which can be trusted. The most powerful institutions are full of most corrupt people. The highest judiciary has either not remain untouched. And the overwhelming numbers of corrupt people have made the situation so complex that no one dares to be honest. Right and honest individuals are suppressed, threatened and murdered.
What else anarchy is if not this?
Remember the killing of NHAI whistleblower Satyendra Dubey in 2004 in Gaya. There have been a series of murders after that. The most famous being the killing of IIM-Lucknow alumni and Indian Oil Officer Manjunath Shanmugham who was brutally murdered in 2005 for sealing a corrupt petrol station in UP. This year itself, in yet another brazen act, a day before the Republic Day of our country, Additional District Collector Yashwant Sonawane, 42, a Maharashtra-cadre officer was burnt alive in broad daylight at Manmad in Maharashtra’s Nashik district by the local mafia during raids to uncover the illegal hoarding of kerosene and petrol.
Up Against Corruption. People at the Jantar Mantar.Up Against Corruption. People at the Jantar Mantar.
We have started ignoring the murder of Right to Information (RTI) activist the way we ignore killing of terrorists and insurgents. Right to Information (RTI) activist Satish Shetty — who exposed many land scams in Maharashtra — was killed on January 12 this year. RTI activist Amit Jethwa was murdered near the Gujarat High Court in Ahmedabad in broad day light on June 26 last year. The Hindu reported in July last year that eight RTI activist have been killed in seven month.
The fortunate development
Fortunately, people are taking note of corruption. As Anna Hazare’s fight enters day 3, the movement is growing wider and broader.
Young marcher gathered for the Candle March at India Gate. Candle March will be taken every eveing from India Gate to Jantar Mantar till the government doesn't meet the demand.Young marcher gathered for the Candle March at India Gate. Candle March will be taken every eveing from India Gate to Jantar Mantar till the government doesn't meet the demand.
On Wednesday in New Delhi, students from Jamia Millia Islamia joined the protest. Jawahar Lal Nehru University student have already been around from day 1. Aligarh Muslim University students union will join on Thursday.
Reports of students from IITs and IIMs joining the protest across the country has also made into the headlines. Delhi University students are organizing “DU for Hazare on Thursday in Hindu College”. Equally overwhelming has been the participation from private institutions like Amity.
It’s not a student alone movement. Office goers, house wives, rickshaw pullers and school children are making pilgrimage to Anna’s temple at Jantar Mantar every day.
This is your chance
There have been cases of corruption earlier as well but our generation has mostly witnessed cases about corruption alone. For the last three decades corruption has gone from bad to worse. Favouritism, nepotism, and all sorts of immoral policies and isms have become the toast of our daily life. It’s showing no sign of stopping.
The candle marchers at the Jantar Mantar on Day 3The candle marchers at the Jantar Mantar on Day 3
Our generation has the opportunity to play a decisive role in setting the agenda for the way this country should be run. It’s good that we are finally witnessing a movement where people from all walks of life, including Bollywood, are coming together for a cause beyond religion, region or caste.
Before I conclude
“Ay, fight and you may die, run and you’ll live. At least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom.”
Recall the eco of the thunderous dialogues above of William Wallace (Mel Gibson) in ‘Braveheart” in front of the Scott warriors and march against corruption wherever you arE.
SOURCE;isikkim
ROY’S MUSINGS: The fuss about the Lokpal Bill – A Brief Discussion
SOURCE: THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE
BY BARUN ROY
People who visit India often wonder how India continues to remain united as a country when every 25 kilometers, the language changes and people seem different. India’s strength is indeed in her diversity. There might not be many Indians in India but sure that is for the political parties to blame and not the people who remain loyal, gleefully cross eyed in love and awe of their great motherland. The political institutions in this nation are as strong as it ever can be and the forefathers who have formulated them must be thanked for their foresight and fortitude. However, same cannot be said about the quality of politics being practiced in this nation, since the qualities of political leaders themselves have steadily dipped to the extent it now tips the scale on the negative side. It was said that a few decades after the independence with the beginning of the License Raj, politicians resorted to the support of organized crime syndicates to help them win the elections by coercing and silencing populist voices. In the recent years it has been noticed that the criminal elements themselves have donned the garb of the politicians and taken up the mantel of the supposed ‘champions of the people’.
The Power of Universal Adult Franchise has also seemingly become redundant as the one Constitutional means available to the people as a means to address this problem. The people get to vote only once every five years and the choice of people to be voted into power seldom changes. On the both side of the coin there remain people who are not fighting each other to champion the rights of the people but the right to rule over the people.
The Supreme Court exercising its power of Judicial Review has done its bit and continues to do so but it has still not been able to root out corruption in the Governance. The Corruption in the Governance at all levels be they national, state, district or block is such that its effects are now being seen to percolate at all levels of public functioning. People themselves have begun to be corrupt and corruption it is deemed to be the only method by which any work can be done in this great nation.
Surely there must be a way out of this quagmire else this great nation founded over the toil and blood of millions of martyrs will fall prey to dejection and slavery once again. In 1809, the office of Ombudsman was created in Sweden followed by Finland in 1919, Denmark (1955), Norway and New Zealand (1962) and United Kingdom as (Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration) in 1967.
‘Ombudsman’, a Swedish word stands for an officer appointed by the legislature to handle complaints against administrative and judicial action. As an impartial investigator, the Ombudsman makes investigations, looks at all the facts objectively and reports back to the legislature. The complainant has simply to write to the Ombudsman appealing against an administrative decision. The Ombudsman system has been popular because of its simple and speedy nature. It is also a cheap method of handling appeals against administrative decisions.
In 1966 the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) in India recommended the setting of similar institutions in the nation. The Commission stated, “… We are of the view that the special circumstances relating to our country can be fully met, by providing for two special institutions for the redressal of citizens’ grievances. There should be one authority for dealing with complains against the administrative acts of ministers and secretaries to government both at the centre and in the states. There should be another authority in each state and the centre for dealing with complaints against the administrative acts of other officials. All these authorities should be independent of the executive as well as the legislature and judiciary”. The ARC called the first authority the Lokpal and the second authority the Lokayukta.
In the decades since the submission of the report of the ARC, the various political parties in the country forming government both at the Central and the State level have promised the passing of the Lokpal Bill but the same have been nothing but a hollow dream. The biggest hurdle in setting up the office of the Lokpal independent of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary’ has been the unwillingness on the part of the Political Leadership in the country to submit themselves to enquiry by an independent authority. Interestingly, various states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, Orissa, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi have appointed Lokayukta, the appointment of a Lokpal stills seems to be a distant dreams as the dealings of every political leader in power would then fall under its purview. The appointments of the Lokayukta in the aforementioned states have also been as a result of a mass public movement initiated by the likes of Anna Hazare (in Maharashtra, the first state to pass the Lokayukta Bill).
Lastly, with the growing corruption in all the organs of the Government as brought to light through various scams involving various prominent politicians including the most recent scams in the CWG and the 2G etc and those witnessed by the people in their day to day interaction with the various government agencies, the Lokpal Bill will not be taken seriously by the government or political parties both in power or in opposition unless they are forced to do so through sheer public pressure. Prominent Social Activist Anna Hazare’s fast unto death on this issue has certainly put the focus on the Lokpal Bill and in essence the need to root out Corruption from the Indian Political System. Now it is for the people of this great nation to prove that they are really the descendents of the great freedom fighters who won independence from the British Empire. Will the present generation live up to the expectation of the coming generation? Will the generations to come hail this generation of Indians as determined and dynamic group of people who stood up for what is right, or will this generation crawl back to eking out an existence in the quagmire of corruption blaming everything happening around them to someone else? The answer lies with You!
SOURCE: THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE
BY BARUN ROY
People who visit India often wonder how India continues to remain united as a country when every 25 kilometers, the language changes and people seem different. India’s strength is indeed in her diversity. There might not be many Indians in India but sure that is for the political parties to blame and not the people who remain loyal, gleefully cross eyed in love and awe of their great motherland. The political institutions in this nation are as strong as it ever can be and the forefathers who have formulated them must be thanked for their foresight and fortitude. However, same cannot be said about the quality of politics being practiced in this nation, since the qualities of political leaders themselves have steadily dipped to the extent it now tips the scale on the negative side. It was said that a few decades after the independence with the beginning of the License Raj, politicians resorted to the support of organized crime syndicates to help them win the elections by coercing and silencing populist voices. In the recent years it has been noticed that the criminal elements themselves have donned the garb of the politicians and taken up the mantel of the supposed ‘champions of the people’.
The Power of Universal Adult Franchise has also seemingly become redundant as the one Constitutional means available to the people as a means to address this problem. The people get to vote only once every five years and the choice of people to be voted into power seldom changes. On the both side of the coin there remain people who are not fighting each other to champion the rights of the people but the right to rule over the people.
The Supreme Court exercising its power of Judicial Review has done its bit and continues to do so but it has still not been able to root out corruption in the Governance. The Corruption in the Governance at all levels be they national, state, district or block is such that its effects are now being seen to percolate at all levels of public functioning. People themselves have begun to be corrupt and corruption it is deemed to be the only method by which any work can be done in this great nation.
Surely there must be a way out of this quagmire else this great nation founded over the toil and blood of millions of martyrs will fall prey to dejection and slavery once again. In 1809, the office of Ombudsman was created in Sweden followed by Finland in 1919, Denmark (1955), Norway and New Zealand (1962) and United Kingdom as (Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration) in 1967.
‘Ombudsman’, a Swedish word stands for an officer appointed by the legislature to handle complaints against administrative and judicial action. As an impartial investigator, the Ombudsman makes investigations, looks at all the facts objectively and reports back to the legislature. The complainant has simply to write to the Ombudsman appealing against an administrative decision. The Ombudsman system has been popular because of its simple and speedy nature. It is also a cheap method of handling appeals against administrative decisions.
In 1966 the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) in India recommended the setting of similar institutions in the nation. The Commission stated, “… We are of the view that the special circumstances relating to our country can be fully met, by providing for two special institutions for the redressal of citizens’ grievances. There should be one authority for dealing with complains against the administrative acts of ministers and secretaries to government both at the centre and in the states. There should be another authority in each state and the centre for dealing with complaints against the administrative acts of other officials. All these authorities should be independent of the executive as well as the legislature and judiciary”. The ARC called the first authority the Lokpal and the second authority the Lokayukta.
In the decades since the submission of the report of the ARC, the various political parties in the country forming government both at the Central and the State level have promised the passing of the Lokpal Bill but the same have been nothing but a hollow dream. The biggest hurdle in setting up the office of the Lokpal independent of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary’ has been the unwillingness on the part of the Political Leadership in the country to submit themselves to enquiry by an independent authority. Interestingly, various states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, Orissa, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi have appointed Lokayukta, the appointment of a Lokpal stills seems to be a distant dreams as the dealings of every political leader in power would then fall under its purview. The appointments of the Lokayukta in the aforementioned states have also been as a result of a mass public movement initiated by the likes of Anna Hazare (in Maharashtra, the first state to pass the Lokayukta Bill).
Lastly, with the growing corruption in all the organs of the Government as brought to light through various scams involving various prominent politicians including the most recent scams in the CWG and the 2G etc and those witnessed by the people in their day to day interaction with the various government agencies, the Lokpal Bill will not be taken seriously by the government or political parties both in power or in opposition unless they are forced to do so through sheer public pressure. Prominent Social Activist Anna Hazare’s fast unto death on this issue has certainly put the focus on the Lokpal Bill and in essence the need to root out Corruption from the Indian Political System. Now it is for the people of this great nation to prove that they are really the descendents of the great freedom fighters who won independence from the British Empire. Will the present generation live up to the expectation of the coming generation? Will the generations to come hail this generation of Indians as determined and dynamic group of people who stood up for what is right, or will this generation crawl back to eking out an existence in the quagmire of corruption blaming everything happening around them to someone else? The answer lies with You!
SUPPORT ANNA HAZARE TO WIPE OUT CORRUPTION FROM INDIA
The Anna Hazare phenomenon
(Dr. R.K. Raghavan is a former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation)
Social activist Anna Hazare addresses the media and the gathering on the third day of his fast-unto-death campaign, demanding anti-corruption law on the lines of Lokpal Bill, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursday. Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma
The right step would be for Manmohan Singh to visit Jantar Mantar without further loss of time to persuade the Gandhian to call off his fast, and also explore a compromise.
Jantar Mantar in New Delhi is a hot favourite of the average tourist in the summer season. As the temperatures soar this year, the monument is drawing even greater crowds, mainly to savour the electric atmosphere generated by a 72-year-old school drop-out from an indigent labour family of Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district. To say that Anna Hazare is a phenomenon is to state the obvious. The spot he has chosen in the heart of the national capital for his fast-unto-death action is not far from Parliament, which in his eyes stands wholly discredited. The numbers he has drawn till now have astonished the whole nation.
Despite glib words of praise for the principle that motivates Anna, there is unmistakable chagrin among those in the corridors of power — whom he is challenging. They claim that they alone are vested with the authority to decide what kind of legislation should be drafted to tackle corruption in high places, and not the likes of Anna Hazare. They look upon him as an usurper who has to be put in his place somehow.
There is a growing feeling that those in South Block and North Block are reading the situation wrongly. They seem to assume that if they hold on for just a few more days, the gutsy man would wilt and the common person would forget that such a protest ever happened. Interesting days are therefore ahead in the battle against the kind of corruption that has come to envelop the country.
During a television debate in which I took part this week, one person in the clued-up audience said it would be better to go to jail rather than live in a ‘free' India that has been soiled by the ugly contours of dishonesty in public life. Such is the desperation in the mind of the citizen who has now to pay for every service to which he or she is entitled free of cost as a law abiding and taxpaying citizen. Many of my friends abroad ask why the harassed Indian has not yet risen in revolt, but is taking the situation lying down. It is difficult to respond to the question meaningfully.
Things seem to be changing, however, with Anna's arrival on the scene. While I would not like to exaggerate his impact, I will not underrate him either — as many in authority in Delhi would seem to be doing. Anna could prove to be the Pied Piper who will be remembered for many years, and the undoing of many who currently enjoy power despite their dubious reputation. Anna has already claimed one scalp in the form of the Agriculture Minister, who chose to exit from the Group of Ministers charged with the task of drafting the Lokpal bill. Others may follow. The point is that Anna is no longer inconsequential as many had thought before he launched his satyagraha on April 5.
Some people are critical of the way Anna has given no options to the powers-that-be. He is described as obstinate and impractical. In particular, many legal pundits, of the likes of Harish Salve, are apprehensive that he is derailing and hijacking the democratic process while trying to do good for the nation. The suggestion is that no one, however mighty he or she may be, can be allowed to subvert or bypass the democratic institutions in which law-making authority is vested by the Constitution. This stand is, however, blind to the very rationale for Anna taking to the streets with his case. In his view, the track record of all legislators is poor and they have betrayed the trust reposed in them by the electorate. He is convinced that left to themselves the law-makers will continue to hoodwink the public through their tokenism in the struggle against corruption — a criticism that is based on the weak Lokpal bill that the government has framed.
Anna and those around him, such as Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi, point out how the Jan Lokpal bill has vastly improved upon the official Lokpal bill, offering hope for drastic action being taken against bribe-takers. To be specific, the civil society bill will cover bureaucrats and judges also, in addition to the Prime Minister, Ministers and Members of Parliament. It will not be a hollow, toothless recommendatory body as the one that is envisaged by the official bill. It will go far beyond that and function as a prosecuting agency, with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) being a part of it.
Despite Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal's appeal that the situation should not degenerate into a ‘they' vs. ‘us' confrontation, the fact remains that it has become one. There are certainly two parties to the issue, and neither is relenting. Anna Hazare says he had written several times on the subject to the Prime Minister, without any response. This is why he had no alternative but to go on a fast, just as the Mahatma did while fighting the alien ruler. The government, mainly in the form of Mr. Sibal, believes it cannot abdicate its absolute authority, and cannot cave in to the pressure that strikes at the roots of the Constitution.
Amid this wrangling, there is a definite danger to Anna's life. You are not dealing here with a young person, and a 72-year-old individual has limited physical reserves. There does not seem to be a full appreciation of the risks involved. If it is the government's assessment that even in the worst case scenario there is no possibility of a popular uprising because Anna is a political lightweight, my feeling is that the government is being unethical and is playing with fire. If the government believes that Anna is being unreasonable in seeking to pressure constitutional authority, in a way that will also be tantamount to disrespecting the Father of the Nation. It will, in the process, discountenance whatever the Mahatma stood for.
It will therefore be advisable for the Prime Minister to bundle up enough courage and handle the situation himself, instead of depending on those around him. The right step would be for Dr. Manmohan Singh to visit Jantar Mantar without further loss of time in order to persuade Anna to call off his fast, and also explore a compromise. The two men have many things in common, including a belief in the fundamental values of probity and civility in interpersonal relationships. If they cannot do the trick, nothing else will.
Finally, Anna's demand for a robustly independent investigating agency strikes a chord in many of us who have been demanding autonomy for the CBI, which remains an appendage of the executive to be manipulated at will by it. If the CBI has done reasonably well in investigating the 2G spectrum scam, it is because of the power derived from the court monitoring the process. How many cases can the courts thus keep track of and give genuine apolitical supervision?
India undoubtedly needs an Ombudsman of the kind Anna is demanding. This has worked very well in many parts of the globe, especially in Europe. Call it by any name, including the Independent Commission against Corruption of Hong Kong, a truly strong Ombudsman is badly needed in India at the present juncture, when the country's image has received an unparalleled beating. India is now a laughing stock in the comity of nations. Right-thinking people, drawing inspiration from Anna Hazare, can definitely bring about a turnaround. We owe this to this country's future generations.
.)
North East Council selects TAAS to impart tourism training
Rs. 1.46 CRORE BUDGET SANCTIONED FOR CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING TO BE OFFERED BY TAAS TO TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS FROM NORTH-EAST REGION
source:Sikkim Now
GANGTOK, 06 April: Keeping in mind the steady rise in the number of tourism-related activities prompted by the increasing number of tourist arrivals, the North Eastern Council, Ministry of DoNER, realizing the need of improved professionalism to cater to the tourists, has sanctioned a whopping Rs. 146.36 lakhs to Travel Agents Association of Sikkim [TAAS] to undertake skill- development trainings for youth from the NE region in Sikkim.
The funding has been granted under the scheme, “Skill Development and Capacity Building Training for Tour Operators and pother Tourism Stakeholders of the North East Region”, which will be implemented by TAAS and completed by end-December this year.
Addressing a press conference here in the capital today, Lukendra Rasaily, president TAAS informed that the training shall be imparted to stakeholders from all the Northeastern states including Sikkim with the direct advice and supervision of NEC (Tourism, banking and Industry Cell). TAAS will also take help from MS Bhuyan, Advisor, NEC (Tourism Banking and Industry) for the smooth implementation of the project and submit progress reports on a day to day basis.
“We have been selected from among many organizations which is a great honour and privilege for us. Actually, we had been trying this since 2008 when we were invited by the Ministry of Tourism whom we had assured that we will promote the entire region as an eco- tourism destination,” he told reporters this afternoon.
The trainings have been categorized into secretarial practices,hospitality,accounting and book keeping, air ticketing, foreign exchange,e-commerce,banking, marketing,promotion,publicity and advertising, tour/treks and specialized guide training, technical team for mountain biking, home stay service providers, eco tourism service providers and cook training.
A group of 25 participants each will undergo training on the nine categories being offered. Only the tour/treks and specialized guides training shall see a total of 75 participants. The duration of each training programme shall be a month, after which these trainees will graduate into master trainers.
“Every state from the NE can send 3 participants each for the different courses being offered. There will also be a foreign language training of 90 days duration in which we have decided that German will be taught. There shall be a total of 300 beneficiaries”, informed Mr. Rasaily.
Also present at the press conference were Sailesh Pradhan, Vice President [South/West], Tshering Dorjee, Vice President [North/East] and executive members.
‘This is a big responsibility we have been entrusted to complete and we shall reach our objective to bring all the other NE states at par with Sikkim in the promotion of tourism and to showcase the region as a total eco- tourism destination’, he added.
It may also be informed that fooding and lodging for the participants will be borne by TAAS who will also bring in resource persons from inside and outside the state for the training.
“TAAS has been campaigning for declaration of the region as eco- tourism zone through appeals and speeches in different high- level tourism forums for the past three years. All the training will be designed to cater to the needs of eco and village tourism practices”, he explained.
Mr. Rasaily further said that the main aim of providing capacity building training to the stakeholders of the NE region is to prepare them to take up tourism business and activities to cater to the needs of the travelers in a professional manner and to bring all the North east states at par with Sikkim in the promotion, marketing of tourism product in the region.
“TAAS shall be implementing the programme along with various professional agencies and will also seek support from the state government. All professionals will be invited to impart trainings. There will be the theory as well practical training during the course period”, he informed.
Here, he added that a project director and different project managers will run the show and complete the day to day administrative works in a separate office. He informed that 8 different state coordinators will be selected from amongst the TAAS members and most of the field level trainings will be conducted by the select members of the association.
“In order to disseminate information and keep the transparency level high, a website www.taasfoundation.com has also been setup where the day to day activities of the training programme will be posted”, he concluded.
Rs. 1.46 CRORE BUDGET SANCTIONED FOR CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING TO BE OFFERED BY TAAS TO TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS FROM NORTH-EAST REGION
source:Sikkim Now
GANGTOK, 06 April: Keeping in mind the steady rise in the number of tourism-related activities prompted by the increasing number of tourist arrivals, the North Eastern Council, Ministry of DoNER, realizing the need of improved professionalism to cater to the tourists, has sanctioned a whopping Rs. 146.36 lakhs to Travel Agents Association of Sikkim [TAAS] to undertake skill- development trainings for youth from the NE region in Sikkim.
The funding has been granted under the scheme, “Skill Development and Capacity Building Training for Tour Operators and pother Tourism Stakeholders of the North East Region”, which will be implemented by TAAS and completed by end-December this year.
Addressing a press conference here in the capital today, Lukendra Rasaily, president TAAS informed that the training shall be imparted to stakeholders from all the Northeastern states including Sikkim with the direct advice and supervision of NEC (Tourism, banking and Industry Cell). TAAS will also take help from MS Bhuyan, Advisor, NEC (Tourism Banking and Industry) for the smooth implementation of the project and submit progress reports on a day to day basis.
“We have been selected from among many organizations which is a great honour and privilege for us. Actually, we had been trying this since 2008 when we were invited by the Ministry of Tourism whom we had assured that we will promote the entire region as an eco- tourism destination,” he told reporters this afternoon.
The trainings have been categorized into secretarial practices,hospitality,accounting and book keeping, air ticketing, foreign exchange,e-commerce,banking, marketing,promotion,publicity and advertising, tour/treks and specialized guide training, technical team for mountain biking, home stay service providers, eco tourism service providers and cook training.
A group of 25 participants each will undergo training on the nine categories being offered. Only the tour/treks and specialized guides training shall see a total of 75 participants. The duration of each training programme shall be a month, after which these trainees will graduate into master trainers.
“Every state from the NE can send 3 participants each for the different courses being offered. There will also be a foreign language training of 90 days duration in which we have decided that German will be taught. There shall be a total of 300 beneficiaries”, informed Mr. Rasaily.
Also present at the press conference were Sailesh Pradhan, Vice President [South/West], Tshering Dorjee, Vice President [North/East] and executive members.
‘This is a big responsibility we have been entrusted to complete and we shall reach our objective to bring all the other NE states at par with Sikkim in the promotion of tourism and to showcase the region as a total eco- tourism destination’, he added.
It may also be informed that fooding and lodging for the participants will be borne by TAAS who will also bring in resource persons from inside and outside the state for the training.
“TAAS has been campaigning for declaration of the region as eco- tourism zone through appeals and speeches in different high- level tourism forums for the past three years. All the training will be designed to cater to the needs of eco and village tourism practices”, he explained.
Mr. Rasaily further said that the main aim of providing capacity building training to the stakeholders of the NE region is to prepare them to take up tourism business and activities to cater to the needs of the travelers in a professional manner and to bring all the North east states at par with Sikkim in the promotion, marketing of tourism product in the region.
“TAAS shall be implementing the programme along with various professional agencies and will also seek support from the state government. All professionals will be invited to impart trainings. There will be the theory as well practical training during the course period”, he informed.
Here, he added that a project director and different project managers will run the show and complete the day to day administrative works in a separate office. He informed that 8 different state coordinators will be selected from amongst the TAAS members and most of the field level trainings will be conducted by the select members of the association.
“In order to disseminate information and keep the transparency level high, a website www.taasfoundation.com has also been setup where the day to day activities of the training programme will be posted”, he concluded.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Jahangir portrait sold for Rs. 10 crore at London auction
The portrait of Jahangir that was sold for £ 1.42 million in London on Tuesday. Photo: Special Arrangement
The portrait, attributed to Abu'l Hasan, Nadir al-Zaman and dated 1617 AD, was one of the top lots at the Indian and Islamic Art Sale at Bonhams on Tuesday. It went to a Middle Eastern museum. The sale total was £ 2.7 million, which included an inscribed 18th century Mughal emerald seal, owned by an officer of the East India Company, that fetched £ 90,000.
European-style throne
The Jahangir portrait in gouache heightened with gold leaf on a fine woven cotton canvas shows the emperor, who reigned from 1605 to 1627, seated on a European-style throne.
His head is surrounded by a radiating nimbus and he is wearing an embroidered floral tunic over a patka and striped pyjama, with applied plaster jewellery. There is a circular pendant around the emperor's neck set with mica, with jade and glass vessels at his side and a carpet under his feet. The border has 26 cartouches of fine nasta'liq inscription.
Previously displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in an exhibition on the Indian Portrait in 2010, the emperor is shown seated on a gold-decorated throne, holding a globe and wearing elaborate robes and jewellery.
Extraordinary detail
“This is one of the rarest and most desirable 17th century paintings ever to come to auction. There is no other work of its kind known and its importance cannot be underestimated. The extraordinary detail and complexity of the painting both fascinate and bewitch the viewer. We are honoured to have sold it,” said Alice Bailey, head of Indian and Islamic Art at Bonhams.
The inscribed Mughal emerald personal seal was set in a diamond encrusted gold bangle and bore the name of Major Alexander Hannay, who was in the service of the East India Company under William Hastings. It sold for well above its pre-sale estimate of £ 40,000-60,000.
The rectangular, 18th century emerald is table-cut and was mounted in an enamelled gold bangle in the early 19th century.
The inscription on the emerald may possibly be the work of Muhammad Salah Khan, a known seal-engraver, working in Faizabad. He engraved emeralds for other East India Company officers during the later part of the 18th century.
Inscribed Mughal gem
“This is a particularly fine example of an inscribed Mughal gem whose history and known provenance adds to its interest. The glorious Victorian setting is particularly appropriate and sympathetic to the long-standing Mughal tradition of combining gems and enamelling,” Ms. Bailey said.
The rulers of Mughal India often ordered their names and titles inscribed on rubies, emeralds and diamonds, a practice which originated in Iran under the Timurids (1370—1507).
source;The Hindu
GANGTOK, April 5 – The JICA assisted Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project (SBFP) is entering its 2nd year of implementation. The main objective of the project is to strengthen bio-diversity conservation activities and forest management capacity and to improve the livelihood of the local people dependant on forests.
Project activities would thus uplift the living standard of the local inhabitants living in forest fringe areas as well as conserve forest resources and biodiversity by supporting entry point activities, eco-tourism, participatory biodiversity conservation and forest protection.
The project will cover a period of 10 years from 2010-11. International Consultants were to be appointed to guide the Project Management Unit (PMU) of SBFP in the Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management department. The department invited proposals from the firms through international bidding process and received 19 proposals from different national and international firms.
The committee constituted for evaluation of firms scrutinised the proposals and shortlisted five firms. A request for proposal (RFP) inviting detailed technical and financial bid from shortlisted consortiums was issued to shortlisted firms. Four shortlisted consortia submitted their proposal in accordance to RFP. The proposals were evaluated in accordance to the criteria set forth by JICA and concurrence of JICA for technical and financial bid was obtained.
The consortium of Padeco Co Ltd, Japan & Louis Berger Group Inc, USA were selected to work with the PMU of SBFP in the coming years. The contract agreement between the consortium of Padeco & the Louis Berger Group Inc and SBFP was signed between the representative of the consortium, Andrew Stokes (Padeco), Subrata Mazumder (Louis Berger Group Inc) and Dr Anil Mainra, Project Director (SBFP).
source: Assam Tribune
Project activities would thus uplift the living standard of the local inhabitants living in forest fringe areas as well as conserve forest resources and biodiversity by supporting entry point activities, eco-tourism, participatory biodiversity conservation and forest protection.
The project will cover a period of 10 years from 2010-11. International Consultants were to be appointed to guide the Project Management Unit (PMU) of SBFP in the Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management department. The department invited proposals from the firms through international bidding process and received 19 proposals from different national and international firms.
The committee constituted for evaluation of firms scrutinised the proposals and shortlisted five firms. A request for proposal (RFP) inviting detailed technical and financial bid from shortlisted consortiums was issued to shortlisted firms. Four shortlisted consortia submitted their proposal in accordance to RFP. The proposals were evaluated in accordance to the criteria set forth by JICA and concurrence of JICA for technical and financial bid was obtained.
The consortium of Padeco Co Ltd, Japan & Louis Berger Group Inc, USA were selected to work with the PMU of SBFP in the coming years. The contract agreement between the consortium of Padeco & the Louis Berger Group Inc and SBFP was signed between the representative of the consortium, Andrew Stokes (Padeco), Subrata Mazumder (Louis Berger Group Inc) and Dr Anil Mainra, Project Director (SBFP).
source: Assam Tribune
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The census
Minority report
White America’s collapsing birth rate is changing the face of the country
AMONG America’s three-year-olds, a revolution is afoot. Children of that age are turning the country’s demographics on its head. According to a recent study from the Census Bureau, the majority of them are now from groups normally considered minorities, chiefly Hispanics and blacks. The latest release of data from last year’s decennial census confirms that whites still constitute a slender majority, 54%, of those under 18, and a larger one, 64%, of the population as a whole. But America’s transformation into a much browner, more suburban, more southern and western place is rapid and relentless.
Over the past decade America’s population has grown by 9.7%, to 309m. Minorities accounted for 92% of that growth. The ranks of Hispanics swelled by 43%, to 51m. The Asian population grew at the same rate, to 15m. Blacks increased in number by 11%, to 38m. All minority groups put together jumped by 29%, to 112m. Minorities now form the majority in America’s two most-populous states, California and Texas, as well as in Hawaii, New Mexico and Washington, DC. They account for the majority of children in six more: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi and Nevada. And their numbers are growing particularly fast in previously lily-white places such as Iowa and New Hampshire.
Meanwhile America’s white, non-Hispanic population grew by only 1.2% from 2000 to 2010. In 15 of the 50 states, it shrank. California lost 5% of its whites; New Jersey and Rhode Island both shed 6%. The number of white children fell in 46 states, for an overall decrease of 10%. Whites, explains Bill Frey of the Brookings Institution, a think-tank, are older, have fewer children anyway and make up a relatively small proportion of immigrants, so their share of the population is destined to go on falling.
The giant sucking sound emanating from the South and West, another leitmotif of American demographics, continues unmuffled. Both regions grew by 14%, while the north-east and the Midwest managed just 3% and 4% growth respectively. People are fleeing the cold: there is a strong correlation between the average temperature in January and population growth, notes Edward Glaeser, a professor of economics at Harvard University. He also attributes the rapid expansion of cities like Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston to their cheap, abundant housing.
Even in the sunbelt, however, many rural areas are losing population. The trend is particularly acute in the plains states,
but also pertains in much of the Midwest and the South. The proportion of Americans living in urban areas rose from 93.2% in 2000 to 93.7% last year, with big cities growing faster than small ones. Most of this growth occurred in the suburbs rather than the inner cities, Mr Glaeser adds, with the more prosperous metropolitan areas and those with better educated residents growing especially fast. Areas with lots of manufacturing grew more slowly.
Michigan, with its long-suffering car industry, was the only state to see its population shrink over the decade, albeit by less than 1%. (Puerto Rico, an American territory with economic troubles of its own, lost 2% of its inhabitants.)
What all this means for politics is the subject of some dispute. Right-wing analysts herald the ballooning population of the Republican-leaning states in the South and West and the relative stagnation of the Democratic bastions in the Midwest and north-east as proof of the superiority of Republican policies. What is more, they crow, faster growth is bringing more seats in the House of Representatives to Republican states, which could help to cement their current majority. Conservative Texas, for example, is gaining four seats in the reapportionment set in train by last year’s census; liberal New York is losing two.
But Democrats counter that the growth the Republicans are celebrating comes from natural Democratic constituencies. Minorities, they point out, tend to vote Democratic, whereas the dwindling white, rural population is largely Republican. By this logic, Democratic infiltrators are gradually undermining Republicans’ control over their territory from within. Barack Obama, after all, carried previously Republican-leaning western and southern states such as Colorado, Nevada, North Carolina and Virginia on his way to the White House in 2008. If he can maintain his share of the vote among blacks and Latinos, he will be hard to beat in 2012.
source:The Economist
Maximise Your Savings
By Research Desk |Value Research; Apr 6, 2011
I have Rs 5 lakh to invest which I will need 5-6 years later to pay as the down payment for a flat. I want to maximize this sum in this period; please suggest option to invest this sum.
- Vinod
Your strategy to maximize your savings to build a bigger down payment for a flat 5-6 years from now is commendable. Investing in lump-sum is not the best way to invest in mutual funds. You should look at investing regularly through systematic investment plans. You should consider parking the Rs 5 lakh in a liquid fund and initiate a systematic transfer plan into a large cap fund such as DSPBR Top 100 Equity or Franklin India Bluechip and a large- and mid-cap fund such as HDFC Top 200 or Fidelity India Growth and track the performance of these funds periodically to note its progress. This way you are likely to gain on your investments through systematic investing and the power of compounding for a higher down payment 5-6 years later.
By Research Desk |Value Research; Apr 6, 2011
I have Rs 5 lakh to invest which I will need 5-6 years later to pay as the down payment for a flat. I want to maximize this sum in this period; please suggest option to invest this sum.
- Vinod
Your strategy to maximize your savings to build a bigger down payment for a flat 5-6 years from now is commendable. Investing in lump-sum is not the best way to invest in mutual funds. You should look at investing regularly through systematic investment plans. You should consider parking the Rs 5 lakh in a liquid fund and initiate a systematic transfer plan into a large cap fund such as DSPBR Top 100 Equity or Franklin India Bluechip and a large- and mid-cap fund such as HDFC Top 200 or Fidelity India Growth and track the performance of these funds periodically to note its progress. This way you are likely to gain on your investments through systematic investing and the power of compounding for a higher down payment 5-6 years later.
Marwari ladies celebrate Gangaur
source:SIKKIM NOW
GANGTOK, 05 Apr: The Marwari womenfolk of the capital celebrated Gangaur here at the Deorali Shiv Mandir on 02 April, last Saturday.
Gangaur is one of the most important festivals of Marwari community and marks the worship of Gauri, Lord Shiva’s consort. It is the celebration of Spring. Gana is a synonym for Lord Shiva and Gaur stands for Gauri [also, Parvati] who symbolizes “Saubhagya” [marital bliss]. The unmarried women worship her to pray for a good husband, while married women do so for the welfare, health and long life of their husbands and a happy married life.
The Gangaur festival here was organised by the Sikkim Maheshwari Mahila Mandal, which had, on 26 March formed an executive committee for the year 2011-12 with Shobha Sarda as president.
The other members of the executive committee are Kavita Lakhotia [vice-president], Archana Thirani [secretary], Priyanka Somani [joint-secretary], Priti Somani [treasurer], Alka Marda [sangathan mantri], Rama Somani [cultural secretary], and Anju Rathi [editor].
The celebrations at the Deorali Shiv mandir commenced with “Mahesh Vanadana”, a press release informs.
Following the welcome address by Ms. Sarda, a talk was delivered on the significance of Ganguar by Babita Periwal.
The programme featured music and dance performances and concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Marda.
Kamla Mundhra was the Master of Ceremony.
Promotion of Art and Culture
Ministry of Culture receives requests from different States and operates a number of Schemes for promotion and development of art and culture in the country. It provides grants or financial assistance to Institutions, individuals, NGOs, Voluntary Cultural Organisations and Government-aided Cultural Organizations, fulfilling the criteria prescribed under the respective Schemes. The operation of schemes is however not undertaken on State-wise basis, nor are any funds released to the State Governments.
The names of ongoing schemes are:
1. Scheme of Building Grants, including Studio Theatres.
2. Financial Assistance for Development of Buddhist/Tibetan Culture and Art.
3. Financial Assistance for celebration of Centenaries/Anniversaries of important Personalities.
4. Scheme for Financial Assistance for setting up of Multipurpose Complex including those for Children.
5. Financial Assistance for Promotion and Strengthening of Regional and Local Museums.
6. Grant-in-aid to Voluntary Organizations/ Societies for Development and Maintenance of National Memorials.
7. Financial Assistance to persons distinguished in letters, arts and other walks of life who may be in indigent circumstances and their dependants.
8. Scheme of Financial Assistance to Professional Groups and Individuals engaged for specified Performing Arts Projects". The scheme has two parts:
i. Salary Grants assistance for performing arts groups, to help them establish themselves in their field.
ii. Production Grant to be given for approved projects and programmes in these areas.
9. Scheme for Scholarships to Young Artists in different Cultural Fields.
10. Scheme of financial assistance for seminars, festivals and exhibitions on cultural subjects by not-for-profit organizations (Cultural Functions Grant Scheme).
11. Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research.
12. Tagore Commemoration Grant Scheme (TCGS).
13. Financial Assistance for Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage of Himalayas.
14. Scheme for Award of Fellowships to Outstanding Persons in the field of Culture.
Ministry of Culture receives requests from different States and operates a number of Schemes for promotion and development of art and culture in the country. It provides grants or financial assistance to Institutions, individuals, NGOs, Voluntary Cultural Organisations and Government-aided Cultural Organizations, fulfilling the criteria prescribed under the respective Schemes. The operation of schemes is however not undertaken on State-wise basis, nor are any funds released to the State Governments.
The names of ongoing schemes are:
1. Scheme of Building Grants, including Studio Theatres.
2. Financial Assistance for Development of Buddhist/Tibetan Culture and Art.
3. Financial Assistance for celebration of Centenaries/Anniversaries of important Personalities.
4. Scheme for Financial Assistance for setting up of Multipurpose Complex including those for Children.
5. Financial Assistance for Promotion and Strengthening of Regional and Local Museums.
6. Grant-in-aid to Voluntary Organizations/ Societies for Development and Maintenance of National Memorials.
7. Financial Assistance to persons distinguished in letters, arts and other walks of life who may be in indigent circumstances and their dependants.
8. Scheme of Financial Assistance to Professional Groups and Individuals engaged for specified Performing Arts Projects". The scheme has two parts:
i. Salary Grants assistance for performing arts groups, to help them establish themselves in their field.
ii. Production Grant to be given for approved projects and programmes in these areas.
9. Scheme for Scholarships to Young Artists in different Cultural Fields.
10. Scheme of financial assistance for seminars, festivals and exhibitions on cultural subjects by not-for-profit organizations (Cultural Functions Grant Scheme).
11. Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research.
12. Tagore Commemoration Grant Scheme (TCGS).
13. Financial Assistance for Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage of Himalayas.
14. Scheme for Award of Fellowships to Outstanding Persons in the field of Culture.
National Community Radio Sammelan
Smt. Ambika Soni to Inaugurate 1st National Community Radio Sammelan Tomorrow
Three Day Meeting to Bring Together 107 Functional Community Radio Stations Meeting to Outline Roadmap for Community Radio Stations in India
The 1st National Community Radio Sammelan for operational Community Radio Stations of India is being organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in Association with the Commonwealth Education Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi from 7th to 9th April 2011. The Sammelan will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Smt Ambika Soni.
The Sammelan will bring together 107 functional Community Radio Stations from across the country, Policy makers from various Government Departments like Health, Rural Development, Information Technology, Science and Technology, Agriculture, Panchayati Raj, CAPART etc. Several UN, National and other International organizations like UNESCO, UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank, One World Asia, AMARC, Community Radio Forum etc. are also participating in the Sammelan.
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is mandated to permit eligible organizations to run Community Radio Stations as per the Policy Guidelines of 2006. Community Radio is an extraordinary and invisible medium to give voice to the voiceless. It provides an opportunity to the community to speak about issues concerning their lives. It can also facilitate development by disseminating information regarding rural development, agriculture, health, nutrition, education and Panchayati Raj issues enabling social change through communication.
Community Radio is one of the priority areas for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. So far 278 Letters of Intent (LOI) have been issued, 130 Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) have been signed. 107 Community Radio Stations have been become operational. Out of 107 stations 72 are run by Educational Institutions, 27 by community based organizations and 8 by Krishi Vigyan Kendra/State Agriculture Institutions.
Awareness generation is critical to achieve the desired goal of Community Radio Policy brought out by this Ministry in the year 2006. Ministry of I&B has been organizing Awareness Workshops all over the country from 2007 onwards. Around 28 Workshops have been organized so far. In 2010-11 Ministry has organized 8 Workshops in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Maharashtra and Delhi.
The Ministry has also organized Capacity Building Workshops for the operational Community Radio Stations this year. These Workshops have proved to be useful not only to spread awareness but also build capacities of the NGOs and other organizations to operate Community Radio Stations in an effective way.
In three days deliberations discussions would be held on issues concerning Policy changes in the existing Community Radio Guidelines, quality of content being broadcast from the Community Radio Stations, strategies to engage community in programme production, funding and sustainability, encouraging and popularizing local cultural talent etc. A Poster Exhibition has also been organized on the sidelines of the Sammelan.
The consultation will bring together community broadcasters and other key stakeholders such as non-governmental organizations, media activists, academia and the policy makers to take stock of the achievements of this burgeoning sector of radio broadcasting in India, and explore ways to take this movement to the next level. The consultation seeks to analyse, assess the current Community Radio Policy in achieving the goals of disseminating information, strengthening grass-root democracy and fulfilling social development objectives and discuss issues of financial & social sustainability of Community Radio Stations. The discussions will help design joint action strategies and define the role of organizations such as UNESCO, CRF, CEMCA, various Government Departments and other partners in strengthening the CR movement.
The outcome from the consultation is expected to focus on :
• Enhancement of stakeholders’ coordination in their effort to make community radio sustainable and more effective partner in development
• Increasing scope of collaboration between organizations working on developmental issues
• Furthering the use of new media and innovative/appropriate technology in the community radio sector
CP/ST
Three Day Meeting to Bring Together 107 Functional Community Radio Stations Meeting to Outline Roadmap for Community Radio Stations in India
The 1st National Community Radio Sammelan for operational Community Radio Stations of India is being organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in Association with the Commonwealth Education Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi from 7th to 9th April 2011. The Sammelan will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Smt Ambika Soni.
The Sammelan will bring together 107 functional Community Radio Stations from across the country, Policy makers from various Government Departments like Health, Rural Development, Information Technology, Science and Technology, Agriculture, Panchayati Raj, CAPART etc. Several UN, National and other International organizations like UNESCO, UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank, One World Asia, AMARC, Community Radio Forum etc. are also participating in the Sammelan.
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is mandated to permit eligible organizations to run Community Radio Stations as per the Policy Guidelines of 2006. Community Radio is an extraordinary and invisible medium to give voice to the voiceless. It provides an opportunity to the community to speak about issues concerning their lives. It can also facilitate development by disseminating information regarding rural development, agriculture, health, nutrition, education and Panchayati Raj issues enabling social change through communication.
Community Radio is one of the priority areas for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. So far 278 Letters of Intent (LOI) have been issued, 130 Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) have been signed. 107 Community Radio Stations have been become operational. Out of 107 stations 72 are run by Educational Institutions, 27 by community based organizations and 8 by Krishi Vigyan Kendra/State Agriculture Institutions.
Awareness generation is critical to achieve the desired goal of Community Radio Policy brought out by this Ministry in the year 2006. Ministry of I&B has been organizing Awareness Workshops all over the country from 2007 onwards. Around 28 Workshops have been organized so far. In 2010-11 Ministry has organized 8 Workshops in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Maharashtra and Delhi.
The Ministry has also organized Capacity Building Workshops for the operational Community Radio Stations this year. These Workshops have proved to be useful not only to spread awareness but also build capacities of the NGOs and other organizations to operate Community Radio Stations in an effective way.
In three days deliberations discussions would be held on issues concerning Policy changes in the existing Community Radio Guidelines, quality of content being broadcast from the Community Radio Stations, strategies to engage community in programme production, funding and sustainability, encouraging and popularizing local cultural talent etc. A Poster Exhibition has also been organized on the sidelines of the Sammelan.
The consultation will bring together community broadcasters and other key stakeholders such as non-governmental organizations, media activists, academia and the policy makers to take stock of the achievements of this burgeoning sector of radio broadcasting in India, and explore ways to take this movement to the next level. The consultation seeks to analyse, assess the current Community Radio Policy in achieving the goals of disseminating information, strengthening grass-root democracy and fulfilling social development objectives and discuss issues of financial & social sustainability of Community Radio Stations. The discussions will help design joint action strategies and define the role of organizations such as UNESCO, CRF, CEMCA, various Government Departments and other partners in strengthening the CR movement.
The outcome from the consultation is expected to focus on :
• Enhancement of stakeholders’ coordination in their effort to make community radio sustainable and more effective partner in development
• Increasing scope of collaboration between organizations working on developmental issues
• Furthering the use of new media and innovative/appropriate technology in the community radio sector
CP/ST
Hazare continues fast, slams Congress for misleading people
PTI Social activist Anna Hazare stages a fast unto death demanding the enactment of a comprehensive Jan Lokpal Bill, a strong anti-corruption Law. Photo: PTI
72-year-old Hazare is demanding enactment of an anti-corruption bill to give wider powers to the Ombudsman
Social activist Anna Hazare, who entered the second day of his indefinite fast, today slammed the Congress for “misleading” the people by dubbing his agitation as unnecessary and premature.
72-year-old Hazare, who is demanding enactment of an anti-corruption bill to give wider powers to the Ombudsman, said, “The party’s (Congress) statement is misleading people.
Why is this agitation unnecessary and how is it premature? 42 years the nation has been in need of such a bill. Why can’t the government enact it?”
He asserted that he would not end his fast unto death till the government agrees to have citizens’ participation in the drafting of the legislation.
When pointed out that the BJP too had embarked on an anti-corruption campaign today, the reformist said the party was taking advantage of the nationwide movement he had begun.
“But, they are a political party and are free to do as they wish. In the past too, when I agitated against corruption in the BJP government, the Congress party supported me. Now, it’s the other way around”, Mr. Hazare said.
Yesterday, BJP leaders Maneka Gandhi and Prakash Javadekar visited Hazare’s protest site at Jantar Mantar but did not make any speeches.
JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav too sat on the dais with Mr. Hazare and offered his support for the Jan Lokpal Bill and even said he was ready to take it up in Parliament.
Mr. Hazare said he would not allow politicians to sit with him on the dais anymore.
The anti-corruption champion began his fast yesterday and has been joined by thousands of people.
Hazare said he did not have faith in the government or any political party and decided to take things in his own hands.
“How can they say I am using pressure tactics. Just as we sought an audience with the Prime Minister for the Jan Lokpal bill, we also tried to meet Sonia Gandhi. She did not even reply”, Mr. Hazare claimed.
On the response from the Prime Minister, the social activist said, “He (Prime Minister) should not turn a blind eye towards corruption in his government and should muster the courage to not succumb to the pressures of coalition politics“.
He said this protest was different from his previous ones as he saw a national uprising against corruption.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Sikkim Women celebrates Gangaur Festival
On 26th March 2011, the Executive committee of Sikkim Maheshwari Mahila Mandal was formed under the Presidentship of Smt Shobha Sarda.
The Executive Team for the year 2011-12 was formed as under:
President: Smt Shobha Sarda
Vice President: Smt Kavita Lakhotia
Secretary: Smt Archana Thirani
Jt Secretary: Smt Priyanka Somani
Treasurer: Smt Priti Somani
Sangathan Mantri: Smt Alka Marda
Cultural Secretary: Smt Rama Somani
Editor: Smt Anju Rathi
Under the guidance of the new committee, Ganguar Festival was organized at Shiv Mandir, Deorali, Sikkim on 2nd April 2011.
Gangaur is the colourful and the one of the most important festivals of Marwari community and is observed throughout the State with great fervour and devotion by womenfolk who worship Gauri, the consort of Lord Shiva.. It is the celebration of spring, harvest. Gana is a synonym for Lord Shiva and Gaur which stands for Gauri or Parvati who symbolizes Saubhagya (marital bliss). The unmarried women worship her for being blessed good husband, while married women do so for the welfare, health and long life of their husbands and happy married life.
At Deorali Shiv mandir, the programme of Gangaur Festival commenced with Mahesh Vanadana.
Smt Shobha Sarda, President presented her welcome speech.
This was followed by talks on the importance of Ganguar Festival by Smt Babita Periwal.
The programme comprised of Music and Dance which was enjoyed by all participants comprising of ladies from different walks of life.
The programme concluded with vote of thanks by Smt Alka Marda.
Smt Kamla Mundhra was the Master of Ceremony.
On 26th March 2011, the Executive committee of Sikkim Maheshwari Mahila Mandal was formed under the Presidentship of Smt Shobha Sarda.
The Executive Team for the year 2011-12 was formed as under:
President: Smt Shobha Sarda
Vice President: Smt Kavita Lakhotia
Secretary: Smt Archana Thirani
Jt Secretary: Smt Priyanka Somani
Treasurer: Smt Priti Somani
Sangathan Mantri: Smt Alka Marda
Cultural Secretary: Smt Rama Somani
Editor: Smt Anju Rathi
Under the guidance of the new committee, Ganguar Festival was organized at Shiv Mandir, Deorali, Sikkim on 2nd April 2011.
Gangaur is the colourful and the one of the most important festivals of Marwari community and is observed throughout the State with great fervour and devotion by womenfolk who worship Gauri, the consort of Lord Shiva.. It is the celebration of spring, harvest. Gana is a synonym for Lord Shiva and Gaur which stands for Gauri or Parvati who symbolizes Saubhagya (marital bliss). The unmarried women worship her for being blessed good husband, while married women do so for the welfare, health and long life of their husbands and happy married life.
At Deorali Shiv mandir, the programme of Gangaur Festival commenced with Mahesh Vanadana.
Smt Shobha Sarda, President presented her welcome speech.
This was followed by talks on the importance of Ganguar Festival by Smt Babita Periwal.
The programme comprised of Music and Dance which was enjoyed by all participants comprising of ladies from different walks of life.
The programme concluded with vote of thanks by Smt Alka Marda.
Smt Kamla Mundhra was the Master of Ceremony.
Appeal to Anna Hazare
The Prime Minister's Office has noted with deep disappointment that Shri Anna Hazare, the noted social worker, is still planning to go ahead with his planned hunger strike.
Shri Hazare and his colleagues had met the Prime Minister, the Law Minister and other senior officials on March 7, 2011. During the discussion that lasted more than one hour, the Prime Minister had told the group that “I appreciate and share your concern on corruption.”
Shri Hazare and his group had presented the Prime Minister a draft of their proposal on a Lokpal. The Prime Minister offered and the group accepted a suggestion that a sub-committee of the Group of Ministers could interact and discuss the draft with the civil society activists.
The Sub-Committee, headed by Shri A.K.Antony, met Shri Hazare’s colleagues but the interaction proved fruitless as the activists were insisting on the Government accepting their draft in full.
The Prime Minister has enormous respect for Shri Hazare and his mission.
The Prime Minister's Office has noted with deep disappointment that Shri Anna Hazare, the noted social worker, is still planning to go ahead with his planned hunger strike.
Shri Hazare and his colleagues had met the Prime Minister, the Law Minister and other senior officials on March 7, 2011. During the discussion that lasted more than one hour, the Prime Minister had told the group that “I appreciate and share your concern on corruption.”
Shri Hazare and his group had presented the Prime Minister a draft of their proposal on a Lokpal. The Prime Minister offered and the group accepted a suggestion that a sub-committee of the Group of Ministers could interact and discuss the draft with the civil society activists.
The Sub-Committee, headed by Shri A.K.Antony, met Shri Hazare’s colleagues but the interaction proved fruitless as the activists were insisting on the Government accepting their draft in full.
The Prime Minister has enormous respect for Shri Hazare and his mission.
India's sex ratio
Apr 4th 2011, 14:23 by The Economist online
Where have India's baby girls gone?
NEW data from the 2011 Indian census show that there are now 914 girls aged 0-6 years old for every 1,000 boys of the same age, or 75.8m girls and 82.9m boys. A cultural preference for sons and the increasing availability of prenatal screening to determine a baby's sex have helped contribute to a worsening in the ratio (from 927 in the previous census in 2001), which has been deteriorating rapidly even as the ratio for the population as a whole has improved. A decline was recorded in 28 of the country's 35 states and territories, among which there is wide variation; from 830 in the northern state of Haryana to 973 Meghalaya in the east. And such imbalances are not confined to India. Last year the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences warned that by 2020 one in five young Chinese men would be unable to find a bride because of the dearth of young women.
NEW data from the 2011 Indian census show that there are now 914 girls aged 0-6 years old for every 1,000 boys of the same age, or 75.8m girls and 82.9m boys. A cultural preference for sons and the increasing availability of prenatal screening to determine a baby's sex have helped contribute to a worsening in the ratio (from 927 in the previous census in 2001), which has been deteriorating rapidly even as the ratio for the population as a whole has improved. A decline was recorded in 28 of the country's 35 states and territories, among which there is wide variation; from 830 in the northern state of Haryana to 973 Meghalaya in the east. And such imbalances are not confined to India. Last year the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences warned that by 2020 one in five young Chinese men would be unable to find a bride because of the dearth of young women.
Bandh absolute and peaceful thus far
SOURCE:SIKKIM NOW
 |
| Police personnel stand guard at Central Referral Hospital in Gangtok where an argument had broken out earlier between the VC, Sikkim-Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, and SDF supporters |
 |
| An SDF rally in support of the bandh at 6th Mile [Tadong], Gangtok |
GANGTOK, 04 April:
Day-01 of the Sikkim Democratic Front sponsored 48-hour Sikkim Bandh was successfully observed across the State with all business establishments, schools and banks remaining closed. Bar a few instances in which the bandh enforcers had arguments with the management at some establishments, the day remained peaceful with neighbourhoods emptying out into the roads which became playgrounds for the young across the State.
Police sources confirmed that while no outbreak of violence was reported from East district, arguments resulting from “miscommunication” broke out at the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences [Gangtok] and a pharmaceutical unit near Rangpo. None was however serious enough to have resulted in a formal police complaint.
 |
| A rally of bandh supporters at Setipool, between Ranipool and Pakyong in East Sikkim |
Sikkim Police personnel were deputed to the spot and remain stationed at the main gates.
Sources also inform that a confrontation was also reported from a pharma-unit near Rangpo where the bandh supporters challenged the management when they found a generator under operation there, leading them to believe that the unit was not observing the bandh. This generator, it is reported, was kept working to preserve the manufactured stock at the unit.
Meanwhile, SDF supporters across the State took out rallies in their respective areas carrying placards announcing their demands and raising slogans. While sizeably participated in, these processions were not aggressive and created no worries for the law & order personnel posted along their routes.
The bandh, it may be recalled, apart from reiterating Sikkim’s demands still pending with the Centre [like Income Tax exemption for left-out communities, seat reservation for Limboo and Tamang communities who have now become Scheduled Tribes etc], is to demand that private sector establishments in Sikkim abide by the MoU signed with the State Government guaranteeing preference of local candidates in employment.
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