Hostage situation is about to end

First the Maoists of Orissa had released the foreigners who were held as prisoners. Foreigners had returned to their home countries, thinking, “it was an adventure that no one could have had” Abductors had kept the elected MLA for 33 days and then let him go. Demands of the kidnappers were not met as 27 prisoners were not released. Only 7 were released, still the rebels had released him; they had made the leader promise that he will not be politically active anymore. After getting freedom, the leader is still pondering what does this demand mean? He will think about it.

With the abduction of the government official (District Collector) the rebels  of Chhattisgarh want 17 prisoners to be set free. They were going to try him at a “Jan Adalat” or a tribal court. But that cannot yield anything. Negotiations with authorities are in the final stages;after 10 days of captivity our Collector will be free. After this they will fight no more for ever. Rebels now have a mediating committee which would listen to their demands.

Government plans to empower the NCTC to control terrorism.Additional guidelines for counter terrorism will be made, and new teams of negotiators will be required. More and more expenditures on dealing with criminal elements is unnecessary. The real problem is lack of development and lack of education. We can spend on that instead. And need for encountering the rebels would not arise for they would not be rebels anymore they would be adjusted citizens of future India. For now vacancy is there for 1.Mediators 2.Negotiators 3.Police Guards.Anyone can apply. So new job opportunities have opened up with "hostage situation".

Those daring Delhi Daredevils are playing tonight

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has given a new lease of life to Indian Cricket teams. Indians enjoy cricket games very much. Previously, they had to wait for Test Cricket played between eight countries like--Australia, England West Indies etc. Since 2008, IPL has come into being, and cricket teams are made in different cities of India—Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers, Pune warriors,  Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royal Challengers and so on. The tournaments between these teams are most interesting and most enjoyable. All players are coached by the best coaches. Delhi team is coached by Eric Simons and GMR owns the team.All are sponsored by different private companies and approved by BCCI.

Cricket games have undergone change, with increased technology of camera, instant replays and other technical innovations, its altogether a new game now. There are so many factors which offset this competitive game. It is more "fast paced" than ever before. Turf in which it is played sometimes helps the bowler sometimes the batter. For example a green pitch will give bowlers advantage. But professionalism means overcoming all the various factors or limitations.Playing at home town has its own advantage. Everybody cheers you up and winning is definite. Mumbai Indians wont be able to beat the Delhi Dare Devils because Dare Devils are playing in Delhi at the Firoz Shah Kotla Maidan tonight.Cricket has never been this exciting before as it is after coming of the IPL.We can see matches live on "you tube"

Why Indians love knowledge

Education is a process through which we inculcate in the younger generation our culture and our ethos. We want to keep our culture alive, and we continue to teach our traditions along with modern education. And all Indians make sure that their children are educated to their fullest potential. We feel we must instill on the young minds all that there is to know about the world we live in.

Internet has come as a boon to help us and gives us access to knowledge. So,now we do not have to memorize facts, it is all in the net and is easily accessible. And now we are finding more new dimensions in which to educate our younglings—to become better in decision making, better in analyzing, better in coordinating with others, and become well balanced individuals. We must reform our educational system to fit the above broader goals.

Education for betterment. Education must meet our expectations—we should make sure that our children get gainful employment. We spend a big portion of our income on ‘education’, second biggest expenditure next to food and shelter; because we believe in good future that education will bring.

Given our economic status, we truly value good education. We feel we can pull ourselves out of poverty by investing on education. We believe that with good college degree, the child is ensured a good future.We have faith that twelve years of schooling and four years of college studies can assure our children good jobs. And we work very hard; we try with all our might to provide our children with long years of education. Education is the most valuable asset that our children have.

For farmers- weather satellite launched today

Indian scientists have launched RISAT-1, from Sriharikota. It was launched by PSLV C-19 ;it will be set in orbit in 3 days. It is Radar Imaging satellite. It was launched by ISRO. It has a pay load of 1858 KG. It is an all weather Earth satellite which will work for 5 years. It was lunched in the morning at 5:47 A.M. today, and in five days it will start transmitting data. It will send data for predicting weather for forecasting correct harvest time, for crop monitoring, and food security data. It will mean bigger and greater harvests.Other satellites were not able to predict weather when it is cloudy or be able to take pictures in the dark(during nights) But this satellite can see even if clouds block and even in darkness.It will serve the disaster management department in showing ocean levels(if hurricanes are coming). We will get updates on forest cover helping the environment department. Water sources will be monitored and we will know the state of the glaciers which feed our rivers.Soil types can be seen from satellite.All these will help us to give advice on long-term farming practises. Thus the modern day technology is harnessed to guide the old time farmers to farm successfully.

National Panchayati Raj Day celebrated

There was conference on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day. In the conference, panchayat members shared their triumphs and their obstacles.The Gram Sabha of the village community is a local government where all the people are members. They have autonomous courts comprising of elders called panchayats. Best panchayat was that of Sikkim state, and was given awards.Now e-panchayats have come into being. Fibre-optic cables have connected all the panchayats (village courts)with each other. Moreover all proceedings of the village courts will be recorded and by video-conferencing all proceedings will be telecast live.We can now see what is going on  and whether it is really an ideal and just court.Now rules have been made that half of the members of the panchyat(local government) will be women.This has empowered the women who take up our developmental goals with new spirit and zest.At once we have addressed several issues.Now gender equality is asserted, caste divisions have been cut across, patriarchal mindsets are counter-checked, and greater empathy for the poor have all been established.

Problems even after producing big harvests

1. National Crop Forecast Centre has come into being. We have modernized. Now-a-days weather forecast is sent to farmers through mass SMS. Satellite data is matched with ground data collection. And thus it is confirmed. Now we know exactly how much we have produced. Record bumper harvest has been reaped. To accommodate the grains, capacity of granaries has to be increased. With no space in government’s FCI (Food Corporation of India)granaries, new storage spaces are rented. 
2. Market pressures. The farmer has to sell at a lower rate than recommended price, because the supply has exceeded the demand. New procedures have been made for buying and selling. Now the Farmer will be given a cheque for the grains he sells. And he cannot get cheated now. This means greater monetisation of the rural market. Bumper procurement means greater pressures on government to manage the produce. We can have plenty for Public Distribution Schemes and for BPL and APL families. May be six months ration can be taken by these families in advance.Possibilities of export have increased, we have produced much more than we need. Farmer has to sell at a rate less than Minimum Support Price. 
3. Problem of plenty. With the Winter being long this year, wheat has grown well.We will procure the grains later and encourage the farmer to keep his produce in his own stores(granaries) for a while.Even now 325 farmers this year alone have committed suicides. One farmer who had one lakh as debt has left a suicide note on “whom not to vote for” These simple people still believe that the elected people will help them come out of poverty. Our agricultural reforms have paid off and our agricultural  scientists have helped the farmers greatly.Agricultural scientists are trying very hard to make farming a more profitable occupation. But social reorganisation (cooperatives) and modernisation of modes of production are also equally important to uplift the predicament of farmers of India.

Clash of Old India and new India.

A month ago, one of our elected leaders was kidnapped and had been held as hostage ever since; and the same people have kidnapped a government officer. Our administrative officer who was working hard for the development of the tribal people was kidnapped and negotiations are still taking place. The demands are that more family members who are held as prisoners be releasedThe innocent tribal people suffer more because they do not know how to express their anguish. Tribal or “adivasi” people had suffered eviction, and have become impoverished as India modernizes. They would kidnap an important person whom they come in contact with;and ask for the release of their family members who are in jail, as an exchange. But this is unlawful and they will get into more trouble than before. They feel they have no other way out. They cannot hire lawyers and file lawsuits for they do not have money to do it. Criminal justice is against the poor. They are the “old people” of ancient India thrust into the super modern twenty first century—unable to cope with new situations. Originally they had formed organizations like the “Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh” for demanding their rights over their lands but they were associated by criminal elements and were misguided.What we hear is not the truth or reality. These people deserve our pity and not hatred. And efforts must be made to educate them and integrate them into the national mainstream. These tribes are people of ancient India, trying to find place in modern India. They are turn to crime because they are deeply grieved for they have lost their land, their livelihood and their families. They are the simple people of India—lost in time and space in a sea of poverty and neglect.They need to be rescued and through education brought to civilization.

Our "Earth Day"

One of India’s private utility companies celebrated the Earth day. The idea was to create awareness about environmental changes including the challenge of climate change. They invented a new word, combining evolution and green movement. 
But sustaining the growth of Industries and conserving the environment is very difficult. The ideal is recycling of water and conserving water. Consumerism should be limited to the basic need. Sustained commerce should be encouraged. Use of the lights which conserve electricity, and limiting use of electric gadgets and leading a simple way of life will go a long way in conserving our natural resources. Over use now means we will pay for it later. No electricity or no water would be a situation we can avoid, if we conserve today.Although we talk about conserving resources, we are using up our resources very very fast. We are exporting resources like the iron ore, bauxite, and copper and so on. Environmental protection needs approvals from the state governments as the central government had relinquished its role in it. So making approvals is left to states and state government is free to make it as it pleases—with or without e-auction, e-tendering procedures. This leaves room for nontransparent deals.

We should keep ecological repercussions in mind before using up resources. Wood must be conserved and limited use of paper is logical.Forests and the immense riches it holds are not known to the people or the government. Rich in herbs and medicinal plants our forests will be lost for ever. The known and unknown species will become extinct.  Forest people or tribal populations are under stress as their homes are being lost.Many indigenous animals like the tiger are in the verge of extinction.Resource struggle between people and animals takes its toll. 
Pollution dumped in the rivers have chocked it. Water resource is indiscriminately used up as water tables dry up.

Just celebrating the Earth Day is not important. Taking steps to stop deforestation, stop environmental pollution and stop exploitation of mineral wealth is needed. And policies have to be made to stop these disasters. If not India as we know will be gone. Our holy rivers will vanish and we would be people without our lands and our homes.We may become nomadic tribes in a dessert If we do not care for our environment,we must know that our India's days in the Earth are numbered!

New world is born for our scientists have conquered new technologies

 India has launched its Intercontinental Ballistic Missile; a team of Indian scientists have tested the Agni V missile and had proved that we can be a strong independent country for we are a powerful nation. Agni V has 1.5 tonne warhead. We had tested Agni I to IV  in 2006,07 08 and 11 Middle Range Ballistic Missiles. Now we have a higher range Intercontinental missile with Agni V. It has multiple target capacity.We have now made a highly sophisticated weapon.

Our confidence in ourselves has now increased tremendously.Our self esteem has improved many  many fold.When we have defence capability, we can defend ourselves if we are threatened. Agni V has capacity for being used as a Nuclear Warhead. Of course, we will not be using it; but having it acts as a deterrent. It is for self-protection, we are scared that our borders would be invaded by stronger aggressive countries. And to keep peace in the region; unreasonable dominative countries will act with caution and not take us for granted. We need this.Our nation needs to keep its territory and protect its people from foreign powers. That is why we need this warhead. Spending extensively on army, navy and air force would be a waste, so our scientists worked hard to make a missile which would be more powerful than all others, so that we do not have to spend so much. We can launch it from land, air or sea if we are threatened. The message is that we have now arrived in the modern world.We are hereby announcing the birth of a new powerful India!

Life is devotion to duty

What makes the Indian people unique is their belief in their devotion to duty. This blog is devoted these people. This is the hundredth in the series and more will be coming. These are thoughts on how to make the life of the Indian people better. All Indians from the farmers to the scientists firmly feel that their work is worship. Devotion to their work is their way of life and their religion. They seek no fame or credit, but get full satisfaction from the life well lived while they devotedly work. It is in the commitment to their work that we see the real Indian. These blogs were written from an inspiration from an agricultural scientist who believes in the SONG OF KRISHNA (Gitopadesha) and dedicated  his life and  work to the worship of God.

All disagree to agree on policy making issues

There is advancement and progress in India in all aspects of life today; it is because of the hardworking nature of the people and not because of the governance. Governance did not contribute to growth or progress.Any new method used to mould the governance for progress is not working.
 What is happening? When the political parties fused or fission occurred in them it was to meet their individual agenda (getting votes).Linguistic or cultural divisions were used to create different states; and party division within states further alienates the government from the real problems of the people.  

Solutions offered: Central government must bring unified policies in allocation of funds, in granting approvals, and in giving support to the states. The national feeling does not arise as parties tried to bring development to their own states only.The regional needs of individual states’ governments are not understood by the central government. And convincing the centre to allocate funds could not be done if the regional party did not match with one in the centre. Thus lack of political consensus has brought to halt development in various projects. Central government can give knowledge for growth of industries and agriculture, and not interfere in implementation or in making approvals. E-auctioning and e-tendering methods in making procurements or allocating resources are available to the central government. These methods could be transplanted to state governments’ capitals so that there could be transparency and efficiency in practices.

Disagree to agree. All the regional states want some unity in thought and deed and not just ad hoc merged coalitions. Because in making of every policy, all express their points and no consensus is arrived at. In other words, all disagree and stop progress of making of effective policies. They wish to agree and end up disagreeing in making every policy tabled.

Few issues: There was a feeling that the welfare schemes will result in votes in large numbers. People voted for newer solutions rather than for welfare schemes. Now we are stressing that livelihoods be created instead of handouts made to address poverty. Sharing of fruits of prosperity has not happened, for there is always a lower stratum which is deprived of privileges. Inclusion remains another modern word and which is not incorporated in practice.

Problems are common to all: All states need health schemes in addition to food schemes. Water scarcity, fuel, energy, pollution, land use, industrialization, education, and unemployed youth are common problems. They need individual solutions as the “will” for each state to succeed comes from within them.One state can learn from successful strategies of another state.

More and more water now means no more water later

As per Article 21 of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed in the Indian Constitution, each citizen has right to clean drinking water. But each citizen does not get it.About 85% of rural development is depended on water--agriculture,poultry farming,dairy farming.And any deficiency  in water means no production. Today 16% of rural households do not have drinking water, and women carry water from long long distances.

Over use of resource.Irrigation facility is provided to farms--loans for pump sets, subsidised fuel for motors, free electricity for pumps and the ground water is extracted more than it should be. The result is that the water table is reduced considerably and we are running out of water which is a precious natural resource.Land ownership rights define that the water under the land owned, belongs to the owner. But water table is a common resource, and we do not know how to stop its extraction. How to make the people understand the absolute time limits we have because water scarcity is coming soon.
No time is given for replenishing or recharging.The"Ground water Bill" is not enforced; and we do not know  how to enforce it The are 25 million tube wells in India which constantly use-up this precious resource.A web-based groundwater information system has been developed by the Indian Government, and we know the the stark reality of the crisis. 40% of India has traditional method of storing water--water tanks, wells etc. These traditional methods allowed recharging of the ground water and did not use up the water table quickly as tube wells with motors do.

We had encouraged wrong growth.With increased use of electricity and subsidised farm equipments have resulted in reducing the water table to minimum levels.As a matter of fact we have facilitated the acute scarcity.As industrialisation progresses, groundwater gets polluted. It becomes toxic with chemicals emitted by factories. Even pesticides and fertilisers make the groundwater toxic.
Global warming has resulted in melting of our glaciers at a fast pace and no new snows are accumulating now.Rainfall has reduced because of deforestation.Forests attract rain-giving clouds.The few quick showers run-off the land and are not soaked because of lack of forests.

Water shortage is going to get acute in the future.Over use of water now without conserving and without allowing allowing replenishment means no water in future.We have the National Water policy of 2002 after the one made in 1987; and we have the Environmental Policy of 2005,to combat the reduction of ground water table.But how to implement it?How to control usage?We have given everyone the technology to draw water from the water table.This technology is like a genie.We cannot contain the genie now as it has left the bottle and is beyond our control.

Making way for real education

We were creating a new stratified society by imparting superior form of education to higher classes to students from rich families and we were not giving admission to students from poor families. Very high school fees and large donations deterred the aspiring parents to get best education for their children. Yesterday, the Supreme Court has made a ruling that 25% of seats in government aided will be reserved for economically and socially backward classes in government aided schools and fees would not be charged. ‘Right to education for all children less than 14 years’ has been merged with the ‘25% reservation to children of backward classes’ ruling. The previous Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 had given right to some school but not good schools. Now this ruling has made possible for admission to a good school without having to pay exorbitant fees. Those schools which do not receive government funds will also give seats to the children from backward families because government will reimburse the fees. If any one of the schools deny admission or punish the child, their recognition of that will be withdrawn. But the cost of books, notebooks and computer costs (e-library & internet) will not be reimbursed. Can we really give egalitarian education?

Facts: In India there are about 1250755 schools providing elementary education. In these about 80.2% are government run, 5.8% private aided and 13.1% are private and unaided. Enrolments in them vary as per costs of good education and affordability of parents.

Results: The backgrounds of students will vary greatly. Less advantaged (poor) will be studying with more advantaged (rich) students. There is good scope of real learning about each other’s conditions. And such environment is good for children to learn about social pressures from one another by sharing visions on the very different social situations,which they face and experience. Deep seated resentments may arise due to social distances that the gap in economic statuses generates. There is firm faith that this situation would be by itself a valuable social interaction which is an intrinsic part of real education.

Continuous needs of present India

In India, in the last two decades, liberalisation of the economy has worked very well as we have progressed in all fields—telecommunications, commerce, education and so on. But the Indian way of carrying of social welfare schemes is not efficiently run. Government makes policies which are not implemented transparently. We cannot seem to eliminate poverty or hunger. When investigations are made, it is found that the funds for welfare schemes do not reach the people for whom it was meant for.

There are some successes; for example, the rural employment guarantee scheme (MGREGA) has had the effect of arresting the rural to urban migration. People would prefer to get some way of getting an income near their home than risk travelling to a city where they may or may not find work.

But food schemes are not reaching the people. It is difficult to identify the poor for whom free food grains could be provided for. We are now trying to provide identity to an individual by giving them identity cards based on bio-metrics (fingerprinting or iris imaging) Universal “Public Distribution Scheme” may work out better than the long process of identifying and reaching the “poor”.

Hundred years ago people of working age (15–60) were healthier than people now, as the quality for food grains was better then. Now the people working ages of (15-30) need more food to work for eight hours a day in rural lands, as quality of food grains has now reduced. Since work is now distributed to younger age group, it has meant that the older weaker people(who are not able to work) have become “the unemployed” group and therefore require help from welfare schemes. In other words, more persons are unemployed than ever before. Thus we are more “poor” now than hundred years ago.

Community kitchens (where all persons would eat together) will not work in India for cultural reasons. For us, home means a hearth where all of a family would dine together. We cannot keep our identity of our home in a public dining area. Only when we are reduced to  the condition of a refugee, such sharing of dining space could be done. For a day or two, we can dine with all, but it would not be a long term solution.

With the need for food, comes the conventional necessity of housing or need of a home. So the train of needs continues to grow. These are needs of the present, to be addressed by future India.

May Peace reign supreme

Today, a symbolic visit took place which was never anticipated.  We are a friendly nation, extending our arms for friendship with all (including those with whom we had shared a troubled history)

Pakistan’s head of state came to India in an informal visit. He had to go on a pilgrimage to a Sufi shrine near New Delhi, and was invited by our Prime Minister for lunch. During the meeting before lunch they had discussed many important pending issues. Tackling of terrorists who had caused terror in Mumbai on 26/11 was in our minds and there was agreement on dealing with this. Issue of Kashmir featured next. Then security in the border was discussed about. Trade ties were given urgency and we will be given the “most favored nation" status; trade in petroleum products was explored. These were topics which had to be discussed and we cannot cover up these important issues and go for meetings without arriving at common interests. We need to be practical and need policy oriented solutions and cannot evade solutions under the cloak of diplomacy. Communications with them was very easy as there is non-military leadership in Pakistan now. There foreign policy is determined by the military generals and that is very different from us.Our military has to take orders from the government. Our religious leaders have no say in the government, but not so there. However different we may be we respect each other’s ways and want good mutual relations. Individual leaders’ qualities shapes the destinies of nations.Our leaders are very very good in making friendships. We may build a dam on the river which runs in our subcontinent, and we can share electric power generated. 

There are skeptical views in both countries who are suspicious.The fact that we are going towards peace is highly inspirational, for we never expected such a positive turn of events.We are very thankful to the shrine which brought about this change in our relations!

You can not "roll-back" History

Some elected leaders out perform "support for the common man"routine. For instance, removing the rail minister who had proposed a small hike in freight rates is too much. Agreed, that the needs of the poor should be kept in mind, but sacking a minister for making a sound policy is not correct.The hike was "rolled back" so that the "common man" can travel easily in a lower fare.This may not be good.We should enable the ordinary average Indian to pay for the new rail fare by giving him good wages and an enhanced way of life.

There is news today that the school text books for class 11 and 12 will not have any chapters on Marx and Engels or on Russian revolution. In a state that was ruled by communist party for so many years, and which has now voted out communist party, the students should know that communism had once ruled. The new elected leader perhaps feels that by erasing it from history books,all will forget history. Actually this move would mean control of thoughts, its like re-inventing new form of communist ideology.
There are other methods to deal with poverty, and the needs of the poor.Always hammering on "common man" syndrome would not work. How  to implement successfully the policies for erasing poverty is more important.The ordinary citizen should be enabled to travel paying the new fares.His standard of living must be raised.

Communistic ideology cannot find a solution to problems in India.It cannot bring equality in India. We have a long history of institutionalised inequality which cannot easily be erased. Western ideologies imply that all men are created equal. Our religion has taught that all men are created unequal and there are innate differences among men. We have to evolve new ideology to deal with our problems. Policies will have to be adopted for the uplifting of the backward castes and tribes. Good educational systems will erase,in due course of time, various  inequalities.Controlling thinking by banning books or erasing chapters will not work. We cannot "stop, re-wind and erase" history or "control undo" history. And a "roll back" in history(education is healthy) is preposterous, is this a free India?

Today's crimes and negotiating with the criminals

There are many new enemies threatening us and those that threaten from within are most difficult to deal with. At present the Maoists are holding the state to ransom. They have kidnapped a foreign tourist and an elected leader and have bargained with the government to release 27 prisoners in exchange for the freedom of the two kidnapped persons.The government has agreed and negotiations are going on at present.
Just a few days ago Tibetans were protesting in New Delhi and one of them died in a self-immolation bid. After this happened, all Tibetans in New Delhi were arrested. It was so absurd that all those who looked "oriental" were arrested. Right to protest is put down but  who gave "right to kidnap" and "right to bargain or right to trade-off" and government negotiates with them. This is setting a bad precedent for criminals.

Long range implications of crime and punishment must be thought about before sending out "orders" for mass arrests. And right to demonstrate has to be upheld in a democracy. Protesters must not alight themselves and commit suicide. And suicide is punished by law in India. Self-immolation is not martyrdom, its just trying to seek glory in death. 

We must rethink what is crime and what is not. And crowd mentality --mood or fury should not mean "arrest all". Protesters will be heard, and should be allowed to protest.Police can announce that suicide is against the law.

Instead of guns and 'lathi' or sticks, police will need to use tear-gas shells to disperse crowds and fire extinguishing cans to stop self-immolating people from committing suicide.New tools for combating new crimes.

BRICS-Our role in building future

The fourth edition of the BRICS summit was held in the capital of New Delhi last week. The nations like Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa represent half the population of the world. Our leaders made new guidelines for growth for all nations by cooperation. India has made great strides in the international arena in organising joint ventures, collaborations, in cooperation and transfer of technology. And most of all, trade amongst nations. This will make way for other cooperative relationships.

Our needs are self-evident; we have a big growth in labour force, and we have to find gainful employment for all of them. We can learn how from other developing nations. We have constraints and limitations in fields like energy, in food stores and in water availability. And we need sustained economic growth and not just a spurt of growth. Energy production along with energy consumption has to be addressed. Green growth with ecology-friendly energy utilisation with limited use of fossil fuels is urgently needed. Although our per capita income has increased, there are extreme inequalities. By encouraging trade we will make sure that our economy grows. We have deficiencies in global governance and we have to come up with a plan for development of all. If we succeed in good trading relations, then scarcities can be eliminated.

India is strategically located and plays an important role in leading the nations of the developing world. All countries of the BRICKS have common problems like prolific urbanisation, and its allied ills like sanitation, water management, water drainage, transport, energy efficient structures etc. And all are affected by prevailing political climate which is causing world’s economic instability.For example price rise of oil.

We signed agreements to extend credit facilities in local currencies to reduce dependency on the dollar as a medium of currency.  To bring the economies of the BRICKS nations closer, we can invest on each other countries stock exchanges without currency risk. India and Brazil had made several pacts for mutual cooperation.We are, as bricks, building the future of the world as we play a central role in making of a new                   global order.Earth hour was observed two days ago when we had turned all lights off from 8:30 to 9:30 at night.....

Imaging the imaginary poverty line

For making welfare schemes for the poor, an imaginary poverty line is drawn distinguishing the categories which need state's assistance. Counting the poor and identifying the poor was done as per the slogan,"garibi hatao" or remove poverty was promised by contesting parties. And back in 1974 ways were devised to draw the imaginary poverty  line. Today the focus is to respond to the needs of the "aum admi" or the common man. But this common man has to be identified first. When the yardstick of "28 rupees per day income" is used, the number of people who fall below this line is very  few. That is that the number of below poverty people identified by the state is low and providing food subsidy for them would be easy. It was said that this yardstick was devised by the data on the state of economy in 2004-05 and when this was told to the public it was 2011.By then cost of living had increased considerably. And in 2011,this number was inadequate in defining the present poverty level.Now the line of 32 Rupees per day for urban areas and 28 Rupees per day for rural areas is the new adjusted figure. Even this is too too low to define the poor.

Now it is understood that the imaginary line is not a good tool to look at poverty.Other perspectives can be investigated. Consumption patterns, malnourished children, health of the individuals, clean drinking water, whether their children go to school, whether they live under proper roofs(pukka roof or thatch),whether they are the desperately poor or the vulnerable category and so on. How to make people afford food, shelter should be the angle of investigation rather than how to provide for the poor.There always will be some poor classes, but development of all should not be stalled. 

As per committees made to enumerate the poor, only 30% of the population are really really  poor, but additional 16% above them are given subsidy of free food along with them.After this 30% more people who need subsidy are also under public distribution scheme.That is 76% of the population will need food subsidy. Only 24% of the population are well-off enough not to need state's help.

If the state spends on food on such a huge part of the population, then how will have funds to allocate to spend on health,on research, on education, on development of infrastructures, on defence  expenditures and on payment to the state's workers?