India in mourning

India is mourning the death of the gang rape victim who had died of the injuries inflicted on her. She fought bravely, to survive but could not For 13 days  doctors had tried hard to keep her alive and they could not. Now there are candle light prayers by the same protesters who were asking their rulers, "why is there no protection to the women in India".After learning about the kind of violence that Indian women face, the blogs appreciating Indian culture are no more relevant .How can such brutal attack happen on women in India, what cruel mind could imagine such act.
Gender crimes are rising in the darker side of India. 

A meeting for planning future

National Development Council meeting took place yesterday so that the elected elite can plan for all around development of the country in terms of expenditures of the state. Ground plan for the twelfth five-year plan has begun. Elected people from all states of India were called and were given chance  to present their views. Performances of various past schemes were discussed; their performance in terms of their impact on common people was balanced with the audit of expenditures made. Growth must be shared by all, only then the nation would advance. There has been growth in industry and there has been reduction in poverty.Inclusion has been achieved. But is it sustainable? The total plan is to improve the standard of living of the common man. But contrary to this, subsidies will be reduced gradually. Outcomes were analysed in terms of productivity of investments; 25% has been invested in public sector and 75% in private sector. While analyzing  few policies had stood up to expectations. Partially implemented policies showed less progress like 6%. That was bad. Worse were there too:”policy lock jam” was reflected by many which were showing less than 5% progress. Sectors like agriculture, power, infrastructure, health, education, skill development were given highest priorities. Although half of our population is engaged in agriculture, it is lesser than 15% in our GDP now than before. By itself agriculture has improved. Agricultural growth has accelerated from 2.4% in tenth five-year plan to 3.3% in eleventh five-year plan. Manufacturing policies have not fared well as they had been planned,as the growth is not sustainable.  Many PPP (Private Public Partnerships) have been started but not finished. The ventures have halted. SEZs(Special Economic Zones) have failed. Mining industry is not faring well with strict environmental clearances. We are importing metals.In energy sector, we are importing 80% of our needs and offering it to the people at subsidized cost. It is not rational. There are regional imbalances. Some states feel they have not been given enough money for development. The backward states have done better than the national average and are progressing. Real wages of people has improved. When MGREGA(Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act) gives people work and correct wages, the demand for the workers had risen, and hence their wages. Production has increased but it has to go on to other sectors like water, sanitation, health and education. It has not.The outcome is that we need more meetings so that the central government can understand the needs of the state governments.

People want action

Our leaders know “diplomatic talk” well. So they can freely communicate with foreign leaders. But when it comes to talking with our people, they fail to connect. They know well how to “talk without concern” Till they are candidates in election, they act like “the common man” They are so "uncommitted" to the problems of the people.They do not empathize with the people.After Politicians get power, they are not concerned with the common people. The gang rape incident(December 16) has affected the minds of the people of New Delhi, they are seeking answers from the state.When so many people are continuously protesting in the streets of Delhi, politicians should come and talk to the people. And say that this won’t happen again and that we will make proper laws and change our police machinery and so on. They do not know the mood of the people or care for the welfare of the people.Young educated Indians do not know where to turn to for seeking solution. These young people have, all of a sudden, discovered that they live in an uncivilized society--women are afraid of leaving their homes.

Protesters continue to protest, and government is doing nothing.Politicians have delegated a commission of Inquiry under Commission Inquiry Act 1952(60 of 1952)to look into the state of affairs. This will take time. Protesters want something done now. So can the people make the government act fast? Within a month, we will come up with an answer for the questions which people have. 

India--Among Asian Countries

Even with several internal problems of its own, India has very good relations with its neighbours.Countries like Nepal, feel very close to India. We have implemented many developmental projects there. We have helped them modernize their government too.Countries like Bhutan also feel very happy that India helps them in every way to modernize and bring e- governance in their lands. Bangladesh feels India is helps them in every way possible.Now ASEAN (Southeast Asian)countries have made us feel important by showing how deeply India is involved with them-- we share history religion and culture. Our craftsmen had created splendid temples with intricate architecture in their lands. Their religion came from India(Buddhism). They feel deeply connected to us. They want to continue having warm cordial relationships with us. We maintain good relations and we realise that we need to make a partnership for peace.We have big plans for making a super trading bloc by encouraging trade and commerce. We share solidarity as we have one vision--growth of Asia. We have signed ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. We tried settling of debate over territorial issue in South China Sea.We are not dominant or exploitative, we are always kind and helpful.We are liked, admired and appreciated everywhere in Asia.

Unstoppable protests of citizens

Few days back the crime of gang rape was committed on a bus in New Delhi. This was magnified by newspapers/tv media and it has infuriated the educated people of New Delhi. They had protested every day for the last six days, and they have been continuously protesting. Today over 250000 people came out to protest.They want the government to respond to them. Even without a leader, they arrive in the cold Winter days and protesting in front of the President's house. Police tried to stop the building of mob by teargas,water cannons and by lathi charge(beating) When nothing worked, they physically removed the people and placed them in buses and moved them to remote parts of New Delhi.Section 144 was imposed in Delhi, in order to stop protests.People are upset because of the causal way of the police in finding the culprits. People are determined to get the accused maximum punishment. At present, it is 7 years imprisonment for rape. But people want life term or capital punishment.The accused hire best lawyers and get away easily, people want more stringent punishment. Can punishment stop this crime?
All of a sudden, the young educated people of Delhi, can see the cruelty and the meanness of patriarchal culture that rest of India is caught in. This issue has brought into light the reality of medieval mindsets. What motivates these people to indulge in gang rape? If individuals are committing this crime, we can trace their psychological background for it; but when several men are involved, we cannot see it in psychological perspective, it has to be studied as a sociological phenomena. Weak people are victimised instead of being protected like women, girl children and economically poor/weak individuals.Male domination, group psyche--like enjoying common game;all those committing it, see it as a sport.So men do not "think" while engaging in a common cruel sport? "Khap-panchyats" dictate that women should be married away early, so that this does not happen. Even minsters of Parliament who are elected from rural India recommend this as a solution.All this reflects their backward mindsets, many part of India are inhabited by these people with ancient mindsets.Only on few rapes are reported, it brings "shame " to the women. Why? Ordinary women residing in Delhi are scared, crime can happen anywhere around them, and police do not help them. There is lack of faith in Police.
To cope with this crime, drivers and conductors of buses must be sensitised to deal with the women passengers who need protection.Policemen/policewomen should become worthy of trust. So that women will approach them when they have this problem. Police must behave in a compassionate manner towards victims.Registration of these cases must be made quickly, before evidence is lost.Fast-track courts must be made, so that these cases are dealt with immediately.
When there is no seriousness on the part of the police machinery and when the courts take much time, there is no deterrent. And hence increase in rape cases.Of the registered cases only 26% of cases are convicted.Most rape cases are not reported More than 600 rape cases have been reported in Delhi this year.NCRB(National Crime Records Bureau) says that 90% of rape cases take place among known people. In a big city with anonymous citizenry, statistics cannot explain everything. The truth is gender crimes are alarmingly high, as economic pressures weigh on the individuals here.
People who are educated have become aware that they live in an insecure city, and are seeking assurance from their rulers. They should be allowed to protest.If we are a true democracy, we have a right to protest. If that is taken away, then we are making a mockery of democracy.

Regulation of Banks

50% of Indians do not have any access to banks. Even when they do have access, the credit that is kept in it is half of what is saved by Indians. Indians feel that the option to keep one's  own money in bank is not a good one. People would rather buy gold and keep as savings than keep in bank. More safe options are explored. Banking Regulation (Amendment ) Bill was passed three days ago by the Indian Parliament. This Bill was passed to put industry on the path of higher growth ladder. The Bill empowers the banking regulator, Reserve Bank of India(RBI) as it can intervene in management of banks. RBI can now make licenses conditional to the norms sited by it.
By this Bill, government has made it easy for private capital to be invested in the Indian baking sector and at the same time it has raised investor's rights. Previously, government was spending taxpayers money to expand banks. Now private banks will come about as they are allowed to. RBI will keep an eye on new banks and their activities.RBI has power to shut down"sick" banks too. Private banks are more successful for they bring in innovative technological modernisation faster(use of Internet).In management also, private banks are superior and give customer a better service.Private banks benefit by giving confidence to the lenders; and they are trusted better by the borrowers. The profit generated by lending motivates the private banks to expand. The infrastructure created by the private banking sector can be used by the government As rural India needs banks, so that the social security schemes could be promoted more effectively.Private banks will open newer markets which the government can use. The money people have would be more visible to government now.Thus government will benefit by universal banking.Largest savings will be invested in banks--ready for investment as capital.The development of economy is directly linked the banking networks we have, so we will have bigger and better networks.This way the foundation for growth will be made.  

More laws for economic reforms

New laws are made, so that there is more transparency in private companies.Yesterday,the Lower House of the Indian Parliament, gave approval for Companies Bill,2011.The existing companies Bill was made in 1956 when thee were only thirty thousand registered companies in India. Now there are 850000 registered companies doing business in India.The new law will make the directors of the companies more accountable and it would improve corporate practises.Corporate social responsibility would be "built-in" As per the new law, more power has been given to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office(SFIO). Now there will be better relationship with investigating agencies(of state and central governments),IT dept, Information Technology Ministry and the SFIO.Now technology is also helping us too.Fast track courts will settle disputes very fast, so that business can go on uninterrupted.The new law also says the 2% of profit will go towards corporate social responsibility.The independent directors of companies will have a fixed term in office.Stricter disclosures are expected. And there will be investor protection too. So India is ready for growth.Individuals have to motivate themselves for it.And laws are made for the purpose of promoting growth.

Election results awaited

In the state of Gujarat, it is election time. The state has a festive look as political parties are electioneering.Songs and speeches in mega phones....decorated streets...people are in a good mood. Huge amount of wealth is spent on electioneering. This is a huge waste, as people are aware and can see speeches on television or hear on radio. Although many parties are trying to win over the votes, one party has a charismatic leader who appeals to the spirit of the people. Since he is covering the whole state while electioneering,everyone is going to vote for him. He is extremely appealing to the people, as he speaks in the language of the people, Gujarathi. He want to bring speedy industrialisation. He projects an image of a great Gujarat. He promisses a dream to the people.Others do not stand a chance against him.
What do the people expect from the government? They do not want big things, they want good supply of drinking water, they want non-stop electricity for running their pumps in their fields, and they want good roads. These are the simple needs of the people which they ask for. Can the future politicians give them these?

Should there be reservations

Elected elite want to use vote bank politics, so they perpetuate the policy of reservations/ positive discrimination. For affirmative action, government had adopted a policy of reservations to protect the weaker sections of Indian society.Persons belonging to scheduled castes, tribes and other back ward classes were not able to perform well in academics and also in tests for employment. Job opportunities were not easy for them, till the policy of reservation was adopted. By this students from the weaker section of society have a "quota" reserved for them in academic institutions like engineering colleges/medical colleges. This can promote education amongst these weaker sections. But it had the adverse effect of demoralising the student population who felt that the deserving candidates do not get professional education which they should. Our meritocracy was lost as meritorious students got discouraged.This went on to getting government jobs, "quota system" of reservation was followed in selection of candidates. And this led to mediocrity. Persons without calibre occupied government organisations making our government organisations dull and dysfunctional.
Now the issue in our Parliament is that these persons who got jobs on the basis of "reservation" should get higher promotions on the basis of their lower position as the Scheduled Castes/Tribes. When it comes to making policies, our political elite believes in pleasing their people who vote for them..these persons from weaker castes. How did all this begin?
The British who had ruled India before India got Independence had realised that the Indians are not an united lot. Indians constantly divided themselves in an hierarchy..."I am higher and you are lower" in the caste system. So they got an idea..."we must keep the Indians divided and we can create fights within them" The Indians could not fight their common enemy(British) because they were divided among themselves.And the British divided on basis of caste and practised the policy of "divide and rule" The "caste" based inventories/registers were kept. And people became "caste conscious"
They kept reservations for lower castes.
In free India, "Protection of Civil Rights Act,1955 was made to give special attention to rights of the disadvantaged people.Untouchability (Offences) Act,1955 was passed, so that lower class people were kept safe from suppression by upper castes. Scheduled castes and tribes were protected by "Prevention of Atrocities,1989" also. All this was needed as it was social protection. Then Article 335 said that the Scheduled Castes and Tribes must be given positions in government offices so that it is balanced with efforts for administrative efficiency. Here definitions are blurred. How much administrative efficiency is sacrificed for keeping a "reservation policy".In 1992 this was not held good. Now the"efficiency" is redefined and amendment will be made to make it operational  The real solution is to find the reason for social backwardness. If the students from these backward communities need help they could be given special training to come up instead of a "reservation policy" that protects them. How far can a policy protect? There is discontentment among the student communities; there is lack of team spirit in government's offices; rewards for ability is sacrificed at the alter of reservation. When will we arise out of mediocrity caused by reservation policy?We cannot grow as a nation when we have regional affiliations to various castes and tribes which divide us. And a developing country like ours need able administrators, intelligent technocrats and top bureaucrats. That is possible when we have a meritocracy when we are aware for our abilities.When are we going to establish a meritocracy? There is general resentment among the non scheduled people and there is growing dislike for this policy. In UP state, government employees protested against all reservations two days ago.It will become our policy as soon it is passed in both Houses of the Indian Parliament.

Potentialties of Industrialization in India

By initiating many economic reforms, government is creating a favourable atmosphere for industrial growth. Our industries are encouraged to engage in international cooperation and this enhances our potentialities greatly. Government is giving incentives for developing new technologies and makes it available at lowest price. For example Internet connectivity is available at lowest costs. Mobile communication is extremely cheap. Electrification of India has taken place in a grand scale. We can be seen from space...electrified cities and industries etc.We are open to global public for business propositions.
Potentialities for development of industries in India are extremely high. Government cannot bring about all industries by itself, so it is constantly seeking ways to find others who will help in bringing about industrialisation here. We have a disciplined population.Labour force is abundant, professional, skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled.Government is easing private companies which will grow well in India. All that we need is foreign investments which will bring together the labour force with the plentiful resources of the land. Take any important mineral--India is blessed in abundance. 188 billion tonnes of coal is available, this reserve can last for more than hundred years. Copper is plentiful. Iron is plentiful. There is lot of fertile lands which can be farmed effectively as the climate is warm all year round. And where there are no agricultural fields, minerals are bountiful.We just need a government which would take better initiatives instead of outsourcing responsibilities to foreign firms. We need a government which would care for its people. Young people will vote correctly in the future and elect such a government. India is a approaching a golden age---we have all the ingredients for a very bright future, as bright as the city lights seen in the night sky.

FDI has won

In the Upper house(Rajya Sabha) Foreign Direct Investment policy in retail has been cleared. 123 Ministers voted for FDI while 109 had voted against it. This would change many many lives. Small traders will suffer as they cannot keep up with big retail shops. Small artisans, shoe makers, tailors, carpenters cannot compete with mass produced articles produced by industries. All this had happened long ago in developed countries where industrialization had come long ago. So it is happening here too, except the people are too poor to survive on their own along with industrial giants. However good our social schemes for the poor may be we cannot help all the suffering citizens.
This land has seen many rulers who had harmed the hard working people.It is going on again and again. People are meek willing workers who know how to obey the rulers.They do not know how to think for themselves and decide accordingly.
Future of these people will be decided by the policies of their government. Ruthless game that politicians play seals our futures....let us see how events workout..if intelligent Indians make effective choices, in selection of rulers we will have bright future.

FDI voting jumbled

Today 'FDI(Foreign Direct Investment) in retail" issue was voted on in the 'Lok Sabha'(Lower House). And government's measure for 50% investment in FDI will stand and not be changed. The entire process of voting in Parliament was so jumbled up that it was unbelievable that it was passed. When two important parties had staged a "walk out" while voting was held in the Parliament. Even with fewer elected people voting for it, the issue got majority.Our elected elite are a divisive lot. Due to casual attitude, there were elected leaders who had absented themselves on this crucial voting event. There was also bargaining done by a  Parliamentarian, who had said that if policy of "reservation on promotions" was favored  she would vote on FDI. How can one bargain supporting an issue while wanting support on another issue?Those who were absent on the day of voting, have actually affected it in a big way. Those who had made big speeches against FDI should be committed to their views.While voting they were not supporting their ideas.
Of course this voting process is not final; for 30 days, it would be on the table for reconsideration. And how it is going to be treated in the 'Rajya Sabha'(Upper House of Parliament) remains to be seen. How had we elected such unruly bunch of Parliamentarians? The incongruous working of their minds  has resulted in the voting process becoming unsuccessful. Personal rivalries resulted in walkouts and even changing sides.
They do not think about the plight of the small businessmen/traders. The simple people will be most affected by this decision.What would be the future like? The land of the small farmer would be bought easily by big retail giants. We would be buying our things from big supermarkets who would be making huge profits. The few workers employed would be exploited to the fullest. Big profits would be made by the foreign retailers and resources would leave our lands, making us more impoverished than ever before.Is this what we want?Lets see, if it is passed in the 'Rajya Sabha'.

Promoting Water security

Water scarcity is coming soon to India. We cannot avert it. How are we going to save our selves?
We have to produce more food with less water. That is the biggest challenge in India today.Global Water Partnership will be meeting this week in New Delhi, to promote a water secure world. In future, we must have water if we want to live, it is a fundamental need.In cities, the demand for water is so great that water for rural India will be diverted for maintaining civic amenities here. Rural people will have to produce more for the urban population, while having lesser water, than ever before. We have water scarcity because climate change causes floods and droughts at the same time. Short outbursts of rain causes rainwater to run-off without being soaked by the ground.Before climate change had come we had long monsoons when water stagnated enough to be soaked by ground and recharge the water table levels. But now it runs off as floods before being soaked by land. Water is a limited resource now, Himalayan glaciers are melting away much faster than ever before.
We are helped by the World Bank and UNDP and SIDA. The aim is to implement Integrated Water Resources Management(IWRM) We must not compromise on sustainability of environment and its ecosystems while maximising economic development and progress. We need a water policy for South Asia and national networks, all countries are rapidly urbanising while we have big needs in terms of food security.
The Ministry of Water Resources has come up with the Draft National Water Policy of 2012 to meet the demands of water in India. State governments are also working together for this draft. The need for water framework law is felt in development of inter-state rivers and river valleys.There is need for amending irrigation Acts which are outdated(enacted in 1882).The natural flow of the river must be maintained while using part of it. In view of new climatic changes, new ways of using the river must be devised.Volume of water should be monitored, a regulatory board should be made.Local bodies like and state governments should work together. Grants should be made to the state governments so that they can design practises, to plan usage and manage water resources more efficiently and effectively.

The "should be" part sounds good. But what is the reality?Are states cooperating in sharing water resources? Southern states without good water resources need some water from others who have good supplies. They are denied, and supreme Court has to intervene to settle disputes. People protest so that water is not given to water starved states. Where will the water deficient states do? We have got to cooperate with each other and share river water otherwise we may become DESERT INDIA.

New mode of protests: plaza takeovers

Farmers are taking over plazas in cites around New Delhi and planning to block highways too, if their demands are not agreed upon. Two days ago, Bharat Kisan Union farmers met National Highway Authority of India officials and had made several demands. They wanted free passes in highways for farming related vehicles.They are already paying one-fourth, but they want free pass for they have to make several trips everyday while carrying out farming activities.They also want free passage for people living 20 KM radius around the Plaza for they had to make several trips in a day. Farmers use only 5 to 10 KM of the entire highway but they have to pay for the passage ticket of entire highway. Farmers also wanted pending payment for the compensation for the land they had given up for the construction of the plaza and the highways.National Highways Authority of India has agreed to for making over bridges and underpasses for the farmers to cross on National Highway 58.Other demands were not met.

When their demands were not agreed upon, they had brought to halt toll plaza on Daurala near the city of Meerut, day before yesterday. Yesterday, about hundred farmers had taken over Dasna toll plaza Today, it would be Saharanpur plaza. That means no toll for all vehicles which ply these highways--free rides for all! On Friday, Bharat Kisan Union plans to block Delhi-Noida highway. Seizing toll booths and blocking highways and taking over plazas are their ways of making protests.This is small clash between urban and rural India.With elections coming up, farmers' demands will not be brushed aside.

What will be, will be

If we do not care for the future of the nation, if we waste time in Parliament, then what will happen? Future Indians will suffer, we would remain a nation caught in the vicious cycle of poverty. Our natural resources would be lost. The Indian mainland would become a desert, when all water from the water table would dry up. Conservation of natural resources is not in our mind. The Glaciers which melt and provide water to our rivers would have completely dried up.

If we are not dedicated workers and we continue wasting time, future will not be bright for the nation.We do not need any astrologer to tell us what will the future be like, we can see for ourselves.
Whether we like or not, world has changed and we have to change with it. If Internet has come into being and has given the whole world freedom to express, we cannot stop it. March of civilisation will go on, no matter what.

We must learn that we have to give people freedom to communicate. Let us communicate with our people and know their problems ourselves. Let us use the Internet to reach out to our people.

Whenever a 'right' is given, we try to find a way to curb it, so that people cannot enjoy freedom. Why are we so narrow minded?We must learn to "think big"

Over reach of police

Two girls were arrested by the Maharashtra police force for posting a comment on face book. It was preposterous.Police had shown their power to arrest when they felt it was right to do so.This arrest was not needed. When newspapers publicised this, there was immediate action taken--guidelines to the Information Technology Act of 2000 were made.Section 66-A of Information Technology Act phrased "offences". And now,no offences under this section can be registered by police officer below the rank of a Deputy Commissioner of Police in non-metro and rural areas, and rank of an Inspector General in urban areas.What is "offencive"or "malicious"? This is what is described as offencive:"grossly offencive in character or has a menacing character, or is sent to cause announce, insult, inconvenience, danger,obstruction, ill-will and enmity, hatred for criminal, intimidation" The offence is punishable up to three years' imprisonment and a fine;it is a bailable offence.
These guidelines are just a reaction or response to the outrage. What is needed is more clear definition of what is exactly "offencive" Each of the words mentioned above must be explained more deeply; they must be described better.Each kind of offence should be differentiated. We must make provision so that police cannot register a case easily without a proper court order; because anything can be interpreted as an offence. Law is left up to interpretation of vague terms which are undefined. If  punishment has to be given, it should be reduced to a fine only(not imprisonment).
Is it possible to police the vast Internet?Should the Internet be policed in a democracy like ours? We have the freedom to publish in the newspaper, so we must have the freedom on cyber space too. Are police trying to control people's freedom of expression. Are we becoming a police state?
Now the Supreme Court is going  to merely educate the police officers. But is that enough? The law must be changed, so that vague terms are not used.Civil liberties are being reduced by misleading words in this section of the Constitution.

Time is ticking away...

Of the sixteen days of the Winter session in Parliament, four are over and on one issue the session is being held up...FDI..FDI.FDI... There are 25 pending bills which need urgent need to be passed. If one issue is given so much time for one, when will they legislate on the others. The entire Monsoon session was spent on demands on answer to "Coal-block allocations" Our Parliamentarians need to be re-trained to be able to spend time more effectively in Parliament. Foreign Direct Investment has been raised to 50% lately, despite stiff opposition. Now that it has been executed, to repeal it would be complicated. It will again sent a message to international investors that it is "risky" to invest in India, as politicians will go on changing policies.
Whether we pass FDI or not, foreign firms are here. Indirectly, like "Wal-mart" has taken over the entire market legally before FDI was ever considered.It is under the guise of another Indian chain store. It invests its funds through the local name.Foreign firms know how to deal with the government's policies and how to get around them.
Many foreign firms operate through a base those countries with whom we do not tax. For instance Mauritius. They have an office in Mauritius and claim that they are from there. We have signed pact with Mauritius that we would not tax them, so that trade is encouraged. Foreign companies take advantage of this to evade taxes.We had not renewed many bilateral treaties, and they take advantage of that and evade taxes.In a changing world scenario, we must keep up.
As per report of ICAR in September 2012,Rupees  44143 crores post harvest losses of horticultural, agricultural and livestock produce has been calculated.So government allowed 100% FDI in cold storage, so that harvests could be saved.In saving post harvest loss, there is need for capital investment to create modern storage capacities. So Private Public Partnerships for infrastructure development schemes will be encouraged.But whether encouraged or not "chain stores" will expand their tentacles and take over our "food chain".They will take over all trades starting from the harvest chain and extending to other consumer items.
Specialists in economy have to put their minds together to find out the devious ways of the foreign markets. And parliamentarians need to take their advice before framing policies.Political games have marred our country's future.

Urban life of neo-migrants

By 2020, urban poor will be between 86.5 million to 113.7 million.In the year 2030, 41% of the population of India would have become urban. That is 575 millions will become India's urban citizens. Agriculture did not give any benefits to the farmer.They had to migrate to urban centres when they had sold off their lands,and now there was nothing more to sell. They have to make a living, so they move to towns which were unknown environments to them. The plight of the farmer is pathetic, 100,000 farmers have committed suicide from 1996 to 2003. Rural poverty migrates and becomes urban poverty.The farmers and their families try to make money by moving to cities to pay back debts.They work as unskilled labour force. Minimum daily wages for unskilled labour is 270 Rupees and for semi-skilled is 300 Rupees, but they are paid only 150 Rupees by the contractors. For this paltry sum, people move to the cities and dream to relinquish their debts. For earning this money they have to work for 10 to 12 hours, although the sum is for 8 hours working day only. These new migrants have most difficult lives when the city cannot accommodate them, but it wants to use them as its workforce.This is distress migration, raw reality of a unemployment in India.
Let us take the city of New Delhi which gets more than 250000 migrants every year. More than 50%, of the migrants live in slums. That is 1.8 million new migrants are living in conditions where there is a small space to sleep in, minimum water facilities, congested unhygienic dwellings and no electricity. To add to the problems of the poor, the slums were relocated to beautify the city, displacing the poor people.Upon dislocation,many loose their jobs; many find it difficult to travel to work when they have to spend long hours to go to work.Many children do not get a new school to go to.In November 2008, draft 'National Urban Poverty Reduction Strategy' was mad by the government. After planning, allocation was made for 74,148 flats; but only 96660 were actually constructed. On March 2011 only 87 flats were handed over to the urban poor. What happened to the rest of the money allocated?Rest of the flats?
When Common wealth games were held in Delhi in 2010, we hear about how much money was spent by government but money was usurped   by the men who were going to build big strong infrastructures.About 31,5000 crores on games alone. 90000 crores were spent on beautifying Delhi. That meant dislocating biggest slums located in main places.These slum dwellers had lost their jobs, lost their accommodations, how many many crores of their money was lost?It was not calculated.

In 2003, Supreme Court had made a rule that no new buildings will be made near the banks of river Yamuna at Delhi, as encroachments disturb the river's course. But government made ways to evade and bypass its own regulations, and Technology Park among others were built in the banks of Yamuna and the biggest temple complex was also built in its banks. So ecology and course of river does not matter when the government builds? Slums in the banks were bulldozed, and homes were demolished that does not matter?Poor people's plight makes no difference because they cannot express their views and they are not heard.......When we want to use them as our labour force, we make infrastructures by destroying their homes, we also destroy their lives to beautify our lives......we want better looking cities...Is it fair? Only 9% of the projects meant for Urban Renewal Mission were completed;other funds were diverted to different projects and did not benefit the poor.

Labour force that constructs India

Rights of the people remain in paper and are absent in reality. Construction workers from different remote parts of India migrate to the cities where they work very hard to make a living. The city with biggest migrant population is New Delhi;here construction activity goes on all year round. Those who have lost their livelihoods, those who are most impoverished migrate to Delhi to get a job as a construction worker. They suffer the most, they earn meagre sums--even minimum wages are not given to them as prescribed. They live at the construction site itself; they sleep along with the tools, sand and bricks all around them. They have bad health as the work they do is very hard, and they do not get the required rest or good food. The work is dangerous;their work is in an accident prone environment; and when injured,they do not get any medical attention. They are just pushed aside and another continues to work in their place.Death while at work is very common....Unless they are registered and their registration book is updated, they do not get any compensations.
Workers can get registered in the Board of construction workers to get some benefits. Many do not know this. Those who try to get registration, have to go through a long process which takes at least six months. And at most times, contractors do no hire those who are registered.Many many unregistered people are available, flow of migrants from rural areas is immense. Many times children (in teens) come to work, and they cannot be registered. Women come with their husbands and their wages are clubbed with their husband's wages. Women do the hardest work and they are paid the least. They carry bricks to top floors by steps on their heads; they mix cement, they carry cement, they break stones, they bring sand and so on. Men do the more mechanized work like working the vehicles in the construction site like operating the cement mixer and so on. Younger children are cared by older children, whole family is at the workplace. They had left their village with their family to make a living in the big glittering city, but they lead a gilt less life. Their life is so cheap that they are expendable. Many develop breathing related health problems, and many die due to prolonged illnesses associated with gruelling work. Many die in accidents in the construction site.
Labour force makes industrialisation of India possible.Pillars for the flyovers, roads, high rise apartments, hotels, offices are all built by the construction workers. Their role is most important in urban India, but their rights are the most neglected.Building Construction Worker Related laws Bill of 2012 was amended by the Cabinet. So was amended Building Construction Workers Act of 1996; this too got the Cabinet nod. Ten years ago Labour Department had made it mandatory for all construction workers to be registered in construction labours welfare Board and 14 different rights were given to them. Only 2007, five years later it started functioning.This plan or yojana remains in paper. The Board has 900 crores as its fund, only 35 crores were used for education of the labourer's children. Even Delhi Nirman Mahila Board was established to look after their needs. But the women are not given benefits of maternity leave, although by rule, they should get.No mobile dispensaries were available as prescribed. Union of the workers is not strong, so this affects its functioning.If workers are registered in the Board, they will get 5000 Rupees at marriage(women get 10,000 Rupees) In case of accident, the victim will get one lakh Rupees, and at death 50,000 Rupees. They can get a loan of 10000 Rupees for buying tools. For home building also they can have an interest free loan of one lakh. For people who just want to survive one more day, work a little long to earn one more day for their families, we must provide more than this.These modern high rise buildings, flyovers,and  metro pillars are living monuments to the work of these hardworking people...these are not just concrete and cement infrastructures, they are built with the blood and sweat of the hard working construction workers...we must honour them....and take efforts to make their life better; we may provide them with  mobile sheds to live in....we live in homes they had constructed, so we must think about them.

Environmental clearances made easy

Environment cannot be compromised in bringing in development(industrialisation).Things are going very wrong. Now National Investment Board(NIB) has the power to overrule ministries if there is a delay in making of large-scale projects. Ministry of Environment and Forests has the exclusive right to make clearances of all projects. Now NIB is overstepping and making this ministry power-less to prevent polluting projects.Prime Minister's office has given NIB power to over rule Environment Ministry for giving green clearances for mines. Tribal people live in the forests of India which are rich in minerals. With the making of these new regulations, the tribal communities will have no say when their lands would be snatched from them to create mines(to mine minerals) Their homes would be gone, their livelihoods would be lost.
This would weaken the nation, because now the tribal people would protest.That would delay projects.Investors want clearances quickly, and NIB wants to give it to them. And thereby giving away the rights of the people.There are no meaning for these words"inclusive growth", "sustainable growth" or "equitable growth".These words may only appear in speeches but in action they are having no meaning.Economic reforms come at a social cost and an environmental cost. Were these costs ever calculated? What land will we leave behind for the future generations. With water table contaminated by emissions from the mining projects we are jeopardising the health, safety and security of the people inhabiting there. If we finish off the resources now itself, then future generations will have none left. Mineral resources cannot be replenished and they are lost for ever.
Forest Conservation Act was enacted so that states asked centre for permission for clearance of forest land for mining activity.Government re-phrases and re-interprets "forest land" and our natural wealth is lost in defining "lands" Due to mining activity, fish stocks have declined making livelihoods of fishermen disappear.If this activity is development, we are creating poverty and not alleviating it, and this is opposite of development.From 1991 to 2004, minerals produced in India have increased by four fold, but there is reduction of jobs in mining. Mining industry is now automated, and miners have lost jobs.So there is more poverty in a mining town than ever before.
When locals are driven away from their lands, they may have to live deeper in the forests as a competition to the wildlife of India. So we cannot give away forest wealth, making people landless and forest creatures homeless.
Government also has given clearances improperly and had not consider the cost of health of the people.Favouring "bribe-giving industrialist" is very very common. Corporates are heard, but the common people are not heard. Their problems do not matter at all. This is unfair.We have to evolve a policy of human well-being of all and not just visualise immediate economic benefit. Even if economic reforms show growth, it wont be sustainable. Mining is not a sustainable activity.As policy makers, government has to do more research before "clearances" and consider the rights of the people of the land. People will be asking for their rights sooner or later.

Are we over populated?

Is India over populated country?Land only supports what it can hold. There are enough fields here which provide for our people. It was a concern for European countries that if population of India increases, it would become a communist country, and that it would threaten the free world. This view had started programs to target driven population control plans. Indian government visualises differently--population's health is important, and population control is automatically checked.Main reason for population growth is the fact that life expectancy of Indians has tremendously increased.In 1930's life expectancy was 22 years on average; now it is 65.Diseases like cholera or other contagious diseases have decreased.People  are educated enough to control family size.Two child family norm was popularised since 70's.
Health of the people is the true  concern of the government.Families which have access to heath care are small. All like smaller families which have better health. There is no 'target' centric programs of the government. Top 20% of population produces 80% of the wealth of the nation. Level of resource distribution among the population is skewed. And that is the primary concern of the government, how to set that right?
Marginal people at the lower levels suffer because of lack of education, because of lack of health, and because of unsanitary conditions in their home environments. Politics determines the condition of the people. Access to health services is reason for the disparities. Cost of health services and medicines is very very high. 80% of the health services are funded by private firms.Health is available for those who can afford it. This denies health benefits to the ordinary people. There are states like Tamil Nadu which provide free consultation and free medicine in all government hospitals which is open to all people. These states have given its people better health, and here the population has stabilised. When women gain greater control, in decisions made by them, the population health has increased. We have to fight patriarchal mindsets and give more decision making power to the women, then only health of the nation would become better. All these years, women were held responsible for the large number of children produced. That is not true they were controlled by men who had convenient excuse--blame it on the women. There are more challenges ahead. Government envisages that private companies could be entrusted with health services. But this will not work out. The private firms work on profit mode. They do not care for the health of the people. In Chhatisgarh state, thousands of women were operated upon to remove their wombs, when none of the operations were required; the health firm had to show results and it victimised the poor women. When there is food security, proper management can make our population healthy.Population studies cannot be done by isolating statistics(how many and when) We should see population stabilisation in view of child survival, in terms of maternal health, in view of maternal education, in visualising social status of women, in employment opportunities for all.And we must see how anti poverty measures have improved the lot of the poor.International Inter ministerial Conference on Population and Development took place on November 11, 2012; it had confirmed that population had stabilised, 

Trying to create a nation

It is 123rd birthday of Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru, first Prime Minster of free India. He had stressed that our country be a secular nation.Secularism is an ideal which we  tried to evolve in the building of the Indian nation. We were divided by various religious beliefs, we were ruled by ancient practises and we were constantly compartmentalising ourselves in narrow divisions of caste, race and faith. To unify India, we needed to secularise ourselves--to think beyond religion. We have kept the moral values which religion teaches us and we have discarded the negative Religion could not be deducted from our lives for religion is our way of life and defines our culture. Culture of the Indian nation binds us together. The unifying factor is culture which is a positive expression of religion.
Socialism which Nehru had advocated has not made much headway.Social justice and equality is still enigmatic, how to bring about greater equality?Our biggest setback is inequality---uneven distribution of wealth. We have the super rich and the super poor. And eliminating poverty is a war in which we are yet to conquer. Both rural poverty and urban poverty cannot be wished away overnight. We have schemes, like the Public Distribution Scheme( PDS card) and UIDAI card, MGNREGA, old age pension plan and so on. More important is the fact we must cut down expenditures by retiring the overpaid inefficient government officials who cause a big loss of our national treasury.Nehru would have never thought that Indian political class would become so corrupt as it has. Anyway we have other positive developments. We have an active media which teaches the public about the rights that they have. With increased computerisation, we can organise ourselves(egovernance initiatives) better and serve the people of India.Due to our strategic location, we are sought after by foreign allies who want to keep good relations in the neighbourhood. If we can implement projects more quickly, we can help countries like Myanmar in a more constructive manner. Our foreign policy could be shaped better, and we will be valued more. Countries like Bhutan and Mauritius value good relationship with us because we have made their government more effective. We have provided them with e-governance.If we do not help other developing countries, due to our slow pace of project implementation, we would not be liked. Other more dominant countries like China would take over centre-stage in this part of Asia. To be or not to be is up to us NOW

Lights light up our lives

Diwali or festival of lights was celebrated with joy and revelry. In few cities citizens refrained from using fire crackers as they are made by using exploitative child labor  Instead  people had floated lighted lanterns which lit up the sky. Our identity as people of India is clearly visible from space....glowing India...We could be seen from space as we celebrate the festival lighting up the outer walls of our homes. Gods will see  from heaven, and bless us with 'Aiswariyam'(prosperity)On Diwali,each hearth in each home is warm, while we make sweets for our children. Lights in our prayer rooms are lit by 'diyas' or oil lamps. We pray for prosperity of our homes for all times to come. Children are given fire crackers to burst and enjoy. Everyone in the family wear new clothes and welcome the Goddess Lakshmi in their homes.
While informal economy provides for the festivals with decorations for the homes, modern shops advertise big sales of cars, TVs, mobile phones and everything under the sun. Consumerism has boomed in a big way. People want to buy, buy and buy. Festivals are given a new meanings now----for example---on 'Dhanteras' day of Diwali metals are bought for the household, people  generally bought gold or silver, now it is cars and refrigerators or tablets and mobiles. Times have changed.Festivals got new expressions. All items which lighten up our lives, as we strive to buy.....happiness....

Ground water Model Bill

There is unsustainable use of ground water, we may exhaust all ground water before it can be replenished by rains.Groundwater is the main source by which we have freshwater in the mainland India. More development means deeper penetration of the soil to gain greater access to groundwater. The more powerful install deeper wells and try to use as much as possible. With the result we are very quickly using up this resource. In states like Assam, groundwater is completely restored or recharged by heavy rains, but in other states, we take out the water from the ground and finish it off; and rains are not enough to replenish the water table.From 1970, we have been making deeper and deeper wells for irrigation. 80% of all farming is done by irrigation from water brought up from the ground. We had provided the farmer with motorised pumps to use this resource freely,not knowing that this is an exhaustible resource. Even 80% of our drinking water is extracted from groundwater tables. In 2004, it was becoming clear that drinking water was becoming scarcer and that quality of ground water had become very poor too. We had hit the environmental limits. There was no legislating to regulate the use of ground water. If any control was done, it was landownership-based and not aquifer-wide.(water table based) It was not realised that surface water and the ground water was related --if you extract ground water, surface water will get reduced. For example water in springs/lakes/rivers will be reduced if we extract the ground water under them.Agricultural and industrial practises have to reduce ground water usage,so that water table can recharge itself. Water harvesting must be done. We must encourage making of rain water catchments. We must learn to recycle water and re-use this resource. When going into the issues of groundwater, we have to make sure all get groundwater to drink and not just the rich. The quality of water should be monitored, so that clean water is available for drinking. Livelihoods of many depends on water, irrigation is needed, but not beyond the limits of the land. Water intensive crops must be made only in those zones which are able to provide water for it. Ground water should be priced;there will be technical problems with this. Before making of an infrastructure or industry, environmental impact must be assessed(whether water is sufficient) Every year assessment must be made, so that we can make sure ground water is not exhausted. 'Gram Panchayats' have been entrusted with the conservation of aquifer's waters. Understanding of the groundwater water management cannot be easily taught to them.Model Bill for Conservation and Regulation of Ground Water 2011 makes an outline of 'what should be done', how will it be done, how fast can it be done, can we really preserve our waters? India's future depends on this......whether we become a desert nation or not....India will not become a desert...let us work for that by conserving water today.Let us plant more trees to attract rain.

Happy with results

When another democracy selects its leader, we compare and we try to see how we can improve our democracy. Debates were an essential part of presidential elections in the States(US) and we do not have that. We were watching closely, how the campaign strategy was unfolding. It was very much like ours. The people were closely watching the contestants; to choose the right person,they had only one criterion...one who would address correctly the issues facing the nation. It was a close contest. Second term for the President will be as difficult a the first. India is concerned with the relations we have with that democracy. And we have good relations. India is concerned about our citizens who have migrated to the US; they should be safe and should succeed.When living in a foreign country, our citizens who face several exigencies, but they are willing to take all risks.Indians love to migrate to the US seeking higher education and employment opportunities. They had become citizens there and had voted for the democratic President. The President recognizes contributions of the minority communities and encourages them. However engrossed we are with our national problems, we are happy to know that another democracy is doing well.

Caring for the Senior Citizens

Towards sunset, the Sun is very beautiful, just as an aging person gives us much knowledge at the sunset of his/her life.Indian culture and traditional society had given the elderly very high status, but these values have been eroded because of speedy Westernization.Our families have become nuclear, and joint families and extended families have disappeared.Elderly are no longer heads of joint families and their decisions are not considered by other members of the family. We are suddenly witnessing that they are in need of help in protection of their life and property, protection in terms of financial security, protection in terms of health care available; they need protection against ill-treatment, and they need to be productive members of our nation. They need care, support and emotional upliftment from all, so that they are balanced in their last stage of life.Ageing people(you, me and all will be ageing soon) have become weak and need care and protection so that they can lead a healthy, dignified and productive life.
Traditional social values have changed and have made the elderly vulnerable. We have to intervene and make laws for their protection.National Policy on Older persons was announced in 1999 by which state support for the elderly was given, The state made provisions for their financial and food security, for their health care, shelter, protection against abuse and exploitation, and training of social workers for their care and support. Special attention was given to elderly women and the need for expansion of social and community services for elderly was realized. We cannot separate them from the community they belong to, so we must support them in their community itself. They should not feel unprotected, ignored or marginalized  In their last days, months and years of their productive lives, they should feel they had dignity and they should leave this world in peace. Only then, human society would be truly human.
After the National Policy on Older persons was made in 1999, there has been big challenges as socioeconomic patterns have changed, demographic trends have changed and big technological transformations have helped in caring for the aged population.Maintenance of Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act was made in 2007.This makes maintenance of parents and senior citizens obligatory and can be tried by the Tribunals. This also empowers the elderly, they can revoke any transfer of property to relative when they are neglected. It has penal provisions for the abandonment of senior citizens. This act also provides for Old Age Homes for senior citizens.More pension benefits will be made for below poverty old persons, for widows(aged 18and above) and persons with disabilities in addtion to the elderly by rural development ministry.
To improve the quality of life of the elderly, all ministries offer help. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has implemented Integrated Programme for the elderly by giving them shelter, food, medical care and making them productive and active while ageing.90% financial help is given to government organisations or Panchayati Raj institutions which make such provisions.And additional help is given to make old age Homes, day centers, mobile medicare Units, and for disabilities of elderly(physiotherapy or Alzheimer's)Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme has been implemented by Rural Development ministry, a minimum of Rs 2000 has been proposed as pension for all elderly.Ministry of Family welfare has implemented 'Health Care for the Elderly' program.Ministry of Finance has implemented a policy by which by which they get income tax benefits. Railway Ministry has made concessions in cost of tickets. Even Civil Aviation Ministry has given concessions in air tickets. In 2005, ministry of Home Affairs has ensured special protection to the elderly, in protecting their life and property.
As per 2001 census 7.5% of Indian Population is aged 60 and above.In 2026,the elderly would be 12.4% Demographic trend indicates, that aged will longer and longer. And a large population needs protection towards their end of their life...big task for the younger population. There is much to learn from these elderly people for they have seen big changes in their lifetimes.And they are willing to share their wisdom with all those who speak with them.We must learn good values and ideals.They are the real torch bearers for all future generations to come. One day when we become the elderly, we would like to treated well too.

What is going to happen?

Government is concerned with the problems of the rich and the poor are always ignored. There is awareness that government policies favour the aristocratic industrialists and are essentially “anti-people” But what can we do anything about it? We can wait till the elections which will come in two years to change the government by voting for the other party. But when the whole political class is incompetent in dealing with problems of the people and is so selfish that it grabs our national wealth, there is nothing much we can do.
There are innovators who offer solutions to meet needs of the people in sectors like health, education, water, food security and energy. But these are just eyewash. The real need of the people is economic betterment so that people can have better health, so that they can have a good education, so that they have enough food, so that they can afford electricity. And the economy is in the hands of the rich aristocrats who have made deals with the political class. Investors and rich entrepreneurs are encouraged and policies are made for them.Policies are made for the betterment of the rich class. But publicity is given as if the poor are being helped, but they are only exploited. Even the press writes what the rich want.
Social security schemes do not work. The health benefits offered by the government does not reach the people. The political class sees India like an outsider. Only the open poverty of the very very poor in the streets is visible to them. There is more poverty...which is hidden.. People are educated and unemployed, how can they support their families, how can they support themselves. How can they buy food, clothes or pay rent for a small room to stay? When whole populations are suffering like this, only the very very poor are given benefits by the "outsider" government.People are having an admirable culture and good educational qualifications; but they have an empty bank balance, this is true poverty...wasted minds...
Good schools and colleges are attended by only those who can afford high fees. Highly educated are the rich. But they do not care for the ordinary poor people.These so called educated cannot see the real problems of the people.Who knows what can be done for our country?Who cares?
So what is going to happen? Young people will create very big protests in the future. They will ask for their rights and ask for job opportunities which the government will not be able to offer. Then government will change and try meet the needs of the people. Till then it would be a rocky ride....life in India....

Culture and the human mind

Religion, its allied festivals and celebrations were invented to give identity to the people. Language, culture, religion are ways of life;they show the individual a how to live out his life in society. Politicians and religious leaders use the different aspects to divide and unite the individuals as per their ambitions. Can there be an individual who can think without the influence of culture, language and religion? What sort of identity will he/she have?
Modernism will bring in a new society of logical thinking people, may be culture may not reveal itself.We may not give religion any importance, we may ignore religious occasions, we may change considerably and we may not stick to specific religious groups. Can we really separate culture form our individual personalities? Culture has embedded itself in our minds and has become part of our personalities. We really cannot separate culture from our minds.
Today people in Northern parts of India are celebrating the festival of "Karva chauth" It renews the bond of husband and wife. Wives pray for long life of their husbands. These festivals show faith in relationships and  they reflect people's aspirations of making an ideal marriage. In India human relationships are celebrated and bonds renewed in religious celebrations. If modernism changes all this,then what is left of the human culture in India?
We must adhere to culture, but we must not be slave to it--to allow others to divide us on basis of culture. (Caste division divides us)We must be consciouses of what to take from culture and what we need not. We should be selective in what we celebrate. We love to celebrate the devotion which is part of marriage in India.

For empowering workers

While construction activity is ever growing, the actual persons carrying out the work are neglected. To make the lives of these people better, laws are going to be made. Our Cabinet approved Amendment to Building and other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act,1996 and Building and other Construction Workers' Welfare Cess Act,1996. To be made into law on the coming session,another new legislation was made to improve the lot of the workers. And that is Building and Construction Workers Related Laws Bill 2012.
Poor uneducated workers incessantly work in construction sites, they have no identity, no home and no place to rest. For meagre sum of money for every day expenditures of food, they do hard work. Sometimes thugs and thieves steal their wages, they have no homes and are helpless. To help them laws are being made. These amendments will greatly help in the process of registration of the construction workers. State Welfare Boards will keep their wages safely and give when they need. The provisions will allow the government to specify the cost of construction by fixed notifications and establish limits. Previously, construction worker was registered for work for ninety days only. After ninety days, new registration should be made, and the worker may not get hired again. He was working under fear that he would not get work after the ninety days. Now the worker will get extended benefits. Previously, after the age of sixty, workers were not allowed to work. Now that rule is gone, worker can work as long as he/she wants. Within thirty days cess collecting authorities have to deposit cess to the Welfare board. A committee should be constituted consisting of Labour Secretary, Finance secretary, Planning Secretary, and a Social Welfare Secretary till a board is formally constituted. These rules will make the life of the worker better.Even if these measures are taken, the fact remains that the construction worker sheds his sweat and severely strains his muscles to make buildings, bridges, roads and highways. Whenever we see these magnificent structures, we think of all the labour that went into it. Does he get to use these buildings, bridges? No, he goes on making new ones till his very end..............it is too distressing 

Stage set for Election in two states

The states of Himachal Pradesh and the state of Gujarat are undergoing final stages of the state elections. Candidates are making promises to their potential voters.Candidates are appealing to the younger first-time voters--promising employment and development in their own states. There is promise of industrialisation--"we will open more industries and make you prosper".Industries offer jobs to outsiders and the prosperity from industries go their owners and not to the people. The simple people of Himachal Pradesh depend on tourism; they open small industries in their homes  making handicrafts and they try to make a living. They are asking the electioneering candidates questions, "why is the cost of living so high" Simple answers are not available for the simple people. But there is a  promise--"if you elect me, cost of living will go down" The poor people are ready to believe anyone. People are asking for "good roads, railways, colleges, jobs and good hospitals" Unemployment rate is very very high here.The men of the mountainous Himachal Pradesh are forced to leave their home state seeking employment in the army and allied organisations--they search for employment anywhere and everywhere. The hardworking women of Himachal Pradesh live out their lives in harsh conditions; they educate their children and hope that life would be kinder to their children. All are educated, willing to work hard and positive thinking and politically aware people.Can these aspiring politicians understand the problems of the people? They cannot. There is negative campaigning which is detestable.All time in wasted in mud-slinging(slandering each other), and in making un-realisable promises.The real issues are ignored. The election fever is clearly visible, the empathy for the people is entirely missing. In the abode of God Shiva, the snow clad Himachal is looking for real life leaders who will save them. People of Himachal, God loves you, whether politician care or not, it doesn't matter. Lord Shiva will answer their  prayers.

World wide sharing of knowledge

Internet is offers an environment for invention; it brings latest knowledge to the students here and updates them on latest developments. There are new problems which may arise in controlling the net which government wants to do. When the government cannot control the Internet itself, it tries to regulate it. While consulting with Internet platforms, government was advised that they cannot be held liable to third party content and that self-censorship will reduce free flow of information. What the government does not realize is that internet cannot be controlled. It is too vast. Government does not need to fear the internet, as internet reflects the state of affairs here and it can help in creating a solution to the problems we have. Laws were proposed for controlling the Internet. Like the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules 2011. Copyright Amendment Bill aspires to get rid of operational problems and find solutions to newer exigencies. At many times terms cannot be defined properly, like—“sensitive issues” or “grossly harmful” which are used to describe objectionable content. The Internet companies are located outside India and need not follow our rules. Rules cannot put pressure on the intermediaries to mange content or monitor what the users write about. New challenges pose new problems for the government and any apprehension in dealing with them shows incompetence. When people coming from the state of Assam were rushing back to their state, Government tried to stop the reverse migration by stopping social networking sites. But the speed of the Internet was beyond control. Government was too slow to stop people. Fears in the mind of the people cannot be dispensed of by turning the light off. Wrong methods were used, to control people’s movements. Instead by blocking, government could have used the Internet to give the people confidence and assure them that there is no threat to their lives. 
Truth is that government wants an excuse to block. There is no way truth can be hidden. Newspapers say it all; TV channels also reflect reality and these mediums are more explicit. Freedom of speech and expression just cannot be controlled.