A social security scheme

'Mahatma Gandhi NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) is one of the best schemes brought out for the people of India. Last year alone, 5.50 crore families were provided over 250 crore work days of work under the program.There was an increase of 90 crore increase from the year before.It included lower sections of social ladder; and also 47% of it are women. Since the program began, the average daily wage of a worker has gone up by 81%. Now an averge Indian is able to feed oneself and his/her household despite high inflation. About 10 crore bank accounts and post office accounts have been opened for the people covered in the scheme.Under this scheme the local 'Panchyati Raj' have an active role to play. By this scheme the water resources have been improved, and better roads have been made. In some states, data entry is in real time, and pay orders are generated on line. So the worker can get paid immediately. By considering women as wage earners, this scheme has brought about greater gender empowerment. It has at once brought about positive development in agriculture, community development, employment generation, water resource management and better sanitation.This scheme has worked well for the last six years, it will be working well for more years to come.

India on the move

We have to move on, we cannot be held back by civil strife, natural calamities and economic failures. We must make infrastructures to make way for development. Firstly we must improve transportation and communications and bring India to the 21st century. Projects have started for making of big infrastructures in India: civil aviation sector and shipping sector and railways sector.  Two ports in Andra Pradesh state and West Bengal, with the state governments giving 24% and the Central Government providing 74% of the costs will be made now. Three airports at Mumbai, Goa and at Kerala state will be made soon. High Speed Trains will be run between the cities of Mumbai and Ahmadabad. Five Railway stations will be modernized. New methods to speed up implementation of projects have been proposed for clearances in 70 oil blocks under NELP. And Prime Minister’s office will review status of clearances of Oil and Gas blocks given under NELP. For petroleum and natural gas, special clearances will be made by DGH(Directorate General of Hydrocarbons). For clearing foreign investment promotion, a board will meet in the department of economic affairs. Cabinet Secretariat will make sure these clearances are transparent. Department of Environment, department of commerce will meet regularly to make clearances for energy and infrastructure projects. Collaborations will be made among department.For e-procurement, department of expenditures is coordinating for implementing projects quickly,and transparently;this will be for government organisations. In most infrastructure development projects,the PPP (public private partnership) model has been adopted. Thus India is moving ahead despite hurdles.

Humans--we are nomads

There is rioting and unrest in the state of Assam as two lakh people have become homeless as their life is threatened. They are in refugee camps and want to return to their lands where it is sowing time. They are threatened by 'sons of land' movement. There is violence because the native Bodos feel displaced. 49 different tribes have been affected. They feel their lands have been captured. New people have arrived and taken over their land.Now how to identify who are the migrants? When traced, how to move them back? What are their rights?No proper land records were made in the past. Native people were originally tribals who were cultivating by 'slash and burn' method.They were not a united group and were unorganised group dispersed throughout the state. There is no record of tribal(adivasi) territory,  they have group rights over their lands;this is left to interpretation."Assam Accord" or" Bodo Accord" had pacified upheavals periodically; but enmity had  always persisted. Those who had migrated before 1971 were given citizenship. What has happened is that the immigrant population had a mini population explosion,and now the natives have become a minority. Now political agenda would favour the immigrants. The natives even now keep fighting for their land and their rights, but they are not heard.Prime Minister has announced that Rupees 200 crores will be spent on rehabilitation of these people.Anguish of being displaced, the humiliation of refugee camps and the loss of livelihood cannot be compensated by any cash. People are not having trust and faith that if they return to their homes, militant criminals would come threaten them again. Already many people have died from both communities. Railways were blocked for couple of days and vehicles burnt by militant people. The railways have been now restored. But normalcy has not returned yet. The farming people want to return to their fields; but they are not having faith that they can return to their land fearlessly.
The human race has always migrated from continent to continent. But when an old culture comes in contact with a new one, it is threatened and there is a clash. Eventually, they adapt and a newer culture evolves assimilating the features of both. But that has not happened.
Cultural conflicts persist.Sometimes dictator leaders like Hitler practice eugenics and try to bring purity their race. When there are clashes, it can even go to "ethnic cleansing" There are countries where there are ethnic marginalised people who with concerted effort have ousted the dominant migrant group and made them the new marginalized citizens.Is this good? Then good for whom?The determination and intention to preserve one's own " cultural land" can go to extremes.Only education and equal opportunities can bring lasting peace among all.Humans always find a reason to fight for more rights--rights to make themselves better than the new arrivals.And this is how all of man's efforts are wasted--fighting forever. When will we stop fighting over land rights and link it with cultural rights?

Calamity of drought—how to help farmers

We have had less rainfall this year than ever before. We had less than one thirds in the states of Punjab and Haryana. In other states like UP, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madya Pradesh have had very little rainfall this year. Drought has been declared. Monsoon has failed to arrive in most parts of India. Worst affected by this are the tillers of soil—farmers. 55% of water needed for agriculture comes from rains. The rest come from wells and canals which are also rain-fed.Farmers are restricted by the limited resources available to them. They cannot increase production because of limited technology available to them. Any program for poverty alleviation has not worked for the farmers because their occupation is full of uncertainties. Although government provides subsidy in fertilisers, subsidy in electricity, and  loans for buying equipment, and gives them access to seed repository, they are not able to make big profits. And even after they have so much help, they have to cope with bigger losses. Minimum support price is not enough to make farming a profitable occupation. The returns are just not enough. They are not able to implement production programs given their small piece of land. they are caught in a vicious circle of debt and more debt. Suicide is on the rise amongst farmers because they are not able to come out of their debts. Their health suffers and anyway they have short lives, and the next generation also suffers. We must help these farming people to overcome their problems. Only few who can make profits should farm and the rest of the farming people should migrate to urban areas where some source of income would be available. We must help them assimilate into urban life. Some social welfare schemes like the MGREGA (Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act) discourage migration.Farmers are forever stuck in poverty and can just survive on welfare schemes. We must create industries which would help in giving them more opportunities so that poverty is alleviated. We must know how to help whom and at what time. What would be 'the long term benefit of social scheme' should be analysed before implementing them. Government must make more agro-based industries instead of spending on more and more subsidies. Food processing industries, cattle rearing, or other rural based industries have to be made. Rural uprisings will become more common. The costs of rural unrest would be higher than finding a solution now.Farmer is victim of climate and victim of politics. The gullible farmer is used as vote bank by aspiring politicians. We have plans on making quicker harvests by late sowing. We reap three harvests a year. We need to change the crops because of lack of rains.We must sow those varieties which can tolerate variation in rains. Traditional farming (nor modern farming) uses methods which work with nature.We have grow pulses and oil seeds which are in demand instead of grains. Poly crop model is one in which more than one crop is grown in the same filed in alternate rows. ICAR which has done research on drought situations has contingency plans; it will advise the farmers on those lines.Immediately we have to import and procure pulses as the demand for them will grow higher in the international market. Food grains have been stocked due to bumper crops last year. We must reduce dependency on farming by making more diverse occupations in rural India.Poultry products can bring profits as proteins in form of eggs are on big demand. Fodder can be grown; demand for cattle feed is now very high. Buying capacity of the farmer has to be increased so that his dependency on subsidies would reduce. Right now, he should  be given loans in lower interest rates, for he may not be able to pay back his loans in the near future. By helping the agriculturalists to farm better, we will be able to get better food for ourselves. Drought and its consequences are serious issues because farmer's survival determines our survival.

Our New President

We have a new president. The Finance Minister was nominated to the post of President. He resigned from his old post, and he left his party(congress) and stood for election. Through indirect election (elected by our Ministers of Parliament), he was chosen as the new President of India. He took oath yesterday as the thirteenth President of India. There was a symbolic parade and  an oath taking ceremony;this indicates how much we Indians love traditional pompous occasions. We had dressed up well to attend the ceremony (equivalent to a coronation). We had welcomed the new President by cheering. President is the symbolic head of the Indian Union. He is similar to a king. But the Indian President has few powers; and also fewer duties and responsibilities. But the individuals to occupy the role of the Indian President bring their own personality into the office of the President. For example we had a scientist who was President, who favored the growth of technology, who visited thousands of schools and made students realize the importance of science and technology. He was the most popular President so far. There were efforts to bring him back as President again, but he had refused to stand for elections again. Our new President has much experience as statesman. He is an honest minister for he had tried very hard to make our economy healthy. At the present state of global slowdown nothing much can be done to uplift our economic conditions. He will be an active President, who will provide leadership to the nation and steer us out of tough conditions. He gave an inspirational speech upon acceptance.  

Violent behaviour-- result of labor unrest

We have witnessed violent nature of workers in the state of Haryana in North India. Workers had attacked the management staff beating  them with iron rods and injuring over hundred  who are being hospitalised.They had also burnt and killed the general manager of human resource department. Damage of property was high. The behaviour of the workers was just horrible. With this on their record, what will be their future be like? What will become of their factory?Negotiations would have been much better.Now about hundred workers have been jailed, may have hid and are on the run. What would happen to their families?
The Indian State always supports the corporate and never the weak worker.On the name of economic reform, worker's rights were always sacrificed. Contractual Labour Act of 1970 had allowed hiring of workers for small wages.Industrial Disputes Act of 1947 had said that work is "public duty" and that worker is not allowed to strike. Even labour courts and tribunals is not working and there is no help for the worker. No way for reconciliation.The management staff found newer ways "to get around" the laws which were meant for protection of the worker. In other words they found legal ways to exploit the worker.
 When they realized that their factory had made big profits, and the management kept the benefits to themselves; workers became agitated. In March 2012, they had a meeting with the management, workers showed the statistics. During the years 2007 to 2011, while workers' wages increased by 5.5% yearly(consumer price index had gone up over 50%), profits of their factory went up by 2200% When they had shown these statistics and had asked for a raise, the management staff had refused. To show big profits, wages had to be low. Workers were kept as contractual workforce and were given meagre wages(they were not allowed to become permanent).Workers had to bear with the global slowdown although they had worked very hard and had make big profits for the factory. They had minimum food, minimum residential areas to live in and least money to spend on health.Wage system was not just and fair, as equal wages were not given for equal work. Disparity was great--between wages of lower level staff and upper level staff.  These were injustices which they could not live with. They continued making demands, and this resulted in more and more lay-offs only. Many lost their jobs. From frying pan to the flame, the workers suffered further.Trying to negotiate had led to more suffering.There are no mechanisms to settle disputes with management.No other reconciliation methods.
Escalated fear, hate and disgust brought out from within had resulted in violent behaviour. But we cannot justify murder of senior human resource manager or arson or beating the management staff or damaging the factory. These will be dealt with by the police and courts will pronounce judgement. What is the net result? Loss of life, loss of property, loss of man days, loss of profits, loss of jobs and more and more losses. Gains? Jail for making the revolt. Can we not give proper wages and not try to exploit/cheat the worker completely?This is a step backwards in development of labour organisations in India.

Women in Modernized India

Two weeks ago, in Guwhati (a city in North East India) a 20 year old woman was molested and beaten by 20 men brutally when she had come out of a pub. This went on for 40 minutes and it was recorded in action by a journalist; and it was broadcast by  a TV news channel and in the net also.(Such crimes should not be telecast) After 40 minutes the police arrived from a police station which was just 2 KM away;they came with reluctance. Debates ensued on the safety of women, on how to protect the women. On July 20, 2012 the Union Cabinet had approved the proposal for the Criminal Law (Amendment) bill 2012 in such a way that the word “rape” is replaced by the word “sexual assault” The punishment for assault will be minimum of seven years to life in imprisonment. Provision for increasing the punishment has been made for making acid attacks which is  a specific offence. Gender crimes are on the increase in India. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), crimes against women have increased by 21%. Just making laws will not reduce crimes. We must examine’ why is there so much hatred for women’?  More women are educated liberated and have moved out of their homes to public places for entertaining themselves. Women have advanced socially and have moved on, crossing over traditional boundaries. Men from lower classes resent the new found freedom of the upper class women, and want to pounce on them at the slightest opportunity. That is the reason that there are so many gang rapes, acid attacks and molestations. But we cannot go back and limit the mobility and the  freedom of the women;they have rights to move in public places. We must make the men accept that there will be differences in classes and if they do not accept these and continue to molest women,severe  punishments will be given. As a traditional civilization modernizes, violent nature of men is surfacing more than ever before. These are dominating patriarchal men violently hitting back the liberated modern women. Finding a weak person to vent out own incapacity and hitting with hatred is the working of a criminal mind. These are popular opinions which are wrong: "Women should find new avenues to find enjoyment without resorting to “show-offing” their status in an open manner. They should may be move in groups and not ever be found alone". But women cannot move back to “veil” as they were kept for thousands of years in Indian culture. Nor can “khap panchayat” justice can be allowed to control them. Modernism has arrived in India and now, there is no going back.We have cultural change in India which has emancipated the women, which is unacceptable to some of  the men.In modernized India, women have freedom to move out of their homes.India's men with patriarchal mindsets will have learn to live in the modernized era.

ICT enabled courts

Big generational changes are occurring in the legal system--courts of India. We have ICT enabled judiciary for our Supreme Court and 21 High Courts in Delhi State as we have now e-courts. We will be making ICT enabled district courts and bring ICT to all villages of India. We are computerizing all litigation procedures, the e filing, the trail process and in all stages of delivering justice. Due to gaps in the legal system of courts, we are actually denying justice to the people. Lakhs of under trials are locked up in prisons waiting for their cases to come up. There are 3 crore pending cases in the Indian courts.854 crores Rupees will be spent on computerization of Indian courts in 2500 court complexes. Digital interconnectivity will be made, from taluk court to apex court (Supreme Court)  The many communities of lawyers are resisting change; they want to hold on to the older system so that they can keep their off-record fields of power and influence to themselves. But when the government has brought in the change, and had decided on ICT enabled judiciary, lawyers do not have a say. If lawyers have problem in using laptops, they can use trained clerks or data entry operators; but resisting change is not correct/proper. Since February, 2007, e filing had begun. In the first phase of implementation, computer centers were set up in 2500 court premises, and 15000 judicial officers were provided with laptops. From 2007-9, 13000 Judges were trained; 45000 court staff have been trained too. 45000 laptops were provided to the courts. Some lawyers argue that the actual litigants do not have no access to computers. But by using a simple phone, they can learn of the status of their case. We have Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) installed in the court premises enabling any person to know the position of his or her case on telephone without using the internet. E-kiosks are available in the vicinity of courts. When 11% of India’s people use the internet, anyone can access the courts or ask one who has computer awareness to get needed information. Even regional language translations are available on line. Some argue that if  computerization will not work or if the computer develops problems, then what? We have installed computers which come with five year warranty, and a person will come within 24 to 48 hours to repair if there is problem. Day to day functions of the court will be streamlined. Each court will have a website; there will be daily generation of orders- when the judge signs the order. Court diary will be generated daily. Case status is available on line. There is generation of automated cause list. Preparation and deliverance of decree to parties is sent by email. Copies of judgment are made public by publishing in the web. To start the litigation process registration of the case is done on computer by auto generated case number. Storing the documentary evidence is done by scanning and by digitally capturing in data base. Calculation of court fee is done by computer. Release of order by digital signature will be done at third phase, now physically the order is signed. Filing of written statement by defendant has to be done within 30 days. Thus a national grid will be made to provide key information. This will help judicial administration, and reduce pending cases. This will provide transparent clean clear information to all. In Rajasthan state and in Delhi, e-court project have worked out well.90% implementation has taken place in Delhi and it is working very well. Law in books will turn into Law in action. With the completion of Phase 3, the gateways between courts, public agencies and departments will be created. Law will serve the people, and the legal system will be simplified. Now the Indian people will get justice.

On the life of an average Indian worker

As workers, Indians work very hard. They are devoted to work and believe in 'work is worship'; duty or their ‘Dharma’ is work assigned by God. But exploitation begins when the workers are not treated well by their bosses or overlords. Workers are talked down upon. Instructions are shouted to them. Working hours are extended. Work which cannot be completed within working hours is assigned to workers and results are expected immediately. Results are evaluated badly and not appreciated. All work which is done is criticized and devalued.  The personality of the worker is attacked, and all activities of the worker is ridiculed.Abusive language is often used.The idea is to keep the worker in a lower status. There is constant humiliation done to the worker. If worker complains, he or she would be fired; and worker would end up being unemployed. Several times aggressive words are used to create fear in their minds. There is no congenial office/workplace/ factory environment. The bosses have a feeling of superiority and treat the worker as if he is a servant. This feudal hangover--'Zamidari' master and servant relationship--is being revived in modern work places or organizations.

Other restrictions are created to hurt the workers. Lunch breaks are reduced, so that the worker cannot relax or go out for lunch. Constant overlooking of the workers activities are done by cameras attached to their desks. Such invigilating trends makes the worker feel like a prisoner. Subjugation of the Indian worker is inhumane. Successfully technology is used to suppress the Indian worker.

As cost of living rises, appropriate wage increase is not being made. This impoverishes the worker. The worker has to pay high rent for his home, high fees for his children in addition to high food bills. All this weighs on the general health of the worker. His stress levels are tested, and he or she can suffer a mental break down. Many times, his physical body cannot take the strain and the worker does not live long enough to retire from work.

Then the next generation is stressed out and pressed to start work early –cutting down on college education. And this torture starts all over again. Unless worker organisations begin to make more rights for workers and workers are given the right to complain against their over lords, this will go on and on. Formal vocabulary must be learnt by bosses to give instructions and for creating correct working atmosphere. And rights of the worker must be recognised and improvements must be made.Trade unionism should be encouraged so that worker can bargain for higher wages and better working conditions.We cannot reduce the position of the worker to  a life of our simian relative, monkey(waiting for handouts).

To Devoted Scientists

India will overcome all the trials and turbulences on its way to progress because of the hard working computer engineers who are bringing big changes.Indian government is bringing in e-governance.Computerization is taking place in a big way in all walks of life of the citizens of India.The computer scientists in the government's cadre are ushering in a new era in India.Previously, we had only institutions which the British had started in office operations.But all that has changed now. We are implementing at the national level 'NeGP' or the National e-Governance Plan.ERP type applications are implemented in state and central government offices to change the way we work.We have State Wide Area Network(SWAN) integrating all government offices.There is increased focus on main areas like education, health care, financial inclusion, and making of infrastructures and power. There are mission mode projects and Public Procurement Bill. Rural networks receive special attention And at the same time JNNURM also gets attention,We have applications for service delivery systems on line.We have citizen centric services.From issuing birth/death certificates to aadhar cards to MGREGA, from computerization of land records to agromarkets, we have brought our people to the computer era---postindustrial age. Our dedicated computer scientists have devoted themselves to their work and have transformed India. We will remember all  these fine technocrats for they are the true builders of the Indian nation.We will overcome all minor problems and make India better place for all, for now and for all times to come.

Can Environment be protected

There is renewed effort to take environmental protection to international organisations, when they are not dealt with by the government itself. The declaration of the Western Ghats as a rich biodiversity zone did not receive any attention, till now. The UNESCO has declared it as a World Heritage Site; and now there is suddenly great awareness that we have bio-diversity hot spots within India. When environments’ protection is needed, government ignores because it is assumed that it is adverse to development. But that is not so, we can protect our bio-diversity zones and keep environment clean while developing industries which would not harm the environment. We have to think about people's well being  and growth of livelihoods, and not just preservation of nature.
The Western Ghats comprises of an area of 15000 square Kilometers, extending over six states, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It has very rare species, 24% of Western Ghats has world’s 7% of species found all over the world. 325 threatened species are found here, and 60 Important Bird Areas are found here. Environment Impact Assessment Report shows that there is dumping of industrial chemicals; and it is polluting the areas. There are efforts to hide away vested interests, mining for iron ore in Western Ghats is an issue not taken up. Those who own mines do not want environmentalists’ attention and they want to strip the land of its wealth. They want to make sure that their prospects are not affected and that their land does not come under the “protected area” Forests have already been changed by coffee plantations, tea plantations and rubber plantations. Now or later, the forest produce will be commodities which people will make use of. And whether we like it or not forests will be turned into pasture lands by herdsmen. It is inevitable. All efforts to preserve nature are erased by man’s need to preserve himself and his interests. But ultimately, man’s survival depends on a biologically diverse planet. Forests attract clouds; clouds attract rain. If forests disappear, our lands will become desserts .Whether we want desertification of our forests sooner is up to us now. Effective environment laws and their implementation can preserve India for the future.

World Population Day

Population of India is now 1220220000. In the last decade, population increase of India was actually  less than ever before. There is much less poverty than ever before. Even though there is mismanagement of Indian economy by the political class, general people are having a better quality of living. 
The Indian people are themselves responsible and conscious and have controlled the size of their families. Our government does not coerce family planning but it promotes family planning. 50% of the Indian population is below 25 years old.There is feeling that the young population is an asset but this is just political class trying to capitalise on “democratic dividend” issue. When there is unemployed youth, unskilled youth without goals, it is not going to contribute to the growth of the country.

We can isolate the reasons for increase in population of India. In those states where there is less literacy among the female population, then there is increase in population. The state of Uttar Pradesh has a big population—as many people as Brazil. Many states like Gujarat or Tamil Nadu have better access to health centres, so population control methods are used by the people more here. Advertisement in local language and publicity does have a good influence on the people.With rising cost of living, people cannot afford to have more children. The male female ratio is: 940 females for every 1000 males. There is a reason for this. With increased use of ultra sound in gynaecology, people find out if they are going to have a male or a female child; and they abort the female child long before it could have been born. Being a very strong patriarchal culture, there is great stress to have a male child (as a heir).General belief is that the female child is a burden on resources of the family and the male child contributes to the wealth of the family.  In future, we may have more men and fewer women and no population problems.

Electricity is our basic need

Use of electricity is a measure of progress. We have increased our power supply  so much that we make 2 lakh MW of power; we have precisely generation capacity of 202980 MW.India’s growth is reflected in the amount of electricity it produces. We spend only 2% of our GDP for energy, but we still have big results.But demand for electricity is very very high.

Electrification of all villages is our national goal. How electricity is distributed is determined by our politics. 17% of villages in India do not have electricity. Of those 83% which have electricity only 31% of the inhabitants in them are able to afford electricity. We do provide subsidies to BPL (Below Poverty Line families) but still they are not able to afford electricity. Free electricity is given to farmers to run their motors which draw water from their wells.

To a great extent, private public partnership has led to the growth of power sector in India.55937 Mega watts of power has been mobilized by private power companies. 27% of electricity produced was from partnerships with private companies while Central government makes 30% and  State government make 43%. 56% of power is from coal, and 20% from hydro plants and 10% from gas and 2% is nuclear, there is power from wind also.

32% of total electricity produced is illegally siphoned off or stolen (we must find a way to stop this). There are 30 crore Indians who do not have electricity.  Only with 2% of the electricity produced we can provide for these 30 crores who have no electricity. But power politics in the distribution of power stops us from this equitable sharing of progress.

Nuclear power gives 4780 Mega watts now; by 2017, ten thousand more Mega watts will be available for use from nuclear sources. Now, we use mainly coal for making electricity; we must switch over to cleaner way to produce electricity. There are lots of gaps which make coal energy uncertain, lack of infrastructures to bring coal to plants is lacking. Sometimes coal will be shipped from the mines by trucks to the nearest railway line which would be 60 Kilo meters away. Country has much potential in hydro electric power, but it is not yet harnessed. Many rivers in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttranchal can provide us with electricity. Without affecting the life of the local inhabitants, we should be able to build hydro electric power infrastructures. We can share hydroelectric power with Nepal where there are many rivers and dams can be made. Many states have started using wind mills for generating electric power successfully. Individuals have made their homes solar powered without depending on utilities. The demand may be high, but there are the limits which the environment imposes on us. We can only burn so much coal per day  given our present infrastructural capabilities;and more and more is not possible. We must realize the limits and not aspire for so much. All important gadgets today are run by electricity. We can conserve electricity by making bulbs which consume less power. We can switch to water coolers (using less power) instead of air-conditioners. We have to pay 26% more for electricity per unit from July 1 this year.If we use gadgets which utilize less electricity, then our electric bills would be lesser and we can share electricity with all.And only when we share electricity, 'the right to basic need of electricity' becomes achievable and meaningful.


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A Bill for progress

When the monsoon is delayed (as it is now), when there are power cuts and when there is water shortage, we are transferred to pre-independence India—65 years back in time. It is at these times that we enumerate our governmental achievements. We have air-conditioners, coolers and fridges and electricity to run them with. We have air-conditioned metro rail and air-conditioned city buses; and fine roads to travel upon.Urban India has its comforts. We have now Internet and variety in T.V. and radio. These have been possible because of efficient functioning of the government.To keep India on the path of progress, we have to improve the functioning of our government organizations first. We have now Public Procurement Bill 2012.General Financial Bill 2005, for public procurement did not work.For procurement and contracts, we have codified procedures.Now the private sector is under government's scrutiny.Many government ministries like railways and defence urgently need rules.There will be three kinds --open bidding, limited competitive bidding, and two stage bidding (choosing L1 category) L 1 category means that which is most suitable, which is technically responsive and commercially acceptable will be selected. Other reasons/categories like "has supplied earlier" or "most experienced" will not be acceptable/considered for bidding. With this we have greater transparency and accountability. For all deals above 50 lakhs, we have prescribed mode of procurement for government organisations and companies(with 50% government's stake).If rules of procurement are infringed, then penalty could be five years jail plus a fine. No lobbying will be tolerated in government procurement.Therefore misuse of information is excluded. Only registered parties can participate in the bidding process, and they need pre-qualifying documents.Portal will give details of procurement and documentation will be done on line. If influence is exercised the fine would be ten percent of the deal proposed. Even debarring is possible or the will be cancellation of participation in the bid.That is would deter bribe givers. There is possibility of recovery of payment with interest, if anything goes wrong. This bill would stop rigging; and malpractices in procurement will be stopped. Bribes will be excluded effectively. This would stop informal contacts with the bidders. There would be a two stage bidding, which would counter check deals. There would be equitable chance for all the bidders, and it would encourage competitiveness. There is creation of redressal committee to listen to grievances.If a party wants it can take its grievances to high court,it can.There is a clause which deters trivial disputes.There are some setbacks in the bill as it takes into account the matters in the category of checks and balances only; new exigencies will not be considered. There is great deal of guidance which has to be given to the government departments on the procedures in this; within the departments, there is lack of professionalism to incorporate new procedures.And there are also several instances when contracts between government and private infrastructure builders which have not worked out effectively. For instance, in making the highways, National Highway Authority of India had to face problems as there was a defect in the contract leading to disputes and projects were affected. How to check such cases? All deals and contracts do not fall in exact categories as envisaged. There is need for improvement. How to categorise international treaties and MOUs?How to protect domestic markets? Soon appropriate alterations will be made. E-procurement, e-tendering e-bidding for e procurement will bring big results in India. With this we are making  better e-governance and greater progress for the people of India.

Alienated people-Tribes

More than19 innocent people were killed in fierce encounter between 300 CPRF personnel and alleged Maoists in Dantewada last week (June 27-28) and government cannot justify such indiscriminate firing; government justifies that this encounter involved minimum collateral damages. This took place at night. At night, how would the CPRF personnel know who is Maoist and who are innocent citizens. The claims are that they are criminal. Only 3 were traced to have criminal records and that has not been proved yet; inquiry is yet to be made. CPRF were looking for training camps of Maoists, before the encounter, and under cover of night came from three directions and fired at the villagers. More than 800 CPRF were combing the area for Maoists, and they needed to show results. Is killing good results? We must make peace with the tribal people and stop shooting like this. Avoiding killing innocent people is the correct course of action; development of the people is our agenda and not purging of the people. Without taking the course of law of the land, the state government and central government have used Para-military forces and are threatening the people. This creates a reign of terror; people want peace and not a climate of war. CRPF personnel say that they constrained themselves and used least sophisticated weaponry.The killed persons received multiple gunshot wounds. They had shot 44 people below the knee and pumped bullets in an indiscriminate manner and that is cruel. Creating hatred in the minds of the people and an atmosphere of distrust is the result of this firing action. Future citizens will hate to be part of such cruel India. Why send Para-military forces to thick jungles of tribal lands? May be government wants to clear the land, so that foreign corporate can set up plants in mineral rich tribal lands.It reminds one of book by Arundhati Roy titled, the Broken Republic.Who will protect these innocent tribal people--may be their Goddess will.