special report Mamta Sen
URL : http://www.covert.co.in/mamta.htm
Sleeping CM ensures Congress collapse
in coming Maharashtra election
By Mamta Sen
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh might pat himself on the back for completing four years in office this month, but he will also have to take credit for hastening the collapse of the Congress in the state. Torn apart by factionalism, the Congress is unable to hold constructive political programmes to contain its cadres and woo voters. Load-shedding, farmers’ suicides, terrorist attacks, mass arrests of innocent Muslims and the rise of atrocities against Dalits are just some of the problems confronting the Congress. It is unable to tackle all this because of sheer inertia and incompetence at the top and infighting below.
The party also finds itself on the back foot on the “sons of the soil” issue raised by MNS chief Raj Thackeray and the Shiv Sena. Recently, the Congress convened a press interaction to counter this propaganda, but apart from MP Eknath Gaikwad, other senior leaders did not turn up. The list included Narayan Rane, Bahu Jagtap and Chandrakant Handore. MLA Ashok Bhau Jadhav said that he had not been told about the interaction: “I would have come if I had known. We are not taken into confidence when such programmes are organised. They could have made one phone call at least.”
Congressmen, on condition of anonymity, insist that many among them are supportive of Raj Thackeray’s position. But MPCC spokesperson Anant Gadgil disagrees. “A true Congressman can never differentiate among people. There is no such split within the party,” he said.
The links between the Congress and the MNS are well-established, and while it is officially critical of Raj Thackeray, the latter is a welcome invitee in Congress homes. Congress leader Kripashankar Singh invited both Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray to his residence for Ganapati darshan, sending out a wrong signal to the migrant voters of the party. When asked about this, Singh said he had invited the Thackerays because of his personal relations with them. “North Indian migrant workers should also forge personal relationships,” he said.
MPCC general secretary Madhu Chavan pointed out that the party is suffering because of its inability to enthuse the Dalit and Muslim voters. In the recent municipal corporation elections, Muslims are said to have favoured the MNS-BJP and the NCP over the Congress. The Dalits voted for Mayawati and allowed the BSP to open its account in the civic polls. “There is only one Muslim graduate legislator in the party who has defected from the Samajwadi Party. The Congress today does not have any capable Dalit leader from the younger generation,” say many Congressmen.
The NCP, however, is doing a more credible job in managing the communities and retaining its vote base. In what is generally recognised as a masterstroke, the NCP appointed advocate and party national general secretary Majeed Memon to oppose Raj Thackeray’s bail application. This immediately catapulted Memon and the NCP to star status among non-Maharashtrians. At the same time, NCP chief Sharad Pawar mooted a proposal for economic reservations to the tune of Rs 15,000 crores for the dominant Maratha community in the state. The Congress is still vacillating, but the Shiv Sena has come out and welcomed this move. In other words, the NCP has managed to address both the otherwise polarised communities.
The image of Vilasrao Deshmukh has taken a beating in Mumbai. He has also acquired the reputation of being a “voracious sleeper” and has been photographed sleeping at major public functions. Local television channels have telecast snapshots of the Chief Minister sleeping through meetings on terrorism and other important issues. His leadership is now under question, and the party appears to be running, as a Youth Congress leader said, “on remote control, except that no one really knows in whose hands the remote is”
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
No takers for Marathi play
Audience stays away from controversial play Aamhi Panchpute at Borivli theatre
The ‘bombed’ Marathi play, Aamhi Panchpute, opened to audiences at Borivli’s Prabodhankar Thackeray auditorium yesterday, amid tight security. Around 250 tickets were sold for the first show at 4.30 pm, which meant several empty seats in a theatre that has a capacity of 700. In fact, most of the seats were occupied by the Mumbai police, the bomb disposal squad and the press.The show began 20 minutes late. Usher Vinayak Kamat who had seen playwright Santosh Pawar’s earlier play Yada Kadachit at the same theatre, remarked that Aamhi... definitely appeared to be a sequel. Pawar’s satirical comedy is a pathetic attempt to boost his ticket sales (which hasn’t worked). Yet, Pawar should be applauded for tearing to bits political parties by naming them in the play and their numerous endeavours of taking on both North Indians as well as Maharashtrian voters for a ride.Producer Santosh Kanekar added, “The police had watched the play, but they have not approached us saying we were maligning a particular community,” he said. Ramdas Kadam one of the viewers who had come to see the play said that he came because he was curious about the story. “I think people should not see this play because it is in bad taste. Maharashtrians should stop giving any publicity to this mediocre stuff.”
URL: http://www.mid-day.com/web/guest/news/mumbai/article?_EXT_5_articleId=1167790&_EXT_5_groupId=14
The ‘bombed’ Marathi play, Aamhi Panchpute, opened to audiences at Borivli’s Prabodhankar Thackeray auditorium yesterday, amid tight security. Around 250 tickets were sold for the first show at 4.30 pm, which meant several empty seats in a theatre that has a capacity of 700. In fact, most of the seats were occupied by the Mumbai police, the bomb disposal squad and the press.The show began 20 minutes late. Usher Vinayak Kamat who had seen playwright Santosh Pawar’s earlier play Yada Kadachit at the same theatre, remarked that Aamhi... definitely appeared to be a sequel. Pawar’s satirical comedy is a pathetic attempt to boost his ticket sales (which hasn’t worked). Yet, Pawar should be applauded for tearing to bits political parties by naming them in the play and their numerous endeavours of taking on both North Indians as well as Maharashtrian voters for a ride.Producer Santosh Kanekar added, “The police had watched the play, but they have not approached us saying we were maligning a particular community,” he said. Ramdas Kadam one of the viewers who had come to see the play said that he came because he was curious about the story. “I think people should not see this play because it is in bad taste. Maharashtrians should stop giving any publicity to this mediocre stuff.”
URL: http://www.mid-day.com/web/guest/news/mumbai/article?_EXT_5_articleId=1167790&_EXT_5_groupId=14
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Punjab farmer's philanthrophy for Maharashtra
Jodi No... 177
Author: Mamta Sen Date: 26 Apr 2008
HERE’s one lesson Maharashtra’s well-to-do farmers should definitely take a cue from. Moved by the plight of poverty-stricken farmers who find it difficult to wed off their young daughters, farmer-turned-wrestler -turned-real-estate baron Kanwarjeet Singh Sandhu organised a mass wedding for couples in his hometown Nowshera, Punjab, on April 13. The elaborate wedding not only included the kanyadaan of each of the 177 brides (with personal household gifts like watches and cupboards), which Sandhu religiously performed, but the 57-year-old even invited several ministers from the ruling state government to bless the couples.He now wants to duplicate the same in Maharashtra, but says will do so post-October, after the huge celebrations of the 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh at the 300-year-old Sakchand Gurudwara in Nanded.“Since 7 is my lucky number, I shall wed 777 couples this time,” he says. The event, he believes, will act as a boost to rural Maharashtra, which is reeling under farmer suicides. “The rich have to eventually take care of the poor, only then can a society and a nation progress,” he concludes.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Bihar is Better
State Assembly Speaker adjourns house 13 times
Author: Mamta Sen Date: 04 Apr 2008
As only 29 members out of 288 were present
When Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam declares that the Bihar Assembly is better than Maharashtra’s, it is time to do a little soul-searching.Consider this: In this session, that began on March 10, except for the Rajya Sabha and Council elections, not more than 50 percent MLAs were present on any day.The Speaker had to adjourn the House 13 times as not even 29 members from the 288 were present. Unprecedented, specially in a Budget session, the most important of the three every year.In the last five years, the legislative Houses have not met for even 50 days when directives state that the sessions must have at least 100 working days.As if this was not enough, those present at the House did not engage in a quality debate and six legislators were suspended after they allegedly threw books at legislative officers and damaged furniture. All this, at the cost of public money.Single point agenda: RaneOver Rs 58 crore was earmarked for this year’s Budget session, with each hour at the Vidhan Bhavan costing the public exchequer over Rs 4 lakh. “Each question asked at the Vidhan Bhavan costs us Rs 65000,” said Anil Mhatre, co-director of Samarthan, an NGO that’s working on state legislative issues.BackseatMhatre said that the chaos is more over trivial issues. “Important questions revolving around betterment of crores of people in the state have taken a backseat,” he says. This session alone there have been adjournments almost every day as the MLAs brought the House down over some issue. Revenue Minister Narayan Rane has been the most prominent target for the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party Opposition, who have gone after the rebel Sena leader who joined the Congress in 2005. The House was adjourned thrice this week alone after Opposition members kept pressing for inquiries into decisions taken by Rane.No business“They have no other business. I’m their single point agenda,” said Rane. It is in the interest of the members to attend the session as they receive Rs 500 per day for their presence. However, the MLAs prefer to stay out as legislators from both sides often prefer to get their work done outside the House, by meeting the minister and sanctioning development projects in their constituency.The ongoing session is scheduled to be over by April 25. However, there are indications that it will not go on beyond April 11.
Every MLA gets...
Daily allowance: Rs 500 per day, per session
Salary: Rs 2,000 pm
Vehicle allowance: Rs 25,000 pm
Telephone: Rs 8,000 pm
Computer facilities: Laptop/desktop with printer
Personal assistant: Rs 7,000 pm remuneration
Vehicle interest: 8 % of loan amount reimbursed on any new car upto Rs 10 lakh
Local fund development fund: Rs one crore per year
Rail travel: Free rail travel with one companion by 1st class or A/c 2 -tier class within the state and upto 5,000 km outside state.
Road travel: Unlimited free travel with one companion on all types of buses of state road transport.
Voices
Nawab Malik (NCP)
The personal rivalry between the Sena and Rane is disturbing the proceedings of the House. Instead of conducting a healthy debate, that aims to serve crores in the state, the opposition is making use of this platform to settle personal scores.
P U Mehta (Congress)
The opposition has been finding some excuse or the other to delay the workings of the House. Publicity is the main agenda of MLAs today and unfortunately they are achieving this through their behaviour instead of showing any concrete work.
Neelam Gore (Shiv Sena)
The opinion of members in Congress is hardly taken into account as the party is limping on the Central leadership, while the NCP has nothing to its credit. All this eventually leads to unrest and gets reflected in the Assembly sessions.
Mangal Lodha (BJP)
The Assembly is a very important system of democracy. The ruling party doesn’t not have any sensitivity towards the issues raised by us. We are ready to cooperate, but the ruling government should also decide what kind reputation they want.
Assembly Session
Year: 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Days worked: 46 33 41 29 44 47
Url: http://www.mid-day.com/web/guest/news/mumbai/article?_EXT_5_articleId=1073311&_EXT_5_groupId=14
Author: Mamta Sen Date: 04 Apr 2008
As only 29 members out of 288 were present
When Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam declares that the Bihar Assembly is better than Maharashtra’s, it is time to do a little soul-searching.Consider this: In this session, that began on March 10, except for the Rajya Sabha and Council elections, not more than 50 percent MLAs were present on any day.The Speaker had to adjourn the House 13 times as not even 29 members from the 288 were present. Unprecedented, specially in a Budget session, the most important of the three every year.In the last five years, the legislative Houses have not met for even 50 days when directives state that the sessions must have at least 100 working days.As if this was not enough, those present at the House did not engage in a quality debate and six legislators were suspended after they allegedly threw books at legislative officers and damaged furniture. All this, at the cost of public money.Single point agenda: RaneOver Rs 58 crore was earmarked for this year’s Budget session, with each hour at the Vidhan Bhavan costing the public exchequer over Rs 4 lakh. “Each question asked at the Vidhan Bhavan costs us Rs 65000,” said Anil Mhatre, co-director of Samarthan, an NGO that’s working on state legislative issues.BackseatMhatre said that the chaos is more over trivial issues. “Important questions revolving around betterment of crores of people in the state have taken a backseat,” he says. This session alone there have been adjournments almost every day as the MLAs brought the House down over some issue. Revenue Minister Narayan Rane has been the most prominent target for the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party Opposition, who have gone after the rebel Sena leader who joined the Congress in 2005. The House was adjourned thrice this week alone after Opposition members kept pressing for inquiries into decisions taken by Rane.No business“They have no other business. I’m their single point agenda,” said Rane. It is in the interest of the members to attend the session as they receive Rs 500 per day for their presence. However, the MLAs prefer to stay out as legislators from both sides often prefer to get their work done outside the House, by meeting the minister and sanctioning development projects in their constituency.The ongoing session is scheduled to be over by April 25. However, there are indications that it will not go on beyond April 11.
Every MLA gets...
Daily allowance: Rs 500 per day, per session
Salary: Rs 2,000 pm
Vehicle allowance: Rs 25,000 pm
Telephone: Rs 8,000 pm
Computer facilities: Laptop/desktop with printer
Personal assistant: Rs 7,000 pm remuneration
Vehicle interest: 8 % of loan amount reimbursed on any new car upto Rs 10 lakh
Local fund development fund: Rs one crore per year
Rail travel: Free rail travel with one companion by 1st class or A/c 2 -tier class within the state and upto 5,000 km outside state.
Road travel: Unlimited free travel with one companion on all types of buses of state road transport.
Voices
Nawab Malik (NCP)
The personal rivalry between the Sena and Rane is disturbing the proceedings of the House. Instead of conducting a healthy debate, that aims to serve crores in the state, the opposition is making use of this platform to settle personal scores.
P U Mehta (Congress)
The opposition has been finding some excuse or the other to delay the workings of the House. Publicity is the main agenda of MLAs today and unfortunately they are achieving this through their behaviour instead of showing any concrete work.
Neelam Gore (Shiv Sena)
The opinion of members in Congress is hardly taken into account as the party is limping on the Central leadership, while the NCP has nothing to its credit. All this eventually leads to unrest and gets reflected in the Assembly sessions.
Mangal Lodha (BJP)
The Assembly is a very important system of democracy. The ruling party doesn’t not have any sensitivity towards the issues raised by us. We are ready to cooperate, but the ruling government should also decide what kind reputation they want.
Assembly Session
Year: 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Days worked: 46 33 41 29 44 47
Url: http://www.mid-day.com/web/guest/news/mumbai/article?_EXT_5_articleId=1073311&_EXT_5_groupId=14
Gopinath Munde
Munde’s move won’t affect BJP
RSS believes Gopinath Munde's resignation will not harm the Sangh
Author: Mamta Sen Date: 22 Apr 2008
URL: http://www.mid-day.com/web/guest/news/mumbai/article?_EXT_5_articleId=1098378&_EXT_5_groupId=14
For the RSS, Gopinath Munde’s resignation is one of those things that’ll pass. The Sangh believes this move will do little damage to the BJP. “Such rebellions are common in state politics. The BJP is an independent party with able leadership and they can make their own decisions regarding Munde,” said RSS joint secretary Ravi Pawar. Insiders inform that RSS top bosses will intervene only when necessary. “There’s no doubt that Munde has worked hard for the party, but several other leaders have done the same too. Munde has behaved like a measly politician who is more concerned about his own welfare than that of the party,” said a senior RSS worker.
MLA support
Meanwhile, Munde’s supporters told MiD DAY that he has been having meetings with BJP MLAs, with several pledging their support. The party high command is a little surprised with Munde’s rebellion, as he was involved in the exercise of appointing Madhu Chavan as president of BJP’s city unit. “Chavan’s name was approved by the three-member committee after it consulted all state leaders, including Munde,” said a party insider.
RSS believes Gopinath Munde's resignation will not harm the Sangh
Author: Mamta Sen Date: 22 Apr 2008
URL: http://www.mid-day.com/web/guest/news/mumbai/article?_EXT_5_articleId=1098378&_EXT_5_groupId=14
For the RSS, Gopinath Munde’s resignation is one of those things that’ll pass. The Sangh believes this move will do little damage to the BJP. “Such rebellions are common in state politics. The BJP is an independent party with able leadership and they can make their own decisions regarding Munde,” said RSS joint secretary Ravi Pawar. Insiders inform that RSS top bosses will intervene only when necessary. “There’s no doubt that Munde has worked hard for the party, but several other leaders have done the same too. Munde has behaved like a measly politician who is more concerned about his own welfare than that of the party,” said a senior RSS worker.
MLA support
Meanwhile, Munde’s supporters told MiD DAY that he has been having meetings with BJP MLAs, with several pledging their support. The party high command is a little surprised with Munde’s rebellion, as he was involved in the exercise of appointing Madhu Chavan as president of BJP’s city unit. “Chavan’s name was approved by the three-member committee after it consulted all state leaders, including Munde,” said a party insider.
Friday, March 7, 2008
vidharbha series final: unwed mothers
Mother hoot
Author: Mamta Sen
Date: 07 Mar 2008
Daughters and widows of Vidarbha farmers are being sexually exploited by local politicians and moneylenders
Laxmi Bhimrao Bhupam (21) is busy juggling her two children. Her two-year-old daughter sits on a floor covered in cowdung to eat her evening meal of dry bhakri (bread made of jowar), while Laxmi feeds her month-old baby. Laxmi wants her kids to sleep before ‘visitors’ begin to arrive at her doorstep. Barely out of her teens, Laxmi is among the growing number of unwed mothers in Vidharbha who have been forced into prostitution for their daily survival after the suicide of their farmer fathers. “I was stupid to fall for a moneylender who helped out my father by lending him small sums. He often came home and promised to marry me, but after my father died he was a changed man. He threatened to throw us out if the money wasn’t returned.” If handing over their eight acres land wasn’t enough, ‘Anna’ as he is called, pressured Laxmi into entertaining his friends. “With mouths to feed, I don’t see any future for myself. Sex for me is the sole means of income,” she says, adding that she gets Rs 20-25 a day for her ‘services.’ Meerabai Meshram (30) from Matharjur village in Yavatmal (which has seven unwed mothers), says that she can’t remember the father of her eight-year-old son. “I can’t even send him to school since they ask for the father’s name for registration,” she said. “A local politician had wished to marry me. But 10 years after he ditched me, I have been ‘entertaining’ his partymen and district officers,” she shrugs. While farmers’ suicides and their widows dominate the headlines, less is written about their daughters. Advocate Vinod Tiwari, who has been fighting on the behalf of these unwed mothers, says Vidharbha has 5,000-odd such women belonging to tribal groups between the age group of 18-30. “We have submitted a list of recommendations to the state government which includes allotment of a single parent status and free education,” he said. “These uneducated women have been exploited by moneylenders and politicians. The least they can do is acknowledge their existence.” President of Vidharbha Jan Andolan Samiti, Kishore Tiwari, nods in agreement, “We have submitted a writ petition to the government asking for a compensation of Rs 5 lakh, as well as permanent jobs in places like aanganwadis.”
Author: Mamta Sen
Date: 07 Mar 2008
Daughters and widows of Vidarbha farmers are being sexually exploited by local politicians and moneylenders
Laxmi Bhimrao Bhupam (21) is busy juggling her two children. Her two-year-old daughter sits on a floor covered in cowdung to eat her evening meal of dry bhakri (bread made of jowar), while Laxmi feeds her month-old baby. Laxmi wants her kids to sleep before ‘visitors’ begin to arrive at her doorstep. Barely out of her teens, Laxmi is among the growing number of unwed mothers in Vidharbha who have been forced into prostitution for their daily survival after the suicide of their farmer fathers. “I was stupid to fall for a moneylender who helped out my father by lending him small sums. He often came home and promised to marry me, but after my father died he was a changed man. He threatened to throw us out if the money wasn’t returned.” If handing over their eight acres land wasn’t enough, ‘Anna’ as he is called, pressured Laxmi into entertaining his friends. “With mouths to feed, I don’t see any future for myself. Sex for me is the sole means of income,” she says, adding that she gets Rs 20-25 a day for her ‘services.’ Meerabai Meshram (30) from Matharjur village in Yavatmal (which has seven unwed mothers), says that she can’t remember the father of her eight-year-old son. “I can’t even send him to school since they ask for the father’s name for registration,” she said. “A local politician had wished to marry me. But 10 years after he ditched me, I have been ‘entertaining’ his partymen and district officers,” she shrugs. While farmers’ suicides and their widows dominate the headlines, less is written about their daughters. Advocate Vinod Tiwari, who has been fighting on the behalf of these unwed mothers, says Vidharbha has 5,000-odd such women belonging to tribal groups between the age group of 18-30. “We have submitted a list of recommendations to the state government which includes allotment of a single parent status and free education,” he said. “These uneducated women have been exploited by moneylenders and politicians. The least they can do is acknowledge their existence.” President of Vidharbha Jan Andolan Samiti, Kishore Tiwari, nods in agreement, “We have submitted a writ petition to the government asking for a compensation of Rs 5 lakh, as well as permanent jobs in places like aanganwadis.”
Thursday, March 6, 2008
VIDHARBHA SERIES IV
How do we feed cows?
Author: Mamta Sen Date: 04 Mar 2008
Farmer widows who got cattle in the ‘relief’ package found it difficult to maintain their diet
Kamlabai Ghude
Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar addressing a group of widows in Wardha district on Sunday. pics/mamta sen
KAMLABAI Ghude sobs uncontrollably and in deep breaks explains why she had to sell the cow she had almost got attached to, after the suicide of her husband. Kamlabai was among the widows who received a cow as compensation after her husband committed suicide in June 2006. The 60-something Dalit widow from Lonsawali village in Wardha district says that the officials landed up at her house and made her take the cow. “I have never kept a cattle and hence didn’t know how to maintain it. This animal eats more than all of us and forget the milk, there is hardly any,” she said. According to her, the announcement of loan waiver is of no help either. “He is dead what good would it do now?” she questioned, while wiping away her tears.Anusaya Rathod, from the Banjara community from Bothbodan village in Yavatmal district is dreading the Rs 1 lakh cheque issued to her by the government for the death of her farmer husband who committed suicide by consuming pesticide. “My in-laws are demanding the money and till that doesn’t come I am being given a place to stay in the house. I don’t know where I will go once I get the money,” the 25-year-old mother of two (aged 3 and 6) said. Kishore Tiwari, president of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti says that between 1995-2006, around 36,428 farmers have committed suicide. “In 2007 there were 1206, while till February this year 200 farmers have committed suicide,” he says.
Author: Mamta Sen Date: 04 Mar 2008
Farmer widows who got cattle in the ‘relief’ package found it difficult to maintain their diet
Kamlabai Ghude
Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar addressing a group of widows in Wardha district on Sunday. pics/mamta sen
KAMLABAI Ghude sobs uncontrollably and in deep breaks explains why she had to sell the cow she had almost got attached to, after the suicide of her husband. Kamlabai was among the widows who received a cow as compensation after her husband committed suicide in June 2006. The 60-something Dalit widow from Lonsawali village in Wardha district says that the officials landed up at her house and made her take the cow. “I have never kept a cattle and hence didn’t know how to maintain it. This animal eats more than all of us and forget the milk, there is hardly any,” she said. According to her, the announcement of loan waiver is of no help either. “He is dead what good would it do now?” she questioned, while wiping away her tears.Anusaya Rathod, from the Banjara community from Bothbodan village in Yavatmal district is dreading the Rs 1 lakh cheque issued to her by the government for the death of her farmer husband who committed suicide by consuming pesticide. “My in-laws are demanding the money and till that doesn’t come I am being given a place to stay in the house. I don’t know where I will go once I get the money,” the 25-year-old mother of two (aged 3 and 6) said. Kishore Tiwari, president of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti says that between 1995-2006, around 36,428 farmers have committed suicide. “In 2007 there were 1206, while till February this year 200 farmers have committed suicide,” he says.
VIDHARBHA SERIES III
Fields in the pits
Author: Mamta Sen Date: 05 Mar 2008
Villagers from Vidarbha say Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s men dug up unfinished ponds all over the field and disappeared; Art of Living says they will resume work after March 15
PIT SPOT: Minister for Panchayat Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar inspects the pit dug up by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s men
SPIRITUAL guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s attempt at rehabilitation of Bothbodan village appears to have backfired. In October last year, villagers say the Guru along with his associates came to adopt this hamlet of 975 people in Yavatmal district that had seen nearly 18 farmer suicides. According to the villagers, the spiritual guru aimed at building small farm ponds for them to store rainwater. He had emphasised that these ponds will also help as perfect irrigation system. “His men dug the ponds but failed to adhere to the exact depth of the pond leaving the work unfinished and our fields in utter ruins,” explains sarpanch Anupam Chavan. Today there are around 26 such pits dug and lying unattended on the fields, which have the farmers worried.The maximum depth of the pond is around 20 feet, while minimum is around 10 feet. But villagers say that Ravi Shankar’s men dug pits only five feet deep and left.“We are now worried about the monsoons, when these pits become a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” said Narayan Rathod, adding that it would have helped if the pits were dug to a depth of 10 feet as they are neither ponds nor wells.Another villager says that they cannot even toil the fields due to these pits.According to district information officer Ranjit Chandel the ponds are constructed only after taking the topography of the fields into consideration and checking the slope of the water.TomorrowWill the Union Budget package really help the farmers?
Author: Mamta Sen Date: 05 Mar 2008
Villagers from Vidarbha say Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s men dug up unfinished ponds all over the field and disappeared; Art of Living says they will resume work after March 15
PIT SPOT: Minister for Panchayat Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar inspects the pit dug up by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s men
SPIRITUAL guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s attempt at rehabilitation of Bothbodan village appears to have backfired. In October last year, villagers say the Guru along with his associates came to adopt this hamlet of 975 people in Yavatmal district that had seen nearly 18 farmer suicides. According to the villagers, the spiritual guru aimed at building small farm ponds for them to store rainwater. He had emphasised that these ponds will also help as perfect irrigation system. “His men dug the ponds but failed to adhere to the exact depth of the pond leaving the work unfinished and our fields in utter ruins,” explains sarpanch Anupam Chavan. Today there are around 26 such pits dug and lying unattended on the fields, which have the farmers worried.The maximum depth of the pond is around 20 feet, while minimum is around 10 feet. But villagers say that Ravi Shankar’s men dug pits only five feet deep and left.“We are now worried about the monsoons, when these pits become a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” said Narayan Rathod, adding that it would have helped if the pits were dug to a depth of 10 feet as they are neither ponds nor wells.Another villager says that they cannot even toil the fields due to these pits.According to district information officer Ranjit Chandel the ponds are constructed only after taking the topography of the fields into consideration and checking the slope of the water.TomorrowWill the Union Budget package really help the farmers?
VIDHARBHA SERIES PART II
Vidarbha farmers need more than just loan waiver
Author: Mamta Sen Date: 06 Mar 2008
The new Union Budget does not really help the farmers in Vidarbha; they need more than just a loan waiver
BARELY a week after Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced Rs 60,000 crore-loan waiver package, five farmers committed suicide in Vidharba.Kishore Tiwari, president of the Vidharbha Jan Andolan Samiti believes that both the State and Central governments are trying to give relief packages and ignore the real issue. According to him, there are 13 lakh farmers spread across the six districts of Vidharbha Amravati, Akolka, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Washim and Wardha, who need relief and not relief packages.Failed packages“They are in dire need of relief instead of relief packages. Neither the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana nor the National Food Security programme is mentioned in the budget. The Yojana is supposed to provide irrigation to irrigated as well as non-irrigated lands of all farmers,” he said. He added that the earlier two packages announced by the State and Centre in 2005 and 2006 had failed to materialise. No money“From the 60,000 farmers identified for the package then only 32,000 were able to get relief, out of which 80 per cent were given cows, bullock carts and pumps instead of the promised money.”Tiwari says that there should be introduction of a processing scheme for the cotton from Vidharbha. “Presently, the Chinese economy is booming on the cotton from Yavatmal, which is processed into cloth. Why can’t we have similar processing units in the barren lands of Vidharbha?” he asked. Widow Ranjana Chavan though says that more than loan waivers, they want to do away with the cotton crop and opt for jowar or wheat. “We want new seeds and also want to learn new skills, so that we are not dependent on agriculture alone for our survival,” she said.
Relief tough to availMohan Madedvar, of Pandharkawada village, cites that relief packages hardly reach the family due to lack of infrastructure and corrupt officials. “One has to travel to the nearest city or town in private vehicles to get to the bank to avail the sum. Then they have to bribe the babus, for which the sum is borrowed from private money lenders,” he says.Madevar believes that the new package benefits 70 per cent of the farmers from western Maharashtra and only 10 per cent from Vidharbha, as most farmers in the latter region have farm holdings over 5 acres. “It would help tremendously if the loan waiver is applied to over five hectares, as most farmers here own lands that range between 12 to 19 acres,” he adds.
Author: Mamta Sen Date: 06 Mar 2008
The new Union Budget does not really help the farmers in Vidarbha; they need more than just a loan waiver
BARELY a week after Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced Rs 60,000 crore-loan waiver package, five farmers committed suicide in Vidharba.Kishore Tiwari, president of the Vidharbha Jan Andolan Samiti believes that both the State and Central governments are trying to give relief packages and ignore the real issue. According to him, there are 13 lakh farmers spread across the six districts of Vidharbha Amravati, Akolka, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Washim and Wardha, who need relief and not relief packages.Failed packages“They are in dire need of relief instead of relief packages. Neither the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana nor the National Food Security programme is mentioned in the budget. The Yojana is supposed to provide irrigation to irrigated as well as non-irrigated lands of all farmers,” he said. He added that the earlier two packages announced by the State and Centre in 2005 and 2006 had failed to materialise. No money“From the 60,000 farmers identified for the package then only 32,000 were able to get relief, out of which 80 per cent were given cows, bullock carts and pumps instead of the promised money.”Tiwari says that there should be introduction of a processing scheme for the cotton from Vidharbha. “Presently, the Chinese economy is booming on the cotton from Yavatmal, which is processed into cloth. Why can’t we have similar processing units in the barren lands of Vidharbha?” he asked. Widow Ranjana Chavan though says that more than loan waivers, they want to do away with the cotton crop and opt for jowar or wheat. “We want new seeds and also want to learn new skills, so that we are not dependent on agriculture alone for our survival,” she said.
Relief tough to availMohan Madedvar, of Pandharkawada village, cites that relief packages hardly reach the family due to lack of infrastructure and corrupt officials. “One has to travel to the nearest city or town in private vehicles to get to the bank to avail the sum. Then they have to bribe the babus, for which the sum is borrowed from private money lenders,” he says.Madevar believes that the new package benefits 70 per cent of the farmers from western Maharashtra and only 10 per cent from Vidharbha, as most farmers in the latter region have farm holdings over 5 acres. “It would help tremendously if the loan waiver is applied to over five hectares, as most farmers here own lands that range between 12 to 19 acres,” he adds.
VIDHARBHA SERIES I
Not sporting enough
Author: Mamta Sen Date: 04 Mar 2008
Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Mani Shankar Aiyar says the Centre passed Rs 6,000 crore for 10-day event, but is reluctant to give Rs 600 crore for 10-year sports plan
Mani Shankar Aiyar inaugurating a sports complex in Yavatmal built at a cost of Rs 1.4 crore
UNION Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Mani Shankar Aiyar on Sunday, highlighted the step-motherly treatment meted out to sports in the country and blasted the centre for failing to allocate the necessary funds to the ministry. Aiyar was speaking on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony of the Rs 1.4 crore state-of-the-art indoor stadium in Yavatmal initiated by MP Vijay Darda. “In the union budget of 2007-08, the funds allotted to the sports ministry are as measly as 0.073 per cent. I would be elated if the figure is finally rounded up to one per cent,” he said. He also touched upon the on going controversy between himself and Suresh Kalmadi, MP and President of Indian Olympic Association.“Asking for Rs 600 crores over a period of 10 years is minimal, sane and a balanced figure compared to spending Rs 6000 crores in 10 days alone on Commonwealth Games,” he said, adding that he hopes to get the funds at the earliest.“I want the money not only to reach the aam aadmi, but his children too,” he said, while inaugurating the expensive building. “Constructing expensive stadiums in a district weighing under the baggage of poverty and unrest is disturbing. I would be happy if children from these villages are given an opportunity to unleash their sporting talents here.”
Author: Mamta Sen Date: 04 Mar 2008
Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Mani Shankar Aiyar says the Centre passed Rs 6,000 crore for 10-day event, but is reluctant to give Rs 600 crore for 10-year sports plan
Mani Shankar Aiyar inaugurating a sports complex in Yavatmal built at a cost of Rs 1.4 crore
UNION Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Mani Shankar Aiyar on Sunday, highlighted the step-motherly treatment meted out to sports in the country and blasted the centre for failing to allocate the necessary funds to the ministry. Aiyar was speaking on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony of the Rs 1.4 crore state-of-the-art indoor stadium in Yavatmal initiated by MP Vijay Darda. “In the union budget of 2007-08, the funds allotted to the sports ministry are as measly as 0.073 per cent. I would be elated if the figure is finally rounded up to one per cent,” he said. He also touched upon the on going controversy between himself and Suresh Kalmadi, MP and President of Indian Olympic Association.“Asking for Rs 600 crores over a period of 10 years is minimal, sane and a balanced figure compared to spending Rs 6000 crores in 10 days alone on Commonwealth Games,” he said, adding that he hopes to get the funds at the earliest.“I want the money not only to reach the aam aadmi, but his children too,” he said, while inaugurating the expensive building. “Constructing expensive stadiums in a district weighing under the baggage of poverty and unrest is disturbing. I would be happy if children from these villages are given an opportunity to unleash their sporting talents here.”
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Tit for Tat
Biharis now have got agressive and who else could they target but the Governor instead, and during the ongoing Assembly ! Raj caught the commotion on televison and got pissted off (as usual) and dashed off a letter to the press refusing to sit quiet, yet again justifying how the state well treats its own karnataka born governor S M Krishna. Meanwhile my non -Maharashtrian friends and colleagues appear happy that Marathis will now have to bear the brunt.
Moreoever lower middle class marathis working in mantralaya and government offices are fearing for their relatives in places like bhopal, indore and even a remote asansol.
The action just refuses to die down!
Moreoever lower middle class marathis working in mantralaya and government offices are fearing for their relatives in places like bhopal, indore and even a remote asansol.
The action just refuses to die down!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Political khichdi
On Sunday prior to the Samajwadi rally, the United Front Progressive Alliance(UNPA), a group of ex-chief ministers gathered for press conference in one of the five stars hotels in Mumbai and announced to a group of already worked up journalists how they though the present coalition government in the country was a disaster and justified to the messengers how they can do a much better job.
The dias was a congregation of a group of senior citizens, Farooq Abdullah, Om Prakash Chautala, Chandrababu Naidu, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Amar Singh and Jaya Bachchan and starlet Jaya Prada---all having enjoyed power in their heydays and itching to get it back.
THE UNPA is nothing but a joke created by visionless old leaders fast on the decline in their careers. If leadership is all about leading one's ideologies to transformation of the vast majority of the deprived and underpriviledged, these men were a far cry from it. That Chandrababu Naidu, the polished and savvy politician who transformed the urban Telugu class to adapt IT into their daily lifestyle, should be sharing the dias with the likes of a Mulayam Singh Yadav or even an Abdullah, spoke volumes on how the agendas can be changed overnight.
Yet, the man should be applauded for having the guts to stands next to these uncouth leaders devoid of a national vision. What greater platform than for the lone Telugu to grab natinoal headlines in an era dominated by the policies of North Indians, Dalits and Muslims.
The dias was a congregation of a group of senior citizens, Farooq Abdullah, Om Prakash Chautala, Chandrababu Naidu, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Amar Singh and Jaya Bachchan and starlet Jaya Prada---all having enjoyed power in their heydays and itching to get it back.
THE UNPA is nothing but a joke created by visionless old leaders fast on the decline in their careers. If leadership is all about leading one's ideologies to transformation of the vast majority of the deprived and underpriviledged, these men were a far cry from it. That Chandrababu Naidu, the polished and savvy politician who transformed the urban Telugu class to adapt IT into their daily lifestyle, should be sharing the dias with the likes of a Mulayam Singh Yadav or even an Abdullah, spoke volumes on how the agendas can be changed overnight.
Yet, the man should be applauded for having the guts to stands next to these uncouth leaders devoid of a national vision. What greater platform than for the lone Telugu to grab natinoal headlines in an era dominated by the policies of North Indians, Dalits and Muslims.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The frustration mode
"God life's frustrating," bellows my next door neighbour, a young PYT in her early twenties rummaging through her hand bag. The reason for her frustration is her failed and continuous efforts at landing her hands on her chewing gum which is nestled in her hand baggae, or so I am told, a minute later.
I find it very amusing to believe the many reasons of frustration vented out my people arround me. From students to senior citizens, hourwives to career women to even my househelp who complains how her life has become so frustrated that she now wants to break open the thatched roof of her house and rebuild it.
The inability to get back at situational and circumstancial demand is how one understands frustration to be. My six year old often screams her lungs out when things refuse to go her way...that is the best way to express herself she tells me when I complain of this newly discovered habit that might slowly get imbibed into the character as she grows up.
Though my better half continues to disagree with me on this one. "The chaos around you is significant that all's well within you," he points out. And my, am I frustrated with this one!
I find it very amusing to believe the many reasons of frustration vented out my people arround me. From students to senior citizens, hourwives to career women to even my househelp who complains how her life has become so frustrated that she now wants to break open the thatched roof of her house and rebuild it.
The inability to get back at situational and circumstancial demand is how one understands frustration to be. My six year old often screams her lungs out when things refuse to go her way...that is the best way to express herself she tells me when I complain of this newly discovered habit that might slowly get imbibed into the character as she grows up.
Though my better half continues to disagree with me on this one. "The chaos around you is significant that all's well within you," he points out. And my, am I frustrated with this one!
Rape: more than just a word
Post the sentencing of the accused of the Biklis bano gangrape in a Mumbai High court, television channels were now beaming the hows and whats of the full fledged torture undergone by Bano—the 6 month pregnant woman in her late twenties from Godhra on how she was raped by over 17 men and that she applauds the served justice.
Accompanied by husband and her now five year old kid who seemed to sit motionless in one frame while jumping in the other, Bano belts out how she feels insecure in now vibrant Gujarat (as Modi proudly proclaims in all his rallies) blah blah blah...
This display of emotions numbs you. With TV channels now a commodity, the reality show of a woman, a minority one that too, conquest for her rights leaves you spellbound.
While I sympathise with Bano, I cannot but help feel like lashing out at women anchors interviewing here asking her to fill in the details of the rape horror..just signifies rape of a different kind.
Accompanied by husband and her now five year old kid who seemed to sit motionless in one frame while jumping in the other, Bano belts out how she feels insecure in now vibrant Gujarat (as Modi proudly proclaims in all his rallies) blah blah blah...
This display of emotions numbs you. With TV channels now a commodity, the reality show of a woman, a minority one that too, conquest for her rights leaves you spellbound.
While I sympathise with Bano, I cannot but help feel like lashing out at women anchors interviewing here asking her to fill in the details of the rape horror..just signifies rape of a different kind.
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