Are you really serious about NEW YEAR RESOLUTION?

Now that the new year is around the corner,many of you might be in the process of finding new year resolutions.Some of you are thinking of exercising 5 days a week(with occasional jogging),waking up early in the morning at least on weekdays or hooking up less on facebook and whatsapp.Others,in my view,are eagerly waiting for Jan 1,2015 to cut down on smoking,alcohol or paan-masala.On Dec 31,nearly 90 percent of the drunkards(both habitual and occasional ones) take a collective pledge while holding their pegs "Cheers,aaj se daaru pina chhod denge"(Cheers,henceforth,we shall do away with drinking).

Taking up resolutions is very easy.It needs just the word of the mouth or noting down on a piece of paper in bold letters.Following it up for 12 months is quite an uphill task.Leave alone 12 months,I have had not a single record of honouring my resolutions for even 12 weeks.Every time,I used to give up consoling myself that some of my friends had even failed to keep their quasi-promises for 12 days.They would say "Bas bahot ho gaya yaar,zindagi ek hi baar milti hai"(Enough is enough friend,life comes only once).

I still remember one of my teachers advising me to treat every day as a new year day.Perhaps,we both fell in the same category of serious thinkers failing every year to keeping our resolutions intact.His guru mantra might have been the by-product of repeated failed attempts.He was against taking up new year pledges unless one had the serious resoluteness to follow it for 365 days.

So,my new year's resolution for 2015 is to not make any new year's resolutions.Breaking resolutions often accompany a sense of failure and I do not want to be a part of it.For,those who have succeeded in keeping up their new year promises,I salute your firm determination and courage.I too extend my best wishes to those planning quite seriously to adhere to their resolutions scrupulously as a 365-day mission.

HAPPY NEW YEAR,2015.

Bodo conflict in Assam-the complex factors involved

Assam is once again in the news for all the wrong reasons.This time,the NDFB(S),a breakaway faction of larger NDFB group has attacked tribal people,mainly women and children,for no fault of theirs.This was a barbaric act of crimes against humanity which can neither be condoned nor justified.

The NDFB(S) appears to have no clear aims and objectives.They are opposed against the larger NDFB group,led by Ranjan Daimary,which is in a ceasefire agreement with the Indian Government.The indiscriminate killings of the innocent people in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar districts of Assam was a retaliatory action against the offensive launched by the state police forces against the militant group.In 2012,they resorted to divisive tactics of dividing Hindus against the Muslims,which led to wider communal conflict between the two groups.As one police officer has stated,the militant group engages in such divisive tactics thus taking time to regroup themselves and exposing the maladministration of the state government in maintaining law and order.

Moreover,there are complex factors involved which cause tension in these areas.In the Bodo Territorial Administered Districts(BTAD),the Bodos constitute only 30 percent of the population.Rest of the population comprises of Assamese,Bengali Hindus,Kuch-Rajbongshi and the adivasis.The Bodo Peoples Party(BPP) wield political power in the region often resorting to violence and intimidation to supress other ethnic groups.This has not gone down well with non-Bodo ethnic groups,resulting in recurrent conflicts in the region.

With the political rise of BPP(the erstwhile BLT,a militant group),the acolytes of prominent militant leaders benefitted.The government gave amnesty to the leaders,who were accused of grave crimes prior to the cease-fire agreement in 2003.Some of these leaders committed criminal acts with impunity for narrow political interests.Thus a sense of laxity and impunity developed among these groups,who continuously try to disrupt the peace in this region.The state government has also failed to prosecute these wrong-doers.It has given free hand to these groups,primarily the BPP,which is a political ally of the Congress party at the state.

The union government,responsible for enforcing cease-fire ground rules,has failed to do so.The cease-fire ground rules clearly prohibit the reconciled groups to carry arms or move in uniforms outside designated camps.They can neither procure additional arms nor take part in extortion or intimidation of individuals including government officials.Yet,these Bodos and Dimasas groups flout the rules with impunity.

It would be unfair to ignore the problem of illegal migration in the state.The people in the North-east India are very conscious of their identity over land,territory and natural resources.The illegal migration in the state has altered the demography of the region.The land encroachment continues with the connivance of state administration and the immigrants.This has created a sense of alienation among the ethnic tribes in the region resulting in conflicts.

The first responsibility of the State government is to provide security to the ordinary people.The state administration should carry out effective monitoring of any impending ethnic-conflict.It should prosecute those individuals responsible for alleged crimes against humanity,irrespective of political affiliation.There should be sustained dialogue between the government and those groups who gave up arms for the sake of peace.Monitoring and supervision of designated 'cease-fire camps'should be carried out on a monthly basis.A comprehensive action plan needs to be drawn so as to accomodate all the ethnic groups in the path of development.

Remembering Indian soldiers who fought the first world war

The historic world war-I would remain incomplete without mentioning the heroic efforts of Indian soldiers.Nearly 1.5 million Indian soldiers took part in the war and represented the British empire.Recently,Markandey Katju,the chairman of the Press Council of India and a former Supreme Court judge described them as mercenaries who fought for the British empire.Dismissing them as mere mercenaries,in my view,would be an injustice to their valiant efforts in serving the cause of British India.

Indian soldiers participated in the war with the hope that the British would grant India dominion status in due time.Even prominent leaders like Gandhi and Tilak exhorted the Indians to contribute their share thus helping the British in their war efforts.Indians took part in the war not only as soldiers,but also as labourers and workers.India sent raw materials to Britain so that their economy flourished even during the crisis.

The initial political payback came with the Montagu declaration which clearly stated"self-rule was not to be the constitutional right of British alone."That said,Indians were optimistic to get paid in the form of greater self-rule and the right to self-determination.With the passage of time,the British,however reneged on their promises and instead imposed the Rowlatt act.This was a gross insult to Indian's faith on British rule,which,in turn,aroused the nationalistic sentiments against the colonial rule.The hatred against colonial rule,among all the sections,would later ensure mass participation in Non-cooperation and civil-disobedience movements.

Moreover,during the war,the Indian soldiers got exposure to the democratic culture of the west.They realised that the Europeans were better off than the Indians in all aspects of life.In Europe,the girls were well educated and contributed to their workforce,thus making them self-dependent and empowered.On their return,many soldiers pledged to educate their girl children.They too realised as to how the British rule resulted in the economic drain of their homeland.

Thus,we cannot write the Indian soldiers out of history by describing them as mere mercenaries.They were an integral part of India's struggle against the British for independence.The centenary year of the first world war,2014,is thereby an occasion to remember the Indian soldiers who fought for the betterment of India.

How vulnerable is the Chicken's neck?

The Chicken's neck of India is the siliguri corridor situated in West Bengal,India.The corridor is so named because of its shape(in Indian map) which resembles the neck of a chicken.It is a narrow stretch of land which connects the North-east India with the Indian mainland.

Although the corridor is a narrow mass of land,it has immense economic and strategic relevance for India.A single railway line passes through the corridor connecting the two regions,apart from the roadways.Most of the goods and Public Distribution System(PDS) are transported through trains,thereby making the railways an important mode of transport.All the passenger trains have to necessarily pass through this narrow strip to move from one region to another.

Strategically,the corridor is sandwiched between Nepal,Bhutan and Bangladesh.At one place,the corridor is just 24 kilometres wide separating Nepal and Bangladesh.After the 1962 Indo-China war,India faced the risk of hightened security concerns from China due to the boundary disputes with China.However,in 2003,when China officially considered Sikkim as an integral part of Indian territory,much of its security fears were addressed.Yet,the narrow corridor could be misused for drug smuggling and infiltration of illegal migrants if strict vigilance is not maintained.

The rugged topography in the region and severities of climate(the downpour is maximum in North-East due to South-West monsoon) has rendered the corridor utter vulnerable to natural disasters.During heavy rains,landslides do occur which could halt the trade and communication entirely,resulting in price rise of essential commodities.Moreover,the rapid-flowing rivers in the region changes its course frequently creating hardships for the people settled around the region.

Trade and economic development is vital for the overall growth of North-eastern region.Only 2 percent of its landmass is connected with the mainland India,while 98 percent of its landmass borders nations like China,Myanmar and Bangladesh.Therefore.it is imperative that there is increased trade links with North-East India.The NF railway should renew its ties with Myanmar and Bangladesh.Additional railway lines should be constructed bypassing the existing railway line.India should sign a free trade agreement with its south Asian and south-east Asian neighbours enabling the trade of goods across these countries.India has agreed upon a multi-modal transport linking India with its neighbours in the BIMSTEC meet.India should,in no time,start implementing the project in co-ordination with its neighbors and stake-holders.

Views on religious conversions

The issue of religious conversions has again become dominant in India's current socio-political discourse.With the BJP at the centre and Congress party being decimated,the focal point of attention has been the legitimacy of religious conversions,which many have referred to as 'Ghar wapsi' programme.But the moot question is-how far is the religious conversions legally sanctified?

Article 25(1)of the Indian constitution states that all people-not only Indian citizens-are entitled to freedom of conscience and have the right to profess,practic
e and propagate one's own religion.It is significant to note that freedom to propagate one's religion is in stark contrast to the forcible conversion of a person to another religion.As Justice A.N.Ray interpreted the word "propagate" to mean "to transmit or spread one's religion by an exposition of its tenets".The Supreme court has also declared illegal the forcible conversions holding it to be against the spirit of Indian constitution.Forcible conversions thus violate the fundamental right of freedom of conscience of an individual and thus cannot be justified in any manner.

Gandhi considered every religion to be true in its own way.According to him,all religions deliver the same essential spiritual message.In an article in Young India in 1931,he stated-"India stands in no need of conversions from one faith to another."Gandhi was for atmaparivartan.a change of heart,but not for dharmantar,or a change in religion.When B.R.Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in 1956,Gandhi stated"Religion is not like a house or cloak which can be changed at will".

The current pattern of religious conversions in India has highlighted a peculiar message which might have seemingly escaped the attention of policy makers.That said,people were ready to embrace another religion primarily for availing economic benefits-like BPL card,ration benefits and decent employment.They were least concerned about the righteousness or propreity of any of the religions.Thus,policy makers should rather focus on improving the socio-economic condition of the masses rather than tacitly patronising the forcible conversions.Also,the current laws are sufficient to control forcible conversions carried out with the aim to ignite communal passions.Any new legislation to ban religious conversions of any kind would further complicate the issue.

Death penalty-an overview

India awards death penalty to convicts involved in heinous offences.Recently,two convicts,namely Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab were hanged till death by the state.The hanging of Afzal Guru had even courted controversies with a section of people questioning the procedure followed by the state before hanging him.According to Amnesty International,140 countries throughout the world have abolished the death penalty altogether.Even the International Criminal Court(ICC) prescribes life-imprisonment for the gravest crimes like genocide.In this context,the question assumes significance:Should India abolish the death penalty altogether?

India cites three reasons for retaining death penalty.First,it is the sovereign right of the nation to determine the nature of its law and punitive measures.Second,it is awarded only in the cases of rarest of rare crimes.Third,adequate legal safeguards are followed for appeal by the convict before taking him to the gallows.While India is arguably reasonable in retaining the death sentence,certain facts cannot be glossed over in a country,which claims to be the world's largest democracy.

The procedure followed while awarding death penalty to a convict is not always fool-proof.There are chances that the judgement becomes arbitrary and judge-centric rather than principle-centric.The miscarriage of justice goes fundamentally against the basic tenet of natural justice which says"The guilty must be punished and the innocent should be freed".Moreover,in a country,where the justice dispensation process is still long-drawn,convicts are left languished in prisons for years before being hanged.The convicts have to bear untold physical and mental harassment in prisons while waiting for clemency as the clemency process is in itself very time-consuming.In this backdrop,the Supreme court recently directed the government to dispose the mercy petitions of the convict as soon as possible(Satrughan case,2014).

In a democracy,the first right of a person is the right to live.The state has the obligation to protect the fundamental right to life of an individual. Justice Krishna Iyer had stated that the state has no business in taking away the life of an individual in the name of ensuring retribution,merely to avenge his acts.Revenge is not equivalent to justice.Also,death is awarded for the acts committed by the convict without taking into consideration the social background and the role of the state in bringing up its citizens.Thus,awarding death penalty is equivalent to the missed opportunity of the state in reforming the convict or providing grounds for reform.

The architect of the constitution,Baba Saheb Ambedkar admitted in constituent assembly that people may not follow non-violence in practice,but "they certainly adhere to the principle of non-violence as a moral mandate which they ought to observe as far as they possibly can".With this in mind,he said"the proper thing for this country to do is to abolish the death sentence altogether".

How far is Gandhi's principle of non-violence valid in today's world?

In one of my previous blogs titled 'Ahimsa is not just physical violence',I had discussed at length about the meaning of 'non-violence' as advocated by Gandhi.Today,I would shed light on the practical applicability of the much cherished principle of non-violence and the extent to which the principle holds good in today's world.Gandhi's principle of non-violence should be seen in the larger context of 'Satyagraha'.Satyagraha is a soul force,unlike physical or brute force.which implies holding on to the truth for the cause of one's principle.It is an infliction  of suffering on oneself without causing any physical harm to the enemy.

A recent survey states that almost 70 percent of cases involving countries struggling for democratic regime were successful through their non-violent struggles.Eminent personalities like Nelson Mandela,Martin Luther King Junior,Aang Suu Kyi,the Dalai Lama advocated non-violent measures to achieve their aims and objectives.Most recently,during the so-called 'Arab Spring',activists in Egypt,Yemen and other countries,hold the pictures of Gandhi and closely studied his principles.Back home,the anti-corruption movement spear-headed by Anna Hazare relentlessly relied on the principles of non-violence.The movement was so effective that it led to the downfall of a political party ruling at the centre as it was involved in various big-ticket scams.

However,the principle of non-violence is not without flaws.Gandhi believed that by inflicting self-suffering and doing no physical harm on the enemy,the crimes committed by the enemy would stand exposed.But,it is applicable only when the enemy realises that the acts committed by him are morally wrong.It could work only against opponents vulnerable to a loss of moral authority and governments responsive to domestic and international public opinion.For instance,countries got the freedom from colonial rule partly due to the rulers respecting the sovereignty and freedom of the colonies.

But when the oppressor believes in the justice of his cause and refuses to accept that he was wrong,adhering to non-violent satyagraha might not yield results.It has also little effect on those who are already seeking to punish you whether you disagree with them or not.For them,your willingness to undergo punishment would make things easier as it would corroborate that they were neither wrong nor oppressive.Therefore.in more complex situations,the applicability of the principle of non-violence might not universally hold good.

Is it practically possible to bring back black money that is stashed abroad?

In both print as well as electronic media,there is hue and cry over the overwhelming quantum of black money that is stashed abroad in foreign banks.In parliament,we do witness disruptive scenes over one political party trying to bring its opponent on its toes over the black money issue.Further,the incumbent Prime Minister,in one of his campaigns for Lok Sabha elections assured the people that if all the black money stashed abroad were retrieved,each household would get an amount of 15 lakh.His assurance of bringing back every pie of black money within six months has added to further hopes among the common people.

But the moot question is:How far is it practically possible to bring back black money stashed in foreign banks?In my view,under current circumstances,it is highly unlikely.I would like to put forth some arguments to substantiate the claim.Investments pour in the foreign banks primarily due to the inherent nature of keeping identity and quantum of money a secret,rather than returns on investments which is considerably very low.Moreover,financial services is a money-spinning sector in countries like Switzerland.Thus,divulging details of their account holders so easily would prove to be a risky step for an economy depending on financial services as a major contributor to its economy.

The Swiss authorities have stated that they would divulge details about the account holders provided the allegations of tax fraud are proved against them in a court of law.But,determining tax evasion is a cumbersome step.It is because the transactions of black money change hands frequently thus making it difficult to determine the exact source of its generation and the quantum of black money.India withdrew at the last moment from signing a treaty with Switzerland on Multilateral Competent Authority,which will provide for automatic exchange of information from 2017.

India can still sign the treaty.The government should declare tax evasion as a criminal offence.Currently,tax evasion is considered as a civil offence.This has made retrieval of black money extremely difficult as the foreign governments take shadow under the shallower provisions of the Indian law.As recommended by the SIT,Permanent Account Number should be made mandatory for all cash and cheque transactions above Rs.1 lakh.Moreover,there is a need to initiate regulatory measures to curb enormous cash transactions carried out in shopping malls,real-estate sector,education and mining sector.These are the sectors that generate black money.Unless effective steps are taken to stem the domestic generation of black money,Indian economy will continue to suffer.Therefore,the wise thing is to forget the past and bring reforms to prevent generation of black money.

Section 66-A of the Information Technology Act-Is it draconian?

The section 66-A of the IT act,2008 seeks to regulate speech on internet and other communication electronic devices.Though the act was legislated with good intentions,of late,it has created controversies.On many occasions,the state and the influentials are alleged to have misused the provisions of the act for vested interests.Let us delve into the pros and cons of this legislation.

With the advent of digital era,internet has become a preferred mode of communication.Though the information technology has made our lives easier,there is a flip side to it.Incidents of cyber-bullying,spams,online harassment,hate-speeches with the aim to divide society have also increased.Therefore,the section 66-A of IT act seeks to control internet-related crimes.Even section 499 and section 500 of Indian Penal Code(IPC) is silent about the crimes committed through electronic format.The IT act is thus a legislative measure to regulate such incidents.

However,there are a number of demerits of the act.The section 66-A(a) of the act penalises sending information which is 'grossly offensive' or 'menacing' in character.But the illustrations regarding these terms are ill-defined and open-ended.Therefore,determining the exact meaning of what is offensive or menacing falls within the subjective discretion of the complainant leaving enough room for its wide misuse.Moreover,in criminal jurisprudence,a crime has two components-intention and act.The offence is committed under the IT act the moment an individual acts through electronic devices although his intentions were non-offensive in character.

The act,in all likelihood,violates the fundamental right of speech and expression,as enshrined in article 19 of Indian constitution.The 19(2) of the constitution mentions the grounds of reasonable restrictions imposed on the freedom of expression.However,as the terms mentioned in the act are open to subjective interpretation of the complainant,it is an affront to the right of free expression-a corner-stone of our democratic constitution.

Further,the act legally recognises the act of 'transmitting' offensive messages a punishable offence.The word 'transmitting' is vaguely defined and thus it is prone to wide misuse.For instance.liking a post or commenting on a post might attract punishment under the act.The arrest of two girls in Mumbai in 2012 on the charges of liking and commenting on a face-book post was an instance of severe misuse of the act.Moreover,section 81 of IT act,2008 states that on grounds of contravention of this act with other acts(such as IPC).the IT act would prevail.This very provision would subject the individual to undue harassment.

Therefore,it is imperative that the government undertake measures to clearly define the inherent terms in the act thus narrowing down its subjective interpretations.Due to the public pressure,the government recently mandated the prior permission of a senior police officer before exercising the act.But,in a country,where the police reforms haven't been successfully carried out till date,undue political interference may dilute the noble purpose of the act.It is not to be forgotten that laws meant for the public good shouldn't be misused against public interest.

India's stand on climate change negotiations

It is now a well established fact that climate change is real.Several bodies like Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) and other independent studies have shown that the mean global temperature could rise by 2-3 degree celsius from current levels unless real-time effective steps are taken in short term,medium as well as long-term.After initial vacillation,finally there seems to be a convergence among the global nations on reducing the effects of climate change.The upcoming Paris summit in 2015 is conceived to be a game-changer as far as commitments towards environmental sustainability is concerned.

It is significant to note India's stand on global climate change negotiations.First,India believes that Common But Differentiated Responsibilities(CBDR) should be the basis of future laws on climate-change.The historical responsibility was a cardinal principle as agreed upon by United Nations Framework on Climate Change(UNFCC) and Kyoto protocol in 1997.Accordingly,the developed countries were among the largest emitters of Green-House Gases(GHGs) since industrial revolution.Therefore the onus lies on developed nations to undertake proactive steps towards reducing climate change.

Second,India supports an adaptation-centric approach(preparing themselves to reduce the vulnerability and risk due to impact on climate change)rather than mitigation centred strategy(excessive emission-cut).India agrees that adaptation should be the basis of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions(INDC) or individual voluntary commitments to reduce the effects of climate change.Moreover,the developed countries should primarily make meaningful financial contribution and help in the transfer of technology to poorer nations.There is a need for technology development through joint collaborative research.

Overall,India has outlined five pillars of strength as key to climate change.They are adaptation,mitigation,finance.technology transfer and capacity building.The climate deal should also include review of laws on biodiversity,wildlife and also air,water and land resources.Moreover the laws must be transparent with adequate focus on accountability of institutions.The research and development(R&D) should channelise its efforts towards making alternative sources of energy viable and affordable.

The problem of illegal immigration in Assam

Illegal immigration from Bangladesh is a problem not only affecting Assam but also other regions such as Meghalaya,Tripura and West Bengal.However,in Assam,it has been a long-drawn problem which has posed a threat to the demographic profile of the state.The Assam agitation in 1979-85 and the resultant tripartite agreement popularly known as Assam accord was signed with the aim to contain the problem of illegal migration.Despite the agreement,much less has been achieved so far and illegal immigration continues unabated till date.

The Bangladeshi people migrate in search of greener pastures in India.They often take up menial low-paying jobs in construction sector and as domestic help.India and Bangladesh share a porous border thus providing them the safe route to cross the border illegally.There seems to have been a lack of political will to stem the flow of illegal immigration.Some political parties even eye them as a potential vote-bank which has further aggravated the problem.

The ill-effects due to uncontrolled illegal migration are manifold.First.it is a grave security issue for the nation.Since they can't be easily tracked of their movements,they may give rise to insurgency problem in the state.The recent arrest of a person in Guwahati in relation to the Burdwan blasts is a grim reminder to the security problem.Second,it results in the mis-allocation of domestic resources.That said,they encroach land illegally,avail public goods and employment avenues meant primarily for the citizens.In extreme cases,they even attain the right to vote by dubiously getting enrolled in election rolls.Third.it leads to social unrest.The inter-community clashes between Bodo and muslims in 2012 and 2014 was partly due to the apathy of the government in tackling the issue of illegal immigration.

How can we best tackle this problem?There should be an effective monitoring system in place for proper documentation of these migrants and should be regularly tracked.The Assam government had announced its intention to upgrade the National Population Registrar(NPR),but the efforts are short of effective implementation at the ground level.Technology plays an important role here.They should be subjected to biometric identification which would prove handy in tracking them easily.They may be issued temporary work-permits.But after the expiry of these permits,they must be sent back to their homeland.However,in the long run,India should try to help Bangladesh in its economic development through greater investments.This would provide employment opportunities to Bangladeshis at home thus disincentivizing their migration across the border.

Why are the airlines making losses in India?

The airlines in India have been making huge losses recently.The Kingfisher airlines had to halt its operations and even struggled to pay its employees.Currently,Spice-jet has reduced its fleet and reported to have made losses of around 2000 crore in the ongoing financial year.Air India has managed to survive only because of the bail-out package announced by the government by pumping in tax-payers' money.Thus airlines incurring losses have become a norm rather than exception.

What are the reasons for airlines going in red in India?First,fuel expenses constitute almost 40 percent of the operational costs of the airlines.Nowhere in the world is the fuel as expensive as in India.The central government as well as state governments impose high taxes on Aviation Turbine Fuel(ATF) consequently raising the operational costs.

Second,all the costs of the airlines are borne in the denominations of dollars rather than rupee.The depreciating Indian rupee vis-a-vis dollar has made the overall transactions very expensive in aviation industry.Moreover,airlines like Kingfisher and Spice-jet enter into the aviation industry without having an adequate capital-base.Thus.even a slight fluctuation in business parameters render them highly vulnerable against losses.

Third,India lacks a robust manufacturing as well as maintenance base for aircrafts within its territorial boundaries.As a result,the purchasing cost as well as operational costs(other than fuel)increases manifold.Moreover,India used to hire foreign pilots and engineers due to the shortage of experienced manpower at home,which further escalates the overall costs.

The government would do well to treat aviation as an essential rather than luxury enterprise.The taxes on fuel could be lowered so that airlines have the scope to increase their profit margin.Also,foreign investments in domestic aviation industry is the need of the hour.Airlines like Jet-Ethiad,Air-Asia and Tata-Singapore airlines are likely to weather the storm as they have huge capital base.There is a need to bring in greater operational and management efficiency in its operations.In the long run,privatising Air India could be considered so as to make it efficient and profitable.

Ahimsa is not just physical non-violence-Mahatma Gandhi

In common parlance,we often associate ahimsa or non-violence with just physical non-violence.But,non-violence has several aspects.As Gandhi said in 1918,"satyagraha must be non-violent in thought,word or deed towards the enemy or among ourselves".Therefore,what we think or what we say is squarely related with the idea of non-violence.The title 'Mahatma' sits very well on Gandhi because of his emphasis on verbal non-violence too.

But why do we not treat verbal non-violence as the integral part of ahimsa?It is because unlike physical non-violence,verbal non-violence is intangible in nature.Those political leaders who claim to be pure Gandhian,often miss the fact that the unsavoury language that they use in day-to-day life goes against the Gandhian principles.Also the hate mongers who seek to divide people on communal lines forget that Gandhi was truly non-compromising on non-violence in every form-thoughts,words and actions.
For Gandhi,truth and ahimsa were not just for yogis,but also for the common citizens.This vindicates that non-violence furthers the democratic principles in a society rather than confining itself to the religious aspects.Thus,Gandhi espoused 'sweet persuasion' and 'beauty of compromise' in dealing with our opponents.Anyone who resort to physical harm,had failed to win the argument by using reason and rationale judgement.It is not to be forgotten that tongue is sharper than the sword.

Is dehorning a wise alternative to control poaching of one-horned rhinoceros?

Rhino poaching in one of the major environmental issues in India,which continues unabated in certain parts of Assam.The one-horned rhinoceros was originally widespread in Indo-Gangetic plains.Its population has declined considerably in the 20th and 21st century due to illegal poaching and trade.Today,hardly they are numbered 2500 in India.The Kaziranga national park,Orang national park in Darrang and Pobitora wild-life sanctuary in Morigaon constitute almost 95 percent of the one-horned rhinoceros found in the world.Owing to its declining population,the IUCN Red List has categorised it as vulnerable species in its list of threatened species.

Recently.some scholars had recommended dehorning of rhinoceros as a possible alternative to contain the menace of illegal poaching.Dehorning may sound as a credible option,per se,but it will have serious unintended ramifications.First,it amounts to a tacit admission by the state that it is helpless against notorious poachers and unauthorised forces.The poachers,in utter desperation,would search frantically for other measures like poaching of tigers for its nail,hides and skin.

Second,there is no guarantee that the horns of rhinos would be safe in the custody of state after dehorning it.The collusion between bureaucrats,politicians and illegal traders may create yet another problem so as to ensure its safety.Instead,the diligent monitoring of the movement of rhinoceros with its horn intact would be doubly effective in controlling the menace of rhino poaching.

Third,dehorning would render the rhinos vulnerable because it would be unable to defend itself against attacks by other species.The horn is a hard material made up of calcium and melanin,which provides the requisite bone strength making it capable for effective defence.It would have unknown impact on life and ecology of the animal.Also,one-horned rhinoceros is the symbol of Assam oil.Dehorning is equivalent to the loss of cultural pride of Assam.

Therefore,the best measure to control the menace is through effective monitoring and increased vigilance.The government should train the security forces effectively on how to deal with the poachers.Anti-poaching camps should be created with adequate infrastructure and capacity building.The government may emulate the African model wherein the horns were dyed with pink color.Consequently,they could be traced easily by X-ray scanning even if it was ground to a fine powder,thus preventing illegal smuggling through important installations like air-ports and other check points.The government may also fast-track these cases to ensure higher conviction rates.This would certainly serve as a deterrent for the wrong-doers.

India's foreign policy

Foreign policy is an instrument available to a nation by which it promotes its national and security interests.India's foreign policy has undergone a paradigm shift since its independence from British rule in 1947.Also,there has been a sea change in our relations with the first world,second world and third world countries with its impressive economic growth in recent decades.

Gone are the days when we were following an isolationist foreign policy in 1950s .India emerged out of decades of colonial rule in 1947 but quickly found itself in tangles of cold war,which made it necessary to adopt a foreign policy based on non-alignment.This was perhaps a wise decision based on the prevailing geo-political situation.The immediate aim of  India was to eradicate poverty and hunger as well as to become self-sufficient which could have been possible through the nature of foreign policy adopted at that time.

With the fall of Berlin wall and India's transition towards globalisation and liberalisation in 1990s.the global geo-political scenario underwent a profound change.India could no longer afford to remain isolated so as to achieve growth and prosperity.Also with the rise of Asian tigers and emerging economies like India and China,India had to shed its inflexibility and blind-patriotism in multi-polar,multi-interest world.India thus followed an open approach in foreign policy.The increasing focus on look-east policy and growing inter-linkages with western nations is a testimony to the fact.

Another important aspect has been India's efforts towards becoming a regional leader among the South-Asian nations.However,at times India erred on its sense of judgement by trying to impose upon its neighbors by adopting a big-brotherly attitude rather than a true guiding spirit.Therefore,the neighboring nations occasionally followed an obstructionist approach so as to halt India's influence.India has been trying to shed its negative image and follow an all-inclusive model thus taking our neighbors along in the path of development.

India can prosper well in foreign-policy domain only when it creates an atmosphere of trust among other neighboring countries.New age foreign policy must be based as much on enlightened self-interest as on pragmatism.India must be open and tolerant and at the same time have the ability to build bridges,reach out and leave the past behind.

Impact of Land-boundary settlement agreement on North-east India-an overview

The land boundary agreement between India and Bangladesh was conceived originally in 1974.The then prime ministers of India and Bangladesh agreed upon to sign the agreement.But,the agreement couldn't materialise for nearly three and a half decades due to lack of political consensus on both sides.It was in 2011,that the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh and his Bangladeshi counterpart,Sheikh Hasina decided to end the impasse on border issue.However,no consensus prevailed even during this period,which further delayed its immediate ratification.

The BJP government has now decided to solve the border row after getting a massive mandate in recent Lok Sabha elections.It has decided to forge a consensus on primarily three issues.First,approximately 6 kilometers of the nearly 4000 km long boundary is virtually unsettled.The unsettled boundary land falls within the territorial domain of Assam. Tripura,
Meghalaya and parts of West-Bengal.It has spurred illegal migration,cattle-smuggling and drug-smuggling over decades,which would be put under control if the agreement is signed.

Second.India has almost 111 enclaves in the territory of Bangladesh,while 51 Bangladeshi enclaves are in Indian territory.For decades,the people in these enclaves have suffered immensely as they could not avail the citizenship rights of either of these nations.Moreover these enclaves have too become a safe-haven for illegal migration.The apprehension of territorial loss for Assam is rather unfounded because India does not govern the Indian enclaves in Bangladesh,and vice-versa.

Third,certain territorial lands are in adverse possession of both the nations.That said,Bangladesh land contiguous with the border, inhabitated by its citizens,and de facto under its control.but falling within the Indian side of the border,and vice-versa. The solution to the issue of adverse-possession is pre-requisite for demarcating the border and also facilitating trade.

It is a well-known fact that India shares a 4000 km long boundary with Bangladesh.Yet.most of the trade is conducted by sea resulting in avoidable trade barriers.It is essential to carry out both the land and sea-based trade for greater integration of both the nations.The regional trade between Bangladesh and North-east India is also expected to grow.Further,the agreement would put an end to illegal migration and smuggling across the border,which until now has been a cause of concern for the demographic profile of Assam and its adjoining states.The demarcated boundary would encourage effective monitoring thus preventing cross-border crimes.

Thus,the land-border agreement between the two nations is a long overdue step.India and Bangladesh must exhibit the political will which will have salutary effect on the long-term economic and security interests of both the nations!

Can we effectively rein in tobacco consumption?

It is a well-established fact that almost 9 lakh people die in India annually due to tobacco consumption.The economic loss incurred by the nation amounts to almost 15,000 crore annually as a result of tobacco consumption.Considering the enormous deaths and the resultant loss in nation's productivity,reining in tobacco consumption has become a necessary imperative.

The government has also taken stock of the alarming situation and initiated several measures to control its consumption.A major chunk of tobacco consumers fall in the age group of 15-27 years,which doesn't bode well for the state of health in the country.Initially,the government banned the sale of tobacco within 100 meters away from the school premises.Though the step curtailed the easy accessibility of tobacco products for school-going children,it was still affordable for many of them,including the grown-ups.

In the fiscal year 2014-15,the government increased taxes on tobacco products,particularly cigarettes.Moreover,the government is willing to enforce stricter packaging norms in the days to come.Starting April 2015,almost 85 percent of the cigarette packets would mandatorily entail pictorial warnings.This would certainly serve as a deterrent for tobacco consumers.Also the prohibition of selling of loose cigarettes while increasing the minimum age limit from 18 to 21 years for buying cigarettes,as per the recent government guidelines,would do well to reduce its consumption.

However.one of the overlooked aspects is that there is relatively no restriction on the sale of bidis and chewing tobacco.These products are easily available across the small shops and stores. The poor people,both urban and rural,have unhindered access to these products which is a cause of concern. Bidis and chewing tobacco causes oral and lung cancer among the poor which is compounded by their inability to afford a well-to-do medical treatment.

Therefore,the government should strive towards initiating inclusive policies for tobacco control,including cigarettes,bidis and chewing tobacco.It should effectively resist the lobbying by the tobacco-manufacturing companies to derail the positive efforts towards health care.An all-inclusive policy measures accompanied by the political will would go a long way in ensuring proper health care towards its citizens.

Health Care for all

When we talk of 'health care for all',the fitting term that hits our mind is the Universal Health Care(UHC) model.Universal health care is the provision of comprehensive health care and financial protection universally to everyone.However,universal health care is not a one-size-fits-all concept.That said.it is determined basically by three factors:who is covered,what services are covered and how much of the cost is covered.

India has made rapid strides in economic growth in the last 20 years.However,the health indicators of Indians are still abysmally low.This is evident from the fact that India fares badly in the Human Development Index in which health is an important index-indicator.Moreover India is a home to millions of malnourished children.The Infant mortality rate(IMR) and maternal mortality rate(MMR) are still at uncomfortable levels.Health also constitutes out-of-pocket expenditure for the majority of Indians thus driving them into perpetual poverty.

Therefore,the concept of providing universal health care has been gaining ground recently to improve the overall health indicators.The government is contemplating the move to introduce Universal Health Assurance Mission thus providing basic health care package for all its citizens.The RSBY scheme was introduced in 2008 to provide insurance benefit to the people living below poverty line.

However,there are certain missing links in our health care model which needs to be addressed before rolling out the UHC model.First,we need to shift our attention from hospital-based care to primary care extensively.The people from the villages often approach the tertiary-care hospitals for treatment of their diseases which could have been cured at the Primary Health Centres (PHCs).Consequently.the hospitals fall short of hospital-beds which could otherwise have been used by the needy.Thus,providing basic infrastructure in the form of PHCs along with able manpower at the village level would be a force-multiplier in providing quality health care to the citizens.

Second,there is an urgent need to separate the core-health care systems from the extended health care system.The core-health care system includes primary,secondary and tertiary health care centres while the extended health system entails proper sanitation,pure drinking water,awareness programs and so forth.The extended health care falls outside the purview of health ministry and therefore needs to be tackled in a mission-mode and funded separately from the core health care system.The government should then allocate at least 2.5% of GDP towards provision of core health care,which is currently around 1% of nation's GDP.

Third,universal health care should not only include the poor,but also the middle-class section of society.It would ensure accountability in the public health care system as the middle-class is aware of its rights and entitlements.Moreover,moving away from a target-centric approach would make it a politically sensitive issue in the public domain.Unless,political mobilisation takes place in the area of health sector,the people would not get the fundamental right of health care.

A healthy population is squarely related to a healthy nation.A healthy nation is a prerequisite for an economically prosperous nation as it is the productive people who determines a nation's growth.Thus,health is an important segment of interest which cannot be overlooked.

Why China managed to outstrip India in agriculture?

India and China are primarily agrarian economies.About 25 years ago,India was at par with China in almost all the parameters of agriculture sector.However,today the agriculture growth rate in China hovers around 6-8% while India struggles to maintain a steady growth rate of 4 percent.This is despite the fact that India is favourably placed with respect to China in terms of total percentage of arable land,favourable climate as well as socio-cultural factors.

The reasons why China has prospered far ahead of India in agricultural sector are primarily three fold.First.China has strengthened its infrastructure in agricultural sector-both forward and backward.The Chinese farmers are therefore well secured as the products have a greater shelf-life.They sell their products at remunerative prices.In India,the farmers incur huge losses due to lack of proper infrastructure.Consequently.they had to resort to distress-sale of their products.A fall-out of sustained losses of farmers is that the younger generation is gradually losing interest in farming.

Second,China has superior technological capability in agriculture as it accords primacy to research and development(R&D).China has almost 1500 centres for research and development in agriculture.These profit-making agricultural centres have strong tie-up with the private sector for further investment in agro-initiatives.In contrast,in India,a major chunk of government funding is alloted for the payment of salaries of individuals.A survey states that only three percent of the funding goes directly to research.Consequently,we lack a conducive environment for productive research in the sector.

Third,China has an increasingly liberalised agricultural policy moving away from self-sufficiency to leveraging the competitive advantage with a focus on efficiency as much as equity.The food-processing and horticultural sector has reached new heights as the value-added products garner good revenue from the export-market.India has yet to develop its marketing capabilities and training requirements.

India has to realise its core-competence in the agricultural sector.The good thing about India is that it is naturally endowed with fertile land and favourable climate.Moreover,India has a favourable demographic dividend which further boosts the opportunities in the sector.India cannot afford to remain a silent spectator as the demand for food would steadily rise in the near future.  

Nehru's contributions to India's making

I write this blog,as there is an ideological tug of war between the prominent political parties on Nehru's contributions to India's making.Nehru had very rightly said"The future should be built on the foundations of past and the present."In this context,it is necessary that we cherish the sacrifices made by the tall leaders and draw inspirations from them.

Be it Gandhi,Nehru,Sardar patel,C.Rajagopachari or Maulana Azad,they together led the nation towards the glory of independence.The attainment of freedom was not a contribution of a particular political party,per se,but a national movement which accomodated a singular ideology-the idea of a nation.Their roles doesn't remain confined to making India independent of foreign rule.Rather,they guided India to future glory by laying down the broad principles on which the idea of India should be based-democratic constitution,secularism,socialism and justice.

The contributions of Nehru,was in no way,less spectacular.First,he played a vital role in strengthening the democratic institutions of the country,particularly parliament.He was a votary of judicial independence and freedom of the press.He had immense respect for the opposition leaders and also invited them to join his cabinet for the sake of prosperity of the nation.It is thus evident that he was tolerant of dissent and favored constructive criticism.

Second,he was a maker of modern India.He faced the challenging situations of bringing India out of poverty and hunger.Moreover,India had yet to come in terms with the partition and subsequent communal violence that shook its rich civilisation.He carried out the task of taking India to new heights of industrialisation by establishing industries and dams,which he rightly called the "temples of modern India".He too believed that science was a tool to rid India of poverty and illiteracy.It is in his era that new scientific institutions in the area of education,space and atomic energy came up.

Nehru dreamed of an India that was free of caste-prejudices,communalism and injustice.Underlying this,was the value-system based on Gandhi's principles-ahimsa,communal harmony,the importance of each individual and the emancipation of the oppressed sections of the society.Overall,Nehru was a visionary who devoted his life selflessly to the cause of the nation.It would be grossly unfair to belittle his contributions and achievements.

Famous quotes 2

I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed.I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible.But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any....-Mahatma Gandhi

But it is not just these material accomplishments that enhance our soft power.Even more important are the values and principles for which India stands-above all our precious pluralism.The singular thing about India is that you can only speak of it in plural;its pluralism emerges from its geography,is reflected in history and is confirmed by its ethnography(sense of nationhood)-Dr.Shashi Tharoor

India is a country held together by strong but invisible threads-Nehru

That a sense of profit should be based on capacity building for society,and that profits which deplete the resources available to others and to future generations are not really profits at all but losses to society-Dr.Shashi Tharoor in a speech  at IIM world conference in Goa on "looking beyond profit".

All birds find shelter during a rain.But eagle avoids rain by flying above the clouds.Problems are common but attitude makes the difference.-Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam.

Science may have found a cure for most evils.But it has found no remedy for the worst of them all-the apathy of human beings.-Hellen keller

This is my simple religion.There is no need for temples;no need for complicated philosophy.Our own brain,our own heart is our temple;the philosophy is kindness.-The XIV Dalai Lama

Considering other man's point of view is decency-George Orwell

Power is of two kinds.One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love-Mahatma Gandhi

Armed Forces Special Powers Act-Is it necessary?

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act,also known as AFSPA was enacted in 1958 conferring special powers on the Indian armed forces manning the internally disturbed regions of India.The act was based on Armed Forces (Special Powers) ordinance of 1942 originally conceived to quell the Quit India movement in pre-independent India.In recent times,the legitimacy of AFSPA has been questioned thus making it very controversial.

The AFSPA was enacted against the backdrop of Naga rebellion that took place in late 1950s.Even today,the act is being implemented in several areas of north-eastern regions and parts of Jammu and Kashmir.The contentious issue pertains to a clause which states that a commissioned or a non-commissioned officer may fire upon a person to the act of causing death in the name of self-defence.This provision is sometimes misused by the armed personnel thus amounting to gross violation of human rights.The gang-rape of Manipuri women by the army and the condemnation of such heinous crime across the nation is a case in point.This incident was followed by a fast-until-death by Irom Sharmila who continues to be force-fed till date.

However,the proponents of the act contend that giving special powers to armed forces is necessary for counter-insurgency operations.The army leadership continues to vociferously oppose any sort of dilution to the act.The civilian government too seems reluctant to modify or repeal some of its provisions.The act,indeed makes a mockery of democratic control over the military.The Jeevan reddy commission also called for the repeal of the act,which the government chose to ignore.

Overall,the act cannot be continued in its present form in view of its rampant misuse.Although its outright repeal might not materialise too soon,but certain provisions of the act could be amended.The armed personnels who are found guilty of committing grave crimes ought to be prosecuted and punished so as to uphold the rule of law.It is ironical that we use such draconian law against our own citizens.

Financial Inclusion

Financial inclusion has become a household word in a developing country like India where good governance holds the key to economic growth and prosperity.By financial inclusion,we mean providing affordable and accessible financial services to every citizen of the country.

Financial inclusion can be thought of in two ways-one is having legitimate bank accounts and the other is formal access to credit system and other financial services.A major chunk of the population do not have their bank accounts.The situation is particularly worse in rural areas,where even the wealthy and propertied people are reluctant to open their bank accounts.The primary reason is due to the cumbersome procedures involved in opening accounts.It is against this backdrop that the RBI has recently relaxed Know your Customer (KYC) norms by allowing self-certified documents and simple norms as eligibility criteria.Recently,the government has launched Jan-Dhan-Yojana to improve financial inclusion.Also,the government announced its intention to revive the Aadhar-enabled payment system to disburse subsidies and enable cash transfer.

However,merely opening bank accounts doesn't adequately serve the desired purpose of financial inclusion.That said,people ought to be motivated enough to utilise the money for their specific purposes.The dormant bank accounts cause loss to the banking system and hence the tax-payers' money.It is due to this reason that the Business correspondent(BC) model adopted by the banks have become partially unviable.Banks are forced to undergo losses if people fail to transact money through their accounts.

Second,there is a limited reach of credit system particularly in villages.The villages,in general and people,in particular cannot be empowered unless the is a smooth credit flow through banking channels.Many self-help-groups(SHGs) in villages are unable to realise their potential due to credit inaccessibility.Moreover,the poor farmers often knock at the doors of money-lenders,who charge them with usurious interest rates.Consequently,they fall into the vicious debt-cycle and perpetual poverty.

Therefore,there is a need of holistic approach to improve financial inclusion,Strengthening infrastructure and capacity building holds the key to financial inclusion.Banks should be opened up not only in urban areas but also in rural hamlets,where there is a felt need for more banks and related branches.However,relying excessively on bank-centric approach is not desirable.Rather,a proper strategy based on inovation,creativity and consumer protection is utmost necessary.The banks should create innovative solutions for attracting customers once they create their accouts.The people ought to be convinced that they can derive big value even from small amounts.One way of doing this is to show the target audience that bank account is actually a life-style enabler,a convenient and safe means to send money to family or make a variety of purchases.

Once banks succeed in hooking consumers with this value-proposition,they must sustain their interest by introducing a simple user application,ubiquitous access over mobile and other touch points,and adopting a banking mechanism which is not only secure but also reassuring to the customer.Technology is therefore an important aspect to improve financial inclusion.Moreover.to reduce cost,banks can adopt certain mechanisms by which frequent low volume transactions reduce the overall per unit operating cost.An optimal mix of these strategies would undoubtedly offer innovative means of expansion in unbanked areas.    

Famous Quotes 1

Bestolozzy,a Greek teacher said Give me a child for seven years.Afterwards,let the God or the devil take the child.They cannot change the child.

This is a message mentioned very clearly by Ilango Adigal in Silapatthikaram,one of the famous Tamil epics written about 2000 years ago If people who are in a position of power and responsibility go against righteousness,righteousness itself will be transformed into a destroyer.Whoever deviates from righteousness,whether an individual or state,is responsible for their own actions.Where there is righteousness in the heart,there is beauty in character.

If America is a melting pot,then to me,India is a thali,a clollection of sumptous dishes in different bowls.Each tastes different,and doesn't necessarily mix with the next,but they belong together on the same plate,and they complement each other in making the meal a satisfying repast.-Dr.Shashi Tharoor.

We want that education by which character is formed,strength of mind is increased,intellect is expanded and by which one is able to stand on his own feet.-Swami Vivekananda

The law provides but the bare bones for justice,and it is people who give it soul and substance.

With stones,you can either build walls to divide people or build bridges to unite them.-A prominent Turkish author

The father and mother give me this body but the guru gives me rebirth in the soul.-Swami Vivekananda

Our heritage and ideals,our code and standards-the things we live by and teach our children-are preserved or diminished by how freely we exchange ideas and feelings-Walt Disney on free expression.

The true purpose of education is to train the mind to think. For that reason, it is priceless-Albert einstein

India-a manufacturing hub

The manufacturing sector is the key to a nation's economic progress.In India,manufacturing constitutes 16 percent of its GDP,which is low for a nation aspiring to be an economic superpower. Growth in manufacturing is essential as it creates labour-intensive jobs.The growth story in China is largely shaped by manufacturing contributing about 30 percent of its GDP.

The central government has rightly put in place 'Make in India' initiative sending out strong signals to the domestic and foreign investors.However,several bottlenecks should be addressed upon so as to convert the slogan into a viable model.First,manufacturing is a holistic concept.That said,we need to bridge connectivities associated with manufacturing.Critical infrastructure has to be laid down by building roads,ports and ensuring uninterrupted power supply.This is the prime responsibility of the central government so as to attract the private investors.

Second,growth in manufacturing would remain a distant dream unless it is supported by skill development and consequent labour reforms.India is endowed with a favourable demographic dividend that needs to be rightly channelised.The necessary steps include establishing skill development centres,vocational training at the secondary and higher education level and encouraging innovative solutions.the labour reforms should be carried out in a manner which proves to be a win-win situation for both the employers and the employees.

Third,manufacturing and innovation goes hand in hand.The World Bank survey shows that the biggest difference between wealthy countries and BRICS was the intangible capital.The intangible capital comprises of innovation,Research and Development(R&D),goodwill and intellectual property assets.India has been ranked an abysmal 76th in Global Innovation Index report.Strenghening IPR laws and increasing funding in the areas of research-based higher education and innovation are the long-overdue initiatives.

The good news is the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index has placed India a top-notch country in terms of availability of engineers and scientists.Moreover,India is a cheap supplier of young labour force including women.Should there be a determined leadership and necessary investments,India has the potential to be a front-runner in manufacturing. 

A clean India

There is no denying the fact that cleanliness is next to godliness.A clean India doesn't merely mean keeping ourselves clean at individual level,but also ensuring that our surroundings remain clean too.Mahatma Gandhi had also stressed the importance of cleanliness and its overall impact on the society through his detailed comments on Young India and Navajivan.Unfortunately,after independence,we failed to take rigid steps towards realising his dream.

The significance of cleanliness can be gauged by the fact that an unhygienic environment is a breeding ground for a multitude of diseases.The World Health Organisation(WHO) report estimates that nearly 60 percent of the Indian population defecate in the open.Open defecation is squarely related to malnutrition,stunted and wasted growth among the children.India is ranked even below Bangladesh and Nepal in terms of malnourishment among children.Further,various communicable diseases are the result of unclean surroundings.

Taking cognisance of the enormous benefits of a clean India,the government has initiated the 'Clean India campaign' or 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'.The mission is a multifaceted effort of buiding toilets for all,physical cleanliness and ensuring provision of clean drinking water.However,the real challenge is to convert this much touted slogan into a viable program.This is possible only through creative leadership and innovative solutions.Moreover,a massive awareness campaign to spread the message and benefits of cleanliness is the need of the hour.The civic administration should also set an example by diligent supervision of contracts awarded by the municipal bodies.It is often found that the contractors are least bothered to remove the construction waste from the worksites.

At present,the focus of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan seems to be on exhorting individuals not to litter.The programme needs to retain the momentum of a movement rather than a litter-cleaning project.About 150 years ago,Britain started its cleanliness programme as a people-centric movement which turned out to be a successful mission and also influenced the Americans and other European nations.

Purna Swachhta requires three things to be addressed.The first is wet waste or sewage,both domestic and industrial,for which adequate sewerage systems and sewage-treatment plants should be constructed.In Delhi,only 30 percent of the sewage is treated.The rest is discharged into the Yamuna river causing adverse affects on its quality and biological life.The second is solid-waste,especially municipal waste,which needs to be dealt with through land-fills,incineration and so on.The third is to bridge the link between cleanliness and public health concerns.This can be done through massive awareness programmes along with ensuring proper drinking water and subsidising the construction of toilets.

Let us all join hands together to fulfill the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi in the form of CLEAN AND GREEN INDIA.

Black money-a conundrum

There is hue and cry over the return of black money stashed abroad since the new government came into power.The huge poll promises to bring back every penny of black money has rekindled hopes in the minds of common man.While undoubtedly illicit money abroad is a serious cause of concern,black money circulating in domestic economy is an alarming situation.That said,almost 90 percent of black money is generated domestically.Moreover,not every foreign account is an illegal account.For instance,Indian students studying abroad also maintain their bank accounts that are absolutely genuine.

Therefore, most importantly,it is imperative to stem the generation of black money domestically.The tax laws could be made simpler so as to improve tax compliance.E-governance in the public service delivery mechanism is the key to effective governance.The subsidies ought to be transferred through bank accounts which will curb leakage.The major sectors generating black money are real-estate,higher education and mining.A sectoral approach to promote transparency is the need of the hour.India is one of the major IT powers in the world.A strong political will and innovative transparent governance is necessary.

As regards the black money stashed overseas,a diligent monitoring mechanism in coordination with foreign countries and stronger prosecution measures are the imperatives.  

Review of 'And what remains in the end'

Robin Gupta's 'And what remains in the end' is a collection of memoirs based on the personal account of his life dedicated towards public service.He has lucidly described about his tenure in different parts of India with geographical and historical insights.I appreciate his clean and motivated public service.He has rightly pin-pointed the qualities that a public servant should possess i.e professionalism,neutrality,integrity and above all,empathy.Beating loneliness in the company of his adorable mother was heart-touching. 

Bad time continues!!!!!

I am feeling terrible today.I couldn't clear UPSC prelims despite a whole-hearted attempt.

Am I suited for civil services?If no,what are the career options left?If yes,Shall I give a second attempt?or,is it prudent for me to carry on with its preparation simultaneously with a paid job?These are the plethora of questions eating up my mind.

After the dust settles down,which may require a day or two,I hope I could sort out the possible path with renewed vigour.
Yet the mystery remains"DOES EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR ITS OWN GOOD?"

thoughts on Haider movie

Vishal Bhardwaj was at his usual best in his direction of the unconventional bollywood movie 'Haider'.The movie depicts the plight of ordinary Kashmiris in a land confronted with insurgency and militancy.It solidly brings home the message 'Intakaam se Intakaam paida hota hai'i.e revenge begets revenge.True to the core,the never ending tussle between Indian army and militants has robbed Kashmir of its unrivalled beauty.
           Ironically,some have opined about the movie as being 'antinational',which I do not agree.The movie was more about the personal rivalry(of Haider with his uncle) and the general plight of Kashmiris.The movie couldn't have been timely as there is a clarion call for the abrogation of article 370 and the incessant border skirmishes along the LoC and IB.
           Further,we must dare to call the spade a spade.If the Indian army violates the human rights of ordinary citizens,the matter ought to be looked into seriously.There is a gross misuse of AFSPA in Kashmir and North-east in the name of maintaining law and order.Though AFSPA can't be repealed in totality owing to the prevailing circumstances,certain regressive clauses of it need to be deliberated upon.