Tamil Travails

Tamil University in Thanjavur was established in 1981 to undertake research in grammar, literature and science as seen in Tamil literary works to explore the linguistic aspects of Tamil vis-a-vis other languages. "The University has been sick for a long time," says Dr.S.Radhakrisnan, a retired Professor of the Translation Department. The university needs Rs 22 crore annually to pay salaries and for other maintenance expenses. But the Finance Department has allocated a little over five crores, says the Vice Chancellor Dr M.Thirumalai. Re-accreditation is due this year but vacancies are unlikely to be filled in soon for the purpose.


 (Hindu, November 22, 2013)
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The E.U flexes its muscles on caste.

Arvind SivaramakrishnanThe reports that European Parliament's recent resolution circumvents India's contention that caste oppression does not constitute racial discrimination. The Parliament calls on E.U bodies to monitor the effect of E.U programmes on victims of caste discrimination and to address those matters with the public and private sector as well as civil society bodies in the relevant countries. The E.U is the world's largest trading bloc. (Hindu November 5,2013) ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Standing of Mother of Parlaments!

U.K Parliament is supposed to be the mother of all parliaments in the world. Even there Lord Bew, the Chairman of the standards watchdog committee has felt the need for compulsory "honesty" training to the M.Ps after the next elections to teach them how to behave in a public office after a series of scandals have the left the public "jaundiced" and disillusioned with politics, especially while accepting gifts from outside bodies and dealing with lobbyists. +++++++++++++++++++++

Mighty FIR !

The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday, Novemeber 12, 2013 that the police must compulsorily register the First Information Report on receiving a complaint if the information discloses a cognisable offence, and no preliminary inquiry is permissible, in such a situation, If the information does not disclose a cognisable offence but indicates the necessity for an inquiry, "a preliminary inquiry may be conducted only to ascertain whether a cognisable offence is disclosed or not," said a Constitution-Bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam and Justices B.S. Chauhan, Ranjana Desai, Ranjan Gogoi and S.A. Bobde. Since conflicting judgments had been given by courts on the issue, the matter was referred to the five-judge Bench for an authoritative ruling. "In cases wherein preliminary inquiry ends in closing of the complaint, a copy of the entry of such closure must be supplied to the first informant forthwith and not later than a week. It must also disclose reasons in brief for closing the complaint..." The Bench said: "The police officer cannot avoid his duty of registering offence, if cognisable offence is disclosed. Action must be taken against officers who do not register the FIR if the information received by him/ her discloses a cognisable offence. The scope of preliminary inquiry is not to verify ... the information but to ascertain whether it reveals any cognisable offence." As the General Diary/Station Diary/Daily Diary was the record of all information received at a police station, all information on cognisable offences, whether they resulted in registration of an FIR or led to an inquiry, must be mandatorily and meticulously reflected in it, the Bench said. Compulsory registration of the FIR was to ensure transparency not only in the criminal justice delivery system but also "judicial oversight." Let us hope the police in india religiously follows this directive without fail hereafter. (Wednesday, November 13, 2013 - The Hindu) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Half of India's population still defecates in the open

The World Health Organisation and the UNICEF estimate that there are more than 620 million people - over 50 per cent of the population -- practising open defecation in the country. As World Toilet Day was being observed on Tuesday, November 19, 2013, India's sanitation and toilet statistics continue to stink at the nation's face. Census data reveals that the percentage of households having access to T.V and telephones is more than that of households with toilet facilities. What a revelation with no remedy in sight in the foreseeable future? +++++++++++++++++++++++

Lest we forget

Under the above caption Vikram Kapur is paying a tribute and saying that It will be a decade tomorrow since whistle-blower Satyendra Dubey was killed. "In an age where someone can become a hero (with million and billions of rupees) merely by knowing to swing a cricket bat or emote on screen; you were the real deal; a bonafide hero. You remain our inspiration. The generations to come will feel your influence." A very good monologue written by him in memory of that real hero from Bihar who stood up against the contractor-mafia building highways and looting the public money without any fear or conscience. Even the so-called incorruptible (in money terms) Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh couldn't come to his rescue and the whistleblower had to leave this world to quench the thirst of money-minded sharks in our society. (Hindu, November 26,2013)

Classic example of Kaliyuga

Dad, brother, uncle rape 13-yr-old girl for two years (Thalassery) The father, brother and an uncle of a 13 year-old girl from Dharmadom in north Kerala's Kannur district have been arrested for allegedly raping the minor for the past two years. The victim has told the police that her elder sister, who had committed suicide two years ago, had also been raped. The case came to the fore two days ago when the Class 8 student was seen crying and refused to go home even after school hours. When one of her teachers asked her what was wrong, the petrified girl narrated her plight. The school authorities immediately informed the police and a complaint was registered. The girl's father, her 15-year-old brother and an uncle have been arrested, Thalassery circle inspector M V Vinod Kumar who is probing the case said. The girl told the police that she was sexually assaulted by the trio since she was in Class 6. (TOI,NOV.27, 2012, Tuesday) +++++++++++++++++++++

Great men retire at forty

Alexander the Great conquered the world but died very young. Swami Vivekanand achieved greatness very early before his death at the age of 39. Great poet Subramanya Bharati also could hardly live beyond 40 years. Cricket God Sachin Tendulkar created history and became famous by the time he turned forty and took retirement after playing 200th test match on his home ground Mumbai where he started at the age of 16. +++++ Better to achieve something before one attains the age of forty?

In 18 months, 500 bogus colleges shut in Britain

London: British immigration authorities have closed down an estimated 500 bogus colleges operating in the country over the last 18 months, affecting a number of students from abroad, including from India. However, top officials in the education sector insist that for genuine and legitimate students, Britain is still a viable option and Indians still account for the second highest number of non-EU students in the Country. (Ref: TOI, OCT.25, 2012. ) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Farm Loan – waiver scheme flawed: CAG finding

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Vinod Rai has pointed out serious flaws in the implementation of over Rs 52,000 crore farm debt-waiver scheme in a finding that can annoy the UPA government besides raising doubts whether it can continue to reap political dividends from the populist programme which turned out to be the game-changer for the ruling coalition in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. The finding is contrary to government's repeated claims in Parliament that benefits accrued only to the eligible. Debts of more than 3.7 crore farmers were written off by the government under this scheme that brought windfall gains to the Congress. ++++++++++++++++++++++

Rare Gesture of Muslim Friends

Place Hyderabad, --- normally the scene of communal disharmony between Hindus and Muslims. Two days ago one electrician (60 years) Bala Raju died leaving his wife Subatra and a daughter Revathi (18 years ) in Indiramma Nagar, a locality in Hyderabad city surrounded by Muslim families. Due to poverty the family was finding it difficult to bear the funeral expenses. Muslim neighbours arranged the funds, carried his dead body to the cremation ground and performed the rites as per the Hindu custom while the daughter lit the funeral pyre. Hats off to the Muslim brethren who came to the rescue of this poor Hindu worker in their vicinity. Humanity exists still in spite of hatred and enmity created by religious fanatics all around. (Dina Malar dt November 3, 2013) .

Surrender of Self-pride

Surrender before the Supreme being is the most intelligent thing a human being should adopt and achieve. That is what is noticed in the Kaliyug’s ‘Vaikund’ namely the Lord Sri Venkateshwara’s temple in Tirumala in A.P. HumanBeing’s sacrifice on a personal level is to tonsure his head in the temple premises and pray to God by surrendering his ego and self-pride. It is reported that in the year 2010-11 as many as 1,01,06,293 persons offered their beautiful and tended hair to the Lord. The temple administration has provided necessary facilities for this purpose in a significant way. About 665 including 59 women hair-cutters are on the job. It is also reported that as much as 50% of the visitors to the His abode offer their hair with a vow taken in return for the blessings of the Lord. It is also a time-tested tradition and practice to offer tha hair to the Gods since 1830 B.C, as has been noted (Dinamani Wednesday, April 27, 2011).

Mangoes

India stands first in mango production in the world. According to the production in the year 2010, India produced 100.00 lakh tonnes whereas china in the second position produced only 43.50 lakh tonnes. Similarly within India Andhra Pradesh produced the maximum quantity of mangoes namely 36.20 lakh tonnes. The maximum exports from India go to United Arab Emirates. (Rs. 107 crore). The maximum foreign exchange comes from mango pulp (Rs. 620.83 crore) during the year 2011-2012. It is a good show but we need to have long-term plans for further and sustainable growth in the days to come. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

TN’S Power utility rated worst among four Southern States

The Times News network on Saturday, March 15 reports that Tamil Nadu has the worst performing power utility among the four southern states. The Tamil Nadu generation and distribution company (Tangedo) has been rated below average in both operations and financial performance among various power utilities in the country as per a credit rating exercise carried out on behalf of the union power ministry. While other three southern states have been graded B+, Tamil Nadu is a notch below at grade B. TANGEDCO has been rated below average in operations and financial performance. Look at the table below: State Grade Gujarat A + Maharashtra A West Bengal A Karnataka B+ Andhra Pradesh B + Kerala B+ Tamil Nadu B It is indeed a bad show. Tamil Nadu which boasts of good performance in several other fields its work in this sector is pathetic and both DMK and AIADMK have to share the blame for this. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hail the Chief Minister!

The infanticide against the female gender was attempted and curbed by the Chief Minister Selvi. J. Jayalalitha, in the year 1992. Due to her effort under the caption ‘Cradle Children Scheme’ as many as 3,501 girl children and 695 male children were saved and protected. Under a different scheme called ‘Girl Child Protection Scheme’ in those families where the annual income was less than Rs 50,000/- and having only one girl child and one of the parents having undergone family planning before they attained 35 yrs, a sum of Rs.50, 000/- was kept as Fixed Deposit for such a child and the same amount was to be released with interest to the girl at the age of 18 yrs. Similarly the provision for those families having two girl children they were given Rs.25, 000/- each. Of late the girls getting married are also given 4 grams of gold and marriage allowances depending on their education and qualifications. No doubt girl children will sing in praise of the Chief Minister Selvi. J. Jajalalitha.

Poverty in Richest Country?

Is it the bane of human society or the inevitable law of nature that irrespective of what system man had improvised so far, the humanity is destined to live with irreversible income and intellect disparities for the ages to come? How does one comprehend otherwise that despite the golden mix of capitalism and democracy ruling the richest nation viz. the USA the government there can’t abolish poverty of its citizens in the last two centuries? It is indeed one of the inexplicable developments with the Census Bureau reporting that the percentage of Americans struggling below the poverty line in 2009 was the highest it has been in 15 years. The number of people living in poverty last year climbed to almost 43.6 million up from 39.8 million in 2008. The percentage of people living in poverty also increased to 14.3 per cent, the highest rate since 1994. Poverty in USA has been defined as pretax cash income below $ 22000 for a family of four. This is a development which one notices in spite of federal assistance like expanded unemployment benefits (helping three million families). An unexpected development but a welcome one from the stand point of joint family system in US society is the necessity of younger generations along with other members of nuclear families to shift to the homes of their parents to tide over the poverty situation for the present. The Census study found an 11.6 per cent increase in the number of such multifamily households over the last two years. Unemployment remains near 10 per cent and there are strong signs that the high poverty numbers have continued into 2010. Poverty had been concentrated among young adults without college education and their children. One indirect sign of continuing hardship is the rise in food stamp recipients, who now include one in seven adults and an even greater share of the nation’ children. By mid-2010 the number of recipients had reached 41.3 million, compared with 39 million at the beginning of the year. Food banks too report swelling demand. The poverty rate for non-Hispanic whites was 9.4 per cent, for blacks 25.8 percent, and for Hispanics 25.3 percent. The rate for Asians was unchanged at 12.5 percent. “This is the first time in memory that an entire decade has produced essentially no economic growth for the typical America household”, Mr. Lawrence Katz, an economist at Harvard. The poverty line is no doubt a flawed measure, experts agree. (The New York Times, Friday, September 17, 2010)

Economics of the Day

One good news; Day by day the demand for the covering (duplicate)jewellery in place of real gold and silver is picking up, thanks to spiralling prices of gold and silver in the open market. The craze for ornaments esp among the women folk of South india is well-known. This is a good way of satisfying their desire for the jewellery in the days to come.It is reported that the sales of such covering jewels have touched a figure of some Rs 8000 crore per annum and the trend is likely to register a growth of 20 to 30 per cent in the next two financial years. It is a good and interesting development. One Bad News: The industrial production in India during the month of August, 2013 has registered a growth of 0.6 per cent only. There must be a number of reasons for such a development.The governments will have to take a note of this and do the needful as early as possible. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=

The rise of polygamy in our society of excess

In our affluent age the exotic indulgences such as maintaining a concubine are on the increase. Vinita Dawra Nangia has in her “Times life” article (Sunday, 21st April, 2013) reported that historically the world has frowned upon polyandry (one women with two or more men), while tolerating, if not outright encouraging by legalizing, polygamy (one man with multiple sexual partners) Interestingly, Michael Price from the Psychology Department of Brunel University, West London equates serial monogamists such as Donald Trump and Larry king, who divorce older wives and marry younger women, as polygamists too, since they also monopolize the reproductive years of a number of women. In that sense, all celebrities, cine stars, prominent sportsmen, powerful politicians and business tycoons with a series of women, can be termed polygamists as well!

Hail the Efforts of Chennai Corporation!

Atomic researchers take up fight against city mosquitoes: Chirstin Mathew Philip has (Times of India, Saturday March 2, 2013) reported that the corporation has tried it all- larvicides, gambusia fish and chemical fogging-to contain the mosquito menace. Now, it has gone to the Bhabha atomic research centre for help. A few BARC scientists were in the city recently to study mosquito breeding spots and come up with remedies, a corporation official said. The team visited Adyar and Chintadripet and collected larvae. The scientists said they would soon prepare an effective bio-pesticide for the corporation.

Need to speed up financial reforms

With the financial markets using advanced technologies moving at a rapid pace, the need for faster implementation of financial sector reforms is necessary, union finance minister P Chidambaram said here in Chennai on Monday. "In the finance ministry we believe the financial sector gets less than appropriate policy attention. The political discourse pays less than the deserved attention towards policy in the sector," he said. While five key reforms were introduced over the past six months, including the new Companies Act, the PFRDA Bill and one on commodities futures trading, Chidarnbaram said these were work in progress for many years. The financial sector operates in speed and dynamism, and generates new space, sometimes undefined areas, which provide opportunities for unregulated players in the market. "The existence of such players who operate in the twilight zone endanger the discipline of the markets leading to systemic instability. Invariably, such activities adversely impact a large number of consumers," Chidarnbaram said. Finance Minister's concerns are well placed. In the midst of unending political activities the economic and esp. financial policies take a back seat and consensus among national and regional political parties is a mere impossibilty. Indian democracy and its institutions are to grow much more to attain such a maturity and ensure perpetuity of policies in national interest in the long term. Ref : TIMES GLOBAL ( TOI, CHENNAI) Tuesday, OCT.1, 2013 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Land grabbing still unresolved

Despite the special police cells set up in each district by the present ADMK government sometime back the public in general is still unable to get judicious handling of the disputes between different parties through those cells. In fact they are forced to approach the courts as usual to direct the police to put up those cases after investigation as early as possible. The government had not only aroused the enthusiasm of the aggrieved parties to lodge their complaints with the special police cells. But unfortunately the officials attached to those cells (for example in Virudhunagar District) have lost heat and interest in such cases, may be due to some technical snags or flaw found in the government orders or the intervention of the High Court when a PIL has been filed on the legitimacy or efficiency of those set-ups and their approach. Such a development certainly indicates the good intention but a wrong and half-hearted approach to a sensitive subject by the present set-up in the State Secretariat. One has to be little serious in such matters even if political establishment applies pressure to deliver something in a hurry. What a colossal waste of money and time by the concerned in the process! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

*lndia will be World's most populous nation by 2050 *

Paris: India will overtake China as the world's most populous country by 2050, according to a new French study which predicts the global population to surge to 9.7 billion people by the middle of the century. The report by the French Institute of Demographic Studies, predicts India will take the top spot with a staggering population of 1.6 billion to leave behind current world leader in population -- China, at the second place with 1.3 billion people. The overall world population is projected to rise to 9.7 billion in 2050 from the current level of 7.1 billion, the report said. Currently the world's most populous countries are China with 1.3 billion people; followed by India (1.2bn); US (316.2m); Indonesia (248.5m) and Brazil (195.5m). The study backs the population predictions by the UN and the World Bank. In June, a UN study predicted the global population to swell to 9.6 billion in 2050. "The world population has risen seven-fold over the last 200 years and is expected to reach 10 or 11 billion by the end of the 21st century," according to 'the report by Gilles Pison, researcher at the French institute. International community nor national governments concerned are serious about this issue. No national parties are willing to talk about this and suggest practical solutions unfortunately. God help these societies ultimately! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

WORLD LOSING FAITH IN US POLICAL SYSTEM?

As shutdown enters day 3 questions arise on Mechanism where few lawmakers can halt Govt. Washington: President Obama and Congressional Republicans failed to break the political deadlock as the partial shutdown of the US government entered Day 3 on Thursday. There are now growing concerns not only about shutdown's economic impact on rest of the world should it extend for weeks as some are apprehensively projecting, but also about global faith in the American political system itself. The debate over the US government shutdown seems to have created fire-works on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as fed-up Americans turn to social media to register their disgust with lawmakers. Some called Congress members "stupid," "immature" and Idiots" who need to "grow up." There were a few who cheered the Republicans stance. But most tweeters wonder why a compromise seemed so elusive. It is a sad commentary on a mature and vibrant democracy like USA +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Fearless? The World is Yours by M.N.Kundu (the Speaking Tree)

More often than not our fears dictate our actions and determine what we can achieve. Let us pretend we have nothing to fear. This is the secret. When there is burning desire to do something fear instantly disappears. Of course the end result is never in our hands. 

"There is a divinity that shapes our ends", wrote Shakespeare.

T.O.I dt Monday, September 23, 2013.

Water Scarcity

22 of India's 32 major and big cities like Kanpur, Meerut, Faridabad, Visakhapatnam, Madurai and Hyderabad where the water crisis is acute. 

Air is free but highly polluted in human settlements.

Water esp portable drinking water has not only become a scarce commodity but also pretty expensive    in urban centres now.

All governments and the citizens of the world have to focus on this major issue and come up with suitable  and satisfactory solutions.
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Child Brides

  There are 23 million child brides in India which account for 40 percent of child brides globally.

India is famous for ensuring large number of child brides (before 18 years).

More than 50% early marriages are reported from states like Bihar (64%), Jharkhand (60%), Rajasthan (58%), Andhra (56%), Bengal(53%), Madhya Pradesh (53%), Uttar Pradesh (52%) and Chhattisgarh (51%).

When and how do we tackle this social issue?

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Medicos form human chain to protest rural postings

Members of the Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association (TNMSA) on Thursday formed a human chain in front of the Madras Medical College and intensified their protests against the Centre's proposal for a one-year compulsory rural posting for MBBS graduates who want to opt for a post graduate degree.

The Government proposal is a wise and practical decision in view of doctor shortage in rural areas. Probably they lack spirit of social service like any other field in the country. But one should understand the way the young graduates in western countries have to enrol for military service for a year before taking up higher studies and get into a job. Our doctors are supposed to take a lesson from their practice and conduct themselves accordingly.

(TOI Friday, September 27, 2013)

Women under attack

No state or region is safe for women in India at present. 

 At a time when four persons involved in gang-rape of Nirbhaya in Delhi in December last were sentenced for death by the special court, the cyber city Hyderabad was shocked by the revelation of a 20 year old student of a polytechnic institute who was confined and raped for seventeen months by the owner of the college canteen.

Minor girl gang-raped by 5 minor boys

    A 12year old girl was allegedly gang-raped by five boys aged between 12 and 16 years , who are her neighbours and play together, in the Hatigaon area in Guwahati.

Teenage Dalit athlete raped by 22year old

A 16 year-old Dalit athlete was allegedly raped by a youth of her neighbouring village near Ludhiana in Punjab while she was exercising with her younger sister.

Minister booked for rape, abuse

Rajasthan minister Babulal Nagar was booked for allegedly raping, threatening and beating up a 35 year-old married woman after calling her to his official residence  in civil lines area. On the pretext of getting her a job

SEZs, another experiment of Union Government, failing?

The concept of SEZ was originally borrowed from China and put to practice in India on a large scale. As usual like every other scheme this too is about to fail soon. Initially it attracted the major players esp. the realtors for establishing concrete jungles in the name of SEZ . Now that some restrictions are being tried on them, the approvals by the Board of Approvals, Government of India, are getting reduced both for the new ones and extensions. "Today, SEZ as a concept is terribly skewed in favour of IT/ITES sectors. Of the nearly 392 notified SEZs, only 173 are exporting, of which less than 20 are multi-product while the rest are focused on IT/ITES," an industry official said. This amply explains the success or failure of the scheme.

EMANCIPATION & EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

Female forces roughly constitute half of the human population. Initially they were supposed to be weaker physically and certain occupations were not in their domain. Now there may be hardly any avocation/profession, which they can’t successfully try for and get them. They are physically and mentally fit to compete with male counterparts and occupy almost all positions in education and employment. Nowadays one keeps hearing and reading in the media that they excelled boys and gentlemen in particular exams and fields. All over the globe women have started participating in large numbers and increasing percentages in political activities, economic spheres and social movements. At the same time it is also true that compared to the males the womenfolk still suffers innumerable difficulties and hardships and since before birth until death in different societies, nations and sites. For ages they were confined to homes and hearths, agricultural forms and cattle sheds. It may a take a few more decades to share the fruits and burden of men folk on 50:50 basis in all their activities. The gestation period involved in their emancipation & empowerment depends directly on the material progress and educational standards of the women population in an economy. It may take a few more decades in a developing economy like India and Bangladesh. A time period of, 15 years is easily required to prepare a generation of women to become educationally fit so that they all can economically prosper and lead a comfortable and worthy life. History is a witness to this phenomenon and economic forces are a testimony to this reality. Broadly speaking there are two sets of factors associated with the women-folk and their destiny one set of factors indicates the predicament and plethora of social atrocities they are forced to live with till the end. The second set of factors refers to such forces that delay or obstruct their economy empowerment. Social crimes normally committed against womanhood are as follows: a) Female infanticide b) Discrimination against the girl child in nutrition, health and education c) Physical abuse and assaults like rape, eve teasing etc. d) Dowry deaths e) Divorce, destitution and desertion f) Lack of old age care. Apprehension of subsequent hardship and lack of awareness and understanding of true aftermath on the part of parents – both educated and uneducated lead them to avoid female children if possible. Instances are aplenty wherein mothers have ensured the deaths of their girl babies soon after the delivery by some means or other. Strict legislation coupled with vigilant enforcing agencies can to a large extent prevent such tests revealing the sex of babies inside the wombs and such female children being done to death deliberately after their birth. Draconian and drastic measures like compulsory T.T. operation to follow in case of such tests and infanticide can go a long way in checking this obnoxious and anti-social behavior on the part of conniving medicos and culprit mothers. The preference and the patronage the boy-child gets in the family at the hand of mother and father at the cost of a female – child can only be tackled when the parents are morally and psychologically educated for the purpose. The awareness can come only gradually when educated girls become eligible mothers after sometimes.. The day the Parents realize that, male or female, both sex are equally important in social life the girl child will cease to get discriminated on the basis of gender. It is also possible in the foreseeable future that women may start extracting a price for their scarcity because the rate at which sex ratio diminishes is astonishing. Invariably it is realized in some sections that female children look after their aged parents in a better and more caring fashion and that compared to male children and their spouses. Equal attention is needed to the girl children in the terms of nutrition, medical care and educational requirements. When the public sector and the governmental set up are in no mood to discriminate, the family set up on Indian soil should be mend its historical anachronism and bend in favour of equality between to sexes. Physical assaults and insults to the women-folk from childhood to late 50’s and 60’s have become the order of the day. Very few females would have escaped from this menace in one way or the other. Gender attraction, eagerness to display one’s arrogance and attachment to the opposite sex misplaced notion of superiority or one – up – man ship on the part of certain males, uncontrollable animal instincts or fatuousness towards fair sex and, over and above all these male chauvinism are the factors that lead to physical assaults on girls and women of our society. Deterrent punishment and watchful law enforcing functionaries speedy justice proper encouragement to expose the wrong doers and anti – social elements can to a great extent control and prevent such occurrences for a better and peaceful living of women with their progenies . Rape against the will of a person proved beyond doubt should end in capital punishment or life imprisonment lest the females are doomed for ever with a feeling of dejection and depression. The duty of parents is to ensure that the girls are protected till their marriages from all sorts of evil designs and circumstance both inside and outside homes. Teasing on the roads and public places should be taken very seriously and instant punishment to the culprit in public made legally tenable can go a long a way in instilling the fear in the minds of road side heroes. Scale of greed or need varies from person to person, time to time, community to community according to the circumstances and situation prevailing among individuals. It is therefore futile and determines the extent to which a person is entitled to in the form of dowry from the girl’s parents. Dowry came into existence on account of certain weakness in certain communities or castes. One reason may be that eligible and marriageable boys and scarce in number compared to available girls in a given situation. Second reason could be the arrangement devised over a period of time for one time settlement of girl’s claim over the property of parents vis-a-vis the boys / brothers in a family. Third reason was perhaps to compensate the incapacity of women as an earning member in the newly created nuclear family. All said and done if anything is forcedly extracted from the family of a bride or the newly-wed daughter –in-law either by the husband or his relatives should be condemned in no uncertain terms and the actors punished severely so that such incidents don’t occur again and again. Crimes related to dowry are quite sensitive matters and need an expert and expeditious handling with a view to enhancing the prestige of law-enforcing agencies in the eyes of low- abiding citizens as and when such cases are reported and investigated. In Indian Ethos motherhood is revered and respected more than the fatherhood. Nation, river, earth etc. is prefixed with the term “Mother“and not “Father “. It is therefore, an irony of sorts when one experiences the pitiable fate and plight of females as a child, as an adult or as an aged person undergoing torture and humiliation due only to the fact that they are vulnerable and exploitable in the eyes of corrupt males. Beauty is in the eye of a beholder the love of beauty is a joy forever. Beauty I associated with feminism. Beauty is sometimes compared to roses for its variety of colors and fragrance. Such a rose of female beauty should be enjoyed, admired and protected but not trampled with. The latter trait shows man’s wickedness, narrow mentality, meanness and stillness. Except for some extreme cases of ugliness every person in the robes of a female looks pretty and charming in her own style, shape and strength. It is a mundane reality everyone is aware of. How else would one explain the instant attention of a hundred males – young and ole alike – towards a female figure passing through in the vicinity. Probably every other female save his wife is a thing of beauty for many a middle – aged and elder citizen in this world. May be one or two percent of males can alone claim to have neither had sex with a female other than their validly wedded wives nor have ever attempted to entice a female other than their better halves in their lifetime. Well that is the reality one confronts while entering the 21st century. Human species are fast moving towards a social order in which single parents are going to be in a majority like in the West – married and divorced several times before a person bites his / her due in the end. Bondage or relationship between males & females – to be precise between the husband and the wife seems to be based of late on flimsy and fanciful or circumstantial and whimsical grounds which mostly become the reason for their separation, divorce or desertion. Little bit of freedom, parental affection, familial fantasies filial happiness are some of the positive results of an average family life enjoyed and incorporated by the children under the care & protection of sincere parents. When the childhood is disturbed, the adulthood suffers from an incalculable damage and leads to an unnatural life-style. Life is becoming quite mechanical day by day mostly in urban and semi-urban centers. When it moves fast and several opportunities do exist for a person to go astray and destroy family ties or ignore traditional values, families are bound to break and individuals bound to lead the life of a single parents in a larger percentage in the days to come. As the vital statistics reveals, the females are bound to live longer than males with the result more and more old women are bound to depend on their nearest kith and kin. In the absence of husbands or caring children, the aged women would certainly join the ranks of neglected and destitute. Old age care has thus become an important necessity one can’t simply wish away or ignore. And the days are not far off in poor and most populous country like India where this problem is likely to get aggravated and develop into a big epidemic. Whatever little savings elders make for their old age do normally end up in eroded values inasmuch as inflation is expected to continue its tentacles as usual and take its toll. Hand to mouth existence is going to be the order of the day, more so for women, as explained in previous paragraphs. A thoughtful planning and highly motivated action can only solve their problem in future. Except for a few pockets and a few communities like in Kerala where property devolves on female successors, in the rest of the country & majority of communities in India male members of the family succeed the property. From the day one the women are supposed to depend mostly on father ,brother ,husband or son in the family for her livelihood. Although it might lead to some unwanted and intolerable developments in the eyes of males, as pointed out in earlier paragraph, the economic improvement or independent means of survival is likely to liberate them for the better and enable them to like equals in the society, community and the country of their birth and choice. Economic independence comes from education and employment. Equal opportunity, if created and sustained, would certainly empower women without fail. Females occupying higher position in public sector /private sector employment have proved their mettle in all ways –be it the quantum of work-load, sincerity, time allotment etc. whereas in lower categories women have not come up to the mark in work places like factories, government offices etc. on some pretext or other. It is also true they are quite successful in small establishments and shops, manufacturing centers and agricultural operations in the countryside. If they are able to ensure productivity of work to male counterparts in white -collar jobs, the day is not far when they would snatch not less than 50% of jobs in every sphere of economic & social activity. Emancipation &empowerment of women in India would necessitate the fulfillment of following conditions by 2020 AD on a sustained basis:- a) Enactment of law & its enforcement for prevention of a test determining the sex of baby before its birth. b) Capital punishment for commission of infanticide. Free and compulsory education for girls up to 10th standard with scholarships for tuition, uniforms & text books. c) Provision of free mid- day meals in the schools. d) Public trails of eve-teasers & instant punishment by honorary magistrates . e) Capital punishment for rapes after in –camera proceedings on the basis of summary trails in the presence of female juries. f) Compulsory partition of parents’ properties among male & female heirs. g) Dowry deaths to be probed initially by family courts before they are referred to session courts for trails. h) Family courts to adjudicate on the status of widows, divorces, desertion, &destitution deserving state’s help rehabilitation. i) Establishment of old age homes –both paid and unpaid by NGOs with state’s help in every district & big town in adequate numbers. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Hindu Editorial (Saturday November 27, 2010) “JPC is an imperative”

It is an impressive and thought-provoking editorial by N.Ram on the 2G Spectrum scandal. He has rightly questioned the inordinate delay and the reluctance on the part of UPA Government at the center in setting up a JPC for a detailed probe into the scam. After all it is going to be another fact-finding approach but having a mischievous potential for embarrassment on a continuing basis to the Congress and its government. That explains the predicament of the Congress leadership at the present juncture. But the adamancy with which the entire opposition is supporting the ADMK is likely to succeed in its attempt with a condition from the side of the ruling coalition government for the total coverage of the National Telecom Policy 1994 and its implementation since then. I think that should be fair enough for the parties engaged in the current imbroglio although the fate of such a probe may be like that of Bofors scandal over a lapse of time. N.Ram pleads for a time-bound procedure for arriving at the conclusion by the JPC so that it can prove to be a fruitful exercise. But given the conditions in India it might only be a wishful thinking for a change. Ratan Tata’s suggestion for a probe by an auditor seems to be born out of his ignorance or out of his instant reaction to the media coverage on his role on the appointment of central ministers as an outburst without taking assistance from his legal experts. After all there can’t be an auditor who is superior in status and leverage to the CAG. As a sequel to this development a question arises as to how effective the CAG office and his paraphernalia can prove its utility and justify its existence at such a cost to the state exchequer if its report to the Parliament is to be taken up by one more committee. JPC might be interested to know whether the minster has transgressed his power and the officials have sincerely followed the rules of business and the principles of integrity and fair-play in their official dealings but they can’t punish any wrongdoer on its own .For that one has to approach the criminal court. So why not approach the court directly on the basis of a report submitted by a constitutional authority with a list of documents and witnesses for a special and summary trial for a conclusion and judgment in a few months and tell the nation that the government means business and exhibits transparency in governance invariably promised on the eve of General Elections. It is for the judiciary to finally decide whether the conduct of public servants was above board and if not the punishment due to them under the statutes. Ratan Tata feels bad on the type of media assault he facing today. That shows the immaturity and the biased nature of reporting some media personnel have been indulging in India. Thousands of innocent and well-meaning Indians have been prosecuted and punished by media pundits on the basis of half-baked truths so far. Rogues are roaming freely on Indian roads whereas the true nationalists and principled Indians are sitting idle and facing hardships. It all depends what we want in the final analysis – Speedy trial and quick justice or a political game serving the interests of warring groups in Indian polity and protecting the personal interests of powerful politicians.

Haryana orders probe against Khemka

Another whistle-blower from Haryana, an IAS officer Ashok Khemka is going to be persecuted by the state establishment on the charge that he failed to maintain transparency in making purchase of 10000 quintals of moong seed worth Rs 10 crore in his capacity as the M.D of Haryana Seed Development Corporation in late 2012. Director General of state Vigilance bureau has reported this matter to TOI on Friday, September 13, 2013 and initiated the probe on the basis of the complaint from a trader.

He is not the first officer to face such a harassment in the hands of a state government prejudiced by the action of an officer. It is certain that it is a case of sheer revenge on this officer by a political set- up. All the rules in the statute book would be made applicable in his case too. After all such a heroism can't be shown against a slave or a crook in the set- up. 

Khemka, you may not be a fool to commit any mistake in this transaction. Try to face this challenge with courage and competence. Crooks and cronies can never succeed in the long run. All the best.

A life worth living?

World's oldest man passes away in US at age 112:

Salustiano Sanchez-blazquez (112) originally from Spain  (born on June 8, 1901) who migrated to US in 1920 died on Friday at a nursing home in Grand Island while he was a self-taught musician, coal miner and gin rummy aficionado from New York.

He claimed his longevity was due to eating one banana per day and his daily dose of six Anacin tablets.

A life worth living?  Yes it was, I suppose

HC notice for Garbage Clearance

On the basis of a PIL, the Madras High court has issued a notice on Friday, September 20, 2013 to Corporation of Chennai and the State Government of Tamil Nadu to reply on the allegation that the uncleared garbage and water stagnation has led to dengue and other seasonal diseases.

It is a pity that the citizen of Chennai city has to approach the court for clearing the garbage. What are the authorities doing on their own in this regard? Nobody seems to be bothered. Is it the way the golden rule is achieved in the state. Shame on our part to live as human beings in this country - look at the other civilised societies in the West and Singapore in the East!

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Democracy for whom?

Location
State Madhya Pradesh

District Datia

Village Tigra

People involved in suicide:  1) Seema Rajput (30 years )- Nurse in Primary Health           Centre, Bhander (wife)

                                                   2) Bahadur Singh Rajput ( husband)

Reason for suicide: Harassment by local goons for two months with threatening calls.

Action by police: No action despite the complaint lodged by the nurse on July 20, 2013.

Who is at fault?

 P.M, C.M, D.G of Police, D.M, S.P of the district or S.H.O of the local Police Station - some sincere citizen of this country will have to answer this, I suppose.

The freedom fighters of this country fought tooth and nail to get independence - for whom - to the privileged and the influential people and not for the poor and the needy at the edge of the society crying for justice?

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Mockery of Higher Education in Madras University

The following news item from Times of India (Dated Sunday, September 15, 2013) is highly disturbing and trying to expose the rot that is eating into the vitals of learning in the historical Madras University:

The K.Aludia Pillai Commission appointed by the university in December 2011 named 16 officials in its report probing whether university employees tampered with the mark sheets of candidates who appeared for the B.E/B.Tech and Institute of Distance Education  Examination in May/June 2011. The rigging of marks helped several engineering and IDE students pass.

The Universityof Madras has decided to terminate the services of one employee and stop increments and pay of  15 others as punishment for tampering with marks

There may be attempts to save these employees as usual by the unions and politicians. Let us watch and await the final scene of this episode.

What will happen to the fate of those students who would have got some benefits by now. Perhaps nobody bothers to look into this aspect.

God knows for how may years this sort of fraud and manipulation was going on till now. University of Madras has certainly lost its prominence and reputation for several decades to come.

This is of course an opportunity to set right the system and improve its working. Who has the time and guts to execute it?

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Adult Life

God & Nature are the great creators

Male & Female are perfect creatures

Created the worlds in several species

Kept up the life forms for several ages

What a machine we see in human form

What a great number in different organs

Machine gets started soon after the birth

Machine does lose a soul after the death

Look at the order and position of organs

Looks as if creator was architect of repute

Not a single organ is without clear function

Not a single body is full sans all the organs

Surmise for a second with eyes at the back

Surmise for a minute with mouth at the top

Imagine for an hour sans brain in the body

Imagine for a day sans a heart in the chest

When man ripens in age, strength goes off

Even eyes lose the sight & joints get loose

Ears start listening less & catching very little

Hair becomes grey and silver on some while

Hair leaves the head either in patches or full

Depending on the hereditary traits in a man

Defending is difficult with wrinkles on a face

Then mind and soul alone do keep him alive

Beauty of a female is linked to her breasts

But for their shape, design and size in test?

What an attraction this draws in the crowd

What an admiration it gets in the F’parade

Men are clever in arranging some parades

Men have no chance to see a variety else

Females get real pride in exposing thighs

Females / males both watch them & enjoy

Topless women dance & entertain in Paris

Stunned we are while seeing them at first

Days are not far off for nudity in the public

Idols & statues are nude in plenty already!

Gods and Vedas

Avatars, Gods and Goddesses of Vedic Culture

By

Stephen Knapp

The four primary Vedas , namely, the Rig, Sama, Atharva and Yajur, represent the accomplishment of a highly developed religious system.

The Vedas contain many directions for properly performing the necessary worship and particular sacrifices Or rituals in worship to these devas or demigods or the Vedic gods. Vedic knowledge helps people acquire the facilities for living a basic material existence. The Vedic texts also include information on all levels of spiritual understanding. As Bhagavad-Gita explains, for one who is fully self-realised, who is fully satiated in the self, there is no duty or need to perform the prescribed duties found in the Vedas, because he has no purpose or material desires to fulfil.

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How to bring professionalism into I.A.S

Fruitful Initiative and genuine hard-work would continue to suffer for some more time unless and until the so-called permanent executives are allowed to enjoy a certain amount of uninterrupted tenure in any job and assured of a freedom to specialise in a particular field of one's interest for certain period of time permitting the country to gain and benefit from such a professionalism.  

Awaiting a conducive atmosphere to make it a reality. 

Coalgate

As correctly argued by Sunjoy Joshi in his article "The Emperor's New Clothes" (TOI Chennai dated October 1 , 2012 , any policy regarding the use of natural resources must ensure that any process of selection must not only be transparent but should also demonstrably be seen to be so. This is what the Supreme Court of India has also reiterated in its judgment. The CAG figures with regard to undue gains to individual companies need not be taken as absolutely correct but it certainly indicates the level of arbitrariness or favouritism shown in the process of allocation of spectrum or the coal blocks. 

For instance the CAG in his report tabled on the floor of Parliament on Friday, August 17, 2012 indicated that the government extended windfall gains (coal-gate) of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to private players by distributing coal blocks without bidding over the years. Even the high tenet of capitalism demands that the market forces should decide the actual prices of commodities - raw materials or the finished goods.

Seen in this context the politicians, courts and authorities should devise the ways of allocation in such a way that the process doesn't become questionable at a later date.

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Unprecedented climate extremes over last decade: UN report

On Tuesday, July 9, 2013 the U.N launched a report in which it was revealed that between 2001 and 2010 the world experienced unprecedented high-impact climate extremes and national temperature records were broken much more than in any other decade in the past.

Michael Jarraud , the Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said "rising concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases are changing our climate, with far reaching implications for our environment and our oceans , which are absorbing both carbon dioxide and heat".

Extreme floods, droughts and tropical cyclones were experienced across the world throughout the decade and more than 370,000 people died as a result of these, representing a 20 per cent increase in casualties from the previous decade. Tropical cyclones alone killed nearly 170000 people , affecting over 250 million and caused estimated damages of $ 380 billion.

Intergovernmental Board on Climate Services which met in Geneva in the first week of July, 2013 was expected to help countries and communities cope with long term climate change and associated extreme weather events.

Man's mighty powers and achievements can hardly stand before the nature's fury and check the adverse consequences. Mankind should know its limitations and control its adverse actions. The play of tectonic plates and the magma underneath the surface of earth expected to erupt in the form of volcanoes from time to time holds the key for the survival and longevity of human beings on earth in the days to come. Let us pray for the delay and decrease in its intensity so that we can enjoy this blue-coloured paradise in the milky-way galaxy. A perusal of the "Amazing Planet" a three-episode documentary film produced by National Geographic Channel would strengthen this fear beyond any doubt because the way this planet was formed, disturbed, the continents were shaped and bifurcated and the havoc played by mega volcanoes and earthquakes during the last several millions of years is beyond anybody's imagination. 

Progress and Pitfalls of Indian Democracy

Rule of Law, enshrined in the basic philosophy of liberty, equality and fraternity, and to be achieved by the government of the people, for the people and by the people, would empower democracy in a society. After a few centuries of alien rule and subjugation. India ultimately achieved its hard-earned freedom in 1947 thanks to self-less efforts and sacrifices on the part of freedom fighters from different corners of the nation. 50 years of self-rule is not sufficiently a long period in the history of a gigantic sub-continent like India to feel highly jubilant about its achievements or get awe-struck at its failures, compared to other countries like U.S.A, China, U.S.S.R who were sovereign and independent for ages before the exit of English rule from India. All the same it is a fairly and substantial duration of time which can indicate the direction in which it is moving and the mid-course corrections needed to take this nation forward and to provide economic and social justice to each and every citizen at least by the end of next 50 years.

Independent India has been immensely successful in checking large-scale famines and starvation deaths experienced in British rule from time to time. It has graduated from the nation of a major importer of food-grains to a self-sufficient economy within two decades and is now in a position to not only feed its ever-multiplying population but also export some surplus to other countries (198 million tons produced in 1994-95 and exported 10 million tons in 1995-96). Five-year plans were largely responsible for the level of industrialisation it has achieved to the envy of several leading nations -- establishment of large-scale and mega industries in steel, mines, petroleum, coal, power, textiles, and medium and small scale industries scattered all over the country providing a strong base for the capital and consumer goods. A strong and enlightened scientific community has emerged over a period of time from the universities, I.C.A.R and C.S.I.R establishments. Umpteen numbers of technological institutes including I.I.Ts of international repute have sprung all over the places.

Comparatively law and order has been maintained peacefully without any major civil war as has been seen in the neighbourhood like Pakistan and Afghanistan recently. Luckily India is still one piece and in fact Sikkim has been added to its territory. And major uprising in places like J&K, Punjab and Assam has been contained and elected governments have been put on the saddle. External aggressions had been tackled satisfactorily. Elections have been held from time to time and the people had the authority to change governments at its will. A small aberration in the form of emergency in mid seventies had passed off quickly.

Freedom and democracy have been preserved, though of course at a heavy cost and slow progress in economic sphere. Probably due to its diversity and vastness of the area no authoritarian rule from any quarters could emerge so far despite several and vulnerable situations on its long journey during this period. In spite of a few shortcomings the governments have successfully provided opportunities the underprivileged sections of the populace with reservation in educational institutions and jobs. Many a family from these groups have come up and occupied respectable positions in politics and governments.

Political leaders and governmental authorities had however failed to appreciate the importance of controlled population growth and total literacy of its citizens. They dreamt of big things but forgot to safeguard the fundamentals of human progress with the result we are fast approaching a stage when we may touch a figure of 1000 millions by 2000 AD(by  this time - 2012/13 we are touching 1.2 billions) and overtake China within a decade or two as the most populace nation in the -world. Countries who were in shambles and got freedom after us are now turning to be a model for us to follow.

What a shame!. It is now all the more difficult to contain these two monsters for one or two decades. India is unable to provide safe drinking water and basic health care to its citizens even after 50 - 65 years. One -third of its population lives below the poverty line. Mega projects got attention whereas micro plans suffered a criminal neglect. Unemployment and underemployment of the work-force in both urban and rural areas has been the admitted defeat of successive governments both in the Centre and the states.

Standard of morality and probity in politics, education, business, bureaucracy and judiciary has touched the rock bottom over these years and the people manning these institutions are no more able to carry conviction with the people. Every activity of theirs is taken with a pinch of salt and viewed with a bit of suspicion. God help our masters in the days to come and it would be nothing short of a miracle if the future governments really achieve any substantial progress in the short-run. Electorates are unable to decide the best rulers and now the things have come to such a pass that the minority governments are forced to rule in the Centre and in a few states. Hung Parliament and Hung Assemblies are going to be the order of the day hereafter.

In spite of electoral frauds being committed in several places the majority of the voters are not really aware whom to vote and how to sustain a well-meaning and clean governments for five years at a stretch. Disparities of income and wealth are on the rise despite solemn objectives of all our plans and budgets year after year. Expectations of the people are aroused by false and ridiculous promises in the form of manifestos on the eve of elections which create chaos and confusion for the newly elected governments and the nexus between the politicians, criminals and bureaucrats has created havoc in the economic and social life of the people.

Society is torn into pieces on account of certain ugly factors like language, religion, castes, sectional and vested interests.  Agitation, bandhs, strikes, closures, violence etc. are a daily occurrence in some part or the other. Inter-state disputes over river-water are an endemic and eternal issue defying solution at all levels. Insurgency and terrorism have become the regular phenomenon in certain pockets of the country. Demand for separate statehood has been on the rise in several places. Urbanisation and heavy migration from the rural areas have made life for those already staying there miserable while the people living in slums are leading a life worse than that of animals. When are we going to end all these ills afflicting our society with the present Constitution,Parliamentary form of government, Judicial system and the Bureaucracy is a big and one million dollar question for every Indian citizen to ponder and act quickly and earnestly.

India is a sleeping giant and if this giant is to be shaken up from its slumber, nothing short of an earthquake in the form of a second freedom struggle or peaceful revolution can ensure a return to safe and self rule for one and all -- haves and have-nots. India, 'a very paradise on earth' ( Max Mueller ) is to be preserved for our posterity in full and fertile form at any cost. We should strive for the following as desired by the 14-point historic resolution "Agenda for India" adopted by 6-day Special Session of Parliament a couple of years ago:

• Calling for probity and accountability in public life

• Achieving universal primary education by 2005 / 15 AD

• Ridding the polity of criminalisation,

• Enforcing radical electoral reforms,

• Prudent management of the economy, and

• A vigorous national campaign to check population growth.

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Clean air on Sale

The most populace country in the world, namely, China has undergone a Sea Change in increasing the number of vehicles/automobiles and number of factories.  On account of this development the environment in the Country especially in and around the Capital of Beijing is highly disturbed and  polluted. The Capital city invariably remains under a thick smoke cloud like a snow fall.  The people have started wearing mask to protect their faces from air pollution.  Although the Chinese Government has taken a number of steps to protect environment, things have not improved considerably. Under these circumstances, an industrialist named  Mr. Chen Quangpio started collecting the clean air in cans and selling at a price of Rs.40/- per can. This man of  44 years old has sold almost 80 lakh cans so far.

Hail the Chief Minister

The infanticide practised against the female gender was curbed by the Chief Minister Selvi. J. Jayalalitha, in the year 1992.  Due to her effort under the caption ‘Cradle Children Scheme’ as many as 3,501 girl children and 695 male children were saved and protected. Under a different scheme called ‘Girl Child Protection Scheme’ in those families where the annual income was less than Rs 50,000/- and having only one girl child with one of the parents having undergone family planning before they attained 35 yrs, a sum of Rs.50, 000/- was kept as Fixed Deposit for such a child and the same amount was to be released with interest to the girl at the age of 18 yrs. Similarly the provision for those families having two girl children was to the extent of Rs.25, 000/- each. Of late the girls getting married are also given 4 grams of gold and marriage allowances depending on their education and qualifications.

No doubt girl children will sing in praise of the Chief Minister Selvi. J. Jayalalitha.

5 crore moved out of poverty: Government

The times news network reported on March 20, 2012  that as per the data released  by Planning Commission the poverty level had significantly declined between 2004 – 2005 and 2009- 10. The new estimates are based on the poverty line that averages Rs. 672.8 per month (Rs. 22.43 per day) in rural areas and Rs. 859.6 per month (Rs. 28.65 per day) in urban areas for 2009-10. In a state like Delhi, the urban poverty line translated to Rs. 34.67 per person per day. In the Supreme Court, the government had earlier submitted that the updated poverty line was likely to be Rs. 26 per day in rural areas & Rs. 32 per day in the towns in June 2011. As things stand, a host of centrally sponsored social security schemes for the poor exclude those above these poverty lines from availing of the benefits under the scheme. By the lowered bench marks, poverty across the country declined by 7.3%.

That Bihar under Nitish Kumar grew at over 10% between2004-05 & 2009-10 is now well known.  There is no doubt that poverty level is coming down percentage-wise but in absolute numbers it is still huge defying solution and worrying the well-wishers in the country.

Who is to bell the cat?

 M. Sundaramurthy had reported from Ponneri, near Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu State on 4^th September, 2011 in Dinamani, a Tamil Daily that although a structure had been erected by Ponneri Municipality to make manure from the wastes collected from 18 Municipal Wards, after segregating them into degradable and non–degradable, it wasn't being utilised.  It is strange that nobody took the initiative and saved the river Aarani flowing near Ponneri Town from being used as a dumping ground.  The local residents including environmental experts have been clamoring for attention by the District Administration.

One would expect that by this time such a structure constructed at some cost for the purpose of segregating the wastes and making manure would have started commissioning.  If not, it is for the District Administration to take it up as a challenge and solve the problem without any further waste of time.

The rise of polygamy in our society of excess

Vinita Dawra Nangia has, under the above caption (Times life on 21st April, 2013 ), reported that historically the world has frowned upon polyandry (one women with two or more men), while tolerating, if not outright encouraging by legalizing polygyny (one man with multiple sexual partners). Male chauvinism at full play with a brutal force!!

Interestingly, Michael Price from the psychology department of Brunel University west London, equates serial monogamists such as Donald Trump and Larry King, who divorce older wives and marry younger women, as polygamists too, since they also monopolize the reproductive years of a number of women. In that sense, all celebrities, stars, prominent sportsmen and business tycoons with a series of women, can be termed polygamists as well!  

How do we reconcile the fact that some political personalities/chief ministers and cine stars are openly staying with more than two women as wives without marriage. With double standards at work freely in our society, the law of the land and its enforcing agencies turn a blind eye to the facts of life for obvious reasons.         

In our affluent age, exotic indulgences, such as maintaining a concubine, are quite common and on the increase as rightly pointed out. This reminds us of former rulers/kings maintaining harems with many women / beauties.

Buck should stop at one point:

The latest diatribe from our congress leader Digvijay Singh is that the buck should stop at one point. He wants to say that the posts of P.M and Congress President should be held by one individual and that too by Rahul Gandhi as early as possible. It is a very well taken stand by him at this juncture but the point is whether it is the party's views or his personal view. Since he is the party's declared spokesperson it creates a doubt in our minds on this issue. It would be better if he only announces the party's stand always. He simultaneously declares that Sonia has the last word on policies. If that is correct what authority he enjoys to declare his personal views contrary to that of party's. He is already a SONIAS' alter-ego. His role is therefore doubtlessly dubious which needs to be corrected by the party sooner than later.

Why Spare our rich formers.?

Swapan Das Gupta rightly questions the fear of governments in India in taxing the rich formers under the above mentioned caption in Sunday Times of India on March 10, 2013.   While the corporate czars are being touched and taxed with 10% surcharge on their annual income crossing Rs. 1 Crore, he is stating that a tax on high agricultural income is an idea that cannot be resisted much longer.

While it is true that almost 80 to 90 percent of the farmers in the country comprise of small and marginal or sub-marginal farmers, a small percentage of farmers are pretty rich when they indulge in commercial including plantation and horticultural crops. Their incomes can be taken up for close scrutiny and subject to taxation without fearing the loss of vote bank by the political parties although the spokesmen of the farming community invariably happen to be the rich farmers.

Poverty in Middle Class

It appears hundreds and thousands of middle class families are undergoing untold sufferings in our midst. A male member of our society with minimum earnings ventures into the marriage and bequeaths children mindlessly and get into the trouble, being unable to make both ends meet in course of time. The result is that they go to the extent of committing suicide. The man or woman has no right in the first instance to get into the wedlock without adequate means to support themselves and secondly they have no business to give birth to children when they are not able to survive in modern days.

The classic example as reported in the newspaper to day (April 1, 2013) relates to a person named Saktivel (Age 37) of Karpagam Nagar, Ponniamman Medu near Chennai Madhavaram working as a fitter in a steel mill and his wife Vanita (Age 30) decided to end their lives with  2 children - twin girls by taking poison in the meals when he failed to get some  financial support any more from his mother. Unfortunately one daughter died and other three persons who took the meal are fighting for life in the local hospital .The third child, a boy escaped because of his stay in his grand mother's home at the time of incident. 

Deadly Lust

One is literally shocked to know the mind-set of a young mother named Sanai Nagamura (25 years old) in Osaka region of Japan who locked, for nearly one month at a stretch, her two kids - three year-old daughter and one year-old son in her home and went to stay with her boy-friend in the same town. The kids died for want of food, it is reported. The mother was sentenced for 30 years imprisonment by the court and sent to jail. The supreme court naturally upheld the sentence passed by the lower court.

Is it not a shame to the motherhood of a human being? Such lustful women should not give birth to kids in the first instance and bring bad name to her divine gender.

Populist but balanced Budget

With no new tax proposals and not even changes in the existing tax structure or rates, the Tamil Nadu Government under ADMK rule has attempted a populist budget in a balanced manner looking to the compulsions and freebies promised to the voters on the eve of general elections and the manuerablilty of receipts from various sources. This is the ADMK Government’s third budget for the Fiscal 2013-14.

A special feature of this type in the budget has been resorted to by the Chief Minister J.Jayalalitha and Finance Minister O.Panneerselvam for a certain purpose possibly based on the inputs received from the Chief Secretary Sheela Balakrishnan and Finance Secretary K.Shanmugham. They deserve special mention and appreciation for such a novel departure at this juncture when all the states generally face a financial crunch everywhere. Even minor changes have been avoided as far as tax receipts are concerned.

For 2013-2014, the Government has pegged the overall target for the State’s own taxes at Rs. 86,065.4 crore, with a projected growth rate of 17% over the Revised Estimates for 2012-2013. The estimates for Commercial Taxes, Excise Duty and Motor Vehicles taxes are Rs.56,025.24 crores, Rs.14,469.87 crores and Rs.4,881.15 crores, respectively. They hope that in 2013-2014, the registration of documents will pick up and the revenue from the collection of Stamp duty and registration fees will be Rs.9,874.22 crores.

Within the last two years, this Government claims that it has brought the State finances back on track. From a revenue deficit of Rs.2,728.69 crores in 2010-2011, this Government has presented two successful budgets with a revenue surplus. The Budget Estimates 2012-2013 had projected a revenue surplus of Rs.2,376 crores. However, owing to increased expenditure commitments, especially because of the efforts of this Government to revive the financial health of TANGEDCO and the substantial reduction in receipts from the Government of India, the revised estimate of revenue surplus is reduced to Rs.451.52 crores. However, the fiscal deficit has been restricted to Rs.19,889.31 crores, which is only 2.88% of GSDP. Both these indicators are well within the targets specified in the Tamil Nadu Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2003, and the requirements of the 13th Finance Commission. During 2013-2014, they are projecting a revenue surplus of Rs.664.06 crores and a fiscal deficit of Rs.22, 938.57 crores. This fiscal deficit will be 2.84% of GSDP, which is within the stipulated norm of 3%.

As expected by any student of economics like me a performance budget containing the targets and achievements registered during the previous years by the same state government would have carried more conviction and exhibited its actual competency. Unfortunately no state government dares to submit for obvious reasons.

The GSDP growth rate, according to the Advance Estimates for 2012-2013, is only 4.61% at constant prices. The severe drought and crop failure has hit the state badly in the primary sector, which has ultimately affected the service sector growth as well. The general economic slowdown in the national economy and shortage of power has hampered growth in the manufacturing sector as claimed by the finance minister. The state government has to take sincere steps seriously and work hard to compete with some north Indian states like Gujarat in terms of economic growth in the next two-three years.

The approach adopted by the finance minister in regard to certain sectors as revealed from the following list is obvious and praise-worthy too:

i. Continued thrust on primary sector and infusion of more investment in storage and marketing infrastructure.

ii. Speedy implementation of infrastructure projects and investing more funds in new projects for power, roads connectivity, etc.

iii. Additional incentives to encourage balanced industrial growth in backward and most backward areas, particularly in Southern Tamil Nadu.

iv. Special package for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) to boost employment generation and to revitalise industrial growth.

The overall allocation for the primary sector has been increased to Rs.17,220.89 crores in the Budget Estimates 2013-2014. The allocation for agriculture has been increased to Rs.5,189.15 crores during 2013-2014, over the current year's allocation of Rs.4,829.93 crores, which is the highest ever allocation for the sector.

During the past two years, this Government has laid a strong foundation for ushering the State into a second green revolution by enhancing agricultural productivity. This Government will continue to adopt strategies for increasing farmers income through the dissemination of better cultivation practices and front end technology; enhancement of farm productivity through mixed farming and integrated farming; adoption of water conservation measures like use of micro irrigation system; spread of farm mechanisation to small and marginal holdings; and integration of agricultural markets and promoting post-harvest management and processing – all done with good intention and we wish for proper implementation in future too.

The Annual Credit Plan target for the disbursement of crop loans has been set at Rs.39,135 crores for the financial year 2013-2014. The crop loan target under the Co-operative Sector will be stepped up from the present level of Rs.4,000 crores to Rs.4,500 crores in the coming financial year. The allocation for the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) will be Rs.140 crores in 2013-2014 and Rs.21 crores has been provided as the State's share in the Budget . Estimates 2013-2014. In the coming financial year, a special focus will be given to increasing the area under vegetable cultivation to 8.2 lakh acres from the existing 7.25 lakh acres. Rs.20 crores has been allocated for promoting agro processing industries under the National Mission for Food Processing This is an area where the state lags behind other leading players in the country and any amount of focus and allocation would be justified due to small holdings in huge percentage.

The size of the total State Plan allocation during the Twelfth Plan period is pegged at Rs.2.11 lakh crores. The objective of the entire planning process as announced by the ADMK government will be the eradication of poverty, creation of more and better job opportunities and overall improvement in the quality of life. The State will exceed the Annual Plan target of Rs.28,000 crores during 2012-2013 and the allocation has been increased to Rs.37,000 crores for 2013-2014. The plan allocation for the primary sector has been increased by 20.12%. – a good step in right direction. An allocation of Rs.2,000 crores for the Infrastructure Development Fund and Rs.200 crores for the Project Preparation Fund have been provided in the Budget Estimates 2013-2014.

Rs.50 crores has been earmarked in the Budget Estimates of 2013-2014 for the construction of buildings for the remaining 109 Police Stations. This will ensure that all the Police Stations in Tamil Nadu will hereafter function only from their own buildings. This measure on the part of ADMK government is really appreciable because the state police would not need any private building hereafter. The overall allocation for the Police Department has been increased from Rs.4,096.7 crores in 2012-2013 to Rs. 4,706.17 crores in the Budget Estimates 2013-2014. The state police would have to exhibit its gratitude towards the state administration by pruning and training its forces for maintaining law and order in the state in the best possible manner. Prompt registration of FIRs in police stations and timely disposal of petitions by higher authorities in the department would have to be ensured by them.

So far, 1,61,142 vacancies across various departments have been filled up. In co-operative societies and banks alone, 9,914 employees have been newly appointed. Similarly, in Public Sector Undertakings, 22,452 personnel have been newly appointed. All told, this Government has appointed 1,93,508 employees since May 2011, greatly relieving the stress on governance. This is a welcome and admirable achievement of the government although this is quite in contrast with the attitude of the ADMK’s previous rule around 2004-05.

The fast track patta transfer system introduced by this Government has helped to dispose of over 26 lakh cases so far. The figure is mind-boggling and deserves a check-up. The overall pendency level has been brought down from 1,46,067 cases at the beginning of the scheme, to less than 33,000 cases now.

The state is providing free rice to all rice card holders from June 2011 onwards. This Government is also supplying tur dhal, urad dhal and palm oil at subsidised prices under the special Public Distribution System so as to insulate the poor from the increasing prices of essential commodities. A sum of Rs.4,900 crores has been provided in the Budget Estimates 2013-2014 for food subsidy.

The Government is taking several steps to improve power supply in order to provide uninterrupted quality power to the consumers. NTPC-TANGEDCO Joint Venture Project Unit-I at Vallur has already been commissioned and the generation has been stabilised. The MTPS Stage-III (600 MW), NTPC-TANGEDCO Joint Venture Unit-II at Vallur and North Chennai Thermal Power Station Stage II, Unit-II have commenced trial production. North Chennai Thermal Power Station Stage-II, Unit-I (600 MW) will be commissioned in May 2013. The third unit (500 MW) of NTPC-TANGEDCO Joint Venture at Vallur will be commissioned in October, 2013. Two units of 500 MW each of NLC-TANGEDCO joint venture at Tuticorin are expected to be commissioned in December, 2013 and March, 2014 respectively. All these new projects are expected to give an additional generation of 3230 Mega Watt.

Other measure that deserves praise is that this Government will create a land bank of 25000 acres through SIPCOT to attract more industries to the State. A new ship building yard will be established in Thoothukudi by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) under Public-Private Partnership.

Timely sanction of schemes and projects with enough lead time for implementation would only justify such an annual exercise in real terms.