tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15106953625017521562024-03-14T11:12:21.724+05:30YOUTH FOR JUSTICEA New Delhi based youth led social initiative
"We are the Change We Want to See"YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-70520563851607557872013-04-26T14:18:00.004+05:302013-04-26T14:18:58.689+05:30Dismiss Delhi Police officials for not acting to save 5 year old rape victim A 5-year-old girl was kidnapped and brutally raped for 4 days. However, the Delhi police refused to file a ‘Missing’ complaint when the parents went to the local police station.
4 days later, the girl was discovered by neighbours and admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. A bottle and candles were found inserted into her vagina. She has sustained injuries on her cheeks, lips, neck, and chest.
Shockingly, the Delhi Police refused to file an FIR at this stage and allegedly offered to bribe the parents and advised them NOT to file a complaint.
The incident of the rape sparked protests outside the hospital during which Assistant Commissioner of Police BS Ahlwat slapped a girl protester which left her bleeding in an ear!
The Delhi police has not only repeatedly failed its citizens in doing its duty to stop violence against women, they continue to flagrantly violate the law.
As a father of a little girl, and a resident of Delhi, and even more importantly, as an outraged citizen, I believe it is time this police impunity ended and they were made more responsible for their actions.
I am calling upon the Home Minister of India, Sushil Kumar Shinde and the Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar to immediately dismiss and take strict action against all the policemen who denied to file the complaint, tried to bribe the victim’s father, and watched as the ACP slapped the peaceful protestor.
Sign the Petition here:-
<a href="https://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/dismiss-delhi-police-officials-for-not-acting-to-save-5-year-old-rape-victim">https://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/dismiss-delhi-police-officials-for-not-acting-to-save-5-year-old-rape-victim</a>
YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-12897103500239594292011-08-11T22:36:00.000+05:302011-08-11T22:36:39.745+05:30Letter to Chief Justice of India requesting to take suo moto cognizance of Farmers killed by Police firing in Maval near Pune, Maharashtra<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">11th Aug. 2011<br />
<br />
To,<br />
<strong>Justice Shri. S H Kapadia,</strong></span><b><span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Hon'ble Chief Justice of India</span><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong></strong> Chief Justice Of India,<br />
The Supreme Court Of India,<br />
Delhi 110001</span></b><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /><b style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
Sub.- Request to take suo moto cognizance of Farmers killed by Police firing in Maval near Pune, Maharashtra</b><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /> <br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;">Respected Sir</span><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;">This is to request you to take suo moto cognizance of farmers killed by Police firing in Maval near Pune.</span><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /> <br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;">The details of Police firing which clearly shows that Police has violated all laws and guidelines while taking action against protesting farmers. Visuals shown by various national electronic channels clearly show that the police didn't follow protocol and shoot in the air or below the waist, but aimed straight at people's heads instead, killing three.</span><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;">The details of this incident are available on all major newspapers and news channels. </span><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /> <br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;">This is not only a violation of human right and constitutional rights but also an act of crime.</span><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /> <br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;"> It is a fact that the farmers are struggling to protect their land and livelihood all across country, such act of crime by police if left unpunished will provoke similar atrocities against poor farmers in other places. I hope you will ensure justice is done. I am writing to you to request you to take suo moto cognizance and personal interest in ensuring that these farmers are not denied justice. </span><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;">sincerely</span><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #888888;"><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /> <span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;">Kapil Mishra</span><br style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;">B-3/61<br />
Yamuna Vihar<br />
New Delhi-110053<br />
Phone 9818066041</span><br />
<br />
</span><br />
<div class="gA gt"><div class="gB" tabindex="-1"><table cellpadding="0" class="cf gz" id=":zs"><tbody>
<tr><td><div class="cKWzSc mD" role="button" tabindex="0"><img alt="" class="mL" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/images/cleardot.gif" /></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div></div>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-15252945711792729522011-06-17T12:01:00.000+05:302011-06-17T12:01:15.942+05:30Citizen's Silent March for Democracy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">From Rajghat to National Human Rights Commission office, Copernicus Marg on 18 June at 5 pm<br />
<br />
Please join in large numbers to register our strong protest against the government’s clampdown on peaceful demonstrators in the wee hours of 5 June. It reminded of the Jallianwala Bagh incident of 13 April 1919 when British troops opened fire on innocent citizens. The difference this time was that instead of bullets the state used batons.<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show"> There was no provocation.<br />
<br />
Even otherwise the government has been using repression to curb dissent and muzzle the voice of civil societies demanding change and a better system of governance. Demanding a strong Lokpal or retrieval of black money from tax haven countries cannot be provocation in a country that prides of its democratic traditions. But instead of redressing grievances and trying to meet the demands, the government has preferred to run down civil societies using various techniques.<br />
<br />
Such attempts include the attempts to malign the messengers of change and not allowing people to protest by imposing Section 144 at vantage points in the city. Let us march silently, holding placards, with our mouths tied in black cloth, from Rajghat to the office of the National Human Rights Commission this 18 June.<br />
<br />
Route: Rajghat, Ambedkar Stadium, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Tilak Marg, India Gate, Copernicus Marg.<br />
<br />
Time: 5 pm<br />
Civil society leaders including <br />
1.Arif Md Khan (former Union Minister and crushader for justice)<br />
2.Ved Pratap Vaidik (former Editor of Navbharat Times and Editor PTI and Bhasa)<br />
3.Ram Bahadur Rai (architect of anti-emergency movement in 1975 and senior journalist)<br />
4.Jaya Prakash Narayan (former IAS officer and President of Lok Satta Party)<br />
<span>5. K N Govindacharya(Convener,Ras</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>htriya Swabhiman Aandolan)<br />
5. Surendra Srivastava (President Lok Satta Maharashtra unit)<br />
6.Shri Ashok Tandon (Director Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Evam Sanchar Vishwavidyalaya)<br />
7. DP Sinha (winner of Sangeet Natak Academy Award)<br />
8. Maloy Krishna Dhar (former Joint Director IB)<br />
9. Udai Sinha (journalist)<br />
10. Raja Bundela (film actor, director and social activist)<br />
11. Sanjay Paswan (former Union Minister)<br />
12. Basavraj Patil (former MP, covenor of Bharat Vikas Sangam)<br />
13. Jagdish Chandra Sharma (former Ambassador, former secretary, ministry of foreign affairs)<br />
14.Om Prakash Gupta ( former ambassador)<br />
15.JS Rajput (former Director NCERT)<br />
16.Amrit Lal (author and crushader against corruption)<br />
17.Jawahar Kaul (Chairman, Pragya Sansthan)<br />
18. Bachchu Kadu (Independent MLA, Amravati,Maharashtra)<br />
19.Vineet Narain (crushader against corruption)<br />
20.Amitabh Sinha (Supreme Court lawyer and social activist)<br />
21.Nirmala Sharma (Gandhian activist)<br />
22.Rakesh Rafiq (founder Yuva Bharat)<br />
23.Arvind<br />
24.Trasparency International<br />
25. PV Rajgopal<br />
26.Shiraj Ansari (Elected member- Amnesty International)<br />
<br />
will be leading the movement.<br />
<br />
This is a call to all thinkers, artists, athletes, scientists, writers, poets, journalists, teachers, corporate sector heads, actors, activists and other eminent citizens of the country to stand by the side of the hapless, distraught, oppressed and brutally suppressed lot that is looking up to you for moral support in this dark hour of India’s democracy.<br />
<br />
Come one! Come all!<br />
<br />
PS: Water, adequate first aid tools and vehicles for the aged and the ailing, who cannot walk the distance, will be available on spot</span></div>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-89158797471056614262011-04-07T13:38:00.003+05:302011-04-07T13:39:57.423+05:30INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="pitch"><div class="pitchheads"><h1>Join Anna Hazare's Fast To Bring the Jan Lokpal Bill</h1><i> Anna Hazare will commence a fast unto death from April 5 2011 in support of the Jan Lokpal Bill. You can join the fight against corruption! Join Anna, and fast with him for a day, or as long as you can.</i><br />
<div class="docs"><div class="pamphletlinks"><h2>Commit your fasting in your city: <a href="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/citycontacts.php">Click here to see IAC city co-ordinators</a></h2></div></div></div><div id="slideshow"><div id="images" style="height: 187px; position: relative; width: 270px;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=198421130191214" style="display: none; height: 187px; left: 0px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 270px; z-index: 3;"><img alt="" class="first" id="imgsld1" name="imgsld1" src="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/images/slide01.png" /></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=198421130191214" style="display: block; height: 187px; left: 0px; opacity: 1; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 270px; z-index: 4;"><img alt="" id="imgsld2" name="imgsld2" src="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/images/slide02.png" /></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=198421130191214" style="display: none; height: 187px; left: 0px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 270px; z-index: 3;"><img alt="" id="imgsld3" name="imgsld3" src="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/images/slide03.png" /></a> </div></div></div><div class="pamphletlinks"><h2>Write to Prime Minister:<a href="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/docs/Memorandum.doc">(English)</a><a href="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/docs/memorandum.pdf">(Hindi)</a></h2><div class="pamphletlinks"> <h2> Our Anti corruption system needs a change</h2></div><div class="second"> Why is it that no one goes to jail in our country despite indulging in corruption? This is because we have completely rotten anti-corruption laws and anti-corruption agencies that it is almost impossible for the corrupt to be penalized. </div><div class="second"> <h3>Jan Lokpal Bill is the solution</h3>Justice Santosh Hegde (former Supreme Court Judge and present Lokayukta of Karnataka), Prashant Bhushan (Supreme Court Lawyer) and Arvind Kejriwal (activist) have together drafted a strong anti-corruption law called Jan Lokpal Bill which requires that investigations into any case should be completed within a year and the trial should get over in the next one year so that a corrupt person goes to jail within two years of complaint and his ill gotten wealth is confiscated. <ul class="draftlist"><li><a href="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/docs/Deficiencies%20in%20the%20present%20anti-corruption%20systems.zip"> Click here to read deficiencies in our present anti-corruption systems </a></li>
<li> <a href="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/docs/Salient%20features%20of%20Jan%20Lokpal%20Bill%20%28New%29.zip">Click here to read salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/docs/how_will_civil_society_s_lokpal_bill_curb_corruption.zip">Click here to read how Jan Lokpal Bill will improve existing anti-corruption systems.</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/docs/Jan%20lokpal%20bill%202.1.doc"> Download complete draft of Jan Lokpal Bill (English)...</a> </li>
</ul></div><div class="second"> <h3>Proposed Govt Lokpal Bill is an eyewash</h3>Lokpal Bill has been introduced eight times in Parliament since 1968. All the eight versions have been very weak. Even these weak versions have not been passed so far because Lokpal Bill seeks to investigate politicians. The latest draft of Lokpal Bill prepared by the present UPA government is a complete eyewash. Rather than strengthen anti-corruption systems, it demolishes whatever exists in the name of anti-corruption systems today. It seeks to completely insulate politicians from any kind of action against them. <ul class="draftlist"><li><a href="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/docs/Critique_of_Govt._s_Lokpal_Bill_2010.zip">Click here to read our critique of Government’s Lokpal Bill</a></li>
<li><a href="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/docs/Comparison_of_Government_Bill_with_civil_society_bill.zip">Click here to read comparison between Jan Lokpal Bill and Government’s Lokpal Bill.</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/docs/Govt._s_Lokpal_Bill_2010.zip">Download Government’s Lokpal Bill</a></li>
</ul></div><div class="second">We have drafted a similar Bill called Jan Lokayukta Bill for the states. Presently 18 states have Lokayukta Acts. However, they are quite ineffective. We want that the existing Lokayukta Acts should be replaced with Jan Lokayukta Bills. </div><div class="second"> <h3>Downloads</h3><ul class="all"><li><a href="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/docs/Anna%20Hazare%20Sends%20an%20Ultimatum%20to%20PM.zip"> Anna Hazare serves an ultimatum to the PM to sit on indefinite fast from April 5</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/Letter_to_PM_dated_Dec_1.pdf"> Letter to the Prime Minister dated December 1, 2010</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/Letter_to_Chief_Justice_dated_Dec_1.pdf"> Letter to the Chief Justice dated, December 1, 2010</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/Police_complaint_2.pdf">Police complaint filed against corruption in Commonwealth Games</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/letter_to_PM-14th_Nov.pdf">Letter dated November 14, 2010 to the Prime Minister</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/CWG_article%5B1%5D.pdf">An article on Commonwealth Games</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/An_open_letter_to_Mrs_Sonia_Gandhi.pdf"> Open letter dated November 14, 2010 to Mrs Sonia Gandhi</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/Reforms_needed%5B1%5D.pdf">Status of our Anti-Corruption agencies and reforms needed</a></li>
</ul></div><h2> </h2></div></div>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-61312863227525969832011-03-25T16:23:00.001+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.937+05:30Act Mr. Prime Minister<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h2>Shunglu Committee Report and inaction by Manmohan</h2><small><b></b></small> It’s Common v/s Wealth<br />
<a href="http://aamaadmispeaks.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/cwg-loot.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-128" height="225" src="http://aamaadmispeaks.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/cwg-loot.jpg?w=300&h=225" title="cwg loot" width="300" /></a><br />
The high level committee constituted to probe the loot in the name of commonwealth games 2010 has submitted its second interim report. This committee was formed by the government under huge social and political pressure on the issue of vulgar exploitation of common resources and open loot of common man that the country has witnessed last year.<br />
Commonwealth Games have become symbol of corruption in the country.<br />
The Shunglu Committee formed by government that is termed as High Level Committee but in fact this committee was never provided with any power to probe the large scale corruption that has shocked the nation. The committee did not had power to summon officials and ministers or to ask for files and documents. Further Committee can not even prosecute or register cases against those who are found guilty.<br />
But the scale of corruption was so visible that even without any real power or authority, this committee could easily find that all possible rules and laws are broken in organization of CWG 2010.<br />
This committee had submitted its first report in January on host broadcasting, the report was immediately made public and is available on the website of the committee. Central government then asked the central bureau of investigation (CBI) to file criminal cases against those who were named in the report. Head of National television Doordarshan had to go after this.<br />
But the scenario is different now, Shunglu committee has submitted its second report and clearly names Delhi Chief Minister and Lt. Governor for the financial losses. Prime Minister has asked not to make the report public and all government agencies are now actively working to cover up. This inaction raises very serious concerns.<br />
Prime Minister had promised the nation that within 100 days of CWG 2010, the criminals of this open loot will be punished, the deadline is never met, all culprits of CWG loot are not only out in the public but also enjoying all benefits of the positions using which they exploited the nation. Be it Delhi CM Shiela Dixit or LG Tejinder Khanna, be it organizing committee head Suresh Kalmadi or Central government minister Jaipal Reddy or even DDA officials, all are smiling at the fortunes that they have looted in the name of games.<br />
Only a few babus are arrested by CBI who could never do anything without clear directions from their bosses. Suresh Kalmadi is openly saying that if he is arrested he will name everyone who was involved, he is also telling that he dealt with only 5% of the total money that was looted and major loot was done by Delhi govt and other central government agencies.<br />
A lot of water has flown down river yamuna since October last year, with Shiela still serving as Delhi CM, most evidences must have been destroyed by now.<br />
This interim report by Shunglu committee should be taken seriously and Delhi Government should be sacked.<br />
While nation need a Jan Lokbal bill that can prevent such corruption and loot in the future, CWG2010 looters should not be spared.<br />
Time for Shiela to go.</div>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-78841106181331690322011-03-24T12:22:00.002+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.938+05:30Yamuna campaign: Marching ascetics reach Taj city<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Agra, March 24 (IANS) The movement for the restoration of the Yamuna river has picked up steam as the marching ascetics and activists campaigning for it have reached the Taj city on way to Delhi. <br />
The Braj Mandal sants and ascetics, who began the yatra from the Sangam in Allahabad March 2, have been mobilising support in the smaller towns and villages on the way. The marchers reached here Wednesday night and will reach Delhi April 15. <br />
<br />
Bhanu Pratap Singh, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, said all sections of society are supporting the campaign inspired by Ramesh Baba of Barsana. Many NGOs and citizens groups have also extended their support. <br />
<br />
The activists have threatened to open all the gates of the Okhla, Wazirabad and other barrages. 'Water should be allowed to flow uninterrupted and should not be held up anywhere, only the overflow or surplus water can be stored,' said Singh. <br />
<br />
The marchers cover around 25 km daily and stop at some village for the night. A large number of women too have joined the march. <br />
<br />
'People in Agra will give a fitting response and support the cause that has always been dear to them. Not only for the health of the humans but for conservation of monuments that fetch millions of dollars annually, the river needs to be saved,' Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society president Surendra Sharma told IANS. <br />
<br />
D.K. Joshi, a member of the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee, said: 'For too long the government agencies and corrupt officials have played with our natural assets, the streams and the water bodies. Time has come for the people to wake up before it is too late.' <br />
<br />
'In the past three decades, close to Rs.5,000 crore have been spent in the Taj Trapezium Zone, and the results are there for everyone to see,' he said. </div>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-64084463891482211232011-02-26T18:49:00.000+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.939+05:30YOUTH FOR JUSTICE:- Celebrating 5 years of Action<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19t92Iubb5hEYtpIjpS8UcUSKcrEl6pH0a0neJUZomxnwtLaQuIGOc0xll5Y2ndK54QNU6kbcqJKhxmco6bbuxsMn_I8gJQYd0wwR621BRs5rek6H5p1j_rNZRzzp8zq5IDHt_EXkM2w/s1600/14th+oct6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19t92Iubb5hEYtpIjpS8UcUSKcrEl6pH0a0neJUZomxnwtLaQuIGOc0xll5Y2ndK54QNU6kbcqJKhxmco6bbuxsMn_I8gJQYd0wwR621BRs5rek6H5p1j_rNZRzzp8zq5IDHt_EXkM2w/s320/14th+oct6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Initiated by a group of crazy young people from the lawns of Delhi School of Social Work, YFJ is completing 5 years of action on 3rd March 2011.<br />
<br />
As a youth group, we rose against the unfair judicial pronouncement favoring the rich and the powerful by mobilizing concerned citizens and making the invisible disquiet a visible one. (The Jessica Lall verdict). Success in the above-mentioned issue furthered our involvement by our opining on the reservation bill for other backward castes in institutions of higher education.<br />
<br />
Realizing the importance of accountability, we used the Right to Information Act as a tool to make the government more accountable to its citizens. We were the first youth group of its kind which, in collaboration with organizations like Josh, MKSS, Parivartan to aggressively popularize its concept (especially in University of Delhi where we strove to pull the youth out of its deep slumber and kill the culture of silence).<br />
<br />
Under "Farmers and I" initiative, group has organized series of protests against insensitive attitude for authorities on the issue of farmers suicides and also stages a continuous protest at Jantar Mantar. That year government announced substantial loan waiver to farmers across country.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>We are the Change:</b><br />
<br />
1. First youth group to organize a protest march on 3rd march 2006 in Delhi University against the court’s verdict in Jessica Lal murder trial, this was the day when “Youth for Justice” born<br />
<br />
2. First youth action group to organize a candle light vigil with Delhi University students on Jessica Lal case at Jantar Mantar on evening of 3rd march 2006<br />
<br />
3. Organized first protest in Delhi University against proposed reservation in higher education on 6th April 2006, resulted in a minor clash with Police<br />
<br />
4. Organized series of protest marches and rallies in Delhi University and at Jantar Mantar against proposed reservation in higher education<br />
<br />
5. President of India invited “Youth for Justice” delegation on 21st may 2006 to discuss reservation row<br />
<br />
6. Realizing the importance of accountability, we used the right to information as a tool to make the government more accountable t its citizens. “Youth for Justice” was the first youth group of its kind, which worked in collaborations with organizations like Josh, MKSS, Parivartan to aggressively popularize concept of RTI (especially in university of Delhi where we strove to pull the youth out of its deep slumber and kill the culture of silence).<br />
<br />
7. First and only youth group of Delhi which recognized the urgency to deal with issue of Farmer Suicides and organized Joint March of youth and Farmers at Jantar Mantar<br />
<br />
8. Youth for Justice has launched a sensitization programme “FARMERS AND I” with aim to mobilize urban population for the cause<br />
<br />
9. First youth action group to join “Yamuna Satyagraha” under the leadership of Magsaysay Awardee Shri Rajendra Singh ji.<br />
<br />
10. volunteers sat on satyagraha and “maun vrata” in Yamuna satyagraha<br />
<br />
11. Only youth group which supported struggle of B.Sc. (restructured) programme students of Delhi university against the failure of university system and supported students when they decided to sit on an indefinite hunger strike in front of university gate<br />
<br />
12. Detained several times by police while protesting for people’s cause<br />
<br />
13. Launched "YOUTH FOR YAMUNA" - A "Y4J" initiative against LOOT and KILLING of yamuna in the name of commonwealth games on 16th sept.2007<br />
<br />
14. First Youth Action Group to protest against killings by blue line buses in the capital city, organised a candle light protest at central park , C.P. to pay homage to 96 ppl killed by blue line buses<br />
<br />
15. YFJ is the only youth action group in New Delhi that has raised voice against killings of innocent people in Nandigram in West Bengal and one of our action hero Sunil Prabhakar went all the way to Nandigram to take note of grassroot realities there.<br />
<br />
16. "Youth for Justice" has carried an independent investigation on issue of deaths of labourers in games village and world came to know about this crime only through exclusive video clips provided by "youth for justice" in its investigation.<br />
<br />
17. First group in the city that organized massive protest against loot in the name of Commonwealth Games in the capital city of Delhi since the year 2007 and in 2010 published a book "It's Common v/s Wealth" to make people and policy makers aware of the mega scam.<br />
<br />
Our stand<br />
As a welfare state and democracy the Indian constitution guarantees the fundamental right of every citizen to survive and with the entitlement of the dignity that should ensue with it.Making such tall claims it is indeed deplorable that we have a Vidharbh and Kalahandi for a New York alike Delhi.It is time that we dissolve these divides and pave roads to do so.</div>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-90950189649469672462011-02-06T16:18:00.002+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.940+05:30Lines of battle:- No to Govt. Lokpal -Yes to Jan Lokpal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Fight against corruption has reached a turning point as a draft Jan Lokpal Bill aiming to curb corruption is ready. <br />
Thousands came out on 30th Jan. 2011 in support of this bill across nation.<br />
<br />
for details, please login:-<br />
<a href="http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/anticorruptionbill.html" target="_blank">http://indiaagainstcorruption.<wbr></wbr>org/anticorruptionbill.html</a><br />
<br />
Following are salient features of the Jan Lokpal bill:-<br />
<br />
1. There shall be an institution of Lokpal with ten members and headed by a Chairperson.<br />
<br />
2. That part of CBI which deals with cases of corruption, shall be merged with Lokpal.<br />
<br />
3. CVC and the entire internal vigilance set in various central government departments will be<br />
merged with Lokpal.<br />
<br />
4. Lokpal will be completely independent of the Government.<br />
<br />
5. Lokpal shall have jurisdiction over bureaucrats, politicians and judges.<br />
<br />
6. Lokpal shall have the powers to initiate investigations and prosecution without needing<br />
permission from any other agency.<br />
<br />
7. Public grievances are often linked to demands/expectations of bribery. Lokpal shall act as<br />
appellate authority and supervisory body for grievance redressal systems in all central<br />
government departments.<br />
<br />
8. Lokpal shall be responsible for providing protection against physical and professional<br />
victimization to whistleblowers.<br />
<br />
9. Members and Chairperson in Lokpal shall be selected through a transparent and participatory<br />
process.<br />
<br />
10. The functioning of Lokpal shall be completely transparent to avoid it from becoming a hub of<br />
corruption.<br />
<br />
11. Any complaint of wrongdoing against an official of Lokpal shall be investigated and acted upon<br />
within a month through a transparent enquiry process.<br />
12. If charges are proved and conviction takes place, loss to the exchequer caused due to his<br />
wrongdoing shall be recovered from all those who are convicted.<br />
</div>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-76963194296926019772010-11-27T13:29:00.000+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.941+05:30KISAN SWARAJ YATRA- Volunteers neededKISAN SWARAJ YATRA- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED <br />
<br />
Dear friends,<br />
<br />
We seek your urgent help in intensifying our effort in Delhi with regard to mobilisation towards the Rajghat event, which is the last event of the Kisan Swaraj Yatra going around the country and reaching Delhi on December 11th morning.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="background-color: #ffff33;">1. We need four kinds of efforts to go in immediately into the Delhi mobilisation:</span></b><br />
a. <b>With students in JNU and Delhi colleges </b>- here, the pitch should be about our "anna daatas", the ones who are keeping us alive, dying and in deep distress. About how if we don't rescue them, our food is in jeopardy and how big corporations are going to push for more toxic technologies and how it will come back to us in the end. How pushing out farmers from villages will also have its own implications for our urban centres. How Gandhi dreamt of another India etc. Therefore, both as a moral imperative and in our own enlightened-self-interest, we need to support farmers and their struggle for dignified living in rural India.<br />
<br />
b. <b>With villages around Delhi, especially where AID and other groups work</b>: Please urgently go and organise discussions in these villages and mobilise them into the Rajghat event. Some AID volunteers should pitch in some efforts here.<br />
<br />
<b>c. With NGOs in Delhi</b>: One of you should pick up a phone and start making calls to hundreds of NGOs that are in Delhi and talk to them about the Kisan Swaraj Yatra and request their solidarity on December 11th. Keep asking for who will join and what their number is. This has to be a full-time effort in the next few days, followed up by an SMS later on around the 10th.<br />
<br />
<b>d. With groups in bastis in Delhi: </b>There are some Delhi groups which in turn work with people in the bastis, on health issues, communal harmony, on gender-related issues, on education etc. - We should shortlist 6-7 such organisations and interact with the people that they work with in the bastis urgently. This is very important, I feel - because these are the people who can relate to how they have been pushed out of farming in rural India, looking for opportunities elsewhere like in the bastis of Delhi.<br />
<br />
I HOPE EACH ONE OF YOU CAN KINDLY PITCH IN WITH ONE OR THE OTHER STRANDS OF WORK.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="background-color: #ffff66;">2. We need help with logistics, please:</span></b><br />
<br />
a. At Ambedkar Bhawan, there is help needed in terms of overseeing the cleaning work and before that, employing some labourers for this and ensuring that there are buckets, mugs etc.<br />
<br />
b. Ensuring that there is hot water for bath....<br />
<br />
c. For pickup at railway stations and taking groups of people in DTC buses to their accommodation location. And bringing them to Rajghat on the 11th, etc.<br />
<br />
HOPE THERE WOULD BE SOME VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS. IT WOULD BE IDEAL IF WE CAN START COMMUNICATING SUCH VOLUNTEERS' NAMES AND NUMBERS TO PEOPLE FROM DIFF STATES ALREADY. <br />
<br />
May I request those of you who can take on some roles to kindly write back here and let us know? <br />
<br />
Thanks.<br />
<br />
Contact- Kapil Mishra, youth4justice@gmail.com, 9818066041YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-79038610559265806052010-11-10T14:45:00.002+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.942+05:30Some questions for you Madam Sonia Gandhi<h2>Some questions for you Madam Sonia Gandhi</h2><small>In <a href="http://aamaadmispeaks.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in Uncategorized">Uncategorized</a> on <strong>November 10, 2010</strong> at <strong>2:24 pm</strong></small> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://aamaadmispeaks.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/sonia-gandhi203_0.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-103" height="300" src="http://aamaadmispeaks.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/sonia-gandhi203_0.jpg?w=229&h=300" title="Chief of India's ruling
Congress party Gandhi addresses an election campaign rally in Lucknow" width="229" /></a></div><strong>Would you please answer Mam?</strong><br />
1. If Ashok Chavhan is removed because of corruption charges, then what message your party leaders Pranab Mukherjee and Antony were sending last evening when they were travelling with Ashok Chavan in his car while going to meet your party MLAs in Mumbai?<br />
2. If Kalmadi is asked to resign because of loot in Commonwealth Games, then why he has been asked to resign from Congress Party post only and not from CWG organizing comittee?<br />
3. Instead why tenure of Kalmadi as CWG organizing committee Chairman is extended for three months? Will it not give him an opportunity to wipe out evidences?<br />
4. If you actually believe that Adrsh society scam is a serious issues then why only Ashok Chavan is asked to resign when almost all Congress Party leaders of Pradesh Congress Committee are clearly involved and got benefited?<br />
5. Why you and your Govt. is not taking similar action against Sheela Dixit and her ministers who are involved in a equally shameful scam i.e. CWG 2010?<br />
6. Why till date none of your family members have spoken anything against rampant corruption in UPA Govt. that includes 2G, CWG, Adarsh society, Food Grain etc?<br />
7. Why actions against all these individuals like Kalmadi and Ashok Chavans are being taken at Party level only and Government agencies who are actually responsible for actions are not doing anything at all? Do you want to show that Congress Party is bigger than Government and Nation for that matter?<br />
8. Please explain why we should believe that you and your family is not directly involved and benefited from all these scams considering the fact that you are mum and reluctant to take any concrete action whatsoever on any of these issues?YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-25147990371351133102010-10-25T13:04:00.000+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.944+05:30CAMPAIGN AGAINST CWG CORRUPTIONCAMPAIGN AGAINST CWG CORRUPTION – LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER<br />
<br />
Dear Dr Manmohan Singh,<br />
<br />
The scale and arrogance of corruption in Commonwealth Games is shocking. Unfortunately, government’s reaction to it is even more shocking. Before the games, you and Mrs Gandhi made strong statements that no one will be spared. But what is going on in the name of enquiries and investigations is hardly encouraging – in fact, it is a mere eyewash!<br />
<br />
Before coming to the irrelevance of the Shunglu committee appointed by you recently, let us first look at the state of enquiries which are underway at the moment:<br />
<br />
1. Central Vigilance Commission: The CVC is looking into just about 18 contracts or so, as against thousands of contracts and much bigger ones that have not been touched so far.<br />
2. Central Bureau of Investigation: CBI is also believed to be looking only at a handful of contracts relating to Queen’s Baton controversy. With the range of politicians facing allegations, CBI can be least entrusted to do an honest investigation, as it is directly under the government and takes its orders from the same set of politicians.<br />
3. Enforcement Directorate: ED is looking into only foreign exchange related matters like controversies surrounding Queen’s baton etc.<br />
4. Comptroller and Auditor General of India: One is not sure of the ambit of CAG’s enquiries but both CAG and CVC do not have the jurisdiction and powers to peep into the role of politicians.<br />
<br />
So, effectively politicians are out of all ongoing enquiries and it is believed that most of the money has finally landed with the politicians.<br />
<br />
So, you decided to set up the Shunglu committee. But the prescription seems to be worse than the disease. Shunglu committee neither has powers nor jurisdiction to conduct the most basic enquiries. Forget politicians, it does not even have the powers to call for records from an ordinary clerk. Suppose it calls for records from a particular department and that department refuses to comply. What powers does Shunglu committee have to enforce its directions? Does it have powers to summon officers, politicians or contractors to question them or record their statements? Agencies like CVC and CAG draw their powers under various laws. Yet, they find it so difficult to get their orders implemented from obdurate and corrupt government machinery. CVC has repeatedly said that the government departments do not respond to its queries. How would Shunglu committee get its orders implemented? It would be foolhardy to believe that the bureaucracy would oblige just because Shunglu has been appointed by the Prime Minister.<br />
<br />
Who will bell the cat?<br />
<br />
Money made in Commonwealth Games is believed to have allegedly travelled right upto the powers-that-be. Neither CVC nor CAG nor even Shunglu committee have either the mandate or the powers to question Sheila Dikshit or Kalmadi or any other politician or to raid them. The money is alleged to have travelled even beyond. All these agencies will merely be concentrating on tenders and papers and questioning middle level officers who were merely conduits and doing the bidding of their political masters.<br />
<br />
In any investigation, time is of essence. Else precious evidence is lost. By the time Shunglu committee submits its report, most evidence would have been wiped out.<br />
<br />
We do not understand what is the need for Shunglu committee? When there are already prima facie discrepancies in so many contracts, why can’t the government straight away register cases under Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code rather than setting up more committees?<br />
<br />
Massive corruption in Commonwealth Games and 2G spectrum has raised the issue of corruption to a pitch as it never happened before. The government is under pressure. That is the reason it is trying to silence media through the appointment of Shunglu committee.<br />
<br />
However, rather be fooled by these steps, it is time to call spade a spade.<br />
<br />
Not a single effective anti-corruption agency in our country:<br />
<br />
A look at all anti-corruption laws and agencies indicate that there is not a single effective anti-corrupion agency in our country. The present anti-corruption laws and systems in our country suffer from internal contradictions. There are plethora of anti-corruption agencies. In each of these agencies, the government has deliberately left some critical loophole so as to make it ineffective. For instance, CVC is an independent body but does not have powers to take any action. It is merely an advisory body. Plus, it does not have jurisdiction over politicians. CBI has the powers but is not independent. It is directly controlled by the government. Also, CBI needs government’s permission to initiate investigations and to launch prosecution in any case. So, one agency has the powers but is not independent. The other agency is independent but does not have the powers.<br />
<br />
Lokpal Bill to come up, is also impotent:<br />
<br />
Government has announced setting up of yet another agency called Lokpal by December. Again, the government is doing lip service. According to government’s proposal, Lokpal would have jurisdiction over politicians but not bureaucrats, as if politicians and bureaucrats indulge in corruption separately. So, almost every case will need to be investigated by both CVC and Lokpal – CVC will look into the role of bureaucrats and Lokpal will look into the role of politicians. Doesn’t it sound absurd? The obvious question is why can’t the same agency investigate both? And the most interesting part is that even the Lokpal is being made an advisory body! It would merely recommend to the government to initiate prosecution against, say some of its ministers. Do you think the government would ever do that?<br />
<br />
We therefore, demand the following action from the government immediately:<br />
<br />
Take immediate steps to protect the evidence:<br />
<br />
1. Suresh Kalmadi and his team of officers should be immediately suspended. We are sure that they would have already tampered with most of the evidence. But before they do any further damage, they should be suspended. The first thing that any investigating agency would do is to prevent all accused access to critical evidence. Rather than doing that, Kalmadi and his team have been asked to continue for the next three months. This is likely to give them sufficient time to wipe out all evidence!<br />
2. Delhi Government is believed to have handled around Rs 19,000 crores against Rs 2000 crores handled by Kalmadi. Some central government ministries including urban development ministry, sports ministry etc are believed to have dealt with roughly Rs 8000 crores. According to preliminary enquiries done by CVC and CAG, each of the contract enquired into suffers from serious deficiencies of either straight defalcation or time over runs or highly inflated estimates or shoddy work. Corruption of this scale could not have taken place without active collusion of the people at all levels right from top to bottom. Therefore, to begin with, the ministers of all these ministries in Delhi Government and central government, which dealt with commonwealth games money and are suspect, should be immediately asked to step down. Key officials in these ministries should be suspended. Else they would wipe out all evidence.<br />
3. Let all these people join back if they come clean after enquiries.<br />
4. Let the government immediately seize all the relevant records, before they are further tampered.<br />
<br />
Create effective machinery to do honest and effective investigations and hand over these cases to them:<br />
<br />
1. A meeting of eminent people took place in August 2010. It was attended by some very senior people who have been connected with administering anti-corruption systems in our country like Justice Santosh Hegde (Lokayukta of Karnataka), Mr P Shankar (former CVC), Mr Pratyush Sinha (former CVC) and Mr J M Lyngdoh (former Chief Election Commissioner). The meeting discussed the deficiencies in our present anti-corruption set up and what needs to be done. They all concurred that all the anti-corruption agencies should be merged into one agency, say Lokpal, which should have the following ingredients:<br />
1. It should be completely independent of the government.<br />
2. It should have jurisdiction over both politicians and bureaucrats.<br />
3. It should have the power to initiate investigations and prosecution in any case without needing any approvals or permissions.<br />
4. The appointments to Lokpal should be transparent and participatory.<br />
5. The functioning of Lokpal should be completely transparent and accountable to prevent it from becoming a hub of corruption itself.<br />
<br />
Though a copy of the minutes of this meeting has already been sent to you earlier, we are again attaching the minutes for your ready perusal.<br />
<br />
We demand that a Lokpal on the suggested lines should be immediately set up through an ordinance and the investigations into Commonwealth Games and 2G spectrum should be handed over to them as their first cases. Unless investigations were done by such an independent and empowered body, all efforts of the government would be suspect.<br />
<br />
Corruption in Commonwealth Games is the last straw. If this also goes unpunished, then there is no hope for this country. Therefore, if the government does not take concrete action as suggested above within a week, we shall be left with no option but to take all possible steps within our command to initiate a nationwide agitation against corruption.<br />
<br />
Warm regards<br />
<br />
Yours sincerely<br />
<br />
Minutes of Meeting<br />
<br />
The following met at IIC on 10th August 2010 from 2 pm to 6 pm to discuss the deficiencies in present anti-corruption systems in our country and what steps need to be taken to address these deficiencies.<br />
<br />
1. Justice Santosh Hegde, Karnataka Lokayukta<br />
2. Mr J M Lyngdoh, former Chief Election Commissioner<br />
3. Mr P Shankar, former Central Vigilance Commissioner<br />
4. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court<br />
5. Mr Kamal Jaswal, Director Common Cause<br />
6. Mr Shekhar Singh, Eminent social activist<br />
7. Mr Nikhil Dey, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangthan<br />
8. Mr Arvind Kejriwal, Social activist<br />
9. Mr Sarvesh Sharma, Common Cause<br />
10. Mr Suhas Borkar, social activist and media personality<br />
<br />
Mr Pratyush Sinha, present Central Vigilance Commissioner, attended the meeting for sometime, more as an observer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Deficiencies in the present anti-corruption systems<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Central Government level:<br />
<br />
At central Government level, we have Central Vigilance Commission, Departmental vigilance and CBI. CVC and Departmental vigilance deal with vigilance (disciplinary proceedings) aspect of a corruption case and CBI deals with criminal aspect of that case.<br />
<br />
Central Vigilance Commission: CVC is the apex body for all vigilance cases in Government of India.<br />
<br />
* However, it does not have adequate resources commensurate with the large number of complaints that it receives. CVC is a very small set up with a staff strength less than 200. It is supposed to check corruption in more than 1500 central government departments and ministries, some of them being as big as Central Excise, Railways, Income Tax etc. Therefore, it has to depend on the vigilance wings of respective departments and forwards most of the complaints for inquiry and report to them. While it monitors the progress of these complaints, there is delay and the complainants are often disturbed by this. It directly enquires into a few complaints on its own, especially when it suspects motivated delays or where senior officials could be implicated. But given the constraintf of manpower such number is really small.<br />
* CVC is merely an advisory body. Central Government Departments seek CVC’s advice on various corruption cases. However, they are free to accept or reject CVC’s advice. Even in those cases, which are directly enquired into by the CVC, it can only advise government. CVC mentions these cases of non-acceptance in its monthly reports and the Annual Report to Parliament. But these are not much in focus in Parliamentary debates or by the media.<br />
* CVC cannot direct CBI to initiate enquiries against any officer of the level of Joint Secretary and above on its own. The CBI has to seek the permission of that department, which obviously would not be granted if the senior officers of that department are involved and they could delay the case or see to it that permission would not be granted.<br />
* CVC does not have powers to register criminal case. It deals only with vigilance or disciplinary matters.<br />
* It does not have powers over politicians. If there is an involvement of a politician in any case, CVC could at best bring it to the notice of the Government. There are several cases of serious corruption in which officials and political executive are involved together.<br />
* It does not have any direct powers over departmental vigilance wings. Often it is seen that CVC forwards a complaint to a department and then keeps sending reminders to them to enquire and send report. Many a times, the departments just do not comply. CVC does not have any really effective powers over them to seek compliance of its orders.<br />
* CVC does not have administrative control over officials in vigilance wings of various central government departments to which it forwards corruption complaints. Though the government does consult CVC before appointing the Chief Vigilance Officers of various departments, however, the final decision lies with the government. Also, the officials below CVO are appointed/transferred by that department only. Only in exceptional cases , if the CVO chooses to bring it to the notice of CVC, CVC could bring pressure on the Department to revoke orders but again such recommendations are not binding.<br />
* Appointments to CVC are directly under the control of ruling political party , though the leader of the Opposition is a member of the Committee to select CVC and VCs. But the Committee only considers names put up before it and that is decided by the Government. The appointments are opaque.<br />
* CVC Act gives supervisory powers to CVC over CBI. However, these supervisory powers have remained ineffective. CVC does not have the power to call for any file from CBI or to direct them to do any case in a particular manner. Besides, CBI is under administrative control of DOPT rather than CVC.<br />
* Therefore, though CVC is relatively independent in its functioning, it neither has resources nor powers to enquire and take action on complaints of corruption in a manner that meets the expectations of people.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Departmental Vigilance Wings: Each Department has a vigilance wing, which is manned by officials from the same department (barring a few which have an outsider as Chief Vigilance Officer. However, all the officers under him belong to the same department).<br />
<br />
* Since the officers in the vigilance wing of a department are from the same department and they can be posted to any position in that department anytime, it is practically impossible for them to be independent and objective while inquiring into complaints against their colleagues and seniors. If a complaint is received against a senior officer, it is impossible to enquire into that complaint because an officer who is in vigilance today might get posted under that senior officer some time in future.<br />
* In some departments, especially in the Ministries , some officials double up as vigilance officials. It means that an existing official is given additional duty of vigilance also. So, if some citizen complaints against that officer, the complaint is expected to be enquired into by the same officer. Even if someone complaints against that officer to the CVC or to the Head of that Department or to any other authority, the complaint is forwarded by all these agencies and it finally lands up in his own lap to enquire against himself. Even if he recuses himself from such inquiries , still they have to be handled by those who otherwise report to him. There are indeed examples of such absurdity.<br />
* There have been instances of the officials posted in vigilance wing by that department having had a very corrupt past. While in vigilance, they try to scuttle all cases against themselves. They also turn vigilance wing into a hub of corruption, where cases are closed for consideration.<br />
* Departmental vigilance does not investigate into criminal aspect of any case. It does not have the powers to register an FIR.<br />
* They also do not have any powers against politicians.<br />
* Since the vigilance wing is directly under the control of the Head of that Department, it is practically impossible for them to enquire against senior officials of that department.<br />
* Therefore, , the vigilance wing of any department is seen to softpedal on genuine complaints or used to enquire against ” inconvenient” officers.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
CBI: CBI has powers of a police station to investigate and register FIR. It can investigate any case related to a Central Government department on its own or any case referred to it by any state government or any court.<br />
<br />
* CBI is overburdened and does not accept cases even where amount of defalcation is alleged to be around Rs 1 crore.<br />
* CBI is directly under the administrative control of Central Government.<br />
* So, if a complaint pertains to any minister or politician who is part of a ruling coalition or a bureaucrat who is close to them, CBI’s credibility has suffered and there is increasing public perception that it cannot do a fair investigation and that it is influenced to to scuttle these cases.<br />
* Again, because CBI is directly under the control of Central Government, CBI is perceived to have been often used to settle scores against inconvenient politicians.<br />
<br />
Therefore, if a citizen wants to make a complaint about corruption by a politician or an official in the Central Government, there isn’t a single anti-corruption agency which is effective and independent of the government, whose wrongdoings are sought to be investigated. CBI has powers but it is not independent. CVC is independent but it does not have sufficient powers or resources.<br />
<br />
At State level:<br />
<br />
The position if anything is worse in the States. All vigilance agencies (like state vigilance department, departmental vigilance wings) and anti-corruption agencies (like anti-corruption department of state police, CID etc) are directly under the control of state government and therefore, ineffective in fairly investigating corruption cases against their political bosses. In some states, we have the institution of Lokayuktas.<br />
<br />
Lokayuktas:<br />
<br />
* Lokayuktas cannot initiate investigations on their own. They have to seek permission of state government to investigate cases involving officials above certain levels.<br />
* In some states, vigilance department has been given powers over bureaucrats and Lokayuktas have been given powers only over politicians. Such division of jurisdiction hampers investigations. So, in a case involving both politician and bureaucrats (which is the case most of the times), both Lokayukta and the vigilance department feel handicapped.<br />
* Lokayuktas merely have advisory roles. They do not have the powers to directly initiate prosecution. They make recommendations to the government, which may or may not agree with those recommendations.<br />
* They also do not have adequate resources to investigate the large number of complaints that they receive.<br />
* Lokayukta is appointed by the state government in an non-transparent and arbitrary manner. In some states, their independence has been seriously eroded.<br />
<br />
Therefore, there isn’t any effective anti-corruption agency either at the centre or at state level, which is independent of political executive and which has the powers and resources to entertain and investigate any complaint of corruption and then prosecute the guilty people.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Recommendations:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1.<br />
1. Central Government should immediately pass a strong and effective Lokpal Bill on the following lines. Those states, which already have Lokayukta Acts, should amend their Lokayukta Acts on the following lines. Those states, which do not have Lokayukta Acts, should pass Lokayukta Acts on the following lines.<br />
2. Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta at state level should be made the single apex, independent and effective anti-corruption agency.<br />
3. Lokpal/Lokayukta should be a multi-member body. It could have members from judiciary, legal backgrounds, administrative backgrounds, social activists etc. The Chairman of Lokayukta/Lokpal need not be a person from judiciary only.<br />
4. All vigilance agencies should be brought directly under their control. In states, state vigilance departments and departmental vigilance wings should be merged with Lokayukta. This was done in Karnataka. State vigilance department was merged in Lokayukta when Karnatak Lokayukta was created in 1984.<br />
5. At Centre, CVC should be placed under the superintendence of the Lokpal. All departmental vigilance wings should be placed directly and completely (including administrative control) under the control of CVC. These departmental vigilance wings would continue working from the offices and places from where they are working presently. However, CVC would ensure that the officials get rotated between different departments, so that an official does not enquire against officers of his own parent department. CVC would then be able to seek compliance of its directions from these departmental vigilance wings. There would hence, be no need to create new posts or incur any extra expenditure.<br />
6. At state level, the anti-corruption departments of state police and that portion of CID which deals with corruption cases, should be completely (both administratively and functionally) transferred to Lokayukta. Likewise at Central level, that part of CBI, which deals with corruption cases, should be completely (both administratively and functionally) transferred to Lokpal.<br />
7. Lokayukta and Lokpal would have jurisdiction over both politicians and bureaucrats. The vigilance wing under Lokayukta and CVC under Lokpal would deal with vigilance aspect of any case. The anti-corruption wing under Lokayukta or that portion of CBI which has been transferred to Lokpal, would deal with criminal aspect of any corruption case. Offices of Lokpal/Lokayukta would be declared as police stations to enable them to register cases.<br />
8. Lokayukta/Lokpal should have complete autonomy:<br />
* This should include financial autonomy. Their fund requirements should be charged to the Consolidated Fund of India in case of Lokpal and to the Consolidated Fund of respective state in the case of Lokayukta.<br />
* They should have complete autonomy to select their own staff, even if it needs to be employed from outside.<br />
9. Once enquiry (in vigilance cases) or investigations (in criminal cases) are over in any case, the same shall be presented before the entire Lokayukta/Lokpal. After hearing the matter and after hearing the complainant and the accused, the Lokayukta/Lokpal may decide to either impose penalty (in vigilance cases) or proceed with prosecution (in criminal cases) or drop the case on lack of merits or direct further investigations/enquiry. Lokayukta shall not need to seek any sanction for prosecution from anyone. Wherever it is needed, it shall be deemed to have been granted, once it has been granted by Lokayukta/Lokpal.<br />
10. Advice of Lokpal/Lokayukta shall be binding on the government on vigilance matters. In criminal cases, Lokayukta/Lokpal will directly initiate prosecution.<br />
11. For legal purposes, Lokpal/Lokayukta would need to be declared as police officers under section 36 of the Cr.P.C.<br />
12. All records related to a case shall be public after enquiry/investigation is complete.<br />
13. All complaints filed in Lokpal/Lokayukta will have to be compulsorily enquired/investigated, preferably in a time bound manner.<br />
14. Lokpal/Lokayukta should have the following powers:<br />
* They should have the powers of a civil court to summon any officers and documents.<br />
* They should also have the powers of search and seizure.<br />
* They should also have the powers to ensure compliance of their orders. This could include financial penalties also.<br />
* If corruption is going on in some case while investigations are on, Lokayukta/Lokpal shall have the powers to issue interim orders to stop or alter any government activity to ensure that corruption is stopped forthwith. Their orders shall be binding.<br />
15. Lokpal should be selected in the following manner:<br />
* A search and screening committee consisting of the following members should be made. This committee could be formed through either of the following two methods:<br />
1. The committee could consist of five members. One member could be suggested by collegium of the five seniormost Chief Justices of all High Courts. One member could be suggested by five seniormost Lokayuktas. One member could be suggested by a committee of Leaders of Opposition and Chairpersons of the two Houses of Parliament. Likewise, we can think of some more collegiums to select two more members. After a few years, one member could be suggested by a group of all predecessors of Lokpal.<br />
<br />
ORThe Committee could consist of fifteen members which are heads of certain institutions and individuals holding certain positions who shall be treated as ex-officio members of this committee like Directors of say two IITs, Directors of two IIMs, Editors of two national Dailies, President of Supreme Court Bar Association, Presidents of some professional bodies etc.<br />
<br />
1.<br />
1.<br />
* Appropriate criteria shall be made for screening and shortlisting candidates.<br />
* The candidates would be subjected to public hearings on the lines of confirmation hearings in US, though these hearings will be for selection and not confirmation.<br />
* On the basis of the above procedures, the Screening Committee shall recommend two times the names as there are vacancies to the Selection Committee, which will consist of Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India.<br />
* The Selection Committee will recommend such number of names as there are vacancies to the President for final appointment.<br />
2. Lokayukta of a state shall also be selected similarly.<br />
3. Whistleblower protection: Ordinarily, it shall be the duty of the police to take adequate steps to provide protection to those who complain of threats due to their blowing whistle against corruption. However, if someone is dissatisfied with the steps taken by police, then Lokayukta/Lokpal would be empowered to issue appropriate directions to the police. Lokayukta should have adequate powers to get their orders implemented from police. It was felt that in most of these cases, the identity of the whistleblower is ordinarily known. Therefore, the best deterrent against threats to whistleblowers would be, if the issues raised by them are thoroughly investigated and put on fast track so that a message goes to the corrupt that if they threaten anyone, their cases would become high priority for Lokayukta/Lokpal.<br />
4. It would be desirable if the Government of India provides for the institution of Lokayukta and Lokpal through an amendment to the constitution on the above lines.<br />
<br />
To support, Please send your name, address and contact number to youth4justice@gmail.com or call kapil mishra at 9818066041YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-87512015438058855932010-09-04T13:04:00.000+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.947+05:30YFJ Letter to Chief Justice of India4th Sept. 2010 <br />
<br />
To<br />
<br />
Hon'ble Mr. Justice S.H. Kapadia<br />
<br />
Chief Justice of India<br />
<br />
Supreme Court of India<br />
<br />
New Delhi<br />
<br />
<b>Sub.- Request to take notice of unconstitutional plan by Delhi Traffic Police to impose Section 144 during CWG 2010<br />
</b><br />
<br />
Dear Mr. Chief Justice<br />
<br />
I am writing this to draw your kind attention this proposal of Delhi Traffic Police. Imposing Section 144 CrPC is unreasonable, unjustified and a disproportionate use of a provision that has been provided in the criminal justice system to deal with emergency/urgent situations like riots and arson.<br />
<br />
Some recent media report indicates that in order to prevent the general commuters from infringing the dedicated lanes, Delhi Traffic Police is preparing to impose Section 144 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) on the demarcated areas for the duration of the Commonwealth Games (CWG 2010). This according to them is to ensure uninterrupted movement of the officials and athletes during the Games. Another news report subsequently makes no mention of Sec 144 CrPC.<br />
<br />
Action under this section is anticipatory, imposed generally in cases of emergency and meant to be used sparingly. Orders under this section are justifiable only when it is likely to create annoyance, injury or risk of injury to human life or safety, obstructions, or disturbance of the public tranquility, imperiling public safety and health. During the CWG 2010, the athletes and officials will be transported from the games village to the respective games venues in specially designated vehicles The commuters of Delhi going about their daily lives pose no risk or danger to their life and health.<br />
<br />
Declaring a certain portion of the road as “disturbed” under Section 144 of CrPC in this situation is blatantly absurd. The nature of the punishment of seizure of vehicle is not commensurate with the nature of the supposed crime.<br />
<br />
Preservation of the public peace and tranquility is the primary function of the government, and the law is not to be resorted to, when there are gaps in implementing policy. Penalizing common citizens in their zest to provide special arrangements for the participants and officials of the ensuing CWG is certainly not the way to do it.<br />
<br />
We request you to please take urgent note of the situation and ask Delhi Traffic Police to immediately take back this order which is against basic principal of equality mentioned in our constitution.<br />
<br />
SincerelyYOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-70800835736913888822010-08-10T23:41:00.000+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.949+05:30Book Release coverage:<!-- LEFT COLUMN --> <br />
<div> <span class="breadcr"> <h3 class="artbcrumb"> <div class="todayslink"><div id="headerlogo"> <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/"><img alt="Return to
frontpage" src="http://www.thehindu.com/template/1-0-1/gfx/logo.jpg" /></a> </div> </div><div class="todayslink"> Today's Paper » NATIONAL » NEW DELHI </div></h3></span> <span class="dateline"> <span class="upper"> NEW DELHI, </span> August 7, 2010 </span> </div><h1 class="detail-title">Development model promoted in the name of Games flayed</h1><script type="text/javascript">
var addthis_pub = "thehindu";
</script> <span class="author">Staff Reporter</span> <div class="detail-info"> <div class="article-links"> <!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --> <a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=20" onclick="return
addthis_open(this, '', '[URL]', '[TITLE]')" onmouseout="addthis_close()" title="Share this Article">Share</a> · <!-- AddThis Button END --> <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/article557034.ece?css=print" title="Print">print</a> · <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">
var min=8;
var max=18;
var min1=18;
var max1=24; /* set cookie functions */
function setCookie (name,value,days) {
if (days)
{
var date = new Date();
date.setTime(date.getTime()+(days*24*60*60*1000));
var expires = "; expires="+date.toGMTString();
}
else var expires = "";
document.cookie = name+"="+value+expires+"; path=/";
}
function getCookie (name) {
var nameEQ = name + "=";
var ca = document.cookie.split(';');
for(var i=0;i < ca.length;i++)
{
var c = ca[i];
while (c.charAt(0)==' ') c = c.substring(1,c.length);
if (c.indexOf(nameEQ) == 0) return c.substring(nameEQ.length,c.length);
}
return null;
}
function increaseFontSize() {
var temp=document.getElementById('inc').innerHTML
if(temp=="T-")
decreaseFontSize();
else
{
var p = document.getElementsByTagName('p');
for(i=0;i<p.length;i++) {
if(p[i].style.fontSize) {
var s = parseInt(p[i].style.fontSize.replace("px",""));
} else {
var s = 18;
}
if(s!=max) {
s = 18;
}
if(p[i].style.lineHeight) {
var t = parseInt(p[i].style.lineHeight.replace("px","")); } else {
var t = 24; }
if(t!=max1) {
t = 24; } p[i].style.fontSize = s+"px"
p[i].style.lineHeight = t+"px"
}
document.getElementById('inc').innerHTML="T-";
}
// save the font size in a cookie for one day
setCookie('fontsize', s, 1);
setCookie('lineheight', t, 1);
}
function decreaseFontSize() {
var p = document.getElementsByTagName('p');
for(i=0;i<p.length;i++) {
if(p[i].style.fontSize) {
var s = parseInt(p[i].style.fontSize.replace("px",""));
} else {
var s = 14;
}
if(s!=min) {
s =14;
}
if(p[i].style.lineHeight) {
var t = parseInt(p[i].style.lineHeight.replace("px","")); } else {
var t = 18; }
if(t!=min1) {
t = 18; } p[i].style.lineHeight = t+"px"
p[i].style.fontSize = s+"px"
} document.getElementById('inc').innerHTML="T+";
// save the font size in a cookie for one day
setCookie('fontsize', s, 1);
setCookie('lineheight', t, 1);
}
window.onload = function() {
// if the cookie exists, restore the variable
var fontsize = getCookie('fontsize');
var lineheight = getCookie('lineheight'); if (fontsize) {
var p = document.getElementsByTagName('p');
for(i=0;i<p.length;i++) {
document.getElementsByTagName('p')[i].style.fontSize = fontsize + 'px' }
}
if (lineheight) {
var p = document.getElementsByTagName('p');
for(i=0;i<p.length;i++) {
document.getElementsByTagName('p')[i].style.lineHeight = lineheight + 'px' }
}
}
if(getCookie('fontsize') == "18")
{
<!--
document.write('<a href="#" onclick="javascript:increaseFontSize();" title="Change Text Size" id="inc">T-</a> ');
-->
}
else
{
<!--
document.write('<a href="#" onclick="javascript:increaseFontSize();" title="Change Text Size" id="inc">T+</a> ');
-->
}
</script><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/article557034.ece#" id="inc" onclick="javascript:increaseFontSize();" title="Change Text Size">T+</a> <noscript> <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/article557034.ece?textsize=large&test=1" title="Large Text Size" >T+</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;·&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/article557034.ece?textsize=small&test=2" title="Small Text Size">T-</a> </noscript> </div></div><script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/200/addthis_widget.js" type="text/javascript">
</script> <div class="articleLead"> </div><div class="body"> A book titled “It's Common V/S Wealth” exposing the “myths and realities” of the Commonwealth Games was released at Gandhi Peace Foundation here on Friday. </div><div class="body">The book penned by Kapil Mishra, an activist and social entrepreneur, details the development model promoted in the name of the Games, raises questions on accountability and transparency, and assesses the Games in context of democratic values and principles. The book also poses questions for the Delhi Government and Organising Committee.</div><div class="body">Those who spoke at the occasion include BJP national general secretary Vijay Goel, veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar, Magsaysay Award winner Rajendra Singh and Ram Karan Solanki, Pradhan of 307 Khap, Palam village.</div><div class="body"><b>‘Take responsibility'</b></div><div class="body">Mr. Goel demanded that Sheila Dikshit and Suresh Kalmadi step down from their respective positions, taking responsibility for the ills plaguing the Games works.</div><div class="body">He said the budget for the Games has overshot the outlay that the then BJP Government at the Centre had in mind when it bid for the Commonwealth Games. </div><div class="body">Rajendra Singh and Kuldeep Nayar said the Games were imposed on the people without taking them into confidence. Mr. Nayar said that corruption was just one aspect of the Games-related issues. He noted that issues like loot of resources and the leaving out of Delhi residents from the Games preparation have not been discussed enough.</div><div class="body">Mr. Singh warned that the development model used to push through various infrastructure projects for the Games will now be replicated across the rest of the country.</div><div class="body"><br />
</div><div class="body"><br />
</div>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-18180553640843732452010-08-05T16:46:00.002+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.950+05:30Book Release<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE"></meta> <title></title> <meta content="OpenOffice.org 3.2 (Linux)" name="GENERATOR"></meta> <style type="text/css">
<!--
@page { margin: 0.79in }
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in }
-->
</style> <br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 255);"></span></b></u></span><br />
Book Release<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>It's Common V/S Wealth</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Exposing Commonwealth Games 2010</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Releasing on </b></span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>6th Aug. 2010 at 2:30 pm</b></span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Gandhi Peace Foundation, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg</b></span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>New Delhi</b></span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></span> </div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chief Guest:<br />
Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, MP, Rajyasabha</b></span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Key dignitaries:<br />
Shri Kuldeep Nayar, Senior Journalist<br />
Shri Rajendra Singh Megsasay Awardee<br />
Shri Arvind Kejriwal, Megsaysay Awardee<br />
Shri Prashant Bhushan, Senior Advocate</b></span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Shri Vijay Goel, Ex-Union Minister</b></span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sokhender Tomar- Arjun Awardee, CWG Gold Medalist 2002</b></span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>representatives from various civil society groups will be present</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Why this book?</b></span></span><span style="color: #ff6666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Because it’s Time to talk about the real side of CWG-2010</span></span><span style="color: #ff6666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">They are cutting trees, they are displacing people, snatching livelihoods, destroying river, looting the taxpayers, violating all possible labor laws, increasing cost of living to unimaginable heights, asking students to vacate hostels, destroying heritage of this age old city and all this in the name of </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Green Games.</b></span></span><span style="color: #ff6666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yes as a matter of fact the only thing green about upcoming Commonwealth Games in the city is “</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>the money”</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> involved in it.</span></span><span style="color: #ff6666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>This book reveals Myths and Realities of Commonwealth Games, Exposes scandalous development model that is being promoted in the name of Games, raises questions on accountability and transparency, assesses the Games in context of democratic values and principles, asks questions and demands Justice</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Book makes it clear that one can still love this city and love this nation and hate the loot in the name of commonwealth games. Commonwealth games are in no way a matter of national pride.</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><b>About the author</b></u></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Kapil Mishra is an activist and social entrepreneur. For last three years, He is spreading voice against the anti people development approach that is being practiced by authorities in the name of Commonwealth Games in the city. He has raised the voice inside Delhi Assembly against exploitation of Yamuna in the the name of Commonwealth Games and got detained for the action. He has initiated and participated in several protests against exploitation of common people and common resources in the name of “Growth and Development”. He has also prepared a report as Citizen Journalist for CNN-IBN on encroachment on river Yamuna and also has exposed the issues of violation of labor laws at Games sites by camping outside Games village along with other members of “Youth for Justice” <br />
A Masters in Social Work from Delhi School of Social Work, Kapil is presently doing M.B.A. (P.T.) from Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) University of Delhi. Currently he is working with Greenpeace India as Policy Officer.</span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 255);">From:- Youth For Justice</span></b></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">for further details, please contact us at - 9818066041, 9818898982, 9990200243</span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.y4j.blogspot.com</span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">youth4justice@gmail.com</span></div>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-54380205173586659982010-07-29T22:15:00.000+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.951+05:30You are invited<div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3333ff; font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/19621" target="_blank">"It's Common V/S Wealth"</a></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-size: x-large;"><b>Exposing Commonwealth Games 2010</b></span></div></div><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/19621" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrBkci5f0mq1-vidwwp4d7BcRt85GqAyLPA7pZmJLGgv8LtETfTVpZy9U6FtJ64tvwUP7ZWQhVjOOlEZyWpnT148hCHJC7j2BHdsoohbAILEh-0_nvbXH4vx9lywGAFKzq74vHSU9GTQ/s320/COVER+SAMPLE+new.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: red;"></span><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
Releasing on </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">6th Aug. 2010</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">at 2:00 pm</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Gandhi Peace Foundation</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">New Delhi</span></b></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: x-large;"><b>Y</b><b>ou are invited </b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><b style="color: #3333ff;">Why this book?</b><br style="color: #3333ff;" /> <br style="color: #3333ff;" /><span style="color: #3333ff;"> Because it’s Time to talk about the real side of CWG-2010</span><br style="color: #3333ff;" /> <br style="color: #3333ff;" /><span style="color: #3333ff;"> They are killing animals, they are cutting trees, they are displacing people, snatching livelihoods, destroying river, looting the taxpayers, violating all possible labor laws, increasing cost of living to unimaginable heights, asking students to vacate hostels, destroying heritage of this age old city and all this in the name of<b><span style="color: #006600;"> Green Games.</span></b></span><br style="color: #3333ff;" /> <br style="color: #3333ff;" /><span style="color: #3333ff;"> Yes as a matter of fact the only thing green about upcoming Commonwealth Games in the city is <b><span style="color: #006600;">“the money”</span></b> involved in it. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Book reveals Myths and Realities of Commonwealth Games, Exposes scandalous development model that is being promoted in the name of Games, raises questions on accountability and transparency and demands Justice.</b></span><br />
</div><span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: medium;"><b><br />
</b></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: medium;"><b>Please join us and spread it to all.</b></span><br />
</div>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-33018639107205486342010-07-25T12:50:00.002+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.952+05:30It's Common V/S Wealth<a title="View It's Common v/s Wealth by Kapil Mishra on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/34827235/It-s-Common-v-s-Wealth-by-Kapil-Mishra" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">It's Common v/s Wealth by Kapil Mishra</a> <object id="doc_387496772413345" name="doc_387496772413345" height="600" width="450" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" style="outline:none;" > <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=34827235&access_key=key-14ten3bp5ejfao1670hd&page=1&viewMode=list"><embed id="doc_387496772413345" name="doc_387496772413345" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=34827235&access_key=key-14ten3bp5ejfao1670hd&page=1&viewMode=list" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="600" width="450" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> </object>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-54731357641929754842010-07-24T01:38:00.001+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.953+05:30It's Common V/S Wealth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrBkci5f0mq1-vidwwp4d7BcRt85GqAyLPA7pZmJLGgv8LtETfTVpZy9U6FtJ64tvwUP7ZWQhVjOOlEZyWpnT148hCHJC7j2BHdsoohbAILEh-0_nvbXH4vx9lywGAFKzq74vHSU9GTQ/s1600/COVER+SAMPLE+new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrBkci5f0mq1-vidwwp4d7BcRt85GqAyLPA7pZmJLGgv8LtETfTVpZy9U6FtJ64tvwUP7ZWQhVjOOlEZyWpnT148hCHJC7j2BHdsoohbAILEh-0_nvbXH4vx9lywGAFKzq74vHSU9GTQ/s320/COVER+SAMPLE+new.jpg" /></a></div>Why this book?<br />
<br />
Because it’s Time to talk about the bloody side of CWG-2010<br />
<br />
They are killing animals, they are cutting trees, they are displacing people, snatching livelihoods, destroying river, looting the taxpayers, violating all possible labor laws, increasing cost of living to unimaginable heights, asking students to vacate hostels, destroying heritage of this age old city and all this in the name of Green Games.<br />
<br />
Yes as a matter of fact the only thing green about upcoming Commonwealth Games in the city is “the money” involved in it. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Dear Friends</span><br />
<br />
As you know, "Youth for Justice" is raising its voice against exploitation of Common People and Common Resources in the name of Games.<br />
This book is in continuation of the battle we are fighting..<br />
<br />
Exclusive E-edition is available here:<br />
<a href="http://exposingcwg2010.wordpress.com/"><b>It's Common v/s Wealth</b></a><br />
<br />
<strong><a href="" name="download" style="color: #333333;">Available Ebook reading formats:</a></strong><br />
<span class="subnote"> This book is free. </span><br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr> <th style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); font-weight: bold; padding: 2px; text-align: center;">Format</th> <th style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); font-weight: bold; padding: 2px; text-align: center;">Full Book</th> </tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px;"><b><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/extreader/read/19621">Online Reading</a></b> (HTML)</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/extreader/read/19621">View</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px;"><b><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/reader/read/19621">Online Reading</a></b> (JavaScript)</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/reader/read/19621">View</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px;"><b>Kindle</b> (.mobi)</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/download/19621/4/null/0/0/its-common-vs-wealth">Download</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px;"><b>Epub</b> (open industry format, good for Stanza reader, others)</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/download/19621/8/null/0/0/its-common-vs-wealth">Download</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px;"><b>PDF</b> (good for highly formatted books, or for home printing)</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/download/19621/1/null/0/0/its-common-vs-wealth">Download</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px;"><b>RTF</b> (readable on most word processors)</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/download/19621/3/null/0/0/its-common-vs-wealth">Download</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px;"><b>LRF</b> (for Sony Reader)</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/download/19621/9/null/0/0/its-common-vs-wealth">Download</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px;"><b>Palm Doc (PDB)</b> (for Palm reading devices)</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/download/19621/7/null/0/0/its-common-vs-wealth">Download</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px;"><b>Plain Text (download)</b> (flexible, but lacks much formatting)</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/download/19621/6/null/0/0/its-common-vs-wealth">Download</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px;"><b>Plain Text (view)</b> (viewable as web page)</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/download/19621/6/null/1/0/its-common-vs-wealth">View</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-70039403480591738892010-05-17T13:30:00.002+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.954+05:30The Reality of Green Games<div style="width:425px" id="__ss_4122290"><strong style="display:block;margin:12px 0 4px"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/youth4justice/green-games" title="Green Games">Green Games</a></strong><object id="__sse4122290" width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=greengames-100517025651-phpapp02&stripped_title=green-games" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><embed name="__sse4122290" src="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=greengames-100517025651-phpapp02&stripped_title=green-games" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div style="padding:5px 0 12px">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/youth4justice">Kapil Mishra</a>.</div></div>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-35449998654426735102010-05-12T11:48:00.002+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.955+05:30Letter to LG Protesting MCD Plans to Kill/Remove City Animals and seeking your urgent intervention12th May 2010<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
To<br />
<br />
Shri Tejendra Khanna<br />
<br />
Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Delhi<br />
<br />
Raj Niwas<br />
<br />
Delhi-110054.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Respected Sir,<br />
<br />
Sub.- Protesting MCD Plans to Kill/Remove City Animals and seeking your urgent intervention<br />
<br />
Greetings from “Youth for Justice”<br />
<br />
This is to bring to your notice that in the wake of upcoming Commonwealth Games in the city, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning that stray dogs to be rounded-up across the city before Commonwealth Games and taken elsewhere. There are talks of removing stray dogs from their natural surroundings before the Games. <br />
<br />
Municipal body capture stray dogs in the cruelest manner causing serious injuries to them in the process and either kill them or release them on the outskirts in the city. These dogs eventually die horrible deaths as they do not know how to fend for themselves in unfamiliar surroundings. This action is in gross violation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules which only allows stray dogs to be removed for sterilisation, vaccination. Under ABC rules, the dogs should be returned where they were picked up from.<br />
<br />
There is also news of barbaric and dastardly killing of 11 dogs in the Jal Sadan vicinity in Lajpat Nagar area.<br />
<br />
We should take into account the rights of animals. We should not try to change the face of the city for an event that is taking place for only two weeks. The Constitution of India gives us the right to show compassion to animals.<br />
<br />
We demand effective action against illegal slaughtering houses where animals are killed cruelly, strict implementation of livestock transport rules and prevention of atrocities on street animals.<br />
<br />
We request you to order immediate probe into the Lajpat Nagar incident and also to ask MCD Commissioner to sop any further plans of killing/removing these animals in the name of Games.<br />
<br />
Looking forward to your immediate response<br />
<br />
Thanks<br />
<br />
Yours Sincerely<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
All Members of Youth for Justice<br />
<br />
And all concerned citizen of the city<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
C.C. TO<br />
<br />
1. Mayor, MCD, Delhi<br />
<br />
2. Commissioner, MCD, DelhiYOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-51074822178676985352010-05-01T08:54:00.000+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.957+05:301000 Days of Yamuna Satyagraha - Saluting the spirit of People's Movement<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: blue;"> YOUTH FOR JUSTICE</span> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>is proud to announce that </b></span></div><div style="color: orange; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>YAMUNA SATYAGRAHA </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>has completed </b></span></div><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>1000 days </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>of its existence. </b></span></div><br />
Started as People's initiative against encroachment on riverbed in the name of Games.<br />
<br />
<strong>Chronology of YAMUNA SATYAGRAHA by YOUTH FOR JUSTICE</strong><br />
<div class="single-entry"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>2 Aug to 15th August 2007</strong><br />
<strong>Youth for Justice,</strong> farmers of Yamuna khaddar and Sunil Parbhakar joins Yamuna Satyagraha. The farmers admirably took responsibility to maintain the Satyagraha sthal. Youth for Justice provided the much needed youth energy for the movement.<br />
Press conferences, folk songs, inviting people/NGOs/polticians from Delhi and outside to sit on satyagraha. Foreign media too troops in. On 15th august, we staged a march to the stream of Yamuna to hoist tri-colour. Yamuna was in good flow but devoid of its flood plains. Unable to meander like a river and recharge the flood plain aquifers.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>18th Aug-</strong> "YOUTH FOR YAMUNA" WAS LAUNCHED WITH STUDENTS FROM DELHI SCHOOL OF SOCIALWORK<br />
<strong>19 August,</strong><br />
<br />
SATYAGRAHA IN WELL<br />
Satyagrahis barricaded inside the games village site, pressured to move out. In protest, Sunil Parbhakar(25 years) get down in an abandoned dry well and resumes his satyagraha inside the well, with a chameleon and a snake as his co satyagrahis.<br />
<br />
Medha patkar, Ch. Ramkaran solanki( head of 360 villages of Delhi), Govindacharya, C.V.Rajagopal and others gather at the satyagraha sthal.<br />
<br />
<strong>18th September</strong><br />
STALLING PROCEEDINGS OF DELHI ASSEMBLY.<br />
Sunil Parbhakar and Kapil Mishra and other young boys and girls from Youth for Justice along with Diwan Singh from Natural Heritage First enter Delhi assembly and stall the proceedings, demanding discussion on Yamuna. Boys taken into police custody. Then there were long discussions on Yamuna in Assembly<br />
27th September<br />
Yamuna satyagraha co-organises a function along with Shahid Bhagat Singh Brigade at Sur Ghat near Wazirabad. The function was organized on birth day of Shahid Bhagat Singh.<br />
<strong>2nd October</strong><br />
300 people march from Yamuna Satyagraha sthal to Raj Ghat.<br />
<strong>10th October</strong><br />
March to Supreme Court- students of Aravalli Inst. Of Manamgement, Jal Biradari, Youth for Justice, NHF and others totalling more than 200 marches to supreme Court to demand justice for the river. Outnumbered and surrounded by police.<br />
<strong>24th October</strong>24 hours Yamuna satyagraha starts at NH-8, opposite hotel raddison at Mahipal Pur. Harvinder Rana , a local youth volunteer and his friends take the initiative.<br />
<strong><br />
Youth for Justice</strong> organizes a huge aarti samaroh for Yamuna at Wazirabad with more than 500 people joining it on the bank of river Yamuna at Sonia Vihar.<br />
<strong>12th November</strong><br />
A delegation led by Shri Kuldeep Nayar including Dr. Vikram Soni and Diwan singh from NHF and Manoj Mishra from Peace Institute meets the Group of Ministers.<br />
<strong>18th November</strong>Candle march organized by Youth for Justice at Central Park in Cannaught Place, warning the government against turning Yamuna Flood plains into another Nandigram.<br />
<br />
<strong>22nd November</strong><br />
<br />
TEMPORARY MORATORIUM – Dr. Vikram Soni and his team’s efforts tastes success. At a meeting of YRDA attended by 40 technical experts from various fields, the LG declares temporary moratorium on further constructions on Yamuna Flood Plains subject to further studies. CGWB commissioned to do further studies and directed to work with Dr Soni’s team.<br />
<br />
<strong>1 Dec to 9th Dec</strong><br />
Yamuna Bhujal Bachao Yatra organized in all the villages and colonies along both banks in Delhi. Led by Rajender Singh, NGOs and farmers join hands to spread awareness about the significance of Yamuna for ground water recharge.<br />
<br />
December<br />
<br />
Message to save flood plains displayed at the back of more than 125 Auto Rickshaws with the help of NyayaBhoomi. We can still find these.<br />
Dec<br />
NHF and Youth for Justice and farmers of Yamuna Khadar protests the dissection of yamuna Flood plains by building slip roads in a wrong manner at Vikas Marg.<br />
<strong>21 Feb, 2008</strong><br />
Panel discussion at Indian Women Press Corps(IWPC), co organized by NHF, attended by Kuldeep Singh( former Justice, SC), Kuldeep Nayar, Rajender Singh, Dr. Vikram Soni, Vandana Shiva, M.C.Mehta and Bhure Lal. The topic was preservation of natural resources in Delhi.<br />
March<br />
We could not afford to stand mute witness to laborers’ death at Games Village site. Youth for Justice and NHF raised the issue, agitated against unhygienic conditions at the construction site. With support from media, we managed to force the authorities to clean the site and make it hygienic and the deaths stopped.<br />
21 March<br />
Activists burn effigy of Shiela Dixit on occasion of Holi to protest construction of Games village at flood Plains.<br />
<br />
Dr. Soni meets Shri Kapil Sibal, heading the ministry of Science and Technology to seek his support for protection of natural resources of the city.<br />
<strong>5 June</strong><br />
7 day Yamuna Yatra from Delhi to Agra launched. Organized by Youth for Justice with support from farmers, and NHF, the yatris did overnight stay in the villages or towns along the Yamuna and enjoyed hospitality of local people. It helped in lot of sensitization and awareness raising. Crucial for future campaigns.<br />
<br />
<br />
Security guards at Games Village not paid salary. Again an instance of injustice right next to us. The poor youth who had come from far away villages in country to serve as security guard at the Games village were subject to exploitation. We again agitated, went to Police etc. Finally, the guards got their salary.<br />
<br />
Meeting sports minister Mr.M.S.Gill. Shri Kuldeep Nayar used his good offices to arrange this meeting.<br />
<br />
NHF has completes a video film on the water recharge potential of Yamuna Flood Plains and the’ PRESERVE and USE’ scheme proposed. The film is shown to the LG<br />
<strong>28th,29th,30th July</strong><br />
Rajender Singh decided to take the message of Yamuna satyagraha to the entire country and launched the ‘nadi sangrakshan satyagraha’. Three day camp was organized at Bal Bhavan in Delhi. Water activists from all over the country attended it.<br />
<br />
Cash for vote scam-<strong> Youth for Justice</strong> and NHF participated in the protest demonstration at India gate. Kept in police custody till late mid night.<br />
<br />
Candle march in Central Park organized by <strong>Youth for Justice</strong> and Aryan Foundation against apathy of judiciary towards the Yamuna cause.<br />
1 Sept<br />
George Fernandez visits Yamuna Satyagraha sthal and admits mistake of NDA in permitting Akshardham Mandir on the flood plains<br />
11 Sept<br />
March to PM’s address venue- satyagrahis taken into custody<br />
Youth for Justice, NHF, and farmers stage protest march to Vigyan Bhavan, the venue of Ground water Congress addressed by Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh. The marchers taken into police custody for through out the day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>23rd September</strong><br />
<br />
MORATORIUM SEALED- At the concluding meeting of YRDA, CGWB presented conclusions of its study in response to the study by Dr. Soni’s team. CGWB accepts the water recharge potential of flood plains. The Lt. Governor announces sealing the moratorium.<br />
<br />
<strong>28th September</strong><br />
Diwan Singh represents Yamuna Satyagraha on World Rivers’day at a function held at Budwani in M.P, organized by Narmada Bachao Andolan.<br />
<br />
<br />
6th October<br />
At a function held at IIC, Lodhi Road, the LG once again announces his commitment to preserve the yamuna Flood Plains for water recharge and bio-diversity and lauds the role played by Dr. Soni and his team.<br />
Onwards<br />
Since then our activities have mainly been confined to a passive mode. The farmers along with some satyagrahis have been maintaining the satyaraha sthal and continuing with relay hunger strike to demand stop to work on Common Wealth Games village.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">During last 1000 days, hundreds of letter have been written to the authorities, scores of protests were organized and we have reached to thousands of people with our message for the River Yamuna.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></div><br />
and the struggle continues....YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-50159949415954028942010-03-03T16:16:00.000+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.958+05:30FOUR YEARS OF "YOUTH FOR JUSTICE"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxz-lKhHC6mYJK31kvRacDWAKKwxQ93csmgDtyZ4jzc4_ykVBceyTNBeboahZFN9sC8Leumn1DiMGE1DJUNycib7LegUfNp_ZsjpHbCih2ExFxPJBGmztweWa7FOizHZgZecQuq7RC4Q/s1600-h/Four+years+of+YFJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxz-lKhHC6mYJK31kvRacDWAKKwxQ93csmgDtyZ4jzc4_ykVBceyTNBeboahZFN9sC8Leumn1DiMGE1DJUNycib7LegUfNp_ZsjpHbCih2ExFxPJBGmztweWa7FOizHZgZecQuq7RC4Q/s640/Four+years+of+YFJ.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-83003965715953634742010-01-27T17:00:00.001+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.959+05:30REPUBLIC DAY GET TOGETHER- Details<span style="border-collapse: collapse;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><b>Details of 26th January 2010 Get Together</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: #3366ff;">Possible Action Programs and Coordinators</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>1. Campaign for Judicial Reforms- Vipul and Abhijit</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">a. Vipul to study and collect facts- Abhijit to help him</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">b. Vipul to mobilize support from other students</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">c. Next meeting on sunday 31st Jan. 2010 at 6 pm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">d. Memorandums to be prepared and presented to authorities </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>2. Implementation of UGC guidelines</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">a. Ramanand to coordinate and collect facts on the same</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">b. Ramanand to make a presentation to the group after finalizing the plan</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>3.</b><b> Hemraj suggested action for homeless people in the city- group to decide on it</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">a. Hemraj will carryout a study on the same</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>4. Ankita discussed possibility of working on equitable developmental approach and targeting factors causing the migration, after debate on the same, it is decided that the issues is relevant and group will identify areas of possible interventions after studying the feasibility of the same.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>5. Ramanand is Coordinator of YFJ-RTI Cell, Sumit will help him</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>6. Position paper on Commonwealth Games to be released on 3rd march through press conference</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>7. Position paper to include- introduction of CWG, Facts, our stand and action plan</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>8. Objectives of the campaign on CWG:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">a. Promote sports rather than sporting events</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">b. spreading awareness about basic facts and history related to CWG</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">c. ecological cost, economical cost</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">d. to fix accountability and seek justification</span>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-81413447092566333382010-01-19T15:13:00.003+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.960+05:30REPUBLIC DAY GET TOGETHER<div style="text-align: center;"><b><img src="http://img.fropper.com/z/blog-images/500x400/P/Prasad9686-UA2-blog-2834.jpg" /></b><br />
</div><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Dear All</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: orange;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>You are invited to Join us in our </b></span></span><br />
</div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Republic Day Get Together</b></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>on 26th Jan. 2009</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><b>at 3:00 pm</b></span><br />
</div><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Highlights:</b></span><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>1. A Video Presentation</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>2. Discussion on Action Plan- 2010</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>3. Introduction of New Memebers</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>4. YFJ Song</b></span></span><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>All are invited</b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Venue- 8/32, First Floor, South Patel Nagar </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">( Near Patel Nagar Metro Station), New Delhi-110008</span></b><br />
<br />
To confirm your partiicpation-<br />
call- 9818066041, 9818898982, 9810225272, 9971790817, 9990200243<br />
or email at - youth4justice@gmail.com<br />
<br />
or confirm your partiicpation here:<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=265011755705">http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=265011755705</a></b></span></span>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-75311802984547024282009-12-29T16:46:00.002+05:302011-03-25T16:35:47.961+05:30Separate Budget for Agriculture- To make Indian Farmers Globally Competitive<p align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Article by - Kapil Mishra</span><br /></p><p align="JUSTIFY">About 70 per cent of the population in the country depended on agriculture and related activities, it is unfortunate that there is no separate budget with policies and welfare measures for the benefit of the farming community.</p> <p align="JUSTIFY">If we look at the Present Agriculture Scenario in India, we observe that Agriculture is Primary sec<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-7YqTm5XiL4p_htYcunlbGWwWrU8GTUJHU9GNVL3WXzxPy9W_lpeP4HDkdjiRCyXMevVLqWezL9cdT_Oh7BnEjYM9mS0RVN_xkvdzWEJpD2PwBNK1boB-klbiB0wC9kmabE8Ri-DTGg/s1600-h/url.htm"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-7YqTm5XiL4p_htYcunlbGWwWrU8GTUJHU9GNVL3WXzxPy9W_lpeP4HDkdjiRCyXMevVLqWezL9cdT_Oh7BnEjYM9mS0RVN_xkvdzWEJpD2PwBNK1boB-klbiB0wC9kmabE8Ri-DTGg/s400/url.htm" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420616951906321538" border="0" /></a>tor and backbone of Indian Economy but total plan allocations are only 3.9% in 10<sup>th</sup> plan which are down by 1% over 9<sup>th</sup> Plan. More than 65 crores population directly dependent on agricultural for its livelihood, but still we do have a separate budget for Agricultural in India, whereas with only 5 crores travelers, Railway has a separate budget. The logic is difficult to understand. Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh has announced a target of 4% annual growth for agriculture sector during his independence day speech this year but the actual growth in last quarter is into negatives and there are no signs of recovery in near future. </p> <p align="JUSTIFY">Farmers suicides in Vidarbha and other parts of country are just symptoms of larger problem of ignorance and insensitive attitude of policy makers towards Indian Agriculture in general and farmers in particular. </p> <p align="JUSTIFY">Public Investment in agriculture has been on a decline and is currently estimated only 1.5%. The flow of capital is not increasing as stipulated in the Credit Policy of Govt. of India. Farm loan interest rates are still very high and the process of availing a loan from bank is too complex and time taking for small farmers. Large scale corruption in schemes like Kisan Credit Cards is a well known fact. Good quality seeds and other inputs are not easily accessible to the farmers. Most irrigation projects are pending since 1970s. Power supply is a major worry for most of the farmers across country. There is no consistency on Export- Import Policy on agricultural products and inputs. All these factors together makes Agriculture as least desired profession in India which proudly claims to be an Agricultural Economy. According to a survey done by National Farmers Commission, 50% of Indian farmers do not want their children to take up the profession. Agriculture as a profession has lost its dignity and respect in India because of low profitability, physical drudgery and high risk involved in it. </p> <p align="JUSTIFY">India has most varied agro-climatic conditions but so far we have not exploited its potential and our exports are only 1.1% of global trade. </p> <p align="JUSTIFY">To deal with changes in world economy and climate and to manage food security while ensuring sustainable development, India needs to focus on Agriculture. This is high time when we should have a separate budget for Agriculture in India. A separate budget may hep in prioritizing the needs of agriculture sector and may provide much needed relief to 600 million small farmers of India. The separate presentation of budget will get exclusive focus and new initiatives. As per recommendations of National Round table on Farmers Issues and agriculture, The Budget for Agricultural should be increased to Rs. 25,000 crores from its present level. By special measures the Gross capital formation in agriculture shall be increased to 15% from its present level of 10%. This would call for more budgetary allocations, greater investments, more credit flow, better prices for farm produce, increased savings and more economic activities and enterprises at village level. Given the size of agricultural operations, the scope for value addition and need to accelerate growth, the public investment in agriculture has to be taken to 5%. </p> <p align="JUSTIFY">Time has come for making Indian farmers Globally Competitive, like service and industry sectors, Indian farmers also have the potential to compete at Global level while meeting the needs of food security of country, only a focused approach and farmer centric policies are needed. A separate Budget for Agriculture will be a right step in this direction. </p> <p align="JUSTIFY"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="mailto:Kapil.cifa@gmail.com" target="_blank">Kapil.cifa@gmail.com</a></u></span></span> </p>YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510695362501752156.post-2966355801757965302009-12-18T11:21:00.003+05:302011-03-25T16:40:27.716+05:30Campaign for Separate Budget for Agriculture (CSBA)<a href="http://farmersandyouth.blogspot.com/2009/12/campaign-for-separate-budget-for.html">Campaign for Separate Budget for Agriculture (CSBA)</a><br /><br /> YOUTH FOR JUSTICE under its programme "Farmers and I" announces launch of "Campaign for Separate Budget for Agriculture" (CSBA)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Why this Campaign:</span><br /><br />This is to demand from Central Govt. to Present a Separate Budget for Agriculture.<br /><br />About 70 per cent of the population in the country depended on agriculture and related activities, it Is unfortunate that there was no separate budget with policies and welfare measures for the benefit of the farming community.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Why it is needed:</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><ul style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;" >India has got the largest research and extension system in the world, but we are importing 3 million MT wheat to meet our food security needs </span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;" >India has the most varied agro-climatic conditions, but so far, we have not exploited its potential and our exports are 1.1 % of the global trade. </span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;" >India is the most favourite destination for the global giants, but we are unable to provide forward linkages & the processing is below 2%. </span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;" >With having advanced technologies, India still wastes over 25% of its fruits & vegetables production. </span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;" ><b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Agriculture</b> is the primary sector, but total plan allocations are only 3.9% in 10<sup>th</sup> Plan, which are down by 1% over 9<sup>th</sup> Plan. </span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;" >Agro trade assumes an important dimension, but till now, we don’t have Agricultural Counselors, as the other countries like Holland, Russia, Israel are having. </span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;" >More than 65 crore population depending on <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Agriculture</b>, but still we do not have <b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">separate</b> <b style="background-color: rgb(160, 255, 255);">budget</b> for this, where as with 5 crore traveler Railways have a <b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">separate</b> <b style="background-color: rgb(160, 255, 255);">budget</b>. </span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;" >After globalization, we are dangerously placed in 32 crops, if opened up completely our 5 crore farmers will get eliminated, but no planning for the crop shift program. </span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;" >68% of the pesticides samples picked up from UP by CARD, failed in quality standards, </span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;" >Indian <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> scientists have done a lot, but the government is yet to wake up to confer a Bharat Ratna to honour to any person connected with farming research and development</span></li></ul>(Source: National Round Table on Farmers Issues)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">What we Demand</span><br /></div><br /><br /><p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" ><b>1. Policy Initiatives: </b></span><br /></p> <ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Given the massive implications of WTO for Indian <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b>, a national level WTO Centre on <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Agriculture</b> should be set up, which should do global studies on trends, opportunities and challenges for Indian <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> and agro trade on one hand and providing critical information and guidelines to states on the other hand, besides providing training to various key stake-holders on WTO </span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >The Government must make a <b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">separate</b> <b style="background-color: rgb(160, 255, 255);">budget</b> for <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> on the pattern of Railway <b style="background-color: rgb(160, 255, 255);">Budget</b>, given the fact that 2/3<sup>rd</sup> of the country’s population depends on <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b>. The <b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">separate</b> presentation of <b style="background-color: rgb(160, 255, 255);">budget</b> will get exclusive focus and new initiatives.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >India is an agricultural country. But, till date not a single Agricultural Counsellor has been appointed in any of the countries to promote agricultural trade. All major countries like USA, Australia, Japan, Holland, Israel etc. have their exclusive Agricultural Counselors in major countries, who are promoting agri & food trade of their countries. </span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >There are more than 300 channels in India from film to fashion and from sports to spirituality, but none for <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b>. There must be an exclusive DD channel on <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> to focus on farmers issues and technology transfer. </span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" ><b>2. Budgetary Support: </b></span><br /></p> <ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >The <b style="background-color: rgb(160, 255, 255);">budget</b> for <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> to be increased to Rs. 25,000 crores from its present level of less than Rs. 6,500 crores. The increased <b style="background-color: rgb(160, 255, 255);">budget</b> to be directed primarily on agricultural research and extension, which hold key to agricultural productivity and quality. </span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Public investment in <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> has been on a decline over the last five years, and is currently estimated at 1.5%. Given the size of agricultural operations, the scope for value addition and need to accelerate growth, this has to be taken to 5%. Greater public investment would mean better infrastructure development and attracting more private investment.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >By special measures the gross capital formation in <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> to be increased to 15% from its current present levels of 10%. This would call for more budgetary allocations, greater investment, more credit flow, better prices to farm produce, increased savings and more economic activities and enterprises at village levels.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Despite so much ‘so called focus’ of the Union Governemnt on <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b>, the Plan allocations to <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> increased by 39% in 10<sup>th</sup> Plan over the 9<sup>th</sup> Plan, as compared to 89% growth in 9<sup>th</sup> Plan from 8<sup>th</sup> Plan. This brought down the Plan allocations for <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> down to 3.9% in 10<sup>th</sup> Plan from 4.9% in 9<sup>th</sup> Plan. </span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" align="justify"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" ><b>3. Farm Credit and insurance </b></span><br /></p> <ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >The flow of capital to be increased, as stipulated in credit policy of the Government. The shortfall in 18% stipulated norms for agri lending by most nationalised banks in 2004 - 05 should be made up by additional flow in 2006 - 07 by opening up more retail outlets, installing KCC compatible ATMs and privatizing credit distribution systems on the pattern of urban models. But, more importantly the outreach need to be expanded to cover more farmers, rather than serving the farmers with more credit</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >The farm loan interest rates are still high, particularly in non-commercial banks, which are still between 12 - 18 %. The interest rates by commercial banks to be reduced to 5 % and by non - commercial banks at a maximum of 10%. This can be done by reducing the cost of processing by more computerization, flatter structures of banks, reduction in risks and by breaking high rate FDs and raising low cost funds. </span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Given the difficult situation of farmers and in light of the large scale suicide deaths, farmers Group Insurance should be introduced by Government on 75 : 25 percent sharing basis, wherein union Government subsidizes by 75% of a Rs. 2.0 lacs term insurance of one member per family basis. This would cost the union Government a small amount of about Rs. 15,00 crores annually.</span></li></ul> <p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" align="justify"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" > </span></p> <ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >The issue of large scale corruption rampant in issuance of KCC needs to be seriously viewed by the Government. According to some MPs, the corruption was earlier in Cooperatives, RRBs and LDBs, but the phenomenon is now extended to Commercial Banks, who ask for 7 – 10% money upfront before issuing KCC. Same is true with most banks for sanctioning ACBC loans</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" align="justify"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" ><b>4. Agricultural Inputs</b></span><br /></p> <ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Seeds holds key to crops productivity. Given the need for varietals improvement and diversification, an accelerated R&D program on seeds and biotechnology R&D needs to be taken up to provide technological support to public sector as well as private seeds companies. The Ministry of <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Agriculture</b> should effectively utilize the <b style="background-color: rgb(160, 255, 255);">budget</b> of Rs. 2,00 crore, preferably under PPP for focussed R&D work for release of high quality hybrids.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >The subsidy bill of over Rs. 20,000 crores on fertilizers needs to be rationalized to best utilize and stop its wastage. The subsidy is highly urea centric and the result is fast soil degradation, affecting crops productivity and defeating the very purpose for which subsidies are given. The subsidy does not encourage fertilizer industry to spend on extension, new products development and fertilizers application technologies. There is no subsidy on bio-fertilisers and disbalanced support for P and K and non urea based nitrogenous fertilizers.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Crop losses in India are estimated over Rs. 60,000 crores annually. Pesticides play an important role not only in crop productivity, cost reduction and quality improvement but also in protecting crops from pests and diseases. The cost benefit ratio in using pesticides is heavily in favour of farmers. The Government however needs to check flood of spurious pesticides in market by strengthening quality enforcement and tackling rampant corruption in insecticide laboratories. 16% excise duty on pesticides also needs to be removed (as there is no duty on other agri-inputs) to reduce farmers cost on crop protection. </span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" align="justify"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" ><b>5. Water Resource Management </b></span><br /></p> <ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >To address the scarcity of water and promote scientific <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> micro-irrigation needs to be promoted on a large scale. The Task Force on MI had suggested an investment of Rs. 63,000 crores over a period of next fifteen years to cover 69.5 million hectare area under drip (27.0) and sprinkler (42.5) systems. As the UPA Government has dropped the Inter-linking of River Project, just 10% of the funds of Rs. 5.60 lac crores envisaged for that project can be allocated for promoting MI.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Water is the major issue in 21st Century, particularly ground water. The ongoing watershed programs needs to be strengthened by sufficient funding support with a focus on how to recharge ground water and involving communities in water harvesting system on farmers' lands. The awareness should be created against un-accountable mining of ground water.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Free power supply to farmers is a major problem, which destroys water resources in the ground due to excessive use. The experiments in Punjab, Haryana and Tamilnadu have proved this point beyond doubt. More over free power supply reverses any progress made in water conservation, judicious use and also affects soil productivity. This needs to be stopped.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Farmers however need to be educated on water usage systems to drift them away from flood irrigation systems, which affects productivity and wastes water. The most important part is the crops planning, which needs to be done keeping water resources of a region and the water intake by various crosp in mind. For example high water consuming crops like paddy and sugarcane should be grown in high rainfall areas.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" align="justify"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" ><b>6. Agricultural exports </b></span><br /></p> <ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >India should take firm stand on agricultural market access issue and insist a level playing field as far as agricultural subsidies and market access issues are concerned. Developed countries can not continue heavily subsidizing their farming and ask India to open up its markets. The time gained with the temporary failure of WTO should be utilized for preparing farmers to face the imminent global competition. </span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >The most important issue is to prepare a national crops competitiveness index, based on their competitiveness. There are about 32 crops in which India is uncompetitive in medium and long run, a national level crop shift program needs to be executed.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Just by standing firm on WTO issues, India can not avoid import onslaught far long. It is therefore urgently needed to strengthen our <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b>, improve productivity and quality, reduce post harvest losses by better PHM and accelerate value addition activities at farm level. The processing in fruits and vegetables which is less than 2% needs to be taken to 10% level and for that an investment of Rs. 100,000 crores is needed. </span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >India holds 15% of the world's arable land and numero uno position in several items of <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> but its share in global trade is less than 1.2%. Through above mentioned measures, market driven R&D, more crop based AEZs and effective exports facilitation, India should aim at 5% of the global trade in <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b>.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" align="justify"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" ><b>7. Rural Employment and Poverty alleviation </b></span><br /><br /></p> <ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >The market led reforms in Indian <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> needs to be introduced and the agricultural operations should be integrated with markets to realize best value of the farm produce. This would also create enough jobs and have catalytic impact on quality.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >The income from <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> needs to be enhanced, which can happen by either reduction in costs or extra productivity or increased support prices. The farm incomes need to be supplemented by more off-farm economic activities, which shall create more jobs and extra disposable income at farmers level. This would improve agri operations, create more demand for manufactured goods and thus step up economic growth rate.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Rural infrastructure, particularly power, storage systems and market yards needs to be strengthened. The quality and supply of power needs improvement. More multipurpose market yards complex, comprised of go downs, cold storage, farmers service centre etc. needs to be set up. Farmers need to be educated on the available scheme of the Ministry and private sector needs to be invited for partnership. Currently support provisions do not permit large scale play of corporates in agricultural marketing and storage operations.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Centre for <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Agriculture</b> and Rural Development has prepared a mega project of establishing Panchayat Level Agri Growth Centres at an estimated cost of Rs. 21,000 crores. The project outlines creating 10.0 million jobs, 30,000 crores of additional annual farm value, providing market opportunities of Rs. 50,000 crores and initiating various multifarious socio-economic activities, aimed at improving rural quality of life This project needs to be executed.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" align="justify"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" ><b>8. Special initiatives </b></span><br /></p> <ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Public - private partnership needs to be promoted in <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> research and extension activities, after studying models of various other countries. Over the years industry has developed specialized, cost effective and market oriented technologies and services to supplement Government efforts in this direction.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Positioning Indian <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> globally in the wake of globalization and leading the pack of developing countries. India can assist them by providing help in research, extension, education and institution building and thus earn money and also goodwill. The World <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Agriculture</b> Summit needs to be organized in India to move toward that.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Estimation of losses to farmers on account of price fluctuations of farm produce by putting in place a mechanism to regularly monitor on the pattern of Kerala. The system should be developed to compensate farmers due to such losses, as their loss bearing capacity is totally eroded due to poor returns from farming.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Structural reforms in <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> pertaining to land leasing and market restrictions need to be addressed. The market regulation on movement and procurements by private players is hampering market growth and prices realization by farmers. Similarly due to land leasing policies of State Governments the concept of contract farming is not successful. The experiments of contract farming are based on "win all", bringing value to all partners in operations. This needs to be encouraged on a large scale.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Organic <b style="background-color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">agriculture</b> needs to be given all support. The world market of organic products is estimated at $24 billion and is projected to go to $ 100 billion by 2015. India is ideally placed to take advantage of this, as many regions of the country are organic by default. Such regions and high value crops needs to be identified. Government should support in "India Branding", certification, extension services and in subsidizing bio-inputs. On the pattern of AEZ, Organic Zones need to be promoted.</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >States profiling of crops and animal resources needs to be done, indexing them against national and global benchmarks on cost, quality and productivity parameters, and their short, medium and long term strategic advantages. Based on this national indexing and estimation of market demands in short, medium and log terms national crop planning needs to be done, using a mix of incentives and dis-incentives. If India has to succeed in global market on a long term basis, this task is unavoidable. </span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" type="DISC"><li><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;" >Advanced MSP to be fixed for crops so that farmers can do their crops planning accordingly. This will avoid shortage and glut situations to a large extent. </span></li></ul>(Source: National Round Table on Farmers Issues)YOUTH FOR JUSTICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16966173324605835404noreply@blogger.com