YOUTH FOR JUSTICE

Campaign for Separate Budget for Agriculture (CSBA)

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:51:00 +0000

Campaign for Separate Budget for Agriculture (CSBA)

YOUTH FOR JUSTICE under its programme "Farmers and I" announces launch of "Campaign for Separate Budget for Agriculture" (CSBA)

Why this Campaign:

This is to demand from Central Govt. to Present a Separate Budget for Agriculture.

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.

Why it is needed:

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
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.
India is the most favourite destination for the global giants, but we are unable to provide forward linkages & the processing is below 2%.
With having advanced technologies, India still wastes over 25% of its fruits & vegetables production.
Agriculture is the primary sector, but total plan allocations are only 3.9% in 10^th Plan, which are down by 1% over 9^th Plan.
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.
More than 65 crore population depending on Agriculture, but still we do not have separate budget for this, where as with 5 crore traveler Railways have a separate budget.
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.
68% of the pesticides samples picked up from UP by CARD, failed in quality standards,
Indian agriculture 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

(Source: National Round Table on Farmers Issues)

What we Demand

1. Policy Initiatives:

Given the massive implications of WTO for Indian agriculture, a national level WTO Centre on Agriculture should be set up, which should do global studies on trends, opportunities and challenges for Indian agriculture 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

The Government must make a separate budget for agriculture on the pattern of Railway Budget, given the fact that 2/3^rd of the country’s population depends on agriculture. The separate presentation of budget will get exclusive focus and new initiatives.

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.

There are more than 300 channels in India from film to fashion and from sports to spirituality, but none for agriculture. There must be an exclusive DD channel on agriculture to focus on farmers issues and technology transfer.

2. Budgetary Support:

The budget for agriculture to be increased to Rs. 25,000 crores from its present level of less than Rs. 6,500 crores. The increased budget to be directed primarily on agricultural research and extension, which hold key to agricultural productivity and quality.

Public investment in agriculture 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.

By special measures the gross capital formation in agriculture 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.

Despite so much ‘so called focus’ of the Union Governemnt on agriculture, the Plan allocations to agriculture increased by 39% in 10^th Plan over the 9^th Plan, as compared to 89% growth in 9^th Plan from 8^th Plan. This brought down the Plan allocations for agriculture down to 3.9% in 10^th Plan from 4.9% in 9^th Plan.

3. Farm Credit and insurance

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

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.

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.

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

4. Agricultural Inputs

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 Agriculture should effectively utilize the budget of Rs. 2,00 crore, preferably under PPP for focussed R&D work for release of high quality hybrids.

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.

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.

5. Water Resource Management

To address the scarcity of water and promote scientific agriculture 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.

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.

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.

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.

6. Agricultural exports

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.

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.

Just by standing firm on WTO issues, India can not avoid import onslaught far long. It is therefore urgently needed to strengthen our agriculture, 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.

India holds 15% of the world's arable land and numero uno position in several items of agriculture 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 agriculture.

7. Rural Employment and Poverty alleviation

The market led reforms in Indian agriculture 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.

The income from agriculture 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.

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.

Centre for Agriculture 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.

8. Special initiatives

Public - private partnership needs to be promoted in agriculture 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.

Positioning Indian agriculture 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 Agriculture Summit needs to be organized in India to move toward that.

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.

Structural reforms in agriculture 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.

Organic agriculture 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.

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.

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.

(Source: National Round Table on Farmers Issues)

NATIONAL FARMERS CONVENTION-2009

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:05:00 +0000

CIFA India’s National Farmers Apex Organization, focusing on 600 million small farmers by networking them as producer groups and providing access to technologies through linking with markets, is organizing the 6^th NFC for the following objectives:-

1 Charter of Demand issues of Farmers and Industry for inclusion in the Union

Budget 2010-11.

2 Prepare CIGs and State Federations programs for training & Technology

Transfer.

3 To identify market connectivity through Contract Farming, Processing &

Commodity Trading.

4 Lobby with policy makers for favorable policies.

5 Join International Farmers Organization for mutually beneficial programs.

For details: www.nfc2009.org

Commonwelath Games are Not Green Games !!

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:21:00 +0000

INVITATION

A drama called Green Common Wealth Games is being enacted in Delhi on 30^th October, 2009 on Delhi Ridge. At 4:30 P.M tomorrow, Delhi Government shall be planting tree saplings at this place.

The venue shall be Bandh road, Ayanagar.

Youth for Justice, Natural heritage First, Ridge Bachao Andolan, Yamuna Satyagraha, and many other NGOs and RWAs shall join in to protest against this farce. This tree planting ceremony by Delhi Govt. shall coincide with a simultaneous tree sapling plantation programme held in London. The objective is to declare these Common Wealth Games as the first ever Green games.

We are tired of this drama by the authorities and will protest against it.

Many thousands of full grown trees have been cut in Delhi and some are waiting for axe to make way for Common wealth games related projects in Delhi.

Some numbers are as follows:

- Covering Sunherei nala and Kushak Nala for parking facility - 3800

- Ring Road By pass from Salim Garh Fort to Yamuna Velodrame

for Park & Ride Scheme - 3700

- At Siri Fort Complex for building Badminton and squash courts - 900

- India Habitat Centre to Seva nagar for Road widening for access

to Jawahar lal Nehru Stadium - 180

- Fly over Construction over Bara Pullah nala - 120

Another big blow to environment came from the site chosen for Common Wealth Games Village. It is being built on Yamuna Flood Plains. The flood plains are a vital water recharge area to meet the water needs of the city. It is also a sensitive eco- Zone.

The above are some of the major instances that show that these games are something other then green.

All of you are invited to join in the event. Please send your name at the earliest so that we can show it in the list of participants.

Venue: Bandh Road , Aya Nagar

Route: From Andheria More, take to Mandi Road. Reach Jauna Pur. From middle of Jauna Pur goes a Bandh Road. Take that. This road reaches a T- Junction. From here take left turn. This takes to the venue

Time: 4:20 P.M

Date: 30^th Oct, 2009

Are we Ready for the Games?

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 07:48:00 +0000

By: Kapil Mishra
Are we ready to the games?
Seven girls have died in a Delhi Government school following a stampede. This extremely sad and painful incidence is being handled as if it is just another accident.
Seven families have lost their beloved daughters and they don’t even know whom to blame for it.
Sudden death of these girls when they were in school is shocking and simply unacceptable. Accountability should be fixed and culprits should be punished severely. Authorities can not turn away from their responsibilities.
We all know that this is not going to happen and similar incidents will keep taking place in future also. If we look at the school and the locality where this school is located, we find that this school was situated in a poor unauthorised colony where there is no basic infrastructure available. Most of the students who study in this school are from lower socio-economic strata of our society. This is one of the most neglected areas in the city.
There are 1600 unauthorised colonies, hundreds of J.J. Clusters and rural villages in the city and more than 70% of the population of the city lives in these areas. They do not have access to piped drinking water, most of these areas are not connected with regular sewage system, and these areas do not have access to primary health centres and other basic infrastructure.
Sending their girl child to school is never an easy decision for parents from these backgrounds. Most of the girls who go to schools in these areas are first in the history of their families to attend school. Fear of uncertain is the biggest fear that stops parents from continuing the education of their girl child. Everywhere in Delhi eve teasing is a common phenomenon outside such schools. Most often girls do not even tell incidences of eve teasing to their parents because of the fear that if they will share it, their parents will stop sending them to school. A distant dream that this education may help them change their fate and make them come out of the vicious circle of poverty is the motivation that makes these girls so brave that in spite of all odds they keep strive for better education and opportunities. Every girl who is continuing higher education in these schools is doing so at her own risk.
Insecure environment, lack of basic infrastructure and fear of uncertain are common barriers to their path apart from religious and social traditions. Any such incidence may shatter the dreams of many others who are bravely facing all barriers and are struggling their way out of this system. Who is responsible for the death of these girls? Who is accountable for murder of thousands of innocent dreams? People who have this responsibility of creating an enabling environment and also of ensuring that every citizen especially weaker ones like these girls from poor most strata of society are feeling safe and are getting equal opportunities, namely our political leadership and bureaucrats are simple shrugging off their responsibilities. They have more important work to do i.e. the organisation of Commonwealth Games in 2010.
Around 12 years back more than 30 school children died in Delhi when a school bus fell into the yamuna river apparently because of a age old narrow bridge at wazirabad. Government and authorities have immediately announced that a new and wider bridge will be constructed at that place. But nothing has happened even after twelve years of the incident.
In a city where more than 60% population do not get piped water supply, where equal number of people do not have access to basic health facility, where quality education is still a luxury afforded by only 10% people of the society, where sewage, pakka road and complete nutrient diet are still a distant dream for a major section of population, where labour rights are alien concept, this question naturally comes to the mind of concerned citizens of delhi “are you ready for the games?” and the only definite and sensible answer to this is “No”.
Death of these girls should wake up the authorities to the hard core realities of poor standards of infrastructure and administration in our society and we should take urgent actions to address these issues, hiding away into the unrealistic world of games is surely not the way to go.

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:58:00 +0000

यमुना पर नौजवानों का तीन दिवसीय आवासीय शिविर
रिवर्स ऑफ द वर्ल्ड फाऊंडेशन, वाटर कम्युनिटि इंडिया, गान्धी स्मारक निधि, पट्टी कल्याणा और लोक सेवक मण्डल (दिल्ली) द्वारा एक त्रि-दिवसीय आवासीय शिविर का आयोजन किया जा रहा है जिसमें ग्लोबल वार्मिंग, पर्यावरण एवं नदियों के तेजी से गिरते जलस्तर तथा उसके दुष्परिणाम पर बातचीत होगी।
यमुना एक जीवनरेखा नदी(समस्या, प्राणवान बनाने की चुनौतियां, कार्यक्रम और संगठन) पूरे कार्यक्रम का मुख्य बिन्दु होगा।प्रमुख हस्तियां जो कार्यक्रम में भाग लेंगी - प्रो। रामकोदुरी (जल एवं पर्यावरण विशेषज्ञ), प्रो. विक्रम सोनी (नेचुरल हेरीटेज फर्स्ट),श्री ओंकार चंद (लोक सेवक मंडल), श्री महेश दत्त शर्मा (गांधी स्मारक निधि ), श्री दीवान सिंह( यमुना सत्याग्रह), श्री कपिल मिश्र(यूथ फॉर जस्टिस ), श्री राजेश डोकवाल(नेचर फाउन्डेशन), फिल्म निर्माता श्री राकेश खत्री, श्री शम्भु दत्त शर्मा (गांधी सत्याग्रह ब्रीगेड)
कार्यक्रम स्थल - प्राकृतिक चिकित्सा केन्द्र, पट्टीकल्याणा आश्रम, नजदीक समालखा, दिल्ली की तऱफ से 18 किमी पानीपत से पहले

YOUTH FOR JUSTICE respects the SC order on YAMUNA RIVER BED

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:05:00 +0000

Today Supreme Court has allowed Commonwealth Games Village on Yamuna saying that it is not on Yamuna River Bed.
We at "Youth for Justice" respects the order.
Yamuna Satyagraha has lost its purpose long before, when it was decided by a few of people to file a court case against the will of majority of the Satyagrahis. NOW THE COURT CASE HAS BEEN LOST AND SAME PEOPLE ARE BLAMING THE JUDICIARY AND THE SOCIETY FOR THE DEFEAT IN THE COURT.
Since the beginning of Satyagraha there was a consensus among Satyagrahis that court case will not be filed and Satyagraha will be utilised as the tool to achieve the objectives of the movement. Mr. Vinod Jain from Tapas has filed a case and has almost got an order against the construction on river bed but suddenly a case was filed by again these few members of Satyagraha. It affected the proceedings of case filed by Shri Vinod Jain and both cases were given to a double bench of High court. We all know what happened after that. If we see the observation given by the Judge in the case filed by Shri Vinod Jain, one could easily say that second case filed by people from Satyagraha was a mistake (intentionally or unintentionally) that has helped the authorities to go ahead with the construction.

2 YEARS OF YAMUNA STAYAGRAHA :Chronology

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:41:00 +0000

Chronology of YAMUNA SATYAGRAHA by YOUTH FOR JUSTICE
2 Aug to 15th August 2007
Youth for Justice, 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.
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.

18th Aug- "YOUTH FOR YAMUNA" WAS LAUNCHED WITH STUDENTS FROM DELHI SCHOOL OF SOCIALWORK
19 August,

SATYAGRAHA IN WELL
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.

Medha patkar, Ch. Ramkaran solanki( head of 360 villages of Delhi), Govindacharya, C.V.Rajagopal and others gather at the satyagraha sthal.

18th September
STALLING PROCEEDINGS OF DELHI ASSEMBLY.
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
27th September
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.
2nd October
300 people march from Yamuna Satyagraha sthal to Raj Ghat.
10th October
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.
24th October
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.

Youth for Justice 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.
12th November
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.
18th November
Candle march organized by Youth for Justice at Central Park in Cannaught Place, warning the government against turning Yamuna Flood plains into another Nandigram.

22nd November

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.

1 Dec to 9th Dec
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.

Dec

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.
Dec
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.
21 Feb, 2008
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.
March
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.
21 March
Activists burn effigy of Shiela Dixit on occasion of Holi to protest construction of Games village at flood Plains.

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.
5 June
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.

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.

Meeting sports minister Mr.M.S.Gill. Shri Kuldeep Nayar used his good offices to arrange this meeting.

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
28th,29th,30th July
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.

Cash for vote scam- Youth for Justice and NHF participated in the protest demonstration at India gate. Kept in police custody till late mid night.

Candle march in Central Park organized by Youth for Justice and Aryan Foundation against apathy of judiciary towards the Yamuna cause.
1 Sept
George Fernandez visits Yamuna Satyagraha sthal and admits mistake of NDA in permitting Akshardham Mandir on the flood plains
11 Sept
March to PM’s address venue- satyagrahis taken into custody
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.

23rd September

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.

28th September
Diwan Singh represents Yamuna Satyagraha on World Rivers’day at a function held at Budwani in M.P, organized by Narmada Bachao Andolan.

6th October
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.
Onwards
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.

PLANTATION IN NAJAFGARH

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:46:00 +0000

KULDEEP NAYYAR AND DIWAN SINGH DURING PALNTATION DRIVE

PLANTATION DRIVE in BAKKARWALA VILLAGE, NAJAFGARH, NEW DELHI

A desiltation and tree plantation drive is organized at water bodies near Bakkarwala village. The event is organized by local residents of Bakkarwala village, Gurdayal Vihar colony and Chanchal Park. Besides the local residents, the participating groups are- YOUTH FOR JUSTICE, Natural Heritage First, Tapas, Gati, PRASAR, Sangrakhshan, Students of University School of Bio technology( I.P.University)and IIT, Delhi.

Senior journalist Shri Kuldeep Nayyar accompanied by Dr. Vikram Soni(Research scientist at NPL) and Vinod Jain(Tapas) will launch and participate in the drive.

Protection of Local Natural Resources to deal with water scarcity. - The residents and the NGOs feel that these water resources are crucial to water security. They believe that the age old culture of desilting and preserving the water bodies need to be revived if we have to deal with water crisis which is increasing year by year in this city. Desilting is a necessary exercise as it would augment recharge of ground water. This function in olden days was performed as a voluntary service by our forefathers in our villages every year before the monsoons arrived. Tree plantation is necessary as it helps purify and hold water.

These water bodies signify culture, history and environment, all come together.

There are four water bodies on a 26 acre tract of Gram Sabha land in village Bakkarwala. The land had been leased to DTC for a depot cum dump yard to accommodate for new low floor buses. However, the residents were strongly against it as the plan would destroy the four water bodies and take away the last available common space in the area from them. The residents want the water bodies to be preserved and protected and tree plantation in the area which would serve as a catchments area for the water bodies and at the same time as park and playground for children and elderly.

However, it also to be noted that construction on the water bodies is also violation of Delhi High Court orders.

Thrice in the past, the administration had tried to take possession of the area but it was thwarted by the residents. On 11May, 2009, the administration came with a 250 strong police force but the residents were not cowed down and they managed to send the administration back without allowing demarcation/possession of land.

The latest is that the administration is not pressing for the land. Meetings with local M.P Mahabal Mishra and CM, Shiela Dixit have indicated that the administration is looking for an alternative site. The matter is also in High Court. The High Court has issued notices to Delhi Govt. in the month of May, 2009. The next date of hearing is 20^th Aug, 2009.

YOUTH FOR JUSTICE ACTION HEROES DURING PLANTATION DRIVE

PLANTATION DRIVE

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:22:00 +0000

YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US FOR A PLANTATION DRIVE

THIS SUNDAY

JUNE 28, 2009

AT BAKKARWALA, NEAR NANGLOI

TIME- 5:30 PM

SEE YOU THERE!!

Thanks to Shri Jairam Ramesh

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 06:32:00 +0000

Another voctory for YOUTH FOR JUSTICE and others struggling for Yamuna
Today our Environment and Forest Minister Shri Jai Ram Ramesh has declared upcoming Commonwealth games village on Yamuna River Bed as models of destruction. his statement marks a clear shift on stand of authorities and justifies YFJ stand on the issues.

Copy of Statement of Shri Jairam Ramesh, Min. of Environment and Forest

Our Thank you note and response to Shri Jairam Ramesh:-

Dear Sir

Greetings!!

We are a New Delhi based Youth Action group “Youth for Justice” working with urban youth on issues related to Environment, Agriculture and various other spontaneous issues that need cognizance.

We are writing this letter to congratulate you and thank you for taking right stand on issues of encroachment on riverbed in the name of Commonwealth Games.

You statement in “Dainik Bhasker” national edition dated 6th June 2009, has sent a right message to the people who are concerned about various threats to our natural resources and environment and it has definitely boosted morale of groups and organizations that are struggling for the right cause.

Since August 2007, we have been raising these issues of illegal construction on Yamuna river bed in the name of games village, in fact we have organized a series of discussions, joint marches, candle light vigils etc. to raise public awareness on the issue. But some individuals in authority were keen on going ahead with the project despite clear the realization of the mistake done in choosing the venue and type of structure.

We have information on how this construction violets direction given by Honorable High Court and how it was allowed without required clearance from various authorities. This construction is also completely against the promise that we have made to international community while bidding for the Games.

We do understand that it is almost impossible to stop the construction or change the venue at this point in time but request you that those who are responsible for deliberately violating the norms should be brought to justice.

You have assumed the responsibility of this office at very critical stage, as a nation we are going through a phase of transition and large scale constructions and mega projects are order of the day. While such developmental projects are need of the hour at the same time we need to ensure that these projects do follow required norms and guidelines so that our environment and natural resources should be conserved.

We also seek an appointment with you so that we can share the information that we have on irregularities and violation of promises made by authorities while bringing the games to Delhi.

You have a great role to play and nation especially those who are concerned about our common future are looking at you.

Again we would like to thank you.
Looking forward to your response
Thanks and Regards

Kapil Mishra
General Secretary
Youth for Justice
http://www.y4j.blogspot.com/
E-mail- youth4justice@gmail.com

Ph. – 91-11-9818066041

YOUTH FOR JUSTICE- GENERAL MEETING

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:13:00 +0000

Dear All

First of all I would like to congratulate all the members and supporters of "Youth for Justice" for all the unique initiatives and action that we have takes together in last three years.

When in 2006m we formed this group, none of us has imagined that this small initiative is not only going to survive but also grow both in terms of quantity and quality.

YFJ impact on various issues is quite visible and we have been successful in changing the perception about urban youth in various ways.

Bigger positions bring bigger responsibilities and it is time for us to prepare ourselves for bigger role of ensuring real participation of youth in the policy making processes.

It is in this regard, I take this opportunity to invite you all for "Youth for Justice" General Meeting on 5th June 2009 at Gandhi Peace Foundation, near ITO, Delhi.

That day there is a conference on FOOD SECURITY by our partners and you all are invited to join the same as well.

(Lunch will be provided by the organizer)

Please ensure that you join us there and you are free to bring your friends and colleagues who share a passion for change.

For further enquiry and details please feel free to contact us at youth4justice@gmail.com or call me at 9818066041.

Looking forward to meet you

Thanks and Regards

Kapil Mishra
Youth for Justice
www.y4j.blogspot.com

Food Security and Indian Small and Marginal Farmers

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Sat, 23 May 2009 10:53:00 +0000

by Kapil Mishra

Last one year, world has witnessed a Global fall in economies. Everywhere we hear the talks of recession and its impact on economies, job lay offs, etc. One more aspect that International community especially organizations like World Bank, IMF etc. have realized that this recession is not impacting Indian Economy as badly as it is affecting others. According to recently published research study by International Institute of Management Development (IMD) India is better prepared to handle recession than countries like USA, Britain, Japan, China, Russia etc.

What is so unique about our economy, what are the factors that are saving Indian Economy and what has made India better prepared to handle this recession is not a hidden secret. India is an agricultural country.

70% of Indian population is directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture and allied activities; this population remains more or less unaffected by this economic slowdown. In 2008, India’s so called illiterate and ignorant farmers have saved the country from collapse. The lesson to learn here is that agriculture alone can save and sustain the country in creating employment, curtailing migration, producing sufficient food and sustaining the economy.

But for Indian farmers there is very little hope left. While our elite have gained wealth, comforts, name and fame. Our Farmers / Kisans have not only lost their sustainability and livelihood but also their self respect. Agriculture is neither profitable nor the farmers are happy. Other professionals are organizing themselves and making money, going places and earning prosperity and popularity, our farmers are being forced to migrate to cities and left to beg or work as laborers to make both ends meet. Every year 20,000-30,000 farmers are committing suicides but no one in noticing. Farmer suicides in various parts of India are worst crisis human civilization has ever faces. But it is not getting required attention from policy makers, from farmer organizations and from media. Read more...

Our Response to TOI article

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Wed, 20 May 2009 10:06:00 +0000

"YOUTH FOR JUSTICE" Response to Dr. E. Shridharan views on Yamuna published in Times of India on 20th May 2009.

To
The Editor
Times of India

This is with response to story published in your esteemed newspaper titled "Restrict Yamuna with walls and develop low lying areas" sharing views of Dr. E Shridharan, Managing Director of Delhi Metro.

In the article you have mentioned Dr. Shridharan blaming a handful of environmentalists as obstacle in the way of saving yamuna.

"Youth for Justice" is actively involved in the campaign against construction of Commonwealth Games village on Yamuna riverbed and since last two years we are carrying out series of protests, joint marches and other events sensitizing people on the issue. We have also raised the voice for the Yamuna river inside Delhi Assembly and some of our volunteers were got detained for the act.

It is very clear that we are part of these "handful of environmentalists" Dr. Shridharan is refereeing to. So we find it natural to share our response to the same.

First of all , we would like to share that we have great respect for Dr. Shridharan and we also perceive as a role model for all those who aspire to create a modern India. His achievements in Konkan Railway and Delhi Metro are remarkable.

On Yamuna issue we have a stand that Yamuna river bed should be protected as it is the biggest source for drinking water to the people of Delhi and at the same time this river bed is only major source for ground water recharge and if we allow it to destroy it would drastically affect the already diminishing ground water table of the city.

Mr. Shridharan is comparing Yamuna river with European rivers like Thames , this itself is like comparing the non comparable. European rivers are completely different than Himalayan river in terms of Nature, flow, rain fall, flood, etc. and thus both can not be treated alike. Similar treatment is bound to result in an ecological disaster.

Secondly, Mr. Shridharan is blaming a few environmantalists but he forget to mention moratorium issued by Lt. Governor of Delhi which prohibits any concrete construction on the river bed.

Similarly his opinion is not in line with the river zone development plan ( zone "o") presented by DDA. Mr. E. Shridharan should have a look on the same.

Similarly opinion of Delhi High Court has also been against what Mr. Shridharan is proposing and more than once Delhi High Court has made it clear that no permanent or temporary construction of any nature should be allowed on the river bed.

It shows that perhaps this time Mr. Shridharn is not making an informed choice.

At the same time we also would like to make it clear that we are not against development and we also believe that there are hundreds of unauthorised colonies on the river bed which are seeking basic developmental initiatives for years and we fully support the idea of changing the land use to accommodate these colonies in the mainstream development policies of the city.
Commonwealth Games villages and Akshardham can wait but kind of humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in these colonies requires our immediate attention.

We respect Dr. Shridharan and would like to request him through your esteemed newspaper that he should come out with a detailed plan for yamuna and then this plan should be made available for response from experts and public. Random suggestions and blaming citizen groups for their well informed actions is not going to solve the purpose.

We have decided not to join the protest against launch of Delhi Metro Yamuna Bank Station because we feel that Delhi Metro is for social interest, but is doesn't mean that we should accept anything in the name of development.

Sustainable and Justified development is the need of the hour and we would keep raising our voices for the same.

Again we request you to share our views with the readers and with Dr. Shridharan so that a much needed public debate on Yamuna and Sustainable development of the city can be initiated.

Thanks and Regards

Kapil Mishra
for Youth for Justice

Yamuna:views of E. Shridharan (METROMAN)

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Wed, 20 May 2009 09:15:00 +0000

( As published in TOI on 20th May 2009)

Restrict Yamuna with walls and develop low-lying areas
Dr E Sreedharan, MD of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, says a handful of environmentalists are coming in the way of saving the river and calls for setting up of an SPV to do the job
When the members of the British parliament sat in the House of Commons on a day in the late 1850s, they could not transact any business on account of the foul stench emanating from the Thames. That was the day the government decided to clean up the river and limit its width by building high retaining walls along both banks. By so confining the river, a new hydrological regime was achieved which resulted in self-cleansing during high and low tides. Sewage and industrial effluents flowing into the Thames were intercepted and taken elsewhere for treatment. The large tract of low-lying areas behind the retaining walls were given for real estate development. And that is how London is today — clean, with majestic and monumental buildings lining the banks of the Thames. The same story appears to have been repeated for all great cities located on river banks whether it is Paris, Budapest, Moscow, New York or Seoul. In all these cities, the river is ‘trained’ (cause to grow in a particular direction or shape) with retaining walls and the banks on either side are beautified with parks, promenades and landmark buildings. Why cannot Delhi also learn lessons from the experience of these cities? The Yamuna river has to be trained and confined to a width that is defined between abutments of the existing bridges by constructing appropriate guide bunds or retaining walls, and the large sprawling tracts of low-lying areas behind these walls utilized for high-end developments which can make the city rich, beautiful and prosperous. A handful of self-styled environmentalists is stalling this idea. The result is rampant encroachments on the riverbed by jhuggis which catch fire at regular intervals every summer, often burning alive a few people. Sewage and untreated industrial waste are let into the river without treatment and nobody owns up responsibility for the same. The so-called environmentalists are vociferous against clean development schemes which are vital for the city, such as Commonwealth Games Village, Metro constructions, Akshardham Temple, etc. If the Yamuna is to be saved, there is only one way. Control the width of the river, not allowing flood waters to inundate the lowlying areas of the city and allow the river to reach its own natural regime in the constricted width. Model studies in the Central Water and Power Research Institute (CWPRI), Khadakvasala, can validate the philosophy of this argument. Two large longitudinal sewers should be built behind the rampart walls to intercept all the sewage falling into the river, take the sewage to a far-off place, and after proper treatment, let the effluents flow into the river. Industries should treat their effluents before they are let into the river. The lowlying areas behind the masonary embankments should be released for high-end development. A Special Purpose Vehicle (Yamuna Development Authority) should be set up under an Act of Parliament, fully empowered to train the river and to manage the developments on the released lowlying areas. The resources needed for all these can be easily raised by exploiting the released riverbeds. In the development plan, a corridor of 300 metres should be reserved adjacent to the river bank for gardens, promenades and recreation centres. Initially the stretch between Wazirabad barrage and Kalindi Kunj could be taken up for river training, and the project can be extended downstream and upstream in due course. The government has already spent more than Rs 1200 crore for cleaning the river. Where has all this money gone? If development as suggested above can be undertaken, the river can be saved, Yamuna can be made clean and the river-fronts can be made the pride of the city. It is time the government and the judiciary listen to the voice of professionals and not to the vague fears of a few so-called environmentalists. In all great cities located on riverbanks, whether it’s Paris, Budapest, Moscow, New York or Seoul, the river is ‘trained’ with retaining walls and the banks beautified with parks, promenades and landmark buildings Two large longitudinal sewers should be built behind the rampart walls to intercept all the sewage falling into the river, then take it to a far-off place and release the sewage into the river after proper treatment These so-called environmentalists are vociferous against clean development schemes vital for the city, such as the Games Village, Metro, Akshardham Temple. It’s time the govt and judiciary listen to the voice of professionals

Respect the freedom of expression

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Thu, 07 May 2009 04:37:00 +0000

We appeal to all those who are reading our blog and are not in a position to accept our views due to political reasons or otherwise to respect the freedom of expression. You are most welcome to comment or give suggestions if you have any.

Reporting spam or taking actions which exposes your cowardice are not welcome and will be dealt with strong reaction from Youth for Justice.

Broaden your mind .

All we can say that you are most welcome to raise your voices for or against our stand on any issue but please also raise your standard and accept that these are our views and we are not imposing our views on any one.

Reporting spam in an act of cowardice.

Respect the freedom of expression.

Our PM should be from LOKSABHA only

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:20:00 +0000

India is a democratic country and it should be run by democratically elected leaders.

This is the essence of our constitution adopted by people of Indian republic.

We the members of this community demand from our political leadership including all the political parties through President of India that from now onwards India should have a democratically elected person as Prime Minister.

We appeal from the core our hearts to save the spirit of our constitution.

We also would like to make it clear that any attempt against this would face opposition from us and we would not hesitate to take our protest on streets to save the spirit of our great constitution.
Anyone who wishes to lead this great nation as Prime Minister should have guts to face elections should prove his ability to get elected as people's representative in Loksabha.

This is a completely non political community and we do not support or oppose any individuals candidature for the Post of Prime Minister.

Join us on
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Facebook:
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JOIN US AND SPREAD IT TO ALL!!!

ONE INITIATIVE OF YOURS CAN SAVE THE DEMOCRATIC SPIRIT OF OUR CONSTITUTION.

VOTE WE MUST- YFJ NEXT ACTION CAMPAIGN

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:12:00 +0000

VOTE WE MUST
- by Kapil Mishra

जब लोभ सिद्धि का आँखों पर मांण्डी बन कर छ जाता है

तब वह मनुष्य से बड़े बड़े दुश्च्त्य कृत्य करवाता है

फिर क्या विस्मय, कौरव- पांडव भी नहीं धर्म के साथ रहे

जो रंग युद्ध का है उससे, उनके भी अलग न हाथ रहे

दोनों ने कालिख धूमी, शीश पर जय का तिलक लगाने को

सत्पथ से दोनों डिगे, दौड़ कर विजय- बिन्द तक जाने को

- Ramdhari Singh Dinkar

True we do not see any better alternative today. All political parties are corrupt to the core. With no vision for a better common future and no motivation to bring the desired positive change in the society, our present political leadership is driven only by one motive of gaining the POWER. But they are completely clueless on what to do with that power. POWER has become the ultimate goal instead of the medium to achieve desired socio economic changes.
No matter who comes to the POWER after upcoming general elections, we all know that nothing substantial is going to change.
Issues that are important to Our Nation, to our society are completely missing from the priority lists of present political leadership.
Nobody is talking about Health, Nobody is talking about Water and sanitation, nobody is talking about Education, Employment, and Women Empowerment...the list can go on.
The issues that are being presented as the CORE issues do not directly affect our common future, but all these issues do. Who cares?
Political Parties are all geared up to sell themselves as a commodity to the People of India in upcoming elections. Some are relying on Royal Families, some on Terror attacks and some on selective VOTE Banks to achieve their only goal- POWER or some share of it.
The only option left to those who are concerned is to take the lead. This is high time when we should "STOP BLAMING AND START CLAIMING".
This journey from blaming to claiming would start from our Active Participation in the Dance of Democracy. Active participation of all those who are concerned about our common future in Indian Politics is the only way to bring positive change in the Politics and through this in the society at large.
Active participation starts from developing basic understanding of the System, of our leadership and then VOTING for the best possible alternative.
This would just mark the beginning of the CHANGE.....our VOTE does matter, but only VOTE is not a way out. Lets pledge together to bring desired positive CHNAGE by ensuring Active Participation in the process of decision making. First STEP towards this would be To Vote.
LET’S PLEDGE THAT WE ALL WOULD VOTE IN UPCOMING ELECTIONS......
"VOTE WE MUST"

"VOTE WE MUST" is a "Youth for Justice" Initiative-

JOIN US on

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LEAD INDIA- http://leadindia.itimes.com/content.php?cid=64813

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:46:00 +0000

THE MARCH - YOUTH FOR JUSTICE is Joining

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:06:00 +0000

THE MARCH AGAINST

TERRORISM AND CORRUPTION

"YOUTH FOR JUSTICE " is supporting and participating in "THE MARCH" organised by ART OF LIVING

India has the dubious distinction of being one of the most corrupt nations in the world, ranking a poor 45 of the 49 countries evaluated on the World Economic Forum Survey 2003 'Honesty' index. Having ingrained itself into the psyche of our civilized society and governance system, corruption is impeding development and is leading to severe breakdowns and distortions in almost all aspects of our society.
Its most dangerous manifestation is in the form of terrorism. According to the database information released by START (The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terror) 4,108 terrorist incidents occurred in India between 1970 to 2004 which put India into sixth place in Terrorism hit nations list. More than 400 people died in terror attacks in 2008. The actual figure is unknown.
As a country, we need to actively start moving in a concerted way against these twin evils that are now threatening our very existence.
So let us send out a call to our country to create a safe society. A society which has no fear in walking into an airplane, a train or a bus. Or when we enter a mall, a cinema or a hotel, with our children. Or even our very own homes.
Let us take responsibility and bring the change - for our future and our future generations.
Ask not what your country Can do for you, Ask what can you do For your country.
To Join THE MARCH please log in to:

www.themarch.in

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:07:00 +0000

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 08:31:00 +0000

YOUTH FOR JUSTICE

WE ARE THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE

COMPLETING

THREE YEARS OF YOUTH ACTION

3rd MARCH 2009

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 06:37:00 +0000

Youth for Yamuna: A YFJ initiative to make Delhi relate with its lifeline

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:43:00 +0000

YOUTH FOR YAMUNA

- a YFJ initiative to make Delhi relate and stand for its lifeline!!!

To know more about the campaign and our latest action in 2009 keep visiting the blog or contact us at youth4justice@gmail.com or call us at 9818066041

High Court verdict: YAMUNA MORE IMPORTANT THAN GAMES

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:27:00 +0000

New Delhi, November 03
Indian Express

“It is fear and anxiety that makes me pen these lines,” begins Justice Rekha Sharma in a crisp four-page verdict that says the river is “gasping for breath”.
Supplementing a formal 45-page judgment from Justice A K Sikri, is the four page judgment from his “sister Justice Rekha Sharma”, who says the entire project of building on the Yamuna riverbed is a “sad story of men fiddling with major issues and resultantly playing havoc”. “This judgment,” she observes, “relates to a river which once flowed majestically but is now gasping for breath. If this continues, time is not far off when this gift of Gods will die an unnatural death buried under layers of silt.”
She pits the oft-mooted contention of “development” with the environmentalists’ cry of “save the river”, and concludes that Yamuna is more important of the two. “The significance and importance of the Commonwealth Games is not lost on anyone (but) the impact of building on the Yamuna, its environment, ecology and the long-term damage is, as the petitioners (environmentalists) say, pregnant with disaster,” the judge notes. “If no urgent measures are taken, the Yamuna may exist only in books.” Justice Sharma also notes: “No doubt is left that the site in question is on the river bed.”
In his separate judgment, Justice Sikri considers the issue a “disputed question” that needs to be looked into by an expert committee.
But Justice Sharma goes a step further to add that even if the construction is not on the riverbed, “urbanisation and colossal construction underway may yet adversely affect the environment, the river and the ecology”. She also lashes out at the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute for unexpectedly changing its stand to favour urbanization. Justice Sharma concludes with a parting shot that neither the government, DDA or the NEERI have been “fair” to the river.

Floods in Yamuna in Delhi: Commonwealth Games nightmare coming true?

youth4justice@gmail.com (YOUTH FOR JUSTICE) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:40:00 +0000

Repeated warnings were ignored by State Govt.

Prestige of Nation at Stake?
NEW DELHI: For the first time in the last five years, water level of the Yamuna river flowing through the national capital has crossed danger mark to touch 205.55 meters, with authorities stepping up precautionary efforts. At least sixty people were trapped by flood waters after their jhuggies were inundated at the catchment area of the river in Umanpur area in east Delhi. "They ignored our earlier warnings to shift from the site when the water level had touched the danger mark. Now we have evacuated them to safer places," Development Minister Rajkumar Chauhan told. Jhuggi dwellers spent the day shifting their household goods to safer places with the help of the administration. "This is for the first time in the last five-six years that water level in Yamuna has reached to 205.55 metres. However, there is no imminent threat to life and property," he said. The river had crossed the danger mark of 204.83 metres in September 6, 1978, when it rose to 207.49 metres and caused heavy floods in the city. The danger levels were also crossed during 1995 and 1998 when the water level of the river rose to 206.96 metres and 206.18 metres respectively. According to Chauhan, the water level today reached 205.55 against Saturday's 205.43 metres, which is about 1.50 metres above the danger mark. "The water level in the Yamuna has risen consistently as Haryana is releasing 2,5000 cusecs of rainwater everyday. And if this continues, the water level is expected to further rise in the next few days," he said. As a precaution, the authorities are releasing more than 50,000 cusecs of water from Wazirabad barrage to Okhla barrage as well ITO barrage. Also, control rooms have been set up at strategic places to keep a round-the-clock vigil on the water flow.
YFJ view:

These are decadal foolds, a regular phenomenon in Yamuna flood plains, however this time because of illegal encroachments on yamuna flood plains by Govt. in the name of Commonwealth Games , these floods are threating to cause massive harms and devastaion.

This is high time Govt. should take immediate steps to save the city from this danger, we appeal both central and state govt to rethink on their plans for constructing Games village for CWG 2010 on yamuna flood plains.

(Kapil Mishra, YFJ)