CRIME AGAINST CHILDREN UP BY 24%: SOME COMMENTS

Crimes against children up by 24%
Kounteya Sinha, TNN Oct 5, 2012, 04.00AM IST

NEW DELHI: India is fast earning itself the dubious distinction of being a country unsafe for its children with an alarming 24% increase in crimes against children in 2011 compared to the previous year. Nearly 33,100 cases were reported in 2011 against 26,694 cases during 2010.

Uttar Pradesh accounted for 16.6% of total crimes against children in 2011, followed by Madhya Pradesh (13.2%), Delhi (12.8%), Maharashtra (10.2%), Bihar (6.7%) and Andhra Pradesh (6.7%).

The link is ; http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-05/bhubaneswar/34278283_1_foeticide-cases-abduction-child-victims

We all should feel ashamed that such a thing is happening in our country indicating that our love for our children in on the decline. This not only happening in our country alone. This has become alarmingly global phenomenon. I was participating in a debate among on child rights in Germany years back. I was surprised to know that in Germany the crime against the children is quite high. Besides, the Germans are doing the same thing in other countries. The general underastanding is that those adults who were the victims of the crime in their childhood are the the main culprits. This must be true in India as well.

This is a rising spiral. Please note that the children who are victims of in their childhood will grow up to commit crime against their own children. When will this stop? And How? Is it part of our Million Development Goal(MDG)?

Thoughts on Gandhi's Birthday

I love  Gandhi and strongly  believe in Gandhian principles to the core. I have also read him extensively and on him as well. Two books which have made profound impact on me are Hind Swaraj and Gram Swaraj. I urge all my  my friends to read these two books to change one’s world view   I have tried to practice some of his experiments but I have to confess that my spirit is high but flesh is weak.

I am currently reading a book – KHADI: GANDHI’S MEGA SYMBOL OF SUBVERSION- written by Peter Gonsalves and published by Sage to pay tribute to Gandhi on his birthday. To fight the British and Colonialism, Gandhi adopted many strategies and one of the best one was to underscore Khadi – spinning and weaving – to be self-reliant. It was the best tools of subversion  which  was used by millions unarmed Indians.

In the book, the author has analysed various subversions in different chapters as follows:

• Subverting Self
• Eco-political Subversion
• Psyco-Cultural Subversion
• Socio-Religious Subversion-Untouchability
• Socio-Religious Subversion-Militancy
• The Philosophy of Gandhian Subversion through Khadi

The quote the author : Gandhi’s evolving awareness of semiological and political properties of clothing; his resolute use of Khadia as a metaphor of subversion in major dimensions of life , his adherence to the principles and values underlying a clear-cut strategy for socio-political change.

The way neo-colonialism is unleashed on us and the way we are forced to lose our sense of self-reliance, we are in search of a new method and a new tool of subversion. Please think it over and join the process os this search to save this great country and its people. Lets us have a resolution in honour of our great Gandhiji.

CAN WE AFFORD A SPLIT BETWEEN ANNA HAZARE AND ARVIND KEJRIWAL

The current split between Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal indicates many aspects of the Civil Societies in our country. When there is need for millions of Civil Society activists to think and act in unison, the unfortunate division will make an impact on badly needed process of socio-economic and political changes. I think this division could have been avoided by skillful dialogue and positive engagement.

I have been greatly inspired by Anna's work - Watershed Dev, School for drop -outs, Social Mobilisation in Ralegaon Siddhi etc. I have also interacted with Arvind and his spirit of fighting a cause - Right to Information, Governance, India Against Corruption etc. As I have understood them, they were co-travelers for a while and parted ways after covering a distance far from reaching the GOAL.

We activists have always a false sense of understanding that we can change the world by our kind of mediation, by our kind of methods. Lets look at the issue whether the activists can get involved in party politics. I am afraid we can not. Our role is to impart political literacy but not to fight an election. Our role is to take side with the struggling people but not to become their leaders. And the true definition of leadership is always clear. Our role is to create alternative political leadership so that people fight their own battles.

I have the sincere wish that all activists of different hue and colour come together for a real transformation of our society, economy and politics. This is what Albert Camus has passionately advocated while fighting the Nazis - EFFORT OF EACH ONE OF US AND UNION OF ALL.

ODISHA INDUSTRIAL SECURITY FORCE BILL 2012: A MATTER OF CONCERN

I am shocked to know that Odisha Legislative Assembly has passed (without a proper debate) the Odisha Industrial Security Force Bill 2012 to protect the interest of the Corporates. The Bill has the provision that anyone can be arrested without warrant or search anyone's house without a search warrant. The Bill is aiming at protecting the Corporates against any kind of labour ineterst or dissidence. This State Security force will be very much in the line of CISF ( Central Industrial Security Force ). The Minister while championing the cause of the Bill has said “Sustained resistance to displacement and relocation impinges on the security of industries and developmental projects. It is extremely difficult for the State police to provide security to the industries,”

I know the Corporates which are oftne under attack for their anti-poor and anti-labour policies have been asking the State Government to provide such security Forces. I know one Corporate was negotiating with the State Government to fund the raising of such forces by giving salaries, accommodation, vehicles and other equipments. It is a bsically to legalise a private army by using the State apparatus. This funding will just be a fraction of the profit they are going to make or already making.

The recent killing of the South African Miners in a Platium Mining by the State  Security Forces have created wide-spread condemnation and lets pray that such incidents are not repeated in our country but who knows?

I am reminded of the famous book  Animal Farm by George Orwell in which the pig Napoleaon raised a secret force of the dogs who were used to suppress and eliminate the dissidence.

One wonders whether such Bills will get the Presidential Assent but it issadto know that several states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Gujarat have already passed such a Bill. No wonder, one state is competing with another to guard the interests of the corporates,

Some of my friends have questioned the role of the Civil Societies who have not made much noise about this Bill. But perhaps, there is some way of expressing protest.

 

POLICY UTTERANCES AND REALITY CHECKS REGARDINGFARM PONDS and CHECK DAMS

If you notice,  the Government of Odisha has been presenting in the Public Domain various Policies on Development. In Odisha, we have such a poor Civil Society Network that there is no way to monitor how these policy decisions are translated into action and whether they have been beneficial or not. Of course, there is periodic analysis of the Budgets and Expenditures done very professionally by Pravash Mishra and Team in CYSD producing very authentic reports. Hope this exercise has some impact somewhere. Our common people do not have much understanding of the Budgets and Expenditures and hence there is very little response. In order that public mind is agitated over policy implications, there should be search for alternative ways of communication. Some people are happily  indulging in Social Audits being hired by the Govt. and  very ably doctoring this Post Mortem exercise. Very few are calling Spade a Spade.

I am always cross-checking about the Policy declarations on construction of  1lakh Farm Ponds and Thousands of Check dams. Has the Government come with an open and verifiable statement how many farm ponds have been constructed under NREGS out of the target of 1lakh and what is the reality check is not known to any one. Barring a few , I saw pits dug in the name  of Farm Ponds causing sheer waste of public money under NREGS. Wherever I am going ,  I am also examining the check-dams constructed and their feasibility.  Farms Ponds have very little Budget while Check dams have huge. In order to achieve targets, I am afraid, check-dams are becoming real jokes. So in both cases, there is fear that there are colossal waste of pubic money and defeat of the objectives of the such measures.

Our friends involve in RTI campaigns, must ask for the detailed report on Farm Ponds and Check Dams at the Block, District and the State Level and verify as many locations as possible. This will have two objectives - a) Make Public Aware of the Public Policies and b) Improve the methods of implementation of the Policies in specific contexts.

Can we expect more postings on this reality check? Can we influence the policies?

What are the reasons behind the spread of Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-1?

What are the reasons behind the spread of Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-1?

Recently, I got an opportunity to participate in Doordarshan Panel Discussion on the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas)/PESA. I had emphatically expressed two points as follows:

• The PESA was adopted in Odisha in 1997 and was diluted in many ways. If one compares Odisha’s PESA with the original PESA, one can see the glaring difference. Besides, there are many lapses across all the Schedule V Areas of the state. These lapses have definitely contributed to the s rise and spread of Left Wing Extremism.
• The Constitutional role of the Governor of the State for the Schedule V areas which says that the Governor make a report to the President of India regarding the administration of the Schedule Area. However, the Governors have failed to do this as a result there has not been the critical appraisal of the system of Governance. This has led to the Governance Deficit.

Now, being disturbed by the expanding  scale of LWE, there are many discussions at many levels in which the Government, the Academics, the Political Parties and the Civil Society Activists are engaged. I had the opportunity of participating in a few.

Working for more than 30 years in the Tribal Areas, I have experienced the development challenges, the hopes and aspirations of various tribal communities.  I have also visualised the world of possibilities. What is missing is the tribal self-rule as assured by the Constitution and the PESA. What is lacking is the interface between the tribal communities and the Constitutional Authorities. When the access to these Authorities is denied and when the tribals and poor do not get a chance to ventilate their grievances and when there is an assault on their lives and livelihood, what option is there for them?

On the other hand, the shrinking democratic space in the tribal areas with so much violence and counter-violence and the double speak of the state have contributed much to the expanding discontent among the tribals. For example, the tribals have certain cohesive ethnicity and all the government programmes are dicing these communities. Take the example of the formation of the SHGs and inroad of micro-finances. They divide the tribal communities. Take another example of the scale of Land Acquisition for Industrialisation and other mega projects and in comparison to that the land to the landless tribals is insignificant. Take another example on development planning process. Instead of involving the tribal communities, everything is top-down. These are the reasons why the tribals are losing their trust on the State and other well-wishers!     

PROHIBITION: WHO WILL PROVIDE MORAL PERSUASION?N

While walking to the neighbouring village in the fading sunlight and decreasing temperature, I came across two person happily sitting in the middle of the road happily chatting away. The cycle is parked a few feet away. As I came nearer, I could see that they were drinking merrily. A bottle of beer was kept at a reachable distance with few plastic glasses already littered.  I was forced to stop for a while beside them to look at if they would know me or I would know them. Were they tribes or non-tribes? Why were they drinking like this? I was curious. They were quite embarrassed but not sorry for what they were doing without remorse. They were two tribal youths from a near by village. They said that after a hard-day's work as masons, they would need some relaxation. Middle of the road and the silence of the dusk were the most befitting location - more than the privacy of the home or the inquisitive eyes of the fellow villagers. I was angry though knowing fully well that I have no moral authority to ask questions about their seeking pleasure and the decision to spend day's income on a bottle of a liquor.I shouted at them and advised them to go home before they were fully drunk. They admitted their mistakes and promised me not repeat this again though I knew that I won't be surprised to see them at the same spot next evening. These two youths are not alone as the tribal youths of this generation are more addicted than ever! But who is to blame?

Many questions came to my mind about the Excise Policy of the Government and the response of the tribals. While it has been accepted that drinking is part of the tribal customs and cultural manifestations, right to brew liquor is no longer is legal. The liquor market has a deep penetration into the tribal hinter land with various types of products like country liquor in pouches, spurious liquor in plastic bags, Indian-made Foreign Liquor in coloured bottles and many kinds brands.  The Government is planning incessantly how to raise the revenues with liberal liquor licensing. There is not an iota of doubt in the minds of our legislatures and policy-makers whether promotion of liquor is a boon or bane in the tribal areas.

How anti-liquor campaign is going through ups and downs is a matter of history. In the thick of Gandhian movements in the post-Independence period, many eminent leaders have launched anti-liquor campaigns and have sadly lost and have already gone to the grave. In the early 90s, late Biju Patnaik yielded to the demands of the tribal women leaders and enforced prohibition. Late Biju Patnaik was a true Statesman who could measure the pulses of the tribals and was unique. Same thing can not be said of the next generation of the politicians including his son. Undoubtedly , the current liquor policy of the tribals is anti-tribal as it does not allow them to brew their own liquor. The Maoists are currently against this policy but what is significant is that the tribal women who are struggling for their lives and livelihoods are spearing the anti-liquor campaigns all over.

The Liquor Policy needs a wide debate and it is time that the government wakes up to the reality. The Liquor has been one of the causes of tribal underdevelopment and poverty. the debt-trap is easy from which the tribals seldom get out. The domestic violence in the tribal household is wide-spread. What is needed at the moment  is a moral persuasion and a sensitive policy framework in favour of prohibition.  

 

SEARCH FOR METHODS

This search is on since last 30 years - what is the meaning of true development for the tribals? Is the Tribal Development and Tribal Area development are synonymous? Who defines the development? In this process, what are the roles of the communities, the Panchayats, the Civil Societies and the State?   Perhaps more than the conflicts, there are far greater areas of collaboration among these actors.

The other day, I went to a village Silapas in Kodipari GP of Kashipur Block in Rayagada Dist., Odisha State  where children have died in an epidemic of Measles. The villages is located among the rolling hills and in absence of a pucca road, it remains cut off most of the time of the year. Silapas is nearly 25kms from the Block Headquarters and 10kms from the Panchayat Headquarters. This has resulted in non-delivery of basic services  related to education,health, nutrition, drinking water, employment and , above all, livelihood. The surrounding hills are quite denuded due to heavy practice of shifting cultivation. Some cashew plantations have come up in the hill-slopes indicating the interest people have in protecting such plantations. No wonder, cashew plantations are now most profitable to the tribals these days despite having wide-spread exploitation of the middlemen. The other day, one expert was telling me that cashew from Koraput area is fetching good price in comparison to the cashew from coastal plains. The reasons are many: 1) It is organic by default, 2) It has less salt content adding to the taste, c) better self-life. All these cashew nuts are exported to Nagpur for further processing and marketing. But why Silapas looks so much Poverty-stricken and deprived? The Jhodia communities in the village have been derecognised as tribals in 90s due to the evil designs of the state and corporate to acquire their land. Great injustice has been committed against the Jhodia leading to a lot of unrest and resentment. As the Jhodias have lost their status, this village Silapas has not enough voice if the school teacher is not coming or the ANM is not immunising. Life has been going on there without the support of the State. The bauxite mining in near by Baphlimalai will invite further disaster to them. This is the lurking fear felt very intensely.

This year's death of children on account of measles has added to the new dimension to Kashipur's lomg history of mortality and morbidity. Kashipur has got a place in the hunger atlas. It has a prominent place in the epidemiological map where cholera has been occurring year after year. The current  industrialisation is bringing more hardship and pollution to the area. It is matter of time that villages like Silapas will be wiped out from the history and geography.

Hence, it is a great challenge for the community surviving on the edge; the Panchayats which have a say in the development planning; the State which has a responsibility towards its one citizens and civil society which takes side with the communities.   There are many possibilities for effective collaboration so that all the entitlements are ensures in Silapas village. All children go to school and are immunised. Under MGNREGS, the communities go for for land development and plantation in the hill-slopes. The National Horticulture Mission gives inputs for development of horticulture. The rain-fed agriculture will ensure food security by growing millets, pulses, oil-seeds and vegetables. The soil fertility is enhanced by suitable agronomical practices. The NGO/CSO helps the communities to develop self-managed institutions and ensures right kind of training and capacity building. But who will initiate this thing? The communities must assert themselves and express themselves by set of demands. The supply will automatically follow from the top if the administration is sensitive and responsive. I am sure Silapas will show the way by changing the pattern of mortality and morbidity.   

    

PRIME MINISTER'S RURAL DEVELOPMENT FELLOWS-WILL THEY DELIVER?

here has been quite a bit of news and excitement about the Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellows recently appointed by selecting young professionals from top Professionals Institutions like IITs, IIMs, TISS and others. It is a welcome idea that large number of professionals have been attracted to be such Fellows. It is to be seen if they will deliver what is expected out of them, especially while working in  the districts affected by Left Wing Extremism. I wish them all success but the History of such ideas and experiments have failed globally and we should have deeper analysis of them.

The critics of the PMRDFS have already started asking questions as follows:

1. Whether these Professionals are really motivated to work in LWE Districts or are attracted by the salaries and perks? How will they reinvigorate the sagging spirit of the demoralised development administration?
   
2. Whether these Professionals will be exulted assistants to the District Collectors deeply  engaged in report writings and analysing statistics or will be courageous enough to be among the tribal communities?
3. Whether these professionals will have a human face and an ideological understanding of the structural situation on the ground?
4. Whether these young fellows distinguish the difference between the paddy and ragi, between ethnicity and acculturation and between indigenous values and so called modern development?
5. What is the commitment of these Professionals? How many of them will remain when chips are down or there is an offer of a better career?

I want to underscore that the Global Financial Crisis and Global Food Crisis are caused directly and indirectly by the elders of this fraternity of hard core professionals with their branded  ties and suits    as the Banks and Agi-business farms are managed by top professionals from IIMs and Harvard Business Schools. Please don;t forget this. The rich countries have subsiidised trillions of dollars of Public Money to keep these institutions of Profit alive and the pay package of these professionals in tact.
Year back, there was a radical  thinking in the 7th Five year Plan that the key to Rural Development is the Organisation of Rural Poor(ORP) and it was envisaged that Social Animators and Rural Volunteers selected from the rural communities with BAREFOOT skills and understandings  in large numbers would transform the Rural Areas and bring in self-managed institutions. Had it been pursued seriously , we won't have faced  Left Wing Extremism today not there won;t have been any need of these top notch professionals sponsored by those who believe that development will trickle down from top.

I shall be happy if someone will prove me wrong.

Reviving My Blog

After Sept 2009, I haven't tried to use my Blog though so many things have happened in the mean time. There is an urge to write on many issues , both personal and professional and get them across to my friends and critics.I also need feed back on whatever I write.