NEW YORK (TIP): ‘Kerala is the real model for inclusive development and governance that has applied the philosophy of Congress party of uplifting the poor and aiding the minorities and the backward sections of the society thereby achieving the highest rank as the most developed state in India based on the United Nations Human Development Index’ said K.C. Joseph, Minister for Non- Resident Keralites Affairs and Rural development. Joseph was addressing a meeting organized by the Kerala Chapter of Indian National Overseas Congress (I), at Charis Center, in Floral Park, New York. ‘For those who are asking what Congress has done in the last 60years ought to go back and revisit the pre-independent India’ he challenged.
‘Congress party had not only led the country to its independence, but also led the green revolution and the IT revolution that catapulted the nation to become the 5th largest economy in the world. People tend to have short memories and the debacle in the last election might have been due to a critical ‘message gap’ across the voting population, primarily the young ones, that was clearly exploited by the opposition’ he added. He also assured the gathering of giving prompt attention to the Pravasee issues and promised full cooperation from the Kerala Government in that regard.
George Abraham, the Chairman of INOC (I), presiding over the meeting lauded the minister for his 4 decades of selfless service to the people of Kerala and the non-resident Keralites in particular. ‘Mr. Joseph is truly a man of integrity and honor and someone who has an unblemished record in public life and someone we could all be truly proud of” Abraham added. President Juned Qazi thanked Kerala for being a stronghold for the Congress Party and thanked the minister for his efforts on behalf of the non-Keralites across the globe. He also congratulated the new team of leadership for the Kerala Chapter consisting of Thomas T. Oommen as the Chairman and R. Jayachandran as the President. Mr. Harbachan Singh, the General Secretary spoke of the activities of INOC (I), in US over the years and urged the Minister to strengthen the ties with the organization at the state level. He emphasized the formidable strength of the NRIs and how it could fuel the mutual benefit of the Indians in India and USA. Jaychandran in his address urged the Congress loyalists to stay focused in these difficult times for the party and promised to work hard to promote a truly democratic and pluralistic India while strengthening the bond between our two countries.
A number of guest speakers also spoke on the occasion that included Swami Guru Ratnam Thapasi of Santhigiri, Kottayam DCC President Tomy Kallani, K.A. Francis of Manorama, P.T. Chacko, the press secretary of the Chief Minister of Kerala and Advocate Bino George. INOC (I) National and State leaders also spoke passionately at the session that included Zach Thomas, Jose Charummood, U.A. Naseer, Jose Thekkedom, Leela Maret, Balachandra Panickar, Varghese Thekkekara, Jaison Alex and Guru Dilip ji, Jose Kanatt and many others. They thanked the Minister for the assurance that he would attempt to strengthen the bond of cooperation and understanding between Indians in India and USA. Thomas T. Oommen, the Chairman of Kerala chapter was the Emcee and Jose Charummood expressed the vote of thanks.
Tag: Kerala
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Kerala is the model for inclusive development and governance – K.C. JOSEPH
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POOR MONSOON THREATENS FIRST DROUGHT IN FIVE YEARS
New Delhi (TIP): Weak rainfall in India since the start last month of the monsoon season, crucial to the country’s agricultural earnings, has raised concerns of a first drought in five years, although weather experts are hopeful rains will revive in the next week. A poor monsoon cuts exports, stokes food inflation and leads to lower demand for products ranging from cars to consumer goods, while a slow start could delay exports of some crops and increase the need for imports.
Rains last week spread to soybean areas in central parts of India and cane areas in the north, but overall rains stood at 43 percent below the seasonal average, a weather office update showed. In 2009 the worst drought in nearly four decades forced India, the world’s top sugar consumer, to buy large quantities of the sweetener from top producer Brazil, driving benchmark New York futures to a 30-year high. The farm sector accounts for around 14 percent of India’s nearly $2 trillion economy, and two-thirds of its 1.2 billion population live in rural areas.
“The monsoon appears to be more unpredictable,” Finance Minster Arun Jaitley said, presenting his maiden budget on July 10. India, one of the world’s top producers and consumers of rice, corn, cooking oil, sugar and cotton, relies heavily on the summer rains as nearly half its farmland lacks irrigation. The lacklustre monsoon could push up edible oil imports by the world’s top palm oil buyer. That in turn could underpin benchmark Malaysian prices of the tropical oil that have plunged more than a tenth this year.
The monsoon this year arrived five days late on the southern Kerala coast, and then covered half of India four days later than the usual date of June 15. Usually, the monsoon covers the entire country around mid-July. “The water-stressed western region is expected to receive good rainfall next week as conditions have become favourable for a revival,” said M. Rajeevan, a senior meteorological scientist with the ministry of earth sciences.DROUGHT CONCERNS
Delayed progress of monsoon rains towards the grain belt of northwest India and oilseed-growing regions of central and western India has prompted concerns about a shortfall in grains output, causing prices of some food items to rise. Jaitley said last week there was no cause to panic about the possibility of higher inflation, after a private forecasting agency said there was a 60 percent chance India would face a drought this year.
“Even if due to inadequate rainfall there is a marginal decline in agricultural production, stocks in the central pool are adequate to meet any exigency (emergency),” Jaitley said. India’s government under new Prime Minister Narendra Modi has moved to ease market concerns over supply shortages and price speculation with a number of steps, including raids against hoarders.
Policy makers in New Delhi fear a failure of this year’s monsoon could push up retail food inflation by at least one percentage point. Soaring prices of basic goods such as milk and potatoes lifted retail food inflation in May to 9.4 percent and the poor monsoon has fanned fears of worse to come. -
REASONS TO VISIT KERALA IN MONSOON
During the rains, god’s own country transforms into a veritable paradise with lush greenery gracing its backwaters and hills, cloudy sunsets, cool breeze and the cheerful fervour of an array of festivals. Intermittent showers heighten the romance of the season. It might not be the best time to hit the beaches, but here are five reasons why Kerala in the monsoon will leave you singin’ in the rain.
Snake boat races
The months between July and September are water sports season, with the backwaters around Alappuzha playing host to a series of snake boat races. The most famous of the lot is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, generally held on the second Saturday of August every year. The regatta takes place on the Punnamada Lake, and features ceremonial processions and magnificent floats. Its star attraction is the synchronised rowing of traditional 30-metre-long snake-boats or chudan valloms, which have a raised prow resembling a snake.
The Onam sadya feast
This ten-day harvest festival celebrates the homecoming of the mythical king Mahabali, but it’s also a good excuse to feast on some of Kerala’s most lip-smacking vegetarian fare. Traditionally served on palm leaves, the ninecourse banquet is held on the last or tenth day. It’s best savoured at a local home, but you don’t manage to get an invite then most local restaurants also offer these meals. The preceding days are filled with costume parades, boat races and shopping discounts.
Great hotel deals
Sandwiched between Kerala’s sweltering summers and its peak tourist season (November to March), the monsoon is a great time to snag deals at otherwise expensive hotels and resorts. If you’ve ever fantasised about an indulgent houseboat trawl through the backwaters, then this is the time to get the best bargains. To avail the best discounts, make sure you plan your visit before the end of September, after which tariffs being climbing up again.
Ayurvedic therapies
Kerala is home to several excellent spas and wellness resorts, and there’s no better time to pamper yourself than the monsoon season. According to Ayurveda, the cool, pleasant weather is ideal for rejuvenation. Sign up for a week-long retreat at top-notch stays such as the Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village Health Resort in Palakkad or Somatheeram Ayurvedic Health Resort in Kovalam with relaxing oil-based therapies, massages, yoga and a balanced diet that’ll cleanse your mind, body and soul.
Wayanad’s natural splendour
With virescent hills carpeted with plantations, rainforests and tumbling waterfalls, Wayanad is a photographer’s delight. After you’ve had your fill of its misty coffee, tea and spice plantations, head to the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary that hosts numerous migrating birds in this period. Wayanad’s tourism department also holds an annual monsoon carnival in July with village excursions, rain treks as well as local sports such as mud football and archery. -
Foreign funding and the Maharajas among NGOs
It is speculated that a big portion of foreign funding goes to politicians and bureaucracy as a large number of institutes are owned, controlled and managed by politicians and business houses.
India is a fascinating country. The number of stock exchanges we have, as per official records is 20, but the number of functioning exchanges is only two. The number of scrips listed on the Bombay Stock Exchanges [BSE] is nearly 9,000, only 3500 of these are traded at least once a year, and the top 50 securities constitute nearly two-third of the turnover. Actually only 250 to 300 are “active” traded scrips. Interestingly, the latest Handbook of Statistics on Indian Securities Market published by the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has dropped the column for number of scrips listed on the BSE! It is one way to solve the issue of numbers.
In a similar fashion, we decided to probe the number of not-for-profit or nongovernmental organisations (NGO) in India. Being in the teaching line, we have the habit of probing issues that are otherwise not to be probed at all! Let sleeping dogs lie is the national dictum in such matters. NGOs are also known as Voluntary Organizations (VOs) or Voluntary Agencies (VAs) and more recently as Voluntary Development Organizations (VDOs), Non- Governmental Development Organizations (NGDOs) or Non-Profit Institutions (NPIs).
There are equivalent names for NGOs available in different Indian languages. In Hindi NGOs are called Swayamsevi Sansthayen or Swayamsevi Sangathan. Prior to the enactment of the Societies Registration Act of 1860, voluntary action was guided mainly by religious and cultural ethos. Subsequently, a series of legislations addressing the non-profit sector were promulgated. The starting point in this respect was Article 19 of the Indian Constitution which recognized a number of civic rights including the right “….to form associations or unions”. It constitutes the legal basis of relevant legal provisions applicable to the non-profit sector.
There are also non mandatory provisions that allow any group with the intention of starting a non-profit, voluntary or charitable work to organize itself into a legally registered entity. However, given the optional nature of these provisions, there is a large group of voluntary bodies that are not registered. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India and the UN Volunteers(UNV) programme had organized a Forum in January 2006 at UNDP’s Delhi office to discuss the issues relating to implementation of the UN Handbook on Nonprofit Institutions (NPIs) in the System of National Accounts in India.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Planning Commission, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), NGOs, UNV Headquarters, and the Centre for Civil Society Studies of Johns Hopkins University, which is leading the effort to implement the UN NPI Handbook throughout the World. At this Forum, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP India Resident Representative stressed the need to implement the UN Handbook in order to capture the contribution of NPIs to the national economy. It was mentioned that the voluntary sector played a significant role in the economic and social change of the country and contributed significantly to the development in both rural and urban areas.
The Forum therefore urged that India should take suitable steps to implement the UN Handbook on NPIs and compile accounts of NPIs functioning in the country. The National Policy on the Voluntary Sector, adopted in May 2007, presumably under the guidance of the National Advisory Council, pledges to encourage, enable and empower an independent, creative and effective voluntary sector, with diversity in form and function, so that it can contribute to the social, cultural and economic advancement of the people of India.
It constitutes the beginning of a process to evolve a new working relationship between the government and the voluntary sector, without affecting the autonomy and identity of voluntary organizations (GoI/Planning Commission, 2007). Accordingly, it is expected that the enabling environment will be further enhanced to encourage the development and active engagement of the non-profit sector, including volunteerism, in the community’s affairs and developmental efforts. So we can conclude that at the beginning of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)’s second term, the so called voluntary or NGO sector was fully ensconced in decision making and fund collecting activities. NGOs can be registered under several regulations or none-the latter is more common.
The main statutory laws governing the various types of registered non-profit organizations are: The Societies Registration Act, 1860; The Indian Trusts Act, 1882; Public Trust Act, 1950; The Indian Companies Act (Section 25), 1956 Religious non-profit organizations can be registered under: the Religious Endowments Act, 1863; The Charitable and Religious Trust Act, 1920; Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923; Wakf Act, 1954 and the Public Wakfs (Extension of Limitation) Act, 1959 By 2009, a total of 33 lakh societies reported as “Societies registered under the Societies Registration Act/ Mumbai Public Trust Act”.
Of these, the State Directorates of Economics and Statistics [DESs] were able to collect information for about 22.58 lakh units and computerize the information relating to about 21 lakh units. But when the Central Statistics Office (CSO) sent people searching for these NGOs in the states, it could not trace lakhs of them. Of the roughly 22 lakh NGOs it tried to verify, only 6.95 lakh could be traced. These figures did not include non-profit organizations registered under the Charitable and Religious Trust Act, 1920, which, if counted, would add a few thousands to the number. Then there are non-profit companies under the Indian Companies Act, 1956, and other laws that also help set up trusts.
The numbers also did not include many groups and associations, which, in common parlance are referred to as mass-based groups, usually operating at block and village levels, at times federating into larger organizations for specific purposes or campaigns. A study by PRIA and Johns Hopkins University suggested, nearly 50% of the total voluntary organizations in India were not registered under any law. The antiquated societies registration law is blind when it comes to classifying these registered groups.
It treats all registered societies the same way. These numbers include societies that run hugely profitable schools, colleges, hospitals and sports bodies in the country. Remember, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is also an NGO, registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act. The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) too is an NGO, under the law.
The Major Findings from the CSO Survey are as follows:
The CSO’s study covered only the societies registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860/Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950 and companies Registered under section 25 of Indian Companies Act, 1956. Data available from the first phase shows that there are about 31.7 lakh NPIs registered in India and that 58.7% of these are located in rural areas. A majority of NPIs are involved in community, social and personal services, cultural services, education, and health services. The number of NPIs formed after 1990 has increased manifold. This is the post economic reform period when global powers began to show interest in India.
There were only 1.44 lakh societies registered till the year 1970, followed by 1.79 lakh registrations in the period from 1971 to 1980, 5.52 lakh registrations in the period from 1981 to 1990, 11.22 lakh registrations in the period from 1991 to 2000, and as many as 11.35 lakh societies were registered after 2000. Since there is no clause in the Act for the de-registration of defunct societies, the first phase of the survey results give number of societies and their distribution on the basis of records available with the registering authorities. About 18 lakh societies have been visited during the second phase, i.e. 57.6% of the registered societies.
Out of these, results are available for 4.65 lakh. The top three sectors where these societies were engaged is as follows: engaged in Social Services (35%), followed by Education Research (21%), and Culture Recreation (15%). The top three activities account for 71% of the registered societies. The data on total work force includes volunteers and paid workers. Out of the 144 lakh work force, only 11 lakh are paid workers. The CSO used the sum of their operational expenditures to come to a value of their economic output at a whopping Rs41,292 crore! Non Profit Institutions are also registered under the Indian Companies Act (Section 25), 1956.
The financial data in respect of 2,595 companies listed with Ministry of Corporate Affairs has been obtained and analyzed. However, no information could be obtained in respect of the workforce of these companies and activities/purposes in which they are involved. CSO decided to limit the coverage to the Societies registered under Societies Registration Act 1860, Mumbai Trust Act and the Indian Companies Act (Section 25), 1956. This is because a majority of the NPIs are registered under Societies Registration Act 1860. This also means that NGOs under various religious non-profit organisations were excluded and they constitute a large number. The study found that in most States, the provision of submitting financial statements is not strictly enforced. Even if societies file financial statements with the registrar’s office, there is no mechanism to maintain this database.
Maharajas among NGO’s:
Maharajas among NGO’s: A category of NGOs are registered with Ministry of Home Affairs -under Foreign contributions regulations Act [ FCRA] -These can be called Euro or Dollar NGOs who get funds from private charities as well as Government organizations abroad. The salient features for 2011-2012 are as follows: I. A total of 43,527 Associations have been registered under the FCRA until 31 March 2012. During 2011-12, as many as 2001 associations were granted registration and 304 associations were given prior permission to receive foreign contributions. II. 22,702 Associations reported a total receipt of Rs11,546.29 crore as foreign contributions. [Under or non-reporting is common]
TRENDS OVER LAST 10 YEARS
Year No. of Registered Associations No.of Reporting Associations
Amount of Foreign Contributions
[Rs Crore]
2002-2003
26404
165905046.51
2003-2004
2835117145
5105.46
2004-2005
3032118540
6256.68
2005-2006
3214418570
7877.57
2006-2007
3393718996
11007.43
2007-2008
3480318796
9663.46
2008-2009
3641420088
10802.67
2009-2010
38,43621,508
10,337.59
2010-201140,575
22,735
10,334.122011-2012
43,527
22,70211,546.29
Total from 2002-2012
97383.531. Source: Ministry of Home AffairsForeigners Division, FCRA wing
III. Delhi reported the highest receipt of foreign donations at Rs2,285.75 crore, followed by Tamil Nadu (Rs1,704.76 crore) and Andhra Pradesh (Rs1,258.52 crore).
IV. Among districts, Chennai reported the highest foreign donations (Rs889.99 crore), followed by Mumbai (Rs825.40 crore) and Bangalore (Rs812.48 crore).
V. The list of donor countries is headed by the US (Rs3,838.23crore), followed by UK (Rs1,219.02 crore), and Germany (Rs1,096.01 crore).
VI. The list of foreign donors is topped by the Compassion International, US (Rs183.83 crore), followed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, US (Rs130.77 crore), and the Kinder Not Hilfe (KNH), Germany (Rs51.76 crore).
VII. World Vision of India, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (Rs233.38 crore) received the highest foreign donations among NGOs, followed by the Believers Church India Pathanamthitta, Kerala (Rs190.05 crore) and Rural Development Trust, Ananthapur, AP (Rs144.39 crore)
VIII. The highest foreign contribution was received and utilized for–Rural Development (Rs945.77 crore), Welfare of Children (Rs929.22 crore), Construction and Maintenance of school/colleges (Rs824.11 crore) and Research (Rs539.14 crore). Activities other than those mentioned above received Rs2,253.61 crore. Interestingly establishment expenses [Building/ cars/ Jeeps/ Computers/Cameras etc.] constituted the bulk of expenditure in most of the NGOs.Need of the Hour:
In the context of the Intelligence Bureau’s (IB) report on antidevelopment activities of many foreign funded NGOs, it may be time to constitute a commission of experts including those from the IB to comprehensively study this sector. Also, to use experiences of other countries like Russia, China and the US in dealing with NGOs and formulating regulation to govern them. Perhaps, it is also time to re-look the foreign funding of NGOs in the context of compulsory CSR contributions introduced in the Companies Act 2013-since we are no more the white man’s burden!(The author is Professor of Finance at IIM-Bangalore. He sits on the advisory boards of SEBI and the RBI.)
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31 ACs, 25 heaters, 15 coolers at Sheila Dikshit’s Chief Ministerial home
NEW DELHI (TIP): As Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit had 31 air-conditioners and 25 heaters in her fourbedroom official bungalow in the heart of the capital. The government’s response to an RTI or Right to Information query has also revealed that Dikshit’s home on 3 Motilal Nehru Marg had 15 coolers, 12 geysers and 16 air purifiers.
Dikshit, who was Delhi’s Chief Minister for 15 years, vacated the bungalow after being voted out of power in the December state polls. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has now shifted into it. (Manmohan Singh Checks in at New Residence) The Central Public Works Department, the civic body in charge of government residences, has said nearly Rs. 17 lakh was spent on the “electrical renovation” of the bungalow according to Dikshit’s requirements.
The 76-year-old former Chief Minister was appointed the Governor of Kerala by the Congress-led government days before the national election, in which the party was routed. (Sheila Dikshit appointed Governor of Kerala) The array of appliances and fixtures removed from the bungalow after Dikshit shifted to a private 2,000-sq ft, three-bedroom flat on Ferozeshah Road in central Delhi, are now being used in various government departments.
“The remaining air conditioners and fixtures shall be utilised as and when the requirement arises,” the civic body said in its reply to RTI activist Subhash Agrawal. The four-bedroom bungalow, constructed in 1920 as part of the shaded and well-guarded Lutyen’s zone in the heart of Delhi, is spread over 3.5 acres. Before Manmohan Singh moved in, the bungalow was renovated and all the floor, roof and plaster damages were repaired at the cost of Rs. 35 lakh.
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Appointment of Juned Qazi as INOC(I), USA President celebrated
NEW YORK (TIP): A large gathering of INOC (I) workers celebrated, June 17, the appointment of Juned Qazi as the new President of INOC (I) USA. Introducing Juned Qazi, George Abraham, Chairman of INOC(I) said Qazi is a dedicated leader with charisma and youthful vigor who is capable of taking INOC (I) to the next level. He recollected the time he was with Qazi in India during the recent election cycle to secure a seat to run from Aligarh constituency on a Congress ticket.
” I have personally witnessed his ability to motivate and mobilize the cadre at the grass-roots level; if he is to employ the same amount of stamina and focus, INOC could be rebuilt very soon to face up to the challenges on hand”, Abraham added. General Secretary Harbachan Singh who was master of ceremonies for the event, said that Juned Qazi was a consensus builder and a very talented leader who has earned the trust of fellow members of the organization both in USA and India.
Mrs. George Abraham presenting a bouquet to Juned Qazi
He is a very amiable and dynamic leader, and we are confident that he will fully and very ably discharge his duties as President of INOC (I) and overwhelming support for him was the order of the day. He added, ” A sense of relief was felt all around the reception hall that the stagnant INOC(I) over the last one year was now once again geared up to function fullswing to respond to the aspirations of the people.” Mohinder Singh Gilzian, senior Vice- President lauded Qazi for his commitment to the values and principles of the Congress Party and wished him all the success. Juned Qazi thanked everyone for the great show of support and committed himself to work hard for the Indian Americans and motherland India, and to foster greater cooperation and friendship ties between the two.
” I have been a Congress worker and loyalist all my life and I mean to remain one and serve the organization in the best possible manner. Of course, I will need your support to restore strength and vibrancy to the organization”, said Juned. Photos/ Gunjesh Desai/ Masala Junction
He also vouched that he will go the extra mile to help the needy and will not hesitate to stand for what is right. Those who felicitated included Dr. Dayan Naik (President, Karnataka Chapter), Dr. Neil Mandava (Chairman, AP Chapter), John Joseph (President, Tamil Nadu ), T. J. Gill (President, Punjab), Zinda Singh (President, Delhi), Sonia Sodhi (President, MP Chapter), Chander Prakash Sukhval (V.P. Rajasthan Chapter), U.A. Naseer (Secretary, Kerala chapter), Sawaran Singh (President, Haryana Chapter) and Executive Committee members; Zach Thomas, Sabina Ali, Prasad Kambahpaty, Karamjit Dhaliwal. Others who felicitated included R. Jayachandran, Dr. Vaijinath Chakote, Jose George, Thomas T. Oommen, Dr. Uday Singh, Ram Gadula, Vidya Bhushan Sharma, Harkesh Thakur, Jose Jacob, Rev. Dr. Abraham and Rev. Wilson Jose, Mahesh Bhai and Rumpy Bindra. Earlier, at the beginning of the function, Mrs. George Abraham, the first lady of the INOC (I) presented, on behalf of the INOC (I) family a bouquet to Juned Qazi.
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Cement demand may increase by up to 7% in southern region
MUMBAI (TIP): The demand for cement in southern region is expected to rise by 5-7 per cent in FY’15 as compared to 1 per cent year-on-year growth in FY’14, a report said. Cement plant utilisation trend in southern states is expected to pick up in the current fiscal as compared with the previous year, and overall demand in the region should go up by 5-7 per cent in FY 2014-15, as against 1 per cent year-on-year growth a year ago, Karvy Broking said in its report. This along with limited capacity expansion in south should boost plant utilisation in the region, Karvy Broking Analyst Rajesh Kumar Ravi said.
Among southern states, Andhra Pradesh market demand is 21 million tonnes per annum and it is expected to grow at 10-12 per cent this fiscal, as against 6 per cent yo- y in the previous financial year. The demand in Tamil Nadu is 20 million tonnes per annum and is expected to grow at 4-5 per cent in FY’15, as compared to 4 per cent decline in the previous year. Karnataka’s demand stands at 16 million tonnes per annum and is likely to increase by 3-5 per cent in FY’15.
The cement demand in Kerala is 10 million tonnes per annum and expected to grow at 8-10 per cent in the current financial year, as compared with 5 per cent growth a year ago. The expert highlighted that demand recovery in the southern region initially will be from infrastructure projects as political stability has set in the Andhra Pradesh region. Both pending and new infrastructure projects in AP (combined) should boost double digit demand growth in the state. Post the bifurcation of the AP, Vizag, Vijayawada and Tirupati would emerge as key cities, Ravi said. He expects Vizag to emerge as the main hub while Vijayawada and Tirupati would become commercial and IT hubs respectively. These should boost cement demand from pick up in both housing and infrastructure activities in these regions.
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SOUTH INDIA’S GOLDEN TRIANGLE IN HILLS
TRAVELOGUE
If there is a paradise down south, it is in its own Golden Triangle in the hills. The regions of Coorg in Karnataka, the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu and Wayanad in Kerala form one contiguous landscape offering all that a traveller could ask for: Lush green forests, wildlife, great people, man-made attractions, breathtaking landscapes, tea and coffee estates and temperate climate all year round. You can seamlessly drive between these regions on beautiful mountain roads.
Join Elephants in their ‘Bathrooms’ in Dubare, Coorg So what if Dubare is like a pet elephant facility? The camp is home to elephants of all ages, from babies to granddaddies. At around 9, they come out of their quarters and head for the water pool for their daily bath.
Be careful when they come down: some amble, but some run. You don’t want to be in the way. You can watch them from the sides, and step into the water and give them a scrub yourself. Of course, elephants don’t know the difference between a bathtub and a toilet seat – they allow their poop to drop where they are. You can be sure you are stepping on some.
Dubare is a nice place to hang around all day long – lounge in the shade when done with elephants, take a boat ride, go bird spotting, read a book or just picnic with some music from your iPod. Life will look wonderful.
Reaching for the Clouds in Talacauvery, Coorg Located about 42 kms (26 miles) from Madikeri, Talacauvery is said to be the origin of the Cauvery river. Of course, you really don’t see any visible signs there: a spring feeding water into a holy tank in a temple complex there is said to be the origin.
The temple is dedicated to Goddess Caveriamma and Lord Agastheeswara. A dip in the tank, especially on holy days, is considered auspicious by Hindus. A 407-step steep climb from the temple takes you atop the hill where you are supposed to get views of the surrounding mountain ranges – I only got to see the anatomy of clouds. Yes, I was literally standing inside one or many – I could not tell where one ended and another started.
Chikmagalur, Karnataka – Coffee first grown here in India Raindrops are falling on my head…and I am having coffee on the road in Chikmagalur – where coffee was first grown in India.
About 350 years ago when a seer is believed to have smuggled a few seeds from Mecca in Arabia. At the twilight hour, surrounded by forests and coffee estates, in mountain country with its cool, crisp air – it is heaven on Earth. Depending upon when you go, you can enjoy the coffee blossoms – or the picking season. The whole countryside is one you would want to build a cottage and spend the rest of your life in.
A Thriving Tibetan Community in Bylakuppe in Coorg If you want a flavour of Tibet and Buddhism, drop by at Bylakuppe – supposedly the second largest Tibetan settlement outside of Tibet after Dharamsala up North. It is located about 6 kms from Kushalanagara in Coorg. Over 30,000 Tibetans and 7,000 monks have made it to their homes since 1961.
The stunning Namdroling Nyingmapa Monastery here is the largest teaching center of Nyingmapa – a lineage of Tibetan Buddhism – in the world. Check in to get a flavour of Tibetan shopping, food, lifestyle, dressing, culture, festivals and religion.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway: A Toy Train you must Ride Wheeeee! I am on a toy train ride. Starting from Ooty or Ootacamund, now officially renamed Udagamandalam, going downhill all the way to Mettuppalayam in Tamil Nadu. And it figures in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
The train passes through some picturesque tea estates, the Nilgiris mountains, villages and towns with some retaining their old world charm – and skies with changing colours. The train negotiates 208 curves, 13 tunnels and 250 bridges. A few years back, a diesel engine was introduced for the leg between Coonor and Ooty – it is a treat watching the process of changing to a steam locomotive at Coonor or vice versa. Book in advance to ensure a seat.
Walk Through the Tea Estates of the Nilgiris What is more refreshing than a cuppa of tea? A walk in the tea estates – especially those that cover the rolling hills of the Nilgiris.
Step out before the first light, and watch the colours of the ground and skies change around you. Birds chirp Good Morning to you and the cool air rejuvenates your skin and soul.
On the Trail of Tigers and Elephants in Bandipur, Karnataka The Bandipur National Park in Karnataka is one of the many reserves in this region. And home to tigers, elephants and many other animals and birds. In fact, the forests all merge into one another, and into human habitats and roads. You can commonly expect to see herds of elephants on the highways. Don’t miss out on safaris when in this part of the country.
A Temple Festival, Circus and Fair in Wayanad Everyone loves a festival in these parts. I attended one at the Valliyoorkavu temple on the outskirts of Mananthavady in Wayanad. Attended by tribal folk from surrounding areas, it was a long night of prayers, folk dances, processions, food, shopping, circus and fairground rides.
Roads leading to it are marked with processions from all directions – converging at the temple from early evening onwards. Processions comprise musicians, dancers including a few in masks, elephants, priests and devotees walking along, some with lit oil lamps. It is fun – and religious – for all in one big celebration.
Kuruva Island in Wayanad The evergreen forested Kuruva island (called Kuruvadweep locally) lying in one of the tributaries of Kabini river in Wayanad seems a popular picnic spot. Rightfully so. A cluster of islands that emerge or submerge with water levels, and home to a variety of birds, butterflies and orchids, you can choose to be with the crowds or find your own solitude.
We hiked in extreme humidity on a warm, sunny day through rice fields and forests to eventually reach the local tribal temple – very serene setting, and the simplicity of the temples is what attracts you. Despite new houses, many a lifestyle remains unchanged. Women were dressed as they always have been, water is drawn from wells and farming is the main occupation. The fields were planted with rice, and ginger harvested recently was being sorted manually.
Banasura Reservoir, Wayanad, Kerala – A sight to behold The Banasura Sagar dam in Wayanad is the largest earth dam in India. Without getting into technicalities or its environmental impact (if any), I would say it has resulted in creating some stunning features.
The resulting reservoir is a large water body whose water level rises dramatically during the monsoons. Sprouting throughout are islands created when the reservoir submerged surrounding areas. And coming through are trees shorn of any leaves; they paint a ghostly image when it is misty and around sunset. A good place to film a horror flick.
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BJP MAKES INROADS INTO NEW AREAS
The party has increased vote shares in states that are not its strongholds
NEW DELHI (TIP): Announcing the BJP’s historic victory, party president Rajanth Singh quoted former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s famous lines, “Andhera Chatega, Suraj Nikalega, Kamal Khilega [the darkness will dissipate, the sun will shine and the lotus will bloom]” and with unmistakable pride added: “Aaj kamal khil chuka hai aur asha ki nayi subah ho gayi hai [the lotus has bloomed and there is a new dawn of hope].”
What the party has accomplished in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh is not as is its performance in States such as Tamil Nadu (5 per cent of votes polled), Odisha (21 per cent) , Jammu and Kashmir (32 per cent), Assam (36 per cent), and West Bengal (16 per cent). By winning Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time, it has also stormed into the Congress and the National Conference bastion.
This improved performance in areas that were not BJP strongholds is being attributed to the acceptance of Narendra Modi as a national leader and Prime Minister. “This is the love of the people from across the country that reflects in the increased vote share even in areas like the North East, East and South. Mr. Modi’s leadership converted the mood in these areas to a pro-BJP wave,” said senior leader Ravi Shankar Prasad. He said the “political witch-hunt” and “motivated campaigns” against Mr. Modi were not enough to block his ascend.
“His promise of good governance attracted people to him. He was seen as the embodiment of hope and change.” The BJP’s revised election strategy in the Lok Sabha polls had been to cover the last mile. Extensive campaigns were undertaken in distant parts of the country and people were promised employment, development, security and growth. Separate manifestoes were drafted for each of the North-Eastern States and at rallies in the region Mr. Modi focused on development, protection of border areas, illegal immigration and even the ecology.
For instance, in Manipur, where the party has a vote share of 11 per cent, construction of arterial roads has been promised, the contentious issue of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 has been touched upon and decentralisation of administration has been spoken of. In West Bengal, between the Left and the Trinamool, it has managed to carve out a space for itself. Here again, the promise is of growth and a better economy.
The BJP may not have bagged seats, but by securing 16 per cent of the votes it has made a beginning. Similarly, with a vote share of 10 per cent in Kerala, 32 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir, 36 per cent in Assam, 21 per cent in Odisha, eight per cent in Meghalaya and 11 per cent in Manipur, the BJP is no longer confined to the North, West and Central India and is staking its claim as a true national party.
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High voter turnout in 91 seats in LS polls, crosses the 2009 mark
NEW DELHI (TIP): Marking a considerably high voter turnout as compared to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, India voted for 91 constituencies in 14 states and Union Territories which went to polls in the third and substantial phase on April 10, with Chandigarh witnessing the highest percentage of 74.
The national capital of Delhi, too, recorded a 64 per cent voter turnout in the mega-battle for seven Lok Sabha seats where a faction-ridden BJP tried to sail on ‘Modi wave’ while AAP and Congress attempted to regain the lost ground. A substantial increase of 12 per cent was seen in the voter turn in Delhi as compared to the 2009 polls. Muzaffarnagar and Shamli in Uttar Pradesh, which witnessed communal riots in August 2013, recorded “above average” voter turnout of 67.78 per cent and 70.85 per cent, respectively.
The 10 seats of Uttar Pradesh, which went to polls on Thursday, reported a record turnout of 65 per cent as compared to 51.30 per cent recorded in the last LS polls. The turnout in Delhi was 64 per cent, up by 12 per cent as against 2009 elections. Chandigarh constituency recorded the highest turnout of 74 per cent, against 64 per cent in 2009 polls. Kerala, which went to polls in single phase, recorded 73.4 per cent voter turnout, up from 73.2 per cent last time. Chhattisgarh’s Bastar seat witnessed the lowest voter turnout among the 91 seats of 51.4 per cent.
But it was higher as compared to 47.33 per cent recorded in the last LS polls. There was a voter turnout between 67 and 55.9 per cent for the 21 Lok Sabha seats in three states and a union territory, besides 70 Assembly constituencies in Odisha in eastern India. An estimated 50 per cent of the 191 million electorate had voted in eight hours of brisk polling, with men and women of all age groups queuing up at the 140,850 voting centres from the time they opened at 7 am. EC maintained that the turnout could be “much higher” in all the seats as final reports were yet to come in with voting still on after the stipulated hours in various areas.
Although the polls were mostly peaceful, there were some incidents of violence reported from Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Bihar in Naxal related violence. In Bihar, two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed when Maoists exploded a concealed land mine in Munger district when they were on their way to neighbouring Jamui where polling was on. Maoists also blasted a school in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district. In Odisha, Maoists snatched EVMs and took away the battery of one voting machine. Though the staggered nine-phase balloting began April 7, the first two rounds involved only 13 constituencies from the country’s northeast where the BJP is not a major player. While the people of India have made their choice, the results will be known when the votes are counted on May 16.
CONSTITUENCY-WISE VOTER TURNOUT FOR LS SEATS IN 2014
BIHAR
1. Sasaram – 54 per cent
2. Karakat – 51 per cent
3. Aurangabad – 47.5 per cent
4. Gaya – 51.64 per cent
5. Nawada – 49 per cent
MAHARASHTRA
1. Buldhana -44 per cent
2. Akola -39 per cent
3. Amravati – 46 per cent
4. Wardha – 42 per cent
5. Ramtek -40.3 per cent
6. Nagpur – 48 per cent
7. Bhandara-Gondiya – 53 per cent
8. Gadchiroli-Chimur – 59 per cent
9. Chandrapur -43.49 per cent
10. Yavatmal-Washim -40 per cent
JAMMU & KASHMIR
1. Jammu – 68 per cent
CHHATTISGARH
1. Bastar – 47 per centUTTAR PRADESH
1. Saharanpur – 68.40 per cent
2. Kairana – 64.90 per cent
3. Muzaffarnagar – 63.53 per cent
4. Bijnor – 62.96 per cent
5. Meerut – 60.50 per cent
6. Baghpat – 61.52 per cent
7. Ghaziabad – 60.20 per cent
8. Gautam buddha nagar – 47.20 per cent
9. Bulandshahar – 61.60 per cent
10. Aligarh – 55.60 per cent
DELHI
1. Chandni chowk – 66.8 per cent
2. West Delhi – 65.64 per cent
3. East Delhi – 65.59 per cent
4. South Delhi – 62.67 per cent
5. Northwest Delhi – 61.38 per cent
6. North-East Delhi – 67.08 per cent
HARYANA
1. Ambala – 70.7 per cent
2. Kurukshetra – 75.8 per cent
3. Sirsa – 76 per cent4. Gurgaon – 70.02 per cent
5. Faridabad – 60.08 per cent
JHARKHAND
1. Chatra – 53.88 per cent
2. Kodarma – 60.97 per cent
3. Lohardaga – 59 per cent
4. Palamau – 59.30 per cent
LAKSHADWEEP
1. Lakshadweep – 71.36 per cent
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS
1. Andaman & Nicobar Island – 70 per cent
MADHYA PRADESH
1. Satna -53.77 per cent
2. Rewa -53.99 per cent
3. Sidh -56.45 per cent
4. Shahdol -60.79 per cent
5. Jabalpur -48.14 per cent
6. Mandla -65.53 per cent
7. Balaghat -62.52 per cent
8 Chhindwara -70.93 per cent
9. Hoshangabad -65.01 per cent -
Elections lack substantive agenda
The author notes that there is no focused debate on real issues. Only cacophony prevails. “Past experience tells us that the so-called “manifestos” of the political parties are hardly ever practically implemented. The consequences of the ‘business-as-usual’ scenario are summed up in this adage, “If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got”, says he.
Another season of elections is upon the Indian voters. There are the usual activities – promulgation of model code of conduct, distribution of tickets by political parties, switching parties and turning rebel for not getting the party ticket, tall promises and distribution of liquor/drugs to woo voters, etc.
However, candidates never seem to engage in constructive debates on issues – only complaining and mud-slinging. Few candidates spell out their vision on education, healthcare, farmers’ plight, agriculture, environment, drug-abuse, traffic reforms, etc. Having lived in the United States for more than four decades, I can unequivocally say that at every level of the democratic election process, there are substantive debates between/among candidates.
Many times, debates are what makes or breaks a candidate. Debates can expose the shallowness of candidates on issues. Sometimes, the statements that the candidates make or how they treat people can determine the outcome of elections. For example, in 2006, a senatorial candidate of the US Republican Party from the state of Virginia, George Allen, called a field operative (an American of Indian origin) of his Democratic opponent, who was ‘videotracking’ Allen, ‘macaca’ – meaning ‘monkey’. Allen, who was earlier touted as a strong future presidential contender, lost the senate race simply because of this racial slur. Global Language Monitor named ‘macaca’ as the most politically incorrect word of 2006.
There are plenty of political candidates in India, who call each other worse names than ‘macaca’. In India, there is a need for a Commission on Debates. In the USA, presidential debates are sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates that was established in 1987 to provide the best possible information to voters and to conduct research and educational activities related to debates. The League of Women Voters (LWV), a civic organization, founded in 1920 to help women take a larger role in public affairs, also sponsored presidential debates before 1987. Such organizations are needed in India to organize debates among candidates at least during the parliamentary and legislative assembly elections. I am sure there are plenty of highly qualified (hopefully unbiased) TV anchors and newspaper editors who can moderate such debates.
For example, public debates are a need in Punjab on major issues like drugs and corruption, acknowledged widely but rarely addressed by the political parties. Someone has aptly said if you were intent on bringing down a powerful country that you would not want to confront militarily, orchestrate that country’s destruction from within. Getting the youth – the future of the country – addicted to drugs can destroy that country without firing a shot or destroying infrastructure. In 2012, Jim Yardley, a reporter for New York Times, commented on the issue of drug abuse in Punjab, saying, “Throughout the border state of Punjab, whether in villages or cities, drugs have become a scourge.
Opium is prevalent, refined as heroin or other illegal substances. Schoolboys sometimes eat small black balls of opium paste, with tea, before classes. Synthetic drugs are popular among those too poor to afford heroin.” An overwhelming majority of addicts were said to be between the ages of 15 and 35, with many of them unemployed and frustrated by unmet expectations. Yardley further wrote that even though around 60 per cent of all illicit drugs confiscated in India were seized in Punjab, during the Punjab state elections of 2012, candidates rarely spoke about drug abuse, and that India’s Election Commission indicated that some political workers were actually giving away drugs to buy votes; party workers in some districts distributed coupons that voters could redeem at pharmacies. This is really a sad commentary on the state of affairs in Punjab that once was the most progressive state of India.
Those at the helm of affairs seem to be playing Russian roulette with the lives of youngsters who instead of becoming a ‘demographic dividend’ turn out to be a liability for the society. The Corruption Perception Index ranks countries based on the perceived level of corruption in the public sector on a scale of 0 (meaning highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). India had a score of 36/100. According to researcher Finn Heinrich, corruption hurts the poor most. The poor in poor countries will not be able to get out of poverty until they tackle corruption. Corruption is rampant in India. When someone was asked ‘Where is the capital of India?’ a pejorative answer was “Swiss Banks,” referring to the black money hidden there by politicians. India, where most of the public-sector employees stand with their hand out to do the job that they are already paid to do, has become a laughing stock of the world. Governments must enforce the laws in right earnest to combat this menace of corruption.
In 2011, India’s overall literacy rate was 74.04 per cent. The literacy rate for men was much higher (82.14 per cent) than that for women (65.46 per cent). Punjab’s comparative literacy rate figures were: 76.2 per cent (overall), 81.5 per cent (men) and 71.3 per cent (women). There is a big gulf between the urban and rural literacy rates. The literacy rate for rural women needs to be improved drastically by creating educational opportunities for them. The highest literacy rates were for Kerala: 93.9 per cent (overall), 96 per cent (men) and 92 per cent (women). Punjab has a long way to go to compete with states like Kerala. We read daily in newspapers about the pitiable condition of infrastructure of government schools, the lack of teachers, flawed educational policies, and scams associated with every educational scheme. Literacy is the core to democracy.
How many candidates in the Lok-Sabha races are addressing the literacy issue and quality of education in Punjab? In Punjab, water pollution caused by chemical toxicity is a serious problem. According to Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, laws to control pollution remain on paper only and in realty, very little or no efforts are made to control water and air pollution and poisonous chemicals, such as cyanide that continue to emanate from factories in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Phagwara, freely flow in river waters. Such chemicals can lead to diseases like cancer. In Muktsar, between 2001 and 2009, 1074 deaths were attributed to cancer. During the same period, 211 cancerrelated deaths occurred in the Lambi constituency. In March 2009, Dr. Carin Smit of South Africa examined hair samples of mentally retarded children from the Malwa region and found that 80 per cent samples contained uranium in such large quantities as could make children sick.
According to the World Health Organization, 15 microgram of uranium per liter of water is regarded as safe limit, but Bhabha Atomic Research Center found uranium levels ranging from 2.2 to 244.2 microgram in water samples from the Malwa region. Arsenic is also found in Malwa water, and chronic exposure to arsenic increases the chances of getting cancer of the lungs, bladder, and kidneys. High-quality cancer research centers and hospitals in the Malwa region should be a high priority of any government coming to power. Much has been written about the need for crop diversification away from wheat-rice system in Punjab toward high-value crops, such as fruits and vegetables. The problems created by the wheat-rice system are the result of lack of visionary, far-sighted policies. The people entrusted with providing solutions are mostly the same whose shortsighted policies created the problems to begin with. Infusion of fresh ideas is needed. Cultivation of pulses, oilseeds, and cereals such as maize must be added to the mix of crops grown.
Political agenda must include promotion of an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise management of natural resources to ensure sustainability of agriculture. I have lived in Ludhiana for a number of years and have traveled the length and breadth of the Punjab. In big cities, one invariably comes across snarling traffic. Generally, it becomes a headache for the travelers. This again is due to the lack of visionary planning. Why allow so many vehicles on the road without first insuring needed infrastructure? Highways should be built first to accommodate the anticipated traffic. Police can and should ensure that only those who have passed both written and road tests be issued a driving license. So many young school-going children are seen running around on scooters; most of them may not even be eligible to get a driving license.
India is poised to overtake China in population by 2030. Politicians in India rarely talk about tackling this important issue. Greater and greater burden continues to be placed on land and agriculturists to produce more and more food grains to feed the burgeoning population while efforts to control population are non-existent. These are some of the issues that must be debated. All Lok-Sabha candidates must be cognizant of these issues and be able to tell the voters where they stand on each of the issues. Past experience tells us that the so-called “manifestos” of the political parties are hardly ever practically implemented. The consequences of the ‘business-as-usual’ scenario are summed up in this adage, “If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got.”
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Indian loses passport in jet, stuck for 5 days at UAE airport
DUBAI (TIP): An Indian was stranded for five days at Abu Dhabi airport as he forgot his passport in the plane while transiting for another flight to Saudi Arabia, according to a media report on Wednesday. Mohammed Ali, a resident of Kerala, had set out from Calicut to Riyadh via Abu Dhabi on March 6.
The flight he took was diverted to Al Ain due to heavy fog and thus reached Abu Dhabi airport after some delay, Emirates 24/7 quoted sources as saying. Later, Ali and other Riyadh-bound passengers were asked to board a connecting flight but after waiting in the aircraft for some time they were again asked to deboard the plane for some reason.
Ali mistakenly left back his passport on the seat in an envelope in the plane during the deboarding. He could not retrieve the passport as it was against security rules for passengers to board the plane again. He was issued an emergency certificate by the Indian Embassy only after five days when Abu Dhabi Police and his friends in Riyadh alerted the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. An official from the Embassy went to the airport and issued the Emergency Certificate to Ali, the report said.
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CPM bats for gay rights in manifesto
NEW DELHI (TIP): The CPM on March 20 sought decriminalization of section 377 of Indian Penal Code — the only Indian political party to have taken such a stand so far — and scrapping of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act as it unveiled its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls.
In a break from the stand taken by other parties in the wake of the Supreme Court declaring gay sex illegal, overturning a Delhi high court ruling, the CPM had recently come out in support of the TOI manifesto to do away with archaic laws. In the backdrop of Telangana bill being passed by Parliament even though Andhra Pradesh assembly had returned it, the manifesto said the Constitution should be amended to make it mandatory to seek the state legislature’s consent in case of division.
Despite the desertion by key partners of Third Front, the CPM has not lost hope of cobbling up an alliance after the elections. Releasing the manifesto, party general secretary Prakash Karat said efforts would be made to form a non-Congress, non-BJP government after the results. “We (Left and regional parties) have decided to fight both Congress and BJP. We are going together…We are working to maximise our strengths and seats in respective states or areas of strength. A concrete shape will emerge after the elections,” Karat said.
The CPM manifesto is high on a secular democratic alternative. Karat said, “We will pool in our resources and strengths after the elections…that is going to happen.” He also insisted that CPM or any constituent never called the 11-party alliance ‘Third Front. “Our coming together was not predicated on any alliance with each other,” he said. Karat also dismissed the viability of a federal front’, an idea floated by Mamata Banerjee. “Without Left no alternative is possible.” CPM general secretary said the left parties would contest about 100 seats across the country.
He said there will be no impact on Left Front’s fortune in Kerala after the state unit of Revolutionary Socialist Party crossed over to Congress-led United Democratic Front. Taking on both Congress and BJP for turning the election into a personality battle, Karat said, “It is clear that the elections are being projected as a battle between certain leaders or personalities but devoid of major issues and policies afflicting the people.” While he criticized the Congress for its misrule, price rise, corruption and scams, BJP, Karat said, is “not only not an alternative to Congress, but a retrograde and reactionary alternative.”
He said BJP is as corrupt as Congress. Party’s manifesto promises to reverse the deregulation of petroleum products, ban futures trade in agricultural commodities, enlarge resource base by taxing the rich and corporate profits; crackdown on tax evaders, black money and money laundering. Karat said party is not happy with the Food Security Act and promised to bring a new law which will be based on universal public distribution system. CPM manifesto also says there should be devolution of 50 per cent of the total collection of central taxes to states and transferring of centrally sponsored schemes under state subjects with funds to the Centre.
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Indian expats in Saudi Arabia demand online voting rights
DUBAI (TIP): Expatriate Indians in Saudi Arabia have demanded that the Indian authorities facilitate online voting for them through biometric system in the general elections due next month.
Although non-resident Indians (NRIs) have been permitted to register online and granted the right to vote in the elections, the registered voters can only exercise their franchise by being present in their respective constituencies in India.However, millions of NRIs continue to demand online voting rights as most consider it impractical to travel and spend money just for voting.
Zubair Siddique, a resident of Jeddah, a coast city in western Saudi Arabia, regrets not being able to participate in the elections for the last 15 years. “I am never able to travel back home due to my hectic work schedule. I was hoping that the government would at least consider online voting this year,” Arab News quoted Siddique as saying Wednesday.
At 2.8 million, Indians account for the largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia.At least 65 per cent of expatriate Indians in that Gulf nation come from the south Indian state of Kerala. The state boasts of near-full literacy and hence, awareness of general affairs among its expatriate community is broad. Faiz Ahmed Kidawi, India’s consul-general in the Saudi city of Jeddah, welcomed the idea of online voting.
But he is of the view that such a facility should only be implemented after a proper system and precautions are put in place by the Indian government. Ahmed Naseem, an Indian expatriate based in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, observed that several countries have implemented online voting and that India was still lagging behind.Naseem wondered why the government was not able to solve the NRI voting issue, despite spending huge amounts of money on the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, annual conclave of the Indian diaspora to keep overseas Indians connected to their home country.
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Nine days, five weeks
India votes between April 7 and May 12
NEW DELHI, MARCH 5: The process of constituting the 16th Lok Sabha got underway on March 5 with the Election Commission announcing the poll schedule. Polling to elect 543 members to the Lok Sabha will be spread over nine days, between April 7 and May 12. Simultaneously, elections will also be held for three State Assemblies: Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim.
With the announcement of poll dates, the model code of conduct, which prohibits the Government from taking any policy decisions that can influence the decision of a voter, comes into effect. The counting of votes for both the Lok Sabha and Assemblies will take place on May 16 and all the results are expected to be announced on the same day, Chief Election Commissioner V Sampath told newspersons here on Wednesday.
Nine-day affair
The Lok Sabha election process is spread over nine days and not over nine phases, Sampath said and added that 814 million electors will be eligible to cast their vote, an increase of about 10 crore voters from the last General Elections, in 2009. The 21 States that will complete the election process in a day include Tamil Nadu (April 24), Karnataka (April 17), Delhi and Kerala (April 10). In five States, including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan, elections will be spread over two days while Uttar Pradesh and Bihar will complete the process over six poll days.Young voters
Over 23 million voters in the 18-19 years age group have been added to the electoral rolls, constituting 2.88 per cent of the electorate, up from 0.75 per cent in the last elections. There will also be a 12 per cent increase in the number of polling stations across the country with 930,000 polling stations to be set up, compared to 830,000 during the last elections, Sampath said. Electronic voting machines will be used at all polling stations.In order to ensure that the maximum number of people exercise their franchise, the Election Commission has directed that a special camp be organised on March 9 during which people can view the electoral rolls. Those whose names are missing can fill up application forms and get their voter cards. The poll schedule has been drawn keeping in mind the weather conditions in various parts of the country and the examination schedule, as educational institutions and personnel are deployed for poll duty, and also to ensure that the elections are peaceful, Election Commission officials said.
Sampath added that adequate steps had been taken to prevent the use of black money. On the issue of elections in Andhra Pradesh, Sampath said: “We conduct elections according to the law, whether they are for Assembly or Parliamentary constituencies, as per description of the State today. When the new State comes into being, as per law, elected representatives will automatically become MPs and MLAs of the newly created State from the appointed day. It is seamless.” The total cost of the elections is estimated at ?4,000 crore, officials said.
Poll dates
● April 7 polling will cover six constituencies in two states.
● April 9 will cover seven constituencies in five states.
● April 10 to cover 92 constituencies in 14 states.
● April 12 to cover three States and five constituencies.
● April 17, the largest chunk of 122 Lok Sabha seats will go to polls in 13 states.
● April 24 will cover 117 constituencies in 12 States.
● April 30 in 89 constituencies in nine states.
● May 7 will be held in seven States covering 64 constituencies.
● May 12 will cover three States and 41 constituencies. -
Two Indian-origin men get prestigious award in US
NEW YORK (TIP): Two Indian-origin men are among this year’s prestigious Heinz Awards recipients in the US. Abraham Verghese, a professor at Stanford University Medical School, and Sanjeev Arora, a computer scientist, of Albuquerque in the US state of New Mexico will be honoured in Pittsburgh April 3, the foundation announced on its website on Tuesday.
The five recipients will receive a cash award of $250,000 each as well as a medallion inscribed with an image of late US senator John Heinz. Abraham Verghese, who was born to parents from Kerala in Ethiopia, was given the award in recognition of his best-selling authorship. In his first book, ‘My Own Country’, he wrote extensively about AIDS in rural areas of Tennesse. Verghese did his MBBS degree from Madras University in 1979.
Sanjeev Arora, born at Kota in Rajasthan and now a San Franciscobased entrepreneur, was recognized for revolutionizing community healthcare using video conferencing technology. The awards recognize outstanding individuals for their contributions in the fields of arts, humanities, environment, human Condition, public policy,technology, economy and employment. The awards are conferred annually by the Heinz Family Foundation and were instituted in 1993.
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THEKKADY, A LUXURIOUS STAY IN THE WILD
Thekkady in Kerala, offers a great opportunity to find animal sightings in the deciduous forests along with some interesting luxury resorts… Around 185 kms from the Kochi airport, a traveler itinerary to Kerala cannot be complete without visiting Thekkady – the popular destination for visiting the Periyar National Park. Only around a distance of 2 hours from Munnar, Thekkady has an array of luxurious resorts located in the small town. Carmelia Haven, is one of them. With its tea plantations, spice plantations, luxurious independent cottages overlooking the swimming pool in the centre of the resort as you go down from your cottage, the resort is an ideal destination to experience comfort, luxury and calm in the wild.
SIGHT SEEING
1. The Periyar Tiger Reserve
Lying close to the plantations, in the rich jungles of Periyar in Thekkady is one of the world’s most fascinating natural wildlife reserves – the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Covering 777 sq. kilometres, of which 360 sq. kilometres is thick evergreen forest; the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. Noted for its geomorphology, diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty, the Reserve attracts visitors from all over the world.
The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar adds to the charm of the park. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar however are the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake.
2. Chellarkovil
This sleepy little hamlet with its breathtaking view of the plains and cascading waterfalls is a veritable feast for the eyes. The village slopes down to the famous coconut groves of Cumbum in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. A must visit.
3. Kumily
This plantation town, closely associated with Thekkady, is situated on the outskirts of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. It is an important shopping centre and spice trade centre and is worth a visit.
4. Ramakalmedu
Undulating green hills and fresh mountain air make Ramakalmedu an enchanting retreat. The hilltop offers one a panoramic view of the picturesque villages of Bodi and Cumbum on the eastern slope of the western ghats.
5. Pullumedu
The meandering journey to this hill town, along the Periyar River, offers a stunning view of the rolling hills draped in lush greenery. Velvet lawns and rare flora and fauna add to the beauty of Pullumedu, which can be accessed only by jeep. The famous Sree Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala and the Makara Jyothi illumination at the shrine are also visible from here. One needs to remember it is part of the restricted forest zone, so permission needs to be taken to visit here.
6. Murikkady
Washed in fresh spice-scented air, Murikkady is a panorama of cardamom, coffee and pepper plantations.
7. Mangala Devi Temple
This ancient temple is hidden in the dense woods at the top of a peak 1,337 metres above sea level. Built in the traditional Kerala style of architecture, this place is open to the public only once in a year during the Chitra Poornima festival. One should truly make the most of it. The peak commands a panoramic view of the eastern slopes of the Ghats and some gorgeous hill villages of Tamil Nadu.
8. Kurisumala
This is the place to be if adventure tourism and trekking fascinates you. You can also treat yourself to a stunning view of Kumily town and the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
9. Vandanmedu
One of the world’s largest auction centers for cardamom, this place really grabs ones senses. A walk through the sprawling cardamom plantations of Vandanmedu is a heady experience.
10. Vandiperiyar
The River Periyar flowing through the centre of this town nourishes its vast tea, coffee and pepper plantations. A major trade centre, Vandiperiyar is also home to a number of tea factories. One should make a trip to the Government Agriculture Farm and Flower Garden and delight in the array of roses, orchids and anthuria.
11. Spice Plantations Tour
Inhale and exhale the lovely scents on this tour, as you visit the tea, coffee, cardamom, pepper and orange plantations, along with the stunning Anayirangal Dam.
12. Trekking
Thekkady is a lovely place to indulge in trekking. Kurisumala, Pullumedu and Ottakathalamedu near Kumily and Grampi near Vandiperiyar are ideal trekking places. One can also take the Forest Department daily treks from the boat landing station at Thekkady to the Nellikkampetty area and Manakkavala.
13. Idukki Dam
One of the highest arch dams in Asia and the only arch dam in India, the Idukki Dam, at 167.68 metres, is built on the Periyar River, in the ravine between the Kuravan and Kurathi Hills. It supports a 780 MW hydroelectric power station maintained by the Kerala State Electricity Board. One can take a trip to Idukki Town, a small hill town surrounded by beautiful, wooded valleys and meandering streams.
This small place is famous for the Wildlife Sanctuary located at Thodupuzha, about 450-748 metres above sea level and spread over 77 sq. kilometres. At this sanctuary one can meet a host of wild animals, which include elephants, bison, sambar deer, wild dogs, jungle cats, tigers, wild boars etc. and a number of birds like the Great Indian hornbill, paradise flycatcher, whistling thrush, bulbuls, laughing thrush, hill myna, jungle fowl, pigeons. A trip that is really worth it.
14. Elephant Ride
With a name like Tusker Trails, one can’t help but conjure up images of the beautiful beasts. One can take elephant rides through the jungle and really enjoy the beauty that is Thekkady.
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GAINING INDEPENDENCE FROM ILLITERACY
Statistics mentioned above indicate that while progress has been made, measures have been far from adequate. We therefore need to upgrade our education system so that illiteracy can be completely uprooted from India. No matter how hard we try to fight the problem, it simply seems to persist.
That even after 66 years of independence we have to lay stress on this issue is a shamebut at least it’s better than brushing it under the carpet. India, the land of Vedas, where we have learnt over the years that culture flourishes with literature, is one of the nations with highest illiteracy rates. Even underdeveloped countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand have achieved higher literacy levels in shorter time.
In his India Development Report 2002, Kirit S. Parikh pointed out, “With a literacy rate of 65, we have 296 million illiterates, age seven years and above, as per the 2001 census. The number of illiterates today exceeds the population of the country of around 270 million at Independence, age seven and above.” Our society faces several challenges in the form of poverty, unemployment, child labour, female feticide, overpopulation etc. But all of them evolve from illiteracy which is actually the mother of most our problems. A high literacy rate can contribute to valuable social and economic participation by the people which will go a long way in human development and poverty eradication.
Spread of education is necessary for modernization, urbanization, industrialization, communication and commerce. You name an issue and literacy will be a prerequisite for its solution. Illiteracy in India can be easily characterized by the wide gaps between the urban and rural populations. The urban population is more educated and therefore desires a life of comfort and luxury. On the other hand, the rural population depends on agriculture for their survival. They are the food providers of our country, who work for basic necessities and thus feel no need for education in their lives. Children in rural areas drop out of schools for a variety of reasons: some leave because of a sheer lack of interest; others quit so that they can work in fields or elsewhere, while some have no other choice due to inaccessibility and lack of school teachers.
In villages, a large percentage of the dropouts are females. Forced by their parents, they are limited to performing household chores. They are married at a very early age and are taught since birth that what is important for them is their family and the looking after the house. Education is not even a secondary item on their to-do lists. Inadequate number of teachers and their absence in schools across the country is another roadblock towards complete literacy. A large number of teachers refuse to teach in rural areas and those who do, are usually under-qualified. Many teachers lack the necessary enthusiasm because of their meagre salaries. In one of his research papers, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has mentioned, ‘Absenteeism of comparatively well-paid teachers, particularly where bulk of the students come from scheduled castes and tribes, poses a major problem.
Students are circumstantially forced to go in for private tuitions. Sometimes the very institutions that were created to overcome disparities and barriers tend to act as reactionary influences in reinforcing inequality.’ Lack of infrastructure like buildings, benches, books etc is a widespread problem too. Some schools are located in warehouses while others in small thatched rooms which are of little use during rains. Many rural schools operate without electricity. The distribution of government funds is another major hindrance in the reform of our educational system. According to World Bank, ‘30 % of the total educational funding goes toward higher educational institutions.’ What with announcements of quota in higher education and an increase in the number of IIMs & IITs, the government clearly cares little for primary education. Even private institutions are seen to be a hindrance in the progress of children. In such schools, the children from poor households are seen as lowly, below average and thus not fit to sit and study with the children of upper caste or class.
Untouchability has been abolished but this new rift between rich and poor students continues to take its toll on the country’s fortunes. Our education system is more or less a remnant of the long gone colonial system of the British Empire. No emphasis is ever laid on vocational courses, which can provide many job opportunities. “We are bumbling along with this out modeled system of elementary education, which is a real shame,” says Krishna Kumar, director of the Central Institute of Education in New Delhi. Reservation is yet another problem. Though it exists in other countries as well, reservation in India has a totally different approach. Our government grants reservations on the basis of caste when the correct basis of granting quotas must be the economic standards of the people. As a result, even better off backward caste students seek to get an entry in venerable institutions like the AIIMS through petty quotas. Quality be damned, seems to be the motto of such policies.
Amidst this gloom, a recent welcome measure has been the passage of the Right to Education bill, during this session of Parliament. Its guidelines are like this: – Compulsory education for children between 6-14 yrs – Rs 10,000 fine if any child prevented from going school – No selection and screening process to choose preference over candidates – No physical punishments – States need to plan techniques to monitor advancements in the program – Roping in private schools to keep 25% seats reserved at entry level – Banning capitation fees It is a commitment that has taken decades to get fulfilled, but more efforts will be needed to implement it properly. As we have seen all these years, only directions and guidelines cannot resolve any crisis in the country. Various organizations and schemes have been fighting this problem.
In 2003, the Magsaysay Award was awarded to Shantha Sinha in recognition of her work to end child labour, a major reason for illiteracy. The Supreme Court, in 1993, ruled that children had a fundamental right to free education. The Sarva Siksha Abhiyan launched in 2001 was to ensure that all children in the age group 6–14 years attend school and complete eight years of schooling by 2010. District Primary Education Programme launched in 1994 has so far started more than 160,000 new schools, including almost 84,000 alternative schools. The National Literacy Mission, launched in 1988 aimed at attaining a literacy rate of 75% by 2007. India is developing but at a very slow rate and one of the main reasons is the low level of literacy.
Literacy enables a person to think rationally- for himself and others around him. A literate person is aware of all his fundamental rights and duties. It is a kind of panacea to fight problems like communalism, terrorism and under development. Not only the government, but also every literate citizen should contribute in battling the demon of illiteracy. Each one should teach one if we are to become a superpower. Mahatma Gandhi once said, ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ So let us enlighten the world by bringing this change into our and everybody’s lives.
EDUCATION AS A DRIVER OF GROWTH
India’s need for an enormous skilled work force that can drive its growth story forward is now a well accepted fact. But developing and honing these skills is where the real challenge lies. The first-ever Education Investment Conclave, 2013, in London, backed by India Inc, explored some of the complex issues linked with meeting the country’s educational demands. India is poised for its much-talked-about demographic dividend to kick in, which roughly translates into a requirement of around 200 million graduates and 500 million skilled people by 2022 – by which time nearly 25 per cent of the global work force will come out of the country.The Literacy rate of India has shown as improvement of almost 9 percent. It has gone up to 74.04% in 2011 from 65.38% in 2001, thus showing an increase of 9 percent in the last 10 years. It consists of male literacy rate 82.14% and female literacy rate is 65.46%. Kerala with 93.9% literacy rate is the top state in India. Lakshadweep and Mizoram are at second and third position with 92.3% and 91.06% literacy rate respectively. Bihar with 63.08% literacy rate is the last in terms of literacy rate in India. The Government of India has taken several measures to improve the literacy rate in villages and towns of India. State Governments has been directed to ensure and improve literacy rate in districts and villages
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CREED GUIDING MATURE REPUBLIC
Modern societies emerge out of their primitive forms. As India enters its 65th year as a republic, it is not what it used to be for the past several centuries: ruled by kings and nawabs, brutalised by Hindu orthodoxies of caste and sati, or dependent on agriculture.
“India has changed more in last six decades than in six previous centuries,” said president Pranab Mukherjee on the eve of the Republic Day last year, adding: “It will change more in the next ten years than in the previous sixty.” The motor of change is democracy, or the republic’s politics reaffirmed every five years through the conscious act of voting.
Democracy refers to demokratia—a political system that began in 5th to 4th centuries BC when the people (demos) of Athens revolted against the dynasties of tyrants and established their own kratos (rule). Over past decades, democracy in India has emerged as a revolt against caste and other social inequalities, empowering millions of dalits, minorities and women.
India still subjugates its women, but it will change as more than a million women, elected to political nurseries of panchayati raj, are about to alter the balance of gender relations. The Indian republic is a Greek city state in microcosm, whose citizens interact with philosophical concepts every day, acquiring new understandings of liberty and rationality. As it matures, it inculcates egalitarian ideals in its citizens who in turn guard demokratia, the republic’s dharma, or creed. The egalitarian Indian defends the order, defeating Indira Gandhi after the Emergency when democracy appeared to be failing, or producing an Aam Aadmi Party when corruption of an industrial scale emerged.
The republic is nurtured from below. It just gave Kashmiri secessionists a recurring opportunity to prove their worth through the ballot option of NOTA, none of the above. In primitive societies, consensus emanated from similarities of beliefs and identities; in modern India consensus is derived from differences and moderated by media, political parties, voters, and the judiciary. The voter is the sane oracle, inaugurating an era of coalition politics in 1989 and shifting the polity towards federalism, in tune with the diversity of India. From the post-Emergency rise of anti-Congress parties to the AAP, the republic births new parties. It secures the confidence of minorities.
According to a BJP research, India has seen the emergence of “smaller Muslim parties” that are determining outcomes in states from Assam to Kerala. Indian polity is ripe where any new party could transform into a countrywide behemoth by practising simple politics: electing leaders through organisational polls. There is space for all, as no party has got 50 per cent votes. In some way, parties are dying, or being obscured, eclipsed and forgotten. The Congress is forgotten in UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Delhi and many states; the BJP was reduced to irrelevance as a national opposition until Narendra Modi rose from below; the Rashtriya Janata Dal was dumped; and demokratia caught up with communists in West Bengal in 2011. It happens due to parties’ failure to abide by the republic’s dharma: more politics, more democracy. Politics has its own independent dignity.
More parties could thrive if their funds were audited and if they held polls to elect party leaders or used secret ballot to elect chief ministers or Prime Minister. If the Congress practised politics, US-style primaries to elect party leaders could herald a revolution. Among democracies, some are religious states such as Britain whose societies are overwhelmingly secular; some are secular states like the US and India whose societies are predominantly religious. Religious neutrality, established first by Akbar, characterises the Indian state. The founders—Gandhi, Nehru and Ambedkar— wrote an array of liberties into the Constitution: equality of rights, multi-party elections, free press, individual freedoms, rule of law, independent judiciary, etcetera. Speaking at Oxford in 2005, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh noted that the founders were “greatly influenced by the ideas associated with the age of Enlightenment in Europe.”
The political and religious freedoms Indians enjoy would not be possible if the British hadn’t arrived in India. Democracy is defined as the majority rule, but the majority is of the people, not of communities. For those who feed pessimism among minorities, the day is not far when India will see a Muslim prime minister, as religion will become irrelevant. For now, a Muslim politician is yet to be born who could read the republic’s political mind, the way Barack Obama read the American mind. There are reasons: Muslims must shed the fear of the BJP; the politics of secularism and reservation must be defeated by effective policing and through job creation by people. Primitive societies were dependent on agriculture.
In a modern nation, while the agricultural output grows, its share in the gross domestic product must decline, accompanied by growth in knowledge sectors like biotechnology and financial services. Once seen by the West as the land of snake charmers, India is transformed into an information technology destination today. However, it is an inward-looking mystical civilisation, failing to grasp notions of power. India contemplated sending troops to Iraq in 2003, but succumbed to a perennial weakness to comprehend its place in the international state system. There were military roles in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives that indicate India could exercise hard power abroad. Amid problems, the republic is maturing, aided by the Supreme Court which forced candidates to declare assets and criminal antecedents, disqualified elected representatives upon conviction in criminal cases, and enshrined negative voting through NOTA.
If T N Seshan alone could retrieve autonomy of the election commission, it appears the Central Bureau of Investigation and other government institutions could cease being the ruling party’s mistress. At the heart of the country’s politics is the sane oracle, the voter: the elderly who walk to polling booths, tribesmen who defy Naxalites to vote, women who stand with men, youth who secure their aspirations in ballots. Of 790 million voters, 120 million are 18-23-yearolds, the first-time voters who must establish a relationship with people, not leaders, to secure the republic for their next generations. (The writer, Tufail Ahmad, is director of South Asia Studies Project at the Middle East Media Research Institute, Washington DC.)
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KERALA: A PARADISE ON EARTH
Kerala is magical. Every corner and every turn of this magnetic state has a visual wonder tucked away. So pack your bags and get ready; a travel across paradise awaits you A vacation to the south of India ensures more than just a magnificent visual treat and the skipping of a heartbeat. Kerala’s breathtaking views and natural splendors pull aside their green curtains to greet every traveller.
The friendly locals are helpful and join their hands together to welcome all avid travelers with platters of appam and puttu and a shy namaskaram. Away from all strains and burdens of a city life, this year, do take the time to visit the surreal state of Kerala. Kerala is a place resplendent with natural beauty. Named as one of the ‘ten paradises of the world’ by the National Geographic Traveler, Kerala is famous especially for its ecotourism initiatives. The states name, in fact, originates from two words- ‘kera’ and ‘alam’, where ‘kera’ means coconut and ‘alam’ means land or location.
Apart from the food, pristine rain forests, beguiling beaches, the one feature that’s exclusive to Kerala are the backwaters. These waters are marked by a unique ecosystem wherein lagoons, lakes, canals, estuaries and deltas of several rivers meet the Arabian Sea. If you are looking for a quiet, rejuvenating and peaceful getaway, then look around no more. The quaint and peaceful backwaters prove to be the perfect dose for your restless soul. Here’s a look at some of the prime spots where one can visit the backwaters.
Kumarakom
The village of Kumarakom is situated 16 km away from Kottayam town, Central Kerala. One can reach this place either by the train – 16 kms from Kottayam; or by air – 76 kms from Cochin International Airport. As one enters Kumarakom, the environment seems almost freshlylaundered and the serenity of the place takes one by surprise. The chirping of wild birds peeking from an unknown distance helps break the mysteriously silent ambience of the backwaters.A bed of clay sand and a slippery inlet leads one towards a colony of the most exquisite and extremely beautiful houseboats. Some houseboats have an open wide front, designed for some lazy bachelors who want to lounge around with a small TV, food and drinks and watch the calm water. Some house boats have the capacity to carry almost 5 families. The land on both sides is dotted with gangling palm trees. As one looks ahead, one sees a vast stretch of nothingness; only the silent water.
Thiruvallam
The friendly, popular and crowded Thiruvallam is 10 kms from Thiruvananthapuram. One can reach this place by road or rail. This specific location is famous for its canoe rides, kayaking and cruises in kettuvalloms (house boats). The Boat Club here organises tours to the nearby islands of Pozhikara and Edayar as well as visits to coir manufacturing units.While sailing, hear the peaceful chorus of the rippling water alongside your houseboat cruise as you float on the breathtaking Kerala backwaters with palm fringed golden beaches on both sides. What is also truly magical about a houseboat ride is the breathtaking view of the untouched and inaccessible rural Kerala while you float! Seeing bobbing heads of locals swimming alongside your boat isn’t uncommon. Nor is it rare to see small thatch-roofed huts on the banks of the waters with locals watching you sail by.
Ashtamudi
Located in Kollam district of Kerala in southern India, Ashtamudi is one of the major centres of backwater tourism. One can reach this place by rail; Kollam being the nearest rail head. One can also reach this place by bus. Both luxury as well as semi deluxe buses are available from Kollam to Ashtamundi. Ashtamudi means ‘eight coned’. This name is indicative of the lake’s topography. Thevally lake, Kandachira lake, Kureepuzha lake, Kallada lake, Perumon lake, Kumbalath lake, Kanjirottu lake and Thekkumbhagam lake form the eight branchs of Ashtamudi lake.Apart from enjoying a peaceful backwater ride, one can also truly witness the culture and traditions of Kerala here. One can participate in the festivals at the Sreekrishna Swamy Temple, Asramam, Thrikkadavoor Mahadeva Temple and Kottamkulangara temple. The various islands that make a semicircular cover around the backwaters are converted into the most breath-taking and luxurious resorts. Long, comfortable benches are spread along the banks of these islands where happy and relaxed bones find peace and tranquility. At night, the backwaters light up and look like a picture post card.
Emerald green hills and mists slip over the hills in the aqueous light, passing through the ululating hills. So get ready, pack your bags, and look up ahead. A fulfilling vacation and a soulful journey is waiting for you along the cost of the Arabian Sea. Do take the time to visit this paradise – one that is God’s calls His Own.
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Improving travel experience of NRI youth is high on Civil Aviation Ministry’s agenda: KC Venugopal
New Delhi (TIP): K.C. Venugopal, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, has underlined the Govrnment’s commitment to improve the travel experience of the youth who search for greener pastures across the world. Addressing a session on ‘Young Achievers’ at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the Minister said, “Air India as the National Carrier is indebted to the Overseas Indians and always offers you the opportunity to fly you around. Air India had a bad time combating with debts. Now we are regaining the ground. We are happy that the improved customer confidence is being reflected in the bookings as well.
There were certain issues and concerns about the performance of Air India Express, the low cost carrier from Air India Group. Air India Express is specially designed for Gulf sector services. The process of empowering Air India Express as an independent business entity is progressing. We have rolled out many initiatives to make Air India Express complaint free. We have also increased our services to Gulf Sector, and on time performance is monitored at the apex level to ensure customer satisfaction. To hear from the NRIs personally about their concerns about Air India Express, I started a mail service too”, he said. The Minister said that every generation of NRIs has its own specific opportunities and challenges.
The long cultural exchange and bartering between the countries have set the soil ready for larger acceptance of young Indians. He said, “The second generation NRIs are the ambassadors of a resurgent India, which has opened its doors for the world. Ambition, innovation and management expertise in international trade are the trademarks of a successful Young Indian. They have enhanced footsteps of Indian business across the world. Even in Kerala, we have many such young investors who ventured to go out from their middle class houses in small towns to international business hotspots. However, the expectation levels and competencies of new generation NRIs are manifold compared to their predecessors. They deserve more handholding and enabling policies by the Indian Government.
It is a fact that there are initiatives to motivate the young investors back home in India. But I do believe that we have to expand our net so that a government umbrella for Young Overseas Indians can be set up. Such a body will have to extract data regarding investment potential in each sector, may tie up prospective cash flow for various PPP models, may ensure single window clearance for NRI investments etc.” “As a country and a responsible government we are committed to provide young Indians similar opportunities elsewhere, so that they can confidently invest in India. It is high time that we need to develop our own engineering research and reduce dependence on the borrowed technologies. In this liberalized economy now we can afford to integrate R&D into the prime business of Indian companies. The companies also need to promote the synergy between industries & education,” said Shri Venugopal.
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LONDON INVITES KERALA START-UPS
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (TIP): Start up in London, develop in India. This is the message from London and Partners, the metropolis’s official promotional organisation, to start-ups based in Kerala.Set up business there and get back home to develop it. Size does not matter for aspiring entrepreneurs, says Jeff Cao, Head for Asia and Pacific, London and Partners.
DIRECT FLIGHTS
In fact 95 per cent of the businesses hosted by the agency have strength varying from 10 to 15, according to Gautam Sehgal, Chief Representative for India. There are 131 direct flights operating to London every week from various cities in India, notes Cao. So companies here are best positioned to take advantage of facilities that the city offers, he adds. Aspirants need just to plug in at office space made available for liberal terms. The agency will also help with finding necessary capital for investment and growth – be it in the form of angel funds, venture capital or private equity.
STORY TO TELL
Cao said his agency is looking to invite aspiring entrepreneurs ‘who have a compelling story to tell’ to use the platform London offers and reach out to the rest of the world. -
IPCNA demonstrated how we can think and act ‘outside the box’
SOMERSET, NJ (TIP): On November 1st of 2013, the Kerala Piravi day, the Malayali Pravasis of USA witnessed the grant inauguration of the three day National conference of IPCNA [India Press Club of North America]. All Malayali media activists of North America assembled in Holiday Inn of Somerset, New Jersey to have self evaluation and education on modern trends in journalism with the help of stalwarts from India and the future promises of young media professionals in USA and in India. Very informative and educative sessions were very useful and enjoyable not only for the media activists and community activists but for their families too. The large hearted sponsors of the conference events made it totally free for all. It was definitely a big loss for many who missed the conference. The organizers of the conference, especially the President Mathew Varghese, General Secretary Madhu Kottarakara, VP Joby George, Treasurer Sunil Thymatom and Joint Treasurer George Chirayil deserve special appreciation for the excellent and exemplarary way the conference was conducted. They demonstrated to the public how a public function must be conducted by avoiding long speeches of many self imposed, photo opportunity ‘ leaders’ who still fail to understand the public feeling of their boring and useless show offs in the community.
This national conference was very different from any other national level conferences of Pravasi organizations in USA that carefully avoided all ministers from Kerala/India. By bringing from India the dare devils in media industry like Jose Panachipuram of Manorama, Gopi Krishna of Pioneer paper of Delhi, Vinu of Asianet, Sreekandan Nair of visual media and the young political leaders with excellent track record such as KN Balagopal MP, VC Satheesan, MLA and VT Balaram MLA, the IPCNA has declared to the whole world that the young generation will only identify themselves with and listen to only such voices for their future in India and abroad. ‘Let those who have eyes see and those who have ears listen’ to this message. While appreciating the young media and political leaders from India , the audience representing millions of Pravasis voiced their concern on the indifference of political and bureaucratic leaders of India towards their issues. They requested the Parliament members to take up the issues like OCI card, Passport renunciation and Pravasi property protection in the parliament and the media leadership investigate into the day by day deteriorating public relation of India missions abroad leading to repulsion of investments in India.
Another bold step taken by the organizers of the conference is their determination to keep away the faith based ‘leaders’ and their neo community leaders who use religious platform for popularity. Some of such ‘leaders’ are entering the ‘journalism’ field by introducing different media with the help of religions and faith orientation. Professional media people should guard the public from such foxes with sheep skin working in the community and disintegrating the community. IPCNA is the silver line in the cloud of all negative and destructive tendencies on the air by many media and community organizations. Its leadership has taken bold and correct steps to keep their association as a model for all community/religious/political organizations. Let Almighty God lead the team of IPCNA with wisdom and spirit of unity and team work to instill that moral standard in our community activists for giving positive and beneficial activities for our people. As I write this, our motherland’s Mars exploration rocket was launched very successfully even dismaying all advanced countries. A VERY BIG LEAP FOR OUR MOTHER INDIA!! Every Indian and people of India origin can be proud of this achievement of their brothers and sisters in India who demonstrated their excellence in different fields that led to this achievement.
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12 CRORE FIRST-TIME VOTERS HOLD KEY TO 2014 LOK SABHA POLLS
CHENNAI (TIP): Close to 12 crore youths will be eligible to vote for the first time in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. To put that in perspective, no single party garnered more than 12 crore votes in the 2009 polls, showing how significant this segment can be if all of them register to vote. In the 2009 polls, the Congress polled 11.9 crore votes, the BJP 7.8 crore, BSP 2.6 crore and CPM 2.2 crore. No other party polled even a crore of votes across the country.
79 crore eligible voters
The draft electoral rolls published by various states at this stage show that the national total is just under 79 crore votes. Uttar Pradesh will have the highest potential firsttime voters with 2.3 crore young people crossing 18 in time for the polls. They will account for 17.6% of the state’s electorate of 12.9 crore. Maharashtra comes next with 1.05 crore first-time voters or 13.2% of the state’s electorate. Bihar is third with 94.3 lakh youths, followed by West Bengal with 90 lakh. These figures are derived from the age data released recently by the census, and are based on all those aged between 15 and 19 at the time of the 2011 census. All of them will be old enough to register to vote in 2014; none of them would have been eligible in 2009. The numbers have been reduced on the basis of the age-specific death rate for people between 15 and 19 years to account for people in this age group dying between 2011 and the polls. The state-wise numbers may vary slightly if one takes into account interstate migration from this age group, but the national number would be unaffected. “As per the latest census, UP and Bihar have the maximum number of children due to high birth rate. Naturally, there will be more young people eligible to vote,” said P Arokiasamy of the International Institute for Population Sciences. The Election Commission (EC) does a study to arrive at the number of eligible voters before every general election.“It examines the data of those in the 18 to 25 age group. If enrolment is low, state chief electoral officers conduct special campaigns to enlist more young people. On the other hand, if there are too many voters over the age of 80, officials check again to ensure that names of all dead voters have been deleted,” said N Gopalaswami, former chief election commissioner. Among the southern states, Andhra Pradesh will have more than 80 lakh potential first-time voters followed by Tamil Nadu with 62 lakh. Karnataka and Kerala could have 58 lakh and 26 lakh such voters respectively. Delhi, which goes to the assembly polls in December, has 16.6 lakh youths eligible to register as voters. Rajasthan has 72.9 lakh and Madhya Pradesh 74 lakh. Smaller states like Himachal Pradesh and Union territories will have less than 10 lakh first-timers each. “We have tied up with internet browsing centres to make it easy for first-time voters and others to be included in the electoral rolls,” said Tamil Nadu chief electoral officer Praveen Kumar. “Volunteers are running campaigns in universities and colleges to register eligible students to vote.”
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PROGRESS BLOW TO GUJARAT
Human indicators put state that brags about growth behind Tripura and Sikkim
NEW DELHI (TIP): A new development index has identified Gujarat as a less developed state, while ranking Odisha and Bihar along with eight others as “least developed” and Goa and Kerala among the seven “relatively developed” states. A panel headed by Raghuram Rajan, now the RBI governor, which submitted its report to finance minister P Chidambaram, also recommended a fresh approach to devolution of funds to states and moved away from the special category classification to devise three categories – least developed, less developed and relatively developed. According to the index, there are 10 least developed states, 11 less developed and seven relatively developed states in the country. The slotting of Gujarat, which has attracted attention due to its development model, in the “less developed” category is likely to escalate the already bitter political debate on the ‘Gujarat model of development’.
The other states in this category are Manipur, West Bengal, Nagaland, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram, Tripura, Karnataka, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh. The least developed states include, apart from Odisha and Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The relatively developed states according to the index are Haryana, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Goa. The panel has developed a multidimensional index of backwardness based on monthly per capita consumption expenditure, education, health, household amenities, poverty rate, female literacy, percent of SC-ST population, urbanisation rate, financial inclusion and connectivity.
The panel said less developed states rank higher on the index and would get larger allocations based on the need criteria. “The committee has proposed a general method for allocating funds from the Centre to the states based on both a state’s development needs as well as its development performance,” Chidambaram told reporters. “The committee has recommended that each state may get a fixed basic allocation of 0.3% of overall funds, to which will be added its share stemming from need and performance to get its overall share,” Chidambaram said. The panel was set up after persistent demand from Bihar CM Nitish Kumar who insisted a the special category status to help access more funds for its development. This sparked off a demand from several other states such Odisha for the special category state status. While the new index will ensure more funds for Bihar from the central kitty, it has stopped short of conferring the “special category” tag on the state, Shaibal Gupta, seen as Nitish’s nominee on the panel to submit a 10-page dissent note.
However on Thursday, Nitish concealed his disappointment, if any, to celebrate the recommendation as a triumph even as BJP taunted him for failing to have his way despite cozying up to Congress. “It is a very decent report. For example under this index Odisha is at the bottom of the list and then Bihar. Therefore it recognizes that Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh are among the most backward states of India. That is I think the demand,” Chidambaram said. “The demand of these states is please recognize the fact that for a variety of reasons we are the most backward states. I think this index captures the degree of backwardness and acknowledges that Bihar is among the most backward states of India. Special category is the present categorisation. Now they are moving away from that,” finance minister said while detailing the recommendations of the panel.
“This is not an answer to all the demands of the states. This is meant only to be a way forward on how to devolve funds to the more backwards states and areas of India. He said the index better captures the stage of development in a state, how backward it is or how relatively less backward it is and is a good measure for planning and devolution of funds. “Because some states are small very limited resources it is necessary to have a threshold below which the devolution of funds does not fall. So the committee has recommended that each one of the states will get a basic allocation of 0.3%,” Chidambaram said. The finance minister said that the report will be examined by various stakeholders before being implemented. “It will not be in the current year. It has to go through the examination process and will be implemented in an appropriate time in the next financial year.
To which funds this should be applied a decision will be taken,” Chidambaram said. The report said that the National Development Council had accorded the status of special category state to eleven out of 28 states. They were based on a number of characteristics such as hilly and difficult terrain, low population density and or sizeable share of tribal population, strategic location along the borders with neighbouring countries, economic and infrastructural backwardness and non-viable nature of state finances. State under this category have a low resource base and are not in a position to mobilise resources for their developmental needs even though the per capita income of some of these states is relatively high, the report said.
