Sandip's bloggs

Nanavati Commission Report and the UPA Government: By Sandip K. Dasverma

2011-10-10T23:54:00.000-07:00

Nanavati Commission Report and the UPA Government by Sandip K. Dasverma, Written on 8/10/2005

The politicians like Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler, Kamal Nath, Vasant Sathe, H. K. L. Bhagat and others should be punished both by prohibiting their participation in elections (their source of power) and prosecuting them for their culpability. After all there are nearly 2800 dead bodies even per the GOI report, though the unofficial count is more than 4000. Following the great traditions established by the British Raj, citizens even today can't get a correct figure from their own government. Be it as it may, if there are 2800 dead bodies, as per Government's own admission, and not even 28 going to gallows or even getting life sentences, there is something seriously wrong with the government. People will be aghast at this mockery of justice.

It is outrageous to advance the plea that H. K. L. Bhagat should not be bothered as he is old and sick. I think this exculpatory nonsense must stop. The international standards are now being set by the prosecution of 90- year old Pinochet in Chile. Why so much compassion for a low life who did not have the same consideration for others? I remember he was given the benefit of doubt by a previous commission, while a widow and her husband's dead body were given no credence! Such is the bias of the Indian judicial system in favor of the rich and powerful. What the commissions, nine of them over 20 years, have done is to spend public money, enormous amounts of it to chip away, from the list of the accused, one at a time. And always some pliable judges have been rewarded remunerative appointments, be it in the Congress or BJP regime.

This culture of crime and its condonement must change once and for all if India is to get anywhere. We can't remain in the list of most corrupt nations, i.e., the list of least transparent nations, and continue clamoring for acceptance as a world leader in our own right. Unless we cleanse the institutional rot, like the compromised judiciary, the powerful will continue buying their way out, as has happened in the Dabhol case.

This brings us to the very vital point of speed problematic in the judicial trials in India. If criminal cases linger far too long (by design the accused always engineer it), then everyone will grow old and on "compassionate grounds" the criminals would be let go, even if they don't die naturally. The government's performance should be judged by how efficiently it can deliver justice and how soon. There is time as value which every one in the world now understands except the Indian bureaucracy and the judiciary. We must have fast track courts which should conclude such cases within two years. Yes, well before the next election, at most, so we can judge the UPA government by its actions whether it is truly secular or just expediently so? Then people in India can decide whether they commend or condemn such acts.

There is need for a law that stipulates that those whose names are recurring in nine reports should be asked to prove that they are not guilty. And this should be done expeditiously so that the affected and wronged families feel that justice was done. That way people be sure that there is a fair chance of grievances of the small fry being addressed.

Having a Sikh P.M. does not mitigate the crimes or absolve the state of its failure to punish the criminals. If tomorrow the BJP in its turn appoints a Muslim as the CM of their next Government in Gujarat, for example, it will not be absolved of the crimes of Narendra Modi government, not even if they install a Muslim as the PM of India. There should be a parallel process, another fast track court, to try and convict all the police officials and administrative staff, including those either retired or preparing to retire soon.

Again, enough resources should be put on the table for the whole process to be finished in just two years or before. This is equally important, nay more important, because it will set the standards for the present and future police against colluding with the politicians in power. Punishment even after retirement, amended laws, and removal of procedural bottlenecks along the way, will firmly ensure that justice prevails, and the vestiges of colonial rule disappear. Sycophancy will have been made risky and punishment for crime inescapably established.

May I request Dr. Manmohan Singh, the head of the Congress-led UPA Government, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, the head of the Congress party, their left allies, and the bureaucracy et al for this once to rise above cronyism and let the law take its course with exemplary swiftness characteristic of modern societies in the world that India aspires to become a leading light of?

Citizen News Service (CNS): Articles of Sandip Dasverma

2011-06-18T03:12:00.000-07:00

3. Citizen News Service (CNS): Articles of Sandip Dasverma: "Sandip K Dasverma and Dr Sanat Mohanty"

Citizen News Service (CNS): Orissa: An Economic Scam Coming?

2011-06-18T03:09:00.000-07:00

1. Citizen News Service (CNS): Orissa: An Economic Scam Coming?: "Sandip Dasverma and Sanat Mohanty"

Citizen News Service (CNS): POSCO Project is not an unquestionable boon for Orissa

2011-06-18T03:08:00.000-07:00

2. Citizen News Service (CNS): POSCO Project is not an unquestionable boon for Orissa: "Sandip Dasverma and Dr Sanat Mohanty"

Binayak Sen wins South Korean human rights Gwangju Prize - Indian Express

2011-06-01T22:26:00.000-07:00

Binayak Sen wins South Korean human rights Gwangju Prize - Indian Express

Govt says it's not delaying Lokpal Bill - Politics - Politics News - ibnlive

2011-05-31T19:56:00.000-07:00

Govt says it's not delaying Lokpal Bill - Politics - Politics News - ibnlive

Press conference of Chidambaram & Kapil Sibal on 31st May on Lokpal Bill.

Govt pacifies Ramdev, talks tough to Anna - India News - IBNLive

2011-05-31T19:28:00.000-07:00

Govt pacifies Ramdev, talks tough to Anna - India News - IBNLive

Eight civil rights articles - on Dr. Binayak Sen

2011-05-30T03:18:00.000-07:00

- Amartya Sen on Binayak Sen verdict: http://www.rediff.com/news/report/binayak-sens-conviction-a-ridiculous-use-of-laws-amartya/20101228.htm

Review Binayak verdict: Digvijaya
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Review-Binayak-verdict--Digvijaya/730526

'Therefore, guilty of conspiracy to commit sedition'
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/-Therefore--guilty-of-conspiracy-to-commit-sedition-/730053/

Maoists condemn life sentence for Binayak Sen
http://www.indolink.com/displayArticleS.php?id=122810075531&clid=

Jethmalani ready to fight Binakay's case, BJP steers clear
http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-114186.html

The case of the good doctor
http://www.himalmag.com/component/content/article/3533-good-doctor.html

Mother vows to get son Binayak Sen out of jail
http://www.sify.com/news/mother-vows-to-get-son-binayak-sen-out-of-jail-news-national-km2uOgjgbed.html

CNN-IBN, Shahariyar Khan ex-Foreign Secy of Pak speaks to Karan Thapar.

2011-05-29T03:49:00.000-07:00

CNN-IBN, Live India News, Breaking News Politics, Movies & Sports News

http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/155213/majority-in-pak-dont-support-terrorists-khan.html

Mahima Dharma - Bhima Bhoi

2011-05-29T01:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf

Proposed communication with Bharat

2011-05-28T17:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Bharat:
An umbilical knot tie us, the alma mater, that do invoke the good feelings.
I am delighted to learn that you want to raise $200K. Yes that kind of money can make a difference but before you do that it is absolutely necessary that the organization is built up to be transparent and responsive and ready to handle such load, with dignity. This is has gone on for years. The year end auditors report is not even worth the paper it is written on, considering what happened under the direct eyes of Big Six(Aurthur Anderson etc.) in US Banks. I hope you are not passing through the NITRaa system.

We have at present a system in which even after 4 months there is no account of the money spent on the "Home coming" ceremony. They can't justify the budget and then make a higher budget and levy a higher burden (Rs. 1000) on the kids, in the name of a constitution. This inspite of my written objection to it.
Thanks to Saroj, though recent improvement has been significant in networking with alumni but both democracy and accounting are at infancy. They are not ready to handle the kind of money you are talking about.

I hope after going through what you have gone through (you have your critiques among your friends to spread the word around), you should keep away from such ventures, in my opinion. But you are an adult brother and you are at full liberty to do whatever you want to do and think can do with dignity and honor.

Regarding the funds neither I can't nor I intend to keep track of the details of who paid who or what you did. Fakir did not even give me the account who he got 35 K (of which only you and he donated 5 K each), after I asked him specifically as to who the donors were. Thus, I feel is that the fund accounting is not transparent. The two treasurers are for what ever reason not functioning and/or not allowed to handle money. And General Secretary has to do everything being trusted, but that means he is overwhelmed with work. This is niether a good situation nor a good process. In my vision if we are to handle large sums of money the data need to be available in web and we should be able to take snaps at any time, to help avoid manipulation by a wrong kind of guy who may step in when huge sums of money are in. Even in USA Universities this happens once in a while.

Here I think we have been wanting and the impression of alumni going back to your years as President, is an unclean one event (Home coming) organization, with no clear accountability. I know you will have many explanations to give and were even a reluctant operator. But the impression is around - that of an unresponsive, non-transparent organization.
To give one example: HiTech, the software contractor is continuing year after year on the false pretext that they own the computer codes and being paid at thrice the market rate. I don't know who their God father is, probably you do.

But as long as the process is not clean and answers are not coming, I will suggest that you keep away from big dreams. The same is applicable for the 2011. But for that there is time if we start, NOW.
Best wishes,
Sandip

On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 4:11 AM, Bharat Bhusan Mohanty <bharat.mohanty@mbecl.co.in> wrote:

July 31, 2009

My dear Sandip Bhai,

It was such a pleasure to talk to you and i am indeed thankful for that. I am immensely grateful to you for your nice words and gesture.

On return i start from where i left i.e. in respect of the alumni meet of our batch 1969 in December this year to celebrate four decades of passing out of RECR. Led by Sukhendu in a particular endeavour, our batch plans to do a project for the institute which will help the students and be a value-addition. Can you please suggest a project costing say around US $ 200K ± 10%. We shall try to raise the amount. We shall also take out the last directory.(We published one in 2005 & updated in 2007). Majority have settled. We are ageing, average age 63. Some are still on job. Therefore we wanted to have address of the friends settled in US. We shall not disturb them, since they do not want to be. Even if it is not a complete address, if the location and street be collected, it will be a great help.My request towards this is still standing

My son is bit crazy. Not satisfied with any job, he kept on job-hopping, did not apply for green card, did not agree to marry and now wants to come back. He has specialization in health care, he says ‘next generation health care technology’- where is the field in India. I can only wish him all the best. Daughter has to manage her research and baby. Son-in-law Prakash Samal (He graduated from IIT, Madras and IIM, Kolkata) has to work hard to support his wife in raising the child. We cannot do anything but cannot help remaining concerned. Life is like that.

Bhai, there is one misunderstanding, i think, concerning me and Fakir, due of course to me. I had handed over Rs. 10K cash to him, who in turn, was to handover to Saroj, Rs. 5 K for Help Fund to help Ashok and Rs. 5K for paying as advance for reservation of guest house for our December meet. Saroj has already sent me a receipt for Rs. 5K. Recently Fakira sent a mail saying Rs. 5K is for Ashok Kamila, that means entire Rs. 10K will go on ‘help fund’ without leaving anything for guest house booking. I will get the matter silently corrected. i.e. my contribution this year is Rs. 5K. Every year I will try to contribute similar amount by saving from day to day expenses. This is for your information please.
With love and best wishes to your daughter, regards to Bhauja and you

Sincerely,

Bharat

McNally Bharat Engineering Co.Ltd.
ISO 9001-2000 Company
4 Mangoe Lane, 4th,5th & 7th Floor, Kolkata - 700001
Phone: 65500725-39, Fax- 22480340/5016
Visit us at: www.mcnallybharat.com

Neimullar - Modified (Collected from Web)

2011-03-03T12:58:00.000-08:00

Neimullar - Modified (Collected from Web)

"First they came...
First they came for the car unions,
and I didn't speak out because I didn't work in Detroit.

Then they came for the air traffic controllers,
and I didn't speak out because I thought, yeah they are too entitled.

Then they came for the welfare mothers,
and I didn't speak out because I thought, yeah they are lazy, aren't they?

Then they came for the all the industrial workers,
and I didn't speak out because I thought, well, NAFTA could be good for me.

Then they came for the free press,
and I didn't speak out because I believed it was fair and balanced.

Then they came for everyone's savings and retirement money,
and I didn't speak out because I thought bubbles happen and deregulation will make me money.

Then they came for people with houses and predatory loans,
and I didn't speak out because they said greedy low-income people brought down the system.

Then they came for the right to an education,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a student or a teacher.

Then they came for those who organized to fight the rich,
and I didn't speak out because I believe them when they said it was about the budget.

Then they came for the mentally ill,
and I didn't speak out because I didn't have a problem and didn't know anyone who did.

Then they came for the sick,
and I didn't speak out because I was healthy and had a job with what I thought was good health insurance.

Then they came for the old and disabled,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't either and I believed them when they said social security couldn't be fixed and we must all

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

FEC in Standoff Over Secret Campaign Money

2011-03-01T09:44:00.000-08:00

FEC in Standoff Over Secret Campaign Money

Secret campaign ad financing in offing as FEC is deadlocked

First they came - modified for Madison, WI

2011-03-01T01:09:00.000-08:00

102_0296.jpg

2010-09-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

102_0296.jpg (Seeds pictures)

Bakula Library - BBSR

2010-01-30T23:43:00.000-08:00

http://www.orissasambad.com/news_article.php?id=17229

Gandhian activist from Dantewada: Himanshu Kumar - Tehelka Lecture on Nov 21

2009-12-01T00:58:00.000-08:00

1. Lecture Part 1 8.21 min
2. Lecture Part 2 8.03 min
3. Lecture Part 3 9.49 min
4. Lecture Part 4 10.24 min

"My Favorite Things" - remade by Julie Andrews, now 69 for AARP benefit

2009-11-30T19:21:00.000-08:00

Julie Andrews turned 69 and to commemorate her 69th birthday on October 1, actress/vocalist Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan 's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP. One of the musical numbers she performed was "My Favorite Things" from the legendary movie "The Sound Of Music."

Here are the actual lyrics she used:

Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Cadillacs and cataracts, and hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things..
When the pipes leak, When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.
Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Back pains, confused brains, and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short, shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.
When the joints ache, When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four
minutes and repeated encores. Please share Ms. Andrews' clever wit and
humour with others who would appreciate it.*

Thou too Brutus?? - Sandip K. Dasverma

2009-11-29T09:23:00.000-08:00

Link: http://www.thesamaja.com/news_view.php?news_id=6328

In the famous and immortal play Julious ceaser of Willium Shakespere’s Julius Ceaser on the verge of his assassination finds his long time trusted friend and political accomplice Brutus among the asassains and calls out “Thou too Brutus?”.

Today’s news about Tata company’s involvement in breaking law with impunity in Odisa’s premier daily, The Samaj gives me that surprise and shock. Ratan Tata’s Tata is obviously no longer the TATAs of Jamshedji TATA, nationalist, ethical, progressive and driven by a missionary zeal rather than profits. But that may be too much to expect from a MNC (Multi-National Corporation) that today’s TATA is.

Below are the statistics from Samaja link above that I quote for your information and individual conclusions. My conclusion shockingly is, TATA is no different anymore. It is one of the vultures out there for Odisa’s resources, like Vedanta or POSCO or Jindal or Bhusan or Birla. Except the other players never had a claim to being ethical or having any public purpose or on a mission.

My scepticism about allowing a special port to POSCO in a SEZ is reinforced. Do you think they will only raise 400 millions and export? Some one got to be kidding and taking us for a ride. Imagine at the present price it is worth $40 billions or 2 lakh crores plus/minus.(Rs. 5000/Tonne)

Let me give you the data what this article in The Samaj, which made me so distraught:

1. Iron Ore Raising beyond permit worth 1272 crores:
Financial Year---Permit:(Tonnes)---Raised:(Tonnes)
1999 - 2000 ----- 1680000 -------- 2122265
2000-2001 -------- do ------------- 2709402
2001-2002 -------- do ------------- 2909979
2002-2003 -------- do ------------- 3497025
2003-2004 -------- do ------------- 3457284
2004- 2005 -------- do------------- 4097336

2. Chromite Raising beyond limit worth Rs. 481 crores:
Financial Year---- Permit:(Tonnes)----Raised:(Tonnes)
2004- 2005 -------- 650000------------- 1098455
2005-2006 -------- 700000------------- 992820

Why it happened and how it happened are obviously to be investigated and responsibility fixed and concerned persons properly punished. As our Chief Minister says: "law should take it’s own course". Remorsefully, this has all happened in the decade that Navin babu has been at the helm. Now that everything and everyone is on the dock, he needs to set up fast courts and honest officers to punish this robbery of Orissa’s resources, the Oriya term “Hari loot” will be more appropriate. Corrective actions are the need of the hour and we wait and see if law takes it’s own course and how long does it take?
The time is the essence.

TED India Mysore lectures - Selected Speeches 2 : Collected by Sandip K. Dasverma

2009-11-25T23:05:00.000-08:00

1. TED India Mysore 2009 Lectures by Pranav Mistry on sixth sense at : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ted/TED-India-Pranav-Mistry/videoshow_ted/5231080.cms
2. TED Lecture by Hans Rosling:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tv/Hans-Rosling-Asias-rise--how-and-when/videoshow_ted/5261107.cms

TED - Selected Speeches: Collected by Sandip K. Dasverma

2009-11-24T16:45:00.000-08:00

TED Speeches
1. Nandan Nilkeni’s speech On India's future: http://www.ted.com/talks/nandan_nilekani_s_ideas_for_india_s_future.html
2. Juan Enriquez on DNA reading http://www.ted.com/talks/juan_enriquez_on_genomics_and_our_future.html
3. Innovation by Charles Leadbeater http://www.ted.com/talks/charles_leadbeater_on_innovation.html
4. Howard Rheingold on Collaboration http://www.ted.com/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html
5. Robert Fischell –on his acceptance of TED award – medical inventing : http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_fischell_on_medical_inventing.html:
6. Case for optimism – Larry Brilliant: http://www.ted.com/talks/larry_brilliant_makes_the_case_for_optimism.html
7. How to stop pandemics – Larry Brilliant: http://www.ted.com/talks/larry_brilliant_wants_to_stop_pandemics.html
8. Inventing Twitter - Evan Williams : http://www.ted.com/talks/evan_williams_on_listening_to_twitter_users.html
9. Rebuilding Rwanda - Bill Clinton : http://www.ted.com/talks/bill_clinton_on_rebuilding_rwanda.html
10. Tales of Passion - Isabel Allende : http://www.ted.com/talks/isabel_allende_tells_tales_of_passion.html
11. Dean Kamen previews a new prosthetic arm: http://www.ted.com/talks/dean_kamen_previews_a_new_prosthetic_arm.html
12. Mosquitos, Malaria & Education – Bill Gates : http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/bill_gates_unplugged.html
13. Educating Leaders for Africa- Patrick Awuah: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/patrick_awuah_on_educating_leaders.html
14. Rebuilding broken States – Ashraf Ghani: http://www.ted.com/talks/ashraf_ghani_on_rebuilding_broken_states.html
15. Tribal Leadership by David Logan: http://www.ted.com/talks/david_logan_on_tribal_leadership.html
16. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on doing business in Africa http://www.ted.com/talks/ngozi_okonjo_iweala_on_doing_business_in_africa.html
17. Devdutt Patnaik - on Business of mythology:
http://www.ted.com/talks/devdutt_pattanaik.html
18. Tim Brown urges designers to think big: http://www.ted.com/talks/tim_brown_urges_designers_to_think_big.html
19. Robin Chase on Zipcar and her next venture:
20. One Laptop per child -Nicholas Negroponte:http://www.ted.com/talks/nicholas_negroponte_on_one_laptop_per_child.html

Tribute to Senator Kennedy - Sandip K. Dasverma

2009-08-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

Good bye Senator Kennedy.
Loss of TED Kennedy at this inopportune time tells us to redouble our effort to make his dream - "universal Health care for all" - possible as a tribute to him. Let the 60 member filibuster proof majority in Senate and the more than required democratic majority in congress prevail. Let us name the Health Care bill after him as Ted Kennedy law of Universal Health Care. Let it be bipartisan if possible and Democratic if necessary - fulfilling his daring dream and solacing his soul.

This is the biggest loss to America and it's working people, nay world, at the worst time to make this world a better place to live. Hope and wish this makes us rise up to the challenge and make his DREAM of Universal Health Care, come TRUE.

Sainath's articles on Migrant Workers(MW) of Berhampore

2009-08-22T11:01:00.001-07:00

1. More migrations, new destinations.
2. Put your money down, boys
3. Home, not so sweet home

Data Extracts:
Total Migrant Workers from Berhampore district: 500,000
Migrants to Surat from Berhampore: 400,000
Estimated total migrant workers from Orissa: 600,000
New destination: Kerala
Numbers returned from Surat due recession: 50, 000
Number of months worked: 9 out of 12, 3 they live at home.
Total money sent home(estimated)500 crore/year
Private money transfer at rate Rs. 30/1000
Emergency money transfer, (next day): Rs. 40/1000

In the name of religion: by Sandip Kumar Dasverma

2009-08-16T01:14:00.000-07:00

In the name of religion – Lessons learned from Kandhamal, Orissa

This month on 15th August, 2009, we will commemorate the 62nd year of the carnage which engulfed the subcontinent in the name of religion. It also is the anniversary of it’s latest version in Kandhamal district of Orissa. Violence in the name of religion refuses to stop, and perpetrators seem to be organizing more and more.
The land of Orissa, known for it’s syncretism & Jagannath culture, witnessed a spate of communal violence last August, which was more than it witnessed in 1947. After 62 years the perpetrators and the victims have changed, but the motives and background remain the same.
On 23rd August, 2008, in Kandhamal district of Orissa, 200 KM (or 120 Miles) from Bhubaneswar, the state capital, Hindu mobs attacked Christians. They burned their homes, shops, churches and orphanages. More than 30,000 Christians, were forced to take shelter in refugee camps, where the living conditions were extremely poor. Or in the surrounding jungles, where they were in danger of being attacked by wild animals. About 4,500 Christian homes were burned and 180 churches destroyed. At least 60 Christians were killed, per the Orissa government report. Church leaders from Orissa report higher figures and accuse the government of intentionally undercounting, the dead.
However a quick follow up by the Government, 10,000 people were named in 827 cases registered during the August riots. Charge sheet has already been filed in 437 cases and investigation was on in other 354 cases, including the famous nun’s rape.

Though the 1st conviction of one person came on July 2nd, 2009 and 2nd of five persons on July 29, 2009, before the anniversary, the first case of 16 acquittals has started. As is common in such cases, the refrain of the court is “for lack of evidence”. That will be my point of discussion today. We know from common knowledge and past experience, these are samples of law not taking it’s own course but travesty of justice due various reasons, from poor investigation due influence, to witness turning hostile due fear and to witness buying.
In Kandhamal incidents the perpetrators were from a very small but influential group, the Sangh Parivar of Hindu community. And victims the hapless converted Scheduled caste Christians. It was alleged that members of the Christian community had killed Mahant Laxmanand Saraswati of Viswa Hindu Parishad (the pseudo religious wing of BJP). Though Maoists had claimed it to be their action.
Late Laxmananda himself was no saint either, well known for his fundamentalist Hindu philosophy and activities and for actively propagating hate against Christians. For example Late Mahant was also prime perpetrator of another riot against Christian community in the December 2007, in the same area. He lead violence against the local Christians from the front then.
No murder should be condoned. And so should not be the murder of Late Laxmanand. Similarly life and property should be protected by the Government of the day. Thus administration in the state failed, both to prevent Laxmanand murder and riots that followed, as it was manipulated from within, a la Gujarat by BJP. The BJP, then a partner of the State Government, (which was a BJD / BJP coalition), strategized to succeed in upcoming 2009 elections by spreading hate against Christians. The Kandhamal actions of the Hindu Hate brigade was completely criminal. That it back fired and did not win them the election is another story. It was a tactical failure of the Sangh Parivar. It was also a cultural misreading of the Orissan mind and syncretic culture by the BJP, mastermind and stretegists.
Just as in 1947-48 , in India, when Muslims lost their lives at the hands of Hindus because of their religion and reaction to Hindus killed by Muslims for the same reason in Pakistan, here too some communal elements targeted the Christian community, in retaliation. Such shameful behavior, which in 1947 created wounds so deep that they have yet to heal, are still common in India. This continues, despite recent civil society initiatives, to befriend Pakistan in India and vice-versa. The 11/26 Mumbai massacre was a desperate act by those who did not want peace in the subcontinent. This becomes clear when one remembers that the foreign minister of Pakistan was on that day in New Delhi to sign a SAARC accord between India and Pakistan for an easier VISA regime, This would have made travel in subcontinent easier across international borders, such that, many families separated by the partition, could easily visit relatives across the national divide after 6 decades. The opponents of the thaw, to be more blunt, the hawks, were successful to thwart the progress and forced deferring of the easy visa regime.
A number of commentators blame the current levels of intolerance (between Muslims and Christians or Hindus) on the Hinduization policies which worked in Gujrat for Narendra Modi. No doubt Narendra Modi created bigger night mares of 2002. But the sentiments of the Kandhamal riots do not simply have their roots in questionable actions by Modi. Even though Hindu - Muslim-and the recent Hindu - Christian riots invariably involve the issue of conversion (clever attempt by the Indian religious right, namely Sangh Parivar and their allies like Shiv Sena), the central reason for the carnage which ensues again and again, is not the conversion law or other irritants but a general belief that the state is soft on violence in the name of religion. The perpetrators believe they can get away with murder.
This is because very few people, if any, were charged in either India or Pakistan for the 1947-48 massacres. And even miniscule fewer punished. Nor have the perpetrators of all riots since then brought to justice. Most instigators of such violence also roam free and benefit politically. The general tone after attacks and riots are for forgiving and forgetting. Similar are the pressure on Christians of Kandhmal, which has been of ‘forgiving and forgetting’.
When the last major attack on Christians took place in August 2008 to December 2008 in Kandhamal district of Orissa, the tone of all the following interfaith meetings were very conciliatory and to an extent encouraging. However, at every meeting we heard “next time, we will not do this”. Kindly remember that thousands of houses, churches and orphanages had been torched by mobs in Kandhamal. After learning that I always wondered, what would these people do the next time there was such an allegation or tension like the last one come up or instigated? Will next time Parvin Tagoda be allowed to recreate a mini-Toyota jatra( of L. K. Advani) to inflame public passion and conflagrate hundreds of villages, when he gets another dead body like that of Mahant Laxmanananda Saraswati? If they will not torch their houses, will they just shoot them? Also, why is there always a mention of a ‘next time’? Why should there ever be a ‘next time’?
Giving compensation to the victims will never solve the problem since there is always the threat of a ‘next time’. The worst was that it was based on an allegation and not substantiated facts. The sense of loss, the fear of another attack and the trust lost can perhaps never be reclaimed. As long as the perpetrators are not prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and serious measures taken by the government to ensure a rapid and decisive response to such events, these incidents will continue to happen. Suspending a police officer here and a civil officer there, is only a piecemeal initiative. Prosecution for inciting and perpetrating violence, murder, civil unrest and terrorism are measures which will exhibit the seriousness of the government in tackling this menace.
The total wipe out of BJP in Orissa, due tactical mistakes is no doubt a respite for the people but in my opinion the Phoenix will again arise, when they have a cadre based party. One should not forget rise of BJP from 2 seats in parliament in 1984 to forming Govt in 1999.
In addition to the allegation of some inhuman or unpopular acts against the targeted comunity, the other thing common to these attacks is that they have been very well planned. No unruly mob consists of 10 thousand to 20,000 people armed with everything from sticks to modern weapons as in Kandhamal for days. No unruly mob goes and buys sulphuric acid in the nearest big city and then plans an attack such as the one that took place in many places. No unruly mob can successfully torch dozens of houses and then escape so easily as in various places in Kandhamal.
It is clear that last year’s attacks have been clearly planned, by extremists whose reading of Hindu religion is markedly different from that of the average Hindu. The failure of the local administration, which failed to prevent the loss of life and property, is inexcusable.
Whatever the specific motives behind a particular attack, it is clear that intolerance still thrives in India, be it against another religion or another language group(read Hindi speaking Bihari) as in Mumbai. And there are no penalty for rioting and riot instigators like Raj Thakaray and his uncle. So an attitude of impunity from law develops. This attitude is the larger problem, and partly explains why adherents of a faith(Hinduism) that espouses tolerance (all religions are path to the same God – Ramkrishna Paramhansa) would torch the homes of those outside their religion or even their own(Mumbai) when inciting people is necessary for political gain.
Sixty-two years ago Pakistan was created because M. A. Jinnah, convinced the Muslims of the subcontinent that India’s majority Hindu community would not allow them to live in peace with full honor and dignity.
Sixty-two years later, it is the Hindu community of India (read ilk of BHP) that is proving that, it is guilty as charged. Hindus do not allow adherents of other religions to live peacefully and with dignity, in their midst. The solace is the majority of the Hindu community has shown in the recent elections, that they don’t contribute to this intolerant version of Hinduism. But in my opinion, as long as the law does not take it’s own course, as long as crime is not punished, as long as punishment of those guilty of hate crimes, is undermined/ sabotaged by the politicos and police, it will not put communal genie back in the bottle. Pravin Tagodia’s will continue to incite it, without penalty.
The fast court, the speedy justice within a year seemed to proceed in the right direction for Kandhamal. But the acquittal of 16 people, involved in rioting is significant and scary, because it brings to mind manipulation and subvertion from within.
The culture of impunity from consequences of crime must end here and now, if recurrence of riots in future is to be prevented. Let the civil society of Orissa take a vow to fight this culture of impunity and banish it for ever.
If not: the goons and riffraff will continue to be encouraged by the vested interests “in the name of the religion”, and will continue to have immunity from law.

Significance of August 15 by Sandip K. Dasverma

2009-08-16T01:12:00.000-07:00

Significance of August 15 :
India became Independent on, Aug 15, 1947, starting an avalanche of colonial independences in Asia and Africa, which ended colonialism. This day we are celebrating Indian independence.
15th of August, is also a national holiday in many countries around the world, but all of them celebrate some thing different except Republic of Korea, which gained independence on 15th Aug 1948.
Major events that this day is also commemorated for, are:

1. Italy commemorates August 15, as one of the most important Catholic holidays, because Catholics believe it's the day Virgin Mary was transported directly to Heaven to be with her son, Jesus.
2. Napoleon Bonaparte was born on 15 August 1769, and France celebrates the day as national holiday, still in his honor.
3. Fifty four years ago, on August 15, 1945 several Asian countries won their freedom when Japan surrendered on this day, which ended the World War II. Although the formal surrender came later on September 2, 1945, Asian freedom fighters in Korea, Indo-China and Indonesia were freed and won their independence on August 15, 1945 from the clutches of the Japanese Imperialism.

The Indian Independence Day, Aug 15, 1947 had a lot of meaning for us when we were children and a lot of significance was attached to it. It had something to do with our Country being pulled off the cage. From what I see, the youth these days are not sentimental or reverential about it, perhaps because they have not seen or known about the struggles to free our Country from the foreign yoke.
India’s 1st Prime Minister, Nehru’s speech on 15th August 1947, is a classic and I will briefly quote from the same:
“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we will redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance .... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again."

It indeed ended a period which culminated from sacrifices of many. Gandhians were of course well recognized, but there were many others too, who both preceded and succeeded Mahatma Gandhi & his followers. From Dada Bhai Naroji to the anarchists of Bengal. From Madam Cama to Surya Sen of Chitagong Armory raid fame. From Lala Lajpat Rai to Bal Gangadhar Tilak. From Khudiram Bose to veer Savarkar to Rash Behari Bose and INA heros. The Gaddar Party to the Hindustan Republican Party, The Anushilan Party & Jugantar group to Chadrasekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh. Ramprasad Bismil and Ashfaqulla Khan and Laxman Nayak,just to name only a few.

I always revere highly Ashfaqulla because of his secular spirit, which permeated the patriots of his age and time. His repartee when a police interrogator told him not to insist on independence of India because British rule will be replaced by Hindu rule, is legendary. He said and I quote: "Khan Sahib, I am quite sure that Hindu India will be much better than British India, because it will be ruled by an Indian.” For his arrogance and straight talk, he was sent to gallows. The burning question is whether we are living up to these hopes, ideals and dreams, which lead to supreme sacrifices.

The list of patriots goes on and on and on. They included nationalists and patriots from all regions, religions, language groups, casts and all strata of the society.
The theme song of movie Sahid Bhagat Singh, a poem written by famous revolutionary poet Ramprasad Bismil, depicts their spirit and what they promised to their mother land:
“Aye watan aye watan
Hum ko teri kasam
Teri raahon mein jaan tak luta jayenge
Phool kya cheez hai tere kadmon mein hum
Bhent apne saron ki chadha jayenge.

Koi Punjab se koi Maharashtra se
Koi UP se to koi Bengal se
Teri pooja ki thaali mein laaye hai hum
Phool har rang ke aaj har daal se – ---

What happened to that spirit? What happened to that dedication among the youth? The pre-birth resolve and the post birth euphoria of the young Indian nation? Today India is 62 years old as a nation. It’s energy is sapped by a bunch of greedy Swiss bank a/c holder billionaires, and corrupt politicians. But India is young compared to our adopted nation, The USA, which is 233 years old. Yet due to constant renewal, it is vibrant and innovative. Recently it elected it’s first black president. India on the other hand is still in the quagmire of riots and inequality, injustice and lack of opportunity.
Yes, out of 1200 million, 600 million Indians are on the go, but, yes there is a big but. They are leaving behind the other 600 million, who I call Bharat, as is. As the otherwise successful, Bajpayee Government learnt to it’s dismay in 2004, this can’t happen and will not happen. Because that is not in sync with our national ethos. India has to carry Bharat, as it advances to the 21st century. As Universities proliferate, primary and secondary education has to be taken care of, for them to succeed. India can’t be half world class and half middle age. The economic progress has to be inclusive and based on social justice, because the ones we live behind are our brothers and sisters.
We in the Diaspora have a big responsibility, to help make it happen. Every thing starts small and our local IATC(India Association of Tricities, USA) is now in young capable hands. I request them to start to think and act in this direction. We can associate with organizations like: Asha for Education or Pratham. Let us move forward and use all that we have learnt in our adopted country to our birth country, to bring progress and harmony.
(A speech delivered at IATC celebration of Indian Independence Day, Richland, WA, USA on August 15, 2009 )
1. Asfaqulla Khan:
2. Ramprasad Bismil
3. Chandrasekhar Azad
4. Saheed Bhagat Singh
5. Rashbehari Bose
6. Laxman Nayak

15 Medical Colleges in Orissa - A list

2009-08-11T10:01:00.001-07:00

Medical Colleges in Orissa: By Govt of Orissa(GOO), Govt of India or undertaking(GOI) & Private entities.
Summery of Status:
Out of a total of 15 proposed so far 8 are already located in and around BBSR and two more are being proposed there. That leaves 5 that are out side that area. Two of them are already established since the early 60s at Berhampore and Burla(Sambalpur). Leaving 3 only that are being proposed outside BBSR area. One each in Koraput, Talcher and Balasore. I am proposing that those two be moved out to the uncovered areas of the state. That locates more than 50% of all medical colleges of the state in BBSR area. This includes the Medical college that will be part of Vedanta University, which will be in nearby Puri-Konark road(A direct road will make it less than 50 KM of BBSR.

State & central Governments have taken serious steps to establish Government medical college in Bhubaneswar and other parts of the state, for example
1. State Government Medical Colleges(GOO) in ODisha are(4)
• SCB Medical College Cuttack
• Capital (Hospital) Medical College Bhubaneswar
• VSS Medical College Sambalpur
• MKCG Medical College Berhampur

2. Medical College proposed by Central Government(GOI) Ministries in ODisha are(7):
• AIIMS like institute in Bhubaneswar
• Medical College would also be established under proposed National (world class) University at Bhubaneswar
• ESI Medical College (GOI) proposed to move to BBSR.
• Railway Medical College,(GOI) proposed at BBSR
• Medical College under Central University of ODisha at Koraput
• Ministry of Coal has already proposed Medical College in Talcher by MCI
• State Government is also working on a proposal to establish a Medical College in Balasore by Defence Department
•
3. Private Medical Colleges in ODisha(4):
• KIMS Bhubaneswar
• Hi-Tech Medical College Bhubaneswar
• Sum & IMS medical College Bhubaneswar
• Vedanta University Medical College

A letter to Asia Peace on Leftist and pseudo-secularists by SKD

2009-05-23T08:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Omar Saab:
What you say is correct. It is the same section which admired Indira Gandhi, it is the same section which admires Narendra Modi. "advanced by the Indian leftists and pseudo-secularists", these words are usually used by Narendra Modi, Lal Advani and their elk. Originally, added to the lexicon by L. K. Advani, these words are found in the vocab of the Indian right wing, whose India shining slogan bit the dust 5 plus years back. I am surprised that Chat Saab espouses the same words, though I am not sure if he is coming from the same school of thought.

I for one give credit to the "Indian leftists and pseudo-secularists", for keeping India from following the neo-con economic policy of the USA's, into the current economic disaster. Indian economy did not follow the USA's , hook, sinker and bait, because left’s objection to removal of the checks and balances. Thus they were not removed as the Indian neo-con wanted. Other wise India's 600 million poor would have suffered as never before. And probably NREGA would never have happened. It is now being speculated that the beneficiaries helped congress over that top. In addition a second Harshad Mehta has not surfaced yet, thanks to the checks and balances left in place, due protest and resistance "advanced by the Indian leftists and pseudo-secularists", though Satyam scandal did surface.

As far as General Musharaf is concerned, he represents the what the big business favors, one point contact. It is no wonder that USA, till recently, has always supported dictators because business has found them more pliable. That is what Indian stock market is roaring about.

In addition when Musharaff came Nawaz Sharif had moved to extreme right, and almost fascist.(remember invading supreme court to evict the Chief Justice? He, so as to use the street power of the Mullah had supporting them openly, though PPP was no great socialists either. The weak civil society - now rejuvenated/reborn by the lawyer's movement (some say it came in to existence) will I hope and wish, destroy the vestiges fascist power that the ruling parties have in the subcontinent, soon.

In my opinion as the PMs have become weak (unlike Indira Gandhi tenure, for example), the institutions like Supreme Court, Election Commission, became strong. With them the civil society and democracy, has moved forward. No one has the absolute stranglehold on power, any more.

One major hurdle remain - the power of money - which was very clear during the last election and during No-confidence vote in Indian parliament last year. This is suspected to continue, due to the Congress Government coming back to power. Gandhi family is being suspected of having huge money in Swiss banks. Total Indian's deposits are estimated to be $1.5 trillion, held by some 35000 or so, Indians. I wish the Indian intelligentsia goes after the exposure of this huge money and bring the money power to control. Though BJP operatives are no saint in this respect, the primary culprits are the congress operatives, simply because they have remained in power the longest time in last 62 years. Lastly, this is a party where a large section where the great grand sons of the freedom fighters are now rising to power, thus scruples are low and connections are deep. More money in Swiss bank helps. I wish G-20 brings out every thing in to open and the parties are cleansed of the opportunists, in one big sweep.

A cleaned Indian politics, will surely help the world but till such time it will be impossible. Yes, Pakistan should trace Musharaf’s money, asap. Else he will come back through the backdoor, buying his way back.

Best wishes,
Sandip

Letter to PM & Congress High Command on Cabinet Ministers from Orissa - by Sandip K. Dasverma

2009-05-23T08:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Prime Minister and Congress High command:
Congratulations for 3 fold increase in Congress MPs from Orissa(from 2 to 6). Of course this, if you come with the philosophy of describing the cup, as half full. I am afraid, the very fact that BJD won again, should come as a food for your thought.

Let me reiterate the facts. Congress lost 15 out of 21 seats in Orissa because of poor candidate selection. I don't know if you are aware of Orissa history. Your congress president, Kamakhya N. Singdeo's father was a very hated figure, in pre-independent India, among congress men. One of the major movements of Orissa was against the rule of his father. A victim of that movement, 12 year old "Baji Rout" is a folklore in Orissa. Making him Indian National Congress President, over the hated 3 time CM "Janaki B. Pattanayak" was not an improvement but as such. Additionally, there was a lurking fear among the people of Orissa that, Janaki Pattnaik will come back in after the election to be the CM of Orissa, through the back door. No wonder when Shri Naveen Pattanayak made the amends to his long association with BJP, he romped home sweeping the election. But that is all past. Let us have our eyes fixed on future.

We need alternative leadership in this long neglected state. To make this happen we think and request you to wisely select MPs in to the Cabinet who can lead the state back to congress fold. But more importantly – this leadership can lead the development of Orissa's Western and southern districts, among the most backward in India.
Current lone minister from Orissa in National cabinet was Mr. C. S. Sahu. He could do nothing because he was both junior and in an inconsequential minister of State. And he lost the election because he could hardly deliver any significant leadership and bring much resources to the state.
Thus we recommend that you to induct in to Union Cabinet 2 Ministers and a state minister, from among the six elected MPs, so you will groom a team of current and future leaders.
1. Cabinet Rank:
1. Bhakta Charan Das, a dalit and past minister of state, to Cabinet Rank
2. Minister of State:
1. Sanjoy Bhoi, an young and dynamic leader to be a Deputy minister, to be groomed for future, to build party from below. He may be elevated to Minster of State based on performance later.
2. Alternatively, select Mr. Pradeep Kumar Majhi from Nabrangpur(only MP from South Orissa.)
3. Srikanta Jena, an ex-cabinet minister, and the only Coastal MP from Orissa, to an important Cabinet Rank, so he can help build the party from below.
The other three MPs have their qualifications too. Mr. Hemanand Biswal is an ex-Chief Minister and Mr. Pradhan is an ex minister of Orissa state. But we feel they can be used in the organizational positions for now.
Best wishes,
Sandip K. Dasverma

List of Congress MPs from Orissa
Orissa 1 Bargarh Sanjay Bhoi Indian National Congress
Orissa 2 Sundargarh Hemanand Biswal Indian National Congress
Orissa 3 Sambalpur Amarnath Pradhan Indian National Congress
Orissa 4 Balasore Srikant Kumar Jena Indian National Congress
Orissa 5 Kalahandi Bhakta Charan Das Indian National Congress
Orissa 6 Nabarangpur Pradeep Kumar Majhi Indian National Congress

Do Terrorists have human rights? - Sandip K. Dasverma

2009-02-18T01:13:00.000-08:00

Justice Pasayat's recent public statement that "Terrorists have no human rights" - makes me cringe for cover. Our generation heard "Indira is India and India is Indira" statement of an Indira Gandhi stooge, Late D. K. Barua. I am reminded of that statement of this in 1975/76. It was a time when "Human rights” were suspended, including “habeous corpus rights". The result we know, already. There is a saying in Oriya which can be translated as: “A mother whose son was bitten by snake, is afraid of ropes.” No wonder, I am scared.

Even in America of 21st century news about misuse of position and kickbacks to judges,: is being unearthed. So if we give such power to judges in India, there is enough to fear. Because the checks and balances in the system are poorer, to say the least. It is so inefficient and under manned, that Indian court will take 466 years to clear its backlog, chief justice of India said recently, in a damning report.
One can't forget the killing of citizens by Narendra Modi's cops, senior police officers, who are now in jail on murder charges. They first killed innocent people, and then killed more innocent people to eliminate witnesses to their crimes.

The context thus is obviously more serious than the individual based politics of the 1970s. This is now in international media. Since globalization is the order of the day, should not we look for best practices else where?

Interestingly USA has just endured and passed through the Bush era (2000 to 2008), when Justice Pasayat's theory has been thoroughly tested. They failed miserably and measurably. This in borne by the fact that President Bush had the lowest public approval rating ever, since such rating have been recorded. Just last week I heard again President Obama state that evidences are now available that in the last 8 years, the rule of law and human rights have been, thoroughly violated. And public safety is not inversely but directly proportional to rule of law and human rights.

Justice Pasayat is our contemporary from a nearby locality of City of Cuttack, in India. Though I don't know him personally, he must have had the same experience growing up as me. He had a comparatively privileged background. But he too must have known the issues of our time.

Here is a quote from Voltaire (who with Russo fathered the French revolution and modern liberal thoughts). He states: "I totally disagree with what you say but I am ready to die for your right to make that statement". That was freedom of speech at it's best. As society advanced Universal Human Rights came as a more recent development. It was accepted by UN in 1948, as a result of much blood, sweat & tears. It was implemented in USA starting with President Carter, 20 years later. Can there be any exceptions? NO. Why not? Because, then how does the little guy David (an individual) fight the Goliath (the state)? During lots of research on many liberation movements - it has come out to light that lack of human rights actually fuels terrorism. Because Government of the day can give the dissidents a bad name and kill them. And without the necessary constitutional human rights requirements/protection, no one will ever know or be aware of such misuse of power. Interestingly the charges of gross human rights violations are against the most corrupt national governments of the world, which are famous for their social backwardness too. For example Myanmar, Iran & Afghanistan. Do we want to follow them? Heck NO!

I can't believe a supreme court justice of India, past it's Golden Jubilee year, said that publicly, without any caveat. It is so insane and inane.

Below is a scenario of what could be an outcome of such a policy, if it is taken seriously and implemented. What will happen is of far reaching, consequence.

Let us take a real example. We recently had a case where a RTI activist went to Indian Supreme Court and asked for declaration and publication of the assets of the Supreme Court Justices. This followed the recommendation by Chief Justice of India(CJI) for Justice Soumitra Sen of Kolkata high court of impeachment & dismissal. The Registrar of Supreme court instead of following the law, refused to provide the info, under the pretext that - the info is not in his office but in Supreme Court Chief Justice's(CJI) office. Now, there is no such office actually, so the activist went to challenge this charade, in the office of Chief Information Commissioner(CIC) of India. CIC opined that there is no difference between the two offices and so asked CJI to submit the info. And rightly so in my opinion. However, the CJI forwarded the case to Delhi High Court, which falls under it's own jurisdiction and asked them to decide the case. The prominent Citizen of India have protested and appealed to CJI to yield. The case is in the Delhi High Court. Let us assume that the CJI and PM are in collusion. (which is luckily and actually not the case.) GOI could arrest the person who submitted the RTI and rough him up. And if he does not still relent and stop pursuing the case, can book him falsely for possessions of illegal arms or liquor etc. And/or for dangerous liaison with the extremist groups, and keep him in jail indefinitely. No proof – nothing required, because Human Rights for terrorists, have been suspended by Justice Pasayat. Just Government's statement that he is a dangerous terrorist (an element undermining the democratic set up), would be enough. Because the judiciary and Government are in a collusion, this will be possible. Because as Justice Pasayat has stated - this man now has no human rights. What will happen to his children, friends and family? They would now come to the conclusion that since law does not take it's own course in the country, to get justice, they have to take the law in their own hands. Improbable now but possible when the advise of our erudite supreme court judge is followed by a pliant or a colluding Government. We have seen this happen frequently, before the separation of executive and Judicial branches. And the potency is toxic.

That is why I think Justice Pasayat, has probably been misquoted. Otherwise, he is like you and I are, unfit for the highest judicial honor, of being a supreme court judge of India.

Notes:
1. Terrorists have no human rights: - Justice Pasayat: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sc-judge-slams-human-rights-for-terrorists/83810-3.html
2. Need correct quote of Voltaire
3. US court house misuse of power for kick backs: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090211/ap_on_re_us/courthouse_kickbacks
4. Indian court will take 466 years to clear its backlog, chief justice says in damning report: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-as-india-delayed-justice,1,2555110.story
5. Universal Declaration of Human Rights: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights
6. Sadhvi Pragya Thakur: http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/nov/01malegaon.htm?zcc=rl
7. Jailed murderer Gujarat Deputy Inspector General of Police, D. G. Vanzar & Deputy Superintendent of Police, N. K. Amin http://www.roguepolice.com/amin.htm & http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/05/stories/2007050508801200.htm
8. “Indira is India & India is Indira” - Dev Kanta Barua, Indian National Congress President(1975-77): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dev_Kant_Baruah
9. Impeachment of Soumitra Sen of Kolkata High court:: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/law-min-pushes-for-impeachment-of-calcutta-hc-judge/73101-3.html
10. Prominent Citizens appeal to CJI: http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/15/stories/2009021555021000.htm

Creating a Vaccine Free Orissa/World - It's pitfalls and illogic

2009-02-13T21:17:00.000-08:00

The world population did not cross 1 billion till 1840s. It did not cross 2nd billion till 1930s, 3rd billion till 1960s, 4th billion till 1974, 5th billion till 1988 and 6th billion till 1998. Today it is closing in on 7 billion. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population)

The is result of undeniable contribution of science and technology and it's child, modern allopathic medicine. The advances of allopathic medicine in preventing premature deaths due various preventable diseases and epidemics, is visible and undeniable. Obviously nature's balance has been tilted in favor of human species, by advances in science and technology. It has resulted in large number of post octogenarian population & they are growing in leaps and bounds. No doubt there are bad effects of medicines and chemicals, which we don't fully understand yet. But to ask that we go back to old days forgoing modern medicines, is illogical. Are the proponents of this thought, asking us to go back to average life expectancy of 30 years? Such life expectancy prevailed before the vaccines came, drastically reducing child mortality. I hope not.

Many of us are past 60 years in age. In the middle of the last century people were considered to be of ripe old age, at that time. Very few lived longer. The population in India multiplied many-fold due three reasons in 1950s and 60s.

1. Prevention of epidemics: Cholera, Typhoid & Small pox to name a few.
2. Coming of age of antibiotics, curing most bacterial diseases.
3. Significant advances in modern surgery.

I am all for opinion and info exchange, as well as necessary debate. But scaring ignorant and illiterate people about modern medicines is both, immoral and abominable. So is charging them a hand and a foot, to treat them in a public hospitals.

Obviously science does not yet know lot of things and that is the challenge of today's science. What knowledge we have achieved so far, is only the beginning.
I remember reading "Brief History of Time" by Prof. Stephen Hawkins, where he quotes a Nobel winning Scientist of 1935. That scientist declared that Physics as we know it, has all been invented. That scientist obviously was proved wrong and it has advanced leaps and bounds, since then.

That men love to go back and live in the conditions & communities, they were born to, is well known. Interestingly, it will be and is being made possible, by the most modern of technologies, the Internet technology. There are two forces working here which both need to be nurtured:

1. Individualism, which results in individual's curiosity and will to work hard, to innovate thus to bring desirable changes & benefits to the community and to himself.
2. Collective organization of the society to make the results universally available for the whole of mankind. Governments provide incentives to such men to form corporations & to organize these collectives with profit motives, to make the goals achievable & possible.

The problem arises if there are no checks and balances. Then it goes haywire. Like a drug company recently raising the price of a drug by 60 times after introducing to the market to make quick cash, because they are in a monopoly situation.

I remember my father and our family priest telling me that potato and electric light were not allowed in Jagannath Temple at Puri. Electric light is now allowed in the Puri temple but don't know if potato is. Why? Because they did not know about potato/tomato previous to 18th century. Potato and Tomato were introduced to Europe in the 16 th century and thence to India, from the newly discovered Latin America. Earlier, they used to depend on roots called "Desi Alu", meaning, native potato. In fact for a long long time in Europe, Tomato was believed to be poisonous. Cherry tomato was used only for decoration. Then a German company "Bayer Inc.", found out that Tomato had high Vitamin C content, and propagated it's use.

Modern allopathy medicine is tested in the double blind methods by FDA, USA. There are some aberrations in this system. But junking science( vaccine) is irresponsible, considering that success of this system has resulted such major advances in human health and longevity, in last six decades.

My major complain against allopathic system is price manipulation by MNCs of life saving drugs, to earn super profits .

Let me depict a personal experience to illustrate how uninformed criticism is dished out. In the year 1997, I had a colonoscopy. Very soon after that club in Rock Island, Illinois, we used to frequent, invited a lady to give a talk on naturopathy. She made a statement that our intestine is like a drain which has not been cleaned for as long as our individual age. She won her point with everyone except me. I challenged her if she has seen her inside, her intestines large & small? She said NO. Then I asked her if she knew, what is colonoscopy? She answered in affirmative, though she said, she had never undergone it. She said, she knows what it does.
I told her that I have recently undergone and saw in a TV monitor what my inside looks like. After 50 plus years, it is in prime condition. That is because the mucous membranes are constantly being shed by the body. So it is more like a recently cleaned drain than a 50 year old unclean drain. Very spic and span.

She was very unhappy because her whole logic was based on that metaphor to explain naturopathy, which was demolished. But she was also giving out knowledge without being knowledgeable, thus needed to be challenged. And it did not pass critical thinking. When you get such info one has to be very rational, to check it out.

I am aware and am a critique of the aberrations of modern allopathic medicine, but the logic of Mr. Jagannath Chatterjee puts forward appears to me to be nothing more than a illogical and uncritical scare mongering.

We should develop ways to improve the vaccine to reduce the reactions, both qualitatively and quantitatively. We should also, in those rare cases where the unfortunate reactions happen, compensate them adequately. But to go back to the old days would be a disastrous surrender of many young lives. To go back to the old pre-vaccine days, is unthinkable. They were never better than today, if you go by the facts.

I am afraid this is not a debate but an illogical misinformation campaign, using failures of the natural system's bell curve, at it's tails.

Google to showcase Bengali classics

2008-09-19T01:30:00.000-07:00

DAWN.COM | Entertainment | Google to showcase Bengali classics

Better connectivity - to Kandhamal & KBK districts

2008-09-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Mr. Chief Minister and MPs of Orissa:

In light of the recent sad events in Kandhamal and earlier Maoist massacres in Malkangiri and Nayagarh, may I request you again, to go for the long term solutions to problems in Kandhamal and KBK districts? By this I refer to CONNECTIVITY, both physical (Road & Railways) and via Internet/Cell phone.

Imagine if you could get instant info via internet and CRP from BBSR reached Kandhamal in 3 hours via Khurda - Bolangir Railway? Or via Road in 2 hours via Ranchi - Vijaywada National Highway from Angul?

Proper connectivity to these places would create the foundation of a long term solution to the problems of deprivation and access.
May I suggest that the NREGA funds may be used in this regard, to create the permanent resources? When we met Sri Kalyan Jena, the first Oriya Chairman of Railway Board, he was in fact pleading for it.

In that regard, may we request you to please pursue the following:

(i) Push for the faster implementation of the Vijaywada - Ranchi highway that passes through these areas.

(ii) Push for widespread availability of broadband Internet connectivity in these districts. Today's, The Telegraph, states that GOI(Govt of India) has directed VSNL to install 8000 towers this year and 11000 next year for full rural connectivity of Broad Band and Cell phones to all villages with population of 1000 and above.
(News: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/19000_mobile_towers_to_connect_villages/articleshow/3468439.cms)

Would you kindly Sir, first make the concerned DMs aware and active, and then find time in your next visit to New Delhi to talk to the Union communication minister A. Raja and tell him that Orissa administration & you are ready & prepared for related action?

(iii) Push for the completion of the various rail corridors in these areas, in particular:

(a) Khurda- Nayagarh - Balangir

(b) Lanjigarh Rd - Junagarh - Nabarangpur - Jeypore - Malkangiri - Bhadrachalam Rd in Andhra Pradesh

(c) Lanjigarh Rd - Phulbani - Talcher

Thus connecting Kandhamala to Bhubaneswar via the Khurda-Balangir line and creating a shorter path from KBK to Bhubaneswar. Can you sir, not imagine, what will happen if Koraput to BBSR travel takes between 8 to 10 hours? I envision that the regionalism will disappear.
50 to 60 percent of Western and South Orissa people who have never visited Cuttack, Puri and Bhubaneswar, will be visiting them.
And the punishment posting of least efficient and delinquent officers to KBK, will also become, history of the past, because every one will be willing, if selected to GO.

Sincerely,
Sandip K. Dasverma

A Special Note to Esteemed MPs of Orissa: May I request all, our respected MPs, for once to go to the Railway minister, Lalu Jadav, with this one agenda & above demands. JUST ONCE, this year? You can come back to: a train stop here and a route extension there, again next year. For once, please please, make party 2nd and Orissa 1st - JUST ONCE.

PS: May I append, what a fellow NRO, Prof. Chitta Baral had written, few months back, to justify the Indian Railway's action in connectivity, to rehash your memory?

=================================================

A recent PTI news ( http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200808110342.htm ) says that "All the railway projects in Bihar stipulating an investment of Rs 52,000 crore, would be completed by 2011,+ Girish Bhatnagar, General Manager of East Central Railway (ECR) said."

We have been urging the chief minister and the MPs to make the case that all the Orissa projects should also be finished by the end of the 11th plan; but to no avail.

The irony is that to finish the scheduled Orissa projects, no extra money is needed. It is estimated that Indian Railway will make about 2,800 crore/year profit from Orissa which in 5 years will be 14,000 crores. (http://www.kbkrail.orissalinks.com/ )

That is more than enough for the completion of the following projects:

(i) Khurda Rd - Nayagarh - Balangir (1000 crores taking into account inflation)
(ii) Lanjigarh Rd - Junagarh - Nabrangpur - Jeypore - Malkangiri - Bhadrachalam Rd (1500 crores)
(iii) Raygada - Gopalpur (1000 crores)
(iv) Gunupur - Theruvali (400 crores)
(v) Talcher - Bimlagarh (1000 crores taking into account inflation)
(vi) Baripada/Buramara - Chakulia (400 crores)

The above adds up to only 5300 crores.

So if Bihar can aim and achieve the spending of 52,000 crores by 2011, why can not Orissa just ask that profit from Orissa be put in Orissa for the duration of the 11th plan, especially when we are referring to connectivity to the most backward areas of the country (not just the state).

With 5300 out of 14000 spent in the above, and with the following lines done via PPP costing very little to the Railways (say about 1700 crores total)

(vii) Haridaspur - Paradeep
(viii) Angul - Sukinda
(ix) Bhadrakh - Dhamara
(x) Rupsa - Kirtania

Orissa will have another 7000 crores and it can target lines such as:

(xi) Puri-Konark (under survey - Est. cost 300 crores)
(xii) Phulbani-Berhampur (Under survey - Est. Cost 1000 crores)
(xiii) Talcher/Hindol Road -Gopalpur/Berhampur (Under survey - Est. Cost 1000 crores)
(xiv) Bargarh-Nawapara Road (Under survey - Est. Cost 800 crores)
(xv) Lanjigarh Rd - Phulbani - talcher (Est. cost 1000 crores)
(xvi) Lanjigarh Rd - Gopalpur (Est. cost 1000 crores)
(xvii) Khurda - Naraj circular Railway (Est. cost 400 crores)
(xviii) Barang - Astaranga port - Konark (Est. cost 1000 crores)

On money for cross-voting & India !!!

2008-08-02T23:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends:
The needed proof is visible & self-evident, except to the selfishly blind.

This need to change: lock, stock and barrel, if India is to be a respected nation. Because no one respects a nation whose public leaders are simultaneously in misappropriation business.

I remember Tehelka case. The then NDA Govt went after the whistle blower rather than the culprit.

In a recent case, a supreme court chief justice was caught allowing his sons, to run business real estate business from his official residence, while he was presiding over the case of unauthorized shops in residential area. His sons were direct beneficiary of his decision to insist on zonal segregation. When it was brought out in the open, the poor investigative journalists had to apologize under threat of "contempt of court" & jail, ordered by chamcha justices of Delhi High Court.

JMM bribary case was a straight forward case. The culprits were destined for the Jail, till Supreme Court performed Legal jugglery. Thus culprets escaped scot-free because the supreme court twisted the case unduly favoring the culprits, (which included the Prime Minister, Narshimha Rao, an otherwise decent man), which halted the "Rule of Law" on it's track.

India has never recovered from that misuse of law, yet. Though conviction of Manu Sharma in Jessica Lal case, was a case where "Rule of Law", finally prevailed, it was an exception. And it was between two families, who were high up in the social ladder.

This needs to change, period.

I am no admirer of BJP and they are no angels. But such happenings are bad for everyone of the ordinary, people. But NDA or UPA, they seem to be stuffed with CROOKS.

Such shameful acts need to change, if India is ever to claim to be a world class democracy, and earn it's due place in the comity of the Nations.
Best wishes,
Sandip

News - Orissa Govt allots old ORT bus stands to Reliance - News

2008-08-02T20:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends:
A leader who is close to people will be overwhelmed by their influence
and approach - he will thus be unable to take such action.
Unfortunately it seems that our CM has no connections with the people. He has
connection with the super rich people of the India, like the Ambanis.

A pro-people Govt. will ask IDCO to build markets/shops like one built
in Cuttack Jail or any other successful model and lease them out.
Hundreds of unemployed youth will be benefited. A Govt not wanting to
go that far will auction off these land to the public, so it will get
the market price and mall developers will move in, to construct and
lease.
No there is no such thing. It is given to the richest of the land at
subsidized prices ,which are not made public.

Can we ask, why?

Who will ask?
The legitimate opposition, the Indian National Congress(INC), is out hunting for money and is silent.
They have to collect cash to keep their promises. 3 crores (2
crores outstanding) for abstaining or 25 crores for cross voting, we
hear. Their friends now say - Oh, well Indian democracy is in
developing stage, so such things happen.

We feel like yelling - REALLY?

But soon realize that the choice is between Twiddle Dum and Twiddle Dee. In
other words - WE HAVE NO CHOICE.

Does not it lead people taking law into their own hands?

Best wishes,
Sandip

Flouting civil laws - Sandip K. Dasverma

2008-04-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

Re: Prashanta Varma's Blog
Civil Laws and public safety are made for each other and people ignore it at their peril. Level of education and understanding of the Law in the society being non-uniform the need to enforce the Law develops. Because non adherence of the Law results in injury to the others in the the society. For example if a kid does not wear the hamlet and gets injured seriously, the resources of the state and this family are spent to cure him.
Thus the need of Law enforcement. However in India this results in a double whammy. The Law enforcer is paid to enforce the law but he gets paid again for letting the law violator go scot free. He gets paid for doing nothing. Yes, he has to keep his boss happy by sharing the booty or some other way but he gives a damn to public safety which is his primary work area.
They say pictures are worth a thousand words, in this case probably a million. The newly appointed Police commissioner should first ensure that all shops have helmets available and then announce over TV that the laws will be enforced. If in future such pictures can be taken the concerned police officer should be fined 5 days salary for dereliction of duty - or similar. Parents of those who have had accident or who were injured should be part of this oversight committee, in my opinion.
Thanks to Prashant Verma babu for bring such a partinent topic to the table and highlighting it.
The new commissioner of Police of Cuttack and BBSR, should not take more than 30 days to solve it by going on education mode for 30 days and then enforcing law. A repeat in six months, for two to 3 years of he same process will make it permanent.

Why I am opposed to Balbir Punj's representing Orissa in Rajya Sabha - Sandip K. Dasverma

2008-03-24T15:43:00.000-07:00

Why I am opposed to Balbir Punj's representing Orissa in Rajya Sabha, some friends asked? Their concern was that am I changing my broad liberal views and getting into the quagmire of regionalism, a la Raj Thakre and his MNS? Thus this note and appendix to my earlier blog on this issue.

In my view the main problem with this action by BJP(Bharatiya Janata Party) high command, is that it is violation of both the letter and the spirit of the law.
Like Prime Mininster, Mr. Man Mahon Singh does not live in Gouhati, Assam, Mr. Punj does not live in Orissa. He has falsely given an address in Orissa, which violates the letter of the law.

In addition, the spirit of the Representation of People's act is violated, when one who has never lived in Orissa or else where in the state, is allowed to represent it in Rajya Sabha. This violates it's very spirit of representing the people. How can one, who does not know his electorate represent them? Additionally, Orissa is backward because it has week representation at the national level, leading to neglect for last 60 years. How does a national party, correct such situation by taking away even such weak representation?

The reason is obvious if you sit down and think. Answer that comes to our mind is: We yet to be a country who believe in "Rule of Law"? No, actually far from it.

One glaring example film actress Mrs. Hema Malini mentions film star Dharmendra as her husband and father of her two daughters, in her filing to the election commission for Rajya Sabha election.
Mr. Dharmendra, however, has filed a nomination to the same election commission, for Lok Sabha, stating that he is married to some one else.

Hindu Code Bill, does not allow polygamy since 1955.

Hence either of them or both should not have been allowed to contest election. If the information came up after election, they should have been dismissed, after election on the ground of perjury, submitting false information.
Nothing as you would anticipate for gross lying(per jury) , has happened to them and they are nearing completion of their terms, soon. Most of the India, is either oblivious, including the National women's commission members who have time to raid local parks to dissuade love birds(Or is it only Orissa State Commission) but no time to raise or pursue such a visible and a gross violation of women's rights.
This Chalta Hai attitude has to go before we can move ahead as a nation.

Idea of a Phone bank: - Sandip K. Dasverma

2008-03-18T02:29:00.000-07:00

"Please leave the "invitation making" to a phone banking group, led by a Vice Chairman of Communications. He phones 7 group members and they call 7 each. And each of those each call another 7. It has a tree like structure, where each of them make 7 calls. All(400) will be covered, in a span of 7 calls (1*7*7*7+1 +7+49 =400) in two evenings, and in urgent cases even one."
NOTES: I request the secretary/President to not do it yourselves. Use the help of recent batches, who are shy but savvy in IT. Request them to go to NITR database and find phone numbers and down load them. Or ask Gen Secretary to download and send the excel sheet to the leader. The leader(Vice Chairman communications) sorts it by Postal Area code and finds who are located where. Then finds 7 who are primary contacts (and volunteer for one year). He e-mails them the seven names they need to call, and another 7 names who each of those called, will call.
They report to you, every day to vice chair/Secretary, who they called and send a spread sheet giving results. (how many - Yes & how many - NO).

I wish each chapter should have Vice Chairman of Communications (essentially phone bank group leader) and a team of 7 volunteer team, who do it, regularly. They shall be divided geographically, so all calls are local.

This will help the freshers to lose the tongue tied habits, (being shy), to go away, soon. Talking to some one unknown over phone and persuading him over phone is a skill every Engineer must learn. The best part is: with less than 10 calls/ each person, one can execute the whole thing in less than a week.

Leader ----- to 7 sub leader (who each has a list of volunteers to call.).
Each of 7 gives 7 calls reaching 49 volunteer callers.
49 of them call 5 to 7 each in their locality reaching 245 to 343 after that it will automatically spread.
(Evite cards after an initial phone banking is a good way to get confirmation.)

Bureaucrats new Avtar as public representatives..- Sandip K. Dasverma

2008-03-17T21:05:00.000-07:00

Todays Tathya is agog with the news of many retired IAS/IPS officers trying to get elected themselves as the MLAs and MPs of Orissa.
In our younger days the politicians kept Goons to protect them. And had favorite businessmen and agents who they nurtured.
A decade later these goons and the businessmen became the king makers, as the quality of politicians deteriorated. In the later times the king makers realized they could became the kings and soon started to become the kings. No sacrifices, no risks, no imagination about people land - just naked greed is what they possessed. But these people soon found that the skill these people had was insufficient to run the Govt, because they did not know and never learnt how to administer. Though they were good at cleaning up the coffers, they found they could not erase the foot prints. Soon as the Govts changed these rascals started getting caught. Scared they found out who among the bureaucrats around can be relied on and the booty shared. This took us to the next phase - when bureaucrats found they are running the Govt and are king makers. After a few years and couple of crore of private resource creation - the wheel is again turning. Now the baboos(bureaucrats) want their pound of flesh. It may be better, because for the 1st time they will have to take the responsibility of their misdeeds or credits for their good deeds.
I guess this is the bottom and it can't go worse, because they ruled us, already, albeit they did so without authority. Now they will rule taking both authority and responsibility for their actions, unlike the previous situation. In my opinion there should be a 2/3 years, hibernation period between the roles as an IAS or IPS and contesting for electoral office.

BJP's utter contempt for Orissa: by Sandip K. Dasverma

2008-03-17T15:41:00.000-07:00

Bharatia Janata Party was born out of ashes of Jan Sangh, which Indira Gandhi had decimated to the ground in 1971 election. With the assistance and encouragement from Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan, they rose again and joined Janata Party before the epic 1977 elections. Hanging on to JP's court tails by accepting "Gandhian Socialism" they rode to national scene incognito and to power in 1977, under Janata Party banner. Then on the duel membership issue, they parted, when the loose coalition fell apart only in 18 months, disappointing millions of Indians, who pinned their hopes on Janata Party. The issue was the membership of Rastriya Swayangsevak Sangh (RSS) and Janata Party at the same time, which created a clique / party within a party. The other members of the party did not like, it. They clung to the old RSS membership and voted as a block within Janata Party, which was resented by other groups within the Janata Party.
Using socialists Raj Narayan, one time her nemesis, Mrs. Gandhi broke the Janata Party and came back to power, in the middle of 1980. In that election only BJP which was formed by the RSS cadre enblock and a few ex-socialists like George Fernandez and Sushma Swaraj, did comparatively well. However having moved away from communal politics, and congress having adapted soft communalism, they lost their shirts (2 members in Lok Sabha) in the 1984 election, fought in aftermath of Indira Gandhi assassination in 1984. Then they moved back to their root, of hate politics and did much better in 1989 and were part of V.P.Singh's coalition, ministry. This ministry fell apart when to counter Devi Lal's backward caste agenda, VP Singh, implemented Mandal Commission recommendations. This hurt VJP's upper caste base and Advani undertook the "Toyota Rath Jatra" or "Blood Jatra", across India, arousing communal sentiments and inciting a series of riots. The result was spectacular rise in BJPs fortune. They were back on their old: "Hindutwa" or "Expand hate" agenda. They had earlier created a lot of sister organizations like VHP, Bajrang Dal, Vanaasis Kalyan Kendra etc, to have a deniability of their hate crimes, they were later to commit. Encouraged by the election results, they embarked on Babri Masjid demolition, using mythology as history and faith as logic. This further divided the country and caused a ripe atmosphere for them to come to power. The post Indira Gandhi, soft communalism of congress party and it's predominant culture of corruption and nepotism, had turned people away from that party. Particularly the kowtowism of the party to Nehru-Gandhi faimily created an atmosphere - where people bought BJP's "We are different - slogan". BJP claimed they were green horn and people gave them benefit of doubt. Strong leaders don't kowtow (to the Nehru-Gandhi family). But weak leaders don't win elections. So in the congress party we see a lot of leaders, either standing in constituencies away from home, (Narshing Rao getting elected from Gunupur constituency in Orissa) or getting elected thru Rajya Sabha, eg. Pranab Mukherjee, who never own an election to Lok Sabha between 1966 to 2004. Mukherjee got elected for the 1st time to Lok Sabha only in 2004.
Well how did the BJP do or the "We are different" group do?
They elected Mr. Lodha from Orissa, who was dismissed from Parliament and left in disgrace, because he charged money for asking parliament questions. Now Mr. Punj. I ask how are BJP different?

It is a matter of great concern that the most important projects in Orissa like the Bolangir - Khurda Railway line can't be completed because we don't have a voice in New Delhi. No one listens to the affected Tribals and KBK area's demand for connectivity. Why? Because we don't have strong voices in the Indian Parliament. And now even that voice is being snuffed out by a party, claiming to be different?
Give me a break.
I want to tell Mr. Advani, we are not a colony. If you impose such monstrosities on Orissa, you better be ready for people of Orissa's wrath for you and your party. If you flout the spirit of representation of the people's Act by not selecting a person genuinely resident in Orissa, we are ready to throw BJP out, for such injustice and colonial attitude towards us.

MNS and Bhyas - a story of plotting to deprive Bhaiyas of Roti, Kapda aur Makan - Sandip K. Dasverma

2008-03-07T01:46:00.000-08:00

MNS and it's dis-avawed parent, Shiv Sena are all parachoal fascist organizations. The issue is not if Bhaya's should move to Mumbai or not. The issue is to understand that a threatened Bhaiya can't raise his voice and demand "Roti, Kapda or Makan", i.e. a better standard of living and a better wage. And if it is happening to Bhaiya's today - it is going to happen to Bengalees, Oriyas, Assamese and 36 garhee and Jharkhandees tomorrow. It is creating a better bargaining position for the business tycoons of Mumbai at the cost of wage earners. This is same or similar to the wrath you sees in United States directed against Mexicans, Guatamalans and other latin or central Americans or Chinese.
Patriarch Bal Thakray, was an agent of S. K. Patil in 60s when there was a fight between him and V. K. Krishna Menon, both of whom central ministers. Menon, a radical socialist was winning election from Mumbai with aid of organized textile labor unions, repeatedly. And money bags that supported Patil (he was treasurer of Congress) felt threatened by the success of labor unions. To divide and rule, they brought in this issue of sons of soil and recruited Bal Thakray, a good speaker and small time journalist, as the union buster. The rest, as they say, is history.
Since then the mobilized goons remained the same except the targets changed, from time to time.
Late 50s - Labor Union activists(non-Maharastrians)
Early 60s - South Indians
Late 60s and early 70s- Gujratis
Late 70s to early 2000s - Muslims
2000s, since 2003 - Bhaiyas
In between it was interrupted by stints at Govt. of rabid Shiv Sena in collaboration with RSS and VJP, in 1990s immediately following Mumbai riots and Babri Masjid demolition. Later the followed infighting in the family, who inherits the crown or rather right to loots: Son who carries the direct linage or Nephew who has been competent organizer of the goon squads? Thus driven out of the Shiv Sena, MNS was created by Raj. Now MNS is trying to out show Shiv Sena, as to who is more vile in preaching linguistic regionalism. We have this force in Orissa also - remember NILA CHAKRA and Kalinga Sena, though may be in milder form, due the inclusive nature of Jagannath culture?

In my opinion, the perpetrators of hate crimes, should be in their proper place - inside the jail.
Reason they are out side is: "WE". Yes, because WE are complex. We complain when we are at the receiving end but become silent and acquiescing, when we are some how believe are on the winning side.

I invoke every one to take one look at the famous Rev. Niemoeller's realization, which appears in Amnesty International web site but also Wikipedia, to which is this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Martin_Niemoeller.jpg

Hate crimes are old fascist methods of intimidating minorities and to find an easy and quick target, to divert working people's frustration and anger due exploitation. And Shiv Sena and it's new Avtar MNS are essentially trying an old trick.
Raj is a fascist and MNS a fascist party and has a fascist agenda. He is no friend of the Maratha poor and Marathi slum dwellers, he is just finding him an alibi so his goons can loot and steal.
Raj Thakray's tactics and attack on Bhyas is: Old NAZI wine in new MNS bottle.

IT SHOULD BE CONDEMNED - LOCK, STOCK AND BARREL.

Tata and Swami Vivekananda by Sandip K. Dasverma

2008-02-20T15:19:00.000-08:00

Puja invocation:
TATAs have a reputation of being good corporate citizen having created Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. I don't know any of you are aware that it was the result of confluence of two great minds - during a ship journey from Calcutta to Tokyo in 1892. Yes, one was obviously Jamsedji Tata.

But do you know who the other is?
Yes, it is the then young monk, Swami Vivekananda, on his way to Chicago's World Council of Church's interfaith meet, where he was to make history.
He asked Jamsedji, who was going to import matches from Japan to make them in India. Jamsedji's answer was we don't have chemists and engineers. The young monk suggested he can start an institute to train /teach them. Thus was the seed sown.
Many years later - when Jamsedji got stuck down due obstruction of the then bureaucracy- who resisted it asking for full money to be deposited so it can run from the corpus fund - essentially undermining it. On Jamsedji's SOS Swami Vivekananda deputed Sister Nivedita to lobby British Parliament to pass the bill that constituted Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
Thus came in to being the IISc - a product of meeting of two great sons of India - A progressive Hindu monk and a great captain of Indian Industry.
A century later, today India is on way back to the top of world due such great foresight of some of the sons of the soil - who were of different religion - different language but one in allegiance and inspiration, the land of India. Let us pledge on this happy occasion that henceforth all our actins will be in the interest of our brethren.

It reminds me of Swamiji"s immortal saying was: "Arise, Awake, stop not till the goal is reached."

The ball is really in the CM's court. - Sandip K. Dasverma

2008-02-02T02:42:00.000-08:00

As I am slowly getting aware of the OHSDP, issue & problems which is not surprising to me. Year before last at Washington DC, OSA convention(July 2006), there were two cabinet ministers from Orissa. Shri Prafulla Ghadei and Shri Surya Narayan Patra and a MLA Mr. Kalpataru Das.
I asked a question, while they were all present together to Prafulla babu. He was lecturing us that theirs as the cleanest Govt ever in Orissa. I asked: "How and why do you think - the same old corrupt people will behave differently, today? After all, they are the same old wine, just in a new bottle?"
His answer was both tactful and tactical: He said the main difference is: "We have a clean leader in Naveen Pattnayak". I was not convinced and skeptical, but it rested there. Because I knew even incorruptible Late Naba Krushna Choudhury could not turn the Govt around from it's corrupt ways, in spite of his personal integrity. I just hoped, that this time around, it will be different.

In America, where the system has similar faults but once you are caught - you are gone. Not so in India. So the corrupt, even those who are caught, survive. This encourages them, all. Particularly, when stealing is so lucrative and so useful, for the family. Smart people learn fast it is the way to go - because it is beneficial, profitable and there is no penalty.

I think this makes the difference between India and America and Indian and American success. That is why I wanted ex-PM Narsingh Rao to go to jail. It was a open and shut case where bribe money was collected and deposited in a Bank A/c. Yet, it did not happen. Because in India law does not rule, people do. It is not "Rule of Law".

So it goes on. But due instant communication, it can't be kept hidden any more,.
After the two ministers went back merrily and the scandals started coming one after another.

* It started with the NREGA scam - alleged to be 555 crores out of total of 755 crore program. Still not resolved.
* Then came Nayagarh female foetuside scandal.
* Then followed the Kantabanji spurious drug scandal.
* And now the World bank scandal.(OHSDP sacandal)
* Of course Richa Mishra suicide scandal preceded, these.

There have been many small scandals but these listed above are the major scandals in about an year's time.
This is actually a chance for the CM to prove his innocence and competence by nailing the real culprits - else he can't any longer claim to be clean.
The ball really is in his court.

Competing states, ORISSA, 36Garh and Jharkhand have practically out done the Pandabas in Mahabharat: - Sandip K. Dasverma

2008-02-02T02:08:00.000-08:00

The issue of water is of primary importance. In attempt to out do each other the competing states, ORISSA, 36Garh and Jharkhand have practically out done the Pandabas in Mahabharat. They have put everything on the Chess board, forgetting the industries should be good tax paying citizens.
The industries should pay for their inputs, like water, Coal, Iron Ore, Lime stone etc and should plan to dispose / treat their out put. This is well defined practice of the 1st world.
Unfortunately, GOO has promised everything to Integrated Steel Plants, like Judhisthira did in Mahabharata. While playing the dice, they have bet everything and very little is left to bet, to get the POSCOs. Just the give away of Iron Ore alone, will result in a yearly loss to Govt of Orissa to the tune of $2 billion per year or 9000 crores, at current exchange rates and prices charged as Royalty.
The Math is simple:
A 12 million tonne plant will need 20 million tons of Iron Ore.
International market price of lump Ore is approx $100/tonne and likely to go up another 30% this year.
20 million tonnes*$100/tonne = $2000 million=8000 crores ( exchange rate Rs 45/$)

Considering that the cost of raising is $10/Tonne the ISP(Integrated steel plant) gets a subsidy of $90/Tonne of which 50% should come to state as Royalty, for instate plants.

For plants in other states it should be 60% and for export it should be 80% of International Market price.

Similarly all other items, like Coal, Water and other ores should be paid for at Market prices.
News paper report, ( http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/?cat=162 ) states that Mittal are willing to pay the market price for all inputs. So why not POSCO and TATAs? Whose "Jwain"(son in law) are they?

The three state Governments should get together and do it, asap.
The best would be to keep the above 50%, 60% and 80% as the base prices and then go for an open bidding, so due competition the price of inputs in short supply will be highly remunerative.

I personally do not know Mr. Navin Patnaik but as a CM I believe that the buck should stop at his desk. He has no option to play ignorant.
Right now the MOU terms indicate that the interest of Orissa is compromised and needs solid path correction.

My take on World Bank Health project (OHSDP) scandal

2008-01-27T17:20:00.000-08:00

http://infosources.blogspot.com/2008/01/corruption-plagues-world-bank-aided.html
Dear Sachi babu:
Wish you all the success in your OTV exposure to the Orissa and National audience on OHSDP, issue.
I am slowly getting aware of the problems which is not surprising to me.
Year before last at Washington DC, OSA convention(July 2006), there were two cabinet ministers from Orissa. Shree Prafulla Ghadei and Shree Surya Narayan Patra and a MLA Mr. Kalpataru Das.
I asked a question, while they were all present together to Prafulla babu. He was then claiming theirs as the cleanest Govt ever in Orissa. I asked: " How and why do you think - the same old corrupt people will behave differently, today? After all, they are the same old wine, just in a new bottle?"
His answer was both tactful and tactical: He said the main difference is: "We have a clean leader in Naveen Pattnayak". I was not convinced and skeptical, but it rested there. Because I knew even incorruptible Late Naba Krushna Choudhury could not turn the Govt around from it's corrupt ways, in spite of his personal integrity. I just hoped that this time around, it will be different.

Because in America, where the system has similar faults but once you are caught - you are gone. Not so in India. So the corrupt, even those who are caught survive and this encourages all of them. Particularly when stealing is so lucrative and so useful for the family. Smart people know it is the way to go - and there is no penalty.

I think this makes the difference between India and America. That is why I wanted ex-PM Narsingh Rao to go to jail. For a open and shut case where bribe money was collected and deposited in a Bank A/c. In other words it is not rule of law.

So it goes on. But can't be kept hidden any more, due instant communication.
The ministers went back merrily and then the scandals started coming one after another.

* It started with the NREGA scam - alleged to be 555 crores out of total of 755 crore program. Still not resolved.
* Then came Nayagarh female foetuside scandal.
* Then followed the Kantabanji spurious drug scandal.
* And now the World bank scandal.(OHSDP sacandal)
* Of course Richa Mishra suicide scandal preceded, these.

In between there have been many small but these are the major scandals in about an year's time.
This is actually a chance for the CM to prove his innocence and competence by nailing the real culprits - else he can't any longer claim to be clean.
The ball is in his court.
Best wishes,
Sandip

May I, request you all to join in, and give a hand for NITRAA DataBase

2007-12-20T00:48:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends:
I take the privilege of belonging to the pioneer batch of NIT, Rourkela, in writing to you this letter. It was known those days as Regional Engineering College or REC, Rourkela. It was inaugurated on 15th August of 1961, at premises of the Panposh, ITI, by late Biju Pattnayak, where we lived during India's China war of 1962.

REC, moved to its present campus on January 1963. We moved into the 1st 4 seated hostel. We graduated in 1965, which was followed by the Pakistan War and the recession of 1965/1966, which lasted till 1973. They were the worst years for the Engineers probably in last 60 years. Some of my classmates remained Junior Engineers in Govt of Orissa for nearly 8 years and they were top of line scholars.

But we had our high hopes and potential. And given the proper environment our juniors did much better though some of my own classmates also did extremely well.

One of them Sri Nalini R. Mohanty, went on to become Chairman of the prestigious PSU, HAL, Bangalore and has since been decorated with a Padma shree. And after that many other Alumni have reached similar and/or greater heights. In absence of good net working even I don't know about all of them.
In 2004 another Alumni Surya Narayan Mahapatra of 1971 batch was elected by Quest Diagnostics, a Fortune 500 company as it's CEO and it's Chairman.

This year another Alumni Drona Rath of 1972 became the 1st Chairman of the NITR itself. He had earlier became Chief of MECON, a top PSU.

This year as a proud member of the Orissa Society of America executive, I had the privilege of recommending 3 names for the Prabasi Pratibha Samman, a NRO(Non Resident Oriya) award. And all three were NITRaans.

And hundreds of other's have reached the top rung of any industry or Govt. they decided to work for, some of whom I know some others I don't. But this was all their individual disconnected effort. It resulted in much less achievement compared to our potential and talent. Because this did not involve networking that is possible today, with Rengcol Yahoogroup or overseasnitran Yahoogroups or similar.

But now we are coming in to an era which networking is possible easily. Two significant results of networking through Rengcol Yahoogroup happened this year.

1st when IBM reneged in taking the 2007 batch campus hires. Within days NITRans in IBM acted to help the affected students and they were absorbed.
2nd was when the Aricent repeated similar action. This time the old boys net work worked and only partially. Only half of the affected could be helped.

Why? Because only 5700 of 14 thousand students are listed in the Data Base and only half (of them) are connected through e-mails. So most of the Alumni even today are not in the network, and though they could have helped, they have not or could not - the news did not reach them.

This Data Base creation, sole credit goes to Dr. Saroj K. Patel, the present General Secretary of NITRAA.
He has confided in me and sought my counsel because the whole database registration has gotten practically stalled in the last 2 months and he has no ideas as to how to expand it further. Neither do I.

It now needs fresh volunteers, fresh ideas and fresh initiatives from the many chapters that have come up. I am appealing to you all: to please call, write e-mail to, any one you know who has not registered. Everyone of you must be in touch with 10 of your classmates who are not members and probably 20 of juniors/seniors also who are not members.
My appeal to you is to persuade them to be members and come in to expand this network, through which we can soon communicate to all of the Alumni. Today, I can visit any city in USA and find members NITRans who live nearby and meet them. I have done so thrice already during my visit to San Francisco Bay Area, South California and Detroit, MI.
I have also helped to connect Alumni visiting cities of USA or other countries thus. The potential is enormous, if everyone gives a hand.

Please request all your attendees, in the year end Alumni parties to register at site(with use of WiFi and a lap top) and each one to try to persuade 3 to 5 of their NITR friends, who have not registered to register.

May I, request you all to join in, and give a hand?

Best wishes,
Sandip K. Dasverma
Mech 1965

Unless the current MOU terms are nixed and Royalty raised, our goose will be cooked - by Sandip K. Dasverma

2007-12-11T00:42:00.000-08:00

Having lived in USA for nearly 3 decades and having worked in the large Engineering companies, it has become clear to me, that the purpose of India's planning should be different and the model used in Western countries particularly USA, not followed. This is because I also worked a decade and a half in India for Govt. of Orissa(GOO), too.

USA's population density is 31 vs. 366/Sq.mile is India's,i.e. population density is about 11.5 times lower. The western countries always go for technologies that are high on capital and low in labor because they always had a huge shortage of skilled labor.
I remember in a seminar in 1970s at The Institute of Engineers, BBSR one of the invitees, a planning commission member stating that employment potential in agriculture is 23 times more than in Industry, for the same investment. Today, with more automation, the ratio must have further increased. Though mechanization in agriculture would move this multiplier in the opposite direction, has it?

But until today India's main problem(and more so Orissa's) has been, how to generate employment/work for the large working age population among our 1.2 billion people. Unfortunately, we give all kinds of incentive to the industry and very little to the larger employment generating industry, the agriculture is. The very fact that we write off 1000s of crores of loans from public sector banks to various industries and yet in 60 years, we have not been able to set up a mechanism for short term loan to our farmers, (who commit suicide in thousands), tells the story of our wrong bias. Eminent journalist P. Sainath has extensively written and documented on this issue.

We have largely neglected major employment generating areas, thus bringing misery and destitution to our people, namely:

1. Education
2. Health
3. Agriculture
4. Animal Husbandary
5. Infrastructure - Road, residential houses, Railways, transportation et el.

The pretext since the 1960s has been that Govt does not have money. Yet the give aways to industries, have continued, perpetually. The sale of electricity cheap to Hirakud Aluminum Co(Hindalco), Hirakud and Orient Paper Mill, Brajaraj nagar, are case in point. Due huge undue incentives and bad contract with these private industries, the Orissa State Electricity Board was perennially at loss, while these Hindalco and Orient Paper Mills, made huge profits. The give away to these industries were not even compensated by the taxes they paid, draining the Orissa state coffer, perpetually. I remember, we were selling power at one paisa/unit to Hindalco, while producing it at more than 15 paisa/unit, in then new Talcher Thermal Power Plant. This was in late 1960s and early 70s.

We are in the process of signing of a second set of such contracts soon, when POSCOs, Vedantas, Mittals set up their plants in Orissa and convert their MOUs to Contracts. I have noted that as per the present MOUs free water, practically free Iron Ore, practically free coal, no taxes for 1st 5 years(when all the equipment will come in so no taxes) and then another 5 years 50% taxes, almost free land (now getting changed to some extent) etc etc. The true value of these inputs is staggering and mind boggling.

In my blog, I have only calculated what it will be costing GOO to go ahead as is, for the currently mined Iron Ore and POSCO's up coming plant. The blog on the subject is self explanatory. I conclude that, unless the current MOU terms are nixed and Royalty raised, our goose will be cooked.
http://mathtalentsearch.blogspot.com/2007/12/worlds-resources-are-limited-sandip-k.html

The World's resources are limited - Sandip K . Dasverma

2007-12-07T04:25:00.000-08:00

The World resources are limited. This understanding dawned in recent decades, resulting in sky rocketing prices of natural resources. $100/ Crude oil barrel (up from $1.28 in 1970). Iron ore International Market price(IMP) has soared to $100/Tonne( see: http://www.econstats.com/rt_ironore.htm). ($1=Rs. 40)
And is still going up(http://metalsplace.com/news/?a=16372)
By common sense no one will off load stocks, when prices are rising. Thus it is not clear, why the Govt. of Orissa(GOO) is eager to sell off its Iron Ore reserves at throw away prices(Current Royalty Rs. 27/Tonne) to the likes of POSCO or TATAS or Mittals and many others.
In a democracy the only way to stop such deals is by informing/educating public and the civil society.
The cancellation of sale of NALCO couple of years back was an example of education of the civil society and general public. The common alibi is: Royalty prices have been fixed by Govt of India(GOI), not us. But in a democratic free country what prevents the GOO from asking for a revision, at an ad velorem rate? And why this haste in signing off the rights before such a revision?

The following data/numbers will explain, why:
1. In 2006 GOO leased mines raised 47.6 million Tonnes of Iron Ore. This has brought the miners, $4.76 billion at the international market price of $100/ Tonne. The cost of raising and transporting is only $450 million. So a net profit of $4 billion has gone to the miners or ISP(Integrated Steel Plants).
If OMC(Orissa Mining Corporation, a public sector undertaking owned by GOO) handled the whole business, GOO would have profited by $4.00 billion or Rs. 16 thousand crores.
2. But OMC can’t, because it is undermined by both inefficiency, corruption & the political influence of the mining lobby.
3. Thus mining rights were doled out to the private mining companies, who mostly export and to ISP, who mine and process. Miners & ISPs, paid only $30 million(Rs. 120 crores) as Royalty, Rs. 24($0.60) per Tonne to GOO.
This surely needs to change, if Orissa is not to remain perpetually poor, while it's family silver wire is sold off.

POSCO case - A similar analysis:
1. POSCO will consume 20 million Tonnes of Iron Ore in 12 million ton ISP per year. At Rs. 27($.68) it will pay 54 crores/ year. However the ore price is Rs. 8000 crores (Rs. 4000 X 20 MT)
2. At current prices GOO will give away rights for $60 billion or 240,000 crores worth Iron Ore for a mere 1620 crores. The price is expected to rise between 20 to 50%(http://metalsplace.com/news/?a=16372). Incidentally while GOO is selling it’s assets, China is trying to buy mining company Rin Tinto for $350 billions for it’s mining leases. In other words the Orissa lease will increase POSCO nett worth by $60 billion plus.
3. MOU has a clause by which POSCO will ship out 72000 crore ($18 billion) worth(30%) Iron Ore to it’s other plants, through it’s own port? It has to pay $18 billion plus the transport to bring it back. Who will keep account? At the end POSCO will probably go for arbitration and even if they pay $1 billion as fines, they will come out ahead.
4. This is added to the fact that when the plant machinery comes it will pay no taxes, since they have manipulated to get an SEZ, from GOI.
5. They don’t pay for water,for coal, dolomite, chromite etc.
6. They don’t have a clause in the MOU to restore land and treat their effluent, since laws of the land are not applicable to SEZ.

My recommendations:
Three ad velorem Royalty rates:
1. 50% for ISPs in Orissa, applicable to POSCO. They pay all taxes to the GOO, the main advantage of having an instate ISP. At this rate POSCO plant will bring Rs.4000 crores (20 MT X Rs. 4000 X 0.5) per year, same as current GOO budget.
2. 60% for ISPs in other Indian states. (Currently about 5 Million Tonne, will bring Rs. 1200 crores)
3. And 80% for the mining companies, to export. (Current 45 Million Tonne, will bring to GOO, Rs. 14,400 crores/year)
4. All environmental laws should be operative.
5. The R & R is a minor 4.5 % of the current give away to the ISPs and also one time only. All evictees should be fully compensated. The 900 crore payout is 20 lakh / acre per of 4500 acres of land to be acquired. I think they should be paid 10 lakhs and be given other 10 lakhs as postal saving bank deposits.

Common sense should prevail:
GOO should give first priority to change the GOI policy. Because they are losing out nearly 20 thousand crores per year for each of next 30 years.
The MPs and ministers from Orissa, 36Garh, Jharkhand should form an IRON ORE Alliance.
Like the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), they should get together to ask for higher Royalty, for minerals? Recently the CMs have got together and are trying to meet the PM but only to have the mine allocation rights restored to the states, not request to raise the Royalty. This is naïve and only good for the political parties – who can raise election donations from the mining lobby but not good for people of Orissa, who are remaining poor.
For ISPs currently operating in AP, MP, Karnataka and West Bengal, to bring them into IRON ORE Alliance, I have suggested a compromise formula, a Royalty at 60% of the IMP.
The change in above policy is clearly necessary before signing of the POSCO contract. Similar protective steps are necessary before Mittal, Jindal, Tata contracts are signed.

A give away, a loot and a scam, rolled into one by Sandip K. Dasverma

2007-11-08T03:15:00.000-08:00

Why I think leasing out any mines at this time without linking it to ad valerom, International Market price is a give away, a loot and a scam rolled into one? I will give the reason below. First please read below the very interesting news article about SAIL(Steel Authority of India Limited) plans.
Ad Valorem is a potent term, which means that price is linked to the value, going up or down based on it's International market price.

News paper article in The Telegraph:

Subject: SAIL would source about 30MT of iron ore from its seven mines in Jharkhand and Orissa.

Fresh techies make way for SAIL unit - PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Nov. 7: XXXX SAIL operates seven mines at Kiriburu, Megahataburu, Gua, Chiria, Bolani, Barsua and Kalta. The steel company is soon going to start mining operations at another iron-ore mines at Taldhi, between Barsua and Kalta.
A spokesperson of SAIL told The Telegraph that along with the 41 trainees, SAIL has also made recruitment at the middle management level, consisting of project engineers to meet the growing manpower requirement at its mining division. Moreover, the company is also planning to appoint geologists to fill up important positions.
The newly recruited engineers will fulfill the vital human resource requirement in the present mines as well as in the mines that are coming up at Chiria and Taldih, he said. SAIL has fixed a target to produce over 25 million tonnes (MT) of steel by 2011, for which iron ore requirement would be over 40MT. The raw material division would source about 30MT of iron ore from its seven mines in Jharkhand and Orissa.
.

This gives me an opportunity to demonstrate to the concerned citizens, why I say, we are missing out on focusing on the important issues of the deals.
Talking about Royalty, it being fixed at ridiculous Rs. 27 or $0.68/tonne by center ( by Govt of India) as an issue, which should be addressed foremost. In any independent country. Member of it's Parliament, dictate the policies which the bureaucracy implements. But why are our MPs more or less silent on this issue? To me silence is ominous and situation seems suspicious and we are probably in the middle of a scam. Where does the MPs allegiance lie? It should be People of their respective states. Yet they are silent when so much money is being drained out of the exchequer. There is no convincing reason to imagine that the MPs are unaware of these issues. When such huge money is involved, such deafening silence seems suspect.
Let us take this case of SAIL, which is a public sector undertaking. It's profits are theoretically to be plowed back to the revenue of the country, which in turn shares it with the states.

Each part of the country has it's own advantages & disadvantages of natural resources. Some are endowed with natural resources others are not. Those who are, like Orissa state and have other disadvantages, should insist on getting a fair price & return on depletion of their resources.
Only way to plow it back to the economy of Orissa, we have to insist on GOI, to raise the Royalty, proportional to the to international market price (rise) of the Iron and other ore. Presently the value of high grade lump Iron Ore from Orissa, is approx. $100/Tonne, less the raising costs. Of which we retain only $0.67 as Royalty. This is laughable but let us calculate the results.
Let us consider that we ask for higher Royalty at the ad valorem, at 50% of the international Market price to SAIL.
This will enrich the state of Orissa, @ $50/Tonne 50*40million =$2000 million or $2 billion or 8000 crores, approx, per year.

That Rs. 8000 crores will provide us with:
1. 8 IITs / year with our own money.
2. 15 times the present total Railway investment in the state.
3. 2 times the total annual commercial tax revenue, so we can abolish all sales taxes, octori taxes etc.
4. We can give any student who wants to study, all the loan they want.
5. We can also give loan to our entrepreneurs, the money they need, to invest
etc etc etc
And all this from only the earnings of one year.
We don't have to go every year begging to the GOI.
So why not?
Because there is a written and a signed lease contract with SAIL, which will prevent us from doing the same. Similar contracts are with NALCO, TATA etc. So those are lost cases.
But it can be done in case of TATA's, Mittal's or POSCO's, new plants and new leases, which are to be signed at the end of MOUs.
But only and only if, Govt of Orissa(GoO) does not sign new contracts in same terms, as in the MOUs.

So I think the R &R issues are diversionary and a SIDE SHOW. The pro-people lobby is fighting the wrong battle for better rehabilitation benefits, while all of the above companies (TATAs, Mittals or POSCO ) are going to laugh their way to the bank.
Because the money that these MNC(Multi National Corporations) and LNC(large National Corporations) will pay for rehabilitation and land, is equal to savings from only 8 million Tonnes, of the cost of the Iron Ore. So what if they pay a higher price for the land? If I were the CEO of POSCO I would create a problem in R & R area, in the beginning to divert attention away from the deal where lies, most of the money. I will demo that again below illustrating with POSCO numbers.
Similar is the case of VEDANTA, which needs bauxite, but it has different numbers but though equally bad. I will cover the same later.
To demo what I am talking about, let us run the same numbers through the POSCO numbers:
POSCO who will produce 12 million tonnes, thus will need approx 20 million Tons of Iron Ore/year.
POSCO will save them $100*20 million = $2 billion per year based on current international Market price. Or 8000 crore at current exchange rate. ($1= Rs. 40)
If POSCO agrees to pay 20 lakhs / acre (2 times the current highest price of 10 lakhs per acre offered by any Govt. in India) their pay out for 4000 acres, will be about Rs. 8 billions (Rs. 20 lakh/acre *4000 acres = Rs 8oo crore) or $200 million only, for the land.
And land is to be paid for one time only.
In other words even ignoring free water, free disposal of waste, low Royalty price of coal etc and SEZ advantages, POSCO will make a profit of 7200 crore in the first year and 8000 crore for the rest of their working plant life in Orissa from savings in Iron Ore prices, alone. Other benefits will add up at least up to a similar amount, if not more. There is also no cost to be paid for pollution and disposal.
If Orissa Govt Orissa(GOO) gives POSCO, 600 million tonne mines on lease, GOO will give away $60 billion to POSCO, at current prices for iron Ore. This ignores the international Market price rise which is expected to double in less than 5 years.
Shipping out 30% or 180 million Tonnes of high quality Ore, will be like giving away $18 billion to POSCO without any indemnity. Because POSCO’s whole plant is to be a $12 billion investment. Do you friends think that GOO has where withal to get back this Ore, from an MNC?

I can take the risk it in writing they will pay at 68cents/ Tonne ($125 million) and a penalty of $100 million or so. Because they don't have ore, and they buy it at $100 plus, which will cost them probably Whopping 20 to 30 billion Dollars, and $40 billion if prices escalate as projected in next 5 years.(include transport)
So some donation to some party fund, $ million or two to the those who need to be bought and buy an arbitrator and fix a deal like I have said above. It will cost may be another $100 million a saving of $25 billions to $40 billion for POSCO.
600 million * $100 at today's price =$60 billion dollars ignoring all other savings (the International price of Iron Ore is expected by the futures market to go up 30% in the coming year of 2008 alone) they will make or costs they don't have to incur, compared to other locations.
Similar is the case with all others: Tatas, Mittals, POSCO and VEDANTA.
I would like to draw every body's attention to these numbers and request them to rethink their blind support for such deals.
I do agree that giving mining lease to the mining company without asking for the international market price is an equally bad give away of public resources.

Solutions:
Fix the Royalty at 50% of the ad valorem International market price for in state Integrated Steel plant(ISP) or Aluminum plants .
Fix the Royalty at 60% of the ad valorem International market price for ISP or Alumina plants located in other states of India.
Fix the Royalty at 80% of the ad valorem International market price for Export.

Why Naveen Patnaik may be headed for 3rd term

2007-10-23T03:18:00.000-07:00

Why Naveen Patnaik may be headed for 3rd term
??

The Myth - "Central Government controls the mining rights" refrain is a smoke screen- Sandip K. Dasverma

2007-10-22T02:54:00.000-07:00

The Myth - "Central Government controls the mining rights" refrain is a smoke screen to protect lots of vested interests.

- Sandip K. Dasverma

It is a myth that Central Govt controls the mining rights? Why else Huda committee's recommendations, are so much opposed by Govt of Orissa, Govt of 36Garh and Govt of Jharkhand? It is a bone of contention, as it will shift the rights to Central Govt., the minining rights authority, which now rests with the states.

The Royalty is fixed by the Center (Govt of India), i.e a few babus of Govt of India, mining ministry. In in absence of any hue and cry from the concerned states or their MPs, the private parties from Jindals to Tatas, and Mittals to Posco call the tune. They are all in this along with the inefficient public sector plants which manages profit at the cost of the Orissa state and other states like it.
For last two years I have been pleading that MPs from Orissa and these other two states get together and demand better than 60% ad valorem International Market price of Iron Ore, as ROYALTY from the Industries. States should not beg Industry to come and to make super profits, while they stay as is. Whose interest they are protecting by becoming silent on this issue? You might as well guess. http://mathtalentsearch.blogspot.com/2007/05/orissa-mps-can-do-better-by-asking-for.html

Lastly, if we get 60% of International Market price we can give away 10% to any one for making their plant inside the state. And we earn $2 to $4 billion dollars(8000 to 16000 crores at current prices which are likely to go up next year). This we can spend not only to improve health and education but for changing quality of life. We not only give this away but add SEZ and other facilities in the name of competition between the states. For a reference Orissa's current year's budget is Rs. 4500 crores, half the money Orissa GoO is willing to giving away only to POSCO/year for next 30 years.

The three State Govts(Orissa, 36Garh and Jharkhand) can form a Cartel (like OPEC) so they won't have to compete against each other and give away their family silver, so to say.

Please consider why scarce OIL will sell at $80 a barrel every where and scarce IRON Ore at $0.68 C/Tonne, while Brazil and Australia sells it for $100/Tonne.
Also the Iron Ore price differentials, in Ores from lump to fine are all sold in India at the same price in India. Thus a huge wastage and throw away of fines, the less desirable Ore occurs in India.

Who benefits? This Royalty fixed by center argument is a smoke screen to hide that fact that lot of people are unduly benefiting at the cost of the affected states and their people, including Orissa.

Why no such action is being taken?

If it is not happening there must be some vested interest, who must be exposed, is it not?

Let states get together to demand from center:
1. there should be price differential in Ores based on the grade of Ores, from the lump ore, medium and fines.
And:
Fix the Royalty at 50% of the ad valorem International market price for in state Integrated Steel plant(ISP) or Aluminum plants .
Fix the Royalty at 60% of the ad valorem International market price for ISP or Alumina plants located in other states of India.
Fix the Royalty at 75% of the ad valorem International market price for Export.

Are we are becoming a shallow and mean people? - By Sandip K. Dasverma

2007-10-11T13:23:00.000-07:00

A question often bothers my mind: Are we are becoming a shallow and mean people? Or we are just allowing such people to represent us by default?

I saw many of the protest videos in New York against Sonia Gandhi’s visit to UNO, last week. Most of them are in bad test, to say the least.

I don't like the dynastic tendencies at all. In 1975, my sympathies were with the opposition alliance, largely due to the dynastic tendencies and it's promotion by the All India Radio(AIR), also popularly known as All Indira Radio. Though I was a Government of Orissa servant, my position was not private, though I did not actively participate in politics. Even with that background I don't like this ugly illiberalism and ethos, which smacks of communalism and dirty politics. There is no doubt that starting from Indira Gandhi till today, this family has taken advantage of the coincidence of their last name with M.K. Gandhi. However the way to face that is not to ally with people who are openly communal. The way BJP has tried to take advantage of ignorance of Indian masses to project Ram Setu is clearly a manifestation of of their archaic and evil mind. Ofcourse Mr. Karunanidhi, a thrice married man, in a country, where only monogamy is legal, has by his stupid action made it worse. Unfortunately, we has a people have very little choice. The choice is between Twiddle Dum and Twiddle Dee. First a bunch of unscientific backward looking people who promote miracles in 21^st century, for example Ganesh statue drinking milk (with Ph.Ds in science) and another bunch who speak all the right things but do just the reverse. They both keep other issues (like Ram vs. Rome) alive, so public attention is well diverted away from their CORRUPTION and emptying of the public treasury.

Why could not the same people at New York, protest stealing of 555 crores of 755 crores in NREGA money, in Orissa. And similar actions of Government and Government machinery all over India? I did not also see a single poster, demanding enforcement of RTI properly, nor a demand to enforce Rule of Law properly. Or a demand to STOP farmer's suicide in half of India, particularly in the leading industrial states like Andhra Pradesh and Maharastra. The NPA (National Progressive Alliance) Government led by Congress, can't anymore after 3 years, claim that it is what they inherited from NDA (National Democratic Alliance). Are these issues not what she as the leader of her party and NPA, be judged on? Would it not have helped people in whose name all this humbug is going on, if the attention of the International community would have been drawn to these deficiencies of the current Government? Would it not have forced changes and drawn attention of the international community - about real issues of current time. I am sure it was not beneficial to do as it was done, to raise the issue of her Italian ancestry rather than focus on the inadequacy of her parties’ Government??

Don't these people understand that it is stupid to do it this way – and project ourselves as a bunch of intolerant people, to an international audience? It is like asking sympathy of the very people you want to denigrate, is not it? It is stupid at best and highly harmful and damaging to image of India, at the worst.

If I were to decide what to do, I would have invited Prof. Jean Derez to lead a protest based on all the above issues and highlighted the fact that in Gandhi's land one Ambani is building a house worth $1 billion, under the present Government's guardianship and her leadership. This while, nearly 50 thousand or more farmers have committed suicide and there is no mention of the same in the issues raised. The rejection of our real heritage and values, like simple living and high thinking, was not even an issue made by these people each of whom want to be a Mahajan or an Ambani. All they can think of is Ram Vs. Rome, such is their lop sided view and politics.

We have to remember that replacing a Gandhi dynasty with a Mahajan (he improved his net worth from Zero to 2200 crores in 20 years of politics) is going from frying pan to fire. Should we not have concentrated on why we are going away from our real heritage, under this very Government? If we accepted Mira Behn (Magaret Slade), Rev. C. F. Andrews, Nelli Sengupta, Anne Besant, Dr. Varrier Alwyn, and today’s people like Jeanne Druz and many such, why can't we accept Sonia, as long as she accepts our heritage and type of living?

A question often bothers my mind: Are we becoming a shallow and mean people or we are just allowing such people to represent us, by default?

A plan for Odissi Dance Market Development in USA- By S. K. Dasverma

2007-09-27T23:51:00.000-07:00

A plan for Odissi Dance Market Development in USA
Or,

Can we show case of our culture in USA and use Odissi dance groups as a profitable venture?

By Sandip K. Dasverma

The answer to this question is: Yes.

Odissi dancers have been visiting USA since early 70s. Two names that were known early to the Indian community in North America's metros were Late Sanjukta Panigrahi and Late Kelu Charan Mohapatra. Both are legends and have since passed away.

We have come a long way since then, particularly after the International Odissi Dance festivals in 2002/2003 at Washington DC with active help of the then Indian Ambassador Mr. Lalit Mansingh. A new generation has taken over and the group dances have become popular. Additionally, a large group of male dancers, no longer masquerading as females (Gotipua style) are now becoming popular. A good Odissi dancer can now earn 1 lakh plus on a trip to USA, all costs paid. They are still not floating in milk and honey but no longer starving either, if they are good. The purpose of this article to discuss plans and possibilities to take these troupes to the next higher level, so more artists, can earn more. Also a corpus fund ($1 million) can be created out of the profits to support the purists and the pure form.

Strategic changes needed:

Odissi troupes now must focus on mainstream Americans rather than target only Indian audiences. They still continue to depend on local Indian host groups (mostly Oriya or Bengali groups) for transport, food and shelter, to keep them within budget and provide them a support group in an alien circumstance.
Professional management of the tours must happen, with good scheduling, good planning, regular networking with the local patrons, like a touring theatre company.
There should be a central promotion group body for promotion of Odissi in America – constituted by the individual local patrons/promoters a body of hundred who have worked in the past or still working on it, as a independent non-profit federation or under OSA as a special unit.

A. The following visible developments have happened in the last decade or two:

The grace of Odissi is now appreciated all over India and its popularity has come at par with Bharat Natyam, the most popular of the classical Indian dance forms, except in South.
The development of group dances with equal number of men and women has transformed the image of Odissi from a slow, solo dance to a rhythmic dynamic dance form with lot of energy and speed.
.It has come to the throes of a financially viable industry, provided it is professionally managed. The techniques of Scheduling, financial planning and marketing and electronic communication needs to be introduced to make it flourish. Of course it needs nurturing to become a cash cow.
Like cricket, it is now a hobby, from which one can make a living, provided one is a top end of performer, (I would assume those within top Fifty women and men, can earn 2 to 3 lakhs an year – after all costs..
Odissi has become very popular outside Orissa, all over India, particularly in West Bengal and among Bengalees.
Awareness of the dance abroad has become wider. From ambits of an elite audience it has moved to general awareness among American public.
There are now at least 60 to 80 American communities and big cities where more than one Odissi performance has been performed. If we include Canada it will probably be 100 communities. However public forget the performance if it is not repeated within 3 years plus/minus. These can be expanded to 150 or more if persistent effort is made, targeting all towns of population of 50 thousand or more.
There are at least 20 / 25 Odissi Dance schools in North America that are run by good Odissi dancers, who teach this increasingly popular dance form. They are creating awareness and appreciation among general American public, in addition to Diaspora. A list needs to be prepared of such schools, as they are they are a natural ally/host to the touring teams and any performance in those communities is mutually beneficial.
With web sites being easy and cheap, each troupe can develop their own web site, providing information about their group and while they tour a web based info on them. They can also post a standard brochure and poster which can be customized.

B. Exploitation of potential and future vision

1. Many questions come up. Like can we bring more than one troupe a year from Orissa, and make the trips financially viable?

2. If it is possible what is the model?

3. What will be goal of such expansion?

4. What will be the infrastructure needed?

5. Can the Oriya network, as it is today, run it and do justice to its potential?

6. Economics and financial viability.

C. Areas of Improvement, a few answers to the questions raised:

1. Develop a net work of Odissi lovers – not necessarily Oriya people, preferably Oriya, other Indian and American fans from the beginning at each target community.

2. A significant improvement in presentation with use of video, projectors and light. For example I saw a Mohini Attam group create the background and change it through overhead projector. This type of action will be particularly applicable to the dance dramas like "Konark" or "Katrina" by Orissa Dance Academy. Now it is being done by them on a white or black back ground, which could be significantly enhanced by a background depicting a sea on the background. Various other such projections to enhance the presentation.

3. Standardized optimal stage size, sound quality and light needs to be communicated early.

4. Standardized explaining of the nuances or each troupe having its presenter, who has practiced American English.

5. Making standard marketing techniques available to each community leader. As to how to Contacting local TV, local news paper etc.

6. Renting good but decent halls for cheap – possible if planning is done more than four to six month before the performances. Always using a non-profit organization as local promoter to avoid tax related problems.

7. Last but not least moving focus and target from Indians to general American community stated above. Visible local coordination with church groups or other community groups, are to be attempted as a policy.

8. Planning Workshops on local dance schools or collaborating with local Ballet schools one in each place of visit to expand market and create curiosity for the dance form. However in the initial trip only one in 4 places should be aimed at about 5 places to start with.

9. Collection of fund either as a bank loan or an investment from people who get 10% return on his capital, if venture succeeds. For example 100 people giving consent to contribute $1 K each can raise $100 K for venture capital. There could be call up only if the money is necessary, so money is not sitting in low paying bank accounts. However these venture capital donors can alternatively make the up the Board to run the venture and decide what they want to do with the surplus funds after they get their money back. It is expected to be donated to the Odissi Trust Fund.

10. For city performances the ticket should be on average $25 and for small town America $15 / person. Each center can bring in sponsors and donors and can use the extra money after paying for the troupe and expenses for their club or philanthropic goals. This way we can create a vested interest in them to repeat and thus will develop a permanent market.

11. The profitable efforts should also agree to give 50% of the surplus to a Odissi Foundation Fund to be floated and a significant portion of the surplus – and up to 50% should be deposited in a general fund (target $1 million) for the promotion of pure Odissi dance form. This will be an endowment fund, like the one Srikhetra at Chennai has, for Bharat Natyam. There are no patrons in Orissa for Odissi and Government of Orissa is in the process of withdrawing from all such activities due to the advent of market economy.(this suggestion is by Dr. Sri Gopal Mohanty, who like many others, feel that the original dance form is threatened).

12. Try to use 2 out of 4 layover days – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, to promote appreciation of the dance form in small town America.

13. A standard rate for small towns should be $1 k for 1^st visit, $1.5 K for second and subsequent visit. These will be on M, T, W, T days. (Week days). Other arrangements will be similar.

14. And halls will be smaller 200 to 300.

15. A standard remuneration of $4k/ performance to the party for the cities or big town and weekend performances is recommended. The transport, stay and food will be on local promoters, they can pay in cash or kind, at their choice. Thus facility can be provided like hosting the artists and giving them a ride.

16. Hall size in cities should be about 400 plus (depending on past success) – for performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

17. Live music is a must for these performances.

18. Develop a database list of all the communities where there has been performance in the past and keep the contacts updated.

19. For emergency situations a few of the artists getting international driving license and a credit card will be desirable.

20. There are many cities where Oriya groups are feuding among them. As a result if one group promotes an Odissi dance group the other completely non-cooperates or occasionally even create obstructions. This should be handled carefully by the national entrepreneurs by giving a program to each of the groups as a healthy competition rather than unhealthy rivalry. This should happen, in the common interest of every person from Orissa, to spread of name and fame of Odissi in North America, a cultural Gem from Orissa.

A sample virtual project:

I am using here a fictitious company which is visiting West Coast named ABC Dance company to demonstrate what I have in mind. They will fly in to say Washington DC as Rudrakhya has done this time and then fly to Seattle or Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston or Dallas, Washington DC/ New York, New Orleans, Louisiana to the six metropolitan areas and move around the area like shown for West Coast.

Premise/Assumption:

A trip to west coast by ABC company, consisting of 4 male dancers, 4 female dancers, 5 live musicians and the Guru & the manager(who usually is the Guru or a lead dancer) – A team of 13/14 people, any variation is OK.
The troupe will travel max 250 miles daily, usually 200 miles or less & preferably 100 to 150 miles.
They will be hosted free by the hosts in individual houses or low cost Motels of Indians which will be paid for by the hosting community.
They will be given preferably Indian food, with occasional variations.
They will move in a 16 seat bus which will carry their instruments and belongings for the length of the trip. If they use Air travel the local trips will be in such a bus.
Alternatively they could travel between cities by Air and travel locally by a bus.
Food should be provided by the hosts or an allowance of $25/day in lieu of that / person.
Private residential hosting accommodation is fine. Else Four / Five Motel Six type double bed double rooms to be provided.
They will dance maximum 6 days a week, with Friday, Saturday and Sunday in big cities. And 2 / 3 other days in the 4 weekdays preferably rested every 6 ^th day.
They will spend their rest day sight seeing supported by hosts at established fan bases.
They will get adequate rest and food, so they can perform at their prime.
They use a similar color fliers(couple available via internet) with localization and printing done by local promoters.
Local TV, Radio stations and news papers requested to make public service announcements, not only in the Indian News papers as now. Ads will at no charge to the troupe..
A few new locations have to be developed, for future exploitation/visit.
Some flexibility is there and some are challenges to be undertaken. These are just suggested and can be modified or based on entrepreneurs can be added or deleted. Just gives a general idea of how in the west itself nearly 30 performances can be sold with 18 weekend performances and 14
Group tickets viz. Disneyland and Universal Studio will be provided by the local promoters but may be shared by all locals, if more than one, are local.

Schedule:

They deplane in at Seattle and take a days rest, after finishing their trip to OSA July 4^th convention, 2007.

1. 1^st Performance Seattle North area Friday July

2. 2^nd performance Seattle South Area Saturday July

3. 3^rd performance Olympia Sunday July?

4. Sight seeing Seattle and Olympia Monday

5. 4^th Performance Ellensburg(small town) Monday

6. 5^th performance Richland(small town) Wednesday

7. 6th Walla Walla(small town) Thursday

8. 7th Performance Portland, Oregon. Friday

9. 8^th performance at Portland, Oregon North(Vancuver) Saturday

10. 9^th performance capital, Oregon, Sunday

11. 10^th Medford, Ca Tuesday

12. Stay at Sacramento and Sight seeing at Capitol

13. 11^th Stockton, CA Thursday

14. 12^th Sacramento CA Friday

15. 13^th San Francisco, CA, Saturday

16. 14^th Hayward or Palo Alto, Sunday

17. 15^th Livermore Hindu Temple, CA, Monday

18. Sightseeing Yesomite on Tuesday or rest

19. 16^th San Rafel, CA, Wednesday

20. See San Francisco Thursday

21. 17^thperformance at Freemont, Friday

22. 18^h performance Santa Cruz, Saturday

23. 19^th performance at South San Jose, Sunday

24. 20^st Bakersville, Monday

25. 21^nd Thousand Oaks, Tuesday

26. visit Universal Studio on Wednesday

27. rest on Thursday

28. 22^th performance Los Angeles, Friday

29. 23^th performance in Pasadena area, Saturday

30. 24^th performance in San Diego, Sunday

31. sightseeing at San Diego, Monday

32. 25^th performance Orange county, Tuesday

33. 26^th Diamond Bar, Wednesday

34. See Disney Land , Thursday

35. 27^th performance Riverside, Friday

36. 28^th performance at Los Vegas, Saturday

37. 29^th performance at Reno, Sunday

38. sight seeing at Lake Tahoe Monday

39. 30^sth performance at Redding, or Davis Tuesday

40. See Lassen Wednesday Travel to Seattle

41. Fly out to Dallas, TX, Thursday AN and rest

42. Next performance on Friday at Dallas, TX.

Alternatively:

Alt step 37. 29^th performance at Phoenix, AZ

38. sight seeing at Grand Canyon, Monday

39. Rest day at Safford, AZ

40. 30^sth performance at Safford, AZ, Wednesday

41. Fly out to Dallas, TX, or Houston, Tx, Thursday AN and rest

42. Next performance on Friday at Dallas, TX or Houston, Tx.

43. * A south central itinerary to be drawn up by a set of locals

Moving South Moving North

Estimated Earnings:

18 X 4 = 72 K
12 X 1 = 12 K(can go up to 18K)
Costs:

Transportation costs:

The bus will cost approximately 10 K, to be shared by the 30 parties about $400 / party max and $300 / party min.

Food costs:

Either it can be paid @25/day/ artist
or will be provided by the hosts to the satisfaction of the artists.
Quality and personal hosting will be preferred and main consideration will be the cordiality of the hosts.

Accomodation costs:

It is assumed that in most of the places host families will be identified ahead of time.
In the worst case Motel accommodation can be arranged for by the hosts either free or paid for at their choice which shall be of reasonable quality(Motel six for example).

Entertainment costs:

Tickets to the places like Disney Land etc will be paid for by the local parties unless they make a loss in the performance.

Thus a net profit for the party for a properly organized US, West coast tour will be nearly 70 grand, assuming only a few small town performances will be squeezed in.

Alternatively, they can perform around four Airports Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Los Vegas and Dallas. They will unable to perform couple of performances and places to visit like Reno, Davis, Medford. But wont have to travel back to Seattle and they will spend one week less. However local transport will be the head ache .

Trips will be, with 3 month advance ticket:( some one can check if there are group travel tickets for 14 people)

Seattle to San Francisco @$52/ person by SWA

San Jose to Los Angeles @$52/ person by SWA

San Diego to Los Vegas @??

Los Vegas to Dallas @

- By S. K. Dasverma

My response to Tathya story on Nuclear Power Plant in Orissa

2007-09-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

Tathya Story: On Nuclear power plant in Orissa..
Dear Braja babu:
Nuclear energy is not clean as you say or people think - it is seemingly clean. The issue of spent fuel and high grade radiation waste are not yet resolved. Human kind does not know how to dispose off the high grade radiation waste. In USA for last 60 years such waste are seating inside of the plants themselves. So also everywhere in the world.

They are even here done in sparsely populated areas, where population is evacuated before establishing the plant for about 10 miles radius around the plant. I doubt with Indian population density 366 / sq km vs USA's 31/sq.km, if there are such places in India.
Additionally, they are locating with the hope that accidents will not happen - this is not a good strategy because once it happens the radio active contamination remains for the half life of the radio active material, which are between 300 to 1000 years. It is like you and Markat Keshari communicating about issues, which he has left for you to resolve.

USA is eager to sell Nuclear plants to rest of the world, where as not a single new Nuclear Power Plant contract in USA has been signed since mid 1970s.

How do I know it? I have worked for more than 10 years in this industry and in about 5 Nuclear power plants.

I am afraid those who are feeding you information on Nuclear Power Plant, do not know what they are talking about. Such people are rampant in USA but most of them some how or other benefit from the Industry. In India/Orissa it is mostly ignorance.
Best wishes,
Sandip

Coal Royality increases to $1.875

2007-09-13T20:35:00.000-07:00

The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Centre hikes royalty on coal

Nanavati Commission Report and the UPA Government by Sandip Kumar Dasverma

2007-07-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

A massacre is a massacre and the perpetrators should be punished,
irrespective of who they are. I believe the perpetrators are cowards and
opportunists, who believe they can get away with no punishment, even for
murder. This encourages them to repeat and others to follow suit. If 1984
criminals had have been punished swiftly, the 1993 Bombay pogroms would not have happened, northe 2002 genocide in Gujarat, because the criminals in 2002
would have known that there were noose and gallows for murder, at the end of the day. On all fairness, there must be exemplary punishment for both the politicians and the policemen (including those retired) to signify that no person gets away
putting another's life in jeopardy, by his acts of omission or commission.
The politicians like Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler, Kamal Nath, Vasant Sathe,
H. K. L. Bhagat and others should be punished both by prohibiting their
participation in elections (their source of power) and prosecuting them for
their criminal acts. After all there are nearly 2800 dead bodies even per the
Govt. report, though the unofficial count is more than 4000. Following the
great traditions established by the British Raj, citizens even today can't
get a correct figure from their own government. Be it as it may, if there
are 2800 dead bodies, as per Government's own admission, and not even 28
going to gallows or even getting life sentences, there is something
seriously wrong with the government. People will be aghast at this mockery
of justice and lack of Rule of Law.

It is outrageous to advance the argument that H. K. L. Bhagat should not be
bothered as he is old and sick. I think this exculpatory nonsense must stop.
The international standards are now being set by the prosecution of 90-
year old Pinochet in Chile. Why so much compassion for a low life who did
not have the same consideration for others? I remember he was given the
benefit of doubt by a previous commission, while a widow and her husband's
dead body were given no credence! Such is the bias of the Indian judicial
system in favor of the rich and powerful. What the commissions, nine of
them over 20 years, have done is to spend public money, enormous amounts of
it to chip away, from the list of the accused, one at a time. And always
some pliable judges have been rewarded remunerative appointments, be it in
the Congress or BJP regime.

This culture of crime and its condonment must change once and for all, if
India is to get anywhere. We can't remain in the list of most corrupt
nations, i.e., the list of least transparent nations, and continue clamoring
for acceptance as a world leader by others. Unless we cleanse the
institutional rot, like the compromised judiciary, the powerful will
continue buying their way out, as has happened in the Dabhol case.

This brings us to the very vital point of "speed problem", in the judicial
trials of India. If criminal cases linger long as they do(by bribing the
accused do always engineer delay), then everyone will grow old and on
"compassionate grounds" the criminals would be let go, even if they don't
die naturally.
The government's performance in 1st world is judged by how efficiently it can deliver justice and how soon. Everyone in today's world understands, time value of justice, except the Indian Judiciary and it's cohort the bureaucracy.
We must have fast track courts which should conclude such cases within two years. Yes, well before the next election, at most, so we can judge the UPA government by its actions whether it is truly secular or just expediently so? Then people in India can decide whether they commend or condemn such acts.

There is need for a law that stipulates that those whose names are recurring
in nine reports should be asked to prove that they are not guilty. And this
should be done expeditiously so that the affected and wronged families feel
that justice was done. That way people be sure that there is a fair chance
of grievances of the Tom, Dick or Harry, being addressed.

Having a Sikh P.M. does not mitigate the crimes or absolve the state of its
failure to punish the criminals. If tomorrow the BJP in its turn appoints a
Muslim as the CM of their next Government in Gujarat, for example, it will
not be absolved of the crimes of Narendra Modi government, not even if they
install a Muslim as the PM of India.
There should be a parallel process, another fast track court, to try and
convict all the police officials and administrative staff, including those
either retired or preparing to retire soon.

Again, enough resources should be put on the table for the whole process to
be finished in just two years or before. This is equally important, nay
more important, because it will set the standards for the present and future
police against colluding with the politicians in power. Punishment even
after retirement, amended laws, and removal of procedural bottlenecks along
the way, will firmly ensure that justice prevails, and the vestiges of
colonial rule disappear. Sycophancy will have to be made risky and
punishment for crime and rule of law, inescapably established.

May I request Dr. Manmohan Singh, the head of the Congress-led UPA
Government, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, the head of the Congress party, their left
allies, and the bureaucracy et al for this once to rise above cronyism and
let the law take its own course with exemplary swiftness characteristic of
modern societies of the world, that India aspires to become a leading light
of?

Videos on NITR by outgoing students vis a vis other NITs

2007-06-16T22:50:00.000-07:00

Campus pictures and some pictures of students, 2007: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-503168825886512720
Campus pictures and students of 2007: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8559804627685269052
Shows a single room with a PC in Hostel 2: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4859965838341521427
Confluence 2005 - Demonstration of Robotics and Aero modelling at NITR, They have come a long way: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2289717650179153868
By NITR 2007 Civil batch: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=43669665749918154
Institute video, beautiful institute pictures, old tree in front of Hostel 2 seems still there, leaves a good impression about the campus: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7913421902493380628
A bit of a drama: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1183693040725466812
Holi at NITR - they are still wild: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2351172199399708607&q=NIT%2C+Rourkela&total=14&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
NIT, Warangal: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6474006549983722414
ROBOT Dance: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6474006549983722414

Dear Friends:
Recently, Sanjit Jesthi of 2007 class forwarded me a video to see and share with others. When I clicked the link it took me to YouTube and I found there were many other videos on NITR - two of them I had seen earlier courtesy my young friends of 2007 class: Minakshee Sandha(item 5 above) and Himanshu Shekhar Acharya (item 7). But there were others are too and good ones. I don't know how many others were made but the above were posted in YouTube. One on Confluence2007 was not accessible when I tried to see it.

The one I liked most was item 4, where they show Robotics and Aero-modelling at NITR. It is interesting that none - none show the labs or inside of the library. I also saw the videos made on other NITs - NIT, Trichy, NIT, Warangal and NIT, Suratkal which were ranked higher than NITR in 2005 Dataquest Ranking. I found that NIT, Trichy is doing such videos, since 1997. I liked their showing of the library, which looks excellent. One of them, also show their Gymnasium and big swimming pool. Warangal's Pragyan laser show is really good. I don't know if NITR also did so during the confluence 2007, video which I have not seen.

This will be good for NITR's publicity, because NITR may otherwise have to start an Admit weekend, to attract the best and the brightest, to it's ranking. Let me know if you agree and/or enjoy the videos. Your input may help the 2008 batches and onwards.

My letter to CMO about eliminating illegal cowsheds in BBSR

2007-06-09T00:43:00.000-07:00

To: Chief Minister, Orissa
Bhubaneswar, Orissa,
India.
Dear Chief Minister Sir:
Kindly read the attached article in Orissa Matters by Subhas Chandra Pattnayak. I can't imagine that this is true - given your clean image. But test always is in reality and ground situation. If what Mr. Subhas Pattnayak states, is true - and my cross checks with friends confirm that he is telling the truth - you need a major revamp of your administration. We have been taken for a ride by likes of Late Promod Mahajan (who accumulated 2200 crores in 20 years of public life claiming clean and efficient Govt. ) but with technology where information moves at the speed of light, it is no longer possible to hide anything. I would thus request you, Sir to take the necessary action - and to ensure that the officers understand you mean business. Kindly, ask the Chairman of Bhubaneswar improvement Trust to remove the Cowsheds from BBSR by next Puja. If not, let him know that you will send his name to the court telling them that he has not followed the court orders - inspite of your clear direction.
The court can send him to jail for contempt of court. And you will probably will again win the next years election - even if the goons of your party can't be paid for their service the uncollected amount.
Lastly, Sir if you really act as suggested - you will see that the roads will improve, the hospitals will get cleaner and their attendance improve, forests get greener etc, without any action on your part.
Yes, Sir you have to do one more thing - You have to advertise in paper that each of the resident of BBSR report to you/your office direct - if they see any cowshed removed from their area - or exist in their area with a copy to news papers if they are not removed. You may appoint 3 activists against such cowsheds as Govt appointed committee to check the citizens complains. They might also complain to you through a dedicated phone line secretly about existence of such sheds in their community, this needs to be set up - so they can bypass the Govt channel, which has been rigged since the British days. Even RTI is not working because incompetent and corrupt officers have been sheltered there, all over India. That way Sir, you will really be number one CM, in India like Mr. Nitish Kumar, in the eyes of people of your state.
Best wishes,
Sandip

Subject: Darkness under the lamp - The unpleasent truth
To: OrissaTodayNetwork - A HindToday.com network member
Dear all:
We talk about mosquitoes and malaria and often blame the government for this. But they may be blamed, but did we do our own part.
In America , where I live, there is no mosquitoes - the following could be possible reasons.
- No littering, $1000 fine for littering
- All house hold rejects must be kept out in a trash bag and trash pick up arrangements have been made in 3 week days, usually alternate days.
- No cows/buffaloes/animals in streets
- No diary farms in city limits
- All mutton/chicken/meats are sealed and refrigerated
- Lawns and surroundings are well maintained by grass plantation hence
no dust/mud
- No open drains
Once the above minimum conditions are met, then only we can blame some one. Of course , Government have to some part from the above points, but are we doing our own part ?
Here you go; the one & only furious intellectual Subhash babu writes about Naveen's campaign in other places while, he failed to anything in BBSR.
Darkness under lamp !!
MALARIA AND ORISSA CM'S ACROBATICS IN THE MASS MEDIA
June 3rd, 2007
*Subhas Chandra Pattanayak*
Open any newspaper worth the name in Orissa, you will find Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's lovely face and uncial autograph on an official advertisement telling you that June is being observed as the Malaria Eradication Month. You are instructed in the advertisement to cooperate with the mission of making the State mosquito-free. Official agencies and unofficial agencies engaged by administration would spray insecticides to exterminate the mosquitoes and you are instructed not to tamper with the sprayed insecticides for at least three months. The ads are worded to give you the impression that Naveen Patnaik is determined to free Orissa from mosquito menace.
Is he?
Is he really in the mission of extermination of mosquitoes?
Does he really want to eradicate malaria?
As I look at his style of administration, I feel, he is only trying to show us acrobatics in the mass media.
I will marshal the capital city of Bhubaneswar, where he lives and from where he rules, as my evidence.
He being the Home Minister, it is well within his knowledge that Bhuaneswar is so much malaria infested that the police force had to suffer casualties due to mosquito bite while guarding the Assembly in session on summon.
The collective wisdom of Legislature had determined that crabbed dairies operated by cowherds in every nook and corner of the capital city are the principal centers of mosquito breeding and therefore the Orissa Municipal Corporations Act, 2003 had stipulated that there shall be no dairy or cowshed in Bhubaneswar.
Naveen Patnaik has kept this Law inconsequential and in the process, has killed the Supreme Court of India verdict of Feb.2, 2006 that had fully supported this special Law.
I had discussed this issue in these pages in a different context and in due deference to Article 51A (g) & (i) of the Constitution of my Motherland, had immediately sent copies thereof to the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary of Orissa for their perusal and action. But they are conspicuous by their silence. Several crores of illicit payola clandestinely collected from the milkmen is apparently the cause.
I reproduce relevant portions of that discussion for ready reference.
The illegal cowsheds are, I had observed: flourishing because the corridors of Orissa administration are full of commission agents and robbers that act as protectors of the pollutant milkmen.
Many things can be known; but every thing cannot be proved. I know, because a milkman had once confided in me, that the Directorate of Estates collects a Sum of Rs. 1000/- off the record from each of the milkman in return for silence over their encroachment over Government land in prime localities in the new Capital to run their lucrative milk trade. Compared to the benefit they fetch this sum of Rs.1000/- looks too small an amount to them. But there being one thousand milkmen families in the heart of the Capital City, the bribe collected from them amounts to not less than Rupees ten lakhs per month. This money is shared amongst all officials who matter in the matter of land encroachment by milkmen.
I was inclined to reject this information as rubbish. But looking at the immunity the milkmen are enjoying, and looking at how the officials have made a farce of the Order of the Supreme Court in the matter of eviction of the milkmen, I am inclined to believe in the information though there is no proof in support of it.
*Now let us look at the Supreme Court Judgment.*
It pertains to Civil Appeal No.940 of 2006 arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 16362-16363 of 2004.
By 1994, as many as 686 milkmen had encroached upon prime plots of Bhubaneswar City and running dairy business from there oblivious of the health hazards that was causing to genuine inhabitants. The situation was so unbearable that the then Chief Minister in a bid to get rid of the gowalas declared to rehabilitate them in the villages in the city's close vicinity. But they did not go while on the other hand they were encouraging other gowalas to encroach upon other vacant plots. By 2003 their number increased to 1000. The dung and other filthy matters of the cowsheds run by them on government plots in prime areas of Bhubaneswar imperiled public health to such extent that in the Orissa Municipal Corporation Act framed in 2003, the legislature not only prohibited establishment and running of dairies or cowsheds in the city proper as well as in the periphery of the town, but also provided for penalty against the dairy operators. Under the new act, all of the milkmen were bound to be evicted from Bhubaneswar city. Against this mandated eviction, the milkmen through their association had gone to Orissa High Court. The Court refused to intervene. Then they stressed on rehabilitation and wanted a mandate from the Court that the Government provides them with plots to run their business. The High Court rejected this plea. Alleging that the High Court's refusal to order for their rehabilitation before eviction from Government plots was illegal, the Milk Producers Association, Orissa and others preferred the appeal in the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court took serious note of the health hazards the milkmen were causing to the citizens of Bhubaneswar. Even the Supreme Court made it clear, "As by reason of the Orissa Municipal Corporation Act, within the periphery of the town, dairies or cowsheds cannot be maintained, the State cannot be entitled to adhere to its earlier plan of rehabilitating them in villages mentioned therein".
Making it abundantly clear that there does not exist any legal concept which confers a legal right upon the encroacher to be rehabilitated by State action, the Supreme Court has not only rejected the Appeal of the Milkmen but also has ruled that "In view of the 2003 Act, even the doctrine of Promissory Estoppels will have no application".
So in the Supreme Court the Milkmen have lost their case and the Apex Court has made it clear that the State Government is not even entitled to rehabilitate them.
In an earlier Order [(2004) 8 SCC 733] in Friends Colony Development Committee V. State of Orissa and Others case, the Supreme Court had ruled, "Not only filth, stench and unhealthy places have to be eliminated, but the (town planning) would be such that it helps in achieving family values, youth values, seclusion and clean air to make the locality a better place to live".
In another case between N.D.Jayal and another v. Union of India and others, reported in [(2004) 9 SCC 362], a 3-Judge bench of the Supreme Court held that Right to environment being a fundamental right it is the duty of the State to make it sure that people get a pollution free surrounding.
The Orissa municipal Corporation Act, 2003 under Sections 409, 543 and 548 by banning running of cow-buffalo-swine-sheds, has provided for the environment the Supreme Court has emphasized on.
Therefore the Supreme Court refused the Appeal of the milkmen and removed every obstacle from their eviction. This verdict was delivered on 2 February 2006.
But neither the Director of Estates, nor the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation nor the Bhubaneswar Development Authority has bothered to evict the milkmen. The concentration of milkmen rose from 686 in 1994 to 1000 in 2003 and it has possibly doubled by end of 2006. The surprising and unexplained reluctance of the State Government to evict the milkmen, even though brilliant youths like Bibhuti and Rubi have succumbed to air pollution caused by the cowsheds and scores of genuine citizens near whose residences the milkmen have been running unauthorized dairies on encroached lands have fallen victims to unhealthy environment affected by filth,
stench, dung and other excremental matters.
When the Law enacted in 2003 has prohibited dairy activities in Bhubaneswar and when the Supreme Court by rejecting the Appeal of the milkmen has stressed on their eviction saying simultaneously that the State is not entitled to rehabilitate them anywhere in the city and its periphery, why the State Government has not evicted them so far even though the Apex Court verdict was delivered on 2 February 2006?
It is therefore believable that the milkmen have been greasing the palms of officials to purchase their cooperation in rendering the Supreme Court judgment inconsequential.
*Huge Money*
If it must be happening then it must be a scam of ten lakhs of rupees per month, taking the officially admitted figure of milkmen to be one thousand. The 1000 figure pertaining to 2003, if they have doubled by this time, the amount of bribe must be 20 lakhs per month. This is a secret income exceeding many times the income the officers earn on records.
According to a calculation recorded by the Supreme Court, at Para 14 of its Judgment, "the income per annum of each gowala family of Bhubaneswar comes out to about Rs. 3,71,910.00 as admitted by them in the SLP. Deducting 50% out of the total income towards establishment and maintenance charges, net annual income per family comes to 1,85,950.00". This huge money every milkman family earns because he runs the dairy on encroached government land in prime areas of Bhubaneswar. To keep up this lucrative business, why should he hesitate to grease the palms of officers who are in a position to carry out eviction?
With this question, I had attracted attention of the Chief Minister as well as the Chief Secretary to the menace that poses pernicious dangers to human health in Bhubaneswar. It is not that they are not aware of this. But payola determining administrative decisions, the breeding centers of mosquitoes are flourishing in every cowshed illegally running in Bhubaneswar. ‘lI have information that attempts are being made to amend the Municipal
Act to undo the ban imposed by the 2003 Act on cowsheds so that the changed face of Law can obliterate the impact of the Supreme Court verdict.
Do I err in holding the Chief Minister's advertised eagerness to exterminate mosquitoes as mere acrobatics politicians display when they propound a cause that they never stand with?

Compansation for land in a coal project in Jharkhand

2007-06-05T11:29:00.000-07:00

The following was the compensation that they got for their land in Pachuwara Coal Project Area.
I like all of them except I want the Rs. 6000/annum, related to inflation. Lastly, I would like the school and hospital to be upfront. How else the kids will be educated in the interim? If the land prices go up more than the rate of inflaton they should be compensated further at at least 50%, to protect against manipulations of land market price.

- Sandip

The compensation that the Catholic nun fought for, and ensured, includes:

* The cost of the land acquired at the current market rate

* A job

* A school, education for students of the displaced families free of cost

* A hospital to provide them free treatment

* Rs 6,000 per acre per annum to compensate for the loss of agriculture
income

* Rs 210 sq m of land for home stead

* After mining complete, the land to be reclaimed and returned to its
rightful owner

"Valsa John gave her consent only after she was convinced that the company had offered the best compensation to the people," says Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi, who backed her and signed the agreement between the Andolan and Panem as a witness.

Orissa MPs can do better by asking for royalty of Iron Ore to be linked 80% of world price.

2007-05-11T12:43:00.000-07:00

It is really commendable that MPs from Orissa have stood up at long last in the parliament on the IIT issue and made it an issue of it.
As we know the protest has not yielded any result, at least immediately. Center has gotten accustomed to a an acquiescing Orissa, with little or no protest as much as a squeak.
My suggestion to them would be: don’t waste your energy in begging. I was checking yesterday and found that 46.7 million tons of Iron Ore have been raised last year from the mines of Orissa. If we could charge the world market price to the buyers we would have earned:
($84.4-$10)*46.5 million =$3.5 billion $$. Where $10 is the raising cost.
If we get this money where ever then GOO can have 15 – Rs. 1000 crore IITs. And if we can collaborate with MPs of Jharkhand and 36 garh, we will be in a position like OPEC countries to pay our way to developed condition.

Now some one may ask me, how do we get this done? This is money that the mine licensee are minting – how does Govt of Orissa /36 Garh / Jharkhand do it? My answer is through OMC. Now even if the cost is $15 due it’s inefficient & higher cost ways (not corrupt) the money can be given back or donated to GOO prescribed causes and spent on the mining areas for their development. There will be enough, Rs.15000 crores earning for every cause in Orissa. If we get $60 as royalty - there still will be $25 for mining and transportation. It is OK to have the pit head steel plant but that they can be given the lisence so the state gets it's $60 or 80% of world market price which ever is greater. Posco/ Mittal or TATAs will still have 5% advantage over others to locate in Orissa or 36 Garh or Jharkhand, considering there is a 15% disadvantage of backward area(infrastructure).

Let the MPs do us a favor, demand and raise the Royalty to 80% of the world Ore price(thus link it to the same permanently and GOO ensure that there is no stealing of Ore from the mines as prevelant. And Orissa will have money for everything and to spare. We need to spend the money to make our 7,011 high schools were functioning in the State(now 7800) Oriya medium High schools, 44,416 Primary Schools, 14.233 Upper Primary Schools, comparable to the English medium schools or better like it was in 50s and 60s, when a Purusottampur High School produced a topper in High School Certificate examination. (http://orissadiary.com/orissa_education/orissa_education.htm)
An educated citizenry can take care of themselves.
Best wishes,

Sandip

For People and Planet - Al Gore and David Blood

2007-05-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

For People and Planet

Al Gore and David Blood");' href="javascript:void(0);">Al Gore and David Blood. Wall Street Journal. (Eastern edition). New York, N.Y.: Mar 28, 2006. pg. A.20

Abstract (Document Summary)

The industrial revolution brought enormous prosperity, but it also introduced unsustainable business practices. Our current system for accounting was principally established in the 1930s by Lord Keynes and the creation of "national accounts" (the backbone of today's gross domestic product). While this system was precise in its ability to account for capital goods, it was imprecise in its ability to account for natural and human resources because it assumed them to be limitless. This, in part, explains why our current model of economic development is hard-wired to externalize as many costs as possible.

The interests of shareholders, over time, will be best served by companies that maximize their financial performance by strategically managing their economic, social, environmental and ethical performance. This is increasingly true as we confront the limits of our ecological system to hold up under current patterns of use. "License to operate" can no longer be taken for granted by business as challenges such as climate change, HIV/AIDS, water scarcity and poverty have reached a point where civil society is demanding a response from business and government. The "polluter pays" principle is just one example of how companies can be held accountable for the full costs of doing business. Now, more than ever, factors beyond the scope of Keynes's national accounts are directly affecting a company's ability to generate revenues, manage risks, and sustain competitive advantage. There are many examples of the growing acceptance of this view.

Full Text (865 words)

Capitalism and sustainability are deeply and increasingly interrelated. After all, our economic activity is based on the use of natural and human resources. Not until we more broadly "price in" the external costs of investment decisions across all sectors will we have a sustainable economy and society.

Externalities are costs created by industry but paid for by society. For example, pollution is an externality which is sometimes taxed by government in order to make the entity responsible "internalize" the full costs of production. Over the past century, companies have been rewarded financially for maximizing externalities in order to minimize costs.

---

Today, the global context for business is clearly changing. "Capitalism is at a crossroads," says Stuart Hart, professor of management at Cornell University. We agree, and we think the financial markets have a significant opportunity to chart the way forward. In fact, we believe that sustainable development will be the primary driver of industrial and economic change over the next 50 years.

In the corporate sector, companies like General Electric are designing products to enable their clients to compete in a carbon- constrained world. Novo Nordisk is taking a holistic view of combating diabetes not only through treatment but also through prevention. And Whole Foods and others are addressing the demand for quality food by sourcing local and organic produce. Importantly, the business response is about making money for shareholders, not altruism.

In the nongovernmental sector, organizations such as World Resources Institute, Transparency International, the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (Ceres) and AccountAbility are helping companies explore how best to align corporate responsibility with business strategy.

Over the past five years we have seen markets begin to incorporate the external cost of carbon dioxide emissions. This is happening through pricing mechanisms (price per ton of carbon dioxide) and government-supported trading platforms such as the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme in Europe. Even without a regulatory framework in the U.S., voluntary markets are emerging, such as the Chicago Climate Exchange and state-level initiatives such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. These market mechanisms increasingly enable companies to calculate project returns and capital expenditures decisions with the price of carbon dioxide fully integrated.

The investment community has also started to respond. For example, the Enhanced Analytics Initiative, an international collaboration between asset owners and managers, encourages investment research that considers the impact of extra-financial issues on long-term company performance. The Equator Principles, designed to help financial institutions manage environmental and social risk in project financing, have now been adopted by 40 banks which arrange over 75% of the world's project loans. In addition, the rise in shareholder activism and the growing debate on fiduciary responsibility, governance legislation and reporting requirements (such as the Global Reporting Initiative and the EU Business Review) indicate the mainstream incorporation of sustainability concerns.

While we are seeing evidence of leading public companies adopting sustainable business practices in developed markets, there is still a long way to go to make sustainability fully integrated and therefore truly mainstream. A short-term focus still pervades both corporate and investment communities, which hinders long-term value creation.

As some have said, "We are operating the Earth like it's a business in liquidation." More mechanisms to incorporate environmental and social externalities will be needed to enable capital markets to achieve their intended purpose -- to consistently allocate capital to its highest and best use for the good of the people and the planet.

---

Mr. Gore, a former vice president of the United States, is chairman of Generation Investment Management. Mr. Blood, formerly head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, is managing partner of Generation Investment Management, which he co-founded with Mr. Gore.

My letter to Indian Express..In response to Chitta's article as comment

2007-05-07T12:47:00.000-07:00

I don't know whether our representative governments GOO and GOJ are dumb or are in the pockets of some big money bags like TATAS? Else this is a case of enlightened self-interest for the state of the state and we find no takers. WHY?
Else why the following is not done:
1. Why can't Orissa Assembly pass a resolution - unanimously - both the treasury benches and opposition together- to ask for market price for the ores and linked escalation in future? They may then give back a portion, say 15% to compensate the iTATAS, for the current inadequate infrastructural facilities? And this to be discontinued when the infrastructure is put in place.
2. Why can't the 21 MPs sit in for this in the parliament one day or unanimously protest or sign in a petition to the PM to the same tune as the state legislature? This will bring in more money per year than the current Orissa budget?
They saw the effect of NISER protests, and this is more beneficial for the state and it's people.
3. Why can't Orissa, 36 garh and Jharkhand Govt collaborate like OPEC rather than compete among each other, so POSCOS and TATAS compete for their favors and not themselves(as free market is supposed to be)?
5. Giving away Govt land or commons is another issue which should be kept in mind. Because people fight for their interest those issues are in the fore front. But it seems neither the MLAs or MPs are protectors of Govt interest. They give away public property for free - result rise of reincarnation of Jamindari system - the SEZs which is another important related issue, on which everyone is silent.

My letter to Baijayanta Panda MP...on reading his article.

2007-03-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the very persuasive and interesting article. Two points you have made with which I very much agree are:
1. Your suggestion of: "dictating a major revamp of land acquisition policies. Because it will be hard to get farmers in lush, irrigated lands ..,, to be evicted even if the government persists with the line that theirs is sub-optimal "single crop" farmland. ,,, without first having a concrete and lucrative alternative in hand, including retraining and jobs, not just cash compensation."
2. Not using police.. or using police with patience.

It is clear that Nabin babu has learnt from his earlier traumatic experiences in Kashipur and Lanjigarh.

However you have not touched two points which needed to be mentioned to make it more factual and useful.

1. BJD is no cadre based party, so Navin babu could have only used lumpen because they don't have any cadres - the luxury that WB, CM had, and has misused.

2. The fact that land records are out dated and need to be updated before area is targeted for acquisition, more in detail, rather than indirectly in the last paragraph. Technology use to update land records is very necessary.

Additionally:
The contradiction that CPM is opposing the very SEZs they are implementing in West Bengal, and using of the same age old method - while using different rhetoric. Consequently their natural allies are up in arms and finally because they have used same decrepit way of dealing with dissent. A sad let down for the now active and vociferous(??) civil society of India. I personally thought CPM would do it differently and set a gold standard for R& R. They initially showed signs of meeting this expectation, when they accepted the right to compensation, of share croppers in addition to the land title holders.

Lastly, and though it is a digression from the issue you have handled so nicely, I am compelled to mention some questions that need to be addressed by the decision making authorities. A a lot more transparency of terms in MOU and the contracts would be highly desirable. Some unanswered questions going around are:

1. Why should Orissa give away Iron Ore at $0.57 cents while world price is $84.10 and rising? I have calculated that for each 1 million tonne plant give away is $350 million per year only for Iron Ore. You add subsidy of free water, coal, infrastructure etc and the numbers get astronomical.
2. And the icing on the top of cake is the SEZ status. Why should you give it for a steel plant?
3. Why should the state give free land, when they are coming to Orissa because other sources have started charging market price?
4. Why TATA land in Gopalpur is not being taken back, as an example to other potential defaulters?
5. Why can't they form a cartel like the OPEC between the 3 state Governments - Jharkhand, 36 Garh and Orissa to get market price and more for iron Ore.
6. Why there are no escalation clauses in the MOUs or are there? International market price has gone up from $34 to $84 in last 4 years.
7. Why and how the externals are going to be taken care of?
8. Why with India(Orissa)'s high density of population is not being considered when companies are asking for land or being allotted land? Why can't the company town idea let go? And the residential high rises left to the local developers? Why incoming companies are not asked to grow vertically rather than creating more Tatanagars or Rourkelas, for which there is no land? After all India has 14 times more land to population ratio as United states.
9. Additionally, I really don't understand why the modern plants which need very few men and operators to operate, are demanding more land not less? For example I could never understand why TATAs demanded and got 3 times more land, than Maruti Udyog producing 3 times more vehicles. That too 30 years later? Are they into profiteering in land - knowing they will get it free?
10. Why is a criminal claim of 10 thousand acres of for an University, even being discussed? Even at 5 lakhs per acre it is upfront give away of 500 crores by GOO which is not flush in money anyway? Can't they build vertically rather than horizontally?

Thanking you again for excellent articulation of Govt of Orissa's and your parties' stand, and making some very good points. I like to again inform you that I highly appreciate your idea of "Pre-poning"/ upfronting the R & R issues rather than "Postponing" them, to the end. That way the embarrassment of RSP's land acquisition being not complete after 50 years wont be there.

Non-violence vs. Violence, what is right?

2007-03-26T15:50:00.000-07:00

Non-violence vs. violence, is a very important as well as old issue, and my opinion I have jotted down in many places.
I dislike both state and activist, violence. You cant include one in your equation and exclude the other. And I think it is a hypocrisy to accept one and not the other. They are mirror image of each other.

I am thus against death sentence.

Late Nabakrusna Choudhury and Malati Choudhury, were life long Gandhian and fully aware of both sides of the debate. They always told that this is a political problem and not a law and order problem. However when you don't handle it politically it goes out of hand because most people don't have the luxury of debating it, in an intellectual and indifferent manner, and the state has the responsibility here of defining the parameters and boundaries. Activist violence (or Naxalite violence for that matter,) is based on objective situation. For example two days back there was a news item - I wish I had saved the link - from Maharashtra. The PMs had recently gone there and declared a package to avert suicide of farmers. There was a stipulation in there to pay out Rs. 5000 per farmer- as emergency relief. The babus however are demanding a bribe of Rs. 2000 up front for disbursement of this money. Now the question is who will punish them? No doubt Chandra Babu Naidu did bite the dust for similar situation in AP - but were the bureaucrats responsible for 5000 suicides in AP penalised in any way? Now what would you do, if you were the kid of one, who has thus committed suicide? And you have seen this wrong policy being perpetrated year, after year, after year? Some one pays with his life and some one else enjoys. Political violence is a risky game. Stakes are very high and thus only highly committed and convinced people can take that path. It is not for the faint hearted, for sure. There is no assured light at the end of the tunnel. NO GADDI or Governorship, is assured either.

One of my pet theory is that Gandhi's greatest contribution is the tactical lowering of the height of the hurdle. By bringing in nonviolence he expanded participation in freedom movement many fold and thus made India ungovernable for the British.
In business terms, by his tactics Gandhi made the return on on British colonial investment negative and thus they got out.

That is why I admire Gandhi: http://mathtalentsearch.blogspot.com/2006/05/relevance-of-gandhi.html

That is why I crave for the expansion of the civil society, and I was one of the most disappointed persons when AP Govt broke off with the AP Naxalites at the behest of their Police / bureaucracy.
I remember even such eminent socialists, and later environmentalist like Late Banka Behari Das, stating that being a minister he can't go against interest of the Govt. (though it conflicts with the interest of the people ).

This is such an important issue that we have to think out of the Box.

The colonial mind set is still prevalent in India, largely. Why else can't they get rid of the oppressive laws in Manipur etc and make it linger indefinitely? How can a Govt. provide it's Military with a legal cover to rape it's own citizen, and get away with impunity? Do you think we have a right to judge those people, who under those circumstances take law in to their own hands, and become violent, after 50 long years? I think the situation is better and but not much better / different in Malkangiri or Chitrokonda( or greater KBK area). Tell me why else such a movement survived for 40 years? Lot of leadership / activist were killed or jailed and many have left the field just because they have become old. Yes, those who were 25 year old have become 65 years - if they survived the OMP action all these years. The intensity has only increased & not decreased, and so have their numbers and area of influence. It has not reduced over all these years. Ministers are even afraid of going to districts for flag hoisting. Does not it tell you something, about the of objective conditions?

Because of her celebrity status Ms. Arundhuti Roy is bringing the information and issues to the fore. But why should we grudge it? We have not banned Cine stars from participating in Election rallies. Actually couple of them are MPs, one couple continue as such even after filing false affidavit with the election commission about their marital status.

Let me tell you one fact to bring to you the dimensions of frustration of many interested in improvement of secondary education. For each 1 million tonne steel plant GOO gives a subsidy per year of 1500 crores only on iron Ore, a resource lost for ever. Yet 40 thousand school teacher posts are vacant today which will cost 200 / 250 crores/year which will make states' foundation of secondary education strong. Of course teaches have to teach but how can you ask them to if they are not there?
And you have heard already about the scandal about old colleges like Bikram Deb College Jeypore having only one Math professors for years. And the status of 3 old Universities of the state 50+-10 years old.

Again it seems I am digressing far but how can you make people non-violent without making them aware of the issues of the debate and hence part of a civil society? How can you ignore their minimum demands and then expect them to remain docile? I put you the same questions I wrote in my appeal to PM, for an IIT in Orissa (actually I like him very much for his honesty and simplicity of living). How do you encourage non-violent behavior by ignoring such protests - and I think that it what Ms. Roy is arguing per my understanding of the interview.

The enemy no longer is recognizable by the color of their skin, which in Gandhi's time was the case.

My letter to CMO on January 19 on - NISER

2007-03-20T15:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Chief minister:
Happy New Year.
We are delighted to read in newspapers a report of Dr. Kakodkar's visit to meet you in regards to the NISER. The reports mention that now the NISER budget has increased to 750 crores and that NISER will start classes in July 2007. They also mention that NISER may expand into a science city. We really appreciate the state governments supporting role to all this.

It is an urgent concern to us that the land for NISER has not been finalized. We would request that the Orissa government to finalize the land for NISER as soon as possible, preferably in the next 30 days. We really want you to give this task top priority, and grant NISER's choice of land, first preference.

We hear that same land has been shown to Sri Sri Ravishankar.

However granting NISER their first preference is very important because NISER, being centrally funded will be there for ever ( i.e., as longs an entity called India exists) and its reputation will keep growing.

In contrast the existence and reputation of a private entity may not transcend beyond the life of the person heading that entity; especially in the Indian context where there has not been many private higher educational institutions. Therefore we urge that NISER be given priority and preference, over any private entity that may have eyed the same land.

There is another very important reason to keep NISER and DAE happy by granting them their first choice of land location immediately.

As you know Orissa has lost out in the recent allocations of the new IITs which were allocated to Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.
We are also shocked that the branch campus plan of IIT Kharagpur in Bhubaneswar has been shelved.

Under those circumstances, it would be a great and wise move on Orissa's part to immediately grant the land for NISER, and push it ahead, to fruition.

Thus the expeditious land allocation has become urgent. We need to seal the deal and move ahead, asap.

Dear Chief Minister: We earnestly request that you immediately grant NISER and DAE its first choice of land.
We can then move on to the other issues and projects.

Sincerely and with best regards

Sandip K. Dasverma
Richland,
WA -99354
USA

The problem of funding the poor and meritorious students at - National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, possible solutions: By Sandip K. Dasverma

2007-02-20T01:38:00.000-08:00

Introduction:
Due commercialization of education it is usually a problem for the poor and meritorious to defray the expenses needed for NITR. I have been for last few years associated with different organizations, like FFE and Vikas, who offer scholarships. The demand has been found to be more than the supply. This is an evaluation/analysis/ solution based on my experience. I have tried to pen down possible solutions to raise about 40 more financial support to students, which in my opinion will resolve the problems. Various alternatives have been suggested and evaluated.
The loan alternatives will need formation of Self Help Groups to ensure return of the money loaned to ensure perpetuation of loan fund.

Possible solution:
One commonly known and suggested solution is to create a corpus fund for scholarships, which our friend Vallabha has kindly suggested and is in the process of actualizing. (See note)
To do so we need couple of crores. With Fixed interest in India hovering around 6% to give out 10 scholarships @ Rs. 25,000 each, we will need to raise and invest 42 lakhs for one year, to get the 2.5 lakhs needed.
A similar amount will be necessary to be raised every year to continue at level of 10 scholarships per year for 3 more years.
In other words to give 10 scholarships a year / batch would need:
=0.42*4(batches) =1.68 crore in the corpus fund.
Once this 42 lakhs is raised every year for 4 years, ten scholarships can be perpetually given for each admission year and continued for 4 years for each batch.

NOTE:
With present 10 lakh target we will get only 60 thousand to distribute at the end of the year after investment i.e. 3 scholarships of 20 thousand each or 2 scholarships of 30 thousand each only can be awarded.

Alternative 1.
Loan Scholarships:
We assume a similar amount of 42 lakhs are raised and invested in Bank fixed deposits. The interest earned is given out to students as loans. They will pay an interest equal to SBI interest rate on this loan. (or fixed deposit rate plus 3%, which ever is lower, to cover for inflation and default due to death / disability.)
Here also for the 1st, 4 years(@42 lakhs every year(a total of 1.68 crores have to be raised) but after first 4 batches, they will perpetuate. No further fund raising will be required.
However from the 5th year additional 10 scholarships can be awarded from money paid back, by graduated students. Thus every 4 years ten (10) additional loan scholarships can be started, without raising additional funds.

NOTE:
With the present 10 lakh target corpus fund, being raised at the initiative of vallabha and friends, we can afford only 3, 20 thou loan scholarships every year, from 2nd year of raising the funds.

Alternative 2:
With much less money(for example the 10 laksh being raised) we can ensure that 10 students, get money they need. This is by either using methods in option 1 or option 2, described below:

Option 1:
In this option the loans will be from commercial banks, only securitized by the Alumni Association corpus fund. We raise only 10 lakhs corpus fund and use the interest (Rs. 60 thou) of the fund to give security to the bank loan by buying insurance for the banks loans. ( I am forwarding this proposal to some banker friends of mine to get their inputs as to what is the constraint on this, I am sure Rs. 6 thou will be sufficient to insure each student’s life insurance for Rs. 25000, and loan insurance for death or disability / unemployment.)

Option 2:
In this option the loans will be from commercial banks, only securitized by the Alumni Association corpus fund. This method based on corpus fund Alumni association just issues a security of an amount of up to Rs. 25 thou of loan for each student from bank. This way 10 lakhs can be utilized to ensure a total of 40 scholarships per year. After one year it will become 42 scholarships and each year the number of scholarships will go up by 2 because the fund value will increase. (probably more than 40 loans can be securitized, it has to be checked with the banks)

Alternative 3:
Sponsored / Named loan scholarships:
• The Alumni Association will accept sponsored loan scholarships from Alumni, in the name of parents or beloved one(XYZ Memorial scholarship).
• Intending Alumni will donate 25 thou each year for 5 years, (alternatively they can also pay equivalent in lump sum at one time to be handled in the same way.)
• Alumni will donate Rs 25 thou for 5 years (one more year to cover the time after graduation the student will take to pay back the loan)
• When such money is received back from the student loan by the Alumni fund it will issue a loan scholarship to a fresh student. The scholarship continues to have the same name as previously by the donor.
• After graduation and landing on a job, each year student will pay back the loan principal and interest, at the prevailing bank student loan rates.
• Student will pay back each year amount of money equal to loan he took each year.
• Thus XYZ memorial scholarship will be perpetuated.
(I personally would prefer to go this alternative to establish two scholarships in the name of my deceased parents)
Alternative 4:
The Alumni Association and NIT authorities together can and should lobby the Banks and the Govt. of Orissa to declare NIT, Rourkela as an Institute of Excellence (like the IIMs and IITs) that IT IS, so all the students qualifying for admission get assured of unsecured Bank loans.

Advantages of alternative methods:
1. Alternative methods both reduce the investment needed (i.e. fund raised) and / or stretch the number of scholarships. When we convert the scholarships to loan scholarships, it increases very fast the number of scholarships, by making the money returnable when student is able to pay, i.e. they start in jobs. It brings a quick rise in number of scholarships.
2. Assured of money for support their ability for the students to work hard, on their future, is greatly enhanced.
3. Usually at the current pay level of an (2007) NIT Alumni, total loan is less than 4 to 5 month’s salary even in the 1st year of working. Thus they can easily repay in 5th years with interest, all money they needed, when they needed. Because they are paying when able and capable. It is recommended that they pay back each year, money they loaned each year in college.
4. In changed family situations of death or disability of key family members, loans can be started in 2nd year or 3rd year or even final year, because loan money is under control of Alumni Association and since college authorities are fully aware of such exigencies, it will come handy with their recommendation.
5. The alternative #3 is very attractive for many but the catch is in the execution. Transparent, efficient execution will really benefit the students.

Notes: I am informed by a banker friend that the fixed interest rates have gone up to 9%, so the figures will be more favorable for now.

A proposal the banks can’t refuse: By Sandip K. Dasverma

2007-02-20T01:05:00.000-08:00

Background:
For nearly three years me and some of my friends are building a case for, bank loans for the needy and meritorious students of Orissa, in professional colleges. This is to facilitate easing the way for the meritorious and needy students, from lower economic classes, that are trickling up the system ladder. They are from families whose kids are 1st time in the colleges or students whose parents belong to the extreme poor. They are hardy enough to have survived the 90% drop out rate of schools, in spite of extremely deprived family backgrounds. If aided financially these kids go on to earn monthly salaries which are equal to their annual financial aid. They are a very good investment for any Bank.
All public sector banks, including SBI, have on policy accepted that unsecured loans up to 5 lakhs, can be granted, to these first class students.

In practice however this has not happened for various reasons, some of which are discussed below.

A. Two reasons that we have found from personal investigation, are:
1. Graft, i.e. by only subjecting the kids and their families to a run around, an extra documentary price (bribe) can be extracted from the concern parties. However this leads to two unintended consequences for the banks.
a. The needy don’t get the loan they need, in a timely manner.
i. A few give up their studies.
ii. Most pay the extortion money from the money they borrow, since they don’t have resources to pay the bank personal.
iii. Thus bitter they make up their mind to punish the extortionists by not paying back the money.
2. Past history:
a. It has been found that some students after taking loan for study default in paying back the loans. This has been highlighted by the 1st category officers above to justify their harassment.
b. A few kids from better off families take loan, (not paying bribe but due to the influence of their family and friends), to have ‘fun’ in the college. They take the money aware that they don’t need the money but also aware that using their influence they can avoid paying the money back.
c. SBI and other public sector banks have in case of defaults end up holding responsible personally, the managers of the branches sanctioning these loans, per commercial practice.
d. Faced with the situation honest bank managers have started to avoid granting such study loans, altogether or have insisted on property security.
e. The real poor have thus only two ways left for them:
i. To find a relative to pitch in and provide the security.
ii. Just give up the hope of higher studies after trying for a few months or bribe their way out of the jam. And many don’t have even money to pay the bribe. They pay bribe from the loaned money and are so bitter, that they are very reluctant to pay back the money to the bank.

Thus the ‘unsecured’ loan for meritorious and poor students have fallen by the way side. This has devastated impoverished states like Orissa, where first kid in the college in many economically backward families and in backward areas, are reaching colleges.

B. Basic philosophy in promoting bank loan are:
• Students spend their time in studying and not waste their time to run to the banks.
• If they are admitted to, say NIT, and evaluated to have financial need, as per a standard, they are ensured loan.
• They pay back when they get job. If they don’t, market interest are charged to them rather than the subsidized student loan rates. These days good students, who go to good Engineering colleges, are getting jobs even before they leave college.
• They pay back the bank loan money as soon as they are capable, so the fund grows.

C. How too prevent default and reduce risks of student loans to SBI, some ideas:
1. Self Help Groups (SHG ) of the loanee students are formed from 1st year onwards, who are expected to persuade the graduating student to return the money – so they can get loan (using the general principles of SHG). All four class SHGs meet in the college every quarter to share experience and discuss difficulties, with the local Bank managers and student deans.
2. Since the graduating class and next junior class students are in the college at the same time, they will have enough clout to persuade their seniors, to return loan.
3. The SBI or other banks, which have a collection department, only need to get the address of the graduated students to ensure recovery. This can be easily ensured by the above non-traditional channels to reduce the risks involved.
4. Additionally, the students come one year later for the degree and convocation function. If college authorities can be kept in the loop, to extend any help necessary in this regard.
5. Most importantly, the seniors who help the juniors, providing contacts and network for jobs/employment, can and will also help pressurize, the less than one in 100, who default.
6. Civil society members and eminent persons like the FFE facilitators can ensure that banks will get the addresses of the students, after they graduate.
7. Start it at a few eminent colleges like NIT, Rourkela and test the operations, then fine tune and move them to other colleges later.

D. What Banks can do to improve their public images and eradicate genuine grievances, and to help the needy while only following their avowed policy of giving Unsecured Loans:
They can take a few very simple steps to avoid administrative hassles and improve transparency:

1. Every year publish a budget their target of lone they want to sanction, on their web site.
a. With security
b. Without security.

2. Between September and March publish every month on web site, the progress:
a. Number of Applicants
i. For secured loans
ii. For unsecured loans

b. Ask each branch to publish their own list of:
i. Unsecured loans granted
ii. Secured loans granted.
iii. Number of pending applications

c. Publicly display at each bank branch:
i. a list of names of loans status in each category, as in item b (above), which can be seen by public, similar to documents for public view per provisions of Right to Information Act.

3. Declare a few eminent institutes of the state as institutes of Excellence, (which they really are) and qualify anyone admitted there for bank loans, such as:
a. NIT, Rourkela, (unsecured loan of up to 1.2 lakhs in 4 years)
b. UCE, Burla, (unsecured loan of up to 1.2 lakhs in 4 years)
c. IGIT, Samal, (unsecured loan of up to 1.2 lakhs in 4 years)
d. CET, Bhubaneswar, (unsecured loan of up to 1.2 lakhs in 4 years)
e. SCBMCollege, Cuttack, (unsecured loan of up to 1.5 lakhs in 5 years)
f. VSSMCollege, Burla (unsecured loan of up to 1.5 lakhs in 5 years)
g. MKCGMCollege, Berhampore,(unsecured loan, 1.5 lakhs in 5 years)
h. Ravenshaw College, Cuttack, (Unsecured loan to Rs. 10 thou per year to maximum Rs. 40 thousand)
i. BJB College, BBSR, (Unsecured loan to Rs. 10 thou per year to maximum Rs. 40 thousand)

Lastly, the Alumni Associations of each of these institutes could activate themselves and assist to resolve these issues that have emerged due commercialization of Education. Cost of education have risen beyond the resources of the society for which, this education is meant.
The Alumni Associations have to step in support of the poor and meritorious students and to facilitate the sanction of bank loans.

A proposal the banks can’t refuse. By Sandip K. Dasverma

2007-02-06T23:26:00.000-08:00

For more than two years me and some of my friends are pushing for bank loans for the needy and meritorious students, of Orissa, in professional colleges.
The public sector banks, including SBI, have on policy adopted that up to 5 lakhs, they will give loan, without any security, if a student is a first class student. B

In practice however this has not happened. Though as a publicity stunt they have
competed with each other to help students such as Dipak Das.

Two reasons that we have found from personal investigation, are:

1. Graft, i.e. by only making kids and their families run, a price can be extracted.
2. Past history:
a. It has been found that some students after taking loan for study default in paying back the loans. This has been highlighted by the 1st category officers above to justify their harassment. Additionally SBI and other public sector banks have in case of defaulters ended up in holding responsible personally SBI managers of the branches for these loans, per commercial practice. Faced with the situation other bank managers have started avoiding granting such study loans, altogether or have insisted on security.

The real poor have thus only two ways left for them:
i. To find a relative to come in and provide the security.
ii. Just give up the hope of higher studies after trying for a few months or bribe their way out of the jam. And many don’t have even money to pay the bribe. They pay bribe from the loaned money and are so bitter, that they are very reluctant to pay back the money to the bank
Thus the ‘unsecured’ loan for meritorious and poor students have fallen by the way side. This has devastated impoverished states like Orissa, where first kid in the college in many economically backward families and in backward areas are reaching colleges
Some of us have seriously looked at the situation. One solution is to create a corpus fund of say couple of lakhs and provide the security to the Banks to provide loans. This way a much smaller amount of money can provide bank security to much larger amount of Bank loans.

Example: Let us say college C’s alumni raise a fund of 10 lakhs. If we give this money away as scholarship to 40 people (@25 thousand per year) it will get finished in a year. However if we give it as loan to same 40 people, all we have to do is to continue for 4 more years and then it will repeat itself without any external money.
So 40 lakhs will perpetuate itself to provide for 40 students every year.
Still better would be to use these 10 lakhs and keep it in a bank as a security deposit. Or create a corpus fund from which will be used as a security. In this case 10 lakhs can be used as security money for 40 students each year and next year’s money can be used for another 40 and similarly so 160 students can be supported and the cycle repeated.
The other alternative will be to insure the loans and pay insurance from the earnings of the 10 lakhs.
I would like to have banks look at it and see what the holes in this argument are.

Advantages of alternative method:
1. Security money for say 160 students who take loan from the banks, without paying out the money.
2. Use the money’s yearly interest to pay the insurance premium for the student loans, thus leveraging the money to get loans for much higher number of students than the 40 otherwise possible.

Basic philosophy in promoting bank loan are:
• Students spend their time in studying and not waste their time to run to the banks.
• If they are admitted to, say NIT, and evaluated to have financial need, as per a standard, they are ensured loan.
• They pay back when they get job. If they don’t market interest are charged to them rather than subsidized student loan rates. These days good students, who go to good Engineering colleges, are getting jobs even before they leave college.
• They pay back the bank loan and insurance money as soon as they are capable, so the fund grows.

How too prevent default and reduce risks of student loans to SBI, some ideas:

1. We create SHG of the students from 1st year onwards, who are expected to persuade the passed out student to return the money – so they can get loan (using the general principles of SHG).
2. Since the senior most and next junior class students are still in the college at the same time as those who graduated out, and they still need money, they will have enough clout to push for repayment, by their seniors.
3. The SBI or other banks, which have a collection department, only need to get the address of the graduated students to ensure recovery. This can be easily ensured by the above non-traditional channels to reduce the risks involved.
4. Additionally, the students come one year later for the degree and convocation function. If college authorities are in the loop thus they can also help.
5. If we start it at an eminent college like NITR and test modus operendi we can fine tune and move them to other colleges, Most importantly, the seniors who help the juniors to network for jobs, will help pressurize the less than one in 100, who default.
6. Civil society members and eminent persons like the FFE facilitators can ensure that they will provide the addresses of the students, when they graduate.

What Banks can do to improve their public images and eradicate genuine grievances:
They can take few very simple steps:

1. Every year publish a budget their target of lone they want to sanction, on their web site.
a. With security
b. Without security.

2. Between September and March publish every month on web site, the progress:
a. Number of Applicants
i. For secured loans
ii. For unsecured loans

b. No of loans sanctioned by each branch divided in to two categories:
i. Unsecured
ii. Secured
iii. No of pending applications
c. Provide at each bank branch a list of names of loans status in each category in item b, which can be seen by public, similar to documents for public view per provisions of Right to Information Act.

3. Declare a few eminent institutes of the state as institutes of eminence, (which they really are) and qualify anyone admitted there for bank loans, such as:
a. NIT, Rourkela,
b. UCE, Burla,
c. IGIT, Samal,
d. CET, Bhubaneswar,
e. SCBMCollege, Cuttack,
f. VSSMCollege, Burla and
g. MKCGMCollege, Berhampore,
h. Ravenshaw College, Cuttack,
i. BJB College, BBSR,

My letter to PM on IITs - Feb 4 2007

2007-02-05T03:30:00.000-08:00

To: Dr. Manmohan Singh,

Prime Minister of India
Tel: 91-11-2301-2312 , 2301-8939
E-mail: pmosb@pmo.nic.in
http://pmindia.nic.in/write.htm

cc: Mrs. Sonia Gandhi,
President of Indian National Congress and UPA
10, Janpath, New Delhi 110011 India
PH: 91-11-23014161 , 23014481
E-Mail: soniagandhi@sansad.nic.in, aicc@congress.org.in

cc:Mr. Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Orissa, BBSR,

cmo@ori.nic.in
BCC: Members of Parliament of Orissa

Dear Prime Minister:

To all of us, the people of Orissa, the following news is a bolt from the blue. We are asking ourselves – What wrong, have we done, to deserve this, stepmotherly actions from Goverment of India(GOI), time and again?

Because unlike others:

1. We, Orissans did not in our protests (http://iiser.blogspot.com/ ) last year, use any of the disruptive mechanisms like:

* Rasta Roko,
* Rail Roko
* Bundhs etc

2. Instead we used peaceful and modern methods such as:

a. letter writing,

b. candle light vigils,

c. writing in news media,

d. talked to our representatives (MPs) and convinced them to talk to YOU and the Indian parliament.

But instead of being rewarded for our civil behavior and methods, it seems now we are being punished. In this time of strife and terrorism, in many parts of India and world, is this the message you SIR, want to send to your people?

The clear message seems to be: BE VIOLENT AND WE WILL THEN NEGOTIATE WITH YOU? OTHEREWISE WE DON'T CARE OR GIVE A DAMN, AS TO WHAT YOU SAY.

BECAUSE when those who get violent, get what they want, the civil society concludes as follows:

* Protest violently and you get an IIT or similar institution as reward (example: IIT in Assam, Central Institute of Technology, Kokrajhar, Assam as a deal with the Bodos, Sant Longowal Inst. in Punjab, etc.)
* and if you protest peacefully, GOI will punish you, i.e., even take away an announced for IIT or two.

* Hold us to ransom, YOU HAVE YOUR WAY.
* Do non-violent protest and WE GIVE YOU A DAMN.

We believe in peaceful, non-violent and non-disruptive protests and thus we are again writing to you.

We sincerely hope that you will annul the steps amounting to punishment of taking away an IIT from Orissa. Additionally, you will allocate an IIT for Orissa in the 11th plan, as was announced by your (the union) minister of state for HRD Mr. Fatmi on August 28th at Patna.

We also sincerely believe that the 2nd campus of IIT, Kharagpur in Orissa will not only be restored but will be taken full throttle forward and fructified into a full sister IIT of IIT, Kharagpur.

We are shocked to hear recently in Decmeber the following:

19th December 2006: (Various News reports)

The government will set up the eighth Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy announced in the state assembly Tuesday.

20th December 2006 (News reports)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/IITs_to_come_up_in_Bihar_Andhra_and_Rajasthan/articleshow/870671.cms

With the Union human resource development ministry approval, the path has been cleared for the setting up of three more Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) — in Rajasthan, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. At present there are seven IITs in the country — in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kharagpur, Kanpur, Roorkee, Chennai and Guwahati.

Because earlier we had the following news:

11th Plan: News reports say they will have establishment of three
new IITs http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/459579.cms

Each new IITs: At a cost of Rs 4000 crores over six years.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/459579.cms

28th August 2006:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1933613.cms

"... The announcements were made by Union minister of state for HRD MAA Fatmi at the inaugural ceremony of a new experiment of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) called "On Demand Examination" here on Monday.

Fatmi said, "The proposal for one IIT for Bihar and two for Orissa and one Western Indian state besides one IIIT to Bihar will be
included in 11th Five Year Plan". ...

Additionally, during a visit to BBSR the Director of IIT, Kharagpur, had, (obviously at the GOI's concurrence), announced expanding the BBSR extension center into a full fledged branch of IIT, Kharagpur. This branch in due course was envisioned to emerge as a full IIT.

Dear Prime Minister, you can well understand our anguish, when after promising 2 IITs you give us to NONE?? This is unconscionable and unacceptable.

We urge you to reconsider your decision and undo the wrong done to Orissa and it's people.

Why SIR, is YOUR Government rubbing the Orissa's civil society's patience and sense of dignity, time and again?

You know how a sanctioned IISER was relocated out of Orissa last year to KOLKATA. The resultant public resentment/hue and cry, was taken cognizance of by YOUR Government. Consequently, the NISER foundation stone was laid by YOU, SIR during rain ruined visit of YOURS, in August, 2006. We were very pleased indeed.

But now it is turning out a palliative. The NISER, a 700 crore institution, is on it's way – but the highway rubbers of the HRD ministry have again undermined Orissa, and robbed it of two sanctioned IITs, worth in the vicinity of 8000 crores. Thus unexpectedly and shockingly now they have decided to derail one (IIT, KGP's BBSR Branch) and relocate the other, to Andhra Pradesh.

Don't you think these kinds of acts of central Government, hinder the forces of National Integration?

We do not want to over again harp on to the details of the HRD Ministry's mal-distribution of resources across India, which you as the past Deputy Chair of the planning commission, and present Chair, are well aware. This has lead to unequal development and massive discontent, time and again and year after year.

To give just one example: 2006-07 budget: MHRD is scheduled to spend Rs 4.07 on HRD-NH (HRD ministry funded higher education institutions plus institutions of national importance) per person in Orissa, where as it will spend Rs 183.08 in Delhi. The figures (published by GOI) make my point, so I don't have to.

Thus we urge you Sir not to loose sight of this gross indiscretion, of robbing the poor to pamper the rich policy of GOI's HRD ministry. We appeal to you to take corrective actions and do what is RIGHT. If you do this will reward and encourage, civil actions and behavior by the civil society of Orissa and else where.

Best wishes,
Sandip

A forwarded New Year Card - Very innovative

2007-01-02T15:31:00.000-08:00

As I jumped off the building's 11th floor ... ... ... ..

10th floor

9th floor

7th floor

6th floor

4th floor

3rd floor

2nd floor

Now the ground zero

Ya. Life in all its sorrows and happiness, is still beautiful and precious ... .

Do make the best of it ... ... ... .Only Cheers ... .n ... .smiles are counted.

So u better be prepared to smile at whoever u come across!

Text of my 2007 New Year card

2007-01-02T14:54:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous 2007. The following e-letter came to me during last July's (7/11) terroist bombing at Mumbai. I liked it and was greatly inspired by it. I want to share with you, my friends and family.
I am sure you too see the spirit of defience and the real humane spirit in it.

Friday, July 14, 2006 9:52 AM
Subject: A letter from Mumbai

Dear Terrorist,

Even if you are not reading this we don't care. Time and again you tried to disturb us and disrupt our life - killing innocent civilians by planting bombs in trains, buses and cars. You have tried hard to bring death and destruction, cause panic and fear and create communal disharmony but everytime you were disgustingly unsuccessful. Do you know how we pass our life in Mumbai? How much it takes for us to earn that single rupee? If you wanted to give us a shock then we are sorry to say that you failed miserably in your ulterior motives. Better look elsewere, not here.

We are not Hindus and Muslims or Gujaratis and Marathis or Punjabis and Bengaliies. Nor do we distinguish ourselves as owners or workers, govt. employees or private employees. WE ARE MUMBAIKERS (Bombay-ites, if you like). We will not allow you to disrupt our life like this. On the last few occassions when you struck (including the 7 deadly blasts in a single day killing over 250 people and injuring 500+ in 1993), we went to work next day in full strength. This time we cleared everything within a few hours and were back to normal - the vendors placing their next order, businessmen finalizing the next deals and the office workers rushing to catch the next train. (Yes the same train you targetted)

Fathom this: Within 3 hours of the blasts, long queues of blood donating volunteers were seen outside various hospital, where most of the injured were admitted. By 12 midnight, the hospital had to issue a notification that blood banks were full and they didn't require any more blood. The next day, attendance at schools and office was close to 100%, trains & buses were packed to the brim, the crowds were back.

The city has simply dusted itself off and moved on - perhaps with greater vigour.

We are Mumbaikers and we live like brothers in times like this. So, do not dare to threaten us with your crackers. The spirit of Mumbai is very strong and can not be harmed.

Please forward this to others. U never know, by chance it may come to hands of a terrorist in Afghanistan, Pakistanor Iraq and he can then read this message which is specially meant for him!!!

With Love,
From the people of Mumbai (Bombay)

Sandip,
Lila and Barnali

Why can't we sell at the Iron ore at world market price? - Sandip K. Dasverma

2006-12-12T17:38:00.000-08:00

Re: Selling iron at Rs. 27 / Tonne or about $0.57 cents/ Tonne** when real prices in the world market are $84.4 plus. And going up.

An article is in Wall Street Journal of December 6, 2006. I had said earlier in my last June's blog ( http://mathtalentsearch.blogspot.com/2006/06/revisiting-orissa-development-plans.html ) that the steel Industrialists are not in Orissa for their love of Orissa but for making super profits and to tie up remaining Iron ore deposits through MOUs(Memorandum Of Understanding). And that instead of collaborating with other states in India (Chhatisgarh & Jharkhand) like the OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) GOO is foolishly competing with them(and they with each other) and bringing down the price of the ores and diluting the terms and position of strength they are in, I speculated. Now cat is out of the bag. It is clear that POSCO is moving to Orissa because Government of Brazil wanted them to pay the market price for iron ore. Obviously the 30% swap is a sham. They can’t export steel because the official GOO policy, which allows export of steel, only after conversion. So this is a brilliant maneuver to hood wink the established GOO policy with inside help. Once it is exported from their private port who will keep the count of quantity? The fox will be in charge of the hen house, is not it? Expecting the inspector level GOO officers to do it will be like expecting and asking low paid police constables to keep law and order in the City.
Our bureaucrats are so ill informed or compromised that not only are they selling iron at Rs. 26 / Tonne or about $0.57 cents/ Tonne** when real prices in the world market are $84.40, and going up.
I have so far oly seen one initiative by Dr. Jatish Mohanty, the conscientious retired bureaucrat and his team petitioning the President of India. So the GOO can share 50% of the profits due this difference in price of Ore, which is fixed by Government of India. But no other initiative. The Government of Orissa, under Naveen babu has remained as secretive as ever.
I had also argued about the externals (costs of restoring the environment).
I had also noted the deafening silence of our academia and journalists.

And since then only advancement or development has been further give away. To add to the scandalous low prices of Ores, POSCO has managed to get SEZ qualification to their factories, so they don't pay sales tax for 1st 5 years and half sales tax for another 5 years. This is like adding insult to injury.

It is like Dr. Chitta Baral says - giving away family silver.

Why can't we make them pay the market price?? Why can’t we make them pay for the externals? Who is protecting POSCO and the give away and why is Government of India, bent on giving away for cheap ores when price in the world market is increasing in leaps and bounds? I can only speculate but it is the journalists who can answer. The opposition in the state assembly can put on question hour or activists can ask through RTI. But for some reason everyone is silent except small peasants, whose land is being acquired on behalf of the MNCs and corporate houses, by the Government of Orissa. The rest are all quiet.

Again what about our journalists and academia? What are they doing?

No wonder we are poor and this way we will remain poor, unless the give aways are replaced by enlightened self-interest, to ask for fair market prices for commodities we sell.

Yes, we can and will sell but to the highest bidder.

Do I make sense to any one??

The article for those who can't access WSJ:

Publicly, steelmakers and iron-ore producers are clashing, with some steel companies still saying the price of iron ore has reached an apex and iron-ore companies suggesting it hasn't. "The iron-ore market is tight," said Lakshmi Mittal, chief executive of Mittal Steel Co., the world's largest steel company by output and largest single iron-ore purchaser. "I do not expect an increase, but I do not see the iron-ore prices falling." Qi Xiangdong, deputy secretary general of the China Iron and Steel Association, said he expects the iron-ore price to change only by "a small margin" in 2007, either slightly up or slightly down. In some ways, a slight increase is in the best interests of Chinese steel makers because it encourages smaller or mid-level iron-ore producers to develop more reserves and helps China weed out some of its small inefficient steel makers that can't afford any price increase.
Full Text (774 words)
(c) 2005 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Reproduced with permission of copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.

As talks begin between the world's major steel makers and iron-ore producers to set prices for next year, consensus is building that prices will rise between 5% and 10% and that the near-20% increase of this year won't be repeated.

Moreover, Chinese steel makers, who failed in their attempt to resist iron-ore producers' demands this year, are intent on leading the talks and setting an industry pattern. Brazil's Cia. Vale do Rio Doce, the world's largest iron-ore miner, and Shanghai Baosteel Group Corp., one of the largest steel makers in China, have been in early talks about the contracts, according to people familiar with the matter.

Iron ore is a crucial ingredient for making steel. Higher iron-ore costs could pressure steel makers' financial results or lead to higher steel prices, and could raise the cost of making everything from washing machines to cars.

Unlike previous talks, when steel makers were scrambling for supplies, the talks this year are set against a different industry backdrop. Demand for iron ore remains strong and supply tight, but not as tight as last year. Talks are also expected to proceed more quickly this year than last year when China's initial refusal to agree to a 19% increase dragged on for months.

Publicly, steel makers and iron-ore producers are clashing, with some steel companies still saying the price of iron ore has reached an apex and iron-ore companies suggesting it hasn't. "The iron-ore market is tight," said Lakshmi Mittal, chief executive of Mittal Steel Co., the world's largest steel company by output and largest single iron-ore purchaser. "I do not expect an increase, but I do not see the iron-ore prices falling." Qi Xiangdong, deputy secretary general of the China Iron and Steel Association, said he expects the iron-ore price to change only by "a small margin" in 2007, either slightly up or slightly down. In some ways, a slight increase is in the best interests of Chinese steel makers because it encourages smaller or mid-level iron-ore producers to develop more reserves and helps China weed out some of its small inefficient steel makers that can't afford any price increase.

The world's three largest iron-ore producers -- CVRD, Rio Tinto PLC and BHP Billiton Ltd. -- aren't likely to give up their pricing power easily in coming months. Roger Agnelli, president of CVRD, has hinted iron-ore prices haven't topped out yet because the increase hasn't matched the surge in price for copper, another mined mineral with rising demand. Rio Tinto Chief Executive Leigh Clifford, in a presentation to investors in October, said Chinese import demand has been growing by 50 million metric tons or more a year and that iron- ore producers, despite "record levels" of investment in new iron-ore mines, are struggling to increase iron-ore production fast enough to keep up with the commodity boom.

"The industry has, in general, underestimated the enduring strength of demand," Mr. Clifford said. Such market tightness, his comments suggest, could justify higher contract prices. Some observers point out that other big costs for steel makers such as for shipping and coal are more under control, meaning steel companies might be ready to accept a modest increase in the price of iron ore.

"The [iron-ore] producers are eager to get another price increase, and I see few ways to prevent them," said Daniel Altman, a steel analyst for emerging markets at Bear Stearns in New York. "It is not a question of if; it is how much."

The price of iron ore rose 19% in 2004, 71.5% in 2005 and 19% this year to the current price of about $44 per metric ton of iron-ore fines and $76 per metric ton of iron-ore pellets. Observers differ on their perspectives of pricing but tend to agree that price increases by iron-ore makers might be slowing and predict an increase of between 5% and 10% next year with prices flat or declining in the years that follow. Some, however, predict iron-ore companies will have the upper hand and continue increasing prices until 2009.

China has good reason to lead the talks. China produces and consumes about one-third of the more than one billion tons of steel produced globally each year, but it doesn't have plentiful cheap, high-quality iron-ore reserves. It plans to import about 320 million metric tons of iron ore this year and is increasing its internal iron-ore production as much as possible to minimize dependence on iron ore from Australia, Brazil and India.

To hedge against the increasing iron-ore prices, several steel companies such as Luxembourg-based Mittal and Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel Corp. continue buying and developing their own mining assets.
http://infosources.blogspot.com/2006/12/steelmakers-want-to-restrain-iron-ore.html

Singur CPM's grave yard??? Or Is there a way out of this imbroglio??

2006-12-11T22:08:00.000-08:00

I read many informative articles on Singur land acquisition. One of them by Palash Biswas is by far the most informative. It is too long – but only because it has a lot of reference information. As shown here, one can write the additional related info into Blogs, which can then be linked to one's article, as done below.
Mr. Biswas’s article’s first part is really well written. I like the reference to Mrinal Sen, Soumitra and Sunil Ganguly et el's inactivity and silence.
I believe CPM was in the right track when they raised the compensation and included the share croppers in the compensation package, hailed as most progressive so far in India. I would have liked them to persuade TATAs to relocate to Midnapore area, to one crop lands or negotiated the land demand downwards. CPM should have followed its own long standing policy on multi-crop land. They didn’t. They lost the civil society support, when they sent police in, to evict the farmers in the old fashioned way, from their land, home and hearth.
Buddhadev Bhattacharya, the CM, lost me by his latest action. I support principled stand of Medha Patkar (of Narmada Bachao Andolan fame) and Mahasweta Devi (renowned Bengali author and activist, winner of Magsasay Award) on this. I am an Engineer by profession and grew up believing, Neheruvian slogan that "Factories are modern temples", thus I am no Luddite (machine breakers). I am pained and anguished that CPM’s best bet Buddhadev Bhattachariya, the Chief Minister, did not take a principled and different path than what, say BJP would have taken. He lost it when he evicted people by resorting to police force and has landed in this imbroglio.
Many are fishing in troubled water, thus created by CPM, by their unimaginative action. This lack of imagination and contradiction of their own long standing published policy (I understand that time is money for TATAs) has opened the door for the likes of BJP and Trinamool Congress et el and others doing petty politicking.

But using police against people is the oldest tactics of renegade states and authoritarian regimes. It has no place in democratic liberal set up. CPM has lost in a big way their credibility and will now get equated with BJP regimes. By this single action they have lost the support of the civil society and the chance for a fast expansion into the vast areas of India that they could have captured and advanced into – if their action in Singur would have been different and innovative. They might have won the battle of West Bengal’s industrialization – they lost the War for minds of civil society. The proved that they are no different when push comes to shove.

Auto Factory sans the company town?

There are some ways the lost ground can be retrieved. But why can't CPM take a middle ground? Why not TATAs be persuaded to build a plant on 100 to 150 acres, sans the company town? There will be enough land in such a case for factory and even its expansion. The days of company towns are over. There are enough developers in West Bengal and around, who will build high rises in the immediate area, as the need for housing arises after or as the factory is built. The WBG (West Bengal Government) will have to prepare a master plan which mingles both factory and surrounding rural areas, seamlessly.
And for the TATA’s, the total investment required will be less, too.
And if the economic pressure and growth is enough, people will gladly give their land and relocate or be owners of high rises, or rental property, in their own interest. I have seen in my own eyes how in Sunnyvale, California, apple orchards were replaced and became housing and apartment complexes over the years, as house prices rose in the Silicon Valley. Initially they too were reluctant to move out of their orchards.
In my opinion that will be the way to go, because it will generate more jobs and employment by building the area up, instead of creating a company town with similar restrictions of growth. And we will avoid creating new zamindaris of industrialists, after getting rid of the feudal zamindari of colonial times.
Only recently CPI general secretary AB Bardhan has criticized the land acquisition policy, saying it is not in the interest of farmers. He said the chief minister's view that industrialists should be allowed to choose where they wanted to set up their projects was wrong and anti-people. "For industries, you need land. But for that you either use fallow, uncultivable land or land where moribund industrial units are situated. And if you still need agricultural land, you acquire single-crop land and pay adequate compensation to farmers," Bardhan said.
In this context I am reminded of and know about the 4000 acres that TATAS acquired nearly 10 years back in Gopalpur on Sea, Orissa, which is lying fellow. Only recently (2006) TATAs have started an operator training school after enough public hue and cries. It almost amounts to speculator land acquisition on behalf of the rich, is not it? Mind you India’s is one of the highest density populations (851per sq mile vs. 80 per squire mile in USA) in the world. Thus we can’t afford similar generosity in the policy on land, as west.
I hope and wish TATAS will try to win back their clean corporate image by:
1. acquire only enough land for the factory & leave out the rest for housing development to happen as and when people wish.
2. Set new standards of corporate sensitivity in view of public resistance to their moving in.
3. Get WB CM out of the mess he is in.
If they take the above steps everyone will win. An arrogant stand will only bring them peril.

Why Me? - Arthur Ashe the legend...

2006-11-12T15:14:00.000-08:00

Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of AIDS which he got
due to infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983.
From world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed:
"Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"?
To this Arthur Ashe replied: "The world over 5 crore children start playing
tennis, 50 lakh learn to play tennis, 5 lakh learn professional tennis,
50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon,
4 to semi final, 2 to the finals, When I was holding a cup I never asked GOD
"Why me?".
And today in pain I should not be asking GOD "Why me?"

Our Family Daity at Cuttack, Orissa, India

2006-11-03T18:29:00.000-08:00

Dasabhuja Durga with Lakshi, Saraswati, Ganesh, Kartick and Mahishashur, Year 2005 which is built by my younger brother.....

The Naxalite Menace - What is the reason?? How can it be solved??

2006-11-02T09:41:00.000-08:00

I read the recent discussions in various forums and write up by many others on Naxalite movement in Orissa(India) and it's menace. Here are my 2 cents.
I worked in Koraput district nearly six years from 1970 to 1979 except 4 years in between. The deprivation and exploitation I saw was unacceptable and revolting. Have you read Late Gopinath Mohanty's "Paraja"? Though fictional the story is not far from truth for many people in the district. Many leaders have been killed, jailed and maimed. Yet the movement has survived for nearly 40 years now (from 1967). Obviously the ground realities are creating more revolutionaries as they are being killed, won over or withering away with age. These objective conditions must be changed. And 40 years is a long time. What GOO has done is, raised more OMP platoons and provided them with more and better weapons. Have you seen Nishant, the movie, by Shyam Benegal? Tell me if those conditions persist - how can the resistance to it go away? I am more than 25 years out of the country but when I go back I see that a few have become much richer by out right theft (high level of corruption) and the rest are probably as a percent of population going backwards. The difference between "India" and "Bharat" is on the increase. The buffer, the Gandhians are dieing one by one and the civil society consists of spineless people who say what the Govt of the day, want to hear. To day after 60 years of Independence 600 million people of what I call "Bharat" don't have Food security, health security, shelter security, education security, basic human rights security. It is all available in the law book but not actually for "Bharat" but "INDIA" can buy their way or influence, to get it. For "Bharat" there is no chance because it does not have the money to buy into it. Interestingly for whole of India - "India" is 600 million and "Bharat" is 600 million, i.e. 50/50 but for Orissa it is 75/25. I only hope and wish GOO and GOI will be wise enough to spend 75/25 on breads vs. guns rather than the other way around.In such a case the so called menace would go away. At least I think so. Some will say that GOO does not have money to spend on anything so where is the question of buying Guns vs. Bread come from?

To them I say that this will continue as long as the give away to the MNCs and the big business continues along side continued neglect of the small man and backward areas, for lack of resources. Tell me why should GOO give away iron ore rights to POSCO for less than Rs 250 / tonne, when market price of ore is Rs. 2500 / tonne? The curt answer of our intellectuals is Oh, they will go away from Orissa. Are there no Economics or Business professor in Vani Vihar to advise the GOO, as to what to do, under such circumstances? What the history says? Why Govt of Orissa can't form a cartel with Govt of Chatisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharastra and Karnataka, the only other states of India, who have Iron ore and coal? Instead they compete with each other and bring down the prices? Whose interest thus they serve?
Why can't we learn from what middle east's OPEC has done, since mid 70s when it was realised that Petroleum supply is not infinite? I still remember in 1970 a barrel of oil was $1.32. Today it is hovering around $70.00. Yet GOO seating on 91% of chromite ore is practically throwing away the money that could be used for education, Roads, and other development in the state. And the state is always running short of money, while it gives away the store. I can go on and on. It is a confluence of incompetence, lack of imagination, corruption and lack of compassion which has landed us in this unenviable situation.
Naxalite movement is a symptom of this desease. It will go away once the desease is cured and objective conditions removed.

RTI Application to SBI, BBSR -

2006-10-26T02:22:00.000-07:00

Required Information

1. What are the documents needed for a statement loan from SBI?
2. What are special considerations for SCs/STs and backward area student loan?
3. Please provide the district wise amount of student loans sanctioned during the financial years 2001 to 2006 and the budgeted amount for each year. for each year.
4. Please provide the data relating to students loans during the financial year 2004-05 in the following format.

1. Name of the student

2. Institution belonging to District Name
3. Income of Guardian
4. Details of Securities
5. Date of Application
6. Date of Sanction
7. Amount of Loan

1. Please provide the total no. of loan applications during the year 2004-05 (District Wise) and rejections with grounds of rejections (Category wise).

2. Please categories the list of student loans stream wise (like arts, commerce, science, engineering etc).
3. Please provide a cooperative list of student loans sanctioned state wise in the following format for the year 2004-05.

1. Name of the State

2. Total No of Application sanctioned
3. Without Security
4. Total Amount Sanctioned
5. With Security
6. Total Provisional Amount

8. Please provide the information under budgeted and disbursal figures of 2004, 2005, 2006 required for AP and Orissa, minimum.

9. Please provide the information For Orissa For 2000, 2005
1. the total number of students granted loan with security,
2. the total number of students granted loan without security,
3. no of applications received,
4. no of applications sanctioned
5. and amount sanctioned for each and in total,
6. No of applications rejected with reason, why?
1.

Please provide the following information For Orissa for the period of 2006, district wise, and branch wise::

1. the total number of students granted loan with security,
2. the total number of students granted without security,
3. no of applications received,
4. no of applications sanctioned,
5. No of applications rejected with reason, why?
6. . And number of applications pending, now branch wise with date of application received?

Kudos to Dr. Younus from Sandip

2006-10-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

Being sorry for the poor or having empathy for them is an old story. You had both but you took it beyond that to release their energy for their own good. Your action has saved them from double jeopardy.
1. The oppression of the usary of private lenders - an age old phenomenon - in all countries and all cultures.
2. Hard working and talented people remaining poor for want of capital, a catch 22 situation, Capital they could not get because they could not give security and/or pleade assests. And Assets they could not build before they got capital for their perfect business plans.
Your idea and you have intervened like God in their hopeless and hapless lives.
This empowerment will help most of the poor in the world in coming decades to ride out of poverty - I believe.
Thus I extend my heart felt regards and congratulations, as I enjoy the reflected glory as a co-South Asian.
Best wishes,
Sandip

History of VANDE MATARAM

2006-09-24T20:32:00.000-07:00

History of VANDE MATARAM

Many Muslims may choose to sing Vande Mataram'

2006-09-24T19:25:00.000-07:00

Many Muslims may choose to sing Vande Mataram'

The Pioneer > Home

2006-09-21T01:02:00.000-07:00

The Pioneer > Home

Prime Minister of India

2006-09-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister of India

GOP Senators and Powell Defy Bush on Detainees

2006-09-14T23:05:00.000-07:00

GOP Senators and Powell Defy Bush on Detainees

FIVE LIVES OF VANDE MATARAM by Sabyasachi Bhattacahrya

2006-09-14T18:45:00.000-07:00

Indian Express
August 24, 2006

FIVE LIVES OF VANDE MATARAM
by Sabyasachi Bhattacharya

The history of the national song has imbued it with diverse symbolism

The appropriation of cultural creations for
political purposes may be inevitable, but it
should not happen in a state of arrogant
ignorance. The low level of knowledge now on
display in the statements and actions of many
political parties in respect of the song, Vande
Mataram, is surprising. It is surprising because
the song has been part of the language of Indian
politics for over a century. At this moment we
see a rerun of an old series of actions and
reactions intended to stage an enactment of
identity assertions.

The traditional appeal of the captivating lyric,
celebrating the beauty of the motherland, remains
as strong as ever so far as the general public is
concerned. One evidence of this is its popularity
set to
music composed by A.R. Rahman. And yet
political squabbles over the song continue.
Coverage in the electronic media provides
entertainment in juxtaposing the so-called Hindu
and Muslim points of view, a mode of presentation
which allows no other reading of the song.
Actually the meanings read into the poem have
differed widely in the 130 years since it was
written. In terms of the meanings thus attributed
there are about five different phases.

In the beginning were just the words. Reportedly
one of the leading defenders of the song and of
Hindutva has said that the song was written by
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee to honour those who
sacrificed their lives for the country. To defend
the truth about the song from such defenders it
needs to be said that when Bankim first wrote it
in the early 1870s it was just a beautiful hymn
to the motherland, richly-watered,
richly-fruited, dark with the crops of
the
harvests, sweet of laughter, sweet of speech, the
giver of bliss. For several years these first two
stanzas remained unpublished. In 1881 this poem
was included by Bankim in the novel, Anandamath,
and now it was expanded to endow the motherland
with militant religious symbolism as the context
of the narrative demanded.

However, the icon of the motherland, "terrible
with the clamour of seventy million throats",
likened to "Durga holding ten weapons of war"
etc, entered the public imagination much later.
This was from the beginning of Bengal's Swadeshi
agitation in 1905. It was sung in the Congress
session in Benaras in 1905 (music composed by
Tagore), in anti-Partition processions in
Calcutta led by Tagore, in meetings addressed by
Aurobindo Ghose. The latter hailed Bankim as the
rishi of nationalism and translated the poem into
English. Many translations were made, including
one by
Subramaniya Bharathi in 1905. Likewise,
far away from Bengal, Mahatma Gandhi took note of
the song as early as 1905. What is more, Vande
Mataram became a slogan for the common man, to
the extent he participated in anti-British
agitations. Many of the militant nationalists
faced bullets or the gallows with that slogan on
their lips. Thus Vande Mataram became sanctified
as an intrinsic part of the memories of the fight
for freedom.

A third phase in the life of the song began in
the 1930s when objections began to be raised
against the song on two grounds: first, its
association with Anandamath, which depicted the
Muslims of the Nawabi era of the 1770s in Bengal
in a poor light; second, the religious imagery
and idolatry implicit in the stanzas of the poem
following the first two. (Today those innocent of
any knowledge of the song and the novel probably
mistake the part for the whole). M.A. Jinnah,
as
well as a number of Muslim legislators in the
provincial assemblies elected in 1937, became
vociferous against the recitation or singing of
Vande Mataram, a practice introduced by
provincial Congress governments. In response to
this, as well as pressure of Congress members,
Jawaharlal Nehru in October 1937 wrote to Tagore
asking for his opinion regarding the suitability
of the song as a national anthem. The judgement
Nehru received was that the first two stanzas of
Vande Mataram should be accepted; as for the
later part of the verse, Tagore thought it might
offend monotheists, but the song was inextricably
associated with the freedom movement and "the
sacrifices of the best of our youths" since 1905.

Acting upon this advice the Congress Working
Committee recommended that "wherever the Vande
Mataram is sung at national gatherings, only the
first two stanzas should be sung". Jinnah wrote
to
Nehru in March 1938 that the decision was not
to his satisfaction but the Congress stuck to it;
in any event, there was a proviso that any one
who wished not to participate was free to do so.
>From then on the song was a dividing line between
those who doubted the wisdom of this compromise
(C. Rajgopalachari) and those, led by Nehru, who
were opposed to making the song obligatory. In
1939 some provincial governments - like Bihar and
Central Provinces - issued specific instructions
to education departments clarifying that the song
was not obligatory. A fallout was that the slogan
'Vande Mataram' acquired special connotation to
those who valued the Hindu symbolism in the song
and by 1946-47 in some parts of India it became
in inter-communal conflicts the battle cry of the
Hindu community. The earliest instance of Hindu
Mahasabha support to the sanctification of the
song is perhaps the 'Vande Mataram
Day' organised
by the party in 1937.

The fifth and most recent phase in the life of
the song commenced in the Constituent Assembly on
January 24, 1950, when it was sung at the end of
its deliberations. It was resolved that while
Jana Gana Mana was identified as the national
anthem, equally with it Vande Mataram was to be
recognised. It was a motion from the chair, moved
by Rajendra Prasad himself, and unlike other
parts of the Constitution it was never debated
upon in the Constituent Assembly. But the matter
continues to be debated until today. This is not
unexpected, given the eventful history of this
song. Judging by various erroneous statements
which are now being made, it is vitally important
to bear in mind what happened in the past. That
is because the memories of the past, rightly or
wrongly, constitute our present.

The writer, a former VC of Visva Bharati
University, Santiniketan,
is the author of 'Vande
Mataram: The Biography of a Song' (Penguin)