On Sunday 8 June 2014, Narendra Modi said something to the effect - so far the development work done
in the country was with a western perspective, and now he would like to
work with an Indian perspective.
He was speaking on the occasion of the launch of the book - Getting India Back on track – An Action Agenda for Reform, and as always, he spoke with great conviction and displayed a very clear vision about the ideas are churning in his mind.
Amongst many of the thinks he said, this one particular line that caught my attention.
And I strongly believe this is the crux of the problem with the Indian development model.
Most of the development policies of this country, especially, those formed during the last Congress-led regimes have been made by people who had studied the economics related topics from institutes in foreign countries.
It would be safe to assume that during the overseas education, these leaders learnt the benchmarks and scales that have been refined to measure the economic progress of those countries. When referring to India, these very benchmarks and scales where applied to the Indian scenario without giving adequate consideration to the local variables or conditions.
So naturally when the issues raised were based on alien parameters the solutions were also bound to be based on those very perspectives and hence were not designed to suit or solve our problems as we see them. Though the country may appear to have progressed in financial numbers one notices that the masses are generally not happy with the so-called progress.
Narendra Modi spoke of this in one statement during his speech, I feel he must have thought about this a lot more.
Narendra Modi is a good orator with a great vision for where he would like to take this country in the next decade. I only hope and wish him the best so that his ideas and words are converted into actions and results.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
What action was taken against the the Wrong-Doers of Campa Cola Housing Society?
Time and again, there crops up news about builders and developers keep violating regulations and approvals in the structures that erect. All this happens right under the noses of the civic authorities, sometimes even in connivance.
These builders then manage to sell their illegal structures for a huge profit, leaving their innocent consumers to face the music with the civic bodies.
The Campa Cola Housing Society is also an example of one such project. The matter has even been heard by the Supreme Court of India. In the latest development, the people are being made to vacate so that demolishing may be done.
Another project - The Adarsh Building - is also in the limelight for some similar wrong reasons.
Way back in the 90s, several top, illegal floors of Pratibha, another high rise in Mumbai's Peddar Road area, had been demolished for similar reasons.
One common feature in each of these cases is that the builders managed to sell the illegal projects and very little action was taken against the wrong-doers. The major part of the burden of the penalty (the consequences of demolitions and other actions) had to be borne by the residents at these projects.
Very little, almost negligible, action was taken against the builders and promoters - Why?
I wonder, what action has been taken this time against the erring builders and promoters of the Campa Cola Housing Society????????
These builders then manage to sell their illegal structures for a huge profit, leaving their innocent consumers to face the music with the civic bodies.
The Campa Cola Housing Society is also an example of one such project. The matter has even been heard by the Supreme Court of India. In the latest development, the people are being made to vacate so that demolishing may be done.
Another project - The Adarsh Building - is also in the limelight for some similar wrong reasons.
Way back in the 90s, several top, illegal floors of Pratibha, another high rise in Mumbai's Peddar Road area, had been demolished for similar reasons.
One common feature in each of these cases is that the builders managed to sell the illegal projects and very little action was taken against the wrong-doers. The major part of the burden of the penalty (the consequences of demolitions and other actions) had to be borne by the residents at these projects.
Very little, almost negligible, action was taken against the builders and promoters - Why?
I wonder, what action has been taken this time against the erring builders and promoters of the Campa Cola Housing Society????????
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Some win Some lose
On one side, the Congress party has suspended Bhawarlal Sharma, a MLA from Rajasthan, for expressing his opinion over the causes of his party's miserable performance in the recently concluded General Elections 2014.
On the other side we have, BJP leadership including Narendra Modi that is encouraging its cadre and even the general public to highlight the failures of the party if it fails to perform. Today, Narendra Modi and his party leaders visited BJP office to interact and thank the party workers for their endless efforts and dedication that led to the party's victory.
What a contrast?
On the other side we have, BJP leadership including Narendra Modi that is encouraging its cadre and even the general public to highlight the failures of the party if it fails to perform. Today, Narendra Modi and his party leaders visited BJP office to interact and thank the party workers for their endless efforts and dedication that led to the party's victory.
What a contrast?
Monday, May 26, 2014
Mein, Narendra Damodardas Modi, ... - Finally we have our 15th Prime Minister
Mein, Narendra Damodardas Modi, ...These were the words we had waited for and these were finally said by Narendra Modi when he was sworn in as the 15th Prime Minister of the world's largest democracy.
President of India Pranab Mukherjee appointed, Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India and as advised by the Prime Minister, the President appointed the following ministers and administered the oath of office and secrecy to all of them.
CABINET MINISTERS
- Raj Nath Singh
- Smt. Sushma Swaraj
- Arun Jaitley
- M. Venkaiah Naidu
- Nitin Jairam Gadkari
- D.V. Sadananda Gowda
- Sushri Uma Bharati
- Dr. Najma A. Heptulla
- Gopinathrao Munde
- Ramvilas Paswan
- Kalraj Mishra
- Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi
- Ananthkumar
- Ravi Shankar Prasad
- Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati
- Anant Geete
- Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal
- Narendra Singh Tomar
- Jual Oram
- Radha Mohan Singh
- Thaawar Chand Gehlot
- Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani
- Dr. Harsh Vardhan
MINISTERS OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
- General V.K. Singh
- Inderjit Singh Rao
- Santosh Kumar Gangwar
- Shripad Yesso Naik
- Dharmendra Pradhan
- Sarbananda Sonowal
- Prakash Javadekar
- Piyush Goyal
- Dr. Jitendra Singh
- Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman
MINISTERS OF STATE
- G.M. Siddeshwara
- Manoj Sinha
- Nihalchand
- Upendra Kushwaha
- Radhakrishnan P
- Kiren Rijiju
- Krishan Pal
- Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan
- Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava
- Raosaheb Dadarao Danve
- Vishnu Deo Sai
- Sudarshan Bhagat
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Man of the Year - Arvind Kejriwal
By far, Arvind Kejriwal easily qualifies as the Man of the Year in India.
His achievement - Arvind Kejriwal has single-handed changed the way Indians think about politics and politicians.
The man has been crusading for more than a decade against corruption in government offices. I am sure many must not have taken him seriously when he formed his Aam Admi Party (AAP), but he has proved his mantle.
It is alleged that AAP is the only party that did not use any unfair means to contest the poll.
AAP has exceeded all expectations. The nascent party has bagged 28 seats in Delhi in the state elections that were held in December his year. Even though the party failed to get majority scenario evolved such that it has formed the government in the state.
On 28th December 2013, he has been sworn-in as Delhi's Chief Minister.
His achievement - Kejriwal has become the symbol of clean and good representation in Indian politics.
His achievement - Arvind Kejriwal has single-handed changed the way Indians think about politics and politicians.
The man has been crusading for more than a decade against corruption in government offices. I am sure many must not have taken him seriously when he formed his Aam Admi Party (AAP), but he has proved his mantle.
It is alleged that AAP is the only party that did not use any unfair means to contest the poll.
AAP has exceeded all expectations. The nascent party has bagged 28 seats in Delhi in the state elections that were held in December his year. Even though the party failed to get majority scenario evolved such that it has formed the government in the state.
On 28th December 2013, he has been sworn-in as Delhi's Chief Minister.
His achievement - Kejriwal has become the symbol of clean and good representation in Indian politics.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Finally - Indian Parliament passes Lokpal Bill
Finally! Yes finally - almost four decades - Indian Parliament finally clears the Lokpal Bill.
The demand for an ombudsman to investigate and punish errant public servants was first raised by Jaiprakash Narayan in the seventies. Jayprakash Narayan popularly referred to as JP had launched a movement to fight against corruption and misrule is 1974.
The demand for Lokpal once again picked up steam in 2010 when Shanti Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and others came together under the stewardship of Kisan Baburao (Anna) Hazare of Nanded.
Anna has overall sat on hunger strike 18 times out of which the last four fasts have been for getting the Jan Lokpal Bill passed by parliament.
April 2011 -Anna fasted for 5 day at New Delhi.
August 2011 - Anna fasted for 13 days again at New Delhi. This proved to be a turning point in Indian politics. People came to the streets in all parts of the country in support of Anna Hazare and Lokpal. Prime Minister and the whole parliament came together and promised Anna that the Lokpal would be passed at the earliest.
December 2011 - At Mumbai - Anna fasted for 2 days.
December 2013 - Probably the last fast by Anna for Lokpal Bill. This was Anna's 18th fast in all and lasted for 9 days. This time the government bowed and the Lokpal Bill as passed by both houses of parliament.
But by this time, Arvind Kejriwal who had been a key person in Anna's Lokpal campaign had left his side. Kejriwal had formed his own political party. His party had contested in the Delhi State Polls - an election in which the Congress Party was miserably trounced.
Although the Bill passed by parliament is not exactly what Anna Hazare had set out for, yet Anna has accepted the Bill in its current form with the confidence that coming parliamentarians will introduce modifications based the experiences gathered.
The demand for an ombudsman to investigate and punish errant public servants was first raised by Jaiprakash Narayan in the seventies. Jayprakash Narayan popularly referred to as JP had launched a movement to fight against corruption and misrule is 1974.
The demand for Lokpal once again picked up steam in 2010 when Shanti Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and others came together under the stewardship of Kisan Baburao (Anna) Hazare of Nanded.
Anna has overall sat on hunger strike 18 times out of which the last four fasts have been for getting the Jan Lokpal Bill passed by parliament.
Anna's Fasts for Lokpal
April 2011 -Anna fasted for 5 day at New Delhi.
August 2011 - Anna fasted for 13 days again at New Delhi. This proved to be a turning point in Indian politics. People came to the streets in all parts of the country in support of Anna Hazare and Lokpal. Prime Minister and the whole parliament came together and promised Anna that the Lokpal would be passed at the earliest.
December 2011 - At Mumbai - Anna fasted for 2 days.
December 2013 - Probably the last fast by Anna for Lokpal Bill. This was Anna's 18th fast in all and lasted for 9 days. This time the government bowed and the Lokpal Bill as passed by both houses of parliament.
But by this time, Arvind Kejriwal who had been a key person in Anna's Lokpal campaign had left his side. Kejriwal had formed his own political party. His party had contested in the Delhi State Polls - an election in which the Congress Party was miserably trounced.
The Bill
Although the Bill passed by parliament is not exactly what Anna Hazare had set out for, yet Anna has accepted the Bill in its current form with the confidence that coming parliamentarians will introduce modifications based the experiences gathered.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Will India finally get its Lokpal?
It seems that the Lokpal Bill will finally go through.
So much time has passed since the fast of Anna Hazare and since the Prime Minister had sent a letter of promise assuring that Parliament would pass the Lokpal Bill at the earliest. In fact, so much time has passed that many of us had started feeling the government had fooled Anna. I am sure, Anna too must have felt the same way otherwise would he have to go on fast again.
After the severe bashing received in the recently concluded state elections, I think the Congress party must have realized that it cannot ignore Anna Hazare and his fasting anymore. Whatever be the reason, the fact remains that the Bill is out of the refrigerator and has been taken up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha. Surprisingly, Congress supremo Rahul Gandhi has displayed a positive stance on the Lokpal Bill.
The party's young leader Rahul Gandhi has spoken in its favor and requested the other parties to ensure that the Bill is passed. The latest development is that even Anna Hazare has said that he accepts the provisions of amended Lokpal that has been tabled in the Rajya Sabha for discussion.
In the current scenario, even BJP cannot afford to ignore the Bill anymore.
So, it seems that the Lokpal Bill will finally go through.
So much time has passed since the fast of Anna Hazare and since the Prime Minister had sent a letter of promise assuring that Parliament would pass the Lokpal Bill at the earliest. In fact, so much time has passed that many of us had started feeling the government had fooled Anna. I am sure, Anna too must have felt the same way otherwise would he have to go on fast again.
After the severe bashing received in the recently concluded state elections, I think the Congress party must have realized that it cannot ignore Anna Hazare and his fasting anymore. Whatever be the reason, the fact remains that the Bill is out of the refrigerator and has been taken up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha. Surprisingly, Congress supremo Rahul Gandhi has displayed a positive stance on the Lokpal Bill.
The party's young leader Rahul Gandhi has spoken in its favor and requested the other parties to ensure that the Bill is passed. The latest development is that even Anna Hazare has said that he accepts the provisions of amended Lokpal that has been tabled in the Rajya Sabha for discussion.
In the current scenario, even BJP cannot afford to ignore the Bill anymore.
So, it seems that the Lokpal Bill will finally go through.
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