Round The States

New Delhi, 15 January 2009

Global Investors Summit

GUJARAT LEADS THE OTHER STATES

By Insaf

Narendra Modi’s Gujarat leads all the other States in attracting investment—both Indian and global. The State has garnered a commitment of nearly Rs 9,00,000 crore worth of investments for the next three years. It could go up to Rs 10 lakh-crore mark by the time all MOUs are signed. The record amount was attracted in just 48 hours! The Who’s Who of India’s corporate world had descended on Ahmedabad on Monday last for the two-day Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit and were all praise for Modi’s abilities. The first day alone saw 444 MOUs worth 7,48,970 crore being signed and investment worth Rs.32,923 crore pledged, which would generate jobs for 8.28 lakh people. The power sector was the most popular investment destination (Rs 2,04,395 crore), followed by alternate energy sector, (Rs 1,02,922 crore), Special Investment Region in Dholera (Rs 1,00,000 crore), Special Economic Zones (Rs 77,248 crore) etc.    

The top corporate houses which pledged investments and signed MOUs included the Tata group, Rs 21,000 crore, other than in its Nano car project, Aditya Birla group Rs 20,000 crore in cement, fibre and telephony, Essar group Rs 24,000 crore in petroleum and solar energy, L&T Rs 25,000 crore, in manufacturing, road infrastructure, Adani group Rs 27,000 crore in Mundra SEZ, SBI Rs  30,000 crore to support NREGS, Videocon 12,000 crore. The Summit was the fourth since Modi took over the reins in 2001 and this year’s kitty was double from 2007’s Rs 4,61,835 crore. Amidst an audience which included Kenyan PM with his Cabinet, Singapore’s Foreign Minister and Ministers from Italy, Sri Lanka and Uganda.  Modi said: “We believe in turning difficulties into opportunities. We will turn the global meltdown into an opportunity too.” None other than Ratan Tata graciously vouched for it. Modi had, after all, cleared formalities for his Nano car project in just three days. 

*                                   *                             *                                               *

Sub-Categorisation of Dalits

Many States could be up in arms if the Centre tries to push for creation of sub-categories among Dalits, with a separate quota for each. The Union Social Justice Ministry, it is learnt, is toying with the idea that the Centre amend the Constitution to allow the States to sub-categorize if they wish and limit the move to reservations in jobs and education at the State level. Though the Centre will only be a facilitator, the responsibility for dividing SCs into categories would lie with the States, is the Ministry’s justification. However, not only have the States not been consulted, the proposal itself is being seen as designed to bypass the Supreme Court ruling that bars States from tampering with SC list. Recall, that in its bid to gain political mileage, the ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh had divided SCs among groups and apportioned the 15% quota among them “to ensure all benefit”. It was struck down both by the Andhra High Court and the apex court. It remains to be seen whether the Union Cabinet will give its nod to such a proposal, as and when it is final or discard it under the fear of drawing States’ criticism.

*                                   *                           *                                               *

Land Grab Case Against Raje 

With the change in regime in Rajasthan, former BJP Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje finds herself in a spot. The State police, under the new Congress Government on Monday last filed a case against her and five others for allotment of land to Deen Dayal Trust in Jaipur, headed by her. Apparently, the land, about 6,400 sq metres was given to the Trust even before it was registered. Not just this, the Jaipur Development Authority sold the land in 2005 for a pittance, Rs 36.19 lakh as against the going market rate of Rs 50 crore. Accused of cheating, criminal breach of trust by a public servant, forgery and criminal conspiracy, Raje, if proved guilty, could be “liable for punishment for a period of 7 years to life imprisonment.” The other five accused include former Home Minister, Gulab Chand Kataria, Urban Development and Housing Minister Pratap Singh Singhvi, the former state BJP chief Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi, Jaipur Mayor and former chairman of Rajasthan Housing Board. So far Raje is dismissing it as political vendetta. Is it?

*                                   *                               *                                               *

Assam’s Bangladeshi Problem

Assam’s critical problem of illegal Bangladeshis is getting compounded with over 30,000 of the “detected” migrants going underground. These Bangladeshis had been “detected and confirmed as infiltrators”, after they illegally got into Assam since 1985. These facts were placed before the State Assembly last week by none other than the Minister for Assam Accord Implementation Bhumidhar Barman. As per statistics, in all 19,304 persons have been absconding after they were identified as infiltrators by the Foreigners Act between 1986 and October 2008. In addition 11,299 infiltrators identified as foreigners under the Illegal Migrants (Detection by Tribunals) between 1985 and 2005 too had gone missing. What is further shocking is that only 61 migrants were deported of the 7,622 detected between 2001 and October 2008, under the Foreigners Tribunal Act and another 54 of the 2,643 illegal migrants between 2001 and July 2005 under IMDT. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram declared the other day that Bangladeshis had “no business to be in India,” with or without permission. How?

*                                   *                          *                                               *

Soren Quits As Chief Minister

Jharkhand is again in the throes of a political turmoil. On Monday last, Shibu Soren resigned as Chief Minister after a five-day drama, following his defeat in the Tamar Assembly by-election. Though he was toying with the idea of trying his luck from another constituency, the UPA put the pressure on him to vacate the post. However, Soren is now trying hard to get his own man Champai Soren, to be his successor. But there are no takers, even within the JMM. On its part, the Opposition is demanding imposition of President’s rule to pave the way for fresh elections. Soren’s government has survived with a thin majority in the 81-member Assembly, with 43 MLAs-- JMM’s 17, Congress nine, RJD’s seven and 10 independents. Tragically, the State has witnessed six Chief Ministers in eight years. Not only has there been a tussle for power between the rivals NDA and UPA, but within the respective alliance itself. Since 2003, the State has witnessed a see-saw battle between BJP’s Babulal Marandi and Arjun Munda and Soren and Independent Madhu Koda for the Chief Minister’s kursi. When will this uncertainty end?       

*                                   *                        *                                               *

Kashmir Struggles To Deliver

Normal deliveries are a luxury for Kashmiri women, which they can ill afford. This is apparent after one look at Srinagar’s premier maternity facility, the Lal Ded hospital. Built to house 500 patients, the hospital, which is the only specialized anti-natal care centre in the State, has over 1500 persons at any given time. The maternity ward is bursting at the seams as there are 80-100 deliveries daily. Of these nearly 40-50 turn out to be caesarean, not out of choice but compulsion. Given how hard pressed medics are for both time and beds, making a patient wait for a natural delivery can be risky, explain employees. And, caesarean helps them deal with the backlog faster. The existing condition is primarily  because there is no support network—primary health centres and sub-district hospitals, reportedly explains Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, Principal, Government Medical College and Nodal Officer of all allied hospitals. With overloading a major problem—two to three patients in a bed in wards and only 12 labour rooms, what else can be done? ---INFA

 (Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)