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Naxal-Hit States:NEW TRIBAL PLAN, by Insaf, 19 May, 2011 Print E-mail

Round The States

New Delhi, 19 May 2011

Naxal-Hit States

NEW TRIBAL PLAN

By Insaf

 

Naxal-hit States can look forward to some good news. Acknowledging that the Integrated Action Plan needed a leg-up to bridge the development deficit in Naxalite-infested districts, the Central Government has formulated a new package, Central India Tribal Development Plan for all tribal-dominated areas spanning seven States, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal. To be executed from April next year, the scheme seeks to incentivise governance and give an impetus to over-all progress. Whereby, money would flow uniformly to all districts for empowering gram sabhas including appointment of panchayat secretaries to strengthen the village bodies and enable them to carry out development works in the tribal districts.

 

Importantly, the guidelines for the States’ underscore that the tribals should get a greater say in carrying out new area specific development works, besides several existing schemes such as the food nutrition plan, rural upliftment etc which are part of the on-going Rs. 3500 crores Integrated Action Plan for 60 naxal-affected districts. To ensure that the funds percolate to the actual users, third party monitoring and periodic inspection by a committee comprising civil society members and officials is on the anvil. Only time will tell whether the plan would enable the security forces win the battle against naxalites along-with the tribals’ heart.  

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Karnataka Feud Blows Over

In Karnataka, the Governor Bhardwaj and Chief Minister Yediyurappa have decided to smoke the peace pipe. Finding no takers for his letter to the President, recommending President’s rule in the State, a lonely Governor did a somersault by acknowledging that the BJP-led Government enjoyed a “massive majority” and called Yediyurappa a “friend.” With the Chief Minister said to stay, the Governor reiterated that he himself was going nowhere. Notwithstanding that Bhardwaj continues to hold his cards close to his chest vis-à-vis the convening of the State Assembly from 2 June to enable the Chief Minister prove his majority in a floor test. It remains to be seen whether the new found bonhomie will stay the course or it will be back to Constitutional feuds.

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Tamil Nadu’s Bonanza Victory

AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha has not only swept the polls in Tamil Nadu but has established a new style in populist functioning. For her, credibility seems to be of utmost important. Hours after she assumed the Chief Minister’s office on Monday last, Jayalalitha penned her formal approval to the sops offered during the election campaign. The proposals include: disbursement of 20 kg of rice free of cost under the PDS, distribution of four gram gold for mangalsutra free, marriage assistance of Rs 50,000 to girls holding graduate degrees or diplomas, Rs 1,000 (from Rs 500) monthly assistance to senior citizens, destitute women and the disabled, six-moth maternity leave for government women employees and enhancement of assistance for fishermen from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 during the 45-day ban on fishing. In addition, she set up a Special Programme Implementation Department and can boast of fulfilling her electoral promises. Will the new incumbents in the other States follow?

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Congress Trouble In Andhra

Trouble continues to follow the Congress in Andhra Pradesh. After the electoral drubbing the party received at the hands of recent Congress turncoat Jaganmohan Reddy in Kadappa district, rebellion is brewing within the Party and Government. Several Ministers and MLAs have complained against the Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy for his aloofness and not confiding in them which was detrimental to the Party interest. The tirade started with members of the APCC Minority Cell and Mahila Congress complaining about Reddy’s style of functioning and led to full blown angst by the Chief Minister’s ministerial colleague. Adding to the Congress woes, already 15 MLAs from Guntur defied the party and are supporting Jaganmohan in his fast for farmers. All eyes are on who will blink first!

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Mud Flies Over J&K Civil Exams

If rising infiltration was not bad enough, Jammu and Kashmir is in the throes of a fresh controversy, namely, the recently released combined civil services list. Shockingly, the candidates have claimed that interviews were manipulated to ensure relatives and friends of the States Public Service Commission members made it to the final list of 398 successful candidates out of 40,000 applications, leaving out those who had got scorching high marks. Adding fuel to fire, the PSC has filed an FIR against two candidates who had sought information under the RTI. On the grounds that the PSC’s reply to the two candidates was forged. Scandalously, this is not the first time that the PSC has been charged with manipulating numbers. Only last month, the J&K High Court quashed a list issued by the Commission for Assistant Surgeon (Veterinary) whereby candidates alleged that they had paid Rs.7 lakh each. It remains to be seen whether this is a case of sour grapes.

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Jobs Scam Hits Maharashtra

Maharashtra too has been hit by a job scam. Whereby around 1500 youths from Bihar, UP and other parts of north India were cheated by fraudsters who promised them jobs in the State’s Forest Department and issued them fake appointment letters. The modus operandi of the swindlers was simple: An advertisement in Bihar’s Rozgar Samachar in December last offering 2100 posts followed by an interview where candidates were asked to pay a refundable security deposit of Rs.7300/- along with Rs.500 for police verification and Rs. 300 as registration fees. Predictably, those who paid got joining letters to reach a Pune address, which turned out to be fake. The youth are now running from pillar to post and have sought the police help to recover their monies.

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Crime And Riches Pay

It’s a heady concoction of crime and riches in the new five State Assemblies. West Bengal tops the list of criminal-politico’s with 102 MLAs, followed by Tamil Nadu wherein 66 MLAs nearly 30 per cent have criminal cases pending against them as per their own declarations. The new Kerala Assembly has 67 MLAs with criminal records i.e. 48 per cent, in Assam, 13 MLAs i.e. 10 per cent and in Puducherry, nine MLAs i.e. 30 per cent have admitted to being charge-sheeted. Obversely, the richest Assembly is Tamil Nadu boasting of 120 crorepatis, West Bengal and Assam has 47 wealthy MLAs followed by Kerala with a total of 35 MLAs .The Assembly with the least number of the wealthy is Puducherry with 19 legislators. Clearly crime and money pays in politics! ---INFA

 

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

 

 

 

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