Round The States

New Delhi, 18 August 2011

Anna Grabs Eyeballs

STATES ECHOES PROTESTS

By Insaf

Gandhian crusader Anna Hazare’s campaign against corruption and ‘fast unto death’ is grabbing eyeballs all over the country. Turn North, East, West or South the story is the same: People are out in droves to support Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘incarnate’ and his Jan Lokpal Bill. Leading the pack is Union Capital Delhi where thousands congregated outside Tihar Jail where the anti-sleaze champion was lodged for three days after being picked up by the Delhi Police from his house at 7.00 am on 16 August. Candle light vigils were held in the majestic India Gate as others marched to Parliament Street to express solidarity. Resulting in the UPA Government cutting a sorry figure, buckling under the aam aadmi’s pressure by giving in to all of Anna’s demands. In India’s financial capital Mumbai’s Azad Maidan nearly 100 people, many among them young Indians professionals from the world over sat on a fast. Interestingly, in Anna’s village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra not only did the villagers take to the streets but all educational institutions, offices  and shops were  shutdown  to protest the detention of their leader.

The common refrain in State after State: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Government needs to read the writing on the wall. The aam aadmi wants an end to ghooskhori. Be they lawyers, doctors, the aged and young. Enough is enough was the refrain in Bihar, where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar warned: “The more the Centre tries to crush a democratic movement, the more it will grow.” Ditto the case in Gujarat. In Orissa, the Assembly had to be adjourned following the ruling BJD and BJP MLAs condemning the crackdown on Anna. Even the North-East did not remain untouched. Assam, Manipur and Arunachal too resonated with a clarion call for supporting the Gandhian. More. Importantly, Anna’s movement is a warning to those States which have yet to constitute the Lokayukta in the States. Only 18 States have a Lokayukta as a watchdog to cleanse their respective States of corrupt politicians and officials. Already, two Lokayukta in Karnataka and UP have resulted in the resignation of a Chief Minister and a Cabinet Minister respectively. Anna’s campaign is a beacon to the remaining States to fall in line. It remains to be seen whether the Centre will bite the bullet and introduce the Jan Lokpal Bill? 

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Committee Rule In WB

Civil society appears to be making headway even in West Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has chosen to give it due importance and assist her in running the Government.  However, true to herself she appears to have gone overboard. Writer’s Building boasts of 43-odd committees to advice her Government today, other than the highest permissible number of 43 Ministers in her Cabinet!  The panels range from: Higher education, releasing all political prisoners, Kolkata’s beautification, negotiating talks with Maoists, improving the healthcare system, reviewing Gorkhaland Territorial Administration’s new areas in Terai and Dooars et al. But, there is a big question mark on whether this committee system can deliver. For instance, one panel, to initiate dialogue with the Maoists in Junglemahal has yet to start negotiations. The moot question is: Will civil society help her deliver or will it just enjoy the perks committees have?

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Bihar’s Novel I’Day

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar can provide a lesson or two to his counterparts on how to win both hearts and vote of the people. His latest novel idea came to the fore on Independence Day. Innovatively, he asked the Mahadalits across the State to hoist the Tricolour in their villages. In fact, he made it a point to be present at Abupur Mushari Tola in Koriama Panchayat in Patna district for the same among other dignitaries. In all, the State Government organized flag-hoisting ceremonies in around 28,000 Mahadalit hamlets by allocating Rs 500 each and getting the community’s eldest member to unfurl the tiranga. This apart, Nitish also launched the Right to Public Services Act, which aims at curbing corruption in Government offices in the State. He specifically urged people not to pay bribes as “now the work shall be done within a stipulated period.” If not, the officers shall face punishment, is his assurance. 

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UP Lokayukta’s Victory

Uttar Pradesh refreshingly seems to be taking a cue from Karnataka. Lokayukta N K Mehrotra has sent a loud and clear message that he means business. And, so does Chief Minister Mayawati who echoed the same. On Wednesday last, the Minister of State for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, Awadh Pal Singh Yadav submitted his resignation to the BSP Chief following his severe censure by the Lokayukta. The latter recommended his removal for indulging in corrupt practices, including allegations of grabbing gram sabha land, assisting his son and relatives to bag contracts and getting false cases lodged against his rivals. While Yadav refutes the charges and claims that he resigned on his own, it is learnt that he did so only after Mayawati spoke to him. Obviously, the BSP supremo, embroiled in controversies, can ill-afford further embarrassment. 

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Punjab’s Immigration Scam

The youth in Punjab is sadly a misguided lot. They are dangerously getting lured to devious immigration shops, which have mushroomed all over the State. The human trafficking racket has further come to light with several young Punjabi boys sending an SOS to the Indian mission in Iraq. Their grievance: Instead of lucrative jobs they are being forced to clear defused and live ammunition from fields and preparing them for agriculture. Worse, over 15000 youth are languishing in jails of other countries for illegally staying abroad. Shockingly, the police have not been able to convict even a single agent. This is not all. The State Government has not made any headway in promulgating the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Bill, passed by the Assembly last year. The absurdity is that it awaits Presidential consent. How long will the youth and their parents have to wait?

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MP Drug Mess

Bureaucratic indecision has resulted in lakhs worth of medicines going waste in Madhya Pradesh. Scandalously, the medicines bought over the last three years for the rural poor, have now expired and are rotting in a warehouse in the State’s Harda district. This crippling blow to the needy is thanks to the lack of coordination between the medical officers in the various districts. Not only that. Shamefully the State bureaucrats continue to play the blame game by passing the buck for the drugs “expiring” in godowns, even as the needy remain deprived. What makes the situation even more disgusting is that for disposal of these expired medicines, health officers are awaiting the Health Secretary’s orders. Indeed, life in the State as in the rest of the country boils down to just statistics! ---INFA

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