Round The States

New Delhi, 12 January 2012

Punjab Power Struggle

INTRA-FAMILY FEUDS TAKEOVER

By Insaf

The power struggle in Punjab is getting intriguing and more exciting. Dynastic feuds seem to have overtaken the battle for dynastic rule in the State. The clamour for party tickets in the Assembly elections month-end is splitting the political families wide open. The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and the Opposition Congress are busy accommodating each other’s sulking relatives. The latest entrant in the ‘family soap opera’is Malvinder Singh, younger brother of Congress chief and scion of the Patiala royal family Capt Amarinder Singh. Malvinder joined Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s Shiromani Akali Dal fold after his seat was sacrificed to Amarinder’s son Raninder Singh. Earlier, Badal’s nephew and former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal had quit SAD and floated his own People’s Party of Punjab. Apparently, he was upset over uncle Badal preferring to pass on the mantle to son Sukhbir Singh Badal. Manpreet, however, too has received a jolt with cousin Jagbir Singh Brar, who too had quit the SAD and joined his PPP, moving over to the Congress. While there are more such breakups and some others cannot be ruled out, one thing is certain-- elections in Punjab are changing with inter-party rivalry taking a backseat as of now.  

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States Malnourished Kids

Six States have made heads hang in shame. Shockingly, nearly 61 million or 42 per cent of children below five years are malnourished and stunted, as per a report Hunger and Malnutrition, released on Tuesday last. Of the 112 focus districts surveyed, the ‘Bimaru’ States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan other than Jharkhand and Odisha perform the worst on child nutrition. The prevalence of malnutrition is higher among children from low-income families, particularly from Muslim or SC/ST households. While the States need to get their act together, the report has in fact put a big question mark on some much-touted schemes of the Centre. Clearly, three programmes-- the Mid-day Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Scheme and Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, specifically designed to reach out to the underprivileged kids leave much to be desired. Importantly, malnutrition should not be seen merely as a health issue. It is much more serious as the nation’s future lies in the health of this generation.       

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Andaman Islands Outrage

“Human Safaris” in Andaman & Nicobar Islands have sent shock waves across the country. On Tuesday last, a video clip on the site of London-based Observer newspaper showed half-naked Jawara tribal women being made to dance for food before tourists! Worse, the report alleged the involvement of a policeman. While the Union Tribal Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo described the footage as “obnoxious and disgusting”, the Union Home Ministry has ordered an inquiry. The Union Territory administration has been asked to verify when the footage was taken and by whom. Though the latter in its preliminary report states the video clip is “old”, the moot point is can it negate the incident. Additionally, the question to be asked is how ‘human safari’ was allowed within the reserve forests when there is a Supreme Court order asking the administration to implement the Jarawa buffer zone notification. Surely, this inhuman act must not get embroiled in “old or new video” controversy. Accountability has to be fixed and action against the guilty is a must.        

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Kashmir Groping In Dark

Kashmir woes never seem to end. This time around the street protests are against lack of power supply, at a time when its freezing cold with temperatures below sub zero. The people are literally shivering, helpless and groping in the dark, as heavy snowfall has damaged towers and high-voltage lines supplying electricity to the Valley. Instead of the usual 800MW, the State has some 70MW to dispense! Sadly, much of the power supplied to the Valley comes from outside, as the State does not have many power projects, barring Lower Jhelum and Uri. Worse, the Electricity Board has a record of the worst transmission and distribution loss ratio, with theft and unpaid bills stalling efforts to modernise infrastructure or buy more power from the northern grid. A helpless Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has had to requistion the IAF to help restore power supply. This apart, he has sought to quell tempers by issuing orders that no concessions be made to VIP areas with the meagre supply available. Guess, a prayer to the weather God would too help, as its been the most bitter winter in two decades.        

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Tripura’s Promising Start

It’s been a promising start to the New Year for Tripura, one of the neglected North Eastern States. On Wednesday last, it hosted the first foreign Prime Minister—Bangladesh’s Shiekh Hasina on its soil. Though her visit was to receive the first ever honorary D Litt from the Tripura University, industry and business captains are hopeful that it would give a big fillip to bilateral trade. While Dhaka has agreed to provide access to the Chittagong Port for transportation of goods to and fro through both road and rail, talks also revolved around development of road communication and other infrastructure along with land custom stations at the international border. Fingers are now crossed that transit through Bangladesh would become a reality and make Tripura, which was the unofficial war headquarters of the Bangladesh liberation war of 71, a gateway to the North East.

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Bangalore’s Bus Day

Metropolitan cities can learn a lesson or two on improving traffic management from Bangalore. The capital of Karnataka has shown the way to popularize public transport and cope up with the ever increasing numbers of vehicles congesting roads. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation has introduced “Bus Day” on every fourth of the month on a dozen of crucial corridors and increased the frequency of the buses. It has received a welcome response, with people avoiding using cars or two-wheelers on these stretches. Well, not only has the BMTC ensured better facilities, better infrastructure and a comfortable bus ride, but its overall vision has also helped it rake in Rs 50 crore profit and bag the Best State Transport Undertaking award in the profit-making category amongst all State Transport Undertakings. Will other States please head in the same direction? ---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)