Round The States

New Delhi, 18 July 2013

Bihar Kids, UP Youth

STATES COULDN’T CARE LESS?

By Insaf

Bihar and Uttar Pradesh ideally should be in a state of shock. While the former must find it difficult to come to terms with the midday meal tragedy in Chhapra which has claimed 22 kids’ lives so far, the latter is recovering from the violence of students protesting in Allahabad against caste-based quotas. The two States have been hit hard early this week. On Tuesday last, 25 children of a primary school in Gandaman village were admitted to Patna Medical college, some brought dead, after they had their midday meal, which now reveals had pesticides. Worse, other than trying to pass it on as a “political conspiracy”, the JD(U) was crassly casual in not heeding to the HRD’s recent warning that the meal quality was poor and unhygienic! Can it face the poor parents and do more than just give monetary compensation? 

Likewise, the Samajwadi Party Government has paid little heed to the students’ ire against the introduction of caste-based reservation from preliminary stage in the UP State civil services examination. The youth had been staging protests and dharna for the past week. However, on Monday last, about 15,000-odd student protestors went on a rampage pelting stones, vandalising shops and smashing and torching vehicles in Allahabad. They claimed that the new quota policy, wherein the UPPSC opened the unreserved category vacancies for reserved category candidates, was solely aimed to benefit the castes that were “traditional voters” of SP (read OBC Yadav community). While the Government managed to restore order, it has left the charge unanswered. But it cannot remain silent for long and will need to spell out why the change, as the matter is in the Allahabad High Court. It better have the right answer, lest it be accused of playing politics with its youth’s future!           

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Maharashtra’s Dance Bars

Thousands in Maharashtra’s capital Mumbai would literally be dancing with joy. And, perhaps signing praises of the Supreme Court for an order which could give back their livelihood with dignity. They are the city’s women bar dancers. On Tuesday last, the apex court lifted the State Government’s 2005 ban on dance bars terming it “abhorrent”. Importantly, it gave the ruling Congress-NCP a lesson or two in morality. How is dancing in these bars than in Five-star hotels any different, was the moot question. It’s assertion that the “legislation is based on an unacceptable presumption that the so called elite…would have higher standards of decency, morality or strength of character than their counterparts, who have to content themselves with lesser facilities of inferior quality in dance bars,” is indeed welcome. Some 1,250-odd dance bars across Mumbai were shut down by the Government claiming these were obscene and promoted prostitution. No longer is the stigma. Will it reissue licenses and give back livelihood or carry out its threat of going for a review petition? 

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NSCN(IM)-Centre Tax War 

The Centre is at its wits end with goings on in Nagaland. The Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim, NSCM, (IM) has shown a thumbs down to its demand to stop levying the so-called “taxes” on the common people. On Wednesday last, the group, in peace talks with the Centre since 1997, has in a press note stated: “being a de-facto government, the NSCN has legitimate right to levy tax in Nagalim and that it should not be interpreted as extortion.” This apart, it has rubbished the Centre’s assertion that the practice cannot be allowed to continue, as it points out that nowhere in the ceasefire ground rules is it written that it cannot levy tax!  Last month, the Union Home Ministry told the Neiphiu Rio government in no uncertain terms that the “State takes its responsibility seriously and start looking after the interest of its subjects,” under unbearable pressure of rising prices. Will it yield? If not, is there any other choice for the Centre. Can it do more than just cry hoarse of ceasefire rules being violated and continue the peace talks?

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Odisha & Karnataka Fumble

Odisha and Karnataka are sailing in the same boat. Both have had the bad luck of foreign firms pulling out their mega projects. On Wednesday last, while South Korean steel major decided to pull out of its Rs 32,000-crore steel mill in Karnataka, a day later ArcelorMittal scrapped its Rs 12 million-tonne steel project worth Rs50,000 crore in Odisha. Worse, the two State Governments have no one else but themselves to blame! While Mittal justified its decision on grounds of inordinate delays in acquiring land and commitment of supply of iron ore, Posco too claimed delay in receiving iron ore mining rights and opposition from residents to part with their land. Clearly, similar hitches, giving the Government’s no levy to pass on the blame. The pull-out has hit the State hard alright, but the Centre shall too be affected. Worse, at a time it opened its doors wider to attract FDI. It cannot but fear that the two moves could play spoiler!

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Child Brides In 8 States

Eight States are criminally defaulting in halting the bane of child marriages. More than half of the girls in these States are married before they turn 18, is a shocking revelation for the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development. While Bihar tops the list of defaulters with 64 per cent child brides, Jharkhand follows suit with 60 %, Rajasthan 58%, AP 56%, West Bengal and MP 53%, UP 52%, Chhattisgarh 51%, J&K 16 %, Manipur and HP 14% and Goa, 11 per cent. This despite the fact, that child marriages are a non-bailable offence. Obviously, its awareness drive has not helped cutting into the roots of this practice. Where then lies the solution? The Ministry maintains its working on an action plan, which entails a national consultation with the States. For this, it proposes to rope in other ministries such as rural development, HRD, health and home to identify interventions required. Will they be able to come to its aid?

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Kerala Varsity’s First 

Kerala’s largest university, Calicut varsity has a first to its credit with encouraging news for its students. On Wednesday last, the University Senate decided to amend its rules for the MCA course and grant maternity leave to women students. The expectant mothers can now avail long leave of absence from attending the course and join the subsequent batch. Importantly, their appearance in semester-end will be considered as their first chance and not supplementary as has been the case. The credit for this change must go to the students’ grievances cell, which raised the demand for gender equality about two years ago, following representation from married students who voiced hardship over balancing between attendance requirement and maternity-related family responsibilities. While there is relief for some students, it is only a beginning. The varsity is contemplating extending the same facility to other courses--MBBS, BDS as well. Time universities across the country take a cue. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)