Crisis in our backyard - ecological disaster, Ganga Expressway

By Abhishek Joshi :

Development, high speed connectivity and expressway. These words are not borrowed from a IT tele co advertisements but were brought to fore by the Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati Government when the “Ganga Expressway” project was launched served enthusiastically by jubilant government machinery to the people of the state on the pseudo plank of development in 2007. The project ensures a construction of 1047 kms of 8 lane expressway on left bank of river Ganga connecting eastern and western boundaries of the state from Greater Noida to Ballia. The expressway shall also impregnate other developments initiative along side with development of new townships, industries and urban colonies, golf courses attracting dense urbanization of the project creating or equalling “world class” infrastructure. Yes, the only victim in the process the already exploited and abused “silent” river bed of river Ganga. Costs, just some 31,000 Crores.

The proponents of developmental lapped this announcement, crediting the government with being at least serious to prop up the once “bimaru” image of the state. Not every where.

Silently working to challenge this project announcement a group of voluntary organizations, Ganga Mahasabha and the like were busy preparing the arguments of the environmental catastrophe this would cause on the ecology of the river and habitants living next to the river bank. The right side, already urbanized with cities grappling with its own issues and the impact it has on the river and its flow was perhaps getting prepared to be squeezed both sides for it no longer be called a river an turning the “national river” to a stinking nala. Not to have seen this happening, they filed a PIL ( a public interest litigation) in Hon. Allahabad High Court.

Excerpts of the PIL as pleaded by the petitioners:

There is no river in the world which has influenced humanity or contributed to the growth of material civilization, or of special ethics to such an extent as the Holy River Ganga. The mighty river which has silently worked through ages in an unceasing process of regeneration of the soil, spreading life and sustenance of humanity, is today struggling to survive from uncontrolled and unabated pollution of its waters caused by sewage discharge from towns, cities including discharge of effluents from industries, tanneries and mills situated on its banks. Through these two writ petitions, entertained as Public Interest Litigation, the petitioners have come to challenge the project and grant of environmental clearance dated 23.08.2007 for construction of 8 lane expressway spread over an area of 12,000 hectares of fertile land.

The environmental side effect has been pleaded as the main reason for opposing the construction of Ganga expressway and cited references were Apex court judgment two decades ago title M.C Mehta vs the Union of India reported in (1987) 4 S.C.C 463. The petitioners state that construction of Ganga expressway shall cause immense ecological disturbance in the present Ganga eco-system. They also pleaded that 64,000 hectares of most fertile land in various districts would be acquired on which land farmers are growing good crop even without irrigation.
The cultural aspect to include, River Ganga treated as “Mother” divine and very large population uses the river water for drinking and people have great faith in its divinity by taking holy dip depleting this through river water pollution and further eroding the river flow by swelling of river water bed with construction aided pollution, converting the river to go dry in not so distant future.

Article 48-A of the Constitution has been inserted in the Constitution by Constitution (Forty second amendment) Act 1976 under part IV of the Constitution “Directive Principals of State Policy reading following effect:

48-A. Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forest and wild life – The state shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wild life of the country

Article 48-A castes an obligation and duty on the state to protect and improve the ecology of the environment, to be read in conjunction with Article 51-A

The petitioners further pleaded the case to the Hon. High Court citing various earlier references and drawing attentions to the award of the contract by the incumbent state government on its nebulous speed of having given and accorded in principle approval of the project by citing declarations of having obtained necessary clearance for the project both state and central clearance authorities and hence rightfully to commence its construction. This when the incumbent Chief Minister is already under Apex Court strictures and federal inquiry for allowing construction of a “Upscale swanky shopping mall” on the river bed of Yamuna behind the “Taj Mahal” for commercial purpose with embezzlement of funds and seeking personal financial gratifications for awarding the contract.

The pleaders cited numerous violations for evaluation of this project and requested the Hon High Court to quash the project clearance until a full assessment of the environmental impact is studied and clearance obtained thereof ( which perhaps would never come through)

The court entertaining the arguments and listening to both Union of India, represented by the State Government, impact study until present, ecological consideration of the Ganga River reserved its judgement on 01.04.2009.

On 29.05.2009, the Hon High Court declaring the judgement concluded that the entire process of obtaining the environmental clearance has been flagrant violation of statutory provisions of Environmental Clearance Regulation 2006. The Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986, Rules and Regulations framed there under imposes statutory on UP Pollution Control Board, State level appraisal committee who in principle are watch dogs for protection and improvement of the environment have violated the provisions and have shown scant respect to law. They all acted ion arbitrary manner and undue haste to get the environmental clearance to the project (perhaps vindicates the personal financial gratification involved) without addressing the serios environmental issues involved in the case
In view, the Hon High Court “quashed” the entire process of obtaining necessary approvals and directed the respondents to not proceed with Ganga Expressway construction until prior environmental clearance is obtained in accordance with law and provisions of ECA, 1986.

This verdict reposing the faith on the rule of law, its judiciary by the pleaders and the judgement was much celebrated as a encouragement to countless various organizations who have taken the voluntary responsibility of vindicating themselves on these issues served ready on the plank of development. When would we realize that instant gratification of having development without eco sustainability, without maintaining the equilibrium of development with natural eco-system would not allow us a cohesive existence. It’s a paradox of having known that we can develop at the cost of nature, the people who inhabit that nature. The fragility to be shattered by just one wrong decision perhaps would wipe the entire effort of our generations of not having to know the blunders we would have committed by pushing our own agenda for development, urbanized world.

Ganga River one of them.

About time, we revisit our observations and decide not to exploit or abuse what we have or our future generations would regret our existence.


Ps: pls drop me comment if the full copy of the judgment be needed.

Crisis in our backyard - The disappearing Ganga

By Abhishek Joshi:

Circa 1839. Professor V.T Kautle, Secretary to the imperial British government decided to conduct a study and survey of the river Ganga to harness the captive energy of the river water by making recommendations of construction of the 1st dam under Ganga Canal Project. The survey and study got concluded in 1854 and lower Ganga developmental project commenced.

In 1914 under the leadership of Pt. Madan Mohan Malviye (Mahamana) Hindu organizations convened at Haridwar to lodge their unequivocal protest against any activity which could possibly disturb the free flow of Holy Ganga as revered by thousands of its devotee’s and to whom Ganga is no less ordinary river, considered as mother being part of their entrenched religious faith. Due to this overwhelming protest the British government brokered peace and a treaty to this effect was jointly signed by Mahamana & then United Provinces, provincial Secretary, Lt. Governor Maston in 1914.

Under this Ganga Treaty the imperial government agreed the free flow of river Ganga would not be checked by any construction which comprises the sanctity of the river water and its free natural flow and breaches the faith of thousands of Hindu’s through any material construction activity. It also agreed that if any future developmental activity is planned, it would not be carried unless the Hindu organizations, associations are prior consulted by the Govt.

Circa 2009. An agreement which knuckled down the British government by Mahamana to protect the living symbol of Indian civilization, a rich heritage and handed down through ages having found numerous mention in our Veda’s and religious scriptures, a river which has an indispensable portion of its presence for umpteen devotee’s, a must in ritual ceremonies from “upnayan to dah sanskar”, has been forgotten by none other than our own Indian government and its “Indian” rulers. A treaty which drew respect from the imperial rulers has been trashed perhaps drowned in their own personal salvation of greed, money, allurement of comprising the faith of tens of crores of Hindu’s over millennia by ignoring the facts of ecological sustenance or cultural heritage.

The controversial Tehri dam which itself had seen significant protest in the past, saw the judiciary intervening to clear the project in 2002, being commissioned in 2005 continues to remain controversial by the captive hydro electric generation projections under the planned Mw of electricity Vs actual generated electricity. The desire to be a surplus electric state, interfering with the ecological sustenance of the river basin (one of the most highly fertile basins in the world) is being compromised. Close to 20 different constructions of dams of medium capacity 1 Mw to 500 Mw projects are various planning stages (saving technical details)

The stretch of Ganga from her origin in Gaumukh, reaching Gangotri & finally to Uttarkashi is the perhaps most important stretch of the river as it’s the region of her origin and hence any ecological tampering would ripple this effect to the entire river and its flow right to the ocean. From Gangotri to Uttarkashi where the river should be left free to maintain its natural flow and where the river is utmost sensitive over just 14 kms of stretch following projects are under planning:

: Bharion Ghati 1 & 2, temporarily suspended
: Lohari Nag Pala (was under construction, now temporarily suspended due to various social agitations lead by Sh. K. N Govindacharya and fast unto death by noted environmentalist septuagenarian, Sh. G.D. Agarwal) last year
: Pala Maneri, temporarily suspended (included twp projects which got suspended as result of above mentioned agitations
: Maneri Bhala 1 - Constructed in 1960’s
: Maneri Bhala 2 – Finished in 2008

Being consecutive in nature, Ganga is forced through tunnels from bhairon ghati onwards causing disappearance of the river from its original course. Since this actually would link the mega power project of Tehri Dam, due to continuously being forced in & out of the tunnels not withstanding the dry parched original course, lost flora & fauna, environmental pollution, since the debris is again thrown back alongside the river water bed resulting in river pollution has resulted in Ganga not even present from Gangotri to Rishikesh denying the religious rights of countless of devotee’s as well in the process to not worship the holy river.

Environmental or cultural, the agitational reason could be different but the resultative impact remains the same, Ganga ji is disappearing fast right from its origin and on its way. The environmental impact is such steep that the sensitive Gangotri valley is now prone to land slides due to heavy constructions and disturbance of the ecology by virtual making of man made disasters a reality of having seen major debris blocking the course of the river with tons of debris being absorbed by the river bed and settling. The self purification process of the Ganga river water through self purifying microbes are being destroyed in the process as well, a fact which has been scientifically proven and an ability of the water to remain purified through long time of preservation.

The ecological and environmental impact is more severe due to loss of farmer produce alongside its banks by river now in tunnels and actual course being dry have resulted in loss of profession for most of the farmers, this when they once were the proud owners of tillable land alongside world’s most fertile basin. Not to be left behind adding their irony the constant fear of cracks being developed in their homes due to blasts for aiding construction, fear of landslides due to rains, debris being strewn in open due to heavy construction, specially in Lohari Nag Pala project as begin observed recently. The region not to mention is in seismic zone -5 making it one of the most risky areas with high possibilities of earthquakes, hence making this all seem unviable in comparison of the cost of generating and being called electric surplus state.

The villages have seen dry spell of thirst due to continuous depletion of ground water and felling of tree’s right staying next on the banks of the river for potable drinking water..!!!!!!!

Last but not the least, one of the fastest retreating glaciers in the world is again the Gangotri glacier as confirmed by various environmental experts and glaciologist.

Where are we now, if someone ask despite 2 major projects being temporarily suspended and the river being declared as our “National River” (if you were not aware..!!) by Hon, Prime Minister last year.

We are where we were at the start of 1914. The characters have replaced Mahamana but the struggle has not. Prof. G. D Agarwal had since then been on fast again to writ submit his petition of no action to be seen from the govt against his & other associations, namely Ganga Mahasabha, Matu Sangthan, Rashtriya Swabhiman Andolan demands to maintain the free flow of the river at the stretch. Prof. G. D Agarwal, a septuagenarian would again be in a fast unto death in August 1st week this year to press for all of their demands to restore the ecological, cultural heritage of River Ganga to its original form.

All for people like you & me, for our generations to hold the river water & in our palms, pray “sur-sari” Ganga mayya to bless us by allowing us to take dip in its waters the most pious dip of all to wash away our sins by counting on the blessings on us and our families.

Only, if it continues to flow by then.


Ps: pls drop me a comment, if more information be needed to understand the brevity of this issue or spread the word.

सवालों के घेरे में ईवीएम मशीन

By Himanshu Shekhar :

पंद्रहवीं लोकसभा के चुनाव में कांग्रेस को मिली सफलता के शोर में कई अहम बातें दब कर रह गईं। ये ऐसी बातें हैं जिन पर एक लोकतांत्रिक समाज में बहस होनी चाहिए। जरूरत पड़ने पर उनकी जांच भी होनी चाहिए। दिल्ली के पूर्व मुख्य सचिव और आईआईटी स्नातक ओमेश सहगल ने इलैक्टोनिक वोटिंग मशीन यानी ईवीएम के प्रोग्रामिंग पर सवालिया निशान लगा दिया है। उनका दावा है कि देश में प्रयोग किए जा रहे ईवीएम में एक खास कोड डाल देने भर से किसी खास उम्मीदवार के पक्ष में हर पांचवां वोट चला जाता है। उन्होंने अपनी शिकायत चुनाव आयोग के समक्ष दर्ज करा दी है।

चुनाव आयुक्त एसवाई कुरैशी ने भी यह कह दिया है कि इस शिकायत की जांच आयोग कर रहा है और इसकी जिम्मेवारी आयोग के ही एक अधिकारी को दी गई है। कहा तो यह भी जा रहा है जल्द ही आयोग सहगल को ईवीएम में कैसे छेड़छाड़ संभव है, इसे प्रमाणित करने के लिए बुला सकती है। विपक्ष के नेता लालकृष्ण आडवाणी भी ईवीएम पर सवालिया निशान लगा रहे हैं। वे तो यहां तक कह रहें है कि एक बार फिर से बैलेट पेपर के जरिए चुनाव करवाया जाना चाहिए। जब बात हर तरफ से उठ रही हो तो ऐसे मामले की पड़ताल बेहद जरूरी हो जाती है।

वैसे, ईवीएम पर इससे पहले भी सवाल खड़े किए गए हैं। चुनाव परिणाम आने के बाद तमिलनाडु में पी.एम.के. के सर्वेसर्वा सीनियर रामदौस ने प्रेस कांफ्रेस करके कहा कि इलैक्ट्रोनिक वोटिंग मशीन के जरिए चुनाव में गड़बड़ी की गई। उन्होंने यह भी आरोप लगाया कि इलैक्ट्रोनिक वोटिंग मशीन यानी ईवीएम की प्रोग्रामिंग इस तरह से की गई कि किसी भी निशान पर बटन दबाने के बावजूद डीएमके के चुनाव चिह्न पर ही वोट पड़ रहे थे।

ऐसे ही आरोप पिछले साल मध्य प्रदेश विधान सभा चुनाव के बाद भी सामने आए थे। वहां एक उम्मीदवार ने कहा था कि उनसे ईवीएम के जरिए वोट मैनेज करने के लिए पैसे मांगे गए। उस उम्मीदवार ने इसकी शिकायत राज्यपाल से भी की। उस शिकायत पर क्या कार्रवाई हुई, यह अभी तक पता नहीं चल पाया है। इसका सीधा सा मतलब यह है कि उस शिकायत पर कोई कार्रवाई नहीं हुई।

ऐसा नहीं है कि ईवीएम में व्याप्त खामियों के मामले पहली बार सामने आ रहे हैं। अब तक कई चुनावों में अलग-अलग राज्यों से ईवीएम के जरिए होने वाले मतदान में गड़बड़ी की शिकायतें आई हैं। वोटिंग के दौरान प्रशासन के द्वारा कई मतदान केंद्रों पर ईवीएम बदलने के मामले भी सामने आए हैं। इनमें से ज्यादातर मामलों में यह बात सामने आई है कि किसी भी चुनाव चिह्न पर बटन दबाने के बावजूद वोट किसी खास चुनाव चिह्न पर जा रहे थे। यानी उसी चुनाव चिह्न के सामने वाली बत्ती जल रही थी।

कंप्यूटर प्रोग्रामिंग करने वाले एक इंजीनियर ने बताया कि ईवीएम में तकनीकी छेड़छाड़ के जरिए यह तो किया ही जा सकता है कि बटन कोई भी दबाया जाए लेकिन वोट एक ही जगह पड़ेगा। इस इंजीनियर ने यह भी दावा किया कि अगर उसे कुछ घंटे के लिए ईवीएम दे दिया जाए तो वह ऐसा करके दिखा सकता है।

दुनिया के कई देशों के अनुभव से यह प्रमाणित हो गया है कि ईवीएम मतदान का बिल्कुल पाक साफ माध्यम नहीं है। आयरलैंड के उदाहरण के जरिए यह बात और ज्यादा साफ होगी। आयरलैंड में 2006 से ईवीएम के जरिए मतदान शुरू हुआ। ईवीएम के जरिए मतदान की व्यवस्था लागू करने के लिए वहां की सरकार ने तीन साल में पांच करोड़ यूरो से ज्यादा खर्च किए।

इस मद में सरकार की योजना और तीन करोड़ यूरो खर्च करने की थी। पर वहां के लोगों ने ईवीएम को खारिज कर दिया और आयरलैंड सरकार ने ईवीएम के जरिए मतदान करवाने की योजना को समाप्त कर दिया। यानी आयरलैंड में अब चुनाव पुराने तरीके से होंगे। वहां के लोगों का कहना था कि वोट डालते समय बस एक आवाज आती है और उनके वोट का कोई प्रामाणिक रिकार्ड नहीं रहता इसलिए इस व्यवस्था पर भरोसा नहीं किया जा सकता है।

कहना न होगा कि आयरलैंड के लोग भारत के लोगों के मुकाबले ज्यादा कंप्यूटर फ्रेंडली हैं और उन्हें पता है कि कंप्यूटर के साथ किस-किस स्तर पर गड़बड़ी की जा सकती है। इसलिए वहां के लोगों ने इसके खिलाफ आवाज उठाई। पर भारत में इस मामले में कंप्यूटर की चाल-ढाल को जानने वाले भी चुप हैं। वैसे ईवीएम का विरोध सिर्फ आयरलैंड में ही नहीं हुआ बल्कि और भी कई देशों में ईवीएम का विरोध जारी है। मिसाल के तौर पर जर्मनी को लिया जा सकता है।

वहां की सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने इसी मार्च में ईवीएम के जरिए वोटिंग करवाने को असंवैधानिक करार दिया। कोर्ट ने कहा कि ईवीएम के जरिए वोट को रिकार्ड करने और वोटों की गणना की प्रक्रिया में पारदर्शिता की कमी होने की वजह से आम लोगों का इस पर भरोसा नहीं है। इसलिए इसके जरिए वोटिंग करवाया जाना असंवैधानिक है।

जर्मनी में तकनीक के जानकारों ने यह प्रमाणित किया कि वहां वोटिंग के लिए इस्तेमाल किए जा रहे ईवीएम मोबाइल से भी कम सुरक्षित हैं। यानी उनसे बेहद आसानी से छेड़छाड़ की जा सकती है। नीदरलैंड में भी ऐसा ही हुआ। वहां तो एक जनसंगठन ने बाकायदा ईवीएम के खिलाफ अभियान ही चला दिया। वहां के एक जनसंगठन के एक वीडियो तैयार किया। इस वीडियो में यह दिखाया गया कि किस तरह से और कितने समय में एक ईवीएम को हैक किया जा सकता है।

इस वीडियो से यह पता चला कि ईवीएम को पांच मिनट के अंदर हैक किया जा सकता है और यह बेहद आसान है। इस वीडियो को वहां के प्रमुख टेलीविजन चैनल पर प्रसारित कर दिया गया। यह घटना 2006 के अक्टूबर की है। इस वीडियो के प्रसारण के बाद वहां ईवीएम पर प्रतिबंध लगा दिया गया। इसके अलावा और भी कई देशों में ईवीएम को लेकर विरोध के स्वर उठते रहे हैं।

इन तथ्यों से एक बात तो साफ है कि इलैक्ट्रोनिक वोटिंग मशीन से छेड़छाड़ बहुत आसानी से की जा सकती है। भारत में इससे छेड़छाड़ की संभावना और भी अधिक बढ़ जाती है। पहली बात तो यह कि देश की राजनीति का चरित्र इस तरह का हो गया है कि आज हर दल को किसी भी कीमत पर चुनावी जीत चाहिए। इसलिए ईवीएम से छेड़छाड़ के जरिए अगर नेताओं को जीत की संभावना दिखती हो तो ऐसा करवाने में उन्हें तनिक भी संकोच नहीं होगा। इस चुनाव में पी चिदंबरम समेत कुछ बड़े नेता हारते- हारते चुनाव जीत गए।

इससे एक सवाल तो उठता ही है कि कहीं यह ईवीएम का ही कमाल तो नहीं है? संयोग से चिदंबरम उसी राज्य यानी तमिलनाडु से चुनाव जीते हैं जहां के रामदौस ने ईवीएम में गड़बड़ी का आरोप लगाया है। बहरहाल, ईवीएम के जरिए होने वाले मतदान में कहीं कोई रिकार्ड नहीं होता कि किसने किसे वोट दिया। बैलेट पेपर पर होने वाले मतदान में कम से कम पूरा रिकार्ड तो रहता है। इसलिए कई देशों में यह बात चल रही है कि ईवीएम के जरिए अगर मतदान करवाना ही है तो इसके जरिए दर्ज हो रहे मतदान का एक प्रिंटेड स्टेटमेंट भी हो जो रिकार्ड का काम करे और लोग इस पर भरोसा कर सकें।

कंप्यूटर में सुरक्षा के नाम पर चाहे जितने भी एंटी वायरस डाल लिये जाएं लेकिन हर रोज नए वायरस विकसित कर लिए जा रहे हैं और सुरक्षा कवच को भेद दिया जा रहा है। कंप्यूटर की दुनिया में लड़ाई कंप्यूटर की भाषा में ही लड़ी जाती है। इस लड़ाई के कई चेहरे हो सकते हैं। दुनिया की कई बड़ी कंपनियां हैकरों के हत्थे चढ़ चुकी हैं। यहां तक ही हैकरों ने न ही अमेरिका के पेंटागन को छोड़ा और न ही भारत के विदेश मंत्रालय को।

अब तो ऐसे भी वायरस विकसित हो गए हैं जिनके जरिए किसी कंप्यूटर का सारा डाटा मेल के जरिए वायरस बनाने वाले के पास पहुंच जाता है। इसलिए ईवीएम के वास्तविक डाटा को किसी खास प्रोगामिंग के जरिए अपनी इच्छा के अनुसार परिणाम देने वाले डाटा में परिवर्तित कर देना बहुत मुश्किल नहीं है।

अब अगर ऐसी संभावना है तो इस बात को भारत में आखिर गंभीरता से क्यों नहीं लिया जा रहा है? इस मसले पर मुख्य धारा की मीडिया भी पूरी तरह चुप्पी साधे हुए है। यह समझ से परे है कि आखिर ऐसा क्यों किया जा रहा है? आखिर एक लोकतांत्रिक समाज में एक अहम मसले पर बहस क्यों नहीं चल रही है? इन सवालों पर बातचीत और बहस जरूर होनी चाहिए। कांग्रेसी जीत के शोर में इन सवालों का दब जाना दुनिया के सबसे बड़े लोकतंत्र की सेहत के लिए सही नहीं है।

Crisis in our backyard - Weaver issues of Varanasi

By Abhishek Joshi :

“This one is a original banarasi sari”, my mother wore it on her wedding, I wore it on mine and am preserving it for my daughter-in-law” quipped my friends wife, with a delight of a li’l munchkin found her toy and having lost all hope of seeing it back. She took pains to open the family chest to lay bare the traditional treasure on me having asked, whether she still has a banarasi sari. What further intrigued me was the comment and emphasis laid on the “original” aspect of it.

She would know. There are no longer original banarasi sari’s churned by the weavers of Varanasi. With qualitative restrictions abolished and duties reduced on the cheap import yarn, the exclusive silk which since ages has been Varanasi’s bastion has lost its turf to cheap imitation of a sari which has countless families still protecting the assault through secure chest to gracefully pass on the tradition to next generation.

Varanasi or "kashi" as it is revered as pious city, the cradle of ancient civilization has seen the world come around to evolve around her. The oldest living cities in the world, kashi has seen the religion embedded into its lifestyle. The puja ceremonies, the ghats, one of the param teerths for being blessed by god themselves by just a visit and a holy dip. The Vedic chants on the ghats and temples which have resonated since countless centuries, the hermits, the sadhu’s now all stand lost, buried deep inside the pious spirit of the city which has seen close to 190 people commit suicide over the last decade and further risking survival of another half a million weavers.

The bridal pride, considered the finest of the lot as a banarasi sari, with rich embroidery and studded with excellent fine art craft has since centuries been adorned by royalties and paupers alike. A sari could be for anyone, depending on the grandeur and expectation of equality. Such is the craft and it social connotations that a wedding must got inter woven as a ritual, as part of the tradition. Made with equal immense pride this has been an art mastered and passed on to the next generation of weaver’s community. Woven intricately on handloom, most of the times by the entire family, a typical Banarsi sari takes 10-12 days to be completed. Generation after generation since past 700 years has seen this trade being undertaken to sustain the livelihood of the entire community.

The elusive originality lost its artisan sheen since early 1990’s. The economic liberalization took its first victim right in the center of this ancient cultural city with an impact which has not allowed it to raise itself even now. With shifting consumer preference, cheap polyester yarn and much cheaper dumping of fake Chinese silk found its way in the market creating a trade imbalance forcefully to depart ancient hand woven craft to a industrious power loom industry. It just takes 2-3 days to make a cheap imitation of a Banarasi Sari, for the uninitiated. Almost 60% of the handlooms have closed down in Varanasi. The government policies did not allow it to sustain either and though relative short term dumping restrictions were forced, it found barter for another market to flourish to source silk procurement from down south. High dependability of the trade on middle men, the “seths” who fronted the sales had plagued the weavers since long but this allowed to exploit the artisans with impunity. High cost of pure silk, widened the gap further and allowed more subsititues to enter the fray destroying the already diminishing demand of this traditional fabric forcing the entire community of weavers already deprived of education, health, pay and sundry benefits accorded to other textile industries to scout for alternative source of employment leaving this tradition to die its own natural death and carrying it with them, the death of the artisans themselves in form of suicides.

Women and children who were linked as non wage labours as part of trade were the severest hit due to synthetic substitutes and non availability of demand for the hand loom fabric. Whatever little demand could have been generated was subdued by the policies, intermittent government rescue missions letting them fall again on traders to plead credit for raw material sourcing, its unavailability due to shrinking profit and high rate of interest charged as surrogate greed by the trader implied on the weaver. The frontal payment is released only when the sale has happened for the fabric and while the bread earner succumbed to this frustrative dynamics of trade the women folk lay exposed to further exploitation to sustain the remaining family.

The economic hardships in form of debt repayment, family strife not able to find buyers for their talent and no application of skills other than weaving due to opening of the markets in form of liberalization, left these weavers to take the final step of as one of their last decisions. Some who could not perhaps muster the courage resigned to their fate and continue to dabble between begging or as non skilled labourers without being aware of the next meal availability. Appalling poverty conditions have left the children to be malnourished, with multiple starvation deaths being reported and glorious past of Varanasi was put to immense shame when children were reported to be sold for 3 months of food supplies.

Numerous initiatives have been announced by the government and support agencies to revive the fading art not most have received the desired expectations. Support has come through non governmental aids and associations but unless the governance supplements these efforts it shall continue to remain as a paradox for looking towards grants and seed help for the weavers and limping them back by not owing the moral responsibility of ensuring the craft lives it’s age. The sops offering, input for handloom credit, even creating a “handloom mark-up brand” and cross subsides of waiving the industrial charges would not support the deprivation unless the self sustenance model of development with integrated approach is deployed. Impact of WTO round of negotiations to allow cross subsidies on handloom textiles and opening of markets needs to be balanced with protectionism strategy as well.

Proponents of “swadesi” have been maliciously criticized and considered as a hurdle for globalized growth but indigenous industries need measures of protectionism. Availability of input could not assist much for long term unless the demand for these products is created, alternative markets are identified or parallel occupational livelihood opportunities are created and centuries old small industries are looked upon with respect by preserving the glorious tradition.

Substitutes within trade could not be disdained but hallowed populist measures should also not be adopted either. The art and craft are intricately woven over generations and form part of our rich culture heritage and needs acute changes to ensure people are not forced to make way for the economic growth. Proletariat involved in securing this tradition needs encouragement and not bemused in the global market trade alignment of opening ourselves to the world at cost of severity of livelihood, deprivation, starvation and suicides in our own backyard.


Until then what essentially seems as a state function remains protected in treasured chest of selective families as rare belonging to be kept alive for the next generation.

Once in a 5 year moment & says it all !!

DMK Candidate campaigning in T.Nadu.

(source : Economic Times : 4th May-09)

Crisis in our backyard - Vidarbha farmer issues

Farmer's suicide in Vidarbha region. Is it a myth or a reality..?
Attached link to a comprehensively conducted research report on Vidarbha Farmer Suicides, its reasons and suggestive recommendation by Shri. PB Behere & Shri. AP Behere, Department of Psychiatry, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram, Distt. Wardha, Maharashtra.

Abstract:

Incidence of farmers ending their lives in Vidarbha region had hit epidemic proportions recently. We adopted the psychological autopsy approach to offer some insight into the reason why these individuals resorted to such a drastic step. Suicide in farmers is public health problem and we suggested some immediate and serious interventions to prevent suicide.

http://www.indianjpsychiatry.org/text.asp?2008/50/2/124/42401

Development - Illusion..?? (II)

Continuing from my last post. We need not to define these parameters again, our internal system has been traditionally inward looking and the development thereto linked to its achievements. Deviation corrected, flaws amended and systematic adage of prudence passed on from generations to generations. At the village level.

The vision of "gram swarajya" where unless the bottom most person of the societal hierarchy is revitalized, the holistic development and dream of an egalitarian society would continue to meet each other at crossroads. The grass root democratic participation of decision and sustainable empowerment could add tangible inputs. By having:

• Consistent focus at grass root level to seek and develop agriculture inputs as according to the need, temperament and sustenance of ecology for the people and not on a central policy basis of subsidies and their relative interdependent plans. We still are an agrarian economy, to remember
• Land Improvement and support where the class, caste and displacement of people are ill effected and major development projects co-exist supplementing efforts of each other with each having its sphere of influence then forcing a option of for “either this or that system”
• Focus on integrated educational development which assures the right of employment then right of knowledge and its use in the developing world
• GDP measurement to include ancillary services which do not connote a commercial value yet still are a national component e.g. the labour barter which could be seen every season across the agrarian community of farmers pooling and taking turns to till fields for saving the spend on outsourced labour and retaining their cultural bonhomie, the very backbone of the system or perhaps challenge the GDP factor itself to define a new (GPF) Gross Prosperity Factor
• Developing comprehensive agenda towards maintaining the intricate balance of the fragile eco-system of people and their livelihood resources including water & irrigation, land & forests, cattle & livestock and indigenous cultural knowledge heritage
• Approach to seek active involvement and virtual democratic participation in governance and administration. Reforms should not be skewed as a secondary choice for an already defunct system, as add on. If it needs a complete transformation, the will should be able to support these actions with sole aim of efficient governance as its objective

Some would argue the thematic nature of these suggestive parameters as being basic. That’s the anomaly; the basics need to be revisited.

The present agitational reflex of continuously questioning the existence and relative outburst for demanding these basic rights at slightest provocation by mass at large somehow does not matches with the theme of cohesive development. The farmers fighting for their rights to co-exist in western part of the country, cooperatives being formed for the displaced people for gainfully seeking livelihood opportunities against integrated development of industrial zones, lack of constitutional empowerment to question these policies (never mind even if a basic right has to be made a act to “rightfully” ask what ideally should be due by itself) and continuous rupture of faith on executive, legislative and judiciary functions have all contributed negatively to not to believe there is development all around.

Singular attempts would not form a collective disposition and could not be an alibi for development. The aggression of polity with policy should match the pace at equal levels of societal execution. When we stop measuring the average rate of deaths on a per day per week basis due to hunger, starvation, displacement, incorrect policies and their long term impact (several of these) even despite of not being able to proudly acclaim the developmental fact, opt it as a plank to launch ourselves with every opportunity, we would surely be matured to fall out of this illusion and face the reality of being called as developed.

Development - Illusion..??

By Abhishek Joshi:

In today’s developmental context what stands out as a forlorn conclusion is the pace and beneficiaries of this plank. The speed of execution coupled with larger masses of people who are receiving it. Measuring in absolute terms from a GDP factor to the amount of FDI money which it attracts, governance desk of this country has this calling card for everyone to see.

We have seen rapid development. Implementation of national infrastructural schemes, flyovers, urbane development, malls with decked up global brands sitting on the shelves with high propensity of consumption from the great middle class parivars. Globalized models straight leaf out of developed economic countries linking our fate with them and feel urbane of we having been arrived.

Is this true. I do not know. I think if this actual development would have happened, we would have not seen unabated stories of 175,000 farmers committing suicide in a decade. We yet would have not had close to greater than a quarter of the country population referred by the card. The great Below the Pyramid Card (sorry, I need to take this one later) Below Poverty Line Card. Our leading developing states should have not seen being compared with Uganda, Congo, and Chad on Human Development Index. Optimism is to be corroborated with evidence and unfortunately less than 100 kms from the capital it is not to be seen. Governance and distribution system anomalies, continuous waiver of loans for the masses without any probable recourse of implementing it right with determined efficiency is what has eluded the bottom most people. Endless debates on the actual percentage of developmental policies however limitless option to sustain or to succumb at the bottom.

Accentuates this further is the glaring insensitivity to these matters in media, public discourses, policy formulation and election manifesto’s. If all but less than to eradicate the reasons but continue to support the extension of offering sops to maintain the level of poverty and ensure it remains that way. Agrarian dependent economy caught in the muddle of global trade negotiations of subsidies and self pat on back to have made noises at trade forums is yet not heard in our own backyards by virtue of yet being dependent on ensuring the fair market price of the produce is afforded as MSP for the crop. It looks upon the governance desks and legislative authorities for pre harvest and post harvest support policies supporting this mass based dependency is another spoke in the wheel. Starvation deaths and malnourished children, unfortunately getting lesser attention in public views and media than the conflicts, disasters and political opera’s are contrary to the fact of we assume to continuously moving ahead with development.

What perhaps is needed is a concerted effort to force the policy formulation through active public intervention. The question of faith has not diluted albeit we have created an illusion and happy to not look outside of it. Poverty classification has re divided itself as Rural and Urbane poverty and reasoning and rationale for each none to his own ears is what the sound is all about. Interplay of deprivation is perhaps the last of the definitions we needed. Elusive in all this is the main beneficiary for whom this interplay has been created. Development index needs to be inward looking for us to actually relate to it on certain parameters and tested to its utmost strength.

I put forward these parameters in my next post.

Charity begins at home..!!

By Abhishek Joshi :

The world seemingly now is seen divided not on the basis of the geographic differentiation or Continents or the eulogised economic consideration of GDP growth factors as “developed” or “non developed” but simply in terms of the “have’s & have not’s.” This divide is more evident than before and liking it or not, pouring over cup of coffee, having meals over the table is the most discussed consideration world over regardless of the economic indicators. An attempt to knock of the burden of truth by pitting one against the other as “fortunate” Vs “the unfortunate”. Quite ironical the statement may seem, as if the fate surprisingly simply choose to bless those who decided to do the former whilst leaving the later all on the mercy of the above. It is just such not bad to at least give it a thought since a thought is the basic inspiration to challenge this divide within the society and ensure a collective action is followed to bridge this gap with all our available resources.

There are numerous organizations working across the globe even whilst we read this to shape up policies, measures, action plans, projects to reengineer this socialistic-economic gap and lending their bit to pull both parts together.A world organization has seen itself shaping up solely to work on this theme and efforts are laudable to the extremes for the immense contribution it has provided and still continues to provide. This is a macro framework & its best to leave the statistics for a budding new aspirant of economics to decipher on whether the initiative has yet borne fruit despite the comment above or yet still a lot needs to be achieved. Lets try and relate to our everyday life’s as a individual and run a check and measure ourselves on a pluralistic platform of our little bit of making this world a better place.Yes, we all would have our lists handy to boast of the governmental agencies, preferred charities, and cause of our choosing with whom we work or have worked. Few “fortunate” one’s would better still come up with a marked “contribution” they have made to over the period of time to a particular cause or even better have floated independent entities themselves to contribute directly to rationalize their collective force of action inspired by a thought. No denying of the fact these actions would have left a indelible mark on a particular cause no matter what they would seem. However at a individualistic turf the question to be asked is whether that bit of contribution is an “actual” contribution or just a garb of charity to square off our inability of investing ourselves for furthering the cause.

A ‘contribution” loosely becomes a “donation” and then a “charity” & we all take succour to the fact that our bit has been done, managed better by others who have taken this responsibility and we are happy to support them from a distance always counting on our bit, best done. What bit is that donation for a cause or actual involvement and investment for the cause. This question would perhaps worry them the most who have the list ready and a little less who are more involved. “Donation” is a “contribution”, some would justify.

History records the valour of Maharana Pratap, who ceaselessly defended his people from the barbaric atrocities of the invaders yet the same history also pays respect to the wealthy friend and staunch nationalist “Bhamashah” who assisted Maharana in his crises by his contribution for him to yet again assemble his army and getting him back on the saddle for the battle of his life to be fought. That was not a donation it was a contribution, recorded by history.What differentiates the two analogous words above is the involvement and respect for a cause. The worthiness of the battle being fought not for own good but for good of the society and involvement at a individual level, never mind then if the responsibility of action happen to lie in someone else’ valour who is much better prepared to prudently guide the contribution to actual word of action. So donation can be a contribution so long as the above merit is justified and a simple charity if the motive is just to lease ones self of having just gone ahead & ‘contributed” to do our “bit” for the cause and for the society. This would call for a genuineness of the purpose without any self less craving for return and without the botheration of list to be kept maintained, for it to be shown next time, even if needed.

There are numerous organizations, countless people, non govt. agencies, societies, trusts, associations working together and in isolation to bridge this divide. They are the one’s who have taken the thought and never left it behind, translating every action every single resource possibilities to ensure that an individual action is met with the same passions and truthfulness of involvement as they would have started. Truth is, it is not the thought which fails to meet the virtues of nobility but the distance we keep to maintain from ourselves as “individual resources” in the form of donation. It is true, as being said above organizations outnumbering perhaps the population of a smallest country in the world are there to implement these actions but they are just left there since they have the cause, perhaps even budgets yet not resources to lend their shoulder to the wheel.Are we really willing to invest ourselves and do our “main” bit for the cause dear to our hearts. Are we really willing to be a “doer” to help in diluting this divide of have’s & have not’s with actions and not by plain simple thoughts.

Are we willing to be a “bhamashah” to our bit for the country and for our own people who need us in this hour of crisis and support with whatever best we think we can honestly offer - let that then be in any form as it may be called by any name. Are we willing to sincerely commit ourselves, invest fully and volunteer our time and resources at our disposal to implement this across the society? Are we willing to put the number of hours behind the cheque leaf we sign as our contribution showing our commitment. Are we ready to trade off our contribution in number of hours for someone else, if perhaps our cause has satisfied the needed requirement. Are we ready to make a difference to ourselves first & then for the society.Let’s not be bogged down by any constraints whatsoever our life throws up for us as a challenge. We might have money to spare but no time, we might have time but not our money, what is needed is the spirit of involvement, a selfless action without any credit to be accounted for whatsoever, in this or another life. It could be small or large, for a small cause or for a larger one, as an individual, as an association, at your village, for state or for your country, never mind, make an attempt, give it a push, start.

Let’s not have the pride of having done, being associated, glory of having made a contribution or organizational control of running an association come in your way. Let’s get involved. Let’s get committed. Let’s contribute.So next time a ‘donation’ is called for ponder for a while if a “contribution” could be made instead After all Charity does begins at home….. !!!


published in bhartiya paksha : May 2008 http://www.bhartiyapaksha.com/

Meaning of antyoday

“Its been a while have been searching for a perfect word, expressive by its own merit for me to name this writing space and I hope eventually for others on issues, with a common denominator of discussing, raising if necessary concerns revolving larger proletariat. The simpleton soul of the country who constitutes the major populace and on whom minor time is spent.

It took me three weeks but pleased as I could have not found a more, wholesome and better word then "antyoday - welfare of the last person, to come first”

The simpleton to whom matters of food, water, shelter, education, civic and human rights, health, security, social deprivation – class, caste, gender, sustainability of basic livelihood are more important than falsified governance programs, global meltdown, G-20 summits, fiscal policies, polity initiatives and now off course, IPL (political or premier, less mentioned the better) league.

This social ladder on which he continues to struggle to lay a claim, if all it is, “antyoday” would be the means to express this responsibly by putting them first here, through reports, through shared articles, through invite of subject authors, through interaction amongst all of us and would make an attempt to do our bit to sensitise others. Yes ~ as we see them, understand them and relate to them.

Happy reading..!!