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Showing posts from April, 2015

Govts of India, Gujarat top recipients of Ford Foundation grants; its top brass include Infosys' Narayana Murthy

The Gujarat government has been  one of the important recipients  of frants disbursed by the Ford Foundation, currently put on scanner by the Government of India for its “suspicious” activities. One of the most important recipients of the Ford Foundation grants has been the Gujarat Ecological Educational and Research (GEER) Foundation, which received $122,000 in 2002 to “expand” its joint forest management programme.

"Bailing out" Modi, US religious freedom panel now attacks his right-hand Amit Shah

Even as giving the impression that it has spared Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the influential US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), in its just released  annual report  has attacked his right-hand, BJP chief Amit Shah, along with other "high-ranking members of the ruling BJP" , for declaring the need for a "nationwide anti-conversion law".

Top Gandhi baiter Arundhati Roy 'supports' Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj concept

Is prominent social activist Arundhati Roy following the footsteps of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati and its late founder Kanshi Ram, at least in theory if not in practice? In an interesting move, top Indian English writer and one who recently converted into a Gandhi baiter, Roy has given her support to efforts to propagate the term "Bahujan" for bringing together oppressed communities in order to overcome a "caste-ridden society."

Just 8.2% projects stalled due to land acquisition, 4.2% for environmental reasons: Union finance ministry

  A Union finance ministry reply to a right to information (RTI) plea has revealed that, as of February 2015, as many as  804 projects were stalled due to variety of reasons, but just about eight per cent of the projects (66) were stalled because of land acquisition problems. Based on the reply, Venkatesh Nayak of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative says, this suggests, "the argument that the slowdown in the economy is due to land acquisition projects is a myth."

Gujarat construction workers' "welfare"? Rs 909 crore lying 'idle' since 2006, just nine of 600 paid death compensation

The Gujarat government has admitted that the state has so far failed to make any progress towards providing basic welfare facilities to an estimated 20 lakh construction workers, despite the fact that the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996, which was activated in the state in 2006. Addressing a well-attended workshop on construction workers, a senior state official admitted, “huge cess fund” has been collected by the state government for the welfare of the construction workers, but all of it has remained unused.

Condition of slums deteriorate in Gujarat, Ahmedabad; become more vulnerable

  In a major admission, a recent report submitted to the Government of India has admitted the Gujarat's slums have become heavily "vulnerable" in 2011 than what they were a decade ago, in 2001, when Narendra Modi took over reins of power as state chief minister.

Explore heavy militarization of Kashmir as reason behind Sept 2014 flood: Srinagar-based civil society coalition group

  In its just-released  study , Srinagar-based Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), claiming to be an “amalgam” non-funded, non-profit, campaign, research and advocacy organizations, has strongly disputing the view that the unprecedented floods in South Kashmir valley in September 2014 were caused by 'cloud burst', or 'flash floods’.

Gujarat fishermen "sue" World Bank Group in US Federal Court for loss of livelihood, adverse impact on health

  Gujarat's fishing communities and farmers of Mundra, "represented" through Earth Rights International (ERI), have filed a suit against the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-lending arm of the World Bank Group, in federal court in Washington, DC, alleging that the IFC has caused the "loss" of their livelihoods, "destroyed" their lands and water, and "created threats" to their health.

India worse than Pakistan, Bangladesh, China in world happiness index: Columbia Univ-sponsored study

A new report has said that India has slipped in World Happiness Index (WHI) ranking from 115 in 2005-07 to 117 in 2012-14, and is behind Pakistan, Bangladesh and China. Called  World Happiness Report 2015  and edited, among others, by Jeffrey Sachs, along with John F. Helliwel and Richard Layard, for the Earth Institute of the Columbia University, it has said that, on a scale of 10, India has scored 4.565 in 2012-14, which is 0.587 down compared to the score it achieved in 2005-07.

Seven Adivasis, including three women, brutally attacked in South Gujarat: Protests planned on Foundation Day, May 1

Vanmali Rathod in ICU in a Bardoli hospital In a gruesome incident, seven Adivasis, including three women, of Manekpur village of Bardoli taluka of South Gujarat were brutally attacked on Tuesday. All of them are members of the Adavasi Kisan Sangharsh Morcha (AKSM), which has been fast expanding its wings among the Adivasis of South Gujarat districts. 

Gujarat grassroots leaders "amend" negative perception towards Medha Patkar, NBA

NBA-led satyagraha in Madhya Pradesh finds supported in Gujarat   In an unusual development, some of the most well known Gujarat's grassroots leaders, many of whom were till now known for their inimical hatred towards the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and its leader Medha Patkar, is beginning to change its perception. So far characterizing NBA and Parkar as "anti-Gujarat" because of their opposition to the construction of the Narmada dam, these activists have now given enough indication to suggest that, as times have change, so should the perceptions.

Top AAP rebel calls Kejriwal Stalin, his, Bhushans' expulsion Stalinist purge

Top Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rebel Yogendra Yadav, a psephologist whom many consider as one of the best political scientists of India, has sought to compare Delhi chief minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal with Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. He has gone on to compare the way in his he and his two colleagues -- father and son duo Shanti and Prashant Bhushan -- were expelled from the party's top political executive committee with "Stalinist purge".

Govt of India report ranks Gujarat No 23 among 25 states in national slum improvement index

A high-level committee appointed by the Government of India has ranked Gujarat 23rd among 25 states in bringing about improvement in slums. In a report handed over by the committee to the Union housing and poverty alleviation ministry last week, the 16-person committee, which was headed by well-known academic Prof Amitabh Kundu, the report said that Uttarakhand ranked No 1 and Assam last in slum improvement index.

Muslims earn "peanuts" from meat business, India on way to become world's largest exporter

A well-known online publication, published from Malegaon, Maharashtra, has claimed in a recent study that Muslims earn "peanuts from animal slaughter in India", and the main gainers in the meat business are Hindu businessmen. Carried out by a team which works for  ummid.com , the study says that India is already "on track to become world's largest bovine meat exporter", and the general perception the Muslims have gained from the trade is false.

Gujarat slipped in fight against child marriage during Narendra Modi's chief ministership: Census data

  The new 2011 Census of India data on child marriage has opened yet another chapter about the failure of the Gujarat government’s save the girl child campaign during the chief ministership of Narendra Modi (2001-14). The data reveal that, compared to other states, Gujarat has one of the lowest percentage of women of all ages who may been forced to tie their nuptial knot before 8, yet, in 2011, at the time of Census data collection, it had one of the highest proportion of married females below 18.

Gujarat's solar slowdown: Top state adviser blames inertia on "problem of plenty"

A senior adviser working with a state-run institute has sharply criticized Gujarat government's official inertia in putting up more solar plants after 800 MW were commissioned for three years starting with 2009. Pointing out that subsequently to this "not much has happened", the senior expert regrets, "There have been no further allocations, and the state solar policy expired in 2014. No new policy has yet been officially announced."

Introduce disincentives for "irresponsible" corporates: Pro-Modi babu on CSR

Top Gujarat government ex-bureaucrat known to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maheswar Sahu, wants the state officialdom to tighten the state’s noose over corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of industrial houses. In a recently released book, “Small but Meaningful: CSR in Practice”, Sahu, who retired as additional chief secretary, industries, in 2014, has said the state must introduce “economic disincentives for irresponsible corporate behaviour”, even as encouraging “socially responsible business practices.”

Narmada oustees gain fishing rights in reservoir after 30 years' struggle

  In an important gain, thousands of Maharashtra-based Adivasis affected by the Sardar Sarovar Dam of Gujarat have been able to obtain right to reservoir fishing, for which they were demanding for the last over three decades. According to information from the Narmada valley, this would help several hundred Adivasis of Satpudas alone.

CSR in Gujarat: A misguided view

It is titled “Small but Meaningful”, and is subtitled “CSR in Practice”. Authored by Maheswar Sahu, an influential Gujarat cadre IAS bureaucrat who retired as state industries secretary in 2014, who claims to be “instrumental” in organizing Narendra Modi’s high profile Vibrant Gujarat business summits of 2003, 2009, 2011 and 2013, the book has Jeevan Prakash Mohanty, a researcher at the Energy and Resources Institute, as the second author. While poor production and print quality may seem jarring, making many to believe it is over-priced (Rs 1,100), a peep into the book would provide one with an insight into how independently and analytically some of our high-profile bureaucrats have been thinking. One of the claims of the book is, it offers “case studies” of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of 11 business houses in Gujarat. However, what strikes one most, as one glances through each of the case studies, is that Sahu and Mohanty accept whatever information is offered to ...

Anti-caste campaign launched as Gujarat rural schools "display" caste, sub-caste of children on notice boards

  In a stark revelation, several rural schools in Gujarat have begun to display their notice boards with castes and sub-castes represented in the schools. Alleging this is how the rural schools in Gujarat are splurging public money, well-known Dalit rights activist, Martin Macwan has told Counterview, "I have seen this in several schools. It is a new trend. This should be reversed."

Gujarat's 41 per cent maternal deaths occur below the age of 25: Report

A recent report prepared by Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, involving several NGOs working on health issues in Gujarat, and high-profile CommonHealth, has found that 41 per cent of the maternal deaths in Gujarat occur in very young women, below the age of 25 years. Basing its analysis of 46 maternal deaths, it said, seven of them took place when the mother was between 16 and 20 years, and 12 deaths were of women between 20 and 25 years.

Gujarat NGO workshop doubts govt claims on reduced maternal mortality rate

A recent workshop held under the aegis of the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Gujarat, at Vadodadra has doubted the Gujarat government’s loud claim that the state has registered 23.75 per cent decline in maternal mortality rate (MMR) between 2004-06 and 2010-12, from 160 per 100,000 to 122 per 100,000.

Modi govt cites residual issues, rejects RTI plea on "abolishing" Group of Ministers

The Narendra Modi government has refused to part with copy of the order to abolish Group of Ministers (GoM) and Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoMs) citing "residual issues". The refusal comes in reply to a right to information (RTI) plea by Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) activist Venkatesh Nayak. The activist had sought a copy of the cabinet order ratifying the Prime Minister's decision to abolish GoMs and EGoMs.

"Benefits" of land ordinance cited amidst Gujarat farmer leaders' coordinated plan for anti-land acquisition struggle

 A group of Gujarat farmers’ organizations have formed a new farmers’ coordination committee, Sanyukt Khedut Sangharsh Samiti, to fight against the Government of India’s controversial land acquisition ordinance, re-promulgated last week, giving a long-drawn-out plan of struggle against the ordinance. The decision to form the Samiti was taken at a Chintan Shibir meeting of various farmers’ organizations in Ahmedabad.

Free bonded labour in Central Gujarat's brick kiln units: Plea to NHRC, CM

Does bonded labour exist in Gujarat? While the state officialdom would vehemently deny any such thing, a letter shot by the father of a brick kiln worker in the Kheda district of Central Gujarat has alleged that 21 women and men, two child workers, and 10 very small kids are living and working in a bonded-type condition in three different units.

Gujarat health department red tape? Checked by private hospital, silicosis victims refused compensation

The Gujarat health officialdom has allegedly created yet another hurdle in the payment of compensation to the victims of the deadly disease, silicosis. It has questioned the diagnosis of the disease by a privately-run reputed hospital operating in Anand district. This came to light in a strongly-worded representation made by the People’s Training and Research Centre’s (PTRC’s) Jagdish Patel to state health minister Nitin Patel.

No guaranteed work under NREGA to Gujarat's rural job seekers, complain state activists

Evidence from the ground has suggested that, in most of Gujarat’s districts, work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) is virtually on a standstill for about six months. Responding to information with Counterview that the Gujarat officialdom has not allocated any under NREGA since October 1980, NGOs working on livelihood issues with rural poor confirmed that there is no work in “80 per cent of the locations even though people show job cards to do work.”

Gujarat RTI watchdog: State departments failing to provide basic information to common citizens

The Gujarat Information Commission (GIC), the state's right to information (RTI) watchdog, has taken strong exception to failure of various Gujarat government departments to “proactively” disclose RTI information to the general public, saying, guidelines for it are not being “implemented properly”, adding, there has been a “lack of authentic and timely information on the activities carried out for implementation the RTI Act by different departments.”

Blow to Modi's Make in India? MNC Posco withdraws $12 billion iron ore investment in Odisha

Posco, the controversial South Korean multinational company (MNC), is  reported  to have decided to pack off from its $12 billion steel complex in Odisha, thanks to powerful protests by tribal groups who have taken strong exception to iron ore mining by the company in the Khandadhar region. A US-based news site, reporting on the development, has called it“a blow to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hopes to convince companies to make in India."