TRADE UNION Indigenous with an Immediate ACTION Plan for RESISTANCE Wanted to Stop MASS Destruction!
Layoffs in US recession | ||||||
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Financial crisis? No, capitalism as usual
ET Bureau
Just
five months ago, when stock and commodity markets hit rock bottom, capitalism
was viewed as seriously if not terminally sick. The Financial
of articles titled ‘The Future of Capitalism.’ Economists,
politicians, and philosophers saw the Great Recession of 2007-09 as a historic
watershed, and produced new visions of a changed
capitalism.
Today, that looks
like much ado about nothing. Stock markets are booming, commodity prices are
rising, and shipping rates have tripled. Pessimists warn of rising defaults in
credit cards, commercial realty and corporate debt, so we could have a
double-dip recession. But markets believe the worst is over. Despite political
and public outrage over “casino capitalism” the financial reforms
being contemplated across the world are not
fundamental.
Four months ago,
pundits waxed eloquent about learning lessons for reform from the financial
crisis. Today the greatest lesson of all seems to be that capitalism, with all
its flaws, can cope with Great Recessions. We have always had financial crises
and always will: that’s the nature of capitalism. The system will always
need reforms to keep pace with changing technologies and innovations. Yet it has
proved its resilience. Mark Twain once said that rumours of his death were
greatly exaggerated. The same can be said of capitalism.
In years ahead, financial
regulation will definitely increase. But this will change capitalism’s
profile only slightly, since the financial sector was the most regulated one
even before the crisis. Hedge funds, the least regulated financial entities of
all, survived the crisis without bailouts, even as banks, the most regulated
entities, suffered badly. Regulation does not prevent all crises: Japan had the
most regulated financial sector among developed countries but suffered a lost
decade in the 1990s. Lesson: while the future will see more regulation,
financial crises will still happen.
Stiffer capital adequacy norms
look certain, to check the excessive leverage of the last decade. Yet history
suggests that financial innovation will ultimately find ways round regulations.
Bank regulation was ultimately circumvented by a shadow banking system, and
off-balance sheet vehicles. Expect ultimate circumvention of the new
regulations. This will not be entirely a tragedy. The gains of financial
innovation may initially be eclipsed by losses, but the losses are typically
checked after a fiasco whereas the gains become permanent.
In future, most derivatives
will have to be traded through a clearing house, ending the counterparty risk
that sank the asset-backed securities market. Despite criticism, securitisation
will continue with modifications. Banks will be able to securitise mortgages
subject to retaining a certain proportion of mortgages they originate, a
safeguard against excessive risk-taking in mortgage origination.
Some flaws will not be
reformed at all. A special US problem is that its mortgages are non-recourse
loans: the lender can get back the house after a default, but cannot go after
the other assets of the borrower. This encourages massive willful default.
Mortgage lenders in India, Europe and most countries, can go after other assets.
But US politicians portray the entire housing bust as an evil perpetrated by
lenders on innocent home buyers, and this political theatre avoids making
borrowers accountable too. This carries the seeds of a future bust.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Financial-crisis-No-capitalism-as-usual/articleshow/4858105.cms
Gas dispute: Mukesh, Anil Ambani meet PM
PTI
NEW
DELHI: Amid continuing battle for gas, both the warring Ambani brothers are
believed to have met Prime Minister
Singh.
Anil, whose group
company RNRL is seeking gas from Mukesh Ambani-led RIL's KG fields at the
committed price of $2.34 per mmbtu, is understood to have met the Prime Minister
today. Elder brother Mukesh is believed to have met Singh
yesterday.
However, no comments
could be obtained from either
side.
The two brothers are also
believed to have met other senior ministers and key officials in the central
government.
ADAG firm Reliance
Power today alleged that there was a conflict of interest between the experts
who carried out the validation and the contractor (RIL) for approving the Rs
45,000 crore field development costs.
RPower CEO J P Chalsani
today said Mustang Engineering has been advising RIL on various projects, while
P Gopalakrishnan, the other independent expert, was on faculty of the School of
Petroleum Technology, which is chaired by RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani.
None of the two experts could
be contacted for comments. The government, he said, stands to lose Rs 30,000
crore revenue because of the inflated capex, as RIL is entitled to recover the
entire cost before sharing revenues with the government.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Gas-dispute-Mukesh-Anil-Ambani-meet-PM/articleshow/4860939.cms
Essays
Publisher: Oxford University Press, New Delhi
Year: 2001
Pages: 271
Price: Rs.595
ISBN: 019565520-6
The Muslims of Bengal, including the present-day
state of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, form the single
largest Muslim ethnic group in the world after the Arabs. This book, a
collection of ten essays, seeks to provide a broad overview of the Bengali
Muslim identity. Although each of the essays deals with a particular aspect
of Islam in Bengal, they all seek to grapple with what, for many Bengali
Muslims, has seemed an almost insoluble dilemma -- whether they are Bengalis
first or Muslims, and how their ethnic loyalties can be reconciled with
the demands of a faith that transcends national boundaries. Little is known
about how the Bengal countryside, particularly the eastern part of the
province, located far from the centers of Muslim political rule, emerged
as the home to the largest number of Muslims in the South Asian sub-continent.
Richard Eaton, in his brilliantly researched essay, explores the fascinating
process of the Islamization of the people of eastern Bengal, a process
that he believes began in the sixteenth century. He writes that conversion
to Islam was actually discouraged by the Mughal governors of the province,
but, despite this opposition, large masses of Bengalis turned Muslim. Relying
on hagiographies of local Sufi saints and Mughal land records, he argues
that the process of Islamization in Bengal must be seen as, above all,
a result of the agrarian policy of the Mughals. Mughal governors, eager
to augment their revenues from the land, provided rent-free land grants
to both Hindus as well as Muslims to cut down the dense forests in the
eastern parts of the province and bring them under settled cultivation.
The Muslim pioneers in this region employed local, largely aboriginal tribal
people, as cultivators on the new lands. After their deaths they began
being revered as saints, being attributed with supernatural powers. Gradually,
these aboriginal people were Islamized, a process that did not reject previously-held
beliefs directly, but accommodated Islamic elements within pre-existing
cosmologies. Hence, conversion to Islam in eastern Bengal, as indeed in
many other parts of India, took the form of an extended process of cultural
change over several generations, rather than a sudden and complete change
in identity, beliefs and allegiances. Because of the nature of the process
of Islamization in Bengal, the Bengali Muslims continue to share much in
terms of world-views, beliefs and practices with non-Muslim Bengalis, a
phenomenon which Ralph Nichols observes in his paper on Islam and Vaishnavism
in rural Bengal. While many ulema and Muslim reformers see this shared
tradition as a sign of incomplete conversion or as ‘unlawful innovation’
(bid‘at), Nichols seems to suggest that it was actually through
developing this shared tradition that Islam was able to make headway in
Bengal in the first instance, successfully expressing itself in terms which
the Bengali peasants would find understandable. Peter Bertocci examines,
in his contribution, the way in which rural Bengali Muslims understand
their faith in precisely these local terms, drawing close parallels between
institutions and identities that both Bengali Muslims and Hindus construct
their own social worlds.
The local Bengali expression of Islam
(a term I deliberately use in place of the more commonly used expression
Bengali Islam) is not a static, unchanging phenomenon, however. From the
eighteen century onwards, reformers and radicals have been active in Bengal,
seeking to purge the Bengali form of Islam of what are seen as ‘un-Islamic
accretions’, seeking to bring it in line with a shari‘ah-centric
scripturalist understanding of Islam. Muhammad Shah’s paper looks at this
process of reform in the context of the Khilafat movement in the
early years of the twentieth century, arguing that one of the principal
aims of the Bengali activists in the movement to protect the Ottoman Khilafat
was to reform the Bengali Muslim tradition, bringing it closer to a
shari‘ah-centred understanding of Islam as defined by the reformist
ulema. Yet, the Khilafatists were not alone in seeking to redefine
the ways in which the Bengali Muslims understood their faith at this time.
Sonia Amin, in her paper on Rokeya Sakhawat Hossein, the pioneer of Bengali
Muslim women’s education, and Shahadat Khan, in his article on the reformist
and anti-colonial activist Kazi Abdul Wadud, show how a different agenda
for the Bengali Muslims was also being articulated at this time, centred
on issues of modern education, women’s rights and inter-communal harmony.
Despite the efforts of reformists, whether ulema or modern, western-educated
Muslims, the Bengali Muslims have been unable, the book suggests, to comfortably
reconcile their twin identities: as Bengalis, on the one hand, and as Muslims
on the other. Joseph O’Connell discusses the ways in which Bengali Muslim
self-identity has undergone radical shifts in the course of the previous
century. Pitted against the Hindu ‘upper’ caste bhadralok, Bengali Muslims
enthusiastically supported the cause for the separate Muslim state of Pakistan,
stressing their religious identity over their ethnic identity. Yet, not
long after the creation of Pakistan, a strong movement based on a sense
of a separate Bengali identity, pitted against what was seen as the oppressive
West Pakistani ‘Other’, emerged, galvanizing itself as a mass movement
that ultimately succeeded in creating the basis of the new state of Bangladesh.
O’Connell contends that torn apart as the Bangladeshis are between their
Islamic and Bengali identities, a new understanding of national identity
must be articulated, one based on humanism, not shunning religion altogether,
but drawing inspiration from humanist strands in the various different
religions that are practiced in the country. This calls for a redefinition
of what it means to be a Bangladeshi Muslim today, seeking to express Islam
in a manner that takes into account modern sensibilities on issues related
to pluralism, democracy, human rights, and the rights of women and religious
minorities. This is a point also made by Shelly Feldman in her paper on
gender and Islam. The process may not be smooth, however. As Enayatur Rahim
shows in his brilliantly argued piece on the Jama‘at-i-Islami in
Bangladesh, hostility to ethnic aspirations and local identities, and an
unwillingness to reflect and redefine perspectives in the face of new situations
on the part of influential Islamist groups in the country do not help make
matters simpler for this task of developing new visions of religion. Overall,
this book excels as an overview of the social history of the Bengal Muslims.
The scant attention paid to the Muslims of West Bengal and the Bengali-speaking
Muslims of Assam and Tripura, and the silence on the Tablighi Jama‘at,
easily the single largest Islamic movement in Bangladesh and on the contemporary
Bengali ulama are, however, unfortunate. But, perhaps, that can be left
for another book.
http://www.renaissance.com.pk/maybore2y2.html
KG Basin Gas Reliance Feud has well EXPOSED how the National Resources and revenues have been CAPTURED. Nilekani, SUNIL Mitra, MONTEK, PITRODA and India Inc machinery have taken over GOVERNANCE. Disinvestment is ACOMPLISHED with ROTHSCHILD Lead! Mass DESTRUCTION Continues!!We NEVER Effort DELAY for Self DEFENCE as our People, the Majority of the Geopolitics have been SUBJECTED for TARGET Practice!
We have NO ESCAPE Route from this GAS Chamber ! Killing Field!
We have not INFINITE Time to wait with SOCIAL Movement Agenda TEETHLESS unless we STAND UNITED Rock Solid to defend our People AS IT Is! We have to discard RESOURCE GENERATION Traget Practice and haev to address the Grievances of the MASSES.
Peasants in India do COMMIT Suicide.
I must WARN you, now it is TURN for White COLOR People emplyed in GOVT as well as public Sector. Those who availed SIXTH Pay Commission as Govet or PSU Employees!
No Traditional TRADE Unions does defend or address you!
What have you DECIDED as SURVIVAL Strategy?
We were facing peculiar circumstances in Murshidabad. Estranged BAMCEF leader Dr Jagatbandhu and Ideolgue Swapan Kumar Biswas, IAS and their supports have launched a Campaign against us. Jagatbandh Babu has landed in BSP and Swapan Babu, famous author of False Gods, has recently launched a Bangla Bamcef rejecting Ambedkar and Ambedkarite Ideology on communal line! Swapan Babu now hplds Dr Ambedkar and Jogendra Nath Mandal RESPONSIBLE for the Persecution of bengalies across the BORDER! It is democratic RIGHT of any individual citizen to discard or accept any Ideology or Organisation. Everyone is sovereign enough to launch any Poltical Social forum. But these GENTLEMEN do try to BLOCK us everywhere in Bengal. Moreover Jagatbandhu babu has captured Ambedkar Mission building erected on Five Kutta. he does not allow anyone but BSP supporters to use the venue!
Jagatbandhu baubu and Swapan Babu had challeneged us to arrange any convention in Murshidabad. While we arranged one , they Knocked every door to oppose us.
They failed Miserably! We arranged the Convention in Penasoners` Association hall near Adhir Chowdhuri`s, the Powerful MP from Beharampur, house just opposit the Police line and eside the Collectrate! It was a LIVE Interaction as no less than ten Speakers spoke in depth on Ambedkarite Ideology and supported us!
Meanwhile, Major barves kept on calling me. He has initiated the process to launsh the Trade Union in Mumbai. We would validate it very soon. The Sate and national conventions would be held as soon as Possible. We have to complete the national Network within three months and then launch the Action Plan for Resistance!
I have been talking to editors, social and Human Right activists, NGOs and Nationality Movement leaders, nonpolitical social Organisation to take over the TRADE Union Movement as all TRADE Unions including CITU, AITUC, INTUC and BMS have alligned with the Government of India Incorporation for the FINAL Destruction!
Friends, we have no time!
Meanwhile, BAMCEF President Waman Meshram has ENDORSED the plan and promised the support of BAMCEF! We wait Positive respose from friends working as ISOLATE Islands countrywide!
Major Barves informed me that the STATE Power has decide to use GUNSHIP Attacking Helicopters to Tame the REBEL Aboriginal Indigenous people country wide. since Internal as well as External Security haave been VESTED in CIA and MOSAD, it is never UNEXPECTED. They have used the KILLING Machinery worldwide and INDIA replicates it!
Just after the Dinner, I reached the Behrampur Court Rly station but Lalgola DN was scheduled on 10.55 pm. I managed to get the Ticket around 9.50 and reached the Platfarm Number One. It was packed up with the passangers. Most of them had to reach transit Point Kolkata to scatter all over the country in surch of employment as they consist the bulk of Majority Slum Dewlers countrywide.
Major Barves called me on 10PM and we interacted in Open for half an hour. It was an unexpected random Audiances on transit. I always enjoy the train Journey while I get infinit chance of Interactions! In my daily routine, these interactions make my Talking Tour. I get and pick up cadres and workers with such interactions.
We did every Economic Issue which this particular Audiance is unaware of an hundreds of people just siezed me on the Paltfarm. I was not addressing them but they were interested to hear the talk as it related to their life and livelihood, past, presnt and Future.
I knew, the Political and social Set Up in Bengal and specilly, Murshidabad does not allow the masses to participate and share anything which they need most. Is it not the trend elsewhere?
Deprived of INFORMATION and Knowledge, the Masses feel Helpless and they lend their ears to everything in AIR. This is an Opportunity I enjoy most. I always address RLY compartments despite warnings from my friends that some day I would face DIRE Consequences! But always I get some new friends, new contacts!
On Behrampur Rly Platfarm on the night, they witnessed an UNFAMILIAR Interaction which was perhaps more important than our organised convention! But as I expcted, they could not RSPOND! They are so much so TERRORISED of DIRE Cosequences!
I Never Tried hard for Career. I NEVER applied for GOVT. Job or Position! I Never joied a Political Party! I was writing for mainstream Media. I just gave up becuase I never felt FREE to express TRUTH! My life is spent.My son is grown up enough to look after himself. may parents DEAD already. I have no OBLIGATION to be afraid of!
Well, I am ready to face whatsoever DIRE Consequences!
How many of you do feel to accompany me?
“Madrassas have nothing to do with terrorism,” a religious group
says in a report that also negates the allegations that Muslim
seminaries in India are breeding ground for terror.
The report by All India Coordination Committee for Madrassas (AICCM)
said “a concerted campaign… to malign madrassas” had led to the
deterioration of educational standards in Muslim seminaries.
“A concerted campaign was going across the country to malign
madrassas’ image by branding them as breeding ground of terrorism.
There is no truth in it,” said AICCM general secretary Maulana Shaukat
Ali Bastavi.
Bastavi said an AICCM team prepared a report on madrassas after visiting different seminaries all over the country.
“None of the madrassas across India has been a centre of terrorism,” the report concluded.
It said the terror charges against madrassas and the students were
baseless and “none of the madrassas in India is involved in any
anti-national activity”.
“We probed into allegations against madrassas,” Bastavi said.
There are over 4,000 madrassas in Bihar, including the seminaries where the staff gets the salary from the state government.
There are 2,459 unaided madrassas. According to the first-ever
status paper brought out by the AICCM, there are only 32 madrassas for
girls under the government-aided category and 576 madrassas in the
unaided category.
Some madrassas in Bihar have begun modernising their education system by introducing computers and science subjects.
They even encourage students to join the National Cadet Corps (NCC) training.
Jet Airways sacks two pilots for joining union
Jet Airways has sacked two of its senior pilots for joining a newly
formed
Balaraman and Sam Thomas were sacked for joining the
National Aviators Guild - the pilots' union - which was registered with the
labour commissioner in Mumbai last month.
"The two pilots were asked
to leave last week. It is, however, not part of our cost restructuring
operations," a spokesperson for the airline told IANS Wednesday.
The
official, however, refused to share further details. "This is our internal
issue. We do not discuss it in public."
In November 2008, Jet had
sacked 32 foreign pilots in order to cut costs.
The two sacked pilots
enjoy the backing of over 600 union members, union officials
said.
They added that pilots were considering going on strike if the
two were not reinstated.
MindTree to cut salary of about 200 R&D staff by 15%
Bangalore-based IT firm MindTree today said it will cut salary by 15 per
cent of about 200 staff in the research and development
reduce costs amid the global economic slowdown.
"The utilisation
levels had fallen below 60 per cent and hence the decision to cut salary by 15
per cent was taken. This would be applicable on employees in the R&D
services, who are neither on an customer-approved project nor on an
internally-approved project," MindTree Senior Vice-President and Global Head
(People Function) Puneet Jetli told PTI.
The cut would be applicable
from August 1, 2009, and affect about 150-200 people, he added. MindTree employs
1,100 people in the R&D division.
"This salary cut is, however,
for a short-term. The salaries will be restored if the employee gets assigned to
a customer project or the utilisation levels cross the threshold of 65 per
cent," Jetli added.
He said selective pay cut was better than
measures like layoffs, across-the-board pay cuts or putting people on the
'virtual pool'.
Jetli said the company expected a turnaround soon.
"There are signs of recovery. There might not be a drastic growth, but the
situation is stabilising," he added.
Despite a net profit of Rs 54.54
crore in the first quarter of FY'10, MindTree, in view of the continued
uncertainty in global markets, has revised its revenue guidance for this fiscal
to USD 255-270 million.
Pak bans 25 organisations, including JuD, LeT
The Pakistan government has banned 25 religious and other organisations,
including the Jamaat-ud-Dawah, Jaish-e-Mohammed and
Interior Ministry said today.
The ministry presented a list of the
banned organisations in the National Assembly or lower house of parliament. It
also said the Sunni Tehrik had been put on a watch list.
Among the
organisations included in the list of outlawed groups are JuD, LeT, JeM,
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariah Muahammadi,
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Al-Akhtar Trust, Al-Rasheed Trust, Tehreek-e-Islami, Islamic
Students Movement, Khair-un-Nisa International Trust, Islami Tehreek-e-Pakistan,
Lashkar-e-Islam, Balochistan Liberation Army, Jamiat-un-Nisar, Khadam Islam and
Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan.
A majority of the groups have been linked
to terrorist attacks and suicide bombings in Pakistan. India has blamed the JuD,
LeT and JeM for several attacks on its soil, including the Mumbai attacks and
the 2001 assault on the Indian parliament.
Pakistan banned the JuD
after the UN Security Council declared it a front for the LeT in December last
year. The LeT and JeM were banned by the country in 2002.
Five more power plants seek gas from RIL's KG-D6 fields
Five more power plants have joined the scramble for natural gas from
Reliance Industries' KG-D6 fields, seeking a minimum allocation
cubic metres a day.
Two power plants each in Delhi and Andhra Pradesh
and one in Gujarat have sought gas from RIL fields before they are commissioned
this fiscal, a government official said.
RIL is currently producing
36 mmscmd gas from KG-D6, half of which goes to power plants. The firm has the
capacity to produce 60 mmscmd but is constrained to produce less as the
government is yet to identify customers for buying gas beyond the initial 40
mmscmd, allocated primarily to fertiliser and power producers in accordance with
the Gas Utilisation Policy.
RIL cannot sell gas to these and other
users including its own refineries, which are starved of the fuel, unless
allocation is approved by the Government.
The official said the
Central Electricity Authority, the technical arm of the Ministry of Power, has
recommended 1.37 mmscmd of gas to Lanco's 366 MW Kondapalli extension project,
which will be commissioned in February 2010.
It sought 1.21 mmscmd
for the 374 MW Utran plant in Gujarat, which will go on stream in November, and
0.82 mmscmd for the 220 MW Tanir Vavi plant before its commissioning in March
2010. For the 108 MW Tithalia and 250 MW Bawana power plants in Delhi, the CEA
recommended 0.40 mmscmd and 0.93 mmscmd of gas from KG-D6.
ADAG questions credibility of DGH; evokes rebuttal
Clashing over RIL's gas field cost, an Anil Ambani group firm on Wednesday
questioned the credibility of audits commissioned by the
Hydrocarbon, evoking sharp protest from the regulator.
ADAG firm Reliance Power today
alleged that there was a conflict of interest between the experts who carried
out the validation and the contractor (RIL) for approving the Rs 45,000 crore
field development costs.
RPower CEO J P Chalsani today
said Mustang Engineering has been advising RIL on various projects, while P
Gopalakrishnan, the other independent expert, was on faculty of the School of
Petroleum Technology, which is chaired by RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani.
None of the two experts could
be contacted for comments. The government, he said, stands to lose Rs 30,000
crore revenue because of the inflated capex, as RIL is entitled to recover the
entire cost before sharing revenues with the government.
DGH Director General V K Sibal
said in New Delhi that RIL's cost of gas production even after higher capex was
comparable to any other field in the country. World over exploration and
development is not judged by the capital expenditure incurred but by the actual
cost of production.
On the
experts, he said Mustang was selected through an international bid, while
Gopalakrishnan was on DGH's panel.
The cost of production for
Dhirubhai 1 and 3 fields at the approved field development cost of USD 8.836
billion came to USD 1.28 per million British thermal unit, he said.
"I don't want to join issues
with them but you should let people who know this subject decide on the issue,"
he said. "If Rs 45,000 crore capital expenditure claimed by them was inflated,
the cost of production in terms of cost per million British thermal unit would
also come higher."
Economy of Murshidabad
he economy of Murshidabad is fundamentally agrarian. The lack of
economically important minerals and proper infrastructure is a
hindrance to the growth of industries in Murshidabad. Hence
agriculture, supplemented by the cottage industries shaped the economic
scenario of Murshidabad.
The triangular tract of Murshidabad presents regional homogeneity and
is provided by ample water of the Ganges and its tributaries, which
favorably helped the agriculture to thrive, thereby supporting the
economy greatly. The yield per hectares of land in respect of rice,
wheat and fibers are respectively 1124 kgs, 2007 kgs and 1540 bales.
Apart from this, horticulture also provides a considerable section of
the economy of Murshidabad. The production of sugarcane and potato were
7375 kgs and 14826 kgs per hectare. After being a proper utilization of
the agricultural products, the ample quantity of surplus is exported to
the neighboring districts. Agriculture, being the principal source of
the income of Murshidabad, supports the economy dually.
The agriculture in Murshidabad is supplemented by the cottage
industries, which shares an equal importance in the economy of
Murshidabad. However the silk weaving industry constituted to be the
principal cottage industry in Murshidabad. The raw silk weaving has
been growing prominently since the pre - historic times. However the
silk industry in West Bengal is concentrated in Murshidabad. The brand
"Murshidabad silk" is not only famous across India, but also has a
great demand throughout the world. Sericulture industry is the
principal agro-based rural industry in Murshidabad.
The livestock of cows, goats and buffaloes served the rural
economy of Murshidabad.
Ivory carving is another industry of Murshidabad, which supports its
economy. The ivory industry in Murshidabad is the only one of its kind
in West Bengal. The other small-scale industries like the bell metal
and brass utensils, carpentry, earthenware making, smithy, and pottery
and bidi-making etc. served the rural economy.
The major trade in the Murshidabad is the silk fabrics. The ivory
trading is also an important source of income of Murshidabad. About 99%
of total production of ivory is exported, which draws a significant
amount of Murshidabad`s income. The entire jute products are exported
to the mills throughout the country. Among other things onions, pulses,
oilseeds and vegetables constitute the main item of export. The
handloom items and the woolen garments are the important items, which
are being exported.
However, the economy of Murshidabad is mainly supported by the
export of the surplus agricultural products and silk, ivory and
vegetables.
http://www.indianetzone.com/15/economy_murshidabad.htm
Report on Starvation Deaths in Murshidabad,
West Bengal
Author:
Publication:
Date:
[Note from the Hindu Vivek Kendra:
This report will be conveniently ignored by those who go under the rubric
intellectuals in India, and the foreign media would like to believe that
it does not exist. Now, if such a report had been made relating to a BJP-ruled
state?]
This 64-page report, compiled by
Dr. Zafar ul Islam Khan, editor of the Delhi-based magazine Milli Gazette,
details the starvation deaths that have taken place in and around Jalangi
in Murshidabad district in Werst Benegal in recent months, which have received
but scant attention in the media. In the supposedly Marxist state of West
Bengal, the report says, grinding poverty is widespread, particularly among
the state's Muslims and Dalits, who account for more than half of West
Bengal's population and who are the principal victims of the near famine
conditions in the Jalangi area.
conditions in Jalangi have been caused by the changing course of the river
Padma, which has destroyed farmlands, leading to numerous deaths and rendering
hundreds of people to destitution, forcing them to beg or else to migrate
outside the region in search of survival opportunities. Stark poverty has
reduced many people to surviving on roots and leaves, leading to widespread
disease and malnutrition. To make matters worse, apathetic local and state
administrations are allowing food supplies to rot in godowns while a majority
of the affected people are not even issued below-poverty-line ration cards.
Poverty eradication programmes are not being properly implemented and people
working under the Food For Work programme remain unpaid for long periods
despite funds having been released to the local authorities. People complain
that money is being deducted from the paltry wages that they are entitled
to under the poverty eradication programmes in order to fund local CPI
(M) party activities . It is also alleged that beneficiaries of these programmes
are selected on the basis of party affiliation. Besides these programmes,
the only alternative for many people in the area is casual work on private
farms, for which they are often paid a measly Rs.20 for a day's work (and
that in a state that has been ruled by an avowed Marxist government for
decades now!). To protest against the apathy of the West Bengal government
and to promote awareness about the issue, the compiler of this report,
Dr. Khan, has filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court.
http://www.hvk.org/articles/0605/114.html
KG gas row: Centre may seek copy of Ambani family MoU
ET Bureau
EW DELHI: The government is
considering an option to ask for a copy of the Ambani family memorandum of
understanding (MoU), the confidentiality
issue. The MoU is the basis for the division of the erstwhile Reliance
Industries’ business between the two brothers, officials close to the
development said. In its verdict, the Bombay High Court has referred only to a
certain part of the MoU ‘relating to gas supply’ which it thought
was relevant.
According to the officials, some of the legal experts
advising the government point out the need for the MoU to present the
government’s position in a ‘more focused’ manner. The
government wants to focus its plea in the Supreme Court on the natural gas
issue, which it believes to be a national property that can’t be divided
between the two brothers on the basis of a private
arrangement.
“It is important to go through the entire MoU or
else somebody can take advantage of this during arguments,” an official
handling the case said on condition of anonymity. The parts of the MoU produced
in the judgement may not be representing the true picture, and taking a stand on
its basis could weaken the case, he added.
| Also Read |
| → DGH, Anil clash on D6 capex claims |
| → KG dispute: Anil steps on the gas against Murli Deora |
| → Gas row: Anil blames Mukesh again, Deora supports govt's stance |
But an RNRL spokesman said the oil ministry
has relevant parts of the MoU. “Apart from RIL, we (RNRL) submitted the
relevant details of the gas supply arrangements to MoPNG (ministry of petroleum
& natural gas) way back in June 2006,” he
said.
“Also, the relevant extracts of the MoU regarding the gas
supply arrangement are reproduced in the Bombay High Court judgement vide para
314 from page 301 to page 306,” he added.
A Reliance Industries
spokesperson declined to comment as the mater was sub judice.
The
government official said experts are divided on demanding the MoU since the
process could take some time. “They say they will have to approach the
court to obtain the MoU. The process would be lengthy and it would divert focus
from the core issue,” he said.
A legal expert, advising the
government, said on condition of anonymity, “There is no reason for the
government to seek the family MoU”. The existing SLP is comprehensive and
supports the government’s, he added. “The decision whether to revise
the SLP with or without the family MoU will be taken in a week’s
time,” the expert said.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Energy/Oil-Gas/KG-gas-row-Centre-may-seek-copy-of-Ambani-family-MoU/articleshow/4858398.cms
Commerce min for core tag for all loans to SEZs
ET Bureau
NEW
DELHI: The commerce department has urged the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to
treat all bank loans to developers of special economic zones as
financing, eligible for a lower interest rate. The ministry has said the
concessional rate of interest should be given even if the developer leases out
or rents a part of the land to other units within the zone. The RBI had earlier
proposed that land rented out would be considered a commercial realty activity,
which would not get concessional interest rates from banks.
The
central bank had said that since repayment of loans by developers who rent out
units was linked to real estate prices and not economic activity, it was a real
estate activity. The commerce department, however, disagrees. “We have
pointed out to the RBI that ultimately repayment of all loans taken by
developers are linked to economic performance of units and hence there should be
no discretion in classification of SEZ development activities as infrastructure
or real estate projects. All activities should be treated as
infrastructure,” a commerce department official, who did not want to be
named, told ET.
Infrastructure projects get funds at about 2% lower
interest rates compared to real estate projects, and also have access to funds
earmarked for infrastructure activities.
While all SEZ activities, at
present, are classified as real estate activities in terms of bank exposure, the
RBI had last month defined SEZ projects as infrastructure projects. It then came
up with draft commercial real estate exposure guidelines which, once formalised,
would give clear instructions to banks on SEZ funding.
As per the
guidelines, if a SEZ is being developed by a single company entirely or mainly
for its own use, and the repayment depends on the cash flows generated by the
economic activities of the units in the SEZ and the general cash flow of the
company rather than the level of real estate prices, it should not then be
classified as CRE but as infrastructure lending.
Similarly, if there
are co-developers in a SEZ who undertake a specific job, such as provision of
sewerage or electrical lines, and they are paid by the main developer based on
the work in progress, such exposure will be classified as infrastructure
lending, the draft notification said.
However, if the SEZ developer
leases or rents out units, then the loans given for such projects would be
classified as real estate.
The RBI is open to making changes in the
draft guidelines based on the response it receives.
SBI, Tata Motors, Sahara figure in top 100 tax defaulters list 4 Aug 2009, 1903 hrs IST, PTI |
DELHI: Country's largest state-owned bank SBI, automobile giant Tata Motors and
oil major Indian Oil Corporation, besides Sahara India and
Roy figure in the list of top 100 tax defaulters in the country.
Disclosing the list of
defaulters in the Rajya Sabha today, the Minister of State for Finance S S
Palanimanickam said in a written reply that top 100 tax defaulters owe to the
exchequer whopping Rs 1.41 lakh crore -- more than three times the amount the
government spends on NREGA scheme annually to provide employment to BPL
families.
The Centre is taking
various steps to recover the outstanding dues, the minister said, adding that
the government has requested the adjudicating authorities like ITAT and
Settlement Commission "to dispose of high demand cases expeditiously."
As per the list, disgraced
stud farm owner Hassan Ali Khan tops the list of tax defaulters with an
outstanding arrear of more than Rs 50,000 crore.
The list of tax defaulters
also includes stock broker late Harshad Mehta and his associates and other
brokers like A D Narrotam and Hiten Dalal.
While the SBI owes Rs 333.6
crore in taxes, Tata Motors and Indian Oil Corporation have to pay Rs 206.5
crore and Rs 210.3 crore to the treasury.
As regards Sahara, many of its
group companies figure in the list of defaulters, while its promoter Roy owes Rs
230 crore to the
exchequer.
Among leading public
sector undertakings, BSNL has a tax demand of about Rs 2,417 crore, while NTPC
faces a demand for Rs 622 crore. VSNL Ltd (now Tata Communications Ltd) has a
tax demand of about Rs 505.5 crore.
Among Sahara group companies,
Sahara India and Sahara Airlines (now Jetlite) figure among tax defaulters apart
from Sahara India Financial Corporation Ltd.
Besides, corporates which owe
taxes to the government are Coca Cola India (Rs 600 crore), Baron International
(Rs 589 crore), Oracle Corporation (Rs 558 crore), Rolex Holding Ltd (Rs 558
crore), Aaditya Luxury Hotels (564 crore) and Reliance Energy (Rs 176 crore).
Nokia, Daewoo Motors, Bunge
India Ltd, Tata Industries, Satyam Computers and IBM Pvt Ltd are other companies
which have been named on the list.
The Minister said that these
tax demands also include those which are difficult to recover for various
reasons like demands notified under Special Court, inadequate assets and
companies under litigation.
However, among special
measures being taken by the government to expedite recovery of default taxes
includes monitoring of the recovery of amount in large cases by a Task Force.
"Invariably arrear demand above Rs 25 crore is monitored by CBDT and between 10
crore and 25 crore by CCIT/DIT (Recovery)," the Minister said.
US team to push for easy investment laws
ET Bureau
NEW
DELHI: A team from Washington will visit New Delhi next week to discuss
liberalisation of investment laws that had taken a back seat due to
both the countries.
Since this interaction will be a first on
investment laws between the Obama regime and the new UPA government, both sides
will test the waters to see how aggressively they can push their interests, a
government official involved in the negotiations said.
“The
interaction is scheduled for August 11. While the US stand on most areas being
discussed under the pact is expected to be same as before, its priorities may
have changed. If the new team is less aggressive on certain issues, the talks
could get a boost,” the official said on the condition of
anonymity.
The main contention in the bilateral investment talks last
year was the US’ insistence on pre-investment national treatment for its
investors. In such an arrangement, India will have to take responsibility for
losses incurred by a US company before it actually invests here if the loss is
due to a policy change.
So, if a US company spends money on market
research before it invests here, India will be responsible for making good the
losses if that company is unable to invest here due to a policy change or a
government decision.
So far, India has extended only post-investment
national treatment to countries with which it has investment promotion
agreements. Under post-investment national treatment, once a foreign company
invests in India, it will be subject to the same laws for investment protection
that are applicable to domestic investors. However, it has no obligations for
losses incurred by companies in the pre-investment
stage.
“India is comfortable with extending post-investment
national treatment. It does not want to be pushed into something it does not
want to offer,” the official said. The US also wants that the bilateral
treaty should allow a foreign investor to take a dispute with the host
government to an international arbiter for settlement. The official said India
has been opposing the proposal on the ground that it would lead to the country
losing its sovereignty on the issue.
India has signed a number of
bilateral investment promotion agreements with trading partners such as
Australia, UK, France, Germany and Russia, but it has extended post-investment
national treatment only to Singapore.
India finmin report: fiscal consolidation needed
REUTERS
NEW DELHI: India will continue to
focus on fiscal consolidation by cutting down unproductive spending, as part of
its efforts to sustain a high
quarterly review on Tuesday
India's fiscal deficit is projected to
swell to a record 6.8 per cent of gross domestic product in the fiscal year
2009/10 (April-March) that has to be funded by a record high borrowing of 4.51
trillion rupees ($95 billion).
"...The process of fiscal
consolidation which is a pre-requisite for sustained growth, continues to be in
focus," said the report presented by the finance minister to
parliament.
The report also said efforts were being made to improve
cash management and cut expenditure in non-priority areas.
Last
month, the government decided to step up public spending to support a fragile
economic recovery.
In the July budget, the government outlined plans
to cut the fiscal deficit to 5.5 per cent by 2010/11 and further to 4 per cent
in 2011/12 following a recovery in the economy.
Asia's third largest
economy expanded by 6.7 per cent in 2008/09, slowing from the scorching 9 per
cent or more recorded in the previous three fiscal years.
Last week,
the central bank said the economy could grow 6 per cent with an upward bias and
warned of price pressures by end of the fiscal year to March 2010.
"...Government will continue to take necessary measures to moderate
inflation, prune unproductive expenditure and closely monitor FRBM (Fiscal
Responsibility and Budget Management) targets," the finance ministry report
said.
India's wholesale price index fell 1.54 per cent in the
12-months to July 18 despite a rise in food prices, but analysts said inflation
could soon return.
However, the consumer price index - which
attaches greater weighting to food products - stood firm at 9.29 per cent in
June.
Govt spent Rs 257/month per person on social services in FY'09
PTI
NEW DELHI: The government spent Rs 257
a month per person on social services like sports, education and medical and
public health in the last
"As
per the data on expenditures of the Centre and the States combined on social
services available from the Reserve Bank of India, total combined expenditure on
social services in 2008-09 was Rs 257 per month per person roughly," Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Rajya Sabha today.
He also said
that the total combined expenditure of the Centre and the state governments on
social services in 2008-09 was 6.72 per cent of the country's
GDP.
"The Government is fully committed to inclusive growth and is
making all efforts to provide sufficient funds for social security, especially
for the disadvantaged sections of the society," he said.
Social
services include education, sports, art and culture, medical and public health,
family welfare of SCs, STCs and OBCs, labour welfare, social security and
welfare and nutrition, relief on account of natural calamities.
RIL to buy 67% stake in AP city gas distributor
ET Bureau
HYDERABAD:
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries (RIL) will pick up a 67% stake in Krishna
Godavari Gas Network (KGGNL), a company set up to
distribution network (CGD) in the state.
The investment on CGD for
the power-starved state is estimated at Rs 1,00,000 crore. The price of natural
gas will be $4.2 per million BTU.
An MoU will be inked between
Reliance Gas Corporation, an arm of RIL and three other stakeholders —
Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, IDFC Equity Fund and the Infrastructure
Corporation of AP (IncAP) — by mid-August, this year. The three partners
will have a 11% stake each in the special purpose vehicle KGGNL, said DA
Somayajulu, Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s advisor
and the government’s negotiator with RIL.
At a review meeting
on gas supplies from the KG basin held on Tuesday, the chief minister made it
clear that he wanted to expedite the CGD project for domestic and industrial
consumers, as RIL has already started selling gas.
The company, which
is expected to produce 40 mmscmd of gas from the KG basin in the first phase,
has to earmark five mmscmd of gas for CGD projects across the
country.
Currently, RIL is producing around 31 mmscmd. Of this, it is
supplying only 10 mmscmd to Andhra, though the state’s actual allocation
is only 7.79 mmscmd. GAIL is also supplying another six mmscmd, taking total
supplies to 16 mmscmd.
“We want the actual allocation from RIL
to be raised rather than getting the extra amount as a gratis. Right now,
supplies are adequate to meet the requirements of existing power and fertiliser
companies in the state. All gas-based power projects are working at full
capacity,” he said. However, RIL is embroiled in a legal tussle with Anil
Ambani-led Reliance Natural Resources (RNRL) over gas supplies. The state, on
its part, has pitched for a 10% allocation of natural gas produced from the KG
basin, which is in its own backyard.
Chief minister YSR Reddy said
the state would fight for its reasonable share of gas to be produced in future
and also for its share of royalties, even as the Opposition blamed him for
getting a raw deal on gas supplies from the KG Basin.
Parallely,
Bhagyanagar Gas (BGL) — a joint venture of HPCL, GAIL, Kakinada Seaports
Private and the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation — will
supply gas for the proposed CGD network in Hyderabad, Vijaywada and
Kakinada.
The estimated investment for Hyderabad is Rs 3,500 crore.
The cost of fuel for vehicles (CNG) and the domestic sector is expected to drop
by 40%, with the alternate fuel.
Assocham wants to play role of a catalyst in Jharkhand
ET Bureau
he
Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) wants to play
the role of a catalyst for industrialisation in Jharkhand,
per cent of the national mineral reserves.
Assocham feels that
Jharkhand has huge potential which has not been tapped so far and that it can
work towards bringing both the industry and the government on a common platform
so that both work in tandem to achieve the goal of
industrialisation.
Assocham's secretary general DS Rawat, who was
here in connection with a summit, told the ET that his organisation would soon
make linkages with the local chambers and the government to address issues
related with industrialisation. "We are also planning to set up a liasoning
office in Ranchi to coordinate the local units with the national body so that
issues are addressed in a much more effective manner," he said on the sidelines
of the meet.
The industry body, he said, also plans to organise a
trade fair kind of event called "Jharkhand Investmart" every alternate year to
showcase the huge potential that the state offers in the field of mining and
industry and to bring all the stakeholders together. He said besides the mining
and steel sector, the state also has great potential in the food processing,
herbal medicines and tourism sectors which have remained neglected so
far.
"We intend to submit a draft proposal to the state government
after Assembly elections, which will provide a blueprint to promote
industrialisation, to gainfully utilise mines. We are of the view that the
extremism can be contained by development for which we would impress upon the
government to set up special economic zones (SEZ) in Naxalite-affected areas,"
said Mr Rawat.
The Assocham official said industrial projects worth
Rs 125,940 crore, including those of ArcelorMittal, Jindal South West, Jindal
Steel and Power Limited, Tata Steel, Essar Steel are awaiting approvals from the
state government. He urged the state government to streamline its clearance
procedures to pace up industrialization and attract domestic and foreign
companies for lift the economy of the state.
According to him,
execution of these projects will create over 1 lakh direct and indirect
employment opportunities and will also upgrade the general infrastructure and
civic amenities of locations where they are proposed to be put up.
Other stories in this section |
Indians defy high gold prices as festive season starts
REUTERS
MUMBAI/SINGAPORE: Indians have started
buying gold jewellery and wholesalers are stocking up against anticipated price
rises as the busy season
dealers said on Wednesday.
India, which accounted for more than 20
percent of global demand for gold jewellery in 2008, celebrates the Hindu
festivals of Raksha Bandhan, Janmasthami and Ganesh Chaturthi in August, when
demand for bullion usually picks up.
Elsewhere in Asia, gold's rise
to a two-month high above $970 an ounce spurred selling, but premiums for gold
bars were steady at 70 cents to the spot London price in Singapore, suggesting
that consumers would still buy on dips.
"As against nothing earlier,
there is at least something now. This month for the festivals, the real
consumers will be buying, so demand has revived a bit," said Haresh Acharya,
bullion desk head at Parker Agrochem Exports Ltd, a wholesaler in
Ahmedabad.
"However there is hardly any demand from northern India
because of the below normal monsoon. If the monsoon fails, the full year will be
very bad," said Acharya, referring to sales.
Jewellery is the most
common gift during religious events in India and forms an essential part of the
dowry basket. Weddings usually take place during the festive season, when
parents give gold jewellery to their daughters for financial
security.
Weak monsoon rains could hurt demand because farmers, who
account for 65 percent of India's gold demand, depend on good harvests, but some
dealers said wholesalers were active in the local market, looking for an
opportunity to buy.
"When prices fall a bit, there is buying. The
sentiment we saw in the first half of the year has turned around," said Ajit
Shinde, a director at wholesaler Magna Projects Pvt. Ltd., which is based in the
eastern city of Kolkata.
The most active October contract on the
Indian gold futures added 25 rupees, to 14,920 rupees ($312.8) per 10 grams on
Wednesday. Cash gold fell $3.20 to $963.55 but was within sight of a two-month
high of $970.05 on Tuesday.
India's jewellery demand has suffered
because of high global prices earlier this year and an economic slowdown, with
consumption falling 52 percent to 34.7 tonnes in the first
quarter.
Gold was around 4 percent below an 11-month high above
$1,000 hit in February.
"In the near-term, it certainly has a bit of
upside pressure and with expectations for the dollar to weaken further, I would
expect gold to remain buoyant for now," said Adrian Koh, an analyst at Phillip
Futures in Singapore.
Premiums were also steady in Hong Kong at 30 cents to the spot
London prices, but physical trading slowed to a trickle in Tokyo during the
summer holidays. Japanese dealers offered gold bars at a discount of 50 cents to
London, compared with a premium of 25 cents two weeks ago.
Hindus outnumber Muslims in West Bengal madrassas
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Kolkata: Squashing popular belief that madrassas
are schools for fundamentalist Islamic teachings, Hindus students in
West Bengal are making a beeline for these schools.
With madrassas shifting focus from Islamist education to science and
technology, Hindu students now outnumber Muslims in four madrassas in
the state. "The number of Hindu students varies from 57% to 64%, which
is proof that madrassas and secularism are not anachronistic," West
Bengal Board of Madrassa Education president Sohrab Hussain said. He
said out of 1,077 students in the Kasba madrassa, 618 are Hindus. The
figures are equally encouraging at Orgram where 554 out of 868 students
are Hindus. At Chandrakona, 201 out of 312 students are Hindus and at
Ekmukha, 290 out of 480 children are from the majority community.
"It's
a misconception that our students only learn Islam-related subjects at
madrassas. Times are changing and so are we. Now, we stress on science
and technology. As many as 42 madrassas have computer laboratories,"
Hussain said.
He said an increasing number of Hindu students were
choosing madrassas over other schools because they had more
credibility. "Mostly first-generation learners from backward classes
come to study here as they know they won't be looked down upon.
Besides, madrassa certificates are on a par with national-level
examinations," he said.
There are 506 madrassas in West Bengal
and 52 more will come up by the end of 2009. Overall, 17% of students
and 11% of teachers in these institutions are non-Muslims.
"The
only difference between madrassa and state board syllabus is that our
students have to take a 100-mark paper on Arabic and Islamic studies,
which is good for Hindu students as they learn a new language," Hussain
said.
Bibhas Chandra Ghorui, a Hindu assistant teacher at
Chandrakona, said: "There are seven schools within one km of this
madrassa. But people send their wards here mostly because of
affordability. One has to pay Rs375 at general schools, while a
madrassa takes only Rs110 per student."
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_hindus-outnumber-muslims-in-west-bengal-madrassas_1223430
AMU campus may open next year
AligarhMuslim University vice-chancellor, Prof. P K Abdul Azis, met chief minister
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Friday to discuss the proposed
Prior to the site visit scheduled on Saturday, Azis spoke to SWATI SENGUPTA at
length on a host of issues.
Q: What will the Murshidabad centre of
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) be like?
A: It will be a fully
residential university campus in Murshidabad that will cater to students from
the entire East and not only students from West Bengal. Like AMU, it will have
the school system. AMU has eight schools from nursery to class XII, including
two only for girls. For the Murshidabad campus, we may start off with class XI
and/or college of engineering, and then expand gradually.
Q: What did
the discussion with the state chief minister centre around?
A: The
West Bengal government has already identified 350 acres in Suti that belongs to
the central government. The Centre is positive over handing over the land to us.
The land will be given to us free of cost. The university will be fully funded
by the Centre. It has already allocated Rs 25 crore. The CM has also assured us
of some funds from the state.
Q: So how soon can the AMU Murshidabad
centre open?
A: If the land is handed over to us soon, we can begin
in the 2010-11 session with the nucleus of the larger programme in the next six
to nine months.
Q: What about streams and faculty members? How many
students and teachers are you targeting for AMU Murshidabad?
A: AMU
has 32,000 students from 22 states in the country and 30 countries, including
those from South-East Asia, Gulf, Africa, Bangladesh and Mauritius. We have no
specific targets for the Murshidabad centre. It is meant for the entire region.
It will be open to all interested. As for teachers, we hope to rope in the best
in the country.
Q: People tend to think AMU is meant only for Muslim
students. Would you clarify this point? Also, West Bengal has been presented in
very poor light in the Sachar Committee report. Is that the reason why AMU wants
to open a centre here?
A: AMU has nearly 65% Muslim students, but it
does not have reservations for the community and has a tradition of being
secular. It is meant for all communities and regions. It is going to be the same
in Murshidabad. However, one must note that Muslim-concentrated areas experience
social exclusion. Education and health are poor in these regions. In West
Bengal, too, a lot more institutions are needed for Muslims. The legacy of AMU
is that more applications are received from Muslim students and the aura of the
campus is such that Muslims feel good to study there.
Q: What about
the courses that will be on offer?
A: A committee of academic council
has been formed to examine the kind of courses that would be offered. It will
cater to modern needs and also keep in mind the regional requirements. The state
higher education council will also send us proposals on the relevant courses
that may be introduced.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-City-Kolkata-AMU-campus-may-open-next-year/articleshow/4791237.cms
Ladies special: Rlys finds a way to bypass EC code
KOLKATA:Railway officials on Tuesday succeeded in bringing off what can be best
described as a "marvellous balancing act". Railway minister
already announced that the second ladies special EMU local for West Bengal
between Kalyani and Sealdah, would be flagged off on August 5. There was no
problem with this, save the Election Commission of India's model code of conduct
that has come into place due to Assembly bypolls for Sealdah and Bowbazar
seats.
The model code of conduct does not allow any new projects
within the jurisdiction of the constituencies going to the polls. But the
Sealdah station comes within one of the constituencies. Mamata had made it clear
that she would not be present for the flagging-off ceremony. The function at
Kalyani would be attended by MP Gobinda Naskar and Union ministers of state
Dinesh Trivedi, Saugata Roy and Mukul Roy. The question now was whether they
could flag off a new train that would terminate at Sealdah.
After
much deliberation and consultations with the Election Commission, it was agreed
that they could not. However, the train had to start running as Mamata had
already made the announcement. One option was to start running the train without
any fanfare. Mere advertisements in newspapers to inform people about the new
service would suffice. But would the railway minister let go of this opportunity
to spread her message' to people?
Finally, it was decided to run a
truncated service from Kalyani up to Dum Dum Junction. In this case, any
ceremony held at Kalyani would not flout the model code of conduct and Mamata
and her men would not fret. Sources in Delhi said the final decision was taken
only on Tuesday evening after a series of meetings. At a later stage, when the
elections are over, the services will be extended' up to Sealdah.
"There is no harm in this. We don't want to get involved in any
trouble with the EC. There may have been objections even if the train had
started without any ceremony. After weighing all options we decided to run the
train up to Dum Dum. We can always extend the services to Sealdah later," an
officer in Delhi said.
The question that remains is whether another
ceremony will be held during the extension. Officers had no
answer.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ladies-special-Rlys-finds-a-way-to-bypass-EC-code/articleshow/4858239.cms
SC refuses to stay Kolkata clean air drive
KOLKATA: Breathe easy. Therefreshingly clean air that you’ve experienced over the past couple of
days is no flash in the pan. It is here to
refused to stay the Calcutta High Court order banning polluting vehicles from
plying in Kolkata and its suburbs, ending speculation on whether smoke-belching
buses, taxis and autorickshaws would be back on the streets from Wednesday.
Though the apex court will hear the matter again on August 10, the
writing is on the wall: there will be no compromise on citizens’ right to
clean air as per Articles 21, 47, 48A and 51A(g) of the Constitution.
People in Kolkata cheered the development. With much of city
transport off the roads, lakhs have been braving long queues in the heat and
rain, determined not to let transporters take them for a ride.
“I am glad the Supreme Court has not reversed the decision.
It’s been great to have the foul air cleaned up,” said Sudipto
Bhattacharya of Saviours and Friends for Environment (SAFE), an NGO.
Subhas Datta, environment activist and a key party in the auto
emission case at Calcutta HC, believes the apex court is unlikely to reverse the
high court judgment. “In 1998, it was the Supreme Court that ordered the
ban on 15-year-old commercial vehicles in Delhi. Moreover, the SC has time and
again emphasized that environment will take precedence over all else,” he
pointed out.
Till now, operators have been pinning their hopes on
the Supreme Court for a reprieve. But with the court refusing a stay,
autorickshaw and taxi owners are beginning to acknowledge the inevitable.
Feroze Khan, an auto driver on the Park Street-Topsia route, finally
admitted that a switch to LPG was the only option. “I went to the public
vehicles department to make enquiries. There’s no point sticking to a
stand that looks increasingly futile,” he said.
Bus operators,
however, continue to resist the change and insist they will wait till the matter
is disposed of by the Supreme Court. Deepak Sarkar, who owns a bus that is
facing the scrap hammer, is in no hurry. “Until the matter is settled in
court, we will not go in for new buses,” he said.
The forum of
transporters has moved the Supreme Court, pleading that they be made a party to
the pollution case and given a chance to put forth their argument.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/SC-refuses-to-stay-Kolkata-clean-air-drive/articleshow/4858456.cms
WAKARUSA, Indiana — White House spokesman Robert Gibbs on Wednesday
withdrew his remark that Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had been
"elected," saying Iranians still had questions about his disputed
victory.
On Tuesday, Gibbs had declined to term Ahmadinejad
Iran's legitimate president but said he had been "elected," stirring
controversy among critics of the White House stance on Iran following
June's controversial election.
"Let me correct a little bit of
what I said yesterday. I denoted that Mr Ahmadinejad was the elected
leader of Iran. I would say that is not for me to pass judgement on,"
Gibbs told reporters on Air Force One.
"He has been inaugurated
-- that's a fact. Whether any election was fair, obviously the Iranian
people still have questions about that and we'll let them decide that."
Earlier
on the day of Ahmadinejad's inauguration, Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton expressed admiration for reformist opponents of Ahmadinejad but
said Washington would maintain its offer of engaging the Islamic
Republic.
"We appreciate and we admire the continuing resistance
and ongoing efforts by the reformers to make the changes that the
Iranian people deserve," Clinton said in Kenya at the start of a
seven-nation Africa tour.
In his inauguration speech, Ahmadinejad
said he would continue to resist "oppressive powers," dismissing the US
stance towards Iran and hailing his election as a sign of major change.
But
prominent opposition leaders were absent from the ceremony, and outside
a force of about 1,000 riot police and volunteer Islamic militiamen
used pepper spray on demonstrators who claim his election was rigged,
witnesses said.
Gas row: R Power says govt's potential loss at Rs 30,000 cr
PTI
MUMBAI:
Anil Ambani Group on Wednesday questioned oil field regulator DGH's statement
that Reliance Industries' gas field expenditure has been
firm appointed to verify the development cost had conflict of interest with RIL.
(
Watch
)
Reliance
Power CEO J P Chalsani, at a press conference called here, said that Mustang
Engineering, which had been appointed by DGH to validate the cost, has been
advising RIL on various projects.
RIL's capital expenditure for
development of Dhirubhai 1 and 3 gas fields in the KG-D6 block had increased
from USD 2.47 billion proposed in 2004 to USD 8.8 billion in 2006 while
production only doubled to 80 million standard cubic meters per day, he said,
adding that when production doubles the cost does not double factoring the
economics of scale.
DGH had
yesterday said that the increase in D6 capital expenditure was warranted as
production facilities were increased from 40 mmscmd to 120 mmscmd and field life
was increased from 9 years to 13 years.
The government, Chalsani said,
because of inflated capex stands to lose Rs 30,000 crore revenue as RIL is
entitled to recover the entire cost before sharing revenues with the government.
Chalsani also also questioned
the role of Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), saying DGH according to
Petroleum Ministry was only an advisory body.
DGH had said the increase
in capex was also partially due to inflationary trend in the E&P equipment
and service industry.
DGH
Director General V K Sibal had pointed to a Goldman Sachs Report on Global
Finding and Development Costs of 2008 which states that "out of 32 deep water
projects developed in the world, D6 ranks amongst the lowest in terms of costs
and amongst the fastest in terms of time from discovery to production."
Sibal said Mustang Engineering
was hired through an international bid. Besides Mustang, P Gopalakrishnan, an
upstream expert, had independently validated the cost.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Oil-Gas/Gas-row-R-Power-says-govts-potential-loss-at-Rs-30000-cr/articleshow/4860299.cms
Muslims of West Bengal:
Glorious past, tattered present
By Muzammil Ahmad
Muslims of Bengal, who had a
brilliant history of independence, governance and political freedom along
with economic prosperity before Independence, are now facing economic
deprivation. Bengal had been under the rule of Nawab Murshid Quli Khan,
Ali Wardi Khan and Nawab Sirajuddaulah.
Bengal was famous by the name
of ‘Fertile Bengal’ on account of its agricultural products like jute
and paddy. District Barisal of East Bengal was called as the granary of
Bengal. This economic success and prosperity gave birth to the well-known
humanitarian and philanthropist of Distt. Hooghly of West Bengal, Haji
Muhammad Muhsin whose invaluable contribution and devotion to the
educational progress of Indian Muslims will be written in letters of gold
in the history of Indian Muslims. Before the partition of India there were
two provinces which were under Muslim rule, one of which was Bengal.
In spite of this glorious
heritage, Muslims of Bengal are now considered extremely poor and fit for
ordinary labour. In spite of being skillful in various artistic activities
or professions, Muslims of West Bengal are leading a life of poverty and
deprivation. Business groups are exploiting them by giving meagre wages.
Giving a sketch of Muslim
deprivation in Bengal, MKA Siddiqui writes: In Calcutta, which is one of
the biggest cities of India and where Muslims are 15 percent of the
population, 60 percent of rickshaw and hand-cart pullers, 90 percent of
bidi makers and 100 percent of those engaged in embroidery work are
Muslims. Their disproportionate employment in ordinary professions and
extremely low representation in profitable arts, crafts and services is
indicative of their social and economic condition. The number of Muslim
capitalists in West Bengal who can manage their own trade is extremely
low.
Bengal’s association with
Islam had started much earlier than its conquest in the thirteenth
century. Many Muslim thinkers and scholars are believed to have lived in
Bengal much before its conquest. Islam had spread widely in rural areas.
Many social, religious and political factors are believed to have given
rise to the spread of Islam in Bengal. The preachers of Islam got very
good opportunities in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries for
preaching and spreading Islam.
The noteworthy feature of the
1872 statistics of Bengal was that almost half of Bengal’s population,
i.e., 48 percent, was Muslim, the majority of whom lived in rural areas.
During the decade of 1941-51 political and historical factors changed the
boundaries of the country. This also affected the population of
present-day Bengal in India. A large number of Muslims left those regions
which formed ‘West Bengal’ after partition and migrated to the Eastern
part of Pakistan which subsequently came into existence as ‘Bangladesh’
in 1971.
According to the 1981 census,
the total Muslim population in West Bengal was 11,743,259 of which
6,100,517 were males and 5,642,742 females. The districts with high
percentage of Muslim population are Murshidabad, Malda, Dinajpur, South
Dinajpur, 24-Parganas and Hooghly where Muslims are between 40 and 60
percent but in Murshidabad, Malda and Dinajpur they are more than 60
percent.
The economic condition of
Muslims in West Bengal is not good. According to a survey, 70 percent of
Muslims are living below the poverty line. Their ratio in various
profitable trades and services vis-a-vis the total population is extremely
low.
Under these circumstances
there is a silver lining. Both the public as well as the Government are
taking initiatives to improve the worsening educational condition of
Muslims. As far as the Government is concerned, the Central Government has
set up a Minorities Commission to focus attention on the difficulties of
Muslims. Conditions have started improving , though not to the desired
extent. As regards the steps taken by the public, the All-India
Educational Move-ment has recently been established through the efforts of
former AMU VC Saiyid Hamid. This movement has organized various
conferences and seminars.
A body of Muslims has founded
in 1984 an educational trust-‘Islamic Educational and Welfare Trust.’
In addition to this, some other organizations have taken notable steps for
the improvement and welfare of Muslims.q
http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/15-1-2000/Art11.htm
No equality of employment for West Bengal Muslims
By Mohammad Ashfaque, Calcutta
Article
15 of the Constitution of India prohibits ‘discrimination on grounds of
religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.’ Article 16
of the Constitution guarantees ‘equality of opportunity in matters of
employment.’ Article 30 of our Constitution confers ‘Right of
minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of
their choice.’
Though our Constitution has laid down a
general rule that there shall be an equality of opportunity for all
citizens in matters relating to employment or appointments to any
office under the State, these fundamental principles have literally
remained mere pious declarations and are being flagrantly violated.
Muslim job seekers, who have registered their names in the employment
exchanges in West Bengal, have for more than two decades, suffered from
continuous discrimination and unfavorable bias in the matter of
submission of names to the employers by the employment exchanges. They
are denied even the opportunity of being properly considered by the
employers for placement against existing vacancies.
During the tenure of the last Congress Government in West Bengal
(1972-77), led by the then Chief Minister, Shri Siddhartha Shankar Ray,
some positive steps were initiated to solve the unemployment problem of
the state and to ensure equality of opportunity to all citizens
including members of the Muslim community in matters of recruitment in
government jobs.
Apart from taking steps for adequate representation of all communities
in state services Shri Siddhartha Shankar Ray had ensured that at least
one Muslim police officer was posted in each and every Police Station
in West Bengal. Prior to this the members of Muslim Community were very
poorly represented in services under Calcutta and West Bengal Police
Forces. The steps taken by Ray, had created confidence among the
minorities and inspired them to take a bright and hopeful view of
things to come and to expect that things would improve and they would
no longer be kept isolated from the national mainstream.
Immediately after coming to power, by an executive order, the CPI(M)
dominated Left Front government decided to process all recruitment
through the employment exchanges. The annual reports of the Government
of West Bengal - 'Labour in West Bengal' - published annually by the
Labour Department of the state government present a dismal picture of
the poor performances of the employment exchanges and the State
Directorate of Employment, West Bengal.
During the last ten years (1990 to 1999) the number of registered
unemployed on the live registers in West Bengal increased from
48,20,331 at the end of 1990 to 55,55,952 by the end of 1999. During
these ten years 47,66,176 new job seekers had registered their names
with the Employment Exchanges in the State. Names of 21,09,560 (40 % of
the average number of job seekers on the live register) were submitted
during this period to the employers for consideration against
vacancies.
During the same period (1990 to 1999) 291,768 Muslims had come forward
to register themselves but the names of only 70,945 Muslims (10.58 % of
the average number of Muslims on the live register) were submitted to
the employers for consideration in connection with appointments.
The average number of job seekers on the live register of employment
exchanges in West Bengal, during the last ten years, was 52,72,997. The
average number of Muslims on the live registers during this period was
6,70,443 (12.71 % of the total on the live register). Out of this total
average of 52,72,997, the average number of submission during this
period was 2,10,956 (4 % of the total job seekers of all categories on
the live registers) per annum. In the case of Muslims out of the
average number of 6,70,443 (12.71 %) Muslim Job Seekers on the live
registers the average submission was only 7,095 (1 % of the total names
of Muslim Job Seekers on the live registers) per annum.
Despite the fact that about 12.71 % of the registered job seekers,
available on the live register of employment exchanges were Muslims the
total 21,09,560 names submitted during these ten years (1990-99) to the
employers for consideration against vacancies included the names of
only 70,945 Muslims (3.36 % of the total submissions).
During these ten years (1990-99) out of the 93,156 registered
unemployed persons placed in employment through the employment
exchanges only 4,232 (4.54 %) were Muslims. Out of the total 21,09,560
submissions made by the employment exchanges during the ten year period
93,156 persons (4%) had succeeded in getting placements in Jobs. In the
case of Muslims out of the 70,945 names of registered Muslim job
seekers, whose names were submitted to the employers during these ten
years, 4,232 (6 %) were successful in getting jobs through the
employment exchanges.
Success rate in the case of Muslims (4,232 out of 70,945) i.e. 6 % of
the total Muslim names submitted for consideration by the employers)
was, therefore, higher than the average success rates in all categories
(93156 out of 21,09,560 i.e. 4 % of the total submissions ).
This shows that the Muslim job seekers are not in any way inferior to
others. Muslims of West Bengal do not lag behind others in meeting the
criteria for being selected for jobs but still they are denied equality
in employment opportunity. They are placed in a disadvantageous
position simply because of bias and prejudice in matters of submission
of names. The concerned authorities of the state government are not
doing proper justice with the registered Muslim job seekers in the
matter of submission and are submitting very few names of Muslim job
seekers for consideration by the employers. This discrimination has
been going on for a long time. For the Muslims in West Bengal the
Constitutional guarantees of equality in employment opportunity have,
therefore, proved to be false promises. This has given rise to serious
resentment and frustration among the unemployed Muslims of West Bengal.
Their confidence in the Employment Exchanges and the Employment Policy
of the State Government has been badly shaken. This is evident from the
fact that over the years the number of unemployed Muslims coming
forward to register their names in the Employment Exchanges has fallen
from 47,908 in 1990 to an average of 27,096 per year during 1991-99.
During this period more than 1,60,000 frustrated Muslim job seekers did
not renew their registrations or had got their names cancelled from the
live register of employment exchanges.
According to the Census reports, population of Muslims in West Bengal,
at the time of 1991 census, was 1,60,75,836 (17 % of the total
9,52,22,853 Muslim population of India).
So far as concentration of Muslim population is concerned West Bengal
is second only to Uttar Pradesh, which has a Muslim population of
2,41,09,684 (25% of the total Muslim population of India). 1,60,75,836
Muslims in West Bengal constituted 24 % of the total population of the
State. Scheduled Castes account for 24 % and Scheduled Tribes for 6 %
of the population of the State in 1991. The population of Other
Backward Classes in West Bengal is estimated to be about 10 % of the
total population of the State. Under the Government orders, 37 % of the
jobs in the West Bengal State services are reserved for Scheduled
Castes (22 % ), Scheduled Tribes (6%) and Other Backward Classes (9 %).
Though Muslims are inadequately represented in the State services there
is no provision for any reservation for them in West Bengal. Some other
States like Kerala have provided statutory reservations for Muslims in
jobs and admissions in educational institutions. Muslims account for
23% of the population of Kerala. Provisions for reservation have been
made for them by the Government of Kerala under Articles 15 (4) and 16
(4) of the Constitution of India and there has been no legal hurdle to
such reservations.
Muslims, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes
account for approx. 64 % of the total population of West Bengal. Others
(excluding Muslims, SC, ST, & OBC) account for only 36 % of the
total population of the State. This 36 % population has received the
benefit of 62.81 % of the submission of names by the employment
exchanges for consideration by the employers and 62.43 % of the
placements in jobs made through the employment exchanges in West Bengal
during 1999. Muslims constituting 24 % of the population of the State
and accounting for 13 % of the live register of employment exchanges
received the benefit of only 4.18 % of the submissions and 4.95 % of
the placements made during 1999 through the Employment Exchanges in
West Bengal. 2,49,769 names were submitted to the above employers by
the employment exchanges during 1999 which included the names of only
10,458 (4 % Muslims). No wonder the Muslims got only 717 (4.95 %)
placements during 1999.
A pertinent question agitating the minds of the Muslims of West Bengal
is whether the fundamental rights and constitutional guarantees
embodied in our Constitution are mere illusion.
Apart from denial of equality of opportunities in matters of
employment, Muslims of West Bengal are further aggrieved because they
find that even the constitutional rights 'to establish and administer
educational institutions of their own choice', guaranteed under Article
30 of the Constitution , is denied to them by the state government. The
case of Milli Al Amin College is an example of the arbitrariness of the
state government. This College has been built in Calcutta as a
'Minority Institution' with donations received from munificent Muslims
and assistance from the Al Amin Educational Trust, Bangalore. The state
government has not contributed anything.
The College was built in 1992 but the state government has refused to
recognize Milli Al Amin College as a Minority Institution. On the other
hand the state government has been trying to impose such conditions
which tend to deprive the Muslim community of the substance of their
rights guaranteed under Article 30 (1) of the Constitution.
The above factual analysis dispel the myth that the Left Front
Government is friendly with the minorities. It does not auger well that
while we have 'solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign,
Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and pledged 'to secure to all
citizens justice and equality of status and of opportunity' the
religious minority in West Bengal is left to feel that it is not only
inadequately represented in the services under the State but is also
being denied equality of opportunity in employment and education. The
members of the Muslim community in West Bengal have well grounded
reasons to be aggrieved and to feel that proper justice is not being
done with them by the State. The matter should receive serious
attention and consideration by all concerned.
q
http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/01-10-2000/Art16.htm
in
West Bengal: A Survey
(A Study by South Asia Research
Society, Calcutta)
On account
of the Partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, refugees moved from
Pakistan, without much interruption, to various parts of India, especially
to West Bengal, till 1971, when political boundaries in South Asia were
redrawn. Even after the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent country
in 1971, however, the march of refugees to West Bengal appeared to be ceaseless.
Nevertheless, there is one great difference in the patterns of migration
before and after 1971. In the days of Pakistan, nearly all refugees coming
to West Bengal were members of the minority communities in East Bengal
(East Pakistan), viz. Buddhists, Christians and Hindus. In the Bangladesh
era, however, in addition to the forced migration of members of minority
community (the overwhelming majority being Hindus) to West Bengal, there
has been largescale voluntary infiltration of Bangladeshi Muslims (forming
the majority community in that country) to West Bengal and other parts
of India. Certainly, the Government of India and the Government of West
Bengal are not unaware of this grim phenomenon. Occasionally, the Home
Minister of the Government of India and the Chief Minister of West Bengal
have expressed serious concern over this problem. This brief survey - its
brevity attributable to the barrier of needless secrecy against the free
flow of census data (unexpected in a democratic country like India) - aims
at unraveling the mystery of population explosion in a progressive state
like West Bengal, as also at arousing the consciousness of the public about
the factor of migration /infiltration underlying this explosion, which
cannot but pose a mounting challenge to vital national interests.
Table 1.1: Population
in West Bengal 1941-91
(100,000) | in the previous decade (100,000) | in the current decade | |
Source:
Statistical
Abstract, West Bengal, 1978-89 (Combined Issue), Bureau of Applied
Economics and Statistics.
In
accordance with estimates prepared by the Government of West Bengal, 44.5
lakhs of refugees came from East Bengal (East Pakistan) to West Bengal
during 1946-1970.1 The 1981 Census contained
an important clue to the persistence of migration / infiltration to West
Bengal. The population growth rate declined from 26.9% in 1961-71 to 23.2%
in 1971-81. Yet, the 1981 Census recorded a population of 4,67,000 in excess
of the population derived from differences in birth /death rates. If one
excluded these 4,67,000 persons - who obviously moved to West Bengal from
other regions inside/outside India - the population growth rate in 1971-81
would have declined from 23.2% to 22.1%. Actually, in West Bengal, on account
of an expansion of education and family planning programmes, as also of
a pronounced rise in social consciousness, the population growth rate during
1981-91 should have fallen below 22%, and demographic experts of the Government
of India perceptively forecast the rate of 20.79% for this period. Evidently,
this forecast was upset by migration /infiltration from Bangladesh. For,
the 1991 Census puts the decadal growth rate at 24.55%, i.e. higher than
that in 1971-81. Where and how could this unexpected rate of population
growth take place?2
Natural Population Increase
in 1981-91:
Every
year the Registrar General of India conducts sample surveys, and estimates
the annual rates of birth and death. Table 1.2 communicates these rates
for West Bengal during 1981-90.
Table 1.2: Birth and Death
Rates in West Bengal 1981-90
per thousand Population per Year | |||
Source:
Sample
Registration Survey Reports by the Registrar General of India.
Column
4 of Table 1.2 demonstrates that the estimated natural population increase
in West Bengal during 1981-91 stands at 21.9%. [This estimate is prepared
on the basis of natural population increase in course of a decade, i.e.
r1 r2 �. r10, and in accordance with the
formula, viz R = (1+ r1) (1+r2) (1+r3)
�. (1+r10) - 1.] The estimate of the expert committee on population
growth rate was 1.1% below 21.9%, i.e. the rate of natural increase during
1981-91. Nevertheless, the actual population growth rate exceeded the rate
of natural population increase by 2.7%, and stood at 24.6% during 1981-91. This
increase can largely be accounted for by the influx of people from Bangladesh,
Nepal, Bhutan and other regions of India. Thus, the number of migrants
/ infiltrators to West Bengal during 1981-91 can be calculated at 14,74,000,
i.e. 11% of the total population increase of 1,34,00,000.3
The actual number of outsiders in West Bengal is likely to be much higher,
because a very large number of them have presumably escaped detection by
Census personnel.
It
has been suggested that, during 1971-81 and 1981-91, West Bengal has accommodated
2 million outsiders. Actually, this number should be much larger,
because, from Bangladesh alone, 2.95 million Bengali-speaking Hindus have
entered into India (mainly West Bengal) during 1974-1991.4
As Mohiuddin Ahmed, a renowned journalist of Bangladesh, writes: �Thus,
we encounter a scenario of �missing Hindu population� in the successive
census periods. The extent of this missing population was about 1.22 million
during the period of 1974-1981, and about 1.73 million during the last
intercensual period 1981-91. As many as 475 Hindus
are �disappearing� every day from the soil of Bangladesh on an average
since 1974. How this phenomenon would be interpreted in terms of demography?
The relevant parameter is obviously �migration� which provides a clue to
the missing link.�5 The following Table illustrates
the rise and fall of Hindu and Muslim population in the last fifty year
in Bangladesh.
Table 1.3
Source: Bangladesh Population
Census in 1981 and 91.
It is
noteworthy that, of the nearly ten million Hindu refugees leaving East
Pakistan for India in course of the 1971 liberation struggle, a large number
did not return to Bangladesh. Moreover, of those
who returned, a big number, failing to recover movable / immovable properties
looted / misappropriated during 1971, came back to India in one or two
years. These refugees have not been taken into account by the Bangladesh
Census reports. Their number soars above 3 million.6
After
the successful conclusion of the Bangladesh liberation struggle in 1971,
only 2,00,000 out of 1 million stranded non-Bengalis (usually called Biharis)
in Bangladesh, could obtain help from International Red Cross Society in
order to move over to Pakistan. The Government of
Pakistan trumped up a variety of excuses to avoid the repatriation of the
other 8,00,000 Biharis, who were compelled to stay on in Bangladesh. As
of late 1994 - i.e. after the lapse of 23 years since 1971 - only 2,50,000
Biharis were found to be living amidst subhuman conditions at 66 camps
in Bangladesh.7 Actually, in terms of a natural
population increase, the 8,00,000 Biharis should have swelled to more than
1.3 million by 1994. To the question of where have the more than 1 million
Biharis vanished from Bangladesh since 1971, the obvious answer is, they
have surreptitiously moved into their ancestral places in India (notably
in Bihar), and settled down. In one of his recent election utterances, Laloo
Prasad Yadav, the Chief Minister of Bihar, has confessed to granting ration
cards and voting rights to 100,000 Biharis from Bangladesh.8
It may be added that some Governments have loudly complained about infiltration
of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis into such important cities as Bombay and
New Delhi.
In
addition, for the 1981-91 period, Bangladesh Census authorities detect
the somewhat unique phenomenon of �missing population�, and estimates the
number at 8 million.9 As already indicated,
1.73 million Hindus are to be included in the figure of 8 million. It is,
therefore, entirely plausible that the remainder of 8 million, i.e. 6.27
million Muslims, have infiltrated into various parts of India, notably
West Bengal. The Government of Bangladesh naturally observes silence on
this vital issue, this silence being occasionally broken by a hackneyed
repetition of the announcement that there are no Bangladeshis in India.
It is,
therefore, pertinent to affirm that 6 million Hindus have left Bangladesh
for India during 1971-1991, and not less than 6 million Bangladeshi Muslims
have infiltrated into India during 1981-1991. To this should be added 1
million stranded Biharis in Bangladesh moving to India. Since the extent
of Muslim infiltration during 1971-1981 awaits appraisal, it is fair to
conclude that at least - at least - 13-14 million migrants/infiltrators
have crossed over from Bangladesh to India from 1971 to 1991. A large number
of these outsiders have taken shelter in various parts of West Bengal,
including the sensitive border areas. In order to facilitate a clear comprehension
of this phenomenon, we provide below a Table recording the district wise
population growth rate in West Bengal as also the categorisation of this
population by religion. It is not logical to explain
this growth by reference to migration from other states in India to West
Bengal. For, in course of the 1981-1991 decade, West Bengal has witnessed
a decrease, rather than increase, of employment in the organised sector.10
As to migrants from Bhutan and Nepal, they mostly reside in the districts
of Coochbehar, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri, whereas their number is too insignificant
in comparison to the number of migrants from Bangladesh.
Table 1.4
List of comparative percentage
of religion-wise population figures
based on 1981 and 1991
Census in West Bengal and its districts.
Increase (%) | ||||
| West Bengal | Total population | 5,45,80,647 | 6,80,77,965 | |
| Hindu | 4,20,07,159 | 5,08,50,000 | 88,42,841 | |
(76.96) | (74.69) | (21.05) | ||
| Muslim | 1,17,43,209 | 1,60,50,000 | 43,06,791 | |
(21.51) | (23.57) | (36.67) | ||
| Cooch Behar | Total population | 17,71,643 | 21,71,14 | |
| Hindu | 13,99,844 | 16,59,000 | 2,59,156 | |
(79.01) | (76.41) | (18.51) | ||
| Muslim | 3,68,176 | 5,06,000 | 1,37,824 | |
(20,78) | (23.30) | (37.43) | ||
| Jalpaiguri | Total population | 22,14,871 | 28,02,543 | |
| Hindu | 19,38,062 | 23,75,000 | 4,36,938 | |
(87.50) | (84.42) | (22.54) | ||
| Muslim | 1,93,658 | 2,80,000 | 86,342 | |
(8.75) | (10.0) | (44.58) | ||
| Darjeeling | Total population | 10,24,269 | 12,99,919 | |
| Hindu | 8,13,625 | 10,13,000 | 1,99,375 | |
(79.44) | (77.98) | (24.50) | ||
| Muslim | 0,37,299 | 0.59,000 | 21,701 | |
(3.64) | (4.53) | (58.18) | ||
| West Dinajpur | Total population | 24,04,947 | 31,27,653 | |
| Hindu | 15,21,416 | 19,55,000 | 4,33,584 | |
(63.26) | (62.51) | (28.49) | ||
| Muslim | 8,60,797 | 11,49,000 | 2,88,203 | |
(35.79) | (36.74) | (33.48) | ||
| Maldah | Total population | 20,31,871 | 26,37,032 | |
| Hindu | 11,07,192 | 13,77,000 | 2,69,808 | |
(54.49) | (52.21) | (24.36) | ||
| Murshidabad | Total population | 36,97,552 | 47,40,149 | |
| Hindu | 15,21,448 | 18,19,000 | 2,97,552 | |
(41.15) | (38.37) | (19.55) | ||
| Muslim | 21,69,121 | 29,10,000 | 7,40,879 | |
(58.67) | (61.39) | (34.15) | ||
| Nadia | Total population | 29,64,253 | 38,52,097 | |
| Hindu | 22,29,177 | 28.63,000 | 6,33,823 | |
(75.20) | (74.32) | (28.43) | ||
| Muslim | 7,13,776 | 9,60,000 | 2,46,224 | |
(24.08) | (24.92) | (34.49) | ||
| 24-Parganas | Total Population | 1,07,39,439 | 1,29,96,911 | |
| Hindu | 81,08,070 | 94,45,000 | 13,37,000 | |
(75.50) | (72.67) | (16.49) | ||
| Muslim | 25,63,751 | 34,65,000 | 9,01,249 | |
(23.87) | (26.66) | (35.15) | ||
| (A) North 24-Parganas | Total population | 72,81,881 | ||
| Hindu | 54,95,000 | |||
(75.47) | ||||
| Muslim | 17,55,000 | |||
(24.10) | ||||
| (B) South 24-Parganas | Total population | 57,15,030 | ||
| Hindu | 39,50,000 | |||
(69.11) | ||||
| Muslim | 17,10,000 | |||
(29.92) | ||||
| Calcutta | Total population | 33,05,006 | 43,99,819 | |
| Hindu | 27,06,511 | 35,40,000 | 8,33,469 | |
(81.89) | (80.47) | (30.79) | ||
| Muslim | 5,06,942 | 7,79,000 | 2,72,508 | |
(15.34) | (17.70) | (53.67) | ||
| Howrah | Total population | 29,66,861 | 37,29,644 | |
| Hindu | 23,58,785 | 28,85,000 | 5,26,215 | |
(79.50) | (77.36) | (22.30) | ||
| Muslim | 5,98,448 | 8,28,000 | 2,29,552 | |
(20.17) | (22.20) | (38.35) | ||
| Hooghly | Total population | 35,57,306 | 43,55,230 | |
| Hindu | 30,56,143 | 36.95,000 | 6,38,856 | |
(85.91) | (84.84) | (20.90) | ||
| Muslim | 4,89,494 | 6,32,000 | 1,42,506 | |
(13.76) | (14.51) | (29.11) | ||
| Midnapore | Total population | 67,42,796 | 83,31,912 | |
| Hindu | 60,37,882 | 72,30,000 | 11,92,118 | |
(89.55) | (86.78) | (19.74) | ||
| Muslim | 5,86,587 | 8,98,000 | 3,11,413 | |
(8.70) | (10.77) | (53.08) | ||
| Bankura | Total population | 23,74,815 | 28,05,065 | |
| Hindu | 21,34,153 | 24,40,000 | 3,05,847 | |
(89.87) | (86.98) | (14.33) | ||
| Muslim | 1,34,085 | 1,86,000 | 51,915 | |
(5.65) | (6.63) | (38.71) | ||
| Purulia | Total population | 18,53,801 | 22,24,577 | |
| Hindu | 16,98,530 | 20,20,000 | 3,21,470 | |
(91.63) | (90.82) | (18.93) | ||
| Muslim | 1,01,044 | 1,33,000 | 31,956 | |
(5.45) | (5.97) | (31.62) | ||
| Burdwan | Total population | 48,35,388 | 60,50,605 | |
| Hindu | 39,38,376 | 48,20,000 | 8,81,624 | |
(81.45) | (79.76) | (22.38) | ||
| Muslim | 8,50,951 | 11,80,000 | 3,29,049 | |
(17.60) | (19.50) | (38.67) | ||
| Birbhum | Total population | 20,95,829 | 25,55,664 | |
| Hindu | 14,37,945 | 17,02,000 | 2,64,055 | |
(68.61) | (66.61) | (18.36) | ||
| Muslim | 6,49,212 | 8,44,000 | 1,94,788 | |
(30.98) | (33.02) | (30.0) |
The Census
reports of 1981 and 1991 indicate that, in course of the 1981-91 decade,
the number of Hindus in West Bengal has decreased by 2.27%, whereas the
number of Muslims in West Bengal has increased by 2.06%. Whereas the number
of Hindus in West Bengal has risen by 21.05%, the number of Muslims in
West Bengal has shot up by 36.67%. In every district of West Bengal, the
contrast between a decline in Hindu population and an extraordinary upswing
in Muslim population is indeed remarkable. Even in Calcutta itself, the
Muslim population has gone up by 53.67%, but the Hindu population has moved
up by 30.79%. In a number of districts, the rate of growth of Muslim population
is double or more than double that of Hindu population. Six such districts
are listed below:
Hindus 1981-91(%) | Muslim 1981-91(%) | |
| Cooch Behar | ||
| Jalpaiguri | ||
| Darjeeling | ||
| Midnapore | ||
| Bankura | ||
| 24-Parganas (North & South) |
Moreover,
in the following districts, the rate of growth of Muslim population has
been significantly higher than that of Hindu population:
Hindus 1981-91(%) | Muslims 1981-91(%) | |
| West Dinajpur | ||
| Maldah | ||
| Murshidabad | ||
| Nadia | ||
| Howrah | ||
| Hooghly | ||
| Purulia | ||
| Burdwan | ||
| Birbhum |
It is
noteworthy that in Calcutta, Nadia and West Dinajpur, the rate of growth
of Hindu population has surpassed the decadal growth rate of 24.55%. In
other districts, the rate of growth of Hindu population is much below 24.55%.
In contrast, in every district of West Bengal, the rate of growth of Muslim
population is much higher than 24.55%.
Table
1.4 demonstrates how this acute disparity in the rates of population growth
translates itself into actual population figures. For example, in the district
of Maldah, the number of Hindus has gone up from 11,07,192 in 1981 to 13,77,000
in 1991, registering a net increase of 2,69,808. In sharp contrast, the
number of Muslims has shot up from 9,19,918 in 1981 to 12,52,000 in 1991,
the net increase being 3,32,082. In other words, in ten years, the Muslim
population has leapt from being 45.27% of the total population to being
47.47%, whereas the Hindu population has come down from forming 54.49%
of the total population to forming 52.21%. Keeping in view such a fast-changing
demographic scenario, one can certainly start worrying about the future
of West Bengal.
A pertinent
query is whether the excessively high rate of growth of Muslim population
in all the districts of West Bengal is solely due to infiltration by Bangladeshis.
Alternatively, one can ask whether it is permissible to affirm that Muslims
in West Bengal are far less concerned about birth control, and far more
backward in family planning, than Hindus in West Bengal.
In the
Muslim society, the impact of religious propaganda upon daily life is enormous.
Fundamentalist notions are growing stronger among Muslims. The belief that
Islam opposes birth control is still prevalent. Not to speak of Fatwas
(directives) from Mullahs or Maulanas, even preachings by a section of
Muslim intellectuals have reinforced this belief. Far from the introduction
of compulsory measures in public interest, neither the Government of India
nor any state Government has even encouraged voluntary birth control among
Muslims. Consequently, even though population control
is universally recognised today as a key contributor to economic upliftment,
the GRP among Muslims is very high. Actually, in nearly all Muslim countries
of the world - whether in the richest or the poorest category - the total
fertility rate (TFR) is significantly high, as is the GRP.11
It may be relevant in this context to refer to Bangladesh Contraceptive
Survey, 1991, which observes: �It has been found
that the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) among the non-Muslims is relatively
lower than among the Muslims, the difference ranged from 7% to 12% in the
eighties. It has never been claimed that the Hindus have higher mortality
rate. It is likely that they have lower mortality rate due to higher extent
of immunisation among their children.�12 There
is no reason why this observation about Bangladesh should not be applicable
to Hindus and Muslims in West Bengal too.
The above
noted facts - and the attendant analyses - make it quite clear that, on
account of ceaseless infiltration from Bangladesh, and the tremendously
high rate of growth of Muslim population, West Bengal, with 766 persons
per square kilometer, has emerged as the state having the highest density
of population in the whole of India. West Bengal occupies 2.77% of India�s
land area, and accommodates 8.06% of its population. The actual pressure
of population upon West Bengal may indeed be higher than what is estimated
from Census data, which are seldom complete.
Anyway, where is West Bengal
destined to go?
Footnotes:
Economic Review. West Bengal, 1972-72.
2
Satchidananda Dutta Roy, Paschimbangabasi, K.P. Bagchi, Calcutta,
1994, p. 21 (in Bengali).
3
Ibid., p. 22.
4
Mohiuddin Ahmed, �The Missing Population�, Holiday, Weekly, Dhaka,
7 January 1994.
5
Ibid.
6
Bimal Pramanik, �Interface of Migration and Inter-Religious Community Relations
in Bangladesh and Eastern India�, a paper presented at a Workshop organised
by Bharat Bangladesh Maitri Samiti in Calcutta on 12 May 1990. This paper
makes an extensive use of Census reports of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
7
For details, see The Telegraph, English daily, Calcutta,
26 September 1994.
8
Anandabazar Patrika, Bengali daily, Calcutta, 8 March 1995.
9
For details, see Bangladesh Population Census 1991, Vol. 2, December, 1993;
and Report of the Task Force on Bangladesh: Development Strategies for
the 1990�s, Vol. 1, University Press Ltd., Dhaka, 1991, p. 20.
10
Satchidananda Dutta Roy, op. cit., p. 23.
11
World Population Projections, 1994-95 Edition, published for the World
Bank, The University Press, Baltimore and London.
12
Mohiuddin Ahmed, �The Missing Population�, op. cit.
http://www.voi.org/books/tfst/appii1.htm
The power of romance makes 'Love Aaj Kal' rock box office 5 Aug 2009, 1252 hrs IST, ET Bureau & Agencies | |||
Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone whose recently released "Love Aaj Kal" has
registered impressive opening
The film,
directed by Imtiaz Ali, grossed Rs 62 crore worldwide, according to Eros. Of
this, Rs 47 crore came from the Indian box office, while Rs 15 crore came from
overseas markets.
Love Aaj Kal was released across 1,800 plus
screens world-wide on Friday. The film has performed better at the multiplexes
than at single screen theatres.
In the UK, the film grossed almost
£4.1 lakh, while in Australia its collections were Australian $2 lakh. In
Pakistan, the film grossed Pakistani Rs 1.05 crore for 211 shows over the
weekend, and in the US it collected $2,51,799.
"The response to the
film has been amazing and we have had jam-packed houses over the weekend. While
we had an occupancy of 98 percent on the first day (Friday), the weekend has
been house full with 100 percent occupancy. It's an entertaining movie and worth
watching once," Amit Awasthi, manager programming and operations of Spice
Cinemas, Noida told IANS.
"We are running 25 shows for the movie in
a day and have already collected Rs.16,56,000 over the first weekend. In fact,
we've already sold 2500 tickets even today. The movie is going strong and is
expected to get more business with Rakshabandhan (Aug 5) coming and is going to
stay on until 'Kaminey' releases Aug 14," he added.
A source from
PVR Cinemas echoed the same sentiment and said: "The reaction to the movie is
very good and people have really liked the movie. We are expecting more footfall
coming in the way it has been over the weekend."
Directed by Imtiaz
Ali, the movie has been co-produced by Saif and his friend Dinesh Vijan along
with Sunil A. Lulla under their banners Illuminati Films and Eros International
respectively.
Spanning across two different eras - the film is about
the essence of love that never changes despite time and space differences.
Made at a budget of around Rs.48 crore (Rs.480 million), it released
across 1800 screens worldwide. It is the third A-lister hit of 2009 after "New
York" and "Kambakkht Ishq" though the latter was panned by critics in terms of
content.
Also starring Rishi Kapoor, Shweta Gulati and Rahul Khanna,
the film is the launch vehicle of Brazilian model Giselle Monteiro.
"'Love Aaj Kal' is a
super hit movie. The occupancy has been somewhere between 90-100 percent
bringing in good collections, which is very impressive. It's a simple and
romantic movie and a must watch for a family," said Yogesh Raizad, corporate
head (cinemas), Wave cinemas.
"We are running 11-15 shows across
different properties and the movie is going to stay anywhere close to two-three
weeks. Moreover with the Rakhi holiday coming in, families are surely going to
bring in footfalls considering the storyline appeal of the film," he added.
In terms of A-listers, "Love Aaj Kal" has no contender until Shahid
Kapur-Priyanka Chopra starrer "Kaminey" hits the screen.
Ganges eroding Malda, Murshidabad, rendering lakhs of people homeless
Submitted by admin on 27 April 2009 - 8:12am.
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net
TCN series: Visit to Malda and Murshidabad: Part 6
If migration of local elite Muslim class to Pakistan in 1947 – and
constant apathy since then of Indian governments towards the two
Muslim-dominated districts of Malda and Murshidabad in West Bengal
presumably in revenge – is a major reason of underdevelopment,
illiteracy and acute impoverishment here today, no less big reason of
poverty of lakhs of people is the erosion of their thousands of acres
of lands by the Ganges over about two decades.
The River Ganga is fast eroding agricultural lands and habitations
on the south-western part of Malda. The river – officially called Padma
when it touches down Murshidabad at its northern-most point and flows
along the eastern boundary of the district – is doing the same job of
destruction on the eastern side of Murshidabad. While Ganga separates
Malda from undivided Bihar the Padma is the divider between Murshidabad
and Bangladesh.
The erosion-affected areas in the two districts are heavily Muslim
dominated, and so those who lost their agricultural lands and homes are
generally Muslims. This is believed to be one big reason why the
authorities remained almost indifferent to the devastations, and did
not come up with proper relief and rehabilitation programs.
Malda being eroded
To witness how the Ganga is eroding Malda and Murshidabad TwoCircles.net visited some affected areas there earlier this month.
Huts of those who lost their land in Ganga
On 5th April we were on way to Paglaghat, a bank of Ganga, 15 km
from Malda town. When we entered the straight road leading to the bank
of the river we found about 10 km stretch dotted with shacks on either
side of the road. Once the residents of these huts had acres of land,
now they are forced to live in clusters of shacks made of bamboo on
either government land or on private rented land. “Most of them are
Muslims. Most of the families are forced to live in single-room huts.
Parents are living with their son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren in
the same room, says Noorul Islam Majidi, our one-time guide.” Many are
forced to live on the road side. “Several maulanas and imams who would
once deliver speeches in religious programs are now forced to live in
the huts,” Majidi adds. When they have no proper means to meet their
both ends who talks about education of their children? Village after
village have been gulped down by the river.
When we reach Paglaghat we find children and women bathing in the
river. Some of them have bathed and are coming out. The Ganga has
intruded 12 km deep into Malda at this point. This has rendered
thousands of people homeless. We talk to some children whose parents
and other family members are living in the huts on the bank.
These children have just come out of the river and are half naked.
One of them is Mohsin Shaikh. His father now catches fish to keep body
and soul together. Rajab Ali’s father is jobless while Inamul Sheikh’s
father is agricultural labour. This is general situation here. “About
90% of the affected people are Muslims. Their agricultural lands have
been washed away by the river but the government has not done relief
and rehabilitation work properly,” says Majidi.
When the Ganga hits stone-walled area of Rajmahal district in
Jharkhand (in the west of Malda with Ganga in between), it turns back
to the east and consequently usurps lands of Malda as the embankment
areas here have not been fortified.
Of late, the government has started work on embankment. At present
they are fortifying the banks at Manikchak area, about 50 km from main
town of Malda. And this is just to save Malda town which has just 2%
Muslim population. “The government is making all efforts to save the
town as it has businesses of other community. Bu they are not working
to protect Kaliachak, hub of Muslim businesses in Malda,” says Majidi
and warns pointing to the river: If it flows over the Paglaghat area it
will sweep Kaliachak away into Bangladesh.
Work on to save Malda from soil erosion
Erosion in Murshidabad
The Padma River that flows around the northern and eastern wall of
the district has so far destroyed thousands of acres of agricultural
land and habitation of local people. Like erosion-affected people in
Malda, Muslims are overwhelming majority of the erosion affected people
in Murshidabad also.
TCN visited Jalangi area about 70 km in the east from Behrampur,
district headquarters of Murshidabad. Here too we find cluster after
cluster of shacks and huts wherein are residing people who were once
owner of acres of land.
We are walking on an embankment in Jalangi. On our right is dry
extension of Padma River and on left are clusters of huts erected by
people whose farmlands and habitation were gulped by the river. On the
long embankment there are several villages.
This is Tolltoli village. An elderly Muslim tells us how his land
was washed away by the river. Now he has a hut on the embankment. “In
the beginning the government had given us 24 kg rice a month and a
little help to make hut. Since long they have not come back to find out
about us,” he says. He lives in the hut with his son and
daughter-in-law. His son is agricultural labor.
This is Shaheedul Mondal from the same village. Once owner of 60 bigha
of land Mondal is now agricultural laborer and lives in hut on rented
land. His four sons work in fields in Kerala.
Khilafat Mondal
Next village is Paraspur on the same embankment. Khilafat Mondal has
just come out of a ditch in the middle of the dry extension of Padma.
He had gone there to bath. Ask him about his old home, he will point
finger to far east in the direction of Bangladesh. He was living in
India on the bank of Padma River that separates the area from
Bangladesh. The river has eaten into his 120 bighas of land with banana
trees in four bighas and now he is living in a hut.
Starvation deaths in Murshidabad
In early months of 2005 the situation was very grim here. People
were dying of hunger as they had nothing to eat. Their farmlands and
homes were washed away by the river and the government was not paying
attention. The government was not accepting that there were starvation
deaths for impending local elections.
Even after elections the government remained apathetic. Almost all
affected people deserved BPL card but it was issued to very few of
them. The affected persons were not properly rehabilitated. The poverty
eradication program was not implemented either. NREGA, central
government rural employment guarantee scheme, was also not implemented
properly.
Zafrul Islam Khan’s initiative
The news about starvation deaths in the Muslim dominated Murshidabad
was broken on Zafrul Islam Khan, Editor, The Milli Gazette, by
Hong-Kong based Asian Human Rights Commission on March 7, 2005. Khan
immediately forwarded the mail to President of India, Chief Minister of
West Bengal, National Human Rights Commission, state Human Rights
Commission, United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food,
National Commission for Minorities but he got no response. He published
an article in his fortnightly English language tabloid, yet he failed
to stir the rulers and the ruled.
What was a shameful act on the part of the CPM-led Left Front state
government was that it knew about the starvation deaths but was not
acting. Zafrul Islam Khan came to know through local media reports that
state government was aware but not acting for political reasons.
Municipal elections were due in May 2005. By acting on the issue they
did not want to accept the reality. Khan immediately sent his
representative to the area to get first hand repot and arrange relief.
Khan himself visited the area in mid-April that year.
After visiting hunger death affected areas in Murshidabad he filed a
PIL with Supreme Court praying it to intervene and direct centre and
state for immediate relief. Sadly, little came out of the PIL. But he
did not sit down. He opened a charity in Ghoshpara of Jalangi area in
May that year and started weekly free grains distribution program for
360 most deserved people. The program run by Charity Alliance has
continued till date without a break.
People in queue to get weekly food relief from Charity Alliance in Ghoshpara, Murshidabad
Overall situation in Jalangi today is not good. There is no work and
no industry in the area. There is some occasional agricultural work.
“NREGA is not being implemented properly. Out of 100 days guaranteed
work under the scheme people get work only for 5-7 days,” says Ghulam
Kibriya Sarkar, Ghoshpara resident. The situation has forced working
men to move to other states like Kerala for work.
People geting weekly food relief from Charity Alliance in Ghoshpara, Murshidabad
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