metropolitan cities during heavy rains

Every year ,during heavy rain falls the media covers extensively about the extent of damages in the metropolitan cities , loss of lives and paralyzing of normal life of the citizens  and the media writes and talks return of the great deluge before the onset of monsoon. Experts indulge in a very crisp analysis of the causes and action required . Any lessons learnt from last December Chennai flood calamities? What is the use of repeatedly  spending  on repairs ,relief and compensations , when the state governments and local authorities sleep over the need to take preventive measures before the monsoon sets in ? What is the need for creating smart cities imitating China by allocating  huge resources when, all the Indian state capitals present such a pathetic and poor infrastructural conditions during rainy seasons? This year also the Tamil Nadu government  expect private parties like corporates, NGOS , student and employee volunteers and religious organisations to render timely help and the government will join them in the last stage distributing food, and blankets. Let the government give top priority to preventive measures to protect  citizens during natural calamities . Just because thay are elected again in spite of blunders committed  during last year's floods , they  need not sleep over the arrangements that are to be taken on a war footing .

Amendment to the Child Labour Act

For how many decades India will be discussing the child labour problem ? many experts on child welfare point out that, the amendment to the Child labour Act  permitting children to work in family enterprises after school hours will have adverse effect on their mental and physical well being and the children from marginaised sections are in  danger of being deprived of both  the joys of childhood and their constitutional right to education . When this amendment gives legal sanction to work in family enterprises after school hours , when are these children supposed  to play, do home work, pursue their hobbies like reading or writing or painting or dramatics or music ? Are they built-up of iron  and hence  capable (after spending their mental energy in school for five to o six hours )of rendering physical energy in jobs in home run enterprises? What type of mental, physical, emotional and psychological development and personality development such children will have? Children are voiceless and  their rights can not be taken away cruelly through merciless amendment to Child Labour Act  .

violence against Dalits and women in india

 The increasing and crudest violence unleashed on  the Dalits and women in India doesn’t  speak well of it’s  growth story.  A nation which is so active in articulating animal rights is so heartless when it comes to treatment of women and Dalits. Dalits are not yet accepted as part of our society  Imagine honour killing and public beating for  doing their professions in this 21st century . Statistical  data on economic indicators might impress the NRIs and international funding organisations . But the poor Human Development Index pertaining to India speaks volumes about the indifference of the various governments  towards the basic needs of the marginalised sections of the society . It is very shameful to cut down the budgetary expense on social over heads when, the poorest of the poor languish without regular jobs and state support and unable  to provide dignified life to their children .What is the use of middle class uprising and growing number billionaires and smart cities when, a significant chunk of population is still under the grip of poverty and driven towards suicide  due to the burden of debts?  The immediate need is to  increase the state support towards jobs ,  education, training and health  care of the poorer sections . What is the benefit of democracy if a nation can not guarantee dignity and security to all the sections of the population?

Twenty five years growth story of india

If we have to write a comment on the growth story about India in one statement it can be summarised ie., “Withdrawal of state support to agriculture and small industries sectors and the excessive privatisation of the medical and education sectors have played havoc in the life the poorest of the poor.” They are unable w to meet their basic needs  and have to rely on  borrowings and get trapped in huge debts . Then the   money lenders make their life miserable.  Hence, the final end products of globalisation and economic reforms in India operating  in the last 25 years are , more number of farmers suicides, creation of more number of billionaires , low quality and costly education and health services. In short wider inequality in incomes and assets levels has left a considerable section of the population in permanent poverty. They have only two options before them ie.,  they can either end their lives or join liberation or militant forces .

The opinion expressed by  MR. Chidambaram regarding the solution to the crisis in Kashmir  should not be reflexively dismissed What is wrong in honoring the commitment given by the then government 70 years ago to the  Kashmiris? Will it not enhance the credibility  of the Indian government in the minds of the Kashmiris and remove the existing trust deficit between the Indian government and them. It will even enhance the image of India, at the international level and Pakistan will not be able to play mischief  in the trouble waters. Including separatists in the stakeholders meeting is sensible step since tahy have considerable hold over the younger generation . Peace with them is an urgent step needed than  prestige and vanity .

Uniform civil code

The suggestions  summarised in the concluding part of the article , “Now is the moment” by K. Kannaa published in The Hindu on 13. 7. 16 are laudable and pragmatic. Trying to impose uniform civil code on unwilling communities will divide the communities further especially ,when the minorities have mistrust and fear over the religious agenda of the present government. The fundamental groups in every community   may raise doubt about the motive of the effort towards UCl.and this may whip up communal passion and create social tension.. Hence ,  any attempt for UCL should take care of the fact that, every religion is interested in preserving their core principles of their religion and will not allow any compromise on it. It is a very delicate and sensitive matter and should be approached  with patience  and understanding of  different dimensions  on this subject . Any reform process should be initiated through evolution based, on meeting of minds than resorting to imposition of compulsory laws .

disgusting Mallya episode

To the regular news observers the whole episode of Mallya looks very disturbing and disgusting. This  exhibits very glaring loop holes in our financial regulatory systems of India and financial laws .All the  Directors of public and private banks  who have helped  in the loot of public money by one individual , those who are in charge of PF credit account and the Income Tax remittances from the taxes deducted at source and   the Immigration authorities who have allowed  Mallya  to fly away from this nation, when so many arrangements are in the process to detain  him or impound his pass port. All of them   are accountable to their actions of indifference . Surely they are co partners in the crime and are to be arrested and brought under the judicial system immediately . By now, the civil society of India has very clearly understood that. Laws are not the same for every body in India. We have to accept the fact that in India  the law evaders or breakers  are more intelligent than the law administrators.