[Assam] Bordoichila 2011
Please find here the second issue of Bordoichila as published on April 15, 2011. https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=vpid=explorerchrome=truesrcid=0B3XTznM6gJhvMDFmZjEzM2EtYTU0MS00Yjk5LTg3ZDctMWE5Njc1ZTU2Mjgxhl=en ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Will the Jan Lokpal Bill Work?
Prashant Bhushan is a credible person on these issues. But will the 'Jan Lokpal ' thing work? What do you think? I don't think it will. It may have some value temporarily. Something a newly independent state may employ to get its bearing, like I proposed for an independent Assam. But until such time India reforms and fixes its broken, dysfunctional system, it will be about as effective as all the other, much hyped schemes, programs, laws acronyms and whatchmacallits -- like for example Panchayats, Fast Track Courts, RTI, CVC and many others. Why ? For the simple reason that the dysfunctional system will continue to keep producing the corrupt and the inept. How will the JL, which is designed only to look after the CENTER - won't have anything to do with the states, keep the floodgates closed and for how long? That raises another assamnet specific question to this 'odhom': I was under the impression that it is Assam, and a few other states are the truly corrupt entities, not the Center, not the 'prospering' states and so forth. Where is the disconnect? The notion is akin to treating Typhoid with fever control medication. What is amazing is that no one NO ONE, is talking about fixing the broken system. Why? Any thoughts? Also look up http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?271406. Some very fgood points raised in this. cm http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?271389 OPINION Removing Misconceptions Addressing some of the issues and concerns raised by a number of commentators on the provisions in the draft of Jan Lokpal Bill PRASHANT BHUSHAN A number of commentators have raised issues about the provisions in the draft of Jan Lokpal Bill, whether it will be effective instrument for checking corruption and about the manner in which pressure was brought to bear on the government through Shri Anna Hazare’s fast. It is therefore, important to understand the provisions of the bill and how it seeks to set up an effective institution to deal with corruption. Corruption in India has grown to alarming proportions; because of policies which have created enormous incentives for its proliferation, coupled with the lack of an effective institution which can investigate and prosecute the corrupt. Under the garb of liberalization and privatisation, we have adopted policies by which natural resources and public assets (such as mineral resources, oil gas, land, spectrum, etc) have been allowed to be privatised without any transparency or public auction. Hundreds of MoUs have been signed overnight, by governments with private corporations, leasing out large tracts of land rich in mineral resources, forests and water, which allow those corporations to take away and sell these resources by paying the government a royalty which is usually less than 1% of the value of resources. The Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, has pointed out in a report on mining in Karnataka, that the profit margins in such ventures, is often more than 90%; thus leaving a huge scope for bribe giving and creating huge incentives for corruption. The same thing happened when Mr A. Raja gave away spectrum without a public auction to companies at less than 10% of its market price. Private monopolies in water/electricity distribution, airports, etc; have been allowed to be created where huge and unconscionable profits can be made by corrupting the regulator and allowing the private monopoly to charge predatory prices. Tens of thousands of hectares of land have been given away to corporations for commercialisation in the guise of airport development, construction of highways, SEZs etc. at prices which are less than 10% of the value of the those tracts of land. Apart from creating huge incentives for corruption, such policies have resulted in involuntary displacement of lakhs of the poorest people, rendering them on brink of starvation and forcing many of them to join the Maoists. They have also stripped the country of its natural resources (a good deal of which are exported), destroyed the environment and most ominously, resulted in creating monster corporations, who are so powerful and influential that they have come to influence and virtually control all institutions of power as we see from the Radia tapes. In fact it is the corporations which have become the fountainhead of corruption, with ministers and public servants having become their agents. While adopting policies which create huge incentives for corruption, we have not set up an effective institution to check corruption, investigate and prosecute the corrupt and bring them to justice. The CBI continues to be under the administrative control of the government, which is seen as fountainhead of corruption. Thus no action is usually taken by the CBI to effectively investigate high level corruption unless once in a while, the court forces its hand. Often, we see the CBI behave in a corrupt manner with no other institution,
Re: [Assam] Will the Jan Lokpal Bill Work?
It is interesting to read CM's observations, and the attachments. CM is correct to note that it is the states like Assam is equally corrupt like the CENTER. Yes, no one is talking about fixing the broken system. Why? Every one getting a piece of the pie. We had seen hundreds of supporters coming out in Guwahati for Anna during the fasting days. Eventually the fast has ended and the discussions about the draft bill has started. Now how the corruption in Assam is going to be addressed following the foot prints of Anna? It must get generated somewhere. And how many will join to discuss the issues of dysfunctional system that is prevalent in Assam with lighted candles? Altaf ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Will the Jan Lokpal Bill Work?
Every one getting a piece of the pie. *** That is not necessarily correct Majid. Only a FEW are getting the piece of the pie. It still is a very small percentage. But they are exponentially getting fatter at the cost of the vast majority. The answer is far more complex: A: At the root of it is that the vast majority don't KNOW, what it should be like. Generations have grown up seeing and knowing ONLY their broken system, while being touted by the media, its intelligentsia and the political class as the world's largest democracy and lauded by the West for being a 'democracy' but oblivious of the farce that it is. Now, when the West lauds something in India, it automatically becomes the TRUTH, never mind the 'kwabhaturi' (rottenness) it is. B: There are those in the political class ( and the intelligentsia) , who do know it is broken. I would suspect MMS is one of them. They are NOT all intellectual bumpkins. But they also know of the enormity of the task of mustering the political will of the tottering behemoth to effect meaningful change in an orderly and timely manner. They are afraid to declare its mortal flaws and call for change, knowing of the logistical nightmare involved and terrified of turning anarchic forces loose, seeking change. So, like so many of our friends right here in assamnet, they PRETEND everything will be fine , 'in due time'! 'Bhukute koltw nopoke nohoy' :-). C: There are many other reasons, big and small. Share your thoughts on what they might be. *** What is however quite obvious is that this dinosaur of a centrally controlled India will never be able to reform. Reform must happen at state levels. But that is easier said than done under the current constitutional shackles, such as those whose phony sanctity keeps getting touted even by India's most informed in an incredible display of fakery at times and ignorant at others. cm On Apr 17, 2011, at 10:27 AM, Altaf Mazid wrote: It is interesting to read CM's observations, and the attachments. CM is correct to note that it is the states like Assam is equally corrupt like the CENTER. Yes, no one is talking about fixing the broken system. Why? Every one getting a piece of the pie. We had seen hundreds of supporters coming out in Guwahati for Anna during the fasting days. Eventually the fast has ended and the discussions about the draft bill has started. Now how the corruption in Assam is going to be addressed following the foot prints of Anna? It must get generated somewhere. And how many will join to discuss the issues of dysfunctional system that is prevalent in Assam with lighted candles? Altaf ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Will the Jan Lokpal Bill Work?
I am seeing everyone is getting a piece. Just take one example - in the state secretariat nothing moves if you do not encourage the system. The matter is so grave that if some one is terminated from his service, he might have to pay bribe to get the order typed out. And here most of the population are either govt employee or govt contractor. We usually point our fingers to the minsters and politicians but it is WE who are corrupting them for our own interest. I agree to you - reform must happen at state levels. Yet I do not know how to proceed. It is easy to pronounce that I am not going to pay money for my rights. But then nothing moves!! On 17 April 2011 21:35, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote: Every one getting a piece of the pie. *** That is not necessarily correct Majid. Only a FEW are getting the piece of the pie. It still is a very small percentage. But they are exponentially getting fatter at the cost of the vast majority. The answer is far more complex: A: At the root of it is that the vast majority don't KNOW, what it should be like. Generations have grown up seeing and knowing ONLY their broken system, while being touted by the media, its intelligentsia and the political class as the world's largest democracy and lauded by the West for being a 'democracy' but oblivious of the farce that it is. Now, when the West lauds something in India, it automatically becomes the TRUTH, never mind the 'kwabhaturi' (rottenness) it is. B: There are those in the political class ( and the intelligentsia) , who do know it is broken. I would suspect MMS is one of them. They are NOT all intellectual bumpkins. But they also know of the enormity of the task of mustering the political will of the tottering behemoth to effect meaningful change in an orderly and timely manner. They are afraid to declare its mortal flaws and call for change, knowing of the logistical nightmare involved and terrified of turning anarchic forces loose, seeking change. So, like so many of our friends right here in assamnet, they PRETEND everything will be fine , 'in due time'! 'Bhukute koltw nopoke nohoy' :-). C: There are many other reasons, big and small. Share your thoughts on what they might be. *** What is however quite obvious is that this dinosaur of a centrally controlled India will never be able to reform. Reform must happen at state levels. But that is easier said than done under the current constitutional shackles, such as those whose phony sanctity keeps getting touted even by India's most informed in an incredible display of fakery at times and ignorant at others. cm On Apr 17, 2011, at 10:27 AM, Altaf Mazid wrote: It is interesting to read CM's observations, and the attachments. CM is correct to note that it is the states like Assam is equally corrupt like the CENTER. Yes, no one is talking about fixing the broken system. Why? Every one getting a piece of the pie. We had seen hundreds of supporters coming out in Guwahati for Anna during the fasting days. Eventually the fast has ended and the discussions about the draft bill has started. Now how the corruption in Assam is going to be addressed following the foot prints of Anna? It must get generated somewhere. And how many will join to discuss the issues of dysfunctional system that is prevalent in Assam with lighted candles? Altaf ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org -- 2 Udayachal Path Christian Basti Guwahati 781 005 India Tel +913612342236 Cell +919435193663 www.sauravkumarchaliha.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Dr. Dilip Ranjan Barthakur:The first doctorate of North-East India in the subject of music.
Dr. Dilip Ranjan Barthakur who is the first doctorate of North-East India in the subject of music. http://drbarthakur.com/ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Will the Jan Lokpal Bill Work?
C' da, The Jan Lokpal may or may not work! But it scared the corrupt MMS government. If Jan Lokpal does not work, some other Watch dog will be born! But atleast for some time, government will think (or feel) that some one is watching them! This is the beginning of the end of Governing without Accountability! Ganesh Bora Fargo, ND From: Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world assam@assamnet.org Sent: Sun, April 17, 2011 8:49:34 AM Subject: [Assam] Will the Jan Lokpal Bill Work? Prashant Bhushan is a credible person on these issues. But will the 'Jan Lokpal ' thing work? What do you think? I don't think it will. It may have some value temporarily. Something a newly independent state may employ to get its bearing, like I proposed for an independent Assam. But until such time India reforms and fixes its broken, dysfunctional system, it will be about as effective as all the other, much hyped schemes, programs, laws acronyms and whatchmacallits -- like for example Panchayats, Fast Track Courts, RTI, CVC and many others. Why ? For the simple reason that the dysfunctional system will continue to keep producing the corrupt and the inept. How will the JL, which is designed only to look after the CENTER - won't have anything to do with the states, keep the floodgates closed and for how long? That raises another assamnet specific question to this 'odhom': I was under the impression that it is Assam, and a few other states are the truly corrupt entities, not the Center, not the 'prospering' states and so forth. Where is the disconnect? The notion is akin to treating Typhoid with fever control medication. What is amazing is that no one NO ONE, is talking about fixing the broken system. Why? Any thoughts? Also look up http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?271406. Some very fgood points raised in this. cm http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?271389 OPINION Removing Misconceptions Addressing some of the issues and concerns raised by a number of commentators on the provisions in the draft of Jan Lokpal Bill PRASHANT BHUSHAN A number of commentators have raised issues about the provisions in the draft of Jan Lokpal Bill, whether it will be effective instrument for checking corruption and about the manner in which pressure was brought to bear on the government through Shri Anna Hazare’s fast. It is therefore, important to understand the provisions of the bill and how it seeks to set up an effective institution to deal with corruption. Corruption in India has grown to alarming proportions; because of policies which have created enormous incentives for its proliferation, coupled with the lack of an effective institution which can investigate and prosecute the corrupt. Under the garb of liberalization and privatisation, we have adopted policies by which natural resources and public assets (such as mineral resources, oil gas, land, spectrum, etc) have been allowed to be privatised without any transparency or public auction. Hundreds of MoUs have been signed overnight, by governments with private corporations, leasing out large tracts of land rich in mineral resources, forests and water, which allow those corporations to take away and sell these resources by paying the government a royalty which is usually less than 1% of the value of resources. The Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, has pointed out in a report on mining in Karnataka, that the profit margins in such ventures, is often more than 90%; thus leaving a huge scope for bribe giving and creating huge incentives for corruption. The same thing happened when Mr A. Raja gave away spectrum without a public auction to companies at less than 10% of its market price. Private monopolies in water/electricity distribution, airports, etc; have been allowed to be created where huge and unconscionable profits can be made by corrupting the regulator and allowing the private monopoly to charge predatory prices. Tens of thousands of hectares of land have been given away to corporations for commercialisation in the guise of airport development, construction of highways, SEZs etc. at prices which are less than 10% of the value of the those tracts of land. Apart from creating huge incentives for corruption, such policies have resulted in involuntary displacement of lakhs of the poorest people, rendering them on brink of starvation and forcing many of them to join the Maoists. They have also stripped the country of its natural resources (a good deal of which are exported), destroyed the environment and most ominously, resulted in creating monster corporations, who are so powerful and influential that they have come to influence and virtually control all institutions of power as we see from the Radia tapes. In fact it is the corporations which have become the fountainhead of corruption, with
Re: [Assam] Will the Jan Lokpal Bill Work?
Good to hear from you Ganesh. But I don't share your optimism, because without functioning institutions in place, a watchdog or watchdogs will eventually become lapdogs. Just look at CBI. A government is only as good as the people who make it up. Until such time as able and people with integrity could not become a significant part of governance, it is doomed to be what Indian governance is. c-da On Apr 17, 2011, at 5:55 PM, Ganesh Bora wrote: C' da, The Jan Lokpal may or may not work! But it scared the corrupt MMS government. If Jan Lokpal does not work, some other Watch dog will be born! But atleast for some time, government will think (or feel) that some one is watching them! This is the beginning of the end of Governing without Accountability! Ganesh Bora Fargo, ND From: Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world assam@assamnet.org Sent: Sun, April 17, 2011 8:49:34 AM Subject: [Assam] Will the Jan Lokpal Bill Work? Prashant Bhushan is a credible person on these issues. But will the 'Jan Lokpal ' thing work? What do you think? I don't think it will. It may have some value temporarily. Something a newly independent state may employ to get its bearing, like I proposed for an independent Assam. But until such time India reforms and fixes its broken, dysfunctional system, it will be about as effective as all the other, much hyped schemes, programs, laws acronyms and whatchmacallits -- like for example Panchayats, Fast Track Courts, RTI, CVC and many others. Why ? For the simple reason that the dysfunctional system will continue to keep producing the corrupt and the inept. How will the JL, which is designed only to look after the CENTER - won't have anything to do with the states, keep the floodgates closed and for how long? That raises another assamnet specific question to this 'odhom': I was under the impression that it is Assam, and a few other states are the truly corrupt entities, not the Center, not the 'prospering' states and so forth. Where is the disconnect? The notion is akin to treating Typhoid with fever control medication. What is amazing is that no one NO ONE, is talking about fixing the broken system. Why? Any thoughts? Also look up http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?271406. Some very fgood points raised in this. cm http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?271389 OPINION Removing Misconceptions Addressing some of the issues and concerns raised by a number of commentators on the provisions in the draft of Jan Lokpal Bill PRASHANT BHUSHAN A number of commentators have raised issues about the provisions in the draft of Jan Lokpal Bill, whether it will be effective instrument for checking corruption and about the manner in which pressure was brought to bear on the government through Shri Anna Hazare’s fast. It is therefore, important to understand the provisions of the bill and how it seeks to set up an effective institution to deal with corruption. Corruption in India has grown to alarming proportions; because of policies which have created enormous incentives for its proliferation, coupled with the lack of an effective institution which can investigate and prosecute the corrupt. Under the garb of liberalization and privatisation, we have adopted policies by which natural resources and public assets (such as mineral resources, oil gas, land, spectrum, etc) have been allowed to be privatised without any transparency or public auction. Hundreds of MoUs have been signed overnight, by governments with private corporations, leasing out large tracts of land rich in mineral resources, forests and water, which allow those corporations to take away and sell these resources by paying the government a royalty which is usually less than 1% of the value of resources. The Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, has pointed out in a report on mining in Karnataka, that the profit margins in such ventures, is often more than 90%; thus leaving a huge scope for bribe giving and creating huge incentives for corruption. The same thing happened when Mr A. Raja gave away spectrum without a public auction to companies at less than 10% of its market price. Private monopolies in water/electricity distribution, airports, etc; have been allowed to be created where huge and unconscionable profits can be made by corrupting the regulator and allowing the private monopoly to charge predatory prices. Tens of thousands of hectares of land have been given away to corporations for commercialisation in the guise of airport development, construction of highways, SEZs etc. at prices which are less than 10% of the value of the those tracts of land. Apart from creating huge incentives for corruption, such policies have resulted in involuntary displacement of lakhs of the poorest people,
[Assam] Dr Bezbaruah to hit theatres in Hindi avatar
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110418/jsp/northeast/story_13865867.jsp Guwahati, April 17: Dr Bezbaruah, an evergreen Assamese film, is coming to a theatre near you in Hindi. Shivam, the Hindi remake of this classic thriller, is set to hit the screens across the country next month retaining the theme and spirit of the original. Directed by Brojen Barua, Dr Bezbaruah was released in 1969 marking the success of commercial ventures of the Assamese film industry and became a trendsetter. Jogiraj Choudhury, producer of Shivam, said they have tried to be as true as possible to the original script with only a few peripheral changes keeping in mind the changes in time. “Shivam is based on the original screenplay written by Brojen Barua. However, some changes have been made considering the present day,” Choudhury said. He said the movie would be released on May 6. “Our aim is to introduce the people of the country to Assamese cinema. The people of Assam accepted Dr Bezbaruah. I hope Shivam will succeed in other parts of India,” Choudhury said. It was Dr Bezbaruah, which catapulted Brojen Barua into fame for his acting as a villain. Barua played the role of the main antagonist — Dr Bezbaruah — in the film and directing it, too. In Shivam, Mohit Chouhan will play the role of Dr Bezbaruah. Ramen Barua, who made his debut as music director in Dr Bezbaruah, has also composed the music for Shivam. Apart from keeping three songs from the original film, Barua has added two more melodious compositions to this new venture. “There have been changes in the music considering its necessity. Those who have heard the songs have given positive comments on them,” Barua said. Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Shaan, Mahalaxmi lyer and Rajyoti Konwar (from Assam) have lent their voices to the songs. The film has been shot entirely in the Northeast with the director and cameramen taking full advantage of the beautiful locations of Shillong and Cherrapunjee to picturise the songs. Anshuman G. Barua has directed Shivam. The story of the film revolves around protagonist Shivam, the adopted son of industrialist Yashwant Malhotra. When Malhotra’s friend, Dr Satyakam Choudhary, comes to know that Shivam is not the biological son of Malhotra, he starts blackmailing his friend for money and property. Choudhury even traces the whereabouts of Shivam’s biological family. Things get murkier and the story goes on. Actor Nipon Goswami, who acted in Dr Bezbaruah, praised the step of making the film in Hindi. “The film will let the people of other parts of the country that there are many beautiful places in Assam and the Northeast. This will encourage other directors to come here and shoot,” Goswami said. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Taxes etc.
It was one of the most boring Sundaysfiled taxes todayyes, at the last moment. I had to assist today, can you believe that? I had to forego my Sunday (window) shopping and help with the taxes. Yesterday, it was different. In the morning, I had a new experience of working behind the scenes in a fundraising gala for scholarships at our college system. I never realized how much work and fun it can be. I opted out for the evening gala because we wanted to attend Houston Bihu function in the evening. Of course, I havce some comments on the Lok Pal and corruption in India which are coming shortly...brace yourself, C'da. :). ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Will the Jan Lokpal Bill Work?
This time you are very correct - cent per cent as my high school math teacher used to say. But how do you get the people of integrity to rub shoulders with those that have no integrity? Draft them? Slowly tempt them in? Educate them at a young age to join public service and maintain integrity? From: Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com To: Ganesh Bora ganeshb...@yahoo.com Cc: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world assam@assamnet.org Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2011 6:07 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Will the Jan Lokpal Bill Work? Good to hear from you Ganesh. But I don't share your optimism, because without functioning institutions in place, a watchdog or watchdogs will eventually become lapdogs. Just look at CBI. A government is only as good as the people who make it up. Until such time as able and people with integrity could not become a significant part of governance, it is doomed to be what Indian governance is. c-da On Apr 17, 2011, at 5:55 PM, Ganesh Bora wrote: C' da, The Jan Lokpal may or may not work! But it scared the corrupt MMS government. If Jan Lokpal does not work, some other Watch dog will be born! But atleast for some time, government will think (or feel) that some one is watching them! This is the beginning of the end of Governing without Accountability! Ganesh Bora Fargo, ND From: Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world assam@assamnet.org Sent: Sun, April 17, 2011 8:49:34 AM Subject: [Assam] Will the Jan Lokpal Bill Work? Prashant Bhushan is a credible person on these issues. But will the 'Jan Lokpal ' thing work? What do you think? I don't think it will. It may have some value temporarily. Something a newly independent state may employ to get its bearing, like I proposed for an independent Assam. But until such time India reforms and fixes its broken, dysfunctional system, it will be about as effective as all the other, much hyped schemes, programs, laws acronyms and whatchmacallits -- like for example Panchayats, Fast Track Courts, RTI, CVC and many others. Why ? For the simple reason that the dysfunctional system will continue to keep producing the corrupt and the inept. How will the JL, which is designed only to look after the CENTER - won't have anything to do with the states, keep the floodgates closed and for how long? That raises another assamnet specific question to this 'odhom': I was under the impression that it is Assam, and a few other states are the truly corrupt entities, not the Center, not the 'prospering' states and so forth. Where is the disconnect? The notion is akin to treating Typhoid with fever control medication. What is amazing is that no one NO ONE, is talking about fixing the broken system. Why? Any thoughts? Also look up http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?271406. Some very fgood points raised in this. cm http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?271389 OPINION Removing Misconceptions Addressing some of the issues and concerns raised by a number of commentators on the provisions in the draft of Jan Lokpal Bill PRASHANT BHUSHAN A number of commentators have raised issues about the provisions in the draft of Jan Lokpal Bill, whether it will be effective instrument for checking corruption and about the manner in which pressure was brought to bear on the government through Shri Anna Hazare’s fast. It is therefore, important to understand the provisions of the bill and how it seeks to set up an effective institution to deal with corruption. Corruption in India has grown to alarming proportions; because of policies which have created enormous incentives for its proliferation, coupled with the lack of an effective institution which can investigate and prosecute the corrupt. Under the garb of liberalization and privatisation, we have adopted policies by which natural resources and public assets (such as mineral resources, oil gas, land, spectrum, etc) have been allowed to be privatised without any transparency or public auction. Hundreds of MoUs have been signed overnight, by governments with private corporations, leasing out large tracts of land rich in mineral resources, forests and water, which allow those corporations to take away and sell these resources by paying the government a royalty which is usually less than 1% of the value of resources. The Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, has pointed out in a report on mining in Karnataka, that the profit margins in such ventures, is often more than 90%; thus leaving a huge scope for bribe giving and creating huge incentives for corruption. The same thing happened when Mr A. Raja gave away spectrum without a public auction to companies at less than 10% of its market price. Private monopolies in water/electricity distribution, airports, etc; have been allowed to be
Re: [Assam] Will the Jan Lokpal Bill Work?
A government is only as good as the people who make it up we are getting a govt just like us. A govt is always elected by us, to rule us in a manner we can bribe them when needed. Altaf On 18 April 2011 10:37, Dilip Deka dilipd...@yahoo.com wrote: This time you are very correct - cent per cent as my high school math teacher used to say. But how do you get the people of integrity to rub shoulders with those that have no integrity? Draft them? Slowly tempt them in? Educate them at a young age to join public service and maintain integrity? From: Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com To: Ganesh Bora ganeshb...@yahoo.com Cc: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world assam@assamnet.org Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2011 6:07 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Will the Jan Lokpal Bill Work? Good to hear from you Ganesh. But I don't share your optimism, because without functioning institutions in place, a watchdog or watchdogs will eventually become lapdogs. Just look at CBI. A government is only as good as the people who make it up. Until such time as able and people with integrity could not become a significant part of governance, it is doomed to be what Indian governance is. c-da On Apr 17, 2011, at 5:55 PM, Ganesh Bora wrote: C' da, The Jan Lokpal may or may not work! But it scared the corrupt MMS government. If Jan Lokpal does not work, some other Watch dog will be born! But atleast for some time, government will think (or feel) that some one is watching them! This is the beginning of the end of Governing without Accountability! Ganesh Bora Fargo, ND From: Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world assam@assamnet.org Sent: Sun, April 17, 2011 8:49:34 AM Subject: [Assam] Will the Jan Lokpal Bill Work? Prashant Bhushan is a credible person on these issues. But will the 'Jan Lokpal ' thing work? What do you think? I don't think it will. It may have some value temporarily. Something a newly independent state may employ to get its bearing, like I proposed for an independent Assam. But until such time India reforms and fixes its broken, dysfunctional system, it will be about as effective as all the other, much hyped schemes, programs, laws acronyms and whatchmacallits -- like for example Panchayats, Fast Track Courts, RTI, CVC and many others. Why ? For the simple reason that the dysfunctional system will continue to keep producing the corrupt and the inept. How will the JL, which is designed only to look after the CENTER - won't have anything to do with the states, keep the floodgates closed and for how long? That raises another assamnet specific question to this 'odhom': I was under the impression that it is Assam, and a few other states are the truly corrupt entities, not the Center, not the 'prospering' states and so forth. Where is the disconnect? The notion is akin to treating Typhoid with fever control medication. What is amazing is that no one NO ONE, is talking about fixing the broken system. Why? Any thoughts? Also look up http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?271406. Some very fgood points raised in this. cm http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?271389 OPINION Removing Misconceptions Addressing some of the issues and concerns raised by a number of commentators on the provisions in the draft of Jan Lokpal Bill PRASHANT BHUSHAN A number of commentators have raised issues about the provisions in the draft of Jan Lokpal Bill, whether it will be effective instrument for checking corruption and about the manner in which pressure was brought to bear on the government through Shri Anna Hazare’s fast. It is therefore, important to understand the provisions of the bill and how it seeks to set up an effective institution to deal with corruption. Corruption in India has grown to alarming proportions; because of policies which have created enormous incentives for its proliferation, coupled with the lack of an effective institution which can investigate and prosecute the corrupt. Under the garb of liberalization and privatisation, we have adopted policies by which natural resources and public assets (such as mineral resources, oil gas, land, spectrum, etc) have been allowed to be privatised without any transparency or public auction. Hundreds of MoUs have been signed overnight, by governments with private corporations, leasing out large tracts of land rich in mineral resources, forests and water, which allow those corporations to take away and sell these resources by paying the government a royalty which is usually less than 1% of the value of resources. The Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, has pointed out in a report on mining in Karnataka, that the profit margins in such ventures, is often more than 90%; thus leaving a huge scope for bribe giving and creating huge incentives
