Poverty at times spawns the weirdest of tragedies. A poor woman has to keep her 11-year-old daughter chained in their house to save her from further exploitation by a handful of lechers who lured the gullible girl into a blue film racket while her parents were away at work.
Meena and Devendra, parents of Munni (name changed), worked as a domestic help and a daily wager respectively. They had married off their eldest daughter and, as such, Munni used to be all alone at their house at Chhoti Badalpura in Khagaul, while her parents were away at work for whole day.
"Three months ago, we allowed Munni to work as a help for a fisherman, Mantu, so as to augment our income," Meena told, tears rolling down her cheeks.
That was a blunder. The 30-plus fisherman sexually abused the girl. "I initially failed to fathom what he was up to," the girl told, Mantu introduced her to a photo studio owner who too sexually exploited the girl. He also made movies of the girl doing the act with a few other youths in his studio.
For reasons unknown, the minor girl clandestinely visited the studio every time she was called by the lechers. "I would not have known all this had my neighbours not told me about Munni's `awargardi' behind our back," Meena said, adding she then thrashed her daughter like no parent would ever have beaten her child.
Meena admitted she now locks her house while leaving behind her daughter inside whenever she and her husband both have to go for work. Asked why didn't she take police's help, the harried mother said she feared for her daughter's life. link
Tuesday 25 August 2009
Bihar policemen under fire for wearing khadi
Hundreds of members of two police associations in Bihar, who are wearing khadi instead of their uniform, are in trouble. The police headquarters will set up a committee to decide whether policemen should be allowed to wear khadi instead of their uniform.
The state's Director General of Police (DGP) Anand Shankar said Tuesday a committee would decide on uniform issues in the state. "The members of associations have to wear uniforms if the committee recommends it," he said.
Last week Shankar asked policemen to wear their uniforms since they get an allowance of Rs.4,500 per annum for it.
"What is wrong in being asked to wear the uniform?" he said.
"You all are members of an uniformed force. It does not suit you to present yourself before senior police officials in their offices in khadi," Shankar said.link
The state's Director General of Police (DGP) Anand Shankar said Tuesday a committee would decide on uniform issues in the state. "The members of associations have to wear uniforms if the committee recommends it," he said.
Last week Shankar asked policemen to wear their uniforms since they get an allowance of Rs.4,500 per annum for it.
"What is wrong in being asked to wear the uniform?" he said.
"You all are members of an uniformed force. It does not suit you to present yourself before senior police officials in their offices in khadi," Shankar said.link
Monday 24 August 2009
Business Reformer of the Year Award to Nitish Kumar
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is the Economic Times Business Reformer of the Year. The jury members were unanimous in their choice, giving Mr Nitish Kumar
Kumar’s performance a higher rating than Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit.
The national calamity in Bihar following the Kosi river changing its course highlights the state of affairs in Bihar, once rated as the best in administration. Since taking over as the state chief minister, Nitish Kumar has been trying to rebuild the system of governance that has virtually broken down.
When the Janata Dal (United)-BJP alliance came to power in Bihar in 2005, it was heralded as the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the state.
Ending Lalu Prasad Yadav family’s 15-year reign, Nitish Kumar became the chief minister, with a promise to turn the state around. Three years on, Mr Kumar seems to be on track, although Bihar might take a while to show results.
The JD (U) leader, who is often referred to as the state’s last hope, wants to make Bihar a developed state by 2015. Bihar being primarily an agricultural state, Mr Kumar has been stressing on agro-based industries.
He believes this will help in keeping land acquisition to a minimum. The chief minister has gone to the extent of saying that he does not want SEZs in the state and his government has identified agro-processing, handloom and textiles, handicrafts, pharmaceuticals and leather as areas with comparative advantage.
The other areas where he has made a good start are employment generation and infrastructure development. He beat other states to put in place an employment-guarantee programme for agricultural labourers, which promises 80 days of work, in addition to the 100 days mandated by the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme.
His government has adopted a new poverty measurement method, so that a bulk of the families living below the poverty line could be identified Nitish Kumar and have schemes targeted at them. His goal to develop roads in Bihar has been tagged to a three-year timeline, by when he hopes to have Bihar rival the best road networks in India.
Even on the administrative front, there are several big tasks waiting for his attention. For almost 15 years, Bihar didn’t even have a proper budget.
Mr Kumar has also identified promotion of investment opportunities as equally important. With poor infrastructure and the absence of long-term policies hindering private investment, he has kickstarted a series of legislative and administrative reforms. A new industrial policy was put in place in 2006, as was the Bihar Infrastructure Development Enabling Act. A new policy for the sugar processing sector — an important crop in the state — was also brought in.
The new industrial policy makes land available at concessional rates and promises reimbursement of 80% of VAT deposited. And these initiatives seem to have paid off, with the government receiving proposals from a number of big sugar manufacturers. An industrial complex with sugar mills, ethanol and power generation plants has been cleared. Measures to revive the textile industry have also been pushed through. With the state relying almost entirely on the Centre for its power needs, Bihar plans to put up new thermal and hydel power plants. ink
Kumar’s performance a higher rating than Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit.
The national calamity in Bihar following the Kosi river changing its course highlights the state of affairs in Bihar, once rated as the best in administration. Since taking over as the state chief minister, Nitish Kumar has been trying to rebuild the system of governance that has virtually broken down.
When the Janata Dal (United)-BJP alliance came to power in Bihar in 2005, it was heralded as the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the state.
Ending Lalu Prasad Yadav family’s 15-year reign, Nitish Kumar became the chief minister, with a promise to turn the state around. Three years on, Mr Kumar seems to be on track, although Bihar might take a while to show results.
The JD (U) leader, who is often referred to as the state’s last hope, wants to make Bihar a developed state by 2015. Bihar being primarily an agricultural state, Mr Kumar has been stressing on agro-based industries.
He believes this will help in keeping land acquisition to a minimum. The chief minister has gone to the extent of saying that he does not want SEZs in the state and his government has identified agro-processing, handloom and textiles, handicrafts, pharmaceuticals and leather as areas with comparative advantage.
The other areas where he has made a good start are employment generation and infrastructure development. He beat other states to put in place an employment-guarantee programme for agricultural labourers, which promises 80 days of work, in addition to the 100 days mandated by the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme.
His government has adopted a new poverty measurement method, so that a bulk of the families living below the poverty line could be identified Nitish Kumar and have schemes targeted at them. His goal to develop roads in Bihar has been tagged to a three-year timeline, by when he hopes to have Bihar rival the best road networks in India.
Even on the administrative front, there are several big tasks waiting for his attention. For almost 15 years, Bihar didn’t even have a proper budget.
Mr Kumar has also identified promotion of investment opportunities as equally important. With poor infrastructure and the absence of long-term policies hindering private investment, he has kickstarted a series of legislative and administrative reforms. A new industrial policy was put in place in 2006, as was the Bihar Infrastructure Development Enabling Act. A new policy for the sugar processing sector — an important crop in the state — was also brought in.
The new industrial policy makes land available at concessional rates and promises reimbursement of 80% of VAT deposited. And these initiatives seem to have paid off, with the government receiving proposals from a number of big sugar manufacturers. An industrial complex with sugar mills, ethanol and power generation plants has been cleared. Measures to revive the textile industry have also been pushed through. With the state relying almost entirely on the Centre for its power needs, Bihar plans to put up new thermal and hydel power plants. ink
Saturday 22 August 2009
Counter-Insurgency Schools to be opened in Bihar
The Bihar government has sent a proposal to Centre to set up four Counter-Insurgency Anti-Terrorist Schools (CIATS) in the state. Of this one at Bodh Gaya has been sanctioned.
The state government has also sent a proposal to the Centre for the inclusion of four more districts in the category of the Maoist-hit. At present 15 out of 38 districts already figure in that list.
According to sources these schools will train policemen for guerrilla warfare. This includes specialize training to combat Maoists and carry out anti-terror operation. The state government, according to reports, has received Rs 1.5 crore for Bodh Gaya (BMP-3) to set up specialized CIATS. The amount will be spent mainly to develop infrastructure and training.
According to police sources each batch of trainees would consists of 300 policemen and the duration of training would be three months.
The remaining three school would be set up at Dehri-on-Sone in Rohtas, Dumraon in Buxar and Valmikinagar in West Champaran districts. The propsoaed four new Naxal hit districts also require the security related expenditure.
The initiative to open such schools came after the Centre’s directive to contain the Ultra-Left violence.
According to reports in all 3,353 police officers would be appointed in the 15 existing naxal-hit districts.link
The state government has also sent a proposal to the Centre for the inclusion of four more districts in the category of the Maoist-hit. At present 15 out of 38 districts already figure in that list.
According to sources these schools will train policemen for guerrilla warfare. This includes specialize training to combat Maoists and carry out anti-terror operation. The state government, according to reports, has received Rs 1.5 crore for Bodh Gaya (BMP-3) to set up specialized CIATS. The amount will be spent mainly to develop infrastructure and training.
According to police sources each batch of trainees would consists of 300 policemen and the duration of training would be three months.
The remaining three school would be set up at Dehri-on-Sone in Rohtas, Dumraon in Buxar and Valmikinagar in West Champaran districts. The propsoaed four new Naxal hit districts also require the security related expenditure.
The initiative to open such schools came after the Centre’s directive to contain the Ultra-Left violence.
According to reports in all 3,353 police officers would be appointed in the 15 existing naxal-hit districts.link
Bihar hunger deaths: lower level bureaucracy apathetic
Investigations into five hunger deaths in Jehanabad and Nalanda last week paint a disturbing picture of the lower-level bureaucracy in Bihar.
Since June 2008, not a single family at Rattu Bigha, a Maha Dalit hamlet, has received regular supply of foodgrains on its yellow (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) card which entitles it to 25 kg of rice or wheat at Rs. 2 (for 10 kg rice) and Rs. 3 (for 15 kg wheat). The coupons are lying with the villagers, as the dealer is claiming “shortage of foodgrains” and keeping the shop closed for most of the time.
Among the 75 households at Rattu Bigha are 51 families of Maha Dalits and 10 Dalit families. According to records obtained from the Block Development Office, the hamlet has 20 Antyodaya, 53 red and 2 Annapurna Yojana cards.
The villagers also alleged that they had to pay Rs. 25 extra whenever they went to collect their allotted rice/wheat. So, they end up paying Rs. 90 per 25 kg instead of Rs. 65.One of the victims, Charittar Dom starved for 15 days before his death. His food cards — coupon no. 15938 for the period from June 2008 till May 2009 and no. 16133 from June 2009 till May 2010 — continue to remain with his kin as a sordid souvenir of his desperate condition.
Speaking to The Hindu over telephone, the newly appointed District Magistrate Palka Sahni said stern action would be taken against middlemen.
“It has been brought to my notice that the dealer had been absconding and I have already instructed the SDM to camp in the village,” said Ms. Sahni. Beneficiaries of the deceased were already identified, she said.
The DM said that as the foodgrains allotment last year was inadequate, many villagers were still left with their food coupons. Efforts were being made to identify the gaps and villagers were now being given foodgrains on priority.
Another problem. No entries have been made in job cards issued under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).
Charittar Dom’s job card reads: card no. 0079, issued 2.02.2006, workday entries: 0. Dom died jobless though he was given the card in February, more than three winters ago. While Dom was fortunate enough to get a job card, Kunti Devi (who died on August 11) and Janardhan Mahto (entered as Singh in his voter ID card), who died on August 13, were without one.
The villagers complained that Rs. 30 was taken from every Maha Dalit family at Rattu Bigha to get photos of its members taken.
This is again a violation by officials, as it is the Government of India which is supposed to bear the expenses for photos of NREGA cardholders.
Apart from Charittar Dom, none of the deceased ever utilised the benefits under the Indira Awas Yojana.
According to Dom’s wife, the BDO gave only Rs. 10,000 under the scheme, instead of Rs. 35,000. As a result, the bricks are still lying in Dom’s hut.
However, there is no entry in his passbook (no.4290), issued by a local Punjab National Bank branch of his having ever received the amount, as it was directly handed over to him.
Under the Kabir Antyeshti Yojana, family members of the deceased are entitled to Rs. 1,500 for performing last rites. Block officials are supposed to hand over this amount to the kin of the deceased immediately after the death.
But at Rattu Bigha, officials had not done so until a hunger monitoring committee comprising representatives of NGOs reached the village and brought the matter to their notice. The BDO gave the assurance that the benefits would be given to the family of the deceased.link
Since June 2008, not a single family at Rattu Bigha, a Maha Dalit hamlet, has received regular supply of foodgrains on its yellow (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) card which entitles it to 25 kg of rice or wheat at Rs. 2 (for 10 kg rice) and Rs. 3 (for 15 kg wheat). The coupons are lying with the villagers, as the dealer is claiming “shortage of foodgrains” and keeping the shop closed for most of the time.
Among the 75 households at Rattu Bigha are 51 families of Maha Dalits and 10 Dalit families. According to records obtained from the Block Development Office, the hamlet has 20 Antyodaya, 53 red and 2 Annapurna Yojana cards.
The villagers also alleged that they had to pay Rs. 25 extra whenever they went to collect their allotted rice/wheat. So, they end up paying Rs. 90 per 25 kg instead of Rs. 65.One of the victims, Charittar Dom starved for 15 days before his death. His food cards — coupon no. 15938 for the period from June 2008 till May 2009 and no. 16133 from June 2009 till May 2010 — continue to remain with his kin as a sordid souvenir of his desperate condition.
Speaking to The Hindu over telephone, the newly appointed District Magistrate Palka Sahni said stern action would be taken against middlemen.
“It has been brought to my notice that the dealer had been absconding and I have already instructed the SDM to camp in the village,” said Ms. Sahni. Beneficiaries of the deceased were already identified, she said.
The DM said that as the foodgrains allotment last year was inadequate, many villagers were still left with their food coupons. Efforts were being made to identify the gaps and villagers were now being given foodgrains on priority.
Another problem. No entries have been made in job cards issued under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).
Charittar Dom’s job card reads: card no. 0079, issued 2.02.2006, workday entries: 0. Dom died jobless though he was given the card in February, more than three winters ago. While Dom was fortunate enough to get a job card, Kunti Devi (who died on August 11) and Janardhan Mahto (entered as Singh in his voter ID card), who died on August 13, were without one.
The villagers complained that Rs. 30 was taken from every Maha Dalit family at Rattu Bigha to get photos of its members taken.
This is again a violation by officials, as it is the Government of India which is supposed to bear the expenses for photos of NREGA cardholders.
Apart from Charittar Dom, none of the deceased ever utilised the benefits under the Indira Awas Yojana.
According to Dom’s wife, the BDO gave only Rs. 10,000 under the scheme, instead of Rs. 35,000. As a result, the bricks are still lying in Dom’s hut.
However, there is no entry in his passbook (no.4290), issued by a local Punjab National Bank branch of his having ever received the amount, as it was directly handed over to him.
Under the Kabir Antyeshti Yojana, family members of the deceased are entitled to Rs. 1,500 for performing last rites. Block officials are supposed to hand over this amount to the kin of the deceased immediately after the death.
But at Rattu Bigha, officials had not done so until a hunger monitoring committee comprising representatives of NGOs reached the village and brought the matter to their notice. The BDO gave the assurance that the benefits would be given to the family of the deceased.link
Friday 21 August 2009
Army offers help for tackling Naxalism
The Bihar Regimental Centre (BRC) on Friday held a civil-military liaison conference on its campus at Danapur Cantonment.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar and General Officer in Command, Central Command, Lt Gen J K Mohanty discussed various matters related to welfare of Army personnel and general development in Bihar at the meet held after a gap of 11 years.
The Army officials at the meet said that the Army would extend all possible help to Bihar government in tackling Naxalism and natural calamities and added it is ready to raise a separate battalion of territorial Army to maintain an ecological balance across the state. Lt Gen Mohanty said that Army could play an important role in curbing growing menace of ultra forces in the state. He, however, ruled out any possibility of setting up any more Army stations near Bihar-Nepal border now.
Describing this meet as significant, an Army official of Danapur said that the chief minister assured to extend all possible help to the Army in carrying out welfare work for the jawans and ex-servicemen belonging to Bihar Regiment. The state government agreed to allot the required land to the Army to complete its various ambitious projects in the state. The Army was satisfied with the assurance of the state government to transfer land to it for building Sainik schools at Nalanda and Gopalganj. The state government would also help to the Army to build various polyclinics across the state to provide better health care to Army personnel.
The Army also sought enhancement in grant of ex gratia to victims of the counter insurgency operation. The Army demanded a little hike in the monthly salary of special auxiliary police (SAP) from the present Rs 10,000 per month so that they get attracted to serve the state police.
Chief secretary Anup Mukherjee, principal secretary, home, Afzal Amanullah, DGP Anand Shankar, revenue and land reforms commissioner C Ashokvardhan were among the senior state government officials attending the meet. The government assured that the Army could get adequate land at Gaya where an Army station is already located, to carry out its welfare work.
The Army is currently in need of about 10 acres of land to construct houses for jawans under the Centrally-sponsored Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO). Among other issues which came up for discussion included internal security, felicitation of Gallantry Award winners at the Independence Day and Republic Day functions in Bihar and problem caused by the national highway (NH) road passing through the Cantonment area, an Army spokesperson said. link
Chief minister Nitish Kumar and General Officer in Command, Central Command, Lt Gen J K Mohanty discussed various matters related to welfare of Army personnel and general development in Bihar at the meet held after a gap of 11 years.
The Army officials at the meet said that the Army would extend all possible help to Bihar government in tackling Naxalism and natural calamities and added it is ready to raise a separate battalion of territorial Army to maintain an ecological balance across the state. Lt Gen Mohanty said that Army could play an important role in curbing growing menace of ultra forces in the state. He, however, ruled out any possibility of setting up any more Army stations near Bihar-Nepal border now.
Describing this meet as significant, an Army official of Danapur said that the chief minister assured to extend all possible help to the Army in carrying out welfare work for the jawans and ex-servicemen belonging to Bihar Regiment. The state government agreed to allot the required land to the Army to complete its various ambitious projects in the state. The Army was satisfied with the assurance of the state government to transfer land to it for building Sainik schools at Nalanda and Gopalganj. The state government would also help to the Army to build various polyclinics across the state to provide better health care to Army personnel.
The Army also sought enhancement in grant of ex gratia to victims of the counter insurgency operation. The Army demanded a little hike in the monthly salary of special auxiliary police (SAP) from the present Rs 10,000 per month so that they get attracted to serve the state police.
Chief secretary Anup Mukherjee, principal secretary, home, Afzal Amanullah, DGP Anand Shankar, revenue and land reforms commissioner C Ashokvardhan were among the senior state government officials attending the meet. The government assured that the Army could get adequate land at Gaya where an Army station is already located, to carry out its welfare work.
The Army is currently in need of about 10 acres of land to construct houses for jawans under the Centrally-sponsored Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO). Among other issues which came up for discussion included internal security, felicitation of Gallantry Award winners at the Independence Day and Republic Day functions in Bihar and problem caused by the national highway (NH) road passing through the Cantonment area, an Army spokesperson said. link
Rs 3203 cr sanctioned for polio eradication programme for three years
As the country continues to struggle with spurt in the cases of polio outbreaks, the centre has approved Rs 3203 crore for the eradication of polio for the next three years from the current financial year.
The cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval for implementation of the Polio eradication strategy with an estimated expenditure at Rs 3203.98 crore for the year 2009-2010 to 2011-12, according to the official statement. The main objective of the project is to achieve the goal of zero transmission of polio and obtaining international polio free certification for accomplishment of this goal, the annual strategy for polio eradication is decided on the basis of the recommendations of the India Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) consisting of national and international Experts. The IEAG has recommended a total of six National Immunization Day (NIDs), 9 Sub National Immunization Day (SNIDs), and 40 mop-up rounds for the period 2009-10 to 2011-12, the statement said.
However, the outbreak of the disease in areas like Western UP and some parts of Bihar continues to place India as the second most afflicted nation in the world, after Nigeria. The total number of cases went up to 676 in 2006, 874 in 2007 and 559 in 2008, though it came down drastically to 66 in 2005.
Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI) was started in India in 1995-96. This is the largest public health intervention ever taken up anywhere in the world. The estimated number of children aged between 0-5 years to be vaccinated in a NIDs is around 172 million. The SNIDs, in the high risk states/areas will cover about 69 million children between 0-5 years. Mop Up immunization round will be undertaken in the districts and in the surrounding areas, where polio cases will be reported, covering about 7.5 million target population,
According to the latest statistics with the WHO monitoring cell, India ranked second in the case of polio cases last year, behind Nigeria which recorded 798 cases. This year, upto July 31, India reported 206 cases whereas Nigeria had 363 cases. Pakistan is standing way down on the third spot with 31 cases.link
The cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval for implementation of the Polio eradication strategy with an estimated expenditure at Rs 3203.98 crore for the year 2009-2010 to 2011-12, according to the official statement. The main objective of the project is to achieve the goal of zero transmission of polio and obtaining international polio free certification for accomplishment of this goal, the annual strategy for polio eradication is decided on the basis of the recommendations of the India Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) consisting of national and international Experts. The IEAG has recommended a total of six National Immunization Day (NIDs), 9 Sub National Immunization Day (SNIDs), and 40 mop-up rounds for the period 2009-10 to 2011-12, the statement said.
However, the outbreak of the disease in areas like Western UP and some parts of Bihar continues to place India as the second most afflicted nation in the world, after Nigeria. The total number of cases went up to 676 in 2006, 874 in 2007 and 559 in 2008, though it came down drastically to 66 in 2005.
Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI) was started in India in 1995-96. This is the largest public health intervention ever taken up anywhere in the world. The estimated number of children aged between 0-5 years to be vaccinated in a NIDs is around 172 million. The SNIDs, in the high risk states/areas will cover about 69 million children between 0-5 years. Mop Up immunization round will be undertaken in the districts and in the surrounding areas, where polio cases will be reported, covering about 7.5 million target population,
According to the latest statistics with the WHO monitoring cell, India ranked second in the case of polio cases last year, behind Nigeria which recorded 798 cases. This year, upto July 31, India reported 206 cases whereas Nigeria had 363 cases. Pakistan is standing way down on the third spot with 31 cases.link
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