Bribe taken from patient in Balrampur Hospital for issuing medical certificate

Bribe taken from patient in Balrampur Hospital for issuing medical certificate

To read this posting in Hindi language, click here


It is a usual practice in government hospitals to issue medical certificates indicating extent of injuries required to file FIR at police stations in exchange for bribes. In fact for a higher bribe injuries can be shown to be serious so that stronger charges can be brought about against the opponent.

On the other hand if one doesn’t pay a bribe the extent of injury will be shown less because of which proper FIR may not be registered.

On 25th April, 2008 Ram Naresh, s/o Jagannath resident of Village Amrit Kheda, P।S. Mall, Tehsil Malihabad, Dist. Lucknow was admitted to Balrampur Hospital in Lucknow in the evening after suffering injuries in an attack by another villager.

He was asked to deposit Rs. 300 immediately. When he explained the incident he was asked to pay another Rs. 500 in order to issue him an authentic medical report of injuries. He paid Rs. 100 for stitches made on injuries and Rs. 20 later for receiving medicines for his treatment whereas the treatment is supposed to be free for poor patients in government hositals. This is just one incident but every poor person coming to receive medical treatment in government hospitals is charged illegal money by hospital staff.

A complaint has been filed by Ram Naresh with the hospital authorities for the illegal money that was taken from him. After the complaint was filed a ward boy approached him and told him to take his money back from one Chaurasia in Emergency Ward. The money has not been returned so far.

Ram Naresh is admitted in Ward No. 21 on Bed No. 6 of Balrampur Hospital presently. He may be reached through Chunni Lal, 9839422521 or Manish, 9839911648, volunteer of Asha Swasthya Sewa of Asha Parivar who are helping him with his treatment.

Dr Sandeep Pandey
Ph: 0522 2347365, 9415022772
Email: ashaashram@yahoo.com


(The author is the national convener of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), recepient of Ramon Magsaysay Award (2002) for emergent leadership and a noted social activist heading Asha Parivar)

To read this posting in Hindi language, click here

Published in My News, India

Bribe taken from patient in Balrampur Hospital for issuing medical certificate

Bribe taken from patient in Balrampur Hospital for issuing medical certificate

To read this posting in Hindi language, click here


It is a usual practice in government hospitals to issue medical certificates indicating extent of injuries required to file FIR at police stations in exchange for bribes. In fact for a higher bribe injuries can be shown to be serious so that stronger charges can be brought about against the opponent.

On the other hand if one doesn’t pay a bribe the extent of injury will be shown less because of which proper FIR may not be registered.

On 25th April, 2008 Ram Naresh, s/o Jagannath resident of Village Amrit Kheda, P।S. Mall, Tehsil Malihabad, Dist. Lucknow was admitted to Balrampur Hospital in Lucknow in the evening after suffering injuries in an attack by another villager.

He was asked to deposit Rs. 300 immediately. When he explained the incident he was asked to pay another Rs. 500 in order to issue him an authentic medical report of injuries. He paid Rs. 100 for stitches made on injuries and Rs. 20 later for receiving medicines for his treatment whereas the treatment is supposed to be free for poor patients in government hositals. This is just one incident but every poor person coming to receive medical treatment in government hospitals is charged illegal money by hospital staff.

A complaint has been filed by Ram Naresh with the hospital authorities for the illegal money that was taken from him. After the complaint was filed a ward boy approached him and told him to take his money back from one Chaurasia in Emergency Ward. The money has not been returned so far.

Ram Naresh is admitted in Ward No. 21 on Bed No. 6 of Balrampur Hospital presently. He may be reached through Chunni Lal, 9839422521 or Manish, 9839911648, volunteer of Asha Swasthya Sewa of Asha Parivar who are helping him with his treatment.

Dr Sandeep Pandey
Ph: 0522 2347365, 9415022772
Email: ashaashram@yahoo.com


(The author is the national convener of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), recepient of Ramon Magsaysay Award (2002) for emergent leadership and a noted social activist heading Asha Parivar)

To read this posting in Hindi language, click here

Published in My News, India

Raising tobacco taxes will not cause loss of revenue in India: new study

Raising tobacco taxes will not cause loss of revenue in India: new study

[To read this posting in Hindi language , please click here ]


The tax on beedis can be increased to Rs. 100 per 1000 sticks compared with the current Rs. 14 and the tax on an average cigarette can be increased to Rs. 3.5 per stick without any fear of losing revenue, according to a new study.

However in the Indian Budget 2008-2009, excise duty on both filter and non-filter cigarettes was brought on par by applying higher rates on non-filter cigarettes. However before the Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced the budget, this is what Dr Ramadoss (Health and family welfare minister) had said: "We have requested the finance minister to increase the taxes on (tobacco) products so that the alarming figures of its consumption as compared to other countries can come down."

The current system of taxing cigarettes in India based on the presence of filters and the length of cigarettes has no justification on health grounds, and should be abolished, if reducing tobacco consumption and the consequent disease burden is one of the objectives of tobacco taxation policy, argues the researcher. Attempts to regulate tobacco use without effecting significant tax increases on beedis may not produce desired results, adds the researcher.

Interestingly 85% of the tobacco tax comes from cigarettes (15% of tobacco consumption in India is in form of cigarettes) and rest of the 15% tax comes from the non-cigarette tobacco productsin India (about 85% of tobacco consumption is non-cigarette forms of tobacco products like gutkha, beedis etc).

Article 6 of the global tobacco treaty - FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) to which India is a party by signing and then ratifying the FCTC, also supports price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco. just to recall, Article 6 of FCTC says:

"1. The Parties recognize that price and tax measures are an effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption by various segments of the population, in particular young persons.

2. Without prejudice to the sovereign right of the Parties to determine and establish their taxation policies, each Party should take account of its national health objectives concerning
tobacco control and adopt or maintain, as appropriate, measures which may include:

(a) implementing tax policies and, where appropriate, price policies, on tobacco products so as to contribute to the health objectives aimed at reducing tobacco consumption; and

(b) prohibiting or restricting, as appropriate, sales to and/or importations by international travellers of tax- and duty-free tobacco products.

3. The Parties shall provide rates of taxation for tobacco products and trends in tobacco consumption in their periodic reports to the Conference of the Parties, in accordance with Article 21."

Let us hope that the Indian policy makers keep-their-promises and prove true vanguards of public health and interests.

Raising tobacco taxes will not cause loss of revenue in India: new study

Raising tobacco taxes will not cause loss of revenue in India: new study

[To read this posting in Hindi language , please click here ]


The tax on beedis can be increased to Rs. 100 per 1000 sticks compared with the current Rs. 14 and the tax on an average cigarette can be increased to Rs. 3.5 per stick without any fear of losing revenue, according to a new study.

However in the Indian Budget 2008-2009, excise duty on both filter and non-filter cigarettes was brought on par by applying higher rates on non-filter cigarettes. However before the Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced the budget, this is what Dr Ramadoss (Health and family welfare minister) had said: "We have requested the finance minister to increase the taxes on (tobacco) products so that the alarming figures of its consumption as compared to other countries can come down."

The current system of taxing cigarettes in India based on the presence of filters and the length of cigarettes has no justification on health grounds, and should be abolished, if reducing tobacco consumption and the consequent disease burden is one of the objectives of tobacco taxation policy, argues the researcher. Attempts to regulate tobacco use without effecting significant tax increases on beedis may not produce desired results, adds the researcher.

Interestingly 85% of the tobacco tax comes from cigarettes (15% of tobacco consumption in India is in form of cigarettes) and rest of the 15% tax comes from the non-cigarette tobacco productsin India (about 85% of tobacco consumption is non-cigarette forms of tobacco products like gutkha, beedis etc).

Article 6 of the global tobacco treaty - FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) to which India is a party by signing and then ratifying the FCTC, also supports price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco. just to recall, Article 6 of FCTC says:

"1. The Parties recognize that price and tax measures are an effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption by various segments of the population, in particular young persons.

2. Without prejudice to the sovereign right of the Parties to determine and establish their taxation policies, each Party should take account of its national health objectives concerning
tobacco control and adopt or maintain, as appropriate, measures which may include:

(a) implementing tax policies and, where appropriate, price policies, on tobacco products so as to contribute to the health objectives aimed at reducing tobacco consumption; and

(b) prohibiting or restricting, as appropriate, sales to and/or importations by international travellers of tax- and duty-free tobacco products.

3. The Parties shall provide rates of taxation for tobacco products and trends in tobacco consumption in their periodic reports to the Conference of the Parties, in accordance with Article 21."

Let us hope that the Indian policy makers keep-their-promises and prove true vanguards of public health and interests.

After 1.5 years, RTI provided NREGS documents to Unnao residents

After 1.5 years, RTI provided NREGS documents to Unnao residents

After ten hearings at the Uttar Pradesh (UP) State Information Commission and 1.5 years from first filing the Right to Information (RTI) application to seek documents related to National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in Miyaganj block of Unnao district in UP, the people of Miyaganj are finally relieved to get those documents pertinent to the NREGS work done in their block.

The RTI application asking for information (like muster rolls and measurement books) under the RTI Act, 2005, was filed on 4 December 2006 by Miyaganj block resident Yeshwant Rao at the local Block office. He received a reply after more than six months (June 2007) asking him to submit Rs. 1,58,400 (at an arbitrarily fixed rate of Rs. 2,400 per village panchayat for 66 panchayats of the Miyaganj Block).

This followed a long battle in the State Information Commission of UP where after more than ten hearings ultimately an order was passed directing the Block officials to provide information free of cost. The people of Miyaganj finally started getting the documents on 6 April 2008.

After a year and a half of struggle residents of Miyaganj Block of Unnao led by Asha Parivar local activists Yeshwant Rao and Virendra Singh, have been successful in obtaining documents related to implementation of NREGS in their Block.

Now the people of Miyaganj block are going a step further. During 20-28 May 2008, they will be conducting a social audit based on the information provided by the block authorities on NREGS implementation. The people will go to each one of the 66 village panchayats, document and verify the NREGS records themselves. Earlier similar social audits of NREGS have been conducted in Bharawan, Sandila and Behender Blocks of neighbouring district of Hardoi.

Social Audit is a process where in an open meeting of the village physical verification of the records is done with the help of officials, people’s representatives and the people. In fact, the citizens of the Gram Sabha are supposed to perform this audit. In addition to the verification of financial details it is also ensured that other provisions of the NREGA are being followed. It is an opportunity for the people to evaluate the entire scheme and also determine the quality of development works in their village. In a new democratic culture building up in the country since the Right to Information Act has been implemented, it is a chance for citizens to intervene and check the rampant prevalent corruption and irregularities in the system.

Also in February 2006, the Rural Development Department of the Andhra Pradesh Government had conducted the social audit of the Andhra Pradesh Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme which was being implemented under the NREGA which had come into force from 2 Februray 2006.

Andhra Pradesh was probably the first state in the country where such a process took place and the credit for this goes entirely to the then Principal Secretary of the Rural Development Department, K. Raju. It is normally unheard of that any government department would subject its performance to public scrutiny, especially a department dealing with development works where huge siphoning off of resources has become the norm rather than exception. Fake muster rolls are one of the biggest sources of corruption in this country. “By mentioning fictitious names, names of upper caste people who never perform manual labour, names of people who have migrated to cities long time back, names of people who are too old to work or exaggerating the number of days of work for labourers who have performed work, it is a common practice to withdraw huge sums of money from the government exchequer. In addition to the abovementioned discrepancies, it might also be the case that the work being shown on paper was never actually performed. In Hardoi District of U.P., recently is was discovered that a canal was being de-silted on paper in 2004-05 by using the funds of Bharawan Block Panchayat whereas the Irrigation Department had taken a decision five years back not to release water in this canal. Over Rs. 3 lakhs were embezzled in this instance” said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership and National Convener of National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM).

“However, if the initiative of social audit remains in the hands of the government or administration, there is a danger that ultimately it’ll be subverted. How many cases of corruption do we know where an enquiry was set up and because the individuals who were conducting the investigation were from the same class of people as they were investigating, the results of such exercises did not yield the desired result and the matters were covered up? We would not like to see the social audit process currently being undertaken in A.P. to degenerate to a state where the social auditors develop vested interests shared with the people responsible for implementing the APREGS. Hence it is very important that the initiative of the social audit process remains in the hands of common people. The Gram Sabha is the appropriate body to conduct this exercise and not some externally chosen professionals” cautioned Dr Sandeep Pandey.

Those interested in seeking part in this social audit exercise (20-28 May 2008) in Unnao district of UP, are welcome to contact Dr Sandeep Pandey at: ashaashram@yahoo.com

Published in

News Blaze, US

Assam Times, Assam, India

RTI India

The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea

Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India

After 1.5 years, RTI provided NREGS documents to Unnao residents

After 1.5 years, RTI provided NREGS documents to Unnao residents

After ten hearings at the Uttar Pradesh (UP) State Information Commission and 1.5 years from first filing the Right to Information (RTI) application to seek documents related to National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in Miyaganj block of Unnao district in UP, the people of Miyaganj are finally relieved to get those documents pertinent to the NREGS work done in their block.

The RTI application asking for information (like muster rolls and measurement books) under the RTI Act, 2005, was filed on 4 December 2006 by Miyaganj block resident Yeshwant Rao at the local Block office. He received a reply after more than six months (June 2007) asking him to submit Rs. 1,58,400 (at an arbitrarily fixed rate of Rs. 2,400 per village panchayat for 66 panchayats of the Miyaganj Block).

This followed a long battle in the State Information Commission of UP where after more than ten hearings ultimately an order was passed directing the Block officials to provide information free of cost. The people of Miyaganj finally started getting the documents on 6 April 2008.

After a year and a half of struggle residents of Miyaganj Block of Unnao led by Asha Parivar local activists Yeshwant Rao and Virendra Singh, have been successful in obtaining documents related to implementation of NREGS in their Block.

Now the people of Miyaganj block are going a step further. During 20-28 May 2008, they will be conducting a social audit based on the information provided by the block authorities on NREGS implementation. The people will go to each one of the 66 village panchayats, document and verify the NREGS records themselves. Earlier similar social audits of NREGS have been conducted in Bharawan, Sandila and Behender Blocks of neighbouring district of Hardoi.

Social Audit is a process where in an open meeting of the village physical verification of the records is done with the help of officials, people’s representatives and the people. In fact, the citizens of the Gram Sabha are supposed to perform this audit. In addition to the verification of financial details it is also ensured that other provisions of the NREGA are being followed. It is an opportunity for the people to evaluate the entire scheme and also determine the quality of development works in their village. In a new democratic culture building up in the country since the Right to Information Act has been implemented, it is a chance for citizens to intervene and check the rampant prevalent corruption and irregularities in the system.

Also in February 2006, the Rural Development Department of the Andhra Pradesh Government had conducted the social audit of the Andhra Pradesh Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme which was being implemented under the NREGA which had come into force from 2 Februray 2006.

Andhra Pradesh was probably the first state in the country where such a process took place and the credit for this goes entirely to the then Principal Secretary of the Rural Development Department, K. Raju. It is normally unheard of that any government department would subject its performance to public scrutiny, especially a department dealing with development works where huge siphoning off of resources has become the norm rather than exception. Fake muster rolls are one of the biggest sources of corruption in this country. “By mentioning fictitious names, names of upper caste people who never perform manual labour, names of people who have migrated to cities long time back, names of people who are too old to work or exaggerating the number of days of work for labourers who have performed work, it is a common practice to withdraw huge sums of money from the government exchequer. In addition to the abovementioned discrepancies, it might also be the case that the work being shown on paper was never actually performed. In Hardoi District of U.P., recently is was discovered that a canal was being de-silted on paper in 2004-05 by using the funds of Bharawan Block Panchayat whereas the Irrigation Department had taken a decision five years back not to release water in this canal. Over Rs. 3 lakhs were embezzled in this instance” said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership and National Convener of National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM).

“However, if the initiative of social audit remains in the hands of the government or administration, there is a danger that ultimately it’ll be subverted. How many cases of corruption do we know where an enquiry was set up and because the individuals who were conducting the investigation were from the same class of people as they were investigating, the results of such exercises did not yield the desired result and the matters were covered up? We would not like to see the social audit process currently being undertaken in A.P. to degenerate to a state where the social auditors develop vested interests shared with the people responsible for implementing the APREGS. Hence it is very important that the initiative of the social audit process remains in the hands of common people. The Gram Sabha is the appropriate body to conduct this exercise and not some externally chosen professionals” cautioned Dr Sandeep Pandey.

Those interested in seeking part in this social audit exercise (20-28 May 2008) in Unnao district of UP, are welcome to contact Dr Sandeep Pandey at: ashaashram@yahoo.com

Published in

News Blaze, US

Assam Times, Assam, India

RTI India

The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea

Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India

INVITE: 7th Convention of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)

INVITE
7th Convention of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)

National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)

[To read this posting in Hindi language, please click here]


Venue: Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
Date: 7 - 8 June 2008


Dear Friends,
Zindabad.

You may know that the National Alliance of Peoples' Movements is a coming of various Peoples' Movements fighting for the toiling peoples' right to Life and Livelihood, and as also those working on various alternatives in the fields of Agriculture, Water, Energy etc. The Alliance, over the years has brought together diverse groups engaged in struggles across the country and drawn people's attention to the marginalization of the majority of the people for the benefit of the wealthy and influential few.

We realise that the situation is becoming ever grimmer, by the day, be it any party ruling at the Centre or in the States. The stark reality is:

While the 'powers that be' boast of a high growth it is at best a jobless, or rather a 'job-loss' growth.

The Agriculture sector has been destroyed and labour laws decimated at the bidding of the Global Financial Institutions and Corporate interests.

All basic services and Utilities such as Water, Electricity, Health care, Education, Roads, Railways, Ports, Public transport have or are in the process of being turned over into private hands through a cruel onslaught on peoples' resources.

Caste violence, religious fundamentalism and ethnic strife are being perpetrated so as to destroy our social fabric.

What has been unleashed on the people - farmers, fisher people, adivasis, dalits, minorities, workers is 'development terrorism'

Whether it is Nandigram, Singur, Kalinganar, Ayodhya, Posco, Gorai, Plachimada, Chengara, Kakinanda, the cruelest violence is used to displace, dispossess, dis-employ and dehumanize people killing the democratic space and social justice sought to be enshrined in our Constitution. Anyone raising a voice against this is labelled 'anti-development', 'anti-national', 'naxalite' 'foreign-funded' etc. These hundreds of land and resource grab exercises, actively indulged in by corporate bigwigs and ably manoeuvered by state machinery have revitalized with renewed rigour the need for and demands by nation wide struggles groups to give flesh and blood to Article 243 in the Constitution, which provides the framework for "development" (in whose name all the tamasha of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) are happening) and locates the Gram Sabhas and Ward Committees in villages and towns as the epicentres of any developmental planning.

National sovereignty, democracy and governance are virtually being outsourced and sub-contracted in the name of Public Private Partnership. How far away is this to practical realization, more particularly, in the wake of draconian definitions of 'public purpose' creeping into enactments, as is being witnessed in the recently proposed Land Acquisition Bill, 2007 and Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill, 2007 is the challenge before peoples movements and struggles all across the country.

Over the last 12-14 years, NAPM has been at the forefront of people's struggles be it the slum-demolitions in Mumbai and other cities and towns, displacement by various dams and projects, the Enron struggle, the various anti-SEZ struggles, fisher peoples' struggles, WTO and World Bank Bharat Chodo campaigns, Desh Bachao Desh Banao campaigns etc. Similarly, its various constituents have led successful struggles of fisher people, those displaced by dams, those fighting globalization in its various manifestations.

Probably, never before has there been in the history, so much a need, as also an opportunity, for all democratic forces, including like-minded individuals, groups, alliances and movements, with the struggling masses at large, to come together and challenge the claims of those who hold seats of power in various ways, both within and outside the framework of the State and reclaim back not just legitimate democratic spaces, denied and robbed hitherto, but also assert positive claims to natural and other resources and strive for societal and political recognition of the non-destructive, equitable ways of harnessing those new economics and politics of reconstruction. The inevitable task, ahead for presently sectoral people's struggles, is to strike at the root of inequality at various levels within existing power-structures and the future pre-condition for that would be the strategic coming together of all the concerned and their democratic supporters, across the country and around the world.

Over the years, NAPM has come to grow as a broad-based platform of diverse groups articulating the concerns of various marginalized peoples and communities.

It is in this context that the NAPM is hosting its 7th bi-annual convention and invites you, along with your friends and allies, to join us at this convention, who are ready to struggle for ensuring democracy, equality, secularism, and justice.

The 7th NAPM Convention is therefore an opportunity for all those struggling with the people and those desirous of bringing about an alternative development paradigm through various sustainable alternatives and experiments.

Yours sincerely,

Arundhati Duru, Sandeep Pandey, Medha Patkar
Sr. Celia, D. Gabriela, P. Chenniah
Anand Mazgaonkar, Thomas Kocherry, Aruna Roy
Sanjay MG, Ulka Mahajan, Mukta Srivastava
Geeta Ramakrishnan, PT Hussain, Uma Shankari
Subhash Ware, NB Kohli, Amarnath Bhai

For further programme and travel details contact:

Keshav: 09839883518, email: napmup@gmail.com
Nandlal Master: 09415300520
Udhay Bhan: 09935445489
Mukta: 09969530060

Other emails: napmindia@gmail.com, mumbainapm@gmail.com
Simpreet: 09969363065

VENUE: Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh (50 km from Gorakhpur and 30 km from Devaria)

A detailed schedule of the travel and transport details and particulars of trains plying from various parts of India may be obtained from the above contacts. The above contact persons would be waiting at the Gorakhpur and Devaria Railway Stations, with the NAPM banners.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
1) 6th June would be the Preparatory Meeting of the Present Conveners and 9th June would be the Meeting of newly elected Conveners.

2) There will be an exhibition on alternative development put up from the 6th of June itself. All those committed to alternate and sustainable development, please bring along with you models, banners, literature, posters, for the exhibition.

[To read this posting in Hindi language, please click here]

INVITE: 7th Convention of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)

INVITE
7th Convention of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)

National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)

[To read this posting in Hindi language, please click here]


Venue: Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
Date: 7 - 8 June 2008


Dear Friends,
Zindabad.

You may know that the National Alliance of Peoples' Movements is a coming of various Peoples' Movements fighting for the toiling peoples' right to Life and Livelihood, and as also those working on various alternatives in the fields of Agriculture, Water, Energy etc. The Alliance, over the years has brought together diverse groups engaged in struggles across the country and drawn people's attention to the marginalization of the majority of the people for the benefit of the wealthy and influential few.

We realise that the situation is becoming ever grimmer, by the day, be it any party ruling at the Centre or in the States. The stark reality is:

While the 'powers that be' boast of a high growth it is at best a jobless, or rather a 'job-loss' growth.

The Agriculture sector has been destroyed and labour laws decimated at the bidding of the Global Financial Institutions and Corporate interests.

All basic services and Utilities such as Water, Electricity, Health care, Education, Roads, Railways, Ports, Public transport have or are in the process of being turned over into private hands through a cruel onslaught on peoples' resources.

Caste violence, religious fundamentalism and ethnic strife are being perpetrated so as to destroy our social fabric.

What has been unleashed on the people - farmers, fisher people, adivasis, dalits, minorities, workers is 'development terrorism'

Whether it is Nandigram, Singur, Kalinganar, Ayodhya, Posco, Gorai, Plachimada, Chengara, Kakinanda, the cruelest violence is used to displace, dispossess, dis-employ and dehumanize people killing the democratic space and social justice sought to be enshrined in our Constitution. Anyone raising a voice against this is labelled 'anti-development', 'anti-national', 'naxalite' 'foreign-funded' etc. These hundreds of land and resource grab exercises, actively indulged in by corporate bigwigs and ably manoeuvered by state machinery have revitalized with renewed rigour the need for and demands by nation wide struggles groups to give flesh and blood to Article 243 in the Constitution, which provides the framework for "development" (in whose name all the tamasha of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) are happening) and locates the Gram Sabhas and Ward Committees in villages and towns as the epicentres of any developmental planning.

National sovereignty, democracy and governance are virtually being outsourced and sub-contracted in the name of Public Private Partnership. How far away is this to practical realization, more particularly, in the wake of draconian definitions of 'public purpose' creeping into enactments, as is being witnessed in the recently proposed Land Acquisition Bill, 2007 and Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill, 2007 is the challenge before peoples movements and struggles all across the country.

Over the last 12-14 years, NAPM has been at the forefront of people's struggles be it the slum-demolitions in Mumbai and other cities and towns, displacement by various dams and projects, the Enron struggle, the various anti-SEZ struggles, fisher peoples' struggles, WTO and World Bank Bharat Chodo campaigns, Desh Bachao Desh Banao campaigns etc. Similarly, its various constituents have led successful struggles of fisher people, those displaced by dams, those fighting globalization in its various manifestations.

Probably, never before has there been in the history, so much a need, as also an opportunity, for all democratic forces, including like-minded individuals, groups, alliances and movements, with the struggling masses at large, to come together and challenge the claims of those who hold seats of power in various ways, both within and outside the framework of the State and reclaim back not just legitimate democratic spaces, denied and robbed hitherto, but also assert positive claims to natural and other resources and strive for societal and political recognition of the non-destructive, equitable ways of harnessing those new economics and politics of reconstruction. The inevitable task, ahead for presently sectoral people's struggles, is to strike at the root of inequality at various levels within existing power-structures and the future pre-condition for that would be the strategic coming together of all the concerned and their democratic supporters, across the country and around the world.

Over the years, NAPM has come to grow as a broad-based platform of diverse groups articulating the concerns of various marginalized peoples and communities.

It is in this context that the NAPM is hosting its 7th bi-annual convention and invites you, along with your friends and allies, to join us at this convention, who are ready to struggle for ensuring democracy, equality, secularism, and justice.

The 7th NAPM Convention is therefore an opportunity for all those struggling with the people and those desirous of bringing about an alternative development paradigm through various sustainable alternatives and experiments.

Yours sincerely,

Arundhati Duru, Sandeep Pandey, Medha Patkar
Sr. Celia, D. Gabriela, P. Chenniah
Anand Mazgaonkar, Thomas Kocherry, Aruna Roy
Sanjay MG, Ulka Mahajan, Mukta Srivastava
Geeta Ramakrishnan, PT Hussain, Uma Shankari
Subhash Ware, NB Kohli, Amarnath Bhai

For further programme and travel details contact:

Keshav: 09839883518, email: napmup@gmail.com
Nandlal Master: 09415300520
Udhay Bhan: 09935445489
Mukta: 09969530060

Other emails: napmindia@gmail.com, mumbainapm@gmail.com
Simpreet: 09969363065

VENUE: Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh (50 km from Gorakhpur and 30 km from Devaria)

A detailed schedule of the travel and transport details and particulars of trains plying from various parts of India may be obtained from the above contacts. The above contact persons would be waiting at the Gorakhpur and Devaria Railway Stations, with the NAPM banners.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
1) 6th June would be the Preparatory Meeting of the Present Conveners and 9th June would be the Meeting of newly elected Conveners.

2) There will be an exhibition on alternative development put up from the 6th of June itself. All those committed to alternate and sustainable development, please bring along with you models, banners, literature, posters, for the exhibition.

[To read this posting in Hindi language, please click here]

Social Audit of NREGS in Miyaganj Block, Unnao (UP)

Social Audit of NREGS in Miyaganj Block, Unnao (UP)
20-28 May

To read this posting in Hindi language, please click here


After a year and a half of struggle activists of Asha Parivar and residents of Miyaganj Block of Unnao District Yeshwant Rao and Virendra Singh have been successful in obtaining documents related to implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in their Block.

The application asking for information (like Muster Rolls and Measurement Books, etc.) under the Right to Information Act, 2005, was filed on 4th December, 2006 by Yeshwant Rao at his Block office. He received a reply in June 2007 asking him to submit Rs. 1,58,400 (at an arbitrarily fixed rate of Rs. 2,400 per village panchayat for 66 panchayats in the Miyaganj Block).

This followed a long battle in the State Information Commission of UP where after more than ten hearings ultimately an order was passed directing the Block officials to provide information free of cost.

The activists finally started getting the documents on 6th April, 2008. This is the most detailed information that Asha Parivar has got in its attempts to conduct social audits so far in this area (earlier social audits of NREGS have been conducted in Bharawan, Sandila and Behender Blocks of neighbouring Hardoi District).

Volunteers are invited to be part of the Social Audit of NREGS in Miyaganj Block of Unnao District from 20th to 28th May, 2008.

We will assemble at the Miyaganj Block office on the morning of 20th May for a two day training. Eleven teams will then visit the 66 village panchayats over the next six days with each team covering one panchayat in a day. Finally, on 28th May there will be a public hearing on the social audit reports.

To reach Miyaganj:-

(1) Catch a three wheeler (popularly known as 'Vikram') from outside the railway station going to Rajajipuram and get down at Dhania Mari Pul within Lucknow . From there take a bus for Bangarmau (in Hardoi) and get down at Miyaganj. Bus will drop you outside the Block office.

(2) Catch a bus from Unnao to Sandila and get down at Miyaganj.

If you would like to be part of the social audit process please get in touch with any of the following:

Yeshwant Rao, 9935451876
Virendra Singh, 9935788420
Arundhati Dhuru, 9415022772, arundhatidhuru@yahoo.co.uk
Sandeep, ashaashram@yahoo.com

We also solicit financial donations for conducting the social audit in Miyaganj. Donations may be sent in the name of 'Asha' to Vallabhacharya Pandey, Village Bhandaha Kalan, Post Kaithi, Varanasi-221116, Ph: (0542) 2618201, 2618301, 2618401, Mobile : 9415256848, ashakashi@gmail.com

Asha Parivar, Unnao
&
National Alliance of People's Movements, UP


To read this posting in Hindi language, please click here

Social Audit of NREGS in Miyaganj Block, Unnao (UP)

Social Audit of NREGS in Miyaganj Block, Unnao (UP)
20-28 May

To read this posting in Hindi language, please click here


After a year and a half of struggle activists of Asha Parivar and residents of Miyaganj Block of Unnao District Yeshwant Rao and Virendra Singh have been successful in obtaining documents related to implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in their Block.

The application asking for information (like Muster Rolls and Measurement Books, etc.) under the Right to Information Act, 2005, was filed on 4th December, 2006 by Yeshwant Rao at his Block office. He received a reply in June 2007 asking him to submit Rs. 1,58,400 (at an arbitrarily fixed rate of Rs. 2,400 per village panchayat for 66 panchayats in the Miyaganj Block).

This followed a long battle in the State Information Commission of UP where after more than ten hearings ultimately an order was passed directing the Block officials to provide information free of cost.

The activists finally started getting the documents on 6th April, 2008. This is the most detailed information that Asha Parivar has got in its attempts to conduct social audits so far in this area (earlier social audits of NREGS have been conducted in Bharawan, Sandila and Behender Blocks of neighbouring Hardoi District).

Volunteers are invited to be part of the Social Audit of NREGS in Miyaganj Block of Unnao District from 20th to 28th May, 2008.

We will assemble at the Miyaganj Block office on the morning of 20th May for a two day training. Eleven teams will then visit the 66 village panchayats over the next six days with each team covering one panchayat in a day. Finally, on 28th May there will be a public hearing on the social audit reports.

To reach Miyaganj:-

(1) Catch a three wheeler (popularly known as 'Vikram') from outside the railway station going to Rajajipuram and get down at Dhania Mari Pul within Lucknow . From there take a bus for Bangarmau (in Hardoi) and get down at Miyaganj. Bus will drop you outside the Block office.

(2) Catch a bus from Unnao to Sandila and get down at Miyaganj.

If you would like to be part of the social audit process please get in touch with any of the following:

Yeshwant Rao, 9935451876
Virendra Singh, 9935788420
Arundhati Dhuru, 9415022772, arundhatidhuru@yahoo.co.uk
Sandeep, ashaashram@yahoo.com

We also solicit financial donations for conducting the social audit in Miyaganj. Donations may be sent in the name of 'Asha' to Vallabhacharya Pandey, Village Bhandaha Kalan, Post Kaithi, Varanasi-221116, Ph: (0542) 2618201, 2618301, 2618401, Mobile : 9415256848, ashakashi@gmail.com

Asha Parivar, Unnao
&
National Alliance of People's Movements, UP


To read this posting in Hindi language, please click here

World Malaria Day (25 April 2008)

World Malaria Day
25 April 2008

Greater resources and stronger political commitment critical in tackling Malaria: WHO

[To read this posting in Hindi language, click here]


Malaria, a disease without borders, is preventable and treatable however it needs a bolder commitment from donors and member states if it is to be brought under control.

Malaria remains a major health problem in the South-East Asia region with 83% of its population at risks. There are an estimated 20 million cases and 100,000 deaths each year from malaria in the region.

"Today we have powerful new tools and effective models of control, which is critical in our approach in tackling this disease. But financial resources need to be mobilised and political commitment to addressing this disease needs to be solidified. A lackadaisical attitude to this health issue will not lessen the current disease burden," said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for South East Asia marking the first World Malaria Day.

Populations particularly susceptible to malaria include those who live in urban slums, the poor, ethnic groups, mobile populations, young adults and border communities. In South-East Asia, where some of the most devastating resurgences of malaria have occurred, the disease continues to pose a serious threat to public health. Much of the malaria in this Region is transmitted by forest-dwelling vectors, making vector control extremely difficult and also leaving large infected populations beyond the reach of basic health infrastructure.

Malaria is endemic in all the countries in the South-East Asia Region except the Maldives, and the situation is becoming increasingly difficult to control. This region also harbours two main malaria parasites, the deadly Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, which is notorious for causing relapsing episodes. In addition to damage to health and well being, malaria adversely affects economic development particularly the livelihood of the poor. "A community with malaria is an impoverished community," stressed Dr Plianbangchang.

Parasite strains resistant to chloroquine, (cheapest and most common anti-malaria drug), have spread throughout this region. Multidrug-resistant strains are present in several countries and the resistance level is growing, posing a threat to all means of effective case management. Intensified efforts by Member countries, international agencies, partners and donor agencies are urgently required.

[To read this posting in Hindi language, click here]

Published in

The Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Seoul Times, South Korea

News Blaze, USA

Assam Times, Assam, India

Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India

World Malaria Day (25 April 2008)

World Malaria Day
25 April 2008

Greater resources and stronger political commitment critical in tackling Malaria: WHO

[To read this posting in Hindi language, click here]


Malaria, a disease without borders, is preventable and treatable however it needs a bolder commitment from donors and member states if it is to be brought under control.

Malaria remains a major health problem in the South-East Asia region with 83% of its population at risks. There are an estimated 20 million cases and 100,000 deaths each year from malaria in the region.

"Today we have powerful new tools and effective models of control, which is critical in our approach in tackling this disease. But financial resources need to be mobilised and political commitment to addressing this disease needs to be solidified. A lackadaisical attitude to this health issue will not lessen the current disease burden," said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for South East Asia marking the first World Malaria Day.

Populations particularly susceptible to malaria include those who live in urban slums, the poor, ethnic groups, mobile populations, young adults and border communities. In South-East Asia, where some of the most devastating resurgences of malaria have occurred, the disease continues to pose a serious threat to public health. Much of the malaria in this Region is transmitted by forest-dwelling vectors, making vector control extremely difficult and also leaving large infected populations beyond the reach of basic health infrastructure.

Malaria is endemic in all the countries in the South-East Asia Region except the Maldives, and the situation is becoming increasingly difficult to control. This region also harbours two main malaria parasites, the deadly Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, which is notorious for causing relapsing episodes. In addition to damage to health and well being, malaria adversely affects economic development particularly the livelihood of the poor. "A community with malaria is an impoverished community," stressed Dr Plianbangchang.

Parasite strains resistant to chloroquine, (cheapest and most common anti-malaria drug), have spread throughout this region. Multidrug-resistant strains are present in several countries and the resistance level is growing, posing a threat to all means of effective case management. Intensified efforts by Member countries, international agencies, partners and donor agencies are urgently required.

[To read this posting in Hindi language, click here]

Published in

The Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Seoul Times, South Korea

News Blaze, USA

Assam Times, Assam, India

Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India

Tobacco Control policies in prisons

Tobacco Control policies in prisons

To read this in Hindi language please click here

To read earlier postings in Hindi/ English languages on this issue, click on the below-given links:

जेल में तम्बाकू नियंत्रण है एक गंभीर चुनौती: IG prisons
Banning tobacco in prisons is one of the biggest deal

नागपुर सेन्ट्रल जेल अब तम्बाकू-रहित बनेगा
Nagpur Central Jail to become tobacco-free

On 11 February 2008 I completed presenting 63 nicotine dependency recovery programs in 28 state prisons here in South Carolina, USA, prisons that by January 1 had all become 100% tobacco-free. In response to the below article about India considering tobacco-free prisons I write to share a few points that I hope might be considered:

* Key to inmate and staff acceptance, with minimum friction and anxiety, is plenty of notice of the pending tobacco policy change, and advance copies of quality quitting guides and books.

* Quitting for yourself and being forced to stop using tobacco are two different things. One study found that 97% of inmates released from jails that forced them to quit had relapsed to smoking within 6 months. Quality policy change programs should be designed to foster strong internal desire in both inmates and staff to want to become and stay 100% nicotine-free, and in teaching how to minimize nicotine dependency recovery symptoms. Explore www.WhyQuit.com for ideas on both. Jail health policymakers are free to use any or all of our materials.

* Prison tobacco-free policy changes are golden opportunities to take the most compulsive segment of society and teach them how nicotine damages normal development of serotonin pathways and normal impulse control, resulting in behavioral problems. It's a chance to teach those most affected by tobacco use image marketing the full price of buying into the lies, to have them someday re-enter society teaching youth the truth about why smokers smoke, that it has nothing to do with pleasure or flavor, and everything to do with the rising tide of anxieties that begin arriving if they don't.

* If India's jail/prison nicotine dependency recovery program cannot, within 2 hours, transition inmates from anger/hostility to open applause, it has probably failed to shift forced cessation into a desire to quit.

* Once India creates a high quality transition program, attendance by all inmates with a recent tobacco use history (use canteen tobacco purchase records) and 100% of staff should be made mandatory. Please recognize that many upper level jail administrators will themselves be chemically dependent upon tobacco and extremely reluctant to share any program painting them as a true drug addict. It will take strong central control to minimize policy change friction risks and reduce demand for contraband tobacco.

* Having all staff members attend recovery programs tailored for them allows understanding of the gravity of tobacco contraband getting inside, teaches how nicotine is on a par with hard drugs like heroin and methamphetamine, teaches the importance of serving as a support system for officers and staff attempting to arrest their own dependency, and may prevent staff from risking job loss or punishment trying to profit from contraband tobacco.

Jail/prison tobacco use policy change can be a win win situation for all, except those who would profit by keeping inmates and staff nicotine's slave. To think that an inmate who cannot read or write lacks the ability to understand the purpose and function of brain dopamine pathways or how external chemicals can take the mind's priorities teacher hostage is silly. They want to know how the brain's "aaah" dopamine sensations and insula driven anxieties control motivations, and how serotonin impacts decision making. They want and have a right to know the factors that likely contributed to landing them behind bars.

John R. Polito
Nicotine Cessation Educator
Editor, WhyQuit.com
Email: john@whyquit.com

To read this in Hindi language please click here

To read earlier postings in Hindi/ English languages on this issue, click on the below-given links:

जेल में तम्बाकू नियंत्रण है एक गंभीर चुनौती: IG prisons
Banning tobacco in prisons is one of the biggest deal

नागपुर सेन्ट्रल जेल अब तम्बाकू-रहित बनेगा
Nagpur Central Jail to become tobacco-free

Tobacco Control policies in prisons

Tobacco Control policies in prisons

To read this in Hindi language please click here

To read earlier postings in Hindi/ English languages on this issue, click on the below-given links:

जेल में तम्बाकू नियंत्रण है एक गंभीर चुनौती: IG prisons
Banning tobacco in prisons is one of the biggest deal

नागपुर सेन्ट्रल जेल अब तम्बाकू-रहित बनेगा
Nagpur Central Jail to become tobacco-free

On 11 February 2008 I completed presenting 63 nicotine dependency recovery programs in 28 state prisons here in South Carolina, USA, prisons that by January 1 had all become 100% tobacco-free. In response to the below article about India considering tobacco-free prisons I write to share a few points that I hope might be considered:

* Key to inmate and staff acceptance, with minimum friction and anxiety, is plenty of notice of the pending tobacco policy change, and advance copies of quality quitting guides and books.

* Quitting for yourself and being forced to stop using tobacco are two different things. One study found that 97% of inmates released from jails that forced them to quit had relapsed to smoking within 6 months. Quality policy change programs should be designed to foster strong internal desire in both inmates and staff to want to become and stay 100% nicotine-free, and in teaching how to minimize nicotine dependency recovery symptoms. Explore www.WhyQuit.com for ideas on both. Jail health policymakers are free to use any or all of our materials.

* Prison tobacco-free policy changes are golden opportunities to take the most compulsive segment of society and teach them how nicotine damages normal development of serotonin pathways and normal impulse control, resulting in behavioral problems. It's a chance to teach those most affected by tobacco use image marketing the full price of buying into the lies, to have them someday re-enter society teaching youth the truth about why smokers smoke, that it has nothing to do with pleasure or flavor, and everything to do with the rising tide of anxieties that begin arriving if they don't.

* If India's jail/prison nicotine dependency recovery program cannot, within 2 hours, transition inmates from anger/hostility to open applause, it has probably failed to shift forced cessation into a desire to quit.

* Once India creates a high quality transition program, attendance by all inmates with a recent tobacco use history (use canteen tobacco purchase records) and 100% of staff should be made mandatory. Please recognize that many upper level jail administrators will themselves be chemically dependent upon tobacco and extremely reluctant to share any program painting them as a true drug addict. It will take strong central control to minimize policy change friction risks and reduce demand for contraband tobacco.

* Having all staff members attend recovery programs tailored for them allows understanding of the gravity of tobacco contraband getting inside, teaches how nicotine is on a par with hard drugs like heroin and methamphetamine, teaches the importance of serving as a support system for officers and staff attempting to arrest their own dependency, and may prevent staff from risking job loss or punishment trying to profit from contraband tobacco.

Jail/prison tobacco use policy change can be a win win situation for all, except those who would profit by keeping inmates and staff nicotine's slave. To think that an inmate who cannot read or write lacks the ability to understand the purpose and function of brain dopamine pathways or how external chemicals can take the mind's priorities teacher hostage is silly. They want to know how the brain's "aaah" dopamine sensations and insula driven anxieties control motivations, and how serotonin impacts decision making. They want and have a right to know the factors that likely contributed to landing them behind bars.

John R. Polito
Nicotine Cessation Educator
Editor, WhyQuit.com
Email: john@whyquit.com

To read this in Hindi language please click here

To read earlier postings in Hindi/ English languages on this issue, click on the below-given links:

जेल में तम्बाकू नियंत्रण है एक गंभीर चुनौती: IG prisons
Banning tobacco in prisons is one of the biggest deal

नागपुर सेन्ट्रल जेल अब तम्बाकू-रहित बनेगा
Nagpur Central Jail to become tobacco-free

Democracy weeps in Nandigram

Democracy weeps in Nandigram

NHRC and NCW urged to act

"The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) must take immediate cognizance of the violations in Nandigram and recommend stringent penal action against all those involved, including instituting an inquiry into the involvement of the CPI (M) leadership and cadres in the planning/abetment/execution of the crimes committed" demanded firebrand activist and leader of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) Medha Patkar.

"The National Commission for Women must immediately constitute a fact-finding delegation that must visit Nandigram and submit its Report to the NHRC and also direct immediate payment of compensation to all the women raped and all others injured" further stressed Patkar.

On 18 April 2008, known members of Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] and armed members of Hamad Vahini Party from Khejuri, leashed another wave of barbaric violence, gang-rape and loot in Nandigram, West Bengal, India.

Nandigram gained the spotlight in early 2007 when state government in collusion with private corporations was trying to forcibly evict farmers from arable land, and resorted to one of the most heinous ways to serve the private corporations, all in the sake of development. The outrage on this massacre by the state authorities of poor farmers in the interest of private companies was paramount globally.

"On 18 April 2008, CPI (M) members attacked the house of Radha Rani and Pratap Ari, threw Pratap Ari in the tank nearby and gang-raped Radha Rani Ari for the second time, in her own house" said Debjeet Shrikant from Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC), Nandigram.

Radharani Ari is one of the women at the forefront of the Nandigram struggle. Coming from a dalit landless family, supported by Pratap Ari (her husband), she has always vehemently protested against the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) chemical hub project and giving away the land, houses, nature, and culture of Nandigram. She is one of the most articulate and courageous women in Nandigram and has also strengthened pro-people movements in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra during the Nandigram-Narmada- Gorai Jaththa.

Narmada Sheet, another very committed and outspoken woman from Sonachura and Mona Pramanik were also brutally attacked. Few men have been missing since that ill-fated night last week.

Radha Rani, Pratap, Narmada Sheet and some others are admitted in the Nandigram Hospital while rest of them, are admitted in Tamluk hospital.

At least 20 houses have been attacked since then, houses destroyed and belongings looted, making more than 100 members of the families homeless. These people are presently being supported by the BUPC.

These atrocious incidents had occurred in Gokul Nagar, Sonachura, Gadhchakrabedia, under the leadership of Nabakumar Samanta and other CPI (M) active cadres and leaders from Garu Pada, Gokul Nagar, some of whom came from Kejuri.

Reportedly, there were also blasts in some houses, including in the house of one Kokhon Sheet, who was just released after months-long judicial custody.

"Nandigram continues to be one of the worst blots on the face of Indian democracy. These atrocities continue to happen and recur in Nandigram with the active involvement of the local CPI (M) cadres and leaders and tacit approval and blessings of the party leadership at various levels" says Debjeet.

With most of the earlier victims of violence not having received any compensation and in fact false cases foisted against them, these fresh blows to the people of Nandigram "is nothing short of a death blow to the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the valiant residents of Nandigram" asserts Medha.

Social activists under the banner of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee, Nandigram (BUPC Nandigram) further demanded that:

- All the accused must be immediately identified, charged and arrested for gang rape, grievous hurt, intimidation, assault, illegal confinement and wrongful detention and other relevant penal provisions.

- Free legal, medical, psycho-social and other aid and support must be provided to the women and all victims of state and party violence in Nandigram.

- Compensation to all the affected and attacked, with houses destroyed and rapes/molestation faced, must be paid immediately as per the High Court orders.

Let us hope on World Earth Day (22 April 2008), justice will prevail in favour of people of Nandigram who have been struggling hard to protect their own livelihood, nature, natural resources and environment from the combined onslaught of the capitalists and CPI (M)।

Published in

News Blaze, US

Asian Tribune, Thailand/ Sri Lanka

Assam Times, Assam, India

Scoop Independent News, New Zealand

The Seoul Times, South Korea