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An Indian paramilitary soldier enquaries from a villager near Ghatshila, about 145 km (91 miles) southeast of Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand State, on the border of West Bengal during the combing Operation of "Green Hunt" launched from Thursday, March 11, 2010. A major drive has been launched against Maoist guerrillas in West Bengal and Jharkhand. An unspecified number of police and paramilitary personnel are pursuing the guerrillas in the coordinated operation called Green Hunt. The paramilitary forces and state police are sanitising the jungle areas. Some landmines have been recovered and four Maoist camps have been destroyed. The operation has air surveillance. "The move is to zero in on Maoists in bordering areas and Orissa would join the campaign soon, Vijay Raman, the special director general of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), said.

Picture : Somnath Sen (Ghatshila, Jharkhand).

|| Jyoti Sonia Dhan ||
The recent Free Compulsory Education and Right to Education Bill passed by Parliament are on the implementation. This Bill allows the children from 6-14 years of age to go school which is the fundamental right of a child. There are many programme run by Government of India to ensure the girl child to school like (SSA) Sarva Shikhsa Abhiyan, Early childhood education and care, NPEGEL National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya. These programme attracted girl children to school, and were accompanied by incentives.

There are some of the current Human Development Index during the mid term evaluation of the Tenth five year plan in relation to girl child as captured by Ministry of Women and the Child Development shows that the literacy rate is 53.67% of girls as compare to boys which is 72.26%. The gross drop out rates among the girls says that 34% are drop by the time when they reach class V. The major reason behind is the workload within and outside the house hold. The daughters are kept at home as because the social and economic value of the girl is not recognized.

In spite of all these programme there is less retention of girls after 11 years. As the girls reaches class V, they are drop out. There are innumerable reason behind it the common among is the distant of the school from the villages. The parents do not want to send their daughter to distant school. Besides, the adolescent girls are the helper at the household chores which prevent them from school going. The parent’s sensitivity towards the girl child education is less. It is more so a gender biasness were son is preferred more in going school as compared to girls leaving behind in home to do the house chores and looking after the siblings.

The voluntary organization and the non governmental organization has tried their level best to institutionalized the free education for girls in school, which had focused on the development programme by the government to increase the retention in school.

The alarming concern which had emerged in spite of all these programmes and initiatives is drop out. This drop out is due to early marriage. The parents prefer to marry of their daughter early so that they do not have to pay huge dowry even she is at 18 years of age. This had surely promoted child marriages but the reason behind is dowry. One of the voluntary organizations Jago Foundation at Giridih, Jharkhand is working on to stop the child marriages shows the different trends in drop out of girls. Mrs Kiran a women activist says that there is demand of more dowry when the girl is older so the parents prefer to marry off their daughter at low dowry in tender age of 12 years. She even narrated that qualified bride is low demand in the rural areas.

The second alarming reason of drop out is the girls eloping with their male friends. The society in which girls are kept in a close custody and small wrong doing by girl is considered as a big crime, elopements create tension among the parents. They think of the repute and honour in the village. This created the parents to stop sending their daughters to school after 11years. The parents raises question to Mrs Kiran that “on one hand you are asking girls to go school and then these girls run away why we will send them to school.” These are some of the queries which arise in the intervention area.
These are the new issues which were emerging in the area and of course Jago Foundation is deriving some strategy towards it. There is need to work in all level, the sensitization does not only include a particular group the parents for sending their daughter it also includes the adolescent groups who should put prior importance to education than falling into trap by elopement.
Above all the social issues still lies like poverty and dowry which are key instrumental in drop out from school. They threw girls into girl trafficking and maternal mortality death. How a society can create conducive environment to these girls. It should be the collective efforts from the entire stakeholder in the society who can provide secure environment for girl.

- Writer is a social worker.

|| State Congress leaders in a state of fear while sympathizers add fuel to Maoist fire! ||
Ranchi: The spokesperson of the banned CPI (Maoist) Gopal ji has sent a open letter of threat to the Congress leaders of Jharkhand to either stop the proceedings on the ‘Operation Green Hunt’ or resign from the basic membership of the Party else be prepared to face the consequences!

The Congress and the entire opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly raised this issue in the House and were personally assured by CM Shibu Soren that adequate security would be provided to all. The Congress leaders are a scared lot!

Shibu’s stand on the naxalite matter is an open secret and his confusing statements on the ‘Operation Green Hunt’ have not induced much of a confidence. Shibu says that the operation will progress as scheduled and in the same breath states that efforts would be made to bring the misguided youth to the main stream. He is also wary of the innocent tribals being victimized during such operations.

The fact is that the naxals are prepared for a dialogue on the matter with the government only on their terms, which has been out rightly rejected. The Maoists announced a 72 day truce also but the loot and plundering continue paying no heed to their Supremo’s words.

State Congress President Pradeep Balmuchu blames Shibu Soren’s confusing statements on the Green Hunt operation for the current situation. Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji of the banned Maoist Group had threatened to bring their offensives to the cities too and a couple of days later even send out threatening letters to the Congressmen. The CM instead of announcing the full fledged offensive is still continuing with his assurances only, lamented Balmuchu.

Meanwhile to add to the worries of the Congressmen, a group sympathizing with the Maoist Group has only added more fuel to the already ablaze issue. The Group calling itself ‘Anti Operation Green Hunt Citizens’ Forum’ has started raising its voice against the operation green hunt. Their stand is that is condemnable and dangerous and is bound to violate the Human Rights. This will be like waging a war on your own people and has to be stopped by all means. The Operation Lalgarh is an ideal example to support our view stated a Forum representative. The Forum demanded transparency in developmental works and ensure employment to the youth rather than resorting to violent methods. The Forum demanded scrapping of all MOUs for the various mega projects as it would only lead to land grabbing and displacement of the locals.

The convenor of the Forum Tridibh Ghosh said that the government’s unclear stand on the Operation Green Hunt has forced the Forum to stand by the side of Maoists against the Operation. We will continue with our demands for the suspension of the
Operation Green Hunt immediately. The Forum has a large number of intellectuals and social activists in its fold. Intellectuals of the like of Sten Swamy and Faisal Anurag were part of the Forum and expressed their reservations on the said operation.

To further add to the confusing statements of Shibu Suren, his Cabinet Minister Hemlal Murmu said that a new organization has arisen to protest the Operation Green Hunt and they are sitting on dharna outside the Vidan Sabha. The Forum has threatened to intensify its protests if the said operation was not withdrawn. We (Government) have to seriously give it a thought! He refused to elaborate on his comments.

|| Jharkhand Assembly adjourned without conducting any business ||

Ranchi: The entire opposition rose in unison demanding CBI inquiry into all the scams. They were also demanding investigations on the Tata Lease renewal and assets of all the previous CMs and the ministers since the formation of the State.

Uproarious scenes were witnessed immediately after Speaker C. P. Singh turned downed the demands of Pradeep Yadav, Samresh Singh, Binod Singh, Annapoorna Devi, Phool Chand Mandal, K. N. Tripathi and Nirbhay Shahbadi for adjournment motion. The members rushed to the well of the House and had heated exchange with the treasury bench. All efforts by the Speaker to pacify them proved to be futile.

Binod Singh quipped that even the Hon’ble High Court had remarked that it was ‘Ghotalakhand’ and not Jharkhand. Pradeep Yadav urged the Speaker to issue the directive for the CBI inquiry else the House would not be allowed to function. Opposition leader Rajendra Singh said that the demands were justified and there was no reason for the present government to shy away from it.

Amidst the disruptions, the House was adjourned four times before finally calling it a day.

Raghubar Das condemns opposition’s tactics

Deputy CMs Raghubar Das & Sudesh Mahto along with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Hemlal Murmu addressed the media after the House was adjourned for the day. Raghubar Das said that the opposition was showing its true colors as they had no issues to raise in the House. He reiterated that he had no objection for CBI’s intervention in the ongoing cases and if the need is felt let the Centre or the High Court pass the directives for the same. He added that since the Koda scam had international connections even the Interpol should be roped in. He however stated that the Vigilance Department was doing its job efficiently and the scamsters were being exposed.

Hemlal Murmu said that the entire State was disappointed at the disruption of the question hour. Samresh Singh’s violent behavior was condemnable. The government was serious about curtailing corruption and the previous ministers including the former CM Madhu Koda were still languishing behind bars without getting bail. Our government wants to work in a positive direction but the opposition is preventing us from doing our job.

Daltonganj/Ranchi: The Main Branch of State Bank of India (SBI) at Kutchery in Daltonganj was practically reduced to ashes. Three fire tenders fought to bring the blazing inferno for hours but the end result was not too encouraging for the branch as it had been nearly powdered to Ashes by that time.

 

The State Bank of India (SBI) branch of Daltangunj in Palamu district of Jharkhand, about 195 km northwest of Ranchi, on Wednesday evening, March 10, 2010, has totally burned down due to suspect short circuit. The fire tenders were trying their best to extinguished the fire almost burned to ashes. Picture : Saiket Chatterjee (Palamu, Jharkhand).

According to eyewitnesses the fire broke out at the two ATMs of the Bank situated on the ground floor of the two storied building and spread to the main branch within minutes even before the alarm could be raised.

The entire cash amounting to lakhs of Rupees in the ATMs was burnt to ashes and the wooden furniture and interiors of the bank along with entire documents went up in the inferno. The only salvaging point was the strong vault containing the currency which seemingly was intact.

Though the exact amount of the loss could not be ascertained immediately, it is presumed that property and currency worth crores of Rupees had gone up in flames.

The surprising aspect however is that no Bank official was present at the site even hours after the news of fire broke out. Even the cell phones of the Bank District official were on switched off mode.

The police and the Fire department were busy ascertaining the cause behind the fire. Local politicians were busy making statements politicizing the incident. Some were seen mumbling that the entire operation was the handiwork of naxalites opposing the Operation Green Hunt. None of the allegations however were confirmed or ruled out.

Ranchi : Pradeep Jain ‘Aditya’, the union minister of state for rural development informed rajya sabha today that out of 1.04 lakh schemes sanctioned for rural drinking water supply in Jharkhand 486 werefor piped water supply. This is as per the on line reports received from the State government, he said. The minister was replying to Jharkhand’s rajya sabha member  Parimal Nathwani’s questions about rural development scenario in Jharkhand.

The minister further said that as per on line monitoring reports, the Government of Jharkhand had achieved 35.76 per cent sanitation coverage and 60 per cent of rural habitations had rural connectivity out of total number of habitations under rural road development plan.

Mr. Nathwani also asked as to what was the plan of government for improving the facilities in rural Jharkhand. Mr. Pradeep Jain ‘Aditya’ stated that improving facilities in rural areas of Jharkhand was a continuous process depending upon the resources available to the State. He also said that an amount of Rs. 623.12 Crore was released upto January 2010 to Jharkhand state to implement Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Ranchi: The Vidan Sabha today resolved that a delegation of treasury & opposition MLAs would meet PM Manmohan Singh for raising the royalty money in mining projects. The issue was raised by Binod Singh who said that the royalty given to the State was far below the market rate and much lower than the one given to other States. Deputy CM Raghubar Das agreed with him and stated that the CM had personally briefed Dr. Manmohan Singh on the step motherly treatment to the State in the matter.

A proposal will be passed in this session of the Assembly itself and the members of the delegation finalized, added Raghubar Das.

During the question hour Dhullu Mahto raised the issue of regularization of BRP & CRP persons on merit. The entire opposition supported the demand to which Hemlal Murmu replied that since there was no such provision of providing reservation, the State will ensure that entrance exams are held simultaneously for BRPF & CRPF on the same merits.

The opposition raised the question of not including regional languages exam in the Matric level and as the minister had no plausible answer, the Speaker adjourned the question for reply tomorrow after the entire opposition created an uproar on the issue.

In another question by Geeta Koda on the issue of its own building for the Kolhan University in Chaibasa though 18 months have passed, Minister Hemlal Murmu answered that the land acquisition process was nearly complete and the work was expected to commence from April.

Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Sudesh Mahto announced that training centres would be set up at the division level itself to train aspiring sports persons. This will include Volley Ball Football, Swimming, Atheletics and Archery. The Minister was replying to a related question from Madhav Lal Singh

|| Extremists abduct manager of Construction Company while 40 dacoits on looting spree ||
Ranchi: Crime continues in the State unabated. Late Monday night nearly a dozen extremists claiming to be from Peoples War Group (PWG) abducted the Deputy Project Manager O. P. Singh of Gokul Krishna (G. K) Construction, from the construction site at Rampur- Kathitand, off NH-33 Ranchi Tata Highway, about 35 Kms from the Capital Ranchi.

G. K. Construction has been entrusted with the construction of 37 Km long Ring Road. The project is estimated to cost around Rs.470cr. The construction work is in full swing. O. P. Singh was supervising the work on Monday night when the extremists surrounded him at gun point and abducted him in his Bolero. After reaching the outskirts of the jungle area the extremists freed the driver and sent him back with a ransom demand of Rs.50cr for O. P. Singh’s release. Later, it was learnt that the extremists had reduced the ransom amount to Rs.25crAccording to latest reports available lat in the evening the abducted project manager Singh was freed from the clutches of the abductors by the Ranchi police team under SSP Praveen Kumar from the Taimara Ghati in Bundu area latye in the evening of Tuesday.

The unofficial reports say that the ransom negotiations had been fulfilled and the extremists released their victim thereafter.
The extremists had earlier, in December last, sent a letter to the Construction Company to give 10% of the project cost as levy to the PWG, the company however ignored the demand. Yesterday’s abduction is considered as PWG’s retaliation to press for their demand.

DIG R. K. Mallick and Hatia DSP Rajiv Ranjan reached the construction site and were inquiring into the matter. Combing operations put into force and according to the police the victim rescued safely.

In another incident 40 armed dacoits barged into the house of a businessman at around 11 in the night, near Muri in Tulin Namopara, 40Kms from Ranchi and looted the house of valuables worth lakhs of rupees. They bashed up the businessman and his 70 year old wife, resulting in severe injuries including broken bones. The dacoits ransacked the house for more than two hours without any hurry or interference. The businesman’s five sons were watching television in their rooms when the dacoits raided the house. All of them were in a state of shock and fear seeing the number and their arms. They did not dare to resist as they were being held at gun point.

The local MLANepal Mahto was informed about the incident in the night itself and till Tuesday afternoon was still awaiting his arrival.

The dacoits claimed that they were naxalites

Ranchi: Monday was earmarked as CM question hour prior to the Zero hour. CM Shibu Soren faced a lot of difficulty in ‘reading’ out the answers but somehow managed to reply to all the questions. Most of the answers to the follow up had curt one line answers.

The CM question hour began with Anant Pratap Dev’s question on providing benefits to suitable people under the Indira Awas, Kanyadaan, Widow pension and Handicapped persons pension schemes, the CM answered that the said programs were being implemented and and every deserving person would be provided with the benefits of the schemes. JVM legislator Arvind Singh wanted to know whether the CM would bring into force the 50% reservation for women in the Panchayat elections as ruled by the Apex court, the CM replied in the affirmative.

Annapoorna Devi of RJD raised the issue of regularization of Para-teachers. The CM replied by announcing that a proper regulation would be framed and in the next three months consolidated steps would be taken to address the issue. Pradeep Yadav wanted to know whether the Centre promoted Operation Green Hunt would come into force in the State or not to which Shibu replied that it would definitely be implemented and in any case severe steps and action have been taken to control the naxal activities and the government was serious about addressing the law & order situation in the State.

Arvind Singh wanted to know from the CM as to whether the Panchayat elections would be held before the monsoon set in, the CM assured him that the Panchayat elections would be held befor 15th of June. Saawna Lakhra of Congress pointed out to the CM that as it is there was a huge shortage of teachers in the government schools and even most of these teachers were utilized in other works affecting the students’ studies. The CM assured him that he will ensure that the teachers are not disturbed in any way and the Right to Education is in any case coming into force from 1st April yhis year.

AJSU’s K K Bhagat wanted to know if the cases against the persons involved in the Jharkhand revolution are being withdrawn, the CM answered that since the formation of the new State 3200 people have been exonerated in 340 cases and the next of kin of these people were being suitably compensated. The process would continue.

The CM stated that the State had no intention of making any change in the existing CNT and SPT Act, in reply to a question from Geeta Shree Oraon of Congress relating to the same and answering to Bandhu Tirkey’s question on the filling up of 80000 vacant posts, the CM said that the reports from various States in similar cases have been called for and action taken accordingly.

The CM left the Assembly immediately after the CM question hour.

|| It  is about the man behind the sting operation ||
Ranchi: A classic example of the ways of the ‘powerful’ politicians was witnessed by all, when senior leader of BJP and former legislator of Jamshedpur (he lost the elections this time) Saryu Rai’s goons bashed up Shaubikh Chattopadhyaya so badly that he received multiple wounds and had to be admitted to ICU of Raj Hospital.

Shaubikh’s ‘crime’ was that he entered the press conference venue of the former legislator to clarify his point of view directly to Rai. Instead of listening to him (understandably as there were nearly 4 dozen media persons present) he was unceremoniously shooed out. Without a word of protest Shaubikh left the hall but was gobbled up by the media persons who ran after him outside leaving Rai staring at a near empty hall.

Shaubikh unhesitatingly answered all the questions posed by the media and pointed a accusing finger at Saryu Rai stating that he was trying to influence every body by presenting half baked truths and trying to divert the investigations. He alleged that he had enough documentary evidence to prove Rai’ involvement with Binod Sinha in the Usha Martin matter and that he would produce the same at the appropriate time.
 

Shaubhik Chattopadhyaya being escorted out of the Press conference hall by Saryu Rai's henchmen.

This revelation was a little hard for Rai to digest and he sent out his goons to teach Shaubikh a proper lesson. The goons in the highest handed manner took the law into their own hand. First they smashed the car of the hapless victim and later bashed him up so badly that he had to be hospitalized.

On being questioned on the incident Saryu Rai washed his hands off by retorting that ‘I’m with you people for the past hour, how would I know about it. It (bashing) has got nothing to do with me. A generalized statement. The fact is that the goons were identified as very close associates of Rai. An FIR was lodged in the Chutia police station against one Abhishek and Vikas, both related to Saryu Rai. Saryu Rai however, denied this and reiterated that it was nothing to do with him.
 

Smashed car of Shaubhik.

The incident has now sown seeds of doubt on everybody’s mind as to why a person should be dealt with violent means, when he had come on his own to just present his side of the story. Maybe the idea was to make the media realize that there were two sides to a coin? Worth giving a thought! It is a fact that three press conferences from Rai in a span of just 15 days have been single sided without a reaction from the ‘other’ side. The first time a reaction was witnessed, the person lands up in the hospital!

- by NewsWing City Reporter

Ranchi: Ten years into the 21st century and a supersonic era, the women of Jharkhand, basically a tribal infested State, have hardly anything to boast of in the name of modernity. India may be talking of equal rights to women and with the women’s reservation bill slated to be floored in Lok Sabha on the day celebrated world over as the 100 years of women’s day, the Jharkhand women, unfortunately remain an exploited lot.

Hapless women, mostly widows or daughters of the deceased head of the family are the main victims. They are singled out in particular to be branded as ‘witches’ and tormented by the villagers. A many number (229) according to official data from the Police have succumbed to this inhumane torture. The unofficial figure of course is nearly 700 since the inception of the new State.

An off hand survey reflects the fact that most of the affected women are victims of lust for property. The greed is so much that the human pathos is practically non-existent. The larger the value of the property the more intensified is the height of crime. Of all those killed in the name of practicing witch craft it has been revealed that the near and dear one’s involvement in branding her as a ‘witch’ comes to the fore. The connivance of the local ‘witch doctor’ (Ojhas) with these greedy kin is a sure pointer. The superstitious and ignorant villagers unwittingly abet the crime and help the motive of the greedy. 99 out of 100 times the ‘witch’ branding is done with vested interest.

Special laws have been framed by the country against such crimes but the law enforcing agencies are helpless for want of testifying witnesses. The police however claim that there have been cent percent convictions in all the ‘murder’ cases in this category.

A large number of ‘surviving’ victims have taken upon them to create awareness amongst the village folk against such baseless atrocities in form of street drama and reflective skits.

The classic example comes from Chutni of Koderma. Branded as a witch in her mid twenties in 1995, Chutni was driven out of the village after being forced to consume the ‘excreta’. She walked around in a state of imbalance and mental shock before being picked up by a representative of Free Legal Aid Committee (FLAC).

Chutni shudders when she recollects the nightmarish days of 1995. She says “ I kept on protesting that the allegations lined up against me are false, but the villagers believed only the ojha and I was continuously tormented for days together and one night I was forced to eat the excreta as it was believed that it would drive the ‘witch’ out of me. I was so shaken up by the incident that I escaped from the village in a daze with no where in particular to go, till the FLAC people picked me up”.
Chutni, now fully recovered and composed, has set out on a mission to create awareness amongst the villagers against ‘witch hunt’. She performs street shows and skits to push through the message. She is ably supported in the venture by 25 year old Sumeeta from Ranchi District. Sumeeta’s grandparents too had faced the same inhumane treatment as Chutni and she too recollects the horrifying moments when they fled the village to escape death. She was hardly 12 year old girl then.

The FLAC people are doing their best to create awareness in the villages and are always in the fore front to help the likes of Chutni & Sumeeta. The two are lead campaigners for FLAC today. Many victims are gradually joining the fold. FLAC provides them with training & assistance to make them self reliant.

The author met ADG Police G S Rath in this context to assess certain facts and was pleasantly surprised by the ADG’s response on the issue. He believed that the lust for property forced humans to act in a most inhumane manner. The innocent villagers fall easy prey to the dictates of ojhas. The need of the hour is not just punishing the guilty but to ensure that such crimes are totally erased from the minds of villagers. The government alone would not be sufficient to create the awareness part but more and more conscientious and dedicated NGOs have to volunteer. The government’s priority of course would be to provide a proper primary health centre at every village and ensure literacy amongst the villagers. Experts should be pressed into service to give proper counseling at the village level. More awareness oriented programs should be pressed into operation. Then only we can feel that a step forward has been taken in the direction.

The million dollar question is that, as to what purpose is the celebration of 100 years of Women’s Day if in our country the rural womenfolk continue to be exploited and degraded? Or is the celebration restricted to the elite only, who hog the limelight giving lectures, sermonizing and attending seminars! How is that liberating or come to that even reaching the rural woman. Some serious introspection is what is needed on this day!

- P.Vijay Raghavan

Ranchi: The State BJP today passed a resolution to fight the spiraling price and the Centre’s apathy towards it by venturing a signature campaign State wide to lodge the Party’s protest and carry it from the streets of Jharkhand to the lok sabha, where a ‘Gherao’ programme has fixed by the central leadership of the Party on the 21st instant.

It is ironical that today’s Working Committee meeting had more absentees than the presence, Yashwant Sinha was confident that they would be able to muster over one crore signatures!

Yashwant Sinha stated that the centre has taken the matter of price rise as a no issue and sent out a warning that BJP’s agitation would continue till such time the Finance Minister is compelled to seriously address the problem.

Apart from Sinha only State’s Dy.CM Raghubar Das & former State president P N Singh a handful of legislators were present.

Ranchi: Veteran BJP leader Saryu Rai released yet another Video CD. This time around the CD disclosed an alleged accomplice Saubhik Chattopadhyaya, PIL petioner’s lawyer Ritu Kumar and a Standing Council Rajendra Krishna closed door conversation. The talks were more or less related to the weakening of the on going case in the Madhu Koda related scam and conspiring to frame Saryu Rai in the case. The audio track revealed that Rs.5lakh was being paid as advance for the matter and balance Rs.15lakhs after execution.

Saryu Rai was speaking to the media persons at Hotel Green Horizon, when suddenly the alleged accused of the CD Saubhik Chattopadhyaya barged into the press conference and identified himself. The entire media and Saryu Rai were taken by surprise and it took a while for Saryu Rai to react and he shouted at Shaubhik to ‘get out’ of the PC. Shaubhik obliged and the entire media rushed out after him leaving Saryu Rai facing a near empty hall. Pandemonium prevailed as all the persons from the electronic channels pushed each other to get the version of Shaubhik. He happily obliged.

Shaubhik admitted to having conducted this sting operation as shown by Saryu Rai and openly accused Rai of diverting the investigations by his frequently convened press meets to influence the on going investigations. He alleged that Rai was presenting half truths and was afraid of the ED & Vigilance enquiry as that would ultimately expose his involvement too in the scam. He added that Saryu Rai was directly involved in money transactions in connivance with prime accused Binod Sinha in the Usha Martin matter.
He claimed that he had necessary documents and evidence to prove his allegation and he would do so at the right time.

Meanwhile, Saryu Rai repeated most of his demands of the previous press-meets and reiterated his demand for a CBI inquiry into the entire scam as it had spread to the entire nation as well as many other countries.

He added that the links of senior Congress leaders were being disclosed with the scamsters as the investigations were proceeding. He cited the case of M S Khan arrested by the Delhi police for allegedly cheating people in the garb of getting Rajya Sabha nominations. Punamia had lodged a complaint to the effect with the ITO PS in Delhi after which the police managed to nab Khan.

Saryu Rai claimed that the arrested Khan had named two senior Congress leaders’ involvement in the racket including that of Ahmed Patel during the interrogation. The police however, have not confirmed this.

In a question related to the Meinhardt investigations, the former legislator said that the investigations were complete but no action has been taken as yet, though the findings are against the accused. He reiterated that it was his personal opinion that BJP should not be part of the current coalition as it is adversely affecting the Party image.

अगर कोई पूछे कि मुंबई महानगर में झोपड़ बस्तियों को हटाने की दिशा में जो काम हो रहा है, उसका क्या असर पड़ा है तो इस सवाल का एक जवाब ये भी हो सकता है- आने वाले दिनों में झोपड़ बस्तियों की संख्या बढ़ सकती है.

मुंबई महानगर का कानून है कि जो बस्ती लोगों के रहने लायक नहीं है, उसे स्लम घोषित किया जाए और वहां बस्ती सुधार की योजनाओं को अपनाया जाए. मगर प्रशासन द्वारा बस्तियों को तोड़ने और हटाने का काम तो जोर-शोर से किया जा रहा है लेकिन इस कार्रवाई से पहले महानगर की हज़ारों बस्तियों को स्लम घोषित करने से सरकार लगातार बच रही है. ज़ाहिर है, ऐसे में सरकार बड़ी आराम से सुधार कार्रवाई से बच जा रही है. लेकिन बुनियादी सहूलियतों के अभाव में जीने वाली बस्तियों की हालत और बिगड़ती जा रही है और प्रशासन की यह अनदेखी जहां कई नई बस्तियों को स्लम बनाने की तरफ ढ़केल रही है, वहीं कुछ नए सवाल भी पैदा कर रही है.

महाराष्ट्र स्लम एरिया एक्ट, 1971 के कलम 4 के आधार पर मुंबई महानगर की बस्तियों को स्लम घोषित किया जाता रहा है. स्लम घोषित किए जाने के मापदण्ड बस्ती में रहने लायक हालतों पर निर्भर करते हैं. जैसे, घरों की सघनता, पानी, बिजली, रास्ता, नालियों और खुली आवोहवा का हाल कैसा है. लेकिन ये सारे मापदंड किनारे करके बस्तियों को तो़ड़ने की कार्रवाई जारी है.

यहां के मंडाला, मानखुर्द, गोवाण्डी, चेम्बूर, घाटकोपर, मुलुंद, विक्रोली, कुर्ला, मालवानी और अंबुजवाड़ी जैसे इलाकों की तकरीबन 3,000 स्लम बस्तियों की आबादी बेहाल है. लेकिन बस्ती वालों की लगातार मांग के बावजूद उन्हें स्लम घोषित नहीं किया जा रहा है.

कांक्रीट के जंगल में जंगल राज
महाराष्ट्र स्लम एरिया एक्ट, 1971 के कलम 5 ए के आधार पर जिन बस्तियों को स्लम घोषित किया जा चुका है, उनमें पीने का पानी, बिजली, गटर, शौचालय, स्कूल, अस्पताल, समाज कल्याण केन्द्र और अच्छे रास्तों की व्यवस्था होना अनिवार्य है. यहां गौर करने लायक एक बात यह भी है कि कानून में बुनियादी सहूलियतों को मुहैया कराने के लिए कोई कट-आफ-डेट का जिक्र नहीं मिलता है. मगर इन दिनों प्रशासन के बड़े अधिकरियों तक की जुबानों पर कट-आफ-डेट की ही चर्चा चलती है. जबकि यह अमानवीय भी है और गैरकानूनी भी.

इसके अलावा इसी कानून में यह भी दर्ज है कि बस्ती सुधार योजनाओं को रहवासियों की सहभागिता से लागू किया जाए. मगर ग्रेटर मुंबई, भिवण्डी, उल्लासनगर, विरार और कुलगांव-बदलापुर जैसे इलाकों की तकरीबन 15,00 स्लम घोषित बस्तियों के लाखों रहवासियों को ऐसी योजनाओं से बेदखल रखा जा रहा है.

‘घर बचाओ घर बनाओ आंदोलन’ के सिम्प्रीत सिंह कहते हैं कि ‘‘खानापूर्ति के लिए हर साल केवल 15-20 बस्तियों को स्लम घोषित कर दिया जाता है. जो यहां के झोपड़पट्टी परिदृश्य को देखते हुए न के बराबर है.’’

प्रशासन ऐसा क्यों कर रही है, के सवाल पर सिम्प्रीत सिंह कहते हैं ‘‘एक तो विस्थापन की हालत में पुनर्वास से बचने के लिए. दूसरा इसलिए क्योंकि अगर बड़ी तादाद में बस्तियों को स्लम घोषित किया जाता है, तो कानूनों में मौजूद बुनियादी सहूलियतों को भी तो उसी अनुपात में देना पड़ेगा. यहां के भारी-भरकम मंत्रालय, उनके विभाग, उनके बड़े-बड़े अधिकारी इतनी जिम्मेदारी लेना नहीं चाहते. फिर यह भी है कि प्रशासन अगर बस्तियों को स्लम घोषित करते हुए, जहां-तहां बस्ती सुधारों के कामों को शुरू करती भी है, तो बस्तियों में बुनियादी सहूलियतों को पहुंचाने वाले बिल्डरों का धंधा चौपट हो जाएगा. इसलिए यहां से बिल्डरों और भष्ट्र अधिकारियों के बीच गठजोड़ की आशंकाएं भी पनपती हैं.’’

2001 के आंकड़ों के मुताबिक मुंबई महानगर की कुल आबादी 1 करोड़ 78 लाख है, जिसके 20 इलाकों की झोपड़पट्टियों में 67 लाख 21 हजार से भी ज्यादा लोग रहते हैं, जो कुल आबादी का 37.96% हिस्सा है. इसी तरह यहां घरेलू मजदूरों की तादाद 66 लाख 16 हजार हैं, जो कुल आबादी का 37.07% हिस्सा है. कुल घरेलू मजदूरों में से यहां 3 लाख 76 हजार सीमान्त मजदूर हैं. इन तथ्यों की बुनियाद पर कहा जा सकता है कि मुंबई महानगर की इतनी बड़ी आबादी (37.96%) और इतने सारे घरेलू मजदूरों (37.07%) को आवास देने के लिए कम से कम 25% जगह का हक तो होना ही चाहिए.

यह गौरतलब है कि मुंबई जैसे महानगर का वजूद उन मजदूरों के कंधों पर है जिनके चलते राज्य सरकार को हर साल 40,000 करोड़ रूपए का टेक्स मिलता है. इसके बदले लाखों मजदूरों के पास घर, घर के लिए थोड़ी-सी जमीन, थोड़ा-सा दानापानी, थोड़ी-सी रौशनी भी नहीं है. जिनके पास है, उनसे भी इस हक़ से वंचित किया जा रहा है.

कानून दर कानून बस कानून
महाराष्ट्र लेण्ड रेवेन्यू कोड, 1966 के कलम 51 के आधार पर अतिक्रमण को नियमित किए जाने का प्रावधान है. एक तरफ इंदिरा नगर, जनता नगर, अन्नाभाऊ साठे नगर और रफीकनगर जैसी बहुत सी पुरानी बस्तियां हैं, जहां के रहवासियों ने यह इच्छा जाहिर की है कि उनके घर और बस्तियों को नियमित किया जाए. इसे लेकर जो भी मूल्यांकन तय किया जाएगा, बस्ती वाले उसे चुकाने को भी तैयार है. इसके बावजूद प्रशासन द्वारा कोई कार्रवाई नहीं की जा रही है. मगर कई रसूख और पैसे वालों की ईमारतों के अतिक्रमण को नियमित किया गया है और कल तक सरकारी नोटिसों के निशाने पर रही ये ईमारतें अब वैध हैं.

2007 को ‘घर बचाओ घर बनाओ आंदोलन’ के बैनर तले, मंडाला के रहवासियों ने जवाहरलाल नेहरू राष्ट्रीय शहरी नवीनीकरण मिशन के तहत बस्ती विकास का प्रस्ताव महाराष्ट्र प्रशासन को सौंपा था. इसे लेकर म्हाडा(महाराष्ट्र हाऊसिंग एण्ड एरिया डेव्लपमेंट एथोरिटी), मंत्रालय और बृहन्मुंबई महानगर पालिका के बड़े अधिकारियों से कई बार बातचीत भी हुई है. मगर आज तक इस प्रस्ताव को न तो मंजूरी मिली है और न ही प्रशासनिक रवैया ही साफ हो पाया है.

इसी साल‘घर बचाओ घर बनाओ आंदोलन’ के बैनर तले, बांद्रा कलेक्टर के कमरे में कलेक्टर के साथ बैठक की गई थी. इसमें कलेक्ट्रर विश्वास पाटिल ने यह आदेश दिया था कि अंबुजवाड़ी के जो रहवासी 1 जनवरी, 2000 से पहले रहते हैं, उन्हें घर प्लाट देने के लिए उनकी पहचान की जांच जल्दी ही पूरी की जाएगी, जो अभी तक पूरी नहीं हो सकी है. दूसरी तरफ नई बसाहट के रहवासी आज भी पानी, शौचालय और बिजली के लिए तरस रहे हैं. विरोध करने पर उन्हे मालवणी पुलिस स्टेशन द्वारा जेल में डाल दिया जाता है.

2009 को ‘घर बचाओ घर बनाओ आंदोलन’ के बैनर तले, महाराष्ट्र लेण्ड रेवेन्यू कोड, 1966 के कलम 29 के आधार पर, जय अम्बेनगर जैसी कई बस्तियों में पारधी जमात के रहवासियों ने बांद्रा कलेक्टर को एक पत्र भेजा, जिसमें उन्होंने जमीन के प्रावधान की मांग की और यह भी गुहार लगाई कि जब तक ऐसा नहीं होता तब तक उनकी बस्तियों को न तोड़ा जाए. दरअसल, इस बंजारा जमात को अलग-अलग जगह से बार-बार बेदखल किया जाता रहा है और अब वे इस तरह की जहालत से बचना चाहते हैं.

भ्रष्टन की जय हो
फिलहाल झुग्गी बस्ती पुनर्वास प्राधिकरण में ‘पात्र’ को ‘अपात्र’ और ‘अपात्र’ को ‘पात्र’ ठहरा कर भष्ट्राचार का खुला खेल चल रहा है. ऐसा बहुत सारे मामलों से उजागर हुआ है कि ‘पात्र’ की सहमति लिए बगैर झूठे सहमति पत्र भरे गए हैं. चेंबूर की अमीर बाग, अंधेरी की विठ्ठलवाड़ी और गोलीबार तो ऐसे भ्रष्टाचार के मामलों से भरे पड़े हैं. कई मामलों में तो अधिकारियों, राजनेताओं की दिलचस्पी और हस्तक्षेप भी जांच के विषय हो सकते हैं.

महानगर में पुनर्वास दिए बगैर कोई भी विस्थापित नहीं हो सकता- ऐसा महाराष्ट्र स्लम एरिया एक्ट, 1971 से लेकर राष्ट्रीय आवास नीति और महाराष्ट्र आवास नीति, 2007 तक में कहा गया है. इसके बावजूद जहां नेताजी नगर, म्हात्रे नगर और जय अम्बे नगर जैसी बस्तियों को तोड़ा गया है, वहीं अन्नाभाऊ साठे नगर को तोड़े जाने का नोटिस जारी हुआ है. उधर अंबुजवाड़ी बस्ती के रहवासियों को नोटिस दिए बगैर ही सब कुछ ध्वस्त कर दिये जाने का डर दिखाया गया है.

सपनों के शहर में घर के सपने
मुंबई में गरीबों के लिए आवास उनकी हैसियत से बहुत दूर हो चुके हैं. मुंबई में किराए के घरों की मांग और पूर्ति का अंतर ही इतना चौड़ा होता जा रहा है कि हर साल 84,000 अतिरिक्त घरों की मांग होती हैं, जिसकी पूर्ति के लिए खासतौर से बिल्डरों की फौज तैनात है, जो जैसे-तैसे हर साल केवल 55,000 घरों की व्यवस्था ही कर पाते हैं. इसके चलते यहां जमीनों और जमीनों से आसमान छूते आशियानों की कीमतों को छूना मुश्किल होता जा रहा है.

बांद्रा, जुहू, बर्ली, सांताक्रूज, खार जैसे इलाकों का हाल यह है कि एक फ्लेट कम से कम 4-10 वर्ग प्रति फीट प्रति महीने के भाड़े पर मिलता है, जो उच्च-मध्यम वर्ग के लिए भी किसी सपने से कम नही है. मगर बिल्डरों ने उच्च-मध्यम वर्ग के सपनों का पूरा ख्याल रखा है, उनके लिए नवी मुंबई, खाण्डेश्वर, कोपोली, पनवेल और मीरा रोड़ जैसे इलाकों में 25 से 45 लाख तक के घरों की व्यवस्था की है, जिनकी कीमत कमरों की संख्या और सहूलियतों पर निर्भर है.

नियमानुसार रोज नई-नई बसने वाली बिल्डिंगों और ईमारतों के आसपास गरीबों के लिए आवास की जगह नहीं छोड़ी जा रही है. बिल्डरों द्वारा महानगर की शेष जगहों को भी मौटे तौर पर दो तरीके से हथियाया जा रहा है, एक तो अनगिनत विशालकाय अपार्टमेंट खड़े करके, दूसरा इनके आसपास कई सहूलियतों को उपलब्ध कराने का कारोबार करके, जैसे: बच्चों के लिए भव्य गार्डन, मंनोरंजन पार्क, कार पार्किंग, प्रभावशाली द्वार, बहुखण्डीय सिनेमाहाल इत्यादि. इन सबसे यहां की कुल जगह पर जहां एक मामूली सी आबादी के लिए एशोआराम का पूरा बंदोबस्त हो रहा है, वहीं बड़ी आबादी के बीच रहने की जगह का घनघोर संकट भी गहराता जा रहा है.

अब उस पर आफत ये है कि जो पहले से बसे हुए हैं, उन्हें भी हटाया जा रहा है. महानगर के कारोबारी हितों के लिए और ज्यादा जगह हथियाने के चक्कर में गरीबों के इलाकों को बार-बार तोड़ा जा रहा है. फिल्म और गानों तक को लेकर पूरे महाराष्ट्र को सर पर उठा लेने वाले राजनीतिज्ञों की लिस्ट में गरीबों के बेघर होने का मामला दूर-दूर तक नहीं है. हां, इन गरीबों के बल पर राजनीति की रोटी सेंकने वाले कानून की दुहाई देते ज़रुर नज़र आते हैं. ये और बात है कि इस क़ानून की परवाह किसी को नहीं है. न प्रशासन को और न ही सरकार को.

-शिरीष खरे, मुंबई से

Ranchi: Legislator Nizamuddin raised the issue of the road construction under the PM Road Construction Project at the Giridih District’s Teesri Sub-division from Dalpatdih More to Belwana Karbla via Khantpok. He alleged that Jr. Engineer Pramod Kumar Srivastava was using sub standard material for the said construction and demanded his removal from Minister Haji Hussain ansari. Before the minister’s reply the Speaker intervened to counter ask the legislator as to whether his interest was in proper work or the removal of the engineer. This led to an uproar as the opposition did not take kindly to the Speaker’s intervention and Pradeep Yadav even advised the Speaker to stop wielding the stick in running the House. However the matter was resolved after Dy. CM Raghubar Das assured that the matter will be investigated and if found guilty the culprits would be suitably punished.

CM to reply to questions on Monday during question hour

CM Shibu Soren would be replying to the questions during the question hour on Monday. The Assembly would also conclude its debate on the budget and put up for voting. Tomorrow being Sunday is a rest day and the House will meet on Monday.

Ranchi: The Regional Working Committee of Jharkhand Party (Enos) unanimously nominated K K Murmu as the Executive President of the Party. Md. Jamal & Chatur Badaik the VPsNaresh Nag and Anup Lal as members of the Regional Working Committee.

Assembly Speaker C. P. Singh gave special directives to the House members today. He told the members to maintain decorum inside the House as it was not his sole responsibility of conducting the proceedings smoothly. He directed the MLAs to be present in the House during the question hour when their question was being put up. Incidentally Dy.CM Sudesh Mahto was absent today when he had to reply to 14 questions pertaining to his various ministries.

Ranchi: The heat of the steadily rising mercury was felt in the air conditioned comfort of the Assembly Hall. Legislators were worried that the deteriorating Power & water situation in the State would only nose dive in the coming days. They cornered the treasury bench on these matters in the first session today. The helplessness of the Energy minister was apparent as he shied away from any direct answer but ended up giving only more assurances. The Speaker C. P. Singh too expressed his concern on the unkempt conditions of transformers, faulty wiring and neglected leakages in the water pipe lines.

Raghubar Das had just one answer for these querries. He assured the House that the situation would be fully under control from April onwards as the tenders for the transformer wires have been invited. The maintenance work would be carried out meticulously to ensure smooth service. In reply to a question by Legislator Anant Pratap Dev, the minister Chandra Prakash Choudhary assured the House that the incomplete the water distribution system to Garwah District’s Ramuna, Silidag, Mudvania and Mandohar would be completed by this November itself.

Jagannathpur MLA Geeta Koda raised the question of starting the water distribution from Mongra River and requested the minister not to give ‘tariq pe tariq’ (dates after date as promises) but to initiate the work in earnest. The House burst into laughter on the former CM’s wife’s remarks.

To all the questions related to the water distribution from MLAs S S Bokhta, Nirbhay Kumar Shahbadi and Anant Pratap Dev assured them that the pending work would be completed by June.

JMM’s Teklal Mahto wanted to know from the minister whether the people of Vishnu Garh in Hazaribagh District be able to drink water this summer as the project of Vishunagarh Water Supply was lying in abeyance for the past 10years. The minister assured him that the problem would be sorted out at the earliest. Menaka Sardar raised the issue of supplying pure drinking water to the Housing colony in Baghbera in Jamshedpur while Videsh Singh raised the question for Lesliganj in Palamu.

14 questions left in lurch as minister skips House

The Deputy CM and minister in charge of 5 ministries Sudesh Mahto remained absent from the House and as a result 14 questions related to Road Construction, Urban Development, Panchayati Raj, Building Construction and Rural Development were left in a lurch. JVM’s Pradeep Yadav took a strong exception to it and demanded a reply to all the questions from the other Dy. CM Raghubar Das. The Speaker intervened and fixed 10th of March for inclusion of today’s questions. The date of Panchayat Elections was on the question list.

Ranchi: Health minister Baidyanath Ram was cornered by the opposition during the question hour on the issue of malaria. The opposition led Congress and JVM were joined by RJD too today. The minister admitted to the fact that 1.23cr people of the State were in Malaria High Risk Zone and said that disinfectants were being sprayed in most of the parts. He also gave the excuse of certain temperatures only wherein the spraying could be done. The opposition said that the malaria risk prevailed throughout the year and even though the temperatures were ideally suited currently why the work was not being done? The minister had to humbly concede to the opposition’s demand and assured the house that the needful would be done immediately. The opposition members involved in the particular debate included Annapoorna Devi, Saawna Lakra, Samresh Singh, Binod Singh, Pradeep Yadav and Chamra Linda (Ind).

In another question to the minister Bandhu Tirkey raised the issue of preserving the vaccines meant for children. The minister replied that there were adequate stocks at all the hospitals and was being maintained as required. The opposition challenged him on the matter and said that most of the hospitals did not have a back-up generation system in case the lights went off as was frequently happening. They rubbished the claims of the minister that the back-up was being provided by generators and said that in a few places where there was facility of the generator, the same was non-functional and thus the vaccines were facing high risk of contamination.

The speaker intervened and told the minister to ensure that the power back-up system was flawlessly functional at all the hospitals where these vaccines were stored. The minister assured the House that it shall be done immediately.

|| Jharkhand's  FM takes the safe route- presents a populist budget ||
Ranchi: Deputy CM & State’s Finance Minister Raghubar Das presented the annual budget for the fiscal year 2010-11. The FM has taken the safe route and presented a populist budget with no additional burden on the populace.

Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister of Jharkhand Raghuwar Das arrives to present the annual state budget in the assembly in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand on Friday, March 5, 2010. Picture : Mahadeo Se.

On the contrary he has announced a series of tax rebates on as much as 14 items. The tiny-tots have been shown a special consideration. After reduction of taxes on toy balloons from the Union FM Pranab Mukherjee, the State FM has reduced the VAT on ice-creams from the existing 12.5% to 4%.

The total outlay of the budget is placed at Rs.22, 297.59cr with non plan expenditure of Rs.11,993.18cr and Planned expenditure of Rs.10,304.41cr. The State Plan size has been made of Rs.8600cr, an increase of Rs.400cr from the previous budget. The maximum funds allocated to the State Plan is for the Rural Development with Rs.1000cr. Education department figures next in the list with Rs.760cr and followed by Energy Rs.750cr & Road construction with Rs.705cr.

The total receipts have been estimated at Rs.20,118.36cr showing a deficit of Rs.2179.23cr. The revenue projects a collection of Rs.9,097.07cr from State’s tax & non tax revenue. Rs.6,339.57cr has been estimated as State’s share of Central Taxes for the fiscal year 2010-11. State’s own tax revenue is projected at Rs.5,967.43cr.

The budget has allocated Rs.260cr for the Agricultural development, an increase of 62.5%. To implement the Food Security Schemes Food & Civil Supply department has been allotted Rs.500cr.Rs.995cr has been earmarked for the various welfare schemes and for the Rural Development Rs.1000cr.

The FM announced total tax exemption on Potato, Onion, Rice and wheat. VAT has been reduced to 4% from the existing 12.5% on Helmets, Motor Parts,Sweets and Namkeens. Total tax exemption was also announced for Paddy & rice bran, Sabudana, finger chips, potato chips and vermicelli produced by cottage industries, Steel boxes, rubber chappals, Mehndi and Solar batteries.

- P. Vijay Raghavan