Round The States
New Delhi, 19 May 2011
Naxal-Hit States
NEW TRIBAL PLAN
By Insaf
Naxal-hit States can look forward to some good news.
Acknowledging that the Integrated Action Plan needed a leg-up to bridge the
development deficit in Naxalite-infested districts, the Central Government has
formulated a new package, Central India Tribal Development Plan for all
tribal-dominated areas spanning seven States, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Gujarat, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal. To be executed from April
next year, the scheme seeks to incentivise governance and give an impetus to
over-all progress. Whereby, money would flow uniformly to all districts for
empowering gram sabhas including
appointment of panchayat secretaries
to strengthen the village bodies and enable them to carry out development works
in the tribal districts.
Importantly, the guidelines for the States’ underscore that
the tribals should get a greater say in carrying out new area specific development
works, besides several existing schemes such as the food nutrition plan, rural
upliftment etc which are part of the on-going Rs. 3500 crores Integrated Action
Plan for 60 naxal-affected districts. To ensure that the funds percolate to the
actual users, third party monitoring and periodic inspection by a committee
comprising civil society members and officials is on the anvil. Only time will
tell whether the plan would enable the security forces win the battle against
naxalites along-with the tribals’ heart.
* * * *
Karnataka Feud
Blows Over
In Karnataka, the Governor Bhardwaj and Chief Minister
Yediyurappa have decided to smoke the peace pipe. Finding no takers for his
letter to the President, recommending President’s rule in the State, a lonely
Governor did a somersault by acknowledging that the BJP-led Government enjoyed
a “massive majority” and called Yediyurappa a “friend.” With the Chief Minister
said to stay, the Governor reiterated that he himself was going nowhere.
Notwithstanding that Bhardwaj continues to hold his cards close to his chest vis-à-vis the convening of the State
Assembly from 2 June to enable the Chief Minister prove his majority in a floor
test. It remains to be seen whether the new found bonhomie will stay the course
or it will be back to Constitutional feuds.
* * * *
Tamil Nadu’s
Bonanza Victory
AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha has not only swept the polls in
Tamil Nadu but has established a new style in populist functioning. For her,
credibility seems to be of utmost important. Hours after she assumed the Chief
Minister’s office on Monday last, Jayalalitha penned her formal approval to the
sops offered during the election campaign. The proposals include: disbursement
of 20 kg of rice free of cost under the PDS, distribution of four gram gold for
mangalsutra free, marriage assistance
of Rs 50,000 to girls holding graduate degrees or diplomas, Rs 1,000 (from Rs
500) monthly assistance to senior citizens, destitute women and the disabled,
six-moth maternity leave for government women employees and enhancement of
assistance for fishermen from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 during the 45-day ban on
fishing. In addition, she set up a Special Programme Implementation Department
and can boast of fulfilling her electoral promises. Will the new incumbents in
the other States follow?
* * * *
Congress Trouble In
Andhra
Trouble continues to follow the Congress in Andhra Pradesh.
After the electoral drubbing the party received at the hands of recent Congress
turncoat Jaganmohan Reddy in Kadappa district, rebellion is brewing within the
Party and Government. Several Ministers and MLAs have complained against the
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy for his aloofness and not confiding in them
which was detrimental to the Party interest. The tirade started with members of
the APCC Minority Cell and Mahila Congress complaining about Reddy’s style of
functioning and led to full blown angst by the Chief Minister’s ministerial
colleague. Adding to the Congress woes, already 15 MLAs from Guntur defied the party and are supporting
Jaganmohan in his fast for farmers. All eyes are on who will blink first!
* * * *
Mud Flies Over
J&K Civil Exams
If rising infiltration was not bad enough, Jammu and Kashmir is in the throes of a
fresh controversy, namely, the recently released combined civil services list.
Shockingly, the candidates have claimed that interviews were manipulated to
ensure relatives and friends of the States Public Service Commission members made
it to the final list of 398 successful candidates out of 40,000 applications,
leaving out those who had got scorching high marks. Adding fuel to fire, the
PSC has filed an FIR against two candidates who had sought information under
the RTI. On the grounds that the PSC’s reply to the two candidates was forged.
Scandalously, this is not the first time that the PSC has been charged with
manipulating numbers. Only last month, the J&K High Court quashed a list
issued by the Commission for Assistant Surgeon (Veterinary) whereby candidates
alleged that they had paid Rs.7 lakh each. It remains to be seen whether this
is a case of sour grapes.
* * * *
Jobs Scam Hits Maharashtra
Maharashtra too has been hit by a job scam.
Whereby around 1500 youths from Bihar, UP and other parts of north India were
cheated by fraudsters who promised them jobs in the State’s Forest Department
and issued them fake appointment letters. The modus operandi of the swindlers
was simple: An advertisement in Bihar’s Rozgar Samachar in December last
offering 2100 posts followed by an interview where candidates were asked to pay
a refundable security deposit of Rs.7300/- along with Rs.500 for police
verification and Rs. 300 as registration fees. Predictably, those who paid got
joining letters to reach a Pune address, which turned out to be fake. The youth
are now running from pillar to post and have sought the police help to recover
their monies.
* * * *
Crime And Riches
Pay
It’s a heady concoction of crime and riches in the new five
State Assemblies. West Bengal tops the list of
criminal-politico’s with 102 MLAs, followed by Tamil Nadu wherein 66 MLAs
nearly 30 per cent have criminal cases pending against them as per their own
declarations. The new Kerala Assembly has 67 MLAs with criminal records i.e. 48
per cent, in Assam,
13 MLAs i.e. 10 per cent and in Puducherry, nine MLAs i.e. 30 per cent have
admitted to being charge-sheeted. Obversely, the richest Assembly is Tamil Nadu
boasting of 120 crorepatis, West
Bengal and Assam
has 47 wealthy MLAs followed by Kerala with a total of 35 MLAs .The Assembly
with the least number of the wealthy is Puducherry with 19 legislators. Clearly
crime and money pays in politics! ---INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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