Sunday, January 31, 2016
Saturday, January 30, 2016
LSP-Left alliance will empower communities
Lok Satta Party and Left parties have come together as One Hyderabad alliance to give a credible alternative to people in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections on the strength of common agenda to empower local communities, said Lok Satta founder-president Jayaprakash Narayan.
Speaking at the Meet-the-Media programme organised by the Telangana Working Journalists’ Federation (TWJF) at Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram here on Friday, he said it was evident that traditional parties had reduced local body elections to a mockery with no substantive powers to elected representatives.
The alliance would was fighting the election with a definite and common agenda to empower the communities- at basthi, colony, residential association level, by transferring per capita grant of Rs.1,000 so that people themselves would decide the basic amenities that were required in their area and get them. With access to money and power to execute simple things, life would improve for citizens, Dr.Narayan said.
The GHMC had a budget of over Rs.5,600 crore and by transfer of per capita grant to division/ward level, it would not even amount to one-sixth of the budget but 70 to 80 per cent of basic things that constituted majority of grievances could be addressed effectively, he said.
Cities were ultimately self-governed across the world and the post of Mayor was an important one. “ We have to move towards that direction and people should utilise the opportunity to come out, vote and ensure the outcome they want,” he said.
Local body elections were not about K. Chandrasekhara Rao, N. Chandrababu Naidu or other leaders who were deliberately propagating hero worship. At the end, aggressive campaigning, road shows and hoardings would not translate into anything if power was not transferred to division/community, he said.
The alliance had on its agenda a single call centre for people to access all municipal services, creation of ombudsman system to ensure that officers and corporators discharged their responsibilities, ensuring real safety and security for girls and women and setting up local courts to deal with cases of women harassment, and allotting funds to improve city infrastructure.
Courtesy: The Hindu
Speaking at the Meet-the-Media programme organised by the Telangana Working Journalists’ Federation (TWJF) at Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram here on Friday, he said it was evident that traditional parties had reduced local body elections to a mockery with no substantive powers to elected representatives.
The alliance would was fighting the election with a definite and common agenda to empower the communities- at basthi, colony, residential association level, by transferring per capita grant of Rs.1,000 so that people themselves would decide the basic amenities that were required in their area and get them. With access to money and power to execute simple things, life would improve for citizens, Dr.Narayan said.
The GHMC had a budget of over Rs.5,600 crore and by transfer of per capita grant to division/ward level, it would not even amount to one-sixth of the budget but 70 to 80 per cent of basic things that constituted majority of grievances could be addressed effectively, he said.
Cities were ultimately self-governed across the world and the post of Mayor was an important one. “ We have to move towards that direction and people should utilise the opportunity to come out, vote and ensure the outcome they want,” he said.
Local body elections were not about K. Chandrasekhara Rao, N. Chandrababu Naidu or other leaders who were deliberately propagating hero worship. At the end, aggressive campaigning, road shows and hoardings would not translate into anything if power was not transferred to division/community, he said.
The alliance had on its agenda a single call centre for people to access all municipal services, creation of ombudsman system to ensure that officers and corporators discharged their responsibilities, ensuring real safety and security for girls and women and setting up local courts to deal with cases of women harassment, and allotting funds to improve city infrastructure.
Courtesy: The Hindu
Friday, January 29, 2016
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Monday, January 25, 2016
Friday, January 22, 2016
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Ambedkar’s portent rings true at HCU JP demands Judicial probe into the spectre of caste politics
"On the 26th of January 1950, we are going to enter into a life of contradictions. In politics we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. In politics we will be recognizing the principle of one man one vote and one vote one value. In our social and economic life, we shall, by reason of our social and economic structure, continue to deny the principle of one man one value. How long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions? How long shall we continue to deny equality in our social and economic life? If we continue to deny it for long, we will do so only by putting our political democracy in peril. We must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment or else those who suffer from inequality will blow up the structure of political democracy which is Assembly has to laboriously built up.” Dr B R Ambedkar.
This 66th year of the Republic of India, we hang our heads in shame at the casteist cauldron that our institutes of higher learning have become while our eyes well with tears at the truncated life of a 26 year old PhD aspirant, Rohith Vemula. It is indeed the saddest portent when Dr B R Ambedkar's prescient warning comes true. And that too, at an altar of science.
The Hyderabad Central University.
It has a sordid history of Dalit student suicides and rustication with the stench of a caste ridden administration, who instead of engendering a cordial and welcoming atmosphere of education for the underprivileged and under represented, have modeled themselves into a feudal stronghold.
Any place of higher learning, especially a centrally administered one and even more so, one that specializes in scientific studies, should strive to be a shining example to society, putting the scientific minds of students ahead of their caste identities. In fact, it must journey a few extra miles in fashioning an environment where the curious mind thrives in peer company and under expert professorial guidance. Not only that, but in a country that is sorely lacking of scientific expertise and a long and established paucity of Dalit, socially backward and female scientists, it behooves the HCU to accord special guidance and extra classes as required, to rectify this grievous disparity.
The revelation that even an institution populated by the most educated professors of science, instead of being a safe haven for reasoning minds, reeks of intolerance, castesim and a socially regressive environment is telling of the state of education and the educated in India.
This is has now not only ended in a tragic loss of young life but is further erupting into larger social protests and clashes seeking justice. It is therefore imperative for the Central Government to act swiftly and conduct a thorough inquiry. In the interest of justice and impartiality, the inquiry must be conducted by an independent judicial committee and it's findings published. HCU must bear responsibility to create a conducive learning environment and implement measures to root out the evil of casteism.
In addition, all central government institutions must conduct mandatory caste and gender sensitivity courses for its employees, once a quarter. While constitutional and legal safeguards serve as bare minimum guarantees of political and legal equality, they clearly fall short of ushering in social equality. World wide data clearly points to the role of social sensitivity training in development. To impact rampant feudal mindsets and if indeed we want to progress as a nation, Loksatta Party demands that the Central Government and indeed the State Governments across India to increase awareness and sensitivity of this socially grave issue of caste.
There must not be another that suffers the fate of Rohit Vemula. We grieve with his family.
"I ask but one thing of the youth of this country. Shed your caste names, caste suffixes, caste prefixes proudly, visibly and emphatically. Resolutely refuse a marriage arranged with caste as a factor. Shed the shackles of caste, and be yourselves. Forge your own unique identity and marry per your choice, not caste. This is the best contribution you can make for the future of India. Jai Hind!", said Dr Jaya Prakash Narayan, Founder President of Loksatta Party.
This 66th year of the Republic of India, we hang our heads in shame at the casteist cauldron that our institutes of higher learning have become while our eyes well with tears at the truncated life of a 26 year old PhD aspirant, Rohith Vemula. It is indeed the saddest portent when Dr B R Ambedkar's prescient warning comes true. And that too, at an altar of science.
The Hyderabad Central University.
It has a sordid history of Dalit student suicides and rustication with the stench of a caste ridden administration, who instead of engendering a cordial and welcoming atmosphere of education for the underprivileged and under represented, have modeled themselves into a feudal stronghold.
Any place of higher learning, especially a centrally administered one and even more so, one that specializes in scientific studies, should strive to be a shining example to society, putting the scientific minds of students ahead of their caste identities. In fact, it must journey a few extra miles in fashioning an environment where the curious mind thrives in peer company and under expert professorial guidance. Not only that, but in a country that is sorely lacking of scientific expertise and a long and established paucity of Dalit, socially backward and female scientists, it behooves the HCU to accord special guidance and extra classes as required, to rectify this grievous disparity.
The revelation that even an institution populated by the most educated professors of science, instead of being a safe haven for reasoning minds, reeks of intolerance, castesim and a socially regressive environment is telling of the state of education and the educated in India.
This is has now not only ended in a tragic loss of young life but is further erupting into larger social protests and clashes seeking justice. It is therefore imperative for the Central Government to act swiftly and conduct a thorough inquiry. In the interest of justice and impartiality, the inquiry must be conducted by an independent judicial committee and it's findings published. HCU must bear responsibility to create a conducive learning environment and implement measures to root out the evil of casteism.
In addition, all central government institutions must conduct mandatory caste and gender sensitivity courses for its employees, once a quarter. While constitutional and legal safeguards serve as bare minimum guarantees of political and legal equality, they clearly fall short of ushering in social equality. World wide data clearly points to the role of social sensitivity training in development. To impact rampant feudal mindsets and if indeed we want to progress as a nation, Loksatta Party demands that the Central Government and indeed the State Governments across India to increase awareness and sensitivity of this socially grave issue of caste.
There must not be another that suffers the fate of Rohit Vemula. We grieve with his family.
"I ask but one thing of the youth of this country. Shed your caste names, caste suffixes, caste prefixes proudly, visibly and emphatically. Resolutely refuse a marriage arranged with caste as a factor. Shed the shackles of caste, and be yourselves. Forge your own unique identity and marry per your choice, not caste. This is the best contribution you can make for the future of India. Jai Hind!", said Dr Jaya Prakash Narayan, Founder President of Loksatta Party.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Lok Satta Times Jan 16th-31st 2016
Lok Satta Times Jan 16th-31st 2016 can be downloaded from the following link.
http://ap.loksatta.org/documents/lstimes/lstimes-2016-01-16-31.pdf
http://ap.loksatta.org/documents/lstimes/lstimes-2016-01-16-31.pdf
Thursday, January 14, 2016
ONE HYDERABAD Alliance Announces Seat Sharing in GHMC LokSatta 35, CPI (M) 33, CPI 22, MCPI (U) 2
The One Hyderabad alliance for clean politics announces that seat sharing negotiations between Loksatta Party, CPI(M), CPI have concluded successfully. Loksatta Party will contest 35 seats, CPI(M) 33 seat and CPI 22 seats, MCPI(2) 2 seats Several other organizations including the Most Backward Class JAC, nd colony welfar associations will be joining and contesting few seats. More seats will be contested by the alliance and announced shortly.
One Hyderabad is a first for Indian politics as the only alliance based on clean politics and a compelling agenda for Hyderabad as outlined in our Common Minimum Program. The seat sharing negotiations themselves were historical with discussions entirely centered around what is best for the people of Hyderabad, candidate and party strength and a spirit of give and take with not a hint of horse trading, money or muscle power, proxy candidates and dynastic politics and other corrupt and divisive angles.
In a press meet announcing the seat sharing arrangement, the alliance partners said One Hyderabad is the only alternative for the people of Hyderabad given the rotten and decrepit politics of TRS-MIM, TDP-BJP or Congress. Moreover, these parties have no relevance or standing in the eyes of the youth of Hyderabad as they're clueless about young people's attitudes and aspirations while being mired in retrograde politicking."
The specific seats allocated are tabulated below.
One Hyderabad is a first for Indian politics as the only alliance based on clean politics and a compelling agenda for Hyderabad as outlined in our Common Minimum Program. The seat sharing negotiations themselves were historical with discussions entirely centered around what is best for the people of Hyderabad, candidate and party strength and a spirit of give and take with not a hint of horse trading, money or muscle power, proxy candidates and dynastic politics and other corrupt and divisive angles.
In a press meet announcing the seat sharing arrangement, the alliance partners said One Hyderabad is the only alternative for the people of Hyderabad given the rotten and decrepit politics of TRS-MIM, TDP-BJP or Congress. Moreover, these parties have no relevance or standing in the eyes of the youth of Hyderabad as they're clueless about young people's attitudes and aspirations while being mired in retrograde politicking."
The specific seats allocated are tabulated below.
| LOKSATTA PARTY (35) | CPI(M) (33) | CPI (22) | ||||||||
| S. No | Div No. | Division Name | S.No | Div No | Division Name | S.No | Div No | Division Name | ||
| 1 | 2 | AS Rao Nagar | 1 | 1 | Kapra | 1 | 5 | Mallapur | ||
| 2 | 3 | Cherlapalli | 2 | 4 | Meerpet HB Colony | 2 | 11 | Nagol | ||
| 3 | 13 | Hayatnagar | 3 | 8 | Habsiguda | 3 | 19 | Saroor nagar | ||
| 4 | 14 | BN Reddy Nagar | 4 | 9 | Ramanthapur East | 4 | 27 | Akbar Bagh | ||
| 5 | 15 | Vanasthalipuram | 5 | 10 | Uppal | 5 | 32 | Pathergatti | ||
| 6 | 21 | Kothapet | 6 | 12 | Mansoorabad | 6 | 35 | Gowlipura | ||
| 7 | 22 | Chaitanyapuri | 7 | 17 | Champapet | 7 | 36 | Lalithabagh | ||
| 8 | 23 | Gaddi Annaram | 8 | 18 | Lingojiguda | 8 | 38 | IS Sadan | ||
| 9 | 25 | Moosarambagh | 9 | 39 | Santosh Nagar | 9 | 45 | Jangammet | ||
| 10 | 70 | Mehdipatnam | 10 | 44 | Uppuguda | 10 | 60 | Rajendra Nagar | ||
| 11 | 81 | Nallakunta | 11 | 50 | Begum Bazaar | 11 | 67 | Golkonda | ||
| 12 | 87 | Ram Nagar | 12 | 51 | Ghosha Mahal | 12 | 83 | Amberpet | ||
| 13 | 89 | Gandhi Nagar | 13 | 59 | Milardevipalli | 13 | 104 | Kondapur | ||
| 14 | 93 | Banjara Hills | 14 | 62 | Zia Guda | 14 | 112 | Ramchandra Puram | ||
| 15 | 95 | Jubilee Hills | 15 | 66 | Langar House | 15 | 120 | Balanagar | ||
| 16 | 96 | Yusufguda | 16 | 71 | Gudi Malkapur | 16 | 126 | Jagathgirigutta | ||
| 17 | 97 | Somajiguda | 17 | 82 | Golknaaka | 17 | 125 | Gaajula Raamaram | ||
| 18 | 98 | Ameerpet | 18 | 84 | Bagh Amberpet | 18 | 127 | Ranga Reddy Nagar | ||
| 19 | 100 | Sanath Nagar | 19 | 86 | Musheerabad | 19 | 135 | Venkatapuram | ||
| 20 | 102 | Rehmat Nagar | 20 | 88 | Bholakpur | 20 | 136 | Neredmet | ||
| 21 | 107 | Madhapur | 21 | 90 | Kavadiguda | 21 | 141 | Gowtham Nagar | ||
| 22 | 109 | Hafeezpet | 22 | 99 | Vengala Rao Nagar | 22 | 143 | Tarnaka | ||
| 23 | 110 | Chandanagar | 23 | 101 | Erragadda | |||||
| 24 | 114 | KPHB Colony | 24 | 103 | Borabanda | |||||
| 25 | 116 | Allapur | 25 | 105 | Gachi Bowli | |||||
| 26 | 117 | Moosapet | 26 | 106 | Serilingampally | MCPI(U) (2) | ||||
| 27 | 119 | Old Bowenpally | 27 | 115 | Balaji Nagar | |||||
| 28 | 121 | Kukatpally | 28 | 129 | Sooraram | 1 | 94 | Shaikpet | ||
| 29 | 122 | Vivekananda Nagar | 29 | 138 | Moula Ali | 2 | 108 | Miyapur | ||
| 30 | 124 | Allwyn Colony | 30 | 142 | Addagutta | |||||
| 31 | 134 | Alwal | 31 | 144 | Mettuguda | |||||
| 32 | 137 | Vinayak Nagar | 32 | 146 | Boudha Nagar | |||||
| 33 | 139 | East Anand Bagh | 33 | 147 | Bansilalpet | |||||
| 34 | 140 | Malkajgiri | ||||||||
| 35 | 149 | Begumpet | ||||||||
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Chennai floods have exposed inefficient system prevailing in Tamil Nadu, Jayaprakash Narayan says
Lok Satta Party founder Jayaprakash Narayan on Sunday said the Tamil Nadu government is plagued with inefficiency, corruption and centralization.
Speaking at an event organized by ChennaiNext, a group of flood relief volunteers, Narayan said centralized administration prevailing in the state was one of the main reasons for the recent floods. "It's shameful that officials are not empowered to take decisions in a democratic system. The recent floods have exposed the inefficient system prevailing in Tamil Nadu", he said.
The bureaucrat -turned-politician said most elected representatives in the state considered votes a commodity. "People should have self-respect and keep away from such politicians. In the recent floods, Chennai has discovered the potential of youth who can bring about a change."
He said a political change from AIADMK and DMK would a take few more years. "This will not happen overnight, but there will be change if the youngsters who were involved in the relief work continue to keep up the good work."
R Elango, former president of, Kuthambakkam village panchayat, said, "Citizens should be involved in developmental work, including road laying to bring transparency. Self-sufficiency is the key for good governance and each households should be able to generate solar power and manage their waste."
He said educated families in the gated communities should not blame politicians for the mess. "They should ensure that waste water from their apartments will not pollute nearby water bodies."
D Jagadeeswaran of ChennaiNext said they had decided to ensure public participation in activities including waste management campaign and drainage work at ward level. "We hope that it will bring some accountability."
ChennaiNext facilitated volunteers of various NGOs who were involved in flood relief work.
Courtesy: The TImes of India
