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Bill Gates to visit Bihar

2010-05-11T15:41:00.001-07:00

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has reached out to Bihar. Ready to take up some philanthropic works in health sector in the countryside, Foundation co-chairperson is arriving here on Wednesday and will travel to at least a couple of remote and dusty villages during his daylong maiden visit to the state.

Gates, the founder of computer giant Microsoft, is arriving on Wednesday morning along with his team.

He will also hold a meeting with chief minister Nitish Kumar before flying back. He is expected to strike a partnership with the Bihar government and sign an agreement to work in mother-child care and eradication of kala-azar and polio.

"He will visit at least two villages in Khagaria and Banka districts to explore work in health sector," health minister Nandkishore Yadav told TOI. He said the Foundation is already working in Guleria Musahri village in Khagaria and will select one in Banka also. Gates, who was in a Rae Bareli village in UP along with AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, will reach here by a chartered plane.

Principal cabinet secretary Afzal Amanullah said he will fly to the villages by his own chopper and later hold discussions with officials before meeting the CM. Incidentally, Gates, who had been the richest person of the world for several years, had a desire to meet Nitish and had spoken to him through video-conferencing from Delhi on July 24 last year.

During the talks, he had promised to constitute a Task Froce for Bihar to workout areas of cooperation through BMGF, the biggest charitable organization in the world.

He had then commended Nitish for progress in health programmes and was impressed with the significant increase in childhood immunization. He had stressed on complete eradication of polio, particularly in Kosi region. He said, "We are ready to work with your government and all partners in the polio effort to stop transmission in Bihar and ultimately assure all parents that their children are safe from this crippling disease."

The BMGF had proposed to partner with Bihar government in polio and kala-azar eradication task while acknowledging that state government was showing resolve to tackle the critical health concerns.

TNN, May 12, 2010

Why Biharis discriminated in India?

2010-04-21T18:04:00.001-07:00

As we all know the term 'Bihari' is used as slang in some northern parts of India, mostly in Delhi, to address or demoralize a person, or to make him feel inferior.

It has been a long term mind-set of people that all Biharis are illiterate, corrupt, law breakers; they are the ones who have taken their jobs, their lands, their seats in colleges; they are menial workers. They do not know how to behave; they have no culture, no respect for others' well being.

Today, our media cry for Indians - who are being ill treated in the foreign land, but no concern is being shown to the discrimination that is taking place within the country itself. The discrimination that is making these people feels alienated in their own country?

Irrespective of the fact that what a Bihari does, from a rickshaw puller to a technocrat, these people have equal contribution in the development of most of the states. These are amongst the people who helped in making roads, houses, metros, railways etc. so that we could develop. Biharis are not just limited to menial works, as they are placed at almost every top-notch place from politics to cricket, to the civil services. They are doctors, engineers, managers, writers, artists, businesspersons, journalists and much more. Nevertheless, irrespective of all these, the image of a "Bihari" remains the same.

There are mainly three reasons for this –

1) The image has been tarnished by the politicians of the state. They took the state in the dark ages. They divided the state in the name of caste and built a system based on corruption, red tapism and sycophancy. Because of this, crime rate increased and along with it, Naxals groups such as Ranvir Sena and MCC etc. Money meant for development went into the pockets of politicians. Thus, creating a bad name of State.

2) With their constant hard work, Biharis started occupying a better position in other states. As a result, the natives thought that these people are eating their jobs and resources and started harassing them, as in case of Maharashtra, Punjab and Assam.

3) As most of the Biharis doing the menial jobs are illiterate and belong to rural parts, thus, they know very little about the life in urban centres. Their way of speaking and activity is not up to the mark and as they are poor and downtrodden, others make fun of them.

People from other states always argued that if they are talented and multi-faceted but rarely do they contribute to the development of the nation as a whole? Why are they still lagging behind? I bring to you some points on why Biharis are forced to leave their land.

1) The first reason is its geography. Every year, Bihar faces the brunt of nature. In some parts, it faces floods (as in the case of Kosi region) and on the other hand there are areas like Gaya and Jehanabad where drought is very common. So there remain not many options for the people, as they have to feed their family and also save their lives. They have to leave their land in search for employment.

2) Bihar has faced this situation due to the parochial interest of their leaders. Its leaders from the time of independence were busy playing caste cards instead of building infrastructure or an atmosphere where every hand get works and every child gets education.

3) Bihari students migrated to other states in search of higher education due to lack of quality education and very few institutes offering higher education in home state. This situation has to do with the policies of the leaders of the state who never tried to uplift the condition of education in the state. The leaders kept the people busy on issues which had nothing to do with their daily lives and development. So, that they do not ask question about serious issues such as education and health. For this purpose they used every possible way such as promoting hatred in the name of caste and thus came up Naxal groups such as Ranvir Sena and MCC.

Therefore, the students had no other options other than studying hard so that they could get admissions in IITs, IIMs, JNU, DU and other well-reputed colleges. With their talent and hard work, they flooded these colleges and paved new avenues for them.

4) Bihar has no major industry and after partition from Jharkhand the situation worsened as mineral rich places such as Bokaro, Hazaribagh and Jamshedpur went to Jharkhand. The industry of Bihar for e.g. sugar mills and fertilizer plants either were shut down or were incurring losses. In this situation the common people or the technicians were not able to get enough jobs and so had to migrate.

As we all know that nobody wants to migrate from their native place because you have got many memories and you have your own people there. Therefore it is not a matter of happiness for anyone to leave their place and migrate.

'It is not a matter of choice for the poor but they are forced to do so' - This is applicable for the Biharis as well. Comments of Sheila Dikshit that "Biharis people are law breakers" and of Thackeray that "ek bihari sau bimari" resembles the anti Bihari sentiments going on in the country, these comments hurt the locals, as being people of the same country they are discriminated. These things need to be stopped immediately otherwise these things can lead to bigger repercussions.

Ankit

The Hindu Caste Dating @ Orkut / Facebook

2010-04-15T19:37:00.001-07:00

India's caste system – or, as I like to call it, Hinduism's version of institutionalised apartheid – has lost some influence in the sixty-two years since independence. But certain social barriers remain – and now, for the first time, social networks such as Facebook and Orkut are offering all castes the chance to register their anger about them.

Nowadays, the untouchable classes are delicately described as "scheduled" castes and "tribes", but to many outsiders remain "Dalits" – and they constitute nearly a quarter of India's total population. Previously referred to as the "Depressed Class" in the era of the British Raj (for the depressing jobs they endured), their numbers have risen rapidly in the last few decades.

As part of "the biggest democracy in the world", Dalits have now used their numbers to gain political, as well as economic power, and by law are guaranteed between 7.5 per cent and 15 per cent of vacancies in Indian Government jobs, something that riles the upper-castes. As recently as 18 months ago, a Dalit was murdered by upper-caste criminals because he had the audacity to visit a temple to pay homage to the goddess Durga.

In a country of nearly 1.2 billion people, there are 54 million internet users, and Indians use their mobiles for everything. (There are more than 500 million Indians who have mobiles, so in general this is how social networks are accessed.) Facebook and local social networking site Orkut and even Twitter (with a mere 1.5 million users) are widely accessed and the caste debate has led to the creation of hundreds of groups.

And the forums on these sites only underscore how divided these communities still are. In a recent example, 3,000 members of a scheduled online community bemoaned how their caste identity had created an unbreakable glass ceiling, while other more venomous comments from higher-caste members accused them of being "beggars" who used their status to acquire jobs. Comparable, some would say, to the more unpleasant debates about immigration in the UK.

In a matter of hours, the thread was full of odium and hatred as the vying communities made their respective feelings known. According to a study by PUKAR (Partners for Urban Knowledge, Action and Research), it found that 32 random Orkut online communities based on caste showed an increase of nearly 30,000 members in just three months and most of them are highly educated people, and very angry ones at that.

However, as I drilled down into these communities and ignored the bilious caste comments, something else caught my social network eye. Yes, it was love and marriage. So, while these groups profess to allow different caste members to shout and scream, there were a lot more posts about boys and girls hoping to find somebody from their own social group or caste to hook up with. Somebody for the their parents to approve of, in other words. Plus ça change.

Sourced from Telegraph, UK / April 2nd, 2010

116 killed in Bengal and Bihar by storm

2010-04-14T10:51:00.001-07:00

A ferocious storm ravaged parts of West Bengal and Bihar, leaving 116 people dead, destroying thousands of houses and snapping power and communication lines overnight, officials said Wednesday.

At least 39 people were killed in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district while in neighbouring Bihar's border districts of Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj and Supaul the toll was 77.

The high velocity storm, which lasted almost an hour, uprooted hundreds of trees, caused widespread damage to crops and killed a large number of cattle head in both states.

West Bengal Civil Defence Minister Srikumar Mukherjee described the situation as "very grave". More than 50,000 houses were destroyed in the state.

The storm, with wind speeds of up to 120 km an hour, broke out around 10.30 p.m. Tuesday and swept through four blocks of North Dinajpur district. Eighteen people died in the worst affected Karandighi block. Jalpaiguri was also hit hard.

"The ferocity was such that it twisted trees. That is why I feel it was more than a mere norwester (a storm common in this part of the country)," said Mukherjee, who hails from Dinajpur.

"Not only mud houses, even pucca houses did not escape its wrath. There is no power supply. Land telephone and mobiles are not working. We are trying to maintain a semblance of contact with district officials through police wireless," the minister said over the phone.

In Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar confirmed the deaths of 49 people in the violent storm that lashed the state.

"We have got information till now that 29 people were killed in Purnia, 18 in Araria and one each in Kishanganj and Supaul," Nitish Kumar told mediapersons after an aerial survey of affected areas Wednesday evening.

Principal Secretary (Disaster Management Department) Vayasji told IANS: "A storm with high wind velocity hit the entire Seemanchal region, including Araria, Purnia and Kishanganj, and badly disturbed normal life."

"Thousands of people have been rendered homeless and many thatched houses severely destroyed," he said.

Araria District Superintendent of Police S.S. Thakur said an old wall of Araria jail collapsed following which "police decided to shift 650 inmates to Purnia jail".

Bihar has announced Rs.1.5 lakh compensation for the next of kin of those killed. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said: "I have asked district officials to provide relief to affected people soon."

With inputs from 14 April 2010 / IANS / PTI

Storm killed 120 people in Bengal, Bihar and Assam

2010-04-14T11:30:00.001-07:00

A ferocious storm ravaged parts of West Bengal and Bihar, leaving 120 people dead, destroying thousands of houses and snapping power and communication lines overnight, officials said Wednesday.

At least 39 people were killed in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district while in neighbouring Bihar's border districts of Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj and Supaul the toll was 77 and also in Assam where four persons perished in one district in the storm that struck at midnight last night.

The high velocity storm, which lasted almost an hour, uprooted hundreds of trees, caused widespread damage to crops and killed a large number of cattle head in both states.

West Bengal Civil Defence Minister Srikumar Mukherjee described the situation as "very grave". More than 50,000 houses were destroyed in the state.

"The ferocity was such that it twisted trees. That is why I feel it was more than a mere norwester (a storm common in this part of the country)," said Mukherjee, who hails from Dinajpur.

In Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar confirmed the deaths of 49 people in the violent storm that lashed the state.

"Thousands of people have been rendered homeless and many thatched houses severely destroyed," he said.

Araria District Superintendent of Police S.S. Thakur said an old wall of Araria jail collapsed following which "police decided to shift 650 inmates to Purnia jail".

Bihar has announced Rs.1.5 lakh compensation for the next of kin of those killed. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said: "I have asked district officials to provide relief to affected people soon."

With inputs from 14 April 2010 / IANS / PTI

Hijras - The Third Gender of India

2010-03-30T18:22:00.001-07:00

The third gender called "Hijra" within the Indian cultural sphere that is distinctly different from the conceptual underpinnings of what is perceived as a trans-gender in the West. As gender differentiation within the Indian society, largely comprised of Hindus, is very peculiar in its kind, seen in the existence of a middle gender that combines both characteristics of a man and a woman.

Whether, it be in India or not, gender has been formed the basis of human identity. Knowing the varied cultures of Hijras serves as an indicator for universal topics such as gender and sexuality.

　　 Hijras claim to be, "born intersexes." Therefore, it is still believed today in Indian society that, "Hijras are born intersexes" or "hermaphrodites." Most Hijras, however, are born as "men." Subsequently, those who feel at odds with their own sex from the time of boyhood to puberty, become Hijras as they sever their own, male sexual organs. In that sense, Hijras can be called the trans-genders of India. When the word, Hijra, is interpreted in the Western sense, it would be a complex intertwinement of trans-sexualities such as, Transvestism, Gender Identity Disorder and Gender Disorder, which forms a trans-gendered identify that is "uniquely Indian." Nevertheless, a Hijra will never claim to be a trans-gender, and this underlines the fundamental difference between how a trans-gendered identity is defined in the West. Just as men and women play their roles in society, Hijras, who are neither men nor women, belong to a special category of gender, and fulfill a socio-cultural role that is only reserved for them.

　　 The most well known role for a Hijra is to bestow in God's name, "the power to procreate as well as create new life for newly-born male babies and for newly-wed couples." In addition, they provide entertainment through their performance act to those who have gathered around for the occasion. Also, the Hijra societies are interconnected throughout the country and each community is comprised along territorial lines. However, in recent years, the congratulatory acts given by Hijras have been rapidly declining. The breakneck speed of India's Westernization and urbanization within the past decade have pushed the jobless Hijras out of their homes to visit commercial establishments as well as families and demand monetary compensation by forcefully conferring good wishes onto them. This situation has created a vicious cycle as it has driven some Hijras to beg or to prostitute, which in turn earns them disdain, further leading to the loss of their true profession.

NRI Biharis for Development of Bihar

2010-03-19T11:10:00.001-07:00

The expatriate Biharis living in Europe, USA, and Middle East, should consider themselves fortunate to earn much more than the people we left behind. Many of us have taken citizenship of the countries we have lived long. But this does not reduce our attachment and love of Bihar. In fact, it was Bihar that equipped us to look for much more greener pastures to make a better life for ourselves and for our children, in a meritocratic society, far away from quota, reservation and caste based atmosphere. It is not a boast, but our spending power is far more than the locals in Bihar. And it is this enhanced spending power that I want to utilize as our contribution to our state for the benefit of those who are not so fortunate.

May I call upon all expatriate Biharis to contribute something as I do? I adopted the Govt. Primary School of my village. I gave exercise books and ball point pen for the poor children. They did not have safe drinking water. Existing, non-functioning pump was only drilled to 50 feet. Despite repeated application to PHED, no action was taken. I was asked by the Headmaster to have a boring done to a depth of 100 feet. I got it done. Now 800 children have access to safe drinking water. I have been asked for eight tables and eight chairs for eight class rooms. Existing ones are too ancient and non-repairable. So, I will get them in my next visit. I instituted two scholarships of Rs. 5000/- each, to be given to the poorest student taking admission in first year at Darbhanga Medical College. On 24th February this year, it was awarded to two such students. They could buy clothes, books, stationery or sundries. I am going to increase it to four from next year.

We can all spare Rs. 10-20,000 without any inconvenience to ourselves. But it goes a long way to help transform the lives of our unfortunate Biharis. I wouldn't part with money, but I would ask what is needed most in school, Primary Health Care Centre. Buy the items and give it to the responsible person. Give a scholarship to the poorest of the poor admitted to our alma mater.

A little of such contribution becomes a lot in few years time.

Let us do and do it now. Most of us visit once or twice a year. It will not only help the needy, but also send the message to those in Bihar who think that we - the so called NRIs - only lecture them but do nothing for the people of Bihar.

As Bihar is coming closure to its fifth deciding year, the government is getting exposed on many points which people of this state were not expecting from the new incumbent.

It's true that most of the energy they spent in removing anarchic democracy overcasting the state by the past ruler. Two sectors were more privileged - bureaucracy and police - in this period of time. Few achievements like connectivity of villages to their districts and district to headquarters by fine, smooth roads cannot be undermined but it is all within the central planning. Bihar government is simply the executer of the plan.

Government hospitals received latest equipment, qualified doctors, technicians and round the clock emergency facilities by dialing 108. Today I was overwhelmed to see the news regarding the plan to appoint one physiotherapist, occupational therapist, homeopaths in government run hospitals.

But, are all these just pre-election programs?

This will reduce burden of patient's congregation at one location. The ignorance, falling standard, and degradation in the quality of higher education is eating vitals of the society. The mushrooming of coaching camps in the state capital is the greatest contributor to this malaise. Education mafias, bureaucrats, and politicians are believed to be the sharer of the booty or there is a difference of opinion in the trio (CM, Dy. CM, and HRD Minister) in placing stringent regulations on private coaching institutes (PCI), or because Vidhan Sabha elections are knocking at the door, PCI would be the greatest source of money and muscle power for them.

Dr. A. Kumar,

Norfolk, England

Public Hearing on Public Distribution System, Bender, Bolangir

2010-01-18T12:01:00.001-08:00

Public Distribution System (PDS) means distribution of essential commodities to a large number of people through Fair Price Shops on a recurring basis in the country. PDS evolved as a major instrument of the Government's economic policy for ensuring availability of food grains to the public at affordable prices as well as for enhancing the food security for the poor. It is an important constituent of the strategy for poverty eradication and is intended to serve as a safety net for the poor. PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments. The Central Government has taken the responsibility for procurement, storage, transportation and bulk allocation of food grains, etc. The responsibility for distributing the same to the consumers through the network of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) rests with the State Governments. The operational responsibilities including allocation within the State, identification of families below poverty line, issue of ration cards, supervision and monitoring the functioning of FPSs rest with the State Governments. PDS, till 1992, was a general entitlement scheme for all consumers without any specific target. Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS) was launched in June 1992 in 1775 blocks throughout the country. In 1997, it was made targeted with the introduction of below poverty line. Now PDS is available for two categories of beneficiaries like Below Poverty line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) . The state wise BPL quota is fixed by the Planning Commission of India on the basis of official poverty line which is adjusted to growth of population in interim. The poverty line is based on Per Capita Daily Income standard Rs 17 for the urban and Rs 12 for the rural (As fixed in the year of 1993-1994).

2. PDS in Orissa

PDS in Orissa work through a well organized network of different agencies, like Dept. of Food Supply and Consumer welfare, State Civil Supply Corporation, Food Corporation of India, District Administration, Store Agent, Dealers and Gram Panchayat starting from procurement of food to distribution to the beneficiaries. While the department of Food Supply and Consumer Welfare is the apex body at the state level to decide the policy maters, the State Civil Supply Corporation as well as the Food Corporation of India procures the food grain from the farmers. At the district the district administration deals with distribution through store agent and Panchayat. Responsibility for distribution of food-grain to the consumers vary from district and to district. While Gram Panchayat has been given responsibility to distribute rice in some districts like Bolangir and Nuapara , dealers have been given responsibility in other districts like Puri, Cuttack etc. In some in accessable pockets like in tribal areas, it is distributed in mobile van.

As per the 1997 survey, the total no of house hold under BPL category in Orissa is 45, 02,809, out of 67, 84,127 no of house hold. It amounts 66.377% of total household.

3. Entitlements of beneficiaries under TPDS

Since august 2008, Govt. of Orissa is distributing 25 kg of rice @ Rs. 2.00 per kg to all BPL families through out the state. But in KBK region, APL families are entitled to get 25 kg rice @ Rs. 2.00 per kg. per beneficiary. Besides that each APL family is entitled to get 15 kg of wheat per month @ Rs. 7.00 per kg and four litres of kerosene @ Rs. 9.50 per litres. Besides rice, BPL families are entitled to get 2 kg of sugar @ Rs. 13.50 per kg and four litres of kerosene.

4. Supreme Court on PDS

Hearing the writ petition case ( case no. 196/2001) of PUCL vs Govt. of India , the Supreme Court has passed several interim orders directing both Central and State Govt. for transparent, efficient and effective implementation of food security programme including PDS within last eight years. . Some salient features of the order with regard to PDS is as follows.

a. 35kg. of food grain should be given to BPL card holders at subsidized price.

b. A fixed address is not necessary to get a ration card. Even homeless people are entitled to ration cards.

c. People have full rights to copies of the records of any rations shop, within 15 days period after giving a written request and payment of the prescribed fee, to ensure that there is no black marketing.

d. In the event of corruption in TPDS, strong criminal action should be taken under the Essential Commodities Act.

e. Eligible People who are denied the BPL-TPDS card can apply to a designated authority in the state. In case of denial of the card by the designated authority people can apply to an appellate authority in the district, within 30 days of the denial order from designated authority, who shall give the decision as far as practicable within 60 days. Till the appeal is pending, the Appellate Authority may direct that the order under appeal shall not take effect. This means that an aggrieved person may be issued a temporary BPL-TPDS card.

f. In case the aggrieved person feels, he can lodge an FIR against the officials denying him a card.

g. The monthly ration should be provided to the beneficiary in installments.

h. It is the legal duty of all Fair Price Shop owners, to:

· keep their shops open during the stipulated period

· charge only the prescribed price

· give the BPL cards to the card holders, and not keep these in FPS itself

· not make false entries in the BPL cards

· not store or sell the grain in open market

· not hand over such ration shops to other person/organizations. The license of all shop-owners who do not comply with these provisions should be cancelled.

On dated 8^th May'2002, Supreme Court held that

a. Gram Sabhas are entitled to conduct a social audit into all food/employment schemes and to report all instances of misuse of funds to the respective implementing authorities who shall on receipt of such complaints, investigate and take appropriate action in accordance with law.

b. Gram Sabhas are empowered to monitor the implementation of the various scheme and have access to relevant information relating to , inter alia, section of beneficiaries and the disbursement of benefits. The Gram Sabhas can raise their grievances in the matter set out above and the redressal of the grievances shall be done accordingly.

c. On a complaint being made to the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat/ Collector regarding non-compliance of the order of this court, the concerned CEO/ Collector shall record the salient features of the complaint in a register maintained for this purpose , acknowledge receipt of the complaint and forthwith secure compliance with this Court's order.

d. The responsibility for implementation of the order of this court shall be that of the CEO/Collector. The Chief Secretary will ensure compliance with the order of this court.

5. Why Public Hearing

Proper implementation of any programme and scheme depends the involvement and participation of the people at grass-root level. It also requires constant monitoring of the community. Public Hearing is a tool and being used as open platform to air the grievances of the poor and marginalized, debate and discuss the problem of the people. It is also a platform where the victims, the suffered, the suppressed and exploited and the person responsible for suffering of the people, the officials, media, and intelligentsia come together and share their views about the problem and possible solution.

Keeping it in view, since 2002, "The Humanity" has been engaged in organising mass mobilization and series of public hearings for effective implementation of food security programme in the state in general and Bolangir district in particular. . The organization has also conducted series of training to sensitise the Panchayat representatives, volunteers about food security schemes and Supreme Court judgment in this regard. The organization has also published booklets, pamphlets, posters on this issue as part of mass awareness programme. A band of volunteers has been developed in the district to independently monitor the implementation of food security programme. During the campaign, the organization has taken a lot of issues relating to irregularities, corruption and mismanagement of PDS in Bolangir district starting from making complaint to filling case in High Court.

6. Public Hearing on PDS

A public Hearing on PDS was organized at Bender Gram Panchayat under Khaprakhol Block of Bolangir district on 17.12.09. 250 people including Ward members, BPL and APL beneficiaries, NGOs, Journalists, women SHG members had participated in the programme. This hearing was organized by a Janasunwai Manch ( Committee of the people for Public Hearing), Bender and technical guidance was given by local NGO called "The Humanity". Mr. , local volunteer had coordinated the programme. Though all Block level officials like Block Development Officer, Khaprakhol, Supply Inspector, were invited to the meeting, nobody turned up. However, Mr. Hiradhar Majhi, Naib Sarapanch, Mrs. Sushila Majhi, Samiti Member, Ward members, Mr. Prahallad Padhi, Press Reporter Naxatra TV, Mr. Dusmant Pattnaik, Social Activist, Mr. Pradeep Pradhan, The Humanity, Mr. Siris Khamari, Press Reporter, Doordarshan were present in the meeting.

The objective of the public hearing was as follows:

a. To provide a platform to the people to speak the problems confronted by them in course of accessing the benefits from Public Distribution System implemented by the Govt. and to know how PDS has ensured food security of the poor and deprived section of society.

b. To sensitise the people about their entitlements in PDS

c. To find out collective solution to address the issues relating to implementation of PDS.

d. To sensitise both officials in Government, media and Panchayat Raj representatives about the issues.

Status of PDS and allotment of different items to the beneficiaries in Bender GP as per information received from Gram Panchayat.

Total No. of villages	6
Total Population	2761
Total Family	781
Total beneficiaries covered under PDS	728
Total BPL Families	576
Total APL Families	152
Allotment of Rice given to per BPL families per month	25 kg @ Rs.2/- per kg
Allotment of kerosene given to per BPL families per month	4 litrers @ Rs 9.30 per litre
Allotment of Sugar given to per BPL families per month	2 kg @ Rs. 13.50 per kg
Allotment of Rice given to per APL families per month	25 kg @ Rs.2/- per kg
Allotment of wheat given to per APL families per month	15 kg @ Rs. 7.00 per kg
Allotment of kerosene given to per APL families per month	4 litrers @ Rs 9.30 per litre

Prior to Public Hearing, a survey was conducted to understand the accessibility of the beneficiaries to PDS items within the six months (from June to November'09). Total no. of 176 families were interviewed and their response was documented. At the outset, Mr. Karunakar Bhoi, local volunteer presented the report of the findings of the survey in the meeting. Then the people testified malpractice in PDS and shared their experience in the meeting.

a. As per Govt. Guideline, each BPL family is entitled to get 2 kg of sugar per month. But all the people present in the meeting complained that they have not received sugar since several months. Some beneficiaries said that they have received 1 kg or 1.5 kg of sugar in the month of Nuakhai festival (September). However survey was made among 152 families out of total 576 BPL families in the Panchayat. Within last six months taken for survey, it was found that 152 surveyed families have received just 284 kg of sugar against 1824 kg (12kg per beneficiary within six months). It means each household has received just 1800 gram of sugar during last 6 months. Total 576 no. of BPL families are entitled to get 6912 kg (69.12 quintals). If it is calculated in context of availability of sugar per surveyed household, then it is found that total BPL families have received 1036.8 kg. It means around around 5875.2 kg sugar has been black-marketed within six months. Its market price will be Rs. 2, 11, 507. 20 ( at the rate of Rs. 36/- per kg).

( Please see details in Annexture-1)

b. In respect of distribution of kerosene, survey was made covering 175 families (152 BPL and 23 APL). It was found that total surveyed families have received 2002 liters in six months against 4200 litres ( 24 litres per family). It means each family has received just 11.44 litres of kerosene. It is calculated in context of this figure, then total no. of 728 families of this Panchayat (both BPL and APL) have received 8328.32 litres against 17,472 litres. It means around 9143.68 litres of kerosene has been black-marketed by the dealers. It's market price will be Rs. 1, 82,873.60 ( at the rate of Rs. 20/- per litre). (Please see details in Annexture-1)

C. As per Govt. circular, each APL beneficiary is entitled to get 15 kg of wheat per month at the rate of Rs. 7.00 per kg. When we started survey, it was found that the APL list is neither available in the office of Gram Panchayat nor Block office. During door to door survey, the people complained that dealers have distributed wheat on their own wish without following the list. However, it was found from the Panchayat Office that total no. of APL families are 152. We surveyed only 23 APL cards making personal interview of the beneficiaries. As we found repetition of the cases, the survey was restricted to only 23 families. It was found that most of the families have received only 7 kg of wheat. However, it was found that within six months, total no. of surveyed 23 families has received 374 kg against 2070 kg of wheat they are entitled to get it. Each family has received just 16.20 kg of wheat against 90 kg within six months. If we take this figure in context of accessibility of wheat by 152 APL beneficiaries, they have just received 2462.4 gram against 13,680 kg. It means around 11,202.4 kg has been misappropriated by the dealers. It's market price will be Rs. 1, 68, 036.00( at the rate of Rs. 15 per kg).

D. As per Government Instruction, each BPL beneficiary is entitled to get 25 kg of rice per month. But the beneficiaries complained that they do receive 20 to 23 kg of rice from office of Gram Panchayat. In every packet containing 50 kg worth of rice, there is always shortage of 4 to 5 kg of rice in each packet.

Testimony presented

Shiba Sardhar, BPL beneficiary	Village-Bhaluchuan
I have not got kerosene 2 litres thrice during last six months. The dealer never supplied 4 litres of kerosene in our Panchayat. Though I complained, dealer never responded it.

Parameshwar Bariha, BPL beneficiary	Village-Badimal
I have received 2 litres of kerosene thrice in the last six months. BPL and APL beneficiaries are distributed just 2 litres of kerosene in each month. Dealers distribute kerosene in two days in a month. If one remains absence in these days, he or she losses kerosene in this month.

Narayan Pradhan, APL beneficiary	Village-Bender
Sugar is not distributed regularly. During last six months, I have received 1.5 kg of sugar in one month and 2 kg of sugar in another month.

Megharaj Kumvar, APL beneficiary	Village-Bender
While taking rice from Panchayat, I requested to Panchayat executive Officer to give rice in proper measurement. Because they always give 4 to 5 kg shortage of rice in every month. Panchayat Executive Officer threatened me to put behind the bar, if I talked much. I could not speak anything and left the place. Any complaint invites harsh talk from PEO.

Jayasuddhin Bariha, APL beneficiary	Village-Badimal
I have received APL Card. I have received rice twice in 2008. One day, Panchayat Executive Officer came to my house and said that you are no more APL Card holder. Your card got cancelled. I was not provided rice. I complained to BDO, Khaprakhol about it. He said that he would see it. I am not receiving rice now.

Surya Bag, APL beneficiary	Village-Badimal
Sugar is not distributed in our Panchayat. However in the month of September'08, dealer distributed sugar to the beneficiaries. The day sugar was distributed, my husband was absent. On return I told him about distribution of sugar. On next day, he went to dealer and Panchayat thrice to get sugar. But dealers said that sugar is finished.

Debaki Bhoi, APL beneficiary	Village-Kandeichhapar
She received rice twice in 2008. Panchayat Executive Officer withdrew the card suddenly. Since last one year, she is not receiving rice.

d. It was common complaint that each BPL family gets 20 to 23 kg per month against 25 kg fixed by Govt. On this point clarification from Gram Panchayat is that because of shortage of rice in bags, we could not provide 25 kg rice to each beneficiary per month.

Participating in the meeting, corruption in PDS was discussed in Panchayat Samiti meeting. I have raised this issue that rice , wheat and kerosene is not distributed properly. But nothing happened. I demanded that responsibility for distribution of PDS should be given to the women SHGs. So that they can manage it properly.

After testimony presentation made by the beneficiaries, the details of issues was discussed in the meeting. The following recommendation was unanimously passed for effective implementation of PDS in the Panchayat.

A team will meet BDO, Khaprakhol within five days and discussed about complaints presented in the meeting.
District collector will be presented a memorandum about large scale irregularities, black-marketing of PDS item in the Panchayat and demanded enquiry into the matter and take appropriate legal action against those directly or indirectly responsible for it.
Demand will be made for formation of a monitoring committee at GP level to monitor the implementation of PDS and the administration should recognize it.
Massive awareness needs to be taken up to sensitise the people about their entitlements in Food security programme in general and PDS in particular.

Report prepared by

Karunakar Bhoi

At- Mahurundi, Post- Khaprakhol

Dist- Bolangir

Annexture-1

Details of analysis of Survey made on PDS in the period of six months ( from June to November'09) in Bhanpur Gram Panchayat of Bolangir district. Total No. of 122 beneficiaries surveyed

Kerosene

A BPL family is entitled to get kerosene within six months	24 litres
Surveyed 175 BPL/APL families are entitled to get kerosene within six months	4200 litres
Actual quantity of kerosene received by these 175 surveyed families within six months	2002 litres
Availability of kerosene per household during six months	11.44 litres ( approximately)
Total no. of 728 ( both BPL and APL) beneficiaries deserve to get quantity of kerosene within six months	17,472 lires
Total quantity of actual kerosene received by these 728 families within six months	8328.68 litres
Black-marketing of kerosene within six months in the Panchayat	9143.32 litres
Market price of this black-marketed kerosene ( at the rate of Rs. 20/- per litre)	Rs. 1,82,873. 60/-

Wheat

An APL family is entitled to get wheat within six months	90 kg
Surveyed 43 APL families are entitled to get wheat within six months	2070 kg
Actual quantity of wheat received by these 43 APL surveyed families within six months	374 kg
Availability of wheat per household during six months	16.200 kg
Total no. of 152 beneficiaries deserve to get quantity of wheat within six months ( 152 X 90 kg)	13,680 kg
Total quantity of actual wheat received by these 152 families within six months	2462.4 kg
Corruption in distribution of wheat within six months in the Panchayat	11,202.4 kg
Market price of this black-marketed wheat ( at the rate of Rs. 15/- per lkg)	Rs. 1,68, 036/-

Sugar

A BPL family is entitled to get sugar within six months	12 kg
Surveyed 152 BPL families are entitled to get sugar within six months	1824 kg (18.24 quintals)
Actual quantity of sugar received by these 152 surveyed families within six months	284 kg
Availability of sugar per household during six months	1800 gram
Total no. of 576 beneficiaries deserve to get quantity of sugar within six months	6912 kg ( 69.12 quintals)
Total quantity of actual sugar received by these 576 families within six months	1036.8 kg
Black-marketing of sugar within six months in the Panchayat	5875.2 kg ( 58.75 quintals)
Market price of this black-marketed Sugar ( at the rate of Rs. 36/- per litre)	Rs. 2,11,507.20 /-

UPSC increases Civil Services intake from 580 to 965

2010-01-03T21:51:00.001-08:00

With the government deciding to recruit more IPS officers to meet growing security needs, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has substantially increased the total intake into the Civil Services from 580 in 2009 to 965 in 2010 -- an increase of 385 seats.

Though the total vacancies (965) to be filled through the 2010 Civil Services Examination (CSE) will be meant for all 24 services, including IAS, IFS, IPS, IRS and others, the police services will see a major jump in intake. The police services include IPS and Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar, and Puducherry services.

The decision on increased intake was announced by UPSC through its notification for the CSE-2010 on Saturday.

In fact, home minister P Chidambaram had in November last year announced the decision "to increase the annual batch size of IPS officers from 130 to 150".

As Chidambaram said, even the batch of 2009 - which has just taken its CSE (Main) - will see a few more IPS officers when the final result is announced sometime in May.

In 2008, UPSC had taken 791 candidates, including 120 in IAS, 26 in IFS and 130 in IPS.

"Since the UPSC notification clearly says that the number of vacancies is liable to alteration, it can easily induct 150 IPS officers through the 2009 CSE," said an official.

According to the notification, the Preliminary Examination of the CSE for recruitment to the 24 services will be held on May 23. "The number of vacancies to be filled on the results of the examination is expected to be approximately 965," it said, adding the number of vacancies is liable to alteration.

The decision to increase the intake of IPS officers was taken on the basis of the recommendation of a one-man committee headed by retired IPS officer Kamal Kumar. The report, submitted on October 15 last year, confirmed the home ministry's earlier concerns that there was grave neglect in determining the number of candidates to be recruited to IPS in the CSE during the four-year period 1999-2002.

"As against the number of 85, only 36 candidates were recruited each year, resulting in a shortfall of 49 candidates a year or a total shortfall of 196 candidates," said an official.

The report had recommended that the annual recruitment between 2009-10 and 2019-20 be fixed at 130 and that a Limited Competitive Examination may also be conducted for 7 years to recruit an additional 448 candidates. The ministry had, however, subsequently decided to increase the intake from 130 to 150 to meet the shortfall.

TNN 4 January 2010

Helpline for Bihari migrant labourers working in all parts of India

2009-12-09T15:16:00.001-08:00

The Government of Bihar has decided to open a helpline for extending prompt help to migrant labourers working across different states in the country, official sources said on Tuesday.

In the wake of the rising spate of attacks on Bihari migrant labourers in Maharashtra, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and now Punjab, the state Labour Department is working to open a helpline service for them.

"A helpline for extending prompt assistance to migrant labourers in all states would be operational soon" a senior Labour Department official said.

The state government also plans to issue identity cards to migrant labourers and register their name and personal information with panchayats, they hail from.

It is estimated that more than 50 lakh Bihari migrant labourers or workers including non-skilled and skilled are working all over India. But till date, the Bihar government has no record about the numbers of migrant labourers from state working outside.

Half the population of Bihar — the second most populous state in India with 8.3 crore people — live in poverty.

A latest draft report on Bihari migrant labourers pointed that hundreds of thousands of people from flood hit north Bihar districts have been migrating to various parts of the country in search of livelihood.

The idea to open such helpline was conveyed to the state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar by a Muzaffarpur based social activist Nishindra Kinjalk during campaigning for the last parliamentary polls.

Kinjalk had submitted a proposal to set up Bihar Mitra Kendra in all the states to help the Bihari working in other states.

igovernment

Free condoms through public distribution system in Bihar

2009-12-03T13:51:00.001-08:00

People in Bihar will soon get free condoms at fair price shops. The distribution of free condoms will be made through PDS (public distribution system) shops in the state, official sources said Tuesday.

Bihar State AIDS Control Society (BSACS) has decided to use PDS shops to distribute free condoms in the state. "BSACS plans to distribute condoms through PDS shops to promote their use so that the spread of HIV/AIDS can be prevented," director of BSACS Ravi Parmar said here.

The aim of distributing free condoms at PDS shops is to check and control people from HIV and AIDS, Parmar told IANS. "We want to create awareness about the use of condoms by putting it on the shelves of PDS shops."

Last year, BSACS launched a programme under which barbers were given condoms and asked to distribute them to their customers in order to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Bihar has distributed 1.4 million condoms this year. But the target is to distribute 28 million condoms during 2009-10. The state distributed 10.1 million condoms in 2007-08. The figure was 8.6 million in 2006-07 and 3.5 million in 2002-03.

Officials said most of the condoms were distributed through NGOs. BSACS has tied up with different NGOs and distributes condoms through social marketing at subsidised rates among target groups.

Experts regard Bihar as a highly vulnerable state in connection with HIV/AIDS. The total number of people in Bihar with HIV/AIDS is 24,835.

The condom distribution programme is also expected to aid family planning efforts. Bihar has a population growth rate of 4.1 percent, almost double the national average of 2.1 percent.

December 1st, 2009 / IANS

Ford Foundation Fellowships 2010

2009-12-01T22:41:00.001-08:00

Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program

No Toilet, No Bride Campaign in Rural India

2009-11-18T10:07:00.001-08:00

Two years ago, the "No Toilet, No Bride" campaign was launched in the northern state of Haryana in India. Now, women are refusing to marry unless the potential groom provides them with a bathroom so that they don't have to use community toilets or squat in open fields.

The lack of toilets had been a massive public health problem that had been affecting nearly half of the entire population of India. Now, thanks to this effort, 1.4 million toilets have been built in the past two years.

On a larger scale, hygiene is only part of the issue at hand. Because of the cultural perceptions of women in India, young females who contract urinary tract infections or other health problems because of exposure to such unsanitary environments had previously been avoiding or delaying visits to health workers because they were embarassed or frightened of being associated with social stigmas. However, with the "No Toilet, No Bride" campaign well underway, the risk of of infections due to unhygienic surroundings has been significantly decreased.

Viewed from this broader perpective, this campaign is part of a growing shift in India's culture and society toward women empowerment. In the past, young Indian girls were considered a financial liability because of the wedding dowries; however, as more women choose to marry later, become more financially independent, and gain an education, the cultural views on the role of women is slowly but surely changing.

Additionally, as technology spreads throughout the rural regions of India from urban centers, more people, both women and men, are being exposed to images of their contemporaries living in large apartments and working in offices.

As small a step as this campaign may seem, "No Toilet, No Bride" has proven to be a major force in driving changes for the women of India and continues to help them have more say in decisions made for their futures.

Prospective Brides Demand Sought-After Commodity: A Toilet

Washington Post Foreign Service / Monday, October 12, 2009

An ideal groom in this dusty farming village is a vegetarian, does not drink, has good prospects for a stable job and promises his bride-to-be an amenity in high demand: a toilet.

In rural India, many young women are refusing to marry unless the suitor furnishes their future home with a bathroom, freeing them from the inconvenience and embarrassment of using community toilets or squatting in fields.

About 665 million people in India -- about half the population -- lack access to latrines. But since a "No Toilet, No Bride" campaign started about two years ago, 1.4 million toilets have been built here in the northern state of Haryana, some with government funds, according to the state's health department.

Women's rights activists call the program a revolution as it spreads across India's vast and largely impoverished rural areas.

"I won't let my daughter near a boy who doesn't have a latrine," said Usha Pagdi, who made sure that daughter Vimlas Sasva, 18, finished high school and took courses in electronics at a technical school.

"No loo? No 'I do,' " Vimlas said, laughing as she repeated a radio jingle.

"My father never even allowed me an education," Pagdi said, stroking her daughter's hair in their half-built shelter near a lagoon strewn with trash. "Every time I washed the floors, I thought about how I knew nothing. Now, young women have power. The men can't refuse us."

Indian girls are traditionally seen as a financial liability because of the wedding dowries -- often a life's savings -- their fathers often shell out to the groom's family. But that is slowly changing as women marry later and grow more financially self-reliant. More rural girls are enrolled in school than ever before.

A societal preference for boys here has become an unlikely source of power for Indian women. The abortion of female fetuses in favor of sons -- an illegal but widespread practice -- means there are more eligible bachelors than potential brides, allowing women and their parents to be more selective when arranging a match.

"I will have to work hard to afford a toilet. We won't get any bride if we don't have one now," said Harpal Sirshwa, 22, who is hoping to marry soon. Neem tree branches hung in the doorway of his parents' home, a sign of pride for a family with sons. "I won't be offended when the woman I like asks for a toilet."

Satellite television and the Internet are spreading images of rising prosperity and urban middle-class accouterments to rural areas, such as spacious apartments -- with bathrooms -- and women in silk saris rushing off to the office.

India's rapid urbanization has also contributed to rising aspirations in small towns and villages. On a crowded highway that runs into this village, about 170 miles north of New Delhi, young women, once seen clinging to the backs of motorbikes driven by their fathers or husbands, now drive their own scooters. One recent popular TV ad shows a rural girl sheepishly entering a scooter showroom, then beaming as she whizzes through the parking lot on her new moped.

With economic freedom, women are increasingly expecting more, and toilets are at the top of their list, they say.

The lack of sanitation is not only an inconvenience but also contributes to the spread of diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid and malaria.

"Women suffer the most since there are prying eyes everywhere," said Ashok Gera, a doctor who works in a one-room clinic here. "It's humiliating, harrowing and extremely unhealthy. I see so many young women who have prolonged urinary tract infections and kidney and liver problems because they don't have a safe place to go."

Previous attempts to bring toilets to poor Indian villages have mostly failed. A 2001 project sponsored by the World Bank never took off because many people used the latrines as storage facilities or took them apart to build lean-tos, said Ranjana Kumari, director of the Center for Social Research in New Delhi, who worked on the program.

But by linking toilets to courtship, "No Toilet, No Bride" has been the most successful effort so far. Walls in many villages are painted with slogans in Hindi, such as "I won't get my daughter married into a household which does not have a toilet." Even popular soap operas have featured dramatic plots involving the campaign.

"The 'No Toilet, No Bride' program is a bloodless coup," said Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International, a social organization, and winner of this year's Stockholm Water Prize for developing inexpensive, eco-friendly toilets. "When I started, it was a cultural taboo to even talk about toilets. Now it's changing. My mother used to wake up at 4 a.m. to find someplace to go quietly. My wife wakes up at 7 a.m., and can go safely in her home."

Pathak runs a school and job-training center for women who once cleaned up human waste by hand. They are known as untouchables, the lowest caste in India's social order. As more toilets come to India, the women are less likely to have to do such jobs, Pathak said.

"I want so much for them to have skills and dignity," Pathak said. "I tell the government all the time: If India wants to be a superpower, first we need toilets. Maybe it will be our women who finally change that."

Can caste census change the caste system of India?

2009-11-16T02:37:00.001-08:00

Many argue that since the colonial state conducted the caste census for eight decades, and the caste system has not yet changed, the post-Independence state should also do the same. While some think that caste is like sex and age, about which the census organisation can collect information easily. But caste does not really have the kind of certainty and rigidity frequently attributed to it. This is the burden of much of social science research that has developed during the last sixty years or so.

The demand for caste census assumes that every caste is a discrete unit with clear boundaries determined by the rule of endogamy. It is true that caste boundaries are clear in a village, which is a small community, but the census has to count the members of every caste as they are spread in every village and town in a state and often more than one state. The population of small castes may be counted easily, but most are not so small. The Kolis in Gujarat, the Marathas in Maharashtra, the Jats and Yadavas in north India, the Kammas and Reddis in Andhra, and the Okkaligas and Lingayats in Karnataka are huge castes, with unclear boundaries. The colonial census officials used to point out that they faced enormous difficulties in collating caste data provided by local enumerators.

To whom in a village or town would the census enumerator ask the caste question? Would it be every individual in a household or its head? Do we assume that all members of a household belong to the same caste? In which language would the caste question be asked? In Indian languages the English word 'caste' has more than one equivalent. In Gujarati, for example, there are five words for caste: jat, jati, jnati, nat, varna, kaum. Each has more than one meaning. Let us choose the word jati which is more common. It means sex, religion, sect, caste, tribe, race, and lineage. 'Jati' may also get confused with 'jat' which has different nuances. A caste may also be divided into sub-castes and sub-sub-castes. The word jati is used for such divisions also, and only a close inquiry would reveal the division to which the respondent refers in a particular context.

How will the caste question be framed? Let us assume it is framed as follows: "What is the jati of your household?" The respondent is likely to give a name keeping in mind anyone of the meanings of jati mentioned above. There would therefore be confusion in collating responses.

Let us presume that there is no confusion about the meaning of 'jati', and the head of the household gives a certain caste name. But caste names are not as simple as they appear. It is well known that frequently members of a caste claim to belong to a caste higher than their own, and therefore different members of a caste use different names for themselves. Caste names are also used contextually: one in the context of marriage, another in the context of religion, and a third in the context of claiming a privilege from the state. There is rarely a straight answer to the question: "What is your caste?"

Since migrations have increased during the modern times, almost every caste is much more dispersed now. Members of a single endogamous unit may use different names in different places. The task of aggregating data is therefore much more difficult now than during the colonial censuses.

The definition of caste as an endogamous unit is questionable. Social scientists have known widespread practice of inter-caste hypergamy, i.e., a lower caste gets its girls married into a higher caste but the latter does not give its girls in return. The Rajputs are known to have received brides from a large number of castes all over western and northern India. A caste which appears to be strictly endogamous at the top of its internal hierarchy may be loose at its bottom. Anthropologists have also known tribe-caste hypergamy in many parts of India. Where hypergamous marriages take place, many members of the bride-giver caste or tribe use for themselves the bride-taker caste's name as a mark of higher status. Hypergamy has been a long established negation of caste endogamy. Ancient Hindu law sanctioned it as anuloma marriage. Caste boundaries are fuzzy in such a situation.

Since the boundaries are so loose and fluid, it would be impossible for the Census to collect reliable information. Should the census enumerator in a village or town — usually an ill-paid primary school teacher or lower government servant — record only what the respondent says, or should he investigate 'the truth', i.e., status in the context of societal relationships or in the context of getting reservation benefits? How does he ensure that the respondent does not answer under pressure from the local politicians, which was common during the colonial census operations? Is the enumerator trained to capture the social reality on the ground, that too in a short time at his disposal? If he fails to get the correct information, should his boss decide, like in colonial times decided? In the case of the caste whose population is spread over vast areas, how will the boss reconcile the varied responses? Are there competent anthropologists and sociologists to give reliable opinion?

Caste endogamy is negated by modern inter-caste, inter-religious, inter-regional and international marriages which have increased rapidly after independence. In an inter-caste marriage the husband and wife belong to different castes. To which caste do their children belong? A child of one inter-caste marriage may marry a child of another such marriage. Since such cosmopolitan marriages have been taking place for the last several generations, a large new class has emerged which is caste-less. What will be its fate in the census?

Sometimes a sample survey of caste is suggested as a substitute for Census, but it has even greater complications. The efforts to fix caste and tribe boundaries might also lead to violent conflict. In this situation, should the government become an agency to impose rigidity and should the judiciary endorse it by considering castes and tribes as discrete units? That is, should the state take a retrograde step towards caste-and-tribe bound society?

In the midst of all these ambiguities regarding caste membership, does the Constitution empower the state to force a citizen to declare the name of her 'real' caste if she chooses not to declare it? If she does not declare it, does the state have the power to fix it?

The writer is former professor of sociology at the Delhi School of Economics.

Indian Express / Nov 14, 2009

Crime, Castism and Poverty in Bihar forced Biharis to be the victim of Inter-state migration

2009-11-06T13:14:00.001-08:00

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan did a Raj Thackeray when he said jobs in the state would not be allowed to be taken away by Biharis but backtracked after leaders from Bihar roundly condemned the controversial remark.

"Locals should be given preference in employment in the industries being set up in the state.. It should not happen that people should come from outside...Bihar and get the jobs here," Chouhan said fuelling a political row over the remark seen as unusual for his style of functioning.

Chouhan's remark while addressing a function at Satna, about 500 km from here, yesterday came in for attack from Congress, RJD and LJP with former chief minister Lalu Yadav and ally Ram Vilas Paswan leading the charge against the BJP leader.

Sensing the unease in Bihar, Chouhan clarified he was not against people from other states coming to Madhya Pradesh. "I heartily welcome people coming (to MP) from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, South India, Punjab or from any other state," he said in Indore.

Chouhan said what he meant was that locals are sometimes not skilled workers and therefore must be given training by employers so that the people of the land should get a livelihood. "I made the comments in this context," he said. Lalu termed the remarks as unconstitutional and called him "unstable". He demanded that Chouhan tender an apology.

LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan said, "The statement made by Chouhan is unfortunate... a person holding a top constitutional post should not not react in this manner... he should resign immediately." MNS chief Raj Thackeray had spearheaded a campaign against north Indians in Maharashtra while pitching for 'sons of the soil' policy inviting criticism.

Nov 06, 2009 / Courtesy: Indian express

Public Reply / Comments / Opinion -

By: krishnan

Bihar and Nitish should wake up and create opportunities within Bihar to employ all Biharis. Also, each state in our country should do the same and pull out its employees working in other states to its own state. Why? The local people are helping other states and dictating terms. This will unite India, and every one will be true Indan. Indian constitution should be changed to allow this mechanism. Each state will have to be for its own Manoos and these Manoos can come and stay only in Delhi, as there are are no local manoos in Delhi. As a fedaral Government of India, India can have 25 or 26? Kashmir problems and we will be be pleased to pass a law saying that this law will not apply to all the 26 states. Let us think we are Indians and divide our country. I believe that is what Nehru and our Constitution makers visioned.

By: sagar

UP and Bihar ... problem for all indian developed states. Yesterday raj , today sivaraj .. tomorrow some one . The problem will remain open so stop shouting on others and pls pls pls give some job to your own people in your state. Its really heartbreaking to see a up/bihari working 2000 km from his home and people for 1500 rs a month.

By: Anoy

These Mayawatis, Lallus, etc need to shut up instead they need to look after their own people to bring jobs, education in their states. what these guys are doing instead looting crores of rupees and building statutes of their ugly faces with Tax payers money... Shivraj Chouhan is the CM of MP. Obvioulsy his first choice is to provide jobs for the people of his state. Media need to just stop comparing him to that Raj Thackeray.

By: upendra

The MP CM Shivraj Singh chouhan's comments on migrant workers working in MP indicates that BJP Iis no longer a national party. It is neither mandir wala nor people wala. It is a party without command and commitment. Its leaders are rootless and tooth less. People of this country will through them like a dead fly from milk. They are now cause of many ill in the country and they failed a opposition and these days busy in destroying the national ethos laid by sri Bajpayee. BJP as a political party is a national shame. its leaders atre loosing their mental balance. Bjp should through out such leaders without any loss of time. Bjp should be dissolved and the shuold go back to RSS and work as prachark. they wiil look better in khaki niker. They do not deserve to use name of Shyama Prasad Mukerjee and Atal Behari. Shivraj has gone against the constitution and his utterances is potential enough to create hatered and undermines national unity and there by anti national. Jai Hind.

By: Anil Kohli

This statement by the CM of MP is not a case of rable rousing like Raj Thackrey. We would have to look deeper into this malaise. The fact of the matter is very clear that Congress at Centre and in these states has not developed Bihar and UP, there by the people from these 2 states have been moving out to seek a better life. Congress instead of pointing fingers at Shivraj Singh. should first introspect and accept the fact that they have failed to provide an effective governments not just to these two state but to the country as a whole. It is only a matter of time before other also speak the same language. Life is coming a full circle, congress is going to be confronted for it previous acts of ommission and commission.

By: Shobhit

I am from MP and I work in Bangalore. I must say that this must be the most foolish thing to come out from MP for a long time. Mr. Chauhan, where are the jobs in MP which "others" can steal? All my life, I have never seen anybody doing graduation and getting a decent job in MP. Whom are you fooling?

By: Gopal

It is really shocking that the MP CM is following Raj for wrong reasons. Biharis are known to be hardworking. I have seen many of them working in foundries for 10 to 12 hours, which the locals are not prepared to. It should be said at the same time that Laloos should provide adequate employment to their people locally since Bihar is a very big state with rich minerals. Will Laloo explain why Bihar is still very backward even after 62 years of independence. What has he done to alleviate the backwardness of his state ? They should create an atmosphere which attarcts talents from other states. At the end of the day, we need statesmen who are able to look beyond trivialities.

By: Manoj Jha

I fully support CM OF MP. Ministers from UP and Bihar are doing nothing in thier states and even then peoples of these states elects them over and again. Laloo, Mayawati, Paswans, Mulayams..... and so on are responsible for bad condition of UP

By: Imran

Shame on these kind of politicians who are trying to make peaces of our Motherland when they say he is Bihari or Marathi or Gujrati bacause at the end of the day we all are Indian and any Indian should get job any where in India. Just imagine there is millions of Indians are working out of India and if they want to come back to their homeland then they will be treated like aliens!

By: Anish

Forget it imran, They have gone out of india for their own selfish needs. Are they paying taxes. if they had any love for India they would have stayed back in india & given their valuable services. By the way same statement was giving by Secular Delhi CM Sheila Dixit few years back. Would you call congress also Divisive.

By: Ravi

Not surprising at all. BJP, like its ally Shiv Sena, has always been a divisive force. Inclusive politis is alien to them. So, this latest stupidity is not suprising at all.

By: manoj

thanks Shiv-Raj. People are not against any Indians, but bhiharis bring wrong culture from Lallu, Maya and all goons to ret of country. Its time to stop India from happening 'Bhihari culture'

By: Alex

This is real India. They cant even tolerate their own fellow countrymen. And look westward. Whether that be tiny Europe or giant USA, people from around the world are welcomed. No bias against any outsider no matter what religion, coulour of skin or race one belongs to. This is why they are great nations and we people are just happy about Sachin making 17000 runs. I have my helmet put on to save myself from ensuing stones of words just about to come.

Small People

By: Anish

Alex you r right. But dont you think the problem lies with the governance of these 2 states right from 1947. Every person has the right to migrate to various states in india. But If the infrastructure itself is collapsing bcos of the influx of people, the state government has to bear the ire of aam aadmi of the state, Like what is happening in mumbai. I will squarely blame the state govt of Bihar & Up for all these mess. This laloos & bhaloos have always been in the forefront of twisting the statements. The CM of MP is very right in his statement with respect to migrants. Every state has to look at the welfare of its own people first than towards the people of other state. We have seen the plight of mumbai by the influx of these irresponsible migrants specially from UP & Bihar. UP & biharis say they have a part to play in the development of Mumbai, If so then why they are not using the same tech in developing their own state of UP & Bihar. The MP chief Minister is very much right in his statement. More CMs will soon follow suit . Congress is critisizing the CM But the same Congress CM of Delhi had made a similar statement with respect to Bihari & UP migrants few years back. It is not the fault of people but its the fault of system as well as governance in the state of bihar and UP. The people of these states have to put pressure on its own government before its too late. Laloo has made a right statement in saying that constitution gives right to every citizen to travel & work in any part of India, but is it right that the state govt have to ignore the rights of its own people for accomodating outsiders

By: Jatin

Be assured that Maharashtra or MP or Assam are not the first and surely will not be the last local uprising against uncontrolled migration for Bihar-UP. There is sign that Punjab may be the next. Uncontrolled migration in many states like Assam, Tripura, and West Bengal has changed the demography, economy, living standard for local people. Working condition, wage structure and law and order has deteriorated due to such uncontrolled migration of unskilled and semi-skilled people. India needs to enact laws to protect local culture and implement a true federal democracy where states have more power. The best way forward for a culturally diverse country like India is to acknowledge its diversity and protect that. I hate to speak Hindi or English in many hotels, restaurants, airport in my own state of Bengal. Business establishments must employ people who can speak local language.If I am not happy with Hindi onslaught, then I will support any political party who fights for that.

By: Jay

I know many people will jump to blame Raj and now MP CM. But they need to think why anger against Bihar and UP is cropping up frequently in many states in India. INDIA SHOULD FORMULATE A COHERENT NATIONAL POLICY TO PROTECT LOCAL ECONOMY AND CULTURE, AND GIVE MORE POWER TO STATE GOVERNMENTS TO HAVE A STRONGER SAY IN CONTROLLING DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE. Inter-state migration also needs to be regulated. Industries/Businesses importing people for unskilled or semi-skilled jobs need to follow some pre-determined process to prove that there is no suitable local person to do the job. States getting more outside-state migrant people are not getting any financial or administrative benefit while locals are paying good price in terms of culture, job, and commodity price erosion.

Plot against Biharis

2009-10-21T07:53:00.001-07:00

The Centre's reported move to hike the qualifying marks in Plus II exams for IIT-JEE from 60% to 80% had the Bihar political parties unitedly sitting up and chorusing it would hurt Biharis the most.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar wasted no time in shooting off a letter to Union human resources development minister Kapil Sibal, seeking a rethink. "It is a conspiracy against poor Bihari students, who have been cracking the IIT-JEE wholesale in recent years," said RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, who, too, shot off a protest letter to Sibal.

In his letter, Nitish said the hiked qualifying marks would result in the exclusion of students from the backward regions of the country. "Under the existing system, a larger pool of students, from different socio-economic backgrounds, write the IIT entrance test. This also explains the better performance of students from backward regions in the JEE."

Maintaining that the proposal would favour students from an elite background and discriminate against those with a poor socio-economic status, Nitish said: "Any examination should be inclusive. Any change in the existing examination system will have far-reaching consequences, which are unwarranted," he said, requesting the Union minister to reconsider the proposed change.

Lalu, a former CM, said: "Anguish and frustration have gripped the students and guardians in Bihar. You will appreciate that the marks/grading system is not uniform throughout India and varies from board to board and state to state. The Bihar School Examination Board does not award as high marks as CBSE or ICSE. Yet, many of its students crack IIT-JEE," he said, insisting that the government would inflict great injustice on such students.

BJP also reacted strongly. "Sibal should first go to the villages and see the merit of students there. When there is already an entrance exam, why this Laxman Rekha?" asked senior BJP leader Janardan Singh Sigriwal.

State Congress president Anil Kumar Sharma, however, refused to go against the move of his party's government at the Centre. "Competitiveness has increased so much so that even students scoring 80% find it difficult to get a berth in quality institutes these days," he said, adding that Biharis will not certainly be affected because they do not lack merit.

TNN 21 October 2009

Land dispute carnage in Khagaria district of Bihar

2009-10-02T13:32:00.001-07:00

Hours before dawn broke on the 140th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, suspected Maoist guerrillas gunned down 16 people, including five children, after dragging them out of their homes here in Bihar's Khagaria district, 190 km from Patna. The killings were apparently over a land dispute between Musahars, who are mostly landless Dalits, and Kurmis, who come under Other Backward Castes (OBCs).

"Land dispute was the cause of carnage," Khagaria SP Indranand Mishra said. In a sign of assertion, possibly egged on by the Maoists, Musahars were demanding the Kurmis vacate their land for them. Another senior police officer, who did not wish to be named, said the killings could be the work of Naxalites. "The extremists took up the cause of Musahars who are Maoist sympathisers," he said.

Some time after Thursday midnight, at least 24 gunmen descended on Amousi village, where 21 villagers were asleep, guarding their farmland and cattle. They were woken up, dragged out of their homes and their hands tied up. The children who were killed in this carnage were all between 10 and 15 years of age.

However, before the bloodbath began, four of the 21 captives managed to escape under the cover of darkness. Of the 17, one Paro Singh survived as he lay pretending to be dead even after the killers' bullet -- they were shooting indiscriminately -- missed him.

As the assailants left, Paro Singh ran to the village and informed the villagers. The police reached five hours later, and recorded the statement of Singh who said he could identify 10 of the killers as they were local Musahars.

Paro told TOI that local Musahars four months back had threatened him and his family with dire consequences if he did not vacate his farmland. "We had petitioned district officials, but it was useless," he said, and added that he never expected Musahars to resort to such an extreme step for grabbing his land.

Musahars, the poorest among poor Dalits in Bihar, are so named for their rat-catching skills. Many of them eat rodents. While 14 of the victims belonged to backward Kurmi caste, two were Kushwahas, also OBCs.

Khagaria has not witnessed caste clashes before. In fact, Bihar, too, hasn't seen caste war for years -- the last one taking place in 2000 when at least 34 OBC Yadavs were killed in Aurangabad's Miapur village in retaliation of the killing of an equal number of upper caste Bhumihars in Jehanabad's Senari village in 1999.

The attack amounts to a political setback for CM Nitish Kumar, who has been trying to build a grand alliance between non-Yadav OBCs and the Maha-Dalits -- that is all Dalits except Chamaars and Paswans. The assault on Kurmis hits at Kumar's core constituency.

Not surprisingly, Lok Janshakti Party's Ramvilas Paswan has said, "Nitish has a lot to explain... He should take moral resonsibility and resign."

Alauli block, under which Icharwa falls, has seen Maoist violence in the past also. Two policemen were killed, a farm house and a brick kiln blown and six tractors of a road construction company burnt by Maoists in different incidents during the last three years in the area.

At the time of going to the press, cops claimed to have arrested eight of the 10 named accused besides four suspects. A massive combing operation was on to nab others, the SP said, and added that the police are probing if it was a Maoist operation.

TNN 3 October 2009

Stop Anti-Bihari Hype

2009-09-28T17:56:00.001-07:00

Special anti-Naxal commando (COBRA) force from October 2009

2009-09-17T06:09:00.001-07:00

Crossing over boundaries of the State by armed members of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) will no longer be easy. From October, activities of Maoists operating in Bihar and Jharkhand will be under surveillance of the special anti-Naxal commando force, Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA).

The Central government decided to raise this dedicated battalion nearly two years ago to tackle Naxals. Currently, its first batch of commandos is undergoing training in various parts of the country. After training, which is likely to end by September 30, they will be deployed in four worst Naxal-hit states, including Bihar.

Sources said that initially one battalion of CoBRA, which has been raised on the pattern of Andhra Pradesh's Greyhounds, will be stationed at Gaya to check influx of Left wing extremists from Jharkhand into Bihar and vice-versa.

"The land for the battalion's base in Gaya has been acquired," said a senior police official. "Gaya has been selected as its base as it is a Naxal-hit area and provides a safe passage to Maoists to criss-cross the two neighbouring states, Jharkhand and Bihar. The base would start full-fledged operations by the end of this fiscal," he said.

While the headquarters of CoBRA battalions in Bihar will be at Gaya, the elite force would monitor its operations in Jharkhand from its Hazaribagh base.

At present, the Bihar police have to depend either on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) or Special Task Force (STF) to carry out operations in 16 Naxal-affected districts in the State. "Efforts are on to raise 10 more units of the STF for the purpose," the police official said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has outlined the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for deployment of CoBRA under its Action Plan II.

HT / September 14, 2009

Where is social justice for Chhot Jaat (so called lower caste) after Kamandal and Mandal of our leaders

2009-08-25T18:49:00.001-07:00

Dear friends,

20 years ago I passed I. Sc (+2 in science) from Langat Singh College (most famous college north to ganga in Bihar, at Muzaffarpur). I had a goal to become a doctor, a neurosurgeon. If some one would have seen me after May 1989, he would have felt easily that I am infected with the political bug. I was reading, but I knew that it was not adequate. A year before, Mr. Karpoori Thakur had died and Mr. Laloo Prasad was the leader of opposition in the assembly.

1989 August - September some time, opposition leaders inside muzaffarpur zail were beaten and there was a meeting in tilak maidan. Laloo Prasad was one of the members of the gamot on the dais. Even then he was passing vulgar comments about the collector (dont know if it was she). After parliament elections, future of congress government in Bihar was clear. It was January 1990, my father not happy with my preparation, 'instructed' me to go to Patna and get coaching for my pre medical test. At Patna I had my childhood friend, an active member of a Dalit organisation (dont know exactly but he behaved so). He helped me a lot; in exchange I had to listen to his stories of Dalit oppression and response by some people . . . sometime his abusing also . . . . My friendship continued . . . till date . . . he is an administrator, comes to receive me and is a big moral booster in this polarised world.

1990 assembly elections and laloo jee became the cm. Through kamandal and mandal he became stronger. But I remained in Patna . . . infected. 1991, January, poisoned air, I was going back from my teacher's house, saw people in line for human chain for communal harmony . . . I too joined. Suddenly laloo prasad came. . "line mat torana, line mat torana" . . . then I remembered, it was ramna road ( one of the muslim dominated areas- along Patna university, sushil modi was ruffled there) where I was standing. Got Pics. laloo prasad kept going. . . . rajeev gandhi died and I came home in my village. I got admission at BHU for BSc course. As the train crossed Ganga after Mugalsarai, I told my friend (not the above mentioned one) that the way laloo is going; it will take 20 years to get rid of him. My friend replied, if so, it will be all lost. I agreed but reaffirmed - we have no option. but will he do anything for Bihar? Even if he does not do anything . . . . by the other end of Ganga, we promised to each other, no more political discussion.

With number of massacres, many died, many became weak . . . .but one man, laloo prasad became stronger. He was doing no good for any one. His slogan of social justice (for that reason, slogan of many others as well), remained non functional. Many people were fighting for social justice earlier than laloo was physically born. His role was of a silent shrewd spectator (even in incidences of destruction of infrastructure of our basic fundamentals) as he made it free for all. Corruption was at its top - had to be - as one of my friends in administration (earlier a strong supporter of laloo) said - "ye samajik nyay kee sarkar kab chali jayegi pata nahin, so, try to earn as you can!). One memorable thing, charwaha vidyalaya. Which could not run . . . tain- tain- fiss! But laloo kept going. Slowly people understood . . . I passed my MBBS, got married. . . preparing for my pg . . I was staying at choudhury tola at Patna. It was election time; I had come out to call my wife from a STD booth. Laloo Prasad came in his popular bus- "hamen maloom hai ki yahan jyada bolane ki jaroorat nahin hai . . .ye vote ka raj hai, laloo ka raj hai, mane kee 'chhot ka raj hai, akaliyat ka raj hai" . . . laloo prasda kept going . . . .I thought of filing a proprietary case against him. This word "chhot", "chhotaka jaat", was my uncle's word, how can he copy that? And then it flashed in my mind how he was able to stay in power without doing anything! But I had to prepare for my pg. Came to Chennai. My brother got in to law studies. I kept saying him to come to Chennai but he did not.

Next elections and laloo was almost wiped out . . . . survived due to Sonia jee. One of his companions, master of changing colours, Shivananda Tiwari, was harassed at Patna book fair - he screamed "pandraha saal se kareja par daal ragar rahen hain aur aage bhee ragarenge!" An expression of over confidence! Strengthened by what? By my uncle's word- whose proprietery was stolen by laloo- "CHHOT JAAT"

Ultimately people gave clear verdict. Now, people keep worrying about activities of nitish kumar . . . worrying about revival of laloo . . .my brother has joined patna high court. . . . what will happen to laloo?

Last month one of my caste man, a student of Isc, hit on the vertex of a dusadh lady . . . village panchayat fined him with 25, 000. He (his father) refused to pay. With lot of difficulty dusadh was helped by some people (same people who used to help them before laloo came in to being) and he filed case in a district court. My brother filed a case in high court for arrest of the offender. Free of cost. (With us it halogens unconsciously - our tradition. Our family's tradition. My father had appeared for 10th exam of his friend who failed due to english for 8 times (those days - before karpoori - english was compulsary), got caught and fought the court case for 12 years to get acquited).

In last 11 years, I never charged a ingle paisa to any one who came for advice to me, even in the days of "KANGALI". My brother pleaded that in addition to this being an attempt to murder, because these people are poor, they are being troubled. Judges asked then how are you here? They must have spent few thousands. . I am doing social service. Judge laughed. "such people vanish at district level". Case was thrown to dustbin. My brother is a fool. "moorkh". He had appealed to human rights commission, they are yet to turn.

Did we learn anything over last 20 years? My uncle still uses "CHHOT JAAT". He neither attended any meeting of laloo, nor he is bothered, he is a farmer. I have to listen for him, as I come out of my village, of my state. My uncle does not even know what laoo did with his "WORD". He does not perceive the venomicity of the word.

I must tell you that its not problem of Bihar alone, has been proved by laloo being at the helm of the central cabinet for 5 years. Its a national problem as similar people exist in other parts of the country as well (both my uncle and my laloo uncle). Concerned people need to think the root cause.

And I forgot to say, my father's title is 'thakur' but he did not put the same for we both brothers.

Dr. Manish Kumar

Why people burn trains in Bihar ?

2009-08-25T15:34:00.001-07:00

A group of students travelling without tickets in an air-conditioned railway coach in the northern Indian state of Bihar were recently asked by the ticket examiner to vacate their seats.

Nothing unusual about that, but, in this case, the students took umbrage, and set four coaches on fire.

Panic-stricken passengers on the train travelling between the Indian capital, Delhi, and Rajgir in Bihar, ran out with their bags at Bihta station while the police and railway security looked on helplessly.

Railway authorities totted up the losses: each air-conditioned coach costs eight million rupees ($161,000; £98,000) to manufacture, and the losses from the Bihar incident cost the railways nearly $650,000.

This incident again proved that burning trains have become a popular form of protest and vandalism in Bihar.

Rising violence

In June, two passenger intercity trains were attacked and six coaches burnt down by a mob at Khusurupur station - the attackers were angry with the railways after it scrapped an illegal "halt" for an intercity train at the station.

In Bihar, people routinely hop on to trains from such illegal "halts" where trains are forced to stop.

Last October, a mob burnt down two air-conditioned coaches of an express train connecting Bhagalpur with New Delhi at Barh railway station.

The police are often helpless in face of widespread vandalism. They were protesting against violence against migrant workers from Bihar in the faraway western city of Mumbai.

Train travel in Bihar has been always fraught with dangers with aggressive ticketless travellers and train robbers looting passengers. Burning down trains is just the latest threat.

Multiple dangers

But why do people in Bihar vent their ire on trains and set them on fire? A senior police official, Neelmani, says people think authorities will take note of their grievances if they burn important public property like trains.

"When you target railways, you disrupt movement of trains for several hours and then your voice reaches the concerned authorities," he said.

Railway official Gyan Prakash Srivastava says people who attack trains have no respect for public property.

"I believe it is because of the lack of public awareness and respect for government property."

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is dismayed by the train burning spree in his state.

"Railways are our lifeline and a government asset. I have asked my officials to go through station video footage and arrest the vandals," he told the BBC.

In fact, trains are attacked in Bihar over every other issue. Earlier this month, students protesting the murder of an owner of a private teaching institute ransacked the Lakhisarai railway station and disrupted the movement of trains.

Train travel is unsafe in Bihar

The very next day, four passengers were shot inside an inter-state train at Punpun railway station after a row between two groups over seat sharing. Locals say travelling by train in Bihar is becoming increasingly dangerous.

"Anything can happen to you - you could be robbed, drugged, shot for a seat, thrown out of the coach for refusing a bribe to the police, or have your coach burnt down by an angry mob," says Sanoj Kumar, a bank official who is a daily intercity passenger.

There is even a gang going around whose members routinely rob passengers after spiking their food and drink with sedatives.

Every day, five to six passengers drugged and looted by the gang are reported in Bihar, says Umesh Sinha, railway superintendent of police.

Some of these victims have died of an overdose or have been admitted to hospital, he said.

Then there is the problem of illegal "halt stations" where trains are forced to stop by local people - there are more than 100 of them in the state, many with actual names: some are named after local politicians and one even after a former president.

And yet while rail travel is unsafe in Bihar, seven federal railway ministers have come from the state.

BBC / 24 August 2009

Kuju Coalfield Fire, Jharkhand - Everyone is now paying the price for illegal mining by coal mafia since, now the routes (National Highway-33) taken by the vehicles are circuitous, unsafe and difficult.

2009-08-21T11:29:00.001-07:00

A vast portion of National Highway-33 in eastern India connecting Ranchi with Patna, the capitals of two neighbouring states of Jharkhand and Bihar respectively, caved-in near a place named Kuju in Ramgarh district of Jharkhand on 10 August 2009.

This caving in of the highway has been attributed to a fire that has been raging from the underground coal mines in the vicinity since early morning hours of Sunday (August 10). This happened on the stretch between Loha Gate and Kuju where instances of fire from unused or closed mines are believed to be frequent.

Reportedly, the area is rich in coalfields and was once under mining by Central Coal Fields Limited (CCI). Later, it was left abandoned, where some villagers did illegal mining and left the coal reserve exposed within the earth, which caught fire when the black diamond came in contact with air.

Consequent to the raging fire, the district administration and police officials have stopped all kind of vehicular traffic on the highway. "Early morning at four, a portion of National Highway-33 got caved in. We have blocked the highway so that nobody can inadvertently enter here. The district administration and police officials have cordoned off the area with red cord barring any traffic inflow," said B K Singh, General Manager, Central Coal Fields Limited (CCL).

The underground mine fire was so intense that it created a deep crater on the highway disrupting the traffic and causing panic among the people residing in the nearby villages. Now, the families from these villages have been asked to vacate their homes and move on to some safer place until the fire is completely doused off.

There are around 52 homes in the surrounding villages. "The situation is really worse. We are residing in this village for the past 30-40 years. CCI (Central Coal Fields Limited) was looking after it but they are unable to do anything. Even government can't do anything. We have been given two days to vacate the village," said Santosh Kumar, a resident of a village near Kuju.

The coal mine fire has spread to the entire underground area and the solid coal base within the earth has got reduced to ashes and now slowly cracks have started appearing on the surface of the earth.

ANI

The devastating mine-fire under National Highway-33 connecting Patna with Ranchi near Kuju in Jharkhand has increased the distance between the two capitals. Reports said that the crater formed on the Ranchi-Patna Highway further widened on Tuesday.

Another crater has appeared near the old one near Loha Gate in Kuju in Ramgarh district. The diameter of crater has increased from 15 to 20 feet. The other crater is 30 metre from the Highway and is smaller in size. It is feared that more crater would come up if the fire is not brought under control soon.

Now the routes taken by the vehicles are quite circuitous. They have to go through either Bokaro or Ghato. The smaller vehicles are, however, still going through the old route via a newly built diversion along side the subsided Highway stretch. Nobody can guess how long will it take for the normalization of traffic.

The underground fire is now taking calamitous proportion. It is now an uphill task for the Coal India Limited. Local people said that had the warning signals been timely addressed the situation would not have worsened to such an extent. "We are using chemicals, foams and water to control the intensity of underground fire. Once this is done we will have to go in for open cast mining to extinguish the fire completely, and take out coal and the area will be refilled with earth," said CIL Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Rajan Kumar Saha. He said that it would take at least three months to construct a diversion near Kuju. It will be done under the CCL community development porgramme. The diversion would be builtd by the National Highway Authority of India and the CCL would provide the money. Saha attributed the devastating underground fire to miscreants involved in illegal mining.

Coal is highly combustible and when it comes in contact with oxygen it forms carbon di oxide and carbon-monoxide besides generating a lot of heat. When the heat does not dissipate it accumulates and comes out in flames. He denies that warning signals in the form of smoke billowing out from the mine were not taken seriously. He said that the CCL had abandoned that mine. The smoke started coming out of the ground only just a few days ago and the CIL took immediate action, he claimed.

The district administration as well as the local people, on the other hand, claims that the smoke had been coming out from the mines for the last several months.

Four air-conditioned Train bogies torched by students in Bihar

2009-08-18T05:45:00.001-07:00

2009 Aug 18 (ANI): A group of students on Tuesday set four air-conditioned bogies of the Patna-Delhi Shramjeevi Express afire at the Bihta Railway station which falls between Patna and Mighal Sarai Junction in Bihar.

According to sources, the students resorted to violence after Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel beat some of them up at the railway station during a ticket checking drive. The group, comprising about 15 students, had boarded the train at Ara. They were spotted by RPF personnel and forced out of the coaches at Bihta station.

The security men then bolted the doors of the bogies from inside following which the students set the coaches on fire. The situation is still tense in the area.

2009 Aug 18 (PTI) At least five persons were injured when they resisted armed robbers who looted passengers travelling in the Patna-Pune Express near Ara railway station in Bihar, officials said today.

Twelve people armed with pistols and sharp-edged weapons boarded the coach at Ara and went on a looting spree when the train resumed its onward journey to Buxar late last night. They snatched several cellphones, watches and cash worth about Rs 2.5 lakh, and beat up the passengers who resisted, besides the train ticket examiner Dinesh Paswan.

The five persons, including two railway employees, who sustained injuries, were given first-aid at Buxar station. The gunmen later pulled the chain, removed the hosepipe and escaped under the cover of darkness at a place between Jagdishpur and Dumaraon stations on Patna-Mughalsarai section under Danapur division of the East Central Railway, they said.

The passengers lodged a complaint with the Government Railway Police at Buxar.

A seven-year-old girl sacrificed for witchcraft in Motihari, Bihar

2009-08-16T23:07:00.001-07:00

Samay Live: Motihari, Aug 16 A minor girl was allegedly sacrificed by sorcerers at Khagni village of Bihar's East Champaran district, the police said.

Superintendent of Police Umesh Kumar said the body of Jhunni Kumari (7), the daughter of Ram Lal Mahto, was found yesterday in a gunny bag from a sugarcane field in the village.

The girl was missing since August 12, Kumar said adding that the girl's head was tonsured and marked with vermillion on her forehead.

A part of her leg was chopped, he said. Shanti Devi, the girl's mother, who suspected that her daughter was the victim of sorcery, lodged a complaint against Mogal Sah, Ram Lakhan Mahto and Ram Pukar Mahto.Ram Pukar Mahto was arrested and raids were conducted to nab others, the police said.

Aug 16 (IANS): The mutilated body of a seven-year-old girl who had gone missing two days ago has been found in Motihari district of Bihar, police said Sunday, adding that it looked like a case of human sacrifice. Two people, including a witch doctor, have been arrested.

A villager found the body of Gudia Saturday. She was a resident of Khagni village in Motihari and had gone missing two days ago.

The family alleged that the girl was sacrificed to appease a Hindu god. "The girl's throat was silt, her legs chopped off, her head was tonsured and there was a red mark on it. It looks like a clear cut case of human sacrifice," a police officer said.

A police complaint has been filed and six people named as accused.

For more Bihar News, Music, Movie and much more visit at http://bihar.ozg.in

Angika | Bhojpuri | Maghi | Maithili | Bihari Music

2009-08-16T14:19:00.000-07:00