An Empowered Consumer is an Asset to the Nation

Dr. H. R. Keshavamurthy*

           24th December is observed as “National Consumer Rights Day” in India, since on this day the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was enacted. The Consumer Protection Act provides for effective safeguards to consumers against various types of exploitations and unfair dealings, relying mainly on compensatory rather than a disciplinary or preventive approach.

With a large consumer base of 1.27 billion ( 52% males and 48% females) constituting nearly 17.31% of the world’s population, the demography of Indian consumer shows an interesting pattern pointing towards a young consumer base which believes in market mechanism. 30 % of the population lives in urban areas and the rest in rural. The diversity itself is a major challenge for any consumer protection regime.

The Constitution of India provides for protection of rights of an individual and also enjoins the State to adhere to the Directive Principles. The source of consumer rights lies in the Fundamental Rights enshrined in our constitution. The Consumer Protection Act provides for protection of the basic rights of a consumer.

Consumer Movement in India

Though the consumer movement in India is as old as the  trade and commerce, yet, there was no systematic movement in the country for safeguarding the interests of consumers till the Consumer Protection Act was enacted in 1986, based on the United Nations guidelines with the objective of providing better protection of consumers’ interests.  The Act applies to all goods and services unless specifically exempted, and covers private, public, and cooperative sectors and provides for speedy and inexpensive adjudication. The Act also provides for setting up of Consumer Councils to promote consumer welfare. The Act seeks to promote and protect the following six rights of the consumers:

·         The right to be protected against marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property;

·         The right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods and services, as the case may be, to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices;

·         The right to be assured of access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices;

·         The right to be heard and assured that consumer interest will receive due consideration at appropriate forums;

·         The right to seek redressal against unfair or restrictive trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers;

·         The right to consumer education.

The Consumer Protection Act

The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 lays down the rights of the consumers and provides for promotion and protection of the rights of the consumers. The first and the only Act of its kind in India, it has enabled ordinary consumers to secure less expensive and often speedy redressal of their grievances. The Act mandates establishment of Consumer Protection Councils at the Centre as well as in each State and District, with a view to promoting consumer awareness. The provisions of this Act cover ‘goods’ as well as ‘services’.  The goods are those which are manufactured or produced and sold to consumers through wholesalers and retailers.  The services are in the nature of transport, telephone, electricity, housing, banking, insurance, medical treatment, etc. 

A written complaint, can be filed before the District Consumer Forum for goods/services valued upto Rs.20 lakh, State Commission for value upto Rs one crore and the National Commission for value above Rs one crore, in respect of defects in goods or deficiency in service.  The service can be of any description and the illustrations given above are only indicative. However, no complaint can be filed for alleged deficiency in any service that is rendered free of charge or under a contract of personal service.

The remedy under the Consumer Protection Act is an alternative in addition to that already available to the aggrieved persons/consumers by way of civil suit. In the complaint/appeal/petition submitted under the Act, a consumer is not required to pay any court fees but only a nominal fee. Consumer Fora proceedings are summary in nature. The endeavour is made to grant relief to the aggrieved consumer as quickly as in the quickest possible, keeping in mind the provisions of the Act which lay down time schedule for disposal of cases. If a consumer is not satisfied by the decision of a District Forum, he can appeal to the State Commission. Against the order of the State Commission a consumer can come to the National Commission.

Government Initiatives

·         ‘Jago Grahak Jago’  Though the consumer movement is slowly gaining ground in our country as the success of consumer movement mainly depends upon the level of consumer awareness generated in the country by educating the consumers about their rights and responsibilities. Within India itself, the level of consumer awareness varies from State to State depending upon the level of literacy and the social awareness of the people. Educating more than 120 crores people of various categories of population, particularly those in rural areas where consumers are more susceptible to exploitation, on various subject matters of consumers interests being dealt by different Ministries / Departments, is a herculean task. For the 11th plan the scheme has received an allocation of Rs. 409 crores to launch an effective Multi- Media campaign. The scheme under the brand name of ‘Jago Grahak Jago’ has carved out a niche for itself. For the 12th plan an allocation of Rs. 409.29 crores has been made.

·         Consumer Welfare Fund

The Central Excise and Salt Act, 1944 (1 of 1944) was amended in 1991 to enable the Central Government to create the Consumer Welfare Fund where the money, which is not refundable to the manufacturers etc., is credited. The money credited to the Fund is to be utilized by the Central Government for the welfare of the consumers in accordance with the Rules framed. The fund has been set up by the Department of Revenue, but the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution will operate it.The overall objective of the consumer Welfare Fund is to provide financial assistance to promote and protect the welfare of the consumers and strengthen the voluntary consumer movement in the country particularly in the rural areas.

·         Consumer Clubs

This scheme was launched in 2002, according to which a consumer club shall be set up in each Middle/High/Higher Secondary school/college affiliated to a government recognized Board/University. This scheme has been decentralised and transferred to the Governments of States/UTs with effect from 1.04.2004. All interested NGO/VCOs shall apply to the Nodal Officer in the Food, PD & Consumer Welfare Department of the respective States/UTs.

·         Promoting Research

This scheme has been launched with a view to sponsor research and evaluation studies in the field of consumer welfare to provide solution to the practical problems being faced by the consumers, to sponsor seminars/workshops/ conferences on the consumer related topics, and to have necessary inputs for the formulation of policy/programme/scheme for the protection and welfare of the consumers. The Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, has been identified as the nodal organization to administer the scheme.

·         National Consumer Helpline

A National Consumer Helpline project has been established in collaboration with Delhi University, Department of Commerce. Consumers can call from anywhere in India to the number 1XXX-XX-4000 from MTNL/BSNL lines free of charge and get advice regarding their problem as a consumer. The Helpline has been formally launched on 15.3.2005 on the World Consumer Rights Day and is functional on all working days from 9.30 A.M to 5.30 P.M.

·         CORE Centre

The Consumer Online Resources and Empowerment Centre has been conceived to function as the most scientific and effective system of collection, dissemination and redressal of consumer related information and complaints. It was launched on the World Consumer Day i.e. on 15th March, 2005. Consumers can now register their complaints in the CORE Centre through the website www.core.nic.in. They can also have access to wealth of information regarding Consumer issues through this website.

·         State Consumer Welfare Fund

States/UTs have to set up their own Consumer Welfare Fund by making a one-time contribution of an amount proportionate to the number of districts, by the Centre (Department of Consumer Affairs) and the State Government in the ratio 50:50 (Centre : State). In case of special category States, like North Eastern States, Sikkim, J&K, Uttaranchal A&N Islands and Lakshdweep the ratio will be 90:10 (Centre : State).

National Consumer policy

Increased global trade and the development of Internet have provided new opportunities for consumers, leading to new forms of unfair and unethical business practices. With the change in the global scenario and the market dynamics the consumers have also changed. Children and young adults and women – who often lack experience as consumers – are more significant forces in markets, as are the growing number of older adults who sometimes face unique marketplace challenges. This requires consumer protection authorities to be more vigilant and active. The sophistication of retail markets is increasing the role of consumers. The greater empowerment of consumers has also led to greater responsibilities for them to manage their own affairs. Here comes the need to make suitable policy prescriptions to protect consumer rights.

The draft National Consumer policy envisages to promote the rights and interests of consumers and ensure a high level of consumer protection, contributing to protecting the health, safety and economic interests of consumers as well as  promoting their right to information, education and to organise themselves to safeguard their interests. It will endeavour to achieve effective implementation of various consumer welfare schemes through progressive consumer related legislations and active participation of all stakeholders; Central and State Governments, academic and research institutions, schools and colleges, voluntary consumer organizations and civil society, business and above all the consumers themselves to create an effective consumer movement in the country. 

.

An empowered consumer is an asset to the nation and therefore today, it is widely acknowledged that the level of consumer awareness and protection is one of the major indicators of development in any country.

(PIB Features.)

******

24th December is observed as “National Consumer Rights Day” every year.

*Director (M&C), Press Information Bureau, Kolkata.

Democracy Moves Forward

Dr. M. Manzoor Alam

The Delhi Assembly elections results have brought total rout to Congress Party and near-victory to BJP. However, the heavy backing to Aam Aadmi Party has surprised us all, including psephologists, “scientists” of election.

We welcome the change as it is the unchangeable nature of life even though all of it has not been to our liking. The most likeable part of it is the rise of AAP, which is the only party in India that has garnered so much of support without resorting to religious, casteist, sectarian or class appeal.

That is a real, substantial achievement for a secular democracy: citizens contesting elections as citizens, not as members of a certain religion, caste, sect or class. Their vote support too has come without these considerations.

The elections were so keenly fought that no party has emerged with even a working majority, much less absolute majority.

Let us hope that whoever forms the government tries to consolidate and further build on the substantial achievements of Ms Sheila Dixit’s three consecutive terms. Let it also avoid her occasional mistakes which, after all, is human.

A democracy always moves forward, building on and consolidating the achievements of previous governments, without harping too much and too long on the alleged drawbacks of the predecessor regime.

Let us all join in cheering the new dispensation and wish it well.  g

Poisoning the Hindu Mind

Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam

The single specialisation of RSS since 1920s has been sowing hatred and hostility in the Hindu mind against religious minorities, particularly Muslims and, to a lesser degree, Christians.

One of the themes of the anti-Muslim propaganda: the Muslim birth rate is so high that by 2035, Muslims will become the absolute majority in India.

The latest round of demographic propaganda began recently with the exhortation of RSS joint general secretary Dattareya Hosable to Hindus to produce more children to “maintain the demographic balance”.

Upto here it was ok. But soon the RSS website came up with the following canard: “… In 2035, Muslims will become absolute majority in India (total population: 197.7 crore). Conversion, threatening, rioting, slaughtering, terrorism, intrusion, polygamy, avoiding birth control are major tools for Muslims to reach that figure within the said period”.

This is nothing but hate propaganda based on falsehoods. How does threatening, rioting, slaughtering, terrorism and intrusion increase the Muslim population? Where are Muslims threatening, rioting and slaughtering?
Every few years the RSS comes up with this and people regularly explain that this is not the case. According to some extreme scenarios, Muslims may overtake (which is not possible keeping other factors in mind) Hindus in 250 years if one goes by RSS standards. That is 2263, not 2035.

That is not going to happen as the new global trends show. Worldwide Muslim population growth rate is falling and other, formerly stagnant declining populations like Russian, Japanese, French and Israelis are growing steadily. India is no different.

There is a general falling trend in population growth across communities over the last six and a half decades in India. In the earlier years of freedom every woman had seven children, which over the decades became six, five, four, three and two and a half. Muslims have not been different, except marginally. The size of the Muslim family has shrunk drastically, like any other.

The small, virtually insignificant, margin is explained by greater poverty and illiteracy among Muslims. The poor and the illiterate always have more children. In the years ahead Muslim poverty and illiteracy will decrease. So will their population. Their relative population will shrink, not outgrow others.  g

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Born in Mecca in 1888, Maulana came to India in 1890 as a child. The best part of his formative years was spent in Calcutta. In 1916, he was to meet Gandhiji in Calcutta, and was greatly influenced by his speeches.

Azad joined the freedom movement of India, and was arrested by the British for his seditious writings, and detained in jail at Ranchi for four years. On his release in January, 1920 he met Gandhiji in the latter's Sabarmati Ashrama, and became his ardent follower.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a profound scholar, a great patriot and a veteran statesman. He was an outstanding Muslim whom no provocation and no pressure could deflect from the path of nationalism. He became the symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity, enjoying in a large measure the confi­dence of both the communities even on trying occasions.

Azad was highly respected by the Muslims, even when he was very young, as he was a great scholar of merit. He was a reputed scholar of the Quran. As an orator in Urdu, he was unrivalled. He edited the famous paper Liasanus Side at the age of fifteen. Poet Hali described Azad as 'an old head on young shoulders'.

Azad took part in all the Congress movements launched by Gandhiji, and was jailed number of times as a freedom fighter. Azad became the President of the Congress Party in 1940, as a prominent member of the Congress. But his dream of one composite nation was shattered, when India was divided on the eve of her independence. He became a sad man.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad died on 22 February, 1958.




http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?topic=23115.0

A time to recall the stalwarts

The HIndu http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-time-to-recall-

the-stalwarts/article5318102.ece

Narendra Modi: 4-in-One

Narendra Modi: 4-in-One
By
Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam

We are told Narendrabhai Modi, who is a 4-in-One product, would be best suited for India’s prime ministership.

The first quality that he has is that he is a liar. He, and people like him, think that lying is an essential “quality” for a successful politician.
We have no opinion on that, but every time he tells a lie he is caught. That means he is not good at even lying.Recently, he said that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru did not attend Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s funeral. Soon people came out with the fact that Pandit Nehru was very much there at his colleague’s funeral.
The elaborate falsehood that he resorted to about Uttarakhand disaster evacuation was another example of his lying.

His second quality is that he is a miniature-sized Hitler, a good consolation for the contemporary Hitler lovers in India. He has all the hatred for Muslims that Hitler had for Jews. He also shares Hitler’s hatred for Leftists and liberals.

His third feature is that he destroys his patrons like he did with L K Advani and other senior BJP leaders. A day may come when he would cut the RSS to size the way the offspring of crabs eat away the mother.

The fourth characteristic is that he can hold on tenaciously to his goal. The hate he has created has been spread by his friends to other states. His friend Amit Shah has brought it to UP. The fruit is being reaped in Muzaffarnagar.

Faced with the threat to constitutional order and national integrity from this four-headed monster 17 political parties are coming together to thwart him. That is a good beginning if it is not allowed to break down under the heavy weight of personal ambitions of leaders. The only guarantee of its success will be the leaders rising above personal considerations to uphold a constitutional order and a democratic dispensation.  

The statue of unity comes at who's cost?

Would Sardar Patel in who's image Narendra Modi is trying to sell himself have approved of these high handed anti-democratic actions?
ATTACK ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS & PROTESTORS

Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti

Press Release

Date: 31 October 2013, 6.30 a.m.

• Gujarat Government cracks down on right to freedom of expression.

• Activist and villagers detained and house arrests in the wee hours of the morning of October 31 2013. Police have actually entered into over two dozen villages to terrorise villager protestors.

• Gujarat Government stiffles the Voice of Tribals and Activists who want to protest his Visit . If they speak out in Gujarat, they must go to jai., at Kevadia.

On 30 October 2013, we 4 activists, Rohit Prajapati, Trupti Shah, Amrish Brahmbhatta, Sudhir Biniwale, were put under house arrest by Rajpipal police even before they had reached the venue of the protest.

They were followed by police vehicles right form Devalia chokadi when they were travailing from Vadodara to Rajpipala. When they reached the destination at Rajapiala there are as standing guards out side the place as if they are criminals. No policemen talked with them why they are doing so, what are the charges against them.

Meanwhile our activists and villagers from more than 7 villages are being pulled out and detained from their homes by the police, again without pressing any formal charges. At midnight our activist Lakhan Musafir, Dhirendra Soneji, Dipen Desai, Rameshbhai Tadvi from Indravarna village, Shaileshbai Tadvi form Vagadia village, Vikrambhai Tadvi and 2 others fromm Kevadia and other villagers were detained illegally to create atmosphere of terror inside villages to prevent planned well-announced peaceful hunger strike in villages.

As we are writing this at 6 a.m. on 31st morning so far we know at least 10 people from 5 villages are detained and taken to various police stations.

We fear further more police action shortly. This press release is to communicate that we activist and villagers had only announced symbolic protest in our own houses by staging a day long hunger strike. Note, we were not to assemble at any public place or sit on dharana at any public place. The sit in protest is in our own homes and is aimed at protecting our land, forest, livelihood, river, (jan ,jangal jamin, nadi, janavar).

The motive behind is the crackdown is to "clear the scene" for the proposed visit of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi who is scheduled to preside over a program for his plans for what he called the world’s largest statue, ‘The statue of Unity’. Ironically, in a hasty and callous bid to deny our right to democratic protest --against the seizure of our lands and resources ---we have also been denied the fundamental right to express our rights even in our own home.

The statue of unity comes at who's cost? Would Sardar Patel in who's image Narendra Modi is trying to sell himself have approved of these high handed anti-democratic actions?

Rohit Prajapati Swati Desai

For More details Rohit Prajapati © 9426977940, Trupti Shah © 9427937162, Dipen Desai © 9427922.46

Rohit Prajapati / Trupti Shah
37, Patrakar Colony, Tandalja Road,
Post-Akota, Vadodara - 390 020
GUJARAT, INDIA
Phone No. (O) + 91 - 265 - 2320399
Email No: rohit.prajapati@gmail.com

Need to understand difference between communalism and fascism

Today i bring to you a thoughtful article By Soroor Ahmed, TwoCircles.net

A few days after Eid-ul-Fitr, which fell on August 9 in India, rediff.com did a story claiming that a top Muslim cleric somewhat linked with Deoband met the Gujarat chief minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, in the month of Ramazan. The story did not disclose the name of the Muslim leader.

Two months later just on eve of Eid-ul-Azha Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind chief Mehmood Madani, while speaking at a conference on the demand of reservations for Muslims in Jaipur, attacked the Congress accusing it of stoking communal fears in order to gain Muslim votes. He also blamed some regional parties for adopting the same policy and said that they are spreading fears about Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi unnecessarily in order to gain votes.

That was not enough. He was approached by a number of journalists to whom he told the Congress cannot scare Muslims to get votes from them. They will have to win votes on the basis of performance and promise.

Mahmood Madani is more of a politician
 than a religious leader.

“I can say with confidence that the Congress government in Rajasthan has killed Muslims in cold blood,” he was quoted as saying. He directly held Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot responsible for it and urged Muslims not to be afraid of BJP.

His remarks were widely welcomed by BJP leaders, for example, Meenakshi Lekhi and Prakash Jawadkar.

Whether the rediff.com story was right or not the two quick developments have made it clear that some Muslim ulema––if not the non-ulema––have developed a soft corner for the BJP, especially the Gujarat Chief Minister. A couple of years back Maulana Ghulam Vastanvi too expressed somewhat similar view, which created storm.

A year later on the eve of Gujarat Assembly election he changed his stand only to be strongly criticized by the same BJP, which had earlier praised him to the sky.

But Madani’s case is even more curious. Just a couple of days after his Jaipur remarks came a statement from him that he did not say that Congress is fanning fears about Narendra Modi to secure Muslim votes. But then Madani has made flip-flop in the past too.

There is absolutely no problem in holding a particular view and expressing it. But there should be consistency––be it the case of Vastanvi or Madani or anyone else.

What they fail to understand is the difference between communalism and fascism. Any political party or individual––be it Hindu, Muslim, Sikh Christian––can be communal. In fact the word communal does not mean what we understand in India. In English communal means something social. It is in India that it suggests something negative and hatred for other community, which is no doubt wrong.

Communal riots––as we define––can take place anywhere in India or any other country. Minorities are targeted in Muslim and Christian countries too and the perpetrators deserve strongest condemnation for the crime as their counterparts deserve in India.

Yes, we can hold the state governments of UP, Rajasthan, Assam or anywhere else responsible for the communal violence. But the problem arises when the state openly becomes a party as, according to all the media reports, it happened in Gujarat in 2002. It is here that communalists’ acquire fascist tendency. This is much more dangerous.

During Emergency the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was accused of acquiring fascist tendency. She lost the election in 1977 and later realized her mistakes. Incidentally, when the Congress was strong––and had acquired somewhat fascist tendency––Madani’s family was strongly with it. Be it the horrendous riots of 1980s (Moradabad, Meerut, Aligarh etc) or the heydays of movement against Babri Masjid Jamiat’s proclivity towards the Congress is a known fact.

It was only when the Congress party became weak and more open to criticism that Madani, a former Rajya Sabha MP, has started criticizing it. It would be exaggeration to blame only the Congress for raking up the ghost of Gujarat of 2002. People remotely associated with it––not only Muslims––often raise 2002 and 1984 as they were somewhat different.

Madani may have certain political and personal compulsions. But he must not drag the community into it.

--

Soroor Ahmed is a Patna-based freelance journalist. He writes on political, social, national and international issues. His past columns here http://twocircles.net/Columnists/soroor_ahmed.html

When it comes to corruption, some are more equal than others

By Faraz Ahmad

Lalu Prasad

The day a CBI court in Ranchi convicted Lalu Prasad of fodder scam (September 30), the Supreme Court set aside the decision of the Karnataka government to replace its public prosecutor G Bhawani Singh in the Disproportionate Assets case against Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha, an Iyengar Brahmin, which when read with the recent judgements of the apex court and its subordinate courts, singularly targeting OBC leader Lalu Prasad and a Muslim politician Rasheed Masood, widely known for his financial integrity, forces us to reiterate that justice should not just be done but seen to have been done as well.

The Congress government in Karnataka through its notification of August 26 withdrew the appointment of G Bhavani Singh as the Public prosecutor, whom the outgoing BJP government in Karnataka had appointed evidently in a gesture of reciprocity for Jayalalitha’s softness towards not just the BJP but its PM candidate Narendra Modi, though at the time of Bhawani Singh’s appointment Modi had note bared fully his PM ambition. But Jaya has enjoyed a comfort level with Modi for long.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi greets Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha during his oath taking ceremony at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, December 26, 2012.[Photo courtsey: India Today

The Supreme Court described the notification as “malafide” even while acknowledging that, “Though there is an undoubted power with the government to withdraw or revoke the appointment…but that exercise of power appears to be vitiated in the present case by malafides in law inasmuch as it is apparent on record that the switch over of the government in between has resulted in a sudden change of opinion…,” held the bench of Justices B S Chauhan and S A Bobde.

The Karnataka government pointed out to the learned judges that this appointment was tainted since his name was not among the list of lawyers deemed suitable for prosecuting the 1996 Disproportionate Assets case against Jayalalitha relating to assets worth Rs 66.65 crores over and above her accountable sources of income. The state government also pointed out that Bhawani Singh was appointed without proper consultations by the previous government. The trial is currently underway in Bangalore, where it was shifted from Chennai by the Supreme Court in 2003 after apprehending that as the chief minister of the state (2001-6) she could influence its proceedings, following the fears expressed by the prosecuting agencies. Significantly the previous BJP government appointed Bhawani Singh in February, 2013 days before the Karnataka assembly elections were announced when the BJP’s ouster from power looked near certain.

Rasheed Masood

And yet the Bench closed its eyes to the quid pro quo. Instead it found the reason put forth by the Government of Karnataka for removing Singh as SPP rather “unusual.” The bench agreed that “It might be true that his name was not in the list of four names submitted by the government to the then Acting Chief Justice of the High Court and the name originated from the Acting Chief Justice, prior to making of appointment of SPP by the Government of Karnataka; But it was equally true that the appointment was made by the government without questioning the ability or suitability of the incumbent, nor the government raised any issue in respect of the manner/issue of consultation. Apart from this, the appointment continued un-objected for almost seven months.” So if a wrong has persisted, even in Supreme Court’s eyes, the government has no business to set it right and any attempt to do that will be quashed by the learned judges by a sleight of hand. Is that just?

Anyway now the apex court has given the Tamil Nadu chief minister a sham of prosecutor of her choice, who will hopefully make a hash of the 17 year old DA case against her. It won’t be long, perhaps before the next general elections will be over, that the collusion between the BJP and the prosecution agencies will see Jayalalitha acquitted of all corruption charges ready to support a BJP-led government at the Centre.

For all you know after this she may even join the NDA alliance before the 2014 elections. That will really boost Modi’s morale. It is worth recalling that in 1998 Jayalalitha had supported the government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the unstated condition of withdrawing corruption cases against her like the TANSI case, in which she was even convicted and consequently disqualified, though she managed to get the lower court order overturned by Madras High Court.

Jayalalitha extracted from Vajpayee the Revenue portfolio for her chosen Chartered Accountant political factotum R K Kumar to control the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), banking on Kumar to weaken the pending prosecution against her and fix P Chidambaram then a leader of the Tamil Maanila Congress, whose names figured in the 'Indian Bank scam'. Such is Jayalalitha to whose rescue the Supreme Court rushed yesterday.

Contrast this with Lalu Yadav, who was forced into Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi by CBI judge Pravas Kumar Singh. Singh is related to JD-U leader and Bihar Education Minister P K Shahi, a direct political rival of Lalu and his party the RJD. Lalu appealed first in the Jharkhand High Court and then when he got no relief there, in the Supreme Court that he feared the political rivalry may vitiate the judgment against him. The apex court too dismissed his plea without commenting whether the facts produced by Lalu about the judge were correct or cooked up. This was an open and shut case because on June 26 P K Shahi admitted to ‘The Telegraph’ that Pravas Kumar Singh was “distantly” related to him. Yet Lalu was convicted in the court’s own phraseology on “umbrella charges,” implying that though there may not be any direct evidence of Lalu having shared the loot committed by Animal Husbandry Department officials of Rs 37.7 crore from the Chaibasa treasury in the name of buying fodder for the cattle during the annual flood season. This loot had been going on for years and presumably is still in practice, because no one can possibly keep a count, but Lalu is “chara chor.” And of the Rs 900 crore fodder scam, the CBI after years of painstaking investigations by a whole lot of pro-BJP fellows like Joginder Singh and U N Biswas finally charge-sheeted him during the NDA government in the year 2000 for disproportionate assets worth Rs 42 lakhs. But Lalu is chara chor and deserves to go to jail, he is to be disenfranchised.

There is another gentleman a well known Muslim leader from Saharanpur whom Chaudhry Charan Singh groomed and patronized, Rasheed Masood. A day later he too was sent to Tihar jail by CBI judge J P S Malik for seven years and his Rajya Sabha membership forfeited for allegedly nominating undeserving candidates to MBBS seats in 1990-91. Masood, widely known for his financial integrity was briefly the Health Minister in V P Singh’s National Front government.

The story goes that the then Resident Commissioner of Tripura Gurdial Singh, a former IPS officer, and a retired IAS official Amal Kumar Roy, the then secretary of Tripura Chief Minister Sudhir Ranjan Majumdar nominated nine students from UP in the Central quota to MBBS seats in 1990-91 and one of them also happened to be Rasheed’s nephew. Rasheed claims he had neither signed nor recommended his nephew’s name. Yet if Gurdial Singh and Amal Kumar Roy committed some misdeamenour, then surely Rasheed has to pay the price. Whatever be the case Rasheed’s nephew got nominated to the Tripura Medical College in Central quota. What about Kiran Bedi? The first lady IPS officer and current crusader against corruption was then serving in Arunchal Pradesh. There used to be (I dont know if it still is) one seat in Maulana Azad Medical College here in Delhi for students of North-East and in that quota, just because she was serving a temporary posting in North East, she got her daughter a bona fide citizen of Delhi, admitted here. That year no child from North East got admission in Maulana Azad Medical College, for Kiran Bedi’s daughter usurped the seat. But Kiran Bedi is the crusader against corruption and Rasheed Masood is corrupt. That’s what our system and judiciary have pronounced, reminding me again of an Urdu couplet: “Wo qatl bhi karte hain to charcha nahin hota; hum aah bhi karte hain to ho jate hain badnam.”

--

Faraz Ahmad is a Freelance journalist with past association with several national dailies.

Schedule for Assembly polls in Ch’garh, MP, Rajasthan, Delhi & Mizoram announced

Oct 4, 8:59 PM



The schedule for assembly elections in Delhi, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh has been announced. Except, Chhattisgarh where polls will be held in two phases, all four states will have single phase polls. The elections in Chhattisgarh will held on 11th and 19th November. While, in Madhya Pradesh the polls will be conducted on 25th November and in Rajasthan it will be held on 1st December. The election in Delhi and Mizoram will be held on 4th December. Counting of votes in all states will take place on 8th of December.

Announcing the poll schedule in New Delhi today, the Chief Election Commissioner, V. S. Sampath said that the commission will take all steps to conduct free and fair elections. He said that the Commission, for the first time, is also taking necessary steps to make available the None of the Above option for the voters. Mr. Sampath said, Central Awareness Observers will be deployed for the first time, to oversee the efficient and effective management of the electoral process.

The Chief Election Commissioner also announced that the model code of conduct has come into force with immediate effect. He said that it will be mandatory for candidates to fill all column in the the affidavit filed by them along with nomination paper as directed by the Supreme Court.

The By elections to Surat West assembly constituency of Gujarat and Yercaud assembly constituency of Tamil Nadu will also be held on 4th December. The counting will be held on 8th December.

Afghanistan qualify for maiden ICC World Cup

Afghanistan today qualified for their maiden ICC World Cup. In the World Cricket League Championship at Sharjah, the strife-torn nation defeated Kenya by seven wickets to finish second with 19 points. Deciding to field first after winning the toss, Afghanistan dismissed Kenya for 93 in 43.3 overs and then achieved the target in 20.5 overs with seven wickets to spare.

Afghanistan were five points behind champion Ireland, which qualified for ICC's flagship event to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2015. In the ICC World Cup, Afghanistan have been placed in Pool A that includes co-hosts Australia and New Zealand, as well as Bangladesh, England, Sri Lanka and Qualifier 3. Afghanistan's opening match will be against Bangladesh at Manuka Oval, Canberra, on February 18, 2015

Proud of Rahul Gandhi

Proud of Rahul Gandhi for admitting Sonia Gandhi chided him; as we expected her to. This is the kind of honest, open leader nation wants.My mother told me the words I used were wrong: Rahul Gandhi on ordinance Words may have been wrong, but sentiment wasn't:

Some interesting tweets

@imaijazahmad2m
Modi (NaMo) for BJP and Rahul Gandhi for Congress as PM Candidate. lets see who will loot #India for Next five years.

‏@indiarightnow2m
Rahul Gandhi: #MyMomToldMe Ladki wale aa rahe hai tumhe dekhne ke liye. This time don't open your mouth

@sonoritachauhan3m
Don't blame Rahul Gandhi for referencing his mom in every speech- it's a natl prob - 40-yr-olds still seeking advice from moms Neither Rahul Gandhi Nor Narendra Modi Has Found A New Language To Gel With The Voters,

https://twitter.com/search?q=%22Rahul%20Gandhi%22&src=tren

POSTAL IDENTIFICATION CARD AS ADDRESS PROOF

POSTAL IDENTIFICATION CARD AS ADDRESS PROOF

Many Working People, Students & Bachelors often shift their houses & it is difficult to produce an address proof with latest address. In such cases, they struggle lot to establish their identity with current address.

But Now, Our India postal Department has come up with a solution. They issuing a photo id card with latest address, 

This Postal identity card is accepted as a document for proof of address by various government and private firms, including the banks.

The total cost for getting this ID card is Rs.250/ (Rs.10 for application and Rs.240/- processing fee).

Postal ID card will contain the following details,

1. Card holder Full Name

2. Latest Address

3. Card holder signature

4. Photograph

Key Benefits

1. We can use as Photo ID Proof

2. We can use as Address Proof

3. Validity is 3 years – (renewable)

4. You can approach any nearest Post office to get New Postal Identification card application form.

Mahatma Gandhi: An Ace Communicator

O. P. Sharma* Mahatma Gandhi, “The Father of the Nation” is one of the greatest freedom fighter, a revolutionary social reformer and above all an ace communicator. Not only he held lofty principles but he effectively propagated his message among the masses by using the then existing media, mostly the print as well as through public meetings. Among his other qualities of leadership he was the best communicator. His distinguish quality was that he truthfully believed in the message and skillfully conveyed his philosophy which he himself also practiced. He sent his thoughts through the life by setting a personal example. His autobiography titled “My Experiments with Truth” narrates the actual life he lived and practised his principles for setting a personal example. This was also the secret of his success as a communicator More than anyone else, Mahatma Gandhi recognized that skillful communication is the most effective tool to shape public opinion and mobilize it for popular support. He was successful because he had a latent skill in communication that surfaced in South Africa where he started during 1903 “The Indian Opinion”. Gandhi’s journalism belonged to an era where there were no modern mass communication gadgets. He did make use of his mighty pen to convey his heart to millions of his followers and admirers across the globe Successful Media Use After return to his motherland on January 9, 1913, he spearheaded the freedom struggle. Gandhiji did make best use of the nationalist press and his own journals: Young India, Navjeevan and other periodicals to reach the masses in every nook and corner of the country. He also knew that the secret of reaching out to the hearts of people living in the rural areas was through the age-old oral traditions as also public lectures, prayers meetings and padayatras (walks). He used all the available means of communication channels of the time to give a new direction to the national struggle and assumed the inspiring leadership on the national scenario and won the freedom through the unique technique of non-violence, Satyagraha, truthfulness. Gandhiji never for a moment minimized the important role of newspapers (then radio was under the British Government control and the television channels were non-existent). He would scan through all the newspapers and reply suitably to any misrepresentation or distortion of facts. It is to his credit that he did use the traditional and modern media of communication with telling effect.

Trend-Setting Style 

Gandhiji made his personality felt through the columns of Young India and other periodicals. The impending change was visible from the very beginning. He turned those into his “views papers” ventilating his point of view .The Young India sold more copies than the combined total circulation of several other newspapers in the country. There were not only new thoughts, simple but stylish language and a fresh air of fine quality of journalistic writings. It is a unique feature that Gandhiji had not been accepting advertisements for his periodicals and what is more, he had allowed his articles to be freely reproduced in most other newspapers in India or elsewhere. 

Gandhiji proved that style was the master and his writings were complete departure from the one that was in practice. His English was biblical and he was meticulous about the use of proper words at the particular moment. Above all, his sentences were simple and lucid. In fact, he wrote from his heart and directed it to the hearts of his targeted readership. Gandhiji himself declared all his journals as ‘views papers” because all of them were organs of political and social movements which discussed with intensity and concentration the public problems.

Gandhian Era

Gandhiji, in fact, brought many new elements which introduced a free life in the field of journalism. Many of his followers were moved to write and publish in the Indian languages and regional journalism began to acquire an importance and there was hardly an area in the country that did not have its newspapers.

An effective communicator, Gandhiji was fearless and eloquent with his words. He reached out to millions of people and convinced them of his cause. Gandhiji was probably the greatest journalist of all time, and the weeklies he edited were probably the great example of weeklies of that period. He published no advertisements but the same time he did not let his newspapers run at a loss. He wrote simply and clearly but forcefully, with passion and burning indignation. 

Indelible Imprints

“One of the objects of a newspaper, he said, is to understand the popular feeling and give expression to it, another is to arouse among the people certain desirable sentiments, and the third is fearlessly to expose popular defects”, Mahatma Gandhi has always stressed.

The Father of the Nation was not only one of the greatest freedom fighter with his unique technique of non-violence but was the best communicator who mobilized the public opinion for attainment of freedom. Gandhiji made optimal use of other channels of communication very efficiently and effectively as he had a rare knack of “inventing apt news events” to get the best coverage by the media. Mahatma Gandhi exercised his high moral values in his political life and practice of mass communication which stands out as a light house for all times to come.

*The author is a Freelance Journalist.

Muzaffarnagar Riots an so on....

The Mumbai-based Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has moved the Supreme Court in a detailed writ petition (WP Nos 170/2013) asking for the Supreme Coirt’s direct intervention through an appointment of a High Powered Committee of Court Commissioners to survey the four worst affected districts, assess details of the dead and misisng as also the scale of damages and monitor the transparency and quality of the probe/investigation and report back to the Supreme Court. Petitioners have also asked for directions to transfer the investigations to the CBI. The petition filed last Tuesday came up for hearing with other matters today and will now be heard next week.

Two Victim Survivors, Shahid Hassan, son of Sirajuddin who along with four others was massacred in the attack on Lisadh village of Shamli district and Samaydeen son of Kamruddin who was also killed in the violence at Lisadh and the Awami Council for Peace and Democracy are also co-petitioners in this substantive petition that was filed two days back and came up for hearing with other matters today. 

The detailed prayers also include directions to the State to register FIRs against the named powerful accused persons in respect of arson, theft, attempt to murder and murder and rape and molestation; to constitute a High Power Committee of Court Commissioners comprising of the persons/officers, which this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper, to visit the affected areas rural as well as urban where people suffered murder, loot, arson, rape and other criminal acts and have not been able to lodge F.I.Rs for the offence committed against them due to fear, threat and intimidation or because they are victim survivors who are incapacitated and hence require assistance and access because of any other reason and to assist them to lodge F.I.R. for the offence committed with them;to ensure a thorough investigation into all the F.I.Rs. which have already been lodged from 27.8.2013 to date relating to illegal meetings and unlawful assemblies, targeted loot, arson, circulation of fake photographs and videos and inciting communal passions by the holding of unlawful meetings and Panchayats by fixing the responsibility for the aforesaid offences; as well as identifying the officers, individuals, representatives, political leaders, organizations and other persons who instigated the general public by convening a Panchayat in village Nagla Mataund at Muzaffar Nagar on 7.9.2013 where the people were allowed to assemble not only from adjoining district but also from outside the state armed with dangerous weapons; to direct effectice compensation to all survivors of the dead and injured and those who have suffered heavy losses. 

The petition lists in detail the chronology of events leading up to the ghastly killings at Muzaffarnagar that have rendered 41,000 homeless and questions the state police and administration allowing armed Khap panchayatas, Mahapanchayats whena communal atmosphere was building up in the four districts of Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat and Meerut. A list of 161 worst affected villages from where minorities have had to flee has also been annexed to the petition. 

Advocates Aparna Bhat and Ramesh Pukhrambam appeared for the petitioners.

Patterns of Anti-Muslim Violence

Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam

The anti-Muslim riots in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas are already being compared to Gujarat 2002. As many as 50,000 people have been officially reckoned to have become internal refugees. According to official records, 85 people have died, but unofficial estimates put it at a much higher figure.

Picture For Representation purpose only

Police and administrative laxity, and sometimes police’s criminal collusion with rioters, have brought on this sorry state of affairs. Above everything else the murky dealings of Samajwadi Party leadership with the Sangh had a paralysing influence on the state machinery and encouraged goondas to indulge in rape, loot, arson and murder. Many Muslims have “disappeared”, many of their young women have been kidnapped and whisked away to places where they cannot easily be found.

Like Gujarat, it was a well-planned operation. Police in several areas have been seen to be hand in glove with rioters. These riots need a more comprehensive case study. The following is an account of some of the facets of these riots.

Role of Media

By now the riot methodology has been perfected. Disinformation, rumor mongering - the usual ammunition in every fascist armoury - are important components of this machinery. They have always been used with lethal effect in anti-Muslim riots all over India.

The post-Godhra riots began with a major news item in the two most important Gujarati dailies. The prominently-displayed news said Muslims in Godhra had raped two Hindu women and cut their breasts. This inflamed Hindu feelings beyond control. Later it was found that no such event had taken place.

However, by the time the truth came out, it was too late and hundreds of Muslim women had been raped and killed.

Several riots in UP in the past have been fuelled and aggravated by such false reports in Hindi newspapers. One such riot spread quickly after a Hindi newspaper wrote a story on the front page. The banner headline screamed: “Chaar sau bachche ghar nahin lautey” (Four hundred [school] children did not return home). The falsehood was known only after the damage was done.

Yet another vicious riot in Aligarh was aggravated by a false report in a Hindi newspaper that said Hindus in AMU’s Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College hospital had been poisoned by Muslim doctors.

In Muzaffarnagar, newspaper stories of a Hindu girl’s “molestation and rape” worked as petrol on fire. Subsequent investigations and reports by major publications found that the reports were not true. By then many people were killed and maimed, homes and shops burnt down, people in their thousands driven out to seek shelter in refugee camps.

The role of a section of media turned out to be as vicious this time as in the past.

The Muzaffanagar police complained that media had been reporting events that did not take place. That had a devastating effect. So far, media has gone completely untouched for its role in aggravating mass violence. This is a long record of impunity. Nobody ever dragged them to court for their crimes against humanity. Enough is enough. Victims must give a serious thought to legal action against these offenders.

The Press Council of India is aware of these transgressions, but being a toothless body all that they can do is after a proper investigation name and shame the offenders. However, it does not work as the offenders are shameless.

Small Changes

The larger pattern of anti-Muslim riots is intact, but smaller changes have been introduced into it to make such riots more deadly.

Throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s the anti-Muslim riots began with somebody pelting stones at Hindu processions. Once the stones were pelted systematic attacks on Muslims began and riot apologist would invariably argue that the riot was “started by Muslims”, taking it for granted that those throwing stones were Muslims.

On the other hand, Muslims knew well that it was the handiwork of agent provocateurs hired by the riot organisers. The simple logic for Muslim innocence was that they did not stand to gain from the riots.

“Muslim casts the first stone” theme has given way to “riots begin with Muslims molesting and raping Hindu women”. That was the alibi in Pratapgarh riots earlier this year and Muzaffarnagar riots earlier this month. In both cases, the media propagated this false news with devastating consequences for Muslims. In both cases it later turned out that no molestation or rape had taken place.

Other measures of disinformation and provoking the majority community included wide distribution of a video in which a mob was lynching someone. The mischief makers said the video showed Muslims lynching Hindu youth in Muzaffarnagar, while the fact was that it was an old video of violence in Afghanistan.

In some areas, young men were seen distributing pamphlets in “Muslim dress”, while in fact they were not Muslims. This was another way of provoking violence and blaming it on Muslims.

For years we had witnessed riots erupting after the discovery of cows’ heads and other parts in temples. Miscreants had regularly used this tactic to provoke riots. Over the years it has lost much of its effectiveness. That is why the new narrative involves “Hindu naari ki izzat par hamla” (attack on the modesty of Hindu woman). As it has worked well so far. We should expect more of it in days ahead. 

The author is 

Gen Secy of ALL INDIA MILLI COUNCIL and Chairman Institute of Objective Studies

Water Conservation: A Need of the Hour

Rapid industrialization and urbanization coupled with continuous decline in per capita availability of water is putting a lot of pressure on the available water resources in the country. As per report of standing sub-committee for assessment of availability and requirements of water for diverse uses in the country, the future water requirements for meeting the demands of various sections in the country for the year 2025 and 2050 have been estimated to be 1093 BCM and 1447 BCM respectively. The increasing gap between water availability and demand highlight the need for conservation of water. The National Water Policy also lays stress on conservation of water. It has been stipulated that efficiency of utilization in all the diverse uses of water should be optimized and an awareness of water as a scarce resource should be fostered. With per capita availability of water depleting at a faster pace, the Government has declared the Year 2013 as Water Conservation Year under which awareness programmes are being launched among masses, especially children, on water conservation. Water conservation is also the key objective of the National Water Mission which is one of the eight National Missions under the National Action Plan for Climate Change. This envisages conservation, minimising wastage and ensuring equitable distribution of water resources across and within states through integrated water resources development and management. There is a need for water conservation, not only to restore the fast deteriorating eco-system of the country but also to meet the inevitable emergency of shortage even for drinking and domestic water in near future. The following points are to be pondered upon to plan strategies to meet the crisis: ·        Water is a finite resource and cannot be replaced/duplicated. ·        Water resources are theoretically ‘renewable’ through hydrological cycle. However, what is renewable is only the quantity, but pollution, contamination, climate change, temporal and seasonal variations have affected the water quality and reduced the amount of ‘usable water’. ·        Only 2.7% of the water on earth is fresh. ·        The ground water levels are declining very fast. ·        Rainfall is unevenly distributed over time and space. ·        Increased demand in coastal areas is threatening the fresh water aquifers with seawater intrusion. ·        In inland saline areas, the fresh water is becoming saline due to excessive withdrawal of ground water. ·        Water conservation practices in urban areas can reduce the demand as much as by one third, in addition to minimizing pollution of surface and ground water resources. ·        Watershed programmes tended to concentrate on harvesting rainwater through surface structures. ·        There is a need to look at surface and ground water holistically and prepare a conjunctive use plan. Action Plan for Water Conservation Conservation of Surface Water Resources All efforts should be made to fully utilize the monsoon runoff and store rainwater at all probable storage sites. In addition to creating new storages, it is essential to renovate the existing tanks and water bodies by de-silting and repairs. The revival of traditional water storage techniques and structures should also be given due priority. Conservation of Ground Water Resources Ground water is an important component of hydrological cycle. It supports the springs in hilly regions and the river flow of all peninsular rivers during the non-monsoon period. For sustainability of ground water resources it is necessary to arrest the ground water outflows by a) Construction of sub-surface dams, b) Watershed management, c) Treatment of upstream areas for development of springs, and d) Skimming of freshwater outflows in coastal areas and islands. Protection of Water Quality The rapid increase in the density of human population in certain pockets of the country as a result of urbanization and industrialization is making adverse impact on the quality of both surface and ground water resources. Demand for water is increasing on one hand and on the other hand the quantity of ‘utilizable water resources’ is decreasing due to human intervention in the form of pollution and/or contamination of fresh water. Thus the protection of existing surface and ground water resources from pollution and contamination is a very vital component of water conservation. Action Points for Water Conservation An important component of water conservation involves minimizing water losses, prevention of water wastage and increasing efficiency in water use. The action points towards water conservation in different sectors of water use are as follows: Irrigation Sector Important action points towards water conservation in the irrigation sector are as follows: ·                    Performance improvement of irrigation system and water utilization; ·                    Proper and timely system maintenance; ·                    Rehabilitation and restoration of damaged /and silted canal systems to enable them to carry designed discharge; ·                    Selective lining of canal and distribution systems, on techno-economic consideration, to reduce seepage losses; ·                    Restoration / provision of appropriate control structures in the canal system with efficient and reliable mechanism; ·                    Conjunctive use of surface and ground water to be resorted to, specially in the areas where there is threat to water logging; ·                    Adopting drip and sprinkler systems of irrigation for crops, where such systems are suitable; ·                    Adopting low cost innovative water saving technology; ·                    Renovation and modernization of existing irrigation systems; ·                    Preparation of a realistic and scientific system operation plan keeping in view the availability of water and crop water requirements; ·                    Execution of operation plan with reliable and adequate water measuring structures. ·                    Revision of cropping pattern in the event of change in water availability; ·                    Utilisation of return flow of irrigation water through appropriate planning; ·                    Imparting trainings to farmers about consequences of using excess water for irrigation; ·                    Rationalization of water rate to make the system self-sustainable; ·                    Formation of Water Users Associations and transfer of management to them; ·                    Promoting multiple use of water; ·                    Introducing night irrigation practice to minimize evaporation loss; ·                    In arid regions crops having longer root such as linseed, berseem, lucerne guar, gini grass, etc may be grown as they can sustain in dry hot weather; ·                    Assuring timely and optimum irrigation for minimizing water loss and water-logging; ·                    Introducing rotational cropping pattern for balancing fertility of soil and natural control of pests; ·                    Modern effective and reliable communication systems may be installed at all strategic locations in the irrigation command and mobile communication systems may also be provided to personnel involved with running and maintenance of systems. Such an arrangement will help in quick transmission of messages and this in turn will help in great deal in effecting saving of water by way of taking timely action in plugging canal breaches, undertaking repair of systems and also in canal operation particularly when water supply is needed to be stopped due to sudden adequate rainfall in the particular areas of the command. ·                    With a view to control over irrigation to the fields on account of un-gated water delivery systems, all important outlets should be equipped with flow control mechanism to optimize irrigation water supply. ·                    As far as possible with a view to make best use of soil nutrients and water holding capacity of soils, mixed cropping such as cotton with groundnut, sugarcane with black gram or green gram or soyabean may be practised. ·                    It has been experienced that with scientific use of mulching in irrigated agriculture, moisture retention capacity of soil can be increased to the extent of 50 per cent and this in turn may increase yield up to 75 per cent. Domestic and Municipal Sector Important action points for water conservation in domestic and municipal sector are as follows: ·                    Action towards reduction of losses in conveyance; ·                    Management of supply through proper meter as per rational demand; ·                    Intermittent domestic water supply may be adopted to check its wasteful use. ·                    Realization of appropriate water charges so that the system can be sustainable and wastage is reduced; ·                    Creation of awareness to make attitudinal changes; ·                    Evolving norms for water use for various activities and designing of optimum water supply system accordingly; ·                    Modification in design of accessories such as flushing system, tap etc. to reduce water requirement to optimal level. Wherever necessary, BIS code may be revised; ·                    Possibility for recycling and reuse of water for purposes like gardening, flushing to toilets, etc. may be explored. Wastewater of certain categories can be reused for other activities as per feasibility; ·                    Optimum quantity of water required for waste disposal to be worked out; ·                    In public buildings the taps etc. can be fitted with sensors to reduce water losses; Industrial Sector Important action points for water conservation in industrial sector are as follows: ·                    Setting-up of norms for water budgeting; ·                    Modernization of industrial process to reduce water requirement; ·                    Recycling water with a re-circulating cooling system can greatly reduce water use by using the same water to perform several cooling operations; ·                    Three cooling water conservation approaches are evaporative cooling, ozonation and air heat exchange. The ozonation cooling water approach can result in a five-fold reduction in blow down when compared to traditional chemical treatment and should be considered as an option for increasing water savings in a cooling tower. ·                    The use of de-ionized water in reusing can be reduced without affecting production quality by eliminating some plenum flushes, converting from a continuous flow to an intermittent flow system and improving control on the use. ·                    The reuse of de-ionized water may also be considered for other uses because it may still be better than supplied municipal water. ·                    The wastewater should be considered for use for gardening etc. ·                    Proper processing of effluents by industrial units to adhere to the norms for disposal; ·                    Rational pricing of industrial water requirement to ensure consciousness / action for adopting water saving technologies; Regulatory Mechanism for Water Conservation Ground water is an unregulated resource in the country with no price tag. The cost of construction of a ground water abstraction structure is the only investment. Unrestricted withdrawal in many areas has resulted in decline of ground water levels. Supply side management of water resources is very important for conserving this vital resource for a balanced use. An effective way is through energy pricing restriction on supply and providing incentives to help in conservation of water. Action plan, in this regard, may include the following: ·                    Rationalizing pricing policy of water in urban and rural areas. Industries should be discouraged to exploit ground water with high price slabs. ·                    Restriction on new construction of ground water structures in all the over exploited and dark blocks of the country; ·                    Metering of all ground water abstraction structures; ·                    Controlled supply of electricity and downsizing of pump capacity in rural areas; ·                    Regulating the water trading or selling; ·                    Providing incentives for adoption of rainwater harvesting; ·                    Modification in building bye-laws in urban areas to make it mandatory to adopt rainwater harvesting. Water conservation is prime and challenging concern. Numerous types of water conservation techniques are available in the country. The scientists are developing new techniques, but there are gaps on the application of the appropriate technologies, which needs to be removed. Due to lack of proper operation and maintenance in irrigation, industry and domestic water distribution system, there is huge loss of water. Hence emphasis should be given to improve the O&M system. For developing the water resources, age-old traditional water conservation methods need to be judiciously adopted in conjunction with the latest modern conservation technology. Keeping this in view, rain water harvesting, revival of traditional water storages/ponds, check dams and other similar structures need to be adopted. Building byelaws should be suitably modified to introduce mandatory roof top rain water harvesting. In order to conserve precious fresh water, recycling of waste water may be incorporated wherever feasible. Dual water supply system, one for treated wastewater and the other for fresh water may be introduced so that treated waste water can be used for secondary purposes such as toilets flushing, gardening, agriculture and selective industries etc. New urban colonies, big hotels industries and other similar establishments should have mandatory dual water supply systems. Cropping pattern and crops water requirement varies from time to time due to the dynamic socio-economic condition of the people and the region in addition to geo-morphological, climatic and metrological changes. Hence, for effective management, appropriate base line data for water demand under different situations needs to be brought out for optimum crop water management and field activities considering effective rainfall in different physiological stages. Night irrigation practice may be introduced to minimize evaporation loss thus conserving irrigation water. Timely and need based irrigation should be done to minimize loss of water. Further, for boosting productivity, rotational cropping pattern may be introduced for balancing fertility of soil and natural pest control. Various water savings devices are being developed under various ongoing R&D programmes. These devices should be suitably adopted in the system. Mass awareness campaign should be conducted regularly to cover all stakeholders, including service providers and consumers, for water conservation in irrigation, domestic and industrial sectors. Special attention must be given so that the fruits of the campaign must reach the children, housewives and farmers effectively. (PIB Features.)               ****** With inputs from the National Institute of Hydrology,  Roorkee, Ministry of Water Resources.