WEATHER REPORT OF KALIMPONG..... भारतीय नेपाली भाषीहरूलाई भाषिक अल्पसंख्यककोरुपमा मान्यता हुनुपर्छ

TODAY’s WEATHER REPORT OF KALIMPONG

(Source: Science Center, Kalimpong)

Maximum Temperature	Minimum Temperature	Relative Humidity
240C	210C	83%

भारतीय नेपाली भाषीहरूलाई भाषिक अल्पसंख्यककोरुपमा मान्यता हुनुपर्छ

श्याम प्रधान,  कालिमन्युज:   जतिबेला जमिनदारी प्रथाले विकशितरूप लिएर राजाको जन्म हुनथाल्यो त्यतिबेला देश वा राष्ट्रहरूको राजनैतिक सिमाना सठिकसित कोरिएको थिएन अथवा परिस्थित अनुसार त्यहॉंबाट पलायन हुनु वा प्रवेश हुनु सकिन्थ्यो वा आजको भिसा र पासपोर्टको आवश्यकता नै थिएन। यही रितअनुसार प्राय 5 हजार बर्ष अधि दक्षिण एसियाबाट आर्यहरू भारतबर्षमा आएका हुन्‌। उनीहरूनै आजको हिन्दु साम्प्रदाय भनेर मानिन्छ। दोस्रो प्राय 10 शताब्दीदेखि मुस्लिम राजा अनि साम्प्रदायहरूको भारतवर्षमा आगमन भएको हो। त्यसपछि 17 शताब्दीदेखि अंग्रेज, फ्रेञ्च र पोर्तुगीहरू व्यापारको निम्ति भारतमा प्रवेश गरे। यसरी नै नेपालीहरू पनि भारतवर्षमा प्रवेश गरेका हुन्‌।

उक्त पलायनको पक्रियालाई नियाल्दा सम्पूर्ण पलायन पूर्व दिशातिर भएको पाउँछौं। आर्यदेखि मुस्लिम अनि नेपालीहरू किन पश्चिम दिशातिर पलायन भएनन्‌ वा बसाई सरेनन्‌ भने पूर्व दिशा सूर्य उदय हुने दिशा भएकोले प्रकृतिको पूजा गर्नेहरूले पूर्व दिशालाई पवित्र दिशाको रूपमा मानिलिन्छन्‌। नेपालीहरू पनि प्रकृतिको पूजारी हुन्‌ अनि पूर्व दिशालाई पवित्र दिशाको रूपमा मानिलिन्छ। त्यसैले हामी पूर्व दिशातिर फर्केर प्रार्थना गर्छौं। पूर्व दिशातिर फर्केर पित्तृलाई पानी चढाउँछौं। घर बनाउँदा पूर्व दिशातिर दैलो बनाए शूभ मान्छौं। यसरी नै प्रदेश लाग्दा पूर्व दिशातिर गए फलिफाप हुन्छ भन्ने मान्यता अहिलेसम्म छ।

यसर्थ आजको पश्चिम नेपालबाट नेपालीहरू पलायन हुँदै भारतबर्ष, तत्कालीन सिक्किम, भोटाङ हुँदै बर्मा वा आजको म्यानमारसम्म नेपालीहरूको पलायन भएको पाउँछौं। यदी दोस्रो विश्व युद्ध नभएको भए नेपालीहरूको पूर्व दिशपट्टिको पलायन निरन्तर भइरहन्थ्यो। दोस्रो विश्व युद्धको कारण नेपालीहरूको पूर्व दिशपट्टिको पलायनक्रममा विराम लाग्यो। दोस्रो विश्व युद्ध नभएको भए आज नेपालीहरू बर्मा बाट पनि थाइल्याण्ड, मलेसिया र अस्ट्रिलियासम्म पुगिसकेको हुन्थ्यो होला।

उक्त तथ्यहरूलाई हेर्दा भारतमा नेपालीहरू चियाको बोटमा रूपियॉं फल्छ भनेर श्रमिकैरूपमा मात्र आएको हो भन्ने तर्कलाई भूल सावित गरिदिन्छ। किनभने सिक्किम, भोटाङ र बर्मामा त कुनै चियाको बोट थिएन न त्यहॉं रूपियॉं नै फल्थ्यो। उक्त तथ्यलाई अघि राखेर किटान गर्न सक्छौं कि भारतबर्षमा नेपालीहरूको आगमन इतिहासकालदेखिनै भएको हो अनि भारतको नेपालीहरू खॉंटी भारतीय हुन्‌।

खॉंटी भारतीय हुँदा हुँदै पनि आजको भारतको राष्ट्र व्यवस्थामा नेपालीहरू राष्ट्रिय परिचय, राजनैतिक सुरक्षा अनि चिन्हारीको निम्ति संघर्षरत हुनपरिरहेछ। अर्घ सामन्ति-पुञ्जीवादी व्यवस्थाको मौन सत्यभित्र नेपालीहरूको चिन्हारीको प्रश्न उठाएर थुप्रै नेता अनि राजनैतिक पार्टी नजन्मिएको होइन। आजसम्म यो समस्यालाई कसैले पनि पार लगाउन सकेको छैन बरू उनीहरूले देशभरिका गोर्खाहरुको भावनासित राजनैतिक खेल खेलेर फाइदा उठाए र चम्पट कसे अनि कसिरहेछन्‌। नेपालीहरू बारम्बार भावनात्मक राजनीतिको शिकार हुन परिरहेछ।

आधुनिक भारतको इतिहास संग संगै भारतमा नेपालीको उत्पति र विकाशको इतिहास आरम्भ हुन्छ। तर भारतमा नेपाली अन्य जाति र सम्प्रदाय जस्तो एउटा निश्चित इलाका वा प्रान्तमा समेटिएर बसेको छैन। भारतको प्राय: प्रान्तहरू र प्रदेशहरूमा कम बेसी नेपालीहरू बसोबास गर्छन्‌। अन्य जाति र सम्प्रदाय जस्तो नेपाली फर्केर जाने कुनै निश्चित किपट छैन। अन्य जाति भारतको विभिन्न प्रान्तमा बसोबास गरेपनि बर्षमा एकपल्ट आफ्नो देश वा किपट जान्छन्‌।

नेपालीहरू जहॉं -जहॉं जसरी बसोबास गरिरहेछन्‌ त्यही हाम्रो देश हो किपट हो। किनभने नेपालीहरू यी ठाउँहरूमा यहॉंको इतिहास संग संगै भस्मे र जंगल फँाडेर बसोबास गर्दै आएको हो। यो त हामीले आफ्नो पक्षमा राख्नेे युक्तिसंगत तर्क हो। यो तर्कलाई आधिकारिक र संवैैधानिक मान्यता दिलाउन एउटा आन्दोलनको आवश्यकता छ।

लामो आन्दोलन र संग्रामको फलस्वरूप 20 अगष्ट 1992 मा नेपाली भाषाले संविधानको आठौं अनुसूचिमा मान्यता पाउन सफल भयो। 18 जनवरी 1956 मा देहरादुनका 'जाग्रत गोर्खा'का सम्पादकमण्डली स्वर्गीय आनन्दसिंह थापा, बिरसिंह भण्डारी र नरेन्द्रसिंह थापाद्वारा भारतका तत्कालीन राष्ट्रपति राजेन्द्र प्रसादलाई नेपाली भाषालाई संविधानको आठौं अनुसूचिमा गाभिनपर्छ भनेर पठाएको मागपत्रबाट प्रारम्भ भएको आन्दोलनले 36 बर्ष पछि मान्यता पाउन सफल भयो।

हाम्रो भाषाले मान्यता पाइसकेपछि पनि हामी आफैलार्ई यो देशको नागरिक हौं के भनी प्रश्न गर्नु चरम मुर्खता र पागलपन हो। नेपाली भाषाले मान्यता पाइसकेपछि भारतमा बसोबास गर्ने नेपालीहरूको आङमा केही हल्का घाम लागेको छ। भाषा जातिको प्राण हो र यसले सम्पूर्ण नेपालीहरूको प्रतिनिधित्व गर्दछ। तर यहॉं स्पष्ट बुझ्नु पर्छ भाषा मान्यता त्यस जातिको राजनैतिक सुरक्षाको हतियार होइन।

अब प्रश्न आउँछ भारतको विभिन्न प्रान्त र प्रदेशमा बसोबास गर्ने नेपालीहरूको राजनैतिक सुरक्षाको संवैधानिक हतियार के हुन्छ ? यो प्रश्नको उत्तरमा विभिन्न विचारहरू प्रकट हुनसक्छ र भइरहेछ। उक्त विचारहरूमा सर्वप्रथम गोर्खास्थानको आवाज उठेको हो। दोस्रो 80 को दशकमा प्रान्त परिषदले छुट्टै प्रान्तको निम्ति आन्दोलन चलायो। तेस्रो तत्कालीन सी0 पी0 आई0 (एम0) सांसद आनन्द पाठकले 6 अगष्ट 1985 मा 45 वटा विभाग समेटेको प्राइभेट मेम्बर बिल संसदमा प्रस्तुत गरेर दार्जीलिङ पार्वत्य अञ्चल र योसित संलग्न नेपाली बाहुल क्षेत्रहरूलाई लिएर एउटा स्वायत्त शासनको माग उठाएका छन्‌। तर राजनैतिक दाऊ-पेचमा परि यो बिघेयक संसदमा बहससम्म भएर पनि पारित हुन सकेन। अहिले यो स्वायत्त शासनको बिधेयक बुझेर पुरपुरोमा हात राखि 'थुइया साला हाम्रो बिु़द्ध' भन्दै आफैलाई धिक्कार्ने पढ़न्ते र बुद्धिजीवी पनि कम छैनन्‌।

चौथो सन्‌ 1986 सालदेखि सुबास घिसिङको नेतृत्वमा गोरामुमोले जातीय चिन्हारीको प्रश्न उठाएर गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन गरे। यो आन्दोलन हिंसात्मक रहेपनि साम्प्रदायिक तनाव त्यसमा थिएन। तर आन्दोलनको मूल उद्देश्य भन्दा पनि रिस फेर्ने खालको 'बंगाल हाम्रो चिहान हो चिहानमा गोर्खा बस्दैन!' भन्ने नारा दिएर सुतेको बाघको जुङ्गा तान्ने काम गरियो। तर पनि अगष्ट 22, 1988 मा त्रिपक्षीय सम्झौताको फलस्वरूप 'गोर्खा पार्वत्य विकास परिषद' गठन भयो।

यो परिषद प्राय 20 वर्ष परिचालित भइसकेपछि यसको ऐनलाई पुनविचार गरि संवैधानिक मान्यताको प्रश्न उठ्यो। फलस्वरूप यसमा अझ केही नेपाली भाषी मौजाहरू संलग्न गराई संविधानको छैटौं अनुसूचिमा मान्यता दिलाउन 6 अगष्ट 2006 को दिन त्रिपक्षीय सम्झौतामा हस्ताक्षर गरियो। तर यसको एकपट्टि पहाडको एउटै राजनैतिक दललाई मात्र मान्यता दिइयो भने अर्कोपट्टि केन्द्र सरकारले आधिकारिक स्वीकृतिमा बिलम्ब गरेपछि दार्जीलिङ पहाड़मा यसको विरूद्ध जनआक्रोश फैलियो। अन्तमा सरकारले यो विधेयकलाई स्थगित राख्न पर्‍यो।

फलस्वरूप पहाड़मा पुन: जातीय चिन्हारीको प्रश्न उठाई गोजमुमोले गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन मच्चाइरहेछ। गोजमुमोेको यो आन्दोलन जतिकै गान्धीवादको पगरी गुथे पनि यो आन्दोलनले साम्प्रदायिक सहिष्णुता खल्बलिएको छ। फेरि यो आन्दोलन पनि उद्देश्यमा केन्द्रित हुनभन्दा पनि बेसि रिस फेर्ने खालको देखापरेको छ। सानोतिनो छुटपुट घटना र भूलहरूलाई छाड़िदिऊँ तर 'बग्ंलादेशको सिमानामा कॉंडेतारबाट छिरेर आए' भन्ने भाषण र तर्कहरूले सुतेको बाधको जुङ्गा नै उखेल्ने काम भएको छ।

फेरि आन्दोलनकारीहरूले संसदीय गणतन्त्रको गणितलाई पनि बुझ्नपर्ने आवश्यकता देखिन्छ। यसरी कसैले बासभूमिको आवाज उठाइरहेछ भने कसैले सिक्किमसित विलयको तर्क प्रस्तुत गरिरहेछ भने वामपन्थीहरू उच्च क्षमता भएको सम्पन्न स्वशासित परिषद भन्दैछ( जो अहिले मोर्चाले थापिरहेको छ)।

यहॉं एउटा सत्य उल्लेख नगरि हुँदैन सो के भने भारतीय संविधानको धारा 3 -क-मा भाषाको आधारमा राज्य गठन हुनसक्ने प्रावधान उल्लेख गरिएकोछ। यसर्थ स-साना राज्य गठनको आन्दोलन संवैधानिक त ठहदर्छ तर बिडम्बना के छ भने देशको स्थापित सरकारले न सबैलाई राज्य दिनसक्छ न यी आन्दोलनहरूलाई नै शान्त पार्नसक्छ। अझ यो धारामा राज्य गठनको निम्ति आवश्यक तत्वहरूको पनि उल्लेख गरिएकोछैन। यसर्थ संविधानको धारा 3 -क- देश भित्र अराजकता ल्याउने पुञ्जीवादी हतियारको रूपमा प्रयोग भइरहेछ। यसो हो भने यो धारा कि रद्ध हुन पर्छ कि देशको एकता र अखण्डतालाई ध्यानमा राखेर यसभित्र राज्य गठनको तत्चहरू उल्लेख गरिनपर्छ।

विगतमा पनि राज्य सरकारद्वारा पहाड़को भौगोलिक अवस्थान र भाषागत भिन्नतालाई ध्यानमा राखेर यसको आफ्नैै ढँाचागत विकास होस्‌ भन्ने अभिप्रायले सर्वप्रथम 'हिल एफियर्स' को गठन गरियो। दोस्रो पहाडको तीन महकुमामा नेपाली भाषालाई सरकारी भाषाको रूपमा मान्यता दिइयो। त्यसरी नै नेपाली एकेडेमी अनि 1983 सालदेखि पार्वत्य बिषयक मन्त्रालय स्थापित गरि एक जना राज्यमन्त्री पनि राखियो जसको कार्यालय दार्जीलिङमा नै स्थापित गरिएको थियो।

यो कुरो सत्य हो कि भौगोलिक दृष्टिकोणबाट पनि पहाडको निम्ति अलग्गै व्यवस्था र अन्यलाई भन्दा केही छुट हुनैपर्ने हो। पहाडको जीवन समतलको भन्दा कठिन हुन्छ। उक्त माग र दाबीहरू नेपालीहरूको निम्ति भारतमा राजनैतिक सुरक्षाको संवैैधानिक ग्यारेन्टिको उत्तर खोजाई हो। तर यी सम्पूर्ण माग र दाबीहरू मात्र पश्चिम बंगालको उत्तरमा अवस्थित दार्जीलिङ पार्वत्य अञ्चल र यो सित संलग्न क्षेत्रमा बसोबास गर्ने नेपालीहरूलाई मात्र केन्द्र गरेर राखिएको माग र दाबी हुन्‌।

उक्त माग र दाबीसित भारतका अन्य प्रान्तमा बसोबास गर्ने नेपालीहरूको भावनात्मक सम्बन्ध रहे पनि बस्तुगत रूपमा केही सम्बन्ध राख्दैन। फेरि उक्त माग र दाबीहरूमा उल्लेखित व्यवस्थाले भारतमा छरिएर बसेका नेपालीहरूलाई समेट्न सक्दैन। उल्लेखित व्यवस्थाले पश्चिम बंगालको पनि प्राय 5 लाख नेपालीहरू मात्र समेट्न सक्छ जबकि पश्चिम बङ्गालमात्र 12 लाख नेपालीहरू बसोबास गर्छन्‌ भने भारतभरि 1 कड़ोर भन्दा बेसि बसोबास गर्छन्‌। यसरी सम्पूर्ण भारतका नेपालीहरूको चिन्हारीको निम्ति राखिएको उक्त माग र दाबी प्राप्त भएपनि प्राय: 95 नेपालीहरू यसबाट बञ्चित हुनपर्छ। भन्नपर्दा भारतको कुनै निश्चित प्रान्तमा नेपालीहरूको निम्ति दिइने उक्त कुनै पनि व्यवस्थाले सम्पूर्ण नेपालीहरूलाई प्रतिनिधित्व गर्न सक्दैन।

यसर्थ भारतमा नेपालीहरूको राजनैतिक सुरक्षाका संवैधानिक ग्यारेन्टिको जहॉंसम्म प्रश्न आउँछ त्यसको समाधानको आरम्भ सृजनशील विज्ञानको प्रगतिशील पथबाट हुनुपर्छ। यदि यसो हो भने भारतको पूर्वमा बर्माको सीमानादेखि पश्चिमको भाग्सु, देहरादुन अनि अन्य प्रदेशहरूमा छरिएर बसेका नेपालीहरूको निम्ति कुन राजनैतिक सुरक्षाको संवैधानिक व्यवस्था सठिक होला? यी प्रश्नहरूले हामीलाई कुत्कुत्याउनु स्वाभाविक हो। यी प्रश्नहरूको अघि उभिएर सम्पूर्ण नेपालीहरूले चिन्ता गर्न पर्छ अनि हामी घरि-घरि भावना मात्र बोकेको दिशाहीन राजनीतिको शिकार हुनबाट मुक्त हुनपर्छ।

यी प्रश्नहरूलाई नियाल्दा भारतमा छरिएर बसेका नेपालीहरूलाई धार्मिक आधारमा विश्लेषण गर्नपर्दा बहुसंख्यक नेपालीहरू हिन्दु,त्यसपछि बौद्ध, युमासांग, इसाई अनि कतिपय इस्लामधर्ममा विभाजित भएको पाइन्छ। यहॉं बौद्ध, इसाई र इस्लामधर्म मान्ने नेपालीहरूले धार्मिक अल्पसंख्यकको सरकारी सहुलियत उपभोग गर्न पाइरहेका छन्‌।

जातको रूपमा नेपाली समाजलाई विश्लेषण गर्दा थुप्रै जातगोष्ठीहरूमा विभाजित भएको पाइन्छ अनि उनीहरूको जन्मदेखि मृत्युसम्मको रिती-रिवाज, संस्कार र कूल-घराना, खान-पान र जीवन -शैलीमापनि थुप्रै भिन्नता पाइन्छ। यद्धपि नेपालीहरूमाझ अन्तरजाति बिवाह प्रचलित छ। तरपनि अजात बुहारीले आनो पतिको जातको माइती किन्न पर्ने प्रथा प्रचलित छ। नेपालीहरूमा मित लाउने वा साथी बोल्ने प्रथा आज पनि प्रचलित छ। तर उदाहरणको रूपमा सुब्बा र बाहुन मितै लाएपनि चिनै साटेपनि एक अर्काप्रति ज्यानै दिएपनि सुब्बाले जनाई लाउदैन अनि बाहुनले सुङ्गुर पाल्दैन। यो उनीहरूको जातीय संस्कार हो। यहॉंसम्म कि नेपालीहरूमा आजसम्म छुवा-छुतको अमानवीय कु-संस्कार जिउँदो छ।

सरकारि सहुलियतको आधारमा पनि नेपालीहरू जनजाती, अनुशुचित जनजाति, अन्य पछौटे बर्ग र साधारणमा विभाजित छन्‌।

हाम्रो आ-आफ्नै जात भएकोले जातको आधारमा हाम्रो एकिकरण हुन सक्दैन अनि हामी नेपाली जाति होइनौ तर नेपाली भाषी हौं। यसर्थ हामीलाई भाषाले मात्र एकिकृत गर्न सक्छ किनभने हामी जे खाए पनि जे लाए पनि नेपाली भाषालाई विचारमा माध्यम र मातृभाषाको रूपमा मानिलिन्छौं। संविधानको आठौं अनुसूचिमा अन्तरभुक्त भएको हाम्रो भाषा पनि नेपाली नै हो। यो पनि भानुभक्तले रामायण नेपालीमा अनुवाद नगरिदिएको भए सम्भव थिएन ।

अझ यहॉं स्पष्टसित बुझ्नु पर्छ कि हिन्दु नेपालीहरू भारतको अन्य हिन्दु साम्प्रदायसित गहिरो सम्बन्ध किन छैन किनभने बगाली हिन्दुहरू बंगला बोल्छन्‌ तामिल हिन्दुहरू तामिल बोल्छन्‌ अनि अन्य हिन्दुहरू उनीहरूकै भाषा बोल्छन्‌। यसर्थ धर्म एउटै भएपनि भाषाको कारण उनीहरूसित हाम्रो गहिरो सम्बन्ध हुन नसकेको हो। किनभने भाषा प्राण हो।

अब कुरा गरौं हामी कतिजना आफैलाई नेपाली भनि परिचय गराउँदा हिचकिचाउने गरेको पाइएको छ एवं उनीहरूले आफ्नो परिचय गोर्खा नै हो भनी दिन चाहन्छन्‌। तर सबैलाई ज्ञात होस पाकिस्तानमा बस्ने मुसलमान अनि भारतका मुसलमान दुवैले अल्ला नै पुकार्छन्‌ एवं उनीहरूको उर्दु भाषा र लिपी पनि एउटै छन्‌। तामिलनाडुमा पनि तामिल छन्‌ अनि श्रीलंकामा पनि तामिल छन्‌। बग्ंलादेशको राष्ट्रिय भाषा बग्ंला हो अनि यो पश्चिम बंगाल राज्यको प्रमुख एवं संविधानमा मान्यताप्राप्त प्रमुख भाषा हो।

बौद्ध धर्म अप्नाउने नेपाली बुद्धिष्टहरूले धार्मिक कार्यक्रममा टिबेटन भाषाकै पोस्तक प्रयोग गरेको पाइन्छ। यसर्थ हामीले आफ्नै परिचय के होला भनि प्रश्न गर्नु चरम मुर्खता र पागलपन हो। हाम्रो भाषा नेपाली नै हो । हाम्रो शैक्षिक सर्टिफिकेटमा पनि हाम्रो भाषा नेपाली भनि उल्लेेख गरिएकोछ।

जातीय संवेदनशीलतामा अडिएर राजनैतिक सुरक्षाको सवालमा अनि चिन्हारीको निम्ति भन्नुपर्दा हामी सम्पूर्ण नेपालीहरूलाई एक साथ संग संगै राष्ट्रिय मूलधारामा बग्न सक्ने व्यवस्था हुनपर्छ। जुन व्यवस्थामा सम्पूर्ण नेपालीहरूलाई बस्तुगत रूपमा एक साथ समेट्न सकियोस्‌। यदि यसो हो भने आजको परिस्थितिमा उभिएर दाबी गर्न पर्दा गोर्खाहरूले भारतमा 'भाषिक अल्पसंख्यकको' संवैैधानिक अधिकार पाउन पर्छ।

भारतीय संविधानको अनुच्छेद: 29, 30, 347, 350, र 350 -क-मा भाषागत अत्पसंख्यकहरूले पाउने अधिकार उल्लेख गरिएको छ।

नेपालीहरूले भाषिक अल्पसंख्यकको अधिकार पाउनपर्छ भन्ने दाबी लिएर पश्चिम बंगालका राज्य सभा सांसद समन पाठकले 6 अगष्ट 2009 को दिन संसदको स्पेशल मेनसन पब्लिक इन्पोर्टेन्स अवधिमा सदनको ध्यान आकर्षित गरेका छन्‌। यही प्रश्नको उत्तरमा केन्द्रिय गृह मन्त्रालयबाट गृह राज्य मन्त्रीले उहॉंको पत्रको जवाब पठाएर उक्त बिषय छानबिनको निम्ति अल्पसंख्यक मन्त्रालयलाई पठाइसकिएको जानकारी गराएका छन्‌।

भाषिक अल्पसंख्यकको अधिकारको मुद्धा समय सापेक्ष र दुरदर्शी राजनीतिको संयोग हो। यो मागलाई सफलता दिलाउन समाज, सङ्गठन र राजनैतिक दलहरू सबै मिलेर बिषय प्रति केन्द्रित भई आन्दोलनमा लागिहाल्नु पर्छ।
Police observes drug abuse day
KalimNews: International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking is being celebrated by Darjeeling Police on 26 June by organising 5 km walk and run at Siliguri. It will start from Airview More at 6 am. IG of North Bengal Police and special IG are joining the run.
Mamata to waive cess in West Bengal to cut LPG price sting
HT, Kolkata, June 25, 2011: In a bid to partially offset the price hike of LPG cylinders, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced that her government has surrendered a cess income of Rs 16 per cylinder, thereby effecting an equal reduction from the hike of Rs 50 announced by the Centre from midnight of June 24.
"The government would sacrifice an income of Rs 75 crore. I have discussed the issue with finance minister Amit Mitra. The decision would come into effect from Friday night, when the price hike came into effect," said the chief minister on Saturday afternoon at the state secretariat.
With the cess waiver, consumers in West Bengal would have to shell out Rs 399 for a cylinder and not Rs 415 as announced on Friday evening.
"This is our contribution to try and deliver some relief to the kitchens of our mothers and sisters of Bengal," said the chief minister in her usual rhetoric before announcing the notification would be published on Monday.
"She deserves my thanks of the cess sacrifice," remarked CPI(M) central committee member and former housing minister of Bengal Gautam Deb, known for his vitriolic attack on Mamata during the Assembly poll campaign.
But perhaps bigger than the quantum of sacrifice was the Trinamool Congress leader's message to the Centre that she was not at all accepting the Centre's logic.
"I am pained, grieved at the price hike. I have told the Centre they should also reduce the hike. The common man's interest is of paramount importance," said Mamata, whose party the Trinamool Congress is the second largest constituent of the UPA government.
Mamata expressed her displeasure on Friday evening itself shortly after the decision to raise the prices of petro products was announced.
"I have vented my unhappiness at the proper place. We are against price rises," she had said on Friday evening.
Mamata laced her announcement with a dig at her predecessors. "We had repeatedly implored the Left Front government for sacrificing a part of their income from petro products to help the common man. But they never did it," said Mamata.
West Bengal is going through one of the worst financial crisis in its history. Its tax revenues are extremely poor compared to its expenditure, so much so that the state government spends 97% of its taxes on just paying salaries to its employees.
However, the West Bengal chief minister did not announce any surrender of revenue on the prices of diesel and kerosene, the prices of which were also raised from Friday night. 
Taxi, bus operators demand fare hike
PTI, Kolkata:Private transport operators today demanded an immediate fare hike for bus, mini-bus and taxis, while truckers threatened to call an indefinite nation-wide strike if there is no immediate rollback in diesel prices.
“There is no alternative to fare increase and it is inevitable,” a spokesman of the Joint Council of Bus Syndicate said. Urging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to consider the plight of the transport operators faced with steep fuel price hike and rise in cost of inputs, he said otherwise it might lead to suspension of services.
“The previous Left Front government went back on its words to give subsidy to the private transport operators. We expect the present government to consider the case,” he said.

Global Urban Vision – July 2011

(Compiled and Published by J.N. Manokaran (jnmanokaran@yahoo.com) on behalf of Glocal Resources Development Associates)

I India

1. Child sex ratio plunges in 431 districts, improves in 149: A district-by-district study of the sex ratio trends in India derived from comparing Census results from 2011 and 2001 shows that even as the barbarism of sex selective abortion continues to spread in hitherto untouched communities and regions, other parts of India are holding up a candle in the wind by reversing the trend. Child sex ratio, measured as the number of girls for every 1000 boys in the 0-6 years age group has declined in 431 districts. But surprisingly, it has improved in 149 districts. In a large swathe covering 4 districts in lower HP, 16 districts of Punjab, Chandigarh and 15 districts of Haryana – 36 districts in all – the ratio has increased. These are the areas where the last Census had recorded some of the shockingly lowest sex ratios indicating widespread practice of female feticide and infanticide. States like J&K and Nagaland, long seen as bastions of gender equity, have shown decline in the child sex ratio – J&K from 941 to 859, Nagaland from 964 to 944, and Manipur from 957 to 934. In the 75 districts of the country where tribals constitute 50% or more of the population, child sex ratio has declined over a decade in 52 districts. However, the sex ratios are in the healthy range of 950, above the national average of 914. These tribal districts are spread across the central India and Northeast. In the 50 districts with highest Muslim population, 39 districts show drop in sex ratio again shattering the myth that the minority community preserves its own culture and social behavior. The same factors that drove declining child sex ratio in other parts of the country, and in other communities are now having effect in tribal areas and among Muslim communities, these include availability of abortion facilities, she adds. The shocking decline in child sex ratio in all 14 districts of J&K seen in this year's Census results is mostly because of faulty counting in the previous Census of 2001. There was a 20 year gap because in 1991 no Census work was possible. The present Census has simply brought out the reality. The improvement in Punjab and Haryana is puzzling all experts. Despite the improvement, Haryana districts continue to have the lowest child sex ratio in the whole country. (Subodh Varma, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Child-sex-ratio-plunges-in-431-districts-improves-in-149/articleshow/8595174.cms accessed on 27 May 2011.)

2. Young and Furious: With acne on their faces and hormones in turmoil, teenagers across the country are angry, anguished, restless and hell-bent on snatching what they believe is theirs. Last month, Bijendra Kumar, 18, an engineering student in Jamshedpur, beheaded Khushboo in Ranchi for spurning his love. In May 2010, two minor boys in Pune beheaded school-mate Abhishek Ghorpade, a Class VIII student, on the suspicion that he had informed the police about their involvement in a brawl. On April 28, a group of Delhi teenagers beat Jaswant Singh, 32, to death with cricket stumps and his own prosthetic leg when he stopped them from playing cricket in front of his Rohini house. From 0.5 per cent (8,888 criminal acts) of cognisable offences committed in the country in 1999, juvenile delinquency has risen to account for 1.1 per cent (23,926) of all crimes committed in 2009. It's still a small number when compared to the overall crime figures, but it has more than doubled in the past decade. The worst-hit states with the most violent acts of juvenile delinquency are Maharashtra (142 murders), Madhya Pradesh (117), Bihar (61), Rajasthan (62), Chhattisgarh (60), Delhi (57) and Jharkhand (56)-collectively accounting for more than 65 per cent of 844 murders by teenagers. A larger number of cases are examples of teenagers hatching cold-blooded plots to commit gruesome acts of violence. On March 22, a 13-year-old Siliguri teenager had an argument with Biswarup, a boy four years his junior. The teenager patched up with Biswarup two hours after the argument, took him on a bike ride and then slit his throat. On April 24, a 12-year-old Class VII Hyderabad boy pushed his 13-year-old girlfriend to her death into a barrage in Vijayawada. Reason: he was tired of "her nagging". Dr Amul Ranjan, director of Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences, attributes the criminal tendencies of teenagers to the breakdown of a sense of community. "Adolescents today have just video games, tv, bikes and uncensored access to the Internet. All this leaves them with an unfettered emptiness, which is churning out dangerous results." Statistics confirm juvenile delinquency has taken a dangerous shift-with sex and money being the driving factors. Rohit Kumar, 15, a Class X student of dav, Patna, was killed by friends Vishal Singh and Anand Kumar, both 18, in a plot straight out of a Bhojpuri film. Rohit was offered a chloroform-spiked drink and strangulated. His throat was also slit with a shaving blade. Vishal and Anand wanted to use Rohit's phone to demand Rs 10 lakh as ransom from Rohit's parents. The police arrested the two after Rohit's body was recovered on May 4. What is setting alarm bells ringing is that unlike mood swings-mostly credited for school crimes in the West- Indian teenage criminals are plotting the killing of those close to them. A compelling interest in sex is also a big driver. Most parents wouldn't have seen this one coming. (Amitabh Srivastava, India Today 30 May 2011, p. 76.)

3. Maharashtra makes Rs 4 crore from name changes: Changing names is no passing fad, as seen by the desire of lakhs of people across Maharashtra. In 12 months from April 2009 to March 2010, more than 1.31 lakh people across the state applied to have their names changed. The state raked in more than Rs 3.84 crore from these applications, a Right to Information ( RTI) reply has revealed. And the trend isn't abating. The government received another 83,083 applications in the first seven months of the 2010-11 fiscal year, leading to revenues of over Rs 2.18 crore. In 19 months from April 2009 to October 2010, the government received more than 2.14 lakh applications and netted more than Rs 6.02 crore. People who asked for name changes included those who wanted to improve their fortunes, on advise of a numerologist; others, dropped their surname so as to avoid the bane of casteist attitudes. Some change as they are fed up with name-calling or bullying. State officials confirmed that a significant number of applications come from celebrities, traders and stockbrokers, who add or delete letters after consulting numerologists. Many people change their names after having been the butt of jokes since childhood. Government rules say that the applicant can begin using his new name after it appears in the gazette, which is published every week. Sociologists and psychiatrists say that the name-changing business is booming mainly due to the pursuit of material success. It is ironic that though we live in an age of science, our superstitions continue to grow. People believe in lucky stones and rings and changing names, instead of believing in their own abilities. (Viju B, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maharashtra-makes-Rs-4-crore-from-name-changes/articleshow/8631746.cms accessed on 29 May 2011.)

4. 3-yr-old boy left inside car for three hours in city, dies: A three-year-old child, left sleeping in the back seat of a car in Chennai by his parents, died three hours later due to suffocation and heat. The family from Pallavaram on the outskirts of Chennai had travelled to the house of a relative inside the city to attend a funeral. Police sources said 37-year old Niyamadullah, a leather merchant, and his wife Mumtaz Begum, 36, got out of the car at Thiruvika Nagar in north Chennai at 1pm, each thinking that the other had taken the child, Asmathullah, from the back seat. The duo were separated for a long time at the function and they realised the child was not with either of them after about three hours. Police sources said the parents immediately rushed to the car on realising their mistake. When they reached the car, they found him struggling for breath. The child was taken to a nearby private hospital, from they referred him to government-run Stanley Hospital. The child failed to respond to the treatment and died. The death was primarily caused due to exposure to heat due to a sharp rise in temperature inside the car. (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/3-yr-old-boy-left-inside-car-for-3-hours-in-Chennai-dies/articleshow/8644122.cms accessed on 30 May 2011.)

5. Jail inmates beat doctor to death in Gopalgunj, Bihar: Right inside the high-security Gopalgunj District Jail, in the presence of four guards, seven prisoners beat a doctor, Dr BD Singh, to death. Instead of raising an alarm the guards ran away. The prisoners were accused of kidnapping for ransom of a school boy that happened in 2009. Eight of them are serving life sentence. One of the main accused was allegedly said to be suffering from chicken pox. They called the doctor and told him that the man's condition is very serious. The attackers were allegedly upset with Dr Singh because he had refused to issue them permission to be treated outside jail, where they could connect with their criminal friends better. The police say they have no jurisdiction inside jails and can't account for this security breakdown. But the question remains what about the District Administration that had received letters from the doctor saying he feared for his life. (Alok Pandey, http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/jail-inmates-beat-doctor-to-death-in-gopalgunj-bihar-108966 accessed on 30 May 2011.)

6. TN medical colleges seek Rs 25-45 lakh as capitation fee: Anticipating a huge demand for undergraduate medical admissions this year, private medical universities and colleges in Tamil Nadu have jacked up charges for MBBS admission — application forms, tuition fee and the illegal capitation fee. At the DD Naidu Medical College, the application form for the entrance exam costs Rs 25,000. Students who qualify will have to buy another form for Rs 5,000. College chairman TD Naidu said the college charges 7.5 lakh per year for tuition, boarding and lodging fee for MBBS courses. Deemed universities like Sri Ramachandra University charge 6.5 lakh as annual tuition fee, while SRM Medical College and Chettinad Medical College charge Rs 4 lakh per year. Some parents said that medical colleges also demand capitation fees ranging between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 45 lakh. Stung by media investigations that exposed the practice of capitation fees, colleges are taking precautions. Some have security personnel to thoroughly frisk parents who go to remit capitation fees. (Pushpa NarayanPushpa Narayan, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/TN-medical-colleges-seek-Rs-25-45-lakh-as-capitation-fee/articleshow/8656418.cms accessed on 31 May 2011.)

7. An innocent man was killed here: Three policemen picked up the victim on mere suspicion, beat him to death and then tried to dispose of the body. Two cops are now behind bars, the third died in a road mishap a week after the incident. Life comes cheap in Delhi, or so it would appear once you've read about the unfortunate death of Praveen Kumar. The Rohtak resident was picked up from Nangloi in Delhi in an unknown case and mercilessly beaten up by cops at the Subzi Mandi police post in January this year. What's worse, when the victim died the policemen tried to dispose of the body, fearing action. One of the cops, sub-inspector Devender Singh, died in a road mishap a week after the incident. The two other policemen, constable Ram Niwas and home guard Jagdeep, have been sent to the Tihar Jail after the confirmation of their involvement in the case. After the matter came to light, a case was registered (FIR number 2/2011) under sections 302, 365 and 120 of IPC at the Sarai Rohilla Railway police station in north Delhi. The victim's brother Sagar is the complainant. The investigations were handed over to the anti-kidnapping wing of Crime Branch. When Crime Branch started investigating the matter they sensed the involvement of the cops. During the probe it was discovered that the three policemen had picked up the victim from Nangloi railway station on suspicion of involvement in a case. He had come to the area to visit his sister. They took him to his native village to find out more clues about him. However, the cops discovered that he had been disowned by his family and the village due to his habit of drinking. But no evidence of his involvement in any illegal activity could be found, nor did he have any police record. "After the cops couldn't get anything from his village, they brought him back and beat him in the lock-up of Subzi Mandi police post. He was killed by them and then they disposed of his body in a drain near Mundka area," Crime Branch sources said. A few days later, the corpse was found out by a local resident who informed the police about it. Crime Branch conducted a DNA test of the body, which matched with the victim's father. "Soon after the DNA report confirmed his identity, Crime Branch arrested the two police officers earlier this month and sent them to Tihar Jail on May 20," police sources said. (Mohit Sharma, http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/may/310511-news-delhi-An-innocent-man-killed-beat-him-to-death.htm accessed on 31 May 2011.)

8. Dalit boy thrashed for 'defiling' TN temple: In a shocking instance of the continuing practice of untouchability, a 17-year-old dalit boy, who entered the sanctum sanctorum of a temple, was allegedly thrashed and abused by a Brahmin priest and his son in Mettupalayam, Coimbatore district. K Vinith had gone to the temple with his sister K Sruthi, 15, an hour before her Class X results were declared on Friday (29 May 2011). He entered the sanctum sanctorum, took 'vibhuti' (holy ash) kept on a plate and smeared it on his sister's forehead. The priest and his son, who were not in the sanctum sanctorum, returned then and allegedly slapped him repeatedly. The duo have been arrested on charges of abuse and causing voluntary hurt under sections of the Indian Penal Code. However, the police are yet to invoke the sections under the anti-untouchability law (The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act) against them. Despite the presence of a stringent law and numerous campaigns, complaints of dalits being denied entry into temples abound. (Binoy ValsanBinoy Valsan, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Dalit-boy-thrashed-for-defiling-TN-temple/articleshow/8636480.cms accessed on 3 June 2011.)

9. 95,000 adolescents are living with HIV in India: UN Report: India, where 95,000 adolescents are living with HIV, has been listed along with the sub-Saharan countries having the highest number of youngsters infected by the deadly virus, according to a UN report. In the age group of 10-19 years, India with 46,000 infected girls and 49,000 boys, has been ranked tenth in the list of countries most affected with HIV in 2009, the report 'Opportunity in Crisis: Preventing HIV from early adolescence to young adulthood' said. South Africa is at the top with 2,10,000 girls and 82,000 boys infected with the virus while Nigeria at second with 1,80,000 girls and 1,00,000 boys followed by Kenya.It said globally young women make up more than 60% of all young people living with HIV. (http://www.dnaindia.com/health/report_95000-adolescents-living-with-hiv-in-india-un-report_1550461 accessed on 3 June 2011.)

10. When social media booms, will brands take the hint? Not only are about 30 million Indians (who are online) members of social networking sites but they have also started spending more time on these sites daily. The Nielsen Company in collaboration with AbsolutData did a survey and found: While just 8 per cent spend between an hour and three hours on personal email, 20 per cent spend the same time on social media sites. Indians spend more time on social media than on email. Email is one-to-one, predominantly.while,. Social media is primarily a one-to-many and many-to-many communication mode. This means social media provides a bigger audience. The second reason, is the fact that Indians increasingly are finding their voice online. Third, it is also easier to access social sites, the mobile phone coming in handy. The study estimates that over the next six months 45,000 online Indians intend to join social networking sites each day.(Ramya Kannan, http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/06/stories/2011060662701800.htm accessed on 6 June 2011.)

11. Midday meals cooked by dalits go waste: A dalit chief minister in Mayawati has not changed the deep-seated caste bias in schools of Uttar Pradesh. In 40% schools of Shahjehanpur, Badaun and Pilibhit districts, teachers do not taste the mid-day meal food and students refuse to eat it since the cooks belong to lower caste. The rot in MDM in these three districts is not confined to caste bias alone. It has also been found that in schools of urban areas of these three districts, roti and green vegetables are never given, in 80% schools there is difference between the number of actual students present in the class and the number of students who are shown to be availing of MDM. Also, in most of the schools in urban areas there are no utensils. In rural areas of these districts, MDM supplies of 95% of the schools are kept at the pradhan's house from where they are brought to the school every day for cooking. The Centre has now asked the UP government to look into the matter and send a report by July 31. The report said that in the three districts upper primary school children take less mid-day meal than those in the primary sections because the "upper primary children belonging to general category are more aware of caste system and do not like to take mid-day meal prepared by SC cooks". The report said in 10% schools of rural areas of these districts, village pradhans do not give the required quantity of food grain for cooking mid-day meal. It also said that in 95% schools of these districts children bring their own utensils. Also, non-iodised salt is used in 5% of schools and 30% schools used wood for cooking mid-day meals. Another report – prepared by GB Pant Social Science Institute, Allahabad, and Lucknow University – based on a survey of 110 schools of Maharajganj district said that MDM was not served in 50% of the sample schools. (Akshaya MukulAkshaya Mukul, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Midday-meals-cooked-by-dalits-go-waste/articleshow/8755038.cms accessed on 7 June 2011.)

12. Extreme thrills or death traps? Theme parks are every child’s dream destination and every adult’s ticket to childhood. It holds the promise of fun, laughter and happiness. Then how is it that these places of joy have become grisly death traps? On Saturday (4 June 2011) a college student drowned in a lake meant for boating at a leading amusement park. In the past, there have been sudden deaths of young people at amusement parks, whose safety mechanisms are fast getting outdated. Ignorance of the lack of safety measures in place, and of possible hazards, causes numerous injuries and the loss of innocent lives, year after year. 20-year-old Praveen Kumar tried to retrieve his footwear, instead got stuck in the slush and drowned. Negligence on the part of the park authorities, or the victim’s own mistake? An insider who works at a reputed amusement park informs us that all rides are second-hand ones, disposed by theme parks abroad. Discarded because of wear and tear, these rides are available cheap and quickly bought by the amusement parks here. The accidents at the state’s amusement parks speak for themselves. In April 2007, an employee at MGM Dizzee World on ECR, was hit by a merry-go-round and died. In 2006, a 6-year-old girl from Guduvancherry drowned in a swimming pool at Kishkintha. In 2008, an 11-year-old girl drowned while on a boat ride at Queensland Amusement Park. In the event of accidents, these parks seem to find themselves unprepared, and clueless about first aid and emergency measures. Our source informs us that most parks in the state do not have any kind of medical provisionary – neither a doctor on call, nor an ambulance in the parking lot. Also some say the ‘user’ should consider suing these parks in the event of negligence and if can be proven. If you’ve been hurt or injured at an amusement park, you have consumer rights. If the accident has occurred due to negligence on part of the park authorities, criminal charges can be made. While a lost life cannot be replaced, it is perhaps time for self-regulation and government intervention to ensure these happy spaces remain havens of joy and not traps of death. (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/chennai/extreme-thrills-or-death-traps-844 accessed on 7 June 2011.)

13. No time for the child, rue parents in metros: Called 'Together Quotient', the survey of more than 1,800 fathers and mothers in six major metros reveals that a sizeable number of parents feel unsatisfied with the levels of involvement with the child. In Mumbai, when asked to rate their involvement on a four-option scale, only 50% parents in Mumbai claimed to be 'extremely involved' in the lives of their children, with 'extremely involved' being the highest rung in the A C Nielsen study. The parents surveyed were between the age of 26 and 45 years, with children in the age group of 6 to 12 years. The cities scanned were Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad, with an average household income of Rs 18,000 a month.Expectedly, 70% parents across the six cities complained that a disproportionate work-life balance negatively impacts the involvement with their child. Belying the belief that mothers spend more time with their children, the survey reveals that both working parents spent more or less the same amount of time with their offspring—only two hours a day on weekdays, and four hours on weekends. Given that many urban mothers have joined their partners on the corporate treadmill, causing them to clock comparable hours, this fact doesn't shock. But it does surprise given the fact that although men and women were polled in almost equal numbers, only 20% of the women were working moms, while all the men were employed. Of all the parents interviewed, not a single one in Mumbai spent more than five hours on a weekday with their child, although 14% in Kolkata did manage that feat. The survey scoped out emerging attitudes towards parenting in urban settlements, with the needle pointing to a growing dissatisfaction with their home/work tightrope walk, and an admission of the need for more time and attention to children. The sample cited time, money and energy as the three main engines that could drive relations with their kids.( (Joeanna Rebello Fernandes, http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-02/india/29612468_1_parents-survey-pta-meeting accessed on 9 June 2011.)

14. Chandigarh wasting 31% water, but better than Delhi: Chandigarh faces shortage of nearly 45 to 65 million litres ( MLD) of water on a daily basis. As per a survey carried out by Union ministry of urban affairs, out of total generation - 381.4 million litres per day water - the Chandigarh city is wasting 122.53 litres on daily basis. The criminal wastage of water, which is considered as 'non revenue water' (NRW), is shocking for residents of southern parts of city, who have already started to suffer from thirst pangs as they are experiencing the perennial problem of shortage of water along with low water pressure. The Union ministry of urban affairs had carried out a survey of 28 cities. Sources of the engineering wing of the Municipal Corporation ( MC) revealed that water wastage is mostly through leakages in pipelines and water thefts. In some places, people even make big holes in the main water pipelines and take water from there illegally. Such cases have been reported in the past. (Deepak Yadav, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Chandigarh-wasting-31-water-but-better-than-Delhi/articleshow/8807493.cms accessed on 11 June 2011.)

15. India ranked 7th in list of unsolved journo murders: India has earned the dubious distinction of being listed in the 2011 'Impunity Index' prepared by an international media watchdog on the basis of unsolved murders of scribes - an issue that has again come to the fore after the killing of a senior reporter in Mumbai. Only 13 countries -- with five or more unsolved cases of murder of journalists from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2010 -- have been included on the index. India is at the 13th spot with seven such instances, or 0.006 unsolved journalist murders per one million inhabitants, according to the report of Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Murders make up more than 70 per cent of work-related deaths among journalists across the world, according to CPJ. The index calculated the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each country's population. Cases were considered unsolved when no convictions have been obtained. The index, which lists Iraq as the top country in respect of unsolved scribe murders, does not include cases of journalists killed in combat or while carrying out dangerous assignments such as coverage of street protests. Iraq has recorded 92 unsolved murders during this period, while the Philippines has reported 56 -- being the second highest in regard to number of such cases. When compared with the overall population of the country, Iraq remains at top followed by Somalia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Colombia. The index released earlier this month places Pakistan at 10th spot and Bangladesh at 11th. Six of South Asian nations -- Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India -- are on the list. (http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-ranked-7th-in-list-of-unsolved-journo-murders/H1-Article1-708501.aspx accessed on 12 June 2011.)

16. India's young and famous living on a prayer: As the rest of the world’s youth abandon their places of worship, thanks largely to pervasive strides in globalisation, in India, they are flocking to temples, and the overflowing coffers of Maharashtra temples are a testimony to this phenomenon. The streams of devotees that number in the lakhs every month are largely populated by well-educated, white-collar youth. The increased inflow of devotes has resulted in temple trust turnovers burgeoning by crores. Take these four examples — the Shri Sai Sansthan Shirdi (SSST), Siddhivinayak Temple, Shri Mahalaxmi Chairitable Trust and the Lalbaugcha Raja. Shirdi had a turnover of Rs30 crore in May, Siddhivinayak had Rs2.6 crore, Mahalaxmi gained Rs55 lakh and Lalbaugcha Raja had a turnover of Rs22 crore during last year’s 11-day Ganesh festival. SSST is the second-richest trust in India, with an annual revenue of more than Rs450 crore. The trust has also invested huge amounts in property and government bonds, which are valued around Rs450-500 crores. During the month of May, Siddhivinayak received cash donation of two crores, 47 lakhs, gold donations up to 727kg, and silver up to 11,538kg. The total trust income of the temple is Rs48 crores and 50 lakhs in the financial year 2010-11. Every Tuesday, devotees visit the Siddhivinayak temple in large numbers to offer prayers, with some even walking the long distance from home, for the Kakad arti; as Tuesday is considered “Ganesha’s day”. The devotees on Tuesdays number at a daily five lakh. However, they have faith in their babas. These centres of worship see not only the common man, but also the likes of film celebrities, senior politicians and cricketers. The demand for ‘VIP darshan’ has therefore, seen an increase. It was three years ago that Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his son and daughter-in-law, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, walked from their residence ‘Jalsa’ in suburban India at 2am towards Prabhadevi to attend the morning prayers. A three-kilo silver mouse was the Bachchans’ first gift to the temple, apart from the regular cash that Bachchan regularly puts in the daan peti. Sachin Tendulkar is a staunch devotee of the Siddhivinayak temple. Though most devotees are from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, a large number come from throughout the country, and from abroad as well. Mahalaxmi Temple is one of the most famous temples of Mumbai, situated on Bhulabhai Desai Road. Doing darshan at Mahalaxmi has never been an easy task for devotees. Devotees have to queue up for hours just to have a glimpse of the deity. Every year, more than three lakh people visit Mahalaxmi temple during Navratri, making it the most-visited temple in the city during the auspicious nine-day festival. According to the sources, the temple turnover has gone up by almost 10 crore. (Santosh Andhale, http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_india-s-young-and-famous-living-on-a-prayer_1553996 accessed on 12 June 2011.)

17. With Rs 2 lakh in pocket, poor beggar dies rich: In his death, an anonymous beggar (about 60 years old) has confirmed Ajmer as the city of alms. As his corpse lay at Panigram Chowk near the city's historic dargah, none could recall his name. Someone called the police and his body was taken away. But as word got around that cops had found a booty of nearly Rs 2 lakh from the dead man's pockets, scores gathered to claim they were mourning the death of a relative. Police said: "There were a total of Rs 1.98 lakh in his pockets. We later came to know that he used to change coins into Rs 1,000 and 500 notes from shopkeepers." Police found he came into town three years back and had no friends. As per rules, police will wait for 90 days for a relative to claim the money they got from the deceased and after that it will be submitted to a city magistrate. (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/With-Rs-2-lakh-in-pocket-poor-beggar-dies-rich/articleshow/8842936.cms accessed on 14 June 2011.)

18. TN dalit boy thrashed for fetching water from public tap: The boy, A Vasanthakumar, is now recovering at a government hospital in Annur, about 25km away from Coimbatore. A Class X student, Vasanthakumar belongs to the dalit Chakkiliya community. He resides at Nallichetty Palayam, a dalit hamlet outside Annur town. The area is reeling under extreme water scarcity. As per the complaint lodged with the police, Vasanthakumar on late Sunday evening went on his bicycle with empty pots to Karikkilipalayam, about 4km away from his home, to fetch water. Dominated by Kongu Chettiyars, classified as a most backward caste, Karikkilipalayam is blessed with round the clock water supply as a pipeline of the Pillur water scheme passes through it. He reached a public tap located at around 9pm and started collecting water. Three women of the Chettiyar community, who had come to the tap, started abusing him using caste names. When he protested, they beat him up. The women told him that they would not allow any untouchable to fetch water. A local butcher named P Damodaran Chettiyar also roughed him up. Vasanthakumar, who sustained injuries in the attack, was admitted to Annur hospital. His father Anandan, a coolie, said dalits were prevented from cutting hair at saloons in the locality and prevented from using mobile phones outside their huts. (A Subburaj, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/TN-dalit-boy-thrashed-for-fetching-water-from-public-tap/articleshow/8843902.cms accessed on 14 June 2011.)A

19. Institute for urban studies coming up in Bangalore: Touted as the country's first university, dedicated exclusively to Urban Studies, the Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS) is setting up its 58-acre campus in south-west Bangalore. Funded by “multiple private sources,” the institute will have an initial capital investment of approximately Rs.250 crore which will be scaled up to Rs.400 crore over the next five years. Currently offering week-long courses, the IIHS hopes to be formalised under the proposed Innovation Universities Bill. Aromar Revi, development consultant and a key member of the IIHS, told reporters that it had started recruiting faculty for its Masters in Urban Practice (MUP) programme. It is slated to commence in July 2012. Leading entrepreneurs and professionals, including Nandan Nilekani, Shirish Patel, Rakesh Mohan, Deepak Parekh, Vijay Kelkar and Jamshyd Godrej, Xerxes Desai and Renana Jebvala, will be working with the institute. The 100-member faculty of internationally renowned professionals will be domestically and internationally recruited over the next few years with the goal was to build professional expertise for implementing, executing and maintaining or governing urban projects. So far, the IIHS has conducted a seven-day course on ‘Re-imagining the world-class city, to post graduates and working professionals. The institute proposes to offer a four-year bachelors and two-year masters degree in Urban Practice, doctoral and applied research programmes. (http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/14/stories/2011061464392200.htm accessed on 14 June 2011)

20. India 4th most dangerous place for women: survey: The high number of female foeticide, infanticide and human trafficking prevalent in India has placed it as the fourth most dangerous place for women in the world, according to a survey. Afghanistan is the most dangerous place for women followed by Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan, India and Somalia in the survey conducted by Thomson Reuters' Trustlaw Women, a hub of legal information and legal support for women's rights. Three of these countries are in South Asia. The poll asked 213 experts in the field from five continents to rank countries on their overall perception of danger as well as by six key categories of risk, health threats, sexual violence, non-sexual violence, harmful practices rooted in culture, tradition and/or religion, lack of access to economic resources and human trafficking. In 2009, India's Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta had remarked that at least 100 million people were involved in human trafficking in India, according to the survey. The CBI has estimated that in 2009 about 90 per cent of trafficking took place within the country and that there were three million prostitutes, of which 40 per cent were children. Other forms of exploitation include forced labour and forced marriage. "In India, up to 50 million girls were thought to be 'missing' over the past century due to female infanticide and foeticide," as per the UN Population Fund. (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/india-4th-most-dangerous-place-for-women-survey/159395-3.html accessed on 15 June 2011.)

21. Engineering, management colleges cut back on growth:There was a time when India used to add nearly one lakh seats to its professional colleges every year. This time around, a measly 175 engineering and management colleges with about 50,000 seats will start operations across the country, signalling the slowing of this sector. Five Indian states continue to propel the increase—Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. This year, Maharashtra has added 5,640 engineering seats and student intake in management colleges will be up by 1,080. Last year, the total number of seats in professional colleges rose by about 20,000 in the state. When admissions closed in 2010, close to 2 lakh seats in professional technical colleges went abegging in the country. All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) would consider another 300 colleges that have appealed after fulfilling the criteria. Most new engineering colleges will offer popular streams like electronics, mechanical engineering, computer engineering and civil engineering. In Maharashtra, most of the growth is concentrated in Pune. Of the 27 new colleges in Maharashtra, 12 colleges will offer management and two new colleges will start in Mumbai. Twenty years ago, merely one per cent of aspiring engineers got a seat, while now nearly 80% manage to find places, noted AICTE officials. (Hemali ChhapiaHemali Chhapia, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Engineering-management-colleges-cut-back-on-growth/articleshow/8869941.cms accessed on 16 June 2011.)

22. The bus stop sprinters: An accounts officer in a private firm, quit her job recently because she felt she could no no longer take the stress of taking a bus everyday to work. “Bus drivers have no discipline whatsoever. They stop halfway outside the stop and by the time we weave through the maze of autos and other passengers, the bus is already moving," says a passenger. the resident of Vijay Nagar near Velachery. Many others from across the city, especially those using bus stops at Guindy, Velachery, Saidapet and T Nagar, share similar experiences. The problem, they say, depends on just the attitude of the driver and can easily be rectified. Matters such as timing , frequency and availability of buses may require the intervention of higher-ups. Children with bags and old people are especially affected and high footboards of many buses have not helped matters. The drivers blame the short running time, Metro Rail and similar projects. MTC officials accuse autos and share autos for encroaching the bus stands. (Karthikeyan Hemalatha, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/The-bus-stop-sprinters/articleshow/8871112.cms accessed on 16 June 2011.)Karthikeyan Hemalatha

23. Schools of Scandal: 36 per cent schools in Maharashtra do not have separate toilets for girls. Despite the state having an annual plan size of Rs 42,000 crore for various projects and schemes, it can't provide money for maintaining toilets in government schools. The dropout rate of girls is 5.82 per cent at the primary school level and 6.28 per cent at the secondary level. The state has 1,998 primary, 925 secondary and 285 higher secondary schools for girls. However, 12 per cent of the schools do not have drinking water and 77 per cent do not have separate toilets for boys and girls. (Kiran Tare, India Today 27 June 2011, p. 91)

24. Government steps in:

A board outside a temple for the Goddess Kali orders Dalits to stop at this point. "Harijans can pray from here," it declares. The warning sign was put up in August last year after three schoolgirls entered the shrine to offer Prasad to the Goddess, an icon of empowerment and Shakti. The caretaker of the temple in Orissa's Puri district offers no apologies for the discrimination. "It is against tradition," he says, "Our fathers did not allow harijans to step inside the temple, and we will also bar their entry. We will die rather than let it happen." Now, based on NDTV's report, the Centre has asked the Orissa government to provide more information on why this was not stopped. Ranapada is home to 80 Dalit families who earn their living as sharecroppers. But since the temple controversy last year, they have been given no work. Upper caste leaders from surrounding villages decided to teach them a lesson. Landlords in the area took back the land given for cultivation to the Dalits. When they wakened to the problem, local officials employed the Dalit farmers under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme or NREGA. They spent months working on constructing a road. But they have been paid just half of what they are due. Wages not being handed out are a common problem with NREGA - middlemen or contractors are also known to pocket part of the money that's due to hires. But the board outside the temple proves that there is little political will in undoing the wrongs inflicted here - or in challenging archaic and illegal conventions rooted in the caste system. (http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/dalit-girls-enter-orissa-temple-whole-village-is-punished-114179 accessed on 23 June 2011)

25. 49% of children watching porn online are from Mumbai: The family protection survey by e-security firm McAfee covered 500 children in the age group of 4 to 12, and 496 parents. Of the children surveyed, 21% said they access adult content online. The survey was conducted across New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Ludhiana, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Cochin. Mumbai, has the dubious record of the maximum number of children, 40%, accessing adult content online and also had the highest number of children bullied online, 33% while 100% said they were victims of cyber hacking, cyber frauds and identity theft. More disturbingly, 33% of children between the age groups of 4-8 watched adult content in the city. It was usually curiosity that led children to access unknown websites and sites with adult content. Easy access of gadgets with internet facility is major reason for exposure of kids to the internet. The survey revealed that 91% of kids accessed internet from homes implying that parents had to be more involved in their children’s online activities. Parents are advised to use protection software or create filters so that they are aware of what their children are accessing. What should worry parents more is the fact that 39% of children have not told their parents about their online activities and 12% have shared their parents’ credit card details online. (Divyesh Singh, http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_40pct-of-children-watching-porn-online-are-from-mumbai_1558419 accessed on 24 June 2011.)

26. Punjab is short of 160 specialist doctors: The process of appointment of specialists started in 2009. A total of 110 doctors were selected, but only 40 joined. Reason: the doctors refused to join in smaller towns - Mansa, Ferozepur, Malaut, Muktsar, Faridkot, Moga etc., and wanted appointments in only larger towns. The doctors have been given four chances since then, but still the above mentioned towns are short of specialists. Sources confirmed that 40doctors joined the main cities and now the process is on to give appointment letters to 450 more doctors out of which more than 100 are specialists. Information revealed that the border town of Ferozepur has no no gynaecologist, similar conditions can be found in Malaut, Muktsar and few other areas. As per official figures, Punjab needs a total of 37 gynaecologists and 72 paediatricians to run the Reproductive Child Health (RCH) programme efficiently and successfully. It also requires 37 radiologists. (Raakhi Jagga, http://www.indianexpress.com/news/punjab-is-short-of-160-specialist-doctors/807927/0 accessed on 24 June 2011.)

27. Wheat rots in open in Muktsar and Ferozepur: Even as the country is grappling with the problem of big grain drain, another instance of gross wastage of the wheat in Punjab has come to light. Due to lack of storage facilities and lack of clearance of earlier stock, fresh wheat is being piled up by the roadside, getting drenched in pre-monsoon showers and rotting. In Muktsar and Ferozepur, the Punjab government was unable to provide for adequate storage for the wheat procured in the facilities managed by the Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited. The centre says it is the state's job to ensure storage but the state has repeatedly been passing the buck to the Food Corporation of India (FCI). About 55,000 tonne of wheat was damaged in Punjab due to rains in the last three years. FCI in Haryana also said it has identified 4 lakh tonnes of wheat prone to damage because of rains.(http://ibnlive.in.com/news/wheat-rots-in-open-in-muktsar-and-ferozepur/162180-3.html accessed on 24 June 2011.)

II Diaspora

1. 100 crore real estate fraud in Kerala, NRIs seek Chief Minister's help: Non-resident Keralites are seeking the help of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy after they fell prey to one of the biggest real estate frauds in the state. A Kochi-based company 'Apple-A-Day Properties' reportedly collected over Rs. 100 crore from buyers which included 125 Indian expatriates in the Middle East. The company offered villas and apartments in the heart of the city at attractive rates. It used the goodwill of a couple of its completed projects to rope in buyers, but after it missed many deadlines for its 11 new projects, customers cried foul. The firm's Director and Managing Director went underground after the company allegedly went bust a few weeks ago. Soon, complaints started pouring in and over 160 FIRs have now been registered against the company. Police say the duo, who led a lavish lifestyle, have withdrawn money from all their accounts. A look out notice has also been issued against them. Police sources say 'Apple-A-Day' fraud is just a tip of the iceberg and that many companies are also under the scanner. Now with the government promising stern action against such fly-by-night real estate firms, the victims are hopeful of finally getting justice. (http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/100-crore-real-estate-fraud-in-kerala-nris-seek-chief-ministers-help-111328 accessed on 11 June 2011.)

2. Military's first Hindu chaplain brings a diverse background:As a child in New Delhi and other cities of India’s northern Plains, Pratima Dharm moved easily through a kaleidoscopic swirl of religions and cultures. “My neighbors were Muslims, my neighbors were Jews, Buddhists, Jains, Hindus, Christians,” she said. “The U.S. Army, where she holds the rank of captain, and the United States itself, where she immigrated just months before the 9/11 attacks, were founded on the idea that people can be united while worshipping differently, she said. Dharm, 40, has been named the first Hindu chaplain to serve the Department of Defense. Hinduism, with nearly a billion adherents worldwide — but fewer than 1,000 active servicemembers, according to Pentagon statistics — was the largest of the world faiths not represented by a chaplain. Most of her time is spent reaching across faiths to minister to anyone who needs it. That’s a key responsibility of military chaplains, she said. She believes: “To be able to sit down and show compassion for soldiers I have never met before is part of the message of Christ as well as [the Hindu teachings] of Vedanta.” She is now sponsored by Chinmaya Mission West, a Hindu religious organization that operates in the United States. She didn’t convert from Christianity to Hinduism, she said. “I am a Hindu,” she said. “It’s how I was raised and in my heart of hearts, that’s who I am.” But — and perhaps it is hard for some Western Christians to understand — she hasn’t rejected Christianity either. The Air Force officer who led the Pentagon action group that established Chinmaya West as a chaplain endorsing agency said Dharm’s story is testimony to American pluralism and democracy. It isn’t to advocate for their own faiths, but to bind up the wounded spirits soldiers of any background receive in the brutality of battle. (Christ Carroll, http://www.stripes.com/news/military-s-first-hindu-chaplain-brings-a-diverse-background-1.145455 accessed on 14 June 2011.)

III Global

1. Your brain 'cannot handle more than 150 friends': Researchers, led by Prof Robin Dunbar of at Oxford University, have carried out the study and concluded human beings cannot develop close bonds with more than 150 people, the 'Daily Mail' reported. Indeed, so intense has been Prof Dunbar's research of the magic number that it has earned him a measure of fame. It is now referred to as "Dunbar's Number", a term ironically coined on Facebook among fans of his work. He has researched societies and businesses around the world and has found that 150 is the optimum group for social cohesion and interaction. From African and Native American tribes to successful companies, a typical community is about 150 people. The reason 150 is the optimal number for a community comes from our primate ancestors, according to Prof Dunbar. As for the workplace, the study has shown that in companies smaller than 500 people "there's a very strong tendency for colleagues also to be your friends". (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/your-brain-cannot-handle-more-than-150-friends/800055/0 accessed on 7 June 2011.)

2. London tops ranking of destination cities: London will lead the world in terms of international tourist arrivals this year, according to new research released June 1 by MasterCard. The global payment giant's new index of Global Destination Cities predicts London will receive 20.1 million inbound passengers in 2011, slightly more than Paris's 18.1 million. Bangkok is expected to welcome the third-highest number of visitors, followed by Singapore and Hong Kong in fact, cities in Asia-Pacific account for eight of the top 20 global destinations. By contrast, MasterCard predicts that only one US city will be among the world's most visited this year, with New York taking 12th place and predicted to welcome 7.6 million inbound passengers. The Big Apple can perhaps take consolation that visitors will spend $20.3 billion there this year, more than every other city save London, which will see cross-border expenditures of $25.6 billion. MasterCard compiled its predictions of international arrivals, one of the clearest indicators of the human dimension of globalization, by analyzing airline schedules and UN expenditure figures. 2011's most popular cities (international arrivals) 1 London (20.1m); 2 Paris (18.1m); 3 Bangkok (11.5m); 4 Singapore (11.4m); 5 Hong Kong (10.9m); 6 Madrid (10.1m); 7 Istanbul (9.4m); 8 Frankfurt (8.4m); 9 Dubai (7.9m); 10 Rome (7.9m); 11 Seoul (7.9m); 12 New York (7.6m); 13 Amsterdam (7.4m); 14 Kuala Lumpur (6.9m); 15 Milan (6.7m); 16 Barcelona (6.7m); 17 Vienna (6.2m);

18 Shanghai (5.5m); 19 Taipei (5.4m) and 20 Tokyo (5.0m). (http://travel.hindustantimes.com/travel-stories/london-tops-ranking-of-destination-cities.php accessed on 8 June 2011.)

3. One billion people disabled, says first global report: The proportion of disabled people is rising and now stands at one billion, or 15 per cent of the global population, according to the first official global report on disability. An ageing population and an increase in chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, mean the proportion has grown from an estimated 10 per cent in the 1970s. But, despite a robust disability rights movement and a shift towards inclusion, disabled people remain second-class citizens, according to the report by the World Health Organisation and the World Bank. One in five experience “significant difficulties”. In developed countries, disabled people are three times more likely to be denied healthcare than other people. Children with disabilities are less likely to start or stay in school than other children, while employment rates are at 44 per cent, compared with 75 per cent for people without disabilities in OECD countries. Barriers include stigma, discrimination, lack of adequate healthcare and rehabilitation services, and inaccessible transport, buildings and information. In developing countries the picture is even worse. Tom Shakespeare, one of the authors of the World Report on Disability, said: “The clear message from the report is that there is no country that has got it right. Italy is a world leader in terms of inclusive education and de-institutionalisation of people with mental health problems but in other areas it is not. In the U.S. the access is phenomenal — it is a civil rights issue. However, if you are looking at poverty and employment it is not good. (Karen McVeigh, http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/11/stories/2011061164951700.htm accessed on 11 June 2011.)