I Support Anna HAZARE - Support Anna Hazare

Jan lokpal Bill - Comman men bill to fought with corruption

2011-08-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

Hi, i am posting key point of jan lokpal bill so we can understand what exactly it is

Indian Economy 44 Comment Share145 Buzz ShareThis The Jan LokPal Bill is supposed to be the answer to India’s massive endemic corruption which strikes daily in the form of a new scam or scandal.The government has proven to be woefully inadequate in taking on the corrupt politicians,bureaucrats and businessmen.This corrupt nexus has been repeatedly exposed and its structure exposed through the Nira Radia Tapes.The Indian administration has shamefully failed to take action only promising to do something without doing anything worthwhile.The Indian Judiciary has also castigated the government numerous times for its abject failure in the 2G Telecom Scam,Black Money Scandal etc.However the government instead of strengthening anti-corruption measures has only put obstacles in the way.Its no wonder when the committee meant to look after the Bill comprises of ministers tainted with a number of scams themselves.Anna Hazare has held a fast unto death to put pressure on the government to pass the draft bill but the Minister appear unconcerned.Here is a short summary and guide to the main points of the Jan LokPal Bill which IMHO deserves the support of the whole Indian civil society. What is the Jan Lok Pal Bill - The bill has been drafted by eminent members of the civil society like Prashant Bhusan,Kiran Bedi,Lyngdoh and other. The bill proposes institution of the office of Lokpal at the federal level and Lok Akyukta at sthe tate level. Jan Lokpal Bill is designed to create an effective anti-corruption and grievance redressal systems at centre and to assure that effective deterrent is created against corruption and to provide effective protection to whistleblowers.This has been done after the government of India has failed to pass the Lokpal Bill for 42 years reflecting the systemic corruption as the members of the legislature don’t want their powers to be curbed and their actions made accountable.

Main Points

1) There shall be an institution known as Lokpal which shall consist of one Chairperson and ten members along with its officers and employees. The Lokpal shall be headed by its Chairperson.The Government will appoint the members of the Lokpal though Chairperson and members of Lokpal shall not be serving or former member of either the Parliament or the Legislature of any State and shall not hold any office or trust of profit

2) Funding - There shall be a separate fund by the name of “Lokpal fund” in which penalties/fines imposed by the Lokpal shall be deposited and in which 10% of the loss of Public Money detected/prevented on account of investigations by Lokpal shall also be deposited by the Government. The administrative expenses of the office of the Lokpal including all salaries, allowances and pensions payable to or in respect of persons serving in that office, shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.

3) Appointment of the Lokpal A selection committee consisting of the following shall be set up which will have reprsentatives from the government,judiciary and civil socieity.The members shall have unimpeachable integrity with 4 members from the legal background.

4) Powers of Lokpal - a) Initiate prosecution against public servants as well as those private entities b) Order cancellation or modification of a license or lease or permission or contract c) Blacklist the concerned firm or company or contractor d)Take necessary action to provide protection to a whistleblower e) Suo moto initiate appropriate action under this Act f) Power to Issue Search Warrants g) For the purpose of any such investigation (including the preliminary inquiry) the Lokpal shall have all the powers of a civil court h) Lokpal to be a deemed police officer i) , Lokpal may decide to impose a fine on the officials responsible for the non-compliance of its orders. j) Assess Number of Special Judges for Corruption in an Area k) Power to issue Letter of Rogatory

5) Functioning of Lokpal – Lokpal shall function in benches of three or more members.Chairperson shall be responsible for overall administration and supervision of the institution of Lokpal.

6) Punishments for offences: For offences mentioned in Chapter III of Prevention of Corruption Act, punishment shall not be less than five years which may extend upto life imprisonment. Provided that if the accused is any officer of the rank of Joint Secretary in the state or above or a Minister, the punishment shall not be less than ten years Summary The Jan LokPal is a stringent law against corruption and will to strict and hard punishment for corruption doers while protecting whistle-blowers.This Law will be opposed tooth and nail by the executive and the legislature as it meant to punish wrong doers amongst them mainly.Note these 2 arms of the government are endangering Indian democracy with their flagrant violations of the law and massive corruption which has undermined the confidence of the Indian state amongst its citizens.I don’t see much hope that this Law will get passed but it deserves the support of every responsible citizen.

Resource: http://www.greenworldinvestor.com/2011/04/05/jan-lokpal-bill-summary-and-guide-to-indias-civil-society-anti-corruption-bill-deserves-our-support/

2011-08-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

Please Join Anna's Protest Against Curruption :

Dear NRI Brothers and Sisters,

In whichever country you might be living at the moment, you might be remembering your motherland and will be delighted to know what's happening here. Yes, moments of great action is going on here since this great soul Anna Hazare took up hunger strike demanding implementation of a powerful anti-corruption Lok Pal Bill. Here's Anna's biography in brief:

1. Who is Anna Hazare?
An ex-army man. Fought 1965 Indo-Pak War

2. What's so special about him?
He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra

3. So what?
This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the village itself from solar power, biofuel and wind mills. In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest village in India . It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly & harmonic village.

4. Ok,...?
This guy, Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for his social activities. He was also conferred with Raman Magsaysay Award in recognition of his outstanding social service.

5. Really, what is he fighting for?
He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb corruption in India .

6. How that can be possible?
He is advocating for a Bill, The Lok Pal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill), that will form an autonomous authority who will make politicians (ministers), beurocrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their deeds.

7. It's an entirely new thing right..?
In 1972, the bill was proposed by then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan. Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to change the bill to suit thier theft (corruption).

8. Oh.. He is going on a hunger strike for that whole thing of passing a Bill ! How can that be possible in such a short span of time?
The first thing he is asking for is: the government should come forward and announce that the bill is going to be passed.
Next, they make a joint committee to DRAFT the LOK PAL BILL. 50% goverment participation and 50% public participation. Because you cant trust the government entirely for making such a bill which does not suit them.

9. Fine, What will happen when this bill is passed?
A LokPal will be appointed at the centre. He will have an autonomous charge, say like the Election Commission of India. In each and every state, Lokayukta will be appointed. The job is to bring all alleged party to trial in case of corruptions within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be punished. Not like, Bofors scam or Bhopal Gas Tragedy case, that has been going for last 25 years without any result.

10. Is he alone? Whoelse is there in the fight with Anna Hazare?
Baba Ramdev, Ex. IPS Kiran Bedi, Social Activist Swami Agnivesh, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and many more.
Prominent personalities like Aamir Khan is supporting his cause.

11. Ok, got it. What can I do?
* At least we can spread the message. How?
Putting status message, links, video, changing profile pics.
* At least we can support Anna Hazare and the cause for uprooting corruption from India.
* At least we can hope that his Hunger Strike does not go in vain.
* At least we can pray for his good health.

Good Luck to all of us and our Motherland!

Yours Truly,

Ganesh Potphode

Source: http://ganesh-myolympicphilately.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-support-anna-hazare.html

I support Anna Hazare

2011-08-18T09:33:00.000-07:00

Anna Hazare led a movement for passing a stronger anti-corruption Lokpal (ombudsman) bill in the Indian Parliament. As a part of this movement, N. Santosh Hegde, a former justice of the Supreme Court of India, Prashant Bhushan, a senior lawyer in the Supreme Court along with the members of the India Against Corruption movement drafted an alternate bill, named as the Jan Lokpal Bill (Poeple's Ombudsman Bill) with more stringent provisions and wider power to the Lokpal (Ombudsman). Hazare decided to start a fast upto death from 5 April 2011 at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, to press for the demand to form a joint committee of the representatives of the Government and the civil society to draft a new bill with more stronger penal actions and more independence to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Ombudsmen in the states), after his demand was rejected by the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh

I request each one of you to create awarness about this issue by tweeting, FB, Buzzing, mailing or whatever mode you can think of.

Who is Arvind Kejriwal

2011-08-18T09:22:00.001-07:00

Arvind Kumar Kejriwal (Hindi: अरविंद केजरीवाल) (born 16 June 1968) is an Indian social activist fighting for greater transparency in Government. He was awarded Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership in 2006, for activating India's Right to Information movement at grassroots and social activities to empower the poorest citizens to fight corruption by holding the government answerable to the people. Arvind Kejriwal was always concerned about corruption and the passivity of the people. After quitting his job with the Tata Steel, he took time off to work with the Missionaries of Charity and the Ramakrishna Mission in eastern and northeastern India.
He joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), a part of the Indian Administrative Services in 1992. He was posted at the Income-tax Commissioner's Office in Delhi as Joint Commissioner. Soon, he realized that much of the corruption prevalent in government is owing to lack of transparency in the bureaucratic procedures. Even while in his official position, he started crusading against the corrupt practices.[6] Initially, Arvind was instrumental in bringing in a number of changes to increase transparency in the Income Tax office. In January 2000, he took a sabbatical from work and founded Parivartan - a Delhi based citizens’ movement which works on ensuring a just, transparent and accountable governance. Thereafter, in February 2006, he resigned from the job, to work full-time at 'Parivartan

Who is Anna Hazare

2011-08-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

Anna Hazare is one of India's well-acclaimed social activists. A former soldier in the Indian army, Anna is well known and respected for upgrading the ecology and economy of the village of Ralegan Siddhi which is located in the drought prone Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state. The erstwhile barren village has metamorphosed into a unique model of rural development due to its effective water conservation methods, which made the villagers self-sufficient. Earlier, the same village witnessed alcoholism, utter poverty and migration to urban slums. Inspired by Hazare’s unique approach of salvaging a hopeless village, the state government has implemented the `Model Village’ scheme as part of its official strategy. Hazare is now synonymous with rural development in India.