New Politics for a New Generation

Race Day Nears! Please help my fund raising for NanhiKali - GIRL CHILD EDUCATION!

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 04:05:00 +0000

Race Day Nears! Please help my fund raising for

NanhiKali - GIRL CHILD EDUCATION!

Race-Day is fast approaching! I am lagging behind in my training as well as fund raising :-( for Project Nanhi Kali. The cause for GIRL CHILD EDUCATION. I request you all to donate to inspire me enough to complete the race. My first long distance run after 22 years! an a tough challenge when i am getting to 50 this year!

Please consider donating atleast ONE DAY's INCOME. i will be happy with more :-) My Target: Minimum Rs 5 lacs

http://www.unitedwaymumbai.org/donation.php?ngo_id=11&sup_id=2636

It will take you only a few minutes. And make you (your wallet) feel lighter too! plus you will get tax rebate as well :-). I have learnt to beg shamelessly by now!

If you would like to know a little more about why i am running for this cause:

NGO I Am Supporting - - K.C. Mahindra Education Trust
Nanhi Kali Project http://www.nanhikali.org/

Project "Nanhi Kali" aims to provide high quality learning outcomes guaranteed education interventions to underprivileged girls studying in government schools across India. The primary objective of the project is to reduce the high rate of dropout among girl children from socially economically marginalized families

More about K.C. Mahindra Education Trust

My Appeal Dear Friend
India has produced several great women. Great erudite scholars - Gargi and Aditi in ancient times; Great queens Rani Lakshmi Bhai, Rani Ahalya Bhai in more recent centuries; Great women astronauts Kalapana Chawla and Sunita Williams in our generation. Yet, and sadly yet, we have more than 55% of our girls between age of five to ten years, are not even literate according to the 2011 census. And this when our standards to benchmark literacy itself are abysmally low!
Education leads to Opportunities leads to Financial Freedom leads to Empowerment!
Quality Education for the Girl Child is the First Step.
Please Support Project Nanhi Kali! My target is to

Run my 1st half marathon under three hours and
Raise atleast Rs 5 lacs for them.

And I have begun training hard for the same...
With your generous support and inspiration, I am confident I can accomplish both objectives! Thank you for your generous donation and inspiration!

- See more at: http://www.unitedwaymumbai.org/2636_ramramdas.htm#sthash.4j3ku9kL.dpuf

The Wave of Clean Politics must now rise in sync with the Wave of Surajya - Good Governance

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 11:51:00 +0000

The Wave of Clean Politics must now rise in sync with The Wave of Surajya - Good Governance

On a day of of the Civics 101 Refresher : An Appeal to Arvind Kejriwal and AAP

Dear Arvind and AAP Leadership Team

After eight attempts and a wait of forty five years (yes, the first version of LokPal was introduced in the Parliament in 1968!), the Rajya Sabha will today pas the Lokpal Bill and it will soon become an Act with Presidential assent. You know this as well as all of us do.

This could have been only possible because, finally the peoples movement led by Anna, yourself, Kiran Bedi ji, Justice Hegde, Bhushan ji , supported by many political and civil society leaders including Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, brought millions of ordinary citizens and activists on the streets. The Civics 101 democracy refresher, of Government OF, BY and FOR the People, resounded loudly in the class rooms of India's streets and Ramlila Maidan. The peoples movement got a significant victory when Parliament passed the "Sense of the House resolution" on August 28, 2011 on Lokpal. Then, we faced despondency and despair on the midnight of December 30, 2011, when our parliamentarians and government failed, nay betrayed, us yet again. We were left seething in anger.

In February 2012, Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, founder of Lok Satta Party made a fervent appeal for forces of clean politics to come together. By November 2012 you and some of the IAC Team decided to become political and formed AAP. The rest, as the adage goes, is history!

AAP, under your courageous and imaginative leadership, has shown the people of Delhi and India that Clean Politics can not only be practiced but can be successful at a large scale! The Clean Politics that AAP demonstrated with transparent funding ( i was one of the online donors - the instantaneous online publishing of the transaction on the web was remarkably refreshing and impactful ! ), passionate and dedicated volunteers, citizen candidates without criminal background and the courage to take on the mighty across the political establishment, including Madam Sheila Dixit, captured the imagination and the hearts and minds of millions. In Delhi and across India.

Today that Civics 101 refresher has acquired a deep meaning for all of India. It has demonstrated that We, The People can influence our political leadership, howsoever obdurate to steer the destiny of our nation in the right direction! And, that We, The People, are an integral part of the creation of this destiny. Government BY the People, has acquired a new meaning for all Indians.

But Arvind, I am sure you will also agree that Clean Politics is not an end in itself. it is but THE means to Surajya - Good Governance. And Good Governance is possible if some important lessons, arising out of this manthan, this churning, over the last couple of years, are recognized and practiced. This blog had a post on on these lessons some days ago, after the voting ended and before the results. So, i will not repeat them here.

Let us just talk about the LokPal Bill for now. The amended Bill in the Parliament is not perfect and we all recognize that. But it does contain most of the elements of the consensus, initiated by Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, that was arrived at in April 2011 in the LokPal roundatable. And you know very well that you and Team Anna were very much part of that consensus. As were three of the best Supreme Court Chief Justices (retired) along with 50-60 of Indias best constitutional, legal, and governance minds. If only the public movement had stuck behind this consensus and kept up the pressure on the government and our political leadership, I and many others like me, are convinced that this Peoples Victory could have been achieved in 2011 itself.

Yet, even at this moment, you choose to deride the substantial improvements that have been brought about in the current version of the LokPal Bill. Continuing to call it JokePal and as a poor compromise and betrayal, not only derides the collective intelligence of the best of the best, but even more dangerously, will make the awakened people of India, cynical about the possibilities for the future. This will substantially undo all the credibility that the New Clean politics has acquired in the minds of Indians. And we have miles to go before we sleep...

A key element of this Surajya - Good governance - is the recognition of the fundamental truth that "the impossible best cannot become the enemy of the possible good". Good governance means Outcome Oriented Politics as well, not just Clean Politics. It also calls for flexibility and adapting deep rooted positions to achieve constructive outcomes. Lok Satta and Dr Jayaprakash Narayan have always acted with this belief for the past 17 years with this belief.

Clean Politics + Outcome Oriented Politics = Surajya : Good Governance

Millions of indians, myself included, are excited, energized and enthused to walk along with you in this fascinatingly meaningful journey of an India that can BE.

The opportunity of 1977 was frittered away. Thirty Seven years down the line, India is presented with a massive opportunity again to redesign the architecture of our Politics and Governance. We just cannot afford to let it go this time. Future Generations will not forgive us.

I am sure you will recognize this and put this into action. We, the aam aadmi/aurat of india, are with you if you will do so.

The Beginning of the End...of 19th Century Feudal Monarchies! Victory of AAP is Victory of We, The People

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 03:42:00 +0000

The Beginning of the End...of 19th Century Feudal Monarchies

The Victory of AAP is victory of We, The People!

21st Century India is now ready for
Government BY the PEOPLE !

Yesterday witnessed a truly a historic verdict of We, The People! Across the four states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh (Mizoram results are awaited later today), the people have delivered a decisive verdict. A decisive verdict against dynastic politics. A decisive verdict for honest and clean politics. A decisive verdict for good governance. A decisive verdict for the Aam Aadmi which is truly representational of We, The People.

The Delhi verdict, in particular, is an inflection point in India's modern democracy. If there has been one Black Swan moment in our post independence politics, then it has got be THIS! The verdict is truly historic in many ways. Many dynastic leaders of both Congress and BJP standing for feudal politics have been vanquished, including the redoubtable Madam Sheila Dixit. The average age of Delhi MLAs is now a healthy 43 - the power of youth has been established. The political space has opened up for concerned citizens. The verdict has established what Lok Satta has held for long, "If you love democracy, you cannot hate politics". Citizen Politics - as politics should rightly be - has now got a huge opening. The only three (unfortunately only three) women MLAs which have been elected are all from AAP. Both Congress and BJP that have hesitated to give tickets to women candidates, on the grounds of winnability, have been shown that it is not the truth.

Government FOR The People in a real democracy can only come out of Government OF and BY the People. In the name of Government FOR The people, we have been repeatedly hoodwinked by the politics of entitlement, the politics of poverty, the politics of dole and freebies. And especially, The Politics of Dynasty, which continuing from the days of dynastic monarchies, has stood for a system of a hereditary right - where the right to "rule"- not "govern" - is a birthright handed down from one generation to the next, or form the husband to the wife or father to his daughter or daughter in law! Keeping the people mired in poverty and dependent on the the dynastic leaders for day to day sustenance and living by playing this Politics of Garibi has been the primary tool for subjugation of the people. This verdict has established that this style of politics cannot sustain!

India needs a smooth ride into 21st century economic and governance if a large majority of our people have to have a fighting chance to get out of debilitating poverty. The only acceptable Politics now is the Politics of Opportunity - a politics that accelerates the creation of opportunity for hundreds of our millions to live a life that is satisfying and meaningful. For this ride to be smooth, we need the vehicles of our institutions to be running in top gear, on the smooth roads without potholes of our policies, laws and justice systems, manoeuvred by our drivers - our leaders - who can be trusted to drive, safely and reliably, in the right direction.

Status Quo can no longer be acceptable. Lok Satta started this movement into 21st century politics and governance in the AP Assembly elections of 2009. Securing more than 8 lac votes across the state and delivering a significant impact through the power of one MLA in Kukatpally, Dr JP was no mean beginning. The significant victory of AAP led by Arvind Kejriwal for Delhi 2013 takes this campaign for 21st century governance miles ahead.

AAP, Lok Satta and other like minded citizens' political initiatives have now a huge opportunity to fuse together a critical mass that can accelerate the momentum for Lok Sabha 2014.

The hunger for this new 21st century politics now has a real chance of being satisfied with a wholesome meal. This is the time for India to forge ahead with an aggressive Indian Liberal manifesto for the 21st century!

What Arvind Kejriwal and AAP must learn from the 5-0 Victory of We, The People

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 03:24:00 +0000

What Arvind Kejriwal and AAP (and all of us!)

must learn from this 5-0 Victory of We, The People

Yesterday concluded the voting in the five states of Chattisgarh, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. By all accounts, voting has been higher than average in all these states. Delhi in particular, recorded a voter turnout of more than 67%, it highest in two decades since 1993 when the BJP came to power decimating the Congress. Such a turnout in Delhi when its historic average hovers in the low to mid 50s is nothing short of historic. In some booths, voting carried on till 930 pm, a good 4.5 hours after the polling deadline. Unprecedented!

Across the five states, while we wait eagerly for the results from the EVMs, we can already declare a 5-0 victory for We, The People. Indian Democracy has won again, no questions. It is clear that a lot of first time voters have registered and made their vote count. It is clear that many of us frustrated cynical voters voted with hope. It is clear that that the Arab Spring is manifesting itself in a different form in this Indian Winter! As Madhu Kishwar tweeted,"For the first time in my life I voted with enthusiasm and a sense of confidence that my vote matters. Earlier I voted out of duty without hope"

While we wait for the results, there are already lessons for Arvind Kejriwal, AAP and infact all of us concerned citizens to learn from this 5-0 whitewash victory of We, The People. A few days back, this blog had a post on "Peoples faith in democracy cannot be compromised at the altar of "My Way or HighWay Politics" Arvind Kejriwal has undoubtedly lead a creative, energetic and imaginative campaign by AAP. No Questions. Probably the best electoral campaign India has seen, at least within the living memory of two generations! Even more powerful than the 1977 campaign led by Loknayak JP of the newly formed Janata Party, of which i still have vivid memories . "Singhasan Khaali Karo Ke Janata Aaati Hai (Jayaprakash Narayan evocatively reciting Dinkars poetry)." This campaign of Arvind Kejriwal, definitely seems to have had a huge impact in terms of voter turnout in Delhi. This campaign, atleast in my mind has proved the hypothesis, that 21st century india can no longer be governed by 19th century feudal style politics - the kind of politics that has dominated our politics since the seventies atleast.

This campaign may turn out to be the Black Swan moment of Indian Politics heralding fundamental structural changes in the way democracy is conducted. A full hundred and fifty years ago, Abraham Lincoln gave us these immortal words - "that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom...and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth"

In my mind, India is standing on the threshold of that "new birth of freedom"...But for that freedom to be realised and meaningful, for the sake of sustainable citizen movement based politics, for the sake of Government OF, BY and FOR the People, Arvind Kejriwal, AAP and indeed all of us concerned citizens must learn some important lessons.

The support of people cannot become a heady cocktail leading to a state of mind where sane voices are ignored. Some of the statements and elements of style of Arvind Kejriwal lead to this misgiving...
Politics and governance cannot be a My Way or Highway. There are multiple options and means to achieve the larger public good. There must be mechanisms to dispassionately discuss all of these and and fuse the best elements together into the larger agenda. Arvind Kejriwal must learn to work with other leaders and concerned citizens who are equally thirsting and fighting for fundamental change. Till date he has not shown the inclination to do so.
"Sab Chor Hain!" This was the refrain during the LokPal movement. This continues to be the refrain of Arvid Kejriwal and AAP. This refrain must stop as it cannot lead to constructive politics
Good governance and Surajya can only come out of outcome oriented politics, "The impossible best cannot become the enemy of the possible good".
Opportunistic, populist agenda in some elements of the AAP manifesto makes it sound similar to the current widespread practices of established parties. New Politics is not only about Clean Politics but a system which links the Vote to Public Good, not private benefit of a few sections to whom it may be appealing.

The Janata Party experiment wasted a huge opportunity in 1977 to fundamentally re-write the rules of India Politics and Governance. 2013 and 2014 presents such an opportunity again. It cannot and should not be wasted.

India certainly deserves better !!!

Everyday Accountability the only Weapon for ZERO Tolerance to Mumbai's Silent Daily Terror

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 22:50:00 +0000

Mumbai cannot not suffer this silent Daily Terror any longer

Everyday Accountability the only Weapon for
ZERO Tolerance to this Terror

picture courtesy Rajeev Chandrashekhar, MP

Today is the fifth anniversary of the dastardly terror attack of Mumbai. In grateful remembrance, we honour our brave policemen and commandos who took on and neutralized the attackers. We pray for the hundreds of innocent lives lost in that terrible night of terror.

But Mumbai continues to be attacked by silent Daily Terror. And in silent seething rage, we suffer this everyday.

The terror of the nexus of real estate builders with our politicians that continues to keep our homes at skyhigh prices, unaffordable for a vast majority of Mumbaikars.

The terror of deliberate and wilful unwillingness to make large tracts of public land (including Port Trust land) available for large scale affordable rental and ownership housing.

The terror of short term politics that keeps our slums in dirt and squalor without the courage and bold vision to find permanent long term solutions

The terror of deliberate collusion in building violations that permits numerous Campa Colas, Mubra building collapses and Adarshs to happen quietly again and again.

The terror of apathy to education which leaves millions of our kids without quality education, shutting out the world of opportunities forever from their lives. In spite of spending more than Rs 53,000 per child per year.

The terror of bad contracting that awards road tenders worth 1250 cr every year to shoddy and blacklisted contractors for maintaining our 2000 km of mine fields that we call roads

The terror of pitifully pathetic project management of infrastructure projects which are woefully delayed and over budget. A study conducted by Mumbai University shows that 52 of 69 sanctioned projects during 2005-2011 had project delays and overruns of more than 75%.

The terror of monstrous deliberate casualness in sanctioning proposals without a proper assessment or review. In November and December 2011 alone, proposals worth more than 2000 crores were passed in meetings which lasted a few minutes, just a few weeks before the term of the corporators finished.

The terror of secrecy that covers all our public works and ivic services with a budget in excess of 27,000 crores, under a shrouded veil, making it nearly impossible for citizens to know what the administration is delivering

The terror of deliberate dis-empowerment of the citizen by not allowing elected ward committees for our 227 corporator wards although constitutionally mandated by the 74^th amendment

Every five years, our leaders float new ideas and proposals. But once elected, there is no engagement with the citizens to carry forward ideas into execution. That is the same game that Milind Deora, MP from South Mumbai and Minister in the Central Govt, now seems to be playing by calling for a directly elected mayor.

What Mumbai needs is a a structure and system of Everyday Accountability to its citizens. Not Once-in Five-Years politics.

Yes, we have to call this bluff NOW. Mumbai needs a citizens movement to get the solutions to eliminate this silent daily terror. There is a broad consensus around these bold solutions. We need now a milllion mumbaikars to raise our voices now to demand actions.

Say NO to ONCE in FIVE YEAR POLITICS !

Say YES to EVERY DAY ACCOUNTABILITY !

http://www.loksatta.org/mh/

Peoples faith in democracy cannot be compromised at the altar of "My Way or HighWay Politics" - An Appeal to Arvind Kejriwal

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 03:08:00 +0000

Peoples faith in democracy cannot be compromised

at the altar of "My Way or HighWay Politics"

An Appeal to Arvind Kejriwal

If you LOVE Democracy, you cannot HATE Politics.

The Indian citizen at large is now slowly and surely coming to this realization. A realization that Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, founder and National President came to many years ago. Lok Satta Party was founded on that realisation in 2006. "When we started Lok Satta many years ago (1996), it was like many civil society movements today. However, it became apparent over time that in order to bring about the change all of us are fighting for in our different ways, we have to operate in the political spaces as well, or else we will not be effective.". - Dr JP in this appeal.

The public movement for Lokpal against corruption in 2011 with the face of Anna Hazare at its front, energized many of us citizens. If that movement has sustained, it is possible that we would have had an effective Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta in the states by now, possibly in 2011 itself! Many of us, though not convinced about all the provisions of the JanLokpal bill that Team Anna was offering, still stood solidly begind them in this movement.

What went wrong?

In April 2011, at the initiative of Foundation for Democratic Reforms and other organizations, a roundatble was conducted in Delhi with more than 60 of India's best minds including Retired Chief Justices and Judges of the Supreme Court, ex bureaucrats with an impeccable record as well as other NGOs, and civil society representatives. This included team Anna, including Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan, Shanti Bushan and Kiran Bedi.

A clear consensus on the Lokpal emerged. Read here.

Submissions were made to PM, Floor leaders of Parliament and all Party leaders. Here and here.

If this public pressure had stayed united and continue the incessant pressure, political parties and their leaders would have had no other choice but to enact the most appropriate Lokpal bill. But events transpired in a different manner. Team Anna, for reasons best known to them, chose to go solo on Janlokpal in a My Way or Highway attitude. Publci support started waning and by end of 2011 had more or less fizzled out.

That approach lead to this Murder at Midnight on December 30, 2011!

One thing i have categorically learned over the last couple of years is that the "Impossible Best should not become of the enemy of the Possible Good" a remark that Dr JP often makes. Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party must realize that sooner rather than later, if this new revival of democracy is to be sustained.

Another example of this "My Way" approach of Aam Aaadmi Party's promises to decentralization and Citizen Empowerment. The principle is absolutely undeniable if you accept that democracy is founded on the inalienable belief in Government OF, FOR and BY the People!

The Model Nagar Raj Bill, an outcome of the 74th amendment for decentralized urban civic governance, has evolved over many years. If we continue this pressure on a joint platform, it can be a reality in delhi, Mumbai and all our metros and cities.

But Aam AAdmi Party in its "Swaraj" approach does not even make reference to the Model Nagar Raj Bill and the 74th amendment that has been enacted!. The approach continues as a Solo, My Way approach.

One can add many other items to this list including, public education and healthcare reform, public utilities reform and so on.

The new wave of clean credible politics must be Outcome Oriented as well. Honesty is a necessary condition for the new politics. But a strong outcome orientation that is based on sustainable change with long term public good cannot and must not be sacrificed.

Popular support cannot and should not result in Populist Politics. My Way or HighWay needs to be transformed to Our Way!

Dr Jayaprakash Narayan made this appeal in February 2011. "Come, join us. We welcome you with open arms, recognising ourselves in each of you. We welcome not merely your support, but equally your passion and leadership to augment ours. There is too much to do; and too few of us willing to do it on a sustained basis. Let's fight together and do justice to our noble cause: Clean, Transparent, Equitable and Participative democratic government, and the promise of building a great new India together."

I appeal to Arvind Kejriwal and leaders of Aam Aadmi party to listen to this appeal of Dr JP and evolve a consensus approach on this new politics and Governance 2.0 that all of us are vested in. They must do the RIGHT thing now.

India deserves better. It CAN be made possible. If we all continue this fight together!

ps: This post is written as a concerned citizen who is emotionally vested in this politics driven by true citizen empowerment. I am a member of the Lok Satta Party and have also donated to AAPs Delhi campaign and desperately want their campaign to succeed. This could be the beginning of the change that we all want!

Mumbai! Let's go LOKal !!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 13:57:00 +0000

Mumbai! Let's go LOKal !!!

Nagar Raj Bill - What is in it for Me

Me - the Citizen, the Taxpayer, the Voter

William Gladstone famously said: "I think that the principle of the Conservative Party is jealousy of liberty and of the people, only qualified by fear; but I think the principle of the Liberal Party is trust in the people, only qualified by prudence."

By this definition, Conservatism seems to be the principle of ALL politics in these times in India! In spite of enacting the 73rd (http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend73.htm) and 74th ( http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend74.htm ) amendments to the constitution to usher in local self governement in our villages and towns and cities, two decades later, we are nowhere close to this dream. The "Model Nagar Raj Bill" has been around since 2008/2009, but state governments are averse too passing it in its true letter and spirit. They are driven by this FEAR that William Gladstone talked about!

Driven by the FEAR of misuse by citizens. Driven by the FEAR of loss of power. Driven by the FEAR of skeletons of civic administration tumbling out of the municipal and government cupboards.

The situation in Mumbai

Metropolitan Mumbai consists of 227 demarcated, approximately 10-kilometer long, road segments, technically called corporator wards. These wards have nothing to do with the provision of Municipal services- they are just electoral demarcations, useful for electing politicians (our nagar sewaks - municipal corporators). Mumbai has 227 such Corporator wards and 227 elected Corporators / Nagar Sewaks, who are entrusted with the ask of ensuring that BMC will deliver all the promised services. The Corporator represents an area covering a population of 60-75,000. Even if he or she were to try and meet each one of their constituency voters for 5 minutes every day (on a 12 hour shift assuming he is doing nothing else!), it would take him or her close to a year and a half to meet everyone. One politician per 75,000 people. Your chance of meeting him on any given day to get your civic problem solved is 1 in 500. Further, in reality, the corporator is an ineffectual rubber stamp with no powers to carry out his constitutionally defined roles. He or she has to interact with the Ward Officer in order to get resolutions about issues pertaining to municipal services.

Municipal services are provided in something called Administration Wards- and there are 24 such wards in Mumbai. These wards roughly correspond to areas adjoining railway stations servicing these localities- thus, K-West consists of Andheri (West) and Vile Parle West, H –West consists of Bandra West and so on. Between 9-12 corporator wards make up one Administration Ward. There is approximately one junior functionary (Ward Officer) per 8-9 lac people, working with a rag tag team of 20 odd junior engineers and 200 workmen. Anywhere between 9-12 corporators fight to get their grievances heard by that junior level functionary. The Ward Officer is rarely able to resolve these problems because he is busy fire-fighting from morning to evening, struggling to provide municipal services to his client population of 8-9 lac people. When he is not fire-fighting, he has to run from one meeting to another- some called by the local Corporators, some called by his superiors. Assuming that you got your 1 in 500 chance to meet the Corporator and get him to listen to you, the chances of his getting your problem solved through the Ward Officer on any given day is 1 in 10. In between meetings and rounds, the Ward Officer has to divide his time between roughly ten Corporators and listen to their complaints. Yes, you got it right. There is no-one listening to the Corporator. Between the odds of you meeting a Corporator, and he taking up your cause with a Ward Officer, you have a 1- in-5000 chance of getting your problem solved through the official channels.

Which is why most people don’t even bother to try!!!

The promise of the Model Nagar Raj Bill

The basic premise of the Model Nagar Raj Bill is that local citizens are in the best position to know and decide on local priorities, and administer the issues and matters that are most important to them. The Bill creates a strong incentive and institutional framework for citizen participation in the their local day to day affairs. Local problem solving must be left to local citizens.

Without going into technical legalities, at the the core, it promises the following:

A Ward Committee constituted at every municipal corporator ward level consisting of the local corporator, elected Area Sabha representatives and other NGOs and local associations
An elected man & woman from every 1 or 2 local polling both area (population of about 2000-3000) who will be the local Area Sabha representative and be part of the Ward Committee
Atleast 10% of the corporations budget going directly to these ward committees to be decided upon and spent on local priorities by these committees
Empowerment of these committees to monitor delivery of local services provisioned by the civic administration, including garbage clearance, local road repair, street lighting, parks and gardens upkeep etc.
Provide a locally resident and available channel for the citizens to approach to voice their needs and requirements

What is the status in Maharashtra ?

A caricature of this bill has been passed in the Maharashtra State assembly and is waiting notification by the Government. The Govt is now seeking to push through this Khichdi bill, as it is a conditionality for securing central funds under JNURM and such schemes. This khichdi bill has many glaring deficiencies that kills and mocks at the very spirit of participatory democracy and the 74th amendment

it has Ward committees, but only at the Administrative ward level
Ward committees are purely advisory, have no powers of decision making
The local representatives are all "nominated" members not "elected" Area Sabha Representatives
The ward committees will have no access to direct funds monetary grants

This khichdi has got to be thrown out NOW!

What YOU can do to Get LOKal

Some of our finest freedom fighters and constitutional fathers started out as elected local body councillors, mayors and administrators. Deshbandhu Chitaranjan Das was the first elected Mayor of Calcutta Municipal corporation when it was first formed. Calcutta's first Municipal commissioner was a 27 year old Neta Ji Bose, personally selected by Deshbandhu Das. Such was the calibre of our local body administrators then. Sardar Pate, Nehru and many other stalwarts have been a part of local civic governance.

We CAN REJUVENATE Mumbai! WE CAN RECLAIM our Wards! We CAN aspire for a better quality of life. We CAN spend our local taxes more wisely.

The first step is to get the Nagar Raj Bill passed as in the form of the Model Bill. YOU CAN help.

Sign up for this petition to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra

http://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/chief-minister-maharashtra-we-the-citizens-of-mumbai-appeal-to-you-to-pass-the-nagar-raj-bill-in-the-maharashtra-state-legislature-without-any-amendments-to-the-model-nagar-raj-bill#share

Spread the word for this petition with your neighbours and friends and family. Share this blog post and the link to this petition.

Write to participate@loksattamh.org to volunteer.

Mumbai, Lets Get LOKal !!!

We hold these Truths to be Self-Evident...

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 03:42:00 +0000

We hold these truths to be self-evident....

Fundamental Beliefs of a Democratic Republic

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

- American Declaration of Independence

"...But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln, Gettysberg Address, Nov 19, 1863

Hearing these words, repeated by the Union soldiers, both black and white, in Lincoln, the movie which i watched last evening, gave me goosebumps. The American constitution and the dream of "freedom" and "democracy" has inspired many nations and peoples. It is the dream that is enshrined in our Constitution as well.

Some thoughts triggered by Lincoln, the movie...

A More Perfect Republic, of, by and for the people, is what we, the people and our leaders must strive for, even if it means short term sacrifices.

That, Doing the right thing, rooted in the deep beliefs of liberty, quality and justice for all cannot be compromised by at the altar of partisan politics.

That, Politics, cannot be a "spectator sport" and infact must become a "deep rooted profession" that can deliver the meaning of freedom and the means to every citizen to "pursue happiness"

That, the only raison d'etre of government is to protects these rights of equality, freedom and justice

That, the only role of Government is to eliminate avoidable suffering and maximize opportunity to pursue human potential and happiness.

That, Governments must act with deep trust in its people, not fear.

That there is neither Left nor Right and the only operational ideology of a Democratic Republic is that of the inalienable rights of its people.

In over 65 years of an Independent India, the government has only moved further away from its people and become a self perpetuating machinery. The more the current politics endures, the larger the distance grows.

It is upto us, We, The People, to save our Democratic Republic and by doing so, "keep it forever worthy of the saving".

The Indian Liberal's Manifesto - The Vast Majority Liberal India must now become "Deeply Political"

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 11:27:00 +0000

The Indian Liberal's Manifesto!

The Vast Majority Liberal India must now become "Deeply Political"

Liberalism is trust of the people tempered by prudence. Conservatism is distrust of the people tempered by fear. - William E. Gladstone

In the above sense of the term "liberalism", almost every one of our governments, Congress or otherwise, Left of Centre or to the Right, have governed under the basic premise of distrust of the people. Hence our institutions, laws and governance mechanisms are designed with deep distrust of the people and generously tempered by fear. Note what our Political leaders had to say in August 2011 " Parliament is Supreme" - see the earlier post on that subject here: "Supremacy of Parliament = Supremacy of WE the People : A Civics 101 Refresher"

The vast majority of ordinary Indians are truly liberal thirsting for a truly liberal government. What do we want?

We want an inclusive India: an India that comprises neither of its "majorities nor minorities" but just plain us, We, The People! An India, governed with a belief in the inalienable human rights of freedom and pursuit of our potential individually and together.

We want Constitutional Supremacy and the Rule of law: Where our laws, systems and institutions make it easier to do right and harder to do wrong, not the other way around as it has been for 63 years as a Republic! Where the certainty of punishment for offenders - including the rich and powerful - is very high. An the lawful are not harassed endlessly

We want Systemic Solutions: Merely tinkering at the periphery is no more an option that we will be satisfied with. The fundamental Wheel of Corruption connecting the opportunistic politician, crony capitalist, pliant bureaucrat and the powerless citizen voter mus be broken well and truly with deep rooted and systemic political, electoral and administrative reforms

We want Minimum Government, Maximum Governance : Government should be limited to providing a set of clear 'public good' objectives. Taxes must be clearly linked with provision of public services with access to ALL for basic infrastructure, education and health care and protection of life and property. Delivery of services should be using multiple cost effective innovative options, where the Government is accountable for the outcomes but does not necessarily operate the means by itself.

We want our governments to be neutral guardians of our public assets: Any transfer of these assets to private ownership or management should be carried out only on competitive basis, and transparently. No licenses, rights, or other economic benefits should be conferred on private parties through the use of discretionary power by the government. The State must also protect the public exchequer from being used to protect private interests.

We want decentralization of Power, especially in our 3rd tier local bodies: This includes directly elected, empowered and funded district governments and local bodies including municipal governance of our cities and towns

We want our votes to be linked to public good: The value of the "marginal" vote in our FPTP (First Past The Post System) is way too high and is one of the fundamental spokes in the Wheel of Corruption. This marginal vote is today up for sale through money and vote bank politics. We want a systems of representation that eliminates the value of the 'marginal" vote.

We want reasoned debate with our participation for policy making and positive change: Our administration and policy making should welcome informed participation and enlightened debate. We want our governments, legislatures and administrative institutions to provide transparent mechanisms to enable this informed and ongoing debate for continuous change

It is apparent when we you take a look at the websites of the two national parties (as well as in their various words and actions of their leaders and governments) , that a concrete commitment to the Indian Liberal's Manifesto is obviously absent.

On the other hand, take a look at the the Lok Satta Party website and its track record over 17 years (since 1996 as Lok Satta Andolan, and 2006 when it converted) of reforms oriented Liberal Agenda for India.

Mission: http://loksatta.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=92&Itemid=79

Agenda: http://loksatta.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=130&Itemid=62

Position Papers on Public and Policy Issues:
http://loksatta.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107&Itemid=109

The Indian Liberal, must now in complete enlightened self interest, become deeply political. There is simply no other choice. Clean Liberal Politics is the Answer!

Join Us in this campaign for India's Transformation! For an India that Can Be!

https://members.loksatta.org/?become-a-member

The Original Sin of The Republic of India: Article 19(2)

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 02:54:00 +0000

The Original Sin of The Republic of India: Article 19(2)

The Republic of We, The People cannot be hostage to

Religious, Cultural and Administrative Terror

Article 19(2) - the First Amendment to the Indian Constitution must be Repealed

Have you read the book "The Last Temptation" by Nikos Kazantzakis. I have. A few times. Very moved. A very person spiritual journey for me. But the book has gone through several bans. The Greek author, Nikos Kazantzakis has been subject to ostracization by the Church. The movie made on the book by Martin Scorcese has faced several bans at various times, including in India - despite award winning direction and performances. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Temptation_of_Christ_(film)

At various times, Salman Rusdie, MF Husain, Taslima Nasreen, most recently Kamal Haasan and many many other including writers, artists, and cartoonists have faced cultural and religious blackmail and terror from fringe groups. A small group dictates the what the vast majority can see or not see.

Can we as a nation that promised to ourselves in 1950 "Justice, Liberty and Equality for ALL" tolerate this ?

We need a Society AND Government that has ZEROTolerance to Cultural and Religious Terror !

The Supreme Court of India on Fundamental Rights (source: wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amendment_of_the_Constitution_of_India#Fundamental_Rights

The most important and frequent reason for amendments to the Constitution is the curtailment of the Fundamental Rights charter. This is achieved by inserting laws contrary to the fundamental rights provisions into Schedule 9 of the Constitution. Schedule 9 protects such laws from judicial review. The typical areas of restriction include laws relating to property rights, and affirmative action in favour of minority groups such as the "scheduled castes", "scheduled tribes", and other "backward classes".

In a landmark ruling in January 2007, the Supreme Court of India confirmed that all laws (including those in Schedule 9) would be open to judicial review if they violate the basic structure of the constitution. Chief Justice Yogesh Kumar Sabharwal noted, "If laws put in the Ninth Schedule abridge or abrogate fundamental rights resulting in violation of the basic structure of the constitution, such laws need to be invalidated".^[3]

The Original Sin of Indian Parliament: Article 19(2)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amendments_of_the_Constitution_of_India

Not many people may know, but the Very First amendment to the Constitution in 1951 severely curtailed our Fundamental Rights as citizens of a sovereign democratic Republic.

Article 19(2): Nothing in sub clause (a) of clause 19 ( 1 ) shall affect the operation of any existing law, or prevent the State from making any law, in so far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub clause in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence

Using Article 19(2) various limiting restrictions have been placed, frequently and consistently over the last several years. This phenomenon of misuse of this article has rapidly gathered pace especially in the last two decades, the Age of Cultural and Religious Terror. It is too vague, ambiguous and over arching.

Circuitous arguments about law and order are often made to prevent and curtail basic freedoms of expression - including in the most recent Viswaroopam -Kamal Hassan case. It is forgotten that law and order situations are created by the very fringe groups demanding bans and not by the original producers of the work!

The Supreme Court has clearly indicated that laws made under Schedule 9 can also be subject to judicial review if they are found to be violating the basic structure of our Constitution!

The time has now for the People of India to campaign for repealing Article 19(2)

Support the Campaign for Repeal of Article 19(2)! NOW !!!

Towards A More Perfect Republic Of India !

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 04:11:00 +0000

Towards A More Perfect Republic Of India !

Perfected by the Hearts, Minds and Voices of We, The People

On the 26th of January, 1950

We, The People of India promised to ourselves a Nation that stands for and GUARANTEES:

Justice, Liberty, Equality

for ALL. A Nation

"Where the mind is "Nirbhaya" without Fear

Where knowledge is free;

Where the world has not been broken up

into fragments by narrow domestic walls;

Where words come out from the depth of truth;

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;

Where the clear stream of reason

has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;

Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and Action"

Our journey to a More Perfect Republic continues. But the mood of We, the People is of frustration and despair, hopelessness at the snails pace that this journey progresses . Infact, if we trace back, especially, the developments over the last three decades, for every step forward in this journey, we seem to be taking two steps backward. This situation cannot sustain. The Engine of the Peoples Express has now been harnessed. Progression in this journey is given. This progression can no more be left in the hands of career politicians.

The hearts, minds and voices of We, the People, must shape and accelerate this journey forward towards a More Perfect Republic...

Towards A More Perfect Republic, where there is Zero Tolerance to Cultural, Religious and sectoral intolerance. Zero Tolerance to any threats and blackmail to fundamental Freedoms of Expression. Article 19 (1) must be supreme in our more perfect Republic

Towards A More Perfect Republic, where there is Zero Tolerance to gender bias and crimes and violence against our girls and women. Zero tolerance to female foeticide, infanticide and systematic gendercide.

Towards A More Perfect Republic, where the citizens are deeply, and without friction, engaged in our day to day governance. A more perfect Republic where Local self governance rules in our civic wards and panchayats.

Towards A More Perfect Republic, where there is a functioning Citizens Charter for all day to day services. A Charter that can be transparently exercised by citizens. A Charter that makes our administration accountable.

Towards A More Perfect Republic, where there is ZERO Tolerance to collusive corruption. A more Perfect Republic where public resources are not bartered away for pennies. A More Perfect Republic where the Executive is an honest custodian of our public resources.

Towards A More Perfect Republic, where their is EQUAL opportunity to maximize individual human potential for EVERY child, girl and boy. A More Perfect Republic with universal access to basis education that creates opportunities.

Towards A More Perfect Republic, where avoidable suffering due to sickness and disease is eliminated for all by universal access to health care.

A More Perfect Republic Shaped by

We, The People !

Into that Heaven of Freedom, My Father,

Let Our Country Awake!

Jai Hind!

Rahul Gandhi - Failed Dynastic MP for PM ???

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 03:03:00 +0000

Rahul Gandhi - Failed Dynastic MP for PM ???

19th Century Feudal System will not work for 21st Century India

Celebration of Dynastic Politics in Congress Chintan Shivir sends Shivers to Citizens

In the just concluded Chintan Shvir, Rahul Gandhi, son of Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi, grandson of Indira Gandhi, and the great grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, was unanimously elevated to the unquestioned No 2 post in the Congress Party as PM-in-Waiting. We all know who the No 1 is, so it is redundant to name it here.

There were gushing accolades flowing from Milind Deora (son of Murli Deora), Sachin Pilot (son of Rajesh Pilot), Jitin Prasada (son of Jitendra prasad) and many other hereditary "youth leaders" of the Congress as well as older leaders, seeking to solidify their positions in the party hierarchy with the one single attribute of "loyalty to the first family".

Is 21st century India still mired in a 19th century style dynastic feudal system? This question is categorically answered by looking at the hereditary nature of our revered Members of Parliament.

Age-wise distribution of Hereditary MPs in 15th Lok Sabha

Age-wise distribution of Hereditary MPs of Congress Party in 15th Lok Sabha

The picture stares at us bleakly and starkly in our face. It is nobody's case that Rahul Gandhi or any of the hereditary MPs of Congress - most other political parties are no exception to this rule - do not have a right to represent us, the People of India in our legislatures and executive. But, have they earned this right?

Look at Rahul Gandhi's track record as or MP for nine years (Report in DNA, May 20, 2012).

40% attendance in Parliament sessions
ZERO participation in any debate in the last 3 years
Only 3 questions in 2005, one in 2012
Absent during most important debates, including the one on Lok Pal in August 2012, except for a brief apperance for a few minutes when he talked about the "game changing" idea of Lok Pal as a "constitutional entity"
ZERO supplementary questions
ZERO private member bills or resolutions

Rahul - and his mother Sonia - consistently refuse to be scrutinised by the media and the public on the most important issues facing the nation. He was completely silent although the Delhi Gang Rape protests and outrage.

He - like his father Rajiv - has famously been quoted as saying at various times, that the target beneficiaries get 10 paise, 11 paise, 16 paise, and so on, of every rupee spent by the government on various schemes. What is Rahul Gandhi's understanding of corruption? Does he understand this Wheel of Corruption and the levers to break this wheel permanently? So that we can have clean, transparent, accountable government?

Are the People of India willing to entrust the governance of our country to this "Crown Prince"?

The Voice of the People will roar in 2013-2014. Their fingers will conclusively put this question to rest. 21st Century India certainly deserves better than what the First Family has to offer !

Time again for Satyagraha

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 08:12:00 +0000

Time Again for Satyagraha for Our Women
Symbols of Pomp and Power of a Dysfunctional Government must Be Questioned
The Republic of the "Animal Farm" must become a True Republic of the People

"No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it".

- Albert Einstein.

Every single issue that faces our nation today has become a serious, complex problem. Serious crimes against our women. Serious corruption at high and low places. Seriously dysfunctional policy making and legislation. Seriously ctitizen unfriendly day-to-day civic administration.

Serious issues need serious debates. Serious complex problems need Out of the Box solutions. Ideas and perspectives must merge for new solutions to emerge. Assumptions and symbols must be critiqued and questioned. In this process, there cannot be any "holy cows".

The fundamental root cause of our serious ills is that today, the citizen - the Aam Aurat Aadmi - is disconnected from the Republic Of India. This situation reminds one of the quote from the book Animal Farm by George Orwell - "“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” - The "pigs" quoted here being our new rulers and the "men" our old rulers - the British.

Article 19 (1) very clearly lays out the fundamental right of every citizen of India with respect to freedom of speech, expression, assembly and movement. Article 19(2) does provides for "reasonable restrictions", and that too, only pertaining to matters concerning the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.

On January 1, this blog called for a Black Flag Peoples March with five specific demands towards establishing Justice, Liberty and Equality for our women.

The post has received acceptance and critique from various sections. Some of those, who have supported the specific demands, have expressed reservation and even opposition for the protest on Republic Day with Black Flags, indicating that it it is anti national and anti republic.

The real question facing all of us citizens is what is the Real Republic that we want to celebrate?

A Republic, where we will have floats of Rani of Jhansi and Ahilya Bhai Holkar and many other celebrated women of our history every year, and in the next 24 hours after the Republic Day parade, atleast 72 women will be raped - without any fear of punishment - across the length and breadth of India ???

A Republic, where atleast 2 of our MPs and 6 of our MLAs are charged with serious rape cases. And many more of them with various other crimes against women ???

A Republic, where our politicians make unacceptable statements about our women - pushing the blame of crimes against women onto the women rather than the perpetrators - and get away with impunity? Including the son of our highest Constitutional Authority, and a member of Parliament at that ???

A Republic, where there is one Rule of the Law for the ordinary citizen and and another for the High & Mighty - even in serious cases of crime, murder and collusive corruption

A Republic, where 50 million of our girls and women are not even part of our population today, caused by the biggest genocide in civilized human history?

Or a Republic of the People, with Justice, Liberty and Equality for All.
A Republic where the mind is without fear and the head is held high ?

People of India, the time for Satyagraha is NOW. Let us fear not the symbols of pomp and power of the status quo of the Republic - the Animal Farm Republic.

As Einstein said, problems cannot be solved by the same consciousness that created them.

We, the citizens of India, must now become an integral part of that new consciousness to solve our problems, especially the problems of our women.

Lets us awake and arise for a Sataygraha for Justice, Liberty, Equality for our women.

A Mass Civil Disobedience movement FOR The Republic of India we love and dream of !

On January, 26th, 2013. A Silent, Black Flag March with our Five demands for Justice Liberty and Equality for all our women.

Jai Hind !!!

Silent Black Flag Peoples March For The Republic of India on R-DAY 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 05:31:00 +0000

A Silent Black Flag Peoples' March on R-DAY 2013

A Silent Black Flag March For the Republic of India

A Silent Black Flag March For Justice, Liberty, Equality for all Indians, especially our Women

A Silent Black Flag March Against the Status Quoist Symbols of Pomp & Power

We end 2012 and begin 2013 with our heads hung in deep shame - shame on our ethos, shame on our institutions of governance, shame on our leaders that we have voted into positions of power, shame on our constitutional authorities who have let down the lofty ideals set forth in our Constitution, that We, The People, bequeathed to ourselves on January 26th, 1950 as follows:

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;

LIBERTY, of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;

and to promote among them all

FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;

IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, DO HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION. ''

Over 62 years of our Republic's existence, We, The People have let ourselves down, our leaders have let us down. We have failed to live upto the lofty ideals that we set forth for ourselves in our constitutions - the lofty ideals of the Republic of India, the lofty ideals of the Idea of India. And many of the comments by our political leaders even after the gruesome experience of Brave Heart, is a sad demonstration of the kind of society we are in today. What a chasm between the society of today and the society we dreamt of when we gave to ourselves our constitution!

The People of India, cannot, and will not tolerate the status quoist symbols of pomp and power anymore. R-DAY has increasingly come to mean a meaningless show of pomp and pageantry, devoid of significance for the multitudes, that live our daily lives with fetters on our freedoms, especially our women. On Dec 30th, triggered by the tragic death of "Braveheart - Nirbhaya", there was a post on this blog R-Day Peoples Charter - Five immediate Demands.

Let these demands become the Silent Cry of the Black Flag Peoples March on this coming Republic Day. We will march silently on the streets with black flags and black arm bands, For the Republic and against the status quoist symbols of raw power that go against the very grain of our Republic and its ideals.

This shall be our silent cry of the Peoples Charter :

That, No political party will field any candidate with ANY minor or major criminal charge against women and children. We demand EC bars all such candidates from contesting any election for their lifetimes - by law. There is no minor or major crime against our women. All crimes are major.
That, All rape, molestation and murder crimes shall be tried in time bound trials of 90 days in fast track courts across the cities and districts of India.
That, Z-Plus security shall be withdrawn from all our elected MPs and MLAs - barring the PM and the President of India.
That, urgent and massive police reforms shall be implemented across India within a time-bound period of the next six months - authorized by a special session of Parliament to be held immediately.
That, the Women's Reservation Bill guaranteeing a minimum 33% reservation for our women in all our elected bodies shall be passed immediately

We will no longer be satisfied with homilies and lip service appointments of commissions for this and commissions for that, which produce reports that will collect cobwebs for eternity.

People of India want action. Now.

We will March on January 26, 2013 with Black Flags in our hands, silence on our lips and the Tri-Color in our hearts. And we will continue protesting till the demands of the Peoples Charter are fully met. And every girl and woman of our beloved motherland can dream happily about a life of freedom, equality and justice. Without sloganeering and naare-baaji. Let the deafening silence of the peoples march shatter the present farce of the pomp and paegantry of India's Republic Day.

Arise, India, for our mothers, sisters and daughters. And, join this peoples black flag march, inspired by Swami Vivekananda, that we shall not "stop not until the goal is reached"

Jai Hind !

R-Day Peoples Charter - Five Immediate Demands

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 04:11:00 +0000

Republic Day Peoples Charter!

Republic of India says NO MORE! Boycott Republic Day Parade!

We, The People, will March all over the streets of India demanding

Poorna Swaraj and Poorna Surajya on January 26, 2013!

Glaring, appalling statistics. Take a look. If this does not revolt you, i assure you, nothing ever will in your lifetime!. (source: livemint.com)

48 women will be raped in the next 24 hours across our villages, towns and metros. Many more will be kidnapped, molested, and burnt or killed in dowry deaths. 50 million girls and women are missing in Indias population because of systematic discriminatory killing - gendercide on a massive scale far greater than any other genocide in recorded human history.

Let us, the People of India, resolve that the death of "Brave Heart - Nirbhaya" shall not be in vain. The conscience of the people of India can no longer be silent. There are hundreds of Nirbhayas who suffer these unacceptable fetters on their freedom and fundamental rights to live happy and safe day-to-day lives. Let Nirbhaya not remain a statistic to be quoted for a few days and then forgotten.

Is change possible? When 2 of our MPs and 6 of our MLAs face serious rape charges? (source: ADR). When stricter laws on crimes against women have been pending for years? When the governments of the day, have been ignoring The Hon. Supreme Courts orders with impunity? Day after Day, Year after Year...

Change is not only possible but can be forced upon our ruling dispensations - at the Centre, States and our cities and districts. Forced by the people of India. Marching to the drumbeats of our conscience. On Republic Day, January 26th, 2013. Across India. In our metros, towns and villages.

And boycotting all official R-Day Parades and functions. Why should the people of India give space to our political leaders and constitutional authorities to pay lipservice and homilies, when they pay scant regard to our Constitution and disobey it with impunity.

Peoples Republic Day Charter for the Peoples March on Jan 26, 2013.

No political party will field any candidate with ANY minor or major criminal charge against women and children. We demand EC bars all such candidates from contesting any election for their lifetimes - by law. There is no minor or major crime against our women. All crimes are major.
All rape, molestation and murder crimes shall be tried in time bound trials of 90 days in fast track courts across the cities and districts of India.
Z-Plus security shall be withdrawn from all our elected MPs and MLAs - barring the PM and the President of India.
Urgent and massive police reforms to be implemented across India within a time-bound period of the next six months - to be authorized by a special session of Parliament to be held immediately.
Women's Reservation Bill guaranteeing a minimum 33% reservation for our women in all our elected bodies to be passed immediately

The drumbeats of the conscience of the People of India are booming. They shall reach a crescendo on January 26th, 2013! They will not stop till We, The People obtain Poorna Swaraj and Poorna Surajya for ourselves and our generations to come!

Jai Hind!

Tagore taught us to pray - let this be our prayer, Every Day and Every Night till the goal of Poorna Swaraj and Poorna Surajya is achieved.

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;

Where knowledge is free;

Where the world has not been broken up

into fragments by narrow domestic walls;

Where words come out from the depth of truth;

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;

Where the clear stream of reason

has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;

Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action---

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

Stop the criminalization of the Police Force. Implement Police reforms now!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 10:15:00 +0000

Mumbai, Dec. 25, 2012
Posted by: PA

There are just not enough words to deplore the brutal case of rape and attempted murder in Delhi by miscreants on Dec 17, 2012. But the victim was not alone this time. With her, this barbaric incident has left an entire nation feeling violated, exposed and so utterly alone. And as often happens when people are pushed to a corner, this has made people very very angry.

People not only want conviction in this case, they also want to know how the police will protect them. Will the police only be a reserve for the politicians and selected few, completely ignoring the pains and grievances of the common people? The underlying rage is to know whether the Police will do what it is supposed to do? Will it engage in active policing and not only bring such cases to closure, but more importantly, do its job better to avoid such cases in the first place? Or are we doomed to witness a rape today, a mindless murder of another Jessica at a pub tomorrow and a shootout of a toll booth attendant some other day. Clearly the problem is deeper and requires careful demands by we, the people.

The biggest casualty with these incidents is the people's trust in the police force and the justice system. These feelings if left unchecked will only encourage more people to take the law in their own hands. If unchecked, this foreshadows a complete break down in respect for law and sets us on the road to anarchy.

The only way public trust can be rebuilt in the police force is by urgently implementing the much delayed police reforms. Pressure must be built for addressing the larger underlying issue of better policing that is the need of the hour and critical for the survival of rule of law.

Issues plaguing current police set up:

Lok Satta believes that police is the most visible arm of the state and strengthening its credibility is key to maintaining public confidence in democratic systems. Our police is ridden with severe issues leading to a lower quality of policing:

1. Under the thumb of the political class: Our police is ridden by undue influence by the political class, a legacy of the British raj, which used the police to "tame" the masses. Police needs to be reorganized to serve its original intended purpose, that is to be the "protector of people" rather than "an agent of the polity"

2. High degree of centralization of functions in a single police force is leading to inefficiency: The police in India is playing various roles, some of which are contradictory and others that require specialized capability. But we continue to nurture generalists in the force expecting them to work in highly diverse areas. This surge of generalists, inadequate training and inadequate focus on developing specialized cadres makes the police more inefficient in dispensing its duties. Broadly, the following roles should be handled separately:

a. Criminal Investigation: is a specialised function. As this is managed by the same police that is answerable to the politicians, there is undue influence in the investigation process of crimes, especially those involving politicians. This undue power with politicians has encouraged more criminals to join politics for keeping the police helpless. Usually, success in the present police system belongs to people who are willing to yield to political pressure, rather than those with actual merit and ability.

b. Local Policing: Today the same police force is responsible for handling petty thefts, gathering counter - terrorism intelligence, investigating heinous crimes and providing security to VIPs. Petty cases like thefts have the most direct in impact to citizens, but due to the diverse nature of policing duties, they receive the least attention. A simple task like lodging an FIR is utter harassment for a citizen. It is inconceivable why local policing does not deserve a more decentralized approach - one that is focussed on local policing and directly accountable to the citizens.

c. Maintaining Law & Order, intelligence and protection of public life & assets: This function is one that needs to be monitored closely by the legislative functions and the state ministries. This is the main area of policing that is merited to remain under political supervision.

Lok Satta Demands on Police Reforms:

We have maintained that the current condition of the police system is detrimental to the morale and efficiency of the police department and if left unattended, will adversely affect public confidence in democracy. It is increasingly becoming clearer that the inability of those in power to act is steering matters to a breaking point.

It is now in the political class' self interest to still see the writing on the wall and act. They can still stop the move towards this uncontrollable spiral of anarchy and they can be sure that in case of any widespread public rage, they will certainly not be the winners.

Lok Satta has been highlighting the urgent need for police reforms. Our recommendations are as under:

1. Separate Criminal Investigation Department: Crime investigation should be removed from political control. It is a quasi-judicial function.

a. Criminal investigation must be brought under the control and accountability of a separate constitutionally created state level collegium headed by a Chairperson drawn from the judiciary.

b. The other members could be jurists, independent prosecutors, serving police officials at the highest levels, former police and civil officials and eminent citizens from various walks of life.

c. The appointment of this prosecution wing itself should be by a committee comprising of the members of the government, the leaders of the opposition, speaker of the legislature, and judges of the high court.

d. Such a body, be it called the state security commission or the state board of prosecutions or the state police board, should be fully in control of all matters of appointment, promotions, transfers, postings and disciplinary action relating to crime investigation wing.

e. The crime investigation police should be permanently insulated from other wings of police with no possibility of transfer from this wing to others or vice versa.

Only when such fool-proof institutions are evolved is it possible to make sure that crime investigation is a truly professional, independent exercise in search of justice rather than making it a partisan tool in the hands of those in power.

2. Local Policing Body

a. There should be a local force accountable to the local government at the panchayat or municipal level to discharge these functions.

b. This local police should be organised as small, mobile, effective units under local control. However there should be effective institutional mechanisms for integrating these local forces with the state police forces.

c. The local police should be attached to a local court which has jurisdiction over the territory as well as over the petty offences handled by such a police force.

Our view on local policing is in line with our overall belief of stronger local governance, greater empowerment and accountability.

3. Empowerment of Constables

In the British times, the role of the constable was designed to not think and just follow orders. This is not relevant in today's time when the constable must play the role of the local mobiliser of intelligence and a prominent face of the government meant to serve the people. They must not be assigned to duties such as protection of VIPs which being a specialized function can be addressed by a separate special wing. They should instead be organised to work in groups of two - three and remain accountable to the Station House Officer (SHO) with adequate autonomy of functioning. An expansion of roles of the constable in this general framework is highly required and will increase the morale and motivation to improve the standards of policing.

4. Selection and tenure of Police Officials

Politicians today exert undue influence in the work of police by influencing transfers, selection of officers for key tasks etc. To strengthen the just elements with the police force, certain safeguards must be available with respect to stability of tenure and selection for new assignments. Lok Satta favors a collegium approach initiated by the Police Chief and supports a guaranteed term of three years by law. Any premature removal can only be initiated based on proved incompetence, abuse of office or corruption.

5. Speedy and efficient justice not possible without local courts:

Just faster police investigations are not enough, and hence we make a side note (not directly related to Police reforms). Just like local policing, there is also an urgent need for local courts answerable to the people and municipal governments. These courts will only focus on local cases and will be entrusted to dispense justice in a timely manner, often using the language and manners of the local population. This will make justice accessible to all and discourage the increasing practice of extra-judicial solutions that help create a demand for local goons and hoodlums to sort out personal disputes. It is ironic that these very elements first encouraged by the people end up becoming our political leaders.

6. Specialised trainings / equipment for specialised roles:

With more specialized objectives to the overall task of policing, it is important to institute proper mechanisms for adequate equipment and training for the staff. This will help in creation of specialized police staff capable of handling their responsibilities more efficiently.

In Conclusion:

The long overdue cry for Police Reforms is not beyond the realms of basic problem solving, but there is resistance at political level as it weakens their grasp and control. Like Lokpal, this too is an idea whose time will come only when the voice of the people becomes united and unequivocal on this issue.

So as you consider how to do your bit in supporting the Delhi rape victim case, demand a solution that can work for problems that run deeper than any single case of rape or murder. We all can play a role in socializing the urgency and importance of police reforms. We cannot let this case of rape become just another statistic. Instead, let us press for police reforms as an idea whose time has come, something which is possible only by the concerted voice of the people.

I’ve got Nike shoes!!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 07:30:00 +0000

I just happened to watch this new Aamir Khan show called Satyamev Jayate. I had already heard quite a bit about it, but obviously, I’m not going to sit watch saas bahu crap even if there’s Aamir in it! A friend of mine told me two weeks back, that it was based on real social issues and praised it a lot. So I decided to give it a try, five minutes won’t hurt, will it?

So I sat down to watch this show. Do I need to mention that I ended up watching the whole episode and the previoius one I had missed and now have included this in the list of the shows I watch regularly? By the way, that list has two shows in it now, Big Bang Theory and Satyamev Jayate. Grin.

I will assume, that you have watched this show too. So I won’t go into the individual issues. It is disgusting, but I believe the disgust is felt by everyone who has watched it. So I won’t talk about the disgusting fact.

Really, all I want to leave you with, is one thought that crossed my mind after I watched the latest episode:

I have Nike shoes and a Hugo Boss perfume, but where do I import a just society from?

Where are our Inspirational Leaders ?

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:02:00 +0000

Where are our Inspirational Leaders ???

Leadership Deficit is the fundamental Cause of Citizen and Voter Apathy !

Recently, a friend pointed me to this brilliant Ted Talk on Leadership by Simon Sinek. Over the last few days, i have watched it a few times and found it brilliantly inspirational. You can and MUST watch it here. http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html

During our freedom struggle, The Idea of India captivated the masses - which was really a number of regions and provinces under British dominion or princely states - and our leaders were able to inspire men and women, young and old, with the lofty ideals embodied in the Preamble of our Constitution.

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY, of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation

Each of the tenets of this powerful preamble to our Constitution framed by truly inspirational leaders of those times, defined our dialogues. However our current breed of leaders, over the last several decades, have failed to inspire us totally. This Leadership Deficit is the single biggest reason that the educated class have deserted our politics and failed to engage with our governance processes and institutions. Our leaders have failed to inspire us - in the words of Simon Sinek - with the WHY of politics and governance. Unless our leadership is able to recognize and articulate the Why of Government clearly, the nation will fail to be inspired and act accordingly. We will remain caught in thew vortex of inequality, lack of opportunity and the wheel of corruption, which will only make our rich richer, and our poor poorer.

Our leaders have forgotten that the fundamental WHY of Government is to create an environment which eliminates avoidable human suffering and maximizes the positive potential of every Indian! If the words and actions of our leaders were to consistently embody these principles in our constitution, i am sure that there will be hundreds and thousands of young women and women, who would take to a career in governance and public life.

Our parliamentary debates and discussions have become a vacuous babble of meaningless words. If only we had leaders who could clearly articulate the Why of Government, we could have had by now:

truly decentralized and empowered local governments, which are now invisible, two decades after the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments
a functioning Lokpal institution, which is still not a reality after 44 years of being introduced in the parliament
a Citizens Charter for all public services where we can avail our due entitlements without fear or favor
an education system where "No Child is left behind" and not just an empty RTE Act
a public healthcare system where our citizens cease to live in terrified thoughts of hospital bills
a judicial system, where every citizen can hope to get justice within acceptable timeframes
an entrepreneurial ecosystem where our potential as creators of the best products and services is maximized

The Idea of India must now be the Why of Governance which our leaders must articulate and inspire our masses for real engagement with our governance and politics. Without this, our democracy, however large in number, is doomed to remain caught in un-inspiring vote banks.

The educated middle class can be inspired to engage in our politics and governance if we have leaders who are able to capture their imagination with the Why of Governance.

That is what Dr Jayaprakash Narayan is attempting to do.

That is why it is so critically important that we have a sufficiently large mass of educated citizens who demand the Why from our Leaders ! That is when Citizen apathy will transform to Citizen engagement for the Idea of India to blossom !

We cannot afford any more to leave our politics to career politicians. It is now time for the Citizen Politician to come to the fore. If our leaders cannot inspire us any more, politics must be taken into our own hands!

60 Years of Parliament - Crisis of Leadership

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:46:00 +0000

60 Years of Parliament - Crisis of Leadership

Supremacy of Parliament or Supremacy of We, The People ???

Leadership Deficit even more Urgent than Fiscal Deficit !!!

Yesterday, we celebrated 60 years of Parliament and our leaders made glorifying speeches in its hallowed halls about the Supremacy of Parliament. See the earlier post here : http://new-politics-for-a-new-generation.blogspot.in/2011/08/supremacy-of-parliament-supremacy-of-we.html

44 years out of these 60 have been spent in discussions and debates on an effective anti-corruption body for the nation. The first version of the LokPal bill was introduced in 1968. Yet the country still does not have an effective Lokpal at the centre and Lokayuktas in our states after nine aborted attempts. Massive corruption scams have been reported, yet not a single political leader of consequence has been punished, inspite of overwhelming evidence.

Our political class has forgotten the basic tenets of true democracy - A Government "OF the People, BY The People, FOR The People". Parliament is only Supreme, because of the Supremacy accorded to it by the People of India. Leaders divorced from the fundamental interests of the people have no legitimacy in our constitution. Leaders who go back to the people for a mandate to seek this legitimacy once every 5 years, forgetting about the people for the entire period between, have no right to be treated "Supreme".

The budget deficit of 5.9% of GDP (as against the target of 4.6%) in FY 2012 is definitely a cause of grave concern for all of us. But it must be recognized in no uncertain terms, that it is the current leadership deficit that is the inherent cause of the state of the nation today. Politics has clearly degenerated in to a money game and serious business at that. Crores are spent to win a single seat, so that tens and hundreds of crores can be then earned during the term in office.

Women and Men, with "purity of purpose" and "passion for public good", have virtually no chance to succeed in the current electoral system. A full 100% of our MPs below the age of 30 and more than 2/3rds of our MPs (85% in Congress) below the age of 40 are dynasty MPs.

The Wheel of Corruption is turning fast and furiously !!!

Fundamentally, we have evolved an electoral and political system over the last 60 years, where the Vote has been permanently de-linked from Public Good. This situation MUST be arrested and reversed NOW. The Politics of Dynasty, Money, and Vote Banks must now give way to the Politics of Ideas and and Public Good.

Unless the citizens now rally around leaders like Dr Jayaprakash Narayan of Lok Satta, this leadership deficit will NOT be addressed. The only means to revive the nation, from it current moribund state, is to bring the Citizen at the Centre of our governance. This can only be achieved if leaders from all walks of like are able to enter the political mainstream. India with its 1.2 billion population does not suffer from lack of leadership. But the current barriers to entry for such leaders must be broken down.

Massive reforms for Decentralization of government, Mechanisms for citizen participatory governance and Elimination of discretionary rules, must all be now brought to the center stage of our politics. That is the only hope for the resurgence of India. Only with Governance Reforms for the 21st century, can India become the country that it can be.

In the hallowed halls of Parliament yesterday, PM Manmohan Singh asked all our parliamentarians to "revive the traditions of reasoned and constructive debates on the issues of the day". The current set of leaders do not inspire such hope in the citizens of India.

If you agree with this assesssment, you must support Surendra Srivastava in Mumbai and Dr Ashwin Mahesh in bengaluru, for the Graduate Voters MLC constituency elections in June/July 2012. Regster to vote and Exercise your Power to demand accountable, responsive leadership.

http://www.surendrasrivastava.com/index.html

http://www.ashwinmahesh.in

Major Victory for People Power (Lok Satta) - Bombay HC issues order on PIL No. 48 of 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:06:00 +0000

Major Victory for People Power - Lok Satta -

Bombay HC issues order on PIL No. 48 of 2012on the Mumbai Graduate Voter Elections

Directs the Election Commission of India to make the process Voter Friendly

A few weeks ago we had a post on how our current system encourages voter and citizen apathy, By Design.

In a major victory for people power, the Honourable Bombay High Court has issued orders asking the Election Commission of India (ECI) to make the election process voter friendly and easily accessible to the graduate voters of Mumbai. In the PIL No 48/2012 filed by Lok Satta, and argued by Surendra Srivastava himself, Lok Satta Party candidate for these elections, we had argued for making the process widely known and easily accessible to the 1.5 million plus graduate voters of Mumbai. When only 80,000 odd voters out of the entire eligible population is registered to vote, the election can only be called a token farce!

In the High Court court order, the Honourable judges have directed that:

1. The ECI shall issue public notice daily in various news papers in various languages continuously for one week commencing form 14th May 2012. These advertisements shall be prominently (First page ORThird page) placed in news papers . 2. The ECI shall also cause advertisement promoting elections in Multiplex/Cinema Theaters.

3. The advertisement shall contain the details of the officers, last date of submitting application and other necessary details in connection thereto

4. More number of the Officers/designated officers shall be appointed for collecting and scrutinizing application. 5- Citizens will be free to submit the application in any of the registration offices.

6. The application shall be accepted till 15th June 2012 or such other date as may be stated in Gazatee/ Notification issues by the ECI for submitting nomination and declaring schedule of Elections.

The order is indeed a victory for People Power !

Now it is upto the graduate citizens to rise to the occasion and exercise their additional power. The common man on the street believes that the educated class have the power to ring in the change that we all want.

Lok Satta is committed to getting EVERY graduate citizen registered. You can sign up for help with the registration process here.

http://www.loksatta.org/mh/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=242

Build the agenda for renewal of Mumbai along with Surendra Srivastava ! Sign up to support this campaign to make Mumbai our Dream City!

http://www.facebook.com/SurendraLSP

www.surendrasrivastava.com

Close Encounter with a Traffic Constable - The HOPE for CHANGE is REAL !

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Mon, 07 May 2012 03:12:00 +0000

Close Encounter with a Traffic Police Constable - The HOPE for CHANGE is REAL !

Last evening, while travelling with Surendra Srivastava, we had an eyeopening encounter with an ordinary traffic constable. We were accosted by a traffic police constable for a minor, unintentional traffic violation near a major junction. No bribe was demanded or expected by the constable, and none was offered. We got chatting with the traffic constable, a very illuminating, enlightening, inspiring experience...

The police class is often perceived by the educated middle class to be ignorant and corrupt. What came across was exactly the opposite! The constable was forthright in his opinion about the current political class and its leadership. He was visibly angry that hordes of policemen are assigned to "protect" our MLAs when they should be in fact serving the people of Mumbai. He was distressed about the working conditions of the police and wanted that the police force must be allowed to do their work without political influence and control. He was very aware about the the current state of affairs about our electoral politics. In particular he was very knowledgeable about the Mumbai Graduate Voter MLC constituency - about which almost 98% of Mumbais educated graduates are not even aware! He knew that hardly a few thousands (out of more than a million and a half) of the graduates of Mumbai are even registered to vote. He was aware that a movement by Lok Satta, to get more and more of these graduates registered was on, and that only about 3000 new voters were registered till date!. He opined that the current system of graduate elections is only a symbolic farce where a few thousand "captive" voters offer their "angoota chaap" for undeserving candidates.

The constable clearly expressed his view that unless the educated class participate effectively in large numbers in the political process, change will not happen. When he was informed that Surendra Srivastava himself was contesting this graduate voters MLC seat, he was absolutely delighted and expressed his hope that Surendra Srivastava will win and that is the only way by which change can be brought about!

This experience was indeed an eyeopener for me in many ways.

The ordinary government servant - police or others, is infact "naturally" uncorrupt.
They are the ones who suffer most, the day to day brunt of mis governance and lack of political leadership which has integrity and purpose. They have to carry out their duties, in an environment of appalling conditions, mistrust by the ordinary citizen coupled with having to obey irrational and sometimes illegitimate orders from "above"
They are even more acutely aware of the lack of focus on the aam aadmi by our governments
The problems of our mal administration are caused not so much by the government servants, delivering the day to day services, but are really driven by the political leadership (or lack of it!)
The ordinary government servant is as hungry for political change as the common man and believes that the educated class has the power to bring in this change and must exercise this power.

There is a huge responsibility on the educated middle and affluent classes to now execute this responsibility. We cannot afford to shun politics anymore. Saying NO to politics is NOT good politics. The time for Change is Here and Now. Ages ago, Plato remarked that those who shun politics are destined to be governed by people who are far inferior to them. That statement rings even more true today!!! The educated / professional class of Mumbai must rise to the occasion this time and support Surendra Srivastava of Lok Satta, to lead the process for renewal and change in Mumbai to begin with.

http://www.facebook.com/SurendraLSP

Agenda for a New Mumbai - The Voice of the Citizen must prevail !

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:53:00 +0000

Agenda for a "New Mumbai" - The Voice of the Citizen Must Prevail !

Else, Maximum City Mumbai is destined to remain a Maximum Urban Nightmare !

And Why the Mumbai Graduate Voter Election is an Enormous Opportunity for Radical Change

Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan is also the Chairman of MMRDA. Jayant Patil, Minister for Rural Development is also the guardian minister for Mumbai City district. Textiles Minister Arif Naseem Khan, is also the guardian minister for Mumbai Suburban district. Excise Minister Ganesh Naik is also the guardian minister for Thane district. Everybody, including the ruling parties and the opposition, unanimously agree that Mumbai suffers from a number of deep rooted chronic ills and problems.

Mumbai - and for that matter all our urban conglomerations - certainly deserves better than "also-ministers". Most people in Mumbai probably are not even aware of these "guardian" ministers. When have we last heard them or the CM talk about the plans for Mumbai's renewal ? It suits the state government to keep blaming the ruling parties in the BMC for Mumbais ills. It suits the BMC ruling parties to blame the State Govt and the MMRDA. The buck merrily passes on...

After spending Rs 40,000 per child per year, only 12 out of every 100 enrolled students in BMC schools even reach Class X. Obviously all the dropouts are leading to a tremendous increase in child labour in the city. - report by Praja on BMC schools

After spending Rs 50 lacs per every km every year on the roads of Mumbai, we still have only craters and potholes. - various newspaper reports

Only 10 out 79 infrastructure projects in the city, costing more than Rs 11,732 crores, sanctioned in 2004-2005 have been completed till 2011. 52 of them have had a cost and budget overrun of more than 75%. - study report by University of Bombay

Corruption, mis-governance, lack of integrated vision and lack of focused attention are at the heart of Mumbai's ills. We, the citizens of mumbai, bear the brunt of this mis-governance and lack of focus on Mumbais renewal, day in and day out. Its saps our energy, it sucks the life out of our lives!

Mumbais problems are certainly difficult and complex - but at the same time, do not require rocket science to solve them. Are these problems keeping our CM and "also" MMRDA Chairman and our "also" guardian ministers awake at night? That is the question that all Mumbaikars must ask.

It is the Citizens of Mumbai who hold the key to the rejuvenation and renewal of Mumbai. People Power can inject a new lease of life into a city spiraling into a situation of almost desperation.

Mumbai needs innovative creative solutions with peoples participation. Mumbai needs dedicated focus and attention and concerted hard work through a responsive administration. Mumbai needs an integrated vision. Mumbai needs accountable leadership.

For its urban renewal, first of all, Mumbai needs its peoples voices to be heard loudly and clearly.

That is the opportunity in the Mumbai Graduate voters elections. In Surendra Srivastava, a citizen candidate for this election from Lok Satta party, Mumbai finally has a choice, who has devoted the last seven years, after quitting a cushy corporate career, to precisely this cause. Surendra Srivastrava offers a vastly different choice to the graduate voters of Mumbai. Through these elections, the graduates have an opportunity to have a voice that can advocate for radical changes in Mumbai's administrations and bring the solutions for Mumbai to the center stage of the governance agenda.

Bengaluru similarly has an outstanding choice in Dr Ashwin Mahesh, also of the Lok Satta party, ecognised by The Wired Smart List of the 50 people who can change the world. http://www.ashwinmahesh.in/

This opportunity will not be presented for another six years. Friends, let us not fritter this opportunity away.

Mumbai and we mumbaikars certainly deserve better !

Register as a graduate voter and exercise your power !

Encouraging Voter & Citizen Apathy - BY DESIGN

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 03:37:00 +0000

Encouraging Voter & Citizen Apathy - BY DESIGN

The Shameful Case of the Graduate Voter MLC Elections

Over the last 4-5 weeks, i have personally met or interacted with hundreds of "graduate" citizens of Mumbai in the context of registration of graduate voters for MLC elections. Only ONE among all the hundreds of people i have met had registered as a graduate voter. None of the others had even heard about it. Even my friends in the media and many activist organizations and NGOs were either not aware or even if they were, had not registered to vote as a graduate voter. Even the single person whom i met who was registered as a graduate voter, actually tried to vote in 2006 and gave up after a frustrating experience of more than 3-4 hours going to three different polling booths, when he and his wife could not find the right polling booth to cast their valuable votes! This experience is hugely demoralizing and saddening in a country that celebrates its democracy - while not really shocking. It was but to be expected, given the way our systems and machinery are designed to discourage citizen participation in the process of democratic change. What a shame ! What a Farce !

For those of you wondering what this fuss is all about, here are some facts. Maharashtra like five other states has a 2-tier legislature with The Vidhan Parishad (Assembly) as the Lower House and the Vidhan Parishad (Council) as its Upper House. Of the 78 MLC seats, 7 are reserved for graduate voter constituencies which come up for re-election every six years. By any estimate Mumbai with a total population in excess of 12 million, must be having atleast 1.5-2 million graduates who reside in Mumbai and are eligible to vote in the MLC elections due in June 2012. In the 2006 elections, there were only 60,000 voters. Based on the Election Commission statistics, as of January 2012, there were only 66,000 voters registered on the graduate voter rolls. Does this mean that Mumbais graduate population barely increased by 6000 in a span of six years??? This represents barely 3-4% of the eligible population. The situation seems to be very similar in Bengaluru as well, where again the graduate MLC elections are due in June 2012. The number of registered voters and the eligible population are strikingly similar to Mumbai. Mumbai and Bengaluru are the financial and IT capitals of the country respectively !!!

The question to be asked is whether this situation is caused by massive voter / citizen apathy??? Or is it Apathy of the Citizens caused by design and intent of our current electoral machinery and vested interests???

Why have the Central Election Commission and the State Election Commissions not done their duty in publicizing and promoting voter registration of the eligible populations. Why is the process of voter registration and the process of exercising the vote so full of friction? There is a huge Dis-incentive to register and to cast your vote for the ordinary citizen. Why are the political parties not active in massive graduate voter registration drives?

Some weeks ago, in the context of the BMC elections and ward governance, this blog had a post on the Antidote to Apathy http://new-politics-for-a-new-generation.blogspot.in/2012/02/citizens-ward-area-sabhas-and-ward.html inspired by a brilliant TED talk by Dave Meslin. MUST watch here.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/dave_meslin_the_antidote_to_apathy.html

Today's elections are driven by vote bank politics of caste, community, religion and the power of money to influence votes. However the graduate voter base is not easy to convert into a vote bank as it spans across socio-economic and caste/community divisions. This is probably the reason why the established political parties are not serious about registering massive numbers of eligible voters. Infact if at all, it probably serves their vested interests to have as few of the eligible voters registered as possible!

Bu what about the EC itself ? the EC is mandated to hold open and transparent elections where it should enable as many of the eligible population to register and make it easy for them to exercise their valuable vote. After more than 60 years of democracy why is it that less than 3-4% of the eligible can vote in these elections ? This represents a classic case of how the system encourages and promotes apathy of the citizens to participate in the democratic process of change.

Lok Satta has therefore filed a PIL in the High Court of Bombay to plead for a proper registration process where as many of eligible voters are enable to register before the graduate constituency MLC elections are held. An election where only 3-4% can even cast their vote and that too with a lot of trouble, can only be called a farce. Will such an election truly throw up an acceptable leader who can represent his / her constituency?

Lok Satta appeals to all the citizens, media, activists, NGOs, trade associations, professional bodies and members and leaders of such organizations to join us in the fight for an open friction free electoral process.

Let us join hands to break down the barriers to citizen participation in our democratic processes. Let us all join the fight to eliminate Apathy By Design.

You can do so by sending a simple email or SMS.

SMS “LSPI MLC” and your email ID to 56161 Or Email Subject "MLC" to participate@loksattamh.org

Every SMS and Email counts to defeat Apathy By Design !

Lok Satta party Mumbai unequivocally demonstrates that LSP is the ONLY political platform for Ordinary Citizens

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:59:00 +0000

Saeed Shaikh, Member LSP challenges Surendra Srivastava, National Gen Secy & State President in an open transparent primary election for the Mumbai Graduate Voter MLC constituency

In an historic open election, conducted transparently and without any acrimony whatsoever, by Independent Election Authority represented by Advocate and Arbitrator AK Shende and Dr A.L. Sharada, Secretary General of NGO Population First, Saeed Shaikh, a recent member of LSP, challenged Surendra Srivastava, founder President of LSP Maharashtra State chapter and also the National Gen Secretary. That Mr Srivastava won and Mr Shaikh lost this primary election, to represent LSP in the Mumbai graduate voters MLC elections coming up in June 2012 is secondary. This is not the first such election in LSP. Consistently LSP has held such elections in AP, Karnataka and other states for throwing up good leaders at various levels. Even Dr JP, founder President was challenged by a grassroots leader of LSP for the post of the National President!

As a member of the LSP Mumbai unit, i had the privilege to participate and witness true inner party democracy in action - which is the ONLY means to get the best and brightest of our citizens back into true citizen centric politics. In a vibrant democracy, sycophancy, money bags and the High Command have a ZERO role to play in the choice of leaders from time to time, whether for electoral candidates at all levels or party office bearer posts. Dr Jayapraksh Narayan, founder President of Lok Satta recently remarked that

"Lok Satta is not only a party created out of an Andolan, but it also has a constitution that is tailor-made for all those who are fighting for open, transparent, equitable and clean government at all levels. Lok Satta has been designed to be an inclusive platform for all Indians seeking political transformation. It has always been recognized and acknowledged that Lok Satta is not owned by current members; it belongs to all India. The members and leaders at any point of time are humble custodians of a national platform. ‘Nation above party; and party above self’ is the motto of Lok Satta. Membership has to be open, and leadership has to be by democratic choice at all levels. Each of us can proudly call this our own platform"

The Mumbai Graduate Voters elections coming up in June 2012 offers a once-in-six-years opportunity for ordinary citizens to exercise their power of One!

http://new-politics-for-a-new-generation.blogspot.in/2012/03/power-of-one-mumbais-graduates-must-sit.html

A few thousand ordinary citizens like you and i, CAN influence radical changes that will make Mumbai a better city for all of us and our children to live in. Let not this opportunity go abegging. Register your intent to exercise your power and influence over the destiny of Mumbai here. http://tinyurl.com/Mumbai-Grad-Voter

LSP Mumbai unit has also decided to hold open transparent elections for its Executive Committee and office bearers within the next 3 months.

Come One, Come All and Seize the Moment!

Students, Housewives, Entrepreneurs, Business men and women, RTI and social / political activists, Residents of our building societies, chawls and slums!

Become Agents of Change and Drive the Silent Revolution for a Citizen Centric and Corruption Free governance in our local bodies, our state and our nation by becoming Executive Members of the ONLY citizens political party!

http://www.loksatta.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=363

The Power of One! Mumbai's Graduates must Sit Up and Take Notice !

noreply@blogger.com (Ram Ramdas) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:03:00 +0000

Mumbai's Graduates ! Sit Up and Take Notice ! Be a Part of Mumbai's Revival !
You have an Additional Vote !

Exercise Your Power of ONE !!!

Once in every six years, Mumbai's graduates are presented with an extraordinary opportunity to influence the destiny of our city. They have the power to elect one good woman or man as MLC (Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council - also known as Vidhan Parishad) of the Mumbai Graduates constituency. That opportunity is now upon us in June 2012.

This opportunity has never been properly exploited all these many years in the past. MLC seats have been generally seen by traditional parties as ways of accommodating / rehabilitating disgruntled party members or even losers in the assembly elections. The constitutional fathers who created our democratic foundations had envisioned a different purpose for the graduate voter seats - as ways to get representation for the educated electorate, so that men and women with powerful ideas and vision for the region and the state could get an opportunity to influence the future of our city and state.

Many people are pessimistic or cynical about the Power of One. One man or woman is a Majority of One - when that man or woman has clarity of vision and integrity of purpose and can represent the collective yearnings of millions of citizens !

Mumbai urgently and desperately needs a revival. This revival CAN be brought about with massive citizen participation, bold leadership and advocacy for a strong and inclusive agenda for our Maximum City.

Lok Satta, for a few years now, during and post the Vote Mumbai campaign, has been advocating a set of bold solutions, on which there is apparently a broad consensus view prevailing. This blog had an earlier post on these five bold solutions for Maximum City Mumbai.

The Mumbai graduate voter MLC elections in June 2012 is now an opportunity to push for these bold solutions for revival of our city. Any resident of Mumbai (City or Suburban district) who has graduated from any recognized university in India, before November 1, 2008 is eligible to exercise their power of One.

You need to register as a graduate voter to exercise this power, whether or not, you are registered as a regular voter for the BMC / MLA / MP elections.

Mumbai's Graduates - let not this opportunity be wasted this time around. Register your intent to Exercise this Power of One using the link below. Encourage your colleagues, friends and family to do so as well. Mumbai's revival will then soon be possible.

Exercise Your Power of One !!!

New Politics for a New Generation

Race Day Nears! Please help my fund raising for NanhiKali - GIRL CHILD EDUCATION!

Race Day Nears! Please help my fund raising for

NanhiKali - GIRL CHILD EDUCATION!

The Wave of Clean Politics must now rise in sync with the Wave of Surajya - Good Governance

The Wave of Clean Politics must now rise in sync with The Wave of Surajya - Good Governance

On a day of of the Civics 101 Refresher : An Appeal to Arvind Kejriwal and AAP

The Beginning of the End...of 19th Century Feudal Monarchies! Victory of AAP is Victory of We, The People

The Beginning of the End...of 19th Century Feudal Monarchies The Victory of AAP is victory of We, The People! 21st Century India is now ready for Government BY the PEOPLE !

What Arvind Kejriwal and AAP must learn from the 5-0 Victory of We, The People

What Arvind Kejriwal and AAP (and all of us!)

must learn from this 5-0 Victory of We, The People

Everyday Accountability the only Weapon for ZERO Tolerance to Mumbai's Silent Daily Terror

Peoples faith in democracy cannot be compromised at the altar of "My Way or HighWay Politics" - An Appeal to Arvind Kejriwal

Peoples faith in democracy cannot be compromised

at the altar of "My Way or HighWay Politics"

An Appeal to Arvind Kejriwal

Mumbai! Let's go LOKal !!!

Mumbai! Let's go LOKal !!!

Nagar Raj Bill - What is in it for Me

Me - the Citizen, the Taxpayer, the Voter

The situation in Mumbai

The promise of the Model Nagar Raj Bill

What is the status in Maharashtra ?

What YOU can do to Get LOKal

We hold these Truths to be Self-Evident...

The Indian Liberal's Manifesto - The Vast Majority Liberal India must now become "Deeply Political"

The Original Sin of The Republic of India: Article 19(2)

Towards A More Perfect Republic Of India !

Rahul Gandhi - Failed Dynastic MP for PM ???

Time again for Satyagraha

Silent Black Flag Peoples March For The Republic of India on R-DAY 2013

R-Day Peoples Charter - Five Immediate Demands

Stop the criminalization of the Police Force. Implement Police reforms now!

I’ve got Nike shoes!!

Where are our Inspirational Leaders ?

60 Years of Parliament - Crisis of Leadership

Major Victory for People Power (Lok Satta) - Bombay HC issues order on PIL No. 48 of 2012

Close Encounter with a Traffic Constable - The HOPE for CHANGE is REAL !

Agenda for a New Mumbai - The Voice of the Citizen must prevail !

Encouraging Voter & Citizen Apathy - BY DESIGN

Lok Satta party Mumbai unequivocally demonstrates that LSP is the ONLY political platform for Ordinary Citizens

The Power of One! Mumbai's Graduates must Sit Up and Take Notice !

The Beginning of the End...of 19th Century Feudal Monarchies

The Victory of AAP is victory of We, The People!

21st Century India is now ready for
Government BY the PEOPLE !