A tale of two women

Annapurna is a weaver who hails from Gadag district in Karnataka. She is uneducated, yet she yearns to be self-sufficient and has been taking up various jobs to help support her family. I live in Gurgaon, Haryana, and my education has helped me secure a comfortable and satisfying job in the civil services. As a family, we are financially secure, and can fulfill all our dreams.

Annapurna and I live very different lives, thousands of kilometres removed from one another. Yet, our lives have touched, thanks to MILAAP (http://www.milaap.org/). Milaap is the first (and at present, the only) online platform that allows people around the world to lend to India's poor. It focuses on enterprise development, sustainable farming, education, energy, healthcare, sanitation and water. Its field partners identify the beneficiaries, one makes an online loan (the amount could be as small as Rs 500/-) which is disbursed via the field partner which also monitors its utilisation, re payment etc.

Having already made several loans via Milaap, and having experienced the satisfaction of re payments coming in ( the smallest re payment is Rs 40 per month!), I enthusiastically joined Milaap's "Adopt an Entrepreneur" campaign, launched ahead of India's 65th Independence Day. The idea was to "adopt" an entrpreneur and help raise the entire amount he/she needs to purchase raw materials/machinery etc. Empowering women is, I believe, crucial if this nation is to grow in an equitable, sustainable manner. So I decided to raise the Rs 35,000 that Annapurna needed, as part of a group that makes colourful weaves, for buying more machinery and raw material.

The journey proved to be surprisingly short and gratifying. 

I shared on Facebook the page  that Milaap created for me http://fundraiser.milaap.org/campaigns/priyaadoptsannapurna 

but more importantly, I specifically requested friends who I know have compassion and a highly developed social conscience to make a contribution. Within 48 hours, 4 or 5 large contributions (Rs 5000 to Rs 10,000) were made, apart from another 5 contributions of smaller amounts,and the loan was 100% financed! My hope now is that when all these generous lenders see the re payments coming in, they will choose to re lend the amount that gets re paid, and also share their experience with like minded people so that the circle grows wider. A big thank you to all of you!!!

Not only do I feel connected to Annapurna but I feel I am now a stakeholder in her progress -----thank you, Milaap, for bringing together two women from such vastly different backgrounds!

Form over substance

When one emphasizes form over substance , one provides information in such a manner as to remain true to the form of the underlying transaction, while withholding, if necessary, the complete information  which would have painted a truer picture of the reality. One gets to see this ascendancy of form over substance in the claim regarding rural electrification made  in the PM's Independence Day address to the nation.

I quote the Prime Minister : When the UPA Government came to power in 2004, we had promised that we would provide electricity to all villages. To fulfill this promise, we launched the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme. More than 1 lakh new villages have been provided with electricity connections under this scheme and now almost all the villages in the country have been electrified. Our next target is to provide electricity to each and every household in our country in the next 5 years and to also improve the supply of electricity.

In the first place, the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme  was "launched" in 2005 only in the limited sense that all existing schemes for rural electrification were merged and given a new name (which, incidentally, helps perpetuate a ruling dynasty).

The scheme had the objective of electrification of  all rural households by 2010. It did not happen, of course. The scheme was therefore carried forward for another 2 years, and because the target has not been reached even in 2012, it is likely to be given a further extension of 5 years.  In other words, the government has failed abysmally in achieving what it had set out to do ----- but that's not what we are being told, are we?

One lakh villages have been provided "electricity connections" , we are told.  Are all these electricity connections operational, say, a year after installation?  Is electricity being supplied to these connections? Are there villages that are still bereft of any electricity connections whatsoever? Have there been cost over runs, or has the scheme's implementation proceeded as per the initial budget?

If our leaders placed substance over form, these and such like would be the questions they would answer even before they were asked. What we are made to hear are platitudes and sermons, what we are provided is incomplete information, what we are expected to do is applaud progress that is taking place at too slow a pace and at too high a cost. Isn't it time we rebelled? Shouldn't we ask more questions, demand more answers? Even if we, the comfortably placed middle class, have no direct concern with such issues as rural electrification, should we not realise that the underlying malady will strike at the very heart and soul of the nation, leave it crippled? Is that the legacy we wish to leave our children?

Lets not sit back complacently. Lets not wait for someone else to ask questions. Lets spend some time instead acquainting ourselves with  issues of public interest; if possible, master one or two. Ask questions. Demand answers. Let the government not get away with half truths, incomplete information, misleading statements.

Lets do our duty as citizens.

When protest becomes endemic

The President of India has been generous in doling out advice to the people. Protest, he says, but do not let protest become endemic or you are flirting with chaos. Perhaps the rulers could have been advised too -----to heed the voices being raised in protest, or else deal with chaos.It is not as if the protesters are a lumpen element,  best ignored, strategically speaking. The most vociferous protests are being made by the very constituency that has gained the most from India's so called growth story -----the middle class. Something must be very wrong indeed for those to protest who have seen their incomes rise and shopping malls spring up and more fast food chains and travel abroad. Do the rulers not sense that? Or are they too busy plotting the next victory against the protesters to understand that?

One doesn't see farmers protesting -----they are simply and conveniently killing themselves. One doesn't see dispossessed tribals protesting ----they are being quelled with State power.One doesn't see the millions of BPL families protesting ---- perhaps they have been struck dumb by the Planning Commission's shenanigans. If all these silent millions were also to demand that they be heard, what advice would the President give them? Perhaps the Presidential address would then include another paragraph. As it now reads, the Presidential address appears to be aimed only at the middle class ----- nowhere does it talk the language that the under privileged would understand, unless one counts Jawaharlal Nehru,Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi as champions of the poor, and therefore, names that the under privileged would recognise.

Would they also be advised, as the middle class has, that they must not "destroy" institutions, and especially the Parliament, which we are told, lives by its "own calendar and rhythm " ? Would they also be rather pedantically informed that in a democracy, there is always judgement day, an "election"? 

Are our institutions, including the Parliament, under threat of being destroyed ? Yes. They are under threat because they have given up even the pretense of performing the functions that they were designed to, not because anguished citizens  are protesting against their inefficiency, indifference and corruption.  When institutions grow as dysfunctional as they have in India, their very existence becomes threatened. If now citizens are asking questions, demanding performance, pressing for accountability, there is still hope for the resurgence of our democratic institutions, provided citizens' voices are not muffled, as it appears would be the Establishment's wont.

The President draws attention to "tolerance of contrary views" as an essential component of the "democratic temper" but stops short of advising those in power to have greater respect for "contrary views". Perhaps  "judgement day" viz., election, is the only occasion when the rulers are expected to hear the citizens for whose welfare  they ostensibly occupy high offices and lofty mansions and travel the world. Between one election and the next, the ordinary Indian must keep his mouth shut, scrounge around for food when prices rocket,  look for employment that does not exist, applaud infrastructure that does not work, and turn to the opiates of Bollywood and cricket when corruption makes life unbearable.

निशाना

अन्ना और अरविन्द focused नहीं
जब देखो, goal post बदल जाता है
हमें देखें, निशाना चूकता ही नहीं
पैसा हर बार Swiss account में जाता है

A statesman as President

It appears likely that India's next President will be Pranab Mukherjee. The prospect does not enthuse me in the least. A nation of more than 1 billion people seems to be able to do no better than to have politicians and civil servants appointed/elected to every conceivable position of power and/or  prestige. 

We do lavish a lot of attention and affection on Bollywood stars and sports persons (cricketers, to be precise) and make sure that they dot the Parliament in adequate number to lend some glamour to the House. However, their presence in the Upper House is, in terms of contribution to law making, of no significance whatsoever. They know that as well, which perhaps explains their low attendance during the proceedings of the House. 

We overlook, however, men and women who have achieved eminence in the fields of arts, sciences, public service, industry and trade, education etc etc. The one exception that was made in the recent past was APJ Abdul Kalam, but the success of that experiment seems to have only ensured that it is not repeated ----- not surprising, perhaps, given the recent and rapid decline in ethical standards in public life. 

Yes, Pranab Mukherjee is an experienced, astute and competent politician. At 77, however, he should perhaps be thinking of retirement from active politics. In India, alas, politicians and civil servants do not retire. They simply make a smooth transition from active participation/service to such positions as President/Governor/Chairman/Member etc etc and ensure that their perquisites and privileges continue to be paid for during their lifetimes by the taxpayer.

I'd like to see as President someone who has a vision for the country, a philosophy underlying that vision, the energy, zeal and competence to rally people round that vision and translate it into reality,someone who places the nation and public good over self and party ------ in brief, a statesman.  It's not likely to happen ------ if not Pranab Mukherjee, who does not satisfy these job requirements,we are confronted with  the disturbing possibility of having a former Speaker or the current Prime Minister as the President. The  very fact that these names are today doing the rounds shows how very cynical and profit driven  the whole exercise of election of the President has become.

hang the Lokpal !

So its all over! The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned sine die, and the Government, despite being repeatedly asked,  has chosen not to disclose to the Parliament what it plans to do next to institutionalise a strong and effective Lokpal. That the Lokpal bill as passed by the Lok Sabha was riddled with inconsistencies and weaknesses is now common knowledge. That the entire Opposition was united in demanding certain amendments to the bill so as to provide for an effective Lokpal is also known. That the government chose to defend the bill till, literally, the twelfth hour was seen and heard by all. What next? We have been told that the government needs to "examine" the numerous amendments moved by Members of the Rajya Sabha. How long the examination will take, whether the bill will be taken up two months from now in the Budget session etc etc -----these are questions to which, as citizens, we will be given no immediate answers. We, the people, are the "ruled" and would do well to hold our peace till the "rulers" decide to speak ----that message came loud and clear today.


 We may shout ourselves hoarse that we have had enough of the petty and not-so-petty corruption that is sapping the nation's life blood. We may remind the government again and again and again that we have waited long enough for a strong, effective anti-corruption Ombudsman. We may even draft them a model bill. Its not enough -----not because the government or our elected representatives are engaged in other more pressing, nation building activity, but because they just don't care. The status quo suits the "rulers". Why should they change it until and unless they are left with no choice but to do it ? This attitude is best demonstrated by the fact that among the few amendments to the Lokpal bill that the Lok Sabha passed, the most significant was the deletion of Section 24 which required the Parliament to take action against MPs against whom the Lokpal had instituted criminal proceedings under the Prevention of Corruption Act !


They will simply make feeble attempts to enact a "suitable" law ----a law that suits them because it sets up a Lokpal that acts at their  bidding, or is so hamstrung by  convoluted procedures that it does not act at all. Even such a Lokpal could prove unsettling or inconvenient, so only a pretense of action will be made, no outcomes will actually be achieved. 


There was a lot of talk today about a "weak" Lokpal being better than no Lokpal at all, about how the institution could be strengthened through amendments in a "phased" manner. I find the logic simply galling, when seen in the context of the fact that we have been trying to give ourselves a Lokpal for several decades, there are numerous reports and studies already available, as also a model law and several alternative formulations drafted by civil society. When we know what the constituents of a strong, effective Lokpal must be, when even the draft formulations of the structures and procedures that achieve that objective are available, how can a "weak" Lokpal be possibly justified?


The truth is that the attitude of the "rulers" is : hang the Lokpal ! It is for us, the people of India, to not give up the battle and fight to win the war.

Lokpal bill ---section 24 conundrum

The Times Of India carries today a front page headline "Netas may unite against Section 24 of Lokpal bill".

What does Section 24 of the Lokpal bill say? It provides for the action to be taken by the Lokpal and the Parliament in case the CBI (or any other agency entrusted with the investigation) finds , upon conclusion of an investigation ,that an offence has been committed by the Prime Minister or a Minister or a Member of Parliament under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Lokpal may file a case in the Special Court, and will  also  send a copy of the Investigation Report along with its findings to the Parliament which will inform the Lokpal, within 90 days, of the action taken. 

Therein lies the rub ! Till the Special Court decides the matter, how can the Parliament take any action, ask the affronted netas. The Representation of the People Act provides for disqualification of our MPs only when they have been convicted of a serious offence.In fact, no action can be taken against an MP even if he has been convicted of a serious offence until his appeal against such an order of conviction has been heard and decided by the Supreme Court. This could take several years, during which time he continues to enjoy the power, privileges and perquisites of being an MP/Minister.And here comes the Lokpal bill, with a requirement that action be taken by the Parliament against an MP/Minister even before he has been convicted of an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The government could point out that the provisions of the Lokpal bill over ride any provisions of any law that are inconsistent with the Bill. However, if the government is truly in earnest about action being taken against MPs and Ministers even before the Special Court has decided the corruption case filed by the Lokpal, then it must also introduce a Bill to amend the Representation of People Act. We have large numbers of MPs with criminal antecedents and criminal cases pending against them. The cases linger in the courts for decades, and even when the court convicts an MP or Minister, several more years pass while he exhausts all the appeal remedies that the law provides him. Is it not proper that the Representation of People Act be amended to require that an MP be disqualified at the stage of framing of charges against him in the criminal court? In August this year, newspapers did carry news items about such a proposal being considered by the government. And then, no more was heard about the proposed amendment ----vested interests at work, no doubt !

It is but obvious that MPs and Ministers will resist any provision of the law that changes the status quo from which they so greatly benefit. We must make certain, by telling our MPs in unambiguous terms that they cannot have their cake and eat it too, that along with a powerful and effective Lokpal legislation, the law is amended to provide for the disqualification of MPs and Ministers once charges have been framed against them in a criminal court vis a vis a serious offence.