MAIRA BHARAT MAHAN

VERSUS

AAM AADMI




AN ANALYTICAL THESIS



by


HARBHAJAN SINGH SAPRA
2

Title: Maira Bharat Mahan Versus Aam Aadami

Author: Harbhajan Singh Sapra

Phone: 919417528855 , 919811647613

E mail: hss@system3.net

ISBN: 978-81-900211-0-4

Published: April 2014 ebook (Pdf Format)

Price : Free - A humble effort for welfare of my country

Publisher: Sapra & Sapra Publishers & Distributors Pvt. Ltd
51, Ring Road , Lajpat Nagar III,
New Delhi 110024.

Printers: A-Z Printers
80, Okhla Industrial Estate
New Delhi 110020


Number of Pages 44, Including Cover
3

CONTENTS

1. PREVIEW 5
Prevailing conditions in the country
2. THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA 7
An over view
3. EDUCATION 8
One system of education in the entire country
4. POVERTY 14
A painful caricature - A blot on our Independence
5. INCLUSIVE GROWTH VS VILLAGES 17
Generating employment and improving income
6. CORRUPTION , INFLATION , BLACK MONEY AND PARALLEL
ECONOMY
32
Nexus of Hoarders , Power centers and Money
7. LAW AND LEGAL PROCESS 35
A speedy and equitable justice delivery system
8. TAXATION 37
Simplification and reward for tax payers
9. GOVERNANCE 39
Time delay and lack of accountability
10. LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST - CONCLUSION 42
India as One Country

4
DEDICATION

Dedicated to all my countrymen with my special concern for those Indians who
are not getting the right opportunities and equal playing field to lead a
comfortable, happy, healthy and socially secure life .
5

MAIRA BHARAT MAHAN VERSUS AAM AADMI

I have no choice but to say that I Love my country, as I have to live here and die here.
Since ages India has been known as a Golden Eagle. Mughal Raiders and Britishers
have been taking away wealth from my country by loot, or deceit or smartness for
centuries. But now after so called freedom since August 1947, India is being looted by
our own Indian People either in the form of stashed away black money or via tax treaty
transfers of income and investment or other Government blessed instruments. India is
known as a developing country with half the population living a poverty laden life full of
struggle to fight starvation, stagnation and misery. In last decade or so India has
produced 45 Billionaires with only 45000 Income Tax payees who declare an annual
income of more than 100 lac of Rupees . In the same period, India has uncovered
unwillingly frauds of magnitude of billions of rupees by politician and their business
associates and relatives ( directly or indirectly ) by manipulating law and dispensing
misleading statements. Law is now becoming effective as the burden has fallen on
Supreme Court and has resulted ( first time in the history of India) for a Minister to be
sent behind bars. It is yet to be seen as to how & when our Country Gets Back the
losses incurred and wealth looted - or the whole matter will be swept away under the
carpet. This has been the practice since Prominent comment on bribe involvement in
Bhakhra Dam construction time The bribe if taken is money which remains in the
country only . Who uses it or abuses, it does not matter.

It puts me to shame when it is declared that a person needs Rs 20 to live and at the
same time Several Lakhs are spent on renovation of a Toilet Block of a ministry and
each M L A gets a handsome increase in his monthly package in every state every year.
I must agree with all those who say that the country is working only for 15 % of the
population of the country. I do not know whether a citizen of our country has freedom to
express his views on subjects reserved for the so called servants of the nation i.e.
politicians who have enacted laws making them super citizens. An event which
happened long time back left a long lasting impression on me. I was managing a small
scale factory in Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi, whose land lord was a jailor in
Lahore . A Sikh gentleman from Gujrat came to my premises for a meeting with my
landlord, in July1972. He was a freedom fighter and served a jail sentence when my
landlord was a jailor in Lahore and he required a certificate regarding his stay in jail to
enable him to get the benefits of a freedom fighter. As we were waiting for the land lord
to come, my query on status of poverty in India after 25 Years of freedom was answered
by the gentleman as Poverty is like coke for the politicians with which they keep the fire
burning in cauldron to divert attention from the main issues. If there are no poor people ,
there will be no politicians . This down to earth explanation of status of our country is
true even today i.e. almost 40 years after this incident. If the poor people are not there,
who will vote for them for a petty amount of Rs. 100 and a bottle of local brew and who
will become part of the crowd of the head held high, arrogant and least concerned Neta
Ji. The next thing which perturbed me was our performance at recent Olympics specially
Archery and Hockey . Do we deserve to win . I do not think so . Whatever medals we win
are mostly efforts of an individual or by default of non performance of the opponent at
that time. Sorry, Harsh words. But I have my own logic.
6



Remember Dhyan Chand or Balbeer Singh Senior who were magicians of stick work
and India was an Olympian Champion Year after Year but since 80,s we are losing out
and now are no where near the best. Please tell me Why . My answer is that our
masters or managers ( Mostly politicians or highly favored individuals ) have not done
any thing to keep the spirit of the sports moving . The west has taken away our grass
green fields which suited Indian way of Hockey full of dribbling and replaced it with Turf.
They have replaced our wooden hockey stick by Carbon Composite Hockey which
suited them for their tall stature and stout built in place of slow speed dribbling magical
spells of Indian Hockey players who have a slender frame and a medium height . They
have hijacked hockey as well as our industry . Can our schools afford a Turf and
Composite Hockey where the average student is finding it difficult to pay the school fees
, We have lost employment opportunities as we have lost our labour intensive wooden
hockey manufacturing facilities and export revenues also .

Now my pain about Archery . In India , we use Bamboo Bows and Arrows traditionally
used by our tribal people but in International events the Bow and arrow are made of
composites mostly in Korea and America . Have we set up any Industry In the country to
produce these items at affordable prices . It is only Tata Archery Academy which is
providing the resources for our world class Archers and it is the wards of this institute at
Jamshedpur which are playing international tournaments . Hardly there is any other
contributor . Why not make this sport popular all over the country . Can we learn a
lesson from the above two sports and take the following steps :

1. Set up international Standard manufacturing facilities for Sports. Equipment in
our country to make available Equipment at an affordable price.
2. Open up first class coaching centers all over the country and not for a favored
Zone.
3. All those people managing the sports should be answerable for performance
failing which a replacement should be in place in as short a time frame as
possible.
4. No way the Sport should be a last priority. No short cuts and no half hearted
efforts should cloud the ultimate aim of seeking the glory for our Country when
we take part in a domestic or international meet. Avoid all cosmetic ventures by
authorities.

If the steps mentioned above are taken , a sports person will be benefitted by getting an
affordable playing kit as there will be no Import duty , No Trademark Mark Up of prices,
No Foreign currency involvement , No costly packaging and freight and no waiting time .
7
FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA - PREAMBLE

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:

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 the integrity of the
Nation;

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

Very nice, very simple and an all-encompassing resolution.

Have we followed it in letter and spirit? No, we have failed totally. We have not been
able to carry every body in our so-called India Shining progress.

What have we done? Have we been sleeping over our duties? Are we not committed to
our assigned programs? Have we not set goals to achieve?

We are proud to have Organizations like TCS, INFOSYS, HCL, RELIANCE, NTPC,
ONGC, BHEL, ITC, HUL and many more, which are world famous. Where have we
failed?

Have we made every citizen a citizen of India? Do we feel proud to be called an Indian?
An Indian settled abroad will be happy to be called an American or a Canadian or a
Britisher NRI rather than an Indian.

We have inherited the divide and rule policy and damaged our country by generating
pockets of vote banks based on caste, creed, regions, religion, languages and social
taboos. Here only an individual seeking political windfall matters and the country plus the
countrymen does not matter.

The change which can transform our country can be easily achieved by implementing
the following simple steps in letter and spirit :

1. Every individual living in India should feel to be a Proud INDIAN.
2. There should be no system of cast; creed and nobody should be branded by any
epithet except Indian.
3. Every Body is free to choose his religion and delve in his faith but this in no way
should dissuade him from calling himself a Proud Indian.
4. The first Language should be Hindi and every one should use it.
5. Language of a State or mother tongue should be the responsibility of the Sate
and Minority Community Organizations to see the development of language as a
second language to National Language Hindi.
6. Literacy is the responsibility of Central Government and should be monitored by
the Government to enable each child in the country to become an Indian Citizen.

8
EDUCATION

Each School in the country should have one Syllabus and one System of education
under CBSE and no state should have any say on the prescribed curriculum and
syllabus or set of books.State Education Board and Minority Organizations can add only
regional language books and other literature including religious literature to satisfy the
need of the mother tongue of that region, state, and minority feelings.I am not against
private schools ( some Air conditioned ) providing some special activities like swimming,
charging sky high fees from the people who can afford, provided they follow the same
teaching syllabus set by the CBSE. No one should claim to be differently educated
based on wealth. This step will not only save money but also make the country
look united.

The most important need is to provide infrastructure for the entire nation. A study
published by CRY for the implementation of the Right to Education Act revealed that
11% of the schools surveyed did not have toilets and ones that did have were unusable.
Forty Percent schools lack separate toilet facilities for girls. Post-puberty, a majority of
girls feel embarrassed using a common toilet. 23% of girls drop out of schools when they
hit puberty. The study, which was conducted in 13 States and three metropolitan cities,
highlighted the absence of clean drinking water, electricity, blackboards, Libraries,
playgrounds, proper building structures and even head teachers in majority of the
schools. 50% of our Indian Population is uneducated. I wonder how Right to Education
Act is going to be implemented that means every one whether poor or rich, living in a city
or village or in a remote habitation can get the opportunity to educate him/herself free of
cost at the state expenses. How the infrastructure and teaching manpower is to be made
available. How the planners are going to arrange for the funds required for this program
which is not only the constitutional right of every individual but an essential requirement
for development of our country and human resource.

Our leaders dig out solutions, which are bound to flounder as they are not based on
sound research and time bound performance. Recently there was a clamor for semester
system and marking in grades. Now we are introducing four-year degree in graduation.
Are we running away from our responsibility of generating jobs or afraid of the
staggering rate of increasing unemployment already existing in the country leading to
frustration & crime? Long time back the school was finished in 11years and then
followed the Ten Plus Two System, which is currently in vogue. I am presently involved
in social service and sports promotion in a school in Punjab for last four years and have
studied some parameters, which are not being addressed at all.

First there is a need to increase the working days of the school to minimum 180 days.
365 - 52 Sundays = 313 - 12 second Saturdays = 310 - 30 days summer vacation = 280
days - 15 days winter vacation = 265 days - 15 days exam preparation = 250 days - 30
days for exams = 220 days - 15 National Holidays = 205 days minus - 25 regional
Holidays = 180 days . I suggest that 180 days should be the minimum days for students
to study in a school. As per my experience there are holidays declared at the whims and
fancy of the state governments and school managements for more than 15 to 30 days in
a year, thus making the effective school education days to 150 only or even less.

9
Second suggestion is the time factor. In summer schools start at 8 AM and close at 2.30
- and in winter the school starts at 9 AM and closes at 3.30 i.e. working for 6.30 hours
with a recess period of 30 minutes . I would like the schools to work for an additional one
hour for socially useful activity. This additional hour should be utilized for education in
vocational activities and should be compulsory for class 6 to class 12. Junior school
should follow the present timetable and leave the school premises by the present
timetable.

Every school has the following facilities viz. Electricity, Water supply system, Water
coolers, Fans , Furniture & Fixtures , Painting of the School building and rooms,
Gardens and Play Grounds. Each is a activity a child can learn to master. This will teach
a child to love working with his own hand and give him confidence of adopting it as a
field in future as his career. None of the above activities need costly training equipment
but trained teachers would be required. DIY i.e. Do It Yourself is a common activity in all
developed countries and every one uses it in his office or house. If some children opt for
Sanitary work training, they can prevent wastage of water as mostly the taps keep
leaking. The school will save lot in money paid to outside workers and also the delay
caused in attending to the complaint. This is the first stage of preparing the youth to be
responsible. When the child helps in repairing any thing, he will also take care to use it
properly. Besides the above-mentioned trades, Tailoring, Computer Operations, Cooking
and Baking, Paper Mache and Origami, Music and Fine Arts i.e. painting etc. can be
opted. This basic vocational training should be made compulsory but not part of board
exams. The tests will be only conducted at school level - as mostly the trades are
practical trades and are to be evaluated accordingly. This is a serious suggestion and if
implemented in letter and spirit, will benefit the youth and the country tremendously.
Care should be taken that a trade opted by a student in 6th class can only be changed
once before tenth class and not as a fancy for this and that. This will make an expert of
the particular field he/she has selected. As the school will only need a workshop room or
two, this program will not need much funds and effort and can be integrated in the
curriculum in no time.

On the Matter of Primary School syllabus, we have often heard that the school bag is
heavier than the capacity of the child to carry. Let us reduce the load of the Primary
School i.e. First to 5th Class. I am not a votary for nursery or KG classes in a regular
school . Let these activities be taken care of by home run child care entrepreneurs and
should not be permitted in a regular school.

A child should learn Alphabets of Hindi, Regional Language /Mother Tongue and
Business Language English and Counting of Numbers in the first class. A child should
be able to recognize and write alphabets and numbers. If the teaching method is through
educational toys and games, it will make the children happy. Emphasis on personal
hygiene is a must. There should be no homework. Regular attendance of school and
observing school timings, be strictly followed by the child. To obey and respect teachers
and parents should be ingrained in the child from day one of schooling.

In the second class the child can learn to form simple sentences in all the three
languages. Addition, subtraction, multiplication and simple tables in maths will make the
foundation. Nursery rhymes and character building short stories be taught and make the
students to memorize them and repeat them.
10
In the third class basic grammar for all the three languages should be introduced.
Spellings and consulting the dictionary be made compulsory. Writing neatly and
maintaining the books plus exercise note books in orderly fashion. Each child should be
made to read the headlines of a newspaper of each language daily. Solving
mathematical problems of large numbers in multiplication, addition and subtraction
should form the basic foundation. If teachers can ask questions related to daily life,
students will learn fast. As an example: A child gets Rs 10=00 as pocket money. How
does he spends the amount and what happens to the balance amount. Does he save it
in a piggy bank or returns it to his parent or spends it next day. How much distance a
student covers every day to reach school on foot. If he uses a cycle, how much time he
will save. Such simple mathematical problems will help child learn the maths as well as
self-confidence. A child should be introduced to a computer and made to switch it on and
off and to play with the key board and mouse as a familiarizing exercise.

In the fourth class the student should be taught to translate simple sentences from one
language to another i.e. from Hindi to Regional Language and English Plus Regional
Language to Hindi and English . His command on vocabulary and spellings in each
language should become solid. He should be able to write small stories or incidents in
each language. He should write his own application for leave or fee concession or
participating in an activity. A student should be ingrained to imbibe knowledge by self-
learning by reading story books, children literature and news papers. A student should
be taught to ask questions for any difficulty in any subject or any problem relating to his
parent, sibling or neighbors. A teacher should patiently listen and help him in getting the
right answer. Girl child should get special attention to this aspect, as generally the girl
child is shy and introvert. Maths in advance form should now become the norm and
mental math a regular practice. General knowledge should be introduced to enable the
child to understand the word like history, geography, physics, chemistry, biology life
sciences and religion etc. At this stage a student should be able to operate a key board
and mouse to type out an application in word processor and introduced to other
application software like Power Point and Excel.

In the fifth class students should be fluent in all three languages, in grammar in spellings
and in vocabulary. Reading News Paper loudly in class, turn by turn by each student in
each language, be made compulsory. This will teach the students, general knowledge,
political knowledge, sports activity and current scene in the country. This session is to be
moderated by the teacher and correct explanations given if needed to maintain the focus
of the student. Advance mathematical problems should not pose any difficulty. Students
should master the art of typing on a keyboard with confidence and with speed and in all
three languages. The student should be able to make a presentation on power point.
Lectures, discussions and debates be made a regular teaching exercise. The students
should be made to visit library for finding solutions to their anxiety for knowledge.
A regular library period should be earmarked and student should be taught, how to refer
to an index and how to take out a book from the shelf and return it after use. This wills
kick start the habit of self learning and love for more knowledge. The library should be
well stalked with books related to the need of children.

My choice of writing first for the primary school has two reasons - firstly the good
foundation laid will help develop a complete student and secondly the child is not
burdened with too many books and subjects. I am of the firm opinion that primary school
need the best and highly educated specially trained teachers for preparing students for
next step of education.
11

Now I come to the middle school and would recommend the introduction to sports as a
compulsory activity. If for some reasons, a student does not want to opt for sports, he
should select other school activities like, Scouts and Guides, NCC and Music Band etc. .
Whatever discipline a student adopts should continue till the student passes out of the
school. I am not suggesting any change in subjects except maintaining the knowledge of
Languages, Maths and computers with the same tempo as gathered in junior school.
Here children would like counseling for choice of stream of education i.e. arts,
commerce, economics, and science etc. so that when they pass out middle class they
know what to choose in their final years.


I am in favor of the existing examination system which is time proven. What change I
would like to introduce is revolutionary and very beneficial. I would like that after passing
out from 10 plus 2, each students should be made to work as an apprentice for one year
in field of his choice and paid fifty percent of the prevalent minimum wages as stipend or
pocket money. Suppose a student wants to join police force, nursing stream or call
center and he is able to get first hand experience of stream of his choice and our country
will be able to create a dedicated workforce. The government can assure the availability
of working opportunities nearer to the place of residence of the student by an ordinance.
This will also help student to get to know the challenges and opportunities / develop
confidence to tackle them. This exercise will also weed out people who may get
absorbed in the place of their temporary work (for financial needs or mind set of not
pursuing higher studies) and decrease pressure on employment opportunities.

This exercise will also help a student to think of entrepreneurship and venture out to kick
start his own enterprise. There are many examples of people who dropped out of the
school or college and have built successful business empires which are even envy of
scholars of IIT,s , Oxford and Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Or
Institutes of Business Management .Thomas Edison - the great inventor was labeled
dumb by school teachers but he went ahead and founded GENERAL ELECTRIC - one
of the most power full companies in the world. Walt Disney who created DISNEY LAND
dropped out of the school when he was 16 years old. Richard Bronson the founder of
VIRGINIA ATLANTA AIRWAYS also is a dropout of school at the age of 16 Years. Bill
Gates the Richest Man in the World and founder of MICROSOFT Is Harvard University
drop out. In India we can site the example of Dhiru Bhai Ambani - founder of RELIANCE
and Subhash Chandra founder of ZEE Channels - both lacked formal education. Our
former Prime Minister Madam Indira Gandhi did not posses a university degree. This
does not mean that school and college education is not essential. It is essential to
become a better person who can enjoy the luxury of learning, reading, writing,
calculating, evaluating and analyzing. An entrepreneur is not unique and rare character
gifted with certain qualities but having basic knowledge can always develop
entrepreneurship.

If my suggestion of making job experience compulsory for one year after 10 Plus 2 is
accepted, I assure you that the benefits will be tremendous as each student will become
familiar with the infrastructure and facilities available but also the shortcomings and
needed reforms. The pocket money or stipend will make them work conscious and
generate a spark to work honestly so as to give their best for the progress of the country.

12
Now the student has to apply for college and in the subject of his choice for further
studies whether Engineering, Medical or MBA etc. The selection should be based on
merit in a test conducted in the country. There should be only one test for each stream
through out the country so that each and every student gets the same opportunity. All
institutions working on capitation fee should be banned. No institution should be allowed
to run for making money by dishonest means. Transparency, clarity, honesty and love
for- Country As One- should be the slogan. All politically motivated and managed (for
business profit) institutes ( by Spurious NGOs ) should be taken over by the government
and run for the poor people of the country.

The new concept of increasing the year of graduation to four-year degree course is
nothing but running away from the responsibility of providing jobs for the graduates
passing out after three years. No political leader has stated that let us make institutes
like St Stephens College and Shri Ram College of Commerce whose all the students get
employed. Why the standard of education is not at par in every college. Is there a
system to evaluating teachers put in place. If we are not getting the right kind of
teachers, what have we done?

The Value of education in liberal arts colleges is not the learning of many facts but
the training of mind to think something that cannot be learnt from text books.

Change in society is not just anticipated but imperative, and a change for better is
an indication that the society is evolving. In India we have many communities and
people whose situation has only gone from bad to worse.

Despite being the largest in the world in respect of institutions, Indias higher education
enrolls less than one fifth of the potential college going population. Out of 120 million
only about 25 million manage to make grades for admission to 645 degree awarding
institutions - 33023 colleges affiliated to 174 universities and 12748 diploma granting
institutions. About 95 million never enter college either for affordability of costly
education or simply for lack of interest that hardly trains for the job market. Government
estimates suggest that for next 20 years , One Million Indians will enter job market every
year and would need the skill to earn money. Bulk of skilling task is already being
managed by Skill Development Corporation and whose head Dilip Chenoy has often
said that how Indians prefer degree education against vocational . It is not just building
vocational institutions but changing the mind set that is needed. If 100 Indians pass out
of school only 18 enter colleges.

From a simple , equitable , socially responsible and accountable school and
higher education, India has landed into a confused inequitable and commercially
oriented system that utterly lacks accountability.

It is unfortunate that the Government and private schools covered under the
Government Grants have almost replaced effective education with midday meals. There
in no examination stipulated up to 8th class. In the absence of accountability, teachers
have become casual in teaching rather there is no teaching at all. These ill educated
children, when they enter the high school classes, they get completely lost and drop out
percentage increases. In essence this amounts to keeping the poorer section of society
out of the pale of meaningful education resulting in extreme polarization and disparities
in social milieu and income levels. Also there is irrational distribution of teaching staff in
schools. There are more teachers posted in urban areas and there is lack of adequate
13
strength in rural schools. This has also resulted in a parallel education system of Tuition
System. As teachers do not do justice to their job ( the parents are unable to spare time
or lack skill ) the result is the thriving Tuition System which is very costly and an
unnecessary evil.

We must focus on childrens natural curiosity and create opportunities to think
beyond books and syllabus.

Let us make a resolution to treat our COUNTRY AS ONE NATION with the same
education system in schools and colleges in every nook and corner of the country and
make it available to every citizen irrespective of cast, creed, poor, rich or super rich
category. Let us have level playing fields for every citizen of our Country not effected by
whims and fancies of chief ministers, central or state politicians, social workers, so called
foreign educated intellectuals and policy makers.
14
POVERTY

In order of my own priority of distress , displeasure and pain, now I touch the subject of
Poverty and realistic solutions for elevation of poverty.

Poverty is not an accident like Slavery and Apartheid . It is man made and can be
removed by action of human beings . NELSON MANDELA.

Poverty is not a lack of character. It is lack of opportunity and lack of Investment.
Poverty is when the society turns his back and makes you invisible. WORD OF
WISDOM.

After independence , the problems faced by common man has increased and sadly all
big or small leaders have stopped thinking about more than 85 % of Indian population.

As per UNO report of 2011 , India is 134th out of 187 countries surveyed in aspect of
Human Development in the world. 760 Million Indians earn less than Rs. 20/- per day
per person. 52% of Indian population earns less than Rs. Ten per day per person. Jean
Jeoglare - the expert of UNO observed that more than 850 million people are facing
pangs of hunger in the world but in India alone more than 400 million suffer.

This is very painful but I must refer to it. Adivasi of District Gadchiroli even these days
survive on eating a meal of insects killed and pounded in a paste. People belonging to
Musahar tribe are surviving on consuming rats. Poor people of Orissa are consuming
mud laden roots of trees to survive the pangs of hunger. People are selling their siblings
for 200 to 250 rupees to enable the family to satiate the hunger. In Orissa, a woman
named Sumitra of a village sold her newborn baby for only ten rupees. A woman made
her 14 years old daughter get sexually abused for a plate of rice on a platform of Howrah
Station in west Bengal. Many parents are pushing their children to prostitution, to child
labour, to begging and other illegal activities to enable them to get some thing to eat.
These children are supposed to enjoy their childhood in education and recreation but are
forced to earn for their families.

As per the report of Institute of Mechanical engineering 210 million Tons of Grains
becomes rotten and goes waste every year in India. The most painful part is the
explanation given by the Government in response to the order of Supreme Court ( to
facilitate delivery of rotting grains to poor people free of cost ), that it is not possible to
distribute free rotting grains to 43 % of the population even when The Prime Minister has
termed malnutrition as a National Shame.

In India 70 million families live in one room accommodation. People are forced to live in
tin sheds, makeshift shanties of wood & bamboo wastes, temporary shelters of plastic
sheets and on foot paths and under bridges etc . whether it is winter , or summer or rainy
season . 70% of rural house holds do not have toilets and can not dream of achieving
general good health. A recent sample survey has thrown staggering statistics about
impoverished girl children dying in early child hood due to inadequate nutrition and from
parental bias against girls. A large number of our young women suffer from poor health
and even die as a result of early and multiple pregnancies due to lack of medical
facilities and ignorance.
15
More than 50% of Indian population is illiterate. There are no schools in 191000 villages.
60 Million children of Indian population have never seen a school. 45% children leave
school before clearing even 8th standard. Only about 8% children between the age
group of 15 to 17 clear matriculation. Only 2 % children venture out to further studies
after Ten Plus Two.

The unemployment numbers have crossed 107 million. 90% workers are working under
dangerous conditions and on unsuitable jobs. The work force available in the country is
280 million but there are no jobs for them. The sad part is that women are thrusting of
their daughters into prostitution, to sustain their families. There are millions of bonded
laborers in the country. During the last eight years 1,66,304 laborers have committed
suicide for the main reason of poverty.

Inflation is an other serious problem and effecting the day to day life of every individual
specially making the poor more poorer. Our increasing population adds to our woes. Our
country is focusing on making provisions for 15 % of the affluent population of the
country as they form the core of policy makers whether politician, bureaucrats,
businessmen or intellectuals, governing the country and managing the resources. This
has resulted in a situation of individual outlook and the interest of the entire population of
the country has taken a back seat. Lack of confidence, anarchy and uncontrolled actions
is leading to total collapse of development of economy and social structure.

Most of our poor people live in villages. Farmers are the main stay of our country
as they feed the entire nation by their back breaking hard work for which none of
us are thankful. The growth of the economy is meaningless until the poorest of
the poor in the country is able to earn sufficient for his/ her requirement of food,
shelter, clothes, health, education and the state is able to provide him/her the
security and respect of equality.

The GDP growth in 2011-12 was 6.2% with Farm sector contribution of 3.6% and the
GDP figures for 2012-13 are 5% with 1.9% of Farm Sector input.

In terms of agriculture production India holds second position in the world. It contributes
around 16% of the Gross domestic Product of the country. In addition the sector
recruited about 52 % of the entire manpower.

As per Census Of India 2001 number of agriculture workers was 234.1 million
comprising 127.3 million cultivators and 106.8 million agriculture laborers. According to
Mr. Rawat, the governments steps to revitalize agriculture sector and improve
conditions of farmers - a provision was made increasing credit flow to agriculture sector
to Rs. 509039 crores as of March 2012 and setting a target of Rs. 5.75 lakh crores for
2012-13.

One wonders that 290740 farmers have committed suicide since 1995 to 2011 despite
debt waiver relief of Rs 65,318.33 crore which was supposed to benefit 3.69 crore
farmers. Where did the money go and what happened. Similarly there is NREGA -2005
launched on 2nd Feb, 2006 and it is said that success of this scheme helped the
government come back to power in 2009 when the name was changed to MGNREGA to
give it more credence by adding the name of Mahatma Gandhi (Or the Ruling Gandhi
Family sugar coated and piggy riding with the name of Mahatma) but the net results
are no where to be seen. Where does the MGNREGA money go :-
16
In the year 2009 - 2010 to 2011-2012 RS. 757.09 crore person days were generated
and an amount of Rs. 76126.76 crore was paid to MGNREGA workers as wages - as
stated by States and Union Territories.

1. Out of total budgeted and spent amount only 66% was spent on wages. Rest
went to implementation of the scheme or God knows where.
2. Less Than 10% of families have received 100 days of work out of total of 4.8
Crore households provided employment.
3. From 50% of work completed in 2010-2011, the progress has declined to less
than 16%.

CAG has found lack of proper mechanism in the implementation of the MGNREGA
scheme in the states. Serious irregularities are prevalent like non-submission of
utilization certificate and delay in payment of wages to beneficiaries. More money than
desired/required is spent on implementation of the scheme.

Despite all this laborers work in inhuman conditions and face various form of
exploitations (Economic, Physical, Mental and Sexual). Laborers are exploited by village
sarpanches who are involved in embezzlement.

The grievance redressal system under the scheme is in total disarray. People have lost
faith in the scheme and employment under MGNREGA is falling in many states at
alarming levels.

Madam Aruna Roy opts out of NAC on the issue of payment of minimum wages to
workers working under MGNREGA scheme. It is more distressing - to note the stand of
Government refusal to pay minimum wages even after Karnataka High Court Judgment
is in favor of the same.

My submission is; when a huge fire (poverty) is lit and a large vessel (poor people of
India) is put on it to prepare food (to satisfy the pangs of hunger) and you add few
spoons of cooking medium in the vessel, no one can even imagine to cook any thing, as
medium will burn in no time. This is the true story of our politicians and state of affair of
our ruling party think tank. They pat their backs by implementing the schemes and are
not ashamed of the failure loss of revenue and time due to such misadventures.

It is difficult to understand how a country like India can deny the payment of
minimum wages to poor workers and still make a claim of inclusive growth .
17
INCLUSIVE GROWTH VS VILLAGES

INCLUSIVE GROWTH and how to achieve it is the point of view of my aim of the
following suggestions, which if accepted and implemented will see our country, get rid of
poverty and become a developed country within no time.

Since ages our main profession has been farming and our villages are the main stay of
majority of our population. Though our emphasis has been to develop cities which are
now bursting at seems and are becoming unmanageable and very costly to live in, time
has come to reverse the trend and start developing our villages.

Our poor people live in villages which lack even the minimum basic infrastructure. To
develop a village funds are needed and our politicians are not inclined towards uplifting
the status of poor (so long they are poor they can be manipulated with a bottle of cheap
brew and some money and form their vote banks).

What does a poor villager need. A pucca house to live, a nice road connecting to
his village, Filtered water supply, a school, a common storage facility for his
produce and a realistic income source to make his family life comfortable. A poor
man does not need high-rise buildings, multistory malls and entertainment
centers.

Let me give some statistics to what we have achieved and what we have to do, to
achieve our aim of improving the standard of living of poor people. There are 638596
Villages in India out of which uninhabited villages are 44865 and habited villages are
593731. 128000 villages have population of between 200 to 500 people. 3961 Villages
have population of 10000 or more. Rest fall in between.

82.3% of Villages are electrified. Five States namely Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Haryana,
Punjab and Kerala are 100 % electrified. Seven Union Territories i.e. Andaman &
Nicobar, Chandigarh, Dadar & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep, and
Pondicherry are 100 % electrified.

More than 50 % of the country gets drinking filtered water and more than 50 % of the
country has Sanitation (Toilets and sewerage) facilities.

In year 2010-11 India produced 860 Lac Tons of Wheat, 950 Lac Tons of Rice and 420
Tons Pulses, Oil Seeds and other nutrient produce.

In 1979 Farming Area was 163.4 Million Hectares, which has reduced to 158 Million
Hectares by 2009 and would have further reduced. The global warming effect, the not so
predictable Rain Season, and the ever-increasing population is creating problems. India
will have to increase Food production by 80% from todays farm output of 253 million
tons to meet the demand of 166 Crore expected population by 2050.

Dr. Swaminathan has indicated about the imminent potential danger of very high
magnitude if we did not take care of the farmers, increase the farm output and enhance
the research in farm output methodology and related Subjects. Neglect is going to cause
a lot of suffering to our countrymen.

18
Our first and foremost priority is to see that we increase the area under cultivation
progressively by minimum 5% every year. How can we do this? A Panel instituted by the
Punjab and Haryana High Court to examine the passing of shamlat Land or the village
common land, into illegal possession of private individuals has called it a TOTAL LOOT
OF PUBLIC PROPERTY.

Thousands of acres of land (which can be cultivated) have been usurped. From
investigation by Justice Kuldip Singh (in Punjab), it has been observed that revenue
officials at all levels are involved, indulging in forgery and falsification of facts. If we
bring in reforms in the century old revenue laws governing land administration and
making access to records open, we will help check frauds and increase the area under
cultivation.

No more connected money bags shall be given consent to build a colony on Farm
Land by either influence or under the garb of change of land use act.

The next important item is the forest land which we are depleting at a very fast rate. As
per F.E.O charter of 1985, a country should have a minimum of 33% area under forestry.
India has only 19.4% area under forestry. First Indian Forest Program policy was drafted
in 12th May 1952 but it could not prevent the exploitation and depletion of forestland.
The second Policy was framed in 1988. Under this 60% of Himalaya and other hilly
regions should be covered under Forestry and the planes should have minimum 20%
area under Forestry which we have failed to maintain. Trees are the jewels of land and
forests are the true wealth of a Nation. Through the awareness about global warming
and some efforts by individuals / organizations have brought planting trees a house hold
by word. Some schools, colleges, religious and social organizations have done a
remarkable contribution by planting trees in their compounds or on the road sides in very
high numbers but still a lot has to be done to save our flora and fauna from extinction.

The third important issue is the depletion of water table by over exploitation.

Though three fourth portion of the earth is covered under water but the portion of
availability of drinking water is only 2.5 % of the total water available in the world. Our
country is struggling to face this water crises. Our states are already fighting with each
other for the share of water they can use. It is feared that the cause of the third world
war may be fought for the control of potable water sources. The misuse, pollution, and
over exploitation of water has to be prohibited and strictly controlled. Our rivers are
highly polluted despite spending lot of money and half hearted efforts.

We have to combat changing climate and on priority basis. Warning signals are knocking
at our doors :

1. Increase in mean
2. Unfavorable changes in precipitation of rain
3. Frequent occurrence of drought , floods and coastal
4. Sea level rise.

Every degree rise in temperature will cause a yield reduction of 5% to 15% of yield
in some crops. Heat stress will reduce milk yield. Crop damage by pathogens,
insects, pests and weeds may increase.
19
To maintain a good standard of living, renewable water resources capacity of 1000 m3
per capita per year is required for thriving economy. Indias planners are using 250m3
per capita per year to sustain its economy, which is much less than required. The
heart/land of Green Revolution (Punjab, Haryana and Western UP ) already face a
serious ecological crisis because of exploitative and unsustainable use of natural
resources, especially land and water.

All the above facts and figures spell gloom since independence 66 years ago. We have
not failed in every effort to improve the status of the poorest of the poor Indian and move
upwards. We have only propagated the present system of catering to the need of the
upper crust of the Indian population living in overcrowded cities like Bombay and Delhi.

The basic needs of a villager will not cost much to the exchequer and can be met
with the available resources. Only requirement is judicial use, sincere effort,
perseverance and all out selfless effort by all the agencies and individuals
involved in this process of evolving India to Truly Become Maira Bharat Mahaan in
as short a time frame as possible.

Let me take an example of three successful ventures whose success is based on
dreams of individuals and their commitment to take the dreams to the logical conclusion.
These organizations are :-

1. Amul
2. Lijjat Papar
3. Nirma

Similarly I am giving out a dream, which can and will succeed by sincere effort. I know
there are politicians, bureaucrats, some self centered egoistic intellectuals and
doomsayers who will try to put spokes in any idea not conceived by them. But I am going
to initiate an effort to make my country prosperous by removing poverty.

First we have to work to make India, as one Country not divided by caste, creed
and political compulsions. All Human Beings are one and equal. As Bhagat
Kabeer Ji says : -

AWAL ALLAH NOOR UPAAYA, KUDRAT KAY SUB BANDAY
EIK NOOR TAY SABH JUG UPJAYA , KAUN BHALLE KAUN MANDE

MEANING

FIRST GOD CREATED LIGHT, THEN , BY HIS CREATIVE POWER, HE MADE ALL
MORTAL BEINGS FROM THE ONE LIGHT, THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE WELLED UP,
SO WHO IS GOOD AND WHO IS BAD.

20
Every human being has the same color of blood running in his/her veins. Every human
being is endowed with same organs functioning in the same way. There is nothing good
or bad, it is thinking which makes it so. Let us change our thinking and make every one
living in India as only Indian with equal rights and opportunities. It is high time we should
give the devil his due. Time has come now, i.e. to bring aboard all the citizens on the
ship i.e. Mother India and make every one feel proud to be a Dignified Citizen whether
rich or poor ( No more as a low caste or low tribe, or menial worker or any other category
favored by Politicians ).

NOW LET ME SPELL OUT MY HYPOTHESIS .

What does a village need :

1. Clean Drinking Water (and water for farming and farm animals)
2. Regular Electricity Supply
3. Sewage Connectivity with sewage disposal and solid waste
4. Concrete Sub-lanes and covered drains
5. Relined village ponds
6. Proper Toilets and sanitation
7. School
8. Community Centre
9. A common Grain Storage and other Farm Produce Storage facility.
10. Fast connection with cities/markets and nearest medical aid facility.

What does a villager need:

1. A secure source of income other than farm income.
2. A social security as an Indian and an employment opportunity
3. Easy availability of Farm inputs like certified seeds, pesticides & fertilizers
4. Knowledge about latest Farming techniques and Farming Machinery.
5. A speedy attention to requirement of financial needs at low interest rate
6. Availability of LPG , Kerosene or Gobar Gas for cooking.
7. A Pucca House.
8. Network for Direct marketing his produce at proper price sans middleman.

HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THIS. WHERE ARE THE FINANCES AND HOW WILL THIS
GIGANTIC TASK BE MANAGED IN FAST LANE.

As indicated above Total Number of Villages in India are 6,38,596 out of this more than
50% of the villages have electricity, drinking water, sanitation and schools etc. This
leaves 3,19,298 villages which are our object and subject for development (though other
villages may also require some facilities) and for which we are now working the
modalities to achieve our aim. Statistics show that 191000 villages do not have schools,
and around 128000 villages have a population of between 200 to 500 people. Rest
villages may have less than 200 as population. (I have not been able to get the exact
data despite my searches on Internet and other source)

Let us assume that the development cost of each village will be approximately Rupees
2 crore -and the total amount required to develop 3,19,298 villages will sum up to
Rupees 6,38,596 Crore. This amount is peanuts for our country managers. As per Mr.
Rawat Rupees 5.75 lakh crore have been set aside as target for 2012-13 as CREDIT
21
FLOW TO AGRICULTURE SECTOR by Government of India. Add to this the amount of
Rupees 33000 Crore under MGNREGA for the year 2013-14. Further the Bharat
Nirman Package consisting of 6 flagship programs have been allocated Rupees 58000
crores which covers most of the areas of development of villages. If we make sincere
effort we can achieve this target in less than a year or two.

First priority is to prevent Wastage. It is estimated that 210 million tons of grains
becomes rotten and wasted every year due to improper storage and handling . Each
village should have a common store house and a cluster of villages should have a store
house as well as a cold storage facility. I do not mean costly silos. I only suggest store
house to store produce of a village and then a store house to store produce of a cluster
of villages. These facilities are small and managed by the villagers only. A simple
solution is to buy Discarded Containers ( used for transportation of goods by road ) and
put them on Concrete stills in villages. Similar insulated containers are also available
which can be fitted with Cooling Systems either new or refurbished and can be used as
Small but efficient cold storage facility in a very little time. These containers can be
purchased from the Scrap dealers in good condition or can be repaired and modified as
per villagers need and can be installed in less than a months time and at a very low
cost.

Second step is to propagate value addition of farm produce. How much fruit and
vegetable produce is wasted every day one cannot imagine. We only get concerned
when a shortage of onion production increases the market price to many folds in matter
of days. If we teach value addition to farmers, it will not only check shortage / wastage
but will also generate additional income for a farmer. This aspect is covered later on in
bringing Industry to villagers / villages than making the villagers go to cities for
employment. Bringing Electricity and other energy sources to every village. Energy is the
missing MDG (millennium development goal). Rural electrification is still incomplete due
to technical constraints and practical difficulty in electrical power transfer to remote rural
areas through grid connectivity. Rural electrification can be achieved predominantly if
one harnesses the locally available renewable sources namely, Bio-mass, Biogas and
Solar Power. Exploiting these sources will eliminate the requirement of electricity
transfer to remote rural areas and improve living standards and also ensure a clean
environment.

1. Agro waste is collected and used for power generation with the help of a biomass
based community plant which serves the purpose of electricity demand
households, street lighting and agriculture. Biomass is a vast renewable energy
still remains relatively untapped. Through energy conversion techniques like
Combustion and gasification, biomass can be converted to heat, fuel, and
electrical Power. TERI has arrived at a technology innovation to exploit the vast
biomass generate power in an environment friendly and profitable proposition in
a very short time frame.

2. Animal waste is used for the production of biogas for cooking purposes. A biogas
plant processes animal dung which is abundantly available in villages as every
house hold has a livestock. The produced gas can be directly used for cooking
and heating thus reducing the usage of firewood. Though there are numerous
models of Biogas plants the FIXED-DOME plant has many advantages and is a
preferred system for relatively low cost, simple in design, compact and with a life
span of 20 years or more.
22

3. Solar energy is used for water heating and cooking. Each household should have
a box type solar cooker, which is an ideal device for cooking most of the year
except for monsoon season and rainy days. Solar cooker does not need
recurring expenses, simple to use, saves time, and does not pollute environment.
All solar devices are one time investment.

4. Solar Water Heaters can be installed on Roof Tops, Building terraces as well as
on ground as suitable to the region. The water temperature can be raised up to
85 degrees Celsius. Can be used for bathing, washing, boiler feed water and
similar other purposes. Plenty of time is saved and large amount of firewood and
other conventional fuels saved? No recurring expense is needed.

5. Solar water stills and solar farm produce driers also be provided. Solar water
stills will provide distilled water and solar farm produce driers will help in
removing moisture from grains before storage and also help in value additions in
sun dried fruits and vegetables.

6. Drinking water Solid waste management, Sanitation and concrete Slab Lanes are
the essential tools for health management and general up gradation of villagers
and villages. These expenses once incurred will need continuous supervision,
preventive expenditure and timely care . Every village street can be lined with
interlocking tiles. If possible every house should have a toilet and bath room or
else a common village facility can be created for flush toilets and bathrooms.
Reverse Osmosis or other water purification systems to provide clean drinking
water to each house hold is to be provided in each village or through a central
water treatment plant in a group of villages. Laying of covered drains for disposal
and treatment of human and animal waste management system has to be
established in each village.

7. Green House At least One Hectare of Land should be used for making Green
Houses for cultivation of organic vegetables for the use of village residents and
for marketing. The Green Houses should use the Local able bodied villagers to
provide the labour component free of cost and entire material be provided by the
State-Center Partnership under the guidance of Agriculture Universities.



Am I asking for the moon? No every thing is achievable and can be achieved in less
than a year or two of dedicated effort by all concerned people , authorities and
supervising machinery.

Why do we need Village Development Program in India.

1. The UN Report states that, India is the poorest among the poor nations.
2. India has the potential to become the most developed nation.
3. The constitution provides for official facilities which are people friendly
development programs. Unfortunately the implementation of development
activities (being in the hands of officials) Help only themselves through cronies
and middlemen. Entire system of operation works through a wheeler dealer
resulting in pilfered and filtered economics resulting in the public funds being
23
purloined and distributed among the implementing groups. The real beneficiary
may not even get 25% of the allocated / intended value.
4. An average Indian farmer has a family of five people. Only one person in each
family is able to get full time employment (150 days/year). There are two classes
of families i.e. Upper Farm Community (UFC) and Bottom Farm Community
(BFC) in the ratio of 40:60 in a village. The estimated annual income of UFC is
Rs. 4,50,000/- and of BFC is Rs. 1,50,000/-

This is the truth behind pathetic conditions of farm community in India .

There is a standoff between the Ruling Class and the Common Public . The ruling class
constituted by Parliamentarians , Legislators , Government Officials and other agencies
involved . The public is represented by Non Government Organizations (NGO ) eminent
personalities and even retired military Generals . While the Ruling Class tells us that
they are doing every thing right , the public is unhappy that Nothing is Right . In this
tug of war the most effected community is the farm community who struggle and struggle
and still feed the whole population of the country . The answer to this situation lies in
TOTAL VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ( TVDP ). Average village has about
350 hectares of farm land and net average income is Rupees 82.2 lakhs per village from
agriculture activities . Developing India needs five fold increase in village Incomes .This
can be achieved by fully utilizing and recycling all locally available renewable resources
and local able bodied manpower resources .

First let me put forward the Government side of the story . BHARAT NIRMAN YOJANA
is a business plan for rural infrastructure to provide basic amenities to rural India . Under
this scheme there are Six Programs as under :-

1. National Rural Drinking Water Program. It aims to provide safe drinking water
to Approximately 55,000 uncovered habitants and about 2.16 lakh villages
effected by poor quality of water, by 2012.

2. Indira Awas Yojana. It aims to develop Housing Facilities for the poor. Initially
the scheme targeted 60 Lakh houses to be constructed but now the scheme has
been extended to 2014 and the targeted houses to be built been increased to 1.2
crore houses for the poor. The houses are to be built at the rate of 24 lakh
houses each year by the funds allocated to the homeless through Panchayats.

3. Pardhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) . The Plan suggests to
connect all the remaining 23, 0000 villages (Approximately) of India (having a
minimum population of 1000 villagers in a village and population of 500 in hilly /
tribal area villages) by all weather roads by 2012 to ensure full farm connectivity
to markets dealing in farm produce and other utilities .

4. Rajiv Gandhi Gram Vidyuntikaran Yojana . The plan aims to provide electricity
to every village by the year 2012 approximately 40,000 villages assuring
connections to 1.75 crore house holds.

5. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program .The plan aims to bring 3.5 million
hectares of land under assured irrigation and also to provide additional one crore
hectare of Irrigation land from Government land bank .

24
6. Rural Telephony. With a view to cover 40% of the rural density with
Telecommunication facilities by the year end 2012 . To take the Internet to grass
root level , the Finance Ministry has a plan to provide Rural Broad Band
connectivity and Bharat Nirman Seva Kendras to all 2,50,000 Panchayats of the
country .


Besides these schemes I am listing below 11 more Schemes / Provisions from 1258
schemes, the Indian Government has announced for the welfare of cross section of
society, from time to time . These schemes could be either Central, State specific , or
joint collaboration between Centre & State. Grant sanctions to the beneficiaries is given
at 100% Central Government initiative or as laid down in the policy of joint
collaborations.

These schemes are totally related to rural issues and for poorer people.

1. Indian Village Scheme. To develop self-sufficient and self reliant village.

2. Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana ( SGRY ).This program aims to provide
additional wage earning employment to rural poor .

3. Swaranjayanti Gram Swarojgar Scheme ( SGSY ) . The objective is to assist
the poor families ( Swarojgaries ) reach above the poverty line by ensuring
sustained level of income over a period of time . This objective is to be achieved
through the process of organizing rural poor into self help groups ( SHGs )
through the process of social mobilization, training, and capacity building for
income generating assets

4. Scheme for Homestead less Families. Project Vasundhara .The mission of
this program is to distribute Government Waste Land to land less families for
agriculture purposes and distribution of sites for building homes for home less
families . To upgrade the economics of the weaker sections of the society and to
boost agriculture production, Government land up to One Standard Acre is being
allotted free of Salami to landless persons.

5. River Bank/ Flood Water Conservative Scheme. Objective of this scheme is to
control flood waters and utilize the same for catchment areas of Reservoirs, there
by increasing the ground water level and preventing soil erosion in places
adjoining the catchment areas.

6. Tribal Colony Development Scheme. This Scheme is to provide basic Facilities
like Drinking water, Street Light and Electricity , Culvert Care, Roads in internal
areas , Drain construction , Sanitation and community building construction etc in
tribal belts through out India.

7. Minor Irrigation Schemes. Construction of various minor irrigation schemes
having Irrigation potential of minimum 259 ha in each village

8. National Biogas and Manure Management Program. Assisting in Setting up of
Biogas plants and Management of the resultant Manure.

25
9. Rashtriya Krishi Beema Yojana . To provide financial Assistance to farmers for
adverse farming events and natural disasters.

10. Tryseme and Mini ITI Scheme. Under his scheme the below poverty line rural
youth between the age of 18 and 35 are to be provided with technical training for
self employment.

11. Farm Mechanization Scheme. Machinery and equipment eligible for subsidy (
as per GOI norms ) for farm sector mechanization .

Wonderful? So what is the hitch and why it has not happened and who is
responsible for this failure, which is nothing less than a disaster.

Can the Government come out with a white paper on this failure of delivery of
outcome of schemes and the amount and time wasted.

Or can the Right to Information Act be used to question the wastage of valuable
time and resources by the Head of the Various schemes referred.

Or can the Honorable Supreme Court consider this submission as A Public Interest
Litigation application and ask the Central Government to take action against the
negligence of duty by the concerned authorities and their staff (Managing these
schemes) for time and resources wasted. Also consider setting up a system of
recovering the wasted resources from the concerned officers and staff for negligence of
duty and as NATIONAL ENEMIES by sabotaging the progress of the country as well as
harming the interest of the poor Indian citizens. This surely is a great criminal act and
should be treated as such. The action taken will help our future generations to get their
rightful share in the proposed development schemes and funds allocated from time to
time.

After Ruling Class, I take up the side of General Public which claims nothing has been
done as I have explained above except for announcing schemes after schemes , we
have not been able to achieve any thing substantial in the past 66 years.

So the duty of General Public is to wake up and take control for inclusive growth
of the Country, specially the poorer section of society in the minimum possible
time frame.

India has possibly the largest number of Non-Government not-for profit organizations in
the world ( 31.76 Lakh registered societies - March 2008 ) A recent study commissioned
by the Government put the number of such entities accounted for till 2009 at 3.3.million ,
Which translates into One NGO for less than 400 Indian Citizens ( Registered Under
Various Acts of 1860 ,1882,1950 , 1956 , 1920 , 1923 and 1959 etc ) . This number is
many times more than the primary schools and primary health centers In India .

This staggering number may be less than the actual NGOs working in India. While the
Government will begin studying the finances of this sector in second phase of the
survey, ESTIMATES from within the sector suggest that NGOs or NPs raise anywhere
between Rs 40,000 crores to Rs 80,000 crores annually. The Government is the biggest
donor - Rs 18,000 crore was set aside for the social sector in X1 Plan followed by
foreign contributors (Rs.9700 crore in 2007-08 ) and Rs 16,000 to 20,000 Crore was
26
donated to established religious bodies such as Tirumala Devasthana . Individual donors
emerging as the biggest and most lucrative source of funds estimated at Rs. 8100 crores
to Rs 21,000 Crores by more liberal estimates .

Indian Private sector companies have yet to wake up to the phenomenon of charity and
philanthropy in India as Indian Companies spend less than 1% of their annual profit .
The total numbers of Registered Active Companies are 8.7 Lakh ( Up to Year 2011 ) .
BSE has 5174 companies listed and posted on 25th Nov 2012 with market capitalization
of USD 1.2 Trillion Dollars as on 31st Oct, 2012. Azim Premji, founder of Wipro has
recently joined the billionaires philanthropist club . He was the Indian to sign up the
GIVING PLEDGE a campaign led by Warren Buffet and Bill Gates . The Aditya Birla
Centre for Community Initiative and Rural Development is a 120 year old organization.
The Tatas are the absolute pioneers of Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR ) in India.
There are many more corporate sectors doing their contribution to the uplifting of society
specially the poor. In India the idea of charity , or rather , social responsibility has been
prevalent since the time of monarchy when the concept of Dharma prevailed . Besides
this there are Large Number of Registered business enterprises managed by single
person or by partnership or as Pvt. limited company which have surplus funds and
desire to deploy them in the service of the poor section of the society and as dharma for
the well fare of the poor.

What has all this got to do with Villagers and Villages. Here lies the catch. It is my
gut feeling that if we take development of villages as our most important task and
as individual identity whether an NGO , or a Corporate House, as a Business man
or as a Religious Head adopt a village or a group of villages for Two Years only
and put all resources i.e funds , manpower , management , technical expertise and
other inputs , I am sure that we will not only eradicate poverty but also put our
National Economy on growth path again and make life easier by curbing inflation
and unemployment .

To set the Ball Rolling Each Chief Minister should adopt a Cluster of Five Villages (
Which are most backward and difficult to reach logistically in their state ) as an individual
( and not as State Head ) providing all resources of his own ( or of Family ) and achieve
the desired results of fully developing the adopted villages in less than two years time
frame .

This will take care of 150 Villages ( 28 States and 2 Union Territories ) I am sure
spending Ten crores (2 Crore x 5 villages ) in 2 years will not be a burden and act as
motivational factor .

This adoption should be followed by Corporate Sector registered with BSE i.e 5174
companies each adopting a Cluster of Five villages near their main activity zone and the
total will come to 25870 Villages. Each Company Spending Ten Crores on development
of five villages in two years.

The next adoption is to to be taken up by the Registered NGOS , Societies, Business
Houses , Religious Heads , Religious Organizations, NRIs and Individual
Philanthropists by taking up the adoption of One or Two or Five Villages as per their
capacity to manage funds and manpower . Mathematically the number of villages to be
adopted will be 3,19,298 less 26,020 ( 25870+150 ) 2,93278 and the Registered
Societies in India are more than 3.3 Million.
27
I would like only those to come forward who are patriotic and have fellow feeling and
would like the scourge of poverty to vanish from our country. Such organizations will
number 1,46,639 developing two villages each at an expense of Rs. Four Crores for two
years.


I would prefer this to happen voluntarily but if it is needed to be ordered by
Supreme Court or by any law of Government of India as a compulsory social
responsibility , I feel it should be resorted to .

Let me now discuss the modus operandi of implementation of this scheme. First of all
who will over see the scheme and motivate the adopter to put in the desired effort to
achieve the results in less than two Years.

A group of Five retired personalities ( not less than 65 years in age and not engaged in
Income generating activity ) in each district comprising of Judges , Philosophers ,
Economists , Social Activists , Senior Military Officers and Educationists, will supervise
the activity and the concerned persons or organizations would be morally bound to
report to them for any query. These organizations will seek their guidance and
assistance to overcome any logistic difficulties. This Group of Five Personalities will see
to it that there is no interference by local politicians , pressure groups and Government
Agencies . Rather the group will make sure that the Officers and Staff of the Government
or State Sponsored schemes for the development of the villages are implemented in
letter and spirit in totally transparent atmosphere and desired time frame whether it is
release of funds or manpower or implementation of a project. Government can give them
special powers for this activity so that they become legitimate and respected authority .

Though the desired requirement of WHAT DOES A VILLAGE NEED ( 10 items ) and
WHAT DOES A VILLAGER NEED ( 8 Items ) have been given in detail above, I would
like to site an example of a Model Village. Ankapur is a small ( 400 years old ) self
sufficient , progressive Model Village located in Armoor Mandal, Nizamabad District,
Telagana region of Andhra Pradesh.

The village is considered one of the Model Villages in the country due to an overall
development in general and agriculture in particular. It is recognized as a model village
by many Agencies including International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid
Tropics ( ICRISAT ) , Indian Council of Agriculture Research ( ICAR ) and International
Rice Research Institute (IRRI) , Manila , Philippines . The village has seen a jump from
an income of Rs. 1980/- in 1970 to Rs 10000/- per farm family in year 2011.
28
The USP is:

1. Villagers Raise three crops in a calendar year.
2. Make Lesser use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
3. No land is kept barren in the village.
4. Turmeric and Maize are cultivated as intercrop.
5. Garlic, Coriander, Ginger, Chillies, Red Gram, Radish and Leafy vegetables are
raised in small areas for use of the village alone.
6. The lead role women play in carrying out the agriculture activity viz. Sowing ,
Weeding , Harvesting , and supervision of Farm Labour.
7. Organic and sustainable agriculture is the main concern protecting the natural
resources of the village.
8. Live Stock includes Cows ( 982 ) , She-Buffaloes ( 200 ) , Bullocks ( 44 ) , Sheep
( 300 ) and Goats ( 174 ).
9. There are four commercial poultry farms owned by the villagers .
10. Raise various crops of seeds in preference to cereals and traditional crops

In recent years Ankapur has earned a great name in agriculture development. The
farmers have started adopting modern methods and they have succeeded in substituting
subsistence orientation with commercialization . Besides cultivating commercial crops
like turmeric , maize and vegetables on a large scale , the local farming communities
have been raising various crops for seeds preference to cereals and traditional crops for
food grains. Association of the village coordinates , organizes and controls various
agriculture development programs. The village also boasts of modern amenities for the
inhabitants and is also taking up its marketing activities by itself.

Rain Fed Agriculture accounts for 60% of the total area under crop. Nearly half of the
rural workforce and over 400 million people are dependent entirely on rain fed farming
for livelihood. Drought is a serious problem and the nature cannot be controlled. So we
have to attend to this problem.

Accurate daily weather forecasts made available at the village level will help the farmers
in taking remedial action where possible. Linking rivers and completing all on-going
irrigation projects are an important step in solving the problem permanently.

In rain shadow area where drought is a common phenomenon, the success of
RALEGAN SIDHI VILLAGE ( which is considered a model of sustainable environmental
conservation ) and Gujrats formula of percolation tanks should be adopted. Removing of
silt from tanks, irrigation canals and projects should be religiously managed.

Let land be held in cooperation by the owners and tilled plus cultivated also in
cooperation. The owners of the land should work in co-operation and own capital, tools ,
animals , and seeds etc. in cooperation . Co-operation farming will change the face of
the land banishing idleness and poverty from their mindset . All this is possible if people
become friends of one another ( not as divided by political fancies by caste , creed ,
religion or regions like Bihari , Upite or Punjabi or Maharashtrian or Tamalian etc ).

Now I will discuss the Industrializing Villages for additional Income and employment
opportunity for the farming community. Whatever activity undertaken in the development
of villages should absorb the local village manpower at the minimum wages of that state.
This may need training them in the involved fields. As the training is not going to be
29
comprehensive, i.e. it will be related to a particular task, it will not be difficult for any
healthy person whether male or female unless and until specialists are required (there
also the helpers can be the village people). This will not only generate employment but
will also make them skilled enough for maintenance whenever needed . This will also
generate a spirit of satisfaction and sense of belonging. As the villagers themselves are
managing the work, they will be careful in handling and using the facilities carefully.

What Industry can come to village? First is the service Industry i.e. the labour required
to under take any activity, whether roads , sanitation , waste management , Electrical
Installations , Solar Systems , Bio Gas plants , erecting food storage godowns, workshop
sheds or green houses .

Second is the village centric industry to be owned and managed by village youth .
Villagers may need mechanical workshops to manage Farm Equipment and Machinery
such as tractors , trolleys ,and harvesters etc . The Training for these can be undertaken
by the equipment suppliers . There should be a workshop with facility of machining ,
drilling , welding , grinding and forming machines etc in a cluster of five villages
employing villagers only.

Third is the wood working workshop with equipment to make doors , windows ,
shutterings , trollies and other requisites . Also making wooden crates for packing
vegetables and fruits for transportation

Fourth is the Floor Grinding mill and also mill to grind pulses and other grains
I am extending it further to Masala grinding machines . This activity is to be taken up by
the village women as is being done In Lajpat Bhawans all over India . Even the training
and management expertise can be got implemented by concerned social workers of
Lajpat Bhawan or Lijjat Papad Organization .

Fifth activity is the manufacturing of solar cooker , solar water heater , solar still , and
solar grain drier etc which are very simple to manufacture and as the designs are to be
copied and not developed . These implements can be manufactured using scrap such as
GHEE TIN etc and Polycarbonate sheet in place of glass. IIT OR NID can provide simple
designs .

Sixth activity is Inter locking tile manufacturing units and concrete slabs for drain
covering etc . This again is a simple manufacturing activity and does not need very
costly equipment and training . As every village street has to be lined with interlocking
tiles and concrete slabs , this activity alone will create a big employment opportunity and
marketing will not be a problem as the tiles and slabs are required in every village under
development and villager is the customer himself .

Seventh activity Every district must have a village centric women managed and working
women industry manufacturing sanitary napkins and panties for (holding the sanitary
napkin in place ) . It is possible to make a pack of five napkins for a price of RS 10=00 .
This product can be manufactured of a very good quality with simple packing , using
semi automatic plants , and Indian manufactured raw materials ( No Frills , No Ads , No
Marketing Expenses ) . Also sanitary napkins for tiny tots . This will generate
employment for women and a pride of place to work . We do not need FDI Or
Multinationals or special expertise for this type of industry .

30
Another women centric unit is a designing , sewing , and manufacturing inner and outer
wear for village women and children . Every group of five villages can have one unit .
This does not need much skill as this activity is a common activity of house holder
women. NIFT can help.

This is just the beginning and as the village people become familiar with their
capabilities, capacities and needs, new ventures will come by itself.

How do we go about this industrialization . This is easily possible . We have in our
country 15 IITs, 30 NITs and other centrally funded institutes and they can be given the
project of developing the simple process , very very simple manufacturing techniques ,
locally fabricated semi automatic machines /plants and running / maintaing procedures ,
within a span of two to three months . Even some Large Scale Industrials can pitch in
with their help and expertise . As only one plant of each type is to be developed and
replicated by other villages , the process will not take much time.

Agriculture universities have to play a role for training the village people in latest
methods of agriculture , value addition , and proper use of natural resources , Storage
techniques specially preventing wastage of food grains , vegetables and fruits . Also to
provide certified seeds to the poor farmers at special prices so that the farmer gets the
best output . Training villagers to get at least three farm produce outputs every year.

Now the most important point is marketing of agriculture and industrial products . My
suggestion is that our country has a good network of Village and Khadi Bhandar outlets
and we should increase their presence to more locations and market farmers products of
Raw vegetables , Fruits , Pulses , grains , Industrial Products Like Solar Cookers ,
Sanitary napkins , Inner and outer Wear and value added Agriculture products like
Ground herbs (Masala) etc .These shops already have a steady foot fall and will surely
go a long way in helping these villages to make a comeback . Do we need Walmart for
this - No .

This will create a perfect opportunity to nurture its own human resource pool. This will
not only generate employment for every villager but will also help decongestions of cities
which are overcrowded and have become over burdened with lack of facilities and
infrastructure and are poorly managed by the city administration . With quality education
in rural schools with relevant vocational training will help the villagers earn more and live
with dignity . It only means a shift in the approach to farming , employment and human
resource development .

Why I am hopeful of achieving the above goal. CHHAVI RAJAWAT first woman
sarpanch with MBA degree says : -

I am just a village girl who has had an opportunity to study in some of the best
institutions in the country and has gone back home to work with rural people. It is
as simple as that.

Being a sarpanch does not pay her much so she works at her family run Hotel Kailray Ji
in Jaipur and also looks after the Horse Riding Academy she set up in Jaipur. Her
message to youth of India is :-

31
Do not run away from your roots because that is your foundation and the natures
foundation too. If you want to make difference, you have got to start from the
bottom. There is so much one can do.

I am hope full that after reading this many Business Management Graduates with fire in
their bellies to do something for the poor, will come forward to provide the desired
management expertise free of cost and encumbrances ( specially the management of
finance and proper use of infrastructure ) for a period of two years to bring a change in
the Growth of the country and to rid the country of poverty and hunger.


32
CORRUPTION, INFLATION, BLACK MONEY, & PARALLEL ECONOMY

All these four items are related and interwoven in our day to day life . Since the day of
our country became free democracy , these four items have curbed our progress and
the political masters have aggravated these problems than solving them . If some good
people have tried to expose these anomalies they have been threatened , transferred ,
even eliminated by the people in power by their Mahabalies or Goons or Mafia. Late
Rajiv Gandhi who was blamed for a tiny bribe of Rs . Sixty Crores in the Bofors Gun
Scandal issue which happened with involvement of a foreign country and Italian
connection- Quattrocchi who is also dead . But a Chara Ghotala ( Fodder Scam ) worth
Rs 900 Crores happened in Bihar In India and Lalu Parshad whose name is linked as
the main accused is still talking loud and getting relief after relief from the courts by
engaging High Profile Legal Advisors. Where did that money vanish and who were the
beneficiaries and why this loss could not be recovered by the concerned authorities .
The same Lalu Ji goes out lecturing Management Students about the Railways making
profit and the same railways is in bad shape ( Was it manipulating figures or some other
jugglery ) . And the Minister of Same Railways has to resign very recently following a
bribery case of advance payment of Rs Ten Crores to his near relatives for a lucrative
post by the aspiring candidate . Has any one given a thought to this very recent
happening as to how much money has been siphoned by earlier department heads and
what checks need to be put in place to prevent such leakages and if the country has
been looted , how to recover the loot and punish these black sheep.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi made the following statement at Chintan Shivir in
Jaipur on Jan 18 , 2013 that our citizens are rightly fed up with the levels of corruption
that they see in public life at high levels , but equally with the corruption they have to
deal with in their daily lives . This is a phenomenon , a churning that we must understand
and continue to respond to . We cannot allow our growing educated and middle-classes
to be disillusioned and alienated from the political process .

These are pure words as no action on ground level is ever taken . The extent of mall
practices has progressed many folds from 60 Crore Bofor Gun case. The 2G Scandal
and Koyala Ghotala are in more than Lakhs of Crore rupees . It would be of no use to
list all the Scams starting from Jeep Ghotala of 1948 of Rs 80 Lakhs to Recent
Helicopter Ghotala of Crores of Rupees . India has progressively decreased in GDP
growth but growth on scams , manipulations , worthless public statements by
Government spokes person have increased many many folds . CAG has said that the
scandals are because of involvement of higher ups and related people . Does any one
care .

How serious is the rot can be made simple to understand by this example .

Political leaders in all states are distributing freebies to public from the taxes people pay.
Recently Mail Today June 27 , 2013 issue on page 6 wrote in Headlines Students Pay
Bribe for Akhilesh laptops . There are complaints from almost every district that college
administrations are demanding bribes from students for registering their names to avail
the benefit . How shameful and painful it is . If charity is the motive why Akhilesh and
other leaders cannot spend money from their own sources , if they intend to become
large hearted donors and well wisher of poor people.

33
Black money makes 30% of our GDP or about 25 Lakh Crore . About a third of India,s
black money transactions are believed to be in real estate , followed by manufacturing ,
for gold purchases and consumer goods-Dec 2012 report.

Swiss bank revealed India has more money deposited in Tax Heavens than rest of the
world. Second best is Russia with four times lesser deposits than India . The Richest
country USA is not even there in the top five .

1456 Billion Dollars have been misappropriated which is an amount 13 times more than
Indias total foreign debt . From this it seems that our country is very rich but our people
are poor. This is the Governance of our country.

The perception of widespread corruption has widened and deepened in the public mind.
It is evident that more corrective action is needed to restore public confidence . To curb
perpetuation of corruption, it is essential to probe the role of 1. Propensity, 2.
Opportunity, and 3. Scope.

1. The Propensity to resort to illegal or immoral means to achieve desired ends is
increasingly pervasive. Traditional morality and constitutional morality have
somehow degraded to only lip service and nothing beyond. Vulgar display of
wealth has lead to a cultural inequality very different from the requirements of
justice, equality and fraternity to which we swear allegiance as citizens. The
propensity could and does also emerge from situational compulsion caused by
real or created scarcity and by intentional delays in the delivery of public
services. The petty corruption thus generated has a differential impact on the
less privileged whose capacity to resist is minimal and suffering maximum.

2. The opportunity always remains. Successive reports of Government
Commissions over five decades suggested reform procedures that would
facilitate public service delivery , introduce transparency and thereby reduce the
opportunity . All this has gone astray and public is left to fend for themselves by
fair or foul means to get their grievance / work addressed. The Right to
Information Act has helped rectify this in some measure.

3. The scope of what is considered corruption has to expand to cover the actas
well as the actors , both takers and givers of bribe. The regulations tends to focus
on the bribe taker rather than the bribe payer and hence all the concerned
departments / agencies / officers / staff do not shy away from adopting corrupt
practices.


Corruption is rampant in Indian Courts . In December 2009, Parshant Bhushan - A social
Worker and a Supreme court lawyer stated in an interview to a news magazine out of
the last 16 to 17 Chief Justices , half have been corrupt . Delay in delivering justice in
Indian Courts helps Opposition parties and corrupt politicians profit from the delay in the
delivery of justice .

To deal with Hoarders, Black marketers and unethical Power Centers who run a parallel
rule of law of their own creating shortages and fueling lawlessness and inflation. This
parallel system of writ of unethical persons , however powerful or connected they may
be, have to be cut to size, stopped plus prevented and forced to fall in line to behave in
34
an ethical way .

This requires complete over hauling of the system where by any one seeking any
service from public or private sector , gets it without any delay and hiccups .
35
LAW AND LEGAL PROCESS

The constitution of India is the supreme legal document of the country . The Indian
Judiciary is partly a continuation of the British Legal System established by the English
in the mid 19th century . This hybrid legal system is known as the COMMON INDIAN
LAW system which is headed at the Top by the Supreme Court followed by High Courts
of respective states ( and Union Territories ) with District Judges sitting in the district
courts , with Magistrates of Second Class and Civil Judges ( Junior Division ) at the
bottom . Courts manage Criminal and Civil cases including disputes between individuals
and Government .

3.5 Crore cases are pending in the courts across the country . In Supreme Court ,
51,978 Civil and 11,873 criminal cases are pending as on 30-6-2012. 3,402,193 Civil
and 939,674 criminal cases are pending in High Courts as on 31-3-2012 . 7,855,985
Civil and 18,995,781 Criminal Cases are pending in District and Subordinate Courts as
on 31-3-2012 .

In UP alone 54.04 Lakh cases are pending in lower courts and more than 95000 are
pending in High Courts . Among other states Maharashtra ( after UP ) is at number two
place for pending cases i.e 41.58 Lakh cases in Civil Courts and 33.81 Lakh in High
Courts . ( Figures as on 31-3-2012 ) .

It is said that Justice is Blind but here I would say that our Government Machinery Is
Blind . A Justice delayed is Justice denied . Judicial backlog for instance , of Delhi High
Court will take 466 years to clear ( As reported by Chief Justice ) despite the average
remarkable processing time of 4 minutes 55 seconds in the court . There is a shortage of
40% of Judges and I feel ashamed to say that unemployment is increasing every year in
our country and opportunities to provide employment goes a begging .

Corruption is rampant in Indian Courts . According to Transparency International ,
Judicial Corruption are attributed to factors such as - delay in disposal of cases ,
shortage of Judges , and complex procedures . All of which are exacerbated by a
preponderance of NEW LAWS . Most disturbing is the fact that Corruption has reached
the highest Judicial Forum i.e Supreme Court Of India .

On 12th January , 2012 a Supreme Court Bench said that peoples faith in Judiciary
was decreasing at an alarming rate , posing grave threat to the constitutional and
democratic governance of the country .

The reason behind pendency is slow pace of Investigation , questioning , unearthing of
evidence , collecting eye witnesses accounts , counsel of both sides requesting
adjournments and cross checking of matter etc . This is further aggravated by Lack Of
Accountability , Inefficiency and Uneven Application Of Law.

The combination of several functions including criminal investigation, riot control ,
intelligence gathering , security of state properties and protection of important citizens
etc all vested in a single force ( Police ) has had a devastating effect on criminal justice .
Implementation of police reforms in all spheres of working, is urgently needed.

This time and money consuming legal delivery system is fast shaking faith of the citizens
of our country and frustration resulting for not getting the justice is making them seek
36
unethical ways and develop anti national spirit . If we can solve this problem , we will be
able to usher in a Golden Period in Our Country with happy , healthy and a very strong
Indian Nation .

How to Achieve this

After 66 Years of Independence, we do not have a single law , which a common
educated man can interpret properly and understand its implications . The huge
backlog is mainly due to piles of petty cases which could be disposed off
summarily by imposing fines or simple punishment.

More Offenses should be made compoundable to bring them in the ambit of
plea bargaining . With crime rate sky rocketing in India , we can not afford to waste more
time in taking corrective measures as suggested below :

1. Rewriting the entire legal system and making it as simple as possible with well-
defined procedural time frame and properly explained punishment. We have to
shake us off the prehistoric Laws enacted decades ago and now complicated by
many legal opinions of different courts of India which create confusion and delays
in delivery of justice system but helps the legal professionals to cause confusion
by their excellence in debating law.

2. Establishing more courts and better infrastructure.


3. The need of the hour is to have a number of FAST TRACK COURTS for cases of
National Importance and Burning issues concerning the entire population of the
country.
4. Special courts (employing new Judges and Staff) for speedy disposal of petty
cases . Such cases can be handled by running a Second Shift ( of Short Duration
of 4 Hours ) in the same court room where these cases are pending . This will
help implement the delivery of Justice from day one till the time infrastructure is
developed . Even Retired judges can be put in charge to help solve this National
problem of piling up of petty cases.

5. We should develop more forensic laboratories .

6. We must have at least One Scientific Expert ( Forensic ) in each district courts
to consult .

7. Government should make available ( without any delay ) free of cost - software to
all judges and lawyers to enable them to speedily scan the results of cases of
Supreme Court and High Courts for fast proper justice .

8. Promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution ( ADR ) Methods such as Mediator
and Reconciliation Centers.
37
TAXATION

A comment by a Tax payer . 98% of the population who does not pay Income Tax
depend upon my Income Tax Return . 2.1 Million Illegal Immigrants and 9,00,000
prisoners in over 85 Prisons are fed on taxes paid by 2 % Tax paying citizens of India .
767 people sitting in Parliament enjoy the blissful, carefree life without a thought for the
benefit of the tax payers on whose contribution they thrive but keep on wasting precious
time of the country .

There is not much I can say about Taxation except the fact that whenever a rectification
in the procedure of collecting taxes or implementing tax reforms are concerned , no time
should be wasted and the changes should be made available at fast speed to all tax
payers , tax advocates and tax authorities.

I am pained to site the Example of Two Taxation Laws 1. GST and 2 . Tax Code . When
Vat was introduced, it helped increase the tax collection in every state . Same is
expected of GST and Tax Code. GST is hanging fire since 2008 . The time wasted is
criminal behavior of the legislators who squabble for brownie points and never think of
causing harm to business development , increase in inflation , decrease in growth (
GDP ) and delay in relief to tax paying community .

GST will be a game changer for the economy and will act as a permanent stimulus
, enhancing competitiveness of both Manufacturing Sector and our exports, as
stated By Kidwai .

Direct Tax Code would establish a tax system that is economically efficient and
neutral in its application , distributed attractively all over and simple to administer
. DTC Bill -2010 is still pending .

To help increase the number of Income Tax payers in the country I have a suggestion to
make . I have been paying Income Tax since 1959 ( as well as wealth tax till the thresh
hold limit was increased several years ago ) . The Tax Rates have been revised and are
now accepted by most tax payers . Many a time among friends , a discussion takes
place to get some benefit back from the Government specially when your income dries
up for any reason which can be competition , obsolescence , health , dispute in the
family , changing environment and old age . This suggestion is based on these facts of
life as I have witnessed many a business enterprises go bust and the persons involved
passing through a very difficult scenario . My suggestion is to make arrangements of
payback of a portion of the Tax paid by the tax payer as a royalty bonus or as a pension
or as a gratuity . This will make more people come to the tax fold and also encourage
people to pay more / correct tax than falling in the trap of tax consultants always advising
the tax payer to manipulate tax returns to pay less to the Tax authorities .

How do we go about this suggestion .

1. This suggestions is applicable only to individual tax payers.

2. Those who have been paying income tax regularly for at least 10 years.


3. 5% of the annual income tax paid is the suggested amount to be returned
38
4. Automatic return of 5% of the annual tax paid by the tax payer of 25 Years till the
time he survives even if he remains a tax payer for more years .

An example for sake of clarification . Suppose a Tax payer is filing a return and
depositing Income Tax of Rs 10,000 = 00 every year . 5% of Rs 10,000 is Rs 500=00 .
The Government uses this money for ten years and following tax money on decreasing
years . After payment of Taxes for Ten years regularly the tax payer starts making
losses in the eleventh year onwards , if he starts receiving a tiny amount of 5% from his
taxes paid every year for next ten years , it will make him very happy and encourage him
to work hard to again start paying taxes as soon as possible and if not possible, this may
be of some help to him. This scheme is automatic and refund can be remitted by the Tax
authorities automatically without reminder in the bank account of the tax payer only .
This 5% tax refund is for the Tax payers for number of years Tax is paid or the time till
he survives but for life time if a tax payer has paid taxes for 25 years continuously and
still keeps paying taxes . The amount of tax paid will vary year by year as per return and
the amount to be paid back will also increase or decrease on yearly basis as per returns
filed .

This scheme will make a great impact on the tax paying community and make the
present tax regime a permanent tax structure and motivate more people to come
in tax fold . This is also a tax reform that will not effect the tax collection, as I
believe more people will start paying taxes honestly.

It is necessary and imperative to increase the exemption limit of individual income to Rs
3,00,000 if not more than that as the inflation has made life difficult for any one earning
up to Rs 25,000 per month to live comfortably .

It is also needed to increase TDS deduction limit from interest earned on Bank FD and
other sources from Annual interest of Rs10,000 to Rs 50,000 which is an amount
equivalent to an FD of Rs 5,00,000 for minimum five year deposit in the bank . No Form
15 or 16 is to be filed for this limit .

The next suggestions is to increase rate of taxation to 40% ( in place of 30% ) on
individuals who file an annual return of Rs One Crore or more-Super Rich. They will
also become eligible for 5% annual income tax refund as suggested above . These
super rich people must contribute more to national funds and help build the Nation and I
humbly feel - there will be no objection to this as the effective increase is only 5 % .

Next request is to abolish wealth tax and estate duty ( or death tax ) completely as one
who works hard to generate wealth needs to be assured of safety of his effort and
inheritance for his next of kin . This will also help many tax payers to declare the correct
income return and help increase tax collectin

A need of the time is to Simplify Tax Laws and Procedures . This will cut litigation
and release large sums of tax money locked up in cases for a long period and help
the Government Programs but also act as relief to tax payers.
39
GOVERNANCE

This is the last parameter of my suggestions and is most significant . Governance means
delivery of services and redresses of public grievances in the minimum possible time
and in the best possible manner so as to ensure equitable distribution of benefits and
security under controlled law and order. None of these simple objects have been
achieved in the last 66 years of independence.

It is said that Britishers used the method of Divide and Rule but I feel our Government is
using the method of Rule and Divide . Our country is divided in to factions , zones and
delimitations suiting the requirement of politicians based only on the factor of garnering
votes . Politicians of this country do not want people to become financially independent .
Financially strong individuals will not become candidates for the freebees offered by
politicians from the money collected as taxes . Politicians want to keep them poor and
frustrated to keep their own smiles as great donors of free bicycles , laptops , grains ,
grants and cash offerings . Has any politician spent any money on freebies to poor
people, from his own wealth ( Loot ) generated for himself , for his family and for his
cronies mostly by dubious means . What does these practices achieve . Nothing but
votes . Should such wastage of scarce funds be allowed in our country or should we
concentrate on developing opportunities for employment for the poor to be able to lead a
dignified life.

Accusing opposition parties for bias towards the rich , Congress Vice -President - Rahul
Gandhi said ( on Tuesday 17th Sept 2013 ) that his mission in politics was to make the
poor dream big and laws on food security and rural employment were measures towards
realization of these goals . It will remain just a statement and will serve no purpose in a
larger extent . I am sure Rahul Gandhi is aware of the true colors of politicians as
recently a politician alleged that there were senior leaders in the congress party who
were demanding bribes to give assembly election ticket to the aspirants .

The exact scenario of the country is the present onion crises . Hoarders and trade cartel
are to blame for costly onions - observed the food minister . However agriculture analyst
Devinder Sharma directly blames the present Government for allowing the prices to
prevail at these high levels as MARKETS DO NOT REACT ON THEIR OWN - THEY
ARE MANIPULATED .

There is no reason for the prices of onions to go wild ( 17th Sept 2013 ) as the
shortfall in production of Onions in the country is only to the extent of 4% but the
price escalation is to the tune of 400% .

Who is going to control these cartels and hoarders , or are they the real extensions of
the so called political masters or law enforcing agencies and thus untouchable and
above law . The broad nexus between politicians , criminals and policemen have come
to stay vitiating the governance process and undermining social stability and harmony .

It is common knowledge that cases regarding Income ( earned by dubious means
) crops up time and again against politicians and reach no where. Why it is so ?

The truth is evident form the following News In Tribune Issue Dated June 16 , 2013 ; -
JOIN POLITICS , SEE 3-FOLD JUMP IN WEALTH IN 5 YRS . There is one business in
India thats not just remained untouched by the slowing economy and rising inflation but
40
thrived in these hard times , IT IS POLITICS .

Heres the proof. The Association for Democratic Reforms ( ADR ), a civil society group ,
analyzed the wealth of 1,370 re-elected MLAs and 200 MPs found that their assets
increased three fold on average over five years - the period between two consecutive
elections . The average income and assets of India,s 100 Richest legislators grew by
750% over five years while their personal wealth increased two to 25 times over.

The easiest way to make money in India is by getting elected . Once that happens , the
high seat appears to provide easy access to decision makers , thus helping business .
The use of information of proposed development in a particular area proves a big help to
generate money and assets in the name of family members and cronies ( Benami ) . An
example is the case of Punjab where one third of the village common land is allegedly
under illegal occupation of the rich and mighty owing to the unholy nexus between land
sharks , unscruples officials and political masters. So is the case with entire country .
Where is Governance . Then there is the famous case of High/Fy gentleman making a
large killing in a land deal helped by a Real Estate Co without investing a single penny
from his own pocket . There is no dearth of laws but the guts to apply is missing for fear
of loosing clout or vote bank . Sadly, today only there is a news to make provisions for
the convicted and jailed politicians to fight elections despite a ruling by Supreme Court
.Out of 4835 MPs and MLAs , 1448 have criminal cases against them ( ADR ) . Out of
543 Lok Sabha MPs , 162 have criminal cases pending ; 75 face serious criminal
charges ( ADR ). It is surprising to note that these tainted persons can not be replaced
by clean , hard working and dedicated political leaders from a country with a population
of more than 1.2 Billion and a serious unemployment problem . Is this Governance or
Criminalization of Politics and favors for select few or lack of confidence or fear of
dissent from the new entrants .

Poverty is no concern of politics . These days state governments are going overboard in
giving increments to legislators, first Punjab, then Haryana and now Himachal . The
Himachal Lokhit Party has criticized congress and BJP legislators for giving themselves
a pay rise of 60 per cent within 13 months of an earlier 33 per cent pay hike . All MLAs
forget that there is a financial crises in the state . Are these MLAs coming from poorer
section of society or are they the new privy purse seekers . Are they the servants of the
society or are they the new kings . Is the security cover , red beacon vehicle , escort
vehicle and special protection necessary or it is a status symbol created by the so called
MPs and MLAs for pomp and show ( Should it not be immediately withdrawn ) . If an MP
or an MLA has some fear of personal safety , let him hire his own security ( or Bouncers
) why should the scarce tax resources be spent on these politicians who want to live like
kings but act like children fighting for insignificant issues and stalling the procedures of
major development . I am giving below 4 examples :

1. Infrastructure projects equal to 40% of Government Annual Budget-Stalled

2. Indians account for majority of global population forced to defecate in the open.

3. Three decades ago , out of 58 % of world population of poor people, India had
22 % poor which now has increased to 33% of worlds poor.

4. Between 2010 and 2012 India slipped 17 positions in world Human Development
index rating .
41
This example is regarding A MONEY DRAIN CALLED NDMA and a sad commentary
on the state of affaires of governance in India. While the Government has splurged
money on NDMA , the body has failed to deliver.This could only come to the notice of
the public by the fury of the nature , the Monsoon Mayhem at Kedar Nath ( in particular )
and entire Uttarakhand disaster of huge loss of life , property and infrastructure . This
could have been averted or helped to reduce the effect , if NDMA had performed its
designated duty. Projects like earth quakes , floods and landslide risk mitigation projects
were in cold storage despite being approved six years ago in 2007 . A very sad
statement is that the National Executive of the Nodal Body failed to meet at all even
once between 2008 and 2012 despite allocation of Rs 632 Crore for 2012 and Rs 835
Crore for 2013,14. I fail to understand how such negligence is allowed to happen. Is
there no supervision / vigilance / systems in place to check whether the designated
department / staff is functioning to assure the delivery of services / responsibility
allocated to such offices and officers .

If I may be allowed to state that this casual approach is the real cause of our country
going down the hill I may not be wrong . The will to perform the duty has vanished as all
Government Officials have taken it for granted that no harm is going to come to them -
so why work . WORK IS WORSHIP has been replaced by WORK IS SHIRKSHIP . The
vested interests enjoy by keeping the systems as they are and stall all proceedings for
any improvement . Those who work in right earnest are punished by transfers or
suspensions ( Like Khemka and Durga Shakti Nagpal ) and those who perform their
duties by informing about corrupt practices are killed Like IIT Kanpur Graduate
Satyendra Dubey ( and 12 more social activist killed since Jan 2010 who have dared to
expose scandals / malpractices ).

An RTI activist K. Srinivasan of Tiruchirapalli received 1700 blank pages in
response to his application on the irregularities in the auction of babul trees .
Worst is the fact that he has been made to pay Rs. 16080 for these blank pages. I
do not know if any action was taken against the officers involved .

In entire country the emphases is on INDIVIDUAL MANIFESTATION . The team work or
the concern for the citizens of the country has become the last priority . A huge tax
payers money is utilized for advertisements prominently displaying the picture of the
state chief minister or national leader as if the achievement is not of a team work but of
an effort of an individual only. The expense of burning fuel by government is worth Rs
3000 crore per year.

This is the state of sad summery of our country with huge population of poor people and
a large pool of unemployed educated youth. States give full page ads practically in all
news papers very frequently boasting about the achievements The fact remains that the
country has barely progressed as compared to other nations on any parameter accept
population growth.
42
LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST

Recent communal tensions in Muzzaffar Nagar has made me bring out these facts . A
meaningful conception of minorities would include section of people who on account of
their non-dominant position in the country as a whole are targets of discrimination and
therefore deserving special consideration .

In India , as per census of 2001, Population was :-

1. Hindus 827, 578, 868 80.5% Majority
2. Muslims 138, 188, 240 13.4% Minority
3. Christians 24, 080, 016 2.3% Minority
4. Sikhs 19, 215, 730 1.9% Minority
5. Buddhists 7, 955, 207 0.8% Minority
6. Jains 4, 225, 053 0.4% Minority
7. Bahais 1, 953, 112 0.18% Minority
8. Others 6, 639, 626 0.6% Minority


Total Indian Population of 1,028,660,328 census 2001 .

Since 2001 the structure of all minorities except Muslim population remains practically
static . Hindu population is declining and Muslim population is increasing and is more
than 15% ( 14.78 % or 178 million as on 2011 ) . India has the third largest population of
Muslims in the world . It is sad that though the Muslim citizens of India get many
preferences / special treatment , they generally remained precipitated but not
assimilated in India . A minority may disappear from a society via assimilation , a
process through which a minority group replaces its traditions with those of dominant
culture and become true citizens of that country . Muslim population is growing at a very
high rate than that of Hindu population as they give birth to 6-8 kids per family on an
average where as the other minorities and Hindu Majority follow the Government Rule of
Two children per family . For muslims - population explosion of the country - is no
concern of the Muslim fraternity . Rule of the land should apply equally to every
individual and those not following should be treated as enemy of the nation.

In a democracy , an organized minority becomes the majority . As the second largest
population of the country the Muslims should not be treated as a minority . A discussion
in United Nations and other international platforms has debated that the Minority Status
should be allowed only to community which is less than 10% of the population . The
other minorities in India total only 6.18% ( Sikhs 1.9% + Christians 2.3% + Buddhists
0.8% + Jains 0.4% + Bahais 0.18% + others 0.6% ) and most of these minorities have
assimilated in the Indian customs and traditions . The political masters with their vote
bank policy have created this special favored block of ( Muslims ) Indian citizens which
are responsible for most of the communal disturbances and anti national activities ( SIMI
and other Terrorist Organizations ) and do not care much for the problems faced by the
country per say .

This sad aspect of our Country has to be addressed at a fast pace otherwise the
consequences may prove very costly for the governance and peace .

43
The last suggestion is the most important suggestion and has been touched above to
make every Indian a Proud Indian and a cohesive force . The citizens of the country
should be considered for the policy makers in the following categories : -

1. Very Poor ( Earning Less than Rs 30000 per year )

2. Poor ( Earning Less than Rs 75000 per year )


3. Lower Middle Class ( Earning less than Rs. 5,00,000 per year )

4. Upper Middle Class ( Earning less than Rs. 12,00,000 per year )


5. Rich ( Earning less than Rs. 1,00,00,000 per year )

6. Super Rich ( Earning Income of Rs.1,00,00,000 or more per year )

Any special concession of free bees or subsidies should be based on these categories
of Indian Nationals . No way any policy should be based on cast , creed , religion ,
region , language traditions and customs .

This single aspect will create a united country and a cohesive force and a patriotic
passion contributing to the development of India and Indian Citizens .

To agree or to disagree is the privilege of every citizen of India . It was my earnest desire
to offer simplest possible solutions which can be followed by a lay man (ordinary citizen)
avoiding high decibel statistics and quotes . Being a simple citizen - a small scale
industrialist - and now a social worker and sports promoter, I have assembled my
thoughts and now lay them bare before the entire nation to analyze and follow or trash
them . I may take the liberty to quote a definition of Industry here IN DUST TREE . I
am trying to plant a tree (an assembly of thoughts ) in dust ( in the present scenario of
the decreasing GDP , Increasing Inflation and debt problem ) and hoping to see it sprout
and grow in to a fruit bearing Tree in the shortest possible time .

NO BODY IS PERFECT - BUT YOU CAN NOT KEEP USING THAT AS AN EXCUSE
TO DO WRONG - Word Of Wisdom

I CAN NOT TEACH ANY BODY ANY THING - I CAN ONLY MAKE THEM THINK -
Socrates





Thanks


44
FROM THE DESK OF THE AUTHOR

I am 75 years old and many many years ago , I shared with my fiends , my dream and
desire of winding up my business of a small scale industry ( In New Delhi ) to devote part
of my life in social service and sports promotion . None could believe me and even made
fun of my lofty idea . One of my friend commented that it is easier said than done . To
serve any cause you need the acceptance of the other party . On my inability to follow
his surmise , he explained suppose you want to give a massage to an aged relative of
yours to relieve pain in his legs but he refuses to accept your offer how can you
perform the service , you can not force your sincere effort to relieve him of his pain
without his consent . This proved true when I finally was able to close my business (
after settling my children in Delhi ) and shifted with my wife to Shri Anandpur Sahib (
2009 to devote rest of my life to serve -society , my religion , and sports ) as no body
would take me seriously . It is only my perseverance that I have been able to do some
work ( and achieve some satisfaction ) after trying very hard for the last four years . The
lesson I have learnt is that sermonizing does not help . Introspection and improving your
own personality and methodology does create impression on others and helps facilitate
your working environment as well as the hostile surroundings .

Every religion ( Christianity , Islam , Hindu , Sikh , Buddhism , Jain and others ) mainly
teach one thing to every one and that is TO BECOME A GOOD HUMAN BEING . It is for
you to analyze that you have fellow feeling and a desire to help others to relieve them of
their sufferings - if so then you need not follow any stream of religion or religious people
or religious places . God resides in the body of every individual , you have just to search
your own self and correct your own self to become a religious personality or a noble
personality or a good human being . This is the mantra I am following .

Such thoughts and field experiences motivated me to make a sincere effort to put
together my perceptions of the issues facing my country men - specially the poor people
- in a constructive way ( with Solutions ) in this write up . I am sure that you may or may
not like it but I assure you that I am not looking for accolades and will not mind - if you
trash it . At least I have a feeling of some satisfaction that I have not been paddling a
Bicycle parked on a stand and reaching no where . I have taken a bold step in listening
to the inner voice of my heart and made an attempt by putting the cycle on a rough road
and paddled towards a destination of suggesting solutions to help in solving some
dogmatic problems facing my countrymen specially the poorer section of society . With
these thoughts I humbly present this thesis to you .


HARBHAJAN SINGH SAPRA