http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article2208331.ece
http://www.allbankingsolutions.com/Appeal-to-CJ-HC-Karnataka-Joint-Secretary-MOF.htm
Article by Sri P. Sainath published in
The Hindu on 8th Of July 2011
As we close in on 20 years of Manmohanomics, it's worth remembering one chant the chattering classes uttered, first with pride, later to console themselves. “Whatever you say, we have the most honest man in Dr. Manmohan Singh. And no one can speak a word against him.” It's less heard now — those affections having been transferred to other punters in the honesty sweepstakes. But growing numbers do say this daily: the honest Prime Minister presides over indisputably the most corrupt government in our history. And therein lie many lessons.
Dr. Singh's decision to meet weekly with editors tells us which lesson he has drawn from the mess. That his government's problem with corruption is a public relations one. This even though the media, while barking at politicians in the 2G scam, have steered clear of the corporate core of all such rackets. Dr. Singh sees the media acting too often as “accuser, prosecutor and judge.” (He may have got that one right). Yet, he wants a weekly meeting with them. So is this a PR exercise? Or does he believe India's editors possess a wisdom unknown to others that will end corruption in all sectors (bar their own)? I hope the former.
Totting up his government's scams is like a Census operation. A large and complex count. There are scams done and buried, there are those alive and breathing. More are exhumed by the day. There are others in the pipeline, about to be pulled off. Still others where the media remain helpfully silent. And yet more in planning and process. We have a Union Cabinet that is possibly richer (at over Rs.500 crore) than most earlier Cabinets put together. And in spirit, reminiscent of the bungling mob in Jimmy Breslin's 1969 book The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight. Only this mob rakes it in where Breslin's collapsed swiftly. And this crowd runs a large country, not a few blocks in New York.
There are of course many causes of corruption and everyone has his or her favourite story. But there are three sources which, if ignored, render analysis worthless. One: the structural inequalities of Indian society, including huge concentrations of wealth and power, class and caste, gender and other embedded discrimination. Two: the whole edifice of economic policy that has (more rapidly in the past 20 years) deepened, driven and legitimised those inequalities. That has, for instance, made corporations far more important than citizens, mocking the Constitution. And three: the culture of impunity and arbitrariness — with very little accountability. That allows the powerful to get away with almost anything. Where a judge in one State bans all protest rallies on weekdays because his car got stuck in a rally on the way to work. Where sundry godmen can break every tax law — so long as they don't challenge the ruling regime.
Tackling corruption without addressing its sources is like trying to mop the floor dry — with all taps open and running. The sources are old. Their (man-made) scope, size and damage are pretty new.
The past 20 years have seen unprecedented concentrations of wealth, often by awful means, mostly enabled by economic policy. The state stands reduced to a tool of corporate enrichment. It is there to facilitate private investment. Each budget is written for (and partly by) the corporate world. The last six budgets have gifted the corporates Rs.21 lakh crore in concessions on just direct corporate income tax, customs and excise duties. In the same period, food subsidies and agriculture have suffered cuts.
The neo-liberal economic framework assigns the state the role of wet nursing the corporate sector at public cost. This is why we live in the age of privatisation of just about everything. It is the state's mission to hand over scarce national resources of all kinds, land, water, spectrum, anything, to further bloat corporate profits. It is this process of peddling a nation's resources to private agents on preferential terms that is the main source of corruption in our time. The scams are the symptoms; a state that serves corporations, not citizens, is the disease.
Those who rightly worry about election spending also need to make other connections. There is a class of people which has much more to spend — and illicit funds to spend from. At levels unheard of since 1947. In many States, you cannot hope to contest an election without being a crorepati.
Take the case of 825 MLAs elected this May to the legislatures of four States, one Union Territory (and the bypoll in Kadapa.) Look at their declared assets. Thanks to the alert National Election Watch (NEW), a coalition of over 1200 NGOs spearheaded by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), we have data that are fun to analyse.
The ADR data tell us that the total self-declared value of these 825 MLAs is around Rs.2,128 crore. As many as 231 of these MLAs are into their second term. They increased their assets by 169 per cent on average, between 2006 and 2011. That is, they may well have collared more wealth in their first five-year terms than they had acquired in the rest of their lives.
Now think of 825 landless labour households. We cannot compare their ‘assets' with those of the MLAs since the landless households have none and are drowning in debt. How long would it take, working on the MGNREGS for instance, for them to earn money equalling the wealth of the 825 MLAs?
The most they can make in the 100 days of work the MGNREGS grants them is — on national average — around Rs. 12,600 a year. The 825 landless households would require over 2,000 years to touch that Rs. 2,128-crore mark. And they'd need to abandon frivolous habits like eating. But let's make that 10,000 labour households. They would need close to 170 years to hit the jackpot. Even a million households would take well over a year to get close. (Recall that over a fourth of those MLAs acquired most of their assets in 60 months.)
Of course, given the profound inequalities, the labourer households will never have any assets, leave alone Rs.2,128-crore worth. They will remain indebted. And the interest they will pay off on those debts will likely add to the assets of the MLAs — some of whom are moneylenders. Yet the wealth of those MLAs is paltry compared to the huge state-led enrichment of the corporate world. It would take a million labourer households around 275 years on the MGNREGS to earn the Rs.3.5 lakh crore the government has doled out on annual average in the past six years to the corporate sector.
And then there's the impunity. Dr. Singh can juggle his Cabinet, but will it change much? An Agriculture Minister who spent more time on cricket — and helped transform that national passion into a tawdry, commercial swamp of sleaze. (At the time of writing, another wicket, that of the Textiles Minister, has fallen in this regime's precarious second innings.) Another, the Minister of Heavy Industries, shamed by the Supreme Court for helping moneylenders — then promptly promoted to Rural Development Minister. Even if dumped, their replacements, however youthful, won't alter that. For it isn't about lax governance or poor rules only. It's about corrupt policies.
Want to fight corruption in our time? Move to dismantle structural inequality, the disease of neo-liberal economic policy and the culture of arbitrariness without accountability. Do we need a Lokpal? Yes. Should it be a supra-government? Above constitutional structures and answerable to no one? You're begging for trouble. Can it tame the Trimurti of inequality, economic policy and arbitrariness? No. It's not geared towards that. That's a larger battle for people as a whole and their institutions. As the old saw goes, your rights are only as secure as the process by which you defend them.
At this moment battles rage across the country over displacement, forced land acquisition, the rape of resources, over forest and other rights. These may be ‘local' battles but they challenge corruption on a large, even global, canvas. They are fighting inequality and discrimination. They resist impunity, greed and profit. They try to hold their rulers accountable. Some fight unjust laws (as in the case of Irom Sharmila). Others for the just application of laws (as with some forest rights struggles). Almost none, however, place themselves above the nation. Or declare that they will lay down laws which others must obey. Nor assert that they are answerable to no one. Yet, they fight for their rights and ours too and help make oppressive structures more accountable.
There's a little amnesia on this. A corrupt and effete government and the Congress party know that well. Barely 36 years ago, a man placed himself above all structures of the Constitution. A one-man supra-government. It's sad to recall how many PLUs, middle class people and even some intellectuals wound up cheering this man and his era. His name was Sanjay Gandhi and the period was called the Emergency. The rest is history
Second articles is an experience of victim of the system
APPEAL TO CHIEF JUSTICE OF HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AND JOINT SECRETARY OF MINISTRY OF FINANCE FOR DENIAL OF FRESH PENSION OPTION TO VOLUNTARILY RETIRED OFFICERS AND WRIT PETITIONS
by
A P Pai [synd_man@hotmail.com]
Enclosed are letters written by me to the Banking division, Ministry of Finance, Govt of India and to the Chief Justice respectively on the above subject. In my earlier communication, I had requested you to contact the known members of Parliament or the officials of Govt/RBI personally so that they take up our issue in the course of question hour or write to the concerned ministry for early redressal.
I now request you to make use of news paper media by an article to highlight the injustice done, if at all any one of you have good rapport with such agencies. In short, what is needed is not only option for pension but also public awareness as to the credibility of Indian Banks Association and incapacity of the officials of Public Sector Banks to understand independently what is right and what is wrong
It is very painful to find from the website that except one batch of writ petitions filed by the retiree officers of Canara Bank, all other petitions are not admitted so far. Banks have not yet appointed advocates. No reply is filed. Even in the case of Canara Bank petition, none of the advocates appeared on two occasions. This status is contrary to the impression given to the petitioners that the final decision by the court is due by this month end. This kind of progress of the cases is not in our interest.
It is not correct to say that the petitions need not be got admitted by the court after issue of notice, vakalathnamas and counter objection statements need not be filed by the respondents or even without compliance of these mandatory requirements our cases automatically gets connected to the petition filed by Canara Bank retiress etc. There is no use in blaming the court.
Please do not dream for a second that Trade Union Leaders( present or past), lawyers ( our own or oppoiste) Banks( for whom we served throughout our younger days), officers still in service or pensioners of special VRS 2001,Govr and the cunning IBA will try to help us. We should not forget that we are living in a self centered society. No trade union will agitate or give a strike call on our behalf even if any such call is given, there will not be any response from the serving officers. Therefore it is upto us to keep vigilant and foil all attempts of banks, Govt and IBA who are only interested in prolonging disposal of writ petitions. It is required to being home every time to our lawyer that all the petitioners are senior citizens/restless.
Place : Udupi
Date : 28/06/2011
Regd AD
To
The Chief Justice of
High Court of Karnataka
Bangalore.
Honourable Sir,
Sub: Writ Petition filed by Senior Citizens.
In the following writ petitions pending before High court of Karnataka all the petitioners are senior citizens. But some of the respondents who are all financialy powerful and administratively strong not even filed Vakalath let alone filing statement of objections because cases are not listed after the notices are served. Whereas all the petitioners are financially weak and are in the last leg of their life and some of them are sickly counting days of remaining span of life who are in the range of 65 to 70 years of age.
Writ Petition Nos Filed on
I. 40431 to 40461 of 2010 13/12/2010
II. 122 to 135 of 2011 01/01/2011
III. 32475 to 32602 of 2010 08/10/2010
IV. 5294 of 2011 27/01/2011
V. 7718 to 7746 of 2011 18/02/2011
VI. 7898 to 7899 of 2011 19/02/2011
Vii 40850to 40917 of 2010 15/12/2010
Notices are already served on all the respondents i.e. Public Sector Banks, Indian Banks Association and Government of India. The common dispute involved in all the above petitions is arbitrary denial of pension to one section of retiree officers of Public Sector Banks created by artificial classification without any nexus to the scheme of pension introduced by the banks with retrospective effect. Thus most of the retirees are now senior citizens.
I do not know whether it is proper for any citizen to enter into correspondence with the Chief Justice on any matter. I am one of the petitioners in the above petitions. I have already knocked the doors of the concerned bank, Indian Banks Association, Government of India and Reserve Bank of India seeking their assistance but without any result. Having been thus pushed to the walls, I have suddenly become bold to seek your help to get the above writ petitions disposed with least delay. Information given to me by my friends is that you have already given general advice to your companion judges and the Registrar to take steps for dispensing justice to senior citizens in general expeditiously is another reason for writing this letter to you.
I pray to you to issue specific instructions to the concerned who deal with the above cases to take steps for early disposal.
I may please be pardoned, if unknowingly, I have offended the protocol of judicial system. I have written this letter as I am not keeping well and anxious to see the light of justice before my last breath.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
(A Premananda Pai).
'ANJANA' Ist Cross, 5th Main Road
V P Nagar, Udupi - 576 102. (Karnataka).
Phone No. 0820 4293120
Mobile No. 94490 49041.
E
0 commentsPosted in PoliticsTagged as inequality, arbitrary whimsical and lack of transparency, consitution, reformation, globlisation, and privatisation
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Suggestion for better Planning
Government of India has expressed desire to seek suggestions and views from public to bring about reformation in planning and they have uploaded a discussion icon on t website of Planning Commission.
What is the use of seeking suggestions from public?
Any reformation is incomplete as long as human values are ignored and disrespected. Corruption can never be controlled by corrupt officers. Justice cannot be expected in time from corrupt judges. Corrupt ministers can never ensure good governance. Corrupt Chartered Accountants cannot stop malafide transactions and fraud in financial statements. Corrupt lawyers cannot ensure timely justice with the victim. Corrupt ministers and corrupt departmental heads cannot allow good officers to remain in and around his work place.
Economic reformation launched in1991 has helped in multiplying and aggravating the proportion of corruption in public life. Businessmen are given absolute freedom to earn profit as much as they like and this is the main reason behind relentless price rise and this is why price rise has gone beyond control of the administration and the government.
Labour reforms or judicial reforms are disliked by all politicians who believe in earning illegal money.
It is therefore not an exaggeration to say that none of the offices responsible for looking after welfare of working class is doing their job properly. It is bitter but undeniable truth.
Bribe based recruitment,whimsical transfer with malafide intention, bribe based promotion, forgery in examination, sale of examination question papers of all important examinations , bribe based setting with interviewers to pass the test, use of lobby to get good posting and before time promotion and so on , all these have become common and usual style of functioning and characteristics of all public organizations. Good employees are sidelined and corrupt employees are getting preferences in all government offices, Banks and PSUs.
Flattery and dishonesty has become the key to success in all fields.
In such position there is no use in framing policy or formulating attractive plans or asking for suggestions from the public to bring about reformation.
Until top ranked officers, ministers, public representatives, politicians and government staff in general become honest and patriot Indians cannot dream of getting justice in any field.
To add fuel to fire, Indian judiciary is corrupt, inactive and inefficient .It takes decades in getting judgments from courts in India. There is lack of adequate quality manpower in courts and hence lacs and cores of cases are allowed to remain pending for years together. Justice delayed is justice denied. Aggrieved person do not like to seek remedy from police department or judiciary. Everywhere bribe money plays the prominent role. In such position courts are used to perpetrate crime and carry out rule of injustice.
Even offices of Prime Minister and President of India do not listen to public grievances, not to speak of other offices meant to make effort for redressal of public grievances though there are several such departments. All such departments are working as forwarding agents or as manufacturerers of money. They simple forward the letter or complain to concerned office and sleep. None is at all bothered to serve the people though there are called public servants
What is the need of Interview or discretion in recruitment or promotion when most of the officers are corrupt?
What is the value of annual or periodical appraisal of employees or carrying out test for promotion when conducting officials are themselves corrupt .Who cares for merit?
None indeed.
All top officers keep flatterers and corrupt officials around them to earn more and more bribe and accumulate wealth as much as possible.
Central Government is allowing time bound promotion and seniority based promotion to staff. Why Public Sector Banks are allowing whimsical promotion, arbitrary transfer and fresh recruitment in higher cadres bypassing existing staff of experience of ten to thirty years in banking.
Are banks top executive earning money in recruitment, posting and promotion like other government departments?
Who is accountable for bribe based recruitment and bribe based promotions taking place in banking industry?
Why public petitions pertaining to corruption, injustice in wage revision and posting of corrupt ED and CMD in banks submitted to Prime Minister and Finance Ministers are ignored?
Why bank executives who have earned illegal money and accumulated wealth by lending to bad borrowers or writing off their dues are getting one after other promotion and cream posting.
Are all these possible due to strong lobby of corrupt officials?
Why government is unable to control growing NPA in banks and punish those bank officers whose ill motivated lending and ill motivated management of human resources resulted in increase in NPA.
This is the story of practically all departments under the control of the government. Everywhere criminals and defaulters are respected and given recognition.
After all why is PM silent on all vital issues related to erosion in human values?
Prime Minister wrote letters to Telecom Minister but did not act to ensure that his advice is followed in true spirit. Nation lost lacs of crores of rupees.
Is mere writing of letter or forwarding of letter to concerned officer or office enough to bring about reformation?
PM allowed Kalmadi to spend 70000/ crores of rupees and could not stop malpractice despite the fact that media highlighted various irregularities.PM allowed deal with Devos on S band and later annulled the same in fear of public anger.
PM has allowed public sector banks to increase NPA or conceal NPA or sell NPA in the name of banking reformation and causing loss after loss to bank in lacs of crores of rupees.
To add fuel to fire PM allows debt waiver of forces banks to opt for compromise and sacrifice bank’s assets.
What is happening in this country after all?
Who will save this country from corrupt people?
Can such PM be allowed to cause one after other losses only due to constraints of coalition government? Is it coalition religion to survive in power?
I would like to advice our honorable PM not to malign at least the word religion. Because none of the religions in universe will allow theft of money, or disrespect to human being or compromise with human values. Manmohan Singh should say that corruption is an art used by politicians to acquire or to remain in power.
If Prime Minister of the country can allow corrupt practices, how can he dream of good governance in other offices of central or state government?
How will our learned PM then punish corrupt people as he has been promising since long?
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