ARAKAVATHI LAY-OUT: COMPENSATE THE FARMERS ADEQUATELY

The farmers/erstwhile marginal land owners of the above lay-out are agitating for better compensation. The Metropolitan Housing Cooperative Society was allotted the land in question by BDA two years ago, for constructing housing complexes for the IAS and IPS officers. The compensation received by farmers was meager compared to the prevailing market price. Hence, their demand for additional compensation is justified. The chair person of the above society says that the society cannot award compensation to the land owners since it is the responsibility of the BDA. It is true that BDA is the nodal agency and the dispute is between BDA and farmers, but nothing prohibits the society in paying the compensation to poor farmers on humanitarian grounds. One should have heart to tackle this kind of problems. The society and the government should view the matter realistically and pay the additional compensation without any delay.

UN WARRANTED PROTECTIONISM

The decision of OBAMA administration to withdraw tax concession to American companies that have subsidiaries out side their home land, could prove counter productive in the long run. The business of out sourcing is flourishing in India and in other emerging economies is not because of tax breaks offered by the U S administration but on the sound business principles. The cost of out sourcing, is some times are one tenth of the cost, if it were to be done in the U S. Ultimately it is the economics that matters in business. The economics are in favour of Countries like ours. It is an irony that champions of free trade economy are advocating the opposite of it. All these years America took advantages of free trade and now because of some economic slow down it has taken a ‘U’ turn of its own principles and ideology. Compared to the un employment problem, the problem providing quality education and health care and other problems faced by rest of the world, the ‘big brother’ problem is nothing. If other countries also follow the same selective protectionism to wards the goods manufactured by American MNCs, that will hurt U S more. In India, among others, we should say good bye to COCA-COLA and PEPSI, the most prominent and money spinning brands.

NATIONALAISE EDUCATION

It is very disgusting to hear the news how parents of school bound children are undergoing the trauma because of irrational increase in school fees. The Bombay High Court on the plea made by the state government has rightly deferred the issue by eight weeks.

Education has become a very lucrative business right from pre-nursery to professional courses. Private educational institution are taking advantages of the situation – that is, less number of government schools compared to the growing population, poor infrastructure facilities and lack of well qualified and experienced teachers in these schools. There are schools, which collects donation in lakhs. Some of the schools and educational institutions are run by powerful politicians, whose only aim is to amass wealth. People who have mind set of amassing wealth by exploiting the helpless students/parents are no less a enemies of the country. The state governments have no control over the ICSE, CBSE and other International schools.

The only solution to all the chronic problems faced by the students, parents, teaching staff and non teaching staff is to nationalaise the entire education services in the country. Make education free and compulsory for all children irrespective caste, creed and religion. Provide infrastructure of international standard to all schools. It does not matter how much funds are required. There are philanthropists who are ready to donate in crores for a right cause. Expenditure on education is not expenditure. It is a very wise and sound investment which will bear fruits, for benefits of all in the future.

DLF HOMES –UNETHICAL BUSINESS HOUSE

The country’s biggest real estate developer, without obtaining any approval or sanction from BBMP has made extensive advertisement about their new project in BTM lay out, in BENGALURU is perplexing. This raises many doubts about their track record. What kind of corporate governance they have? They were un able to implement the much hyped ‘knowledge city’ project near Bidadi. It is intriguing to know such a big advertisement has been released, without obtaining the basic statutory permission from a developer who is in business for so long. This suggests that they are out to take the gullible public for a ride, to cover up their own short coming in cash flow management.

More intriguing is that the DLF's advertisement was released on 26-04-09 and the clarification from the BBMP is coming on 07-05-09. In these twelve days many innocent buyers have booked their ‘dream homes’ are in a state of shock now. Had BBMP cleared the matter in a day or two, from the date of advertisement, the damage to gullible public would have been very minimum.

Does DLF stand for Deceive, Loot and Fraud?

PHANTOM OF BDA SITES: JUDICIOUS USE OF POWERS IS THE ANSWER

The story of how the influential, powerful and rich people getting allotted sites for themselves are interesting. These sites are allotted under the discretionary power, vested with the Chief Minister. Allotment of sites should be made to eminent sports persons, freedom fighters and others who really deserves of because of their contribution to the society and most importantly whose income/resources are insufficient by sites. Under the discretionary quota most of the beneficiaries are powerful people, politicians, our ‘babus’ and rich businessmen, who do not deserve and have more than one roof for living. Allotment to these people deprives allotment of sites to deserving people. The discretionary powers need to be used very judiciously and the category of people referred later should be made ineligible for allotment

FIGHTING BLACK MONEY

Both the Congress and the opposition parties are making a hue and cry about the black money stashed out side India, particularly in tax haven countries and in Switzerland. Stashing of black money out side the country is not a new phenomena and it has been going on for several decades. The successive government at the center, earlier did not pursue the matter seriously. Now also, people are not sure how serious our political parties are about unearthing the black money out side India, since the issue comes into lime light only during election time. One hopes that our political parties are really serious and will do some thing about that in the days to come.

The question that arises is , what about unearthing of black money within the country. The black money stashed out side is likely to be a pittance if compared to the black money in the hands of industrialist, business men, politicians and others within in the country. Government should, first take hard and stringent action to unearth the black money within the country. To do this political will is required. And that, is a million dollar question. Only time tell whether our political parties have that will.

APPEARED IN DECCAN HERALD NEWS PAPER ON 04-05-09.

JUNIOUR DOCTORS STRIKE – GOVERNMENT SHOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE IMMIDEATELY.

The members of Karnataka State Junior Doctors’ Association are on strike to press their demand. The demand, among others, includes an increase in stipend, up gradation of basic infrastructure facilities in government hospitals and protection from attacks by the patients’ families. The stipend fixed by the government is abysmally low compared to the cost of living. The stipend paid should be realistic and should be raised periodically keeping the cost of living as the barometer. The infrastructure facilities at the government hospitals are below par and there is urgent need to upgrade to deliver better health care services. The other issue that the Medicare Protection Act to be implemented in true spirit to protect them from un warranted attacks by the patients families. The government should have a dialogue with the representatives of striking doctors and resolve the issue forthwith in larger public interest. The general public has been put lot inconvenience due to the strike.

PM FROM RAJYA SABHA -- DOES IT MATTER?

The debate on whether the PM should be from the Rajya sabha or a directly elected member of parliament is on for some time now. The real issue is, whether the PM is from Rajya sabha or from Loksahba, does it matter as long as the person who occupies the position is capable of handling complex job of primeministership. The PM candidate should have leadership qualities, capacity, commitment, experience, understanding of the country’s economy as well that of world, one who has vision, whose honesty and integrity is beyond doubt.

Instead of debating on whether PM should be from which house, political parties should debate on the real issues.

US INTERVENTION IS REQUIRED IN PAK

Mr. Barack Obama’s views on Pakistan’s misguided obsession with India as its enemy number one will have lasting impact on Indo-Pak relations. The situation in Pak is worsening day by day and the Taliban is trying to take control in the name of religion. Buckling under the pressure from the USA, the Pakistan army is set to move 6000 tropes from the Indian border to the western border with Afghanistan. Earlier, there was no sense of urgency on the part of Islamabad to act tough against the Taliban. The changed power equation at Washington and continued pressure from other major countries of the world, had changed the mind set of people at Islamabad to some extent. The Pak listens only to the USA,since it doles out lot financial freebies and treats Pak as one of the most favored nation. The ‘big boss’ should intervene at the appropriate time and ensure that nuclear weapons do not fall into the militant hands.

UN FAIR VALUATION

The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) decision to pay Rs.88, 000.00 per acre of land, acquired from the farmers for BMIC project, inGonipura,near Bidadi, is very un fair.The market price per acre of land when the notification was issued in 1997 was about Rs.one lac.Basing on this government fixed the rate at Rs.88,000.00 per acre. Because of lethargy of officials, there is un due delay in acquiring the land. After twelve years, the KIADB is ready to pay only the amount fixed then. This is un just and exploitation of the helpless farmers. The farmers expressed their angry by beating and locking up the KIADB officials who went there to serve notice. The valuation should be based on the current market price which is around Rs.50.00lacs per acre and the farmers are to be compensated accordingly.