Electoral reforms

Adarniya Anna Ji

You rekindled the fire amongst the Indian citizens. After the father of nation, you showed the path to the man on street; the peaceful way to protest for his rights. Yes! The battle is only half won!! You have already declared on the behalf of all of us, the next item on the agenda: the electoral reforms. I request you to consider the following:

(a) Compulsory voting.

(b) Right to reject all candidates contesting election.

(c) Right to recall an elected representative.

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Hollow promises on Lokpal

"Why is the Indian government adamant about 

keeping junior officers out of Lokpal?

The answer lies in the fact that money made at

lower levels is channeled directly to political parties"

Arvind Kejriwal

in

"Too many hollow promises"

The Times of India, Pune, India

July 12, 2011

The cat is out of the bag!!

                              me

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Reflections: walking with national flag

Walking with national flag: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday arrested six Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and separatists, who were heading towards the Lal Chowk here to hoist the national flag on the occasion of the country's 62nd Republic Day.

The incidents on the eve of republic day, which occurred in the Indian State of J&K, pained every Indian. One political party tried to gain mileage, exploiting the current situation in J&K. Instead of dealing with the situation politically, the governments at the Centre and the State treated it as a law and order problem and created a huge mess. In that process they actually supported the goal of political parties exploiting the situation. In addition, they also sent a wrong message to the general public. The public asks: Are we required to obtain permission to walk with the national flag in our country?   

Efficient solar cells:  The researchers have demonstrated a new solar cell design that can not only convert the full spectrum of sunlight to electrical energy, it is also practical to make using common manufacturing techniques in the semiconductor industry. 

The efficiency of solar cells currently available is low. One of the reasons is it cannot use the full spectrum of light (all frequencies) for the energy conversion. The new, multiband photovoltaic device based on gallium arsenide nitride is highly efficient and practical to produce.

Bring systemic changes to improve law and order:  The gory killing of additional district collector Yashwant Sonawane has shaken the country.  

One after another, such gory incidents occur and public becomes meek spectators. At times we wonder whether this country is ruled by mafia, some on the chair and some supporting it from outside. We know again some inquiry committee will be appointed and the incident will be coolly forgotten, like those earlier. Nothing tangible can be achieved unless we bring in systemic changes. No political party speaks about it.

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Reflections: Biological revitalizing process - Autophagy

Autophagy: Greek word  for self-eating—is an efficient self-cleaning, biological revitalizing process used in our bodies. When cells face adverse conditions such as nutrient depletion, the autophagy process commences to enclose a portion of its own cellular constituents and delivers it to the lytic compartment (named lysosome in animals, vacuole in yeast and plants) for reuse. Oh! What a system!!

Kursi aur Corruption:  Embattled Suresh Kalmadi has been sacked as the Chairman of the CWG Organising Committee to enable an "unhindered" probe into alleged corruption, bringing an unceremonious end to his tenure which was plagued by scandals and controversies.Kalmadi''s close aide Lalit Bhanot was also removed as the Secretary General of the OC with immediate effect, almost three months after the sporting extravaganza was held here amid a spate of unsavory controversies. A step in the right direction. As a member of Parliament Kalmadi should have resigned long back. His image has taken an immense beating.

Indian Companies, Foreign Managers:  Indian corporate houses hiring foreign managers -Career news- Mumbai: Call it reverse outsourcing or local talent hunting, but high-tech Indian firms have been hiring foreigners as part of their long-term growth. This is a welcome development. It will help improving corporate culture in India.

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Rescue Indian farmers

The role of micro finance companies offering loans to the poor has come under the lens even as a farmer, under pressure to repay his debt, committed suicide in Nizamabad district on Wednesday. In Guntur, a woman attempted to end her life, as she was upset over her humiliation by MFI (micro finance institution) agents. And in yet another case, two members of a self-help group were booked in Srikakalum over the suicide of a woman on Tuesday.

Private micro finance institutions' (MFIs) vision of "eradicating poverty" is far removed from reality, say finance experts. They say MFIs are no better than moneylenders, who lend to the poor at a higher rate of interest, or almost the same as a moneylender, and turn this into a profitable venture. Banks, which are meant to reach out to the rural poor but choose to fund MFIs instead, have only contributed to the debt crisis the poor are facing in Andhra. 

 

The controversy sparked by suicides and harassment of the rural poor by micro finance institutions has the Self-Employed Women's Association (Sewa) founder and Ramon Magsaysay award winner Ela Bhatt worried. But some of the steps being proposed by CM K Rosaiah to check the MFIs like limiting the interest rates charged by the MFIs to 8% and make as non-bailable offences the employment of coercion and unethical practices to recover loans from the rural poor appear to be far from reality.

"The MFIs are charging an interest rate of up to 50% at present. And they themselves are taking loans from banks at more than 11.5%. How can the state persuade RBI to ensure that MFI interest rates for loans be restricted to 8%? Secondly, the unlawful practices resorted to by the MFIs can be dealt with by the existing sections of IPC. The government should work out effective steps instead of making such populist assertions," said a micro finance expert.

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