wow! kinda makes one angry to see people work like dogs for little food/money/water..

it's so hard to understand/comprehend these issues occuring?

HOW such corruptive bases/programs; are not ousted? What would good suggestions to uphold the law would be?

North

Same is true with the United States government Sandeep: secrecy, money for weapons, and no money for the poor (bad investment in feeding the hungry)

peace

Aloha Sandeep

I remember seeing a TV program where they spot lighted the silk industries in India. Famous American designers were using these companies. The companies used child labor instead of adults. Instead of asking the US public to boycott the clothes made from the silk, they put pressure on the designers, to only buy from companies that use adult labor. If not the designer who used the companies that had child labor would be spot lighted. Love patty

all of those who feel committed to a better india and particularly those of us engaged in 'education' should make it our life mission to teach the RTI to children from class I in lieu of civics!
we do this at pwhy...

When I were advocating against a corrupt Canadian government from 98-2002/03; I attempted to educate the public, on "what" the government cutbacks, and annihalation of support programs cut in 96-97 did; which subjected thousands and thousands of lone parent families of a disabled parent; to live on welfare..

My son and I lived on $365.00 welfare, plus child support for about $565 dollars a month. Had to pay rent/gas/hydro/food/phone/TV out of that.

I know that sounds like a lot, in comparison to India; but, rent isn't cheap here..not by any means, not even for a dump/dive..

currently, I pay $500.00(five hundred) dollars a months rent, always cold in here..no bathtub(only a shower)..NO door on my bedroom, and NO bedroom closet, NO storage..with stove that caputs every few months,,then I'm stoveless for a few months; then I get another 40-yr. old stove...on and on...lol..we're at a dead end street; with an abandoned building on the left and right side of us!

IN 16 months of hell; and writing so many articles on corrupt governing; I was finally granted disability, which doubled my income. My disabilities worsen year by year..to have to fight for it was pathetic, discriminatory, etc.

IN the projects, I knew women whom had nothing wrong with them, but being foreigners, were granted "life disability"...

Hmm, I have 7 degeneterative discs,,,blah blah,,and I had to fight tooth and nail...to get it!!

But, I would not have had to go on the system; if I could have gotten work..if my stomach didn't shut down while in college, IF, IF< IF!!

IF one doesn't keep trying; one will never know, if one will succeed, or not..I've never stopped trying to get a job, to work, to DO something; other than be idle collecting money I feel I didn't earn..I feel useless..dependant...I hate it so much.. my body is failing me, but, my mind is still strong(for the most part.)

Anyway; back then, I managed to get 5 sets of 27 books each, on government programs, etc...to give to all of our 3-libraries here in town...to educate women..I have the 4th set..from Founding a Lone Parent Support Group 2000-2001.. the 5th set was mine for research. I offered a set to the Aboriginal Society(they declined), even though I mentioned I had some for THEM, which were ALL, on Aboriginal "rights of family." Nope..Ook stay ignorant then!!(no I didn't say that to them, I thought it.)

I Ordered these books, for FREE, ONLINE, from our Canadian government site, via "Hedy Fry" though her job has changed in the social/women departments.

So, surf India's governemtn site, see what is available for FREE,,to help educate children in school,,,with the rights and laws which govern them; NOT the corrupt policing or gov't reps near them... you may be surprised, on what some "good" government reps are willing to "give" as far as education material!!

I have a copy, of the much-coveted: Canadian Human Rights Act,,,which costs a fortune to obtain,,,a "gift" from Hedy,,for MY efforts to educate women/children and the public, on the importance of taking care of every single person on earth!

Educate them, and they will be weak and ignorant..no more(gentle smiles.)

North

Hi North,
Lets not compare Canadian government to Indian. If you think Canadian is corrupt, then some insight into Indian government workings will leave you shocked. I can understand you've been through a very hard time though. Wish you health, wealth and happiness :)

Sandeep:

I still maintain that the BIGGEST - in fact THE single most problem with India is ENFORCEMENT of LAW AND ORDER! We do have a fair set of laws - with room for improvement of course ... but existing laws are as good as not there if we cannot enforce the current ones. So, instead of fighting individual battles - there has to be a movement to seek enforcement first and foremost. Of course that is easier said and done.. but that IS THE MINIMUM that is needed.

Without that.. the rest of your efforts are fated to be failures (with all due respects)!

Cheers,
Desh
Drishtikone.com

And one thing I failed to mention in my last post was that the "respect" for existing law and order institutions has to be demonstrated by the people who start and run the "movement".. and THAT is a BIG sacrifice.. because it means that no matter whether the results are against us or for us.. we HAVE to ABIDE by it.. to show the way! Its a "satyagraha" that requires tremendous patience and tolerance... but if anyone can do it.. we would have done another Gandhi!

Cheers,
Desh
Drishtikone.com

Hi Nimita, I was not comparing India and Canada? I was more or less leading UP to, with example(personal) of HOW anyone,,,even a disabled...CAN research,,and obtain support via good cabinet ministers...In ANY country..I mentioned how I did it; and why I did it.

I saw no comparing...and I AM aware of the corruptions in India..I read it here on Intent all the time(gentle smiles.)

I was only trying to help with suggestions...on what can be started with, like education of women and children.. I guess you missed that part?

North

Sandeep,

I think you voice what many fear will be the fall out. Personally, I am all in favour and optimistic of the scheme, I am also frightened by the huge cost this entails. What is it, 50,000 crores? With all that lolly just waiting to be plucked, I can almost see the headlines a few months or a year hence broadcasting the biggest scam in a scam ridden society. I would be happier if somewhere the projects, kind of work and time frame were also put up for public scrutiny. Just this morning, there is a news item that the Congress Chief wants more outlays in the next budget for social causes. When will those who call the shots also let us know what they have done to plug, book and punish the many scamsters already exposed? That is the only way to deter those who are licking their chops in enthusiasm.

I too feel that RTI will help a lot, I am also wary of how many will utilise it after the intial enthusiasm. Will we ever stand up to be counted? Like Anouradha pleads elsewhere, it is our duty to educate as many as we can on how to extract information and use that information to better ourselves.

Desh,

I am happy to read someone else also feels that no one cares to implement even simple rules let alone laws. We have reached a ridiculous stage where administrations feel that the only way to implement laws is to pass more laws and consider their job done. Implementation of laws per se is not a law in this country!

Just last week I laughed myself silly reading about the Maharashtra Home Minister's statement that they are going to pass a new law which will prevent attacks on TV channels and their offices! My God! How innovative. Are we to believe that right now it is legal to ransack property and offices, beat up people and just walk away and be considered a law abiding citizen? So when are they going to pass a new law that says it is illegal to bash me up as an indivdual?

Hi Dara - Thanks for the chuckle.

I'm not too enthused about outlays for social causes. A welfare state simply falls apart. Instead of focusing on the rights human beings have (an imported western concept) if we vigorously inculcated a sense of duty in each person (an indigenous concept) I think we would go a long way in resolving many of our social ills. Good behavior cannot simply be legislated. It must come from the ethos of the people.

Hopefully this transparency rule will help in straightening out some of the corruption. Don't the transparency rules cover disclosure of how exactly this money is being spent?

One of the biggest problems with Indian governance is that the laws are way too complicated. A simplification of those laws will automatically lead to much lesser scope for corruption, misinterpretation and exploitation by the bureaucracy.

Ravi

Hi Divya,

Yes, the RTI act has in fact had enabled people to find out and become aware of what is happening and how money is spent. It's early days yet but so far it does seem to be proving useful and I hope it continues.

The problem really is in what happens once criminal activity and corruption is exposed. For example, a scam in Maharashtra was unearthed in the Employment Guarantee Scheme, where musters were fudged and fraud was rampant. Unfortunately what happened later was the same old story. The person who unearted it was transferred and the inquiry is going nowhere.

I think right now we are at the same stage where the US was in its infancy when 'robber barons' strutted around like peacocks.

Ooops sorry Divya, forgot to mention the more important issue you raised about outlays on social causes and inculcating values.

Have not the remotest qualification or inclination for economics so am most hesitant to voice an opinion. Even so I think that common sense can never be outmoded by scholarly qualifications. So when you talk of outlays on social causes I'm with you if you mean that governents have limited role. As far as I am concerned, business is not the business of governments, similarly education or growing money supply is also not the governments job. I feel that it is resposnible for providing the infrastructure for growth; be it economy, sports, education or anything else. That implies that running business is not required, but facilites to run business need to be provided. Similarly providing schools are, deciding what should be taught and how is not. Providing stadia and sport complexes is necessary not running sports and looking after training etc. Providing law and order and statutes to maintain that become govt. responsibilites like providing a police force but not running that police force and telling it what should and should not be done and how it should be done, that is left to the professionals in the force.

Similarly providing the framework for commerce and industry to flourish need to be created. Deciding on how these industries should actually function and who should be employed and where located should be left to those who venture into industry. If industry and commerce flourish, employment automatically spreads.

Don't know if it makes sense to anyone else.

Hi Dara - I don't have a head for economics either. I agree with what you say - infrastructre must be provided. I don't believe in handouts. Hopefully with time the RTI will do its job of exposing corruption.