Due to this Event Bihar Foundation Chairman Mr. Ravi Shrivastav had putted some Light in the life of Dr. Rajender Prasad.And Everybody had been silent (monn) for Two min. In this occasion the Chief Guest were Mr. Navin prabhakar, T.V. Sinha, Lion S.C. Mishra, Capt. Sumisha Shankar, Arun Kamal (Chairman India Bureau), and Chairman of Bihar Foundation Mr. Ravi Shrivastav.
Bihar Foundation had announced that they are going to make the award Function in the coming year of 2010 due to month of Jan and even they are going to provide the 1st prize. Who ever going to write the best script in the life of Dr. Rajender Prasad.
This Event had done towards 4 Bunglow Andheri (West) Mumbai towards JEET Studio.
The 45-day teachers' strike that began on July 14 over several issues, prime among them being the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission, was called off late on Wednesday. The decision was announced at a late-night press conference on Wednesday held jointly by the state higher education minister Rajesh Tope and members of the Maharashtra Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation. Classes in colleges and university will resume today (August 27).
Sixth Pay Commission
Besides implementation of the Sixth Pay Commmision scales, teachers had also wanted the UGC pay package to be implemented in its entirety, and parity for teachers appointed between 1991-99 without a NET/SLET qualification.
However, the education minister said that while the Sixth Pay Commission salaries would be implemented and dearness allowance would be paid as per UGC scales, other allowances such as travel would be similar to state government employees. But certain benefits that the teachers avail of, which are on par with central government employees and are higher than what state government employees receive, will remain the same.
NET/SLET issue
But on the NET/SLET issue, teachers' demands have not been met. The state government has refused to waive aside the NET/SLET qualification for teachers appointed between 1991-99. Tope observed that according to three or four high court decisions, this demand was not consistent with the law. However, he added that a four-member committee will be formed that will comprise two representatives from the government and two from the teachers' union. This panel will take up individual cases of teachers appointed between 1991-99 who do not have the NET/SLET qualification, before the state government.
Making up for lost time
As a result of the strike 35 working days have been lost. Teachers will now have to make up for the lost time during their vacations and if they manage to do so they will not lose out on their salary. However, principals of colleges will have to give it in writing to the university that teachers have completed their portions.
The minister also said that a circular sent on August 24 from the education department to the university asking it to initiate action against the striking teachers will no longer be valid now that the strike has been called off.
16-yr-old swine flu survivor speaks of his ordeal as he is discharged from Kasturba Hospital on Wednesday
The 16-yr-old (left) walks out of the hospital on Wednesday
Sixteen-year-old Amit Kumar (name changed) painted a picture of positivity as he walks out of Kasturba Hospital on Wednesday. The Std XII student was discharged after recovering from swine flu, but makes his ordeal sound like a breeze.
“Apart from fever and cough, my health was actually quite good the whole time,” he recounts. “But I had been diagnosed with swine flu early enough, so with the treatment, I was able to make a full recovery.”
Amit, a student of Apeejay School, Nerul, was rushed to the hospital to be tested for the dreaded virus six days ago. Though his illness did not seem severe, his mother did not want to take any chances.
“I never thought he would actually test positive,” she says.
Amit admits there were some tense moments. “When they first told me I had the disease, I was terrified. Rida, India’s first swine flu victim, had just passed away, so I didn’t know what was going to happen,” he reveals.
“I think early detection saved my son,” adds his mother, who had informed the school as soon as Amit tested positive, thanks to which authorities were able to close it down for a week.
The only thing Amit found unbearable about the entire episode was being kept in isolation. “It was like a jail. For five days I could not go outside, and there was no entertainment. I’m just happy I’ve been discharged,” he says.
Amit is expected to resume school next week, and has been asked by doctors to take extra precautions for the next 15 days.
Volunteers from a local NGO distribute masks at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to passengers travelling to Pune on the Deccan Queen. Pune - that has been dubbed as the ‘swine flu capital’ of India - has seen 10 deaths from the H1N1 virus to date
It was like a jail. For five days I couldn’t go outside, and there was no entertainment. I’m just happy I’ve been discharged - The 16-year-old
Human Rights Commission asks MSRDC to pay Rs 2,18,500 to Rashmi Sudheer, who lost her eye to a flying stone while riding a rickshaw on the under-construction Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road Mumbai
A government roadways corporation has been ordered to monetarily compensate a scientist who was blinded in one eye after being hit by a stone missile from a road construction site in Powai.
In her complaint to the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC), Rashmi Sudheer had pointed out that the site was left unguarded by negligent contractors, and was also without any warning boards or safety barricades.
Last month, the commission ordered the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to pay damages to the tune of Rs 2,18,500 to the 28-year-old.
On the morning of September 30, Rashmi - a research associate with a multinational company - was travelling from her mother’s house in Marol to her workplace in Thane in an autorickshaw.
As she neared the Indian Institute of Technology gate on the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), a loose stone launched by the wheels of a speeding truck shattered her right eye.
Doctors later informed her that the eye was permanently damaged, but she would still need urgent surgery to save the other (Mumbai Mirror had carried a report on October 6, 2008).
In the last 10 months, Rashmi has endured five operations, including one to repair a fractured eyebrow bone. Her latest surgery, last week, was a cosmetic procedure to repair scars around her eyes.
In December 2008, with the help of S S Matondkar of the NGO, Human Rights Mission, Rashmi filed a complaint with MSHRC, claiming compensation of Rs 20 lakh.
Though the commission asked the two parties to mutually settle the compensation issue, the corporation refused to do so, stating that the “damages claimed were too high”.
Construction agencies are casual about these things. After the accident, a government official was quoted in a newspaper saying that it was just an accident - Rashmi Sudheer Since the mishap on September 30 last year, Rashmi, a research associate with an MNC, has undergone five surgeries
Rashmi justified her claim saying that - apart from surgeries that she already had - she would have to spend regularly for cosmetic procedures.
“Cosmetic surgery will cost Rs one lakh or more and I would need regular surgeries to change the artificial eye. Also, the loss of vision has affected my efficiency at work,” she told the commission.
Rashmi - who is married, and has a one-and-a-half-year-old child - also stated that she needed to be justly compensated as her company’s medical insurance did not cover cosmetic surgery costs.
Meanwhile, the MSRDC insisted that Unity Infraprojects Limited - the contractors appointed to repair the road - should also be named as a party in the complaint.
The corporation also claimed that they had taken all safety precautions, and also alleged that the stone could have fallen from trucks carrying construction material to other projects.
The Mumbai Mirror story on October 6. Since her injury in September last year, Rashmi has endured five operations, including one to repair a fractured eyebrow bone
But the commission ruled against all of MSRDC’s arguments.
“On the road where work is being executed - either the construction of a bridge or the widening of roads, etc - the executing agency has to be careful about the safety of the populace, and thus provide extra safeguards, such as diversion of traffic, etc,” commission member Subhash Lalla said in his judgement.
The commission said that MSRDC could recover the compensation from the contractor. The complainant - the commission ruled - could approach a civil court if she wanted to pursue her claim for a higher compensation.
Rashmi who has borne her loss stoically said: “The construction agencies are usually casual about these things. After the accident, a government official was quoted in the newspaper saying that ‘it was just an accident’.”
S M Shetty of Human Rights Mission said: “Accidents due to the negligence of construction companies happen all the time. By awarding compensation to Rashmi, the MSHRC has created a precedent.”
When contacted, a senior MSRDC official stated: “The copy of the order has not reached us. If there is such an order, we will honour it.”
By Manoj R Nair and Dipti Sonawala www.mumbaimirror.com
MCGM has planned to open documentation centres to computerise important papers used by the government, finds Swati Soni
The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has a stock of files stuck in red tape. This situation has made it impossible to scout through essential documents required for various projects.
“It’s high time we streamline these documents to stop further delay in any government projects. For this, we plan to start documentation centres at Kandivali (E) and Vasant Vihar Complex (Kandivali, W),” reveals Suprabha Marathe, project manager, MCGM.
The plan includes computerisation of documents in four different categories from A to D based on the different departments of the city. “All these documents are important, as they have the details of birth and death, information on property tax and transfer of properties, to name a few. They will be stocked and maintained ward wise for immediate usage,” says Marathe.
In the longer run, the MCGM plans to provide vital information on their portal for all citizens. “Often, citizens have to struggle for basic information. But, once the information is up on the portal, it becomes easier for both, the civic body and citizens, to access it. This will save lot of time for everyone,” hopes Marathe.
Currently, the department is sorting documents from the different sections. “We have started collecting documents from various sections such as housing development, city planning and roads etc with the help of the Science and Technology institute of Pimpri,” reveals Marathe.
In the future, the corporation also plans to allot one room to each section of the civic body for computerised documentation. Hopefully, this step will help cut off a lot of red tape and delay that has been the bane of those seeking civic help.
Cover Story The youths were part of two groups – one from Kandivli that had been indoctrinated and was waiting to go to Pakistan for training and the other from south Mumbai that had returned from Pakistan. Now, they are not only back in the mainstream, but are also helping police identify other misguided youths
M S Khan (name changed), a 22-year-old Muslim boy from south Mumbai, had gone to Pakistan last year for a three-month Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) training camp. He was supposed to be part of a sleeper module in Mumbai that could strike any time on orders from across the border. But close to seven months after his return, instead of waiting for the orders, Khan has forsaken the path of terror to make a living selling fruits.
Khan’s transformation is the result of a process started by the Maharashtra ATS to reform youths indoctrinated by terror organisations. He is one of 15 potential terrorists brought back into the mainstream in the recent past. He is now an important cog in the ATS's intelligence gathering network and also helps reform other radicalised Muslims.
The ATS did not discuss individual cases or reveal details as it might compromise their operations and prompt terror outfits to introduce counter-measures, but recently it neutralised two groups, one from Kandivli and the other from south Mumbai, of potential terrorists. “The Kandivli group had merely been indoctrinated and was waiting to go to Pakistan while the south Mumbai group had returned from Pakistan after training,” an ATS officer said.
WHY ARRESTS DON’T HELP
Until recently, potential terrorists would simply be incarcerated for uncertain periods. But, having realised that punishment alone cannot win the war against terrorism, the ATS has started weaning them away from the path of terror by restoring their faith in the system. ATS sources say, authorities have realised that by arresting them, the State merely reinforces their misplaced sense of injustice against Muslims.
“In any case, we never get much evidence of their training abroad. Also, no one can be prosecuted merely for harbouring jihadi thoughts,” said an ATS officer.
ATS chief K P Raghuvanshi said, “Hence, after identifying such people, we counsel them. We have in place an elaborate process where we try to make them understand the futility of their supposed religious war and wean them away from their jihadi mentality. We have already reformed about 15 such people. A reformed jihadi will not only stop others from becoming terrorists, but is also a good source of intelligence. It is part of our non-combat strategy to counter terrorism.”
GET THEM TO SPEAK FREELY
Once the ATS receives information about radicalised youths, they are brought to its headquarters and told to speak freely. “People don’t open up immediately, but we make them comfortable and try to understand their anger. We empathise with them and encourage them to talk openly,” said Raghuvanshi.
Once a person opens up, “we logically counter their misplaced idea of injustice and express solidarity with their genuine grievances,” said an ATS officer.
“The first problem is their belief that Muslims never get equal opportunities in India. We counter this by citing examples of successful Muslims in various sectors. We tell them how Indian democracy has given space to all religions and we have had Muslim Presidents, so many Muslim police and military officers,” said Raghuvanshi.
Secondly, many Muslims feel that they are treated unjustly by the police. “We explain that this is merely a perception. Every common man, irrespective of religion or caste, faces the same problems. Everyone is equally reluctant to visit a police station and is scared of dealing with policemen. If a policeman is helpful, he helps everyone; if he is apathetic, he is so to everyone,” said an ATS officer.
FACING DIFFICULT QUESTIONS
Some belligerent youths question the police about atrocities committed on Muslims during riots in various parts of the country. “Many carry photographs of the Babri masjid demolition while some have video footage of Muslims being beaten up, raped and murdered in the 2002 Gujarat riots. We tell them that such acts cannot be defended. We convince them that we are as pained about these incidents as they are and that an average Indian, irrespective of his religion, never approves of such acts,” said Raghuvanshi.
The police also exposes them to the reality of those who train them, the politics and economics of terror, and the fact that they are merely pawns in a bigger game. They are made to understand how their families, who are completely innocent, have to suffer because of them and how, despite their jihad, their religion does not benefit in any way.
THE FINAL STEP
The last step involves educating them about the real tenets of Islam and correct interpretation of the Holy Koran. “Many indoctrinated youths know the Koran or Islamic teachings only the way they have been taught by their trainers across the border. We get Muslim clerics here to explain to them the real meaning of Islam, which abhors killing of innocent people. When such words come from a leader of their own community, they listen carefully,” said an officer.
THE BENEFITS
The strategy is proving to be of great help to the ATS in countering terrorism. Even as police helps rehabilitate them, they reciprocate by providing vital intelligence about terror activities. “Many of these people are either employed or self-employed. Those who are unemployed, we help them set up a business or get a job. We build such relationships with these people that they give us information about who in their colony or community is being contacted for indoctrination or if any sleeper module is being formed. Besides, having got their priorities right, they influence people around them and help wean away other potential terrorists,” said the officer.
Mirror reporters help MHADA officials latch onto a huge housing scam where unwitting villagers were used as pawns to secure flats reserved for SC and ST tribes at throwaway prices
Villagers from Nimbade, near Panvel, couldn’t believe their good fortune when they recently received huge sums of money through cheques in the post. Still, most of them promptly deposited their windfall into bank accounts and even spent some of it on buying things they had always coveted.
Interestingly, these cheques came from MHADA, and were refunds for houses that were not allotted under their recent housing scheme.
But let’s rewind a bit…
Early in February, 17 villagers – all of whom bear the Waghmare surname, and belong to tribal families – were approached by a man called Sunil Gawade.
This person – also known as Baban – told the simpletons that they could all be winners in a government lottery if they accompanied him and filled a “lottery form”.
The men who agreed, were taken to an under-construction building in Bandra, made to sign on three empty forms, and were promptly paid Rs 1,000 each for their efforts.
Cut to Thursday, Mumbai Mirror learnt of a certain Daulat Waghmare who was wondering how he could encash his third cheque of Rs 1 lakh.
Waghmare, who works as a security guard on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, had earlier received two other MHADA cheques for Rs 1 lakh each. These he had promptly deposited.
“When I received my first cheque, I thanked the gods for helping me win the lottery. I even bought a motorcycle,” he said.
His bank, however, did not accept the third refund as his name was misspelled as Daut.
On questioning him, it was soon realised that Daulat was a mere pawn in a huge scam.
“I have not heard of MHADA and their houses. I only know that I have won a government lottery,” he said, eyes brimming with tears as soon as he realised something was amiss.
Daulat, then went on to disclose the names of others from his village who had accompanied Gawade to Bandra.
Further investigations by Mumbai Mirror revealed that Gawade was acting as a front for a certain Narendra and Lekha Sharma.
The Sharmas, it was learnt, made draft payments in the name of the villagers with the intention of procuring various houses under the MHADA scheme that was reserved for scheduled tribes.
What the scammers did not count on, however, was that the refund would reach the villagers.
MHADA officials have now approached the police to help track Gawade and the Sharmas who are absconding.
“The brains behind the scheme are currently untraceable, but we are confident that the law will soon catch up with them,” said Jawahar Singh, who is chief vigilance officer with MHADA. “We are now also checking for other scammers, who may have managed to work their way around our system. In fact, we have already begun scrutinising all the Waghmares who have been allotted flats, or are in the waiting list,” he added. The MHADA scheme Earlier this year, close to 4.35 lakh applications were received for just 3,863 MHADA tenements. These low-cost houses were spread across the city, from Pratiksha Nagar in Sion to Shailendra Nagar in Dahisar.
Of these, MHADA had reserved 1,830 flats for SC/ST applicants, freedom fighters, government employees, legislators and parliamentarians.
AAP KI AWAZ, WELL KNOWN NEWS PAPER IS CELEBRATING FOR
THE 3RD TIME,AAPKI AAWAZ PRESENTS FOR THE 3RD TIME “PRESS MEDIA AWARD” ON 6TH JUNE NEETU CHANDRA (BEST ACTRESS), ALOK SINHA (BEST CASTING DIRECTOR), ANU BATHLA (SUPPORTING ACTRESS), JIYA CHOPRA (OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE), S.P. CHAUDHARY (UPCOMING PRODUCER), ARUN KUMAR KAMAL (BEST WEB TV CHANNEL "INDIA BUREAU"), ARUN TULI (BEST SHORT FILM "OLD IS GOLD"), RAJU RAHIKWAR (DUPLICATE S R K) KRISTNA SAIKIA (PORTRAIT MODEL), POOJA PRADHAN (BEST FAISHION MODEL) ETC.
Day after his 13-year-old daughter was forcibly taken to a Madh hotel room, Deepak Tijori calls for action against rent-a room-and-look-the-other-way establishments
Actor-turned-filmmaker Deepak Tijori’s 13-year-old daughter - allegedly abducted from Lokhandwala and released four hours later on Sunday – was taken to a hotel in Madh Island and allegedly sexually harassed by the 19-year-old kidnapper, according to Oshiwara police.
Livid at the way shady hotels function, Tijori took his daughter back to Madh Island with a police team to identify the hotel on Sunday night itself. The traumatised father now wants immediate action against all such joints in Madh Island, where rooms are let out without even registering guests’ names, and perverts are allowed to ruin innocent girls’ lives.
Based on Tijori’s daughter’s description, the police have prepared a sketch of the suspect. Oshiwara police officers, who did not wish to be named, said the cellphone number of the boy has been traced. The call log details suggest that he had called up the girl before the alleged kidnap. “The suspect has switched off his cellphone, but we are hopeful of closing in on him soon,” said an officer.
‘Don’t ruin lives for Rs 800’ “Such things always happen to others. Unless it happens to you, you don’t know how it feels,” a shocked Tijori told Mumbai Mirror. “It’s amazing that a stranger could just pick up my child in broad daylight, while Lokhandwala buzzes with activity. Luckily, she was returned to us physically unharmed, never mind the mental trauma. But what about those vulnerable girls out there who never return or return traumatised for life? I just want to say one thing… Shut these shady hotels where such things are allowed. The thought of such hotels functioning in Mumbai is nauseating. Do your business, but please don’t trade the lives of 13-year-olds for a mere Rs 800 room rent.”
Tijori’s wife Shivani had taken their daughter and her friend out for lunch, and left them at a shopping centre at 4.45 pm because they wanted to window-shop. “The kidnapper threatened the friend and told her to keep quiet.
Even she is traumatised and guilt-ridden about not raising an alarm immediately,” Tijori said.
The friend later informed the Tijori family about the incident, after which they approached the Oshiwara police and lodged a kidnapping complaint.
“The kidnapper took away my daughter’s phone, slapped her and forced her to get into an autorickshaw. He then took her to the Madh Island hotel, and later walked out of the back entrance that can only be known to regular visitors. The same night, I took my daughter back to the hotel with the cops. The hotel people are now threatening us. But I don’t care. We need to protect our children from such hotels.”
‘Raid all shady joints’
Tijori thinks the authorities are not taking the situation as seriously as they should. “Why haven’t the hotel staff been grilled, when my daughter has identified the hotel and the hotelier has admitted that she was brought to the place? Instead, the cop was protecting the hotel manager. I’m proud of my child for being so brave.
“The hotel where that rascal took my poor little child must be full of these goings-on. The hotel people could see that she was just a child. How could they let in a man dragging a crying child into their premises? They still gave that pervert a room. He let my daughter go because she was crying and pleading. But does anyone know what my wife and I went through in those four hours until our daughter came home? Do they know what my child went through? The monster actually had the guts to drop her home and threaten her with dire consequences. He was basically a jerk who thought he’d do things with my daughter. But because she was howling, he dropped her home…
“All these shady hotels in Madh Island must be raided. My blood boils to think how much perversion must be going on there. My wife and I were unable to sleep even after our child came home. What if he had harmed her physically? What about other innocent girls who are taken to these hotels? Rooms are let out without question and without even registering the names of guests. The man at the counter took extra money from my daughter’s kidnapper and gave him a room without registering his name. I’m grateful to God for sparing my daughter,” Tijori said.
Cops close in on suspect On Monday afternoon, the Oshiwara police visited Tijori’s house and recorded his daughter’s statement, in which she alleged sexual harassment. She underwent a medical examination on the directions of the police.
“The boy had taken her to a hotel in Madh Island. However, after he saw the news of the kidnapping on TV, he got scared and dropped the girl home. We have recorded the statement of the girl, her friend and the hotel manager. We are circulating the suspect’s sketch to all police stations and hope to catch him soon,” said an officer at the Oshiwara police station.
According to the police, the suspect is a friend of the girl’s classmate.
But Tijori’s sister-in-law Kunika Lall, who on Sunday visited the Oshiwara police station, denied that the family or the girl knew the kidnapper. - from Mumbai Mirror Bureau
Salary & Govt. Concessions for a Member of Parliament (MP)
Monthly Salary : Rs. 12,000/-
Expense for Constitution per month : Rs. 10,000/-
Office expenditure per month : Rs. 14,000/-
Traveling concession (Rs. 8 per km) : Rs. 48,000/-
(eg. For a visit from South India to Delhi & return : 6000 km)
Daily DA TA during parliament meets : Rs. 500/day
Charge for 1 class (A/C) in train : Free (For any number of times) (All over India )
Charge for Business Class in flights : Free for 40 trips / year (With wife or P.A.)
Rent for MP hostel at Delhi : Free.
Electricity costs at home : Free up to 50,000 units.
Local phone call charge : Free up to 1, 70,000 calls....
TOTAL expense for a MP [having no qualification] per year : Rs.32, 00,000/-
[i.e. 2.66 lakh/month] TOTAL expense for 5 years : Rs. 1, 60, 00,000/-
For 534 MPs, the expense for 5 years : Rs. 8,54,40,00,000/-
(Nearly 855 crores) AND THE PRIME MINISTER IS ASKING THE HIGHLY QUALIFIED, OUT PERFORMING CEOs TO CUT DOWN THEIR SALARIES..... This is how all our tax money is been swallowed and price hike on our regular commodities......... And this is the present condition of our country
Mumbai, May 6: After string of felicitations across the globe after winning Oscar for sounding recording in Slumdog Millionaire, Resul Pookutty was felicitated by his own colleagues in the film industry on Tuesday night.
The Western India Motion Pictures & TV Sound Engineer’s Association honoured Resul Pookutty for creating history at the Academy Awards this year. At a glittering function held at the Country Club at Andheri, Resul was honoured by Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan. Lauding his hard work and dedication towards his work for years, Bachchan recalled, “Resul created magic for his film Black. He had so much patience and the results showed it. Everyone in the industry knows how disciplined he is when it comes to work.”
An emotional Resul told the gathering, “I am very touched and honoured by this gesture. I have dedicated my Oscar to India and my city Mumbai because of its undying spirit. Mumbai is my karmabhoomi and it feels really special to be honoured in this city.”
Though hailing from Kerala, Resul has always been a true Mumbaikar. He studied from the Film Institute in Pune and never had to look back since. “Mumbai has given me so much. It’s truly a city of dreams.” Resul’s two kids are also born and brought up in the city and his family have made Mumbai their first home.
Apart from Bachchan, the function was well attended by other Bollywood and TV celebrities like singer Udit Narayan, actors Ronit Roy, Gul Panag and Dheeraj Kumar to name a few and the evening was hosted by the veteran actor Raza Murad.
Mumbai defies Jaago Re and all other voter awareness campaigns to record the lowest turnout in four General Elections. Evidently, the four-day weekend too good to resist
Rahul Bose went to people’s homes, the Jaago Re mascot caught people at malls and cinema halls to shame them into voting while newspapers dedicated reams to egg the electorate.
But couldn’t-care-less Mumbai preferred to enjoy the extended weekend, recording the lowest turnout in the last four General Elections at 44.16 per cent.
South Mumbai, the constituency where everyone expected spirited voting following the terror attacks of 26/11 and where people made the maximum noise about governance - recorded just 43.33 per cent; a turnout that is even less than 2004.
The last time the city saw a turnout of over 50 per cent was 11 years ago when the Atal Behari Vajpayee government lost the confidence motion by a single vote. It was believed that the decent turnout was due to sympathy for BJP’s poet Prime Minister.
The 26/11 tragedy, however, was an even bigger issue and, therefore, was expected to bring out angry voters.
In fact, various NGOs such as Praja Foundation, Jaago Re and Agni were appealing to this very outraged demographic to vote in big way.
But, what went wrong?
Some say it was because over eight lakh people from Mumbai and Thane were away, enjoying annual vacations at native places, or attending marriages of relatives, April-May being the season to wed.
Mumbai Congress president Kripashankar Singh said that a large number of migrant voters from Uttar Pradesh had left for summer vacations, which impacted the turnout figures.
"Youth did not come out, and the heat was a major factor. The opposition was gung-ho over 26/11, but my reading has been that it was not an election issue," he added.
Subhash Desai, spokesperson for the Sena echoed Kripashanker's views when he blamed the summer vacations.
The NGOs, however, have a different take on the issue.
Nitai Mehta of Praja Foundation said it could possibly be because of an uninspiring leadership.
"I just don't know why voters did not respond in the right manner. Perhaps, today, we do not have leaders who inspire people to vote. During the 1977 elections, the voter turnout in South Mumbai was 62 per cent. Or is it that people prefer to vote only after a major crisis? Maybe it's also general apathy," he said.
Nationalist Congress Party's Mumbai president Sachin Ahir, however, blamed poll officials who insisted on a photo identity card, even after citizens produced their ration card.
"The officers insisted on head of the family being present in the case of ration cards, so naturally many voters did not go back," he said.
MASJID NAHI .. MANDIR NAHI … VIKAAS HAMARA NAARA HAI…
ADVOCATE ARUN KEJRIWAL
(INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FROM NORTH MUMBAI)
This young, educated and dynamic candidate is already a youth icon. Unlike others, caste and religion are not the matters of importance to him but progress and development are certainly of his concern. He is a well known social worker. Youth describes him as their “POTENTIAL WINNER”. He is fighting elections because he want
to bring in a change in the present system. He calls it political revolution. For youngsters he is already a leader.
Let us know more about this Social Engineer.
True to his name “Arun” meaning sun, Arun Kejriwal vibrates with energy, always looking forward to help people.
Arun Kejriwal, 36 was born in a middle class family and pursued his studies in commerce and acquired his masters degree from University Of Mumbai before going on to become a law graduate.
Arun’s decision to directly stand up for Lok Sabha election 2009 talks volumes of the vision he carries not just for people of his constituency in Mumbai, but for the whole of the India.
He is also the founder trustee of the Shiv Shristi Trust, Kandivili (west) and is the Gen. Secretary of this trust.
Arunis now the chairman of Vasanth complex Co-op housing societies and Secretary of Raj Residency 1, comprising of over 600 members.
His vision:
Empowering people to built a responsible India.
His manifesto:
Creating leaders: Bring administrative reforms whereby leadership position in public service is not reduced to a decorative ornament for display. Leadership is only with those who can deliver measurable results.
Building communities: Creating forums through which citizens come together with the objective of connecting people with knowledge to those who are deprived of it, people with resources with those who are deprived of it and from the common interest groups. This will result into breaking old beliefs for many, gain new beliefs and forge new relationships besides mushrooming of self-managing people groups.
Transparency: Bring in improved transparency and measurability of actions taken in the administration, by talking help of technology in working procedures.
Affordable housing: Creating favorable politics which will make the way for affordable homes.
Sensitive Urban Infrastructure: Beyond building more roads, bridges etc. getting Municipal Corporation and other agencies involved to be sensitive to the services being provided to citizens- quality of water, quality of road, travel time, sewerage, air and water pollution, parking, hawking etc.
Disaster Management and National security Plans: It will be his endeavor to ensure that m constituency is equipped to handle any eventuality, foster public government participation and build a model for others to emulate.
His PLEDGE:
I PLEDGE to the people of my constituency and my country to;
·Be Accountable to the state of affairs
·Be accessible at all times
·Be a facilitator between the government agencies & CITIZENS.
·Be a custodian of Public money
·Participate actively in the proceedings of the parliament
INFORMATION FOR VOTERS:
NAMEMR. ANUN KEJRIWAL (INDEPENDENT)
AGE36 YRS
EDUCATIONPOST GRAGUATE FROM JITENDRACHAUHANCOLLEGE
Mr. Arun Kejriwal has taken a very keen interest in solving many public issues pertaining to Mumbai suburbs. He played a very significant role for reducing the impact of FAC (fuel adjustment charges) being imposed by the Reliance Infrastructure Limited.
Due to advocate Arun kejriwal’s affect and support from Bhartiya Udhami Avam Upbhokta Sangh Reliance Infrastructure had to withdraw the petition filed for post approval of FAC charges to the tune of more then 2188 crores adversely impacting 28 lakhs energy consumers of Mumbai suburbs. Out of these 28 lakhs 4 lakhs (approx.) are residing in North Mumbai Constituency ( between Malad, Kandiwali, Boriwali and Megathane area).
Interaction with Mr. Kejriwal:
Q. What concrete steps will you take to end corruption, ensure accountability and bring transparency firstly amongst those that work directly under you and secondly, in other departments of the government machinery?
I strongly believe that accountability starts from the leader himself and it has to stream and flow from top to the bottom. While filing nomination papers I was required to file on oath a statement of my assets and liabilities. I believe this is a very effective way of bringing transparency and hence going to take this ahead and ensure that every person involved with me files on oath and declare their assets and liabilities. Each of their documents will be available in my office as public documents. More the information provided, easier it will be for everybody to evaluate whether they are being treated fairly by their public servants. Wealth declarations do little good if no one can access them, and accountability in government spending is not possible if no one knows how much was available and allocated to a given project in the first place.
When the rules of a society are transparent - when there's a clear and advertised set of laws and regulations regarding how to start a business, what it takes to own property, how to go about getting a loan - there is less of a chance that some corrupt bureaucrat will make up his own rules that suit only his interests. Clarifying these rules and focusing resources on building a judicial system that can enforce them and resolve disputes should be a primary goal of any government suffering from corruption.
Reaching out to people and making them aware of the various provisions in law and educating them at all times of their rights and responsibilities will be my primary focus. This I believe will result in empowering citizens to get their representatives accountable for their actions. For instance, there are various provisions in law for redressing our basic concerns, we do take initiative but for the lack luster response from the various departments in the government machinery the energy so mobilized gets drained over a span of time and the initiative is lost. The need is to channelize these initiatives and persistently energize them through effective guidance and direction besides imparting knowledge of various provisions in law to bring these concerns at a logical conclusion.
Setting up information centers that can guide people on where and whom to approach on the above will be at the top of my priority. You have already read of my pledge to the people of my constituency and country to be accessible, to be a custodian of public money and a facilitator between government agencies and citizens.
I also call upon all the people to standup and face it – for the last many years the people running the country haven’t, and while only some are to blame for the corruption that has plagued this country all are responsible for fixing it.
·In the wake of recent acts of terrorism, what security measures will you implement to ensure safety of citizens and smooth functioning of day-to-day activities?
If we have to fight terrorism, we HAVE to make sure that we vigorously enforce a non proliferation treaty. Let us fight against terrorism through effective, coordinated intelligence efforts and by immediate blocking shutting down the financial networks that support terrorism. Also introduce a homeland security program that involves more than just issuing warnings, playing the blame game and de-link this issue with politics and make opinion of every citizen count in the solution.
Let’s fight against oppression of people, encourage expression of opinion, rise against corruption and inequality. We have to create awareness on social, financial and social perspective of terror so that youth in mismanaging economies do not youth grow up without education, without prospects, without hope. Today misguided youth in many parts of world are used as ready recruits for terrorist cells and without creating proper environment for basic study and higher education, they will continue to be injudicious and irrational in the path they adopt.
In the wake of these circumstances you will find that every time we fight a terrorist another one rises. We have to go beyond symptomatic treatment and national focus is required to address the root causes resulting in formation of terrorists.
I firmly believe that education; empowerment and giving people a dignified basic living will pave the way for elimination of terrorism. When people are meaningfully engaged with a sense and responsibility of their significant contribution for the progress of society and country at large, I am sure they will refrain themselves from destructive acts.
“Creating Leaders” and “Building Communities” – the top priorities in my manifesto are initiatives in this direction. I am for creating leaders – not followers. Each leader whom I empower will create more. By Building Communities, I will bring together people with resources to those who are deprived of it and work in collaboration.
To achieve this – technology based initiatives are being outlined.
·What measures will you take to curb problems of lack of frequency of and lack of safety in transportation. What will be your approach to streamline various components of the systems - metro, local trains with existing bus networks, BRTS etc. so that public transport in Mumbai works as one coordinated system?
It will be my endeavor to work on a united infrastructure organization for Mumbai where all agencies come under one roof. This organization will be independent organization on the lines of BEST. More the number of entities, more the resources required to function and lesser they co-ordinate and on top of all multiple priorities. Three railways – Central, Western & Harbour, BEST, now Metro on the way …..
One entity means only one priority – Mumbai’s Public Transport
“Sensitive urban infrastructure” a priority area in my manifesto is an attempt to address this issue. Looking beyond building more bridges, sky walks, six lanes, service roads – sensitivity needs to be brought in it whereby small but dreaded bottlenecks can be done away with, logical signal network needs to be ensured, adherence to no hawking zones, etc.
·Mumbai and other cities in India today are synonymous with air, water, and noise pollution. By the time you leave office in 2014, what legislative measures would you have taken to alter this path towards complete environmental degradation that cities are currently heading towards?
Effective legislative measures with intent and perfection ensures strict compliance. Also awareness and involvement of the citizens significantly brings voluntary observance. Need is for better coordination with the housing societies and mohalla committees for enhanced participation.
Apart from the above, I have a different aspect of looking at this issue - Why are cities getting polluted? Only because there are more people in cities than what the current administration and infrastructure can handle. There are lack of opportunities in smaller towns & villages. I will raise issues relating to rural development and creating infrastructure in smaller towns, (not for namesake but effective implementations) and conceptualize small scale self empowerment projects to enable a good living.
This will also call for encouraging people to take up self employment, thereby paving the way for self sustaining and self driving village communities.
I will seek to introduce necessary legislations or support such issues which will help build a stronger India back in villages.
·How do you plan on generating more electricity, so as to end the power crisis? Do you plan to do this using conventional sources of energy (such as thermal, hyrdoelectric, nuclear) or alternate sources of energy. Please outline a specific plan?
We have produced the best of scientists in the world. For various reasons, many of them today work for multinationals and best of nations the world over.
As an MP, I will take up issues limiting research and development and create mediums of recognizing their work that will encourage the best brains to seek more grants for research on projects related to power generation specifically to alternative sources of energy. It will be my endeavor to get private participation into funding such projects and bring in force specific research institutions in the field of power on the lines of IIT. I will also attempt to create independent authorities which will observe and identify areas of energy conversation and also define actions against errant usage of power resources.
·What preventive action will you take so that your constituency doesn’t get flooded during the monsoons? How will you upgrade disaster management departments such the fire-fighting department?
People connected to nature understand monsoons better. I have already sounded out to my team to connect to environmentalists, and professionals who understand the various issues connected to this. It will be my effort to contact the best brains in the country to look at solutions that are long lasting.
I will bring in their inputs to supplement the work done by government agencies and coordinate with government agencies, focus being execution with timeframes.
Through my website I will collect inputs from all vigilant citizens on all those activities which cause such flooding. Creating awareness, encourage using bio-degradable packaging materials, better civic sense and creating regular campaigns to improve our overall sense of ownership against these issues.
I strongly believe that Mumbai’s flooding issue is an equal man made issue as is a natural issue and we have to ourselves take actions to improve our habits on waste management.
I will also press for additional resources from the central & state agencies and build competent review authorities to monitor the usage of funds allocated to fight this problem.
Over the past few years, lot has been spent on setting up and upgrading disaster management departments. What is now required is focus on effective implementation and I will do whatever possible to ensure that the teams come together in hour of need. There has to be appropriate local and trained personnel which can do sensible co-ordination. Running round the year awareness programmes and consistently press for public participation are my other ways to create difference on this subject.
·What steps will you take to give economic growth a boost especially during this time of recession? We would like to see sustainable economic growth and understand how do you plan to achieve it?
I believe growth is a mindset and it has to be addressed from the mind first. All along the 60 odd years in the past we have been telling we are an underdeveloped country and related stories…
Since economic liberalization and changes thereon, we have seen changes in the IT, Telecom, Automotive, Media, Airline, Insurance and so many other allied and ancillary industries. Each of the success stories in these areas demonstrate one thing consistently and that is – change in outlook: bring results.
We have over 8 crore SME’s in our country. It will be my endeavor to fight for policies and resources among all things associated with the change in mindset of the youth that “they can earn their own livelihood” and not look for a government / private job. When I help the 8 crore SME’s they will grow, create more opportunities across the country – in the smallest town, village – which will also bring about balance in economic development and the fruits of economic growth reaches all.
It is in line with my manifesto – empowerment, leadership, building communities.
·Unemployment is the biggest concern for today’s youth. What will you do to reduce unemployment and create more jobs?
I think this issue is already been addressed above. What I would like to add here is we need to carefully monitor our attitude towards “Living in History V/s living in Potential”
We need to commit ourselves to excellence. Anything less than commitment to excellence is Acceptance of Mediocrity. We need to always dream to be the best and believe in ourselves about the valuable contribution to make. Excellent performance improves our self image, our self esteem and raises our enthusiasm besides bringing in competence and mastery. We often complain of competition in every areas but when we start moving towards excellence we begin to experience that there is very low or nil competition.
·How will you reduce the rich poor divide and also ensure accountability of funds ear marked for poverty alleviation and slum rehabilitation? Points outlined in 7 & 8 will create more jobs / opportunities. In my manifesto, we have already talked about transparency. It will be my endeavor to bring in transparency and give people access to information, reporting status, and most importantly a voice that will be heard .
·What would you be doing to provide basic health to all that is affordable?
Change in mindset in the doctors and professionals – to understand how it is critical – I suggest that each doctor will have to practice 5 years compulsorily in rural areas if government grants were given.
I will press for policies that give incentives for the professionals and the industry to invest in rural health infrastructure, tax holidays, tele medicines, mobile clinics and so on.
I will work on Public private partnerships.
Navin Prabhakar, T.V. Sinha, Ravi Srivastav
Navin Prabhakar, Arun Kamal, Natalia
Capt. Sumisha Shankar, Deepa Gavit, Sonal Pogul, Arun Kamal 
Due to this Event Bihar Foundation Chairman Mr. Ravi Shrivastav had putted some Light in the life of Dr. Rajender Prasad.And Everybody had been silent (monn) for Two min. In this occasion the Chief Guest were Mr. Navin prabhakar, T.V. Sinha, Lion S.C. Mishra, Capt. Sumisha Shankar, Arun Kamal (Chairman India Bureau), and Chairman of Bihar Foundation Mr. Ravi Shrivastav.
A government roadways corporation has been ordered to monetarily compensate a scientist who was blinded in one eye after being hit by a stone missile from a road construction site in Powai.
Construction agencies are casual about these things. After the accident, a government official was quoted in a newspaper saying that it was just an accident - Rashmi Sudheer
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