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Observing National Anti-Child Labour Day enough to combat the system?

June 11, 2019

Each year on June 12, the World Day brings together governments, employers and workers organisations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them. Today, 152 million children are still in child labour. Child labour occurs in almost all sectors, yet seven out of every 10 of these children are working in agriculture. Childhood is considered to be the most wonderful phase of life. However, not all children are fortunate enough to experience this stage. Poverty, hunger, and lack of resources push millions of children to the world of labour at a very tender age. Unemployment of parents also causes child labor as it leads to desperation in that everyone has to contribute towards putting a meal on the table for the family. Child labor is a serious social problem, not only in India but also in other developing countries. The law in Indian soil says that any child below the age of 14 cannot be employed either in a factory or office or restaurant. Childhood is the great and happiest period of the lives of everyone during which one learns about the basic strategy of the life from parents, loved ones and nature. Child labour interferes with the proper growth and development of the children in all aspects like mentally, physically, socially and intellectually.

Child labours are paid very low wages that range from one third to a half of that of adults, even when their output is greater. Taking into consideration the law concerning child labour, the child workers are virtually unprotected by the Indian constitution. While the government proposes to abolish the problem of child labour according to the Act of 1986 but it seems impossible as unfair means are being practiced to evade legislation of any king by the employers. The child labourer has often been understood as cheap labour, which is a vital economic asset to the developing the industry. However, this never justifies the inhuman conditions, which these innocent ones face.

It is seen that Child labourers are totally sidelined by some organisations. No doubt, due to immense poverty and adult unemployment, many children do need work; hence, I would like to suggest that to have a complete ban on any kind of work for children below 14 is impractical but there should be a cut off age. Children below 10 should not be allowed to work at any cost. Time has now come when we need to organise ‘Workshops-cum-training” centers for poor children in Gujarat so that they can earn while learning some skills.

Child labour has moved from the more formal setting of factories to informal settings such as domestic helpers, and industries like embroidery, glass, beedi-rolling, carpet-making, lock-making, etc. This indicates that unless stronger and more effective steps are taken, child labour will continue to be a part of the global and national story. In India, 10.1 million in the age group of 5 to 11 years and 22.87 million in the age group of 15 to 18 years are out there working day in and day out to earn for a square meal and supporting their family’s income. Undeniably, food and education are two main aspects of proper growth and development of children. Ironically, it is the need for food that compels parents to engage their children in laborious roles.

Worldwide 218 million children between 5 and 17 years are in employment. Among them, 152 million are victims of child labour; almost half of them, 73 million, work in hazardous child labour. Hazardous child labour is most prevalent among the 15-17 years old. Among 152 million children in child labour, 88 million are boys and 64 million are girls. The parents of children are not aware of the possible harmful effects of child labor on their children.

Child labour is a concern that multiple governments all over the world are combating. For a better world, it is a call to everyone to always report cases or incidences of child labour so that the rights of these children are defended by all possible means. We must understand that only when we complement the efforts of governments and NGOs, the laws, policies, and schemes will start showing favourable results. Instead of child labor, the entire focus should be on child education. If the boy or girl takes up a small job as a domestic help or restaurant boy against a nominal salary, he or she does not get enough time for primary and secondary education. The illiterate and unskilled population cannot make a great nation. Observing National Anti-Child Labour Day once a year is not enough to combat against an age-old social system.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

RIP Girish Karnad: Actor to Activist

Rajesh Choudhary

June 10, 2019

Renowned actor and activist Girish Karnad passed away on Monday after a long illness. According to his family, he died at a hospital in Bengaluru at 6.30 am. Girish Karnad followed the leftist ideology and fought against many atrocities recently. He led the protests after the murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh. He had said that the right wing did not have the intellectual calibre of the left. He was also known as a writer, film director, and playwright. His contribution to Kannada playwriting parallels that of Mohan Rakesh in Hindi, Vijay Tendulkar in Marathi, and Badal Sarkar in Bengali.

Social Activist Medha Patkar told Afternoon Voice, “After the murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, I also participated with him in the protest. He was a supporter of the Narmada movement. Girish Karnad was very a progressive and sincere actor and writer. Karnad was fearless and his entire life was full of social commitment. He was kind to all those who face discrimination. He was against all dividing forces. It was Arundhati Roy who introduced him to me. Girish Karnad was very firm on his remarks and values, and he was committed to humanitarian values.”

Girish Karnad was born on May 19, 1938, in Matheran, Maharashtra, in a Konkani-speaking family. Girish Karnad graduated from Karnataka University in Dharwar in 1958. After this, he went to England as a Rhodes Scholar, where he received a Master’s degree in Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics from Lincoln and Magdalen College of Oxford. He had also been a Visiting Professor at Fulbright College, University of Chicago.

Social activist and CPI (M) leader Ajit Abhyankar said, “Girish Karnad was a very progressive theatre personality and art person. His contribution to the progressive movement in the field of art is very valuable and enormous.”

Karnad was a strong critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was among the more than 200 writers who had signed a letter ahead of the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls appealing people to vote BJP and its allies out of power. He said that the ideas of India and its Constitution were under threat. He was a voice that championed the freedom of expression, used his stature to stand and fight for what he believed in despite failing health and numerous threats to his life. In September 2018, Girish Karnad carried a placard that read ‘Me Too Urban Naxal’ at an event organised to mark the first death anniversary of Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru. With a tube in his nose, Girish wore the placard around his neck. Speaking to the gathering on the first death anniversary of Gauri Lankesh, Girish Karnad had spoken up against the house arrests of activists in the entire country.

Renowned author Sadanand More said, “I met Girish Karnad in Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (in 1997) in Ahmadnagar. He was the Guest of Honour. He was a very excellent human being. He inspired the young generation by his exemplary deeds.”

Girish Karnad had once said, “What is horrifying now is not what the Naxals or terrorists are doing but what the police are saying. The accusations against rationalists are complete hogwash. It is not a rational talk. It’s scary because they believe they can do what they want. Someone in Pune is investigating the case and someone in Delhi is directing them. This is grim. If speaking up means being a Naxal then I am an Urban Naxal. I am proud to be a part of the hit list.”

Comparing Congress and BJP-led governments, Karnad had said in 2018, “When we spoke about politics we used to speak of Lanchavatara (corruption’s dance) and now we are talking about Lynch-avatara (dance of lynchings).” He had said this while participating in a memorial session to mark the first anniversary of the death of Gauri Lankesh.

In response to his utterances at the function, an FIR was lodged against Karnad. The right-wing identified the veteran actor as an ‘urban Naxal’ following the event. NP Amruthesh, a member of the Hindu Vidhidnya Parishat, had complained in the FIR that Karnad had Maoist links.

Even liberals questioned him when he blasted VS Naipaul for the latter’s antipathy towards Indian Muslims at the Tata Literary Festival in 2012. Subsequently, he called Rabindranath Tagore a second-rate playwright and said that Gurudev’s plays were unbearable.

His plays, written in Kannada, have been translated into English and several Indian languages. Karnad was one of the most prominent artistic voices of his generation. He was an eminent playwright with works such as “Nagmandala”, “Yayati” and “Tughlaq”. He was part of the parallel film movement and acted in movies such as “Swami”, and “Nishant”. His TV credits include “Malgudi Days” in which he played Swami’s father and a hosting stint in the science magazine “Turning Point” on Doordarshan in the early 1990s. Girish Karnad was last seen by Hindi film viewers in Salman Khan’s film Ek Tha Tiger and its sequel Tiger Zinda Hai. Eminent directors including Ibrahim Alkazi, Prasanna, Arvind Gaud, and BV Karant had directed plays and films featuring Karnad. The Indian performing arts industry mourned the death.

Girish Karnad – A fearless socio-political activist and actor

Vaidehi Taman

June 10, 2019

When intellectuals were attacked and their freedom of speech was chocked, there was one man who voiced strongly against the ruling government of India. He said, “Me too Urban Naxal, arrest me as well…this is time to kick out the RSS govt, otherwise we have to sacrifice lives for the freedom it may take 300 years again.” Well! This very statement made a lot of impact in the hours of silent struggle in India. Girish Karnad was also one of over 200 writers who issued an appeal to Indians in April to vote out hate politics in the Lok Sabha elections and vote for a “diverse and equal India”. He was a voice that championed the freedom of expression, used his stature to stand and fight for what he believed in despite failing health and numerous threats to his life. Girish Karnad carried a placard that read ‘Me Too Urban Naxal’ at an event organised to mark the first death anniversary of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru. With a tube in his nose, Girish wore the placard around his neck. Speaking to the gathering on the first death anniversary of Gauri Lankesh, Girish Karnad had spoken up against the house arrests of activists across the country. He was later charged for wearing the placard around his neck at the event. He was a very bold writer, good actor and a strong voice of India.

Karnad was a very famous personality with a low-key average life. He never liked extravagant stardom. His funeral will be a low- key affair. Honouring his last wishes, his family has decided to avoid any sort of processions or public viewing. Karnad is said to have suffered multiple organ failure and breathed his last. His cremation will not include any religious rituals; will be held at an electric crematorium. Karnad was known for his secular voice that championed the cause of freedom of expression.

Karnad was born in Matheran, Maharashtra, in 1938. A Rhodes Scholar in Oxford, Karnad has written several plays in Kannada and is considered one of the most prominent playwrights in Kannada literature. While at Oxford, Karnad wrote his first play, the critically acclaimed Yayati in 1961. His other acclaimed works include Tughlaq (1964), Hayavadana (1972) and Nagamandala (1988).

The Jnanapith Award recipient made his acting and screenwriting debut in the Kannada movie Samskara in 1970, based on a novel by U.R. Ananthamurthy and won the first President’s Golden Lotus Award for Kannada cinema. He made his directorial debut with Vamsha Vriksha (1971), based on a Kannada novel by S.L. Bhyrappa. Other popular films in Kannada include Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane (1977) and Ondanondu Kaaladalli (1978). He was also a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, in the 1960s that earned him his Master of Arts degree in philosophy, political science, and economics. His plays, written in Kannada, have been translated into English and several Indian languages. Karnad was one of the most prominent artistic voices of his generation.

He was a part of the parallel film movement and acted in movies such as “Swami”, and “Nishant”. His TV credits include “Malgudi Days” in which he played Swami’s father and a hosting stint in the science magazine “Turning Point” on Doordarshan in the early 1990s. He predominantly worked in South Indian cinema and Bollywood. His rise as a playwright in the 1960s, marked the coming of age of modern Indian playwriting in Kannada, just as Badal Sarkar did in Bengali, Vijay Tendulkar in Marathi, and Mohan Rakesh in Hindi. For four decades Karnad composed plays, often using history and mythology to tackle contemporary issues. He translated his plays into English and received acclaim. He was active in the world of Indian cinema working as an actor, director, and screenwriter, in Hindi and Kannada cinema, and had earned awards. He was conferred Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan by the Government of India and won four Filmfare Awards, of which three are Filmfare Award for Best Director – Kannada and the fourth a Filmfare Best Screenplay Award. As an activist, Karnad has a history of making outrageous and untrue statements.

He once on a mainstream English news channel said that a man, who killed 3,000 Muslims, has become the Prime Minister. The death toll in the Gujarat riots was 850 Muslims and 250 Hindus, which the seculars usually feel free to round up and convert to 2,000 Muslims. This is, of course, apart from the question of exactly how Modi “killed” the Muslims. Karnad severely criticised VS Naipaul for saying that the invaders from Central Asia looted, killed, plundered and, yes, forcibly converted people to Islam. He felt that this was an attack on today’s Muslim population in India. Yes, it is true that several invaders like Ghori and Ghazni right up to the Mughal rulers like Babar and Aurangazeb did some of the above, but that doesn’t mean that Dr. Abdul Kalam is being held responsible for these actions. There are some of us who are able to separate the two, but Karnad seems unable to do so.

Even in this instance, he has denounced Kempegowda as a “feudal” chieftain. What was Tipu Sultan, a member of the proletariat? Without agreeing or disagreeing let’s concur why Girish Karnad’s remark bizarre.

Consider Kolkata airport. It is named after Netaji Subash Chandra Bose. Now, Ravindranath Tagore also belonged to Kolkata and is also an integral part of the Bengali identity. Why not name the airport after him? Can you really compare the two giants and decide? Now, you may say that Tipu is no Tagore. He is indeed a controversial figure. And no point going into that debate, but it is not like there aren’t roads named after him and not like he hasn’t left a strong mark on the Mysore area including Bangalore. So, in the end, these decisions are primarily political. Why is it that the most vocal opposition to this suggestion came from Vokkaligas? Why was the name changed to Kempegowda in the first place (it happened a couple of years ago – before that, it was simply Bangalore International Airport)? So, it is perfectly fine if we do not agree with Girish Karnad. However, he was not saying anything particularly bizarre. It is just lame when the right wingers let no chance in trying to belittle him by calling his literature substandard. How many times do you wonder about the same thing about those writers whose opinions you agree with? After all, they were also awarded by the same political dispensation. Let’s keep the politics aside and mourn for the loss — RIP Girish Karnad.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

RBI cut-Now Banks come in action

Web Team

June 10, 2019

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to cut the Repo rate by 25 bps to 5.75 per cent unanimously and decided to change the monetary policy stance from neutral to accommodative. For FY20, RBI again cut its GDP growth forecast by 20 bps to 7.0 per cent, in first half year 6.4-6.7 per cent and in second half year 7.2-7.5 per cent, owing to weak investment activity, weak global demand, and moderation in private consumption.

In the last two policies, RBI cut its growth forecast by 40 bps. RBI more or less kept CPI inflation for FY20 at the same level with 3.0-3.1 per cent in first half year of FY20, earlier it was 2.9-3.0 per cent in the first half-year of FY 20 and 3.4-3.7 per cent in second half year of FY20, earlier it was 3.5 to 3.8 per cent. However, there are risks related to the monsoon, vegetable prices, crude oil, geopolitical tensions, financial market volatility, and the fiscal scenario.

Global economic growth has lost pace after the first quarter of FY 19, reflecting a further slowdown in trade and manufacturing activity. Loss is growth is fairly widespread across both advanced and emerging economies. The loss in momentum in quarter fourth growth can be attributed partly to a slowdown in exports. Weak global demand due to an escalation in trade wars may further impact India’s exports and investment activity.

The relationship between system liquidity and deposit rates is clearly visible in the historical data. Liquidity was in surplus mode between November 16 and December 17 and at the same time, average term deposit rate in less than one year declined by 525 basis points. Meanwhile, when the liquidity started declining and moved to deficit mode from April 18 to December 18, banks increased the deposit rates by 375 basis points.

Leverage Ratio is calculated by dividing Tier 1 capital by the bank’s total exposure. The tier 1 leverage ratio is used as a tool by central monetary authorities to ensure the capital adequacy of banks and to place constraints on the degree to which a financial company can leverage its capital base. As per the framework on LR put up by RBI, the banks were monitored against an LR of 4.5 per cent as the final guidelines were not announced. Since most of the banks are maintaining a higher LR requirement, the bringing down of the ratio would give a scope of further enhancing exposure in assets and non-balance sheet items.

RBI currently manages systemic liquidity based on the guidelines of Liquidity Management Framework 2014. Given the focus that liquidity management has generated in the recent times and RBI’s tinkering with new ways of injecting durable liquidity, the time is right for putting in place a comprehensive policy which is easily accessible to all the market participants and will help in the uniform assessment of systemic liquidity needs. While analysing data, for 64 NBFCs with loans and advances above Rs 100 crore, who have reported their cash and bank balance, we observed that, while loans and advances have increased by around 8 per cent from September 18 level, cash and bank balance increased by around 53 per cent as on March 19. Moreover, the growth is mainly seen in Government-backed NBFCs like Power Finance, REC, LIC housing Finance, etc.

In the developmental and regulatory policies, in order to harmonize our standards with Leverage Ratio standards of Basel III, RBI has decided to keep the minimum requirement of 4 per cent for DSIBs and 3.5 per cent for other banks. Since most of the banks are maintaining a higher LR requirement, the bringing down of the ratio would give a scope of further enhancing the exposure in assets and non-balance sheet items. RBI has also scrapped transaction charges for RGS and NEFT. In a positive development for small and medium forex clients, RBI has also announced the launch of the online trading platform for retail participants.

Under the current scenario, it would be pertinent to ponder whether financial instability should be thought of only as something that impedes the attainment of the inflation goals over time, or does society directly care about financial stability for other reasons. In view of the above, we can say that the RBI decided to cut Repo rate by 25 bps with a unanimous vote of 6-0, which is largely on expected lines. For FY20, GDP growth forecast has been cut by 20 bps to 7.0 per cent by the RBI.

– Satish Singh

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

PM Modi, President Kovind pay tributes to Girish Karnad

Web Team

June 10, 2019

girish karnad died — Image Courtesy : ibtimes.co.in

Renowned actor and playwright Girish Karnad has passed away in Bengaluru due to multiple organ failure. He was 81. The entire film industry is mourning the death of Karnad. The veteran actor had directed several Hindi and Kannada films. Karnad made his acting as well as screenwriting debut in Kannada movies. Karnad a recipient of Jnanpith Award was also conferred the Padma Shri in 1974 and the Padma Bhushan in 1992. His plays written in Kannada have been translated into English and several Indian languages. Renowned personalities hailing from politics and film fraternity paid tributes to Karnad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to twitter to pay tributes to Karnad. He mentioned that Girish Karnad will be remembered for his versatile acting.

Girish Karnad will be remembered for his versatile acting across all mediums. He also spoke passionately on causes dear to him. His works will continue being popular in the years to come. Saddened by his demise. May his soul rest in peace.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 10, 2019

President Ramnath Kovind stated that he is saddened by the demise of veteran actor and director Girish Karnad.

Sad to hear of the passing of Girish Karnad, writer, actor and doyen of Indian theatre. Our cultural world is poorer today. My condolences to his family and to the many who followed his work #PresidentKovind

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 10, 2019

Actor Kamal Haasan also paid tributes to the actor and stated that Karnad’s scripts has inspired him.

Mr.Girish Karnad, His scripts both awe and inspire me. He has left behind many inspired fans who are writers. Their works perhaps will make his loss partly bearable.

— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) June 10, 2019

What should be right age to begin schooling?

Web Team

June 10, 2019

The draft National Education Policy has once again started discussions in the country that what should be the right age to begin schooling. According to the proposal of the draft National Education Policy 2019, early childhood education should be overseen and regulated by the Human Resource Development Ministry as part of the school system. If this proposal is accepted, Indian kids will soon enter the formal education system at the age of three.

The draft National Education Policy proposes to expand the Right to Education Act to cover the three years of preschool before Class 1. The private pre-schools and Anganwadis cater to the 3-to-6 years age group currently. As per draft policy, an inter-ministerial task force will work out a roadmap for the transition by the end of 2019.

On the other hand, a recent study conducted by Stanford University has said that parents who waited to enroll their kids in kindergarten by age 6 (and not 5) had better performing kids. The kids had better test scores and better self-control by the time they reached 7 and 11 years. Psychologists also see self-control as an executive function. They feel it is in the initial years when kids start to possess this quality. Kids with a strong level of executive function are able to manage their time better and focus even with distractions.

The Human Resource Development Ministry is in the early stages of assessing the implications of such a move. Additional costs will come in the form of teacher recruitment and training, infrastructure and learning materials, as well as nutritional aspects (including the proposal to provide breakfast to young children). If the government implements it, the Anganwadi system will be boosted which has been overseen by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) for more than four decades. The Ministry does not yet have accurate data on what percentage of children are neither in pre-schools nor the Anganwadi system. Given that the WCD Ministry has been in charge of this for over 40 years, it’s not clear if they would be willing to give it up.

The draft Policy praises the contribution of Anganwadis for improving health and nutrition, but notes that their record in education is not so strong. According to the draft policy, while providing some essential cognitive stimulation, play, and day care, most Anganwadis have remained relatively light on the educational aspects of ECCE [or Early Childhood Care and Education]. Anganwadis are currently quite deficient in supplies and infrastructure for education. They have more children in the 2-4 year age range and fewer in the educationally critical 4-6 year age range. They also have few teachers trained in or specially dedicated to early childhood education.

The draft Policy says that private pre-schools often consist of formal teaching and rote memorisation with limited play-based learning. A 2017 study by the Ambedkar University showed that “a significant proportion of children in India who completed pre-primary education, public or private, did not have the needed school readiness competencies when they joined primary school.

The draft Policy suggests a new integrated curricular framework for 3 to 8-year olds with a flexible system based on play, activity and discovery, and beginning exposure to three languages from age 3 onwards. This framework would be implemented by training and strengthening Anganwadi capabilities and linking them to a local primary school, co-locating Anganwadis and pre-schools with primary schools, or building stand-alone pre-schools also linked to a local primary school.

As per the draft Policy, all aspects of early childhood education must come under the Human Resource Development Ministry, just as health services in Anganwadis lie with the Health Ministry. A joint task force from Health, HRD and WCD will draft “a detailed plan outlining the operational and financial implications of the integration of early childhood education with the school education system”.

Many schools in India start accepting kids who are just 2.5 years old. In spite of many researches and established facts that kids should not be overburdened in the name of education, people feel crazy to get admitted their kids at the age of 2-3 years. As per the rules framed by CBSE, to secure admissions into class 1, the minimum age requirement is 5 years and the maximum age is 7 years.

According to the government circular, the weight of schoolbags for students of classes I and II should not exceed 1.5 kg, while those of students of class III to V should weigh between 2 kg to 3 kg. Schoolbags of students of classes VI and VII should not be more than 4 kg, while the weight of schoolbags of classes VIII and IX students should not be above 4.5 kg. The schoolbag of a class X student should not weigh above 5 kg.

The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development has directed all states and Union Territories (UTs) to regulate the weight of school bags, as children remain crushed by the heavy bags they carry. Most bags weighed double the limit prescribed by the government. Many small kids were seen carrying even 10-kg bags. Children of classes III and IV were the worst suffers.

The idea behind the government circular is to ensure good health and physical growth of growing children who are often seen complaining about back and shoulder pain. According to doctors, 68 per cent of the children in the age group of 7-13 face risks of a backache and hunchback because of heavy schoolbags. These problems may lead to early spondylitis and severe neck and back pain. It may also cause serious spinal damage and irreversible back problems. It also affects the mental growth of children as they feel tired all the time.

Main Features of Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009

Free and compulsory education to all children of India in the 6 to 14 age group.
No child shall be held back, expelled or required to pass a board examination until the completion of elementary education.
If a child above 6 years of age has not been admitted in any school or could not complete his or her elementary education, then he or she shall be admitted in a class appropriate to his or her age. However, if a case may be where a child is directly admitted in the class appropriate to his or her age, then, in order to be at par with others, he or she shall have a right to receive special training within such time limits as may be prescribed. Provided further that a child so admitted to elementary education shall be entitled to free education till the completion of elementary education even after 14 years.
Proof of age for admission: For the purpose of admission to elementary education, the age of a child shall be determined on the basis of the birth certificate issued in accordance with the Provisions of Birth. Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1856, or on the basis of such other document as may be prescribed.No child shall be denied admission in a school for lack of age proof
A child who completes elementary education shall be awarded a certificate.
Call need to be taken for a fixed student–teacher ratio.
Twenty-five per cent reservation for economically disadvantaged communities in admission to Class I in all private schools is to be done.
Improvement in the quality of education is important.
School teachers will need adequate professional degree within five years or else will lose job.
School infrastructure (where there is a problem) need to be improved in every 3 years, else recognition will be cancelled.
Financial burden will be shared between the state and the central government.

Is BMC ready for monsoon?

S. Krishna Kumar

June 10, 2019

The much awaited monsoon is expected very soon in Greater Mumbai. And rainy season in “Aamchi Mumbai” is like a festival awaited by all Mumbaikars. However, as far as “Greater Mumbai” is concerned, it’s also and always the BMC’s monsoon-preparedness that matters to all the citizens. Every inaugural shower has always exposed the “monsoon-readiness” of the BMC and other civic bodies. With a downpour lasting just a couple of hours, many areas in Mumbai gets heavily flooded.

The assurances by all the top officials that there will be no flooding have always been belied, again and again. The huge amount said to be spent on drainage work and road repairs (especially) seem to go wasted.

Hence my priority would be that the state government, MMRDA and BMC should take earnest efforts to stop water logging, since the main problems are dug-up roads, uncovered manholes, protruding cables, mounds of uncleared garbage and debris strewn around every street. Even today you can see many roads being dug up for one reason or the other, roads concretising work left incomplete and so on. For example, in the suburb of Dombivli, several main roads are dug up and mounds of debris lie uncleared due to concretization work going on for months. Hope these are completed in all respects before the onset of the monsoon.

I shudder to think what would be the consequences if the city were to witness heavy rains like the downpour on July 26, 2005, again, under the present “messy-circumstances and the overall situation across the city”.

Thanks to the METRO project work going on in areas like Goregaon, Chembur, Malad and so on, the condition of roads and traffic have already become a nightmare. As these projects will take a couple of years to complete, at least the roads and the areas around must be free of materials and debris.

Why are so many projects taken up months and years ago, take so long and remain incomplete, leaving several manholes open and nullahs uncleaned? Is it not the responsibility of the civic authorities to ensure that the work is completed well before the arrival of the monsoon and ensure that the roads are free of potholes? If the projects are not completed and debris are not removed and drainage outlets not cleaned, potholes not repaired etc, this year too, Mumbaikars will have to wade through water-logged roads and lanes. To begin with, wherever large projects like the METRO, are underway, roads should be kept wide to the extent possible and no debris and construction materials should be dumped affecting the flow of traffic. Policemen must be seen at all vantage and crucial junctions to control discipline and maintain traffic flow.

With monsoon set to arrive in a couple of weeks, it’s very important that the government and the BMC should prioritise attending to basic infrastructure provisions and alleviate the problems of the people on the whole, as stated above. We must have all the basic amenities and precautions in the first place. And, above all, every project and a facility must have a firm schedule and deadline for completion and the contractors involved (especially in the road maintenance works) must be heavily penalized for shoddy jobs, year after year.

Most importantly, MCGB must close all the manholes with wire meshes so that when manholes have to be opened due to floods, pedestrians don’t fall into it -like the tragic incident which happened two years ago claiming the life of a doctor who fell into a open manhole.

Above all, what is more important and crucial is the regular monitoring of the city roads during the heavy downpour, as we have repeatedly witnessed our big and bigger pot holes emerging on all our roads and which have led to serious accidents to the motorists and two wheeler drivers. This time, it must be ensured that potholes as and when emerged, are duly filled in (not with bricks and stones) with pucca work done and traffic cops must ensure that accidents are prevented. Blacklist the contractors who do the worst job and swindle BMC’s and the city tax payer’s money. They must never ever be given contracts again.

As many parts of Maharashtra is reeling under drought, let us of course pray for good monsoon which is the need of the season. And let us enjoy the rain and not suffer from it. It is in the hands of the BMC and other officials to make the lives of the Mumbaikars enjoyable and comfortable, this monsoon season. Best wishes!

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Letters to the Editor: 10 June, 2019

Web Team

June 10, 2019

SSC pass percentage dips

A disappointing 75.53% in Maharashtra and a deploring 74.94% in Mumbai and suburbs is rather unforgettable result percentage and it is an eye opener. The standard of education is going down drastically as the students depend on coaching classes and attend classes in school when they feel like going. In all SSC results brought utter disappointment. It is notable that only few students in Mumbai division and across Maharashtra bag distinction and first class and the State’s Education Ministry should go into the details and find out the reasons for the slump in results and why there is a decline in percentage of passing students.

C.K. Subramaniam

Probe mysterious death of Sharmila Shinde

The mysterious death of an Indian woman Sharmila Shinde in Netherlands needs to be unearthed by the investigative agencies in India as this seems to be a case of murder. The circumstances surrounding the case too sounds suspicious with the disappearing act of the husband after hurriedly coming to India with the kids and dropping them at his parent’s house before leaving to an undisclosed destination.

The reasons which led to murder may be unknown but cops in India should contact authorities in Netherlands with the help of foreign affairs ministry so that the real cause of murder can be ascertained and culprit punished. Love marriages has its own complications and more so when couples choose to live abroad in alien conditions. The Dutch mystery should be solved so that it alerts others in similar circumstances in future.

S.N. Kabra

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Amit Shah dives in Mission Maharashtra

Rajesh Choudhary

June 9, 2019

While the Congress party is struggling with the issue of leadership at the national level, the BJP has already started preparation for Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand Assembly elections which are scheduled to take place later this year. The BJP president Amit Shah met the core group members from Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand on Sunday. The BJP is in power in all three states.

According to sources, Amit Shah first held a meeting with the core group of Haryana. After that, he met Jharkhand’s core group. Then he held key discussions on Maharashtra Assembly elections with the core group members from the state. It is believed that Amit Shah chalked out strategies for the upcoming three assembly elections. The meeting took place in the BJP head office in Delhi. After registering a landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections, the party hopes to repeat its performances in these states, too. Amit Shah does not want to take any chance. The meeting with core groups of Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand sends a clear message that he is not in a mood to take things lightly.

On being asked about BJP’s preparations and strategies in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, the party spokesperson Prof. Suhas Farande told Afternoon Voice, “We are confident of winning the ensuing assembly elections again. Like the Modi government in the country, CM Devendra Fadnavis has also worked in Maharashtra. He followed the slogan ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ in true sense. People of Maharashtra are with the BJP. Therefore, the BJP government will be re-elected in the state.”

“The BJP Maharashtra core group, including CM Fadnavis, Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, and Vijay Puranik met the party president Amit Shah in New Delhi to discuss the upcoming Assembly elections. We are going to fight the elections in alliance with the Shiv Sena. The seat sharing between both the parties is yet to be finalized,” he added.

Thus, the BJP is set to contest the Assembly elections in alliance with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. It is notable that in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance won 41 of the 48 seats in the state. BJP won 23 seats and its ally Shiv Sena won 18 seats. Early this month, Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said that Devendra Fadnavis is the “natural choice” of the people, the BJP and the Shiv Sena for the top post again. He said that the two parties would contest 135 seats each in the 288-member House, and leave 18 seats for other allies.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “Every party prepares for the elections according to its strategy and we also do the same. The Congress party chief has made it clear that the party will fight the Assembly elections in alliance with the NCP. Therefore, there is no meaning of some Congress workers’ anger against the NCP.”

It is remarkable that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday met BJP president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the possibility of a State Cabinet expansion and appointment of new State and Mumbai unit chiefs of the party. He also discussed a range of issues related to the state, including the drought situation in the state.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Ashish Jaiswal said, “We are ready for the Assembly elections any time. The Shiv Sena’s preparation for the election goes throughout the year. The party leadership will take a final decision on the seat-sharing with the BJP.”

According to the sources, the top leadership of the state and the Centre are holding extensive discussions to carefully weigh the pros and cons before carrying out the changes in the Cabinet and state unit. They will take every decision keeping in mind the crucial October Assembly elections. The Cabinet reshuffle and expansion and organisational overhaul will be interlinked. The reshuffle and expansion will be to accommodate new entrants who have quit Congress-NCP to join BJP. Among the names likely to find a place in the Cabinet are former Congress and Opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, former NCP leader Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil and former NCP minister Jaydutt Kshirsagar, who joined the Shiv Sena last month, and former Congress MLA Abdul Sattar.

In Maharashtra, the main fight of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) combine. However, both parties suffered severe debacle in the Lok Sabha polls. Now they are facing after-shocks, too. The Congress workers expressed their ire against NCP. The Congress workers urged the state leadership to go solo in the upcoming assembly elections this year. The common complaint from the workers was that the NCP did not help the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections. The workers also requested the party leadership of considering having a pre-poll alliance with Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) in the place of the NCP.

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