Promoting Good Governance – Positive Contribution of Vigilance: Part II

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November 2, 2018

Ethics Matter the most

Mahatma Gandhi rightly said, “GOOD ETHICS IS GOOD BUSINESS”. “Non-corporation with the evil is as much a duty as is co-operation with good”. Albert Einstein said, “We should be men of values rather than men of success.” Winston Churchill said, “We should extend values beyond our homes.”

Ethics is important not only in business but in all aspects of life because it is the vital part and the foundation on which the society is built. Ethics refers to a code of conduct that guides an individual in dealing with others. Business Ethics is a form of the art of applied ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that can arise in a business environment. It deals with issues regarding the moral and ethical rights, duties and corporate governance between a company and its shareholders, employees, customers, media, government, suppliers and dealers. Warren Buffet said “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”

Good Governance Practices

Good governance as expressed through factors like reliability, predictability, and accountability is increasingly seen as a key factor in ensuring national prosperity. Good government depends on an ability to exercise power and to make good decisions over time, across a spectrum of economic, social, environmental, and other areas. Governance is the exercise of economic, political, and administrative authority to manage a country’s affairs at all levels. Without good governance, no amount of developmental schemes can bring in improvements in the quality of life of the citizens. Good governance is the most effective way to ensure that public funds are actually and effectively used for the purpose they are sanctioned, and that government’s welfare measures actually reach the intended beneficiaries without any leakage or the least possible leakage on the way. Strengthening governance, therefore, is vital and over the recent past, several initiatives have been undertaken to improve the quality of governance.

Conclusion

Time has now come to improve our system, make transparent policies for good governance in public administration, and sincerely and effectively implement them. Transparency is an important aspect of good governance, and transparent decision making is critical for making sound decisions and investments.

Corruption has become such an integral part of our everyday life that it has become very difficult to eradicate it. Today, we wish to have more luxuries and more comfort even at the cost of our integrity and moral values. We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values.

We should do our best with full devotion, honesty, and integrity. Time has come to improve our system, make transparent policies for good governance in public administration and sincerely and effectively implement them.

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

IMF bats for RBI’s independence; says monitoring situation in India

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Afternoon Voice

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November 2, 2018

The IMF has said it was monitoring the reported rift between the RBI and the Centre in India, and expressed its opposition to any move that compromises the independence of central banks anywhere in the world.

There were reports of mounting tension between the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) over the autonomy of monetary policy makers after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday criticised the central bank for failing to check indiscriminate lending during 2008 and 2014 that has led to the present bad loan or Non-Performing Asset (NPA) crisis in the banking industry.

“We’re monitoring the development on that issue and will continue to do so,” International Monetary Fund (IMF) Director of Communications Gerry Rice told reporters on Thursday when asked about the row.

“Just stepping back, as a general principal, and we’ve said this before. I’ve said this before standing here that we support clear lines of responsibility and accountability… And, international best practice is that there should be no government or industry interference that compromises the independence of the central bank and financial supervisor,” Rice said.

This is true across the range of countries that the independence of the central bank and the financial supervisor is of utmost importance, he asserted.

“We regard it as such and we have to make that statement in the context of a number of countries. So, I think that’s probably the best response I can give you,” Rice said, responding to a question on the increasing efforts globally to criticise central banks, including the one by the US President Donald Trump in recent weeks.

The row was sparked off last Friday when RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya in a hard-hitting speech warned that undermining central bank’s independence could be “potentially catastrophic”, possible indication of the RBI being pushed to relax its policies ahead of general elections next year.

Sources privy to the development said the government had sent at least three letters on different issues under Section 7 of the RBI Act that gives it powers to issue any direction to the central bank governor on matters of public interest.

The standoff was in relation to RBI’s handling of weak public sector banks, tight liquidity in the market and ways of resolving bad loans in the power sector. Some reports claimed that RBI Governor Urjit Patel was considering stepping down if the government were to issue an unprecedented direction.

Without acknowledging that the notices have been sent to the RBI, the Finance Ministry in a statement said that the “autonomy for the central bank, within the framework of the RBI Act, is an essential and accepted governance requirement. Governments in India have nurtured and respected this”.

Assam: ULFA kills 5 in Tinsukia; Mamata hints at NRC link

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Afternoon Voice

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November 2, 2018

Three members of a family were among five people shot dead by suspected ULFA (Independent) gunmen while two others were injured at Kheroni village in Assam’s Tinsukia district on Thursday night, police said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked whether the attack was related to the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

A group of assailants with sophisticated weapons came to the village near Dhola-Sadiya bridge and called out five-six people from their house around 8pm, police said.

They then opened indiscriminate fire upon those people before fleeing under the cover of darkness, a police officer said.

Police suspect the gunmen belonged to the ULFA (Independent) faction as they were in battle fatigues.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal condemned “the killing of innocent people” and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved families.

“Strong action will be taken against the perpetrators of this dastardly violence. We will not tolerate such cowardly acts,” Sonowal told PTI.

Sonowal said he had directed state ministers Keshav Mahanta and Tapan Gogoi along with DGP Kuladhar Saikia to rush to the spot.

“We will not spare the culprits of the killings and they will be brought to book,” Sonowal said.

Sonowal appealed to the people of Assam to maintain peace and harmony.

Sonowal also directed all deputy commissioners and SPs to remain alert.

According to Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mukdhajyoti Mahanta, the bodies have been taken to the Sadia Civil Hospital for postmortem.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Sonowal and took stock of the situation.

Singh expressed deep anguish over the incident, saying strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

“Deeply anguished by civilian casualties in an attack in Upper Assam region. It is a reprehensible act of mindless violence. Spoke to Assam CM Shri @sarbanandsonwal regarding the incident and asked him to take strict possible action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime,” he said.

Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, opposition Congress state president Ripun Bora, AIUDF general secretary Aminul Islam and the Assam Sahitya Sabha were among those who also denounced the incident.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a Twitter post, wondered if the attack was related to developments around the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

“Is this the outcome of recent NRC development,” Banerjee questioned.

Banerjee strongly condemned the incident and offered condolences to the families of the deceased.

“Terrible news coming out of Assam. We strongly condemn the brutal attack in Tinsukia… We have no words to express our deep sorrow to the grieving families. The perpetrators must be punished at the very earliest,” Banerjee added.

4 new Supreme Court judges sworn in, strength rises to 28

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Afternoon Voice

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November 2, 2018

Justices Hemant Gupta, R. Subhash Reddy, M.R. Shah and Ajay Rastogi were on Friday sworn in as judges of the Supreme Court, taking its strength to 28 judges.

The swearing-in ceremony started at 10:30am in court number 1 of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi administered the oath of office to the four judges.

The president had on Thursday given his assent to the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium for elevating Gupta, Reddy, Shah and Rastogi, who were chief justices of different High Courts, as apex court judges.

While Justice Gupta was the chief justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Justice Reddy was the Gujarat High Court chief justice.

Justice Shah was the chief justice of the Patna High Court and Justice Rastogi was the chief justice of the Tripura High Court.

The Supreme Court has a sanctioned strength of 31 judges. With the elevation of these four new judges, the strength has risen from 24 to 28.

Is Modi’s nation only limited to Gujarat? #StatueOfUnity

By

Vaidehi Taman

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November 1, 2018

One of the most absurd initiatives by PM Narendra Modi is to build the biggest statue of Sardar Patel that will turn world tourism towards India. Sardar Patel was a politician who served as the first Deputy Prime Minister of India. He was an Indian barrister and statesman, a senior leader of the Indian National Congress, and a founding father of the Republic of India that played a leading role in the country’s struggle for independence and guided its integration into a united, independent nation. In India and elsewhere, he was often called Sardar, Chief in Hindi, Urdu, and Persian. He acted as the de facto Commander-in-chief of the Indian Army during the political integration of India and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.

Patel was born and raised in the countryside of Gujarat. He was a successful lawyer. He subsequently organised peasants from Kheda, Borsad, and Bardoli in Gujarat in non-violent civil disobedience against the British Raj, becoming one of the most influential leaders of the state. He rose to the leadership of the Indian National Congress, organising the party for elections in 1934 and 1937 while promoting the Quit India Movement. He led the task of forging a united India, successfully integrating into the newly independent nation those British colonial provinces that had been “allocated” to India. Besides those provinces that had been under direct British rule, the Indian Independence Act of 1947 had released approximately 565 self-governing princely states from British suzerainty. Threatening military force, Patel persuaded almost every princely state to accede to India. His commitment to national integration in the newly independent country was total and uncompromising, earning him the sobriquet “Iron Man of India”.

He is also remembered as the “patron saint of India’s civil servants” for having established the modern all-India services system. He is also called the “Unifier of India”. On October 31, 2018, Patel was honoured by the dedication of a 182 metre statue of him, called the ‘Statue of Unity’. The world’s tallest statue, it was dedicated on the 143rd anniversary of his birthday, at Kevadiya in Narmada District of Gujarat. It was planned to build the statue in Narmada River near to Sardar Sarovar Dam for giving a nice view to the tourists and make them visit more number of times. The monument along with its surroundings occupies over 20,000 square metres and is surrounded by a 12 square km artificial lake. It is the world’s tallest statue with a height of 182 meters (597 ft). Counting the base below, total height comes to be 240 meters. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET), a special purpose vehicle was established by the Government of Gujarat for its construction. Its construction began in October 2013 and completed in mid October 2018.

The project was completed in a time-bound manner with utmost efficiency. More than the PM of India, those who worked hard to create a national monument of international importance are worth appreciating. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a strong-willed leader who believed that a strong and united India was necessary to fight against the divisive forces. Unfortunately, Maharaja Hari Singh delayed the decision in giving his consent to merge with the Indian union. For that delay, India paid and is still paying a heavy penalty. A great leader Sardar Patel richly deserves all the appreciation. The statue is ideally located and definitely will become one of the most popular tourist spots in Gujarat. Many people are saying, this is a waste of money but it is not, as this makes a great tourist spot and would garner revenue for the local people as well and they can easily make back the money they Spent. Vision and steely determination of Modi to build this statue, truly the world’s tallest.

Let the tourists visit the place and pay obeisance to the Indian leader who should not fade in the memory of Indians. I hope more statues should come in all metropolises. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel — I too genuflect before the undying personality, may all Indians know the true nobilities of Mother India.

The local people opposed land acquisition for the development of tourism infrastructure around the statue. Meanwhile, the entire project made it awkward for BJP; Environmental Activists wrote a letter to the central government contending that the project implementation started without a clearance from the Environment Ministry. People of Kevadiya, Kothi, Waghodia, Limbdi, Navagam, and Gora villages opposed the construction of the statue and demanded the restitution of the land rights over 375 hectares (927 acres) of land acquired earlier for the dam and the formation of Garudeshwar taluka. They also opposed the formation of Kevadiya Area Development Authority (KADA) and the construction of Garudeshwar weir-cum-causeway project. The government of Gujarat accepted their demands.

The Statue of Unity has both arguments in favour and against it. No doubt it will set India apart in the world stage but at the same time, spending such money seems extravagant while India is still struggling to provide the basic needs to its citizen.

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

#StatueofUnity: ‘Majestic’ statue at the cost of Tribal sustenance?

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Afternoon Voice

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November 1, 2018

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Statue of Unity dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on the occasion of his 143rd birth anniversary, questions are being raised whether it was really worth to spend a whopping Rs 3,000 crore amount on the memorial? The statue is located in Narmada district of Gujarat. The Tribals had protested against the statue which was constructed after destroying the forest area and causing harm to the environment. Around 75,000 people from at least 72 villages have been affected by the ‘Statue of Unity’.

Social Activist Medha Patkar had penned an open letter to Sardar Patel and stated that lands of Adivasi labourers were encroached to build this statue. In the letter she has mentioned, “Can you imagine who has built your new avatar? Many Chinese and some local Adivasi and national labourers have worked overnight on the ‘Sadhu Bet’, a hillock with Adivasi deity of their faith. You would surely ask that on whose land this statue would stand! Whose plan was this? This land, river, forest that your avatar is going to stand on, belongs to the Adivasis.”

“Along with the statue, they have also planned a huge tourist project, but they have denied that in one of the petitions filed by the activist from Gujarat a few years ago. Now, it is known that this statue is a part of the largest project which is situated on hill and comes under tribal areas; however, they never consulted the Adivasis. It is also going to affect the river and the communities around. All these are decorative. To construct a project on the bank of river Narmada is not even beneficial to the people of Gujarat,” Medha Patkar said in a chat with Afternoon Voice.

The Modi government has always been using Patel’s legacy for narrow political gains. PM Modi had stated that if Patel would have been made the Prime Minister of India, the scenario would have been much different today. He has spoken highly of Patel’s contribution towards the integration of the nation. On the other hand, Patel has always considered himself as the soldier of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru as his leader.

Social activist Kumar Saptarshi asserted, “It is totally wrong to use such a lump sum amount for constructing a statue and this ideology to make statues is also wrong. It was a political strategy to name the statue as the Statue of Unity as the inauguration just involved Amit Shah, PM Modi, and the CM of Gujarat. The PM could have invited other state Ministers from different political parties but he didn’t. They are using Sardar Patel just to attack Nehru despite Patel being Gandhi and Nehru follower. Sardar Patel would have himself denied for this in his presence and would have put forward Gandhi before him.”

A question which arises here is why PM Modi is too much focussed on the development of Gujarat and ignoring other states? Ever since Modi had become the Prime Minister, many developmental works have been undertaken in Gujarat. The bullet train project has been announced from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. While many leaders have contributed towards India’s freedom struggle but Modi has been always been focussing too much on Patel’s contribution for nation’s independence. Whenever any leader from the foreign countries visits India, they are taken to Gandhinagar instead of other places in the country.

Social Activist Abhijeet Rane said, “As it is said that there are two sides of a coin, the Statue of Unity initiative of the Modi government is a similar example; if we take it positively, it has become a landmark of India and I appreciate this move. Although the costing and price of the tickets are another issue but Modi has made the statue as a tourist attraction so I take it in a very positive manner. However, stating the name with Unity for the statue is their political agenda. They also did not feel it necessary to involve dignitaries’ from the other political parties of other states; however, any political party would do what BJP has done.”

The ‘Statue of Unity’ monument was conceptualised by Modi during his reign as the Gujarat Chief Minister and he laid the foundation stone for it in 2013. It is almost double the size of Statue of Liberty in the US and four times the size of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil. The statue was completed within a span of 33 months. The statue has been designed by noted sculptor Padmabhushan Ram V Sutar. Iron was collected from all over India for the construction of the statue. The fee levied on the entry to the Statue of Unity is Rs 300 which is high as compared to other memorial. How will the money be used for the development work?

The Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge attacked the BJP government for using Sardar Patel’s statue for their vested interests. He said, “Every year the BJP remembers a different freedom fighter. Sometimes they remember Patel, sometimes Gandhi for Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, and sometimes they remember Dr. B R Ambedkar and Subash Chandra Bose.”

‘Uddhav’s Ayodhya visit to remind PM Modi about Ram Temple construction’

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Afternoon Voice

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November 1, 2018

Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday said that party chief Uddhav Thackeray is going to Ayodhya to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government that Ram Temple needs to be constructed.

Raut also informed that all preparations have been made for Thackeray’s visit to Ayodhya on November 25. “All preparations have been done for Uddhav Thackeray’s visit to Ayodhya on November 25. He is going there to remind Modi ji and the BJP government that Ram Temple needs to be constructed,” Raut told agencies.

“It will take 1000 years if we wait for court’s verdict on Ram Temple,” he added.

On October 29, the apex court adjourned the hearing of the Ayodhya title suit case until January 2019.

The apex court had adjourned the matter, which challenged the Allahabad High Court verdict of 2010 that ruled that the disputed land in Ayodhya should be divided into three parts for each party – the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lala.

The Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished on December 6, 1992, allegedly by a group of some Hindu activists, claiming that the mosque was constructed by Mughal king Babur after demolishing a Ram Temple that originally stood there. Since then, several hearings have been held in the top court to resolve the issue.

Five die due to suffocation in Thane

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Afternoon Voice

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November 1, 2018

At least five people died due to suffocation in a well in Maharashtra’s Thane on Thursday. The deceased also include two fire department officials and trustees who had gone to rescue a labourer into the well. Four bodies have so far been recovered and the rescue operation is underway.

The officials believe that the men died due to the poisonous fumes which got collected since the well was closed for many days. “A labourer entered well to clean it and died due to suffocation. 2 trustees who went in to rescue the labourer also died inside. Two fire dept officials who had gone into well also died during the rescue operation,” Additional CP Pratap Dighavkar said.

He added: “Four bodies taken out. Rescue op on. For chemical analysis, sample of water collected from well. We’ve taken a sample from a nearby gutter as well which may have sulphur content. Prima facie, it appears gas collected in the well as it was closed since many days.”

The incident has been reported a few days after three labourers engaged in cleaning a manhole in an industrial area in Thane district on Friday died possibly after inhaling poisonous fumes. The incident happened in the MIDC area of Dombivli in the evening and the Kalyan-Dombivli fire brigade was summoned at around 4:15 PM, an official said.

Fire Officer Suresh Shinde of the Dombivli MIDC fire station told agencies that the deceased were part of a team of contract workers who were engaged in cleaning drains in the industrial area. The three entered the manhole one after the other in a space of few minutes and choked to death, he said.

Swine Flu death toll in Maharashtra touches 302

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Afternoon Voice

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November 1, 2018

As many as 302 people have died due to swine flu so far this year in the state, according to the state Health Surveillance officer.

Health Surveillance officer of the state Pradip Awte on Wednesday told agencies that 325 people affected with swine flu are admitted in the hospital. “302 deaths due to swine flu have been reported in the state this year. As many as 325 people are still in various hospitals out of which 22-23 are in critical condition and have been put on ventilators,” he said adding that 2375 people got affected by the flu virus from January to October.

“However, the deaths due to swine flu have significantly declined this year. While around 700 people died in 2017, the death toll this year has touched 302 so far. The cases this year spiked in July, August and September,” he informed.

Explaining the preventive measures and cure of the communicable disease, he said that diabetic patients and people suffering from hypertension are at higher risk. “Those suffering from diabetes or hypertension must immediately consult doctors if they develop some unusual cough or cold as chances of their health worsening are higher than others. If treatment starts within a span of two days after the detection of the disease, chances of recovery are higher,” he added.

Dr Awte also advised that people who have developed cold and cough should stay away from public places and take medicines after consulting the medical practitioner.

“People who are suffering from cold and cough must not go to any public place. They must avoid going to cinema halls. Only 5-6 per cent people suffering from swine flu are admitted to hospital, rest are treated by oral medicines at home. However, consult doctors before taking any medication,” he advised.

Dhule, Ahmednagar civic body elections to be held on December 9

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Afternoon Voice

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November 1, 2018

Elections to the municipal corporations of Dhule and Ahmednagar in Maharashtra will be held on December 9, the State Election Commission said on Thursday.

State Election Commissioner J S Saharia said the term of the two civic bodies ends on December 29.

The Dhule Municipal Corporation, which has a voter population of 4.46 lakh, has 74 wards, while Ahmednagar Corporation with 3.46 lakh voters has 68 wards.

The filing of nominations will start from November 13, the last date of withdrawal is November 26 while the counting of votes will take place on December 10.