Latest News Update

Saturday, January 30, 2010

[ZESTCaste] No money for parks, memorials this fiscal: Maya

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/No-money-for-parks--memorials-this-fiscal--Maya/573361

No money for parks, memorials this fiscal: Maya
Express News Service Posted online: Saturday , Jan 30, 2010 at 0504 hrs
Lucknow : Facing all-round criticism over the use of public money on
the construction of memorials, parks and statues of Dalit icons, UP
Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday said there would be no financial
allocation for the parks and memorials in the budget of the next
financial year 2010-11, which will be presented in the Assembly on
February 4.
Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his
address, Mayawati refuted the charges of the Opposition that the
entire budget was spent on the construction of memorials. "Only one
per cent of the total budget of 2009-10 was spent on the parks and
memorials and in the 2010-11 budget, there will be no allocation for
parks and memorials," she said.

The chief minister said that the criticism of the government over the
construction of parks, statues and memorials betrayed the casteist
mindset of the Opposition parties. "We would not have to take up the
construction of memorials to great leaders and saints of SCs and OBCs
had the previous regimes taken care of it," Mayawati said.

She said the Congress had constructed memorials after Nehru and Gandhi
all over the country. Two huge bungalows in Delhi, Teen Murti and 1
Safdarjung Road, had been converted into memorials. Other parties like
the BJP and SP had also constructed parks, statues and memorials in
the name of their leaders, and these projects were funded from the
state exchequer.

Millions were being spent every year on the upkeep and security of
these memorials "but when we do the same thing, it is criticised as
the misuse of public money and exploitation of the people".

Taking a dig at the Leader of the Opposition Shivpal Singh Yadav, the
CM said, "The Leader of Opposition disappointed the house by his
hour-long speech on Thursday as it was vague, directionless, and
carried no argument, yet I will try to reply as far as I could
understand it."

Blaming the Centre, and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in
particular, for food inflation, the CM said political parties should
launch an agitation against the Centre on this issue, and the state
government would extend them all help.

Accusing the Centre of discrimination against UP in the release of
funds for centrally sponsored schemes, Mayawati said, "Against the
total allotment of Rs 27,258 crore in the central budget for centrally
sponsored schemes in UP, only 55 per cent has been released till the
end of December."

The chief minister said the Centre had not released a penny against
the proposals of Rs 9,226 crore for the electrification of villages in
65 districts under the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Yojna.

Similarly, the Centre has not released funds for rural roads against
proposals worth Rs 5,962 crore submitted by the state government.

Reiterating her stand for reorganisation of UP into three states of
East UP, West UP and Bundelkhand, she said: "As soon as the Centre
gives the nod for the division of UP, the state Assembly would adopt a
resolution and send this to the Centre."

Later, the Assembly approved the motion of thanks with voice vote.

------------------------------------

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] Now, it’s Manda Krishna time for fasting

http://www.greatandhra.com/ganews/viewnews.php?id=18876&cat=15&scat=16

Now, it's Manda Krishna time for fasting

It is quite some time we have heard about fast unto death programmes
for and against Telangana state formation. Now, they are back. Madiga
Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) leader Manda Krishna Madiga on
Friday announced that he would go on fast unto death in front of the
residence of chief minister K Rosaiah from February 2, if Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh does not make a statement announcing the
formation of Telangana state on February 1. He said it was time for
the people of Telangana to expose the true colours of political
parties which were only playing a double game on Telangana to gain
political mileage.

Manda Krishna created a storm once again at the meeting of Telangana
Joint Action Committee on Thursday night by demanding that all the
MLAs should stick to their resignations as the statement made by
Chidambaram would make no head or tail. It led to wild reactions from
Congress MLAs, who threatened to stage a walk out of the JAC. Manda
Krishna said the political parties should take up direction action,
rather than lobbying in Delhi for Telangana.

------------------------------------

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Friday, January 29, 2010

[ZESTCaste] Update on brave Gujarati girl

Dear donors and friends,

Thanks to all those who came forward to help.

I spoke to the brave Gujarati girl a couple of days ago. She is a very brave and intelligent girl. Tough we spoke most of the time in Hindi (with my broken butler Hindi), for her background, she spoke English comfortably. At the end I am convinced that she has a great potential to excel, only if there a helping hand to give her a push in this time of need.

Here is what I gathered from my conversation with her:

1. She lives in Mehesena district (Unja Taluk) 85Km away from Ahmedabad.

2. Her father (an auto driver) met with an accident and could not work for 2-3 months.

3. She has two elder sisters (both married) and two brothers (one married and another is a B Com student)

4. She completed her teacher training (primary level) with distinction and applied for govt jobs advertised

5. She is currently doing a basic computer training that is required for teaching position

6. She is also doing BA (English) from Dr Ambedkar Open University and continue it even after joining a job

7. Her wish is to become an officer

8. Many NGOs and politicians visited her, but did not get any help so far

9. She is doing labor work (Rs. 30-40/day) to feed herself and her family while attending school

10. Her father is not willing to send her away from Mahesana for fear of her safety. I am trying to convince on this.

11. Immediate need is to find a job for her to stand on her own legs and to keep her mind occupied

12. She is very confident that she will be OK and her statement "I consider myself a victor, not a victim" impressed me so much.

13. I was told (by other sources) that she attempted suicide a few weeks ago. I purposefully avoided bringing it into conversation.

What we did so far:

1. We collected approximately Rs.1 lakh. We are considering all possibilities to help her the best way. I will ask your suggestions on this ASAP.

2. We are talking to several contacts (intellectuals and people in position) in India to get her a job near her place.

3. We are trying to understand what her priorities in education. She is keen on becoming an officer. We are exploring the possibilities of sending her to an English speaking course, advanced computer course (if she is interested). She was not interested in Nursing, though I thought that may fetch a quick and a comfortable job.

4. She may need psychological counseling to keep her out of depression. We are finding possibilities of getting such help. We are asking around.

Currently, Mr Kirit and Dr Raghavendra, both from Gujarat helping me on this case. Thanks to both of them apart from all donors.

Due to the sensitivity of the issue, we are very careful. But, without asking we will not be able to help. So, if someone can help us in anyway, please let me know ASAP.

We are still collecting donations. Please send if you like to help her.

With regards

Benjamin

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society.

-Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar

Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/

MARKETPLACE

Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Nooyi for women's quota at Davos

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/business/nooyi-womens-quota-davos-741

Nooyi for women's quota at Davos
Jan 29 2010
Indra Nooyi, the first Indian-born chief executive at PepsiCo, wants a
quota system to get more women at the annual World Economic Forum in
Davos, Switzerland.

Nooyi ranked No. 3 on Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women list last year
laments that at this "one-of-a-kind initiative," women are still
grossly underrepresented.

"We are up to 15 percent now, but I think the numbers should be more
like 40 percent-50 percent," she told ForbesWoman at Davos noting that
one of the problems is that women have not "done enough" to bring
other women into Davos.

While she acknowledged that definitive conclusions were rarely, if
ever, reached at the Swiss resort, it is a time for great leaders,
executives and thinkers to talk about issues in a "fairly open way."

The 54-year-old business leader believes that bringing together a
critical mass of women at Davos would ensure that women's issues were
more prominent on the agenda.

Putting women on panels and having a quota system where every panel
has at least one woman would "change the whole nature of Davos," she
asserts. And just getting women to Davos at least once to "show them
how powerful Davos could be," is the first step on a long road to
success, she maintains.

Women's issues aside, Nooyi's outlook on 2010 is cautiously
optimistic. While the Western economies-the US and Western Europe-are
still struggling, the Middle East is experiencing tremendous buoyancy,
she says.

Citing employment and job creation as the "engine of growth," Nooyi
warns that North America, Mexico and Western Europe have to ramp up
their efforts on these fronts, this year.

"At this point, we have to put our faith in all of the leaders and
hope that all of the policy actions they're taking actually leads to
something," she concludes.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

MARKETPLACE

Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] BSP govt to raise spcl force to protect Dalit memorials

http://www.zeenews.com/news599685.html

BSP govt to raise spcl force to protect Dalit memorials

Updated on Friday, January 29, 2010, 00:29 IST Tags:Mayawati, VIP
force, statues

Lucknow: The grand memorials the BSP government has built for Dalit
icons here and in Noida are still mired in legal battle but that has
not deterred it from coming out with a proposal for raising a special
security force at a cost of about Rs.60 crore for protecting them.

A bill, titled "State Special Region Security Bill, 2010", tabled in
the Uttar Pradesh Assembly by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Lalji
Verma, aims at providing security to the various memorials, status and
parks set up in the state.

The measure describes the memorials, parks and other important places
as "special region" for the purpose of providing security to them.
While the UP government estimates place the cost of the memorials in
Lucknow at Rs. 2,600 crore, the one in Noida, near Delhi, is around
Rs.650 crore.

They include the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal, Dr
Ambedkar Bihar, Manyavar Kanshiramji Smarak Sthal as well 13, Mall
Avenue (the bungalaow allotted to Chief Minister Mayawati when she was
CM earlier and has since then been converted into a memorial) and the
Gautam Buddh Nagar Samta Moolak Sthal in Noida, near Delhi.

Following public interest ligation in Supreme Court in the wake of
raging controversy over public money being spent on these memorials,
work in all these memorials has been put on hold.

Under the bill, the raising of the force would cost Rs53 crore while a
recurring annual expenditure is estimated at around Rs.14 crore,
excluding the expenditure on land required for purpose of having
infrastructure for the force.

IPS and PPS officers would be appointed to head the top positions in
the new force while subordinate staff would be directly recruited.

In the initial stage, only one battalion of the force would be raised
but the state government would have the right to expand it.

PTI