Final phase of Assam polls set to see close contest

Supratim Dey  | 2011-04-10 00:10:00 

Sunshine and rains greeted voters in different parts of the 13 distri...

Guwahati: Around 97,000 voters will decide the fate of 496 candidates in the second and final phase of the assembly polls in Assam on April 11.

Tarun Gogoi’s Cabinet colleagues - Himanta Biswa Sarma, Rockybul Hussain, Akon Bora, Pramila Rani Brahma, Chandan Brahma, and Bhumidhar Barman - are in the fray in the second phase of the polls. Pradesh Congress president Bhubaneswar Kalita, who is a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam, is also contesting the polls.

Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) heavyweights who will try their luck in the polls are party president Chandra Mohan Patowary, two-time chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, Phani Bhusan Chowdhury and Keshab Mahanta.

Among the constituencies that are set to witness a tough battle on April 11 is the prestigious Dispur constituency in Guwahati as senior AGP leader Atul Bora is pitted against social welfare minister Akon Bora.

Samaguri constituency, in central Assam, too will witness a bitter fight as it is Prafulla Kumar Mahanta versus Rockybul

India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), which champions the cause of Muslims, might upset the prospects of the Congress party in the Muslim-dominated districts of Dubri, Goalpara, Barpeta, Nalbari, Nagaon and Morigaon. Barring three Barak Valley districts of Hailakandi, Cachar and Karimgangj, the AIUDF has a limited support base in the districts that went to polls in the first phase.

The AIUDF, which was formed in 2006 and surprisingly won 10 seats in the 2006 assembly elections, is hopeful to increase its tally this time and play a dominant role in government formation in Dispur. The party had said recently that, if circumstance arose, it would shed its anti-Congress stand and support a “secular” government even if headed by the Congress party.

The recent declaration of the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), which is an alliance partner in the Gogoi government (the Congress has 53 seats in the outgoing assembly), that it would not hesitate to lend its support to a non-Congress government post elections, too is keeping the Congress jittery. The BPF has also made its position clear that the party might come to the rescue of Congress only if Tarun Gogoi leads the party again. Rumours are rife in Congress circles that state party president Bhubaneswar Kalita too is vying for the top post, should the Congress form the government.

The Congress party, knowing that the outcome of the elections might not be as favourable as being hoped, is keeping both the AIUDF and BPF in good humour. Gogoi, who once dared Ajmal by his remark – “who is Ajmal?” – said on April 6 that he would be happy if AIUDF supports Congress in government formation. The fine-tuning of Gogoi comes at a time when there appears a possibility of an AGP-BJP combine forming the government in Dispur with the support of other smaller parties.

The BJP, which has been buoyant in Assam since the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, when it won four seats out of the eight it contested, expects to improve its tally from the present 10 seats in the next assembly and form a non-Congress and non-AIUDF government. Though the AGP and BJP had a pre-poll alliance promise for the 2011 polls, the former reneged as the alliance in 2009 Lok Sabha polls did not translate into votes for the regional party.

However, both the parties have made it clear that if need be, they would go for a post-poll alliance.

Despite Gogoi predicting a wash-out for the BJP in the polls, the steady and rapid rise of the BJP has been a worrying factor for the Congress as could be gauged from the fact that Gogoi, during his electioneering, had chosen to attack the BJP more scathingly than the AGP.

The regional party, which had fared badly in the 2006 polls and won just 24 out of 126 seats, hopes to present a better performance this time as former chief minister Prafulla Mahanta is back in the AGP. In 2006, Mahanta had contested under the banner of AGP (Pragatisheel), after being ousted from the party.

If 2006 was a fight between the Congress and the AGP, there are two new entrants in the battlefield this time around, the BJP and AIUDF, of which, at least one is expected to play a role in the next government formation. If BJP and AIUDF stand to be gainers in the elections, it would be interesting to see which party or parties will lose seats to them.

If the Congress makes it to Dispur, it would be the first party to win three consecutive terms post Emergency.

http://www.sify.com/news/final-phase-of-assam-polls-set-to-see-close-contest-news-national-lekaksbbieh.html

Tens of millions in 'lost' cash found

Sunday, April 10, 2011

SENDAI (Kyodo) Rescue workers and citizens have turned in to authorities tens of millions of yen in cash found in the rubble-strewn tsunami-hit areas of the Tohoku region, police said Saturday.

Someone's: A police officer checks a bag with cash and belongings found in the tsunami debris on April 2. KYODO PHOTO

While police and local governments are pessimistic about finding the original owners, unless the money was found with some form of identification, survivors are calling on authorities to use it to help in the reconstruction of the ravaged areas.

Under law, people who find money can keep it if the original owners do not come forward within the three-month custodial period. When people who find it give up their claim or fail to show up to receive it within two months after the expiration of the period, ownership will be transferred to prefectural governments or the owners of the property where the money was found.

According to the police in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, police stations receive everyday on average several hundred items, containing cash.

Miyagi police said money has only been returned to the owners in less than 10 percent of the cases. A senior officer said, "It is impossible to return cash unless it is found inside a wallet together with an ID."

Shigeko Sasaki, 64, who is currently living in a shelter in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, said, "I want anybody picking up money to donate it to disaster-hit areas instead of keeping it for themselves."

Kenji Sato, 65, in Onagawa, also in Miyagi, said it is acceptable for people who find money and report it to the police to eventually keep it "because it means they have good will."

Takehiko Yamamura, head of the Disaster Prevention System Institute, urged authorities to set new measures to handle the matter, such as extending the three-month holding period and special permission to open a safe to determine the owner.

Courtesy:Japantimes

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Evacuees begin moving into Akasaka Prince

Kyodo News

Evacuees from last month's earthquake and tsunami began moving into the Akasaka Prince on Saturday to take advantage of a temporary relief program run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Helping out: Evacuees from Fukushima Prefecture check into the old Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka, which opened its doors Saturday as a temporary shelter until the end of June. KYODO PHOTO

The upscale, bubble-era hotel, which is to be razed this summer, is taking in some 360 people from 138 households mostly from Fukushima Prefecture who were displaced by the disaster and nuclear crisis, government officials said.

The program allows them to use the guest rooms in the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka for free until the end of June.

"I'm feeling anxious as I don't know what'll happen in the future, but I feel grateful that I can sleep on a futon," said Shoichi Ono, 43, an evacuee from Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture.

While the iconic hotel's usual guest services, including room cleaning, won't be available, the metro government is shouldering some ¥200 million of the costs for the gesture, including meals, personnel and utility expenses.

Among those eligible to stay are 300 Fukushima households that failed to win a drawing last month for the right to rent municipal-owned apartments in the prefecture, and 150 others who are tentatively sheltering elsewhere in Tokyo.

Courtesy:Japantimes

Anna Hazare says his struggle against corruption will continue

New Delhi, Apr 9: Welcoming the Central government's move to accept public demands for the formulation of Lok Pal Bill, social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday assertedthat his struggle against corruption would continue.

The Gandhian activist said this in New Delhi after he broke his 98-hour fast by drinking juice.

He gave up his indefinite hunger strike after the Central government gave the assurance of setting up a committee comprising civil society and elected representatives to draft the law.

Addressing a huge gathering of supporters, Hazare said that though the hunger strike had been a success, there was still a lot more to be done.

“Our responsibility has increased. We have to now carry out a long journey before corruption is eradicated from this country. We have to march on for true independence,” Hazare said.

Expressing his gratitude to the people, a visibly elated Hazare urged them to continue their support for the movement till the Bill is formally enacted in right earnest.

“If need be, we will again carry out a campaign when the group of ministers discusses the Bill. If the group of ministers approves the Bill, it would be tabled before the lawmakers in the parliament. If the Bill meets with any obstacle there, all of us would protest in front of the parliament with Indian flags on our shoulders,” Hazare said.

Spearheaded by Hazare, the nationwide movement for the formulation of the Bill had steadily gained momentum among the masses, with supporters from various parts of the country converging in New Delhi to espouse the crusader’s cause.

The veteran activist also called for nationwide electoral reforms, stressing on the need of the voters’ to have the novel ‘Right to Rrecall’ and ‘Right to Not Vote’.

“Suppose there are ten candidates who contest an election from a constituency. If the voter believes that all of them are dishonest or corrupt, he should ask the authorities, whom should I vote for? In such a case, there must be an eleventh option, which says ‘dislike all’. If the majority of voters do not like any candidate in a constituency, then the election would be considered null and void. It would have to take place again with new candidates,” Hazare said.

Though the Central government had repeatedly appealed to the veteran activist to end his hunger strike, Hazare refused to relent, even as he continued to attract concerned citizens from all walks of life towards his struggle.

The movement also saw the rise of the youth across India, who stirred the flame of the struggle through active participation.

Lauding the spirit of the youth, Hazare called their unity a ‘ray of hope’ for a better India.

“I would like to specially thank the youth of this country, who participated in this movement in large numbers. The rise of youth power across India is a ray of hope for the nation. Youth power is a symbol of national strength. If youth rise for a cause, then the future of India will be bright,” Hazare said.

Meanwhile, hailing the power of the media, Hazare said that the fourth pillar of democracy had played a major role in strengthening his struggle.

“The media is the fourth pillar of our democracy. The effective role played by the media in this movement shows how changes can be brought if the fourth pillar is strong. The media has shown this to the country. It has shown its true power in this movement,” Hazare said.

The Lok Pal Bill, drafted by social activists, stipulates that probe in any graft case will have to be completed in one year, and punishment would be a jail term of minimum five years and maximum for life.

The bill awaits a select parliamentary committee’s nod of approval and provides for filing complaints of corruption against the Prime Minister, Ministers and lawmakers.

--ANI

Our Prime Minister is alert, sensitive and bold : Pranab Mukherjee to Jayalaltihaa

 Chennai, Apr 9:

Senior Congress leader and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today dismissed AIADMK Supremo J Jayalaltihaa's critical remarks against the Prime Minister and said Dr Manmohan Singh is ''alert, sensitive and bold''.

When asked about Ms Jayalalithaa's remarks that the Prime Minister was silent, not able to act, weak and ineffectual, Mr Pranab said ''it is not correct.'' ''Our Prime Minister takes decisions, is alert, sensitive and bold,'' he told reporters here, on Ms Jayalalithaa's remarks that the country needed a strong Prime Minister.

Ms Jayalalithaa had told a private channel during campaigning that she supported social activist Anna Hazare's demand for a Jan Lokpal Bill and said ''beyond that we need a strong government at the Centre and Prime Minister to implement the bill and wipe out corruption.'' Calling Manmohan Singh a silent, unable to act, weak and ineffectual, Ms Jayalalitha said, ''as long as we have a Prime Minister like this, the Jan Lokpal Bill would be of no use.'' The AIADMK supremo said the county needed a strong Prime Minister who should be willing, determined and capable of enforcing law to wipe out corruption.

--UNI

Stand with Anna Hazare: Victory!

We won!!! After a massive and unprecedented outpouring of public pressure, the government has given in and met all of Anna Hazare's demands!!

Over 500,000 of us signed the petition for the jan lokpal bill in the final 36 hours! The petition was widely covered in the national press as evidence that the anti-corruption movement was growing like wildfire across the nation.

This is just the beginning -- there will be more chances for corrupt politicians to stop this bill -- but if we stick together, we can make this the beginning of the end for the poisonous culture of corruption that stifles this nation. Let's take this moment to celebrate together, thank each other, and share thoughts for all the possibilities of the road ahead. Post a comment on the right and join the victory live chat of our entire community:

The Hindu says Avaaz petition "gathering steam" in support for Hazare: 
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/article1628396.ece?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4da0121a69ac9584%2C0

The Government agrees to Anna Hazare's demands:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1645213.ece

Social media support pours in for anti-corruption crusader Hazare in India:
http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/132110/20110408/anna-hazare-fast-corruption-photos-video-social-media-internet-facebook-twitter-youtube.htm

Anna Hazare -- "this is a big victory for the people":
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-wins-again-Anna-Hazare-calls-off-fast/articleshow/7921304.cms

Avaaz petition helped grow the movement and pressure the Government: 
http://www.timesnow.tv/articleshow/4369825.cms 


Courtesy:AVAAZ

Govt agrees to set up JC for Lokpal Bill; Hazare to end fast on Saturday

2011-04-08 22:40:00
Last Updated: 2011-04-08 23:00:41

New Delhi: Government on Friday night blinked in the battle of attrition with Anna Hazare by agreeing to issue a formal order to set up a joint committee for drafting an effective Lokpal Bill and the Gandhian will end his indefinite fast on Friday.

The announcement of an agreement came from both sides late in the night on the fourth day of Hazare's last-unto-death that triggered a nationwide support for his anti-corruption campaign.

"Government has accepted all our demands and I will end my fast on Saturday at 10:30 A.M. This is a victory for the entire nation," Hazare said.

Union Minister Kapil Sibal, who led the government team of negotiators, welcomed Hazare's announcement and thanked him for it.

"This is a victory for democracy," he said adding it was for the government now now to issue an appropriate order constituting the committee that will include representatives of civil society and government.

However, Hazare's emissaries Kiran Bedi and Swami Agnivesh made it clear that the protest fast will not not be ended till the government issues the order.

The denouement came after his emissaries met ministers for a round of talks, third in two days and after some hiccups.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be the Chairman of the committee that will also include Law Minister Veerappa Moily, Telecom Minister Sibal, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Water Resources Minister Salman Khurshid as members.

Besides Hazare, those representing the civil society in the joint committee will be eminent lawyers Shanti Bhushan, Prasant Bhushan, retired Supreme Court Judge Santosh Hege and RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal. Shanti Bhushan will be the co-Chairman

http://www.sify.com/news/govt-agrees-to-set-up-jc-for-lokpal-bill-hazare-to-end-fast-on-saturday-news-national-leiwEbjdach.html

Celebrations after Hazare accord with govt

2011-04-08 23:00:00
Last Updated: 2011-04-08 23:10:16

New Delhi: Celebrations broke out on Friday night at Jantar Mantar, the nerve-centre of the Lokpal Bill protest led by Anna Hazare, after the government brokered an agreement with Hazare-led anti-corruption activists on the issue.

Dancing to the beating drums and singing of patriotic songs, hundreds of people erupted in euphoria as Hazare announced that he will end his fast-unto-death protest tomorrow morning after reaching an agreement.

The venue of Hazare's hunger strike resonated with 'Anna Hazare Zindabad', 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', 'Vande Mataram' and 'Inquilab Zindabad' slogans as anti-corruption activists waved tricolours.

"This is a great victory. The government has bowed before the might of the public," said Manish Sharma, a DU student who was at the protest site for the past four days.
Courtesy:Sify

New quake causes power outages, toxic water spill in Japan

2011-04-08 19:00:00
Last Updated: 2011-04-08 20:57:13

Tokyo: Adding to Japan's misery, the strongest aftershock since the devastating March 11 quake and tsunami killed at least four people, knocked out power to millions of houses and sparked fresh concerns about the radiation-leaking Fukushima nuclear plant where the crisis is far from over.

The latest tremor, whose magnitude was revised to 7.1 from 7.4, rocked the northern and central parts of Miyagi Prefecture, which was the worst affected by last month's mega quake and tsunami, at 11:32 pm on Thursday night.

Radioactive water spilled from pools holding spent nuclear fuel rods at the Onagawa power plant in Miyagi following the aftershock, the nuclear safety agency was quoted as saying by Kyodo news agency on Thursday.

However, the powerful quake did not hamper the ongoing work to restore reactor cooling systems at the crippled Fukushima plant, though workers were briefly evacuated after a tsunami advisory issued, the operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) said.

It said no new irregularities were detected in radiation readings or other indicators, except for the surface temperature of the No.1 reactor at the plant, where engineerings have been battling for nearly a month to bring the situation under control.

Before the quake, the reading stood at 223 degrees Celsius. Just after the tremor, it rose to about 260 degrees Celsius at midnight -- but fell back to 246 degrees Celsius this afternoon, according to national broadcaster NHK.

After the tsunami warning issued for the area was lifted, the workers inspected the site and resumed their critical task to cool the overheating reactors at the facility.

Last night's quake triggered panic among residents already being sheltered at local facilities following the last month magnitude-9 quake and tsunami that has left nearly 30,000 people dead or unaccounted for in Japan's northeast.

Two men, aged 85 and 79 respectively, died in Miyagi while a 63-year-old woman was killed in the neighbouring prefecture of Yamagata after the tremor, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. An 83-year-old woman in Miyagi was reportedly taken to hospital immediately after the earthquake and later confirmed dead.

About 140 people were also injured, Jiji Press reported.

The National Police Agency said five buildings were totally or partially destroyed in Miyagi and three each burnt down in Miyagi and Iwate.

Tohoku Electric Power Company said as many as four million homes lost power at one point and, despite its restoration effort, the outage continued across Aomori and Iwate and in some areas in Tohoku prefectures till this morning, affecting 3.04 million homes.

LOK PAL BILL - - AN ANALYSIS

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

LOK PAL BILL - - AN ANALYSIS

“Corruption will be out one day, however much one may try to conceal it: and the public
can as its right and duty, in every case of justifiable suspicion, call its servants to strict
account, dismiss them, sue them in a law court, or appoint an arbitrator or inspector to
scrutinize their conduct, as it likes.”

-Mahatma Gandhi (1928)

INTRODUCTION :

India is a country where honesty and integrity in public and private life have been glorified and upheld in great epics such as the Vedas, Upanishads and in the books and practices of every religion practiced here.
Yet, India today is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

Bringing public servants under a scanner which makes them strictly accountable is the start of movement against corruption in India. And one significant step in attacking the spectre of corruption in India will be the implementation of the Lok Pal bill.

The Indian Lokpal is synonymous to the institution of Ombudsman existing in the Scandinavian countries. The office of the ombudsman originated in Sweden in 1809 A.D., and adopted eventually by many nations 'as a bulwark of democratic government against the tyranny of officialdom'. Ombudsman is a Swedish word that stands for "an officer appointed by the legislature to handle complaints against administrative and judicial action. Traditionally the ombudsman is appointed based on unanimity among all political parties supporting the proposal.

The incumbent, though appointed by the legislature, is an independent functionary – independent of all the three organs of the state, but reports to the legislature. The Ombudsman can act both on ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
2

LOK PAL BILL - - AN ANALYSIS

the basis of complaints made by citizens, or suo moto. She/he can look into allegations of corruption as well as mal-administration.1

The functionary is called by different names in different countries; its power and functions also vary. In the Scandinavian countries2 (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway) he is called the’ Ombudsman'. He can take cognizance of the citizens' grievance by either directly receiving
complaints from the public or suo moto on the basis of information provided by the interested persons, or from newspapers, etc. However, in the U.K. the functionary - known as the Parliamentary Commissioner - can receive complains only through members of parliament.

The ombudsmen can investigate a complaint by themselves or through any public or private agency. After investigation, in Sweden and Finland, the Ombudsman has the power to prosecute erring public servants; whereas in Denmark, he can only order prosecution. However, the power
of prosecution is very rarely used. The strength of the ombudsman lies in the publicity attached to the office, and the negative view that attaches itself to all that the office scrutinises. In Sweden and Finland, ombudsmen can also supervise the courts. In other countries, their authority is only
over the non-judicial public servants. In almost all the cases they deal with complaints relating toboth corruption and mal-administration.

1 The Lokpal cycle, an article by Pradeep K Baisakh.

2 Subset of the Nordic countries.

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

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LOK PAL BILL - - AN ANALYSIS
HISTORY:

The misdeeds committed during the Emergency remind us of the necessity of including the PM within the purview of the Lokpal.

The basic idea of the Lok Pal is borrowed from the office of ombudsman, which has played an effective role in checking corruption and wrong-doing in Scandinavian and other nations.

3
In early 1960s, mounting corruption in public administration set the winds blowing in favour of an Ombudsman in India too.

The Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) set up in 1966 recommended the constitution of a two-tier machinery - of a Lokpal at the Centre, and Lokayukt (a) s in the states.4 The ARC while recommending the constitution of Lokpal was convinced that such an institution was
justified not only for removing the sense of injustice from the minds of adversely affected citizens but also necessary to instill public confidence in the efficiency of administrative
machinery.

Following this, the Lokpal Bill was for the first time presented during the fourth Lok Sabha in 1968, and was passed there in 1969.

However, while it was pending in the Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha was dissolved, resulting the first death of the bill. The bill was revived in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, and 2005 and most recently in 2008.

Each time, after the bill was introduced to the house, it was referred to some committee for improvements - a joint committee of parliament, or a departmental standing committee of the Home Ministry - and before the government could take a final stand on the issue the house was
dissolved.

There are as many as 17 states where the institution of Lokayukta has been constituted, beginning with Orissa in 1971. However the power, function and jurisdiction of Lokayuktas are not uniform in the country.

3 The Lok Pal Bill, http: / / w ww . hi ndu. c o m/ 2 00 1 /0 1 /2 6/ stori e s/ 05 26 25 1 1. htm.

4 The LokAyukta (also Lok Ayukta) is an anti-government corruption organization in the Indian state.

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

4

LOK PAL BILL - - AN ANALYSIS

In some states it has been applicable to all the elected representatives including the CM. In some other states legislators have been deliberately kept out of his purview. Often, lacunae have been left in legislation creating the office, apparently to keep the elected representatives outside
meaningful jurisdiction of the Lokayukta, even when the laws appear to include them.

Lokayuktas have not been provided with their independent investigative machinery making them dependent on the government agencies, which leaves enough scope for the politicians and the
bureaucrats to tinker with the processes of investigation.

Objectives of the bill:5

The Lokpal was visualized as the watchdog institution on ministerial probity. Broadly the provisions of different bills empowered the Lokpal to investigate corruption cases against

http://www.indiatogether.org/2005/jan/law-lokpal.htm#continue.

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
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LOK PAL BILL - - AN ANALYSIS

political persons at the Central level. Some important features of the Lokpal Bill have varied over the years; in its most recent avatar, the bill contains the following.

The main objective is to provide speedy, cheaper from of justice to people.

Members:

Lokpal is to be a three member body with a chairperson who is or has been a chief justice or judge of the Supreme Court; and its two other members who are or have been judges or chief justices of high courts around the country.

Appointment :

The chairperson and members shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the following persons.

It's not clear whether the committee has to make a unanimous decision or a majority decision will do. (a) The Vice-President (Chairman) (b) The PM (c) The Speaker of LS (d) Home Minister (e) Leader of the House, other than the house in which PM is a
member. (f) Leaders of Opposition of both the houses.

Independence of the Office:

In order to ensure the independence of functioning of the august office, the following provisions have been incorporated.

Appointment is to be made on the recommendation of a committee.

The Lokpal is ineligible to hold any office of profit under Government of India or of any state, or similar such posts after retirement.

Fixed tenure of three years and can be removed only on the ground of proven misbehaviour or incapacity after an inquiry made by CJI and two senior most judges of SC.
Lokpal will have its own administrative machinery for conducting investigations.

Salary of Lokpal is to be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

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LOK PAL BILL - - AN ANALYSIS

Jurisdiction of Lokpal:

The central level political functionaries like the Council of Ministers including the Prime Minister, the Members of Parliament etc.

He can not inquire into any allegation against the PM in relation to latter's
functions of national security and public order.

Complaints of offence committed within 10 years from the date of complaint can be taken up for investigation, not beyond this period.


Any person other than a public servant can make a complaint. The Lokpal is supposed to complete the inquiry within a period of six months. The Lokpal has the power of a civil court to summon any person or authority. After investigation, the ombudsman can only recommend actions to be taken by the competent authority. A number of safeguards have been taken to discourage false complains or complain of malafide intent.

He can order search and seizure operations.

He shall present annually to the President the reports of investigation and the latter with the action take report has to put it before the both houses of parliament.

It may be noted that the Lokpal is supposed to investigate cases of corruption only, and not address himself to redressing grievances in respect of injustices and hardship caused by maladministration.

THE CURRENT SITUATION:

Very recently a highly discouraging phenomenon has come to light, that is, the prevalence of corruption in the subordinate courts and even in High Courts. Probably due to this, the present ADMINISTRATIVE LAW.

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LOK PAL BILL - - AN ANALYSIS

government has planned to bring the Judiciary within the purview of Lok pal; this is one reason why the Bill has been referred to the Group of Ministers. However given the history of Lok pal
bill, there is a constant risk that the bill will simply lapse because no conclusion is reached within the life of this Lok Sabha!

The political fraternity is understandably opposed to a Lok pal, since the purported target of the Lokpal is mainly the politicians themselves. The publicly stated reason for the current delay is that some important issues are as yet unresolved.6

CONCLUSION:

In the regular dispensation of government there are implicit and explicit ways that citizens can voice their grievances and demand change. But these are often difficult. Within administrative departments, for example, any decision of one official can be appealed to a higher official, all the
way up to the head of a department. However, this mechanism has inherent flaws.

http://wwwvibhatailang.blogspot.com/2010/11/lok-pal-bill-analysis.html

Fish processors rise to challenge

Saturday, April 9, 2011

True colors: Fifty "tairyo bata" banners used to adorn fishing boats are hung out to dry in the backyard of Eiaki Ito in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 30. Ito and his wife, Kazuyo (below), are interviewed in their tsunami-hit fishing equipment shop in Shiogama on March 31. COURTESY OF EBISUYA, MIZUHO AOKI

By MIZUHO AOKI

Staff writer

SHIOGAMA, Miyagi Pref. — Fumio Oikawa is determined to clean the mud out of his small seaweed salt factory in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, and reopen as soon as possible.

"I've been coming here to clean up the mess every day from a day after March 11. At first, we couldn't even step into the place, but now it's getting much better," said Oikawa, 63, manager of Ganbare Shiogama, a "moshio" seaweed salt producer, which was hit by the March 11 tsunami.

"I thought it's over for our factory when I first saw its state. But later, when I found out that our (salt) kiln and an altar had survived the tsunami, I thought it's a sign for us to revive the business," he said. " We are going to restart."

Shiogama, about 15 km northeast of Sendai, is known as an entry point for large volumes of fresh tuna and other fish products. It is especially well-known for the production of "kamaboko" (processed fish cake).

The harbor housed nearly 200 fish processing companies and produced about 90,000 tons of processed marine products in 2007, according to figures provided by the city.

Many of the marine product processors in and around the harbor were damaged by the tsunami, leading many owners to consider closing down.

As of Thursday, the prefecture said the total cost of the quake-tsunami damage topped ¥390 billion.

But nearly a month after the mega-quake hit, people in Shiogama are slowly recovering from the initial shock and pulling themselves together to rebuild their businesses.

"I think it's going to take at least a decade for Shiogama to return to the state we were in before March 11. But we are going to try to rebuild the town together," Oikawa of Ganbare Shiogama declared.

Oikawa, who also runs a "kasuzuke" (sake-marinated fish) business, said he and nine other friends founded the salt company in 2009, using part of his kasuzuke plant.

Aiming to make moshio the local specialty in hopes of helping revive the town, whose main seafood processing industry was under threat by the dearth of younger workers and also by rising costs of fresh materials, they started the company from scratch, Oikawa said.

"Many locals helped us in building up the business. And things were just going up when the tsunami came. We had a business deal between a major department store waiting to be signed," he said.

With five full-time employees at the factory, it produced about 100 kg of salt per week before the tsunami washed away everything apart from the kiln and the altar on the first floor. "The tsunami broke almost everything, including the drying machine and the storehouse."

But when he thinks back to the time when he and his friends began to build the salt factory two years ago with hardly any money, he said it is not difficult to get things going once again.

"Once the factory's production capacity is back, I guess we can restart producing salt pretty fast," Oikawa said, adding he will consider other pursuits, including marinated fish, after the salt business is revived.

"And once we put together the company's environment, we have to think about how we are going to design the damaged town. For this, we definitely need government support," he said.

Compared with the worst-hit ports, including Kesennuma and Ishinomaki farther north, Shiogama's damage from the tsunami was light.

Damage sustained by some factories is repairable but several hurdles have to be overcome, said Eiichi Sasaki, director of the Shiogama Danchi marine products processing industries cooperative.

"We now have a short supply of fish that many of our members were getting from Kesennuma and Ishinomaki, where all the refrigerators keeping tons of fish are broken. Once their stocks run out, what are they going to do?" Sasaki asked.

"Also, it's really difficult to redevelop distribution routes once they are gone. Newcomers taking seafood products to market will create tougher competition."

To retain their distribution routes, most of the co-op's 69 member companies have recently restarted some operations, Sasaki said.

"Initially, I thought many factories would close down after the tsunami. But it looks like the number of companies that will go out of business is going to be far fewer than I'd expected," he said.

Many factories were operating on loans from banks, so financial support from the government will be crucial for the industry to recover, Sasaki explained.

Eiaki Ito, who runs a fishing boat business and fishing gear shop named Ebisuya in Shiogama, was also firm on plans to restart his business.

Washing 50 "tairyo bata" banners that fishing boats hoist to announce a large catch, Ito said the vessels are ready to go any time.

"Luckily, seven out of nine boats had no damage. And the boats' fuel tanks are fully filled," Ito said.

The March 11 tsunami hit the fishing gear shop just a few minutes walk from Shiogama port, breaking glass and all four refrigerators for fresh bait. It also trashed the shop's interior.

The total damage is going to cost him at least ¥30 million, Ito said.

"I don't know how much of the damage will be covered by insurance," he added. "I also don't know whether there are people who want to get on a fishing boat after what happened."

Ito said flatfish and gopher are easily caught off Shiogama, but he worries if things will be the same in the Pacific after the monster quake and tsunami.

But whatever the situation, Ito said he is intends to open the shop within a few months.

"The only thing we can do now is move forward and not look back," Kazuyo, Ito's wife, said.

Courtesy:Japantimes

Seeking record 12th win, Karunanidhimay have it easy on home turf

 

Tiruvarur, Apr 7 :

After completing a hat-trick of wins in the placid Chepauk constituency in Chennai city, Muthuvel Karunanidhi, the 87-year-old DMK patriarch, seeking a record sixth term as Chief Minister, has come to his home-turf to seek election to the State Assembly in the April 13State elections.

The tradition-rich constituency in the Cauvery delta region, would go down in the history in the April 13 Assembly elections as the Dravidian stalwart is all set to register his 12th victory to the Assembly.

Mr Karunanidhi, who holds the record of having won all the 11 elections and had constested since his debut in Kulithalai in 1957, has come to the home-turf for the first time as a proud ''son of the soil''.

The Octogenarian leader began his public life on the streets of Tiruvarur as a phamplet distributor at a tender age of 14, opposing imposition of Hindi in 1937.

He shot into fame, right from his school days when he became the poster boy for rationalist leader Periyar E V Ramasamy's Dravidian movement, flaying religious orthodoxy. Since then, he never looked back.

''We are delighted that our Thalaivar (Our Leader) has returned home after a long time and we would be too happy to ensure his thumping victory,'' P Shanmugavel, a 78-year-old farmer says.

Mr Karunanidhi, though locked in a 12-cornered contest in the compact constituency, with an electorate of 2.03 lakh, faces AIADMK nominee ''Kudavaasal'' M Rajendran, a member of the dominant ''Kallar'' community as his main rival.

Besides six Independents, the BJP, BSP and the newly launched Indiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK) have fielded candiadtes. But they appear to be non-starters in the high voltage contest.

Karunanidhi has chosen to skip his favourite Chepauk constituency in Chennai this time opting for the 'son-of-the soil' tag in Tiruvarur in what has become a trend for top DMK leaders. They have shifted to constituencies from the state capital.

--UNI

Anna Hazare's fight grows via SMSes,Facebook

Mail Today Bureau  | New Delhi, April 7, 2011 | Updated 10:30 IST

Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption may be rooted in Gandhian values, but it's getting much support from modern communication tools.
Mobile movement
 
Just like in the West Asian and African prodemocracy movements, modern telephony has greatly helped spread the message of Anna's resolve to go on an indefinite fast.

The organisers had sent group SMSes at random, asking people to give missed call on a certain number to express their solidarity. And, the result was astonishing. More than 7 lakh such missed calls were registered.

FB portal flooded

Talking of technology, the internet revolution cannot be ignored. Not the least by India Against Corruption. A country anguished by the stupendous rise in corruption has chosen the organisation's Facebook portal to give vent to its feelings. Else, the number of its FB members wouldn't have swelled from 5 lakh to a staggering 12 lakh in two days flat. Better still, the count is growing every minute and so are the number of its followers on Twitter.

Anna Hazare's campaign in numbers

40,106 is the number of people who 'like' Hazare's 'India Against Corruption' page on Facebook, called 'Indiacor'.

400 locations across world are seeing similar protests, including Montreal, San Jose, Minneapolis & Amsterdam.

7 lakh people have expressed solidarity with the movement by giving a missed call on 022-61550789

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/134550/mail-today-stories/lokpal-bill-anna-hazares-fight-grows-via-smses-facebook.html