Dear Barua and others, In yesterday's Tribune, I read this news item on how some people in Assam are taking notice of this banfh culture. First it was Prof. Deven Dutta, and now NEGSA (girls' association) has also voiced their through disapproval of this culture.
These groups realize that bandhs actually hurt Assam, now and in the future. These groups are NOT looking into questions like "Why do we have the bandhs in the first place?" like some netters have. All they are saying is, whatever the reason, bandhs must stop, and grievances be addressed in some other way. > All Assam need to do is to demand that at least 10% of that money (in > addition to its present royalty) be kept in a separate Worl Bank fund to > build a fence on the Bangladesh border. Thats a great idea. Assam, in fact, and the Center have great reasons to protect the industrial/agricultural assets of the state. If the GOA really wants to do something good for the state, they can do it. There are many ways they can save money, and use it for something else, thats crucial. The other point, I want to make is this: Previous GOI administrations have not been as interested and involved in the interests of the NE. After a long time, this time we see the Singh administration actually take a lot of interest in what is happening in Assam and rest of NE. So, if wee keep up with the old ways of thinking that whatever the Center does, there must be something wrong or 'Zaroor daal meh kuch kala hai'. We can't keep suspecting the Center for ever. That attitude, will in the end, work against Assam. On a practical matter, Assam must now think of working With the Center to solve problem, instead of working Against it. The way things are going on, our own, Mr. Sanjib Baruah could write a new book titled: 'Assam, Against Itself :-) --Ram ___ Read below for news item from the Assam Tribune________ Bandh culture in State opposed GUWAHATI, Feb 25 â The North East Girls Students' Association (NEGSA) has strongly opposed the bandh culture in Assam, which has severely affected the State in various aspects. In a press release, the NEGSA stated that frequent bandhs has not only disrupted the socio-economic and academic environment of the State, but it has also caused untold miseries to the common people, specially to the daily wage earners. NEGSA appealed to all the leaders of such promoters of 'bandh culture' to undertake other form of agitational programmes to highlight their various grievances. "Observing bandhs on various occasions has failed to make any impact in effective solution of their demands. Apart from creating obstructions in the developmental process, such bandhs have created a negative image of the people of the region in the national scenario and destroyed any attempt to develop a proper work culture. The students are one of the greatest sufferers as the academic environment under such circumstances has failed to inspire the students to work for developing their qualities for competing with their counterparts from other regions of the country. It is one of the prime reasons for the migration of a large number of students to other parts of the country, which has also drained the economy of the state to the tune of several crores of rupees," it stated. The NEGSA has appealed to various NGO's/voluntary organisations and students organisations to build up a strong public opinion to oppose the bandh culture for the greater interest of the region. On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 00:33:33 -0600, Barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Chandan: > I know you would not like my Assam Bundh economy for the Bangladesh fence. I > know you don't like to discuss any problems for Assam till the day when GOI > will give the key of sovereignty of Assam.. > But unfortunately we donot want to wait that long, and I have more > economical news for you. > This is another way how the Assamese can build a fence on the border: From > its oil. > > At present, Assam produces about 18 Million bbl oil per year (my estimate). > The present price of oil is about $50/bbl. So Assam earns for its big > brother GOI, about $900 million dollars per year. (Part of this GOI invests > in Gujarat and part in Chennai, and the rest, at present Manmohon Singh and > Sonia Gandhi distributes among themselves!!!). > > All Assam need to do is to demand that at least 10% of that money (in > addition to its present royalty) be kept in a separate Worl Bank fund to > build a fence on the Bangladesh border. That way, every year Assam would > have got about $90 million for the fence. This is equal to about Rs. 400 > Crores a year. If Assam does not know how to build a fence, they can always > ask the Israelis. > > Now why Assam does not do it? Don't say GOI is treating Assam like a > stepchild? > > Rajen Barua > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Barua25" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2005 10:06 AM > Subject: Re: [Assam] Is Assam, the Land of Bandhs? > > > Rajen: > > > > > > >That is about 900 kilometer of fencing the Bangladesh border a year if we > > >estimate that 1 Km of fencing will cost 1 croes of Rs. Looking at the > map, I > > >donot think the Bangladesh-Assam border is in fact that long. > > > > *** You finally explained why GoI is derelict in its duty to protect > > the borders: Assam Bandhs. > > > > > > You are getting too upset again my friend. Take it easy. I am sure > > Assm Netters understand and respect your sentiments, even without > > having to be presented with such arguments :-). > > > > c > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > At 5:54 PM -0600 2/21/05, Barua25 wrote: > > > > Bandhs cost Assam 900 cr a year > > > > > >That is about 900 kilometer of fencing the Bangladesh border a year if we > > >estimate that 1 Km of fencing will cost 1 croes of Rs. Looking at the > map, I > > >donot think the Bangladesh-Assam border is in fact that long. > > > > > >Barua > > > > > >----- Original Message ----- > > >From: "Ram Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >To: <[email protected]> > > >Cc: "Barua25" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >Sent: Monday, February 21, 2005 8:57 AM > > >Subject: Re: [Assam] Is Assam, the Land of Bandhs? > > > > > > > > >> Here is a Rediff.com article (2003) of how much Assam loses in bandhs. > > >> Read on, its interesting. Wonder what it be in today's Rs. > > >> _________________________________________________ > > >> Bandhs cost Assam 900 cr a year > > >> > > >> Vinayak Ganapathy in Guwahati | March 26, 2003 23:03 IST > > >> > > >> > > >> That Assam and other north eastern states are notorious for bandhs and > > >> strikes for even minor, unimportant reasons, is a well-documented > > >> fact. But no effort was made so far to quantify the monteray losses > > >> that the states suffer due to these bandhs. Now thanks to the > > >> Federation of Industries and Commerece of North Eastern Region, there > > >> is some idea of the staggering losses suffered in the state. > > >> > > >> Assam loses an estimated Rs 900 crore annually because of bandhs, the > > >> FINER study says. The study covered bandhs in Assam from April 2001 > > >> to March 2002. > > >> > > >> There were nine statewide bandhs, 13 regional bandhs (Upper > > >> Assam/Lower Assam and central Assam) and 36 district bandhs during > > >> this period. > > >> > > >> "A daylong bandh means a loss of Rs 41.14 crore and poor states like > > >> Assam cannot afford this luxury," FINER president, Abhijit Baruah, > > >> said. He appealed to all organisations to opt for other ways of > > >> registering their protest against any injustice. > > >> > > >> Citing an example of how the government incurs losses during bandhs, > > >> the report says a single bandh can cost the exchequer Rs 20 crore. The > > >> government allocates Rs 410.95 crore towards salaries of its employees > > >> per month but loses crucial mandays because of bandhs. > > >> > > >> The worst affected sectors are mining and quarrying, manufacturing, > > >> transport and communication, hotel, banking and public administration. > > >> > > >> The report also states that the younger generation, especially those > > >> born after 1979, has been deprived of celebrating Independence and > > >> Republic Day for the last 23 years due to bandhs. > > >> > > >> "Apart from other factors contributing to the economic backwardness of > > >> the state, the frequent bandhs called by various organisations in > > >> different parts of the state during the last few years are very much > > >> responsible for the tardy growth of domestic income of the state. > > >> Assam is now a relatively poor and economically backward state as > > >> compared to other states of the country. The Economic Survey showed > > >> that in respect of per capita income in 2001, the status of Assam is > > >> 27th out of the 29 states of the country, with only Orissa and Bihar > > >> behind," Baruah said. > > >> ____ > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 09:04:25 -0500, Prasenjit Chetia > > >> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >> > When privatised the same accountant will run to office even of > bandhs. > > >> > It is a mixture of individual attitude and GOI promotion. > > >> > Non-Cooperation after all was a tool through which we won > > >> > Independence. The success of bandhs lies in the attitude and sense > of > > >> > judgement of the public. It works, no matter why; that's why there > are > > > > > so many bandhs. And the layman is always short sighted. Why do the > > >> > learned keep quiet too ? > > >> > > > >> > Prasenjit > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 00:07:50 -0600, Barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > >> > > I will tel you how some other people like the bundh: > > >> > > > > >> > > (A) I asked a Jorhat shop keeper how much they are affected by > these > > >bundhs. > > >> > > He said. Are you kidding? We like it. This is why: > > >> > > Mine is a grocery shop. If I close for a day, I gain the > following: > > >> > > No 1) I don't have to pay my 3 shop keepers for that day. > > >> > > No2) I get one day's 'suti'. I can work in my home. > > >> > > No3) In fact I don't incur any loss in sales too. Because, the > > >customers > > >> > > will buy everything they need on the next day anyway. It does not > > >matter if > > >> > > they buy it on Monday or Tuesday to me. It does not affect my > monthly > > >sales > > >> > > at all. > > >> > > > > >> > > (B) Now listen to why big companies like Oil India love it? (They > > >won't say > > >> > > they love it though). > > >> > > One senior accountant in Oil India explained to me. "Mr Barua you > > >won't > > >> > > believe how much the comany saves in one day's bundh?" > > >> > > I asked how? > > >> > > He said bundh means, companies thousnads of contractors buses to > > >worksites > > >> > > are stopped which means the company does not have to pay anything > for > > >that > > >> > > day to the bus contractors. He estimated that in 10 days bundh, > the > > >campany > > >> > > save so many (I forgot the figure) in such saving. Plus, the > Medical > > >is > > >> > > closed which means additional savings. > > >> > > I asked, what about oil production. Does not OIL loose revenue. > > >> > > Oh, that is taken care of by GOI. They cannot stop essential oil > > >production. > > >> > > So we get our revenue anyway. > > >> > > > > >> > > What I found out was that the bundh affects the small (mostly > > >Assamese) > > >> > > contractors, the private workers (mostly Assamese) and the public > > >(mostly > > >> > > Assamese). > > >> > > For everybody else, bundh is a boon in the land of 'lahe lahe'. > > >> > > > > >> > > Another thing. It is very easy to announce a bundh in Assam. If > > >someone > > >> > > telephone the Newspaper office that we are such and such from > ULFA > > >and we > > >> > > are announcing a bundh on such and such day please publish the > news. > > >> > > Hobo Diok, the answer will come.. > > >> > > That is all. The rest of the bundh is done by the news media. They > > >will > > >> > > publishize everywhere that on such and such day ULFA has announced > a > > >Bundh. > > >> > > There is no ULFA to monitor the bundh and none evebn to verify. > But > > >the > > >> > > bundh will happen very punctually as if everybody were waiting for > it. > > >> > > > > >> > > I say way to go AASU and ULFA. > > >> > > > > >> > > Hobo Diok. > > >> > > Joi Ai Oxom > > >> > > > > >> > > Barua. > > >> > > > > >> > > ----- Original Message ----- > > >> > > From: "Ram Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >> > > To: <[email protected]> > > >> > > Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2005 11:06 PM > > >> > > Subject: [Assam] Is Assam, the Land of Bandhs? > > >> > > > > >> > > > Among other things, Assam, it seems has become the land of > bandhs. > > >> > > > Every political group, student body, karmachari unions call for > > >> > > > frequent bandhs. > > >> > > > > > >> > > > This month there has already been one bandh on the 14th, now > here is > > >> > > > another one. (i may have missed one or two here and there). > > >> > > > > > >> > > > While these different groups may have legitimate grievances, it > does > > >> > > > seem 'nijor bhorit khutar maara' attitude. > > >> > > > > > >> > > > I am not sure if anyone has calculated the tremendous loss to > the > > >> > > > economy at each bandh. How much do these cost the state in terms > of > > >> > > > money, productivity, education & commerce? > > >> > > > > > >> > > > The other question is, does a call for bandh actually resolve > any of > > >> > > > the grievances for which the bandh is called for? > > >> > > > > > >> > > > DD brought up the story of how Govt. employees enjoy a 'bandh'. > But > > >> > > > what about the rest of the populace. > > >> > > > > > >> > > > Either they have become immune to such calls, and take such > calls as > > >a > > >> > > > day off, or they just helpless? Do people think only in the > short > > >run? > > >> > > > Is the long term too bleak, so they live for the present? > > >> > > > > > >> > > > I don't know the answers to these, but I do know for a state > that is > > > > > > > struggling on many different fronts, the last thing Assam needs > is > > >> > > > being cut off at the knees every time a bandh is called. In > fact, > > >its > > >> > > > tantamount of doing the state no service at all. > > >> > > > > > >> > > > Does anyone have any stats on how these bandhs affect the state, > and > > >> > > > how many Assam averages on a yearly basis? > > >> > > > > > >> > > > Anyway, here is a news itel from the Tribune, about yet another > > >bandh. > > >> > > > > > >> > > > --Ram > > >> > > > ________________________________ > > >> > > > Adivasi body calls Assam bandh today > > >> > > > By A Staff Reporter > > >> > > > GUWAHATI, Feb 20 - The All Adivasi Students' Association of > Assam > > >> > > > (AASAA) has given a call for a 12-hour Assam bandh tomorrow > > >demanding > > >> > > > scheduled tribe status for the Adivasi community. In a release > here > > >> > > > today, Justin Lakra and David Horo, the president and assistant > > >> > > > general secretary respectively of the AASAA, said that over the > > >years, > > >> > > > the Congress had been betraying the Adivasi people on the issue > of > > >> > > > granting the status of scheduled tribes. The release said that > the > > >> > > > Congress Government is also not concerned about the problems > faced > > >by > > >> > > > the tea labourers. > > >> > > > > > >> > > > The AASAA said that the Congress Government, just before the > Moran > > >> > > > by-polls, promised to give appointments to 80 youths of tea > tribes, > > >> > > > but the promise was never fulfilled. During the finalisation of > the > > >> > > > boundary of the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Council also, > the > > >> > > > Government never tried to protect the interests of the Adivasi > > >> > > > community. > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 09:31:59 +0530, Babul Gogoi > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >wrote: > > >> > > > > On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 19:41:09 -0600, Ram Sarangapani > > ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >> > > wrote: > > >> > > > > > What do netters think? Would netters like to add/delete from > the > > >list > > >> > > here? > > >> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > --Ram > > >> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > A Few Tips to AASU > > >> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > The All Assam Students Union may regain its lost popularity > if > > >it > > >> > > > > > takes a decision on the following points: > > >> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > a) To give up the idea of forming the Asom Sena, > > >> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > b) Give up Assam bandh/local bandh calls for the next few > years, > > >> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > c) Opposes all bandh calls given by other parties to > facilitate > > >the > > >> > > > > > students to concentrate on studies, > > >> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > d) Creates village-level task forces to see that academic > > >atmosphere > > >> > > > > > in educational institutions is properly maintained, teachers > > >attend > > >> > > > > > classes by giving up politics and private business concerns, > > >courses > > >> > > > > > are completed before the examinations and all classes start > > >> > > > > > immediately after declaration of the results. > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > e) Raise funds for the poor schools to buy Computers, etc., > > >instead of > > >> > > > > political expenses. > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > Prasanna Kumar Sharma, > > >> > > > > > 3, Narikalbari, 2nd by lane, > > >> > > > > > Guwahati-24. > > >> > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > >> > > > > > Assam mailing list > > >> > > > > > [email protected] > > >> > > > > > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam > > >> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > Mailing list FAQ: > > >> > > > > > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html > > >> > > > > > To unsubscribe or change options: > > >> > > > > > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam > > >> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > -- > > >> > > > > Babul Gogoi > > >> > > > > http://xguy2k.blogspot.com > > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > >> > > > > Assam mailing list > > >> > > > > [email protected] > > >> > > > > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > Mailing list FAQ: > > >> > > > > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html > > >> > > > > To unsubscribe or change options: > > >> > > > > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > _______________________________________________ > > >> > > > Assam mailing list > > >> > > > [email protected] > > >> > > > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam > > > > > > > > > >> > > > Mailing list FAQ: > > >> > > > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html > > >> > > > To unsubscribe or change options: > > >> > > > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam > > >> > > > > > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > >> > > Assam mailing list > > >> > > [email protected] > > >> > > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam > > >> > > > > >> > > Mailing list FAQ: > > >> > > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html > > >> > > To unsubscribe or change options: > > >> > > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > -- > > >> > Prasenjit Chetia > > >> > Atlanta, GA > > >> > > > >> > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> Assam mailing list > > >> [email protected] > > >> http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam > > >> > > >> Mailing list FAQ: > > >> http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html > > >> To unsubscribe or change options: > > >> http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam > > >> > > >_______________________________________________ > > >Assam mailing list > > >[email protected] > > >http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam > > > > > >Mailing list FAQ: > > >http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html > > >To unsubscribe or change options: > > >http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Assam mailing list > [email protected] > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam > > Mailing list FAQ: > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html > To unsubscribe or change options: > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam > _______________________________________________ Assam mailing list [email protected] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
