[Assam] Assamese Nationalists should consider appropriate use of the 'Conduct of Election Rules 1961 act, Section 49(O)' to scuttle the imposed Indian electoral engineering in tricking Assam submittin
The Power to vote by not voting ! http://www.shekharkapur.com/blog/archives/2007/01/the_power_to_vo.htm There is a way to make yourself heard even by voting against ALL the canditates.. I have been made aware of this by Navin's comment under the Lonely Planet Blog. The 'Conduct of Election Rules 1961 act, Section 49(O)' of the Indian Manual of Election Law states that If an elector . decided not to record his vote, a remark to this effect shall be made against the said entry . Does this mean that we can excercise our franchise by collectively NOT voting for anyone, but to register a protest as a 'No - Vote ? Certainly a powerful weapon. How about the winning canditate claiming victory by saying : Winning Canditate : 12 % of the Votes Cast Loosing Candidate : 3 % of the Votes Cast NO- VOTES : 85 % of the Votes Cast Without the NO-VOTES registered, the satement would be as follows : Winning Canditae : 75 % of the Votes Cast Loosing Canditate 25% of the Votes Cast Makes a huge difference to the perception of the electoral victory, doesn't it ? Maybe we should have a constitutional amendment that says that if the No-Votes registered exceeds 50% of the total Votes cast, the election is null and void ?? So get out there in the next election and even if you hate all the canditates (probably) cast NO-Vote !! Shekhar 4 Comments Posted. Post your commenthttp://www.shekharkapur.com/blog/archives/2007/01/the_power_to_vo.htm#postcomment Maybe we should have a constitutional amendment that says that if the No-Votes registered exceeds 50% of the total Votes cast, the election is null and void ?? You have my vote for having such an amendment in our Constitution, Shekhar. (pun intended) If the No-Votes in an election are not reported, the results can show a very misleading picture. I am reminded of a saying I heard a long time ago. Statistics are like a bikini bathing suit. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital! Cheers! Navin 1http://www.shekharkapur.com/blog/archives/2007/01/the_power_to_vo.htm#comment-15140. Posted by Navin http://superstargems.blogspot.com/ on January 16, 2007 with EMV.. cannot remember see NOTA (none of the above) options..!?. when I ask an officer while i was voting some years in chennai. he said that's not possible later I found website with below details but not sure same is valid. No invalid votes: Inside the control unit, hidden from you, is an extremely sensitive circuitry that takes care of common election errors or malpractices like vote duplication. For instance, if one were to press two or more buttons simultaneously, then no vote would be cast. Even if there was a micro-second difference in the pressing of the switches, the EVM is sensitive enough to trace and identify the twitch that was press first. 2http://www.shekharkapur.com/blog/archives/2007/01/the_power_to_vo.htm#comment-15300. Posted by Yuva http://iamyuva.blogspot.com/ on January 17, 2007 I am under the impression that for a NO vote to count- an actual vote must be cast in the ballot saying that you vote for 'nobody'- and that, in that case- if the votes for 'nobody' outnumber the votes for other candidates- a repoll must be called. k 3http://www.shekharkapur.com/blog/archives/2007/01/the_power_to_vo.htm#comment-21112. Posted by kalden on February 02, 2007 u are right Kalden, a NO vote must be be cast - not sure that a repoll needs to be called, but maybe u can educate us on that. However most people that say i do not have a single candutate that I would want to vote for have a chance to go to the polls and and make that very important statement. Most people are not aware of tat, or I certainly was not. Shekhar *Citizens urged to exercise their right to franchise * http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/13/stories/2007021312030300.htm Staff Correspondent *Attention drawn towards Rule 49-0 for Conduct of Elections * -- · *`Voters have no avenue to express their disillusionment with the system of governance' * · *Proposal to amend the rules to include a column, None of the above * -- CHANDIGARH: On the eve of polling for the Punjab Assembly, a citizens' initiative for cleaner politics, Punjab Election Watch (PEW), has pointed out that the electronic voting machines (EVMs) of the Election Commission of India do not provide an option for voters who wish to invoke the provisions of Rule 49-0 of the Conduct of Election: to reject all candidates. In a statement here, PEW has argued that the electors would not be able to exercise the option under Rule 49-0 directly and would be forced to inform the presiding officer, seriously impairing secrecy. However, the organisation has urged the citizens to shed their apathetic attitude and exercise their right to franchise, including the facility of Rule 49-0. It has also drawn the attention of the authorities and the people that the EC through its D.O. Letter no.3/ER/2004
Re: [Assam] Sri Sankardeva Nethralaya concept and ideology
Friends, The theory is correct to my best.Althouth I am away from Assam for 26 yrs now- but the writing is somewhat like singing Bande Ma taram by new generation singers like ARR etc. Ratir jui,Dinar pahar, tak nekhedi thakiba xui.Hope this proverb are enough to say what I indicated. It started with gala thoughts for the peoples of NE.But time came the management failed to do much and the entire control gone to the hands of Chennai main netralaya.Generally people mistakes it as our guru Shrimanta Shankardeva.But practically it belongs to that corrupted Shankaracharya of Chennai trust.As due to the faults of our people at Assam, whole management power gone to trsut HO, nothing much can be expected.It is no nore than Bata show room now. Still Nai momaitkoi kana momai bhaal. Jai Aii Axom. Dr.Bikash K. Das - Now you can chat without downloading messenger. Click here to know how.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] The Assam Tribune (Editorial): Economic development of North East
Guwahati, Wednesday, October 31, 2007 EDITORIAL Economic development of North East — HN Das Theoretical economics has all along pleaded for removal of all restrictions on trade. The belief is that ‘in every country it always is and must be the interest of the great body of people to buy whatever they want off those who sell it cheapest? Stating this in the Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith also clarified that ‘the proposition is so very manifest that it seems ridiculous to take any pains to prove it, nor could it ever have been called in question, had not the interested sophistry of merchants and manufacturers confounded the common sense of mankind?In the practical field it has been noticed that international trade has fostered the wealth of nations. Tremendous economic development has taken place in the six decades since the end of the Second World War. Trade has played the most important role in it. Delving into the genesis of Taiwan’s transformation from a poor fishing island without any natural resources into one of the most prosperous countries in the world, it was collected that in 1950 General Issimo Chiang Kei Shek and his wife Sung Li fled to Taiwan (then called Formosa) after Mao Zedong’s Red Army swept into power in mainland China. They started the process of Taiwan’s economic development through trade. First they harvested and exported fish. Then agricultural and agro-industrial goods. Then the products of village and small industries which included very large consignments of cheap readymade clothes. This continued for sometime when they started manufacturing and exporting computer hardware. This became possible through its technically rich human resource.A number of countries including Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines and others followed a more or less similar growth path and became prosperous. To quote the Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E Stiglitz, ‘the most successful developing countries in the world have achieved their success through trade through exports’. But he has warned that, ‘opening up markets in the developing countries to goods from the advanced industrial countries without full reciprocation’ might not work. He quoted the case of Europe when in 2001 it, ‘unilaterally opened to markets to the poorest countries of the world’ and ‘almost no trade followed’. Stiglitz referred to the various trade agreements and opined that, ‘even if trade agreements have been truly free and fair, not all countries would have benefitted or at least benefitted much and not all people, even in the countries that did benefit, would share in the gains. Even if trade barriers are brought down systematically, not everyone is equally in a position to take advantage of the new opportunities’. (Making Globalisation Work).” These are prophetic words indeed. Their potency can be examined with reference of the Government of India’s Look East Policy adopted in 1990-91 after the liberalisation of the Indian economy. By this policy a new orientation is sought to be given to India’s foreign policy and trade by a thrust on South Asian and South East Asian countries. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described India’s Look East policy as ‘a strategic shift in our perspective’ and further clarified that ‘the age-old India-ASEAN linkages have given a renewed thrust with the impressive growth of connectivity and the ever-increasing flows of tourism between India and ASEAN’. In fact ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) reached 40 years of its existence in 2007. Recalling the recent events, Singh further said that ‘in the present phase of our Look East policy, we in India seek to deepen our economic integration by entering into free trade or comprehensive economic partnership agreements, both with ASEAN as a whole and with individual countries of the region’.The very first agreement in this field was the Indo-Myanmar Trade Agreement signed on January 31, 1994. The agreement provided for ‘establishment of trade on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.’ The idea was to put in place a ‘signaling device to monitor the movement of commodities and people’. Probably another objective was to provide ‘an insurance against the perceived threat of Chinese dominance of the region’ as feared by one of the speakers in a ‘National Seminar on Border Trade’ held in Imphal on November 8-9, 2004 in which this writer chaired a session on the Stilwell Road. An MoU was also signed between the Government of India and Myanmar the same day. These two agreements were followed up by a delegation-level talk on June 10, 1994.Media comments on these events at that time were favourable to the GOI. For example,
Re: [Assam] [NorthEastIndia] Mukesh Ambani - richest person in theworld
MKD wrote Now in a country like India, if they (child) are not put to work, they will either turn into urchins, vagabonds, beggars or drug addicts, One may ask back the question, what is meant by 'a country like India', a country with the richest man in the world? Whichever way we see it, if a country even cannot afford without child labour, and try to justify 'child labour' then there something wrong with that country, in spite of (or may be because of) having the richest man in the world. Our duty is to analyse, what is wrong with us. Ram has rightly said and which I support, A nation that refuses to acknowledge and redress its moral and legal obligations toward it OWN children has to be both morally and legally bankrupt. Rajen Barua - Original Message - From: Ram Sarangapani To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 9:03 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] [NorthEastIndia] Mukesh Ambani - richest person in theworld Whether child labour is good or bad is an ethical issue. The position a person takes in this respect would depend upon his values. That is a very individual decision. But the question is: what is the generally accepted view ? It may be correct or it may be wrong. Only efflux of time would settle these types of isues. Uttam/Manoj IMHO, the issue of child labor has to be both a National issue as well as a moral issue. Moreover, the strength of a democracy lies in a country's ability to protect the weakest members (read citizens) of its society. And children are really the most vulnerable. I have often heard arguments (that Manoj has put forth) regarding child labor --- ie. that it has to be looked at another way. There was some report that the rescued children had no regret for working in such factories. In an over populated country like India, where every household has many mouths to feed from one income, The sad reality is that child labor, which ever way one looks at it, it is still bad. The poor people who have only one income obviously have to find a different avenue (other than on their childrens' backs) to survive. Yes, the these are hard choices (and I do understand Manoj :)), but in the end the country as whole has to decide how exactly it wants to get out of this viscious circle. A nation that refuses to acknowledge and redress its moral and legal obligations toward it OWN children has to be both morally and legally bankrupt. The least that India can do is to make sure to strictly enforce its child labor laws, educate its adult population that child labor is simply put, bad and unjust, and has to be eradicated. -- Ram da BTW: The day before yesterday, CNN had a special report on how some top clothes designers (US) were using poor children in India to work long hours etc. children has to work. For example in Kashmir children are actually apprentices who become master crafts person once they become old hands. Now in a country like India, if they are not put to work, they will either turn into urchins, vagabonds, beggars or drug addicts, On 10/30/07, uttam borthakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: There cannot be any issues in Mukesh Ambani becoming the richest man in the whole world. Someone has to be. The same order that catapults someone to unbelievable wealth, pushes others to child labour. I have been told that some changes are coming in the world banking system by January and the surge in the Indian Markets is a consequence of that. I do not haver any insider information and so I do not know whether it is correct. Mukesh Ambani happens to be in the right place at the right time. Whether child labour is good or bad is an ethical issue. The position a person takes in this respect would depend upon his values. That is a very individual decision. But the question is: what is the generally accepted view ? It may be correct or it may be wrong. Only efflux of time would settle these types of isues. Manoj Das [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: There is another side to the child labour issue. There was some report that the rescued children had no regret for working in such factories. In an over populated country like India, where every household has many mouths to feed from one income, children has to work. For example in Kashmir children are actually apprentices who become master crafts person once they become old hands. Now in a country like India, if they are not put to work, they will either turn into urchins, vagabonds, beggars or drug addicts, If govt. wants to seriously abolish child labor, education, social infrastructure has to come first so that these children are kept occupied gainfully. Otherwise mere rescuing them from factories will not serve any purpose. They are bound to take wrong paths, after a few days of media glare is
Re: [Assam] [NorthEastIndia] Mukesh Ambani - richest person in theworld
There is always another view of everything. Like terrorists killing hapless people may have a view to justify it. The view has to be tested whether it is conducive to humanity or not. Only that view that is favourable to the community as a whole has to be adopted for happiness in real terms. Rajen Ajanta Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: MKD wrote Now in a country like India, if they (child) are not put to work, they will either turn into urchins, vagabonds, beggars or drug addicts, One may ask back the question, what is meant by 'a country like India', a country with the richest man in the world? Whichever way we see it, if a country even cannot afford without child labour, and try to justify 'child labour' then there something wrong with that country, in spite of (or may be because of) having the richest man in the world. Our duty is to analyse, what is wrong with us. Ram has rightly said and which I support, A nation that refuses to acknowledge and redress its moral and legal obligations toward it OWN children has to be both morally and legally bankrupt. Rajen Barua - Original Message - From: Ram Sarangapani To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 9:03 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] [NorthEastIndia] Mukesh Ambani - richest person in theworld Whether child labour is good or bad is an ethical issue. The position a person takes in this respect would depend upon his values. That is a very individual decision. But the question is: what is the generally accepted view ? It may be correct or it may be wrong. Only efflux of time would settle these types of isues. Uttam/Manoj IMHO, the issue of child labor has to be both a National issue as well as a moral issue. Moreover, the strength of a democracy lies in a country's ability to protect the weakest members (read citizens) of its society. And children are really the most vulnerable. I have often heard arguments (that Manoj has put forth) regarding child labor --- ie. that it has to be looked at another way. There was some report that the rescued children had no regret for working in such factories. In an over populated country like India, where every household has many mouths to feed from one income, The sad reality is that child labor, which ever way one looks at it, it is still bad. The poor people who have only one income obviously have to find a different avenue (other than on their childrens' backs) to survive. Yes, the these are hard choices (and I do understand Manoj :)), but in the end the country as whole has to decide how exactly it wants to get out of this viscious circle. A nation that refuses to acknowledge and redress its moral and legal obligations toward it OWN children has to be both morally and legally bankrupt. The least that India can do is to make sure to strictly enforce its child labor laws, educate its adult population that child labor is simply put, bad and unjust, and has to be eradicated. -- Ram da BTW: The day before yesterday, CNN had a special report on how some top clothes designers (US) were using poor children in India to work long hours etc. children has to work. For example in Kashmir children are actually apprentices who become master crafts person once they become old hands. Now in a country like India, if they are not put to work, they will either turn into urchins, vagabonds, beggars or drug addicts, On 10/30/07, uttam borthakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: There cannot be any issues in Mukesh Ambani becoming the richest man in the whole world. Someone has to be. The same order that catapults someone to unbelievable wealth, pushes others to child labour. I have been told that some changes are coming in the world banking system by January and the surge in the Indian Markets is a consequence of that. I do not haver any insider information and so I do not know whether it is correct. Mukesh Ambani happens to be in the right place at the right time. Whether child labour is good or bad is an ethical issue. The position a person takes in this respect would depend upon his values. That is a very individual decision. But the question is: what is the generally accepted view ? It may be correct or it may be wrong. Only efflux of time would settle these types of isues. Manoj Das [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: There is another side to the child labour issue. There was some report that the rescued children had no regret for working in such factories. In an over populated country like India, where every household has many mouths to feed from one income, children has to work. For example in Kashmir children are actually apprentices who become master crafts person once they become old hands. Now in a country like India, if they are not put to work, they will either turn into urchins, vagabonds, beggars or drug
Re: [Assam] [NorthEastIndia] Mukesh Ambani - richest person in theworld
Right! Like, child labor is not conducive to anything. For until ye become as a savior, as a help to some soul that has lost hope, lost its way, ye do not fully comprehend theGod within, the God without. - Edgar Cayce “In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass” - Lakshmana Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:44:33 +From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Re: [Assam] [NorthEastIndia] Mukesh Ambani - richest person in theworldThere is always another view of everything. Like terrorists killing hapless people may have a view to justify it. The view has to be tested whether it is conducive to humanity or not. Only that view that is favourable to the community as a whole has to be adopted for happiness in real terms.Rajen Ajanta Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: MKD wrote Now in a country like India, if they (child) are not put to work, theywill either turn into urchins, vagabonds, beggars or drug addicts, One may ask back the question, what is meant by 'a country like India', a country with the richest man in the world? Whichever way we see it, if a country even cannot afford without child labour, and try to justify 'child labour' then there something wrong with that country, in spite of (or may be because of) having the richest man in the world. Our duty is to analyse, what is wrong with us. Ram has rightly said and which I support, A nation that refuses to acknowledge and redress its moral and legal obligations toward it OWN children has to be both morally and legally bankrupt. Rajen Barua - Original Message - From: Ram Sarangapani To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 9:03 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] [NorthEastIndia] Mukesh Ambani - richest person in theworld Whether child labour is good or bad is an ethical issue. The position a person takes in this respect would depend upon his values. That is a very individual decision. But the question is: what is the generally accepted view ? It may be correct or it may be wrong. Only efflux of time would settle these types of isues. Uttam/Manoj IMHO, the issue of child labor has to be both a National issue as well as a moral issue. Moreover, the strength of a democracy lies in a country's ability to protect the weakest members (read citizens) of its society. And children are really the most vulnerable. I have often heard arguments (that Manoj has put forth) regarding child labor --- ie. that it has to be looked at another way. There was some report that the rescued children had no regret forworking in such factories. In an over populated country like India,where every household has many mouths to feed from one income, The sad reality is that child labor, which ever way one looks at it, it is still bad. The poor people who have only one income obviously have to find a different avenue (other than on their childrens' backs) to survive. Yes, the these are hard choices (and I do understand Manoj :)), but in the end the country as whole has to decide how exactly it wants to get out of this viscious circle. A nation that refuses to acknowledge and redress its moral and legal obligations toward it OWN children has to be both morally and legally bankrupt. The least that India can do is to make sure to strictly enforce its child labor laws, educate its adult population that child labor is simply put, bad and unjust, and has to be eradicated. -- Ram da BTW: The day before yesterday, CNN had a special report on how some top clothes designers (US) were using poor children in India to work long hours etc. children has to work. For example in Kashmir children are actuallyapprentices who become master crafts person once they become oldhands. Now in a country like India, if they are not put to work, theywill either turn into urchins, vagabonds, beggars or drug addicts, On 10/30/07, uttam borthakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: There cannot be any issues in Mukesh Ambani becoming the richest man in the whole world. Someone has to be. The same order that catapults someone to unbelievable wealth, pushes others to child labour. I have been told that some changes are coming in the world banking system by January and the surge in the Indian Markets is a consequence of that. I do not haver any insider information and so I do not know whether it is correct. Mukesh Ambani happens to be in the right place at the right time. Whether child labour is good or bad is an ethical issue. The position a person takes in this respect would depend upon his values. That is a very individual decision. But the question is: what is the generally accepted view ? It may be correct or it may be wrong. Only efflux of time would settle these types of isues. Manoj Das [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: There is another side to the child labour issue.There was some report that the
[Assam] Child Labor
Uttam, There is always another view of everything. Like terrorists killing hapless people may have a view to justify it. I agree with the first part that there is and ought to be another view. On the second part, the key word here is justify. When someone has to justify, it doesn't mean that the action was just. It simply means that many people would be convinced with some great justifications and guile. The question is, was it really just. I don't know who, except the killers (in the example you cite), would know the real answer. As far as child labor is concerned, there are and can be numerous justifications put forward to show that we really do have reasons why this practice of child labor should continue. As concerned citizens, it is incumbent upon them to make the general public awareness about this sordid practice. So far, most of the justifications that I have come across (for the continued practice of child labor ) are short-term solutions to long-term, perenial problems. Its a darn shame that a poor family is forced put its children to work in order to survive. It is understandable, but still a shame. This is where the government, the NGOs, the Ambanis of the world, and good people need to step in. Safety nets have to be initiated, and really, no child in present-day India ought to ever have to work in order to survive. --Ram da On 10/31/07, uttam borthakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: There is always another view of everything. Like terrorists killing hapless people may have a view to justify it. The view has to be tested whether it is conducive to humanity or not. Only that view that is favourable to the community as a whole has to be adopted for happiness in real terms. *Rajen Ajanta Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED]* wrote: MKD wrote Now in a country like India, if they (child) are not put to work, they will either turn into urchins, vagabonds, beggars or drug addicts, One may ask back the question, what is meant by 'a country like India', a country with the richest man in the world? Whichever way we see it, if a country even cannot afford without child labour, and try to justify 'child labour' then there something wrong with that country, in spite of (or may be because of) having the richest man in the world. Our duty is to analyse, what is wrong with us. Ram has rightly said and which I support, A nation that refuses to acknowledge and redress its moral and legal obligations toward it OWN children has to be both morally and legally bankrupt. Rajen Barua - Original Message - *From:* Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] *To:* A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the worldassam@assamnet.org *Sent:* Wednesday, October 31, 2007 9:03 AM *Subject:* Re: [Assam] [NorthEastIndia] Mukesh Ambani - richest person in theworld Whether child labour is good or bad is an ethical issue. The position a person takes in this respect would depend upon his values. That is a very individual decision. But the question is: what is the generally accepted view ? It may be correct or it may be wrong. Only efflux of time would settle these types of isues. Uttam/Manoj IMHO, the issue of child labor has to be both a National issue as well as a moral issue. Moreover, the strength of a democracy lies in a country's ability to protect the weakest members (read citizens) of its society. And children are really the most vulnerable. I have often heard arguments (that Manoj has put forth) regarding child labor --- ie. that it has to be looked at another way. There was some report that the rescued children had no regret for working in such factories. In an over populated country like India, where every household has many mouths to feed from one income, The sad reality is that child labor, which ever way one looks at it, it is still bad. The poor people who have only one income obviously have to find a different avenue (other than on their childrens' backs) to survive. Yes, the these are hard choices (and I do understand Manoj :)), but in the end the country as whole has to decide how exactly it wants to get out of this viscious circle. A nation that refuses to acknowledge and redress its moral and legal obligations toward it OWN children has to be both morally and legally bankrupt. The least that India can do is to make sure to strictly enforce its child labor laws, educate its adult population that child labor is simply put, bad and unjust, and has to be eradicated. -- Ram da BTW: The day before yesterday, CNN had a special report on how some top clothes designers (US) were using poor children in India to work long hours etc. children has to work. For example in Kashmir children are actually apprentices who become master crafts person once they become old hands. Now in a country like India, if they are not put to work, they will either turn into urchins, vagabonds, beggars or drug addicts, On 10/30/07, uttam
Re: [Assam] Assamese Nationalists should consider appropriate use ofthe 'Conduct of Election Rules 1961 act, Section 49(O)' to scuttle the imposed Indian electoral engineering intricking Assam submitt
Maybe we should have a constitutional amendment that says that if the No-Votes registered exceeds 50% of the total Votes cast, the election is null and void ?? So get out there in the next election and even if you hate all the canditates (probably) cast NO-Vote !! The above sounds good on paper. At least is a good point to note anyway to make an election null and void. But knowing the Indian politics, we need to know better. If the election is declared null and void, this again simply means to continue the staus quo of the old regime or Presidential rule depending on the rule on paper which is a no win situation I think. Rajen Barua - Original Message - From: Bartta Bistar To: AssamNet Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:41 AM Subject: [Assam] Assamese Nationalists should consider appropriate use ofthe 'Conduct of Election Rules 1961 act,Section 49(O)' to scuttle the imposed Indian electoral engineering intricking Assam submitting to India. The Power to vote by not voting ! http://www.shekharkapur.com/blog/archives/2007/01/the_power_to_vo.htm There is a way to make yourself heard even by voting against ALL the canditates.. I have been made aware of this by Navin's comment under the Lonely Planet Blog. The 'Conduct of Election Rules 1961 act, Section 49(O)' of the Indian Manual of Election Law states that If an elector . decided not to record his vote, a remark to this effect shall be made against the said entry . Does this mean that we can excercise our franchise by collectively NOT voting for anyone, but to register a protest as a 'No - Vote ? Certainly a powerful weapon. How about the winning canditate claiming victory by saying : Winning Canditate : 12 % of the Votes Cast Loosing Candidate : 3 % of the Votes Cast NO- VOTES : 85 % of the Votes Cast Without the NO-VOTES registered, the satement would be as follows : Winning Canditae : 75 % of the Votes Cast Loosing Canditate 25% of the Votes Cast Makes a huge difference to the perception of the electoral victory, doesn't it ? Maybe we should have a constitutional amendment that says that if the No-Votes registered exceeds 50% of the total Votes cast, the election is null and void ?? So get out there in the next election and even if you hate all the canditates (probably) cast NO-Vote !! Shekhar 4 Comments Posted. Post your comment Maybe we should have a constitutional amendment that says that if the No-Votes registered exceeds 50% of the total Votes cast, the election is null and void ?? You have my vote for having such an amendment in our Constitution, Shekhar. (pun intended) If the No-Votes in an election are not reported, the results can show a very misleading picture. I am reminded of a saying I heard a long time ago. Statistics are like a bikini bathing suit. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital! Cheers! Navin 1. Posted by Navin on January 16, 2007 with EMV.. cannot remember see NOTA (none of the above) options..!?. when I ask an officer while i was voting some years in chennai. he said that's not possible later I found website with below details but not sure same is valid. No invalid votes: Inside the control unit, hidden from you, is an extremely sensitive circuitry that takes care of common election errors or malpractices like vote duplication. For instance, if one were to press two or more buttons simultaneously, then no vote would be cast. Even if there was a micro-second difference in the pressing of the switches, the EVM is sensitive enough to trace and identify the twitch that was press first. 2. Posted by Yuva on January 17, 2007 I am under the impression that for a NO vote to count- an actual vote must be cast in the ballot saying that you vote for 'nobody'- and that, in that case- if the votes for 'nobody' outnumber the votes for other candidates- a repoll must be called. k 3. Posted by kalden on February 02, 2007 u are right Kalden, a NO vote must be be cast - not sure that a repoll needs to be called, but maybe u can educate us on that. However most people that say i do not have a single candutate that I would want to vote for have a chance to go to the polls and and make that very important statement. Most people are not aware of tat, or I certainly was not. Shekhar Citizens urged to exercise their right to franchise http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/13/stories/2007021312030300.htm Staff Correspondent Attention drawn towards Rule 49-0 for Conduct of Elections -- · `Voters have no avenue to express their disillusionment with the system of governance' · Proposal to amend the rules to include a column, None of the above -- CHANDIGARH: On the eve of
[Assam] Will the real picture of Dhemaji reflect in the Asam Natya Sanmilan-Padma Borkotoky
An article Will the real picture of Dhemaji reflect in the Asam Natya Sanmilan is written by Padma Borkotoky in Asomiya Pratidin (01.11.2007). You can read the article from the below link: http://dhemajinews.bihu.in/1884/ - Why delete messages? Unlimited storage is just a click away.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Meet on Look East Policy gets under way (The Sentinel, 01.11.2007)
Meet on Look East Policy gets under way From our Bureau New Delhi/GUWAHATI, Oct 31: Chief Ministers from the seven northeastern States today met in New Delhi to take part in a meeting called by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to develop the North-east with special emphasis on the Look East Policy. Pranab Mukherjee underlined the importance of the subject of the meeting. While this policy has yielded many benefits, including closer and strategic ties between India and the South-east Asian countries, an impressive increase in the quantum of bilateral trade and increased people-to-people interaction, the need to focus the benefits of this cooperation more sharply on the northeastern region, which is a natural bridge between India and the South-East Asian countries. The meeting was chaired by Pranab Mukherjee and was attended by Union Ministers Mani Shankar Aiyar, Shivraj Patil, P Chidambaram, AK Antony, TR Baalu, Jayram Ramesh and Ashwini Kumar. Text of Gogois speech: Today, it surprises one to find Asom in pre-industrial stage. The State today experiences unique economic problems arising out of remoteness and poor connectivity, weak financial resource base, poor infrastructure, shallow markets and natural calamities shattering the entire economy of the State from time to time. In 1947, Asom was the State with the second highest per capita income in the country but has slipped a number of steps backward in the last six decades owing to these reasons. Though we have been investing enough funds from the State Plan and other resources, the situation is still not satisfactory. From the funds received from the Ministry of DoNER, we have invested 11 per cent of the total approved cost in the power sector and 37 per cent in the road sector. The funds received from NEC, to the extent of 18 per cent are utilized for the development of roads. For the 11th plan period, 9.8 per cent of the plan outlay is proposed for power development and 13.7 per cent for the development of communication. On the other hand, the 11th plan outlay provides for 21 per cent for agriculture and allied activities, including irrigation and flood protection. Imprisoned within a closed space, this region had been subjected to various limitations by the countrys internal security as well as foreign policy. Not to speak of direct foreign investment, even in the early few years of liberalization of economy of India, a foreign tourist had to obtain a restricted area permit and he was allowed to move only around the spot or area where he was permitted to visit. A foreigner visiting his family members working in this part of the country had to confine only to the premises of the family members house. A group of tourists visiting the State or the North-east could not cross the numbers as specified by the Government. The Centres new industrial policy (NEIIP- 2007) and the Look East Policy seek to open doors to domestic and international investors and thereby endeavour to boost up the economy of Asom and the North-east through international trade and business by removing trade barriers, opening the frontiers and providing road, rail and air connectivity. These will certainly remove the geo-political isolation of the State from the rest of the country. For us in the North-East region, the Look East Policy is perceived as the only hope for breaking out of isolation. Considering the near deadlock in the WTO, our hopes lie in regional cooperation with our neighbouring South-east Asian countries. We do have existing arrangement whereby some items are exported/imported to and from Bangladesh through both river and land routes. Present scale of operations are not attractive enough for private sector to create world-class facilities. Considering the need to promote trade from the northeastern States, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had appointed a Task Force on connectivity and promotion of trade and investment in the regions. The task force has given very important recommendations. Our hopes of developing vibrant trade and commerce will be belied unless we work in tandem with foreign policy interventions and put in place-required infrastructure and trade-friendly procedures and practices. Given the time constraint, I would like to place the following for immediate attention. 1. Development of connectivity a. Development of ASEAN highway: The road connection to South-east Asian countries is also available along ASEAN highway network that can be accessed from the existing NH 39 and NH-36 of Asom through the Dimapur-Kohima-Imphal road to reach Myanmar at the border town of Moreh. This needs to be developed expeditiously. b. Development of NH-153 (Stillwell Road): Reopening of the Stillwell Road linking the region to Kunming, the capital of Yunan Province of China, through Myanmar will greatly boost economy and trade activities from the region to South-east Asian countries. The Myanmar
[Assam] Nostalgia time at AMCH - Diamond jubilee begins today with big bash (The Telegraph, 01.11.2007)
Nostalgia time at AMCH - Diamond jubilee begins today with big bash OUR CORRESPONDENT Sir John Berry White Medical School, which now houses a state government office. Picture by Pronib Das Dibrugarh, Oct. 31: Its been six decades since S.D. Barua, Amal Chandra Baruah and Benu Dhar Borgohain stepped into the Assam Medical College and Hospital for the first time, propelled by the desire to quickly put on that pristine white apron and walk around with the stethoscope dangling from their necks. That was a new beginning not only for the three youths part of the first batch of the medical college but also for the institution itself. Tomorrow, when the diamond jubilee celebrations of the institution gets under way in Dibrugarh, the trio will be back in their alma mater to lead the pack once again. The three veterans have been invited to participate in the cultural procession slated for November 3. They represent the history of this institution and we will be honoured to have them back among us at the start of the diamond jubilee. They are in their eighties but they still have the spirit that helped this institution shine through all these decades, said Dr Ranjeet Kumar Baruah, head of the department of orthopaedics and a member of the organising committee. S.D.Barua retired as the director of health services, while Amal C. Baruah retired as head of paediatrics at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital and Benu D. Borgohain as the superintendent of the same hospital. For doctors who studied and still work in the AMCH, the diamond jubilee will be as much an occasion to introspect as to celebrate. As someone associated with this institution for the past 20 years as a student and a doctor I have seen the ups and downs. There was a period when long-term goals were discarded in the pursuance of short-term ones but we are now back on track. There was a time when the central quota of seats would remain vacant because of misgivings outside the state about the social and academic environment here. But there has been a turnaround of late, said Dr Gourangie Gogoi, an assistant professor in the department of community medicine and a member of the publicity committee. The 3-km diamond jubilee march will begin at the main gate to the AMCH and pass through Seujpur, Naliapool and Grahambazar before returning to the starting point. Arjuna award-winning athlete Bhogeswar Baruah will be the chief guest and also participate in the run that will precede the procession. The organisers have arranged for an open jeep to carry the three veterans from the first batch. Sixty girl students dressed in traditional Assamese mekhela-chador will carry earthen pots during the procession, signifying the completion of six decades. The procession will feature representatives of all batches that have passed out from this institution, said Dr T.R. Borborah, the principal-cum-chief superintendent of the AMCH and the chairman of the organising committee. The AMCHs real journey began in 1900 when a British army surgeon, Berry White, initiated the establishment of a medical school in Dibrugarh. It was in 1947 that Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi, the first chief minister of Assam, upgraded it to a medical college. The institutions chequered history will be displayed in the form of an archive of historical documents and photographs in the Jubilee Hall at the site of the old medical school, Dr Gogoi said. The building will also have lodging facilities for attendants of patients from far-flung areas of the region. (The Telegraph,01.11.2007) - Get the freedom to save as many mails as you wish. Click here to know how.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Child Labor
Equation of Child Labour: Supply side: Poverty Demand side: Greed for cheap labour The disease is systemic: -) Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Uttam, There is always another view of everything. Like terrorists killing hapless people may have a view to justify it. I agree with the first part that there is and ought to be another view. On the second part, the key word here is justify. When someone has to justify, it doesn't mean that the action was just. It simply means that many people would be convinced with some great justifications and guile. The question is, was it really just. I don't know who, except the killers (in the example you cite), would know the real answer. As far as child labor is concerned, there are and can be numerous justifications put forward to show that we really do have reasons why this practice of child labor should continue. As concerned citizens, it is incumbent upon them to make the general public awareness about this sordid practice. So far, most of the justifications that I have come across (for the continued practice of child labor ) are short-term solutions to long-term, perenial problems. Its a darn shame that a poor family is forced put its children to work in order to survive. It is understandable, but still a shame. This is where the government, the NGOs, the Ambanis of the world, and good people need to step in. Safety nets have to be initiated, and really, no child in present-day India ought to ever have to work in order to survive. --Ram da On 10/31/07, uttam borthakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: There is always another view of everything. Like terrorists killing hapless people may have a view to justify it. The view has to be tested whether it is conducive to humanity or not. Only that view that is favourable to the community as a whole has to be adopted for happiness in real terms. Rajen Ajanta Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: MKD wrote Now in a country like India, if they (child) are not put to work, they will either turn into urchins, vagabonds, beggars or drug addicts, One may ask back the question, what is meant by 'a country like India', a country with the richest man in the world? Whichever way we see it, if a country even cannot afford without child labour, and try to justify 'child labour' then there something wrong with that country, in spite of (or may be because of) having the richest man in the world. Our duty is to analyse, what is wrong with us. Ram has rightly said and which I support, A nation that refuses to acknowledge and redress its moral and legal obligations toward it OWN children has to be both morally and legally bankrupt. Rajen Barua - Original Message - From: Ram Sarangapani To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 9:03 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] [NorthEastIndia] Mukesh Ambani - richest person in theworld Whether child labour is good or bad is an ethical issue. The position a person takes in this respect would depend upon his values. That is a very individual decision. But the question is: what is the generally accepted view ? It may be correct or it may be wrong. Only efflux of time would settle these types of isues. Uttam/Manoj IMHO, the issue of child labor has to be both a National issue as well as a moral issue. Moreover, the strength of a democracy lies in a country's ability to protect the weakest members (read citizens) of its society. And children are really the most vulnerable. I have often heard arguments (that Manoj has put forth) regarding child labor --- ie. that it has to be looked at another way. There was some report that the rescued children had no regret for working in such factories. In an over populated country like India, where every household has many mouths to feed from one income, The sad reality is that child labor, which ever way one looks at it, it is still bad. The poor people who have only one income obviously have to find a different avenue (other than on their childrens' backs) to survive. Yes, the these are hard choices (and I do understand Manoj :)), but in the end the country as whole has to decide how exactly it wants to get out of this viscious circle. A nation that refuses to acknowledge and redress its moral and legal obligations toward it OWN children has to be both morally and legally bankrupt. The least that India can do is to make sure to strictly enforce its child labor laws, educate its adult population that child labor is simply put, bad and unjust, and has to be eradicated. -- Ram da BTW: The day before yesterday, CNN had a special report on how some top clothes designers (US) were using poor children in India to work long hours etc. children has to
[Assam] North India should learn from NE: Preity Zinta
North India should learn from NE: Preity Zinta From our Correspondent Sentinel Assam SHILLONG, Oct 31: Bollywood Actress Preity Zinta today said that North India should learn from the North-east the social status it confers on the girl child and its women in the society. She said that she was impressed by the matrilineal society that holds its women in high regard. Preity Zinta is shooting in Shillong for the film Har Pal directed by Jhanu Barua. The film also features actors Shiney Ahuja and Dharmendra, and the entire film crew has been camping in Shillong shooting for the last 10 days. Talking to reporters at the shooting site in Laitlum, Preity said she has been involved with the cause of women, and has been working for their betterment. She said in other parts of India, female infanticide has become a social menace and she has been involved in trying to create awareness and improve the social condition of women. In the film, she plays a local Shillong girl but refused to divulge the entire story of the film. Preity said that she was amazed by the beautiful landscape of Shillong and felt it has huge potential for becoming a shooting location and would one day become a top tourist destination in the country. Preity said Bollywood films have so far been choosing Kashmir or Himachal Pradesh as shooting locations whenever they required shooting to be done in hill stations. She, however, said Shillong can hope to become another hill station destination for shooting Bollywood films as it has picturesque landscapes, rolling hills and cascading water falls. Bollywood he-man of the yesteryears Dharmendra said he liked Shillong for its serene atmosphere and peace. He said Bollywood should concentrate in making North-east and Shillong its permanent location for films shooting. He said when a film is shot in a particular place, the location gets promoted as a tourist destination. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Infosys student loans - Peace: Brothers' Spiritual journey - movie - Darjeeling Limited
Hi, Sometimes timing is everything - sometimes everything is well timed. So it seems these days when all actions seem to be by clockwork. Esp since this week beginning. Two of my friends who were in need of funds and looking vigorously for jobs - any job - ended up getting a job each this Monday - told me within an hour of each other. One of them whom I was advising to make his home in his car till he found a cheap place to stay ended up getting a great room all to himself - for the price I am paying for shared accommodation and I got mobility thanks to his car. This Sunday while talking to my brother (younger and who became a father last week) at Marine Corps War Memorial for a marathon volunteering - I was stunned to hear that he was a guest at an old acquaintance of my father's. A very senior general rank police officer who was right next to him (unlike some of my roommates I hardly get in touch with any except the very closest (or online) friends in India). One roommate here not only calls up his parents and grandparenst but also his great unlces, unlces's sister-in-law,sister's-brother-law aunts, cousins, nieces etc and talks for hours on end--even on phone and sometimes on internet. POLICE PATRIOT STUDENT LOANS AFFLUENCE I hadn't talked to the police officer (who helped get land for Jaipur School allotted from the govt - a dead honest officer whose eldest son was my brother's classmate at JS) - ever since he had forbidden me to try to go abroad when I visited his home in 2004 after geting accepted at Harvard. Even now he had just one message for me and then he gave the cellphone back to my brother : You should come back to India for a few years, get a job, get married and then you can go back to US. If you need money to repay your student loan that we can arrange. He was perhaps referring to the fact that ever since Infosys opened a center in the city in 2004/2005 land prices have sky rocketed and a plot whose deal I had got finalized is worth so much that it can easily help repay my $35,000 US student loan. I asked my brother to call me up afterwards and he called up (while I was still at the marathon) with an offer which I could not but refuse Later I called up my Harvard sponsor at Los Angeles and realized how very easy it seemed to people back home which seemed impossible till the marathoner sponsored my US student loan. How very easy it is for many to say Oh, just come back for a few years and return to US. Is lie like Marine Corps Marathon - that should end where it starts? http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071004/REVIEWS/710040303/1023 Today I watched a Hollywood movie (with an old friend - with Indian skin and American soul - who has a new job, another didn't join - those hailing from close to Darjeeling) about 3 brothers who go to India on a spiritual journey (on Palace on Wheels train then villages , on Hero Honda bikes and meet their mother there etc) and was wondering that even for Indian city bred folks - a journey on the train thru the countryside evokes similar feelings - those of us who have been on long train journeys (without haste and worries of reaching the destination) might recall that feeling. Most importantly, that movie shows how and why rich Westerners incl Kate Winslet are in love with some rustic Indian environs (in the desert and Himalayas) where they go to seek peace and solace. So where there is peace and old world charm there can be tourists. Right?? So is peace really important --esp for Assam ---it is , isn't it? Some new netters (Ruby/Rubi) might disagree. umesh PS: about 10 years back - on Oct 28, (like this Sunday) 1997 I had boarded a train to go to Bhopal to work at Indian Express - choosing to go to a place I had never been before -to learn about how the media (newspaper Dainik Bhaskar) from this little known town beat the local media moghuls of my hometown (much more cosmopolitan) . Some things you can never learn from books - you have to live it. Right Bhopal and whole of MP pays much greater attention to education and sees it a s a means to growth and then ofcourse the then recent Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen said the same in 1998 and I went into education. Someone said that Success is a journey , not a destination. Quality is a moving target I think I read in Business World India -- that there is no final perfection - keep improving???!! Umesh Sharma Washington D.C. 1-202-215-4328 [Cell] Ed.M. - International Education Policy Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Class of 2005 http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info) http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info) www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used ) http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/ http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ - For ideas on reducing your carbon footprint visit Yahoo! For Good this
Re: [Assam] North India should learn from NE: Preity Zinta
film shootings will popularize tourism as well -- just like after Kashmir fell prey to terrorism in 1989 moviemakers moved to Rajasthan's deserts and tourism went sky rocketing soon after - first local (Indian) and then international. Umesh Pradip Kumar Datta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: North India should learn from NE: Preity Zinta From our Correspondent Sentinel Assam SHILLONG, Oct 31: Bollywood Actress Preity Zinta today said that North India should learn from the North-east the social status it confers on the girl child and its women in the society. She said that she was impressed by the matrilineal society that holds its women in high regard. Preity Zinta is shooting in Shillong for the film Har Pal directed by Jhanu Barua. The film also features actors Shiney Ahuja and Dharmendra, and the entire film crew has been camping in Shillong shooting for the last 10 days. Talking to reporters at the shooting site in Laitlum, Preity said she has been involved with the cause of women, and has been working for their betterment. She said in other parts of India, female infanticide has become a social menace and she has been involved in trying to create awareness and improve the social condition of women. In the film, she plays a local Shillong girl but refused to divulge the entire story of the film. Preity said that she was amazed by the beautiful landscape of Shillong and felt it has huge potential for becoming a shooting location and would one day become a top tourist destination in the country. Preity said Bollywood films have so far been choosing Kashmir or Himachal Pradesh as shooting locations whenever they required shooting to be done in hill stations. She, however, said Shillong can hope to become another hill station destination for shooting Bollywood films as it has picturesque landscapes, rolling hills and cascading water falls. Bollywood he-man of the yesteryears Dharmendra said he liked Shillong for its serene atmosphere and peace. He said Bollywood should concentrate in making North-east and Shillong its permanent location for films shooting. He said when a film is shot in a particular place, the location gets promoted as a tourist destination. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Umesh Sharma Washington D.C. 1-202-215-4328 [Cell] Ed.M. - International Education Policy Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Class of 2005 http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info) http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info) www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used ) http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/ http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ - For ideas on reducing your carbon footprint visit Yahoo! For Good this month.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] NYTimes.com: In India, Poverty Inspires Technology Workers to Altruism
This page was sent to you by: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Can heartless (takinh west's jobs away) outsourcing Indian techies can have a soul :-) ? Umes TECHNOLOGY | October 30, 2007 In India, Poverty Inspires Technology Workers to Altruism By ANAND GIRIDHARADAS Corporations have made India a laboratory for extending modern technological conveniences to the world's poor. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/technology/30poor.html?ex=1194580800en=b1797ea469a7bfc8ei=5070emc=eta1 -- ABOUT THIS E-MAIL This e-mail was sent to you by a friend through NYTimes.com's E-mail This Article service. For general information about NYTimes.com, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] NYTimes.com 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
