REPORTS SUGGEST that the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights is looking forward to some changes in the law regarding children that would make it an offence for teachers to hit a child.
The commission recommends a suitable need to amend Section 89 of Indian Penal Code in order to legalise the ban on corporal punishment.
Section 89 of the IPC says, “Nothing which is done in good faith for the benefit of a person below 12 years of age or of unsound mind, by or by consent, either expressed or implied, of the guardian or the other person having lawful charge of that person, is not an offence....
As per the guidelines laid down by the commission any kind of slapping, pinching, hitting with a scale, rapping on the knuckles, making a student kneel down for hours, or making him run in the school grounds or locking the student in a room should be liable to legal action.
Till date these guidelines are being circulated in schools but only an amendment in the IPC will give them legal sanction.
While on one hand, these amendments aim at straightening the rights of the children but on the other hand the teachers are made completely helpless because we can’t deny the fact that this amendment is going to provide immense power to the children.
Therefore it is important for the panel which is going to finalize the decision, to rethink and make necessary provisions so the law is not misused by anyone.
March 22, 2009
February 18, 2009
Living under the shadow of fear
WHILE WORKING in the kitchen, if u burn your hand accidentally, your only reaction is ’ouch! it hurts’. Just think about those hundreds of people then, who were charred to death in the Mumbai local trains blast . A chill does run down your spine, right?
Are we really independent, after 61 years of independence? No, we are still under the passive control of terrorists. It’s the terrorists who are deciding who’s going to die next, they are the ones planning, which city to attack, they are the ones laughing malevolently at our panick-stricken state and, yes, it’s they who mock at our lack of intelligence. Be it Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur or Bangalore, it’s only we, the common people, who have to suffer. A man goes to work every morning, uncertain whether he will return home safely. A mother waits for the clock to strike 2, the time when her son will be back home, safe and sound. A child goes to play every evening, not knowing that the next target of the terrorists might be that very ground. Is this how we are supposed to live? Under constant fear?
Terrorism is spreading in our country like venom. The state is such that we have almost got used to seeing sanguinary market places and bus stops. It has become our habit to cope up with the situation following every terrorist attack.
Why can’t we fight against this evil? Why are our intelligence sources failing to save hundreds of innocent lives time and again? Why is the evil interest of the terrorists, of robbing us of our joy and ripping our country apart, being satiated?
Terrorism is an unending battle, India has been fighting ever since independence. In the recent past, the terrorist activities of militant groups like Indian Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, etc have precipitated like never before. People are being killed ruthlessly and nothing is being done at all. After every attack, the politicians are seen taking trips of the affected regions and making fake promises to the masses but it’s high time we understood that these are mere gimmicks! Had they felt the tears, of those who lost their closed ones, with full heart and understood the gravity of the situation, our country wouldn’t have been among the 20 most dangerous places of the world!
This deep rooted, recurrent disease has to be wiped out completely and for that we, the common people, have to work hand in hand and raise our voices. Shying away from responsibility and fearing dire consequences will only add fuel to the existing fire. ’We’ can make our country a better place to live in. Until then, yes, we are unsafe!
Are we really independent, after 61 years of independence? No, we are still under the passive control of terrorists. It’s the terrorists who are deciding who’s going to die next, they are the ones planning, which city to attack, they are the ones laughing malevolently at our panick-stricken state and, yes, it’s they who mock at our lack of intelligence. Be it Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur or Bangalore, it’s only we, the common people, who have to suffer. A man goes to work every morning, uncertain whether he will return home safely. A mother waits for the clock to strike 2, the time when her son will be back home, safe and sound. A child goes to play every evening, not knowing that the next target of the terrorists might be that very ground. Is this how we are supposed to live? Under constant fear?
Terrorism is spreading in our country like venom. The state is such that we have almost got used to seeing sanguinary market places and bus stops. It has become our habit to cope up with the situation following every terrorist attack.
Why can’t we fight against this evil? Why are our intelligence sources failing to save hundreds of innocent lives time and again? Why is the evil interest of the terrorists, of robbing us of our joy and ripping our country apart, being satiated?
Terrorism is an unending battle, India has been fighting ever since independence. In the recent past, the terrorist activities of militant groups like Indian Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, etc have precipitated like never before. People are being killed ruthlessly and nothing is being done at all. After every attack, the politicians are seen taking trips of the affected regions and making fake promises to the masses but it’s high time we understood that these are mere gimmicks! Had they felt the tears, of those who lost their closed ones, with full heart and understood the gravity of the situation, our country wouldn’t have been among the 20 most dangerous places of the world!
This deep rooted, recurrent disease has to be wiped out completely and for that we, the common people, have to work hand in hand and raise our voices. Shying away from responsibility and fearing dire consequences will only add fuel to the existing fire. ’We’ can make our country a better place to live in. Until then, yes, we are unsafe!
Living under the shadow of fear
WHILE WORKING in the kitchen, if u burn your hand accidentally, your only reaction is ’ouch! it hurts’. Just think about those hundreds of people then, who were charred to death in the Mumbai local trains blast . A chill does run down your spine, right?
Are we really independent, after 61 years of independence? No, we are still under the passive control of terrorists. It’s the terrorists who are deciding who’s going to die next, they are the ones planning, which city to attack, they are the ones laughing malevolently at our panick-stricken state and, yes, it’s they who mock at our lack of intelligence. Be it Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur or Bangalore, it’s only we, the common people, who have to suffer. A man goes to work every morning, uncertain whether he will return home safely. A mother waits for the clock to strike 2, the time when her son will be back home, safe and sound. A child goes to play every evening, not knowing that the next target of the terrorists might be that very ground. Is this how we are supposed to live? Under constant fear?
Terrorism is spreading in our country like venom. The state is such that we have almost got used to seeing sanguinary market places and bus stops. It has become our habit to cope up with the situation following every terrorist attack.
Why can’t we fight against this evil? Why are our intelligence sources failing to save hundreds of innocent lives time and again? Why is the evil interest of the terrorists, of robbing us of our joy and ripping our country apart, being satiated?
Terrorism is an unending battle, India has been fighting ever since independence. In the recent past, the terrorist activities of militant groups like Indian Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, etc have precipitated like never before. People are being killed ruthlessly and nothing is being done at all. After every attack, the politicians are seen taking trips of the affected regions and making fake promises to the masses but it’s high time we understood that these are mere gimmicks! Had they felt the tears, of those who lost their closed ones, with full heart and understood the gravity of the situation, our country wouldn’t have been among the 20 most dangerous places of the world!
This deep rooted, recurrent disease has to be wiped out completely and for that we, the common people, have to work hand in hand and raise our voices. Shying away from responsibility and fearing dire consequences will only add fuel to the existing fire. ’We’ can make our country a better place to live in. Until then, yes, we are unsafe!
Are we really independent, after 61 years of independence? No, we are still under the passive control of terrorists. It’s the terrorists who are deciding who’s going to die next, they are the ones planning, which city to attack, they are the ones laughing malevolently at our panick-stricken state and, yes, it’s they who mock at our lack of intelligence. Be it Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur or Bangalore, it’s only we, the common people, who have to suffer. A man goes to work every morning, uncertain whether he will return home safely. A mother waits for the clock to strike 2, the time when her son will be back home, safe and sound. A child goes to play every evening, not knowing that the next target of the terrorists might be that very ground. Is this how we are supposed to live? Under constant fear?
Terrorism is spreading in our country like venom. The state is such that we have almost got used to seeing sanguinary market places and bus stops. It has become our habit to cope up with the situation following every terrorist attack.
Why can’t we fight against this evil? Why are our intelligence sources failing to save hundreds of innocent lives time and again? Why is the evil interest of the terrorists, of robbing us of our joy and ripping our country apart, being satiated?
Terrorism is an unending battle, India has been fighting ever since independence. In the recent past, the terrorist activities of militant groups like Indian Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, etc have precipitated like never before. People are being killed ruthlessly and nothing is being done at all. After every attack, the politicians are seen taking trips of the affected regions and making fake promises to the masses but it’s high time we understood that these are mere gimmicks! Had they felt the tears, of those who lost their closed ones, with full heart and understood the gravity of the situation, our country wouldn’t have been among the 20 most dangerous places of the world!
This deep rooted, recurrent disease has to be wiped out completely and for that we, the common people, have to work hand in hand and raise our voices. Shying away from responsibility and fearing dire consequences will only add fuel to the existing fire. ’We’ can make our country a better place to live in. Until then, yes, we are unsafe!
February 13, 2009
valentine day and moral police
WITH VALENTINE’S Day around the corner, hearts are fluttering! Love is in the air but there are certain things that may act as dampener in the festive mood of love and lovers. However, those who are all excited to celebrate the day of love are looking forward to this Valentine’s Day with great enthusiasm and would leave no stone unturned to pamper their love interests.
Market slowdown and the moral policing may have erected obstacles in the way but the love birds are still optimistic to celebrate in full zest.
Notwithstanding, with prices soaring and pockets shrinking in the times of recession, the love birds are a bit cautious and are forced to watch their pockets as they gear up for the Valentine’s Day. With the economic downturn having a hard hitting effect on almost everyone’s pocket, the slam bang expenditures and flashy show-offs seem to have taken the back stage.
Not only are the people a little hesitant to go all out, the shopkeepers and event managers are also feeling the heat and are reeling under the recession blues. However, a bad economy won’t stop cupid this Valentine’s Day but it would definitely slow him down. Adding to the woes of the love birds in the times of recession is the ever growing band of moral brigades or the so called saviours of culture. The moral senas are all out to show their might in vandalising the celebrations and beating up the love birds as well as those involved in providing celebration platforms.
In the recent years, Valentine’s Day has become increasingly popular in India. One could discern the festivity mood with retailers selling red balloons, velvet pillows and teddy bears to mark the festival and people flogging to the gift shops and places of celebration to mark the day. Side by side, this celebration of love has also sparked countrywide protests, which even turn violent and ugly.
Valentine’s Day comes every year with its share of spoils with the moral brigades playing spoilsports in the name of culture and tradition. This year isn’t going to be any different with already the moral brigades like Sri Ram Sene, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena are ready to spell doom on those in the mood of celebrating the love on love day. The moral police under various banners will be on a prowl at vulnerable dating points to swoop down on those who are found to be expressing love or engaged in intimacy!
These so called moral police justify their act of violence in the name of what they call protection of traditional and cultural values from being corrupted by unethical Western practices of expression of love on Valentine’s Day. These hard line groups are of the opinion that the celebrations are commercialised and offend the country’s traditional sensibilities. Now, who has given them the right to dictate what is right and what is wrong. Are they themselves clean and well-cultured? It is ridiculous that those who themselves are offenders of law and order are teaching a lesson to others.
Though there is a slight demarcation between love and lust and at times may trigger a debate. But why are those being punished whose feelings are logical and fall within the norms of a civilised society. Love in itself is a feeling of intense affection, attraction and emotion, and it is due to its psychological relevance that love is one of the most common themes in art and music. Then how could one say that expression of love is illogical?
However, despite protests and violent demonstrations, restaurants, up market hotels and retailers have been as usual selling love souvenirs ranging from red balloons and velvet pillows tailor and other stuffs that are made for the occasion. At the same time, there have been counter attacks on these so called moral brigades as well. Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Renuka Chaudhary, has already said that women have the right to celebrate any day the way they want and the state government should protect their independence.
If the moral brigade groups think they will have a field day harassing couples on Valentine’s Day, then this year they may be tackled head on by certain government bodies and other organisations. Delhi police is ready for stern action against troublemakers on V-Day, as are some other groups to neutralise the sabotage of moral police.
There are other issues of national importance rather than going all out after the love birds. Why don’t these moral brigades fight for the cause against poverty, hunger, sanitation, terrorism, etc, which require more attention and perseverance? These groups feel that they have made their country rich and proud after beating up poor fellows. It is really very frustrating to see such images in India, which is deemed as a superpower in the coming years. There is lack of will and determination on the part of administration as well which falters to save the basic human rights and freedom of our citizens. Now, the question arises, is our Indian culture so week that it could be threatened and pulverised by an expression of love?
Market slowdown and the moral policing may have erected obstacles in the way but the love birds are still optimistic to celebrate in full zest.
Notwithstanding, with prices soaring and pockets shrinking in the times of recession, the love birds are a bit cautious and are forced to watch their pockets as they gear up for the Valentine’s Day. With the economic downturn having a hard hitting effect on almost everyone’s pocket, the slam bang expenditures and flashy show-offs seem to have taken the back stage.
Not only are the people a little hesitant to go all out, the shopkeepers and event managers are also feeling the heat and are reeling under the recession blues. However, a bad economy won’t stop cupid this Valentine’s Day but it would definitely slow him down. Adding to the woes of the love birds in the times of recession is the ever growing band of moral brigades or the so called saviours of culture. The moral senas are all out to show their might in vandalising the celebrations and beating up the love birds as well as those involved in providing celebration platforms.
In the recent years, Valentine’s Day has become increasingly popular in India. One could discern the festivity mood with retailers selling red balloons, velvet pillows and teddy bears to mark the festival and people flogging to the gift shops and places of celebration to mark the day. Side by side, this celebration of love has also sparked countrywide protests, which even turn violent and ugly.
Valentine’s Day comes every year with its share of spoils with the moral brigades playing spoilsports in the name of culture and tradition. This year isn’t going to be any different with already the moral brigades like Sri Ram Sene, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena are ready to spell doom on those in the mood of celebrating the love on love day. The moral police under various banners will be on a prowl at vulnerable dating points to swoop down on those who are found to be expressing love or engaged in intimacy!
These so called moral police justify their act of violence in the name of what they call protection of traditional and cultural values from being corrupted by unethical Western practices of expression of love on Valentine’s Day. These hard line groups are of the opinion that the celebrations are commercialised and offend the country’s traditional sensibilities. Now, who has given them the right to dictate what is right and what is wrong. Are they themselves clean and well-cultured? It is ridiculous that those who themselves are offenders of law and order are teaching a lesson to others.
Though there is a slight demarcation between love and lust and at times may trigger a debate. But why are those being punished whose feelings are logical and fall within the norms of a civilised society. Love in itself is a feeling of intense affection, attraction and emotion, and it is due to its psychological relevance that love is one of the most common themes in art and music. Then how could one say that expression of love is illogical?
However, despite protests and violent demonstrations, restaurants, up market hotels and retailers have been as usual selling love souvenirs ranging from red balloons and velvet pillows tailor and other stuffs that are made for the occasion. At the same time, there have been counter attacks on these so called moral brigades as well. Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Renuka Chaudhary, has already said that women have the right to celebrate any day the way they want and the state government should protect their independence.
If the moral brigade groups think they will have a field day harassing couples on Valentine’s Day, then this year they may be tackled head on by certain government bodies and other organisations. Delhi police is ready for stern action against troublemakers on V-Day, as are some other groups to neutralise the sabotage of moral police.
There are other issues of national importance rather than going all out after the love birds. Why don’t these moral brigades fight for the cause against poverty, hunger, sanitation, terrorism, etc, which require more attention and perseverance? These groups feel that they have made their country rich and proud after beating up poor fellows. It is really very frustrating to see such images in India, which is deemed as a superpower in the coming years. There is lack of will and determination on the part of administration as well which falters to save the basic human rights and freedom of our citizens. Now, the question arises, is our Indian culture so week that it could be threatened and pulverised by an expression of love?
January 09, 2009
Girls are still neglected in Indian society
INDIAN SOCIETY is still male dominated. Undoubtedly, in ancient time we found some examples of woman dominated clans. But since medieval times we have been observing only male dominated clans.
Today we are in 21st centaury, but we still want boy in our home. Nowadays a girl child is being killed before birth. In this brutal crime, everyone is a co accused. We cannot give anybody a clean cheat. Interestingly, according to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health in the US; the sex proportion unevenness is highest amongst the well-off and the well-informed people. This is irony of fact that, in India; male-female percentage increases with the echelon of learning. According to the latest survey; the per cent of a boy is higher than a girl and it is about 25 per cent.
Fascinatingly; such type of occurrence is higher in houses wherever the leader of the family unit has finished his schooling. This is the repercussion of a survey which had conducted by Subramanian. (Shri Subramanian is associated with Harvard School of Public Health in the US).
As per this study, the male-female ratio also increases with income. People of higher income groups prefer 14 percent more a boy than a girl whereas in the poorer sections the preference may be just four percent more.
Urban areas also reported higher sex imbalance compared to rural areas.
In this connection, the researchers have also used a nationally representative, population-based sample of household survey data provided by the Indian National Sample Survey Organization (INSSO) for five recent years: 2004/05, 1999/2000, 1993/94, 1987/88 and 1983. The INSSO survey covered the whole of the India except for a few unreachable and intricate areas.
This survey also reveals that the introduction of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act 1994 (PNDT) to stop the use of wrong know-how in this turf has botched to perfect the disproportion in the sex ratio.
The sex ratio undoubtedly signifies that the PNDT Act failed to stop sex disparity, because possibility of a boy increased to 10 percent in the period subsequent the accomplishment of the Act, while ratio of a boy was seven percent in the pre-PNDT stage.
There are distinguished variations among states. Punjab which is the richest state of India has the probability of a boy augmented to 37 percent compared to a girl. Karnataka has the lowest percentage in this regard. Here a boy is one percent higher than a girl.
As a whole, the shared result shows that unrelenting and strong son penchant; along with growing affordability and ease of access to technologies for sex determination is big threat for girls infant as well as for Indian society.
THE SATYAM Computer Services (SCS) debacle offers only a glimpse of the grey side of this so-called white collar world. It is totally unwise to single out Raju for what he is supposed to have done. We can point fingers at others only if our hands are not dirty. But in most of the cases the employees working in this over-rated corporate world are conferred an immoral pedigree by their peers and seniors. This results in loss of values and ethics leading to corruption, shirking of responsibility by burdening the subordinates and promoting a sycophantic culture of exploitation, amongst other things.
A weighed-down employee has to stay afloat in this dirty corporate sea. He becomes more and more convinced that only malpractices can help him survive. If he goes through a bad phase in the company he will ensure that his subordinate too goes through a similar phase. On the contrary, if the said employee is a person who believes in ethics, he will do the opposite: he will do his best to make life comfortable for his subordinate. But sadly this is not the case.
Another common feature of companies is the ease, with which they invoke the word layoff. They make a mockery of their employees by misusing and abusing their power to lay off employees.
Consider this: one of Bangalore’s IT companies bagged a project worth millions of dollars. But it hit a roadblock in the execution of the project when it realised that the redundant VB6 (a computer language) was to be used to execute the project. Since the company did not have the requisite human resources, it immediately hunted out an experienced head for a compensation of Rs 8 lakh per annum. The poor guy worked his fingers to the bone and completed the project successfully. But since his skill set was not of much use post-project, the company asked him to quit immediately, citing recession. Sad isn’t it?
I can cite numerous examples like this. But this is not going to help anyone. Together we have to come forward, leaving behind our lust for money. There are certainly more important things in life than money and power. Respect for each other, giving back to society what one receives from it and a healthy personal life are amongst the more precious and more important. If people think along these lines more, then we will get to see fewer cases of the Satyam kind.
January 07, 2009
498A India Limited - a govt of India undertaking
AMONG INDIA’S several shady unorganised sectors, like gambling, hawala and other clandestine operations, the 498A sector has witnessed the highest growth rate. The 498A and related operations are henceforth referred to as ’498A India Limited’, just to honour this law, which has forced revenue generation from the Indian populace. The 498A India limited, today, is a Rs 3,000 crore company.
If the government of India would list ’498A India Limited’ in any of the stock exchanges today, this is how the company report would look like.
Growth: The 498A India Limited has grown at a faster rate than any other industry in India, be it information technology or business process outsourcing. This sector has grown almost 120 per cent, for the last 12 years. From just 28,579 cases in 1995, the number of cases has grown to 63,128.
People outreach: This balance sheet of the company is also black. Its organisational activities has touched the life of almost 10,00,000 people, since 1999, who have been arrested under various frivolous allegations. That’s a phenomenal number and if we determine that the average cost of bail posted by a single person is at least Rs 10,000 then the revenue generated by the government is: 1,00,0000 X Rs 10,000 = Rs 1,000 crores
Although, it is a fact that according to government rules the bail money is to be returned at the end of the trial, but how many people actually get it or are left in state to run around, seeking the bail amount back.
It does not take much to notice that 498A is a tool that makes the husband’s family a goose that is forced to lay golden eggs for all the parties involved in the false case.
Products: The498A India Limited’s sales of cases has grown 120 per cent over the past 12 years and registered phenomenal returns on investment. Investors just have to file a simple complaint and the implicated family suffering begins endlessly for almost eight years.
The company has not changed its product for the past 25 years, but the use of the product has grown astronomically. There has no tests done by the company on the effects of its products on the users and consumers, although reliable reports show that consumers are harassed and extorted to no end and eventually many commit suicide. The party using the products of 498A India Limited gets richer by lakhs, while the party, on which the products are used, suffer irrespective of gender, age or role in the family.
Board of directors: The board is appointed by the government of India and controls this organisation with an iron fist. They always turn a blind eye to the people, on which the company’s products have had an adverse effect. They have immunity from any prosecution that might result from harm caused due to the misuse of the company’s products. They also do not think twice before fudging numbers to show that that there is increasing customer demand and as a result, they recommend that there must be more such companies, like 498A India Limited, for eg, ’DV Act India Limited’ and ’All Death Dowry Death India Limited’.
Employee welfare and customer care: The 498A India Limited prides itself in being an employer of choice and takes a lot of care of its customers. So the ’498A India Limited’ customers are the happiest lot, since they get to misuse the products of the company for their materialistic desires.
Shareholders: The primary shareholders in the company are the wives of India, the police, judiciary, lawyers, radical non governmental organisations and the all powerful National Commission for Women. Looking at the company’s phenomenal returns, the shareholders do not want to dilute or modify the company’s products, as modification of the companies products will result in decreased revenue for the company and its shareholders.
Private investment: This company also attracts lots of private investment from organisations like the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and United Nations Organisation (UNO). This is mainly due to the doctored customer demand reports that are submitted by the chairperson of the company to the press and media. These private grants encourage the company to create many smaller companies like ’DV Act India Limited’ and ’All Death Dowry Death India Limited’.
Public sentiment for the company: The people, on whom the companies products have been used, are too weak to even respond. But there are a lot of young and old people in India, who want the company’s products modified, so that when misused by its customers it does not cause harassment, extortion and suffering.
The chairperson of the company is trying her best to project to the government that their 25-year-old product still confirms with the current standards and is never misused.
Final thought: The greed of a few people is eating away into the nations family system, while the government of India is still deep in slumber. The government does not realise that the profits made by 498A India Limited are actually paid people of India, on whom the company’s products are being brutally misused.
The government must realise that although the company was formed with the noble intention to manufacture products for the defence of innocent people, but it has now turned into a company that produces products for ’legal terrorists’, who unleash extreme pain and suffering on the Indian populace and then walk away unscathed. The government must be keen and adopt guidelines for the use of the company’s products with immediate effect and the misusers of its products must be prosecuted.
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