Friday, February 24, 2012

HOW THE FARMERS & THEIR FAMILIES WERE KILLED BY MICRO-FINANCE IN ANDHRA PRADESH


Please read the whole story in the link below:

http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/india/1080980-ap-impact-lenders-probe-links-to-suicides.html#.671836-stage-hero1-4


Tuesday, February 21, 2012

THE GROUND REALITIES

What one reads on the newspapers is not what one faces on the ground realities... they are an experience that is seldom similar or rosy... ground realities can be unnerving at all times with endless procedures of the administration and system of the land... yes, one gets frustrated even with all the patience in the world!

The "Journey of Destiny" which started as per the destiny... had never made me think even once about all the ground realities that I will be facing day after day. I presume if I had known, maybe I wouldn't have taken the step... everything is the first time learning just like a child who is born into this world. While the first year made me see how the system of administration takes its own sweet time to grant your wish to float a trust with unending trips to the office, month after month, with no result... frustration seeped in and at one given point I even lost my patience and faith in my Sai Baba... somewhere down the line I knew that it was destined, so why was I pushing so much to get frustrated... things happened and after one and a half year, the Trust got its registration with good people's blessings and prayers.

The first obstacle was overcome but there are more to come... and it did come for sure as soon I was joyful! The next step is to get the 12 A Certificate (Income Tax Exemption for the funds to be raised by the Trust) and believe me... the procedure seems unending... and since I am all alone here in Wardha, I have to do all the running around for everything! The Audit, the forms filling, various documents to provide etc etc... this process is expected to take 6 long months and only after you get the 12 A Certificate, you can apply for 80 G Certificate (so that the Trust can give IT Exemption Certificate to individuals who will donate in the Trust funds)... another 6 months...

As you all know I started the movement with zero budget and kind help from the TEN BEAUTIFUL ANGELS... I have even invested part of my little savings to survive. Without the required funds, nothing seems possible on the grounds as everything needs money. The Ground Realities are surely making me to realize - 'wish I had thought about all these before I started the movement on the 12th of March 2010... but destiny prevailed as I am learning...' I  know learning is an unending process and it is very easy for the world to expect miracles happening without anything, sitting at home... 

I have struggled the first year to survive in the second year, with my passion still intact and the will that come what may, I will surely help few of our nation's farmers' families. With so many worries, I have been having sleepless nights for weeks now... but each day, I am progressing slowly and steadily towards what destiny has in store for me... it has taken a toll on my health and certainly it is not an easy task to still be sane and trying your level best to generate awareness all around the world, connecting with like-minded individuals. With no money at hand, I wish the world to know that it is not an easy task but I know, somehow, my Sai Baba will send me a few more 'Beautiful Angels' to see things being done on the real grounds... as the right moment arrives.

Yes, I really need a break after two years of struggle, so that I am able to keep my mind and heart intact... however, I know I can never be far away from the issue... because 24 hours I am living and breathing the farmers' crisis in our land... the situation allover the world is the same... Australian farmers are facing floods, British farmers are facing drought situation with no ground water available, European farmers are facing heavy snow, Philippines farmers are facing floods and earthquake, French and Japanese farmers are heading towards extinction because farming is not able to even feed their families... and along with faulty government policies against agriculture in respective countries and evil MNCs greed, even the nature is against the farmers' community. But the devoted selfless farmers' community of the world have not surrendered themselves and they continue to feed the world, even when their own families have to live in hunger and their lives succumbing to suicide... HATS OFF to all the farmers of the world for their undying spirits in feeding the world! I salute you all from the bottom of my heart and am really proud of you all... YOU ALL are the REAL INSPIRATION behind my movement!

Cuidate :)

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

WHAT THE FARMERS’ NEED? – PART XII


MANDATORY PENSION FOR FARMERS

Looking back at my blog posts, I realized that I forgot to write about the last very important point in the series – WHAT THE FARMERS’ NEED? – about the Mandatory Pension for the farmers, who deserve more than any one else in the nation... sadly and ironically, they have been deprived from this aspect by the nation, for whom they shed their sweat and blood all their lives growing food grains...

PATHETIC! Yes, that is what the State Affairs reveal to exploit the farmers of the nation to the hilt till the last drop of blood is sucked from their lives. I strongly feel that more than the army, navy, air force and central government employees – the farmers of the nation rightfully deserve the PENSION of the State of India... or in that matter in any country of the world! Because if there were no farmers, who would feed the nation? While the defence forces devotedly try to safegaurd the nation from external aggression of the neighbouring countries, if not for the farmers, the nation would be a dead nation!

A farmer starts very early in life... at a tender age, he follows his father or grandfather into the fields, first playfully removing the weeds from the crops and gradually helps them with carrying various tools and at times food and water... as he gradually grows, he is made aware of the market – buying and selling... and all these while, while he is deprived of going to a school, his education about life’s most important aspect is nurtured by his grandfather and father as to how to grow various crops and take care of various aspects of farming. All his life till the mature age of 75 plus... he keeps up the ancestral profession alive while feeding the nation... and many a times, the nation doesn’t even bother to help the farmers during his time of distress, while his family members are somehow surviving bouts of hunger or sickness.

Right from the Nature to the Policies of the Government to the Traders’ Lobby to the International Organization... everything goes against him and he is still pushed to grow more food... HOW? Will someone explain as to how a farmer is supposed to grow more food for the nation when the Nation doesn’t provide proper Irrigation System even after six plus long decades? He is supposed to grow more foods while all his hard work goes in vain when there is no proper Storage System and Planning in place? While food grains worth billions of rupees are purposely and systematically allowed to rot in the open storage under the FCI – Food Corporation of India, so that those rotten grains can be bought cheap by the breweries owned by the kith & kins of corrupt politicians... He is supposed to grow more food grains when he doesn’t even gets the break even prices...

Well, in spite of all the odds against him, the selfless and hard working farmer, come rain, hot summer or else chilly winter... the farmer never cease to work to feed the nation... but what do they get for their devoted life from the nation? The farmers of the nation deserves State Pension and they should be given all the privileges that the Central Government Employees get... I do wonder many a times as to there is not even a single political leader in the nation of 1.21 Billions who will make sure that the farmers get the Rightful Pension from the State? My heart cries and I often have sleepless nights thinking about the hardships of the farmers’ life... I have seen them toil in the hot sun, heavy rains escaping the wrath of the devastating nature (lightning) and in chilly winter... they don’t complain at all when they are in their fields and dedicatedly they sweat and shed their blood to feed the nation even if their own families have to survive with hunger...

Is it really impossible to provide State Pension to the farmers who are the backbone of the economy of the nation? I just pray that some able leader should come forward to fight for the rights of the farmers... only if the State will look after the farmers of the nation well, there will never be shortage of food for the nation... but I know... WHO CARES? Within the next two decades when there will be no farmers’ community left in the world... the world will turn carnivorous to eat each other... because the future that we all are heading towards will have no fertile lands, water to drink or irrigate fields, no farmers... and remember the pace has already picked up momentum at a break neck speed!