INDIA: THE LAND OF SCAMS PM MANMOHAN SINGH AND SONIA GANDHI HAVE CREATED: THE LOOT IS ON...

INDEPENDENCE DAY SPECIAL

Google a word with SCAM in front of it and one will get tired to keep adding one scam after another... so much so that it is a never ending tiresome work... but ministers, corporate, MNCs, Babus, IAS, IPS and God only knows where and when all these scams will ever end or stop...

Think and you will be amazed at the number of SCAMS the nation has successfully created under the most corrupt Prime Minister India has ever had or will ever have. As I was preparing the list, it seemed to me it is surely an endless effort, as every new day, few more SCAMS are reported in the media... The list is a compilation of SCAMS all across India in both Congress Ruling States and BJP and others...

It all started with Congress Austerity Drive Scam, where in MEA – Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna and his aide Tharoor were found to be living in Five Star Hotel Suite and running their office too (all on public money), even though they were provided with Official government Residences... when the media reported the matter, on back foot, the Congress high command asked them to vacate the hotels immediately... later it was known that the hotel bills were paid by some external sources, as reported in the media. And, the never ending list of Scams under Manmohan Singh & Sonia Gandhi ruling, sorry not ruling but LOOTING the nation...

2G Scam: It is the creamiest of the cream to ultimately benefit Robert Vadra (UNITECH)! 1.76 Lakh Crore was the loss to the nation, to benefit every powerful individual one can think of: Robert Vadra, Tata, Anil Ambani, Balwa, Kanimozhi, Raja, Morani... yes, the list is endless...

CWG Scam: Robert Vadra (DLF) once again benefitted, with the help of PM, CM and Kalmadi!

BLACK MONEY Scam: PM and FM Pranab Mukherjee are trying the level best to save the cream of the Indian conglomerate, instead of punishing the people involved, they are protecting them by not disclosing the names of the enemy of the country!

ADARSH Scam: Four Chief Ministers, Army & MoEF for just one Building!

ISRO Scam: PMO’s involvement & Indian Space Agency!

AIR INDIA Scam: How many more billions will be pumped in before the loot is stopped to allow the private carriers to benefit!

FOOD GRAINS ROTTING Scam: Rs. 58,000 billion worth rotting every year! Not to mention the actual figure may be double or three times than the actual!

PDS Scam: The maximum quantity never reaches the poor!

MGNREGA Scam: Billions have been gulped by various government officials!

LIC Scam: Multi-billion kickbacks for loans to benefit LAVASA and corporate companies!

FORCE 1 Scam: After 26/11, Force 1 is yet to be allotted Land for their camp in Mumbai!

BULLET-PROOF JACKET Scam: We lost an able officer and no one has been punished yet!

CASH 4 VOTE Scam: Billions to buy ministers!

LAND ACQUISITION Scam: More than 40 regions and many politicians involved!

CROPS LOSS Scam: Rs. 1000 Billion AID announced by CM Chavan in December and even in August, the AID has not been disbursed because of Red Tapism! No one is asking the interest earned by this Rs. 1000 Billion goes in whose pocket!

IRRIGATION PROJECT Scam: After 30 Years & 180 % escalation in project cost, various projects are still incomplete or non-functioning in Vidarbha and many other regions, many CMs have come & gone!

ROAD REPAIRING Scam: Road repairing starts only when monsoon is in full swing! And mind you, once the monsoon is over, no one even talks about this... mud is filled by contractors of 


PWD... it is a multi-billion scam!

ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION Scam: Builders-Politicians - Corporate nexus benefits!

MID-DAY MEAL Scam: Government Schools & Aanganwadis all across never get the sufficient food grains for children – be it cities or else rural region!

FCI GODOWNS Scam: Only 20% Storage Capacity since last 64 years! As more and more food grains are allowed to rot while millions die of hunger & malnutrition in our nation!

MINING Scam: BJP & Congress (Andhra Pradesh) Politicians have benefitted by defying laws while the Tribal Villagers are being thrown out from their ancestral house and fields!

SWINE FLU Scam: H1F1 vaccine at high price was bought in bulk (now lying waste) from MNCs while Indian firms were exporting to foreign countries at cheaper rate!

PLANTATION Scam: Damodar Valley Corporation Ranchi swindled Rs. 8 Billion and many others!

NHRM Scam: National Health Rural Mission in Uttar Pradesh!

IPL Scam: Robert Vadra (DLF – SRK Kolkata Knight Riders) again benefitted!

SPEAKASIA Scam: Rs. 8,000 billions!

PRO-EDITORS-POLITICIANS-CORPORATE Scam: Radia – Barkha Dutt – Rajdeep Sardesai – Prabhu Chawla – Tata – Raja & Congress!

NTRO Scam: UAVs security gadgets procured @ higher rate for KARGIL!

UID Scam: Forbes India News claim it to be the Biggest Scam as it doesn’t have Legal Sanctity!

FAKE PILOT Scam: 22 Cases so far as on 10^th August 2011& Involvement of DGCA Officials!

PLANNING COMMISSION Scam:  Defines BPL as Rs. 15/- per day for Rural India and Rs. 20/- per day for Urban Areas was enough to keep Indians out of Poverty!

PROVIDENT FUND Scam: Judges and Builders swindled PF Funds!

HOUSING LOAN Scam: Banking Officials & Corporate Companies swindled billions!

FINANCIAL MARKET REGULATIONS - SECURITY Scam: Corporate governance swindled billions!

IT Scam: Satyam!

THERMAL POWER PROJECTS Scam: Land to Coal to water... everything is being looted

BSNL Scam: The government company has been losing money in billions and no one is even worried about it!

ELECTRICITY Scam: MSEDCS buy power @ Rs. 3.10 and supply to franchisee @ Rs. 2.70 & Rs. 2.33 per unit to various corporate companies to incur loss of more than Rs. 380 Crore!

JHARKAND POWER Scam: Irregularities in implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Programme in Palamu division!

IAS Couple Scam: Billion of rupees found underneath beds!

SECURITY LAPSE Scam: Bombay rocks again with multiple blasts as CCTVs maintenance lapse fails yet again as billions were spent on the gadgets!

SECURITY Scam: Financial Market Regulation Security has been compromised!

TAJ CORRIDOR Scam: Mayawati’s Multi-billion dollar Ambitious Project in UP!

UREA Scam:

Lottery Scam:

Ration Card Scam:

Flood Relief Scam:

Drought Relief Scam:

Temple Land Scam:

Indian Oil Corporation Scam:

High-End Cars’ Duty Exemption Scam: Cricketers, Bollywood Stars, Rich & Car Dealers benefited in this multi-billion dollar scam!

NAFED Scam:

Election Fund Scam:

Defence Scam: Scorpene Deal!

Tata Finance Scam:

Koda Scam:

Aircraft Import scam;

ISRO Land Scam:

BCCI Scam: Dalmiya!!!

Fake Currency Scam: UP Bank!

EMRI Scam: Rs. 5,600 Billion / crore!

Ordinance factory Board Arms Deal Scam:

AICTE Bribery scam: Chairman RA Yadav!

SBI Scam: Fake cheques to loot the bank by bank officials in Kanpur!

Bollywood Scam: 2009 Nasir Khan & Morani’s involvement!

Gold Quest Scam:

Railway Ticket Reservation Scam:

RPF Scam: Looting poor passengers to give seat in General Compartment!

Kandala Port Trust Scam:

Medical Council of India scam:

Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSC) Post office Scam:

IFFI Scam: Goa!

Citibank Scam:

MSTC Scam: Mineral Scrap Trading Corporation!

NSDL Scam: National Security Depository IPO Scam:

TEXT BOOKS Scam: Text Books for free distribution to poor students sold as scrap by District Education Officials in Gujarat!

.... More scams are unearthed every single day and there are many small-small scams (worth just few billions that I have not mentioned in the list!

To be very honest, I am really tired to keep maintaining record of all the scams in my nation. I am truly sad, frustrated, very angry and wonder when will this ever stop! 

VIDARBHA: STEP MOTHERLY TREATMENT BY STATE & CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS

11 Districts: Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gondia, Gadchiroli, Nagpur, Wardha, Washim, Yavatmal

BIGGEST THERMAL POWER STATION of the Nation: CSTPS – Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station.

GONDIA: Largest Rice Growing District, known as RICE CITY!

NAGPUR: better known as ORANGE CITY!

6 Districts Prone to Farmers’ Suicide: Amravati (President Pratibha Patil’s home district & she is not bothered at all); Akola; Buldhana; Wardha; Washim & Yavatmal!

When I started the ‘journey of destiny’ in March 2010, my dear friend Madan Patil’s farmer parents Shri & ShrimatiTukaram Raghoba Patil of Phopheri in Alibaug from the rich Konkan Region of Maharastra explained the ground problems of Indian farmers. The problems are in fact, global in nature and not just restricted to Vidarbha, Konakan belts or India at large... as I have been interacting with various leading activists from all across the globe and also friends from various countries, they all inform me about the problems of farmers listed below:

Dependent on Rain God & at the mercy of Nature (floods or drought situation)

No Proper Irrigation Infrastructure

Fertile Lands are being acquired in the name of Economic Growth

High Cost of Seeds, Fertilizers & Pesticides

High Labour Cost & Shortage of Farm Labourers

High Cost of Electricity & Diesel

Market Lobby & Govt Policies against Farmers’ Community

Output (Yield) is not equal to Inputs (Initial Investment)

No Source of Alternative Employment

Changing Lifestyle of Farmers Spoilt by MNCs & Financial Institutions

These problems are on the broader perspectives and there are multiple layers to each one of them along with other small-small problems that the selfless farmers’ community have been living since time immemorial. The six districts of Vidarbha (mentioned above) have seen a number of farmers succumbing to suicide due to various reasons. While everyone only talks about the number of farmers’ suicide in the region, I am really very sad to tell to the world that no one has really tried their level best or suggested remedies and solutions to save all those precious lives so far... instead the step motherly treatment being provided by various agencies of the society and the world are pushing the farmers to the edge, just like in France or Japan, where farmers’ community are heading towards extinction.

Given a choice, no one would dare to take their own lives because everyone loves to live. It is so easy and what has become mandatory for the journalists in Media to portray a farmers’ suicide as ‘the easy route’! Through this post, I wish to ask all those journalists to just cut a finger with a blade and show to the world how brave they are in reality! Why the real reasons of a farmer’s suicide is never highlighted to inform the whole world about why a poor man, who grows food for the nation while suffering poverty and miseries, has to give away his life and make his family suffer the rest of the life? Insensitivity of the modern day human beings have almost risen to the heights to such an extent that instead of finding solutions to the problems, the problems are further made more complicated so that it goes out of hand.

Like in Maths, every problem has a solution to solve, in life too, every problem can be solved if one is given or provided with a solution!

I am not shocked nowadays when I read in newspapers about how various irrigation projects have taken decades and are still incomplete because of nothing else but RED Tapism of the Government and of course, CORRUPTION in the Political System, Government Officials and everyone connected to the system... which never wants the farmers to be better off to serve the nation with their dedication, hard work and devotion to feed the nation!

As per a newspapers’ report today, the Union Minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Praful Patel had recently held a meeting at his Ceejay House in Mumbai, where in the following officials were present and the reasons for incompletion of below mentioned Irrigation Projects in Two districts – Bhandara & Gondia are listed:

1. Sunil Tatkare – Water Resources Minister
2. Eknath Patel – Secretary
3. Modak – Secretary
4. Zhapke – Executive Director of Vidarbha Irrigation Corporations
5. RM Chavan – Superintending Engineer
6. HD Chande – Executive Engineer Medium Projects
7. Wakotkar – Executive Engineer Gosikhurd Rehabilitation Department
8. RM Joshi – Deputy Secretary Water Resources Department
9. And other Top Officials concerned

INCOMPLETE MINOR IRRIGATION PROJECTS in GONDIA & BHANDARA Districts:

BHIMAKASA PROJECT: Still pending despite approval of Centre’s MoEF because of Rs. 10 crore (billion) NPV required for alternate forestation. Water Resources Minister Sunil Tatkare approved the amount.

SALEHETI PROJECT in Bhandara: Funds not yet released for completion of the project.

SONUKUND PROJECT in Bhandara: Funds not yet released.

BAWANTHADI IRRIGATION PROJECT: Rehabilitation of 3 Tribal Villages affected as per New Rehabilitation Act not yet done.

GOSIKHURD IRRIGATION PROJECT: Resurvey of PAPs on the lines of AMBHADI PROJECT.

SUREWADA PROJECT: Removal of hurdles of Forest Act is still pending.

KATANGI PROJECT: No Funds.

KALPATHRI PROJECT: No Funds.

OWARA PROJECT: No Funds.

BEWARTOLA PROJECT: No Funds.

UMARZHARI PROJECT: No Funds.

SALANGOLA PROJECT: No Funds for Canal work.

UPASIA PROJECT: Waiting for Approval.

BANDARCHUVA PROJECT: Delayed due to Forest Act.

SAATBAHINI PROJECT: Delayed due to Forest Act.

As many as 15 Irrigation Projects in just two districts of Vidarbha have been mentioned above. There are more for you all to see the callous and corrupt approach of the government:

As per Irrigation Commission, 36 Irrigation Projects are pending for final approval:

One Project since 2004
10 Projects since 2005
4 Projects since 2006
6 Projects since 2007
8 Projects since 2008
6 Projects since 2009 &
1 since 2010 

As on date 54 Projects are pending for final approval with Revenue, Central Govt & State Govt!

13 Irrigation Projects in Vidarbha have been stalled. State Govt has failed to remove Irrigation Backlog of the region since the last 30 years. Irrigation canals connected with Wardha River are still under construction even after 24 years.

There is no water for irrigation for farmers because all the water is being diverted to Heavy Industries and Thermal Power Plants.

As per Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) 10 more Thermal Power Projects have obtained water allotment from Wardha River and 15 more are in the waiting list and in total near about 85 to 89 Private Thermal Power Projects are in the pipeline for Chief Minister Prithiviraj Chavan’s approval. He will clear the Thermal Power Projects but will not bother to do anything for the farmers. Even the crop loss (unseasonal heavy rainfall) AID of Rs. 1,088 crore (billion) declared in December 2010 has not been disbursed to Vidarbha farmers since the last NINE MONTHS! Imagine the interest of 1,088 billion for nine months??? In whose pocket will all the billions go while the farmers of Vidarbha will be pushed to the edge? Ever since Chavan has taken office, every third day he is seen in Vidarbha to attend various functions for a CM, who has more serious job on hand to complete.

Chief Minister Prithiviraj Chavan supports the New thermal Power Projects but for Irrigation Infrastructure, he declares 13 Member Committee to give reports after proper survey (this committee will never provide the real ground problems of the farmers and irrigation infrastructure will remain as it is... after all, in December 2010, he declared 1000 Crore AID for crop failures due to unseasonal rain last year... so far, no one knows what has happened to that 1000 crore. Has it travelled all the way to Swiss Bank or travelled to the 10 Janpath in Delhi. The Poor farmers as usual are once again sidelined while the rich corporate companies get Thums Up from CM...

MEDICINES FOR MELGHAT VILLAGERS ARRIVE FROM VARIOUS ANGELS

Angels are visibly invisible!

This simple sentence has seen wonders being done from various invisible angels from all across the world. I was supposed to join Dhadak Mohim, a yearly medical camp conducted by Melghat Maitri during monsoon to save poor Korku Tribal villagers in the Melghat Region of Vidarbha. Melghat Region in Amravati district has had a distinction of maximum malnutrition deaths in the nation. The commendable work of Melghat Maitri with dedicated volunteers from all across the nation, year after year, has seen great improvement in lives of the tribal villagers. Hats off to the wonderful team of Melghat Maitri for their dedicated work!

When I was to join the camp on 1^st August, I just enquired Dr. Ture if they needed anything from Wardha... after an initial hesitation, he said, “If you can bring in some medicines it would be great!” So immediately, I used the FB to send across message to everyone that – WE require medicines for Tribal Villagers of Melghat! Yes, as you guessed, not many people responded but invisible angels fly from nowhere... I have full faith in them now! And I know my Sai Baba will surely send a few to support us!

A long time journalist friend from Bombay, Deepa Nair created a NOTE and made people aware about our requirements to serve humanity at large. Immediately, there were few more angels, who joined in... words started to spread in the social network... still the response has not been as I had expected, nevertheless, a few invisible angels arrived to help us with their kind support. Antas and Sweetyy Pathak from FB have shared the NOTE and I do hope more angels will come forward to send us medicines because the camp will run till October 16^th, 2011. So if you are reading this post, please feel free to send us the listed medicines by 30th September 2011 to reach us.

Dr. Anindita Malik from Raipur immediately sent us whatever she could... and said she would send some more a little later... incidentally, she happens to be my dear sister... it was her Mamman who adopted me as her son! A call arrived from Bombay last week and Mr. Sanjiv Chabbria was keen and eager to help us with medicines. After our interaction over phone, he was kind enough to say that he would send it ASAP and he did! And another message arrives in my FB inbox from Mr. Vijay Beleri from Bombay. He kept us in loop and soon his bulk parcel arrives at one of our doctor’s house. There are more, who are working out to send us more medicines and hopefully, I should get them by Saturday...

I haven’t met Mr. Sanjiv Chabbria or Mr. Vijay Beleri... so they are invisible angels for me and villagers of Vidarbha, whose visibility have brought their kind support and timely help. Even though I have been interacting on a regular basis with Mr. Beleri on FB, I haven’t met him yet. Mr. Chabbria is completely an invisible angel for me and it is his kindness because he has assured to help us more often. I am truly grateful to all the invisible angels to come to our help to serve the villagers.

Sai Baba bless you all always and forever!!! WE appreciate from the bottom of our hearts for your kind support and help.

Cuidate :)

PROUD OF FARMERS OF BURHANPUR, MADHYA PRADESH

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-06/india/29858144_1_engineering-college-mp-farmers-technical-education

WHAT THE FARMERS NEED?

PROPER GODOWNS

Rs. 58,000 crore worth of food grains is allowed to rot in open-air storage in India every single year! – This was the official statement by the Union Agriculture Minister of India Sharad Pawar in the Parliament.

Obviously, the actual amount must be either two or three folds more as we all know every government estimated loss are announced lesser than the actual figures.

We, as the Nation have the audacity to waste such a huge amount of food grains because of our careless and callous attitude, when we, as the Nation have the highest malnutrition deaths (45 % infants from 0 to 6 years of age die because of malnutrition) in the world overtaking even dry African nations! It is indeed surprising how could our government achieve such massive deaths and yet allow food grains worth crores / billions to rot in open-air storage!

This wastage is a well-laid plan of the politicians so that their kith and kin’s distilleries can buy rotten food grains (raw materials) at the cheapest rate to convert them into high-end liquor to be served in all the Five-Star Hotels of the corporate magnates... In one way, one can say that even the ROTTEN FOOD GRAINS are being consumed by none other than the RICH and THE AFFLUENT, so why should they give to the poor... such is the state of manipulation of the corrupt politicians and corporate nexus! Deprive the poor food grains at all cost is the well-laid planned of GENOCIDE by the two...

So why should the Nation’s Ruling Government bother at all to create more storage godowns to safeguard food grains that our poor farmers slog in hot sun, high and low temperatures, and heavy rains with their sweat and blood to grow to feed the nation of billion plus population.

While the farmers of the nation are selling their wives to feed their children in Bundelkhand or succumbing to suicide in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharastra, Kerala, Punjab, Chattisgarh, Orissa and other states... the government instead of providing succour to the farmers’ community, are hell bent to see the extinction of the community in another two decades’ time, just like France is facing the extinction of farmers’ community.

Only 20 % of the total food grains produced by the nation are stored in closed / proper FCI (Food Corporation of India) godowns and the rest of the 80 % are stored in open-air... come rain, come rodents or seasonal dew, flood or whatever the case may be... food grains are on purpose stored so callously in the nation which is claiming the fastest Economic Growth story to lure foreign investors to satisfy their greed!

FCI godowns in Punjab were leased to Liquor traders to store their liquor while food grains were lying outside and allowed to rot during the rainy season... in Nagpur, rodents and insects in FCI godowns have wasted a huge amount of food grains as the rotten smell of food grains have created an unbearable atmosphere for the residents living near the FCI premise, almost in every state of India, food grains are rotting in the open under the very watchful eye of the FCI Govt officials... more surprising is the state of action that the government should take... the action by Manmohan Singh government is NO ACTION!

Even when the media reported the callous approach of the Nation and it was the Supreme Court (SC) who ordered the Agriculture Minister to distribute food grains to the poor instead of allowing it to rot. The Prime Minister came in to stand behind the Agriculture Minister to tell the SC that they should not interfere in Policy Making of the Government! Such an act from the Prime Minister of India, who should have immediately sack the minister and take some concrete step to stop the rotting of food grains worth 58,000 crores! What can you expect from the officials when the PM is supporting this callous act of wastage! The wastage continues as no one seems to be interested to build more storage godowns at war footing urgency!

The high level of corruption in government machinery has seen that in the last 64 years since the nation got its freedom, the government has not bothered at all to construct enough storage space to protect food grains. The nation whose economy was dependent on the Agriculture Sector, has (70 % of the population was dependent) never really bothered to support the sector, instead a well-laid plan to de-establish the sector by not providing basic infrastructure.

Right from Irrigation Infrastructure to Storage Infrastructure, the government policies have always delayed various farmers’ friendly projects in the nation... and the helplessness shown by the Prime Minister and respective ministers are all crocodile tears... the WILL to do better for nation’s benefits are lacking big time! Who does this nation belongs to? Why there is so much of loot going on and absolutely no one to STOP this catastrophe? Food shortage is not a natural catastrophe but the creation of the greedy lot, who are here to kill many-many millions of poor people by starving them to death, snatching away their fertile land for factories, airports and what not... depriving them of water for irrigation and drinking...

I still very much remember my first day in Vidarbha...April 16^th 2010, I was travelling by bus from Nagpur to Wardha and I was really surprised to see so many concrete buildings, educational institutes, factories, malls and industrial zones standing tall in the fertile lands... I wondered then, why no one has ever thought that tomorrow when all the fertile lands will be turned into a concrete jungle, from where will our children and grand children get their food!

Through this series – WHAT THE FARMERS NEED? -  I have been able to generate awareness among the locals that farmers’ need have been overlooked since ages and the farmers’ community have been neglected to the highest degree. Once India was an agriculture based economy, today it is the economy of the corrupt looters.

Each one of us knows there are lapses from the government’s side and yet, we have been quiet because we really don’t care about the next person out there dying of hunger and poverty. While the farmers have been selflessly feeding the nation, the government policies have never really helped the poor farmers and yes, even the society at large have not been giving farmers the due they deserve so much for feeding the billion plus nation.

In the year 2010-2011 period India has had bumper food grains production but without proper godowns to store all the grains, the year will also result in heavy losses to food grains rotting in FCI open-air godowns... while the Foreign Minister SM Krishna goes and gifts Myanmar 10 new disaster-proof rice silos with a 5000-tonne storage capacity in June 2011, while the food grains in our own nation are allowed to rot in the open... 

One can really write a whole book on the failure of the respective ruling governments to create enough storage space since the last 64 years to safeguard food grains and not allow it to rot in the open-air storage. Below is an abstract of the National Policy of storage of food grains (only on paper) while on grounds food grains worth crores are rotting in every state with no one really bothering to stop these huge wastage on a National level!

National Policy on Handling and Storage of Foodgrains

5.45 Post harvest losses of foodgrains are a serious problem. A 5 per cent loss would imply loss of 10 million tonnes of foodgrains annually. In order to reduce storage and transit losses at farm and commercial level, and to modernise the system of handling, storage and transportation of foodgrains in India, a National Policy on Handling and Storage of Foodgrains has been announced this year.

The main thrust of the policy is:—

(i) declaration of food grains storage as infrastructure,

(ii) encouragement of mechanical harvesting, cleaning and drying at farm and market level,

(iii) transportation of grains from farm to silos by specially designed trucks,

(iv) construction of chain silos at receipt as well as distribution points,

(v) encouraging private sector for building storage capacities in which grains procured by Government agencies would be stored on payment of storage charges,

(vi) encouraging private sector for development of infrastructure for the integrated bulk handling, storage and transportation of food grains.

.... to be continued...

NO WATER FOR IRRIGATION FOR FARMERS IN VIDARBHA

India’s biggest thermal power station is located in the Chandrapur district of Vidarbha in Maharastra and yes, it is ironical that there are millions of village that are yet to see what electricity is all about as they have lived without electricity since time immemorial. This is the reality of the growth story of India, which dreams to become the Super Power, as most of the political leaders are claiming including our corrupt Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station (CSTPS) is the biggest thermal power station of the nation and yet, last year had to shut down six out of the seven units because of depleted water level at Irai Dam, which incidentally also is the only source of drinking water supply in Chandrapur district. While none of the Chief Ministers of Maharastra has ever paid any attention towards the grave inadequacy of water for irrigation and drinking water for poor farmers of Vidarbha, the Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, currently the State Energy Minister has decided to connect Irai Dam with Gosikhurd Dam in Bhandara, to tackle the water crisis for CSPTS. The point is how the water would be brought from Gosikhurd Dam to Irai Dam, no details are available but the ambitious project, if executed, will further deprive farmers, water for irrigation.

The actual work of Gosikhurd Lift Irrigation project, which was granted administrative clearance way back in 1981-82, three decades ago, was suppose to start in October 1998 (17 years after the clearance). The 194.45 crores contract on the ambitious project on Waiganga River in Bhandara district of Vidarbha region was awarded to HCC – Hindustan Construction Company as per newspaper report on 19^th May 1998. The Original Cost of the project was pegged at Rs. 372 crore and by 1995 it had already escalated to Rs. 2,091 crore, an increase to the tune of 560 % in 14 years period. None of the Chief Ministers of Maharastra has really pushed this ambitious project at a war footing urgency, while the farmers of Vidarbha kept suffering water for irrigation woes since the last 30 years... even now, the situation is the same as it was in 1981-82! Nothing has really changed in the last 30 Years under Congress Rule!

In 2009, as per Suren Hire, the then Executive Engineer of Gosikhurd Dam said that the dam requires 238 meters before water can be sent through the two canals, the Left Bank and the Right Bank. To do this, the authorities have to shut down the 200 cusec m of water discharge to allow the water level to 238 meters. This would lead to the submergence of 14 villages in the region. Another official had stated that government’s political will is leading to the Command Area to face water scarcity even though both the canals are ready to cater to the irrigation needs of the farmers in the area.

The poor farmers have been bluffed and cheated from time to time ever since the project was commissioned to benefit all those who are involved in the 30-Year Scam... when the Dam water level was at 236 meters, experts said only when the height will be raised to 239 meters, water can be released to both the canals... however, on 5^th July 2011, the Chief Secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad of Maharastra has promised to ensure that level of water behind the Gosikhurd Dam is raised from 239 to 242 meters this season, so that water can be released through the Left Bank and Right Bank Canals after September to irrigate agriculture land in Command Area of the project.

One really wonders that while there is not sufficient water for the farmers to get for irrigating their agricultural lands and drinking water for the district population, the Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s latest decision (4^th August 2011) to divert water to Irai Dam for Power Generation at CSTPS will further deprive the Command Area Farmers water for irrigation... While the Lift Irrigation project was inaugurated in 2009 by none other than Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, the officials concerned express their inability to release water from the Lift Irrigation Scheme as the canals are still INCOMPLETE (after 30 long years, IMAGINE?)!!! Water was only released on the day of the inauguration to fool the farmers of the region and since that fateful day, the canals have been lying dry... since the last two years.

With less rainfall this year in Vidarbha region, farmers are badly in need of water to sow paddy in the Bhandara region but who really cares for Irrigation Infrastructure of the nation? While there are more Thermal Power Plants than any other States in Vidarbha Region (89 more private projects are waiting for clearance from CM Chavan), only 10 % of Agricultural Land gets water for irrigation. IRONY or CALLOUSNESS?

REASONS FOR DELAY:

All the reasons mentioned below have pushed the ambitious project for 15 long years in 1998: 

We are now in 2011 (exactly 30 Years after the project was cleared in 1981-82) and still the canals are without water for farmers:

Inadequate Allocations of Finance by successive State Government (Fault of respective CMs since 1981 to 2011);

Inaction by the region’s politicians (yes, no one cares about the farmers’ plight and needs);

Clearance from MoEF (the drama always continues when any project is to benefit the poor lot);

Problems of Rehabilitation (always a big issue as Govt pays a pittance and never provide enough compensation and place for proper rehabilitation);



ESCALATION OF PROJECT COST OF GOSIKHURD LIFT IRRIGATION PROJECT IN 30 YEARS' PERIOD: 1800 %


1981-82 - Rs. 372 Crore (original project cost sanctioned)


1995       - Rs. 2,091 Crore


2011       - Rs. 7,000 Crores & still counting (as the Canals' construction are still incomplete)

NEPAL BHUTAN FARM LABOURERS ARE COMMITTING SUICIDE IN AMERICA

Farm related suicides are no more confined only in Vidarbha or Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab or Kerala, but also it has become a global problem due to respective government policies, which are supporting GMOs and strong traders’ lobby including the control of market trend worldwide. The recent spate of farm labourers from Nepal and Bhutan committing suicide in America has raised an alarm in the US... Farmers are committing suicide in the developed countries too like US, UK, Japan, Canada, Australia, and many more... In fact, the farmers’ community in France is towards extinction as farmers are facing acute problem to even break even their initial investment with high price of GMOs seeds, chemical fertilizer and pesticides, labour problems, erratic natural calamities, strong market lobby to control the prices... all in all, farming has become a losing battle because of the control of the greedy shark like Monsanto and other GM Companies...

What seemed once like a greener pasture for the poor farmers of Nepal and Bhutan to earn more money, America has now fast becoming their death grounds as the economic crisis grips have made them lose their jobs with almost nowhere to go now to survive the hardships.. Most of them are planning to return home but the home condition too is not all that rosy and those who cannot sustain for longer hardships are succumbing to suicide. Not that they are the only ones who are committing suicide in America but also American farmers are also losing the battle against the government policies and the increasing debt seemed to take lives at will. Worldwide the situations are the same... what the farmers’ need? No one really bothers!!!

In hot sun, high and low temperatures and during heavy rains, the farmers’ community work selflessly to grow food for the whole world and what does the world gives them? A WELL PLANNED GENOCIDE by the top leaders of the world by promoting GMOs and supporting the rich corporate lobby, who control the market!

Why are the respective governments of every country so callous towards their approach to the most important community of the world? I really wonder at times that farmers are supposed to be the backbone of every economy and they are the most neglected sector and the most exploited by everyone in the world. In Japan, where even paddy sowing is done by computer-aided technique, farmers are leaving their villages to work as urban labours to survive. In America, many farmers are killing themselves with shot guns, as fire arms are easily available unlike consumption of poisonous pesticides in India.

A lot of information is trickling in from American and friends from various developed countries, who inform me about how the government and media are covering up farmers’ suicide in US and respective countries... however, the reality can never be hidden for long-long time from the world... almost in every country the faulty government policies are taking lives of farmer globally... Below is an excerpt about how the American policies are taking lives of the farm labourers from Nepal and Bhutan:

‘severe depression has swept through the Bhutanese communities all over the country because of their employability problems coupled with the US economic and resulting unemployment crises... populations who have only subsistence farming experience and no literacy should never have been resettled in an area like NH where farm jobs are non-existent, and even the most entry level jobs require applications via computer and at least a very rudimentary knowledge of English... this has been a heartbreaking situation for these refugee families, but we must also acknowledge the strain that this resettlement has placed on state and local resources, and it was inevitable that long-time residents of the state have built up resentments because the only local job opportunities are now competed for by so many new and less qualified candidates... the choice to resettle the Bhutanese in the US during our economic crisis of the past several years is one of the worst moves that the federal government has made because it oversaturated a weak employment market with a population that had lived in Nepal's refugee camps for 18 years (so, why now bring them over when our economy cannot support them?) and this has led to suicides on both sides -- citizens missing out on jobs they expected to be available, and the majority of refugees missing out on their expectation that there would be work they could perform here and earn a liveable wage from... when we invite a situation that brings about inevitable suicides, this situation should be immediately perceived as intolerable, and measures should be taken swiftly to prevent additional atrocities. 

More people need to speak up about this, to our state representatives and right up to the President... the refugee program needs to be protracted, ally nations need to take up the slack, and we must restrict resettlement to those who are in the most dire need of 'refuge' -- the victims of political instability in Egypt and Libya, the war refugees of Iraq that our country's military actions have directly created, the people fleeing for their lives with nowhere to go, not people who have lived for 18+ years in refugee camps in Nepal receiving subsidies of the same foods of their native cuisine, with the freedom to move about and interact with one another in relative safety, and who are now crying and begging for the chance to return to those camps where they were ‘Not Depressed’ and not living in such fear for their future!

From Burundi to Burma, from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan, refugees from around the globe have been placed in New Hampshire to start their lives anew.  Here they find new freedoms and far less dangers but new challenges as well.  Many have to learn English, the American laws, become educated and find work.  Federal programs help a lot but so do the cities and towns in which they are placed.  Now Manchester wants to put a moratorium on any new refugees resettling here.  City officials worry that they currently don't have enough resources to assist its current residents and with tight budgets getting tighter, the problem could become worse.  Today we'll look at New Hampshire's current refugee populations, what's being done to get them settled, the challenges they face and look at both sides of this Manchester moratorium debate.’

IT WOULD BE TOO EASY...

It would be too easy 

to take those little pills,
to escape into the wild, blue yonder of oblivion
forever.
It would be too easy
to grasp the handle
of the sharp carving knife
and watch with tunnel-filled eyes
as the blood pools around me.
It would be too easy
to vibrate with the click of metal,
of five inches
away from death.
It would be too easy
to defy gravity
for one milisecond
before thrust toward earth,
second thoughts left on the windowledge.

But I don't do "Easy"
I DON'T DO EASY!
'Cause that kinda "easy" is
weak.
And I'm not weak!
I'm unique!
I have an invaluable gift to share with all!
I have so much to contribute to the world!
I AM a family, even if it's a family of one!
I am ALL good, not "no good"!
I am loved by Creator and Earth Mother!
For this,
I will never quit!
I may die,
but not now~ 

--- GWEN WATSON LAMBERT ---

A SMALL EFFORT IS ALL ONE NEEDS... SAVE LIVES OF POOR TRIBAL VILLAGERS IN MELGHAT

Hello everyone,

WE require medicines for the poor tribal infants, women and men of MELGHAT Villages during our 90 DAYS CAMP - DHADAK MOHIM (www.dhadakmohim.wordpress.com).

As they say, every drop counts, even if you could send in one or two medicines, it would help HUMANITY greatly. Kindly spread the word to do whatever is possible within your limits.

Thank you one and all.

CAPSULES & TABLETS:
Cotrimoxazole/ Septron (Adult)
Cotrimoxazole/Septron (Paedratric)
Amoxycillin (125 mg)
Amoxycillin (250 mg)
Amoxycillin (500 mg)
Paracetamol
Furazolidane
Metronidazole
Norflox TZ
Cefixime
ChlorPhenaraMine
Cetrizine
Azithromycin
Ivermectin

INJECTIONS / INTRAVENOUS FLUID:
Inj Getamycin
Inj Ampicillin
Inj Diclofenac
Inj Dexamethosone
INJ ChlorPhenaraMine, (CPM)
Inj Etophylline
Inj Rantac
Anti Snake Venom(ASV)
IV Normal Saline
IV DNS
IV Dextrose 5%
IV Dextrose 10%
IV Ringer Lactate

OTHERS:
Eye/Ear Drop
Dettol
Cotton
Bandage
Scalp Vein
Needles
Syringes
Introcath
Scalp Vein
ORS
Gentian Violet

(P.S: Please spread the NOTE to everyone in your circle... the more, the better. Sai Baba bless you all!)
Please send the medicines to:

Dr. Priyadarsh V Ture (+91 94036 241050)
DHADAK MOHIM
Buddha Vihar Hall
Near Police Station
DHARNI
OR

Johnny D,
Support 4 suicide farmers families,
C/o Swapnil Barai,
House No: 200,
Opp: Lohit Complex,
Dhantoli Chowk,
WARDHA: 442001