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A SINCERE REQUEST TO ONE & ALL:
BABY CLOTHES: 0 to 6 years, for village girls & boys required...
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
JAI JAWAN, JAI KISAAN !!
This was the slogan that was coined by the most honorable Prime Minister of India Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri...
Jawan = Soldiers and Kisaan = Farmers are the two most important pillars for any nation. While soldiers guard the nation from external aggression to protect the nation, the farmers grow food to feed the nation. Any nation would be a dead nation without the two... and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri gave utmost importance to both the communities.
Ironical and sad to say, since his departure (he was poisoned during his visit to Russia) none of the Prime Ministers has really bothered to take good care of the two communities.
During my recent visit, I had the chance to meet two extraordinary gentlemen, who belonged to the farmers' families... one is perhaps the oldest freedom fighter alive today in India as he recently completed 98 years in Dharour village, district Ludhiana of Punjab. I was fortunate to spend few days at his home, interact with him and get his blessings. Meet Shri Sarwan Singh Grewal, the freedom fighter from Punjab. I wonder how many of us would be as agile as he is at 99 running years and how many of us would have such a sharp memory even at his age... he remembers each and every date from his childhood and recalls each incident and happening with great detail... even though while serving the Burma Military Police during the Second World War, he was hit by a bullet and sustained multiple injury allover his body, he lost an eye with bullet wounds... every morning he reads newspapers without fail and told us that one of his comrade lost the battle to life recently...
99 years young Shri Sarwan Singh Grewal with son Ranjit Singh...
All my respect and words will not suffice to tell the story of this brave soldier, son of a farmer. Shri Sarwan Singh Grewal was born on the 1st of March 1914. He studied in Sahnewal village school till VIII th grade and in 1932 joined the Burma Military Police and served for 14 years 90 days, when his battalion was captured by the Japanese and they were PoW for two long months in Rangoon in 1943 during the Second World War. He along with many of Indian soldiers were helped by his own nephew Capt. Ajmer Singh to get released from the Japanese jail in Rangoon and later sent to Singapore unit. After a while Shri Sarwan Singh Grewal along with two soldiers and two officers returned back to Burma and was given the duty to administer accomodation and ration for soldiers.
He remembers the emergence of 4 brigades of Subhas Chandra Bose's INA in Singapore in 1943,... he recalls the name of the four brigades (Subhas / Gandhi / Nehru & Rani Jhansi Brigades) with great precision. Later, Bahadur brigade was also formed... he recalls the disastrous day of 1945 when America dropped two Atom Bombs in Japan... Japan gave away their conquest of the world and there was ceasefire... INA too laid their arms in the same year... Indian soldiers fighting under the British Regime gathered at the Central Jail Rangoon in Burma and in 1945 few of them were sent to India. One among the many, Shri Sarwan Singh Grewal was sent to Momiyon City in Andaman & Nicobar island and were asked to maintain secrecy. He smiles to recall that here they were given a good bungalow for accommodation and the food was very good.
Shri Sarwan Singh Grewal with son Ranjit Singh...
While they were at Momiyon, they were told by officials that their individual records were sent to India and once it arrives, they will be discharged from service. The long battle surely had taken a toll on every individual fighting to protect the nation... he finally wrote a letter home after many-many years that he was very much alive. Finally in 1946, all the soldiers got their salary and were sent to India... it certainly was an overwhelming moment to meet family members after so many years being away from home. His sweet smile reflects how he cherishes that particular moment even today at 99 years young...
He is thankful to the Burmese Government & the State of Punjab because they still provide Pension for his invaluable service to the nation even now... but the Nation’s Government have been callous to stop the Pension when he returned from Canada after a five-year (2002 – 2007) stay with his NRI son... they have pursued the case but the Central Government Pension have stopped since 2002...
At 99, he wakes up early and have his breakfast at 7 am. After the breakfast, he walks for a while at home only with his stick for his company. His agility is worth mentioning because very rarely he takes support of his son... at 10 am, he eats his lunch and during the day time, he keeps drinking fruit juice or tea or cool drinks... after his lunch he spends near about an hour to read newspapers... a die-hard habit indeed. At 7 pm, after his dinner... he walks for a while and then retire to bed. Oh yes, he always has his wrist watch on to note his food timings shouldn’t be delayed by any chance. He remembers everyone who arrives at home and he also tells family members visiting from USA that so many days are left for them to return back.
I am have been blessed by this wonderful soul and when I went for the second time, he said to me with a smile, “So you love Punjab a lot to have returned back again, good.” It was the sweetest moment of all to be loved so much by him...
The other extraordinary gentleman is my friend Satpal Singh’s elder brother Jagtar Singh’s father-in-law Masterji... well, everyone calls him Masterji with great respect because he was a teacher in the village. However, after retirement, he took to farming and his farms is taken personal care by this 86-year-young gentleman... at such an age he gives the young a tough time to match his energy level and high spirits. Every morning, he gets up early and heads to his farm... works there till 9 or 10 am and then comes back for breakfast... after having had his siesta, he is back again at his farm to work. It was indeed great lucky moments to have had the chance to hear various fascinating stories about their lives...
I salute these two and many others who even at this age show how we youngsters should work with passion... from the bottom of my heart!
Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan!!!
Friday, April 20, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
LUCKY TO BE BORN UNLUCKY...
I must confess I have been very lucky to be born unlucky!
UNLUCKY because I never got any love from my own family...
LUCKY because I got multifold unconditional love from many of my good friends’ families, strangers who became part of destiny from all over the world and villagers from different States of India...
Satpal Singh's 87-year-old loving Mother...
I am very-very grateful and thankful to my Sai Baba for blessing me in such a way!
I also wish to thank from the bottom of my heart, all of the above mentioned special people who gave me unconditional love all through my growing up years....
However, whenever I look at true loving bonding of any of my friends' families... I wonder, why I was deprived of my parents' love??? I have no clue and perhaps I will leave this world without ever knowing the reasons, as to why they didn't loved me, even when I loved them with all my heart... it surely saddens my heart but now I know it is all part of the 'Journey of Destiny" and growing up.
Friends & the loving Mother...
The last two years have been really a trying times of my life and a great period of learning many important lessons of life, as each day I had to overcome my anxieties, patience, worries, obstacles, trauma, depression, and pain... on February 26th, 2012 I took the much-needed break to be with my friend's families in Punjab... you all must have known that instead, I had a nervous breakdown and I returned almost immediately after the wedding... it took me a month to overcome my breakdown and I realized I have not spend a good time with my dear friend Satpal Singh (who lives in New York now) because at his niece's wedding... we all were busy at the celebration.
Quenching my thirst at a farm...
On 29th March when I woke up from my siesta, I had a very strong urge to be with my friend... I called him and he said, "Most welcome." Good friends are the best gift life can give and the understanding we both share is indeed a boon! On 31st, I left for Ludhiana once again and I felt such a great relief to be with him and his in-laws... everyone was happy to see me again and the unconditional love they all showered on me... TOTALLY BLISSFUL PRICELESS!
My friend & My Parjaiji...
I met some of the most extraordinary Indians among his families and I feel truly blessed to get their love and blessings during my stay with them... UNCONDITIONAL LOVE was everywhere I went... as I connected with total strangers and was welcomed with open arms in their homes and hearts... all the while visiting various villages and meeting villagers, who were more enlightened than us, living in cities.
Ranjit Singh Grewal & his 99-year-young father...
Satpal’s wife (my Parjaiji = sister-in-law) Rajinder Singh Garcha’s loving family consisting of her loving mother and mother’s sisters, younger sister Baby, Baby’s husband Ranjit Singh Grewal, his amazing 99-year-young freedom fighter father (I will be writing an exclusive blog post because he is exceptional even at this age – fully agile, sharp memory to tell you each date and everything about his life and full of love and high spirits), his sweet daughter Mandeep and her husband, ever smiling son Lali... and Satpal’s 87-year-old loving mother, brother Jagtar Singh and his family and in-laws... and many villagers that I was lucky to interact with... I wish to thank everyone for all their love. Parjaiji was truly so-so loving (I was meeting her for the very first time)... Satpal’s mother was so-so kind, loving and active that at the age of 87, every morning she loved to make tea for us... and felt happy to see us sons enjoying her tea... even at this age, she is so active in keeping her home neat and tidy that it would put a young city woman to shame... with no offence at all.
Parjaiji's Loving Mother & younger sister...
While I was visiting villages in various districts of Punjab, I was always keeping a keen eye to grasp the reasons of Punjab farmers’ healthy prospects in farming... I also managed to convince a farmer to start kitchen garden, which he did and was happy to show me during my second visit... I also captured Jaggery-Making and understood the procedures from villagers...
At a Jaggery making unit at a village in Hoshiarpur District...
My Birthday on the Fools’ Day (1st April) was memorable as I was with my friend Satpal and his family... the evening was very special as he treated all the family members at a nice restaurant... it was the closeness of togetherness that mattered full of love... Memorable indeed! Grateful Satpal for everything you have showered on my destiny... I am glad you are part of my destiny!!! Sai Baba bless you and everyone in your families always and forever!!!
Life, O’ Life!!! How beautiful you are and Sai Baba thank you so much for everything!!! From Punjab, I was invited by my Fifth Beautiful Angel Palak Jha at Tundla to spend few days with them... This time, I felt very relaxed and the much-needed-break was a boon in many regards... I am glad that I made the trip... more about Tundla trip in my next post...
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
IRRIGATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN VIDARBHA WILL NEVER BE COMPLETE, Courtesy: The GOVERNMENT
Only when the Supreme Court, Lokayukta, High Court or else the Governor admonish the ruling government under the most corrupt Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh about various irregularities of various scams... only then a probe is ordered or action taken (actually not taken at all, they are only on papers)...
When I started the series WHAT THE FARMERS NEED? - in February 2011, the first point I discussed was IRRIGATION INFRASTRUCTURE without which the farmers' community are totally at the mercy of the Rain Goddess... yes, Bhartiya Kisaan Bhagwan Barose! Even a class fifth student will tell you that Irrigation Infrastructure is the most mandatory for the agriculture nation (70 % of the population depends on Agriculture related industries... but ever since 1947, the nation has been incapable (because of corruption) to build a fool-proof Irrigation Infrastructure for the farmers' community to grow crops year after year.
BUDGET 2012-13:
* Proposal to allocate Rs 300 crore to Vidarbha Intensified Irrigation Development Programme under RKVY was made
• Outlay for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) increased to `9,217 crore in 2012-13
• The Union Budget 2012-13 proposed structural changes in Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) to maximise flow of benefit from investments in irrigation projects.
• Allocation for AIBP in 2012-13 stepped up by 13 per cent to Rs 14242 crore."""
BUDGET 2012-13:
* Proposal to allocate Rs 300 crore to Vidarbha Intensified Irrigation Development Programme under RKVY was made
• Outlay for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) increased to `9,217 crore in 2012-13
• The Union Budget 2012-13 proposed structural changes in Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) to maximise flow of benefit from investments in irrigation projects.
• Allocation for AIBP in 2012-13 stepped up by 13 per cent to Rs 14242 crore."""
One can imagine the heights of callousness of the nation's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee callous attitude for Irrigation Infrastructure of the Nation!!! As per THE HITAVADA dtd: 28th March 2012, the Governor of Maharastra K Sankaranarayanan has slammed the State Government over the HUGE "Balance Cost" of Irrigation Infrastructure Projects. As per April 1, 2011, the balance cost of irrigation projects in the State of Maharastra is Rs. 75,366 Crore / Billion....
Only one state's Balance Cost is Rs. 75,366 Crore... imagine the scale of 28 States and 7 Union Territories' TOTAL BALANCE COST of the Nation??? And what does the FM allocates in the Budget 2012-13???
This project in Vidarbha Region is still incomplete after 29 years... the Project Cost has been escalated to the tune of 2000 %... and yet... yes, there is no sign of water for irrigation....
As per the reported figures, 277 Projects in Vidarbha Region requires Rs. 29,413 Crore as on April 1,2011. In all, 183 projects in Marathawada region requires Rs. 13,580 Crore and 287 projects in the Rest of Maharastra requires Rs. 32,373 Crore. As on paper (only in paper not on real grounds) there are 747 ongoing projects which requires a total of Rs. 75,366 Crore...
The well-known and often written about Gosikhurd Irrigation Project has still not been completed and year after year the project cost is escalated since the last 30 Years... yes, three decades of Maharastra must have seen more than 10 Chief Ministers come and go... and not a single one has really bothered about the Irrigation Projects... whereas, as many as 87 Thermal Power Projects have been sanctioned by various CMs to help the MNCs and Corporate World... Drinking Water in town city of Wardha is at the mercy of Municipal Corporation to provide drinking water alternate day for just 1 hour and at times one hour after three days' gap... and during summer many times just twice a week... villagers have to walk miles to fetch water for the family in hot sun...in remote villages of Maharastra and other states.
While the PM and his Planning Commission is projecting the Nation's Economic Growth in the world... one look at the picture below will reveal the truth of Indian State's Pathetic Condition of the Tribal Villagers, who are digging wells with bare hands with simple tools (Fawda aur Gaintee)... in the Melghat Region of Amravati district (the district which is home to the "who cares about the villagers" attitude President of the Nation)
The Tribal Villagers of Melghat are still digging wells with bare hands....
Vidarbha Region and the Rest of Indian States will never see completion of Irrigation Projects in another 1000 years because of the corrupt callous government... in spite of the nation claiming in the world about Rapid Economic Growth... I really admire Libyan leader Gaddafi who built GREAT OMAR MUKHTAR MAN-MADE RIVER (GMMR) - World's Eighth Wonder, which irrigates the whole of Libyan farms and also provide drinking water to the whole Libya... Gaddafi may be a tyrant for the world but what he visioned for his nation is OUTSTANDING and the GMMR will not dry up for the next 50 years... and it is this precious thing why the US invaded Libya to kill him....
Monday, April 16, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
GREECE SHOWS THE ONLY WAY HOW THE FARMERS WILL BENEFIT ALONG WITH CUSTOMERS
Had those people gone to supermarkets, they likely would have shelled out around €1.20 per kilogram, Tsolakidis said. Meanwhile, the association of flour producers that sold the products noted that the flour was made from local, and not imported, wheat.
For producers, selling the flour at cost was a good deal in part because they could get their money immediately instead of waiting for months from checks promised by middlemen. It's possible, however, that as the project continues, they could decide to raise their prices above cost.
The direct sale effort comes as Greece struggles with a severe financial crisis that has seen pensions and salaries slashed and led to skyrocketing unemployment of over 20 percent. Tsolakidis is Greek, but works as technical director at the European College of Sport Science, in Cologne, Germany, an organization that does research on physical activity and sports.
Last month, he contacted potato farmers in the town of Nevrokopi, close to Greece's border with Bulgaria, and convinced them to sell their product directly to consumers. The effort was a hit with both the farmers and the customers. The farmers said they were basically forced to sell their potatoes to middlemen at €0.11 per kilogram, while it cost them €0.20 per kilogram to grow them. Supermarkets sold the potatoes at about €0.70 per kilogram. Now, after several direct sales across Greece, supermarkets are selling potatoes at prices as low as €0.29 per kilogram.
Tsolakidis wants to take effort beyond Greece's borders. "We already have small, grassroots organizations in Europe in direct contact with producers ... we have got in touch with such organizations in France and Spain," he told The Associated Press.
On Saturday, Tsolakidis ensured that 96 volunteers turned out to help distribute the flour. The customers, meanwhile, said they were grateful for the good prices — but also wanted to make a bigger point. "This is a message to the middlemen and their excessive profits," said 35-year-old Thanos Hryssikos, as he loaded his scooter with flour sacks. "The important thing is to prop up the producers and, at the same time, help consumers," added 67-year-old Katerina Tsiribasi, who had ordered 70 kilograms of flour.
Tsolakidis said rice and olive growers also have expressed interest in the direct sale model.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
FCI SHOULD LEARN FROM TRIBAL KORKU OF MELGHAT HOW TO SAFEGUARD FOOD GRAINS
58,000 crores / billions worth of food grains are allowed to rot in the open by the nation every single year !
Sheer CALLOUSNESS or should one say the nation's INEFFICIENCY ?
The farmers' community slog day and night in hot sun, high temperatures, heavy rains and chilly winter... and imagine how one must feel about the huge wastage of food grains when the nation has the highest hunger index, beating even the poor African nations...
I keep wondering all the time, how can the government turn a blind eye... but then it is a well-laid plan so that the kith and kins of corrupt politicians, who own liquor distilleries can buy these rotten food grains to turn them into high profit liquor to be served in the five stars!
Wonder of wonders, what is the so-called highly educated planners of the nation in the Planning Commission are doing to prevent such a huge national wastage? NOTHING! Yes, NOTHING!
Mind you these figure of 58,000 crores / billions is the official acknowledgement by the nation's Agriculture Minister... as we all know, the government always tend to lower the statistics in such cases... so the actual figure must be double or triple the announced figure!
During my recent visit to various states, everywhere I witnessed that FCI have ample of space but not sufficient buildings to store grains, while they are out in the open at the mercy of nature... WHY? In the past 65 years, we, as the nation couldn't even build sufficient storage system to safeguard our food grains while millions of poor die of hunger. And our Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna goes to Burma and donate them hi-tech Silos, while the nation is without any such modern system...
Unlike the callous nation, who plan flawlessly year after year to allow huge wastage of food grains (in every state) to rot, the tribal Korku are very progressive in nature. Since they are so-so poor, they cannot even have the luxury to waste even a morsel of food. They may be illiterate but are much-much more intelligent than all the so-called highly educated Planning Commission Officials. Their simple bare minimum huts / homes may not have any belongings or even a suitcase / trunk / cupboard but more than 90 % of them have two custom made Silos to safeguard their food grains, cultivated with blood and sweat. Each house / hut has two huge Silos to store their yearly production, so that the family is well-fed throughout the year.
It is indeed an amazing feat that one will never get to read in any of the leading newspapers or see on news channels of the world. The conspicuous presence of Silos in each home / hut also proves tribal Korku's intelligent planning to safeguard their families from hunger and prevent the wild rodents to feast on their food grains. But obvious, there is no chance of any wastage, whatsoever! Each Silos are built with either cement-mud combination and painted white to keep the food grains cool, with a heavy lid over the top. A small window hole at the bottom is made to take out the required grains as and when required while cooking.
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) should learn this simple technique to safeguard nation's food grains and prevent the huge loss year after year. The Korku tribe are very poor and marginal farmers and they still believe in and practice ancient traditional method of farming. That means, the Korku tribe grow pure Organic Food Grains in their fields. This also proves that they are eating much healthy food as compared to urban population. Most of the farmers own their own cattle, few goats, few hens, dogs... which are useful for multi purpose.
I wish to SALUTE the farmers of KORKU tribe of Melghat Region in Maharastra for showing the world how simple it is to use your BRAIN to safeguard the most essential item to live healthy... HATS OFF!!! Do wish the Planning Commission will send their officials to learn from the Korku tribe at the earliest!!!
Monday, March 12, 2012
IF WE WANT, WE CAN... BUT, WE WON’T AS OUR WONT
As our wont, we allowed the British traders with open arms almost more than 265 years ago, little realizing the tiny island nation will make us slaves and rule our nation for 200 years and loot all our nation’s precious wealth... if we want, we can... as freedom fighters showed us how a bunch of dedicated patriot Subhas Chandra Bose, Chandrashekar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Jhansi ki Rani Lakshmibai and many others... shed their blood so that the British were forced to leave our land, where guests are welcomed with open arms considering them as Gods visiting!
History showed us how in 1947 the nation was divided into two while millions innocent were massacred to satisfy the greed for power to rule... everyone kept quiet... the politician lot don’t even care how many innocent will be killed and become homeless... history is full of such examples. So after the nation got its freedom in 1947... we started fighting among ourselves to rule... and when the nation got its first deserving Prime Minister as Shastri, he was knocked off in conspiracy theory in Russia. How I wish we had more Shastri like leaders in the nation, who were selfless to serve for the betterment of the nation unlike all the others who didn’t and still do not hesitate to kill the innocent in millions... decade after decades!
You all must be wondering as to what is the relationship between these historical facts and the present scenario of the nation and the title of the post, right? It was an Indian who gave the world the ‘zero’ to facilitate counting... it was India who found water on Mars... and yes, it is India under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which has achieved the distinction to create 120 Plus Scams in almost every department of governance worth trillions and trillions of dollars... so you see, if we want, we can... to loot the nation’s wealth to the hilt... but when it comes to serving the nation, as our wont, we won’t!
India as the nation has achieved many great feats, so why has it lacked in Agriculture in the past six and a half decades? 70 % of the population depends on agriculture, so why none of the previous Prime Ministers except Lal Bahadur Shastri, bothered to establish Agriculture as the most advanced industry of our country? Absolutely, there is no answer at all... each one of them were busy looting the nation and allow the MNCs to loot while everything is being snatched away from little and poor farmers of the nation... from Irrigation water to seeds, fertile lands to their savings... the farmers’ community are left in lurch to defend themselves at the mercy of rain God, money lenders, micro-finance institutions, corrupt politicians, traders’ lobby and faulty government policies.
If we want, we can... many individual success stories have been recorded all over the nation... but the government will never replicate those simple success stories on the real grounds because then the poor farmers will better their life style and the rich corporate companies and greedy politicians don’t want this to happen ever... instead, everything is being sold in the rural backdrop by these MNCs to milk every single penny from the poor farmers, who constitute the large chunk of the economy. From Re. 1/- Satchet Shampoo to Sachet eatables to micro-finance to buy dish TV, fridge, motorcycles and not forgetting the costly medical treatments in multi-speciality hospitals and clinics... each device has been master planned to extract little pennies from the poor.
If the nation can achieve to build super-class METRO in Delhi in record time, why it has not been able to construct effective irrigation infrastructure in the nation since the last six and a half decades, even when billions have been gulped by the government officials and the private companies? If the nation can build flyovers and express highways efficiently, then why we as the nation couldn’t build food grains storage godowns in the last 65 years? Why as a nation, we are so callous in our approach to please the global entity while the majority of our poor lot are suffering from hunger and poverty?
I am certainly not against the nation’s economic growth... but is economic growth all about the numbers? Should we close our eyes as blinds to see the ground realities of rural India where millions of villagers have to walk miles and miles in hot sun, heavy rains or severe winter to fetch drinking water for the families? Is economic growth about digging wells with bare hands in rural India? What is the use of UID Card when the villagers are feeding self with Tamarind leaves? While every producer or manufacturer are permitted to decide on the cost of its product, the farmers are controlled by the government by means of MSP (Minimum Support Price), why?
A nation is a dead nation without the farmers’ community and insted of supporting them in the right ways, everyone is out there to exploit and milk them to push the farmers towards the edge... even their deaths are exploited by greedy parties to make money... how inhuman it can be? No one seems to understand the grave danger we as the nation will be facing in coming future... every natural resouces are fast depleting, mountains and plateaus are being razed, forest cover are fast decreasing, water scarcity has become the order of the day, electricity... well, many villages don’t even know what it is even in this 21st Century... what more can one expect in this beautiful nation??? The babies who are being born today are going to have a dangerous future ahead and we as the nation are to be blamed for making such a strong base of uncertainty...
No one is really bothered about the catastrophe that we are fast approaching... each one of us is busy in our own illusionary world... humans... the more modern we have become the more callous we have become and the more regressive we are in real sense. How I wish I can change all these in the big picture??? I am doing my best and putting in all my efforts in whatever small ways I am able to do as destined...
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
THE BIG ACHIEVEMENT!
Since 2008, I have been involved with the farmers' community's crisis in the nation... first as a concerned blogger and since March 2010 as an active student to do something good for the farmers' community... as I started the one-man-crusade movement - "support 4 suicide farmers families" on the 12th of March 2010...
I have been listening to the radio, reading newspapers and magazines from my early childhood and when the the television revolution set in... I have been watching it on a regular basis... however, since April 2010, I have quit watching television as my concentration was more to work for the farmers' community in the Vidarbha Region of Maharastra. On the 12th of March this year, the movement will be completing its two years... and for the very first time, I am glad to inform one and all, all across the globe that the movement has achieved one of the first big achievements!
Perhaps for the very first time in the history of agrarian crisis of India, Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, which toured various places in Vidarbha have come to the conclusion (in its reports) that the Prime Minister's Relief Package of Rs. 7,500 Crore (Billion) aimed at mitigating the woes of farmers, has failed miserably in its objective and the agriculture still persists. It is for the very first time that a government committee has stated most of the points mentioned and written in my series - WHAT THE FARMERS NEED! - started on the 5th of February 2011 (Please read the link given below):
The Committee head by Mr. Basudeb Acharia (Chairman of the panel) stated that there is no end to the problems faced by farmers. They have to face odds at all levels, from finding labourers to till the land, getting quality seeds, fertilizers at reasonable prices, irrigation facility to remunerative prices to their produce. The farmers are squeezed at all levels. Wages of farmers have gone up. Despite this, there is shortage of them. It is difficult to get quality seeds in the market. Prices of fertilizers, sprinklers and other farm inputs have gone through the roof. There is no water to irrigate the farm and even now, most of the farmers depend on monsoon rains. The sword of delay in rains, excess or scanty rainfall, always keep hanging over their heads. If the crop is good after facing so many difficulties, there is no guarantee of them getting good price because of manipulation of prices by market today.
Because of all these, small farmers are finding it difficult to make a living. Cosmetic measures like announcing packages (PLEASE NOTE HERE: The 1,088 Crores Crop Damage Aid Announced by CM Prithiviraj Chavan in December 2010 has still not been disbursed to Vidarbha farmers as on date... while he has already made another Aid announcement in December 2011 worth 2,000 crores for Maharastra Farmers to shut down the farmers' protest) and loan waiver will not help. Irrigation facilities should be given a top priority. There is urgent need to address all the problems faced by the farmers one by one. Government machinery will have to be more sympathetic towards farmers.
It was indeed fortunate that when I returned from Punjab on the 4th of March, I bought the newspaper THE HITAVADA at Nagpur Station... and at home when I read the editorial... I really thanked my Sai Baba for making me to buy the newspaper, otherwise I would have missed this piece of information. All these years, no one has really taken into consideration about the farmers' needs and requirements... instead everyone quotes statistics to project the farmers' crisis. I am glad the effort to educate the system has been fruitful in the two years I have been living in Vidarbha. I do hope effective measures are taken by the State and the Central Government to look seriously into farmers' needs and requirement to end their woes at the earliest, so they can serve effectively to feed the nation.
THE SERIES: WHAT THE FARMERS NEED!
http://support4suicidefarmersfamilies.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-farmers-need-5th-feb-2011.html - 5th February 2011
http://support4suicidefarmersfamilies.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-farmers-need-i-6th-feb2011.html -- 6th February 2011
http://support4suicidefarmersfamilies.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-farmers-need-ii-8th-feb-2011-bh.html -- 8th February 2011
http://support4suicidefarmersfamilies.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-farmers-need-iii-12th-feb-2011.html -- 12th February 2011
15th February 2011
http://support4suicidefarmersfamilies.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-farmers-need-part-vi.html -- 27th March 2011
http://support4suicidefarmersfamilies.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-farmers-need-part-vii.html -- 30th March 2011
http://support4suicidefarmersfamilies.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-farmers-need-part-viii-good-msp.html - 24th May 2011
http://support4suicidefarmersfamilies.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-farmers-need-part-ix.html -- 29th May 2011
http://support4suicidefarmersfamilies.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-farmers-need-part-x-good.html -- 24th July 2011
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
The 'Journey of Destiny' that was bestowed to me on the 12th of March 2010 has been flowing and leading to uncharted territories that I had never seen or experienced before. Life can be so challenging or unpredictable, one can never be so sure of! How these two years have gone by teaching me various lessons of life... I am really perplexed!
Living every single day 24 x 7 thinking and putting all my efforts have led my emotions and thinking changed to such an extent that I really fail to understand my Sai Baba's blessings and intention. As I have been telling since I started that I am just the medium for whatever my Sai is doing is HIS doing. I really have no control whatsoever in this journey. As humans, we often tend to think that it is US, who is doing and achieving things... well, it is all so wrong in thinking... but do we really have control on our thinking? NO!!!
On 25th February 2012, I decided to take a much needed long break to get away from the ground to become stable mentally, as I was suffering from sleepless nights since few weeks... worries that haunt every night to put me into a state of helplessness. I was heading to Punjab to meet my school friend Satpal Singh (who now resides in New York), who I was meeting after decades of separation. I have been waiting the moment with overwhelming anxiety to hug my dear friend... and on 26th evening, we did meet and I am really very-very grateful to Sai Baba for writing this meeting in my destiny! I was so happy because the occasion of his niece's wedding on 28th also coincided for us to meet... It was a joyful occasion at home and I was welcomed with warmth and love by one and all at home... indeed, it was an overwhelming moment.
Life will change so drastically in such a joyful atmosphere within a fraction of second, one will be shocked as I was part of a Punjabi wedding... where in joy, happiness and celebration are one of its kind! No one will become what I became to suffer a major 'Nervous Breakdown' after the day of the marriage... I really cannot describe the situation and the emotional trauma I suffered all of a sudden on 29th afternoon... I was feeling miserable as I couldn't eat anything because of the emotional journey... I wanted to be back in Wardha and be with the villagers... I requested my friend Satpal to please let me return back... he was speechless and wondered what had happened to me... tried his level best to understand and I was crying like a baby and all I was uttering to him was - 'Please let me return tomorrow...' on and on...
He understood the state of my being... and I am grateful he didn't stopped me... he said, 'No problem Johnny, you go and I will not stop... I can understand your state of mind and heart.' I was an emotional wreck and I know the world may think that I am 'mad'... so be it and I really don't care! I should have been ecstatic to meet my friend after so many years! I was ecstatic! But what I saw at the wedding celebration made me so miserable that I suffered the nervous breakdown. I just couldn't relate to all the wastage and how the world was living without any worries about future and hunger around the world of the poor. Please note that I have attended many Punjabi weddings of my friends earlier and I know exactly what all happens... but this time, it all seemed to me so-so disturbing that I am really unable to describe the feelings inside me...
I told everything to Satpal and he could relate to everything that I was telling... indeed it is a blessing to have such a wonderful understanding friend in one's life! With heavy heart and loads of worries in my mind, I bid them goodbye, much to my disliking on the 1st of March 2012... And when the time finally came, Satpal was really very-very kind to give me money for my movement... he said, 'just keep it, your movement needs them.' I don't have words to thank my dear friend who instead of getting upset was all the more concerned about me becoming alright... from Ludhiana to Delhi... the journey by bus was really difficult for me... but Satpal kept calling me every hour to check my condition... even though we were physically getting far from each other... his call made me feel that he was travelling by my side. Such great concern and bonding after decades of meeting... thank you Sai Baba for giving me such a wonderful friend in my life!
Satpal... you are a gem and yes, Parjai ji (Satpal's wife) I am grateful to you and your loving wonderful family for everything! Sai Baba bless you all forever always!
The 'Journey of Destiny' continues from here to the unknown territory... how long it will take me to get alright... I really have no idea at all!
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 :)
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