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O J’s Corner
Happiness level of the nation can be gauged from
the happiness level of the farmers
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has told Parliament that he would find a way-out to help farmers who have availed of loans from private lenders. In fact, the most hapless farmers are those who have fallen prey to private financiers. In Kerala, these firms are known as “blade companies”. In other States, there would be similar nomenclatures. Blade is the instrument intended to kill the victim by cutting the vein. Such financiers dole out money with minimal or no collateral security. Title-deeds of lands would be cornered by them. In the end the property would fall into the hands of the financier. Take a cursory look of properties along the roadsides, there would be a lot of indicatory boards saying the property is hypothecated to such and such blade companies.
If Chidambaram finds a mechanism by which the farmers’ debts from blade companies or individuals can be arranged to be paid off, it would really be a boon for the ryots. Let the announcement be not a publicity gimmick. He has referred to an existing scheme by which the farmers can take loan from the banks to pay off the private financiers. But the scheme has not been even marginally successful. It is estimated that 1.05 crore farmers have taken loans from private financiers. Of this, only 36,000 farmers have been successful in taking loans from banks to pay off blade companies. Chidambaram says his intention is to simplify the process and make it efficacious. Fair enough, let us hope the farmers would be benefited.
But I can vouchsafe it for a fact that it is not easy for an average farmer to secure such loans because of inherent flaws. The attitude of the bank employees should assume a sea-change. It was not long ago that a small account holder had to wait for a long time at the bank counter to get his cheque paid. That is, the amount which is a deposit in the bank. Now thousands of ATMs have sprung up in all nooks and crannies. The bankmen’s haughty behaviour has given place to orderly dispensation of currency notes by the ATMs. This is not to say that all bankmen have mind-blocks to help customers. They have their own problems. I served The Indian Express/The New Indian Express from 1984 to 2004, in Kerala, New Delhi and Mumbai, in various echelons of being a reporter, ending as Special Correspondent. While I was in Thrissur in 1989, an SBI bank officer had chanced to visit me at the office-cum-residence where there was no television set. Even as I was not appreciative of taking a loan because of the rigmarole involved, he took the initiative and arranged a television set with a loan from the bank within a single day! That means things are possible and there are helpful bankmen.
Our farmers do not know the nitty-gritty of farm loans. They can be helped by grassroots- level political workers, social workers, NGOs and even bank employees associations. The bankmen know it for a fact that the assistance being given to farmers are a pittance compared to thousands of crores of rupees cornered by powerful individuals and firms. A lot of the money would be written off as non-performing assets. So why not help the farmers? This one-time debt-waiver will not be perennially helpful for the farmers. Loans at nominal rates of interest, remunerative price for their produce, crop insurance, proper facilities for marketing etc.
It is not clear whether the loans of dairy farmers and fishermen would be written off. There is persistent demand for broadbasing the acreage of farmers whose debts are being cleared. We know that happiness level of the country can be gauged by the happiness level of the farmers, who form more than 60 per cent of the population.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Is there no one to take care of Dr Subhadramma?
One should be flabbergasted at the plight of Dr Subhadramma, 80, which was portrayed by K. Deepa, reporter of Mathrubhumi Malayalam daily, in connection with the International Women’s Day on March 8. A life-time of study and research gone waste for her? Unmarried and old-aged, there is no one to look after her. Even her pension dues have not been properly paid.
Several doctorate degrees-holder, polyglot, and the epitome of women’s education, Dr Subhadramma was found lying coiled in a corner of Thampanoor Railway Station in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, as no one was prepared to rent out a room to her.
She was one of the few women who earned her doctorate degree from the University of Kerala in earlier times. It seems she had ancestral properties at Karamana and Thiruvananthapuram worth a fortune. But the properties were all lost or cornered by interested people.
Now she does not have to beg for her food as she earns a monthly pension of Rs 5,600 for her having been a primary school teacher. Arrears of pension and other benefits remain unpaid. She does not have a roof to sleep under. Daughter of Vidwan K.Kesava Pillai and Ponnamma Pillai, who were teachers, Subhadra had chosen to pursue a career of learning and teaching. Sshe became a Hindi Vidushi by the age of 18 years. She started her career as Hindi teacher at Karamana middle school, continued her studies. She taught at high schools at Nedumangad, Attingal and Malayinkeezh. When she started teaching at Cotton Hill School, she again pursued higher education and reseach. She took her doctorate in Hindi from University of Kerala in 1962 and D.Litt in 1968. Later she got doctorate degree in Malayalam. She pursued her studies in English and took MA in English. She followed it up by taking doctorate in English. She got diploma in Kannada, Tamil and Sanskrit. She became life-time member in Linguistics Society of India, Lexicographical Society and Dravidian Linguistics Society. Lecturer in Thrissur R V Puram Training College, R V Puram Engineering College, Govt Hindi Training Institute, Attoor N V K S High School principal, B.Ed College principal, the list of her vocations goes on like this.
After retirement she pursued further research. But on her return to her native place, she found that all the properties were alienated. She stayed at the Adhyapaka Bhavan at Petta for a few days. Afterwards she stayed alone at a house. But now no one is prepared to rent out a room to her.
One should have awe of her for her accomplishments in the field of education. Would we give her a Padma award for serving the country in different capacities? Now we have thrown her out to the streets.--OJ
One should be flabbergasted at the plight of Dr Subhadramma, 80, which was portrayed by K. Deepa, reporter of Mathrubhumi Malayalam daily, in connection with the International Women’s Day on March 8. A life-time of study and research gone waste for her? Unmarried and old-aged, there is no one to look after her. Even her pension dues have not been properly paid.
Several doctorate degrees-holder, polyglot, and the epitome of women’s education, Dr Subhadramma was found lying coiled in a corner of Thampanoor Railway Station in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, as no one was prepared to rent out a room to her.
She was one of the few women who earned her doctorate degree from the University of Kerala in earlier times. It seems she had ancestral properties at Karamana and Thiruvananthapuram worth a fortune. But the properties were all lost or cornered by interested people.
Now she does not have to beg for her food as she earns a monthly pension of Rs 5,600 for her having been a primary school teacher. Arrears of pension and other benefits remain unpaid. She does not have a roof to sleep under. Daughter of Vidwan K.Kesava Pillai and Ponnamma Pillai, who were teachers, Subhadra had chosen to pursue a career of learning and teaching. Sshe became a Hindi Vidushi by the age of 18 years. She started her career as Hindi teacher at Karamana middle school, continued her studies. She taught at high schools at Nedumangad, Attingal and Malayinkeezh. When she started teaching at Cotton Hill School, she again pursued higher education and reseach. She took her doctorate in Hindi from University of Kerala in 1962 and D.Litt in 1968. Later she got doctorate degree in Malayalam. She pursued her studies in English and took MA in English. She followed it up by taking doctorate in English. She got diploma in Kannada, Tamil and Sanskrit. She became life-time member in Linguistics Society of India, Lexicographical Society and Dravidian Linguistics Society. Lecturer in Thrissur R V Puram Training College, R V Puram Engineering College, Govt Hindi Training Institute, Attoor N V K S High School principal, B.Ed College principal, the list of her vocations goes on like this.
After retirement she pursued further research. But on her return to her native place, she found that all the properties were alienated. She stayed at the Adhyapaka Bhavan at Petta for a few days. Afterwards she stayed alone at a house. But now no one is prepared to rent out a room to her.
One should have awe of her for her accomplishments in the field of education. Would we give her a Padma award for serving the country in different capacities? Now we have thrown her out to the streets.--OJ
Kerala seeks Rs 8000 crore debt-waiver benefit
Kerala has apprised the Central Government of its claim of about Rs 8000 crore from the Rs 60,000 crore-debt-waiver scheme announced by Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram.
The amount pertains to loans availed of by farmers from commercial banks, co-operative institutions and rural banks alone.
If the loans benefited by farmers from private financiers are reckoned, the amount would further go up. Also, nothing is heard further about the announcement made by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar that loans taken by fishermen and dairy farmers would also be written off.
The co-operative sector alone accounts for Rs 2,970 crore of the loans taken by farmers which should be compensated by the Centre as per the latest bonanza.
The State government received the letter seeking the details of the loan amounts on March 10. It was mentioned that the details should be furnished by March 14.
Therefore a high-level meeting was convened on Friday to take stock of the situation and furnish the reply. Short-term loans from the co-operative sector amounted to Rs 2,710 crore and long-term loans Rs 260 crore. Rural banks had extended loans amounting to Rs 586 crore and agricultural development bank Rs 212 crore in this category. It is estimated that the loans given away by the commercial banks in the state would be between Rs 3,500 crore and Rs 4,000 crore. The details in this regard should be submitted to the Central Government by the Reserve Bank of India.
The State government has sought to extend the benefits to agricultural workers, farmers who have paid up the loans as also those who got the loans rescheduled…O J
Kerala has apprised the Central Government of its claim of about Rs 8000 crore from the Rs 60,000 crore-debt-waiver scheme announced by Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram.
The amount pertains to loans availed of by farmers from commercial banks, co-operative institutions and rural banks alone.
If the loans benefited by farmers from private financiers are reckoned, the amount would further go up. Also, nothing is heard further about the announcement made by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar that loans taken by fishermen and dairy farmers would also be written off.
The co-operative sector alone accounts for Rs 2,970 crore of the loans taken by farmers which should be compensated by the Centre as per the latest bonanza.
The State government received the letter seeking the details of the loan amounts on March 10. It was mentioned that the details should be furnished by March 14.
Therefore a high-level meeting was convened on Friday to take stock of the situation and furnish the reply. Short-term loans from the co-operative sector amounted to Rs 2,710 crore and long-term loans Rs 260 crore. Rural banks had extended loans amounting to Rs 586 crore and agricultural development bank Rs 212 crore in this category. It is estimated that the loans given away by the commercial banks in the state would be between Rs 3,500 crore and Rs 4,000 crore. The details in this regard should be submitted to the Central Government by the Reserve Bank of India.
The State government has sought to extend the benefits to agricultural workers, farmers who have paid up the loans as also those who got the loans rescheduled…O J
Women’s power through responsible tourism at Kumarakom
Responsible tourism is taking over Kumarakom, a tourists’ paradise just 14 kms from Kottayam in Kerala. Remember, the-then Prime Minister A.B.Vajpayee had a few days’ rest and relaxation at Kumarakom. He had prepared his Kumarakom Musings during this cooling-off period.
One way, women power is taking over Kumarakom, flanking the Vembanad lake,
criss-crossed by house-boats, and bestowed with the nature’s bounty in the form of the birds’ sanctuary and the serenity of stretches of paddy fields.
Women’s participation got ensured as responsible tourism was launched under the aegis of Kudumbashree Mission. In Kumarakom, nearly 750 women have come forward to offer their services. The hotels in Kumarakom would serve tourists with the items supplied by these women, in the first instance. Vegetables, fish, milk, meat, eggs, and rice would be supplied to the hotels by these enterprising women. Fifteen hotels have entered into an agreement with the women’s groups.
The panchayat has found fields for the women to undertake cultivation of vegetable items.Dairy units are also being set up. There would be 32 units with two cows each in one unit. They have been given training as well. Water melons, cabbage, beet-root, carrot and such other items would be fetched from the Kudumbashree units in Idukki district.
Tourists would be taken for sight-seeing to the sites where vegetables are grown and cows are raised.
Later, an open market for sale of produce from the Kudumbashree units would be set up.
Kovalam and Thekkady are also finding a place in the coverage of responsible tourism.
An international team is visiting Kumarakom to take stock of the responsible tourism project. Such projects have been successfully undertaken in South Africa, Spain and Newzealand, with the difference that the efforts there have been private ventures.—O J
Responsible tourism is taking over Kumarakom, a tourists’ paradise just 14 kms from Kottayam in Kerala. Remember, the-then Prime Minister A.B.Vajpayee had a few days’ rest and relaxation at Kumarakom. He had prepared his Kumarakom Musings during this cooling-off period.
One way, women power is taking over Kumarakom, flanking the Vembanad lake,
criss-crossed by house-boats, and bestowed with the nature’s bounty in the form of the birds’ sanctuary and the serenity of stretches of paddy fields.
Women’s participation got ensured as responsible tourism was launched under the aegis of Kudumbashree Mission. In Kumarakom, nearly 750 women have come forward to offer their services. The hotels in Kumarakom would serve tourists with the items supplied by these women, in the first instance. Vegetables, fish, milk, meat, eggs, and rice would be supplied to the hotels by these enterprising women. Fifteen hotels have entered into an agreement with the women’s groups.
The panchayat has found fields for the women to undertake cultivation of vegetable items.Dairy units are also being set up. There would be 32 units with two cows each in one unit. They have been given training as well. Water melons, cabbage, beet-root, carrot and such other items would be fetched from the Kudumbashree units in Idukki district.
Tourists would be taken for sight-seeing to the sites where vegetables are grown and cows are raised.
Later, an open market for sale of produce from the Kudumbashree units would be set up.
Kovalam and Thekkady are also finding a place in the coverage of responsible tourism.
An international team is visiting Kumarakom to take stock of the responsible tourism project. Such projects have been successfully undertaken in South Africa, Spain and Newzealand, with the difference that the efforts there have been private ventures.—O J
Sophistication par excellence for a decade
Sonia Gandhi, the Indian daughter-in-law from Italy, has completed a decade as president of the Congress Party founded by Allen Octavian Hume. A plethora of personalities have been catapulted to this post, many of them performing excellently well and a few on account of political expediency. Few of them could complete a term of ten years.
Whatever the political opposition and envious criticism from several quarters in the country, Sonia Gandhi who rose to power politics thanks to being the widow of Rajiv Gandhi, the modern architect of developing India, who went through the poignancy of the assassination of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, has presented her poise to the world at large.
Would someone else have been more successful as Congress president during this period? It is difficult to find an answer. I believe she would have become the Prime Minister of the country, had there not been certain clarifications from those who matter for facilitating the coronation, in spite of the threat of Sushma Swaraj to walk around with her head shaven.
History has its own ways of carving out niches. Dr Manmohan Singh found the slot purely out of the sleight of hand of time, which is the epoch-maker. Then we speak about two power centres, one controlled by Sonia Gandhi and the other by Dr Manmohan Singh. Times have proved that there is nothing like that. There is only one power centre and that rests with Sonia Gandhi. She seems to listen to others quite a bit. But undoubtedly she is the last word. It has its pitfalls too. When things go wrong, there cannot be an alibi. The bandwagon of a coalition buffeted by pulls and pressures from different directions requires careful balancing of the reins. That is what Dr Manmohan Sing is doing. Sonia would either justify Dr Manmohan Singh even if he speaks differently from what she had in mind. Or Dr Manmohan Singh would maintain a discreet silence. Both ways, Sonia ensured to project an image that there was no divergence of views. However, powerful second-rung leadership at State levels is lacking. Therefore fire-power at the regional level is missing.
Sonia-Manmohan Singh sophistication may not fetch votes. In fact, the Congress has conceded defeat in a few State elections. Surely, the country would witness her contributions in the years to come…O J
Sonia Gandhi, the Indian daughter-in-law from Italy, has completed a decade as president of the Congress Party founded by Allen Octavian Hume. A plethora of personalities have been catapulted to this post, many of them performing excellently well and a few on account of political expediency. Few of them could complete a term of ten years.
Whatever the political opposition and envious criticism from several quarters in the country, Sonia Gandhi who rose to power politics thanks to being the widow of Rajiv Gandhi, the modern architect of developing India, who went through the poignancy of the assassination of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, has presented her poise to the world at large.
Would someone else have been more successful as Congress president during this period? It is difficult to find an answer. I believe she would have become the Prime Minister of the country, had there not been certain clarifications from those who matter for facilitating the coronation, in spite of the threat of Sushma Swaraj to walk around with her head shaven.
History has its own ways of carving out niches. Dr Manmohan Singh found the slot purely out of the sleight of hand of time, which is the epoch-maker. Then we speak about two power centres, one controlled by Sonia Gandhi and the other by Dr Manmohan Singh. Times have proved that there is nothing like that. There is only one power centre and that rests with Sonia Gandhi. She seems to listen to others quite a bit. But undoubtedly she is the last word. It has its pitfalls too. When things go wrong, there cannot be an alibi. The bandwagon of a coalition buffeted by pulls and pressures from different directions requires careful balancing of the reins. That is what Dr Manmohan Sing is doing. Sonia would either justify Dr Manmohan Singh even if he speaks differently from what she had in mind. Or Dr Manmohan Singh would maintain a discreet silence. Both ways, Sonia ensured to project an image that there was no divergence of views. However, powerful second-rung leadership at State levels is lacking. Therefore fire-power at the regional level is missing.
Sonia-Manmohan Singh sophistication may not fetch votes. In fact, the Congress has conceded defeat in a few State elections. Surely, the country would witness her contributions in the years to come…O J
Thursday, March 13, 2008
O J’s Corner
Tolerance please!
Let us praise ourselves for India, that is Bharat, which is a functional democracy. Let us not lose this glorious position by acts of sheer intolerance. Many of our neighbours cannot boast of a political system that allows free expression of views. We have been endowed with showers of blessings for full-throated praisings or denouncements of particular views.
Let there be no choking of political expressions by muscle power. Kannur district in Kerala has been the brewing ground of political violence for a long time now. For some time, things were seemingly calm. But of late, the situation has gone haywire. Political murders and attacks have overtaken exhibition of commonsense. Seven murders within a span of a week speak ill of a healthy society.
Whatever it be, there is no justification for attacking A K G Bhavan, the CPM headquarters in New Delhi. Mind you, a large number of national CPM leaders were present at AKG Bhavan when the attack took place. A few central committee members were injured.The window-panes of the office were broken and a few cars parked outside were damaged.
Whatever the provocation, no one should attack the office of a rival party. For, attacks and counter-attacks will not solve any problem. These will only aggravate volatile situation. The attack on a political party office is akin to challenging the democratic values of a country. In fact, political leaders are responsible for nurturing tranquillity and democratic values among the people.
In a democracy, there would be divergence of views among various polities. There can be no opposition to free ride of political expressions. Policies and programmes differ. But divergent views should only add to the welfare of the people at large. People should not be treated as enemies. No political party should treat opponents as enemies. Ideologies should find expression in only propagation. These should not be imposed on anyone by force. Blood-bath will not bring in peace. Politics of elimination will ruin democracy. Political leaders are functioning freely only because democracy prevails in the country.
Ill-will, hatred and contempt will vitiate the atmosphere. Life lost cannot be retrieved. Families whose members have been murdered cannot be consoled by any means. These murders cannot be treated as political sacrifice. Who will gain, if a few people are done to death? Ordinary people get felled in political elimination.
Also, the fear-psychosis should be removed. A situation should come about where people can freely mix and mingle together. The air of suspicion should go. Let peace prevail everywhere.
Tolerance please!
Let us praise ourselves for India, that is Bharat, which is a functional democracy. Let us not lose this glorious position by acts of sheer intolerance. Many of our neighbours cannot boast of a political system that allows free expression of views. We have been endowed with showers of blessings for full-throated praisings or denouncements of particular views.
Let there be no choking of political expressions by muscle power. Kannur district in Kerala has been the brewing ground of political violence for a long time now. For some time, things were seemingly calm. But of late, the situation has gone haywire. Political murders and attacks have overtaken exhibition of commonsense. Seven murders within a span of a week speak ill of a healthy society.
Whatever it be, there is no justification for attacking A K G Bhavan, the CPM headquarters in New Delhi. Mind you, a large number of national CPM leaders were present at AKG Bhavan when the attack took place. A few central committee members were injured.The window-panes of the office were broken and a few cars parked outside were damaged.
Whatever the provocation, no one should attack the office of a rival party. For, attacks and counter-attacks will not solve any problem. These will only aggravate volatile situation. The attack on a political party office is akin to challenging the democratic values of a country. In fact, political leaders are responsible for nurturing tranquillity and democratic values among the people.
In a democracy, there would be divergence of views among various polities. There can be no opposition to free ride of political expressions. Policies and programmes differ. But divergent views should only add to the welfare of the people at large. People should not be treated as enemies. No political party should treat opponents as enemies. Ideologies should find expression in only propagation. These should not be imposed on anyone by force. Blood-bath will not bring in peace. Politics of elimination will ruin democracy. Political leaders are functioning freely only because democracy prevails in the country.
Ill-will, hatred and contempt will vitiate the atmosphere. Life lost cannot be retrieved. Families whose members have been murdered cannot be consoled by any means. These murders cannot be treated as political sacrifice. Who will gain, if a few people are done to death? Ordinary people get felled in political elimination.
Also, the fear-psychosis should be removed. A situation should come about where people can freely mix and mingle together. The air of suspicion should go. Let peace prevail everywhere.
Nature striking back; tinkering with the environment turning deadly
We cannot have a day without getting reports of nature’s fury being unleashed on earth for our attacking Nature, that is in one way, the Brahman.
As a microcosm of the retaliation of Mother Earth for plundering it, today’s reports from Dubai, in the Gulf, and Nattakom, a village in Kottayam district of Kerala, would underscore the churning process going on in the Mighty Being, that is Nature.
Smog permeated the atmosphere of Dubai and vehicles speeding away collided against each other on Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway. The chain of collisions immobilised about 200 vehicles, mostly, cars. Many of the vehicles were engulfed in the fire that broke out. There were deaths in the ghastly accident. Thick mist and cold conditions prevented the authorities from taking immediate relief measures.
The same day a report appeared about a sheet of ice falling from the sky in the court-yard of a house in Nattakom village in Kottayam district of Kerala. It was the intervention of providence that the ice sheet did not fall on the inmates of the house. On hearing about the incident, a large number of people visited the place.
Why do such instances occur? Irregular rains, intolerable drought, water scarcity, environmental degradation, all are man-made. We have no qualms about it.
Times are quite near, when everything would be beyond our control. –O J
We cannot have a day without getting reports of nature’s fury being unleashed on earth for our attacking Nature, that is in one way, the Brahman.
As a microcosm of the retaliation of Mother Earth for plundering it, today’s reports from Dubai, in the Gulf, and Nattakom, a village in Kottayam district of Kerala, would underscore the churning process going on in the Mighty Being, that is Nature.
Smog permeated the atmosphere of Dubai and vehicles speeding away collided against each other on Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway. The chain of collisions immobilised about 200 vehicles, mostly, cars. Many of the vehicles were engulfed in the fire that broke out. There were deaths in the ghastly accident. Thick mist and cold conditions prevented the authorities from taking immediate relief measures.
The same day a report appeared about a sheet of ice falling from the sky in the court-yard of a house in Nattakom village in Kottayam district of Kerala. It was the intervention of providence that the ice sheet did not fall on the inmates of the house. On hearing about the incident, a large number of people visited the place.
Why do such instances occur? Irregular rains, intolerable drought, water scarcity, environmental degradation, all are man-made. We have no qualms about it.
Times are quite near, when everything would be beyond our control. –O J
Luxury cruise liners come calling:
Tourists should be taken to Goa
By high-speed railway line
With luxury cruise liners arrayed one by one at Cochin port over a period of time now, it should be an eye-opener for the authorities to provide connectivity to the passengers coming from various countries to places such as Mangalore and Goa through the high-speed rail corridor on the western coast.
Usually passenger cruise liners berth at the port for a day or two. There are many international passengers who would like to have a glimpse of Goa and other places. It should be possible for them to undertake high-speed rail journey from Kochi to Goa or Mangalore and come back the same day after sight-seeing.
Cochin Port has become the synosure of luxury cruise liners. The other day Cruise Vessel MV Aurora called at Cochin Port with 1,750 tourists and 900 crew members on board. Another cruise vessel Queen Victoria would also be berthing at Cochin Port soon. It would have 2,500 tourists.
In recent times, passenger liners Minerva, Queen Elizabeth II, Legend of Seas, Song of Flower, Renaissance VII, Renaissance VIII, Rotterdam VI, Island Princess, Arkona, Sea Goddess, Maxim Gorky, Vislamor, Crystal Symphony, Europa, Silver Cloud, Marco Polo, Royal Star, Star Flyer, Clilia II, Oriana and others have called at the port.
We cannot reverse the clock of adventure, tourism and developments any more. The potential for exploiting tourism is immense. Only thing is we should provide facilities for the tourists to undertake a quick connecting journey to places of interest such as Goa and Mangalore through the high-speed railway system. It would not be possible for the cruise liners to call at all the ports. Cochin is the ideal port for this purpose. Tourists should be taken to other places by high-speed railway system.--OJ
Tourists should be taken to Goa
By high-speed railway line
With luxury cruise liners arrayed one by one at Cochin port over a period of time now, it should be an eye-opener for the authorities to provide connectivity to the passengers coming from various countries to places such as Mangalore and Goa through the high-speed rail corridor on the western coast.
Usually passenger cruise liners berth at the port for a day or two. There are many international passengers who would like to have a glimpse of Goa and other places. It should be possible for them to undertake high-speed rail journey from Kochi to Goa or Mangalore and come back the same day after sight-seeing.
Cochin Port has become the synosure of luxury cruise liners. The other day Cruise Vessel MV Aurora called at Cochin Port with 1,750 tourists and 900 crew members on board. Another cruise vessel Queen Victoria would also be berthing at Cochin Port soon. It would have 2,500 tourists.
In recent times, passenger liners Minerva, Queen Elizabeth II, Legend of Seas, Song of Flower, Renaissance VII, Renaissance VIII, Rotterdam VI, Island Princess, Arkona, Sea Goddess, Maxim Gorky, Vislamor, Crystal Symphony, Europa, Silver Cloud, Marco Polo, Royal Star, Star Flyer, Clilia II, Oriana and others have called at the port.
We cannot reverse the clock of adventure, tourism and developments any more. The potential for exploiting tourism is immense. Only thing is we should provide facilities for the tourists to undertake a quick connecting journey to places of interest such as Goa and Mangalore through the high-speed railway system. It would not be possible for the cruise liners to call at all the ports. Cochin is the ideal port for this purpose. Tourists should be taken to other places by high-speed railway system.--OJ
Hillary-Obama team would be potential
The US Presidential election scenario is offering unprecedented potentiality. In its 230-year history, a Black American representative and a woman are vying with each other for the Democratic Party candidacy for contesting the 2008 Presidential elections. I, for one, feel ill at ease about the two challenging each other. Both are unique individuals. But in the next so many years, one cannot think of an all-embracing woman to seek the candidature. Now is the time for Hillary Clinton to be elevated on centre-stage. The world’s most powerful nation should have a woman at the helm of affairs at least for once. Why not Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama make up and clinch a deal to be together in ruling the country? Say, for instance, Obama accept Vice-Presidentship and allow Hillary to run for the race.
Now Obama has secured slight edge over Hillary in the primaries upto the Mississippi primaries. But this need not be so after the Pennsylvania primaries. Now Obama has 1,596 delegates against Hillary Clinton’s 1,484 delegates. Each one requires the support of 2,025 delegates to win the nomination at the party’s national convention to be held in Denver in August. But no one can muster this much of support.
In that scenario, the importance of about 800 elected officials and party leaders who attend the national convention as unelected super-delegates goes up.
In the end, it would be beneficial if the two make up and contest together.--OJ
The US Presidential election scenario is offering unprecedented potentiality. In its 230-year history, a Black American representative and a woman are vying with each other for the Democratic Party candidacy for contesting the 2008 Presidential elections. I, for one, feel ill at ease about the two challenging each other. Both are unique individuals. But in the next so many years, one cannot think of an all-embracing woman to seek the candidature. Now is the time for Hillary Clinton to be elevated on centre-stage. The world’s most powerful nation should have a woman at the helm of affairs at least for once. Why not Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama make up and clinch a deal to be together in ruling the country? Say, for instance, Obama accept Vice-Presidentship and allow Hillary to run for the race.
Now Obama has secured slight edge over Hillary in the primaries upto the Mississippi primaries. But this need not be so after the Pennsylvania primaries. Now Obama has 1,596 delegates against Hillary Clinton’s 1,484 delegates. Each one requires the support of 2,025 delegates to win the nomination at the party’s national convention to be held in Denver in August. But no one can muster this much of support.
In that scenario, the importance of about 800 elected officials and party leaders who attend the national convention as unelected super-delegates goes up.
In the end, it would be beneficial if the two make up and contest together.--OJ
Friday, March 07, 2008
O J’s Corner
Farmers need more help;
but why are we cribbing
about Rs 60,000-crore dole?
All right, the farmers would be better off if we provide them adequate loans at, say four per cent interest. If there is crop failure owing to various reasons, his loan should be rescheduled. There should be a permanent price support system.Crop insurance is a must. Lack of adequate water or irrigation facilities, poor infrastructure, inadequate storage facilities, non-remunerative prices are all adding to his woes.
Do all these factors add up to our challenging the Rs 60,000 loan-waiver farm package announced by the Central Government?
In fact, we should stop grumbling and start taking measures to somehow fetch the money and hand it over to the farmers concerned. It is a budget announcement. We can legitimately claim the amount. The State governments, numerous agencies working in the government and non-government sectors functioning in the society should assist the farmers in all ways to secure the benefit. A majority of the farmers may not be able to comprehend the terms and conditions being preferred by banks which had extended farm loan facility. Social activists, the bank employees, agricultural officers, and others concerned with farm operations one way or other should see to it that the poor farmers are the actual beneficiaries. Bureaucratic bungling is there in all spheres. But that should not be allowed to smother the farmers’ rights.
The loan-waiver is applicable to small and marginal farmers to whom advances were made by scheduled commercial banks, regional rural banks and co-operative credit institutions. Agricultural loans disbursed up to March 31, 2007 having outstanding dues as on December 31, 2007 are covered by the waiver scheme.
Those having one to two hectares of land are considered small farmers and those having less than one hectare as marginal farmers. Others who pay up 75 per cent of all outstanding dues on farm loans get a 25 per cent rebate. Three crore small and marginal farmers are expected to get the benefit amounting to Rs 50,000 crore. One crore others would get rebate totaling Rs 10,000 crore.
This mother- of- all loan- waiver packages will have only limited impact on commercial banks, it has been reported. At the end of March 07, the outstanding loan repayments in commercial banks was only Rs 7,3367 crore. In co-operative and regional rural banks, the outstanding dues amounted to Rs 49,000 crore. The entire amount is being wiped out. Earlier, it was expected that the banks and co-operative institutions would be compensated by the government with a mix of cash and bonds. Now it has been made clear that the government would provide cash. Actually, the non-performing assets (NPAs) in the agricultural wing of the banks could be re-written as profits.
One allegation raised against the farmers from ivory towers is that the loan-waiver would make the farmers lazy.Those who find fault with blanket wiping out of the loans should remember that over a period of years, banks of written off lakhs of crores of NPAs in other sectors. Those who have got off with the booty are all influential customers of the banks. In majority of the cases, the banks were not able to move against the defaulters. Considering the largesse extended to other sectors, the present dole given to farmers is peanuts for a grandiose economy like that of the Republic of India.
We should build on this foundation of the government’s gesture to the farming community and extend facilities for permanent settlement of their grievances.
Farmers need more help;
but why are we cribbing
about Rs 60,000-crore dole?
All right, the farmers would be better off if we provide them adequate loans at, say four per cent interest. If there is crop failure owing to various reasons, his loan should be rescheduled. There should be a permanent price support system.Crop insurance is a must. Lack of adequate water or irrigation facilities, poor infrastructure, inadequate storage facilities, non-remunerative prices are all adding to his woes.
Do all these factors add up to our challenging the Rs 60,000 loan-waiver farm package announced by the Central Government?
In fact, we should stop grumbling and start taking measures to somehow fetch the money and hand it over to the farmers concerned. It is a budget announcement. We can legitimately claim the amount. The State governments, numerous agencies working in the government and non-government sectors functioning in the society should assist the farmers in all ways to secure the benefit. A majority of the farmers may not be able to comprehend the terms and conditions being preferred by banks which had extended farm loan facility. Social activists, the bank employees, agricultural officers, and others concerned with farm operations one way or other should see to it that the poor farmers are the actual beneficiaries. Bureaucratic bungling is there in all spheres. But that should not be allowed to smother the farmers’ rights.
The loan-waiver is applicable to small and marginal farmers to whom advances were made by scheduled commercial banks, regional rural banks and co-operative credit institutions. Agricultural loans disbursed up to March 31, 2007 having outstanding dues as on December 31, 2007 are covered by the waiver scheme.
Those having one to two hectares of land are considered small farmers and those having less than one hectare as marginal farmers. Others who pay up 75 per cent of all outstanding dues on farm loans get a 25 per cent rebate. Three crore small and marginal farmers are expected to get the benefit amounting to Rs 50,000 crore. One crore others would get rebate totaling Rs 10,000 crore.
This mother- of- all loan- waiver packages will have only limited impact on commercial banks, it has been reported. At the end of March 07, the outstanding loan repayments in commercial banks was only Rs 7,3367 crore. In co-operative and regional rural banks, the outstanding dues amounted to Rs 49,000 crore. The entire amount is being wiped out. Earlier, it was expected that the banks and co-operative institutions would be compensated by the government with a mix of cash and bonds. Now it has been made clear that the government would provide cash. Actually, the non-performing assets (NPAs) in the agricultural wing of the banks could be re-written as profits.
One allegation raised against the farmers from ivory towers is that the loan-waiver would make the farmers lazy.Those who find fault with blanket wiping out of the loans should remember that over a period of years, banks of written off lakhs of crores of NPAs in other sectors. Those who have got off with the booty are all influential customers of the banks. In majority of the cases, the banks were not able to move against the defaulters. Considering the largesse extended to other sectors, the present dole given to farmers is peanuts for a grandiose economy like that of the Republic of India.
We should build on this foundation of the government’s gesture to the farming community and extend facilities for permanent settlement of their grievances.
All leads converge on early elections
Like multiple war-heads zooming past all odds to hit a single target, the UPA Government has been announcing measures and working for the happenstance of early elections. Chidambaram’s farmer-friendly budget proposals, Congress Party’s insistence on going ahead with the nuclear deal with the US Government, the coming pay commission recommendations for Central Government employees, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s railway budget with no increase in passenger fares and freight charges all drive the point home that elections are round the corner.
Immediately after Chidambaram presented his budget, the BJP, CPI, CPM and others from the left and right dispensations sensed the Sword of Damocles of an election hanging over everyone’s head. It seems everyone wanted completion of the normal term, but circumstances have slipped beyond the control of the Congress Party, particularly on account of the insistence of the Bush Administration to complete the nuclear agreement soon.
The normal tenure of Dr Manmohan Singh’s Government would end in May 2009. He assumed charge as Prime Minister on May 22, 2004 after Sonia Gandhi sacrificed the people’s mandate she got for the post.
Congress sees many plus points to hold the elections a little prematurely. Reports indicate that BJP’s band of overseas supporters, particularly in the US, are not happy with the party opposing the India-America nuclear deal. The Left’s intransigence on the nuclear deal could be transformed into an advantage for the Congress, if the assessment of its leaders are reckoned. Ultimately, where the leads are poised to can be only a distant guess.
No one can possibly oppose the largesse conferred on the farming fraternity, particularly the Rs 60,000-crore loan-waiver. It is no permanent solution. But even a temporary relief cannot be opposed.
Regarding the nuclear deal, Richard Boucher has clarified that the Hyde Act is incumbent upon the US and may go hand in hand with the 123 agreement. Earlier, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had made it clear that 123 agreement was what binds India and the US regarding the deal. The left’s objection is to India gravitating towards the US in strategic military relations.
India is going ahead with finalisation of an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. It seems there is no reneging on the deal. The left will have to withdraw support as it has no choice. And lo, the country is on its way to an advanced election….OJ
Like multiple war-heads zooming past all odds to hit a single target, the UPA Government has been announcing measures and working for the happenstance of early elections. Chidambaram’s farmer-friendly budget proposals, Congress Party’s insistence on going ahead with the nuclear deal with the US Government, the coming pay commission recommendations for Central Government employees, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s railway budget with no increase in passenger fares and freight charges all drive the point home that elections are round the corner.
Immediately after Chidambaram presented his budget, the BJP, CPI, CPM and others from the left and right dispensations sensed the Sword of Damocles of an election hanging over everyone’s head. It seems everyone wanted completion of the normal term, but circumstances have slipped beyond the control of the Congress Party, particularly on account of the insistence of the Bush Administration to complete the nuclear agreement soon.
The normal tenure of Dr Manmohan Singh’s Government would end in May 2009. He assumed charge as Prime Minister on May 22, 2004 after Sonia Gandhi sacrificed the people’s mandate she got for the post.
Congress sees many plus points to hold the elections a little prematurely. Reports indicate that BJP’s band of overseas supporters, particularly in the US, are not happy with the party opposing the India-America nuclear deal. The Left’s intransigence on the nuclear deal could be transformed into an advantage for the Congress, if the assessment of its leaders are reckoned. Ultimately, where the leads are poised to can be only a distant guess.
No one can possibly oppose the largesse conferred on the farming fraternity, particularly the Rs 60,000-crore loan-waiver. It is no permanent solution. But even a temporary relief cannot be opposed.
Regarding the nuclear deal, Richard Boucher has clarified that the Hyde Act is incumbent upon the US and may go hand in hand with the 123 agreement. Earlier, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had made it clear that 123 agreement was what binds India and the US regarding the deal. The left’s objection is to India gravitating towards the US in strategic military relations.
India is going ahead with finalisation of an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. It seems there is no reneging on the deal. The left will have to withdraw support as it has no choice. And lo, the country is on its way to an advanced election….OJ
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