Vijay Bhaskar

Author's Profile

It is obvious that the Security Forces have terrorized the atmosphere in the villages. Frankly speaking, when a vehicle enters into a remote village, it becomes fun for the children. They start running behind the vehicle. However, the situation is just opposite in Sosokuti village. Whenever, a vehicle enters into the village, all the villagers including children, women and men run away to hide, shield and protect themselves. These days, the police visit to the village all most everyday and humiliate, beat and torture to the innocent villagers and also destroy their food and shelter. Therefore, they assume that each vehicle entering into their village belongs to the Police. However, there is some special rule, which only few people know that if anyone blows the vehicle’s horn before entering into the village that means the vehicle does not belong to the police therefore the villagers have nothing to worry about. Once the vehicle enters into the village by blowing horn, the villagers’ gather nearby the vehicle immediately assuming that some one is there to hear them in the village. Once you start hearing them, all most everyone wants to tell you the painful, shameful and heartbreaking experiences, which they face almost everyday in the red corridor.

Creating livelihood crisis:

There are about 2500 people live in Sosokuti village, whose livelihood is based on agriculture, forest produces and daily wage. However, there is a huge livelihood crisis in the village after launching of the anti-Naxal operation widely known as the ‘operation green hunt’. Earlier, each and every family used to earn Rs. 100 to 150 per day by selling firewood, leaf and other minor forest produces in the local markets. Now the villagers have stopped going to the forests in fear of losing their lives while collecting the forest produces. According to Sufal Muda of Sosokuti, who used to sell the firewood, the police exploit the villagers in the forest. He says, "Police can catch us, shoot and project it as a case of the encounter therefore we can not dare to roam in the forest".

35 year-old Etwari Devi of Sosokuti village is a daily wage labourer lives in the village with her husband Arjun Lohra (40), mother-in-law Sokhi Devi (70) and 14 year-old son Rajan Lohra. Her family earns the livelihood through daily wage and selling of the firewood. Presently, she has been working in the road construction scheme under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). On July 8, 2010, when she was busy in road construction, the Security forces entered into her house after breaking the locked door, poured the cooked food (rice and vegetable) into the wood-burning stove and scattered the utensils. In the evening when Etwari returned home with the hungry stomach, she was stunned to see the broken door, scattered utensils and spoiled food in her house. She says, "I knew that the Police must have done this. However, I wanted to be confirmed therefore I asked my neighbour Ambika Devi who was present in the village when the incident took place, told me that the police had entered into my house". Suddenly she became angry and says, "Ask the police to give us food, cloth and shelter we’ll desert the village if living in the village makes us the Maoists. She questions, "The police torture us in the day and the Maoists in the night, what is our crime we want to know?"

A meaningless war between the State and the Maoists has terrorized the village atmosphere, which is resulting in migration of youth to the cities for ensuring their livelihood with the peace. Three youth of Kochasindri, which is a hamlet of Sosokuti village, migrated to Panjab where there was no such case of migration before. A brave woman of Kochasindri, Shanti Devi, who fights against the police torture says, "The police humiliate, exploit and torture the innocent villagers after branding them as the Maoists therefore the youth think that it is better to ensure livelihood from the outside of the village rather than facing the police torture while collecting the firewood in the forest". She questions, "Why don’t the police go to the forests and fight with the Maoists instead of exploiting the innocent villagers?" Indeed, the villagers are facing the livelihood crisis, which will increase day by day and the failure of monsoon would just add fuel in the fire.

Happiness is a crime in the red corridor:

Can anyone be surprised to hear that the Security Forces do not want the villagers to lead joyful lives in the red corridor? The painful reality of Sosohatu another hamlet of Sosokuti village reveals the truth. 28 year-old Satnarayan Munda of Sosohatu and 20 year old Basanti Kumari of Nawadih village of Tamar block got married on 30 June, 2010. Thereafter, Satnarayan Munda returned to his village with his newly wedded wife Basanti and the villagers who were part of the marriage ceremony in Basanti’s village. There was a reception party in Satnarayan’s village on July 1 therefore the villagers and Satnarayan’s relatives had gathered in Satnarayan’s house. They did the reception rituals thereafter ate, drank and danced till the late night.

Meanwhile, the Security forces assume the marriage function as a celebration party of the Maoists therefore they went to the village in hunt of the Maoists. It was 4’ O clock in the morning on July 2, nearly 150 security personals blocked Sosokuti from the every corner. Satnarayan Munda’s father Dhan Singh Munda was lying on the bed in his courtyard when a team of the Security forces entered into his house and asked him, "Is it the party of the Maoist? He was stunned to hear the question but replied humbly, "Today, there was a marriage function of my son". Perhaps, the security forces didn’t believe in Munda’s words therefore they continued their operations for hunting the Maoists.

Suddenly, few policemen entered into a bedroom where Satnarayan and Basanti were spending their first night. Basanti states about the nightmare saying, "I was shocked to see the Policemen entering into my bedroom without permission." She questions, "Can any one do this? Who has given right to the police for taking away our personal freedom whenever and wherever they want?" The police dragged out Satnarayan Munda from his bedroom and severely beaten him in front of his wife. Basanti says, "My husband started vomiting and he fell down into the ground. I asked the Police, "What is his crime?" They replied, "He is a Maoist." After a few minutes, the policemen took him with them." "I don’t know what is his crime but of course, I know is, the police blocked my life before the beginning of a new adventure of my life", ‘She added and started weeping.

The police also arrested Dhan Singh Munda, Rekha Kumari, Sunita Kumari, Devilal Munda and another two villagers who were part of the wedding party alleging them of supporting the Maoists. Later on, the police released five of them but Satnarayan Munda and Rekha Kumari were sent to Jail. Ironically, Satnarayan was booked in 17 CLA though the FIR claims that he we keeping the pamphlets of a banned Naxalite organization and working for it but it doesn’t describe about arms. The interesting part is, the pamphlet which the police found from Satnarayan’s residence is issued by a forum called "Operation Green Hunt Virodhi Nagrik Manch", which is headed by a pioneer Human Rights Activist Stan Swami and of course, the pamphlet is also drafted by him only. In fact the police have taken for guaranteed that the every party, function and marriage ceremony to be organized in the red corridor is of the Maoists. The million-dollar question is, do the villagers have no right to enjoy their lives? The villagers are between the sword and the sickle but where will they go in this situation? Who is there to hear their grievance? Do they have right to live with dignity too?

Dress code in the red corridor:

We have heard so many times about the dress code imposed on women by the fundamentalist groups, of course, which is counted under the purview of violation of the liberty of individual. However, anyone would be shocked to hear that the Security forces have imposed (unofficially) the similar kind of dress code in the red corridor. Can you dare to wear a dress, which would be enough to brand you as a Maoist? 14 year-old Lalita Munda of Sosokuti village reveals about the terrible experience, which she had undergone and of course, there are many who undergo through the ordeal everyday.

Lalita left her school after death of her mother a few years back and now plays a role of her mother. On July 8, 2012, about 100 security forces arrived to her village in the afternoon when she was boiling the paddy grains so that she could make rice out of it and cook it later. The security forces entered into her house without permission (remember common men can not enter in the camps of the security force without permission but they can do anything with the power of gun). She heard a voice coming from outside of her house, "Take out her if she is in ‘salwar suit’ and leave her if she has worn school dress". Fortunately, Munda had worn her old school dress, which protected her for the moment.

She says, "The security forces brand those girls as Maoists who wear salwar suit and take them to the police station, torture, molest and even rape them and finally put them behind the bars therefore we can not wear salwar suit". After a few moments she gets angry and says, "If police want us to be naked, just tell us we’ll go naked. We’ll throw our clothes into bay if clothes make us the Maoists". After seeing the rapid growth of anger, one should not be surprised if these girls and women of the red corridor decide to walk in the capital city of Jharkhand nakedly. Are we ready for that? The Indian State must respond the question very seriously because the same villagers have given their mandate to protect their rights.

The peculiar thing about every village situated in the red corridor is, there are more or less the same terrible experiences of humiliation, torture, molestation, rape, and cold-blooded murder of the innocent villagers by the security forces deployed in the anti-Naxal operations. However, no one goes to the police station for filing a FIR against the perpetrators for the obvious reasons. If anyone dares to speak against them is coined as a Maoist and thrown them behind the bars. Xavier Soy of Shiyadih village comes under Kuchai block of Saraikela-Kharsawan district was thrown behind the bars for raising questions against the police atrocity. The Superintendent of Police (Khunti) Manoj Kaushik says, "The villagers speak against the police due to immense pressure from the Maoists, which is part of their strategy to use the villagers in their favour". The pertinent question is why are the people not favouring the police? Is it only because of fear from the Maoist menace? Does it mean the villagers are voiceless? If so, it is a shame for the Indian democracy, which could not empower the villagers for last 63 years?

The most worrying factor is, the way discontent has been growing against the Indian State and the victimization of the innocent villagers by the security forces is just multiplying the anger of the angry masses. The villagers are not against of the Maoists though they have also terrorized them but the villagers are going against the security forces. Therefore, one can only imagine what would happen if every discontent takes up the gun and joins the Maoist folk? In that case, the India State won’t be able to deal the situation. However, the India’s corporate Home Minister P Chidambaram has publicly claimed that he would be eliminating the Maoist menace within next three years by serving the development cola and organizing the licensed killings in the red corridor. But the question may remain unanswered is will he wipe out the discontent of the villagers without addressing the issue of injustice?
- 31 July, 2010 -
[Gladson Dungdung is a Human Rights Activist and Writer from Jharkhand]

– Dhirubhai Ambani -

Dhirubhai Ambani's life also is a message to many. His is a torch-bearing life before us. Though he become a role model for many he himself never advocated, propagated or professed any 'ism' in his name. He went on creating niche after niche in the area of his business and industry. He, as Robert Frost told, continued to choose the untreaded path, made a safe road for a long journey and showed the way to others. Like a true Karmayogi, he never retired from work. He never stopped thinking. Ideas were nobody's monopoly, he often would say. He was never afraid of failure. He would overcome any obstacle in his pursuit with courage and conviction but would never give up. We often say: 'If there is a will, there is a way.' Dhirubhai in fact practiced it. He always willed it and found ways. He would not accept 'no' for anything. Rather he would tend to know how best a particular thing could be done.
Dhirubhai was never complacent in life. Contrary to the meaning of his name Dhirubhai (a man of patience) he was in haste. He was perhaps unhappy that why India was not in a race of progress with the rest of the world. He had all the faith in the potential of Indian people. He wanted to put India in the league of top nations of the world. He did it in several areas of his working and certain products, created records and earned name for him and for the country. In the process, he made the country self-sufficient in several sectors of our industrial economy.
Synthetic fabric, Japanese '80-20' cloth (80 per cent polyester, 20 per cent cotton) etc were the reach of very few at one point of time. It used to enter the country in a smuggled way. Dhirubhai Ambani, within the framework of the then regime, created capacities to become
self-sufficient in polyester. He did ditto in case of petrochemicals. His untiring zest and quest for vertical backward integration of his business and industry brought about a great deal of transformation in the areas of energy security. Creation of Jamnagar refinery by Mr. Mukesh Ambani under stewardship of Dhirubhai Ambani over night made India a 'net exporter' of fuels; from a country of 'net importer' of fuels. Those who experienced and witnessed the fuel crisis of 70s and 80s during gulf wars only could realize the contribution of Dhirubhai and Jamnagar refinery in the overall energy scenario of the country.
Bidding for oil and gas fields under NELP and acquiring fields in India and abroad during his life time by Dhirubhai is testimony of his vision that we talk today of providing east-coast gas to our industries and households throughout India. Dhirubhai, who himself hailed from a modest middle class background, always aspired to create ways and means, products and markets as well as industries and economy that would transform living standards of our lot.

(Mr. Parimal Nathwani is Group President of Reliance Industries Limited; and is also the rajya sabha member).

( लेखक राजनीतिक समीक्षक एवं वरिष्ठ पत्रकार हैं।)
अमलेन्दु उपाध्याय
द्वारा एससीटी लिमिटेड
सी- 15, मेरठ रोड इंडस्ट्रियल एरिया
गाजियाबाद
मो 9313517853 

The history of racism originated with capitalism and slave trade. As the Marxist writer CLR James put it, "The conception of dividing people by race begins with the slave trade. This thing was so shocking, so opposed to all the conceptions of society which religion and philosophers had…that the only justification by which humanity could face it was to divide people into races and decide that the Africans were an inferior race."

India was not left behind while narrating of racism; they had also being part to it including promotion also. There were innumerable instances of racist attitude with African students or visitors in India. In one hand there was deliberation and discussion in media about Indian students in Australia who they face violence under Australian goons but here back in India Black American is treated in different way. I found some boys laughing and commenting at the Black visitor because of his dressing sense. In New Delhi African student who was doing PhD from Delhi school of Economic was asked by ATM guard why he has come to machine while his white friend was saluted. Similarly, in Mumbai another African was not allowed to enter the pub.

Not only is this there is different attitude towards the North East people in the capital state of New Delhi. They were referred ‘chinkies’ due to physical features, languages and tribal background. There were attacks in forms of verbal and sexual harassment to female. This has led to drop of female north east students in New Delhi.

In a democratic country, does democracy plays with people’s diversity. Then this democracy has failed to teach people about the country’s rich diversity of culture and language. There was fight for this democracy through freedom struggle sixty two years back when country was under the British rule who divided the country into colonies. They practice racisum with Indians and discriminated them in ever ways. Was it that the Britisher when left gifted back with the jewels of racisum which we Indian practiced it in the later period of time.

It is true that colour of skin has lot do with beautiful and ugly, good and bad, progress and regress, upgraded and downgraded. So the colour white and black distinguishes them. Here, the competency, value, honest doesn’t not matter. These qualities were by default favored to fairer skin or white complexion. The Black is beautiful is not in the mindset of everyone.

The adoption centre Indian Central Adoption Resource authority shows that more of the adoption is with fair skinned babies and dark skin babies were adopted by western who come to India for social work. So, Indians are looking for fair skin babies.

Nevertheless, the worst is the innumerable fairness cream in the market and it had left the Indian mass with notion white is beautiful. Initially, there were fairness creams for women and now it’s for men. So testing the Indian Psychic the fairness cream business boomed in every parts of India. This had rooted the young minds that being a fair will score more marks in school. Even the teachers prefer fairer child to be in as the frontiers. The offer of best job or qualified for a job is now based on the individual’s complexion. The personality test is based not on intelligence or academic excellence but on the complexion. So, the Black is beautiful is not in the mindset of everyone.

Nevertheless, the matrimonial sities bombard with advertisement of fairer bride and is once again the racist attitude mingled with gender biasness. There were instances where proposal of a dark beauty is turned down for not being fair. The proposal is only accepted with high raise in dowry for her with this handicap ness.

So it just illustrates that how racists we Indians are. But it difficult to understand why black is not beautiful. How colour and physics rules our minds. It can be said that we are very consumerist hence we look for outer charm rather looking for inner charm and strength. It’s about feeling of superior or high in heaven.

The root cause of racisum is ignorance, lack of understanding and false perception about others which amounts to lack of knowledge which once again lay to lack of ignorance. This ignorance can be overcome when we are educated. Education does not mean only of academic to join hands with capitalism but about socialism. But, once again there in debate that capitalistic have the social environment and wants to sustain this environment. But, in Indian caste based society rule everywhere that has brought into discrimination based on colour also.

Racisum is also about fallen humanity’s egotism, when one starts taunting other by saying you are not like us or look like us. There are diversity and have genetic variation this has to be accepted by all. The Law can not only end to such discrimination until the mind set is change. This change can come only when one show respect and maintain dignity of others. Otherwise, they lay in the illusion of being in heaven which is actually the Devils house.

(The author is a social worker.)

M F Husain

Mr. Nani Palkhivala in his book “We, the Nation” describes how the Parsis in the year 936 A.D. came to India as “boat people, i.e., as people who crossed the seas in unsafe boats as refugees”. Originally in seven ships they had to escape from Iran after their country was conquered by the Muslims. Palkhivala details the contribution of the Parsis to the Nation in various fields –higher education, science, engineering, commerce and industry. According to 1941 Census the highest figure of Parsi population in India was 1,14, 890. Today, the Parsis in India number around 70,000, and about 15,000 are scattered over Europe, America, Africa and the Far East. The Parsis are proud citizens of India. Despite their numerical insignificance. they were in the forefront of our Freedom movement. And in the post-Independent decades, they have been leaders in many critical fields of industry, trade and banking. The Taj Hotel (Bombay) was the Tata’s hospitality centre which faced the suicide bombing of the 26/11 jihadi attack. Yet, the most powerful minority, the Parsis have never demanded a separate State or a special quota. Nor had any Parsi is reported to have given up her Indian citizenship.

We, the nation can be truly proud of J&K’s the First family of Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah whose grandfather, Shere Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah was imprisoned for 14 years by the Nehru government. The Abdullah family is under threat from the Islamists. Yet, they have not given up Indian Passports. The world also knows the young Italian Sonia whose husband and mother-in-law were killed in India. Yet, she chose the Indian citizenship.

We, the Nation is also proud of many young artists, writers, scientists and Persons of Indian Origin ( PIOs) who in the post independent years gave up the green pastures abroad. They came to India to serve and contribute to the cultural and scientific development. Many young scientists, in the 60s, having completed their higher education abroad, returned to live and die in India. How could we forget the national commitment of the late Krishna Menon, Dr. Homi J. Bhabha, and the physicist Dr. Meghnath Saha. And the Astro-physicists Dr. Jayant Narlikar and Dr. M.G.K. Menon, Former PTI Science editor Dr. K.S. Jayaraman, and Dr. Harish Khare and many media leading lights who did not give up their Indian passports.

There is a family of the late Faquir Chand Sondhi who had settled in England in 1936. His younger son Prakash, a Cambridge graduate, a PIO, born and brought up in Britain, gave up his British passport, and with family came to India in 1967, to serve this nation. He has built sports industry providing jobs to some 5,000 woking families in Panjab and J&K.

We, the Nation is enriched by intellectual and cultural contributions of Muslim saints, poets, writers, actors, music maestros, leaders, ministers, scientists, professors and vice-chancellors who are our popular celebrate in India. India is the only country in the world that has built segregated “ Haj Air Terminals” for Muslims Only (sic. Whites Only). Human Rights campaigner, Ms. Asma Jahangir had rightly complained that Indian polity encourages (pampers) Muslim conservatism. I have had occasions to meet the bare foot painter Husain. He was least concerned with the issues of democratic freedom of Arts and expressions. Notwithstanding his paintings of beautiful females, the issues of women’s equal rights, e.g., were of no concern of this Piccaso of our times. He was unwilling to ask the government of India to protect the life and liberty of Ms. Tasleema Nasreen.

One need not be an expert to judge the artistic achievements of Mr. Husain. His paintings of Mother India, Durga and Sita e.g., do not suggest comparison with legendary Piccaso’s progressive Peace paintings. At the ripe age 95, if now he wanted to paint in a more peaceful land and in Qatar where he would not be harassed by the Income Tax officers. Inshallah. We wish him safe landing. But We, the Nation’s most appropriate response at this hour should be to grant the full citizenship to Ms. Tasleema Nasreen.

 - Dhirendra Sharma
Centre for Science Policy/Concerned
Scientists & Philosophers,
"Nirmal-Nilay", Dehradun 248009 (India).
+(0135) 2735 627.Mob. 989788 3741
Mo. 989788 3741.

मुंबई महानगर का कानून है कि जो बस्ती लोगों के रहने लायक नहीं है, उसे स्लम घोषित किया जाए और वहां बस्ती सुधार की योजनाओं को अपनाया जाए. मगर प्रशासन द्वारा बस्तियों को तोड़ने और हटाने का काम तो जोर-शोर से किया जा रहा है लेकिन इस कार्रवाई से पहले महानगर की हज़ारों बस्तियों को स्लम घोषित करने से सरकार लगातार बच रही है. ज़ाहिर है, ऐसे में सरकार बड़ी आराम से सुधार कार्रवाई से बच जा रही है. लेकिन बुनियादी सहूलियतों के अभाव में जीने वाली बस्तियों की हालत और बिगड़ती जा रही है और प्रशासन की यह अनदेखी जहां कई नई बस्तियों को स्लम बनाने की तरफ ढ़केल रही है, वहीं कुछ नए सवाल भी पैदा कर रही है.

महाराष्ट्र स्लम एरिया एक्ट, 1971 के कलम 4 के आधार पर मुंबई महानगर की बस्तियों को स्लम घोषित किया जाता रहा है. स्लम घोषित किए जाने के मापदण्ड बस्ती में रहने लायक हालतों पर निर्भर करते हैं. जैसे, घरों की सघनता, पानी, बिजली, रास्ता, नालियों और खुली आवोहवा का हाल कैसा है. लेकिन ये सारे मापदंड किनारे करके बस्तियों को तो़ड़ने की कार्रवाई जारी है.

यहां के मंडाला, मानखुर्द, गोवाण्डी, चेम्बूर, घाटकोपर, मुलुंद, विक्रोली, कुर्ला, मालवानी और अंबुजवाड़ी जैसे इलाकों की तकरीबन 3,000 स्लम बस्तियों की आबादी बेहाल है. लेकिन बस्ती वालों की लगातार मांग के बावजूद उन्हें स्लम घोषित नहीं किया जा रहा है.

कांक्रीट के जंगल में जंगल राज
महाराष्ट्र स्लम एरिया एक्ट, 1971 के कलम 5 ए के आधार पर जिन बस्तियों को स्लम घोषित किया जा चुका है, उनमें पीने का पानी, बिजली, गटर, शौचालय, स्कूल, अस्पताल, समाज कल्याण केन्द्र और अच्छे रास्तों की व्यवस्था होना अनिवार्य है. यहां गौर करने लायक एक बात यह भी है कि कानून में बुनियादी सहूलियतों को मुहैया कराने के लिए कोई कट-आफ-डेट का जिक्र नहीं मिलता है. मगर इन दिनों प्रशासन के बड़े अधिकरियों तक की जुबानों पर कट-आफ-डेट की ही चर्चा चलती है. जबकि यह अमानवीय भी है और गैरकानूनी भी.

इसके अलावा इसी कानून में यह भी दर्ज है कि बस्ती सुधार योजनाओं को रहवासियों की सहभागिता से लागू किया जाए. मगर ग्रेटर मुंबई, भिवण्डी, उल्लासनगर, विरार और कुलगांव-बदलापुर जैसे इलाकों की तकरीबन 15,00 स्लम घोषित बस्तियों के लाखों रहवासियों को ऐसी योजनाओं से बेदखल रखा जा रहा है.

‘घर बचाओ घर बनाओ आंदोलन’ के सिम्प्रीत सिंह कहते हैं कि ‘‘खानापूर्ति के लिए हर साल केवल 15-20 बस्तियों को स्लम घोषित कर दिया जाता है. जो यहां के झोपड़पट्टी परिदृश्य को देखते हुए न के बराबर है.’’

प्रशासन ऐसा क्यों कर रही है, के सवाल पर सिम्प्रीत सिंह कहते हैं ‘‘एक तो विस्थापन की हालत में पुनर्वास से बचने के लिए. दूसरा इसलिए क्योंकि अगर बड़ी तादाद में बस्तियों को स्लम घोषित किया जाता है, तो कानूनों में मौजूद बुनियादी सहूलियतों को भी तो उसी अनुपात में देना पड़ेगा. यहां के भारी-भरकम मंत्रालय, उनके विभाग, उनके बड़े-बड़े अधिकारी इतनी जिम्मेदारी लेना नहीं चाहते. फिर यह भी है कि प्रशासन अगर बस्तियों को स्लम घोषित करते हुए, जहां-तहां बस्ती सुधारों के कामों को शुरू करती भी है, तो बस्तियों में बुनियादी सहूलियतों को पहुंचाने वाले बिल्डरों का धंधा चौपट हो जाएगा. इसलिए यहां से बिल्डरों और भष्ट्र अधिकारियों के बीच गठजोड़ की आशंकाएं भी पनपती हैं.’’

2001 के आंकड़ों के मुताबिक मुंबई महानगर की कुल आबादी 1 करोड़ 78 लाख है, जिसके 20 इलाकों की झोपड़पट्टियों में 67 लाख 21 हजार से भी ज्यादा लोग रहते हैं, जो कुल आबादी का 37.96% हिस्सा है. इसी तरह यहां घरेलू मजदूरों की तादाद 66 लाख 16 हजार हैं, जो कुल आबादी का 37.07% हिस्सा है. कुल घरेलू मजदूरों में से यहां 3 लाख 76 हजार सीमान्त मजदूर हैं. इन तथ्यों की बुनियाद पर कहा जा सकता है कि मुंबई महानगर की इतनी बड़ी आबादी (37.96%) और इतने सारे घरेलू मजदूरों (37.07%) को आवास देने के लिए कम से कम 25% जगह का हक तो होना ही चाहिए.

यह गौरतलब है कि मुंबई जैसे महानगर का वजूद उन मजदूरों के कंधों पर है जिनके चलते राज्य सरकार को हर साल 40,000 करोड़ रूपए का टेक्स मिलता है. इसके बदले लाखों मजदूरों के पास घर, घर के लिए थोड़ी-सी जमीन, थोड़ा-सा दानापानी, थोड़ी-सी रौशनी भी नहीं है. जिनके पास है, उनसे भी इस हक़ से वंचित किया जा रहा है.

कानून दर कानून बस कानून
महाराष्ट्र लेण्ड रेवेन्यू कोड, 1966 के कलम 51 के आधार पर अतिक्रमण को नियमित किए जाने का प्रावधान है. एक तरफ इंदिरा नगर, जनता नगर, अन्नाभाऊ साठे नगर और रफीकनगर जैसी बहुत सी पुरानी बस्तियां हैं, जहां के रहवासियों ने यह इच्छा जाहिर की है कि उनके घर और बस्तियों को नियमित किया जाए. इसे लेकर जो भी मूल्यांकन तय किया जाएगा, बस्ती वाले उसे चुकाने को भी तैयार है. इसके बावजूद प्रशासन द्वारा कोई कार्रवाई नहीं की जा रही है. मगर कई रसूख और पैसे वालों की ईमारतों के अतिक्रमण को नियमित किया गया है और कल तक सरकारी नोटिसों के निशाने पर रही ये ईमारतें अब वैध हैं.

2007 को ‘घर बचाओ घर बनाओ आंदोलन’ के बैनर तले, मंडाला के रहवासियों ने जवाहरलाल नेहरू राष्ट्रीय शहरी नवीनीकरण मिशन के तहत बस्ती विकास का प्रस्ताव महाराष्ट्र प्रशासन को सौंपा था. इसे लेकर म्हाडा(महाराष्ट्र हाऊसिंग एण्ड एरिया डेव्लपमेंट एथोरिटी), मंत्रालय और बृहन्मुंबई महानगर पालिका के बड़े अधिकारियों से कई बार बातचीत भी हुई है. मगर आज तक इस प्रस्ताव को न तो मंजूरी मिली है और न ही प्रशासनिक रवैया ही साफ हो पाया है.

इसी साल‘घर बचाओ घर बनाओ आंदोलन’ के बैनर तले, बांद्रा कलेक्टर के कमरे में कलेक्टर के साथ बैठक की गई थी. इसमें कलेक्ट्रर विश्वास पाटिल ने यह आदेश दिया था कि अंबुजवाड़ी के जो रहवासी 1 जनवरी, 2000 से पहले रहते हैं, उन्हें घर प्लाट देने के लिए उनकी पहचान की जांच जल्दी ही पूरी की जाएगी, जो अभी तक पूरी नहीं हो सकी है. दूसरी तरफ नई बसाहट के रहवासी आज भी पानी, शौचालय और बिजली के लिए तरस रहे हैं. विरोध करने पर उन्हे मालवणी पुलिस स्टेशन द्वारा जेल में डाल दिया जाता है.

2009 को ‘घर बचाओ घर बनाओ आंदोलन’ के बैनर तले, महाराष्ट्र लेण्ड रेवेन्यू कोड, 1966 के कलम 29 के आधार पर, जय अम्बेनगर जैसी कई बस्तियों में पारधी जमात के रहवासियों ने बांद्रा कलेक्टर को एक पत्र भेजा, जिसमें उन्होंने जमीन के प्रावधान की मांग की और यह भी गुहार लगाई कि जब तक ऐसा नहीं होता तब तक उनकी बस्तियों को न तोड़ा जाए. दरअसल, इस बंजारा जमात को अलग-अलग जगह से बार-बार बेदखल किया जाता रहा है और अब वे इस तरह की जहालत से बचना चाहते हैं.

भ्रष्टन की जय हो
फिलहाल झुग्गी बस्ती पुनर्वास प्राधिकरण में ‘पात्र’ को ‘अपात्र’ और ‘अपात्र’ को ‘पात्र’ ठहरा कर भष्ट्राचार का खुला खेल चल रहा है. ऐसा बहुत सारे मामलों से उजागर हुआ है कि ‘पात्र’ की सहमति लिए बगैर झूठे सहमति पत्र भरे गए हैं. चेंबूर की अमीर बाग, अंधेरी की विठ्ठलवाड़ी और गोलीबार तो ऐसे भ्रष्टाचार के मामलों से भरे पड़े हैं. कई मामलों में तो अधिकारियों, राजनेताओं की दिलचस्पी और हस्तक्षेप भी जांच के विषय हो सकते हैं.

महानगर में पुनर्वास दिए बगैर कोई भी विस्थापित नहीं हो सकता- ऐसा महाराष्ट्र स्लम एरिया एक्ट, 1971 से लेकर राष्ट्रीय आवास नीति और महाराष्ट्र आवास नीति, 2007 तक में कहा गया है. इसके बावजूद जहां नेताजी नगर, म्हात्रे नगर और जय अम्बे नगर जैसी बस्तियों को तोड़ा गया है, वहीं अन्नाभाऊ साठे नगर को तोड़े जाने का नोटिस जारी हुआ है. उधर अंबुजवाड़ी बस्ती के रहवासियों को नोटिस दिए बगैर ही सब कुछ ध्वस्त कर दिये जाने का डर दिखाया गया है.

सपनों के शहर में घर के सपने
मुंबई में गरीबों के लिए आवास उनकी हैसियत से बहुत दूर हो चुके हैं. मुंबई में किराए के घरों की मांग और पूर्ति का अंतर ही इतना चौड़ा होता जा रहा है कि हर साल 84,000 अतिरिक्त घरों की मांग होती हैं, जिसकी पूर्ति के लिए खासतौर से बिल्डरों की फौज तैनात है, जो जैसे-तैसे हर साल केवल 55,000 घरों की व्यवस्था ही कर पाते हैं. इसके चलते यहां जमीनों और जमीनों से आसमान छूते आशियानों की कीमतों को छूना मुश्किल होता जा रहा है.

बांद्रा, जुहू, बर्ली, सांताक्रूज, खार जैसे इलाकों का हाल यह है कि एक फ्लेट कम से कम 4-10 वर्ग प्रति फीट प्रति महीने के भाड़े पर मिलता है, जो उच्च-मध्यम वर्ग के लिए भी किसी सपने से कम नही है. मगर बिल्डरों ने उच्च-मध्यम वर्ग के सपनों का पूरा ख्याल रखा है, उनके लिए नवी मुंबई, खाण्डेश्वर, कोपोली, पनवेल और मीरा रोड़ जैसे इलाकों में 25 से 45 लाख तक के घरों की व्यवस्था की है, जिनकी कीमत कमरों की संख्या और सहूलियतों पर निर्भर है.

नियमानुसार रोज नई-नई बसने वाली बिल्डिंगों और ईमारतों के आसपास गरीबों के लिए आवास की जगह नहीं छोड़ी जा रही है. बिल्डरों द्वारा महानगर की शेष जगहों को भी मौटे तौर पर दो तरीके से हथियाया जा रहा है, एक तो अनगिनत विशालकाय अपार्टमेंट खड़े करके, दूसरा इनके आसपास कई सहूलियतों को उपलब्ध कराने का कारोबार करके, जैसे: बच्चों के लिए भव्य गार्डन, मंनोरंजन पार्क, कार पार्किंग, प्रभावशाली द्वार, बहुखण्डीय सिनेमाहाल इत्यादि. इन सबसे यहां की कुल जगह पर जहां एक मामूली सी आबादी के लिए एशोआराम का पूरा बंदोबस्त हो रहा है, वहीं बड़ी आबादी के बीच रहने की जगह का घनघोर संकट भी गहराता जा रहा है.

अब उस पर आफत ये है कि जो पहले से बसे हुए हैं, उन्हें भी हटाया जा रहा है. महानगर के कारोबारी हितों के लिए और ज्यादा जगह हथियाने के चक्कर में गरीबों के इलाकों को बार-बार तोड़ा जा रहा है. फिल्म और गानों तक को लेकर पूरे महाराष्ट्र को सर पर उठा लेने वाले राजनीतिज्ञों की लिस्ट में गरीबों के बेघर होने का मामला दूर-दूर तक नहीं है. हां, इन गरीबों के बल पर राजनीति की रोटी सेंकने वाले कानून की दुहाई देते ज़रुर नज़र आते हैं. ये और बात है कि इस क़ानून की परवाह किसी को नहीं है. न प्रशासन को और न ही सरकार को.

-शिरीष खरे, मुंबई से

The ruling class finally came to accept these demands, and in the year 2000 granted separate statehood and called it Jharkhand State. The Home Minister, while moving the Bill in Parliament, said in very clear terms that this step was being taken to fulfil the long cherished desire of the Adivasi People of Jharkhand to govern themselves as per their traditions, customary laws and culture.

But what has happened during the past nine years is just the opposite of what was originally intended. Business people, professionals, bureaucrats, industrialists from far and near have poured into Jharkhand in lakhs, occupy centre stage in all spheres of life and have pushed the Jharkhandi People to the periphery. This is a travesty of justice. It is high time to restore the original intent.

(2) Fathers of the Indian Constitution were not guided by numbers (majority /minority) when they formulated the Fifth & Sixth Schedules. Not how many they are, but how they are. They looked at a people who were the original inhabitants (Adi-vasi) and who have preserved up to now some clear ethnic characteristics which distinguish them from the rest of the population. Some of these characteristics are: commonality, equality, cooperation, consensus decision making, closeness to nature. They have also practised a unique type of self-rule based on their traditional system and leadership. A person like Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, was sensitive to the cause of the Indigenous Adivasi People. In 1952 he spelt out what is known as Nehruvian Panchsheel :

1. Tribals should be allowed to develop according to their own genius.

2. Tribals’ rights in land and forest should be respected

3. Tribal teams should be trained to undertake administration and development without too many outsiders being inducted.

4. Tribal development should be undertaken without disturbing tribal social and cultural institutions

5. The index of tribal development should be the quality of their life and not the money spent

It is important to note that numbers / population-ratio of the Tribals/Adivasis in relation to non-adivasis is not the factor behind bestowing special consideration and protection for Tribals/Adivasis.

But sadly enough, the above Nehruvian Principles have been thrown to the winds by the different Central & State govts during the past five decades. And now the unkindest cut of all comes when the Jharkhand Govt wants to do away with the Adivasi traditional system itself.

Forcible panchayat election will permanently destroy the traditional Adivasi system of self-governance. And if this election will be held on party-line, it will be much worse. It is bad enough that Adivasi People have been divided on party lines in the Parliamentary and Assembly elections. If parties will enter the gram and tola level with their party slogans, one cannot imagine a greater damage. The damage is especially because the humanising values such as communitarianness, commonality, equality, cooperation, consensus decision making, closeness to nature which are already in the process of weakening because of the modern capitalist values, will completely disappear.

Any one with a human sense would admit that the values that have characterised the Indigenous Adivasi People are not only humanising but also should be preserved so that the non-Indigenous peoples may also be humanised. For that to happen, we must by all means preserve the Indigenous values. And to preserve them, we must preserve the Indigenous Adivasi People’s system of self-governance. There is no other way.

These are my sentiments and sure of those other 100 plus crore citizens of our nation. Right from our school days we have been time and over reminded of the sacrifices and fights of our ancestors in providing us the status of being called an Indian. Even when we venture out on a foreign trip, the singular question asked is from which country we belong and not the ‘State’.

Our country’s constitution has been framed after lengthy deliberations and discussions, with the aim that there should be absolutely no disparity amongst the ‘countrymen’. There are definitely a different set of rules for foreign nationals. The constitution allows all the citizens of the country to pursue their work, studies or dwelling at any place in the country without any bias, prejudice or malice. Equality amongst all and no one above the constitution or law is the country’s motto.

Our country’s democratic process gives the right to vote for all eligible citizens. We elect our leaders/Parties of our choice through the ballot and the system is continuing successfully since our independence 62 years ago. Now the country is divided into 27 States, so that proper governance can be provided to all the citizens of the country at State level. The Central Parliament controls these State with the President as the head of the nation.

The political compulsions of certain Parties in certain States with total selfish motives have led to many an embarrassing situation. The current scenario in Maharashtra is a living example. Indians have been differentiated as Maharashtrians, Marathas and North Indians etc. etc. People of the other States have been mercilessly beaten up and terrorized by a set of political group, considering themselves as the constitution & law maker of the country. No doubt the democracy allows freedom of speech but any speech that would create even minimum friction in the unity and integrity of the country is termed as criminal and amounting to be named as ‘traitor’ invoking the strictest punishment.

The country’s democratic process gives the right to every individual to address their grievances but through the right forum and within the law. No body has been endowed with the power to take the law in one’s own hands and such acts should be registered immediately as criminal and legal procedure initiated against the Party/group/individual. No body should be allowed to feel that he has the right to do what he wants at gun point.

The activities of both Bal Thackeray and his nephew Raj Thackeray tantamount to these offenses and by this time put behind bars as per the country’s law and constitution. No body has given them the authority to speak on behalf of Maharashtrians. If they claim that, they are sadly mistaken as the very people of Maharashtra chose to reject them in the democratically conducted polls. Maybe the frustration of rejection is driving them to desperation but that cannot be used as excuse for pursuing their ‘Hitlerian’ ambitions.

Any leniency from the part of the law enforcing agencies towards such proclaimed offenders would spread a wrong message and may even act as encouragement to such people elsewhere in the country too. Then there would be no ‘India’ but 27 different countries.

A serious matter which should not just be glorified it on the TV channels but the need is for a collective voice from the nook & corner of the country protesting the likes of Thackerays. Even the people of Maharashtra would want to ensure that their name is not tarnished by such goons as they are aware that it is only a selfish political ploy these people are using to ‘poison’ the minds of blind supporters.

The likes of Thackerays should be termed as extremists. Why the Naxalites alone?

- P. Vijay Raghavan

Somehow, the Parties managed to underplay the differences and began governance with intent to provide stability and aroused hope amongst the hapless citizens of the State of seeing at least a semblance of development in the State, which all these past nine years was shuddering under incompetence. At least the new partners on the outer expressed their primary stand of ‘agree not to disagree’.

It is no secret the feelings Shibu has for the Maoist Naxals. His soft attitude towards the extremists surfaced openly when he ruled out use of force to tackle the naxal issue but invited them for talks. The move was not appreciated by his allies and though they did not openly voice their displeasure, it was seemingly evident that they had firmly asked the CM to restrain himself from making such comments. Shibu hastily back tracked on his remarks and amended it by giving a deadline to the hardcore group to comeforth for dialogue within 15 days else strong action would be initiated. The amended statement lacked authority and yielded no result. In the mean time the Union Home minister P. Chidambaram convened a meeting at Raipur to chalk out action plan to flush out the naxalites. Chhatisgarh, W. Bengal and Maharashtra were invited for the meet and Jharkhand studiously ignored. Annoyed with Shibu’s stand on the extremists the Home minister said that he would hold a separate meeting with Jharkhand at Delhi to address the issue. The meeting held on 28th instant saw a shaken Shibu turning volte face and forced to announce that he would support the Centre on all operations to curb naxalism in the State, including the much hyped ‘Operation Green Hunt’.

On the other hand the Maoist group did not take the change of stance of the CM kindly and termed him as a puppet in the hands of Centre and alliance partner BJP. They outright rejected his peace talks and in a specially convened press conference their leader Gopaljee said that laying down arms was out of question and if the CM wanted to talk it would be on their terms only. The lists of demands were once again spelled out by Gopaljee, which no government could afford to comply with. Operation Green Hunt is to be launched soon and there seems no way for Shibu to wriggle out of that.

The affidavit filed in the Jharkhand High Court on the matter of CBI enquiry into the Koda scam has also drawn lot of flak all round. Given by the magnitude of the scam, the government’s haste in filing the affidavit in rejecting the CBI probe, has left his alliance partners, especially the BJP &JD(U) red in the face. Voice of strong protest has started emulating from the senior leaders within these Parties and demanding immediate rethink.

Judging by the way things are shaping up, one is forced to conclude that the path for Shibu will not be smooth as he has to compromise on practically all issues to keep up with the compulsions of his alliance partners. His two deputies also seem to differ on many matters and have been quoted making contrasting remarks on one subject. Shibu’s woes within his Party has also not subsided, though there is temporary silence for the time being, but this may well be the lull before the storm.