Friday, December 28, 2012

Hindu Festivals 2013 (Vikram Year 2069)

Hindu Festivals 2013 (Vikram Year 2069)
Makar SakrantiMonday14-01-2013
Vasant PanchamiFriday15-02-2013
Maha ShivaratriSunday10-03-2013
HoliWednesday27-03-2013
Hindi New YearThursday11-04-2013
Ramayana WeekThursday11-04-2013
ToSaturday20-04-2013
RamanavamiSaturday20-04-2013
Hanuman JayantiThursday25-04-2013
Raksha Bandhan
or
Wednesday
Tuesday
21-08-2013
20-08-2013
Krishna JanmashthamiWednesday28-08-2013
Ganesh ChaturthiMonday09-09-2013
Pitr-pakshaFriday20-09-2013
ToFriday04-10-2013
NavaratriSaturday05-10-2013
ToSunday13-10-2013
Saraswati Puja
(Forms part of Navaratri)
Friday11-10-2013
Vijay Dashami (Dasera)Monday14-10-2013
Deepavali (Diwali)Sunday03-11-2013
Vikram New Year 2070Monday04-11-2013

Buddha Purnima Saturday 25-05-2013
Guru Purnima Monday 22-07-2013
Easter Sunday 31-03-2013
Moon Eclipse Thursday 25-04-2013

Sunday, December 23, 2012


How to Deal with Cantankerous People?Description: http://in-mg61.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=deg1vefia08ib#minty
Joginder Singh Ji, Former Director - CBI

We all meet cantankerous, contentious and peevish people, who are very disagreeable, to deal with. They can be found in our colleagues, our bosses or our subordinates or even in our spouses. There can be, different approaches, for dealing with such people.

But, as human beings are different, no approach, is universally applicable. It is important to keep your friends close, but it is equally important to be close to your enemies. A frequently applied approach, which can give good results, is extending the olive branch. At the same time, it is important, to examine, as to what has led to the present situation.

If the cantankerous person has less than correct information, on the basis, of which, he is criticizing on less than correct facts, then present the correct facts, to put your point of view across. Generally, cantankerous people, have an opinion on every issue, which they want to be taken as the gospel truth. When they are shown to be wrong, they tend to become defensive and come out with newer and newer, and sometimes absurd excuses.

Instead of contributing to rectifying any situation, they are the, permanent opposition party. This is, their way, to gain importance and remain in the limelight. In the complex, I have lived, we had exactly a person like that, who wanted to be consulted for everything. He was, always throwing, his weight about and bullying all the time, others, till I called off his bluff, when he crossed the acceptable limits. He called for his nemesis, as the police came to arrest him for obstructing others. Only a warning, from the police, led to his mending his obstructive, demanding, critical and interfering behaviour, in the affairs of others.

From his conduct, I also observed that cantankerous people agree to any commitment, but they never honour the same, thus proving themselves untrustworthy and undependable. Cantankerous people are generally negative. They keep on pointing out, as to why, something would not work .Such people are inflexible. They prefer to complain, rather than finding, solution for the problems. For them there is nothing right in the world.

One way, to understand such people, is to predict and estimate, as to how they think, what they fear, why they do, what they do and what is going to be their next move. Understanding cantankerous people, makes it, less frustrating, in dealing with them. You have to develop your own specific, how to do techniques, in dealing with different types of cantankerous people. You have to, self learn, as to what to do and what to say, in varying situations.

There is a thin line, between, being cantankerous and bullying . To some extent, bullying exists everywhere in the world. It is, one of the greatest emotional abuses.

If we can learn how they think, what they fear, why they do, what they do, it will help us, to understand them. Understanding such people makes dealing with them less frustrating. You are under no obligation to put up with the cantankerous and bullying people.

However, if such a person is your boss, even then, it is best to draw a line, about what you would put up and what you would not. While we cannot enforce, a polite behaviour on the part of cantankerous people, it is upto, each one of us, to discuss, as to with what, we will put up and what we could not. Simultaneously, our efforts should be, to reduce the conflict areas, for harmonious living. The most common mistakes, made by the people, however, well intentioned, they me be, is that they worsen the conflicts. Our efforts, should be, to turn complainers, into complaint solving mode. Though, it is also true, that some people, are incorrigible, in this respect and throw wet blanket on everything.

Still your effort should be not to allow the cantankerous persons, to control your life, reactions and emotions. It will be wrong, to say, that we ourselves, do not become difficult. All of us are guilty of it, at some time, or the other. We must do, self-introspection at the end of the day and at the same time, make sure, that we do not allow others, to manipulate us. Understanding ourselves and others, whom we may consider difficult, is a packed and an ongoing job, to be undertaken, on daily basis.

Tact and capabilities, in handing difficult people are outstanding traits and add value to all those, who possess the same. These traits, once consciously and deliberately developed, will lead squabblelessness, smooth and a harmonious existence, coupled with more productivity.

Proper and effective communication, can lead to a better understanding and eliminate a lot of cankerousness. To resolve conflicts, even with cantankerous persons, we should go an extra mile. However, mean people, are not found only in our peers, but also in our subordinates or people in authority over us.

Bad and cantankerous bosses in many case have forced sensitive people to leave their jobs. In such cases. It is best to maintain a professional attitude. At the same time do not loose your good manners. Make it point to treat cantankerous people pleasantly. Present your

best side, including dressing up very well, to reflect your ability, success and proficiency. Introspect, whether the criticism, levelled against you, has any validity. If it be so, then make an honest effort, to correct yourself. One strategy is, not to be provoked, and get angry, by any criticism or verbal abuse. Better still is, to use a neutral comment saying that “ I am sorry that you feel this way and ask the cantankerous person, as to how he would have used or behaved or acted, in any given situation. It is a fact, that finding fault is easy, but to do better is difficult.

Schools reluctant to admit students of weaker sections

Jaipur: Most city-based schools are openly flouting Right to Education Act 2009 in the absence of any monitoring by the state education department. In fact, TOI did a reality check by approaching five schools and found that all of them are flouting RTE norms in one way or other. 
    Many schools have started selling admission forms keeping parents in dark about RTE provisions. An elite school at Jawahar Nagar and Tilak Nagar had asked parents to appear for an interactive session on December 17 with the principal and teachers. The staff dealing with admissions expressed their inability over the ban on interviews/interactive sessions, when asked. 
    A prominent missionary school at CScheme has outrightly refused to admit students under economically weaker sections under RTE Act. They claimed that the provi
sion of reserving 25% seats have been challenged in the court. So they will maintain the status-quo till the court pronounces its judgment, they said. 
    Many other schools who have not started with the admissions, prefer silence over the implementation. The elite schools are giving excuses that by giving 25% seats to economically weaker sections, they have to pass the 100% expenses on the 75% students admitted under non-reserved category. Many parents are of the opinion that every state should have state-level NCPCR to ensure successful implementation of the Act. 
    Education department officers said that they have asked parents to complaint in case they came across any defaulter school. “This year we are fully prepared to implement the act. Our teams will closely follow the admission process besides will carry out random checking,” said Shiv Charan Meena, education officer, elementary. Bodies like National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and National Human Rights Com
mission having semi-judicial powers have already asked the people to seek their help in case they were being victimized by schools.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Rajasthan Cooperative Societies Rules




Rajasthan


Rajasthan Cooperative Societies Act

http://www.rajcooperatives.nic.in/pdf/amended%20act.pdf
Rajasthan Cooperative Societies Rules
Rajasthan Societies Act
Rajasthan Public Trust Act, 1959
Rajasthan Public Trust Rules, 1962
http://www.devasthan.rajasthan.gov.in/Files/Upload/1003201170948PM%20RPT_Rules_21.pdf


Procedure for Registration of Co-Operative Societies under Co-operative Societies Registration Act (Rajasthan) -
1.        Application Form
2.        Copy of By-Laws and Main objects of the Society
3.        List of Members of Executive Committee with Name , Address, Occupation and Post along with Self Attested Address(Ration Card only) and ID Proofs of The Office Bearers
4.        List of Members, willing to registration of the Society with Name, Father’s name, Occupation and Signature with Full Address( Minimum 50 Members)
5.        Affidavits of Office Bearers i.e. President, Secretary, Vice president and Treasurer with Photo attested by the Notary Public.
6.        Auth Letter of the members and signed by the office bearers
7.        NOC of Local Member of Municipal Corp./ Local Body or Sarpanch
8.        Specimen Signature with Name and Designation of the Office Bearers

Friday, December 14, 2012

How to Deal with Cantankerous People?


How to Deal with Cantankerous People?
Joginder Singh Ji, Former Director - CBI

We all meet cantankerous, contentious and peevish people, who are very disagreeable, to deal with. They can be found in our colleagues, our bosses or our subordinates or even in our spouses. There can be, different approaches, for dealing with such people.

But, as human beings are different, no approach, is universally applicable. It is important to keep your friends close, but it is equally important to be close to your enemies. A frequently applied approach, which can give good results, is extending the olive branch. At the same time, it is important, to examine, as to what has led to the present situation.

If the cantankerous person has less than correct information, on the basis, of which, he is criticizing on less than correct facts, then present the correct facts, to put your point of view across. Generally, cantankerous people, have an opinion on every issue, which they want to be taken as the gospel truth. When they are shown to be wrong, they tend to become defensive and come out with newer and newer, and sometimes absurd excuses.

Instead of contributing to rectifying any situation, they are the, permanent opposition party. This is, their way, to gain importance and remain in the limelight. In the complex, I have lived, we had exactly a person like that, who wanted to be consulted for everything. He was, always throwing, his weight about and bullying all the time, others, till I called off his bluff, when he crossed the acceptable limits. He called for his nemesis, as the police came to arrest him for obstructing others. Only a warning, from the police, led to his mending his obstructive, demanding, critical and interfering behaviour, in the affairs of others.

From his conduct, I also observed that cantankerous people agree to any commitment, but they never honour the same, thus proving themselves untrustworthy and undependable. Cantankerous people are generally negative. They keep on pointing out, as to why, something would not work .Such people are inflexible. They prefer to complain, rather than finding, solution for the problems. For them there is nothing right in the world.

One way, to understand such people, is to predict and estimate, as to how they think, what they fear, why they do, what they do and what is going to be their next move. Understanding cantankerous people, makes it, less frustrating, in dealing with them. You have to develop your own specific, how to do techniques, in dealing with different types of cantankerous people. You have to, self learn, as to what to do and what to say, in varying situations.

There is a thin line, between, being cantankerous and bullying . To some extent, bullying exists everywhere in the world. It is, one of the greatest emotional abuses.

If we can learn how they think, what they fear, why they do, what they do, it will help us, to understand them. Understanding such people makes dealing with them less frustrating. You are under no obligation to put up with the cantankerous and bullying people.

However, if such a person is your boss, even then, it is best to draw a line, about what you would put up and what you would not. While we cannot enforce, a polite behaviour on the part of cantankerous people, it is upto, each one of us, to discuss, as to with what, we will put up and what we could not. Simultaneously, our efforts should be, to reduce the conflict areas, for harmonious living. The most common mistakes, made by the people, however, well intentioned, they me be, is that they worsen the conflicts. Our efforts, should be, to turn complainers, into complaint solving mode. Though, it is also true, that some people, are incorrigible, in this respect and throw wet blanket on everything.

Still your effort should be not to allow the cantankerous persons, to control your life, reactions and emotions. It will be wrong, to say, that we ourselves, do not become difficult. All of us are guilty of it, at some time, or the other. We must do, self-introspection at the end of the day and at the same time, make sure, that we do not allow others, to manipulate us. Understanding ourselves and others, whom we may consider difficult, is a packed and an ongoing job, to be undertaken, on daily basis.

Tact and capabilities, in handing difficult people are outstanding traits and add value to all those, who possess the same. These traits, once consciously and deliberately developed, will lead squabblelessness, smooth and a harmonious existence, coupled with more productivity.

Proper and effective communication, can lead to a better understanding and eliminate a lot of cankerousness. To resolve conflicts, even with cantankerous persons, we should go an extra mile. However, mean people, are not found only in our peers, but also in our subordinates or people in authority over us.

Bad and cantankerous bosses in many case have forced sensitive people to leave their jobs. In such cases. It is best to maintain a professional attitude. At the same time do not loose your good manners. Make it point to treat cantankerous people pleasantly. Present your

best side, including dressing up very well, to reflect your ability, success and proficiency. Introspect, whether the criticism, levelled against you, has any validity. If it be so, then make an honest effort, to correct yourself. One strategy is, not to be provoked, and get angry, by any criticism or verbal abuse. Better still is, to use a neutral comment saying that “ I am sorry that you feel this way and ask the cantankerous person, as to how he would have used or behaved or acted, in any given situation. It is a fact, that finding fault is easy, but to do better is difficult.

The Role of Rewards in modifying Children’s Behavior


The Role of Rewards in modifying Children’s Behavior
Dr. M. C. Jain M.A. Ph.D. (Psychology) 

Children have a natural tendency to learn on their own and they do make attempts to learn. It has been observed that mostly they try to learn appropriate behaviors. But unfortunately many a times they do not succeed and as a consequence they do not feel pleasure in learning. Such failures usually discourage them to make more attempts to learn. If we as teachers and parents can make certain attempts reduce the number and intensity of failures in children’s learning, it can promote their urge to learn more. If certain factors in home and school settings are so arranged that children’s attempts to learn meet with pleasant consequences and success experiences, their learning can be facilitated.

The learning of appropriate behavior by children can be enhanced through the effective and skillful use of rewards by teachers and parents. Rewards also enhance children’s participation in the learning process and thereby help them to learn appropriate behaviors faster as well as relatively permanently. 

What is a Reward? 
Let us first see what we mean by a reward. When a person behaves, something happens after that behavior. It is called a consequence of that behavior. For example, a child shows us his/her good handwriting, we praise the child and the child further improves his/her handwriting. We can say that the praise has acted as reward for the child. Similarly if another child recites a rhyme and his classmates clap their hands, the child shows better performance in studies and the teacher writes good in his/her exercise book.In all these examples we see that the behavior is followed by some events.It has been observed that if people like or feel good about the event that follows their behavior and increases the chances of that behavior to occur again is called a reward.

In everyday life, we can see that we do a lot of things and also continue doing these because of their consequences. For example, we learn and maintain the behavior of turning the ignition key to the right to start the car because the engine has started in the past whenever the key was turned to the right. Similarly a child’s playing is said to be rewarded when it increases as a result of his/her parents’ giving attention and praise when he/she plays.

We tend to report the behavior which is followed by rewards. If some of our behavior is not followed by a reward or pleasant consequences, we tend not to repeat that behavior again. Therefore we see that rewards are very important means of changing behavior.

Similarly in the case of children also anything they like or feel good about is a reward for them. We, as teachers or parents may observe that some things, objects, events, or privileges serve as rewards for most children, but many a times we also observe that rewards also vary from child to child. For example, a child may like material rewards like toys whereas another child feels better when he receives a pat from his teacher or the father. Reward for a particular child may not be something that we as teacher or parents think he/she likes. The main characteristic of a reward is that it increases the occurrence of a behavior t follows. Therefore, it is obvious that rewards can be effectively used to enhance appropriate behavior in children.

Why Rewards are required? 
If our behavior results in desirable consequences, we learn that this is more likely to behave in a similar fashion in future. Similarly if students study hard and get a higher percentage, they are more likely to work hard for the next examination also. But as teachers we may find that many a times this natural reward is not sufficient to maintain the desirable behavior of working hard for the examinations. It can be due to the fact that some students are unable to see any immediate benefit e.g. from learning plane geometry. Some students may be unable to realize the importance of high grades. In such cases the teacher can systematically arrange the conditions in such a ways that the students are able to get more opportunities to earn the valued rewards. It can be done by introducing additional rewards into the teaching learning process. For example, the teacher can give rewards like attention praise and privileges like playing games of one’s own choice etc. To children who show the desirable behavior of high grade s in this case. It has been observed that the use of such rewards enhances the learning of desirable behaviors in children. Similarly parents can also use such rewards to increase desirable behavior in children. For example, a mother can tell the child that he will be allowed t go for play or watch T.V. only if he completes ck to the his homework or behaves properly as may be the case. We as teacher or parent should stick to the stated condition, i.e. give the reward only after he shows the desirable behavior in question in a particular case. Of course one has to find the likes and dislikes of the particular child because the things or activities like by a child can be used for tat child as a reward to increase the desirable behavior in him. 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Specimen of Affidavit from purchaser/Transferee



AFFIDAVIT
I/We _________________ S/o D/o W/oSh._________________________________
Aged ______ years, R/o _____________________________________________ do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under:

1)     That I/we have agreed to purchase/get transferred plot/house/Commercial Site No. ___________ situated in Sector/Phase _________ at _________ from its owner Sh./Smt. _________________ R/o _______________________ (through his GPA/SPA) Sh./Smt. _______________________ (if applicable).
2)     That after the property is transferred in my/our name, I/we or my/our legal heris, assigns & successors shall abide by the provisions of the Haryana Regional & Town Planning & Dev. Act, 1995 and the rules, bye laws framed there under, as amended from time to time and the conditions of the allotment.
3)     That I/we or my/our legal heirs, assigns & successors shall pay additional price, extension fee and other dues, if any, in respect of the said Plot/House/Site as and when demanded by the Estate Officer irrespective of the execution of conveyance deed/sale deed. In case of failure on my/our part to pay the final/additional price and extension fee or other dues to the Estate Officer the Competent Authority may resume the said plot/house/site.
4)     That I/we shall construct the building on the plot/site within the stipulated period, in accordance with the sanctioned building plan (if applicable) failing which I shall pay extension fee as determined by HUDA.
5)     That I/we shall not make any additions/alterations in the said property without prior approval of the Estate Officer, HUDA.
6)     That I/we shall not use the said property for any purpose other than the purpose for which it has been allotted.
7)     That I/we shall execute Hire Purchase Agreement within ________ days from the date of issue of permission to transfer/NOC (in case of House only).
8)     That I/we shall not hold the Estate Officer responsible for any loss/damage caused to me/us at any later stage due to the transfer made/NOC issued by the Estate Officer on the basis of the documents submitted for the purpose.


DEPONENT (S)
VERIFICATION:
Verified that the contents of Paras No. 1 to 8 of above affidavit of mine/ours are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief. No part thereof is false and nothing has been concealed therein.

DEPONENT (S)
DATE:

Units for Measurements of Land


Units for Measurements of Land

1 acre = 4 bigas+ 16 biswas (20th part)=4840 Sq.Yds
1 acre = 4 and 4/5 bigas
1 acre = 96 biswas.
1 Bigha=20 Biswas (1008 Sq.Yds)/
1 Beegha = 20 Biswa / 22500 sq. Feet
1 Biswa=50 Sq.Yards
1 Ghatta=8.25 feet
8 Kanals = 1 acre
Acre is also called quilla or ghumaon
20 marlas = 1 kanal
160 marls = 1 acre
1 marla = 9 square karams
1 marla = 272 square feet
1 karam = 5.5 feet


(With inputs obtained from Delhi Revenue Site)

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Application under the RTI


Public Information Officers
(Name of the Department)
(Office)
(Place)
Sub: Application under the RTI Act, 2005
Sir,
A large number of properties in Defence Colony are using their premises for commercial purposes in violation of all the rules and laws, thus causing inconvenience to the residents. Please provide following information on this issue:
  1. List of all the properties, which are being used for commercial purposes, in Defence Colony, in violation of laws.
  2. Please intimate the nature of violation in each case.
  3. When did each of this violation first come to the knowledge of MCD?
  4. Please indicate in detail the process followed by the MCD for taking action against such violations, as soon as such violations come to the notice of the MCD.
  5. Please give the details of the laws, rules or Government orders, which are violated by such commercial use of residential properties.
  6. Please indicate the punishment prescribed under various laws for such violations. What is the exact process followed by MCD to impose such punishment.
  7. What steps have been taken by the authorities in each case so far. Please give details of each case separately?
  8. If no steps have been taken in any case, why?
  9. I would like to inspect all the files related to action taken on each of these violations. Please intimate the date, time and venue, when I can come to inspect these files.
  10. Please provide the names, designations and contact details of the officials who have the duty to take action against these violations.
  11. Are these officials guilty of violation of sec 217 of IPC and sec 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act for not taking action as per law and as required of them?
  12. These officials are guilty of conniving with the offenders of law and procuring benefit to them in contravention with the law. They are also guilty of abetting the crime through their inaction. They are also guilty of dereliction of duty. By when will these cases be referred to the vigilance?
  13. What further action will be taken against the officials and when?
  14. By when will the said violations be removed now?
  15. How many complaints has the MCD received from any quarters regarding commercial use of residential properties in Defence Colony during the period 1.4.2000 to 31.3.05. Please indicate the daily progress made on each of these complaints.
  16. Please give the names and designations of the officials with whom each of these complaints were lying during this period. Please intimate the periods when it was lying with which officer and what was the action taken by that official during that period.
I am depositing the application fee (Rs.10/-) separately/ I am a BPL card Holder, So, I am exempt from payment of fees. My BPL card no. is:…./ If you feel that above requested information does not pertain to your department then please follow the provisions of Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, 2005/Also as per the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005 please provide the details (Name and Designation) of the first appellate authority w.r.t to your department with the reply to the above request., where I may if required file my first appeal.

Thanking you,

Saturday, October 27, 2012

RTI activist thrashed for complaint against illegal factory on BMC land

A Right to Information (RTI) activist was assaulted by four people running an illegal plastic manufacturing unit on land belonging to the BMC.

The activist, identified as Naushad Khan, 27, had filed an RTI application in July seeking information about the factory set up in the Kismat Nagar pipeline at Sonapur, Bhandup. He also filed a complaint with the fire brigade claiming that the factory could be hazardous for the area which is densely populated.

On August 30, Khan received a reply from BMC stating that the factory was being without legal permission and the people running the factory had not submitted any papers seeking permission to run it.

On Tuesday, when Khan went to the factory with officials from the Vikhroli fire brigade, he was attacked by four people who allegedly ran the factory.

"The factory is run by Abdul Malik, and his partners are Akram, Akbar and Alam Khan. When they came to know that I had filed a complaint against their factory, they started abusing me and assaulted me with sticks. This happened in front of BMC officers," said Khan.

According to Khan, the factory site was recently cleared of encroachments by BMC. The surrounding area is dumped with large quantities of hazardous plastic. This site is located close to the Tansa water pipeline, which supplies water to the city.

"We have arrested Abdul Malik, Akram Khan and Akbar Khan for assaulting Khan. They have been booked under sections 324 of IPC (causing grievous hurt). The fourth, Alam Khan is absconding." said Srirang Nadgowda, senior police inspector of Bhandup police station.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

MCD sends abusive reply to RTI application


It cannot be denied that the  Right to Information (RTI) Act has brought about a revolution of sorts in India. But the very act of seeking information is often met with stiff resistance, and sometimes expletives, from an intransigent bureaucracy that refuses to lay itself open to scrutiny.
For Brijesh Kumar, it came as a rude shock when, in response to a query made in an RTI request to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), he received the reply: "Tu ch** ia hai".
Kumar had sought details about the MCD's management of solid waste. He was stunned when he saw this reply when he logged in to check the status of his RTI request on August 2. He had filed the RTI query through the MCD's newly constituted online mechanism on July 14.
His first query had been answered by a superintendent engineer of the MCD with the cuss words: "Tu ch** ia hai ." The rest of the nine questions, Kumar alleged, did not have a satisfactory reply either.
"Is this how the MCD runs its business? I cannot believe the civic body can reply in such a foul manner. I have been in constant mental agony and depression since I read the RTI reply," a shocked Kumar said.
When contacted, MCD officials said they had started an investigation into the possible hacking of the corporation's website after an abusive message was posted in reply to a query on its RTI portal.
"The regrettable and illegal act has been done by some mischievous and unknown person who appears to have access to the system through the use of a default login ID and password, and not by ' hacking' of the website," Deep Mathur, MCD director (press and information), said.
"Steps have been taken to avert recurrence of such incidents and investigations have been initiated to bring the culprit to book," Mathur added.
The MCD has also reportedly approached the Delhi Police's economic offences wing (EOW) and registered a case. A police inquiry into the matter is expected to start soon.
"Today (Tuesday) we went and met the additional commissioner (EOW) of the Delhi Police. We have given him the details of the entire case and requested them to take up the matter and identify the guilty," Mathur said. On his part, Kumar said he was not as much hurt by the MCD's reply as by its indifference.
"The question of who replied to the RTI is secondary; the primary response of the MCD should have been an apology. Despite having my address and number, they haven't even contacted me for a probe, let alone an apology," Kumar, a resident of Dwarka, said.
This is not the first time the MCD has reacted in such a manner. For an RTI request filed a few years ago seeking details of construction of a site in Shahdara, the applicant was threatened with dire consequences.
Mohit Sharma, the victim, alleged that on March 12 last year, MCD's executive engineer BMN Rao, assistant engineer Umesh Singh and one more person came to his home in Dilshad Garden around 1 pm and threatened him.
"Umesh Singh told me that I was playing with fire and it could harm me. He added that no one can survive after clashing with the MCD officials. They threatened to demolish my house and my brother's shop," Sharma said.
The Delhi Police had registered a case. Sharma had also complained to the chief information commissioner (CIC) about the threat. Information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi had written to the then police commissioner Y. S. Dadwal regarding the allegation of the RTI applicant.
In the latest case, Dwarka Forum, an NGO of which Brijesh is a member, has filed a complaint with the CIC about the matter.
"We have already lodged a complaint with the commission. Information commissioner Gandhi has taken cognisance of the same," Anoop Rohera, secretary of the Dwarka Forum, said.
Threat & abuse are MCD'S answer
  • Brijesh Kumar, a Dwarka resident, filed an online RTI application with the MCD on July 14, seeking details about the agency's solid waste management.
  • On August 2, he logged in to check the status of his queries. He had received the reply. But in response to the very first query, an MCD superintendent engineer had posted an expletive.
  • Dwarka Forum, an NGO Brijesh works with, has filed a complaint with the CIC.
  • MCD claimed the abusive reply was posted on its website by some mischievous element using default login ID and password. It claimed to be investigating the matter.
  • MCD spokesperson said the agency has registered a case with the Delhi Police.
  • Last year, two MCD engineers had allegedly threatened an RTI applicant, Mohit Sharma, who had sought details of a construction site at Shahdara. Sharma, too, had complained to the CIC and the police.

RTI activist jailed in Ghaziabad Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rti-activist-jailed-in-ghaziabad/1/146889.html


Those who blow the whistle on corruption continue to faceharassment across the country. The latest such case has surfaced in Ghaziabad.
An RTI activist has been in jail, allegedly on cooked up charges, after he exposed the nexus between builders and officials of the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) to allow illegal construction in Shalimar Garden.
Pawan Sharma, a garment retailer and resident of Shalimar Garden-II, gathered details on the largescale unauthorised construction in the area through a
series of RTI applications filed with the GDA. He then complained to various authorities against builders and GDA officials.
Jail for blowing whistle.
He submitted photographs of the illegal buildings and also mentioned the bribes charged by the GDA officials, including top officers, for allowing such buildings to come up.
The authorities Sharma complained to regarding the state of affairs included the district magistrate, the senior superintendent of police (SSP), the Meerut divisional commissioner, Uttar Pradesh's home secretary and even chief minister Mayawati.
And he paid the price for exposing the nexus. An FIR was filed against him for extortion and criminal intimidation and he was sent to jail on July 11. Earlier in April, too, the police had booked Sharma on the same charges. He was to appear with his complaint, made on March 16, before the GDA vice-chairman on April 13, but was "deceptively" arrested on April 11. He was called by the police for "talks" and was sent to jail instead. He was later released on bail.
Sharma's wife Deepa alleged the police had taken bribe from the builders to frame her husband. "My husband was worried that the lives of hundreds of people were at risk. He wanted the government to take action against the guilty officials and builders.
"On the evening of April 11, the police came and took him along By Akash Vashishtha in Ghaziabad on the pretext of discussing the complaints he had filed against the builders. But he did not return. He was tortured by the police and sent to jail. The police took Rs.3 lakh from the builders to jail him on false charges," Deepa alleged.
Sharma's lawyer said he has been in jail for more than three weeks, though Section 21 of the RTI Act states that no person seeking information through RTI can be booked in a criminal case. The UP Urabn Planning & Development Act, 1973, also prohibits any criminal action against a person filing an RTI application.
On Monday, social activist Rajendra Tyagi demanded a CBI inquiry into the illegal construction atIndirapuram, Shalimar Garden, Kaushambi, Vasundhara, Rajendra Nagar, Brij Vihar, Surya Nagar, Ramprastha and Rampuri.
"There is total anarchy. Those who raise their voice against illegalities are put behind bars. Pawan Sharma is a patriotic RTI activist who was singing Shaheed Bhagat Singh's songs while being taken to court," Tyagi said.
Ghaziabad SSP Raghubir Lal, however, justified Sharma's arrest. "I ordered to file an extortion case against him after more than 40 builders approached me with the complaint that he was charging money from them. He filed RTIs first and then approached the builders asking for money. He threatened to expose them before the media if they did not pay," Lal said.
GDA vice-chairman Narendra Kumar Chaudhary, however, admitted the officials could have connived to allow largescale unauthorised construction in recent years.
"Some officials may be corrupt. We are identifying the illegal under-construction buildings and action would be initiated against them," he said.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

City's orphans have a shot at education now


Shaswati Das, Hindustan Times, New Delhi, October 18, 2012

The Capital's orphans are going to get a chance at education and subsequently a better life with the Delhi government notifying that such children will have an equal right as per Right to Education (RTE) Act guidelines.

An orphan as defined by the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Rules is a child who is without parents or willing and capable legal or natural guardian. Such a child will have to be given admission under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category, the government notice said.
"Starting this academic session, orphans will now be considered for admission in all schools under the EWS category. This is an attempt at giving them as much of a chance at gaining formal education as any other child. All schools will, therefore, be required to consider applications of orphan children as well," said Amit Singla, director of education, Delhi government.
While the child will need a certificate from the Women and Child Development department to be eligible for admission, schools maintained that no separate provision would be made for these children.
"Orphans will not be considered separately but will be included in the 25% EWS category itself. This is because the child will either come through an orphanage or the Delhi government. So children from all disadvantaged groups will fall under the EWS category," said Ameeta Wattal, vice chairperson, vice chairperson, National Progressive Schools Conference.
Yet, this directive may not necessarily spell good news for children belonging to this category. Thanks to the lottery system followed by schools, the odds against and those in favour of an orphan child being selected for nursery admission are equal.
"Our task is to provide a chance to underprivileged children and ensure that they are provided quality education. These children will also be subject to the lottery system under the EWS category so that the chance of an orphan is as much or as little as any other child under the category," Wattal added.

Pvt school flouts rules, makes EWS child pay for midday meal


New Delhi, October 16, 2012, DHNS:
Law says poor students can’t be charged fees of any kind
A pre-school student from the economically weaker section has been charged Rs 500 for two months by a private school for the food served under the government-funded midday meal scheme.
Activists say Dayanand Model School in Patel Nagar is violating regulations as schools are not supposed to charge any fee to poor students admitted under the EWS quota. 

Schools are also supposed to be get government funds if they decide to provide midday meals to EWS students, though private schools have complained in the past that they don’t get adequate funds for this.

No school fee


Kamlesh, the student’s mother, said the school did not charge anything from them for his admission, but is charging for lunch provided by the school for the last two months. The payment was made to the school through Allahabad Bank in East Patel Nagar. 

“The school has charged Rs 250 per month. I was not aware that we were not supposed to pay for any provisions given by the school to students who are studying for free. Shubham has been going to this school for four months now,” said Kamlesh, who works as a maid.

Parents were recently called by the school authorities and they were asked to pay more money for the school meal for September and October. 

“When she approached me regarding this issue, I stopped her from paying for these two months as under the EWS category schools are not supposed to charge children any kind of fee,” said advocate Kusum Sharma. 

She added private schools which opt for the midday meal scheme can’t charge even non-EWS students for it.

Breaking rules
Social Jurist, a rights group, has written to the directorate of education and the school to look into the issue. “Under the provisions of the Right to Education Act, 2009 read with the Delhi RTE Rules, 2011 the school is obliged to provide all facilities to EWS students free of cost. You are requested to stop demanding any amount from EWS students on account of midday meal,” reads the letter.

Refund sought

Social Jurist has also demanded that the school refund the amount taken from EWS students towards midday meal. When contacted, the school authorities said the allegations were baseless and refused to give any explanation.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Notoriety of Khap Panchayats !

The Khap Panchayat has done it again, to assert its false, unconstitutional and undemocratic supremacy. Going by the “Mail Today” news item which has appeared in its 1st October, 2012 issue, it is gathered that the Khap Panchayat has held a meeting at village Kohi in District Reewari of Hariyana and issued an order / diktat for the social boycott of the families of a boy - Bhagirath and a girl called Sunita, in case they do not disown their children. It is further reported that this young couple named Bhagirath and Sunita has developed strong sentiments of love and affection towards each other despite belonging to the same Gotra or clan and have married in April last year. The young love birds have married defying the socially accepted norms, customs and traditions relating to the Hindu marriages and also have a child now. It is pertinent to mention here that this young couple belongs to the Dalit families and sensing / fearing a threat to their life, they have also fled from their village and have approached the Rajasthan High Court for seeking security for them, as the big and influential people in the village's social hierarchy (members of Khap Panchayat) are deadly against them and are bent upon nullifying / ruining their married life, despite the fact that a baby has also arrived in their family now. 

It is also relevant to mention here that this is no the first or the casual case where Khap Panchayat has interfered and declared the marriage of the young couples belonging to the same Gotras as null and void. So many incidents of their uncalled for and illegal interruptions have been noticed and reported in the print and electronics media earlier also, particularly in the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Not only that, in some of the cases, young boys and girls daring to marry despite attracting strong opposition from the Khap Panchayats, had to pay the price with their precious lives, even though the fact remains that these kind of Khap Panchayats do not have any legal or constitutional authority to issue such diktats or orders to the people living in the rural areas in the above mentioned three states. It is just by the virtue or vice of their economic and social hegemony that they continue to assert their illegitimate pressure and influence on the people, particularly on the lower and poorer strata of society, i.e. Dalits to say the specific. It is also being perpetually done because of the implied and tacit understanding of most of the political leaders in power in these states. And these leaders have miserably failed in their constitutional duty towards of have-nots of the society, on more than one front and on more than one occasion. The big landlords and Jats etc. continue to harass and victimise the Dalits of the villages and neither Police nor political leaders help them to stop this menace.

Let us now delve a bit deeper into the malaise of the same Gotra or same clan marriages in the historical perspective. Shuffling over the pages of Indian history, here I am reminded of the times of Mahabharata. Every one is aware that during Mahabharata, Pandava Prince Arjuna had married Subhadra, who was his second wife. And this Subhadra was the real cousin sister of Arjuna, as mother of Arjuna (Kunti) was sister of Lord Krishna’s father (Vasudev) and both of them were Hindus. And, as everybody is aware that according to the Hindu customs and traditions relating to marriages, particularly in the northern India, marriages between cousins are strictly forbidden, because they are considered as brothers and sisters. But when Lord Krishna realised that His own sister Subhadra loves and adores Pandav prince Arjuna, Lord Krishna not only inspired Subhadra to elope with Arjuna, (as otherwise, their elder brother – Balram, had already made plans to marry her to the Kaurav prince Duryojan), but also advised Arjuna to kidnap Subhadra and flee with her from their kingdom – Dwarika, in case he really wants to marry the girl closer to his heart. Not only that, Lord Krishna also advised Arjuna to make Subhadra his charioteer so that the blame of kidnapping her does not fall on him. And after the storm of the anger and agitations against Arjuna engineered by their elder brother Balram had subsided and their pent-up sentiments had settled down, Lord Krishna convinced every one in their court that it was their own sister - Subhadra who herself drove away with Arjuna and also that the choice of finding a suitable match for the girl should be better left to her - was accepted by one and all present there. Thereafter, their marriage was solemnised with all related religious customs and traditions.

One thing more I would like to emphasize here that Lord Krishna was God himself, and during those times, who was better or bigger interpreter of religion and morality than Lord Krishna himself? But when He himself realised that Arjuna and Subhadra love and adore each other truly, He too bowed before the wishes of their love and sentiments and thus, He not only willingly agreed to their marriage but heartily bestowed His blessings on the young couple as well.

Now let us take another example from the pages of history. The 12th century chivalrous Rajput King of Ajmer, Prithviraj Chauhan (1149-1192) had not only loved Sanyogita or Sanyukta, but also kidnapped her and later on married her, much against the wishes of her parents. Both belonged to the Hindu families and Sanyogita was none other than Prithviraj’s own cousin sister (Mausi Ki Ladki), as she was daughter of Jai Chander, the King of Kannauj. Now everybody is aware that the Hindu religion does not matrimonial alliance between cousins as they are treated as brother and sister, but none had guts and courage to tell Prithviraj not to look at Sanyogita with this type of intention, which is considered as incest accordingly to the Hindu beliefs. But least bothering about the prevailing customs and traditions etc., Prithviraj moved forward and married her.

Many more examples of marriages between cousin and same Gotra / clan can be given even from the recent history, but the fact remains that the big and wealthy people hardly care for what other say or opine about their relationships. Religious customs and traditions are generally accepted and respected by the poor and middle class families only. Nevertheless, one more thing, I would like to emphasise here is that, by reading up to this level, please don’t jump to the conclusion or presume that I am in favour of same Gotra or clan marriages in Hindu families. But on the contrary, personally speaking, I am totally against such type of marriages, as the modern medical science has made it abundantly clear that while seeking matrimonial alliances, efforts should be better made to go beyond your own clan / Gotra etc., as if such a (same Gotra) marriage takes place, the children to be born out of that wedlock, shall have lower IQ level and shall also be susceptible to a number of diseases, as genes of both the parents have not been allowed to be different. Moreover, physical and mental traits of the kids shall also remain almost at the same level and there is very little likelihood of its moving up the ladder of intelligence. That is why, in Punjab, when finding a suitable match for the boy or girl, we keep in mind the Gotras of Father, Mother, Daadi and Naani and ensure that these four Gotras do not match with the Gotras of girl’s aforesaid four relations.

Last, but not the least, if the young boy and girl, least caring for the Gotras of their parents, think about their marriage, no doubt they should be made aware of the deficiencies which are likely to occur in their future life and their next generation, but if the young people does not care for these things to be avoided, it should be better left to themselves. Khap Panchayats should try to nullify their marriage or exercise any threat to them, because the matter is outside their domain. Moreover, such Panchayats should also keep in mind that they are not the elected bodies of the village, rather it is the Gram Panchayats who are legally empowered to exercise some influence on the people.

While discussing about the Khap Panchayats, it is observed that 9/10 cases of rape or gang rapes have taken place in Haryana alone during the last one month. One of the victims, a sixteen years old girl who was gang-raped around a week ago by the boys of the same village in Distt. Jind, has not only gone into depression, but also committed suicide by setting herself on fire after pouring kerosene oil over her body. But these Khap Panchayats have again miserably failed to rise upto the occasion and criticise and condemn the culprits who have committed such heinous crimes on girls / women. Why ? Don’t they have any sympathy for those victims or they simply avoid such ghastly acts of the criminals because majority of them are rich and influential people of their own community. Not only that, it is also observed that on many occasions, when some friction abrupt amongst the Jats and Dalits of their village, houses of the Dalits are set on fire, but even then these Khap Panchayats maintain their studied silence on those ghastly crimes. Thus, it can be observed that these Khap Panchayats act and speak only on the matters which are convenient to them and to maintain their false hegemony in society. It is also observed that most of the leaders of all political parties also prefer not to act or speak on the atrocities committed by Jats on Dalits in these states, may be also due to fear of political backlash.

While on the bad customs and traditions made by the big and influential people of the village society of Rajasthan, it is not out of place to mention here that in Village Dangariya of Distt. Dausa, Dalit members of the village are compelled to take off their shoes and slippers etc. while passing in front of or crossing the houses of the upper caste people. Not only that, Dalit youths are also prohibited from riding on horse backs while their marriage procession is proceeding towards the houses of the brides. What a derogatory rule made for the Dalits of the village and is mischievously allowed to prevail even after 65 years of Indian having gained freedom and untouchability has been declared a crime by law. Why these Khap Panchayats don’t speak against such draconian and Talibani diktats or orders and bad practices which are totally undemocratic in the eyes of the law and curtail the freedom of one caste or community and makes them subservient to others in society?
All such incidents and events are nothing but glaring examples of notoriety of the Khap Panchayats going on in all the three states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. The sooner these are addressed to properly, the better it would be for all the sections of society, because, otherwise, dictates of the Khap Panchayats not perpetuate unwanted and undesired friction amongst the various section of society, but it also leads to discrimination on basis of caste and community, besides being contrary to the spirit of fundamental rights of all the citizens. I would also like to suggest that the rape of a minor girl should be treated at par with murder and the man committing such crime should be awarded death penalty and all such case should be decided with expeditiously, preferably within two years. Not only that the undemocratic, illegal and Talibani wings of these Khap Panchayats should also be clipped and if they announce such an order in future, they should also be awarded huge and exemplary financial penalty.