IAC-Mumbai FAQ, on Lokpal and IAC movement.

1. We hear that Anna Hazare plans to mobilize a mammoth meeting at the Jantar Mantar grounds in New Delhi on December 11. Are there any similar plans in Mumbai?  Also has Hazare got permission for the same as there are conflicting reports. 

Intimations-Permissions are under process for Jantar Mantar.  IAC always abides by the basic 'rules for common good' even tho we offer 'satyagrah' against systems which were designed by the english about one hundred years back.  Yes, there are similar plans for Mumbai too. 

2. Do you have permission to demonstrate at Azad Maidan? Do let me know what form this gathering in Mumbai will take? When will it start?

Yes, IAC-Mumbai are planning a 'dharna' at Azad Maidan in the public demonstration zone.  Intimation to the relevant Police Station has been made and as has been usual, we do not expect any objection, since this is a common demonstration zone.  Our Volunteers wearing Anna Caps, will gather there at about 10AM, to inform the Citizens-public and the Media about the 'breach of faith' the 'dhokha' that the Government has given the whole nation.  Full details of the points on which promises have again been broken will be offered. Banners, posters, leaflets, badges proclaiming the above will be offered to the IAC Nagarik Samiti's and city wide citizens from our Citizen Centers at Andheri East, Byculla East and Kurla West. The crowd will disperse in the evening, about 07PM after dark.  We expect tens of thousands, more than last time.  

3. What is the program exactly for the Mumbai demonstration?  

As above. One day fasting will be encouraged by all Volunteers ... except those who are managing the actual event.  As has been usual, we expect the police and CID to continue to offer guidance to IAC. We also expect some Groups associated with IAC-Mumbai to conduct their own similar events in far flung areas of MMR, though on a smaller scale.

4. December 11, is a Sunday is it deliberate to stage this protest on Sunday since it is a non-working day?

The presence of citizens on a non-working day is an advantage since they do not have to forego working day salary and wages. The GoI is forcing citizens to upset their routine lives by forcing our hand and we have to accommodate the needs and restrictions on the lives of citizens and their families and work.  

5. What kind of crowds are you expecting on December 11?

IAC-Mumbai expects tens of thousands to visit and participate in our day long satyagrah-dharna-fasting. 

6. Why are you holding this protest once again, after mammoth demonstrations earlier?  

We are now sure that the Standing Committee and the GoI have purposefully broken all the promises made to the nation.  The Lokpal Bill to be put before Parliament for debate and passing is so weak that again the citizens will be left with a toothless institution and more pain.  The following issues are not resolved, even though promises, 'sense of the house', commitment by INC spokes person, UPA-2, were made: 

PM to be covered by the Lokpal

CBI and CVC to be merged with Lokpal

Citizens Charter for all Federal and State departments, covering all services, costs, time lines and regular revision after feedback from all stake holders.

Lower division Officers not covered by Lokpal, but NGOs (registered and unregistered) to be covered.  The talk of need of extra staff for the former, is therefore a lie since there are Lakhs of NGOs who will need much processing.  

Judiciary corrupt practices not covered by Judiciary Bill or the Lokpal. 

Lokpal not independent since it has to work thru CBI, etc who continue to report to PMO. 

7. Do you think that the public will respond again?

We at IAC are certain that the citizen of our glorious nation will respond with greater fervor than before.  The disgust and rage is palpable.  Our meetings at Nagpur, Amraviti, Pune, Nashik, weekly meetings in Mumbai, the eagerness to join our  Mumbai IAC Nagrik Samiti's (INS), support this expectation. We have confirmed 85 INS for Mumbai, and the number keeps rising.  

8. Hasn’t the Anna Hazare movement lost some of its steam and sheen?

This is really unbelievable.  A simple chat with the people on the street in any town, village, city will confirm otherwise.  Our movement based on Ahimsa, Satyagrah, avoidance of 3D and confirmation of PAT does not allow goondaism, hulliganism, rabid tactics, etc. We do not instigate common breach of law and order, as can be seen every week, by some political parties and their supporters.  We do not call for 'bands' and harassment of citizens. We do not call for flash strikes and hurt the nation and citizens.  In our one year of street activity, there has not been even ONE incident of violence or 'situation' for which the security and police have had to act.  The satyagrah has been more peaceful and is the first in the whole world.  The constant mis-management of the Nation and its economy, the leakage of development funds in Lakhs of Crores, the humongous scams are not forgotten by the citizens.  We know they will respond to Annas' and IACs' call ... now it is a 'do or die' struggle. The second freedom struggle is certainly on.

9. first, it was Prashant Bhushan accused of making alleged anti-India remarks, then Kiran Bedi controversy? People are now saying that even if Hazare’s team is accused of corruption then it has lost the moral high ground.

The high or low moral ground of individuals has NEVER been the issue on the table.  The one and only item which has been troubling the nation has been a 'strong law against corruption and black money'. This cause is greater than the individual, who so ever it is.  This is the principle of the IAC movement. The tainted among the GoI are busy trying to 'divert' the public from the main agenda.  The whole nation is reduced to becoming victims of corruption and some projects have reduced the nation to beggary.  So who is to choose who will be 'the great deliverer'.  The logic that an alleged accused cannot suggest or work for public good is most ridiculous.  

10. Is the Anna Hazare team riddled with infighting and controversy?

Any national movement will have persons coming in and going out.  This is so for all times.  Each capable person will have their own strengths, but they all believe in the common public cause.  Only those who want the 3D effect (Deny, Divide & Divert) will emphasize the alleged weakness of one or more of the IAC teams.  Does the fact that some in the team have different opinions, change the main agenda or the need for a strong law?  Is the possibility that one person being wrong today, mean that the nation should not consider something pending for over 43 years?  What have the political parties being doing, except passing bills to improve their own benefits?  Witness the fact that each MP costs the citizens at least 62 Lakhs per year.  They do not even take feed back from the citizens of their constituency as our common referendums have shown time and again.  

11. History has shown that movements like the support Anna movement start off with a bang but gradually fizzle out. People do not have the strength or the time to continue. Would this one be different?  

Its only when arm chair activism overtakes grass root action, that the above happens.  IAC has found the right cause affecting each and every citizen of this great nation.  Even the politicians agree in private that they support a strong law against corruption since urgent reforms do not work anymore due to the constant bleeding of resources.  The same support has been expressed by the police and their branches and officers. The peaceful nature of each and every activity speaks of the sincere purpose; never has any activity been hijacked by 'self-seekers' or trouble makers, though attempts have been made to bring ridicule on the movement and its key supporters.  None of such attempts have succeeded. 

12. The last time Anna Hazare held his demonstration and similar movement happened in Mumbai, there were actors, performers etc who supported him. I think a choreographer even did some dance at the Azad Maidan. Was all this for publicity or do you think what he said resonated with everyone? 

IAC movement does not promote: netas, abhinetas and any self-seekers.  Like any citizen, they are welcome to visit and promote the national IAC cause.  IAC has never hired choreographers professionally, however some came and offered to bring in talent to promote the INDIA TEAM public cause led by AnnaJi.  Even some Bollywood personalities came in support as did senior Advocates of the Mumbai High Court.  We have not stopped politicians from openly supporting the IAC cause, however they have not brought their party culture or ideology to our stage and platform. After all they too are citizens of India.  In each case, they have avidly supported the public cause of 'strong law against corruption'.  IAC does not support publicity stunts and stings. This movement is too serious and Indias' existence is at stake.  

13. Why do you think NGOs (like yours) and the media (like this one) should not come under the ambit of Lokpal? 

These are mostly not working with Public Taxes or public money.  They are anyway required to file elaborate annual statements and undergo regular audit.  Peer pressure exposes any wrong doing.  This is not found with Low Level Government Officials and Public Servants who have been kept out of the ambit of the Lokpal.  With the Media, its independence and episodic misdeeds, hardly require any special treatment, the current laws and the Media over sight is sufficient.  The common citizens are not affected by any episodic event of the Media.  Focus on making the law citizen centric needs to be maintained. 

14. do you see the second round in Mumbai at least growing into a mass movement like the first?

Sorry ... this is the fifth round: the first was at Nare Park, Lalbaug, on 03rd April when over 8,000 citizens sat for three hours peacefully and listened to five 'dharma gurus' and many IAC key Volunteers. The second was the 'fasting' from 05th Apr onwards at Azad Maidan when over 10,000 visited daily and which culminated in a victory car rally attended by over 150 vehicles on the 09th April. The third was again the unbroken fasting from 16th Aug. at Azad Maidan when over 2,400 offered themselves for arrest on the first day, and daily 15,000 visited the Maidan and where over one hundred Groups, Schools, Unions and Associations signed in.  There was also the MahaRally from Bandra West Rly Stn via Juhu Beach ending at the Juhu Circle (over 10 KM) on 27th August attended by over TWO LAKH citizens, without any incident or 'situation' and with hardly any police presence.  Every time the movement has grown and the constant 3D, which seems to be the only weapon of GoI, has stopped working.  

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The India Against Corruption (IAC) movement is based on ...

1.  Ahimsa in Thought, Word & Deed.  While the last two might be easy and are generally practised by an overwhelming majority of Volunteers, it is the Ahimsa of Thought that is to be achieved by all, in order to reach higher Conscience.  

2. Satyagrah against existing Systems and Processes of the Government (at all levels) which are based or copies of what the extortionist English left behind and which do not reflect the current and future needs and wants of the Citizens of India.  We must not forget that a simple inquiry will demonstrate that none in the current and the past three generations have been asked what 'systems and processes of governance' are desired. No explanation has been offered and no feedback is sought even today, unless under pressure.  

3.  Avoidance of trap of 3D (which is Deny, Divide & Divert) which has been practiced by all invading powers and adopted by the democratically elected Government at all levels in the nation. The last, that is Divert is like a Bhramaastra, most citizens easily become emotional and get carried away by peripheral issues forgetting the central issue for which an agitation is launched.  

4.  Persistent and consistent use of PAT (Participation, Accountability & Transparency) in all social transactions, such as meetings, activities and agitations. 

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The above was published in the newspaper: Mid-Day, Mumbai, Thu 01st Dec. 2011, page-14&15.  

SLAPGATE REFLECTIONS

The India Against Corruption (IAC) movement is based on ...

1.  Ahimsa in Thought, Word & Deed.  While the last two might be easy and are generally practised by an overwhelming majority of Volunteers, it is the Ahimsa of Thought that is to be achieved by all, in order to reach higher Conscience.  

2. Satyagrah against existing Systems and Processes of the Government (at all levels) which are based or copies of what the extortionist English left behind and which do not reflect the current and future needs and wants of the Citizens of India.  We must not forget that a simple inquiry will demonstrate that none in the current and the past three generations have been asked what 'systems and processes of governance' are desired. No explanation has been offered and no feedback is sought even today, unless under pressure.  

3.  Avoidance of trap of 3D (which is Deny, Divide & Divert) which has been practiced by all invading powers and adopted by the democratically elected Government at all levels in the nation. The last, that is Divert is like a Bhramaastra, most citizens easily become emotional and get carried away by peripheral issues forgetting the central issue for which an agitation is launched.  

4.  Persistent and consistent use of PAT (Participation, Accountability & Transparency) in all social transactions, such as meetings, activities and agitations. 

The current debate on Slapgate (Shri Sharad Pawar being the new victim, in a series of minor violence cases initiated by anonymous citizens, against prominent persons) seems to look for some scapegoat to pin blame on the reason for the sudden rise in violence in public life.  Some politicians as usual are bent on Dividing and Diverting attention from the central issues which led to the national agitation and, some from the Media have taken pleasure in trying to pin blame on selected Activism movements.  Here one needs to pause and review the events over the past few years and months: growing level of scams of astronomical levels, growing shortages of basics and increasing costs, scuffles in Parliament and State Assemblies so nicely broadcast on national TV, attack on Baba Ramdev at Ramlila Grounds, attack on Prashant and Arvind, episodic humiliation and detention of IAC Volunteers when law and order or corruption issues are exposed.  The use of Governmental pressure, overt and covert, on the Activists behind the IAC movement and humiliating them on national TV, have not gone unnoticed among the citizens of India.  Reactions will follow, all need not be responses, and this should be clearly understood.  India can wait no more … to be heard and given its needs.

Almost one year of IAC activities in Delhi, Mumbai and so many cities and towns of India, have gone by without a single incident of violence or 'situation' requiring police intervention. This is a record for India and for the World; a peaceful movement involving citizens across all sections and sectors, with no 'netas' or 'abhinetaas' is unheard of in the whole world.  Let us not try to pin some blame on Anna or key drivers of IAC without realising that violence originated from the establishment and their power centres.   TEAM INDIA IS WATCHING; STOP THE PLUNDER OF INDIA.  

Buffett should learn our ethos of giving

The following is the report from:  Indian Express / R Vaidyanathan / Wednesday, March 23, 2011.   It makes very pertinent reading, even if a bit rhetorical.

The rootless wonders are agog with ecstasy that Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are visiting India. They will not only explore about investing in India but also urge the Indian business to allocate at least half of their wealth to charity and this year is called year of ‘giving’.

It is important that both of them are educated about our system and ethos of giving which exist from ancient times and do not need lectures through business channels which live and even die for TRPs.

Buffett should know that the greatest hero of all times in India in our puranas is Karna who gave all and his name is interchangeably used for the art of giving in many Indian languages.

Ratan Tata may be shy to point out to Bill Gates that ‘the Tata founders bequeathed most of their individual wealth to many trusts they created for the greater good of India and its people’. So is the case with G D Birla and Jamnalal Bajaj. This may not be trumpeted by Kumara Mangalam Birla and Rahul Bajaj. As a perceptive blogger Sandeep Singh says that as early as 1895 Dayal Singh Majithia bequeathed away three million rupees for noble causes including new ventures by Indians. Actually Majithia was an early ‘venture capitalist’ in India even though not many know about him.

We also find that Swami Vivekananda could not have gone to USA but for local business people funding him and the weightlifters and wrestlers could not have won gold medals at the recent Commonwealth Games but for local traders financing their clubs in remote parts of Orissa and Manipur. Many may not have heard about Ekal Vidyalayas which are one-teacher schools functioning in remote parts of India, particularly in tribal areas. They are in as many as 35,000 villages, educating more than one million children. Take the other example of Satya Sai initiative to bring water to Rayalseema using private donations. The Ninth Plan document of Planning Commission says, “The Sathya Sai Charity has set an unparalleled initiative of implementing on their own without any budgetary support a massive water supply project with an expenditure of `3 billion to benefit 731 villages, etc.”

Later this project was extended to Chennai costing more than `600 crore. Ramakrishna Mission runs around 200 hospitals serving nearly one crore people annually mostly in rural areas. It also runs around 1,200 educational institutions serving more than 3.5 lakh students of which more than 1.25 lakh are in rural areas.

Nadars engaged in business in Tamil Nadu have funded hundreds of educational institutions and hospitals and so the Marwaris/Chettiars/Katchis/Bhoras all over India.

A lot of our education, healthcare, arts, literature and spirituality efforts/ventures have been fully financed by businessmen who are even shy to talk about it. Herein is the secret to the fundamental ethos of giving in India. It is done without advertisements and trumpets. Actually in our tradition the giver is reluctant to talk about it since it embarrasses the receiver. The fact that it could demean the receiver is reason enough for the giver to keep silent. Remember the way Nitish Kumar reacted when the donation from Gujarat for flood relief in Bihar was advertised? Nitish Kumar recalled our tradition of giving without revealing.

It is told in our ancient wisdom that one should give till the hand bleeds and one should not talk about it. The action will speak even centuries later. The upstarts of today write on every tubelight their names before donating it to a temple or call press conferences to declare their ‘intentions’. That is the US culture. Everything from lovemaking to charity should be advertised and shown on prime time television. Then only you prove that the spouses and receivers are happy.

But why this sudden wallowing in self pity and whining about giving? It all started with the Indira Gandhi Prize being given to Bill Gates on July 25, 2009, and wherein the chairman of National Advisory Council Sonia Gandhi read a speech on the need for Indian businessmen to give for charity (like Bill Gates) and it was published in full by Wall Street Journal and a columnist in that paper pontificated the “rich in India to open their wallets”. Leaders and media in India who are clueless about Indian ethos are setting the Gates and Buffett’s to further pontificate to our business people.

It is interesting that Bill Gates who has operations in Cayman islands and Reno of Nevada to minimise or evade taxes to be paid to the United States government is enthusiastic about “Giving by India Inc”. Warren Buffett is planning to give his dollar assets to the Gates foundation which will reduce estate taxes in the future. Interestingly both of them are some of the few US business barons supporting estate taxes. It is not clear who are their dinner guests in India. If it is Forbes billionaires from India we hope Shahid Balwa of the Spectrum fame is not going to be there!

Somebody should also tell Bill Gates and Warren Buffett that India Inc constitutes less than 15 per cent of our GDP and the real growth masters are small partnership and proprietorship firms which are deeply involved in giving. Actually India Inc in our economy is like an item number in a Bollywood movie. Good to talk about on TV but only has the glamour quotient. Also can we suggest to Gates and Buffett to stop investing in firms in tax havens since that sucks away billions of dollars of money from countries like India. If they really want to help India then they should start a campaign to close down all these tax havens rather than having expensive company-paid dinners at five star hotels of our country urging Balwas to give.

(The writer is professor, Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore.

The views are personal)

URL of this Article : http://expressbuzz.com/opinion/op-ed/buffett-should-learn-our-ethos-of-giving/258790.html 

YOU CHOOSE ... WHICH PATH YOU WANT TO FOLLOW

ToI, Mumbai, 01Mar11, page-17

A serious reform opportunity is lost. Taxing life insurance service providers is a 'pass on' and we will have to pay more. Also, why tax AC hospitals when quality health care needs air conditioning? With excise duty on 'branded’ garments, the small town guy who puts his own label to improve his reach will pay more 
PRAFUL VORA | ACTIVIST

FINANCE BILL FY12

The following proposals / allocations will hurt the citizens: 

1.  taxing life insurance service providers.  This is a 'pass on' and our under insured will pay more and more.  

2.  taxing AC hospitals, when quality health care needs air conditioning.  We are still in the mindset that AC is a luxury ... with our dusty and polluted air, AC is a necessity and improves efficiency of service providers and the clients.  Why should health care be taxed in any way? 

3.  excise duty on 'branded garments' ... now the small town guy who puts his own label to improve his reach will pay more.  This is ridiculous. Do we want to improve production or imports?  All China goods carry some brand mark, so will there be special import imposition on all of those?  

4.  token excise duty of 1% on 130 new items ... just to collect statistics, a costly method I will say.  The Govt must use other on line filing methods without creating work for clerks. 

5.  Micro-irrigation equipment has its duty reduced but not brought to full exemption, yet the Govt. talks of spending on agriculture.  Here is a clear case of double speak. 

6.  reduction in duties on downstream crude oil products would have helped control inflation; yet this is not done.  Why heavily tax transport inputs, this adds to cost and not to value.  How can India compete and double its exports in five years?  

7.  if we have difficulty in mining coal, gypsum, etc because of forest lands, adivasi lands and environ. concerns; at least eliminate import duties on same to allow power, cement, infrastructure to get benefit of lower inputs. Why just token reduction?

8.  as usual, focus is on stock market, not long term reforms. So, FII investing in Mutual Funds is a big plus for the market; yet FDI for infrastructure is not clear, FDI in manufacturing is not easy. 

9.  a simple solution of pulling back Rs. 1000 currency notes to control corruption and black money is missed.  USA did it during Nixon's time and the Mafia lost ground.  

These are the errors of commissions and omissions which would otherwise, have made this Finance Bill tolerable. 

The focus of the Finance Bill should be only on irrigation (small local dams and micro-irrigation), low agri-interest rates, cheaper produce storage and transport corridors and coaching for employable skills.  Taxes and Duties on processed foods should be removed, to encourage production and consumption.  Food Security is needless if above are made robust.  

The dangers of an imported Second Green Revolution should be clear in that focus should be on fine tuning existing technology rather than handing over research control to foreign Corporates and sourcing so called better seeds from foreign Corporates.  If the existing skill sets and tools with the farmers are improved there will be no need for Corporates to move in.  The meek surrender of the nations assets and resources to Global Corporates who focus on financial gains by any means must be avoided.  

Next on priority should be meaningful education with emphasis on 'values education', robust health care and continuous electric power.  All other social spending should be reduced to accommodate the above.  NREGA is useless if employable skills and power are not provided, we are perpetuating beggary and needless immigration to urban areas.  

Finally, India needs to review its taxation process entirely.  The ArthaKranti Prathisthan proposes 'bank transaction tax' and currency compression.  We must have public debate and prepare a doctrine.  India has the skill set for this and can lead the world in this sphere.  

All the above taken together will lead to eleven plus economic growth rate with a human face and drastically reduce the current social problems that India and the world face.  Unfortunately, the above are not fully addressed this time.