Nothing Adarsh in the whole affairs

The ‘Chavan out, Chavan in formula’ doled out by the Congress high command at the Centre for Maharashtra has been accepted with a sackful of salt by sceptics.
Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam is a bead in a long string of political misdemeanours. AR Antulays, Shivajirao Patil-Nilangekars and Ashok Chavans don’t give us the jitters any more.
Land-grab scams are nothing new.
Only this time, the Adarsh scandal exposes like never before the use of realty as a tool of political patronage. Purportedly meant for Kargil martyrs’ families, this 31-storeyed high-rise (that should never have exceeded six or seven storeys) ended up with a who’s who of the political, defence and bureaucratic establishments. 

Do we need to be reminded those years ago, when men in power made dirty money from even caskets bought to lay these slain bravehearts to rest? Could we think of anything more morally despicable?
The Adarsh scam has unveiled corruption as an all-encompassing malaise, a conglomerate with an ensemble cast drawn from every section of the society. Hounding Chavan out of office and making a few face the guillotine is not enough.
The rot is systemic. The remedy must be more than token scalp-taking. The question is what? Here’s where we must indulge in a considerable measure of soul-searching. Enough is enough. We, the people, have been fooled and fooled time and again.
Scandals surface with regularity and real culprits go scot-free and cases are forgotten.
As to what should be done in the Adarsh case, I have two simple things to posit. One, relatives of the Kargil martyrs should not take up flats in a society that’s anything but adarsh (role model). They would be undermining the sacrifice of their loved ones by staying in a debased society.
Two, as for the systemic morass, several bureaucrats have been found with their hands in the cookie jar. Right now, they are lying low and waiting for the dust to settle so that they can go back to their usual path. This loot by the state’s custodians shouldn’t go unpunished.
Let me be permitted to say that we might take a leaf from former Chinese premier, Zhu Rongji’s book whose zero-tolerance to corruption sent shivers down the spines of civil servants convicted of turpitude.
This needs tremendous political will which the new incumbent, Prithviraj Chavan is expected to exhibit. Landing amid a sticky situation, with a tough ally like NCP to bargain with, let’s see if he can give clean governance and early deliverance a chance. The jury waits.

Now PM has to convince Sonia Gandhi that opening up is Good

As US President Barack Obama concluded his four-day visit to India this week, the question on everyone’s mind was whether India had been astute in dealing with him or got carried away with his oratory and charm.
Would India look out for its own economic interests while forging this new “defining partnership of the 21st century” that Obama talks of?
Arvind Panagariya, professor of economics at Columbia University, feels that the Obama visit has created an environment for significant economic benefits for India, and now it is up to the Indian government to take advantage of these opportunities by pushing ahead with reforms. At the same time, Panagariya says in an interview with DNA, India should be prepared to push back against protectionist measures that may arise in the US because of the persistent problem of unemployment there.
What is your assessment of Obama’s visit to India in economic terms?
The major economic gain is connected to the access to dual use technologies. Most other accomplishments fall in political, security and strategic areas, which indirectly create economic benefits by helping India rise globally.
What would Obama have hoped to gain specifically?
Perhaps reduced liability on the sales of nuclear plants, and opening of organised retail to foreign investors.
To what extent is Obama in a position to “prise open” the Indian market, and what would be the quid pro quo for India? Is it likely that India might sacrifice economic efficiency by letting political reasons guide its decision to open up to US products?
Any market opening including in the area of organised retail will be on a non-discriminatory basis and therefore to all trading partners, not just the US. As the last 20 years of external and internal liberalisation have shown, opening up largely works to improve efficiency.
There’s a perception that the US is offering empty promises on strategic issues like a UNSC seat at some indeterminate time while pushing for immediate economic gains. What’s your take on this?
Didn’t we eagerly seek the US backing for the UNSC seat?Now that we have it, how does this become an empty promise?Agreed, we are still some way from having the UNSC seat, but are we not closer to it than we were before the Obama visit?
Regarding the economic gains, you need to be specific.If you are referring to the $10 billion or so worth of contracts, I see them as win-win — they do not quite inflict a loss on us!
What does India need to do to boost trade for mutual benefit?
Undertake further economic reforms (including streamlining social programs to combat poverty) to boost growth and alleviate poverty.The larger our economy, greater the opportunities for all in our market.
What are the main hurdles that Manmohan Singh faces in pursuing this agenda and how can they be overcome?
The PM needs to convince Mrs Sonia Gandhi and his Cabinet that economic reforms of the kind he initiated in the 1990s are in the national interest.
Even as Obama wants open markets for US firms, there are concerns over increasing protectionism in the US. How much of an impact can this have on India and what can Indian negotiators do about it?
Indian companies and government have to keep the pressure up on the US to hold the line on protectionism.So far all countries have been quite successful in holding protectionism at bay despite the major global economic crisis. But this may change and vigilance is required.
As a last resort, India has to also be prepared to retaliate through its own trade sanctions if it is subjected to selective protection against its exports.
How can Obama change the negative perception about outsourcing that he had himself stoked earlier?
Rather than stoke the fears, he needs to explain to the American people the benefits of openness to trade and investment.
How do you view the Indian backing for the US move to pump $600 billion into the economy, which China is strongly opposing?
The Chinese vice finance minister has made a statement very similar to that of the Indian PM regarding the QE2 (Quantitative Easing Part 2). It is likely that the Indian PM offered a helping hand to a departing US President who had conceded on virtually all of India’s demands during his visit.
Moreover, given the capital controls at its disposal, India is better able to deal with the inflow of dollars. Unlike countries with full capital-account convertibility such as South Korea and Brazil, it does not face the tyranny of the impossible trinity.
What is the other significant area in which you expect the US and India to back each other at the G-20 summit?
They will work together to make progress on developing an improved global economic governance.
What are the potential gains and threats from granting the US wish for FDI in retail from the point of view of the Indian farmers, Indian consumers and Indian economy?
Indian farmers stand to benefit from improved supply chain; Indian consumers stand to benefit from reduced prices resulting from a more efficient supply chain management; and the Indian economy stands to benefit for both of those reasons plus expanded export performance since foreign retailers are well-placed to link our suppliers to the world market.

Obama Hosted by PM for dinner ; Politicians and even Bollywood actors also invited.

New Delhi:  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hosted a private dinner for visiting US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle on Sunday which was attended by political bigwigs, business leaders, actors and sports personalities.
The Obamas drove to the 7, Race Course Road residence of the Prime Minister from ITC Maurya where they are staying. They were warmly welcomed by Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur.
The guests included UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, senior Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony, P Chidambaram, S M Krishna and Sharad Pawar, senior BJP leader L K Advani and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi.
Top business leaders Azim Premji, Ratan Tata, Swati Piramal and N R Narayanamurthy were among the guests which also included Bollywood personalities Aamir Khan, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akthar.

Chess wizard Viswanathan Anand and Environmental Activist Sunita Narain was also present at the dinner.
Ahead of the dinner, Singh and Obama were closeted for a one-on-one meeting for about 25 minutes during which the two leaders were understood to have taken stock of bilateral ties and ways to push these to higher levels of strategic partnership.
The two leaders are believed to have taken an overview of the bilateral relations, which have grown substantially over the last few years.
Earlier in the day, Singh set aside protocol and went to the Indira Gandhi International airport to receive the US First Couple who arrived here on the second leg of the visit after a hectic 26-hour stay in Mumbai.
Union Ministers who attended the event included Anand Sharma, Prithviraj Chavan, Salman Khursheed and US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer.
As Obama reached the Prime Minister's residence, 30 camel-mounted BSF personnel welcomed him by playing bugles and trumpets.
The personnel in their traditional uniform played different tunes which were enjoyed by the US President and Michelle.

India perceived as more corrupt after CWG scam

New Delhi:  India has slipped to 87th spot in Transparency International's latest ranking of nations based on the level of corruption, with the global watchdog asserting that perceptions about corruption in the country increased in the wake of the scam-tainted Commonwealth Games.
Transparency International's 'Corruption Perception Index' report covering the public sector in 178 countries shows that India fell by three positions from its ranking of 84th in 2009.
With an integrity score of 3.3, India is now ranked 87th in the world in terms of corruption. Neighbouring China is ahead of India in the list at 78th place, with a score of 3.5. It was at 79th position in 2009.
"India has gone down in the ranking as well as integrity score and this is a matter of concern and regret. It appears that the level of governance has not improved despite India having a skilled set of administrators," Transparency International India Chairman P S Bawa said in New Delhi.

The rankings, on a scale of 0 to 10, are based on the extent of corruption and each government's ability to punish and contain corrupt activities, among other criteria.  A score of zero is perceived to be highly corrupt while 10 would indicate the lowest level of corruption.
According to the report: "The perception about corruption in India seems to have increased primarily due to alleged corrupt practices in the recently held Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Delhi."
As many as four investigating agencies - the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax Department and Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) - are looking into allegations of corruption against the organisers of the CWG, which concluded here earlier this month.
The top three countries with the lowest level of corruption globally, as ranked by Transparency International, are Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore.
Denmark was ranked first in the report, with an integrity score of 9.3, while New Zealand and Singapore came second and third with a similar score.
Bhutan was the best performer in the South Asian region and was ranked 37th, with an integrity score of 5.7.
However, other SAARC nations are ranked below India.
Pakistan is ranked at 143th in the list, with an integrity score of 2.3, while Bangladesh is at 134th, with a score of 2.4. Sri Lanka was ranked 91st in the list, with an integrity score of 3.2, while Nepal was 146th (2.3) and Maldives joined Pakistan at 143th place (2.3).
Afghanistan, the newest SAARC member, was ranked 176th in the list with an integrity score of 1.4. The world's largest economy, the USA, garnered an integrity score of 7.1 and was 22nd in the list.
Among BRIC countries, Brazil was at 69th position with a score of 3.7 and Russia was 154th, with an integrity score of 2.1.
Transparency International is organising Anti-Corruption Day on December 9 to sensitise the public on this issue.
The report is based on 13 surveys conducted throughout the year by various international bodies, including the World Bank, the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the Freedom House Foundation.

Kasab Death penalty hearing today at bombay high court

MUMBAI: The confirmation hearing of the death sentence awarded to Pakistani gunman Amir Ajmal Kasab is set to commence in the Bombay high court amidst unprecedented security on Monday. 

The court will hear the three applications-the plea to confirm the death sentence, the appeal filed by Kasab against his conviction and the appeals filed by the state government challenging the acquittal of two co-accused in the 26/11 case, Faheem Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed. 

A division bench of Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice R V More will hear the arguments, which will be opened by special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. 

Kasab will not be present in person but participate in the proceedings through video-conferencing in view of the threat perceptions against him. 

Special judge M L Tahaliyani, who is now the principal sessions judge, awarded the capital punishment to the 22-year-old Pakistani gunman for his role in the November 26-29, 2008 Mumbai attack that claimed the lives of 166 people, including 26 foreigners. 

Unprecedented security measures have been ordered in the court premises with strict regulations on the entry of lawyers, litigants, mediapersons, court employees and others in Court No. 49, according to IANS. 

Government counsel Ujjwal Nikam, who fought the case in the trial court, will open his arguments seeking confirmation of the death sentence. 

Later, defence lawyers Farhana Shah and Amin Solkar will make their submissions on the confirmation of the sentence and their appeal against it. 

Two other co-accused in the case, Faheem Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed, who were acquitted by the Special Court owing to "doubtful evidence" against them, were re-arrested following an appeal filed by the state government. 

Both are currently lodged in different jails in Mumbai. 

Nine out of 10 gunmen, barring Kasab, who staged the attack were killed by security forces.

Dengue costs India almost $30m every year, says WHO Read more: Dengue costs India almost $30m every year, says WHO - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dengue-costs-India-almost-30m-every-year-says-WHO/articleshow/6765033.cms#ixzz12eWQ5gJl

NEW DELHI: Two "neglected diseases" -- dengue and cysticercosis -- are costing India nearly $45 million between them every year.

According to WHO, around 1 billion of the world's poorest people suffer from such neglected tropical diseases, mostly in urban slums. The global health watchdog said in its latest report the societal monetary cost of cysticercosis -- an infectious disease caused by the pork tapeworm Taenia solium -- is estimated to be $15.27 million while the economic burden of vector-borne dengue is estimated at $29.3 million.

According to WHO's first-ever report on neglected diseases, these diseases kill an estimated 534,000 people each year.

India also has a huge disease burden of rabies, caused by dog bites. In India, 20,000 rabies deaths (that is about 2/100,000 population) are estimated to occur annually. Asia and Africa account for the vast majority of rabies fatalities. In Asia, 31,000 deaths are estimated to occur annually (1.2/100,000 population).

WHO identified 17 such diseases present in 149 countries and found that more than one-third of the 2.7 billion people living on less than $2 a day were affected.

WHO said the number of cases of dengue, which recently caused havoc in India, saw a jump of 18% in 2007 compared with 2006 in southeast Asia.

Dr Margaret Chan, director general of WHO, said, "Though medically diverse, neglected tropical diseases form a group because all are strongly associated with poverty, all flourish in impoverished environments."

She added, "Most are ancient diseases that have plagued humanity for centuries. Today, though neglected tropical diseases impair the lives of an estimated 1 billion people, they are largely hidden, concentrated in remote rural areas or urban slums. They are also largely silent, as the people affected or at risk have little political voice."

Chan said neglected tropical diseases have traditionally ranked low on national and international health agendas.

According to WHO, close companions of poverty, these diseases also anchor large populations in poverty. Onchocerciasis and trachoma cause blindness. Leprosy and lymphatic filariasis deform in ways that hinder economic productivity. Without post-exposure prophylaxis, rabies causes acute encephalitis and is always fatal. Leishmaniasis leaves permanent scars and is rapidly fatal if untreated.

Dengue has emerged as a fast spreading vector-borne disease affecting mostly poor, urban populations. It is also the leading cause of hospital admissions in several countries.

"The consequences are costly for societies and for healthcare," Chan said. 

Obama to visit Golden Temple, college in Amritsar

Amritsar:  When US President Barack Obama lands in India next month, his itinerary will include a visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. 
Obama will arrive in the Sikh holy city from Mumbai on November 7and visit the Golden Temple and offer prayers at Harmandar Sahib, the sanctum sanctorum.
"Obama will visit the Golden Temple. US embassy officials and security officers have been coming here at regular intervals for weeks. We are cooperating with them," SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar told IANS.
Details of the areas Obama will visit in the shrine complex, spread over 15 acres, are being worked out. After offering prayers, he is likely to go to the main langar hall, the 24-hour community kitchen where an estimated 100,000 devotees are fed traditional meals on peak days.
"We have started preparations (ahead of the visit). Security has been beefed up in Amritsar district," Amritsar's Deputy Commissioner K.S. Pannu told IANS.
"Obama will visit Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) and Khalsa College. But there could be last minute changes. The final plan is yet to be sorted out," said Pannu.
What is worrying security agencies is that Obama is arriving on a Sunday, which attracts the highest number of devotees. The rush could be even more this time as Diwali falls on November 5, making it a long weekend holiday till Nov 7.
"So far it has not been decided in which hotel President Obama will have his lunch," the official added.
Unprecedented security arrangements are being put in place by the US Secret Service along with officials of Indian security agencies, including the Punjab Police and the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages the shrine.
"Since the area around the Darbar Sahib is very crowded, we could direct the shopkeepers and other traders to close their premises for some time. We can also ask people to remain away from certain areas during Obama's visit," Pannu added.
Obama's visit comes close on the heels of one by President Pratibha Patil to the shrine October 6. 
Regarding security arrangements for Obama's visit, Makkar said: "Amritsar Police are taking care of security outside the Golden Temple. Inside our premises, we will have our own arrangements in consultation with security officials."
The SGPC provides a volunteer force inside the shrine while security officials in plainclothes are allowed along with high-security VIP visitors.
The US entourage will land at the Rajasansi airport and then drive into the city.
Makkar said the SGPC would honour the US president at the shrine complex. 
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited the Golden Temple in November last year. British monarch Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Phillip had visited it in October 1997.

"It is good such a big leader is visiting the shrine. This shows that Sikhs have an important role to play even at the international level," Balbir Singh, a shopowner near the shrine, told IANS.