Introduction:

As we know, Food Security Bill was passed in both houses of Parliament a few days ago and with presidential assent the Act will replace the ordinance. Despite all its shortcomings, the act is expected to benefit a vast majority of the population who seems to be guaranteed with some food to live, though not with bread and butter. Despite mixed responses from economists, socialists and politicians, the Act, at least, pleases so many people at such a colossal task which can be profitable with a competent distribution system sans malpractice or mal-intention.

So, now, we expect to have an India where nobody dies without food. Despite interruptions on various issues rocking the Parliament, consensus of the rarest type was seen with all opposition parties supporting the bill, especially BJP. It seems that Indian democracy has come of age and, as coalition politics is going to the rules of the country and not the exception, such welfare measures concerning people at larger, augur well for a matured democracy in coming times.

Water scarcity in India:

All the opposition parties deserve a "hurray" in the present rock-role parliamentary democracy of India. In India water scarcity is no less essential than food security. Rather more significant is clean and bacteria-free water which poor people and villagers never find. This set of people becomes vulnerable to water-borne diseases which vary from severe to critical in nature with special emphasis on premature death which awaits them very close to their huts and hamlets. Our politicians do not seem to be highlighting this problem and bringing it to a halt. As per the World Bank estimate, 70% of our villagers and 45%  of our urban population are deprived of pure drinking water. More than 6% of our GDP is wasted due to the slipshod supply of drinking water.

The situation is more alarming in tribal-dominated areas. The percentage of exclusion from uncontaminated drinking water in these areas is close to 90% or may be 100% to tell the truth. The mineral content of the water in such areas exceeds 500mg per liter. With no system in place, villagers have to drink from the same pond where they leave their faeces, take their bath, wash their clothes and dishes. Dead animals are at times found floating in water which is used for cooking food and drinking water.

Pure drinking water:

All mud and debris of the village make inroads into the ponds with rain water polluting it altogether. According to a study conducted by WHO, nearly 150 cores of people in the world are affected by infectious water-borne diseases, of which 70 lakhs die every year. 60% of infanticides are due to polluted drinking water. Nature has given us free water, but to make it bacteria-free is our duty and concern. The ground water and drinking water, the nature has given us are not going to be adequate in the near future. Even now, the shortage is acute and day by day more and more dearth of water is haunting the world.

The per capita drinking water available in our country is low. While 17.5% of world population and 11% of domestic animals live in India alone, the percentage of drinking water is only 4% and land occupation is 2.4%. While consuming our country’s per capita drinking water to that of USA, we find that it is 583 liters and 83 against. It is much below the accepted world bench mark of 1500litres. From the above examples, one should not conclude that the availability and supply of pure drinking water in urban areas are satisfactory. Invisible bacteria and minerals in the drinking water provided by the urban local authorities are too numerous dangerous. Even visible materials and small insects are very often found floating in this water. Both in urban and in rural areas, people are compelled to consume water available for their use despite many of them knowing that the drinking water available for their use despite many of them knowing that the drinking water is not pure.

Solutions and suggestions:

The solution to this alarming problem of impure drinking water is various folds. At the government level, more and more bore wells, wells, ponds, etc. should be erected in the nook and corner of the localities without any hara-kiri being done in the matter of digging as shallow tube wells or wells are going to be dried up in summer. As more supply of drinking water does not make it authentic, aqua guards at all homes, irrespective of economic criteria should be provided for a healthy India. The cost factor is not a problem as it was not a problem in the case of food security bill. After all, our government is a welfare government. If it thinks of providing laptops to students free of cost, similarly free aqua guards will make India stronger and excellent.

Conclusion:

People, especially those living in rural and tribal areas, should be taught to drink boiled and cooled water. Of course, battery operated aqua guards should be devised and provided as many villagers do not get electricity for a weak or fortnight or, if at all electricity is there, it is do not get electricity for a week or fortnight or, if at all electricity is there, it is only for a couple of hours or so during a day. The time has come to strengthen the backbone of the country, especially of the lower-income-group of people. The government should be geared up to come up with water security bill which will see strong, disease-free and vibrant Indians advising the country’s human resources.

Since many weeks now, political discourse in India has become minority focused. Every party has something to say and it is done with more and more crudity. It seems that a few parties want to be seen as anti minority thinking that it will fetch them increased votes from the majority community. Then there are other parties who take a pro minority stand thinking that it will get them increased committed votes from the minority community. The fight  in the coming 2014  elections is sought to be between secular and non secular forces.

It would be worth examining the question do votes get polarized  on religious lines on a pan India basis. The Hindus form the majority community in India constituting around 80% of the population. The minorities consist of Muslims at about 13% followed by Christians at 2.3% and Sikhs 1.9%. The balance is made by Jains and Buddhists and others. India's population is touching a figure of 130 crores.

The main focus is on Muslim voters and their votes. The Muslims form nearly 31% of Andhra Pradesh, 25% of Kerala, 18.5% of UP and 16.5% of Bihar populations. In rest states, except Jammu & Kashmir and Lakshwadeep where they are in a majority, they are around 10% or less of the population.

The battle of the ballot is thus sought to be 80% vs 13%. A school of thought wants to appear to be harsh towards the minorities and thus expects to get a maximum share of votes from the 80% community. The other school of thought wants to appear not favoring either the majority or the minority and expects to garner sizable votes from the minority community in lieu there off. In reality however both schools of thought are playing subtle politics.

The majority appeasing party is assuring the minorities that they have nothing to fear if they come to power, whereas the other group makes sly overtures to the majority community in subtle ways. In the process the politics in the country to a large extent has got divided between the two camps. It does not seem to matter to the two major all India level parties that they are progressively turning into larger regional parties.  However their agenda also is getting narrower. If at all they come out of the minority syndrome then they fight on petty issues and now have started calling each other frogs and cockroaches.

Can the minority votes play such an important role in Indian politics? I for one have my doubts. Excepting in constituencies where the minority population is say near to 50%  and that too voting is en bloc on religious grounds  the minorities are not capable of influencing the election outcome on basis of their religion. Then why this hue and cry. Why do the minorities become focus in elections.?

It is the way a viable alternative has developed in the country versus the party that has ruled the country for nearly five decades since independence that is causing this majority vs minority drama. The Congress has claimed to be a secular party and has ruled for the maximum period at the Center. It has been continuously attacked for appeasing the minorities by its opponents. The impression was that the minorities vote for Congress en bloc and this is the reason for its victory at the hustings. 

The right wing party could not get a foot hold. Therefore it designed its strategy to woo the majority community and progressively has given the appearance of being pro majority in a religious manner. This has made the minorities fearful and has created the impression that it will make increasing number of majority vote for them. In post Babri Masjid scenario it has worked in favor of this school of thought and they could even form a government at the Center for one term.

Having thus tasted victory this school of thought is now, post triple state assembly victories in Gujarat, is emboldened to spread it across the whole country. What till recently would not be spoken openly is now stated purposely in TV debates against each other. So while one party is trying to stick to its secular plank the other is out to demolish it lock, stock and barrel. It is here where the traditional Indian characteristic of tolerance will come into play.

Which school of thought will a majority of Indians choose in the 2014 elections. There is lot of unchallenged falsehood going on from all sides. The young and first time voters are being influence in a particular way. In democracy it is fair to woo the voter towards one's ideology. But not at the cost of the country's fundamental values which have held it together all these years.

It would be a dream to see an election in India being fought on issues of governance and bold initiatives announcements for taking the economy forward. There is far too much negativism and criticism in our system. Rubbishing an opponent by smearing his reputation is more common then challenging by expression of ideas. Many a time in political debates some leaders have gone back up to three four generations to smear a leader and a school of thought.

The next election it seems is going to be fought very bitterly because one party may see its eclipse and the other may see it self rising. Thus the stakes are very high. Who so ever comes to power let not the social fabric of India be demolished. 

Introduction:

The Constitution of India is secular in its theology and advocating equality of all citizens irrespective of caste, creed, sex and religion. However, the secular character of the Constitution of India is highly jeopardized by clause 16 (4) and Article 335 of the Constitution guaranteeing employment and promotion for the SC/ST people, which are partisan in principle and casteism in character. The constituent assembly headed by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar made the provision for SC and ST people for a period of ten years from the 26th January, 1950 with the sole intention to see these people grow in every respect to match with the rest of the society.

The system which was to end in 1960 is getting extended every ten years and is going to continue for a few more decades to come. The reservation system does benefit politicians in their vote-bank politics and no political party dares to get rid of the support base of the system or antagonize a huge identified section. It is needless to say that the reservation system has spread its wings to education, appointment, promotion, legislature and executive.

AIIMs controversy:

The Honorable Supreme Court of India in a judgment has pronounced that reservation system in vogue at AIIMS should be scuttled forth an appointment in the future should be based on ability brilliance and knowledge of the candidates. The treatment system should be more competent and best. The best of doctors should come to AIIMS and if reservation system continues, the name and fame and the best of everything that the hospital has will doom to low.

The Honorable Court has come down heavily on Indian politicians who have no concern for the country and its people and to keep their vote-banks intact. They have been running the medical, education and legal system of the country. But, our politicians are keen on finding a way out to counter court-verdict. In 1992, the apex court had fixed a cap on the reservation system at 50% in ‘IndIra Sahani’ verdict. But, the verdict seems to be on an uneven, dwindling base as the observation of the court is favorable to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments’ proposal for enhancing the cap on appointment to 69% and 73% of reservations respectively.

Reservation vs Globalization:

Today’s globalization has made the SC, ST and OBCs to search for their identity in industrialization, urbanization, democracy, human rights and equality. They are now a new force, quite overwhelming to take on the Brahmins and the affluent non-Brahmins. The political parties have become so much vote-addict that they are unable to digest and implement the creamy layer’s verdict of the court pronounced on 16.11.1993.

The emerging youth force is now agog with the idea of ‘merit and not the caste’ as the yardstick in all matters at all places. They do not entertain a situation where a brilliant and meritorious scientist scoring a 100 is defeated by that of a person of the reserved category scoring a duck in the examination. It is surprising and horrible to be in a situation where a reserved category person with no knowledge of medicine or surgery is a doctor at a reputed hospital or a professor at BHU or a space scientist. It is high time now that our politicians realize that enough is enough.

Another perplexing factor is that the affluent among the identified class also enjoy the benefit of reservation. So, the creamy layers’ theory of the Honorable Supreme Court of India is a very valid, acceptable and brilliant concept and must be adopted by all parties. A poor Brahmin, a day laborer, a poor Muslim or a Christian need reservation as much as, though not more as the reserved category. Our politicians need to be more rational and purposeful.

The reservation system has crippled the nation, turning a vast majority of our man-power into lazy, incompetent and incapable lots. The best thing the government should do to be to impact adequate training, education, knowledge, consciousness, competence and productivity so as to make them competent to handle critical situations and higher responsibilities. With declining opportunities in government jobs, how far the private sector will abide by the government reservation policy and still stand to gain in these days of globalization.

Some positive impacts:

The government is gradually losing its foot-hold due to FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) and FII (Foreign Institutional Investors) policy and privatization. Private players are not expected to oblige the government in the matter of providing jobs to the reserve category or promoting the inefficient. Neither they nor the government or public sector undertakings should do it either in the national interest.

Yes, one action by the government certainly is commendable and pleasing subject to all constitutional parties deciding in the same line with the national interest. Spread of education, solution of the communication problem, community development programs’ implementation, facilitation of bank loans, etc. will make the reserved category of persons more competent and competitive.

Conclusion:

An able and sufficient delivery system should be in place for which e-governance and RTI are basic necessities. A vibrant reflection of ability, transparency and non-partisan philosophy should find reflection in the works and deeds of the government. The time has come to ponder over the matter and streamline a domestic policy with all politicians taking it as their primary aim to place the nation before populist politicking.

Introduction:

The two historical and landmark judgment pronounced by the honorable Supreme Court of India of 13th July 2013 on the criminals contesting elections and politicians inside bars has created a flutter in political circles. The Supreme Court pronounced that a convicted criminal loses his membership status of the legislature and a politician in jail is debarred from contesting elections. The principal political parties are appalled by the judgment because as many as 150 convicted MPs are in Parliament this time and many convicts are going to be chalked off from getting tickets.

The Supreme Court has further stated that any legislators criminally convicted in lower courts with a two-year jail term or above. He stands to lose his membership of the legislature forthwith. This has made the representatives of the People Act, 1951, clause 8 (4) which gives immunity to a legislature in case of an appeal pending in a higher court, null and void. The interim relief provided for in the act is no more available after the judgment. The Honorable Supreme Court has made it clear that the statuesque is available to existing politicians against the lower court verdicts prior to the pronouncement of the order.

Serious criminal offenders:

From a total member of about 5,000 legislatures of the country, almost 1500 of them have been charged under serious criminal offence as knew from the affidavits filed before the Election Commission of India. Of the accused, about 700 have been charged with serious criminal offences, such as rape, attempt to murder, murder, and robbery, kidnapping and forcefully extracting money. These are all cognizable offences inviting conviction.

As per the survey conducted by “National Election Watch” and “Association of Democratic Forum”, 30% of Loksabha MPs, 31% of state legislatures have criminal cases pending against them. Of the above figure more than 50% of MPs and 15% of legislatures have cognizable criminal offenses against them. Party wise, BJP has 31%, Congress has 21%, SP has 48%, RJD has 64% and JMM has 82% of MPs and legislators with criminal cases against them.
The second verdict of the Supreme Court barring persons contesting from election may be fraught with dangerous consequences and nefarious design of electoral parties of contesting their opponents by confining them in elections times, making them ineligible to contest polls.

It is but possible that false allegations by ruling parties may land an opponent in bars. Politicians launch widespread movement against government actions, inactions and policies. So, FIRs against them are filed with the police and arrests can be made under factual or false FIRs allegations. Police under the impulse of political heavy weights may be arrests and confine leaders of political parties, making ineligible for contesting elections. Besides, executive or bureaucracy may exercise its powers arbitrarily.

Supreme Court's directives:

In order to settle a score, they may send politicians to jail, depriving them of contesting elections which may ring the death knell of democracy. Such apprehensions are not vague in the face of the mud-slinging politics going on in our country. The Representation of the People’s Act, passed by the Parliament years ago, and has been flawed by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has found flaws in the above Act which are antithetical in nature. On one hand it debars people in prison having voting rights and, on the other, it allowed political parties to contest from jail. In a uniform system, the Supreme Court debars both of their voting rights.

Political parties during the past years have shown little interests in purging politics or keeping criminals, money and muscle power away from politics. As per statistics shown in the beginning, all major political parties have criminals as their MPs and MLAs. The number has risen in the recent past, endangering democracy. This is being possible because of flaws in the law. Taking advantage of the delayed process of judgment in India, political parties and criminals have been basking on money and muscle power. Little interest has been shown by the Parliament and the state legislators to change the system or change the law.

Conclusion:

The political parties or India were deaf and dumb to the demands of the social organization and the educationists so far, but one single judgment of Supreme Court has awaken them from their deep slumber with keen interest in the recent past for measures to mollify the court verdict. Now, renewed hopes of electoral reforms, keeping criminals and money and muscle power away from the Indian administrative system have been taking shape in our minds. Judiciary steps in where legislature falters.