BHOPAL: Expressing concern over repeated droughts in Bundelkhand region, the two-day convention organised by water man Rajendra Singh in Khajuraho urged the Centre to "reconsider" the controvertial ken-Betwa river linking project. In the times of the climate change and global warming, the convention said, when the rivers are threatened and …
The rapid escalation of the Anna Hazare campaign, aided by embracing the media as allies, compromised its political character in numerous ways. Political participation as a critique of the status quo has to exist both inside and outside the media spectacle. Visibility can be experienced as fulfilling, but when the …
Why has the Anna Hazare movement against corruption steered clear of people’s movements, and why have the latter behaved likewise towards the Hazare agitation? Manoranjan Mohanty (“People’s Movements and the Anna Upsurge”, EPW, 17 September 2011) is despondent about this gap between the two. The reasons are obvious and are …
Anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare has criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan for making a pro-Lavasa statement. He said the government should instead conduct a serious enquiry and take strict action against the Lavasa Corporation for violating environmental laws. In a letter to Mr. Chavan, Mr. Hazare and social activist Medha …
In a softening of stand, social activist Anna Hazare on Friday told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel and Law and Justice that it would be acceptable to his team if the government brought in strong legislation on a citizen's charter, grievance redress, whistle blowers' protection and judicial accountability to …
The Lokayukta Bill passed recently by the Uttarakhand Assembly is closer to Team Anna’s Jan Lokpal version than the one drafted by the UPA. For, it includes all government servants except High Court judges, powers to dismiss corrupt officials and permanent blacklisting of business entities that benefit from corruption. It …
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare that his government is not only committed to an effective Lokpal law but also working on a comprehensive agenda to eradicate corruption and improve governance. Responding to a letter from Mr. Hazare, the Prime Minister said creation of Lokpal was …
Both civil society and government have travelled a long way on the Lokpal Bill. The official Bill is a much improved version of earlier efforts. Most of the key elements for a strong and effective law are in place. What remain are differences on whether the Lokpal should cover all …
The Parliamentary Standing Committee examining the Lokpal Bill was learnt to be seized with the issue of including corporate sector and NGOs within the purview of the proposed anti-corruption ombudsman. Those on the committee maintained that the issue was being discussed with experts and a final call will be taken …
Faced with MPs complaints regarding alleged corruption in the implementation of rural job guarantee scheme NREGS, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday faulted elected MPs for their intentions pointing that they are not ready to open their MPLAD Scheme expenditure to social audit. “Whenever there is criticism of MGNREGA …
71 fast-track CBI courts & 3-month limit for sanctioning prosecution among measures recommended by Pranab Mukherjee-headed group of ministers The UPA Government has announced a series of measures to tackle corruption, including setting up of 71 fast-track special CBI courts, nine months after Congress President Sonia Gandhi promised the government …
Mass agitation vital, says Suresh Gopi The Anti-Endosulfan Campaign Committee, on Monday, launched its “third phase of agitation” to enforce blanket ban on the pesticide in the country. In a function at Bovikkanam, Malayalam film actor Suresh Gopi declared formally launched the new phase of agitation. Addressing the gathering, the …
The Jan Lokpal Bill epitomises the ultimate faith of the ordinary citizens, born out of utter despair, in an omnipotent authority – the Lokpal. But mere legislation cannot bring about reforms, without accompanying mass struggles to get them implemented by the executive agencies and grass roots movements to change social …
The anti-corruption campaign has shown that a desperate public demands an immediate solution. Citizens have got a taste of direct democracy which is frightening for the privileged manipulators of the system, but liberating for the poor who are usually manipulated. While what the future holds cannot be predicted, the prize …
The cameras have been switched off. The microphones have fallen silent. But the cacophony generated by the saturation media coverage accorded to the agitation led by Anna Hazare for a Jan Lokpal Bill continues to ricochet. Questions are being asked, as well they should, not just about the extent of …
At a time of national uproar over corruption and the Lokpal Bill, the government is proposing to enact a law making it compulsory for every ministry and department to act within 30 days on complaints from the public. The law will set up a mechanism similar to the Right to …
The Congress today made it clear that the Parliamentary Standing Committee would only be able to clear the Lokpal Bill in time for the winter session and not within a month for “a special Parliament session”. This was being demanded by the civil society while the process of fast-tracking the …
Fatehabad: Anna Hazare’s victory in his campaign for the Jan Lokpal Bill has raised the hopes of Gorakhpur farmers agitating to save their land for acquisition for a nuclear plant. The farmers have now decided to meet the social activist for the resolution of their problem. Hans Raj Siwach, president …
Union Minister for Corporate Affairs M. Veerappa Moily on Sunday said the revised Lokpal Bill would be passed during the winter session of Parliament. The Bill, which would include the key points raised by social activist Anna Hazare, has to be given a final shape by the department-related Standing Committee …
