[PhillipHer]

Sam Pitroda is the new caste face of congress party

"Twenty years back Rajiv Gandhi thought of bringing mobilr phones to India. Do you know who brought them? Sam Pitroda, who is a Vishkarma, 'Barahi' (carpenter). He bought mobile phones to your houses."

Rahul gandhi, in the rally of "most backwards" in Akbarpur area of Ramabai Nagar, on Saturday, 17 Dec 2011.

1. Sam pitroda, must be from the most backward community from that area, as his name was referred to in the rally; not clear whether the attendees could place sam pitrods.

2. Sam pitroda had nothing to do with mobile phones. His company developed small rural electronic exchanges and these were installed. Rahul gandhi is ignorant of the growth of telecom industry or has been briefed badly.

3. The silver lining is, the most backward people have mobile phones in their houses; good progress.

The Sunday Express, 18 Dec 2011

[LottiFurmann]

Condition of poor Muslims worse than Dalits: Congress


Justifying the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government's proposed move of providing a sub-quota for minorities, a Union minister on Saturday said that the condition of poor Muslims and Buddhists in the county was "worse" than Dalits."The condition of poor Muslims and Buddhists in the country is worse than Dalits, therefore 4.5 per cent quota within quota was necessary," Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said.

Condition of poor Muslims worse than Dalits: Congress - Rediff.com News

[Raj_Copi_Jin]

Sir Sarang,
I generally agree with you, but I beg to differ from your view of Sam Pitroda.
he is rightly called
"The father of India's communication revolution"
Sam Pitroda
Sam Pitroda, chairman of India's Knowledge Commission, has been given a prestigious industry leader award for public welfare service by IEEE, a leading professional association for the advancement of technology.

Credited with having laid the foundation for and ushered India's technology and telecommunications revolution in the 1980s, Pitroda accepted the "award on behalf of thousands and thousands of Indian engineers and scientists who have worked hard for the benefit of all the professionals".
Sam Pitroda

Sam Pitroda: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

Articles about Sam Pitroda - Economic Times

Let us not belittle contributions of other Indian, even if they are from other camp.
But then again they belittle MK Gandhiji, so I should not be surprised.

[Beerinkol]

what about the forward caste hindus. did any one take a survey about their economic condition? i feel even the economically backward brahmins deserve quota. but there is no one to speak for us. only god should save us. let me pray god to improve our economic status.

[S.T.D.]

I agree. Sam pitroda was an important player in the telecom revolution I had attended several functions where he was a main speaker. He was responsible for spreading telephony to rural areas and making STD easily available. Later as a member of the water commission he did good work. But he is not responsible for mobile revolution. It came much later, after the economy was liberalised by narasimha rao.

I was referring to rahul gandhi's ignorance of pitroda's work;

Sir Sarang,
I generally agree with you, but I beg to differ from your view of Sam Pitroda.
he is rightly called
"The father of India's communication revolution"
Sam Pitroda
Sam Pitroda, chairman of India's Knowledge Commission, has been given a prestigious industry leader award for public welfare service by IEEE, a leading professional association for the advancement of technology.

Credited with having laid the foundation for and ushered India's technology and telecommunications revolution in the 1980s, Pitroda accepted the "award on behalf of thousands and thousands of Indian engineers and scientists who have worked hard for the benefit of all the professionals".
Sam Pitroda

Sam Pitroda: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

Articles about Sam Pitroda - Economic Times

Let us not belittle contributions of other Indian, even if they are from other camp.
But then again they belittle MK Gandhiji, so I should not be surprised.

[doctorzlo]

Posted for information.

The Adhaalath Party, a Maldives Islamic group, who supports the newly elected President Mohamed Waheed, stated that the constitution does not allow idols anywhere in Maldives. Maldives also does not permit non-muslims to become permanent citizens of the small island nation.

Of those destroyed, many Buddhist and Hindu relics were smashed and broken to pieces making them merely unrecognizable.

35 Invaluable Hindu and Buddhist Statues Destroyed in Maldives by Extremist Islamic Group | The Chakra News

[Ifroham4]

"Upanishad Ganga is not merely a television serial, it is a window that offers a glimpse of the ancient culture and value system of India. India is not just a geographical entity, it signifies an entire vision of life which is an art as well as a science of living,"

The TV serial produced by chinmaya mission and directed by chandraparakash dwivedi (who produced chanakya) will be aired for 52 weeks every sunday morning from march 11, 2012.
Serial with Upanishad teachings from March 11 - The Times of India

[radikal]

"It is now perfectly legal for a woman to retain her maiden name after marriage."

"The radical rule says that "a wife who has not changed her name after marriage, by publishing in the official gazette, may continue to use her maiden name". The law is clear now: a woman is not obliged to take her husband's name after marriage. "

Good move; we are getting back to our old ways. Sitaram refers to Rama and not Sita.

Now, women can retain their maiden name - The Times of India

[Fegasderty]

Today's edition of "The New Sunday Express" carries two Articles on important topics of interest, that I wish should be read to understand the vagaries of governance.

One is on the UPA's Committee Raj by columnist Shankkar Aiyar in URL:

The UPA

Other is on the "Weak-kneed response of our Government" by well known Journalist T.J.S.George given in URL:

Must the world take us for granted? | Italian ship | fishermen | The New Indian Express

[Big A]

Famine areas produce surplus food; yield three times national average. But US is upset because iraq is buying rice from india at the expense of US.

"The government said on Friday that "bringing green revolution in eastern India programme (BGREI)", launched in 2010-11, has resulted in a robust increase in foodgrains production. Rice production from the region is estimated at 562.6 lakh tones, an increase of 19.8% over last year. The increase across the country is estimated at 7%. Overall foodgrain production from the region is estimated at 1,032 lakh tonnes, an increase of 11.9% against an all India increase of 2.2%, an official statement said."

Iraq's basmati import torments US

"HOUSTON: US Congress members from the largest ricegrowing states are on warpath , asking Iraq to resume buying US long-grain rice, instead of from India."

"The letter said that there was a 77% drop in rice sales to Iraq between 2010 and 2011, even though "not long ago, Iraq represented the largest market for US rice" .

Now, a green revolution in the east - The Times of India

Iraq's basmati import torments US - The Times of India

[tgs]

Money for the river interlink project will not be a problem, if 2G scam, CWG scam, mining scam, fertiliser scam, swiss and other foreign bank account - money is recovered and part of it spent on this project.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has approved the government's project of interlinking rivers. The apex court has directed the Central and State governments to implement the projects under the interlinking of rivers scheme.

"The river interlinking project was the brainchild of the NDA government and in October, 2002, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had formed a task force to get the project going against the backdrop of the acute drought that year.

"The task force had also concluded that the linking of rivers in the country would raise the irrigation potential to 160 million hectares for all types of crops by 2050, compared to a maximum of about 140 million hectares that could be generated through conventional sources of irrigation.

SC approves Government's project of interlinking rivers - India News - IBNLive

[9mm_fan]

Vault A contains the most precious items and vault B is yet to be opened.
"Vault B will be opened only after getting the clearance from the apex court..Vault C contains items that are used by the temple officials for the daily "poojas" and for festival days.
Last week, it was decided to first document the treasures in vaults E and F, but Monday's meeting decided to start with vault C. In all, there are six vaults in the temple. Of these, five have been opened based on a petition filed by a former Indian Police Service (IPS) official, T.P.Sunderarajan. It was in July last year that the Supreme Court-appointed committee stumbled upon the treasure from the vault A, which had remained unopened for more than 150 years.

Incidentally, Sunderarajan passed away last year and another co-petitioner also passed away early this month.

What about vault D? No reference.

Documentation of Kerala temple treasure begins | Padmanabhaswamy temple | | The New Indian Express

[PhillipHer]

Season of treasures! Nine may soon become crorepathis!!!

"A major treasure hunt is on opposite the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat and guesstimates put the treasure’s worth upward of Rs 20,000 crore.Sources said that the Archaeology Department received a sworn affidavit from nine prominent citizens led by Mr T.B. Raju, chief manager (personnel), Coal India Limited, stating that they had reliable information of a treasure in a hidden tunnel on the premises of a school in front of the state Secretariat.

Incidentally, the prominent citizens who had petitioned the Archaeology Department, has demanded that they be given their share — one-fifth of the treasure if it is found — under the Treasure Trove Act 1878."

Huge treasure near Secretariat | Deccan Chronicle

[NeroASERCH]

1.Socialism/ communism is responsible for our poverty
2. Hinduism has survived despite vicious attacks by muslim and christian models. Almost all other countries have fallen and capitulated.
3. India had a prosperous and vibrant economy till 1700 CE because of our social model.
4. Modi is not a brahmin but a benign ruler.

Excerpts from the article by columnist Rajeev Srinivasan (US based) in rediff.com. We must reinvent our ancient social model to stay on top.

Modi's greatest achievement has been the fact that he has created a clear social contract with the people of his state. (I am indebted to my friend B Rao of Los Angeles for this insight). Modi promised them development, and he delivered. In return, he asked for just one thing: Discipline and the people delivered. This has become a win-win situation for both parties, and for investors: There is a visible change in Gujarat's fortunes, right on the ground.

It could be argued that Modi has revived a traditional Hindu/Buddhist social contract, which, in return for discipline and hard work, provides the populace with security and righteous order.The population may pursue dharma, artha, kama, or moksha, without interference from the State; but they pay taxes and do their civic duty, and the State guarantees protection from predatory outsiders. This is roughly in line with the American idea of the rights to 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'

This general Indian principle also evolved into the idea of gentlemanly warfare, wherein non-combatants were spared, with only the Kshatriya class involved in bloodshed, battles ended at nightfall, and winners were chivalrous to fallen foes.

This model was what turned India into the most prosperous nation in the world, as detailed in Angus Maddison's magisterial economic history of the world. It was in fact the world's leading economic power till roughly 1700 CE.
This model worked for several thousand years, from the earliest known stages of the Indus-Saraswati civilisation roughly 5,000 years, up until the arrival of Arab and Turkish hordes in the 1100 CE timeframe, and later, the European hordes circa 1700 CE. This dharma or 'natural order' in Locke's terms has been forgotten by modern Indians, brought up on a steady diet of misinformation.
The models that today's Indians are more familiar with are Hobbesian, leading to 'nasty, brutish and short' lives -- those of empire. We have endured three forms of this imperial model: Muslim, Christian, and Communist. And we have barely survived.

The Arab/Turkish Muslim social contract of dhimmitude imposes order by explicitly reducing the rights of certain groups (non-Muslims) while allowing them the minimum possible subsistence to exploit them as productive members of society. However, in India, this was an unstable equilibrium because the Hindus resisted, and resisted continuously, unlike non-Muslims in, say, Iraq, Egypt or Persia.
The European Christian social contract of colonialism imposes order by explicitly pursuing a policy of overseas theft and loot, based on the superiority of 'guns, germs and steel.'
Interestingly, this social contract is now unraveling, as there are no more subject peoples to loot and steal from: Europe is collapsing into oblivion.

The incarnations of this contract range from the brutal gulags of the Soviet Union, China and Cambodia to the more mellow socialism in India. But that last, even though less violent in visible ways, has been an economic crime against humanity: It prevented 400 million Indians from climbing out of poverty.

Thus, by re-creating a viable social contract, by being an ethical leader, and by ignoring the vicious, Modi has shown he has the one thing that India needs: Leadership. Not at all good, if you are one of those currently pretending to be leaders.
Rajeev Srinivasan: Why Modi scares the usual suspects - Rediff.com News

[Peptobismol]

Good news for NRIs who want to expose corruption!

"The first step to seek online information from the government under the Right To Information Act has been taken.

With the new facility, the hurdle has been removed and the non-resident Indians will be able to submit RTI applications through an email with the respective Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs).

To make the system work, the CPIOs will be required to reply through email. Public information officers of RBI, Prime Minister's Office and the Planning Commission provide replied through email. "Others (CPIOs) will to follow suit," a government official said.

Indians abroad can now file online RTI application - Hindustan Times

[Slonopotam845]

Gopikrishan is the first main reporter who exposed 2g scam.

SATURDAY, 10 MARCH 2012 00:32 J GOPIKRISHNAN | NEW DELHI HITS: 244
In the midst of the raging controversy over alleged financial support by foreign-funded NGOs to the anti-nuclear protests in Kudankulam, a recent Home Ministry report shows that such voluntary organisations are gaining massive funding from abroad for their activities in tribal-dominated States and North East.
According to the Home Ministry’s annual report of foreign contributions, approved by Union Home Secretary RK Singh on January 2012, as many as 2,325 NGOs are registered in the sensitive tribal-dominated States like Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. These NGOs received around Rs600 crore during 2009-2010.
In North Eastern States, 816 NGOs have secured permission to accept foreign funds and they received Rs251 crore during the same period. It is interesting to note that vast majority of these NGOs are engaged in running indirect evangelic activities.
Among these States, the highest money flowed into Odisha, which was ravaged by communal clashes over religious conversion of ethnic tribals in 2008. Rs215 crore has been pumped into Odisha through 1,240 NGOs registered in the State. In addition, much more money is understood to have been pumped into Odisha from similar NGOs registered in other States and metro cities.
In the report, the Government admits that thorough checking of the accounts had been conducted only in the case of 12 NGOs nationwide.
The concern that the NGOs may have been engaged in money laundering and terror financing does not look far-fetched. While tribal-dominated States are in the grip of Maoist violence, the North East is a veritable play ground for the anti-India insurgent groups.
As many as 465 NGOs active in the Naxal-hit Jharkhand received around Rs160 crore during 2009-10. Similarly, NGOs operating in Chhattisgarh received Rs65 crore while those in the adjoining Madhya Pradesh received Rs143 crore from abroad.
Among the North Eastern States, the highest foreign fund — Rs94 crore — came to Assam where as many as 253 organisations have permission to receive funds from abroad. The Centre has given permission to 500 NGOs to receive foreign funds for their activities — in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur and Mizoram. These NGOs got around Rs140 crores in 2009-10 period.
More NGOs are likely to face the Kudankulam backlash in the coming weeks.

Foreign funds help NGOs fuel unrest in India

[Lillie_Steins]

Triple benefit!

Gujarat is set to become the first state in the country to generate solar power through panels mounted atop a 100km stretch of Narmada canal. This could reduce water losses through evaporation, a major problem in canal irrigation. It could also economise on land, a major constraint in developing solar power in India. The solar energy generated will be available for villages near the canal, substantially improving their connectivity, and thereby empowering them to meet the challenges of the 21st century.


Gujarat budget exhibits a sound development strategy - Money - DNA

[Ifroham4]

The police have recently found that poppy cultivation is widespread in many districts of maharashtra.

Some arrested farmers claimed that the portion of the land was part of the kitchen garden maintained by their wives and the wives had planted poppy to reap khas khas for their kitchen; khas khas is an essential ingredient to make delicacy sweets.

kitchen gardens span 1.5 to 50 acres.

Reported in DNA, 12 mar 2012. Not yet added in the net edition.

[HedgeYourBets]

From Lalit K Jha
Washington, Mar 13 (PTI) The US is looking for alternative options to meet its energy needs as galloping demand of oil and natural gas in rapidly growing countries like India and China will push up fuel prices in coming years, officials in the Obama administration have said.

US looks for options beyond oil as prices soar

When US demands falls, I guess the price will also naturally fall.

[Raj_Copi_Jin]

This village has health insurance for all, wi-fi, air conditioned class rooms - all with no NRI remittance.

"AHMEDABAD: Think of an Indian village and what comes to mind are images of mooing cows, open drains and children playing ants and frog games. But, Punsari, a motley village in Himmatnagar, talks about wi-fi and optical fiber broadband network, its children spend best of their times in air-conditioned classrooms with CCTV cameras. The village also boasts of its own mini-bus transport system and there are 25-odd CCTVs located on important junctions to spot litterbugs.

If you think this village is drenched in NRI funds, think again. Not a single rupee has come from across the seven seas, instead the village managed its funds over the last five years that it received from central and state sponsored developmental schemes.

"The village panchayat pays an annual premium of Rs 25 lakh against insurance for each of the 6,000 villagers who have a cover of Rs 1 lakh and a mediclaim policy of Rs 25,000. Our schools have zero dropout rates, CCTV cameras in classrooms help us keep watch on teachers in classrooms. Our reverse osmosis plant supplies 20-litre cans to houses for a token cost of Rs 4. These are bare essentials for a standard life today and why should our village be behind," claims the village sarpanch Hemant Patel, 29.

The village panchayat had a capital of Rs 25,000 five years ago. Today, the deposits have soared to Rs 75 lakh. "The turn-around happened when we sold part of our grazing land as plotted schemes to various communities. The money is deposited in government coffers," says Patel. The village received rewards from the central government and the state governments recently.

District development officer Ravi Arora told TOI, "There is not a single family in Punsari which has an NRI family member. The village has just managed its accounts well and villagers here agreed on a co-operative approach to development."

Gujarat village that puts metros to shame - The Times of India