[Assam] From Waterwatch

Tue Mar 21 13:15:48 PST 2006

>Why we don't care?

Thats a good question.
People may not care for a number of reasons. But the foremost must be be the
general attitude.
In Assam, we cannot say people do not 'demand' to get things done.
But over the years we have seen that many of the issues we demand are
related to 'identity' or some such thing. Identity is an important factor,
and I am not saying we shouldn't seek to protect it.
However, we don't 'demand' with the same gusto and spirit on other issues.
Examples:
Why has there been no agitation for 100% electricity in our villages? Or for
clean water? Or why has there been no agitation for a comprhensive long-term
flood control plan? Why do we wait every year after the flood to tell the
govt.
Why hasn't the whole state (before elections) demanded that xyz industry or
manufacturing be setup in Assam?

We never do. Maybe the priorities are different.Our politicians have no fear
of not being re-elected. They know, they have to canvas for few months
before elections, bribe their way thru, and once elected, they need not look
back, ever.
--Ram

On 3/21/06, Rajen Barua <barua25 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>   >Now, lets turn our attention to Assam or Bihar. Not only are the
> ministers and Govts corrupt, *the voting public must also not care that
> they are NOT >getting any returns from a wretched govt.*
>
>  That is the key.
> I however think that in the NE, it is more so in Assam than the other
> Seven Sisters in NE.
> Why we don't care?
> RB
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com>
> *To:* Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>
> *Cc:* assam at assamnet.org
> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 21, 2006 12:37 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [Assam] From Waterwatch
>
>
> Hi C'da,
>
> You have been quiet for a while :). How are you?
>
> >I thought I read here that Karnataka is corruption free, or at least
> >very low corruption state.
>
> It certainly not corruption free. I don't think any state in India is.
> Generally, the southern states are far less corrupt than their cousins
> elsewhere.
> And when there is corruption, its usually big time. Like the stamp-paper
> scandal (Karnataka).
>
> But inspite of this, southern states are big on development and growth.
> Even Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi supposedly very corrupt, make sure
> development takes place in their states. The voting public demand
> development. Corruption is also NOT rampant (everyday life) like Bihar.
> There is also law & order for most people (not ministers). One would hear on
> the South Indian streets (not to be confused with Arab streets :)), "even
> though the CM is corrupt, he/she has developed the state in xyz & pqr areas.
> People take pride in development.
>
> Now, lets turn our attention to Assam or Bihar. Not only are the ministers
> and Govts corrupt, the voting public must also not care that they are NOT
> getting any returns from a wretched govt.
>
> Hence, you may have a situation: Corruption with development or Corruption
> without development.
> In Assam, somehow, we chosen the later - and we seem pretty content with
> it and console ourselves - well! Karnatak is also corrupt.........and so it
> must be OK :) :)
>
> --Ram
>
>
> On 3/21/06, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
> >
> >  Below for Netters' info.
> >
> >
> > I thought I read here that Karnataka is corruption free, or at least
> > very low corruption state. That must have been another of those assertions
> > pulled out from under someone's hat here :-).
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > cm
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Sender: WaterWatch at yahoogroups.com
> > Mailing-List: list WaterWatch at yahoogroups.com; contact
> > WaterWatch-owner at yahoogroups.com
> > Delivered-To: mailing list WaterWatch at yahoogroups.com
> > List-Id: < WaterWatch.yahoogroups.com<http://waterwatch.yahoogroups.com/>
> > >
> > List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:WaterWatch-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com >
> > Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2006 18:41:49 +0530
> > Subject: [WaterWatch] Re: .Commendable Role of Justice Venkatachala
> > Reply-To: WaterWatch at yahoogroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > REFERENCE MESSAGE 3.
> > Readers may be interested to know that it is the same Justice
> > Venkatachala
> > who is currently LOKAYUKTA OF KARNATAKA. He has been doing yeoman
> > service by
> > exposing the enormous corruption in the State proactively, and has won
> > the
> > hearts and minds of the people. Justice Venkatachala has recommended
> > dozens
> > of cases to Government for disciplinary action or legal action but
> > Government of Karnataka has not proceeded against the indicted
> > officials,
> > thus protecting them. Sadly, the Lokayukta's powers under the Lokayukta
> > Act
> > had been curtailed by Govt of Karnataka and successive State Governments
> > have promised to restore the powers but have taken no action, and kept
> > total
> >
> > discretion with themselves.* Karnataka has for long been the "Bihar of
> > South*
> >
> > *India" especially as far as corruption is concerned,* but this
> > Lokayukta's
> > actions have made some differene at least by exposure of the volume and
> > depth of corruption in almost all departments and ministries of the
> > Government of Karnataka.
> >
> > Unfortunately., Justice Venkatachala's tenure expires in June 2006 and
> > everybody in Government is waiting impatiently for his retirement so
> > that
> > they can revert to business as before. Previous Lokayuktas were quite
> > ineffective and did not have the zeal or power of utter honesty that
> > Justice
> > Venkatachala possesses and uses. We can only hope that his successor
> > will
> > carry the baton forward in similar or better fashion as Justice
> > Venkatachala.
> >
> > Sudhir Vombatkere
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > assam mailing list
> > assam at assamnet.org
> > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >
> >
> >
>  ------------------------------
>
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>
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