[Assam] Self-help groups in Assam transform rural economy - IANS
Ram Sarangapani
assamrs at gmail.com
Wed Jun 4 21:59:47 PDT 2008
>We all know that.We also know that India is a democratic country and one
>should be skeptical pending full disclosure of facts.But we are not
focusing >on that point nor are we trying to figure out who is the
flash-bearer of >corruption in Assam.
And why not?
>The bottom line is--- Bora was apprehended because of the fact
>that he did something wrong.
Really, the others don't do anything wrong? Or is it they simply did not get
caught, and Bora did? IMHO Bora's crime was being stupid to get caught or
getting placed in a situation where he could be ID ed.
Bribery, corruption and whatever else are really what is expected from
ministers, babus.. all the way to keranis, and are not really crimes :)
>We must measure the entire episode in a scale of probability at this stage
>and our opinion ought to be based on that.
And what are we measuring here? That Bora is corrupt? Or that he got caught
redhanded?
Deka, bottom line is really this:
If Bora is convicted, he deserves whatever punishment is meted out.
And I would be really elated that with Bora now arrested (and later
convicted), that corruption and bribery will forever be banished from Assam
- specially among our montris and MLAs.
On 6/4/08, kamal deka <kjit.deka at gmail.com> wrote:
> Given even half a chance,every politician will rob the country blind.We all
> know that.We also know that India is a democratic country and one should be
> skeptical pending full disclosure of facts.But we are not focusing on that
> point nor are we trying to figure out who is the flash-bearer of corruption
> in Assam.The bottom line is--- Bora was apprehended because of the fact
> that he did something wrong.We must measure the entire episode in a scale
> of
> probability at this stage and our opinion ought to be based on that.
>
> Every major organization,editorial notes of both vernacular and English
> dailies and public at large did voice their views in protest.One should not
> expect citizens to rock the state with agitation over such issue.
>
> KJD
>
>
> On 6/4/08, Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Kamal Deka,
> >
> > You may be absolutlely correct in saying the Ripun Bora is corrupt and
> evil
> > etc etc.
> > The bigger picture ought to be that India is a democracy, and a country
> of
> > laws and that is what needs to be held up - not that some minister is
> > corrupt or whatever, and got convicted because people dislike him. BTW
> the
> > CBI is also supposed to be very corrupt.
> >
> > So, we wait till the montri is convicted, we don't set traps (commonly
> > known
> > as entrapment - which I think is also illegal in India). If after all
> that,
> > he is found guilty, then by all means throw away the key.
> >
> > BTW: Do you know which montri is less corrupt and you are willing to
> slide
> > by, or whom we can all put up on a pedestal?
> >
> > Frankly, there is a huge cabal of corrupt ministers, of corrupt CBI
> > officers, of departments etc, and yet, we find it easy to point only one
> > corrupt person - the guy who gets caught.
> >
> > I have a totally different view of the VC. But suffice it to say, that
> the
> > first time he threatened to resign, everyone, including the AASU and the
> > Governor begged him to stay on. He got the money from the Govt., and then
> > threatened to resign again - only this time no one protested.
> >
> > Just to let you know where I stand, when Dr. C was first chosen, I was
> very
> > elated, and thought at least now GU would be under a good stewardship.
> >
> > >Even a child in Assam knows that the ministry of education is the
> > >epicenter of corruption.
> >
> > OK - did Ripun Bora start this? It is probably the best for us to put
> > everything corrupt in Assam on Bora - after all, he is the one that
> caught,
> > right?
> >
> > --Ram
> >
> > On 6/4/08, kamal deka <kjit.deka at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > Ram Sarangapani,
> > > Assuming that the trap was set up by the CBI,why did Ripun dangariya
> walk
> > > into it?
> > > In regard to the opinion inflicted by Bora in connection with Dr
> > > Choudhury's
> > > resignation,he was trying to build a temple of virtue by laying all
> evils
> > > at
> > > him.Even a child in Assam knows that the ministry of education is the
> > > epicenter of corruption.
> > > KJD
> > >
> > >
> > > On 6/4/08, Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hi Uttam,
> > > >
> > > > You make some very valid points and its a well-thought out response,
> > and
> > > I
> > > > understand where you are coming from.
> > > >
> > > > I am not aware of what exactly took place between Ripun
> Bora and Dr.
> > > > Choudhury - all I know is that he resigned. So, I really cannot
> comment
> > > > much
> > > > on that.
> > > >
> > > > >Ram Da, you eulogised the wisdom and the action of the INDIAN STATE
> > > based
> > > > on a single >unverified report on SHG.
> > > >
> > > > I hope it wasn't anything to that extreme, but I sure did want to
> point
> > > out
> > > > that Dilli does do some good here & there. I perfectly understand
> > Dilli's
> > > > failings. From here, I have no way to verify reports - all we have is
> > > media
> > > > reports online.
> > > > And notwithstanding what C'da says, it is ultimately 'us' that make
> the
> > > > decision whether such reports have some validity or not.
> > > > And you are right, many of us in far off lands do get euphoric with
> any
> > > > morsel of good news from the home front
> > > >
> > > > I wanted to bring up Ripun Bora's case because I did see a different
> > > > treatment to his case. Many were quick to condemn him, and I thought
> > that
> > > > *even
> > > > you* may not have given him the benefit of doubt. I am glad, that I
> was
> > > > wrong, and you really were not thinking along those lines, and I
> > > apologize.
> > > >
> > > > Today the papers carry 'irrefutable proof' and have for all practical
> > > > purposes convicted him.
> > > > The CM has thrown him under the bus (which is as expected), and I
> > expect
> > > > Bora will more than likely be convicted - all I was expecting a court
> > of
> > > > law
> > > > saying so.
> > > >
> > > > In this respect, I agree with C'da. In India (as C'da has pointed out
> > > with
> > > > examples), the idea of due process is often lost, specially when we
> > > utterly
> > > > dislike an individual.
> > > >
> > > > --Ram da
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On 6/3/08, uttam borthakur <uttamborthakur at yahoo.co.in> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Ram Da
> > > > >
> > > > > I was not indicting Ripun Bora at all.. If you re-read, you shall
> see
> > > > that
> > > > > my sole emphasis was about his comments on Dr. Amarjyoti Choudhury.
> > > Some
> > > > > people kowtowed his line in holding Dr. Choudhury responsible for
> > > > chickening
> > > > > out. In fact, I did not like this kind of diatribe, because it is
> Dr.
> > > > > Choudhury's liberty of taking a decision that was under fire. And
> my
> > > > > aversion towards Ripun Bora kind of politicians is not borne out of
> > > this
> > > > > news item, but personal experiences over so many years. Ram Da, you
> > > > > eulogised the wisdom and the action of the INDIAN STATE based on a
> > > single
> > > > > unverified report on SHG. We have seen that there are some SHGs
> that
> > > are
> > > > > good and sincere and have taken up where the INDIAN STATE has
> > abdicated
> > > > its
> > > > > earlier responsibilities; but most are rotten and are after a fast
> > > buck.
> > > > > One thing in that news item struck me: mention of Rs.10, 00, 000/-
> as
> > > the
> > > > > profit for the year. It is pretty difficult in Assam unless the
> > extent
> > > of
> > > > > the land is substantial. Now getting
> > > > > possession of substantial land by a group of persons having a
> history
> > > of
> > > > > retail trade of terror and then changing sides is something that is
> > > > smelly.
> > > > > Many people have returned rich from the ranks and some have used
> > their
> > > > > history to intimidate unarmed people to grab land and other
> > resources.
> > > > That
> > > > > was my concern and that was what I told you. The only known history
> > of
> > > > the
> > > > > person concerned is that he has deserted the ranks of a fighting
> > outfit
> > > > and
> > > > > is capable of intimidation. Ripun Bora, in contrast, has a
> wellknown
> > > > history
> > > > > and we can come to some highly probabilistic conclusion ( none can
> > > judge
> > > > > himself for sure till death) about Sri Bora, cannot we? Ram Da, it
> is
> > > my
> > > > > request that a question or a comment should take colour from the
> > > context
> > > > and
> > > > > should not be dealt with torn from such context.
> > > > >
> > > > > Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > Hi C'da,
> > > > >
> > > > > >*** 'Any more'? Come now Ram, WHEN was it reliable ?
> > > > >
> > > > > Well, let me put it this way, we often consider it reliable when we
> > > chose
> > > > > to
> > > > > do so. We have all seen (on this net) many of us have over the
> years
> > > sent
> > > > > links from the news media from Assam as well as the rest of India
> > > > whenever
> > > > > it seems to echo their own views.
> > > > >
> > > > > >*** I think the bigger urge is the need to feel good about India
> > > > > >doing good by Assam and thus the attempt at groping at every straw
> > > > > >that floats by :-).
> > > > >
> > > > > Could be, could be. But I suspect it is a far milder one than that
> > > > > vitriolic
> > > > > urge to bash India at every opportunity :)
> > > > >
> > > > > Look at this Ripun Bora case. Many of us, are more than willing to
> > bury
> > > > the
> > > > > montri because of the arrest. Are we jumping to conclusions?
> > > > >
> > > > > Even Uttam, who so wisely cautioned me 'not to get euphoric or
> > > depressed'
> > > > > at
> > > > > the drop of a hat, has, I suspect, already convicted Ripun (before
> > the
> > > > > trial). :).
> > > > >
> > > > > After reading some of the news reports (I am hoping that these are
> > > > > reliable), and I am sure now that many have deemed them reliable,
> > that
> > > > must
> > > > > be the case....
> > > > >
> > > > > One guy was arrested at Guwahati, taken back to Delhi, and claims
> he
> > as
> > > > > bribing on behalf of Ripun Bora. And so they arrested the montri?
> > > > > I am surprised that a claim by a 3rd person can bring down a
> montri.
> > > > >
> > > > > This morning I called some of my own 'reliable sources' at
> Guwahati.
> > > They
> > > > > ALL felt that this was a setup and the CBI thing stinks to high
> > heaven,
> > > > and
> > > > > that Bora has many political foes (even within the Congress), and
> > > lastly
> > > > > that he has been doing good as an Education minister.
> > > > > (not my opinions - I know very little of the ground situation).
> > > > >
> > > > > Maybe it is all true, and maybe it isn't - but I would like to wait
> > and
> > > > see
> > > > > how all this ends up, but more importantly, I would like to be fair
> > and
> > > > > give
> > > > > the minister a chance to defend himself.
> > > > >
> > > > > But this much I am fairly sure of - almost all politicians thrive
> on
> > > > bribes
> > > > > and corruption, and it is only a question of degrees.
> > > > >
> > > > > --Ram
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On 6/3/08, Chan Mahanta wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > >It is quite difficult to decipher from here what is
> > > > > > >"behind" any news item anymore.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > *** 'Any more'? Come now Ram, WHEN was it reliable ?
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > *** I think the bigger urge is the need to feel good about India
> > > > > > doing good by Assam and thus the attempt at groping at every
> straw
> > > > > > that floats by :-).
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > At 11:08 PM -0500 6/2/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
> > > > > > >Hi Uttam,
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >You are correct. It is quite difficult to decipher from here
> what
> > is
> > > > > > >"behind" any news item anymore.
> > > > > > >But, we take them as they come and there aren't too many ways to
> > > > > > cross-check
> > > > > > >news items.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >--Ram da
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >On 6/2/08, uttam borthakur wrote:
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> Ram Da
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> Will it not be prudent to get all the facts together before
> > > getting
> > > > > > >> euphoric? You know as well as all of us do that 'SHG' is not a
> > > magic
> > > > > > wand.
> > > > > > >> The land acquired by the SHG( the process), the initial funds
> > > raised
> > > > > by
> > > > > > >> them( the process) may not be accessible to a poor farmer in
> > Assam
> > > > > > without a
> > > > > > >> history like the person in question and his cohorts have. So
> let
> > > us
> > > > > not
> > > > > > >> repeat the bane of being euphoric or depressed too fast. These
> > > days
> > > > > > news
> > > > > > >> reports are also not very innocuous.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> Ram Sarangapani wrote:
> > > > > > >> Now, here is some great, positive news!
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> And for those of us who see everything is wrong with Dilli,
> the
> > > > > > >> Swarnjayanti
> > > > > > >> Gram Swarozgar Yojana initiated by Dilli is doing wonders.
> > > > > > >> Highlights mine.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> --Ram
> > > > > > >> ____________
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> Self-help groups in Assam transform rural economy (Feature)
> > > > > > >> June 1st, 2008 - 12:59 pm ICT by admin -
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> By Syed Zarir Hussain
> > > > > > >> Nagaon (Assam), June 1 (IANS) Karuna Kalita was once an
> > explosives
> > > > > > expert
> > > > > > >> with the terror group United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).
> > But
> > > he
> > > > > > got
> > > > > > >> fed
> > > > > > >> up with life in the jungles and surrendered in 2003. He opted
> > for
> > > a
> > > > > new
> > > > > > >> life
> > > > > > >> by forming a self-help group (SHG). The 36-year-old former
> > rebel,
> > > > who
> > > > > > is a
> > > > > > >> father of two, is today into mechanised farming, growing paddy
> > in
> > > an
> > > > > > acre
> > > > > > >> of
> > > > > > >> land, besides cultivating cabbage, mustard, and bhut jolokia -
> > the
> > > > > > hottest
> > > > > > >> chilli on earth - at his native Dhing village in the central
> > Assam
> > > > > > district
> > > > > > >> of Nagaon.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> "I have 12 other members in my SHG and we are working hard.
> Last
> > > > year
> > > > > > we
> > > > > > >> earned about Rs.1 million," Kalita said before he jumped into
> > his
> > > > > > tractor
> > > > > > >> and set off for work.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> >From former separatists to housewives to educated but
> > unemployed
> > > > > > youths,
> > > > > > >> thousands of people in the northeastern state of Assam are
> > pushing
> > > > > > >> micro-enterprises into profitable business ventures, thereby
> > > turning
> > > > > > around
> > > > > > >> the region's rural economy.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> There are more than 90,000 SHGs working in diverse fields in
> > rural
> > > > > > Assam -
> > > > > > >> the whopping number being an indicator of the success of the
> > > central
> > > > > > >> government-aided venture in working towards development and
> > > boosting
> > > > > > the
> > > > > > >> rural economy.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> "Earlier, earning Rs.3,000 per month was unthinkable. But now
> > > after
> > > > > > setting
> > > > > > >> up an SHG, I and my seven friends are not only earning but
> also
> > > > > > encouraging
> > > > > > >> others like us to do something and earn a living," said
> > Nandeswar
> > > > > > Dihingia,
> > > > > > >> a college dropout in Dhing.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> *The concept of SHGs got a major impetus after New Delhi
> > launched
> > > > the
> > > > > > >> Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) - a programme aimed
> at
> > > > > > bringing
> > > > > > >> families above the poverty line by ensuring a sustainable
> level
> > of
> > > > > > >> **income*
> > > > > > >> * over a period of time.*
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> "The SHG scheme has led to a silent economic revolution
> sweeping
> > > > > > through
> > > > > > >> rural Assam. This is a good sign as people are getting
> involved
> > in
> > > > > > self-
> > > > > > >> enterprise,"
> > > > > > >> Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> *Under the programme, SHGs can avail themselves of assistance
> in
> > > the
> > > > > > form
> > > > > > >> of
> > > > > > >> **bank loans*
> > > > > > >> *, supported by back-ended government subsidy - a group can
> > avail
> > > > > > itself of
> > > > > > >> a government subsidy up to Rs.125,000.*
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> >From dairy to mechanised farming, weavin, poultry, food
> > > processing
> > > > > > >> unitsand
> > > > > > >> mushroom cultivation, people in Assam's countryside are busy
> > > setting
> > > > > > > > up
> > > > > > >> micro-enterprises by forming SHGs.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> "We are now self-reliant and able to speak with our heads
> high,"
> > > > said
> > > > > > >> Rupanjali Gharphulia. Rupanjali along with a dozen-odd
> > housewives
> > > > had
> > > > > > >> opened
> > > > > > >> a poultry farm with bank loans and is today making a
> substantial
> > > > > > profit.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> *The self-help group movement has indirectly come to perform
> the
> > > > role
> > > > > > of
> > > > > > >> peacemaker in a state where militancy is a problem*.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> *"One can only hope this movement indirectly helps solve the
> > > > region's
> > > > > > >> growing unemployment problem, which in turn could tame
> > insurgency
> > > in
> > > > > > the
> > > > > > >> state," Assam Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Chandan
> > > > Brahma
> > > > > > >> said.*
> > > > > > >> _______________________________________________
> > > > > > >> assam mailing list
> > > > > > >> assam at assamnet.org
> > > > > > >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> Uttam Kumar Borthakur
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> ---------------------------------
> > > > > > >> Has your work life balance shifted? Find out.
> > > > > > >> _______________________________________________
> > > > > > >> assam mailing list
> > > > > > >> assam at assamnet.org
> > > > > > >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> > > > > > >>
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> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Uttam Kumar Borthakur
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > ---------------------------------
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