[Assam] Self-help groups in Assam transform rural economy - IANS

Thu Jun 5 16:05:56 PDT 2008

You are taking shelter under the fallacy that two wrongs  make a right.The
fact that most politicians are corrupt does not mean that Bora has one right
to fill his pocket with ill-gotten money.The issue of corruption,a vital
one,is a different kettle of fish .After scanning media reports,I don't find
an iota of indication that the sting operation was carried out on account of
personal vendetta.What I do best is collate information and draw my own
inference.
KJD

On 6/4/08, Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >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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> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > > > > >
> > > > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Uttam Kumar Borthakur
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ---------------------------------
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