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‘Anti-terror laws should be scrapped’: Arun Ferreira

Activist, alleged Naxal Arun Ferreira feels that special laws like POTA and charges like sedition should be done away with.
by Nidhi Qazi

He was jailed for four years on charges of being a Naxal operative, then released after no substantial evidence emerged to give credence to the charges against him. Arun Ferreira, who admitted to having Naxal literature in his possession, speaks freely about his prison experiences, and is forthcoming with his views on the Government’s anti-terror laws and the way it treats its prisoners, among other thing.

“Arrests have become a trend, an unhealthy one for our democracy,” Arun said as a guest speaker for the workshop ‘State, Displacement and Naxalism: Is the Republic under siege?’  organised by St Xavier Institute of Social Research. Speaking on the topic, Arun gave his opinions and narrated his experiences to explain how the development paradigm of India is class-ridden. “Development has diverse interpretations in a society comprising classes with antagonistic class interests,” he said.

He also spoke about the “lop-sided development” that has been taking place since independence. He said, “The State, ruled by the most powerful, economically-dominant class also becomes the politically-dominant class and thus acquires a new means of exploiting the oppressed classes. Thus, development serves its (powerful) class interests.”

More importantly, he pointed out the response of the State in the case of people’s struggle against development that harms the greater majority, through examples he gave on special laws to the state of our prisons, to human rights violation, to the response of the State.

“Special laws like POTA (Prevention of Terrorist Activities) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A] are unnecessary. They are meant to victimise people and activists and thus suppress voices,” Arun said. Banning organisations, arresting people on charges such as sedition and using special laws show “the State’s intolerance for dissent,” he added.

Prison anecdotes

Arun was released from jail last year, after serving four years. During the talk, he had several experiences – both torture-related and otherwise – to share. Since he has always been an avid cartoonist, he drew a lot of cartoons while being incarcerated, which mirrored the reality around him in prison, while also maintaining a personal diary.

He spoke of punishments inside prison and how prison authorities behaved with inmates. “They used to beat us on the soles of our feet. That is deliberate done, as beating the soles doesn’t leave behind marks. Thus we don’t have any evidence to put in front of the Court,” he said.

He mentioned a few ways in which he was tortured, such as when ice would be put in his underwear, or when he would be given solitary confinement in the anda barrack for a year. “Maharashtra is the only State in the country where undertrials are forced to wear uniforms. In other places, these are meant for the convicted only,” he informed.

He also said that he was kept in company with death-row convicts, as the State saw him as a “security threat”. He said, “One of the pretexts on which I was arrested was the literature on Naxalism in my possession.”

Speaking on what goes on inside prisons, he said, “They are overcrowded, they violate human rights and of late, they are seeing an increase in the number of political prisoners.” He referred to the most recent National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, alleging that it underreported the number of prison deaths. “In reality, inmates are injected on the way to hospital and then they are declared dead-on-arrival (DOA), thus signaling death outside the prison, and thus projecting no prison death,” he said. He also added that high walls of the prison were a strategic move to prevent the noise of jailers’ beatings from going out of the prison.

On Naxalism

On the issue of Naxalism being a security threat, Arun said, “I do not think Naxalism is a threat to the Indian people. In fact, Naxals have stood up to resist mega-projects and potential displacement of tribals. However, it is definitely a challenge to the pro-corporate development accompanied with MoUs for mineral extraction and SEZs. It is the question for the State to decide on whose side they choose to stand. If it is with the corporates, as it seems to be, then they would be viewed as a threat.”

He was also of the view that “laws cannot be seen as the only solution to combat an insurgency. There has to be a drastic change in the development model currently pursued by the State. Only such socio-economic and political solutions can bring about a lasting change to eliminate the need for the people to take up to insurgency.” Further, “as a first step, I feel that the present special anti-terror laws such as UA(P)A or AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Protection Act) should be immediately scrapped,” he said.

(Feature image courtesy rediff.com)

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Bandh? What bandh?

Except for nationalised banks and RTOs, everything was in working order in Mumbai on Day 1 of two-day national strike.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

In recent times, and most recently after the death of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray last month, any cry for bandh in the city and with which the Shiv Sena is associated, has always been met with almost unanimous participation. However, in what can only be seen as good news for the country’s financial capital, Day 1 of the two-day national bandh went off without anybody realising that it was a bandh at all.

Except for nationalised banks, which remained closed and will remain closed today as well, and employees not of the rank of officer at the city’s RTOs, every other service was available to the public yesterday. Apart from autorickshaws and taxis plying, BEST buses turned out in full force, registering a 100 per cent attendance among bus conductors and 98 per cent attendance among drivers.

Meanwhile, all essential services were available to the city all day – except, of course, from chemist shops, which resolutely downed shutters at 6 pm yesterday as well.

Day 2 of the bandh is expected to go along the same lines as Day 1 in Mumbai. However, the rest of the country has not been so fortunate, with reports of commuter woes and closed shops and establishments doing the rounds since yesterday.

(Picture courtesy phulme.wordpress.com)

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How housing society rules are set to change

A 12-step guide to understanding the 97th Amendment to the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960, which was promulgated very recently.
by Krishnaraj Rao

On February 14, 2013, the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies (MCS) Act 1960 was amended vide an ordinance. The impact of this will be felt immediately by co-operative housing societies across the city and State.

This change was mandated by the 97th Constitutional Amendment, which was at various stages of process since 2006.

In the months to come, we will have to hold many meetings in the neighbourhoods of our city to ensure that people understand what the amendments in the MCS Act requires of them, what it mandates them to do, and how it empowers them.

In case you don’t know what the Amendment means to you in the context of your housing society, understand that the following norms are to be practiced from now on:

1. Empowers active members. Non-serious participants cannot participate in decision-making.

2. Power to expel dormant members or compel them to become active is given to co-operative societies.

3. No administrators can be appointed for most co-op societies. Instead, active members will function as ‘authorised officer’ or ‘interim committee.

4. Regular education and training to groom fresh leaders through Apex Co-operatives.

5. No more ignorant MC members. Managing Committee must attend regular training at least once in five years.

6. Stop washing dirty linen in co-op court. Resolve internal differences  through Grievance Redressal Committee.

7. Co-op court to encourage win-win compromise, and discourage litigation. This will reduce clutter of neighbour-to-neighbour conflicts, and let co-op court focus on important cases.

8. Mandate and power to get professionals’ help for CHS management. Adopt modern methods of management, record keeping etc.

9. Strengthen audit function. It will be the duty of auditors, Registrar etc. to pinpoint responsibility for fraud and register FIRs. Also, it will be mandatory for auditor to present audit findings including irregularities in every AGM. If they don’t, auditors will be disqualified.

10. Realistic penalties for offences. Fine and prison sentences have been substantially increased.

11. Disqualification of errant MC members is now very easy, and much more long-lasting. Disqualified MC members will be debarred for contesting for five years.

12. State Election Authority to monitor elections closely. No more bullying by a small clique retaining power by token elections.

All this and much more is there to make co-operatives truly participative democracies… but we have to act, educate co-op. society members and let them know about their new rights.

Krishnaraj Rao is an activist.

(Picture courtesy timesofindia.com)

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First preference to LPG holders at UID Centres

State extends deadline for LPG holders to get UID enrollment, by a month. The new deadline is March 15, 2013.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

If you are an LPG holder and still haven’t got yourself enrolled for an AADHAR card, you have just received a reprieve from the State Government – though the cut-off date for enrollment for LPG holders to avail of the Government’s scheme to transfer cash directly into the holder’s AADHAR-linked saving’s bank account for not more than nine gas cylinders per financial year, was February 15, 2013, the State decided to extend this date by a month.

Hence, the new cut-off date for enrollment is now March 15, 2013, said Chief Secretary Jayantkumar Banthia in a meeting yesterday.

Moreover, such LPG holders would receive first preference at UID enrollment centres across the city and State throughout this month. There would be separate lines for them. However, the enrollment process for others will also continue simultaneously, till December 31, 2013. Obviously, non-LPG holders would do well to attempt enrollment after March 15 to prevent additional chaos at each centre.

The subsidy will be transferred directly into the holder’s bank account if he/she provides the bank with the AADHAR number and ask for the AADHAR number to be linked to their account.

(Picture courtesy livemint.com. Picture used for representational purpose only)

 

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Undetected eye problems taking toll on city’s children

A field study shows that 10% of Mumbai students have undetected refractive errors. Lack of awareness is a major problem.

As many as 20 per cent school going children in Mumbai and Thane suffer from refractive errors and amblyopia, as per a field study (titled ‘Children’s Refractive Error and Eye Ailment Management, CREAM) conducted by Aditya Jyot Foundation for Twinkling Little Eyes (AJFTLE).

“Over 25 per cent of the country’s population is of school-going age (six to 14 years). Refractive errors and amblyopia (lazy eye disease) are the commonest and most serious eye diseases (153 million patients as estimated by WHO, 2006) in this age group. It affects nearly seven to 12 per cent children in the community. It is more common in urban areas and in our pilot study on 15,000 children in the schools of Thane and Mumbai, we found a prevalence rate of 20 per cent,” says their study report.

Ironically, the Foundation adds, 10 per cent of these are either not recognised or not appropriately treated. “The early detection and treatment of these eye diseases can very effectively prevent the visual impairment. The diagnosis of both these conditions is simple and the results of the treatment are dramatic.

As many as 10 per cent of the children in the schools of Mumbai were found to have uncorrected refractive errors. This is because the children usually do not complain due to lack of recognition of their poor vision and lack of awareness amongst the parents or school teachers, and a lack of a regular vision screening strategy. This is why only a handful of cases are detected at an early stage where appropriate treatment is helpful. The affordability of the spectacles is also an issue for socio-economically deprived class of students.”

The AJFTLE recently partnered with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to undertake awareness building and eye screening camps for underprivileged children mainly in rural and urban slum areas for prevention of avoidable blindness, and wants many more partners to work with them on the project.

Sushil Muhnot, CMD of SIDBI, said, “As part of our CSR initiative, we are associating with Aditya Jyot Foundation for Twinkling Eyes, which is planning to work for slum children and parents in Mumbai and Maharashtra and create awareness about avoidable blindness. Today, India needs an affordable healthcare industry model. There are three growth models—primary, affordable and luxury – and in the eye care industry and finance from institutions can flow into the industry provided there is a business model with an appropriate revenue stream. The proposed Government plan to impose two per cent compulsory spending on CSR will make it easy for NGOs and Foundations to augment financial resources for social services.”

(Picture courtesy omlog.org. Image used for representational purpose only)

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Maken wants to safeguard home buyers’ rights

Union Minister says that proposed real estate regulatory bill would give home buyers a greater say in the purchasing process.

Home buyers may soon get a bigger say while buying a house, as per the provisions of the proposed Real Estate Regulatory Authority Bill, which is to be tabled during the forthcoming Union Budget. Ajay Maken, Union Minister for Housing and Poverty Alleviation at the ongoing International Conference in Mumbai on ‘Governance of Megacity Regions’ organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Center for Policy Research (CPR), said that the Bill would aim to safeguard the interests of customers.

Maken said, “The proposed Bill will greatly reduce the prevailing rampant corruption in the real estate and housing sector. Not only will it protect the rights of home buyers, but it will also bring in greater transparency. Developers will be restricted from channelising funds collected from customer for one project to another one, which will provide better security to the home buyers’ investments. Even the property agreement documents, which are prepared and executed by the developers, will not remain one-sided, thereby not favouring the developer alone.”

The Union Minister is contemplating providing ‘Infrastructure sector’ status to the affordable housing segment, which will enable banks to come forward to providing loans to the urban poor, and provide an unprecedented boost in this segment. Banks will be able to provide long-term loans and also with the change in industry status, the ratio of Non-Performing Asset (NPA) from this category will reduce. “The poorer section will receive easy financing options augmenting the affordable housing market and in totality giving a boost to the real estate industry,” he said.

On his suggestion to the Government of Maharashtra for raising the Floor Space Index (FSI) policy, Maken said, “We had a deliberation with the State Government and it has shown interest in considering this option for improving the living standards of poor and hutments in the urban establishments.” Another recommendation he has made it to have mega plans for inclusive development and community participation for Mumbai city’s metropolitan region, as one of the solutions to heightening urban evolution challenges.

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