tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363074094858837732024-02-19T18:49:15.612+05:30Empowering IndiaAims to empower Indians to make informed political choices and to play an active part in the democracy which is "of the people, for the people, by the people"...Empowering Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10222729895964888768noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-30539953112748336402011-08-23T15:08:00.000+05:302011-09-11T15:15:45.791+05:30Corruption: Causes, Consequences and Cures
The
current campaign against corruption provides a golden opportunity to
Dr Manmohan Singh to lead from the front. There is an urgent need for
speeding up the process of economic, administrative and judicial
reforms, not only to push the economy to a higher growth path, but also
to help reduce the scope for corruption. Being the Prime Minister of
India, he must spell out the Barun Mitrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16622261378991052890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-62893566135744101082011-08-20T15:10:00.000+05:302011-09-11T15:11:10.146+05:30Gandhians today, and Gandhi yesterday
Many
of today’s anti-corruption protestors believe that they are
participating in the second freedom struggle from misrule. Ambedkar had
warned against extra-constitutional means of protests. But today, in the
name of Gandhi, many believe that constitutional processes are
expendable. Actually, It is good that Gandhi is back in the public
memory. If this provides an opportunity to try Barun Mitrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16622261378991052890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-34411220378438522962011-08-17T15:12:00.000+05:302011-09-11T15:16:05.993+05:30Corruption: How not to fight it
In the past few
months, the debate over black money and corruption has been raging
across the country. Some social activists and the government have been
at loggerheads over the scope and structure of a new anti-corruption
authority being proposed. There have been claims ranging from tens of
billions of dollars to over a trillion dollar, money that may have been
illegally acquired or Barun Mitrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16622261378991052890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-21417111163694253612011-02-08T11:17:00.002+05:302011-02-09T11:52:12.307+05:30Dealing with issues of impunityThe Rajya Sabha shows the way in the manner in which it handled the Prevention of Torture Bill, 2010.It is true that some of our Parliamentarians are indeed opportunist, corrupt and lazy. However, such notions are selective. The Rajya Sabha committee's work deserves commendation. Indeed, the formula stipulated by the committee should not be restricted to torture alone, writes Tarunabh Khaitan in Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-17471389195163667452011-02-07T11:15:00.000+05:302011-02-09T11:17:20.439+05:30Parliament is a difficult place: Proposal for reformsWhen we Indians decry the state of our Parliament, we mostly focus on the symptoms, not the underlying causes. The undesirability of disruptions and the repeated adjournments of Parliament are obvious. It is important to shift the discussion to the root causes and possible solutions if we are to see any improvements. The first category of disruptions, involving smaller groups of MPs, will requireUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-31729989082680825962011-01-14T17:14:00.004+05:302011-09-11T15:17:40.824+05:30Winning Strategies for Liberal Politics: Learning from South Africa
India FNF Alumni Network (IFAN) in partnership with Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit Invites you to a discussion on "Winning Strategies for Liberal Politics: Learning from South Africa" on Thursday, 20 January 2011, New Delhi.
Speaker: Ms. Katja M. Egger, FNF South Africa
Moderator: Barun Mitra, Liberty Institute
Registration: 1530 hrs onwards
Hi-Tea: 1530 hrs - 1600 hrs
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-83300573855043541212011-01-13T14:32:00.001+05:302011-01-17T14:49:51.221+05:30Assembly by-elections in five States announcedThe Election Commission of India announced that by-elections to fill up six Assembly seats in five States will be held. In Kharsawan, by-elections will be held on on February 10, the notification being issues on January 17th and counting of votes on February 17th. In Chhattisgarh , Gujarat , Manipur and Madhya Pradesh, the election is scheduled for February 14 and the notification will be issued Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-41432025403928391302011-01-12T14:46:00.000+05:302011-01-17T14:47:24.789+05:30Election Commission may reduce minimum voting age to 16The Election Commission of India is examining a proposal to reduce the minimum age of voting right to 16 years from the present age of 18. Chief Election Commissioner Y S Quraishi said "We may recommend to the government to reduce the minimum voting age to 16 years, if more youths, particularly new voters, participate in the electoral process," in a meeting organized by Youth United for Voter Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-16469430533706399812011-01-10T11:33:00.001+05:302011-01-12T11:36:19.033+05:30Sunlight to electric lightIndia is a democracy, but without flaws. Disclosure of information could be not just of public servants, but of corporate sector or educational institutions and media. It need not be coercive. It can even be voluntary. Because of Election Commission affidavits, we know 543 MPs in the 15th Lok Sabha have a combined wealth of Rs 3,075 crore, Namma Nageswara Rao leading the field with Rs 174 crore.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-71109305548055082792010-12-27T18:08:00.000+05:302011-01-03T18:13:28.245+05:30The Color Of MoneyThe Union cabinet cleared the proposal for public funding of elections around this time in 2005.Everyone wants India to initiate a thorough reform of its election processes. The Election Commission is the place to begin that process. Urban India often forgets that the panchayat election is the most contested of all elections and has more money spent per voter than in any other. Public Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-80416923784094871872010-12-22T11:58:00.000+05:302010-12-22T12:00:10.826+05:30Hyderabad, 26 Dec 2010: Workshop on land and property rightsYou are cordially invited to a "Symposium on Land Rights & Development" Organised by Liberty Institute, New Delhi, in association with Forum for Good Governance, HyderabadVenue: Hyderabad Study Circle, Near Indira Park `X’ Roads, Domalguda, HydOn December 26, 2010, Sunday, from 10.30 AM to 4.30 PMInaugural SessionLaunch of International Property Rights Index 2010 by Dr Y Shivaji, Ex Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-90010664481888218222010-12-19T01:51:00.000+05:302010-12-29T01:55:30.141+05:30Push development to kick corruptionThe Radia tapes have exposed the business-politics-media nexus. There are scandals in loans for real estate companies in which PSU banks are implicated, housing allocation, and IPL. One reason for corruption is that there are economic goods—contracts, land deals, permits—available at an administered price that understates their true value. The agent in charge of allocating such goods is in Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-13955999366279147222010-12-08T15:02:00.000+05:302011-09-11T15:03:42.519+05:30Prospect of liberal politics in India todayThe
verdict, in the recent assembly election in the state of Bihar, has
attracted a lot of interest across India. The ruling coalition of JD(U)
and BJP won a record 206 seats in a house of 243. Did this huge margin
of victory, signify a major shift in Indian politics? What does this
election really tell us about the future political direction in India?
In this the second half, the aim is toBarun Mitrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16622261378991052890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-49373520754055445282010-12-01T20:36:00.000+05:302010-12-01T20:37:51.295+05:30'I don’t give a damn' attitudeStalling of Parliament is a manifestation of growing intolerance in the country. The UPA has behaved in a disgraceful way and the opposition has a point. However, they don't allows the Government to function properly. The ruling Congress, at the same time blames the Opposition for not letting Parliament function. It gives out the impression that cheap stunts matter than performance, writes Ravi Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-90936188119835242532010-11-29T01:48:00.001+05:302010-12-29T01:50:32.599+05:30Corruption costs businessParliament has not been functioning for many days, which leads to severe costs and loss of reputation. The fight against corruption is not rhetorical matter.For decades, India has winked at corruption. The political order has fostered it and financed itself out of corruption. We are caught in a vicious circle where the private sector has to bribe ministers and civil servants if they are to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-76136044457503171872010-11-20T18:12:00.000+05:302010-11-20T18:14:18.985+05:30The politics of moneyThe wind is blowing in favour of the ruling coalition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly when the last phase of the Bihar Legislative Assembly polls is drawing to a close. The assets of the JD (U)’s MLA candidates’ average have seen a three fold spike. It could even be that new and richer individuals are being put forward as candidates. Being rich is not a factor of importance in predicting Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-79635788986974951962010-11-17T12:48:00.002+05:302010-11-17T12:51:29.919+05:30Corruption trips India's riseIndia's effort to break free of it's socialist past of threatened by its failure to create and enforce private property rights. It started with the Adarsh Housing Society in the mid-90's. It recieved 3,800 square meters of land at 15 % of the market price on the claim that it would provide low cost housing to soldiers and families who made sacrifices for the country. The society includes defense Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-2657394042191320322010-09-23T18:03:00.000+05:302010-09-24T18:05:24.606+05:30Judges who will deliver the Ayodhya verdictThe Ayodhya verdict is scheduled to be delivered on Friday, unless last-minute interventions come through. The Union government has appealed for calm and banned the transmission of bulk SMS and MMS to avert the spread of mischievous rumours. TAPAS CHAKRABORTY portrays the three judges – and their life away from the bench and law books — who are on the threshold of delivering the judgment, in The Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-39097612946551222492010-09-14T18:31:00.001+05:302010-09-14T18:33:26.020+05:30How political parties raise funds, officiallyThe Indian National Congress is going to fund itself by building a corpus, which is the largest one among the Indian political parties. Congress had generated funds through selling coupons when other political parties relied on voluntary donations. Other major sources of income for the parties analysed for last two years were "Levy" for CPM and receipt from sale of coupons for NCP, reports The Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-79128005180932239682010-09-01T18:25:00.001+05:302010-09-01T18:26:49.467+05:30MPs salary bill clearedThe Rajya Sabha cleared the bill raising the salaries of MP's to Rs. 50,000 a month frm Rs. 16,000. The constituency and office expenses allowance was dooubled to Rs. 40,000 a month. The bill was passed by the Lok sabha recently. CPIM members walked out of the hall protesting against this, reports The Hindu. Read the whole article:NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Bill raising theUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-47101623949552555902010-09-01T17:56:00.001+05:302010-09-01T18:25:08.976+05:30EC seeks Press Council's helpThe Election Commission of India seeks the help of the Press Council of India in monitoring paid news during election time.Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi said in a press conference‘paid news' “has assumed serious proportions and is more pronounced in some States.". The candidate's expenditure monitoring cell will be tightened by the commission, reports The Hindu.Read the whole article Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-63440729092179168392010-08-31T20:01:00.001+05:302010-08-31T20:02:58.760+05:30Election commission can't control paid news during elections: SY QureshiChief election commissioner of India SY Quraishi said that the commission cannot control paid news during the elections."Our role comes in picture only when the candidate exceeds the expenditure ceiling. We cannot question the media, our powers extend only to candidates," he said. He added that a special body should be formed covering all media, reports Daily News And Analysis.Read the whole Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-7327940280790398342010-08-29T20:20:00.001+05:302010-08-31T20:22:49.977+05:30Poll panel to discuss money power during electionsA conference of electoral officers and administrative officials to be held in Goa will discuss monitoring of election-related expenditure and working out effective means to tackle excessive use of money power during the polls.'The conference will deliberate on various election-related issues. The aim of the conference will be to put together a comprehensive document on best electoral practices inUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-7886556021889323022010-08-29T02:22:00.001+05:302010-08-30T07:26:07.984+05:30No election has been stolen by tampering with EVMsHari Prasad, a technocrat who was arrested recently for stealing electronic voting machines and released yesterday, will present a controversial paper on how EVMs used in Indian elections can be tampered with at a conference on computer and communication safety.The conference in Chicago in October will be co-sponsored by IT majors like Google and Microsoft, reports Hindustan Times.Read the whole Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136307409485883773.post-45768219467814652182010-08-29T01:42:00.000+05:302010-08-30T01:43:49.267+05:30RTI activist who exposed corruption in Maharashtra found deadA Right to Information activist who was in the forefront in exposing corruption in Public Distribution System, foodgrain and fuel distribution in the Marathwada region was found dead in Nanded. He was a local Shiv Sena leader. The circumstances are mysterious.Preliminary post mortem report revealed excess alcohol in his body, police said, reports The Times Of India.Read the whole article:MUMBAI: Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0