ज्वाला-दिजू की जोड़ी ने इतिहास रचा

ज्वाला गट्टा और वी दिजू की भारतीय जोड़ी ने चीनी ताइपे ग्रां प्री बैडमिंटन टूर्नामेंट का मिक्स्ड डबल्स ख़िताब जीत लिया है.

उन्होंने इस मुक़ाबले में हेंद्रा अप्रिदा गुनावन और विटा मेरिसा की इंडोनेशियाई जोड़ी को लगातार गेमों में 24-22, 21-18 से हराकर नया इतिहास रच दिया.

इसके साथ ही ज्वाला और दिजू ने किसी ग्रां प्री टूर्नामेंट का मिक्स्ड डबल्स का ख़िताब जीतने वाली पहली भारतीय जोड़ी बनने की उपलब्धि हासिल कर ली है.

भारतीय जोड़ी ने फ़ाइनल मैच की शुरुआत जोरदार तरीके से की और देखते ही देखते 15-9 की बढ़त बना ली.

SEBI

do you know about SEBI?
The government of India created the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) with a view to control and regulate the foreign investment in the capital markets, new issues of capital brought out by the companies and grievances of the companies and the investors. In addition, SEBI has been created with the broader aim of protecting the interests of the investors in securities and promoting and regulating the securities markets in the country.

Based in Mumbai, SEBI has eight divisions and departments which look after several functions to achieve the above mentioned broad objective. The Depositors and Custodians Division looks after the work of registration of depository participants/custodians, as well as their renewal of registration or cancellation of registration. Foreign Institutional Investors Division, on the other hand, deals with registration/renewal of registration of such investors. FII Division looks after the FIPB proposals and the government correspondence connecting with this function.

While Collective Investment Schemes Division deals with registration and renewal of the registration for collective investment schemes, Secondary Market Department is the major department of SEBI which carries out the functions like registration and renewal of registration of the credit rating agencies in the country, in addition to the registration of the brokers and sub-brokers, registration under the Stock Lending Scheme and deposit of various fees by the brokers and refund of fees to them.

With a view to protect the interests of the investors, Investors Grievances and Guidance Division has been set up which carries out the registration of the Investors’ Associations, looks into the grievances of such associations and other investors and carries out the tasks of guiding the investors through the registered Associations or otherwise.

Mutual Fund and Venture Capital Division of the SEBI looks into the tasks like registration of trustees for Mutual Funds, processes the applications for foreign securities, ADRs/GDRs, allow changes from closed ended to open ended schemes, observations on offer documents etc. Primary Market Department is also an important department of SEBI and deals with the matters like fresh registration/cancellation of intermediaries, observations on the offer documents and list-related matters pertaining to the new issues.

The complete control and regulation by the SEBI has enhanced the confidence of the general public in the securities market of the country.

Zero Inflation

short notes on Inflation and Impact of Zero Inflation on the Economy.

Inflation is the measure of rise in general prices in any economy over a given period of time. Normally inflation is measured every week, but for the policy purposes its annual measure is taken into account. Inflation is measured by the government by considering the changes in wholesale price index and those in the consumer price index over the given period of time.

Inflation is of several types and the ‘creeping’ or ‘walking’ inflation of upto 5 per cent per annum is called functional inflation and considered good for the health of growing economies. Running, galloping and hyper inflation is bad for the economy as it also erodes the real income level of the poorer sections of the emerging economies, thereby making their livelihood even more difficult. Hence, in a developing economy, the government policies aim at keeping the inflation rate within the functional limits.

Due to increased prices of the food items, India, along with most parts of the world, faced high inflation rate in double digits during the middle of 2008, which could be termed as ‘running’ inflation. The government took several monetary and fiscal policy measures to control it and succeeded to bring it down. But in early 2009 a peculiar phenomenon was experienced. In March 2009, the inflation rate in the country went down as low as 0.44 per cent, a sudden drop from 2.43 per cent during the week prior to that.

This has given rise to the speculation that the country may experience zero inflation rate. The apprehensions are that zero rate of inflation would act as discouragement to the new investors, who are likely to put on hold their new projects, which would affect the growth rate of the economy.

Zero inflation reduces the level of profits drastically. Such a situation, though may be cheered by the consumers and benefit the poorer sections spending most of their earnings on consumption, yet may actually reduce the economic activity in the economy to the minimum. This may be harmful to the economy in the medium and long run

Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement

note on the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement.

After the agitation against the government decision to partition Bengal, the most important national level movement against the British Empire was the Non-Cooperation Movement (1919-22), also called the Khilafat Movement.

The unique feature of this movement was the united action by the Hindus as well as Muslims. Muslim community was attracted to the Khilafat Movement because of the shabby treatment meted out by the British to the Ottoman Empire and the Caliph of Turkey.

The position of the Sultan of Turkey, who was regarded as head of the Muslim community (Caliph) all over the world, was also undermined to a great extent.

The Khilafat Committee formally launched the Khilafat Movement on August 31, 1920. Immediately after this, the Indian National Congress convened a special Session in September 1920 in Calcutta, where Gandhi presented a plan for non-cooperation with the government till the wrongs in Punjab and those in Turkey were mended by the British.

Congress agreed with the plan of Gandhi and gave a call for boycotting the government educational institutions, offices and law courts. Call was also given to boycott the foreign cloth and adopt Khadi.

The programme included the actions like resigning from the government jobs, surrendering the government conferred titles etc. Gradually, the movement also included mass civil disobedience and refusal to pay taxes.

Nagpur Session of the Congress held in December 1920 endorsed the decision of the Congress and decided to reach the villages with the message against the imperial British rule. The Movement took off with a lot of euphoria and turned into a catalyst for national struggle against foreign rulers.

After the Chauri Chaura violence incident in 1922, the Movement was suspended by Gandhiji. But despite this, the Movement could achieve several positives. It provided a platform for all the religious communities to come closer and jointly oppose the foreign rule in a united voice.

Further, it provided to the nationalist movement the required impetus and mass support for future agitations and movements. The people of the country, who were otherwise scared of the might of the British became fearless and lost their sense of fear against the mighty British.

The Movement gave tremendous self-confidence to the common men and filled them with the feeling of self-respect and self-esteem. Muslim community which was not fully represented in the nationalist movement received the required representation and the community became fully involved in the struggle for independence.

चंद्रयान मिशन हुआ समाप्त

अधिकारियों के अनुसार चंद्रयान ने अपने सारे लक्ष्य पूरे कर लिए हैं.

चंद्रमा पर भेजे गए भारत के पहले अंतरिक्ष यान चंद्रयान-1 का नियंत्रण कक्ष से संपर्क टूट गया है और अधिकारियों का कहना है कि चंद्रयान मिशन समाप्त हो गया है.

चंद्रयान के प्रोजेक्ट डायरेक्टर एम अन्नादुरै ने बीबीसी से बातचीत में कहा कि मिशन अब समाप्त हो गया है.

उनका कहना था, '' आज सुबह डेढ़ बजे चंद्रयान के साथ हमारा संपर्क टूट गया था. इसके बाद हमने कई बार कोशिश की लेकिन संपर्क स्थापित नहीं हो पाया.''

अन्नादुरै का कहना था कि मिशन के खत्म होने से वैज्ञानिक निराश नहीं है.

'दुखी नहीं'

उनका कहना था, ''चंद्रयान को जो काम करना था उसने पूरा कर दिया था. क़रीब 95 प्रतिशत आँकड़े चंद्रयान भेज चुका है. जो लक्ष्य चंद्रयान को लेकर थे वो लगभग पूरे हो गए हैं.''

उन्होंने बताया कि चंद्रयान को चंद्रमा के कक्ष में जाना था, कुछ मशीनरी वहाँ स्थापित करनी थी, भारत का झंडा लगाना था और आँकड़े भेजने थे और चंद्रयान ने इसमें से सारे काम लगभग पूरे कर लिए हैं.

यही कारण है कि वैज्ञानिक संपर्क टूट जाने से बहुत दुखी नहीं हैं.

बीबीसी से बातचीत में भारतीय अंतरिक्ष अनुसंधान संगठन (इसरो) के प्रवक्ता एस सतीश का कहना था, ''चंद्रयान से हमारा संपर्क बिल्कुल टूट चुका है. जो आँकड़े चंद्रयान को भेजने थे वो चंद्रयान भेज चुका है. चंद्रयान ने अपना 95 प्रतिशत काम कर दिया था.''

चंद्रयान 22 अक्तूबर 2008 को श्रीहरिकोटा के सतीश धवन अंतरिक्ष केंद्र से अंतरिक्ष में भेजा गया था.

अभी तक चंद्रयान ने चंद्रमा की कक्षा में 312 दिन बिताए हैं और बड़ी मात्रा में आँकड़े भी भेजे हैं. पिछले महीने इसरो के चेयरमैन जी माधवन नायर ने चंद्रयान अभियान पर संतोष प्रकट किया था.

Total view of India's military and foreign relations

1. Since its independence in 1947, India has maintained cordial relationships with most nations.
2. It took a leading role in the 1950s by advocating the independence of European colonies in Africa and Asia.
3. India was involved in two brief military interventions in neighbouring countries – Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka and Operation Cactus in Maldives.
4. India is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement.
5. After the Sino-Indian War and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, India's relationship with the Soviet Union warmed and continued to remain so until the end of the Cold War.
6. India has fought two wars with Pakistan over the Kashmir dispute.
7. A third war between India and Pakistan in 1971 resulted in the creation of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan).
8. Additional skirmishes have taken place between the two nations over the Siachen Glacier.
9. In 1999, India and Pakistan fought an undeclared war over Kargil.
10. In recent years, India has played an influential role in the SAARC, and the WTO
11. India has provided as many as 55,000 Indian military and police personnel to serve in thirty-five UN peace keeping operations across four continents.
12. Despite criticism and military sanctions, India has consistently refused to sign the CTBT and the NPT, preferring instead to maintain sovereignty over its nuclear program.
13. Recent overtures by the Indian government have strengthened relations with the United States, China and Pakistan.
14. In the economic sphere, India has close relationships with other developing nations in South America, Asia and Africa.
15. India maintains the third-largest military force in the world, which consists of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and auxiliary forces such as the Paramilitary Forces, the Coast Guard, and the Strategic Forces Command.
16. The President of India is the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces.
17. India maintains close defence cooperation with Russia, Israel and France, who are the chief suppliers of arms.
18. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) oversees indigenous development of sophisticated arms and military equipment, including ballistic missiles, fighter aircraft and main battle tanks, to reduce India's dependence on foreign imports.
19. India became a nuclear power in 1974 after conducting an initial nuclear test, Operation Smiling Buddha and further underground testing in 1998.
20. India maintains a "no first use" nuclear policy.
21. On 10 October, 2008 Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement was signed, prior to which India received IAEA and NSG waivers, ending restrictions on nuclear technology commerce with which India became de facto sixth nuclear power in world.

The burden of injustice

t is a shocking reflection on the flaws in our criminal justice system that less than one out of three people lodged in Indian jails is a convict. The vast majority of the prison population, as many as about 2.5 lakhs or 70 per cent, is made up of undertrials awaiting justice. As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices, many of them have been in jail “for periods longer than they would have served had they been sentenced.” The Law Commission of India’s 78th report on the “Congestion of undertrial prisoners in jail,” submitted in 1979, also has a topical feel about it.

The situation today is not unlike what it was then — people languish in jail for the want of resources to seek bail, for the lack of proper legal aid, and the hopelessly sluggish pace at which the judicial system moves. Coupled with this is the presence of a police force that seems less interested in securing convictions than in making summary arrests, effectively using custody as a form of preventive detention.

If the problem of undertrials has proved so intractable, it is because it is a manifestation of fundamental and deep-rooted flaws in the criminal justice system.

The immediate task is to identify those who are eligible for bail and ensure their release. Under the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act 2005, those accused of offences for which the death penalty is not prescribed are entitled to be released if they have been in detention for more than half the stipulated period of imprisonment. Also, the majority of the undertrial population is behind bars for petty offences and, by the Centre’s admission, “is under lock up in the absence of trial.”

Chief judicial magistrates have been asked by Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan to identify such cases and it is imperative that this exercise is carried out expeditiously so that these undertrials can be released on personal bonds. A more serious look at plea bargaining, introduced by the 2005 amendment for cases where the sentence is less than seven years, is called for. This could benefit many undertrials languishing in jails.

However, such immediate measures can address only a part of the problem. The fact that there is such a vast population of undertrials is closely linked to a larger issue — that of the lethargic pace of the criminal justice system, reflected in the world’s biggest backlog of pending cases. Dr. Manmohan Singh hit the nail on the head when he urged that “the expeditious elimination of this scourge… should constitute the highest priority for all of us.”

Challenge of food inflation

The government’s concerns over high food prices are reflected in a number of recent policy announcements. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who heads the empowered group of ministers on drought, has reiterated that if need be the government will import commodities that are in short-supply. The ban on the export of certain essential items will continue. Although there are enough buffer stocks, the shortfall in kharif production might fuel food inflation. Urgent measures are needed to save the standing crops. Clearly, there is a sense of urgency in not only ensuring food availability but also in moderating inflationary expectations.

Already, food prices are ruling high, as reflected in various consumer price indices — the headline inflation, however, remains in negative territory due to statistical aberration. The appropriateness of taking the wholesale prices-based inflation index as the sole reference point for policy formulation has once again been called into question. From a monetary perspective, it is clear that the traditional policy measures to combat inflation such as varying the interest rates will not be wholly effective in India. Food items that are assigned heavy weightage in consumer price indices are susceptible to supply side shocks due to the monsoon vagaries. That has been amply demonstrated this time.

High food prices have also weighed with the government in determining the minimum support prices (MSP) for paddy and a number of other crops. The MSP for paddy has been hiked by Rs.100 a quintal. However, the new rate at Rs.950 a quintal for “common paddy” — and at Rs.980 for finer varieties — is, in effect, only Rs.50 more than what was paid in 2008-09 if the bonus of Rs.50 is taken into reckoning. This is in contrast to the hefty Rs.125-155 increase sanctioned during the previous two seasons.

The MSPs for other crops that are in short supply, except for a few varieties of cereals, have been frozen. The government’s efforts at balancing the interests of the consumers served through the public distribution system with those of the producers will be particularly challenging this season. A shortfall of 10 million tonnes is expected in the kharif rice output.

Since market prices are bound to be higher than the floor set by the MSP, farmers are more likely to sell their produce to private trade than to the public distribution system. Adding to the government’s woes, the States that contributed most to its stockpile last year — Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh — have had significantly deficient rainfall so far.

Colombo names new Foreign Secretary

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday appointed the High Commissioner in New Delhi, Romesh Jayasinghe, as the new Foreign Secretary from October 1.

Mr. Rajapaksa nominated Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prasad Kariyawasam, who was also Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, as Mr. Jayasinghe’s successor.

Mr. Jayasinghe will succeed Palitha Kohona, the current Foreign Secretary, who goes to the United Nations in New York. Among the seven other top-level diplomatic appointments included Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), as Ambassador designate to Israel.

Union bill to make rain-water harvesting compulsory

Special Correspondent

The Central Government will soon introduce a bill to make rain-water harvesting compulsory throughout the country. The bill is being fine tuned by the Ministry of Water Resources for its introduction in Parliament, said N.Vardraj, Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board, here on Friday.

Participating in a workshop on “Optimal utilisation of ground water resources by industry,” organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Southern Region, Dr.Vardraj said already rain water harvesting had been made compulsory in some States such as Tamil Nadu. The Government wanted to make RWH compulsory in all industries and big buildings throughout the country as it had good potential for conserving and recharging water resources. He appealed to industrial bodies such as Confederation of Indian Industry to sponsor community based RWHs for recharging water resources. He warned people against over-exploitation of ground water, especially near coastal areas.

S.Bhattacharya, Scientist, Central Ground Water Authority, said the Ministry of Water Resources was planning to introduce water credit similar to carbon credit to give incentive to those who conserve water. The Authority had formed a committee in coordination with the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC), which would work on the water credit concept. The committee had already submitted its preliminary report to the Ministry. It had also received suggestions from experts about the concept.

Sekhar Raghavan, director, Rain Centre, wanted revival of all traditional methods of rain water harvesting and people should learn to live with minimum use of water.

Chandu Nair, president and director, Scope e-knowledge, said there was need for an integrated management to sustain ground water.

Grid Computing.

Definition of grid computing

A parallel processing architecture in which CPU resources are shared across a network, and all machines function as one large supercomputer. It allows unused CPU capacity in all participating machines to be allocated to one application that is extremely computation intensive and programmed for parallel processing.

Peer-to-Peer and Distributed Computing

Grid computing is also called "peer-to-peer computing" and "distributed computing," the latter term first coined in the 1970s, which had no relationship to this concept. Grid computing is also known as "utility computing," although that term is more widely used with third-party data centers that supply raw computing power.

There Is a Lot of Idle Time

In a large enterprise, hundreds or thousands of desktop machines sit idle at any given moment. Even when a user is at the computer reading the screen and not typing or clicking, it constitutes idle time. These unused cycles can be put to use on large computational problems. Likewise, the millions of users on the Internet create a massive amount of wasted machine cycles that can be harnessed instead. This is precisely what the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence program does with Internet users all over the world in which PC users worldwide donate unused processor cycles to help the search for signs of extraterrestrial life by analyzing signals coming from outer space. The project relies on individual users to volunteer to allow the project to harness the unused processing power of the user's computer. This method saves the project both money and resources.

Special Security and software

Naturally, grid computing over the Internet requires more extensive security than within a single enterprise, and robust authentication is employed in such applications Grid computing does require special software that is unique to the computing project for which the grid is being used. The Globus Toolkit is an open source software toolkit used for building Grid systems and applications. It is being developed by the Globus Alliance and many others all over the world. A growing number of projects and companies are using the Globus Toolkit to unlock the potential of grids for their cause.

Peer-to-Peer and Distributed Computing

Grid computing is also called "peer-to-peer computing" and "distributed computing," the latter term first coined in the 1970s, which had no relationship to this concept. Grid computing is also known as "utility computing," although that term is more widely used with third-party data centers that supply raw computing power.

Utility

Grid computing appears to be a promising trend for three reasons: (1) its ability to make more cost-effective use of a given amount of computer resources, (2) as a way to solve problems that can't be approached without an enormous amount of computing power, and (3) because it suggests that the resources of many computers can be cooperatively and perhaps synergistically harnessed and managed as a collaboration toward a common objective. In some grid computing systems, the computers may collaborate rather than being directed by one managing computer. One likely area for the use of grid computing will be pervasive computing applications - those in which computers pervade our environment without our necessary awareness.

Some of the enterprises using grid computing in India include the Gujarat Electricity Board, Saraswat Bank, National Stock Exchange, Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation, General Insurance Company, Syndicate Bank, Ashok Leyland, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd and Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad.

TERMS USED IN DIFFERENT GAMES & SPORTS

• Badminton = Deuce ; Smash ; Drop ; Let ; Game ; Love ; Double Fault.
• Baseball = Pitcher ; Strike ; Diamond ; Bunting ; Home ; Put Out.
• Boat Race = Cox.
• Billiards = Jigger ; Break ; Scratch ; Cannons ; Pot ; Cue ; In Baulk ; In Off.
• Boating = Cox.
• Boxing = Jab ; Hook ; Punch ; Knock-out ; Upper cut ; Kidney Punch.
• Bridge = Revoke ; Ruff ; Dummy ; Little Slam ; Grand Slam ; Trump ; Diamonds ; Tricks .
• Chess = Gambit ; Checkmate ; Stalemate ; Check.
• Cricket = L.B.W ; Maiden over ; Rubber ; Stumped ; Ashes ; Hattrick ; Leg Bye ; Follow on ; Googly ; Gulley ; Silly Point ; Duck ; Run ; Drive ; No ball ; Cover point ; Leg Spinner ; Wicket Keeper ; Pitch ; Crease ; Bowling ; Leg-Break ; Hit-Wicket ; Bouncer ; Stone-Walling.
• Crocquet = Mallett ; Hoops.
• Football = Dribble ; Off-Side ; Penalty ; Throw-in ; Hat-Tick; Foul ; Touch ; Down ; Drop Kick ; Stopper ;
• Golf = Hole ; Bogey ; Put ; Stymie ; Caddie ; Tee ; Links ; Putting the green.
• Hockey = Bully ; Hat-Trick ; Short corner ; Stricks ; Striking Circle ; Penalty corner ; Under cutting ; Scoop ; Centre forward ; Carry ; Dribble ; Goal ; Carried.
• Horse Racing = Punter ; Jockey ; Place ; Win ; Protest.
• Kho-Kho = Runner ; Chaser ; Poleby ; Out ; Foul.
• Lawn Tennis = Volley ; Smash ; Service ; Back-hand-drive.
• Polo = Chukker ; Bunder ; Mallet.
• Rifle Shooting = Bull's eyes.
• Rugby Football = Drop Kick ; Screen.
• Skiing = Toboggaining.
• Swimming = Stroke.
• Volleyball = Deuce ; Booster ; Spikers ; Service ; Love.
• Wrestling = Heave ; Half Nelson.

TYPES OF WATER REACTORS

1. PWR - PRESSURIZED WATER REACTORS
- these are reactors cooled & modulated by high pressure liquid water. they are the majority of current reactors, & are generally considered the safest & most reliable technology currently in large scale deployment, although 3 mile island is a reactor of this type. this is thermal neutron reactor design, the newest of which are Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor.

2. BWR - BOILING WATER REACTOR
- these are reactors cooled & moderated by water, under slighlty lower pressure. the water is allowed to boil in the reactor. the thermal; efficiency of these reactors are higher, simpler, potentially more stable & safe. these reactors make up a substantial of modern reactors. this is thermal neutron reactor design. the newest of Advanced Boiling Water Reactor & economic simplified boiling water reactor.

3. PHWR - PRESSURIZED HEAVY WATER REACTOR
- this is Canadian design, these reactors are heavy-water cooled & moderated pressurized water reactors, instead of using a single large pressure vessel as in a PWR, the fuel is contained in hundreds of pressure tubes. these reactors are fuelled with natural uranium & are thermal neutron design. PHWR can be refueled while at full power. this have been built in Canada, Argentina, China, India, Pakistan, Romania, South Africa.

4. RBMK - REAKTOR BOLSHOY MOSHCHNOSTI KANALNIY (high power channel reactor)
- a Soviet Union design , built to provide plutonium as well as power. RBMK are water cooled with a graphite moderator , are in some respects similar to CANDU in that they refuelable on-load & employ a pressure tube design instead of a PWR-style pressure vessel. RBMKs were very unstable & too large to have containment buildings making them dangerous in the case of accident.

THE CHERNOBYL PLANT HAS 4 RBMK REACTORS :
1. AGCR - Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor
2. GCR - Gas Cooled Reactor
3. Monju
4. Aqueous Homogeneous Reactor.

ADVANCED REACTORS :
- integral fast reactor
- pebble bed reactor
- high temperature gas cooled reactor
- SSTAR - small, sealed, transportable autonomous reactor.
- suboritical
- thorium based reactor

GENERTION IV REACTORS :
* gas cooled fast reactor
* lead cooled fast reactor
* moltan salt reactor
* sodium-cooled reactor
* super critical water reactor.

Half of panchayat seats for women

Failing On 33% Quota For Fairer Sex In House, UPA-2 Keeps Its Rural Promise

New Delhi: The country seems set to have an army of women politicians. UPA-2 may have failed to deliver on its promise of 33% reservation for women in legislatures within 100 days but it has kept its word on empowerment at the grassroots with the Union Cabinet on Thursday clearing a proposal to increase reservation for women to 50% in panchayats.

The proposal, reported by TOI earlier, aims to amend Article 243D of the Constitution that currently provides for 33% reservation for women in panchayats. This is proposed to be increased to 50%. The “women only” seats in panchayats are rotated.

States where 50% women’s quota is already in force has boosted their status. In Bihar, it has seen the spouses of women heads of panchayats styling themselves as ‘mukhiyapatis’ in a symbolic yet significant role reversal.

Panchayats are expected to serve as nurseries for women leaders, preparing them for tasks they may have to shoulder in case the addiction for politics endures.

It was during Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure as PM that the idea of decentralising power and empowering women at the grassroots was mooted. The one-third reservation for women in panchayats came through the 73rd constitutional amendment during PV Narasimha Rao’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The move will at one stroke boost the number of women politicians at the grassroots as the experience of Bihar — the first state to reserve half of the panchayat seats for women — shows — making the administration more gender-sensitive.

Taking the lead in women empowerment, five states — Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh — already have 50% reservation for women as states have the power to bring in amendments in their state laws to increase women’s representation up to 50%. Rajasthan has also announced 50% reservation that will be implemented in the next panchayat election in early 2010. Kerala, too, has announced 50% reservation for women in panchayats and other local bodies.

In Uttarakhand, women have an overwhelming 55% representation in panchayats as many of them contested even from non-reserved seats and won. But the state works through the UP Panchayat Act and is yet to have its own law.

With the proposed constitutional amendment, the number of elected women’s representatives at the grassroot level is expected to rise to more than 14 lakh. At present, women account for 36.87% of the total 28.1 lakh elected panchayat representatives.

I&B minister Ambika Soni said after the Union Cabinet meeting that a proposal to have 50% quota for women in urban local bodies is likely to be taken up later.

Panchayati raj minister CP Joshi called Thursday’s decision as historic saying it would take empowerment of women to another level.

All India Democratic Women Association general secretary Sudha Sundararaman said, “This will facilitate increased participation of women in decision making and strengthen the democratic process. But this measure must be followed up with the passage of the women’s reservation Bill in Parliament.”

World record benchmark in solar energy by Australian university

A team of researchers from University of New South Wales have managed to covert 43 per cent of solar power into energy in an experiment that approaches the renewable energy solution in an unique way.

Solar cell researchers have established a new benchmark in converting 43 percent of solar power into energy, the highest ever by any group globally, thanks to a new approach.

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) team, led by Martin Green, a professor, combined with two US groups to demonstrate a multi-cell combination setting a new benchmark for converting sunlight into energy.

“Because sunlight is made up of many colours of different energy, ranging from the high energy ultraviolet to the low energy infrared, a combination of solar cells of different materials can convert sunlight more efficiently than any single cell,” Green said.

Green, with colleague Anita Ho-Baillie, led the team that developed a silicon cell optimised to capture light at the red and near-infrared end of the spectrum. That cell was able to convert up to 46 percent of light into electricity, said a UNSW release.

When combined with four other cells, each optimised for different parts of the solar spectrum, the five-cell combination converted 43 percent of the sunlight into electricity.

महिला आरक्षण विधेयक

पंद्रहवीं लोकसभा के पहले सत्र मे 4 जून 2009 को राष्ट्रपति प्रतिभा पाटिल ने दोनों सदनों की संयुक्त बैठक मेंघोषणा की कि सरकार विधानसभाओं और संसद में महिलाआरक्षण विधेयक को शीघ्र पारित कराने की दिशा मेंसौ दिन के भीतर कदम उठायेगी. संसद के दोनों सदनों को संबोधित करते हुए राष्ट्रपति प्रतिभा पाटिल ने महिलाआरक्षण को लेकर सरकार की मंशा सामने रखी.

राष्ट्रपति के अनुसार महिलाओ को वर्ग, जाति और महिला होने के कारण अनेक अवसरों से वंचित रहना पड़ता है. इसलिए पन्चायतों और शहरी स्थानीय निकाय में आरक्षण बढ़ाकर महिलाओं को 50 प्रतिशत आरक्षण देने केलिए अगले 100 दिन में संवैधानिक संशोधन करने के क़दम उठाए जाएँगे ताकि अधिक से अधिक महिलाएँसार्वजनिक क्षेत्र में प्रवेश कर सकें. सरकार अगले 100 दिनों में केंद्र सरकार की नौकरियों में भी महिलाओं काप्रतिनिधित्व बढ़ाने की कोशिश करेगी. इसके साथ-साथ बेहतर समन्वय के लिए महिला सशक्तिकरण पर एकराष्ट्रीय मिशन स्थापित करने का क़दम उठाया जाएगा.

15वीं लोकसभा ने कई मायनों मे इतिहास रचा है। नारी सशक्तीकरण अब राजनीतिक गलियारों का मुद्दा नही, बल्कि 15वीं लोकसभा की हकीकत है। यह पहला मौका है, जब संसद में प्रवेश करने वाली महिलाओं की संख्या 50 से अधिक है। यही नहीं सबसे बड़ी बात यह है कि भारत के इतिहास में पहली बार एक महिला को लोकसभाअध्यक्ष बनने का मौका मिला है। संसद में महिला आरक्षण का प्रश्न आज प्रत्येक व्यक्ति की चर्चाका विषय है।संसद और विधान मंडलों में महिलाओं को भी 33 प्रतिशत आरक्षण दिए जाने के उद्देश्य से 14वीं लोकसभा मेंवें संविधान संशोधन विधेयक ने देश के जनमत को फिर चैतन्य कर दिया था । 108

महिलाओं को राजनीतिक सशक्तीकरण और लैंगिक असमानता दूर करने के उद्देश्य से राज्यसभा में रखा गयाविधेयक इस रास्ते का पहला प्रयास नहीं था। तत्कालीन प्रधानमंत्री राजीव गाँधी ने प्रधानमंत्रित्वक काल में भी इसमोर्चे पर चिंतन हुआ था। पंचायती राज संस्थाओं और स्थानीय निकायों को संविधान में स्थान देने की योजनाबनाते समय संसद और विधान मंडलों के लिए भी ऐसे ही कदम की रूपरेखा बनी थी। बाद में प्रयास फलीभूत नहींहुआ।

महिला आरक्षण की त्रासदी
देश मे आधी आबादी (महिलाएं) पिछले एक दशक से अपना प्रतिनिधित्व बढाने की मांग कर रही हैं लेकिन पुरूषप्रधान राजनीति संसद में महिला आरक्षण विधेयक पारित नहीं होने दे रही। यह अप्रत्याशित और सुखद है किपन्द्रहवीं लोकसभा में उपेक्षित महिला वर्ग का प्रतिनिधित्व बढा है। यह पहला मौका है जब 58 महिलाएं लोकसभामें पहुंची हैं, जो अब तक का सर्वाधिक आंकडा है। इस बार कुल 556 ने चुनाव लडा था। उत्तर प्रदेश से सबसे ज्यादापश्चिम बंगाल से 7 और राजस्थान से 3 महिला सांसद चुनी गई हैं।
14वीं लोकसभा में देशभर में 355 महिला उम्मीदवार चुनावी रणक्षेत्र में कूदी थी। इनमें से महज 45 लोकसभा मेंपहुंच पाई, जो 543 सदस्यीय सदन का 10 फीसदी भी नहीं है। नई लोकसभा में पिछली की तुलना में 13 महिलाएंज्यादा है । 12,

दस साल पहले महिलाओं को विधानसभा और संसद में 33 फीसदी आरक्षण देने का शिगूफा छोडा गया। यह घोरविडंबना है कि महिला आरक्षण का ज्वलंत मुद्दा पिछले करीब एक दशक में किसी न किसी तरीके से लम्बित होतारहा है। राजनीतिक दल भी गाहे-ब-गाहे, महिला आरक्षण का राग अलापते रहे हैं। लगभग सभी पार्टियों के चुनावीघोषणा-पत्र में महिला आरक्षण पर अमल का वादा किया जाता है। प्रधानमंत्री रहते एच.डी. देवेगौडा और अटलबिहारी वाजपेयी ने महिला आरक्षण बिल पेश किया। पास कराने की कोशिश भी हुई, लेकिन सफलता नहीं मिली।सरकारें आती जाती रहीं, प्रधानमंत्री बदलते रहे। यह विधेयक 1996 से अब तक कई बार लोकसभा में पेश हो चुकाहै, लेकिन आम सहमति के अभाव में यह पारित नहीं हो सका। 12वीं और 13वीं लोकसभा में दो बार बिल कोराजग शासनकाल में प्रस्तुत किया गया। यूपीए सरकार के कार्यकाल में महिला आरक्षण विधेयक आगे नहीं बढा।आम सहमति न बन पाने को कारण बताकर महिला विधेयक को एक प्रकार से ठण्डे बस्ते में डाल दिया गया।

आज भी महिलाओं को संसद और विधानसभा में उचित प्रतिनिधित्व प्राप्त नहीं हैं। अन्तर संसदीय संघ (इंटरपार्लियामेंटरी यूनियन) के अनुसार विश्वभर की संसदों में सिर्फ 17.5 प्रतिशत महिलाएं हैं। ग्यारह देशों की संसदोंमें तो एक भी महिला नहीं है और 60 देशों में दस प्रतिशत से कम प्रतिनिधित्व है। अमरीका और यूरोप में बीसप्रतिशत प्रतिनिधित्व है, जबकि अफ्रीका एवं एशियाई देशों में 16 से 10 प्रतिशत। अरब देशों में महिलाओं काप्रतिनिधित्व सिर्फ़ 9.6 प्रतिशत है। महिलाओं को प्रतिनिधित्व देने के मामले में 183 देशों में रवांडा पहले नम्बरपर है। वहां संसद में 48.8 फीसदी महिलाएं हैं। संसद में महिलाओं को प्रतिनिधित्व देने के मामले में भारत दुनियामें 134वें स्थान पर है।

अधिकांश पुरूष सांसद महिला सशक्तिकरण की बात जरूर करते हैं, पर समाज की "आधी आबादी" के लिए त्यागकरने के लिए तैयार नहीं हैं। इस मुद्दे पर राजनीतिक दलों की कथनी और करनी में अंतर दिखता है। आरक्षण नसही राजनीतिक दल महिलाओं को ज्यादा से ज्यादा टिकट देने लगें तो भी महिलाओं की संख्या संसद में बढेगी।पन्द्रहवीं लोकसभा इसका उदाहरण है।

महिला आरक्षण क्यों?
भारत में महिलाओं को सम्मान और समानता की विचारधारा उतनी ही सशक्त रही है जितनी कि इनके साथअसमानता की। समय बीतने के साथ पुरुष प्रधान समाज ने ना मालूम कैसे रवैये में परिवर्तन कर लिया और नारीभी इसकी आदी हो गई। सती सावित्री, अहिल्या देवी, महारानी लक्ष्मीबाई, रानी दुर्गावती, अदिति पंत, बछेंद्री पाल, किरण बेदी, कल्पना चावला भारतीय महिलाओं के रोल मॉडल हैं। वह कौन-सा कार्य है, जो 'प्रस्तावित 33 फीसदीवर्ग' ने नहीं कर दिखाया है। पंचायती राज और स्थानीय निकाय संबंधी 73वें और 74वें संविधान संशोधन विधेयकके अधिनियमित होने के बाद तो महिलाओं की आवाज इस मुद्दे पर और सशक्त हो चली है। धरातली संस्थानो में तोमहिलाओं के लिए आरक्षण है, किंतु इनके लिए कानून बनाने वाले संस्थानों में नहीं। महिला आरक्षण के लिए तर्ककम वजनदार नहीं हैं। महिलाएँ, त्याग, समर्पण, संसाधनों के पुनर्चक्रण (रिसाइक्लिंग) के बेजोड़ उदाहरण सामनेरखती हैं। संसाधनों का इस्तेमाल पुरुषों की तुलना मे महिलाएँ अधिक बेहतर ढंग से करती हैं। पंचायती राजसंस्थानों में 'मैडम सरपंच' के लिए स्थान बनाते समय इन्हीं बिंदुओं पर गंभीरता से विचार हुआ था। अबसंवैधानिक संस्थानों के लिए भी ऐसी व्यवस्था जोरदार ढंग से अनुभव हो रही है। समाज की तरह राजनीति में भीपुरुष वर्चस्व है और वर्चस्व के इस दंभ ने स्त्रियों को बढ़ने नहीं दिया। महिला अपने बल पर कहीं पर खड़ी हो, यहउसे बरदाश्त नहीं होता।

महिलाओं के उत्थान के लिए यह विधेयक आवश्यक है। लेकिन इसमें भी संशय है कि यह सिर्फ आम बिल बनकररह जाएगया महिलाओं को हक दिलाने में कारगर भी होगा। इस बिल के पेश होने के बाद उम्मीद है कि महिलाएंअब आत्मविश्वास के साथ अपने हक की मांग करें। अपने अधिकारों को कानूनी रूप से प्राप्त करने के लिए वे स्वयंआगे आएं। कितने आश्चर्य की बात है कि इतने चुनावों के बाद भी महिलाओं की सत्ता में भागीदारी नगण्य है।

ऊंचे ओहदों पर सिर्फ इक्का-दुक्का महिलाएं मिलती हैं। जब भी महिलाओं को कुछ देने की बात आती है, चाहे वहनौकरी हो, शीर्ष पद हो या उनके अन्य अधिकार, हम उन्हें कृपापात्र बना देते हैं। हम उन्हें उनका हक भी ऐसे देते हैं, जैसे खैरात दे रहे हों। अगर व्यावहारिक रूप से अपने समाज के अंदर ही देखें, तो हम पाते हैं कि महिलाओं कोउनके कानूनी हक देना भी हम गवारा नहीं करते, देते भी हैं, तो एक कृपा के तौर पर। बेटी अगर पिता की संपत्ति मेंअपना हिस्सा मांगती है, तो कहा जाता है कि कैसी बेटी है। लालची है। लोग उस पर उंगलियां उठाते हैं। जबकि यहउसका कानूनी अधिकार है। पर अमूमन समाज में होता यही है कि संपत्ति सिर्फ बेटों में बांट दी जाती है और बेटियोंको 'पराया धन' मानकर उसी दिन घर से अलग कर दिया जाता है, जब उनकी शादी होती है। यही हाल विधवा कोअधिकार देने में है। इसमें भी समाज कोताही करता है। दरअसल, महिलाओं को अधिकार तो चाहिए, लेकिन कृपाके अंतर्गत नहीं, बल्कि उन्हें यह न्याय के अंतर्गत चाहिए। दरअसल, समाज की तरह राजनीति में भी पुरुष वर्चस्वहै और वर्चस्व के इस दंभ ने स्त्रियों को बढ़ने नहीं दिया। महिला अपने बल पर कहीं पर खड़ी हो, यह उसे बरदाश्तनहीं होता। पंचायती राज में महिलाएं ग्राम प्रधान तो बनीं, लेकिन वे कितना स्वतंत्र निर्णय लेती हैं? इस दृष्टि से तोमहिलाओं को 33 प्रतिशत आरक्षण मिल जाता है, तो भी यह नाकाफी है। क्योंकि अभी तक महिलाओं और पुरुषोंकी बराबरी की भागीदारी में बहुत भारी अंतराल है।

महिलाओं को पचास प्रतिशत की भागीदारी मिलनी चाहिए, तभी इस खाई को समतल करने की दिशा में बढ़ा जासकता है। जब महिलाओं को आधा जगत कहा जाता है, सृष्टि ने जब उन्हें बराबरी का हक दिया है, तो हम उन्हेंआधा हिस्सा क्यों नहीं दे सकते? स्त्रियों को कृपाभाजन बनाने की प्रवृत्ति और मानसिकता को त्यागना होगा। सृष्टिका असंतुलन दूर करने के लिए उन्हें उनका उतना हक साधिकार देना होगा, जितना उनके विकास के लिए जरूरीहै। राजनीति में स्त्री को जब भी कोई पद मिलता है, तो उसे या तो पति के दिवंगत होने पर मिलता है या पिता केदिवंगत होने पर। बड़ी से बड़ी सत्तासीन महिलाओं को उनका पद इमोशनल कारणों से मिलता है। अनुग्रह की वजहसे मिलता है। यह स्त्रियों के स्वाभिमान पर चोट है और उनके लिए अपमानजनक है।

स्त्री जब भी अपने अधिकार के लिए आगे आती है, तो उसे वह स्थान नहीं मिलता। वह चाहे राजनीतिक पार्टियों केटिकटों के बंटवारे का मामला हो या फिर नौकरी में आरक्षण का। किसी महिला को महत्वपूर्ण जगह मिल भी गई, तो उसे पुरुषवादी मानसिकता का चतुर्दिक सामना करना पड़ता है। उसे उसी पध्दति के भीतर रहना पड़ता है। वहअपनी आवाज उठाती है, तो उसे महत्वपर्ण जगह से हटा दिया जाता है। किरण बेदी के साथ भी तो यही हुआ। यहस्थिति तब तक बनी रहेगी, जब तक समाज के नजरिये में फर्क नहीं आएगा। समाज का मौजूदा नजरिया तोस्त्रियों को बर्दाश्त न करने वाला है। कन्या भ्रूण हत्या के मामले आते रहते यदि यही सोच पूरे समाज की हो गई, तोउसके अस्तित्व का संकट भी हमारे सामने है। समाज की मानसिकता बदलने की जरूरत है। समाज को बदलने कीपहल भी महिलाओं को ही करनी होगी। महिलाओं को शिक्षित होना पड़ेगा। शिक्षा से साहस आता है।

इसलिए महिलाओं और समाज को भी साहसी होना पड़ेगा। महिलाओं को जोखिम उठाना होगा। आज महिलाओंको 'अच्छी महिला' होने का प्रमाण पत्र लेने के लिए तमाम कष्ट उठाने पड़ते हैं। वे अपने समर्थन के सुरक्षा चक्र मेंघूमती रहती हैं। जाने कितनी रूढ़ियां उनके खिलाफ खड़ी हुई हैं, जो पूर्णत: पुरुषवादी हैं। लेकिन जब हम वृहत्तरसमाज के बारे में सोचते हैं, तो उसकी प्रगति के लिए जरूरी है कि एक भागीदारी तो सुनिश्चित हो। इसके लिएआरक्षण जरूरी है। जहां तक इस विधेयक की बात है, तो संदेह है कि इसे स्वीकृति मिल भी गई, तब भी यहप्रभावपूर्ण तरीके से लागू हो पाएगा। क्योंकि महिलाओं को अधिकार देने की बात आती है, तो उसके पक्ष में कमऔर विपक्ष में बहुसंख्य लोग खड़े हो जाते हैं। कानून हमारे यहां हैं, लेकिन उनकी परिणति क्या होती है? बलात्कारजैसे जघन्य अपराध की एफआईआर तक को प्राथमिकता नहीं दी जाती। सच कहें, तो स्त्री को अधिकार मिलने मेंकानून, कागज और कार्रवाई के बीच बड़े अंतराल हैं। इन अंतरालों को हमें पाटना पड़ेगा। कोई कानून तभी प्रभावीहोता है, जब सदिच्छा से उसे लागू किया जाए।

बाधायें
वर्तमान राजनीतिक समीकरण में रोचक तथ्य यह है कि संप्रग के समर्थन में राजग प्रमुख भाजपा अपना समर्थनलिए खड़ी है। वामदल भी आरक्षण विधेयक के समर्थक हैं। राजद, द्रमुक, पीएमके दलित, पिछड़ा वर्ग औरअल्पसंख्यक महिलाओं के लिए भी आरक्षण चाहता है। सपा भी कोटे में कोटे की पक्षधर है। इस विधेयक के रास्तेमें कई तकनीकी परेशानियाँ हैं क्योंकि यह संविधान में संशोधन करने वाला विधेयक है. ग्यारहवीं लोकसभा मेंपहली बार विधेयक पेश हुआ था तो उस समय उसकी प्रतियां फाड़ी गई थीं. इसके बाद 13वीं लोकसभा में भी तीनबार विधेयक पेश करने का प्रयास हुआ, लेकिन हर बार हंगामे और विरोध के कारण ये पेश नहीं हो सका था. महिला आरक्षण विधेयक एक संविधान संशोधन विधेयक है और इसलिए इसे दो तिहाई बहुमत से पारित कियाजाना ज़रूरी है.

राजनीतिक दल और महिलाएं
महिला मतदाता और महिला प्रत्याशी के साथ एक और बात की चर्चा होती है, वह है राजनीतिक दलों के घोषणापत्रों में महिलाएं। अर्थात पार्टियां महिलाओं के जीवन में कितनी खुशहाली लाने का वादा करती हैं। यह भी सच हैकि महिलाएं घोषणाएं पढकर मतदान नहीं करतीं। बहुत कम महिला मतदाताओं को चुनावी घोषणा का अर्थ पताहै। दरअसल किसी भी पार्टी का घोषणा पत्र उसका ऎसा दस्तावेज होना चाहिए जो समाज के हर क्षेत्र के बारे में पार्टीका दर्शन, दृष्टि और कार्यक्रम प्रस्तुत करे। घोषणा पत्र से मनसा, वाचा, कर्मणा उसका संकल्प प्रकट हो, पर ऎसाहोता कहां है। अधिकांश राजनीतिक दल स्वयं अपने घोषणापत्रों के बारे में विशेष चिंतित नहीं रहते। उन्हें भीमालूम है कि घोषणा पत्र के आधार पर उन्हें वोट नहीं मिलने वाले हैं। जहां तक इन चुनावी घोषणा पत्रों मेंमहिलाओं के लिए की गई घोषणाओं का सवाल है- प्रमुख पार्टी (सत्ताधारी) कांग्रेस के घोषणा पत्र (2009) में सारेके सारे बिन्दु वही रहे जो वर्ष 2004 के घोषणा पत्र में थे। जैसे लोकसभा और विधानसभाओं में आरक्षण पहलीघोषणा है। उसमें साफ लिखा था, "अगला लोकसभा चुनाव महिलाओं के 33 प्रतिशत आरक्षण मिलने के आधारपर ही करवाया जाएगा।" 2009 के चुनावी घोषणा में लिखा था- "लोकसभा और विधानसभा में महिलाओं के लिएएक तिहाई सीटें आरक्षित करने के लिए संविधान में संशोधन की कोशिश की जाएगी।"

दोनों संकल्पों में विषय एक है, आस्था बदली हुई। 2004 के लोकसभा चुनाव में संकल्प था। पांच वर्षों में संकल्पपूरा करने के लिए प्रयास भी नहीं हुआ। 2009 के घोषणा पत्र में "कोशिश करने" की बात लिखी गई । अन्य 4 बिन्दु भी मिलते जुलते हैं। कमाल की बात है कि कांग्रेस के घोषणा पत्रों में महिलाओं के खाते में पांच बिन्दु हीनिश्चित हैं। क्या इतने से महिलाओं की समस्याएं समाप्त हो जाएंगी? सच तो यह है कि महिलाओं की विभिन्नसमस्याओं की ओर विशेष ध्यान ही नहीं दिया गया है। वरना समस्याएं स्थायी कैसे होतीं पाच वर्ष शासन करने केबाद भी लगभग उन्हीं पुराने बिन्दुओं को घोषणा पत्र में डालने की विवशता क्यों पिछली घोषणाओं में से कितनीपूरी हुई, इस बारे में कोई जानकारी नहीं है।

दूसरी प्रमुख राष्ट्रीय पार्टी है भाजपा। इस दल ने भी संसद में महिला आरक्षण को ही प्रथम घोषणा बनाया , परन्तुभाजपा ने महिलाओं की झोली में 14 बिन्दु दिए हैं। पिछले दिनों राजस्थान, म.प्र. और छत्तीसगढ सरकारों द्वारासंचालित महिला लाभकारी योजनाओं को भी केन्द्रीय स्तर पर लेने का वादा किया गया। वहीं लैंगिग समानता केलिए समान नागरिक संहिता बनाने का वादा दुहराया गया। अन्य 12 बिन्दु भी विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में महिलाओं केजीवन को सशक्त बनाने का संकल्प दुहराते हैं। कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी (एम) ने भी अपने घोषणा पत्र में संसद में महिलाआरक्षण को ही प्राथमिकता दी थी। इनके छह बिन्दुओं में आर्थिक विकास के लिए अनुदान, बलात्कार के विरूद्धकानून, दहेज और कन्या भ्रूण हत्या का खात्मा, महिला बजट को बढाना, विधवाओं और महिला द्वारा संचालितपरिवारों को विशेष सुविधा देने के वादे दुहराए गए ।

विपक्ष का काम है कि वह संसद में सत्ता पक्ष को उसके वादों का स्मरण करवाए। एक और बात की ओर ध्यानदिलाना आवश्यक है। महिलाओं की क्षेत्र विशेष की समस्याएं भी होती हैं। अर्थात् उनकी सरकारों से अपेक्षाएं। इसपर विशेष ध्यान नहीं दिया जाता। घोषणा पत्रों के निर्माण के पूर्व महिलाओं की प्रतिनिधियों को विश्वास में नहींलिया जाता। उनसे संवाद ही नहीं होता। फिर तो घोषणाएं हैं, घोषणाओं का क्या जिन महिलाओं को मतदान कामहत्व ही नहीं पता वे घोषणाएं जानने-समझने का अपना अधिकार भी नहीं समझतीं। यह स्थिति बदलनीचाहिए।

घोषणापत्रों के निर्माण के पूर्व महिलाओं की प्रतिनिधियों को विश्वास में नहीं लिया जाता। उनसे संवाद ही नहीहोता। सत्य तो यह है कि महिला आरक्षण की चर्चा केवल दिखावटी है। कोई भी दल नहीं चाहता कि जिनका वे सदासे शोषण करते आए हैं वे उनके साथ आकर खड़ी हो जाए। इसी कारण २० साल से यह विषय मात्र चर्चा में ही है। नाकोई इसका विरोध करता है और ना खुलकर समर्थन। उसको लाने का सार्थक कदम तो बहुत दूर की बात है। उनकोलगता है कि नारी यदि सत्ता में आगई तो उनकी निरंकुशता कुछ कम हो जाएगी, उनकी कर्कशता एवं कठोरता परअंकुश लग जाएगा तथा महिलाओं पर अत्याचार रोकने पड़ेंगें । आज समय की माँग है कि नारी को उन्नत्ति केसमान अवसर मिलें और खुशी-खुशी उसे उसके अधिकार दे दिए जाएँ।

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

GST is a comprehensive tax levy on manufacture, sale and consumption of goods and services at a national level. Through a tax credit mechanism, this tax is collected on value-added goods and services at each stage of sale or purchase in the supply chain. The system allows the set-off of GST paid on the procurement of goods and services against the GST which is payable on the supply of goods or services. However, the end consumer bears this tax as he is the last person in the supply chain.

The Goods and Service Tax (GST) will integrate State economies and boost overall growth. GST will create a single, unified Indian market to make the economy stronger. The implementation of GST will lead to the abolition of other taxes such as octroi, Central Sales Tax, State-level sales tax, entry tax, stamp duty, telecom licence fees, turnover tax, tax on consumption or sale of electricity, taxes on transportation of goods and services, etc., thus avoiding multiple layers of taxation that currently exist in India.

It is estimated that India will gain $15 billion a year by implementing the Goods and Services Tax as it would promote exports, raise employment and boost growth. It will divide the tax burden equitably between manufacturing and services.

In the GST system, both Central and State taxes will be collected at the point of sale. Both components (the Central and State GST) will be charged on the manufacturing cost. This will benefit individuals as prices are likely to come down. Lower prices will lead to more consumption, thereby helping companies.

Almost 140 countries have already implemented the GST. Most of the countries have a unified GST system. Brazil and Canada follow a dual system where GST is levied by both the Union and the State governments. France was the first country to introduce GST system in 1954.

CGST will include central excise duty, service tax, and additional duties of customs at the central level; and value-added tax, central sales tax, entertainment tax, luxury tax, octroi, lottery taxes, electricity duty, state surcharges related to supply of goods and services and purchase tax at the State level.

Review of Constitution

“The working of our Constitution over the years has exposed various weaknesses of the Indian political system and a comprehensive review of the Constitution is necessary.” Do you agree? Give arguments. Immediately after independence, the Constituent Assembly and its Drafting Committee prepared and adopted the Indian Constitution, which with some changes over the years, has been continuing. Last about six decades of working of the Constitution has exposed certain weaknesses of the Indian political system. At times it is felt by many that a comprehensive review of the Indian Constitution must be carried out to tackle the weaknesses. One of the major weaknesses is that the multi-party system has given scope for so-called ‘horse trading’, which could not be stopped even by the constitutional amendment facilitating the enactment of the Anti-defection Act. Further, it has resulted in evolution of coalition culture, which has increased the political instability of the government. Further, considering the present-day overlaps resulted by the legislative and judicial activism, there has to be a clear demarcation of the boundaries of jurisdiction of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. Several people feel that with a view to have strong executive at the national and State levels, the present system of Parliamentary democracy must be replaced by the Presidential form of government where the President (Head of the State) is directly elected by the people, who also becomes the functional head of the State as well as that of the government. In addition, the empowerment of the States with the overall aim of strengthening the Indian federation is another area on which many political thinkers are unanimous. It is believed that the Indian federal system must also be as close as possible to the US system, so that the regional aspirations of the people are met. It is also felt by many that it is high time that the protection available to the public servants under Article 310 of the Constitution is done away with, so that work culture is inculcated among the government employees. With a view to strengthen the Constitution, most of the above amendments are necessary. But one has to keep in mind and ensure that none of the proposed amendments actually violate Supreme Court Judgments about the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution. For effecting the change beyond the basic structure, it would perhaps require the prior approval of the Supreme Court and the process may have to be undertaken under the close scrutiny of the apex court.

Role of Gandhi in Independence Struggle

Bring out the role of Gandhi in the struggle for India’s independence.

The struggle for India’s independence is replete with outstanding contributions from various luminary nationalist leaders. The contributions of leaders like Jawahar Lal Nehru, Gopal Krishan Gokhale, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Lala Lajpat Rai, etc have been laudable. But if one were asked to name a leader who undisputedly contributed the most, the name of Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi would undoubtedly be at the apex. Before he came to the Indian scene in 1915-16, the nationalist movement was progressing very slowly. There was no leader with the mass appeal and the nationalists were sharply divided in two groups i.e. the moderates and the extremists. The methods adopted by the pre-Gandhi nationalists were too democratic to have any material effect on the colonial power ruling the country.

The advent of Gandhi changed the very complexion of the nationalist movement. His methods included the involvement of people in a big way and adoption of non-violent methods of agitation.

Gandhi’s role was primarily that of a leader who identified himself with the Indian masses. He gradually emerged as a natural leader of the masses and took complete control of the movement against the imperialist force. It was mainly after the British became aware of the strong character of Gandhi and complete involvement of the masses in the Movement that they finally decided to quit India in the year 1947.

The methods used by Gandhi can be broadly classified into the following categories:

(a) Involvement of Masses: Prior to Gandhi, the nationalist movement was being run by a handful of intellectuals and the masses were neither involved nor adequately informed of the developments of the nationalist movement. This trend was reversed after Gandhi came on the national scene.

(b) Non-Violence: One of the important Gandhian methods was the adoption of complete non-violence during all his satyagrahas and movements. He knew that the poor Indians could not match the might of the British government and adoption of any violent means would only result in more casualties on the Indian side.

(c) Truthfulness: Just like non-violence, truthfulness was the hallmark of Gandhi’s personality and methods. He not only preached it but also practiced absolute truthfulness and sincerity. Truthfulness not only gave him the inner strength to fight the mighty British but also convinced the masses of his honest and sincere intentions.

(d) Non-cooperation and Satyagraha: One of the most common methods used by Gandhi was non-cooperation with the civil authorities and Satyagraha. Satyagraha, as explained by Gandhi himself, was different from the passive resistance and was fearless agitation based on the principles of non-cooperation, fearlessness and truthfulness. These three methods were employed by Gandhi to bend the civil authorities more than once and to accept the genuine demands of the Indian people.