It is play time for floods

                                                 Dinesh Mishra/ Patna

Flood season is approaching fast and it will impact Bihar also sooner or later. The round of negotiations with Nepal will commence and assurances given to the people of Bihar that something is being planned for them and soon the action will be taken. By the end of the year everything will come to a happy ending.

 A Technical Committee appointed by the Government of Bihar (2007) to study the flood problem and suggest remedies for it says explicitly, ‘…The reservoir and the flood damaged area should be close to each other.’ The spot where Barahkshetra Dam is proposed to be built in Nepal is about 55 km from Indo-Nepal border and the confluence of the Kosi below the border is not less than 200 km. If the committee headed by former Engineer-in- Chief of Bihar says that distant dams don’t provide protection against floods, what purpose it is going to serve?

  The distance of Dheng Bridge from the proposed location of the Nunthar Dam is nearly 70 kilometers and the distance between Dheng to Badlaghat is over 250 kilometers. The case of the Kamla is no different either. That strengthens the view that no flood protection would be possible from this dam in its present form. That is the reason, probably, that no flood cushion has been provided in the design of the dam but the politicians nurse a feeling that the dam at Nunthar will help in preventing floods in the basin. A former Central Minister, Hari Kishore Singh, says, ‘…There is no money available to build the dam at Nunthar. When money is not there, what is the point in talking about the project?

 Even if resources are located, the political situation in Nepal is not conducive for taking up any construction work there or even entering into an agreement for it. Atmosphere there is not favorable to India. Nobody would know whether there is a provision for any flood cushion in the designs or not. May be, the ministers know it. A politician always assumes that if a dam is going to be built, it is imperative that there would be arrangements of irrigation, flood control and power production. The engineers must tell the politicians if no such provision has been made.’ Do our engineers refrain from giving correct picture to their political bosses? Do they lack courage to tell the truth? No engineer will ever like to get humiliated after telling the truth, it seems. People know only to chant 'Zindabaad'.

(Dinesh Kumar Mishra (born 1948) is convenor of ‘Barh Mukti Abhiyan’, an NGO which is mounting a grassroots movement that challenges the current, top-heavy flood control policy in India.)

Black money and Amnesty scheme

                                           K R Sudhaman/ Delhi

Government, irrespective of which party is in power, often say that there should be no tax amnesty scheme to deal with black money as it punishes honest taxpayers and rewards dishonest taxpayers. This statement is made by politicians when in opposition but in government they speak differently and contemplates of a tax amnesty scheme to convert ill-gotten money into white by those who have stashed it abroad.

Prime Narendra Modi government seems to be no different, Just as previous governments, Modi after having failed in his election promise to bring back the black money stashed abroad, is now contemplating an amnesty scheme, perhaps to find the much needed resources to fund the huge money required for infrastructure development.

Every time a tax amnesty scheme is announced, government swears that this would be the last chance for black money holders to come clean. But unfortunately so far it has neven been the last chance and amnesty keeps coming again making people bolder and fear less and are confident that thy would get a chance periodically to come clean despite amassing huge amount of unaccounted money.

The amnesty schemes are invariably called voluntary disclosure schemes and it has been announced on a regular basis right from 1961 and is often used as a tool to find additional resources whenever government's fiscal situation is not that good. While the first amnesty scheme in 1961 resulted in Rs 70 crore of black money being brought in to the tax net, the last one in 1997 helped the government to unearth a little over Rs 30,000 crore unaccounted money. Since then there has been widespread debate on whether there should be an amnesty scheme or not but ultimately people in the corridors of power feel this is the only way forward. This helps in getting some money in to government kitty as well as help black money holders to convert some money stashed abroad into white. The country benefits in the sense the money is ploughed back into some developmental activities.

Black money gets generated because tax laws are not simple. Law makers ensure that tax laws are made in such a way that it is subject to interpretation. This gives politicians and bureaucrats discretionary powers. Rent-seekers benefit in the process generating black money. to provide. This is one of the reasons why tax laws are not made simple and exemptions removed. Loopholes in law helps in government and industry to interpret in a manner it wants. The legal fraternity too benefit out of it. There are evidences to show that lower the taxes, higher the compliance and the reason that taxes are not lowered further in India is because there are several exemptions leaving little room for government as it has to find resources to fulfill social and development objectives.

Top industrialists too want the government to retain this discretionary power so that they can bribe their way so they have an head start over other smaller but competing aspirants. There is no level playing field as new comers costs are higher by 30 per centbecause of the taxes as they do not get exemptions as they cannot bribe their way.

To cite an example, an across the board 20 per cent minimum alternate tax on gross profit as proposed in the original draft of Direct Tax Code would have ensured there is virtually no black money generation by industry. But no one seemed to want it and the suggestion has been thrown into the dust bin with tax experts describing it is as draconian.

Exempting agriculture income from tax is yet another example as this is invariable abused by the rich and famous in the country to evade tax. If the government is serious about protecting poor farmers they could always have a higher threshold limit instead of exempting farm income totally. Taxmen say collection of agriculture income tax in cumbersome. But in reality it is one channel to convert black money into white. Of course agriculture income is a state subject but constitution can be amended if government is serious about bringing it into the tax net. Also from equity point of view it is important every individual irrespective of his occupation should pay tax beyond a threshold for equity. At the moment an individual earning Rs 5 lakh pays no tax if he is a farmer, some income tax, if he is professional like doctor and a little more if he is a industrialist as he gets lesser exemptions than a professional. A salaried person pays the highest income tax as his exemptions are the least. Ideally one should remove all exemptions have simple income tax with three slabs of 5,10 and15 per cent income tax beyond a threshold so that there is equity. Lkewise there should be corporate tax at a lower rate without any exemptions. GST will rationalise indirect taxes to a large extent. If this is done black money generation would reduced to a large extend.

Indians have stashed abroad up to $1.4 trillion of ill-gotten money. An additional $640 billion of black money has been generated domestically due corruption right from getting driving licence or birth certificate to getting an industrial license. Systemic changes like computerisation railway tickets, digitalisation of administration, simple tax system will help to prevent black money generation. The country would benefit more from this rather than periodic amnesty scheme as prevention better than cure.

 (K R Sudhaman, who has over 40 years experience in journalism, has been editor in Press Trust of India, TickerNews and Financial Chronicle)                  

Education is a social responsibility too

                                                       Abha Khanna

A child’s begging hand is like a slap on the face of every proud Indian. It is a shame that in a fast developing country, many children in the cities are forced to work as beggars, rag pickers and shop workers or simply roam the streets in the absence of a guiding hand.

What is the future of children who roam the streets and have no access to education? What can motivate street children to go to a classroom and learn skills that can brighten their future?

Society needs to play a role here. There’s a lot of untapped talent in them. These children are very alert and receptive to their environment. A little love and affection acts as a strong motivator to bring them to a classroom. They are eager learners and usually respond very positively to well-meaning guidance.

Majority of children who do not attend school have one element missing in their life. Their parents/guardians prioritize earning over education. They are either unable to spare time to ensure their ward’s schooling, or prefer to push their child to start earning at a young age. Either way, the child is the sufferer. However, a large percentage of parents/guardians respond positively to counseling and guidance. If social service organizations take the lead to provide their children with education, they are even supportive.

SumVikas Trust was born of the dream that no Indian child should be devoid of basic education, and should never need to beg. All children of poor, backward and uneducated families should have access to opportunities that can prepare them for gainful employment and make them responsible citizens of India. This dream connected a group of professionals who wanted to do their bit to uplift and strengthen the weaker sections of society. SumVikas launched in June 2007, with the aim to undertake social service projects on a no-profit-no-loss basis. 

SumVikas focuses entirely on children who are out of the schooling system. The teachers virtually play the role of mother, when they take a round of their houses and bring the children to class. These children are then admitted to nearby schools and given tuition support after school so that the child does not drop out again.

From where these children come from, the women also need to be empowered. Many are illiterate, unemployed or underpaid. Their empowerment has a direct effect on the lives of their children. With this in mind, SumVikas also started literacy classes and skills training centres for women.

Eight years down the line, the trust runs projects in Delhi, Uttarakhand and Haryana. Big and small achievements have made the journey worthwhile… motivating the team to work harder and reach out to more people in need.

Activists and NGOs under govt scanner

                                                        SANJU VERMA

For Prime Minister Narendra Modi the Non-Governmental Organisaions (NGO) should have supplementary role rather than the leading role in initiating, conceptualising and leading people in a particular direction. This is a marked shift in the policy of the government since former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demitted the office. However, even during his tenure, the former Prime Minister flagged the anti-development stance of NGOs, particularly in case Kodaikulam Nuclear Power project in Tamil Nadu. But he did not initiate any action against alleged erring NGOs

Since Mr Modi took charge of the country, his office, the PMO, has so far been quite vigilant over foreign funding to NGOs and has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to tighten rules of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). In the span of about one year of Modi government coming to power, the FCRA licenses of over 9, 000 NGOs from across the country have so far been cancelled. Approximately, a little over12,000 NGOs registered with home ministry.

People, who are in know of Mr Modi and his Gujarat model of development, claim that the Prime Minister has grown from chief minister to PM despite NGOs and he “never had good opinion about voluntary organisations”. In the Gujarat model, they claim, government is on the fore front in providing leadership while leaving the space for NGOs only to follow and implement the directives.

With this as the premise for allowing the NGOs to function in the country, no issue or debate can be initiated by such organisations, which is generally aimed at molding the public option and launch agitations. This was the order of the day during 10 years of the UPA rule, which saw sprouting of a political party out of NGO activism.

Without passing any judgment on the recent moves by the government against NGOs- big and small- there exist an issue, which needs to be addressed and this can only be taken up by the government. Action against without giving opportunity for hearing is against natural justice. MHA passes the order against NGOs claiming that the entities have not filed their returns for three years, which is mandated under FCRA- 2010. But NGOs are not given opportunity to explain their position or a window to correct their mistake, which is provided in almost all the cases even in cases relating to Income Tax or Service tax returns.

There is dire need to provide a platform for the NGOs to interact with the government on the lines of Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). Even well meaning NGOs have been asking for it. Many among them say wrong or right actions are being taken against them, but there is no place to approach and redress their grievances. They claim that actions are being initiated against them and they are not being told about their mistakes. Therefore under present situation good and bad entities are treated equally and thus good one suffers and overall image of the voluntary sector is dented.   

It is an experience that about 25 years ago the image of corporate was almost like the same as it is in the case of NGOs. But post liberalization, as the economy evolved and the MCA came into being, the corporate entities got a platform to interact with government and a regime of collaboration ushered in.

Similarly, need of the hour is that on the lines of MCA, the government needs to work out a mechanism for interaction with NGOs so that issues are discussed and well meaning solutions are arrived at. There is denying the utility and importance of voluntary sector activism, without which soul of society would be lost. Only government cannot bring about socio-economic changes in the lives of people. Long live India, its government and also NGOs! Together wonders can be achieved, but only in an environment of trust.

 

नेपाल त्रासदी में भारतीय मीडिया

आशीष कुमार ‘अंशु’/ काठमांडू  (नेपाल)

भारतीय मीडिया को लेकर नेपाल से आ रही खबरों से यह जाहिर था कि मीडिया में जो कुछ आ रहा है, उसे देखकर नेपाल के लोग भारतीय मीडिया के प्रति आक्रोश में हैं। क्या नेपाल के लोगों का यह गुस्सा वास्तव में भारतीय मीडिया से था, या भारतीय मीडिया के इलेक्ट्रानिक पक्ष से। जो सबसे पहले खबर पहुंचाने की प्रतिस्पर्धा में खबरों की जगह अपने दर्शकों को नाटकियता परोसने लगा था। नेपाल के बुद्धीजीवियों, सामाजिक और राजनीतिक कार्यकर्ताओं, पत्रकार और छात्रों की बातचीत से नाराजगी की जितनी वजह सामने आई, वह भारतीय इलेक्ट्रानिक मीडिया की तरफ ही इशारा कर रही थी। भारतीय इलेक्ट्रानिक मीडिया को लेकर कई सारे कार्टून नेपाल की मीडिया में चर्चा में रहे। एक कार्टून में एक व्यक्ति मलबे के नीचे दबा हुआ है और कैमरा-माइक लेकर खड़ा पत्रकार उससे पूछता है- ‘यहां आप कैसा महसूस कर रहे हैं?’

इसी प्रकार दूसरे कार्टून में मलबे के नीचे दबे एक पीड़ित को सहायता पहंुचाने की जगह, पत्रकार पूछ रहा होता है कि क्या आप हमारा चैनल देखते हैं?

नेपाल में आर्मी और पत्रकार पर करता हुआ एक व्यंग्य बहुत चर्चित हुआ। जिसमें आर्मी मैन की जेब से निकल कर एक पत्रकार उनकी सहायता को कवर कर रहा होता है। इंडियन आर्मी की सहायता के एक प्रत्यक्षदर्षी बताते हैं, इंडियन आर्मी कोई ऐसा राहत कार्य नहीं था, जिसमें उनके साथ आधा दर्जन इलेक्ट्रानिक मीडिया के पत्रकार मौजूद ना हों।’

युवा पत्रकार परशु राम काफले कहते हैं- भारत के लोगों से हमारी कोई शिकायत नहीं है। मैंने आईआईएमसी से पढ़ाई की है, जानता हूं कि भारत के लोग खुद इलेक्ट्रानिक मीडिया के सताए हुए हैं।’

नेपाल में एक ऑडियो सोशल मीडिया पर वायरल हुआ। जिसमें कनाडा में रहने वाला एक प्रवासी नेपाल का युवक भारत के एक बड़े खबरिया चैनल की टीवी एंकर को फोन करके पत्रकारिता सिखलाता है। इस बहस में वह एंकर खुद को सही साबित करने की नाकाम कोशिश करती है। 

एक राष्ट्रीय खबरिया चैनल पर दो लोगों को आपस में लड़ते हुए दिखलाया जाता है। इस फूटेज के साथ वॉइस ओवर है कि यह लड़ाई भूकम्प पीड़ितों के बीच राहत सामग्री के लिए हो रही है। जबकि सच्चाई यह थी कि दो मोटरसायकिल की टक्कर हुई थी और दोनों युवक उस टक्कर के बाद आपस में लड़ रहे थे। सोशल मीडिया की वजह से इस तरह की खबरों का खंडन भी तुरंत फेसबुक, वाट्सएप और ट्यूटर पर वायरल हो रहा था। 

भारतीय मीडिया को नेपाल में रिपोर्टिंग करते हुए इस बात का जरा भी ख्याल नहीं रहा कि वे भारत में नहीं नेपाल में हैं। भारतीय चैनल पर नेपाल के लिए दिखलाई गई खबरों के एक एक दृश्य को ना सिर्फ नेपाल के लोगों ने देखा बल्कि उसका विश्लेशण भी किया। 

कई लोगों ने इस बात को कहा कि भारतीय मीडिया को जब नेपाल के जख्म को भरने में मदद करनी चाहिए थी, ऐसे समय में वह इसे कुरेदने का काम कर रहा था। राहत और बचाव के लिए जब सेना का हेलिकॉप्टर आता था, उसमंे आधा दर्जन पत्रकार भर कर आते थे। यदि वे भरकर नहीं आते तो आधा दर्जन अधिक लोगों को राहत मिल पाती। 

नेपाल के सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता और वरिश्ठ पत्रकार लोक कृष्ण भट्टराय ने बताया कि भारतीय मीडिया लगातार इस तरह नेपाल के राहत बचाव कार्य को पेश कर रही थी मानो पूरी दुनिया में किसी दूसरे देश से नेपाल को मदद नहीं मिल रही। जो मदद आ पा रहा है, वह भारत से आ रहा है। भट्टराय आगे कहते हैं- यह सच है कि नेपाल की जनता भारत के प्रधानमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी की हृदय से आभारी है, जिनकी तरफ से सबसे पहला मदद का हाथ हमारी तरफ बढ़ा। लेकिन यह कहना सही नहीं होगा कि किसी और देश से हमें कोई मदद नहीं मिली। चीन, जापान, कोरिया, अमेरिका जैसे तमाम देशों से हमें मदद मिली। मदद करने वाले देशों की संख्या 160 से भी अधिक है। 

भूकम्प की तबाही के कुछ ही घंटों में भारतीय वायु सेना के प्लेन आर्मी और एनडीआरएफ (द नेशनल डिजास्टर रिस्पांस फोर्स) के बचाव कार्य के लिए प्रशिक्षित जवानों को लेकर पहुंच गया था। भारतीय वायु सेना के 950 लोगों की टीम ने लगभग 400 टन राहत सामग्री को नेपाल पहुंचाया। भारतीय वायु सेना ने ही हिमालय के बेस कैम्प से दुनिया भर के 270 पर्वतारोहियों को सुरक्षित बाहर निकाला। नेपाल के लोगों की शिकायत भारत से नहीं, ना ही भारतीय मीडिया से है। उनकी वास्तविक शिकायत भारतीय मीडिया के इलेक्ट्रानिक सेक्शन से है। उनके नेपाल के प्रति नजरिया और बरताव से है। 

तराई मधेश लोकतांत्रिक पार्टी के नेता राकेश कुमार मिश्र के अनुसार भारतीय मीडिया ने अपने कवरेज की वजह से नेपाल में अपनी छवि नकारात्मक बना ली थी। लेकिन भारतीय मीडिया की छवि नेपाल में इतनी नाकारात्मक भी नहीं थी, जिसकी उपेक्षा ना की जा सके। राकेश आगे कहते हैं- नेपाल की भारतीय मीडिया विरोधी इस भावना को नेपाल स्थित चीन अध्ययन केन्द्र ने समझा। चीन और पाकिस्तान ने नेपाल में भारत विरोधी माहौल को हवा दी। उनका मकसद था, मीडिया के बहाने नेपाल मंे भारत विरोधी माहौल बनाना लेकिन नेपाल में यह नाराजगी भारतीय मीडिया केन्द्रित बन कर रह गई। इस तरह चीन और नेपाल दोनों अपने मकसद में असफल साबित हुए। 

वैसे इवेन्ट की तरह नेपाल के भूकम्प को कवर कर रही भारतीय इलेक्ट्रानिक मीडिया की दर्जनों कहानियां हैं, जो नेपाल के लोग सुना रहे हैं। एक व्यक्ति ने अपनी पत्नी और बच्चे को भूकम्प में खो दिया। उनसे एक पत्रकार पूछती हैं- ‘आपने अपनी पत्नी और बच्चों को खो दिया है। दुख तो बहुत हो रहा होगा?’

यह बताना मुश्किल है कि पीड़ित से वह पत्रकार किस जवाब की उम्मीद कर रही थी। 

कई बार मौन बहुत कुछ कहे जाने से भी अधिक कह जाता है। शयद उसे सुने जाने की सलाहियत अब हम खो रहे हैं। 

रिपोर्टर्स क्लब नेपाल के अध्यक्ष ऋषि धमला बातचीत में भारतीय मीडिया के पक्ष में खड़े नजर आए। बकौल धमला- ‘मीडिया का काम सच दिखाना है। भारतीय मीडिया ने वही सच दिखलाया है। अब नेपाल सरकार को इन रिपोर्ट्स को देखकर अपनी कमियों को समझना चाहिए और उसे दुरुस्त करने पर ध्यान देना चाहिए।’ 

उत्तराखंड आपदा की रिपोर्टिंग और नेपाल प्रकरण में हुई आलोचना के सबक से उम्मीद की जा सकती है कि भारतीय इलेक्ट्रानिक मीडिया भविष्य में प्राकृतिक आपदा की रिपोर्टिंग करते हुए अतिरिक्त सतर्कता बरतेगा। प्राकृतिक आपदा जैसे संवेदनशील विषयों की रिपोर्टिंग से ‘मशीनी किस्म की पत्रकारिता करने वाले पत्रकारों को दूर ही रहना चाहिए। जिनके पास आम तौर पर गिनती के तीन चार सवाल होते हैं, अवसर कोई भी हो, वे अपना सवाल नहीं बदलते।

बहरहाल, हमें समझना होगा कि कई बार वह ‘अनकहा’ अधिक बयान कर जाता है, जो आधे घंटे के सवाल जवाब के बाद भी बयान नहीं हो पाता।