सत्ता छोड़, सत्ता छोड़ ,सत्ता छोड़ ,सत्ता छोड़ ......
मंहगाई जी सत्ता छोड़ ,जम्हाई जी सत्ता छोड़
बतपुतली जी सत्ता छोड़ ,कठपुतली जी सत्ता छोड़
सत्ता छोड़ ,सत्ता छोड़ ,सत्ता छोड़ ,सत्ता छोड़ .......I
लोभन सिंह जी सत्ता छोड़ ,परलोभन सिंह छोड़
भदमोहन सिंह सत्ता छोड़ ,पदमोहन सिंह सत्ता छोड़
सत्ता छोड़ ,सत्ता छोड़ ,सत्ता छोड़ ,सत्ता छोड़ ......I
कठमोहन सिंह सत्ता छोड़ ,भट्ठमोहन सिंह सत्ता छोड़
ठगमोहन सिंह सत्ता छोड़ ,हठमोहन सिंह सत्ता छोड़
सत्ता छोड़ ,सत्ता छोड़ ,सत्ता छोड़ ,सत्ता छोड़ ......
***पुष्पराज ***(भारत के गांवों से हजारों युवा सत्ता छोड़ ,सत्ता छोड़ ,सत्ता छोड़ ,सत्ता छोड़ ......का शोर करते हुए लाल किला की प्राचीर से किसी को खीच कर समंदर में फेंकने के लिए आगे निकाल चुके हें.ग्रामेर मानुष के के ग्रामगर्भ से यह स्वर उभर रहा है साथी .......)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Round Table on 'Bihar Budget :Irrigation, Flood Control & Hydropower
Sir/Madam,
This is to invite you to a Round Table on 'Bihar Budget :Irrigation, Flood Control & Hydropower' on 28th February from 10 AM -5 PM at Gandhi Sanghrahalaya, Patna. There will be an attempt to discuss the Budget in the backdrop of two of K N Lal's reports, Nilendu Sanyal report, S C Jha Committee report, the recent book on Bagmati by Dr D K Mishra and the much awaited report of Justice Rajesh Balia headed Kosi Inquiry Commission. The Round Table is organised by Barh Mukti Abhiyan. The Budget Speech & Budget is available here: http://finance.bih.nic.in/
Please confirm your presence at the earliest to facilitate arrangements.
regards
gopal krishna
Mb: 09818089660, 07739308480
--
This is to invite you to a Round Table on 'Bihar Budget :Irrigation, Flood Control & Hydropower' on 28th February from 10 AM -5 PM at Gandhi Sanghrahalaya, Patna. There will be an attempt to discuss the Budget in the backdrop of two of K N Lal's reports, Nilendu Sanyal report, S C Jha Committee report, the recent book on Bagmati by Dr D K Mishra and the much awaited report of Justice Rajesh Balia headed Kosi Inquiry Commission. The Round Table is organised by Barh Mukti Abhiyan. The Budget Speech & Budget is available here: http://finance.bih.nic.in/
Please confirm your presence at the earliest to facilitate arrangements.
regards
gopal krishna
Mb: 09818089660, 07739308480
--
Blinded by profit, Bihar plans to open 12 asbestos factories
Lives of poor come cheap
Anuradha Dutt
Blinded by profit, Bihar plans to open 12 asbestos factories
For policy-makers, industrial development, sometimes, entails jeopardising the health of citizens, who lack a voice and recourse to remedial action. The plan to set up 12 asbestos factories in Bihar falls in this category. Muzaffarpur, Bhojpur, Vaishali, Champaran and Madhubani are the sites for the plants, which will produce asbestos sheets and the like, using raw material imported from countries such as Canada, Russia, Kazakhastan and China. The health hazards posed by asbestos are widely known, with some types of cancer, among other maladies, being ascribed to the effects of the fibre, used to make roofs and walls in dwellings of the poor. But then, to recall a well-tested adage, the lives of the poor come cheap for those at the helm of power.
India is among the countries that have chosen to ignore warnings issued in this regard by World Health Organisation and International Labour Organisation, and allowed use of asbestos products even if mining was gradually phased out since 1989 under growing international pressure. Opponents are worried about concerted lobbying by the rich and powerful asbestos industry, here and abroad, to persuade the Indian Government to lift the ban on mining, and promote the use of the fibre. They are especially concerned that Canada, which is trying hard to revive its asbestos industry, has been focussing on India as a huge potential market and business ally. And local industrial collaborators, with many reported to be close to the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre, have also been pushing for lifting the mining ban and encouraging use of the fibre.
Ban Asbestos Network of India, an alliance of civil society groups, which has been trying to highlight the issue and help other rights bodies mobilise people in Bihar against the setting up of the plants in their State, condemns Canada’s duplicity. For, while seeking markets in India and other emerging economies, it has adopted a no home-use policy even as it decontaminates buildings. A memorandum of understanding was signed on December 31, 2010, between the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal and the Indian Merchants’ Chamber on the supposedly safe use of asbestos. This occurred just before a trade mission to India. The Indian Supreme Court, which is hearing a PIL to ban asbestos completely, has taken note of the fact that Canada strictly regulates the use of asbestos under its Hazardous Products Act and the Environmental Protection Act, but produced 1,80,000 tonnes of the mineral in 2009. An estimated 96 per cent was exported, according to the US Geological Survey. India constitutes a primary market.
It is not as if policy-makers here are unaware of the dangers posed by the fibre. As far back as the late 1960s, they took note of the fact. After 30 workers from Roro mines in Chaibasa, West Singhbhum district — in Jharkhand now — died of asbestosis. P Mazumdar, a trade union leader, campaigned for occupational health rights. The late Indrajit Gupta, CPI MP, raised the issue in Parliament. Opponents continued to draw attention to the dangers posed by asbestos and pushed for using safe alternatives, but industry lobbyists ensured that the ban on mining was not extended to the use of this fibre. Profit over principles is another well-tested adage. This explains India’s ambivalence with regard to trade in asbestos. Mining is banned but import, manufacture and use of products is permitted. A People’s Union for Civil Liberties report on the Bihar plants calls for an immediate halt to the work at all the sites, while stating that “Bihar cannot be made the dumping ground of hazardous production, exposing the people here to all kinds of risks because they are poor”.
And that is the crux of the matter, with free trade, under the guise of economic liberalisation, being deliberately construed by commercial buccaneers and political underlings as license to ride roughshod over health concerns, human rights, land ownership issues and environmental imperatives. In the present instance, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is reported to have deflected blame on the Union Government for having approved the setting-up of the factories. In the wake of a six-month long campaign against the setting-up of a plant in Muzaffarpur’s Chainpur-Bishunpur area, Mr Nitish Kumar attempted to clarify his Government’s stand on the issue at a Press conference in New Delhi on February 2. He claimed not to have granted permission, and pressed for suspending asbestos factories throughout India. He rued the absence of a uniform policy in this regard.
According to BANI, clearance for the project has been granted by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, State Pollution Control Board, State Investment Promotion Board and the State Industry Board. However, since health is a State subject, the Government of Bihar can certainly spike the plan. Opponents feel that industrial lobbies are at work to ensure that the project is not scrapped. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court wants Parliament to bring in a suitable law. The White Asbestos (Ban on Use and Import) Bill is pending since 2009, and opponents are hoping that it will be taken up and the ban on the asbestos trade made legally binding.
February 26, 2011
The Pioneer
Anuradha Dutt
Blinded by profit, Bihar plans to open 12 asbestos factories
For policy-makers, industrial development, sometimes, entails jeopardising the health of citizens, who lack a voice and recourse to remedial action. The plan to set up 12 asbestos factories in Bihar falls in this category. Muzaffarpur, Bhojpur, Vaishali, Champaran and Madhubani are the sites for the plants, which will produce asbestos sheets and the like, using raw material imported from countries such as Canada, Russia, Kazakhastan and China. The health hazards posed by asbestos are widely known, with some types of cancer, among other maladies, being ascribed to the effects of the fibre, used to make roofs and walls in dwellings of the poor. But then, to recall a well-tested adage, the lives of the poor come cheap for those at the helm of power.
India is among the countries that have chosen to ignore warnings issued in this regard by World Health Organisation and International Labour Organisation, and allowed use of asbestos products even if mining was gradually phased out since 1989 under growing international pressure. Opponents are worried about concerted lobbying by the rich and powerful asbestos industry, here and abroad, to persuade the Indian Government to lift the ban on mining, and promote the use of the fibre. They are especially concerned that Canada, which is trying hard to revive its asbestos industry, has been focussing on India as a huge potential market and business ally. And local industrial collaborators, with many reported to be close to the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre, have also been pushing for lifting the mining ban and encouraging use of the fibre.
Ban Asbestos Network of India, an alliance of civil society groups, which has been trying to highlight the issue and help other rights bodies mobilise people in Bihar against the setting up of the plants in their State, condemns Canada’s duplicity. For, while seeking markets in India and other emerging economies, it has adopted a no home-use policy even as it decontaminates buildings. A memorandum of understanding was signed on December 31, 2010, between the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal and the Indian Merchants’ Chamber on the supposedly safe use of asbestos. This occurred just before a trade mission to India. The Indian Supreme Court, which is hearing a PIL to ban asbestos completely, has taken note of the fact that Canada strictly regulates the use of asbestos under its Hazardous Products Act and the Environmental Protection Act, but produced 1,80,000 tonnes of the mineral in 2009. An estimated 96 per cent was exported, according to the US Geological Survey. India constitutes a primary market.
It is not as if policy-makers here are unaware of the dangers posed by the fibre. As far back as the late 1960s, they took note of the fact. After 30 workers from Roro mines in Chaibasa, West Singhbhum district — in Jharkhand now — died of asbestosis. P Mazumdar, a trade union leader, campaigned for occupational health rights. The late Indrajit Gupta, CPI MP, raised the issue in Parliament. Opponents continued to draw attention to the dangers posed by asbestos and pushed for using safe alternatives, but industry lobbyists ensured that the ban on mining was not extended to the use of this fibre. Profit over principles is another well-tested adage. This explains India’s ambivalence with regard to trade in asbestos. Mining is banned but import, manufacture and use of products is permitted. A People’s Union for Civil Liberties report on the Bihar plants calls for an immediate halt to the work at all the sites, while stating that “Bihar cannot be made the dumping ground of hazardous production, exposing the people here to all kinds of risks because they are poor”.
And that is the crux of the matter, with free trade, under the guise of economic liberalisation, being deliberately construed by commercial buccaneers and political underlings as license to ride roughshod over health concerns, human rights, land ownership issues and environmental imperatives. In the present instance, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is reported to have deflected blame on the Union Government for having approved the setting-up of the factories. In the wake of a six-month long campaign against the setting-up of a plant in Muzaffarpur’s Chainpur-Bishunpur area, Mr Nitish Kumar attempted to clarify his Government’s stand on the issue at a Press conference in New Delhi on February 2. He claimed not to have granted permission, and pressed for suspending asbestos factories throughout India. He rued the absence of a uniform policy in this regard.
According to BANI, clearance for the project has been granted by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, State Pollution Control Board, State Investment Promotion Board and the State Industry Board. However, since health is a State subject, the Government of Bihar can certainly spike the plan. Opponents feel that industrial lobbies are at work to ensure that the project is not scrapped. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court wants Parliament to bring in a suitable law. The White Asbestos (Ban on Use and Import) Bill is pending since 2009, and opponents are hoping that it will be taken up and the ban on the asbestos trade made legally binding.
February 26, 2011
The Pioneer
Thursday, February 3, 2011
एस्बेस्टेस कारखाने पर नीतीश कुमार
एस्बेस्टेस कारखाने को लेकर SIPB का प्रस्ताव हमारे पास आया है, लेकिन हमने उसे मंज़ूरी नहीं दी है। उस प्रस्ताव को भारत सरकार और पर्यावरण मंत्रालय की अनुमती मिल गई है। राज्य में इस पर बहस भी हो रही है और विरोध भी। लेकिन हमारी मंज़ूरी नहीं मिली है। कोई अपनी ज़मीन पर क्या निर्माण कार्य कर रहा है, उसका हम कुछ नहीं कर सकते।
पुलिस तैनाती पर नीतीश कुमार ने कहा कि ------ पुलिस वाले अब कहीं नहीं जाएगें, मामले पर ठीक से सोच समझ कर फैसला लेने की ज़रुरत है।
देश में कई जगहों पर एस्बेस्टस फैक्ट्री है, राज्य से बाहर भी कारखाने लगा रहे हैं, यहां भी लगा रहे हैं।
एस्बेस्टस फैक्ट्री को राज्य प्रदूषण बोर्ड ने भी अनुमती दे दी, हमारे पास मामला तब आता है जब निवेश मामलों को लेकर रिआयतों की ज़रुरत होती है। इस पर राज्य में कोई प्रतिबंध नहीं है।
राज्य में एस्बेस्टेस कारखाने का मुद्दा विवादित है, हम इस मामले पर कोई समर्थन नहीं कर रहे हैं।
अगर एस्बेस्टेस की फैक्ट्री नहीं लगनी चाहिए तो पूरे देश में नहीं लगनी चाहिए। इस मसले को लेकर एक राष्ट्रीय नीति
बननी चाहिए।
Statement of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a press conference in New Delhi at Indian Women Press Corps on the issue of bitter protest against proposed asbestos plant in Muzaffarpur, Bihar on 2 February 2011.
पुलिस तैनाती पर नीतीश कुमार ने कहा कि ------ पुलिस वाले अब कहीं नहीं जाएगें, मामले पर ठीक से सोच समझ कर फैसला लेने की ज़रुरत है।
देश में कई जगहों पर एस्बेस्टस फैक्ट्री है, राज्य से बाहर भी कारखाने लगा रहे हैं, यहां भी लगा रहे हैं।
एस्बेस्टस फैक्ट्री को राज्य प्रदूषण बोर्ड ने भी अनुमती दे दी, हमारे पास मामला तब आता है जब निवेश मामलों को लेकर रिआयतों की ज़रुरत होती है। इस पर राज्य में कोई प्रतिबंध नहीं है।
राज्य में एस्बेस्टेस कारखाने का मुद्दा विवादित है, हम इस मामले पर कोई समर्थन नहीं कर रहे हैं।
अगर एस्बेस्टेस की फैक्ट्री नहीं लगनी चाहिए तो पूरे देश में नहीं लगनी चाहिए। इस मसले को लेकर एक राष्ट्रीय नीति
बननी चाहिए।
Statement of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a press conference in New Delhi at Indian Women Press Corps on the issue of bitter protest against proposed asbestos plant in Muzaffarpur, Bihar on 2 February 2011.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
UID Number, a tool for holocaust in Bihar
Addressing a meeting of divisional commissioners and DMs on 21st January in Patna, chief minister Nitish Kumar asked them to concentrate on three programmes: census, unique photo identity card and upcoming panchayat elections.
It must be noted that seventeen eminent individuals have raised concerns on the manner in which Unique Identification Authority (UIDAI) has been constituted on basis of government notification and the risks it poses to civil liberties with the convergence of UID and NATgrid project.
Through a signed letter the activists working in different areas have asked the government to halt the project, initiate a feasibility study, analyze the constitutional implications, bring a privacy act, do a cost benefit analysis and initiate a public debate on the UID. The signatories included Justice VR Krishna Iyer, Prof Romila Thapar, K.G.Kannabiran, Kavita Srivastava, Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey, S.R.Sankaran, Deep Joshi, Upendra Baxi, Uma Chakravarthi, Shohini Ghosh, Amar Kanwar, Bezwada Wilson, Trilochan Sastry, Prof. Jagdeep S. Chhokar, Shabnam Hashmi and Justice A.P.Shah.
UID is direct opposite of the Right To Information (RTI) Act. The RTI enables citizens to know everything about the government and UID will allow government to know everything about citizen. Justice A P Shah, retired judge of Delhi High Court expressed his apprehensions that various actors of the state may misuse such information in case of state sponsored violence.
Concerns about privacy, surveillance, profiling as a result of the UID Number led to countries like US, Australia and UK abandoning such Nazi projects.
जयपुर साहित्य उत्सव की जाँच करें
'नागरिक समाज' की पहल के बतौर 2006 में शुरू हुआ जयपुर साहित्य उत्सव पांच वर्षों में डी एस सी लिमिटेड द्वारा प्रायोजित साहित्य उत्सव का रूप ले चुका है. यह ज़रूरी है कि इस उत्सव के सहारे कंपनियों के जन-संपर्क प्रयासों और कॉर्पोरेट सामाजिक दायित्व के दावों पर विचार हो. इस उत्सव को प्रायोजित करने वाली कुछ कंपनियों की पड़ताल से चिंताजनक तस्वीर उभरती है-
- दिल्ली में हालिया संपन्न भ्रष्टाचार के आरोपों से घिरे राष्ट्रमंडल खेलों की जाँच कर रहे केन्द्रीय सतर्कता आयोग ने पाया है कि डी एस पी लिमिटेड को 23% से अधिक की दर से ठेके आवंटित किये गए थे.
- दुनिया की तीसरी सबसे बड़ी खनन कंपनी रिओ टिंटो समूह के सम्बन्ध कई फासीवादी और नस्लवादी सरकारों से रहे हैं और उस पर दशकों से दुनिया भर में मानवीय, पर्यावरण और श्रमिक अधिकारों के उलंघन के आरोप हैं
- दुनिया की सबसे बड़ी ऊर्जा कम्पनी और आय के हिसाब से सबसे बड़ी कम्पनी शेल तेल कम्वानी नाईजीरिया के लेखक और पर्यावरण कार्यकर्त्ता केन सारो वीवा की मौत की ज़िम्मेदार है
इस उत्सव में हिस्सा ले रहे प्रतिनिधियों के लिये क्या यह संभव है कि वे ओगोनी छात्र संघ के जनवरी 4, 2011 की उस मांग को नैतिक समर्थन दें जिसमें छात्र संघ ने संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ के आदिवासियों के अधिकारों संबंधी घोषणा की 18 वीं वर्षगांठ पर नीदरलैंड की सांसद से चुप्पी तोड़ते हुए शेल तेल कम्पनी को ओगोनी समुदाय के शोषण, उनके पर्यावरण की बर्बादी और नाईजीरियाई डेल्टा में रह रहे निवासियों की ज़िंदगी तबाह करने के लिये जिम्मेवार ठहराने और कम्पनी को नाईजीरिया से बाहर करने की मांग की है?
क्या साहित्य को सत्य की परवाह नहीं होती? या वह उन मौकों की तलाश में रहता है जब विभिन्न ताकतें अपना वर्चस्व बनाये रखने की कोशिश में उसे अपने साथ जोड़ लेती हैं? क्या साहित्य उस झूठ के फेर में होता है जो एक आभासी सच गढ़ता है, लोगों के व्यापक हित के बारे में महज़ अवधारणात्मक उछाल-कूद करता है जबकि दरअसल वह व्यावसायिक मठों की चाकरी भर कर रहा होता है? अगर इस उत्सव में हिस्सा ले रहे लेखक मानते हैं की एक बेहतर जीवन संभव है और उसे हासिल किया जाना चाहिय, तो उन्हें यह भी समझना होगा कि यथास्थिति को बनाए रखने में उनकी मिलीभगत उनकी मान्यताओं के बिल्कुल उलट है. अनैतिक और पापपूर्ण व्यापारिक समूहों के सहयोग से आयोजित एक साहित्य उत्सव को एक खूबसूरत अवसर के रूप में प्रस्तुत करना क्या सिर्फ़ सम्मोहन कि कोशिश-भर नहीं है? क्या इस उत्सव और इसके प्रतिभागियों में संवेदनात्मक और बौद्धिक क्षमता है कि वे वर्तमान और आगामी पीढ़ियों पर 'सम्पूर्ण नियंत्रण' स्थापित करने वाली विचारधारा को ठीक से समझ सकें?
उत्सव में भागीदार लेखकों को सोचना चाहिए- नाईजीरियाई लेखक और पर्यावरण कार्यकर्त्ता केन सारो वीवा के हत्यारों से उत्सव को प्रायोजित करने का अनैतिक समकक्ष और क्या हो सकता है? पर्यावरण-संरक्षण के लिये सारो वीवा को मरणोपरांत संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ की सम्मान सूची में शामिल किया गया था. नाईजीरिया सेना द्वारा नियुक्त अदालत, जिसने सारो वीवा को फंसी दी, के सामने उन्होंने अपने आखीरी बयान में कहा था- 'इस मुक़दमे में शेल कठघरे में है...भले ही कम्पनी ने इसबार अपने को बचा लिया है, लेकिन वह दिन ज़रूर आएगा...ओगोनी समुदाय के ख़िलाफ़ कम्पनी के वीभत्स युद्ध के अपराध के लिये कम्पनी को सज़ा मिलेगी'.
क्या कोका कोला द्वारा प्रायोजित साहित्य उत्सव का नैतिक दायित्व नहीं है कि वह इस तथ्य को समझे कि केरल और राजस्थान के कम्पनी के सयंत्रों ने भू-जल और कुओं को सोख लिया है जिसके कारण वहाँ के निवासियों को बाहर से पानी ढो कर लाना पड़ रहा है? यही स्थिति देशभर में फैले कम्पनी के तकरीबन 52 सयंत्रों के आसपास के क्षेत्रों की है.
क्या कोका कोला द्वारा प्रायोजित साहित्य उत्सव का नैतिक दायित्व नहीं है कि वह इस तथ्य को समझे कि केरल और राजस्थान के कम्पनी के सयंत्रों ने भू-जल और कुओं को सोख लिया है जिसके कारण वहाँ के निवासियों को बाहर से पानी ढो कर लाना पड़ रहा है? यही स्थिति देशभर में फैले कम्पनी के तकरीबन 52 सयंत्रों के आसपास के क्षेत्रों की है.
क्या नरसंहारों, गृह-युद्धों, युद्ध-अपराधों, आक्रमण, कब्ज़े, तानाशाहों को समर्थन और वित्तीय घोटालों की दोषी सरकारों द्वारा प्रायोजित इस साहित्य उत्सव के पास इस भयावहता को समझने का विवेक है कि क्यों वैश्विक महाशक्ति के दुनिया भर में फैले 702 सैन्य-ठिकानों में 8000 से अधिक सक्रिय और हमले के लिये तैयार परमाणु हथियार हैं? साहित्यिक मानस कैसे 'बचकाने पागलपन' के मनःस्थिति को समझ पायेगा जब वह स्वयं इसके प्रभाव में हो?
साहित्य के नोबेल पुरस्कार से नवाज़ा गए हेरॉल्ड पिंटर ने 2005 के अपने स्वीकृति-भाषण में कहा था- 'लेखक की ज़िंदगी अत्यंत खतरनाक होती है, लगभग नंगी प्रक्रिया. इसके लिये हमें रोने की ज़रुरत नहीं. लेखक यह ख़ुद चुनता है और जीवन भर उसपर कायम रहता है. लेकिन यह भी सच है कि हर तरह की हवाएं आपको निशाना बनायेंगी, कुछ उनमें बर्फीली भी होंगी. यहाँ आप अकेले हैं, अपने हाथों-पैरों के सहारे. आपको कोई आश्रय नहीं, कोई सुरक्षा नहीं -जबतक कि आप झूठ ना बोलें- और तब आप अपनी सुरक्षा ख़ुद बनाते हैं, तब यह कहा जा सकता है कि आप राजनेता बन जाते हैं'. पिंटर ने यह भी कहा था कि 'हमारे जीवन और समाजों के वास्तविक सत्य को पारिभाषित करना हमारी जिम्मेवारी है. दरअसल ऐसा करना जरूरी है'.
जयपुर साहित्य उत्सव से उम्मीद है कि वह पिंटर की बात पर ध्यान देगा और अपनी कारगुजारियों से तौबा करेगा. हम उत्सव में शामिल लेखकों से अपील करते हैं कि वे मानवता के ख़िलाफ़ जारी कॉर्पोरेट अपराधों और राज्य के दमन की मुखालिफत करें
जयपुर साहित्य उत्सव से उम्मीद है कि वह पिंटर की बात पर ध्यान देगा और अपनी कारगुजारियों से तौबा करेगा. हम उत्सव में शामिल लेखकों से अपील करते हैं कि वे मानवता के ख़िलाफ़ जारी कॉर्पोरेट अपराधों और राज्य के दमन की मुखालिफत करें
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Round Table on "World Bank Group in Bihar"
Round Table on "World Bank Group in Bihar"
This is an effort to initiate the process of critically examining the impact of Bank's investments in Bihar.
Recently, World Bank Group and Bihar government have signed a new agreement for the Bihar Kosi Recovery Project, worth $220 million, which aims to support flood recovery efforts, reduce risks from flooding, and boost emergency responses in the event of future disasters. The project falls under the theme Natural disaster management.
This is an effort to initiate the process of critically examining the impact of Bank's investments in Bihar.
Recently, World Bank Group and Bihar government have signed a new agreement for the Bihar Kosi Recovery Project, worth $220 million, which aims to support flood recovery efforts, reduce risks from flooding, and boost emergency responses in the event of future disasters. The project falls under the theme Natural disaster management.
The new project aims to help Bihar’s flood-affected people by supporting the reconstruction of about 100,000 houses, and the rebuilding of 90 bridges and 290 kilometers of rural roads. Of the total cost of $259 million, Government of Bihar would contribute $39 million for the project. The documents were signed on January 12, 2011. The project was approved in September 2010 and it will close in 2014.
The credit is from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund for the poorest, which is providing an interest-free loan with 35 years maturity and a 10-year grace period.
The Bank is also assisting the state government with technical assistance through a grant from DFID for the Bihar Flood Management Implementation Support Project–II, which seeks to strengthen the institutional framework for flood management and to improve flood warning and preparedness for people living in the affected areas of Bihar.
Bihar is also a priority state for the World Bank Group’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC). IFC’s work with the state includes the design and implementation of a tax reform program to save cost, time and enhance ease of paying taxes for small and large businesses. Although IFC normally works with private sector companies, it is providing advisory services to Bihar government.
Earlier, the Bank had published a report "Bihar: Towards a Development Strategy" in 2005. The Bank’s support to Bihar began in the mid-2000s.The Bank is also assisting the state government with technical assistance through a grant from DFID for the Bihar Flood Management Implementation Support Project–II, which seeks to strengthen the institutional framework for flood management and to improve flood warning and preparedness for people living in the affected areas of Bihar.
Bihar is also a priority state for the World Bank Group’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC). IFC’s work with the state includes the design and implementation of a tax reform program to save cost, time and enhance ease of paying taxes for small and large businesses. Although IFC normally works with private sector companies, it is providing advisory services to Bihar government.
Dr D K Mishra, a well known river basin expert will share his insights into Bank's investments in Bihar and the responses from civil society and political groups. The meeting is held at a very short notice because we wished to benefit from Dr Mishra's presence in Delhi for a meeting of a Planning Commission's committee.
The participants presence and submissions on the subject will enable us to comprehend World Bank Group's monetary and non-monetary role in Bihar.
Date: 20 January, 2011
Time: 6 PM
Venue: INSAF Office, Opposite Indian Statistical Institute
124-A/6, First Floor, Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi
Date: 20 January, 2011
Time: 6 PM
Venue: INSAF Office, Opposite Indian Statistical Institute
124-A/6, First Floor, Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)