After Public Outcry MCD now denies that they had any plans to replace schools with malls!!!

Dear Friends,

After the public outcry, now MCD denies of having any plans ... contrary to the statements of their senior officials including the Chairman of the Education Committee to the media. Chief Minister Dixit writes to the L.G. to intervene.

Here is the link:
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMDkvMDEvMDMjQXIwMDQwMQ==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

regards
Subhash Chandra Vashishth


MCD denies it had any plans to auction schools
Nitin Sethi & Ruhi Bhasin TNN

New Delhi: MCD on Friday sought to deny that it was planning to sell vacant schools for developing malls, banquet halls and shops, but a presentation — ‘Proposal on property development for vacant school premises’ — gives the game away entirely.

As a red-faced MCD brass issues disclaimers, the civic body’s plans are encapsulated in the view “Ideate, develop and suggest creative concept for utilisation of school premises” laid in the presentation, a copy of which is with Times City. The presentation advocates that commercially viable ‘vacant’ schools be sold while those in prime areas be turned into community halls and other non-business centres.

Stung by the premature disclosure of the controversial plan, MCD’s standing committee chairman Vijender Gupta claimed, “MCD has no plans to auction or sell its primary school premises to bolster its finances or for any other reason. The civic body is against auctioning or selling its schools.” Municipal commissioner K S Mehra also denied any such proposal was under consideration.

The denials fly in the face of documents with TOI as well as the statement of the chairman of education committee, Prithvi Raj Sawhney. Sawhney had told TOI on Wednesday, “We have identified 60 schools... while 45 such schools will be used by other departments under MCD... we are planning to auction 15 of them for commercial use since we do not require them.”

Sawhney, in an interview to a Hindi TV channel on Wednesday, also said, “Malls bana sakte hain, shopping centre bana sakte hain, koi bhi commercial activity. Lekin hum sare schools ki baat nahin kar rahe, kuch school bahut chhote hain, un jagah par community centre nahin hain, to who demand ayegi to centre ban sakte hain (Even malls or shopping centres can come up; any commercial activity can take place. But we are not talking of all schools. Some schools are too small, in those places if a demand for community centre arises, we will make them).” Take the 3,158 sq metre primary school in Karampura A Block that MCD wanted to break down. MCD’s internal presentation noted it was closer to commercial areas and easily accessible therefore it should be turned into a centre for retail and offices. On Ajmal Khan Road, a 1,000 sq metre plot school is recommended to be turned into the high-end boutique Gold Souk with multi-storeyed parking lot as there are other small jewellery shops in the neighbourhood. The 2,548 sq metre plot in R K Puram was to become a 3-star guest house with a minimum of three rooms for MCD and a conference hall. MCD’s proposal noted that the project “shall become good revenue generation opportunities for MCD” and “shall be lucrative enough for BOT system”.

The only premises MCD was considering for non-commercial purposes are those which would not fetch much. Such as the school in Karol Bagh that MCD noted was ‘trapped’ by residential properties with a very poor approach so should be turned into a vocational training centre to be adopted by FICCI or other apex trade body. The presentation was made in October 2008 to run these on Build-Operate-Transfer basis. By December, when TOI accessed fresh documents, the list had been expanded, as per MCD officials’ own admission to 60 schools of which 15 would be ready for grabs soon. Meanwhile, the chief minister has written to th L-G asking him to intervene in the matter. toireporter@timesgroup.com

Malls in place of Schools - Does MCD care about Education Infrastructure for coming generations?

Dear Friends,

I am pained at the insensitivity and perhaps the "it doesn't affect our children for they don't go to MCD's third grade schools for the poor" mentality of the MCD decision makers who don't seem to care! There are approximately 3-5 lacs of children in Delhi who have no access to schools. Schools are very important infrastructure that we create for future generation. Given the space constraint in Delhi, I don't think there will be any space left to create schools once the premises earmarked for some 60 schools is given away to the malls and hotels. I am not against malls and hotels and development but just looking at 2010 games and to make money by selling this land - the MCD has no right to play with future generations!

This children don't come to these schools because these schools have been allowed to decay and degrade to the extent that no parent is intrested to send their children. Instead of upgrading the quality of education and attracting and targeting the out-of-school children, MCD is using the excuse that children don't come to these schools and there is no harm in giving these premises to hotels and malls!! This is absolutely ridiculous!

Please don't take away little available play and education spaces from children in the name of development. This is a cruel joke played on the right to education and neigbourhood school concept. Where will the children of these localities go to study and play if you turn these open spaces in to hotels and malls??

regards
Subhash Chandra Vashishth

15 MCD schools may be turned into malls, hotels
Nitin Sethi & Ruhi Bhasin TNN

New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has hit upon a unique plan to bolster its finances: the civic body proposes to auction 60 school campuses for construction of malls and hotels even as it struggles to cater to the educational needs of nine lakh children, mainly from poor families, enrolled in MCD schools. A proposal to auction 15 of the identified schools has been forwarded to the MCD commissioner even as the corporation faces increasing pressure to cater to more students. Interestingly, MCD had originally planned to sell off only nine schools but has now increased the number to be eventually auctioned to 60.


DO THE MATH
65% of primary schools in city run by MCD.
60 campuses to be auctioned
Proposal to sell 15 schools sent to MCD chief
School in Ashok Nagar is on 1.5 acres; another in Moti Nagar East (2,350sqm) — all areas where no fresh land is available MCD says schools are unused; experts say 3-5 lakh children in city have no access to primary schools

Schools lying vacant is MCD explanation

New Delhi: MCD had originally planned to sell off nine schools but has now increased this number to 60. The MCD’s reasoning is that the schools are lying vacant and unused. But the civic body seems to have forgotten that it is mandated to provide an essential service through its neighbourhood schools and not to hand over prime plots to developers. The demand for
schools, in particular those offering education at reasonable costs, is unlikely to flag.

Confirming MCD’s plans, Prithviraj Sahni, chairman of the education committee, told TOI, ‘‘We have identified 60 schools that have been lying vacant. A proposal to auction 15 has been forwarded to commissioner K S Mehra.’’ While MCD seems to be eyeing schools — some of them by its own admission in good condition — as lucrative land to be sold off to earn a few big bucks, experts point out that an estimated 3-5 lakh children have no access to primary schools,
considering the city’s large migrant population. MCD’s refusal to consider reviving the schools is surprising, considering the Delhi government has repeatedly asked the corporation to hand over the campuses to it as state government-run schools are overflowing with students and lack space and infrastructure. MCD runs roughly 65% of primary schools in the Capital. While Sahni said the corporation was moving ahead to auction the schools, the MCD commissioner, on the other hand, claimed he was not aware of any such proposal. While 15 schools are up for grabs, Sahni said the other 45 would be used by MCD for different purposes. TOI accessed the
list of schools MCD plans to break down and it throws some light on why MCD wants to sell them off — some of them are sitting on large plots in areas where no fresh land is available. In Ashok Nagar, the school likely to go on the block occupies 1.5 acres. The one in Karanpur sits on 3,158 sqm while the campus in Moti Nagar East has a 2,350sqm plot. Said Vijendra Gupta, MCD standing committee chairman, ‘‘If such a proposal comes before us, we will carry out a detailed study. We will ensure that it is in public interest.” toireporter@timesgroup.com

धार्मिक संस्थाओं में अव्यवस्था एवं उनके प्रति उपजता नूतन जन आक्रोश

आसाराम बापू के आश्रम से बच्चों का गायब होना और बाद में उन बच्चों की लाशें पाए जाने से अनेक उँगलियाँ संत समाज पर उठने लगी हैं. उपर से उनके भक्तों द्वारा कानून हाथ में लेने से उठे जन आक्रोश से माहौल और गर्म हो उठा है.

इसी प्रकार हम डेरा सच्चा सौदा के प्रति सिक्खों का आक्रोश देख रहे हैं. आक्रोश ऐसा कि शांत होने का नाम ही नहीं ले रहा. संत हमारे समाज को रास्ता दिखाते हैं. उनका इस प्रकार अनादर एक प्रकार से लोगो का धर्म और संतों पर से भरोसे के उठने का इशारा है. संतों को अपने आचरण में और पारदर्शिता लानी होगी. अपने आश्रमों में सुरक्षा के उचित इंतजाम करने होंगे ताकि इस तरह की घटनाएँ न हों. संतों को अपने जन व्यव्हार को भी सुधारना होगा ताकि इस प्रकार की स्थितियां न बनें.

धार्मिक श्रद्धा कब उन्माद का रूप ले ले इस बात का कोई भरोसा नहीं. वैसे भी मेरी राय में सामाजिक-धार्मिक संस्थाओं को अपनी कार्य नीति बदलनी होगी. सब कुछ इश्वर ठीक करेंगे ऐसा सोच कर बैठे रहने से तो असमाजिक तत्त्व ही इस का लाभ उठाएंगे. और धीरे धीरे आम जनता का विश्वास संत समाज से उठने लगेगा और समाज पतन की और अग्रसर होगा इसमें कोई दो राय नहीं.

चेतने का यही वक्त है. अन्यथा बहुत देर हो चुकी होगी.

एक चिंतित भारतीय

उत्तर पूर्व में गोर्खालैंड की मांग की आग से मानव अधिकारों का उलंघन व पर्यटन आधारित अर्थव्यवस्था लचर

एक बार फ़िर उत्तर पूर्व भारत में बिखराव का दृश्य है। मेरे पिछले ब्लॉग में मैंने इसी अलगाववाद की बात की थी। तब यह आन्दोलन शुरू नहीं हुआ था पर इसकी संभावनाएँ बहुत थीं। पूरा दार्जिलिंग, दूआर्स एवं घाटी इसी आग में जल रही है। वे अपने साथ होने वाले सौतेले व्यवहार से दुखी व त्रस्त हैं। शायद इसी लिए वहां का आवाम भी आर्थिक नुकसान उठा कर भी गोर्खालैंड के ही पक्ष में खड़ा दीखता है। क्या सरकार को इतनी सरल सी बात समझ नही आती या यह जान बूझ कर किया जा रहा है। मैं केवल सरकार की उन विभाजनकारी नीतियों की ओर ध्यान दिलाने की चेष्टा कर रहा हूँ जो इसके लिए उत्तरदायी हैं। इसका तत्यार्य यह कदापि नहीं मैं इस आन्दोलन की कार्य पद्यति का पक्षधर हूँ। 

गोरखा जन मुक्ति मोर्चा के श्री बिमल गुरुंग ने भले ही अहिंसा व शान्ति पूर्वक ढंग से आन्दोलन को चलने पर जोर दिया है पर यह बहुत मुश्किल है। घाटी में तो इसके विरोध में नेपाली - बंगाली हिंसा भी देखने को मिल रही है जो इस क्षेत्र के लिए बिल्कुल भी शुभ नहीं कही जा सकती। मैं तो किसी भी जन आन्दोलन में मानव अधिकारों के उल्लंघन का घोर विरोधी हूँ। 

दार्जिलिंग के चल रहे आन्दोलन में कितने ही पर्यटकों को कष्ट झेलने पड़े। उनके मूलभूत अधिकारों का सरेआम उल्लंघन हुआ। इस से न केवल पर्यटन आधारित दार्जिलिंग की अर्थव्यवस्था को भारी नुकसान हुआ जो धीरे धीरे पटरी पर आ रही थी, बल्कि पर्यटकों में भी यहाँ के बारे में एक ग़लत संकेत गया है। कम से कम इस आन्दोलन की पूर्व सूचना तो पर्यटकों को दी ही जानी चाहिए थी एवं उनको एक सप्ताह का समय दिया जाना चाहिए था। 

यह कहना कि एक अलग राज्य बना दिया जाए बहुत आसान बात नहीं होगी क्योंकि इसमे अनेक पेचीदगियाँ हैं। पर सरकार को इससे सबक ले कर उत्तर पूर्व के इस क्षेत्र के विकास कि ओर ध्यान देना होगा। 

सुभाष चंद्र वशिष्ठ

Sick Tea Industry, Thousands die a slow death. Is North Bengal being alienated in the Developmental Process ?

With great pain I read the news of North Bengal's dying tea gardens and the vulnerable conditions of the labourers stuck with poverty, disease and malnutrition. (Detailed News is appened towards the end along its link) They are starving. The region is seeing an exodus to cities like Delhi, Bombay, Chandigarh.

Is it purposive? For over a long period, People from North Bengal have started alienating from the West Bengal given the lop-sided development in the region. It is strongly resented by North Bengalis that most of the developmental projects & schemes etc. are purposefully not directed towards North Bengal. The Government and all political parties have to come above these petty politics and redress this larger and no "emotive" issue which if not handled rightly in time might lead to massive unrest & another bifurcation of West Begal!

It is high time that the State should perform its role as the protector of its citizens. It must come forward with suitable rehabilitation package for the workers of the Tea Gardens who are dying a slow death. The vicious circle in which these labourers are trapped can only be broken by sustained outside intervention from the Government. Adverse living and working conditions, coupled with monetary crunch and low nutrition level, with no proper facilities for education and health are leading to an unrest in the populace. The Government of West Bengal has to take a strong policy stand so that alternate environmentally viable industries are set up in the province with public private partnership model so successfully practiced in states like Gujrat, Haryana etc. Otherwise, looking at TATA's recent experience in West Bengal, no industrial house would come forward. They are so scared of the "strike" mentality and the way the politics is done on non-issues which is against the development of the region.

The State should carve the development plan for this region strategically for its strategical location. North Bengal is a narrow and weakest link to the North Eastern India. it should be developed and fortified. Union Government should take special measures to invest in people & region of North Bengal. Save India! save North Bengal!

regards
SC Vashishth, भारत विकास ट्रस्ट
Develop India Trust, Jaigaon, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal

Link: http://www.igovernment.in/site/bengal-tea-gardens-spell-death-for-workers/
Detailed News:

Bengal tea gardens spell death for workers
JPG June 4, 2008 Agriculture, Health and Issues.
By Aparajita Gupta Kolkata: Many slips have developed between the cups and lips in the tea gardens located in North Bengal districts. Poverty, malnutrition and starvation deaths have become key words for defining the state of affairs in the tea gardens.
“Tea industry is bleeding and it has proved fatal for 1,800 workers during last four years,” says trade union leader Aloke Chakraborty.
According to General Secretary of the central committee of the National Union of Plantation Workers Aloke Chakraborty, 50 per cent of the 318 tea gardens in the Terai and Dooars region in the state were sick.
The condition of workers in the so-called healthy tea estates was also miserable, he added.
There are altogether 8,709 tea gardens in north Bengal spread across Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and North Dinajpur districts.
“People are dying of starvation. The effects of malnutrition have made worker communities vulnerable to anaemia, tuberculosis, anthrax and severe dysentery,” Chakraborty said.
The industry sources say the labour cost has escalated sharply in recent years, fertilisers have also registered quantum jump in prices and it was not a much profitable business now.
“It was the reason behind the tea plantation farms’ going sick and closing business,” Dhunseri Tea and Industries CMD Chandra Kumar Dhanuka said.
However, the union leaders accuse the owners of redirecting profits from the gardens into other businesses.
“Tea garden owners don’t reinvest the profit they earn from tea gardens into the same business or ancillary businesses. They take that profit and invest in some other business at some other place,” Chakravorty said.
During the past few years, several tea estate owners have abandoned their gardens abruptly without even paying the salaries and provident fund dues of the employees, he added.
The year 2006 was good for India’s tea industry as it exported 219 million kg. But the export figure plummeted in 2007 due to competition from Kenya. But a good showing by the tea industry doesn’t guarantee better times for its workers.
“On March 31, 2008, the wage agreement of the tea workers expired. It is usually done for three years. No new agreement has been chalked out yet,” the union leader said.
He added there is a high possibility that in the future when the revised wage structure is announced the workers have to sacrifice their arrears.