Ten years and $325 million (Dh1.2 billion) later, an ambitious sea bridge aimed at easing Mumbai's notorious traffic jams opened on Tuesday, holding out hope for harried commuters as well as investors betting on infrastructure.
Only four of the bridge's eight lanes will initially be operational, underlining the many risks and pitfalls that pave such mega projects in India, where the race to build world class infrastructure has also been slowed by an economic meltdown.
The 5.6 km-long (3.5 miles) Bandra Worli Sea Link, which may handle nearly 100,000 vehicles daily, will help wealthier residents skip nearly two dozen traffic lights and cut more than half an hour in the commute to the business hub in the south.
But the bridge was plagued by bureaucracy, cost overruns, disputes between the state and contractors and litigation by residents and fishermen worried about its impact on environment and livelihood.
"There were many challenges and lessons in building this bridge," said Ajit Gulabchand, chairman of Hindustan Construction Co, which struggled to raise funding for the project after numerous delays and because of the financial crisis.
India estimates it needs $500 billion by 2012 to upgrade its congested ports, potholed roads and inadequate utilities, which have suffered from chronic under-investment, an undeveloped capital market and tussles over subsidies and land ownership.
Easing regulations and a booming economy had drawn eager local and foreign investors to the table, but just as it seemed the public-private partnership model would ease India's infrastructure woes, the financial crisis turned the tap off.
Dozens of projects across the country, including several in Mumbai, have stalled, although the new Congress-led government is expected to announce several measures to boost infrastructure spending in its inaugural budget next week.
As a prelude, a spectacular fireworks display lit up the cable-stayed Mumbai bridge in the Arabian Sea against the night sky, cheered by hundreds on rooftops and alongside parked cars, many of whom are willing to pay the 50-rupee ($1) one-way toll.
"We need this so badly...we have waited so long. It will make life easier," said Ashutosh Tikekar, a trader at a foreign bank.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Little India, Mustafa and more must-sees
Enjoy the crowd, smell and the dirt...
Whenever friends from India tell me they are coming to visit for a few days, I draw up a list of places they should go to.
It would include the usual suspects like Sentosa, Jurong Bird Park, the Night Safari and Orchard Road.
If time permits and my visitors can be distracted from the call of the malls, I try to include in their itinerary some of the places that have grown on me since I came to Singapore.
The list would include the steps overlooking the calm waters of the Singapore River at Clarke Quay, East Coast for the feel of sand and the scent of the sea and even CityLink Mall, where you can enjoy a cup of teh C while watching shoppers whiz by frantically.
However, even if a few of these places are left out because of a tight schedule, their visit must absolutely include a trip to Mustafa, the 24-hour shopping centre in Little India.
But then I don't need to specially include a stop at Mustafa in their itinerary. It is an unspoken given.
For Indians living in Singapore, Mustafa is a treasure trove of the things they were so used to back home but weren't sure would be available here.
From Indian spices and the latest Bollywood DVDs to coconut oil and snacks, the store carries all the items they might need.
Indian expat families make at least one visit to Mustafa every month to stock up on that particular masala or on that particular brand of flour.
For visitors, especially budget travellers, the store is akin to Aladdin's cave. A trip to Mustafa would satisfy all their shopping urges, they feel.
Well, they are not far wrong. It is the one place where they can get great deals for brand-name items like perfumes, as well as pick up made-in-Singapore coin purses, coasters and other souvenirs to take home as gifts.
Although Singapore is not lacking in malls, people from the sub-continent are strangely drawn to this multi-storey store.
They go there armed with shopping lists from people back home and requests to get a particular Chinese sauce or some electronic item.
When I was a student in Mumbai and my parents were bound for Singapore, I too would scour the pages of Seventeen magazine and hand them names of creams and perfumes to pick up for me. My first and last epilator was from Singapore.
I was a tourist myself when I paid my first visit to Mustafa about six years ago.
Back then, I too walked around the aisles with a glazed look in my eyes, picking up this and that and dropping the items into my plastic shopping basket, unmindful of how heavy it was getting or how tired my legs were.
But now, I'm smarter. I make a short, tight list of the items that I need and that I'm sure I cannot get anywhere else. That way, I just look at the list and head straight for the right section, turning a deaf ear to the call of other goodies lined up along the way.
I also try to avoid weekends when the store is jam-packed with shoppers.
I follow the same drill with my guests, keeping them confined to the essentials on their visits to the store.
Some of them have expressed their unhappiness about it, but I can't help it.
After all, Singapore is not just about shopping. I want to show them that there is so much more to do and see outside the air-conditioned malls. I'd also like them to spend some time in places other than the usual tourist spots like Sentosa or the Night Safari.
As I discover more places that warm my heart, I find myself adding to the special must-sees that I highlight on my itinerary for visitors.
The next time people tell me they are coming for a visit, I plan to take them walking under the bridges in the city area, from the Esplanade to Boat Quay. I also plan to pick a bus at random and take them on a long bus ride - which I find is a great way to see the city. Next is a trek up the green jungles of Dempsey Hill.
Whenever friends from India tell me they are coming to visit for a few days, I draw up a list of places they should go to.
It would include the usual suspects like Sentosa, Jurong Bird Park, the Night Safari and Orchard Road.
If time permits and my visitors can be distracted from the call of the malls, I try to include in their itinerary some of the places that have grown on me since I came to Singapore.
The list would include the steps overlooking the calm waters of the Singapore River at Clarke Quay, East Coast for the feel of sand and the scent of the sea and even CityLink Mall, where you can enjoy a cup of teh C while watching shoppers whiz by frantically.
However, even if a few of these places are left out because of a tight schedule, their visit must absolutely include a trip to Mustafa, the 24-hour shopping centre in Little India.
But then I don't need to specially include a stop at Mustafa in their itinerary. It is an unspoken given.
For Indians living in Singapore, Mustafa is a treasure trove of the things they were so used to back home but weren't sure would be available here.
From Indian spices and the latest Bollywood DVDs to coconut oil and snacks, the store carries all the items they might need.
Indian expat families make at least one visit to Mustafa every month to stock up on that particular masala or on that particular brand of flour.
For visitors, especially budget travellers, the store is akin to Aladdin's cave. A trip to Mustafa would satisfy all their shopping urges, they feel.
Well, they are not far wrong. It is the one place where they can get great deals for brand-name items like perfumes, as well as pick up made-in-Singapore coin purses, coasters and other souvenirs to take home as gifts.
Although Singapore is not lacking in malls, people from the sub-continent are strangely drawn to this multi-storey store.
They go there armed with shopping lists from people back home and requests to get a particular Chinese sauce or some electronic item.
When I was a student in Mumbai and my parents were bound for Singapore, I too would scour the pages of Seventeen magazine and hand them names of creams and perfumes to pick up for me. My first and last epilator was from Singapore.
I was a tourist myself when I paid my first visit to Mustafa about six years ago.
Back then, I too walked around the aisles with a glazed look in my eyes, picking up this and that and dropping the items into my plastic shopping basket, unmindful of how heavy it was getting or how tired my legs were.
But now, I'm smarter. I make a short, tight list of the items that I need and that I'm sure I cannot get anywhere else. That way, I just look at the list and head straight for the right section, turning a deaf ear to the call of other goodies lined up along the way.
I also try to avoid weekends when the store is jam-packed with shoppers.
I follow the same drill with my guests, keeping them confined to the essentials on their visits to the store.
Some of them have expressed their unhappiness about it, but I can't help it.
After all, Singapore is not just about shopping. I want to show them that there is so much more to do and see outside the air-conditioned malls. I'd also like them to spend some time in places other than the usual tourist spots like Sentosa or the Night Safari.
As I discover more places that warm my heart, I find myself adding to the special must-sees that I highlight on my itinerary for visitors.
The next time people tell me they are coming for a visit, I plan to take them walking under the bridges in the city area, from the Esplanade to Boat Quay. I also plan to pick a bus at random and take them on a long bus ride - which I find is a great way to see the city. Next is a trek up the green jungles of Dempsey Hill.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Prataman Confers Top Military Award
Thailand's former Permanent Secretary for Defence, General (GEN) Winai Phattiyakul, was conferred Singapore's highest military award, the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) [Distinguished Service Order (Military)], by President S R Nathan at the Istana this afternoon.
The Distinguished Service Order (Military) was awarded to GEN Winai in recognition of his outstanding contributions in enhancing the excellent defence ties between Singapore and Thailand. Under GEN Winai's leadership and guidance, the close and longstanding defence relationship between Singapore and Thailand has grown stronger. Through his many interactions with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), GEN Winai has helped to strengthen the friendship between the personnel of the SAF and the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
During GEN Winai's tour of duty as Force Commander of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor from 2001 to 2002, SAF troops had served under his command and had benefited from it. GEN Winai also played an instrumental role in guiding the development of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting.
Among the guests present at the investiture were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, Minister of State for Defence Koo Tsai Kee, Permanent Secretary (Defence) Chiang Chie Foo, Chief of Defence Force LG Desmond Kuek, and senior government officials and military officers from Singapore and Thailand.
GEN Winai, who is in Singapore for a three-day visit from 21 to 23 Jun 2009, called on Mr Teo and Mr Chiang at the Ministry of Defence this morning.
The Distinguished Service Order (Military) was awarded to GEN Winai in recognition of his outstanding contributions in enhancing the excellent defence ties between Singapore and Thailand. Under GEN Winai's leadership and guidance, the close and longstanding defence relationship between Singapore and Thailand has grown stronger. Through his many interactions with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), GEN Winai has helped to strengthen the friendship between the personnel of the SAF and the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
During GEN Winai's tour of duty as Force Commander of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor from 2001 to 2002, SAF troops had served under his command and had benefited from it. GEN Winai also played an instrumental role in guiding the development of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting.
Among the guests present at the investiture were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, Minister of State for Defence Koo Tsai Kee, Permanent Secretary (Defence) Chiang Chie Foo, Chief of Defence Force LG Desmond Kuek, and senior government officials and military officers from Singapore and Thailand.
GEN Winai, who is in Singapore for a three-day visit from 21 to 23 Jun 2009, called on Mr Teo and Mr Chiang at the Ministry of Defence this morning.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Visits by President of Botswana
The President of the Republic of Botswana, Lieutenant-General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, will visit Singapore from Sunday to next Wednesday at the invitation of President S R Nathan.
This is his first State visit to Singapore and also his first visit to South-east Asia since taking office in April 2008.
President Khama will call on President Nathan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. He will also meet several Cabinet members and visit the Economic Development Board and ST Electronics.
“President Khama’s visit reflects the excellent ties between Botswana and Singapore,” MFA said.
The Singapore Business Federation and Botswana Export and Development Investment Authority will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding.
This is his first State visit to Singapore and also his first visit to South-east Asia since taking office in April 2008.
President Khama will call on President Nathan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. He will also meet several Cabinet members and visit the Economic Development Board and ST Electronics.
“President Khama’s visit reflects the excellent ties between Botswana and Singapore,” MFA said.
The Singapore Business Federation and Botswana Export and Development Investment Authority will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sex Hub
Sex tourism has emerged as an alarming trend in India in recent years, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Ashwini Kumar said.
Kumar was speaking at a seminar on Organised Crime and Human Trafficking at Vigyan Bhawan. Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta inaugurated the seminar.
"A few alarming trends that have emerged in recent years are exploitation through sex tourism, paedophilia, prostitution in pilgrim towns and other tourist destinations and cross border trafficking especially from neighbouring countries," said Kumar, according to a CBI statement.
"Trafficking of women and children is one of the grave organised crimes, extending beyond boundaries and jurisdictions. Combating and preventing human trafficking requires holistic approach and integrated actions on prosecution, prevention and protection," Kumar said.
According to the CBI, the global human trafficking industry is worth $5-9 billion and an estimated 6-8 million people are annually affected by it.
The CBI director said, "Over the years, India has emerged as a source, destination and transit country for human trafficking. Human trafficking is the world's third largest organised crime after narcotics and arms trafficking.
"Human trafficking is usually done for sexual and commercial exploitation of girls, women and children. Women and children are also illegally sent to the Middle Eastern countries and other parts of the world for purpose of cheap labour."
In India, there are approximately three million commercial sex workers of which an estimated 40 percent are children.
"There is a growing demand for young girls to be inducted into prostitution on account of customer preferences," Kumar said.
Kumar was speaking at a seminar on Organised Crime and Human Trafficking at Vigyan Bhawan. Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta inaugurated the seminar.
"A few alarming trends that have emerged in recent years are exploitation through sex tourism, paedophilia, prostitution in pilgrim towns and other tourist destinations and cross border trafficking especially from neighbouring countries," said Kumar, according to a CBI statement.
"Trafficking of women and children is one of the grave organised crimes, extending beyond boundaries and jurisdictions. Combating and preventing human trafficking requires holistic approach and integrated actions on prosecution, prevention and protection," Kumar said.
According to the CBI, the global human trafficking industry is worth $5-9 billion and an estimated 6-8 million people are annually affected by it.
The CBI director said, "Over the years, India has emerged as a source, destination and transit country for human trafficking. Human trafficking is the world's third largest organised crime after narcotics and arms trafficking.
"Human trafficking is usually done for sexual and commercial exploitation of girls, women and children. Women and children are also illegally sent to the Middle Eastern countries and other parts of the world for purpose of cheap labour."
In India, there are approximately three million commercial sex workers of which an estimated 40 percent are children.
"There is a growing demand for young girls to be inducted into prostitution on account of customer preferences," Kumar said.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Prata meets Turkish delights
SINGAPORE and Turkey have agreed to step up economic cooperation in the face of the global recession, and work together to fight extremism and terrorism in the name of religion. The agreement was expressed by President SR Nathan and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, in a joint press conference at the end of a 90-minute meeting at the Cankaya presidential palace yesterday afternoon.
Mr Nathan, who has been in Turkey since Monday, is on a seven-day visit to the country.
Before the meeting, he led the Singapore delegation in placing a wreath at the mausoleum of the father of modern Turkey, the late president Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
He then headed to the Cankaya Palace to inspect the guard of honour, accompanied by a 21-gun salute.
During the press conference, Mr Nathan said Singapore is interested in stepping up economic cooperation with Turkey through trade and investment.
This will be done through the Singapore-Turkey Business Council, which is to be formed through an agreement to be signed in Istanbul tomorrow.
Cooperation between the countries could also extend to exploring business opportunities in the developing world, Mr Nathan said.
And he said there are still business opportunities to be explored in places such as China, India and Asean.
But that would be left up to the businessmen of the two countries, as he said government can only open the door to allow them to invest and carry out business activities.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Indian colleges ban Jeans
COLLEGES in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh said on Wednesday that female students would be banned from wearing jeans and other Western clothes to halt sexual harassment by male classmates.
'Girls who choose to wear jeans will be expelled from the college,' Meeta Jamal, principal of the Dayanand girls' college in Kanpur city told AFP. 'This is the only way to stop crime against women.'
A growing number of colleges in Uttar Pradesh have decided to outlaw jeans, shorts, tight blouses and miniskirts on campus in an attempt to crack down on 'Eve-teasing' - as sexual harassment is known in India.
But many of the students, who are aged between 17 and 20, said the new rules punished innocent females rather than tackling the men who treated women badly.
'Banning any clothing will certainly never solve the issue of sexual harassment,' said Uzma, a graduate student from Lucknow University who declined to give her full name.
Hindu extremist groups have in recent months attacked women drinking in pubs and threatened couples who make public displays of affection.
The vigilantes claimed they were acting to protect India's conservative values against the spreading influence of Western culture.
Some colleges elsewhere in the country have previously banned the wearing of jeans, but protests from students forced the dress regulations to be reversed.
'Girls who choose to wear jeans will be expelled from the college,' Meeta Jamal, principal of the Dayanand girls' college in Kanpur city told AFP. 'This is the only way to stop crime against women.'
A growing number of colleges in Uttar Pradesh have decided to outlaw jeans, shorts, tight blouses and miniskirts on campus in an attempt to crack down on 'Eve-teasing' - as sexual harassment is known in India.
But many of the students, who are aged between 17 and 20, said the new rules punished innocent females rather than tackling the men who treated women badly.
'Banning any clothing will certainly never solve the issue of sexual harassment,' said Uzma, a graduate student from Lucknow University who declined to give her full name.
Hindu extremist groups have in recent months attacked women drinking in pubs and threatened couples who make public displays of affection.
The vigilantes claimed they were acting to protect India's conservative values against the spreading influence of Western culture.
Some colleges elsewhere in the country have previously banned the wearing of jeans, but protests from students forced the dress regulations to be reversed.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Two Indian men found dead in Telok Blangah
Two Indians were pronounced dead after they fell from a height at Block 33, Telok Blangah Way, late on Saturday night.
The two, one in his 50s and the other in his 20s, are believed to be a father and his son, living in a unit on the ninth storey.
Police received a call about the incident at 11.50pm and are investigating the unnatural deaths.
The two, one in his 50s and the other in his 20s, are believed to be a father and his son, living in a unit on the ninth storey.
Police received a call about the incident at 11.50pm and are investigating the unnatural deaths.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Prataman Eat Wind again
PRESIDENT S R Nathan will begin a week-long visit to Turkey today.
This is the first time a Singapore president is making an official state visit there. During his trip, Mr Nathan will visit the capital, Ankara, and Istanbul.
He will meet and be hosted to a state banquet by Turkish President Abdullah Gul. He will also meet Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Speaker of Turkey's Grand National Assembly Koksal Toptan. The Governor of Istanbul, Muammer Guler, will also host a lunch for Mr Nathan.
Accompanying the President are several ministers: Second Minister for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hua, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Balaji Sadasivan, and Senior Minister of State for Education as well as Trade and Industry S. Iswaran.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Hawazi Daipi, MPs Penny Low and Christopher de Souza, senior government officials and a business delegation will also be on the trip which ends on Sunday.
This is the first time a Singapore president is making an official state visit there. During his trip, Mr Nathan will visit the capital, Ankara, and Istanbul.
He will meet and be hosted to a state banquet by Turkish President Abdullah Gul. He will also meet Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Speaker of Turkey's Grand National Assembly Koksal Toptan. The Governor of Istanbul, Muammer Guler, will also host a lunch for Mr Nathan.
Accompanying the President are several ministers: Second Minister for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hua, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Balaji Sadasivan, and Senior Minister of State for Education as well as Trade and Industry S. Iswaran.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Hawazi Daipi, MPs Penny Low and Christopher de Souza, senior government officials and a business delegation will also be on the trip which ends on Sunday.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Visit India 2009
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The year 2009 is being promoted as the ‘VISIT INDIA’ year by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts is pleased to participate in this initiative by offering another compelling reason to explore the country.
Luxury as a unique, memorable and personal experience is core to the Oberoi philosophy. Internationally recognised for all-round excellence and unparalleled levels of service, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts has received innumerable awards and accolades.
View the varied moods of the Taj Mahal from your room at The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra. Experience the tranquillity of the Himalayas at Wildflower Hall, Shimla. Explore Rajasthan’s rich heritage and culture while staying at The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur or The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur.
Visit India 2009 Offers
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The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur Stay for 2 nights and get the 3rd consecutive night free. Accommodation in a Premier Room and 2-way airport or railway station transfers in Udaipur.
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The Oberoi, New Delhi Stay for 2 nights and get the 3rd consecutive night free. Accommodation in a Deluxe Room.
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Fly Air India too!
Visit India 2009
The year 2009 is being promoted as the ‘VISIT INDIA’ year by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts is pleased to participate in this initiative by offering another compelling reason to explore the country.
Luxury as a unique, memorable and personal experience is core to the Oberoi philosophy. Internationally recognised for all-round excellence and unparalleled levels of service, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts has received innumerable awards and accolades.
View the varied moods of the Taj Mahal from your room at The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra. Experience the tranquillity of the Himalayas at Wildflower Hall, Shimla. Explore Rajasthan’s rich heritage and culture while staying at The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur or The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur.
Visit India 2009 Offers
The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra Stay for 2 nights and get the 3rd consecutive night
free. Accommodation in a Premier Room and 2-way airport or railway station transfers in Agra.
The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur Stay for 2 nights and get the 3rd consecutive night free. Accommodation in a Premier Room and 2-way airport or railway station transfers in Jaipur.
The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur Stay for 2 nights and get the 3rd consecutive night free. Accommodation in a Premier Room and 2-way airport or railway station transfers in Udaipur.
The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore Stay for 2 nights and get the 3rd consecutive night free. Accommodation in a Luxury Tent and 2-way transfers from Sawai Madhopur railway station.
The Oberoi, New Delhi Stay for 2 nights and get the 3rd consecutive night free. Accommodation in a Deluxe Room.
The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata Stay for 2 nights and get the 3rd consecutive night free. Accommodation in a Deluxe Room.
The Oberoi Cecil, Shimla Stay for 3 nights and get the 4th consecutive night free. Accommodation in a Deluxe Room.
Fly Air India too!
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
More Indian Female leaders
More Indian women taking the lead
A DECADE ago when India's government moved a Bill to reserve a third of the seats in Parliament for women, politician Sharad Yadav sneered that the move would benefit only those with short hair. It was a reference to the city-bred in a nation where women have long cherished their tresses.
Last week, as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's administration announced plans to move quickly on the long-delayed Bill, Mr Yadav, whose party draws support from India's teeming backward castes, threatened to drink poison in the manner of Socrates, who was sentenced to death by poisoning for his beliefs.
Too bad, Mr Yadav. Given the startling mandate thrown up by the recent election, the ruling Congress-led alliance is no longer dependent on the support of parties - like his - that oppose theWomen's Reservation Bill. And so, a vision once set out by the late Rajiv Gandhi and nowaggressively pushed by his widow, Congress Party chief Sonia Gandhi, will probably materialise within a few months.
Once the Bill is passed, a third of the elected MPs will be women, starting from the 2014 election - as will half the office bearers of allfuture village bodies and city municipal councils. The proposed legislation - backed by the main opposition group, theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - underscores the clamour for givingwomen a bigger say in national affairs, after centuries ofdiscrimination that have kept them behind closed doors and theirfaces hidden by the edges of their saris. In the recent polls, a record 59 women MPs were elected to the 543-seat Lower House. Once the Bill is enacted, India will have, by statute, the highest proportion of women holding public office in any country ofthe world.
Two years ago, Mrs Pratibha Patil was appointed India's first womanpresident in a Congress-inspired move. And last week, Mrs MeiraKumar, a Congress MP from the lowest social caste, became the firstwoman Speaker of the Lower House. For the next five years, this powerful legislative chamber of the world's noisiest and largest democracy will resound with cries of 'Madam Speaker', where only 'MrSpeaker, sir' was heard for six decades.
To be sure, neither Mrs Sonia Gandhi, President Patil nor SpeakerKumar could be said to have risen to their current positions on merit alone.
Much of Mrs Gandhi's popularity is founded on her position as thewidow and daughter-in-law of assassinated prime ministers. Mrs Patilis close to the Gandhi household and owes her position to Mrs Gandhi. Mrs Kumar is the daughter of the late Congress stalwart Jagjivan Ram, a Dalit politician widely recognised as having been a success in everyministry he ran, from railways to water resources and defence. 'Barring striking exceptions where dynastic charisma is seen to matter more than anything else, most women politicians have found it difficult to rise within party hierarchies,' said economist and socialcommentator Jayati Ghosh. Still, she noted, once women do become established as party leaders, another peculiarly Indian characteristic tends to surface - the unquestioning acceptance by the largely male party rank and file ofthe leader's decisions. She cited Tamil Nadu's AIADMK party, led by former screen actress Jayaraman Jayalalithaa, as well as West Bengal's Trinamool Congress,led by maverick woman politician Mamata Banerjee, now minister forrailways.Even so, there are spunky women politicians who are entirely self made.
Take the feisty Mrs Sushma Swaraj. Now the BJP's deputy leader inthe Lower House, she is seen as a future party chief. In Congress, Mrs Renuka Chowdhury, who was in charge of tourism under the previous government before taking over women's affairs,was known in her student days in Bangalore as the only woman toride around town on a motorcycle. However, she lost her seat inAndhra Pradesh in the latest election. Nevertheless, even for the toughest woman, there is no denying thatpolitics will remain a hard game. Apart from the long hours politicians keep, at the ground level, particularly in the hinter land, India's politics tend to be brutish. And the political landscape is almost uniformlycorrupt - which means even the brightest candidates need to deploy large sums of cash if they are to stand a chance of winning. 'Crime and corruption are bigger deterrents to the entry of women into politics than patriarchal attitudes or any other factor,' social rightsactivist Madhu Kishwar said in a recent interview. Anecdotal evidence suggests that women, once empowered, tend to make more useful decisions.
This is particularly so at the level of village councils, where the key issues of the day might be something as simple as where to dig a well for common use or to locate a primary school. In Delhi, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's popularity as an efficientadministrator has helped Congress win control of the metropolis for athird straight term.Still, Rajasthan was notorious for corruption under the BJP's MrsVijayaraje Scindia, as is Uttar Pradesh under its current Chief Minister,Ms Mayawati Kumar. Three quarters of a century ago, when Mahatma Gandhi began pulling women into the Indian freedom movement, he gave them major rolesin the civil disobedience programmes targeted at ousting the British. One of these veterans was Ms Sarala Devi, who in 1931 led amovement for a separate Women's Congress because she feltCongress was assigning women 'the position of law-breakers, not lawmakers'. Seventy-eight years later, the party of independence is poised to correct that imbalance.
A DECADE ago when India's government moved a Bill to reserve a third of the seats in Parliament for women, politician Sharad Yadav sneered that the move would benefit only those with short hair. It was a reference to the city-bred in a nation where women have long cherished their tresses.
Last week, as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's administration announced plans to move quickly on the long-delayed Bill, Mr Yadav, whose party draws support from India's teeming backward castes, threatened to drink poison in the manner of Socrates, who was sentenced to death by poisoning for his beliefs.
Too bad, Mr Yadav. Given the startling mandate thrown up by the recent election, the ruling Congress-led alliance is no longer dependent on the support of parties - like his - that oppose theWomen's Reservation Bill. And so, a vision once set out by the late Rajiv Gandhi and nowaggressively pushed by his widow, Congress Party chief Sonia Gandhi, will probably materialise within a few months.
Once the Bill is passed, a third of the elected MPs will be women, starting from the 2014 election - as will half the office bearers of allfuture village bodies and city municipal councils. The proposed legislation - backed by the main opposition group, theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - underscores the clamour for givingwomen a bigger say in national affairs, after centuries ofdiscrimination that have kept them behind closed doors and theirfaces hidden by the edges of their saris. In the recent polls, a record 59 women MPs were elected to the 543-seat Lower House. Once the Bill is enacted, India will have, by statute, the highest proportion of women holding public office in any country ofthe world.
Two years ago, Mrs Pratibha Patil was appointed India's first womanpresident in a Congress-inspired move. And last week, Mrs MeiraKumar, a Congress MP from the lowest social caste, became the firstwoman Speaker of the Lower House. For the next five years, this powerful legislative chamber of the world's noisiest and largest democracy will resound with cries of 'Madam Speaker', where only 'MrSpeaker, sir' was heard for six decades.
To be sure, neither Mrs Sonia Gandhi, President Patil nor SpeakerKumar could be said to have risen to their current positions on merit alone.
Much of Mrs Gandhi's popularity is founded on her position as thewidow and daughter-in-law of assassinated prime ministers. Mrs Patilis close to the Gandhi household and owes her position to Mrs Gandhi. Mrs Kumar is the daughter of the late Congress stalwart Jagjivan Ram, a Dalit politician widely recognised as having been a success in everyministry he ran, from railways to water resources and defence. 'Barring striking exceptions where dynastic charisma is seen to matter more than anything else, most women politicians have found it difficult to rise within party hierarchies,' said economist and socialcommentator Jayati Ghosh. Still, she noted, once women do become established as party leaders, another peculiarly Indian characteristic tends to surface - the unquestioning acceptance by the largely male party rank and file ofthe leader's decisions. She cited Tamil Nadu's AIADMK party, led by former screen actress Jayaraman Jayalalithaa, as well as West Bengal's Trinamool Congress,led by maverick woman politician Mamata Banerjee, now minister forrailways.Even so, there are spunky women politicians who are entirely self made.
Take the feisty Mrs Sushma Swaraj. Now the BJP's deputy leader inthe Lower House, she is seen as a future party chief. In Congress, Mrs Renuka Chowdhury, who was in charge of tourism under the previous government before taking over women's affairs,was known in her student days in Bangalore as the only woman toride around town on a motorcycle. However, she lost her seat inAndhra Pradesh in the latest election. Nevertheless, even for the toughest woman, there is no denying thatpolitics will remain a hard game. Apart from the long hours politicians keep, at the ground level, particularly in the hinter land, India's politics tend to be brutish. And the political landscape is almost uniformlycorrupt - which means even the brightest candidates need to deploy large sums of cash if they are to stand a chance of winning. 'Crime and corruption are bigger deterrents to the entry of women into politics than patriarchal attitudes or any other factor,' social rightsactivist Madhu Kishwar said in a recent interview. Anecdotal evidence suggests that women, once empowered, tend to make more useful decisions.
This is particularly so at the level of village councils, where the key issues of the day might be something as simple as where to dig a well for common use or to locate a primary school. In Delhi, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's popularity as an efficientadministrator has helped Congress win control of the metropolis for athird straight term.Still, Rajasthan was notorious for corruption under the BJP's MrsVijayaraje Scindia, as is Uttar Pradesh under its current Chief Minister,Ms Mayawati Kumar. Three quarters of a century ago, when Mahatma Gandhi began pulling women into the Indian freedom movement, he gave them major rolesin the civil disobedience programmes targeted at ousting the British. One of these veterans was Ms Sarala Devi, who in 1931 led amovement for a separate Women's Congress because she feltCongress was assigning women 'the position of law-breakers, not lawmakers'. Seventy-eight years later, the party of independence is poised to correct that imbalance.
Monday, June 01, 2009
India unhappy with Australia over racist attacks
Indian students rallied in Melbourne as Australia scrambled to contain outrage over a wave of attacks that has seen it labelled racist and strained diplomatic relations with New Delhi.
What began as a local policing issue in Australia's second largest city has spiralled into a crisis that prompted talks between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on student safety last week.
Students and Indian officials are demanding action after more than 70 assaults on their peers in a year in Melbourne, including at least four in the past fortnight, attracting prominent coverage in newspapers here and in India.
Pictures from a hospital bed of a comatose Sravan Kumar Theerthala, who was stabbed with a screwdriver by gatecrashers at a party, were splashed across front pages in India. A teenager faces charges of attempted murder.
"They were saying, 'Don't touch us you Indians' and 'Indians go home' before they got the screwdriver," said Theerthala's friend, Jayasanka Bagpelli.
Another student, Baljinder Singh, told last week how his attackers laughed as he pleaded with them during a robbery at a Melbourne train station.
"I was saying to them, 'I'm giving you all my money, don't kill me, don't kill me'," said Singh, who was stabbed and left with a six-inch (15-centimetre) wound to his stomach and has advised Indians to stay away from Australia.
Indian media have dubbed the attacks "curry bashings", a term reportedly used by youths behind the violence in Melbourne's western suburbs, where 30 percent of assault victims are Indian.
It is a grossly disproportionate figure in a city of almost four million with an Indian student population of less than 50,000.
Police deny any racial element to the attacks, arguing Indian students were often simply in the wrong place at the wrong time as they travelled home late with items such as mobile phones and MP3 players.
But Indian High Commissioner to Australia Sujatha Singh said racism was playing a part, even if some of the crimes were "opportunistic".
Federation of Indian Students president Amit Menghani, who led the rally of more than 1,000 supporters through central Melbourne Sunday, said the police attitude had frustrated students.
Bagpelli, who attended the rally, added: "It's only because the Indian government is now applying pressure that they are doing anything."
While the attacks are unlikely to result in any permanent damage at a diplomatic level, Canberra is concerned parents in India may prevent their children studying in Australia.
That would threaten the international education sector here, a 15.5 billion dollar (12.2 billion US) a year industry that has attracted more than 90,000 Indians nationwide.
More broadly, with headlines such as "Australia, land of racism" running in overseas media, there are also fears Australia's reputation for tolerance is sustaining long-term damage.
"We need to help make sure that the mothers and fathers of all students who come here are assured that Australia is a safe location to come to, that our general crime rates and violence rates are very low," Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told commercial television Sunday.
There are already signs the controversy is souring popular attitudes in India towards Australia, with Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan threatening to snub the offer of an honorary doctorate from an Australian university.
"My conscience is profoundly unsettled at the moment," Bachchan said on his blog, in which he also reported an "overwhelming" response from the Indian public over the issue.
Theerthala's assault proved the catalyst for widespread anger in India, sparking a flurry of high-level diplomatic activity and strong public statements from Indian officials indicating they had run out of patience.
"Such attacks cannot be allowed to happen," High Commissioner Singh said
What began as a local policing issue in Australia's second largest city has spiralled into a crisis that prompted talks between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on student safety last week.
Students and Indian officials are demanding action after more than 70 assaults on their peers in a year in Melbourne, including at least four in the past fortnight, attracting prominent coverage in newspapers here and in India.
Pictures from a hospital bed of a comatose Sravan Kumar Theerthala, who was stabbed with a screwdriver by gatecrashers at a party, were splashed across front pages in India. A teenager faces charges of attempted murder.
"They were saying, 'Don't touch us you Indians' and 'Indians go home' before they got the screwdriver," said Theerthala's friend, Jayasanka Bagpelli.
Another student, Baljinder Singh, told last week how his attackers laughed as he pleaded with them during a robbery at a Melbourne train station.
"I was saying to them, 'I'm giving you all my money, don't kill me, don't kill me'," said Singh, who was stabbed and left with a six-inch (15-centimetre) wound to his stomach and has advised Indians to stay away from Australia.
Indian media have dubbed the attacks "curry bashings", a term reportedly used by youths behind the violence in Melbourne's western suburbs, where 30 percent of assault victims are Indian.
It is a grossly disproportionate figure in a city of almost four million with an Indian student population of less than 50,000.
Police deny any racial element to the attacks, arguing Indian students were often simply in the wrong place at the wrong time as they travelled home late with items such as mobile phones and MP3 players.
But Indian High Commissioner to Australia Sujatha Singh said racism was playing a part, even if some of the crimes were "opportunistic".
Federation of Indian Students president Amit Menghani, who led the rally of more than 1,000 supporters through central Melbourne Sunday, said the police attitude had frustrated students.
Bagpelli, who attended the rally, added: "It's only because the Indian government is now applying pressure that they are doing anything."
While the attacks are unlikely to result in any permanent damage at a diplomatic level, Canberra is concerned parents in India may prevent their children studying in Australia.
That would threaten the international education sector here, a 15.5 billion dollar (12.2 billion US) a year industry that has attracted more than 90,000 Indians nationwide.
More broadly, with headlines such as "Australia, land of racism" running in overseas media, there are also fears Australia's reputation for tolerance is sustaining long-term damage.
"We need to help make sure that the mothers and fathers of all students who come here are assured that Australia is a safe location to come to, that our general crime rates and violence rates are very low," Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told commercial television Sunday.
There are already signs the controversy is souring popular attitudes in India towards Australia, with Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan threatening to snub the offer of an honorary doctorate from an Australian university.
"My conscience is profoundly unsettled at the moment," Bachchan said on his blog, in which he also reported an "overwhelming" response from the Indian public over the issue.
Theerthala's assault proved the catalyst for widespread anger in India, sparking a flurry of high-level diplomatic activity and strong public statements from Indian officials indicating they had run out of patience.
"Such attacks cannot be allowed to happen," High Commissioner Singh said
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