Wikipedia

Aam Aadmi: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Monkbot (talk | contribs)
Bots
3,187,928 edits
m Task 20: replace {lang-??} templates with {langx|??} ‹See Tfd› (Replaced 2);
 
(175 intermediate revisions by 100 users not shown)
Line 1:
{{short description|Hindustani colloquial expression}}
{{pp-semi|small=yes}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
 
'''Aam Aadmi''' ({{langx|hi|आम आदमी}}, {{langx|ur|{{nastaliq|عام آدمی}}}}) — literal translation: "[[commoner|ordinary man]]" (''ām'' meaning ordinary + ''ādmī'' meaning man) — is a [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] colloquial expression and the equivalent of "the [[Average Joe]]."
{{pp-move-indef}}
 
The [[Indian National Congress]] based its [[2004 Indian general election|2004 election campaign]] on the ''aam aadmi'' theme. The party's slogan for the election was ''Congress ka Haath, Aam Aadmi ke Saath'' ("the hand of the Congress is with the common man").<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bZJeBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA342 |title=Effective Public Relations and Media Strategy |author=C.V.Narasimha Reddi |publisher=PH Learning |page=342 |year=2014 |isbn=9788120348714 }}</ref> In 2007, the Congress launched its ''Aam Aadmi Ka Sipahi'' ("the Common Man's Soldier") campaign to popularize the programmes of its [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]] government.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070514/asp/northeast/story_7772243.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604144357/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070514/asp/northeast/story_7772243.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2011 |title=Soldier tag for Youth Cong – Pro-poor Scheme launched|date=14 May 2007|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|accessdate=2 February 2010}}</ref>
 
The expression was also adopted by the [[Aam Aadmi Party]], formed in 2012. At that time, the Congress objected to the newly formed party's name, claiming that the ''aam aadmi'' has been synonymous with the Congress since 1885.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/newdelhi/congress-objects-to-aam-aadmi-in-kejriwal-s-party/article1-963722.aspx |title=Congress objects to 'aam aadmi' in Kejriwal's party |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=2012-11-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723131652/http://www.hindustantimes.com/newdelhi/congress-objects-to-aam-aadmi-in-kejriwal-s-party/article1-963722.aspx |archivedate=23 July 2015 }}</ref>
[[Image: COMMAN.JPG|frame|A Statue of "the Common Man" in [[Pune]]]]
 
"Mango man" is an absurd translation of the phrase (''aam'' is also the Hindi word for "mango"). In 2012, [[Robert Vadra]] was criticized by activists, when he mocked them as "mango men in [[banana republic]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/robert-vadra-off-facebook-after-mango-men-in-banana-republic-remark-501265 |title=Robert Vadra off Facebook after 'mango men in banana republic' remark |publisher=NDTV |date=2012-10-09 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/robert-vadra-mocks--aam-aadmi--on-facebook-then-beats-retreat/1013714/0 |title=Robert Vadra mocks 'aam aadmi' on Facebook, then beats retreat |date=2012-10-08 |newspaper=The Indian Express}}</ref>
'''Aam Aadmi''' ([[Hindi]] for "Common Man"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090314/jsp/nation/story_10667380.jsp||title=Aam aadmi back, with Jaiho|date=2009-03-14|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|accessdate=2010-01-08}}</ref>) is a term used primarily in [[India]] to refer to the average Indian. Aam Aadmi is the Indian equivalent of [[Average Joe]]. "The common man is marching ahead, every step of his makes India stronger" - the new slogan of Aam Aadmi. For an Aam Aadmi, his set of aspirations include three essential things: Food, Clothing and Shelter.
 
In 2014, the new prime minister [[Narendra Modi|Modi]] directed that [[Air India]] change its long-standing Maharaja logo for one utilising ''aam aadmi''.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Sinha, Saurabh |title=Make aam admi, not Maharaja, mascot of Indian aviation: Modi |date=23 June 2014 |newspaper=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Make-aam-admi-not-Maharaja-mascot-of-Indian-aviation-Modi/articleshow/37040623.cms |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623153515/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Make-aam-admi-not-Maharaja-mascot-of-Indian-aviation-Modi/articleshow/37040623.cms |archivedate=23 June 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In any country, there are two sets of people '''Aam''' and '''Khaas'''. The daily wage workers, taxpayers, traders and retailers, salaried people, women and retired people are the different segments of Aam Aadmi. They need a special care in the [[budget]] because they deserve it. As Mahatma Gandhi said, "Democracy is the art and science of mobilizing the entire physical, economic and spiritual resources of various sections of the people in the service of the common good of all".<ref>Union budget 2009-10: Finance Minister's Speech http://www.hinduonnet.com/nic/budget09.htm</ref>
 
Aam Aadmi aims at the happiness of common man. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/whose-the-aam-aadmi/467556|title=Who's the aam aadmi|last=Debroy|first=Bibek|publisher=[[Indian Express]]|date=2009-05-29|accessdate=2010-01-09}}</ref> The government must protect the common man by providing subsidies on food and fertilizer. However, there are high administrative costs of delivery in present subsidy scheme. The economists now opt direct cash transfers to reduce administrative costs.
 
Aam Aadmi was introduced in 2004 by the Congress-led UPA government. It aims to strengthen the Right to Information Act, National Rural Employment Guaranteed Scheme, National Food Security Act and Bharat Nirman Yojana <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/The-rise-of-aam-aadmi/articleshow/5383060.cms|title=The rise of aam aadmi|last=Sexana|first=Shobhan|publisher=[[Times of India]]|date=2009-12-27|accessdate=2010-01-08}}</ref> by way of economic and [[social inclusion]] of every underprivileged section of society. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/a-k-bhattacharyahindutva-to-aam-aadmi/381069|title=From Hindutva to aam aadmi|last=Bhattacharya|first=A.K.|publisher=[[Business Standard]]|date=2009-12-30|accessdate=2010-01-12}}</ref> No marginal groups are excluded from the development process. Women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes belong to the marginal groups. <ref>http://www.blonet.com/2009/01/27/stories/2009012750070700.htm</ref>
 
==The Right to Information Act==
 
[[The Right to Information Act 2005]] is an Act to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities, in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority, the constitution of a Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. <ref>The Right to Information Act, 2005 http://www.rti.gov.in/webactrti.htm</ref>
 
The Act specifies that citizens have the right to:
 
* inspection of work, documents and records.
* taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records.
* taking certified samples of material.
* obtaining information in the form of printouts, diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes 'or in any other electronic mode' or through printouts.
 
The Right to Information Act makes the common man up to date. His role in government's decision-making process has been redefined by the Act. The Right to Information Act is an effective tool to control [[corruption]], make government accountable, and curb the arbitrary use of power.<ref>http://www.dgftcom.nic.in/exim/2000/rit.htm</ref>The Act has now been amended to provide for disclosure by government in all non-strategic areas.
 
==National Rural Employment Guarantee Act==
 
[[Image:nregs.jpg|thumb|right|A NREGS Worksite in Kerala]]
This Act came into force on February 2, 2006. The twin objectives of the Act are augmenting wage employment and strengthening natural resource management. As per the [[National Rural Employment Guarantee Act]], job cards are issued to the rural unskilled labour by guaranteeing work for 100 days in a financial year at a minimum daily wage of Rs.100. It is the largest programme in the world for rural reconstruction. <ref>National Rural Employment Guarantee Act http://www.india.gov.in/sectors/rural/national_rural.php</ref> The scheme covered 604 districts in India in three phases and provided employment opportunities for more than 4.47 crore households in 2008-09. <ref>[http://www.nrega.nic.in/ Official Website of NREGA]</ref> The total outlay for the scheme is $8 billion during 2009-10.
 
NREGA creates transparency and accountability in governance. All NREGA beneficiaries now have accounts with banks or post offices. The scope of the programme is limited to unskilled manual labour. The scope can be extended through increased land productivity. Land productivity can be maximized through better [[convergence]] of NREGA with other programmes. <ref>Bharat Nirman Programme http://www.orissalinks/orissagrowth/.../bharat-nirman-programme</ref> [[Sustainable development]] is the ultimate goal of NREGA. [[M.S. Swaminathan]], Father of [[Green Revolution]] in India argues that there is a synergy between National Food Security Act and NREGA. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2009/06/01/stories/2009060153470800.htm|title=Synergy between Food Security Act and NREGA|last=Swaminathan|first=M.S.|Publisher=[[The Hindu]]|date=2009-06-01|accessdate=2010-01-29}}</ref> NREGA through its diversified programmes on human development helps to ensure food security for all. It is the realisation of Gandhi's dream to make India self-sufficient. The scheme has now been renamed as [[Mahatma Gandhi]] Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Gandhiji thought us how unskilled manual labour can be made use of for the betterment of society.
 
==Food Security Act==
 
[[Image:Kwashiorkor 6903.jpg|thumb|right|Children and a nurse attendant at a Nigerian orphanage in the late 1960’s with symptoms of low calorie and protein intake.]]
Food security is essential for the common man to lead a healthy and productive life. That healthy life is impossible without government measures of food security. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched on December 2000 for one crore of the poorest families. It is on the look out for the 'poorest of the poor'<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/antyodaya-scheme-many-states-yet-to-identify-poor/118030|title=Antyodaya scheme:many states yet to identify poor|date=2004-11-01|publisher=[[The Financial Express]]|accessdate=2010-01-08}}</ref> by providing them 35 kilos of rice and wheat at Rs.2 per kg. Whereas the National Food Security Act helps the poor to purchase 25 kg of rice or wheat per month at Rs.3 per kg. It calls for broader [[reforms]] in the public distribution system. Food Security Act takes into consideration the following three important aspects:
 
* Food Availability.
* Food Access.
* Food Absorption.
 
Food availability in the market depends on domestic production and imports whereas access to food hinges on the [[purchasing power]] of Aam Aadmi. Food absorption means the inclusion of required calorie-content micro and macro nutrients in our daily food in-take and thereby enables the human body to fight against [[deficiency diseases]].<ref>http://www.southesia.oneworld.net/todaysheadlines/food-security-in-India-leaves-much-to-be-desired</ref>
 
Targeting the BPL families is one of the main issues in the implementation of the Act. In 2005 [[Planning Commission]] has made an evaluation of PDS schemes. They found that more than 50 per cent of food did not reach the poor families. In the words of Dr.C Rangarajan, "Food prices must be controlled, otherwise they have a tendency to lead to manufacturing inflation. That will require monetary action especially on the supply management side". <ref name="Raghavan2009">{{cite magazine|last=Raghavan|first=B.S.|authorlink=|year=2009|month=December 16|title=Pundits' primer on price rise|magazine=Business Line|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/12/16/stories/2009121650620900.htm|accessdate=2010-02-04|quote=}}</ref>
 
==Bharat Nirman Yojana==
 
Bharat Nirman Yojana is an action-oriented business plan for rural infrastructure.<ref>[http://www.bharatnirman.govt.in/ Official Website of Bharat Nirman]</ref> It is an important step in bridging the gap between rural and urban areas and improving the quality of lives of rural masses. It comprises of projects on irrigation, roads (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana), housing (Indira Awaaz Yojana), water supply, electrification and telecommunication connectivity.
 
[[Image:Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Feb 2008 shot in Jalandhar Punjab India by gopal1035.jpg|thumbnail|Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana marker in a village in Punjab]]
 
The [[Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana]] (PMGSY) was launched on 25 December 2000. The primary objective of PMGSY is to provide good quality all-weather roads in all the rural areas where urban-rural road connectivity is found to be very weak. <ref>Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna http://www.india.gov.in/sectors/rural/pradhan_manthri.php</ref>All unconnected habitations with a population of more than 500 persons has been provided connectivity by 2007.<ref>http://rural.nic.in/annual0203/chap-3.pdf</ref>
 
Aam Aadmi is the image of common man. He is one among millions of illiterate population of India. <ref>[http://www.aamaadmi.com]</ref> Whatever be the changes in the economy affects him the most. Inflation, financial meltdown and the resultant job loss are cumbersome for Aam Aadmi.<ref name="Patnaik2008">{{cite magazine|last=Patnaik|first=Prabhat|authorlink=|year=2008|month=March 15-28|title=Conservation to the foe|magazine=Frontline|volume=25|issue=06|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2506/stories/20080328250600400.htm|accessdate=2009-02-01|quote=}}</ref>To put it otherwise, Aam Aadmi is always caught up in a [[vicious circle]] of poverty.
 
==The Aam Aadmi Ka Sipahi==
 
The Aam Aadmi Ka Sipahi (the Common Man's Army<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070514/asp/northeast/story_7772243.asp|title=Soldier tag for Youth Cong - Pro-poor Scheme launched|date=2007-05-14|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|accessdate=2010-02-02}}</ref>) is a programme launched by [[Rahul Gandhi]]. It upholds the Right to Information Act and NREGA. The Aam Aadmi Ka Sipahi aims to popularize the UPA government's flagship programmes by the Youth Congress and train local youths in [[e-governance]] and use of [[computers]]. <ref>[http://www.topnews.in/rahul-gandhi-launch-aam-admi-ka-sipahi-2190474]</ref><ref>[http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/rahul-gandhi-to-launch-aam-admi-ka-sipahi_100219657.html]</ref>The Youth will work at the punchayat level to facilitate the smooth functioning of NREGA and the Right to Information Act.<ref>AAM AADMI KA SIPAHI http://www.indianyouthcongress.blogspot.com</ref>They creates awareness among the rural poor of their rights. As Rahul Gandhi commented, "If India has to progress, then the dalits, the slum dwellers and the poor must progress for the country to move forward".
 
==See also==
*[[List of terms referring to an average person]]
 
* [[Indira Awaaz Yojana]]
* [[RTI India]]
* [[Right to Information]]
* [[NREGS (Kerala)]]
* [[Food security]]
* [[Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan]]
 
==References==
{{reflist|2colwidth=30em}}
 
==Further reading==
 
* Mishra,N.N.; Parker,Lisa; Nimgaonkar,V.L.; Deshpande,S.N. (2008): "Privacy and the Right to Information Act, 2005", Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, 5(4), p.159.
 
{{Template:Education}}
{{Template:Employment}}
{{Template:Infrastructure}}
 
[[Category:IndianHindi legislationwords and phrases]]
[[Category:EconomyIndian ofpolitical Indiaslogans]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress campaigns]]
[[Category:Indian general election campaigns]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aam_Aadmi"