PUBLIC TRANSPORT...

THE WAY FORWARD

Today traffic problems are faced by almost all major cities in India. With the rapid ‘economic
growth’, numbers of cars on the streets have increased manifolds. In the mean time, the
newly found purchasing power of the middle class is being used to move away from
dysfunctional public transport system to owning vehicles. If this trend continues, very grim
future is in store for all of us.

Given the rapid growth of India’s largest cities and desperate need for better and efficient
public transport, policy shift is very much the order of the day. Unfortunately the Indian
Government has been emphasizing the need to further develop the automobile industry in
India and has actually encouraged more car ownership and use. Roadways are already
hopelessly congested, with average speed declining each year. Clearly the public
transportation must be given the priority.

Following measures have been implemented in some of the biggest cities (Singapore,
London, Paris etc)of world with good response. These relate to congestion charges and
high parking fees within city.

However in most cases parking fees in India is in range of Rs. 5 to Rs. 20 which is too low
to deter travel by car. A case can be made for hiking parking charges and introducing
congestion tax on vehicles within city. However, any disincentives to use private transport
have to be accompanied by improvements in public transport.
PRIVATISATION OF WATER: A BIG NO
By Parag gacche

It is the fact that first ever species was born in water. But today if we look around us, not
only animals, destitute, poor but also people from middle class are finding it hard to get daily
quota of fresh and pure water. Water is called “Jeevan”, meaning life. People’s access to
this most precious resource is today at a greater risk. Mineral water, or Bisleri as it is
commonly known, has become ubiquitous. Only a certain section of people can afford it.
Why is this happening? Simple enough. Privatization of water is occurring at a very fast
rate.
On one hand we allow MNCs and big corporations to pump millions of liters of freshwater
from our natural resources at throw away prices (which then price them exorbitantly based on
their whims and fancies) and on other we leave large chunk of people to be deprived of the
most essential part of life. Double standard is also evident from following example: UN
regards water as essential thing of life and does not recommend its use as an economic
commodity. But institutions such as WB, IMF and ADB have prescribed exactly the opposite
thing, i.e. in order to conserve water and to avoid its misuse it should be commoditized and
sold. But the basic question remains: How can a private entity own natural resources which
inherently belong to public of the country? What if tomorrow they ask ownership on the air
that we breathe?
It is quite apparent that institutions like WB are serving the interests of giant corporations and
filling their coffers by making loan requirements especially of third world countries contingent
on these countries agreeing to privatize their water resources.
Even experiments with countries all over the world point to the fact that, attempt to privatize
the water did not go down well with the public. As soon as companies get hold of these
resources, the obvious next step is increasing the prices so that they can amass as much
dollars as possible. Also the indiscriminate water mining by these companies is also a cause
of concern. In future this might create water monopolies which by their sheer force can rob a
large number of people of their water needs.
In India, river linking projects are touted as the best solution by which everybody can be
benefited. In reality these projects will also be handed to such large corporations, which will
put their monetary interests ahead of nation’s interest. This malignant tumor is spreading itself
very fast, we, in our own interest, should nip it in the bud.
AC BUSES FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT, HOW MUCH PUBLIC?
By Angad Patwardhan,

It seems to be a positive move by the Maharashtra government in asking the PMPML

Also, it seems unlikely that Divisional Commissioner Dilip Band and Secretary to the Chief
Minister Nitin Kareer are unaware of the drawbacks of the PPP arrangement, including the
purchase of AC buses. Not only do AC buses have higher initial cost, they are also more
expensive to run and to maintain. With the same amount of money, lesser number of AC
buses can be purchased than their ordinary (non-AC) counterparts. When a one-way ticket
costs as much as Rs.25/- for an AC bus, how can the common man afford such travel?
This will lead to buses not running to their full capacity and to make good the loss thus
incurred, the authorities will increase the fares of non-AC buses as well.

Besides, AC buses are not required by everyday bus travelers. We have an example in
Mumbai where even well-to-do people travel by non-AC buses and locals. Thus, PMPML
authorities' initial idea of purchasing AC buses itself is counter-productive.

Another issue is giving private dealers the authority to run the bus service. 70% of the
capital for buying buses is government-funded, i.e. citizens' money. How is it fair to allow
private dealers to run the service with their financial input being only 30%? It's better then
to have the entire sum coming from the government fund.

Citizens should not withdraw the protests till their demands for better public transport are
met, as the NEW move of the State government is very likely politically motivated, with the
Assembly elections just round the corner.
JUDICIARY: PLACE OF JUSTICE OR HARASSMENT
By Sujeet Patil

Girish Patel, the name that has become synonymous with the human rights struggle in
Gujarat, has urged activists and people of the state not to approach courts during any
movement to safeguard the rights of the downtrodden.

What may be the reason for such a statement?

1) The courts are not following Principle of Natural Justice; instead they are adapting
themselves with Globalization policies which are not in favor of our people.
During the Narmada Movement, people have approached the court for justice. Court in its
first judgment said that compensation should be provided to the displaced. The same court
afterwards gave the judgment that compensation may be given afterwards, but first increase
the size of dam.
In another case, the court suo motto has given the orders for demolition of lakhs of jhuggis
and removal of lakhs of street vendors from Delhi, Mumbai….without giving notice to
them…in violation of natural justice.

2) Another important point in case of civil liberties is that the courts are taking intolerant
decision that has been shown in case Binayak Sen a doctor by profession and human rights
activist who has been kept in jail for 2 years in fake cases.

3) Once PIL which has been seen as an important tool for people’s voices by relaxing the rule
of locus standi path breaking judgments were given such as Article 21 was interpreted to
include the right to live with dignity therefore all basic requirements for leading a dignified life
such as food, shelter, education, health etc were made a fundamental right.
But after globalization, attitude of higher courts towards poor has been taken sea (ocean)
change. Even when cases are brought before them wherein fundamental necessities like
shelter, food, water, health, and education for poor threatened they are refusing to
intervene, violating the earlier judgments of same courts.

4) In the media we have seen lot of corruption cases that have popped up in the judiciary.
According transparency report judiciary is 2nd most corrupted body where it tells that
corruption involved is 2640 crores. Corruption is just one of the problems gripping the
judicial system. The main problem is as mentioned above is the failure to protect the rights
of the weak and oppressed.

5) Our judicial system is never designed to give justice to common people because it was
established by British during their rule of India. After independence our founding fathers
took no significant steps to change the system.
Now its time to act-We the common people will have to raise our voices to transform the
judiciary….because justice matters to all.
WOMEN: TREAT THEM ALSO AS A HUMAN BEING
By Sujeet Patil

We live in a world, in which women do not have basic control on what happens to their body. Millions
of women and girls are forced to marry and have sex they do not desire. If women are in state
custody, they face sexual assault by their jailors. Women are punished for having outside marriage or
with the person they like (rather than of their family’s choice).Husbands and other male members
obstruct or dictate women’s access to reproductive health care.

In the case Mangalore pub attack, those who suffered in the name of moral policing are undoubtedly
women. One of the most horrifying cases to be taken is of Gujarat carnage where women are brutally
raped and killed.

Most of the above mentioned are done behind the curtains of caste, culture, family reputation, society
etc.

There are some examples which show or expose the human rights violation. There is today need to
curb specific legal, cultural, religious practices by which women are systematically discriminated.

One of the greatest challenges of government today is to make society across the globe, is to create
respect for women’s rights.

The trouble is indiscriminate attitude of society, if a woman writes about the rights of women
liberation; society will treat her as unconventional, anti societal and curbing her freedom thus placing
her outside the normal societal frame.

The need of the hour is to promote women’s equal rights and human dignity. It requires all of us to
unite in solidarity to end traditions, practices and laws that harass women.
ARMED FORCES (SPECIAL POWERS) ACT, 1958
By Rushal Thaker

The Indian Army catchphrase "Do you have it in you?" used to fill my heart with all the josh and
patriotism in the world. Not any more! Check this...What Indian Army has done in the state of Manipur
in the last 50 years is worse than what Modi did in Gujarat. There is something known as the Armed
Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, better known as AFSPA. This is one of the most draconian pieces
of legislature in Indian history, which states that in any area that is proclaimed as "disturbed", an
officer of the armed forces has powers to:

* Fire upon or use other kinds of force even if it causes death

* To arrest without a warrant and with the use of "necessary" force anyone who has committed certain
offences or is suspected of having done so

* To enter and search any premise in order to make such arrests

What's more, there can be no prosecution, suit or any other legal proceeding against anyone (officer /
jawan) acting under that law. Nor is the government's judgment on why an area is found to be
disturbed subject to judicial review. And that is precisely what has happened in Manipur. Incidents of
false encounter, custodial deaths, youths disappearing, young women being raped and killed are a
common phenomenon. Mister Prime Minister, Manipur is not 'DISTURBED'. It is 'BEING
DISTURBED'. Consciously! On Purpose! And the Indian Army is the worst terror outfit a common
Manipuri can think of! Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee says the Act is a "symbol of oppression,
instrument of high-handedness. But GoI has turned a deaf ear. Many human rights activists have also
demanded abolition of this brutal Act. Sharmila Irom is an icon of the struggle to dismantle AFSPA.
She has been on an indefinite hunger strike since Nov 2000. 8.5 years is a long time. She has been
kept on alive on forced-feeding by the state. Her only demand - Repeal AFSPA. Sharmila, you are not
alone. We stand by you in your struggle for justice!