-Anshul Tewari
" The Indian society, no matter how open minded it may claim to be, will always fear in touching some of the taboo subjects"
Well today I am going to write on another such issue. Recently, I went to Connaught Place with a few college friends. Tired, we went and sat in the Palika Park. Suddenly out of nowhere, a group of Eunuchs came to us, demanding money. We were certainly not in the mood to give away any money, so we refused. The eunuchs started abusing us and said all sort of things. One of them even threatened to open her clothes if we did not give them money. Compelled by this threat we had to pay them. This incident certainly shocked us.
When I returned home I researched a bit about the subject and found various shocking facts.
Lets start with the basics first:
THE HISTORY:
Eunuchs were frequently employed in Imperial Indian palaces as servants for female royalty, and often attained high-status positions in Indian society. Eunuchs in Imperial palaces were organized in a hierarchy, often with a senior or chief eunuch ("Khwaja Saras") directing Junior eunuchs below him. Eunuchs were highly valued for their strength, to provide protection for the ladies palaces, and their trustworthiness, allowing eunuchs to live amongst women with fewer worries. This enabled eunuchs to serve as messengers, watchmen, attendants, and guards for palaces. often, eunuchs also doubled as part of the King's court of advisers.
The Ancient Indian Kama Sutra refers to people of a "third sex" (trtyaprakrti), who can be dressed either in men's or in women's clothes and perform fellatio on men. The term has been translated as "eunuchs" (as in Sir Richard Burton's translation of the book), but these persons have also been considered to be the equivalent of the modern hijra of India.
Hijra, a Hindi term traditionally translated into English as "eunuch", actually refers to what modern Westerners would call male-to-female transgender people and effeminate homosexuals (although some of them reportedly identify as belonging to a third sex). Some of them undergo ritual castration, but the majority do not. They usually dress in saris (traditional Indian garb worn by women) and wear heavy make-up
THE HARSH REALITY:
An article by Times Of India quotes that out of the one million (approx) population of Eunuchs in Delhi, only 1% are born that way. The others are forcefully converted.
In an interview, a forcefully converted Eunuch confessed that the business is deeply connected. The Police are not unaware of this.
A report also states that young men and boys are kidnapped for this business. They are first drugged and then converted in an unconcious state. Some even said that they were forced to get into the habit of taking drugs, and then homosexuality and were then converted. The Godfathers of this business are getting richer by the day and more and more lives are being destroyed every year. After the conversions the young men are not left with any other option than joining the group of other similar men and continuing their business.
The police are well aware of this and so are the other elements of our judiciary, but nothing concrete is being done to stop this forceful trade.
No Government has taken action to curb this crime and no manifesto has ever been made. There are hundereds of NGO’s working for the welfare of Eunuchs, but what about the ones who are forcefully converted?
Their dreams and rights are taken away and they are left with no other proffessional option. Some are forced into the flesh trade and some suffer from HIV, some are forced to perform at marriages while some are forced to beg. The society finds it hard to accept this fact and accept the third sex. Not that they are unaware, its just their fear. But till when will we fear? The Eunuchs must be given their rights to live a dignified life, but shouldn't policies be made to curb the forceful conversions?
WHY?
Why do we overlook such issues? Why do we read about them and forget? Why don’t we revert back to the reality and work to form a concrete solution? Till when will we shy away from these taboo issues and let them prevail in our society? Its time to wake up. Trust me, it is the correct time to wake up.
Do post your comments/suggections or if you want to quote some personal incidents.
The Eunuch Reality
"If I don't take Drugs, How will I survive?": A Documentary
-Anshul Tewari
Recently, I was walking in a market of East Delhi, known as Samachar Market, with a few friends. Everything was perfectly fine until I saw a group of street children, around 6-8 years of age. They all had ragpicking bags in one hand and were playing and fighting with each other. I thought of going closer to them and asking them a couple of questions about their lives; Where they lived? What were the common problems they faced? This thought came to my mind for a new article on their lives ( I have done an article on the lives of street children before as well. Check it out HERE).
When I reached closer and asked them about what they were upto, none of them could reply properly. Not that they did not want to, just that they were not being able to talk or even stand properly. They had taken too much drugs. Yes that's right, DRUGS.
I could clearly see in their hands, bottles of DILUTER (a liquid used to dilute liquids which harden). What shocked me even more was that not one or two, but all of them had bottles or a cloth, in which they had put the liquid, in their hands. They smelled it after ever 5 seconds. It suddenly came to my mind and I immediately took out my camera to record them. I interviewed them for a minute or so and came to know a lot. Below is the video. You can clearly see that as the child is talking, he is simultaneously taking drugs and the children around him are also in a state of semi-conciousness. All this came as a shock to me. Our research at Youth Ki Awaaz has made us learn a lot about this social evil.
Here are a few facts:
- Out of 18 million street children in India, a shocking 90% indulge in Drug abuse, 75% of which do it to fight hunger,
- Around 10,000 street children near the New Delhi Railway Station take drugs,
- 90% of the drug peddelars who provide them with drugs, consist of relatives or acquaintances,
- The concerned authorities are well aware about this but no concrete step has been taken, even the rehabilitation camps do not come forward.
This is our first ever documentation. Do post your comments.
This is not a problem which is unknown, but the question is that WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT IT?
There are a few reasons to this:
Reason 1- The drug providers earn additional income from this business and the number of providers is ever increasing.
Reason 2- The concerned authorities get complaints and tell the local police to take action, but instead, the local police takes a cut from the income of the drug providers. Only a few genuine cops take actions.
Reason 3- The rehabilitation centers are facing space problems to accomodate such a large number, plus, a number of these institutions lack the facilities and the member staff to deal with the increasing number of patients, and also, many become money driven and corrupt.
Reason 4- This is the biggest reason, and that is, WE ARE IGNORANT....Yes we are. Accept it.
A LOGICAL SOLUTION-
What can we do? Many people asked this question when I showed them my documentary. Many said "Lets file a complaint".
Well, we all know that our system lacks the immediate protocol to such incidents. We all know the problem with our system. So lets stop blaming it for everything, Lets stop cribbing and lets stand for ourselves.
Why can't we contact NGO's and reach out to media channels? Why can't we make people aware and get them involved? Why can't we stop cribbing and start addressing the right questions to the right people? Why? Are we crippled as a people? Well I don't think so. Tell us if you have more solutions, post them as comments, make your voice heard.
We immediately called up Global March, an NGO for Child rights and got the response, then why can't you?
Be the change, don't expect others to do it.
If you ever see a child who needs help (against any kind of exploitation/drug abuse/or any problem) contact the following NGO's at the following numbers:
Prayas:EE Block, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033, Tel:27634853 [Mr. Vivek Upadhyay, Project Manager (Mobile) 09311850046] Email: pch@prayaschildren.org
Website: www.prayasonline.org
CHILD LINE
: Tel.No.-1098
Website:www.childlineindia.org
Global March-www.globalmarch.org Read full article...
A TRIBUTE
MUMBAI UNDER SIEGE: INDIA SINKING
-Anshul TewariOn November 26-27-28, 2008, Mumbai, India faced its biggest epidemic ever, terror attacks on The Taj Mahal hotel, Hotel Oberoi Trident, Nariman House and the CST railway station. Over a 100 citizens and non citizens lost their lives to this havoc and over 350 injured. This is the first of its kind attack by terrorists on any country in the world history. In this article I will not be describing the incident (as most of us know about it), rather, I will be talking about the situation we are facing personally, socially as well as politically.
The other day, me and my friends met a Radio Van of a mainstream political party who questioned us about the attack, claiming to create awareness amongst the youth. Their dialogues were focussing on condemning the Government and its actions. Well, I want them to know that by disregarding the opposition, or any party in that case, no one can spread awareness. Awareness lies in showing both sides of a coin, making others have better understaning of the issue, letting them know how they can help and then letting them decide as to what is right and what is wrong. This is what we at Youth Ki Awaaz strive to achieve. But again, Politics of hatred has suppressed our problems and issues. We must understand the problem, and instead of playing the blame game we should help each other. Not because it is our duty, but because WE CAN and WE WILL.BI WEEKLY POLL RESULTS: Will Obama's election as the president of the United States of America help India?
Our poll question two weeks back was: Will Obama's election as the president of the United States of America help India?
The response we got was amazing and the result was as follows:
66% said that YES it will help India,
16% said that NO it will not help India,
whereas 16% are not sure and can't say.
This clearly indicates that a majority of Indian population supports the election of Barack Obama as the president of USA and has high hopes from him. In the last article we had posted the hopes we have from Obama.
A considerable number still believes that Obama's election will not be of much use to India.
Well, as of now all we can do is wait and watch as the Hopes are High and the Change is Needed.
Do post your comments.
YES WE WILL
Today I write this article not to criticize any person of his/her misdeed, not to write about the social evils or the unpolitical politics. I write not to criticize the communalism, regionalism or even sensationalism. But, I write to prove that even in dungeons where people die, in slums where people starve, on streets where millions sleep, at homes where people work not for themselves but to cover up their debts, in darkness where few have gone, FIRE burns in the hearts of people. People who do what they think is right, and rest is secondary, people who believe in themselves and in the power of democracy.
We should never forget that whenever corruption has taken its toll, a Manjunath is born, to stand for what he believed in and make us realise that if he can, why can't we? Whenever discrimination of any kind has taken place, people like Navleen Kumar have raised their voices and given their lives just to let us know that if she can, why can't we?
When India was in the middle of the biggest epidemic, the nation came forward for one cause they stood for and that was INDEPENDENCE. If they can, why can't we?
When a Jessica Lal or a Soumya Vishwanathan are brutally murdered, a nation assembles peacefully to demand justice.
When states like Pune face water shortage, a group of youngsters come forward to install two ferrocrete water tanks just to let us know that if they can, why can't we? When a girl child is discarded by her parents because of her gender, millions come forward to let us know they care, and if they can, why can't we?
When Indian cities are bombed, people of the same city work together to help others, just to let us know that if they can, why can't we?
When the environment faces a near epidemic due to deforestation, movements like the Chipko Movement are started just to let us know that if they can, why can't we?
A country where every moment a leader is born, where every moment a hero has emerged, but, where every moment A VOICE RAISED IS A VOICE LESS, where the meaning of group is not standing for each other, but only standing together as meer spectators, where we see an accident and run away from the sight, afraid to help, unaware of the fact that legally, when we drop a victim to a hospital no police has the right to question our presence. A country where WE, AS A PEOPLE CAN CREATE A CHANGE.
But before that we have to ask ourselves, IF THEY COULD DO IT, WHY CAN'T WE? Being a breed of young leaders, heroes and visionaries, can't we?
YES WE CAN, AND YES WE WILL, NOT AS A SINGLE PERSON, BUT AS A SINGLE VOICE OF THE NATION, FOR THE NATION, BY THE NATION.
WE SEE CHANGE, WHEN WE STAND FOR WHAT WE FEEL IS RIGHT.
So can we? Read full article...
BI-WEEKLY POLL RESULTS: Should there be a ban on organistaions like Bajrang Dal, VHP and Jamat-e-Islam?
Two weeks back I had put up my bi-weekly poll question: Should there be a ban on organisations like Bajrang Dal, VHP and Jamat-e-Islam?
After a series of voting the following were the results:
57% people believe that YES, there should be a ban on all three organisations,
14% believe that NO ban should be put on any organistaion,
14% believe that they CAN'T SAY as to what should be done,
while rest of the 14% say that the ban should be on A FEW but NOT ALL organisations.
Well, after these results, we can see a clear difference in the mindset of people, while a majority believe that there should be a strict ban on all three, a minority believes that no ban on any organisation must be put. There is also a fraction which believes that ban should not be put on all three, but a few; and there are people who seem to be unaware of the issue.
We have seen a series of violence by many organisations in India which are politically connected and have created a havoc.
Be it the mis-happenings in Kandhamal, Jammu, Mumbai or any other place.
People seem to have noticed the above fact and have voted in favour of the fact that there SHOULD be a ban on such organisations.
Do post your comments, suggestions or your views if you missed on our poll.
DO VOTE ON OUR NEXT POLL QUESTION-
WILL OBAMA'S ELECTION AS THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HELP INDIA?
Do cast your vote and be heard
Youth Ki Awaaz Social Conversation: Powered by Disqus
Social Conversation is a way by which we intend to facilitate undeterred and complete freedom of expression. With no moderation at all, this section will have views, comments, news and the latest happenings around you. This will be a forum for free speech. As Youth Ki Awaaz is a journalism outfit based on new media, which is slowly changing the way we live, we have integrated this conversation with Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo, OpenID or Disqus, the latest in social media.
But why converse at Youth Ki Awaaz? Simple, Youth Ki Awaaz is your issue based platform. We make your voice audible to millions. So what are you waiting for? Voice yourself now! Speak out on any and every issue and start posting in the box below.
Advertise at Youth Ki Awaaz
Since 2008 Youth Ki Awaaz has been dedicated towards the cause of national rebuilding and empowerment of youth. Youth Ki Awaaz, by way of writing has managed to influence hundreds and thousands of its readers.
Youth Ki Awaaz was ranked 3rd amongst the Indian blogs with the most comprehensive 2009 General Election coverage by blogadda.com
Youth Ki Awaaz was also included in the List of Change: Making a Difference by Positive Social Change by LivingstonBuzz.com
Youth Ki Awaaz also boasts of launching India’s first ever social network, HOPE (www.youthkiawaaz.ning.com), India's first ever social network dedicated towards the cause of social change and development.
Youth Ki Awaaz launched a comprehensive campaign against child abuse; in order to highlight the plight of the victims of abuse and the various steps that the Government and other organizations are taking in order to eradicate this social evil. Act Against Child Abuse
Youth Ki Awaaz is in collaboration with Foundation for a Drug Free World (www.drugfreeworld.org), a US based leading non-profit organization dedicated towards creating awareness against drug-abuse through out the world and together they have launched the most comprehensive online campaign ever against drug abuse: Us Against Drug Abuse in India (www.drugabuse.youthkiawaaz.com).
Youth Ki Awaaz also launched the Rural Bharat Project, a platform where the rural youth and its urban counterpart can communicate and collaborate.
Youth Ki Awaaz has received guest posts from Global March Against Child Labour, SaveLife Foundation and Child Fund International as a result of their appreciation of our efforts.
Not only has Youth Ki Awaaz interviewed prominent personalities like Mallika Sarabhai, entrepreneurs find Youth Ki Awaaz the correct platform for reaching out to their target market.
Youth Ki Awaaz has also partnered with India's top colleges like Shri Ram College of Commerce for their fests, etc.
The Following screen shot will guide you through the various advertising opportunities available at Youth Ki Awaaz. Click on the image to see in full size.
Youth Ki Awaaz is viewed by hundreds and thousands of readers (including youngsters, students, journalists, professionals from various fields) every month and is one of the few blogs around that is almost exclusively read by the youth.
As a result, it represents a unique opportunity for those wanting to give their cause or service the chance of being recognized quickly throughout the youth network in probably the fastest manner.
The rate chart for advertising is as follows:
AD1- $150
AD2- $100
AD3- $100
AD4- $70
Payments can either be made in Dollars via paypal or Indian Rupee via check. To know more about the payment options and other opportunities to promote your brand at Youth Ki Awaaz drop in a mail at info@youthkiawaaz.com
Want to know more about Youth Ki Awaaz:
-About us
-Media CoverageChild Abuse: Act Against Child Abuse (AACA) Read full article...
INDIA:Rioted
-Anshul Tewari
A few weeks back I was reading the Hindustan Times when I stumbled upon an article on the Godhra Massacre. Not that I didn’t know about the issue earlier, it is just my curiosity which makes me read such articles again and again. After a few hours when I logged on to Youth Ki Awaaz I started my research on the Gujarat riots, of which the Godhra Massacre was a part. I read quite a few facts and thus would like to confess that my awareness about the issue was not too good. In fact, it was bad. So I read a few articles here and there and stumbled upon a few facts which outraged my sentiments. These communal riots in the year 2001-2002 between the Hindu and the Muslim community were an aftermath of the burning of the Godhra train. In September this year, the Godhra commission confirmed that the train was attacked by a Muslim mob. The reports also claim that one Hasan Lalu had thrown burning objects into the train and around 140lts of petrol had been used to put the train on fire. An overwhelming majority of Muslims fled their homes for relief camps.
An incident which gave me a fix was that of an Ex-Congress Member of Parliament Ehsan Jafri, who was surrounded by Hindu mobs, while many other Muslim residents in the area took shelter in his compound, was believed to have contacted the local police stations, Members of Parliament of the area as well as the Chief Minister of Gujarat Mr. Narendra Modi to save the people from the ever increasing mob. However, no help arrived to control the violent mob. Eventually he was burnt to death along with 50 others. Official estimates say that around 1044 persons were killed in the riots out of which 790 were Muslims and 254 were Hindus. 223 people went missing and 2548 injured; 919 women were widowed and 606 children orphaned. While unofficial estimates say that over 2000 persons were killed with the majority being Muslims, many women were sexually assaulted by violent mobs.One of the witnesses alleged before the Nanavati Commision that BJP leader Maya Kodmani, Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi and others led the mobs on February 28th, that year.
Reading about this incident increased my curiosity and I started my research on the most famous riots in India and the following was what I came across:
Ramnad Riots, 1957: These were politically motivated violent clashes between Dalits and Thevars which occurred between July and September 1957 in the Ramnad district in southern Tamil Nadu. These were an aftermath of the murder of Emmanuel Sakaran, leader of the Dalit/Congress delegation. He was just 33 and a father of 4.
The result of this was the death of 5 Dalits and 3 Thevars on September 13th, police firings on September 14th led to the death of 5 Thevars; clashes between the 2 communities caused death of 60 Dalits. Such incidents continued till September21st, after which no incident was reported(officially).
On September 28th 1957, U Muthuralingam Thevar, the CRC state conference event speaker was arrested just after his speech with charges regarding the riots.
1984, Anti Sikh riots: These occurred after the assassination of Indira Gandhi on 31st October 1984 by her 2 Sikh guard, acting in the aftermath of Operation Bluestar, in which the Indian Army attacked Sikh militants hiding in Harimandir Sahib. This caused damage and outrage among Sikhs.
This led to Congress activists and sympathizers killing Sikhs in retaliation for the next 4 days. On November 2nd, Delhi was under curfew but only on papers. The National Army and the local Police units worked together to subdue this violence.
The aftermath of this was the murder of Lalit Maken and Arjan Das, both Congress leaders, by the members of Khalistan Commando Force.
1992-93, Bombay riots: These riots were a result of the communal tension in the city afer the Babri Masjid demolition on 6th December 1992. The riots took place in 2 phases, 1st being a Muslim backlash in the week immediately succeeding 6th December 1992 by Hindu hardline elements in the city of Ayodhya, and the 2nd being a Hindu backlash between 6th and 20th January 1993, as a result of killings of Hindu Mathadikanjar (workers) by Muslims in Dongri( South Mumbai). 900 people were killed and 200000 (mostly Muslims) reportedly fled their homes. This incident was followed by Bomaby Bombings on 12th March 1993 allegedly orchestrated by Gangloard Dawood Ibrahim and his D-company in which 250 people died.
Youth Ki Awaaz: These are just a few of the incidents. India has faced many such riots such as the Aligarh riots in 2006, the Kandhamal riots in 2008(read here) and also the regional riots in Mumbai by MNS workers again in 2008(read here and here).
After reading about all these incidents I can say that riots have become a way of life in India. Politicians are using it as a tool of their Political Jargon and are manipulating the mob mentality. The people are getting influenced by such incidents and are gaining courage to redo such mishaps.
Indians, being democratic citizens must condemn such acts. We should put our Nationality before our community or religion or caste. Shouldn’t we? We are from the same land, the land which must breed social, communal and regional harmony. But then why doesn’t it? Are we puppets being directed by Anti-social and Anti-national elements? Or are we just too crippled to change our mindset?
Post your views and comments.
THE KANDHAMAL CONTROVERSY
Kandhamal is a tribal majority district inhabited by the Kandha tribe. It is the poorest district in Orissa and one of the poorest in India. This district has witnessed a number of communal conflicts.
WHY IT ALL STARTED?
The conflict at Kandhamal was basically related to land alienation to the non tribals, particularly to the Pano(Dalit) community.
Pano considered themselves the most importane Dalit community in the district but the Kandha considered themselves superior to the Pano. In 1996, the Central Parliament enacted the Panchayati Extension to the Schedule Areas(PESA) Act.It was during 1990's that the Christian fundamentalist evangelical groups and Hindu fundamentalists led by Swami Laxmananda tried to convert people of the district into their own religion.
Around 1996, the Pano's demanded SC status and a higher social status.
It was easy to counter this demand by giving it a communal dimension. As a result, what was the related Kandha-Pano tension came to be percieved as a Hindu-Christian conflict. The demand of Pano's which was a threat to the tribals, was given a religious dimension and had become another "board game" for the politicians and fundamentalists.
Lets have a look at some facts here:
In 1999, one Catholic priest from Mayurbhanj- Arul Das was murdered; During 2004 Raika Catholic church was smashed up;In 1961, the Christian missionaries started their work and converted almost all the people. In 1961, the Christian population was 19, 128 and in 2001 it was 1,17,757(to be precise). This provoked Swami Laxmananda and the VHP.In 2005 while converting 200 tribal Christians to Hinduism at Malkangiri, Swami Laxmananda Saraswati roared, “How will we….. make India a completely Hindu country? This is our aim and this is what we want to do”. On 24th December 2007, a structure set up to hold Christmas celebrations in Brahamanigaon was attacked and destroyed. The provocation was nothing more than the pandal encroaching the main road of the town. In the late 60’s VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati set up an Ashram in Chakapad and they have been running Anti-Christian campaign in Kandhamal since then. The most recent incident which occurred was the killing of the Hindu fundamentalist, Swami Laxmanada Saraswati and three of his disciples, who was one of the founders of the Anti- Christian campaigns, and was also supposed to be involved in conversions of many to Hinduism.
Sangh Parivar’s allegation: The sangh parivar has been holding allegations that Christian missionaries have used allurements and incentives to convert the mostly poor and backward population.
The clashes between the Kandha and Pano has been taking place for a long time, even before the advent of VHP and Sangh Parivar. To cite an example, such a vociferous riot took place for about 3 months and 20 tribals were reportedly killed. Only then did VHP and Sangh Parivar start their work.
THE CURRENT ISSUE: The whole issue began with the murder of Swami Laxmananda and his four disciples. Houses and many sacred places were destroyed. But these were not aimed at Christian missionaries alone. It seems that that Hindu fanatics have massacred innocent Christians. Hindu fanatics here refer to VHP and Sangh Parivar. While this is not totally untrue, it’s difficult emphasizing which part of the story is incorrect.CONCLUSION : As of now, nothing is possible until we wash out hardcore fundamentalists, not through violence, but by spreading awareness, voicing ourselves, questioning the Government, and maybe at some point, joining the system, or atleast contributing to it in some or the other way. Breeding communal harmony immediately is the need of the hour. What we need to understand is that the works of VHP, Bajrang Dal, or even Christian Missionaries (due to their earlier work) is highly condemnable. Any person who is preaching forced conversions is nothing less than an anti-social element. Rather, he could be tagged as an anti-national. Our constitution gives us complete right to practice any religion with our own will. The Christian missionaries, had earlier used ways like financial allurements to convert the Kandhamal locals into Christianity. We need to understand that conversion of religion by providing financial allurements is highly unconstitutional as well as an inhumane act, as "Religion in India (where there are various communities and religions) is not for sale." This is one side of the coin of conversions, the other side is the acts of VHP, Bajrang Dal and the Sangh Parivar. Their ways of converting people is worse, i.e, through violence. They beat up Christians and then convert them to Hinduism, without their will. They throw out those Christians and burn their homes who rebel. They destroy the property and take away their lives. They use one religion as a "dice" to play the game with other religions. This is the most anti-national and anti-social happening. Our duty is to "Live and Let Live", any person will feel alienated in his/her own country until he or she recieves the dignity he or she deserves. That dignity is in a big way related to their religion. I, personally, condemn the acts of VHP, Bajrang Dal and the Sangh Parivar for all this. The Kandhamal issue is not one in which these organisations have behaved like this; In other parts of our country as well, their motive has been to convert everyone to Hinduism and create a Hindu state. Their thoughts as well as approach towards anything is certainly inhumane.
YOUTH KI AWAAZ: Our country is the only country in the world with so many communities united (well, few people are still united) together and co-existing on the same hand. Harping on a particular community has been our country's political jargon. The mob mind can be easily manipulated with, and the politicians very well know how to manoeuvre the young mind for their selfish gains.
Why is it that we are justifying the whole scenario? Is it because religious chauvinism is now subduing the TRUE INDIAN SECULAR SPIRIT? Is it that we are weak enough to give in to the religious extremists' stridently hawkish aims and mentality? Why don't we realize that an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is not the right solution to such crises. By justifying the perpetrators, we are just wronging ourselves. We need to introspect within ourselves, that by hurting the secular fabric, are we not hurting the true spirit of the constitution. We need to realize that our country is suffering a very serious communal crisis, and the gravity of the matter should not be vaporized by just justifying the religious vendetta.
It is very unfortunate that the hypocrite pseudo-secular government has not yet dealt with the culprits with an iron hand but just indulged in a blame game with the state government which is equally responsible for the worsened crisis.
We, the youth of india, should shoulder the responsibilty, of being seculars, and stem religious chauvinism and to not let this extremism subvert the spirit of the constitution and promote brotherhood,unity and love. We cannot compromise on our patriotism for the sake of religion and no religion preaches hate.
Moreover, those still justifying the arson on the christian community, should think again, doesn't our religion preach ahimsa. If even the religion strictly prohibits such acts,isn't this a paradox that these self-proclaimed sons of the soil and champions of the religion are hurting the most fundamental virtue of religion im their way.
We need to introspect, what we are leaving behind, and what we are heading for? A welfare state? Certainly not. Not this way atleast!
Visitors frequent similar articles, they read, they write, listen and move on thinking that they are contributing towards making a change. Well let me tell you all, the above has to be accompanied with action. Not individual, but group action.
What you can do is spread the word, create a awareness. Tell others to spread it further, join our discussion forum on Kandhamal violence. Post your comments.
DOES THE YOUTH HAVE A HABIT OF TAKING FAVOURS?
-Anshul Tewari
Recently, on 15th October, Jet Airways layed off 1000 of its employees for the reason that they did not need them. The way by which the trainees and other employeed were terminated was extremely shocking and was in itself a question. How can a company terminate not 1 , not10, but around 1000 staff members? Not that they were incapable of doing their job. They were just given an overnight notice.
Well agreed, the way all this happened was bad, it was shocking and was unfair on the part of the Airways; but what shocked me more (at a personal level) was when I heared about the employees visiting Mr. Raj Thackerey and asking for help. Favour against the injustice done to them. What shocked me even more was that when Jet Airways re-employed them, the media highlighted it as an act of pressure by Mr. Raj Thackerey, the employees went and thanked Mr. Thackerey.
When at one point they said " Our boss should discussed with us if he had any financial problems, we would have happily worked at lower wages and understood his problems." Now when their boss Mr. Goyal has re-employed them, and that too at the same wages, instead of thanking him, they are thanking Mr. Thackerey.
We very well know how Mr. Thackerey and his party has worked earlier. I had written about a communal incident by MNS in my earlier article: Should we endorse such politics of hatred (DO READ)
Althought we do not know whether it was an effect of the political pressure or not, we surely know that the media was sensationalisng the whole matter.
I remember that when Mr. Arjun Singh had asked for reservations to be increased, the students of AIIMS protested in the most lawfull manner, and in a way almost won. They did not ask for any political help. That's known as YOUTH POWER.
Well, shouldnt the young and vibrant employees/trainees of Jet Airways been self dependent, and asked for valid reasons and lawfully protested?
Do we actually need political help to do what we want to? Do we need our sources to show our importance?
Are we not self dependent? Is this the way by which the youth will move ahead towards a better India?
All these questions need an answer.
Post your comments.
BI-WEEKLY POLL RESULTS: Would you accept your brother/sister if he/she were a homosexual?
My last Bi-Weekly poll was about whether you would accept your brother or sister if he/she were a homosexual?
The results were as follows:
40% of the readers said : Yes they would accept
20% said: No, they wouldn't accept
40% said : They would disown their brother or sister.
From the above results it is quite clear that there is a great divide. There are a considerable number of people who are ready to accept their dear ones in case they found out that they are homosexuals,
While the other majority is of the extreme thought that they would disown them, no matter what. They would forget their relations and disown them.
While a minority says that they would not accept homosexuality but would try to accept their relatives, somehow.
Through this poll it is quite clear that there are many who need to realise that every person needs to be dealt with humanity and love. No body wants to be treated differently. Every one wants dignity.
People, do consider my plea and revert back through your comments.
Do answer our next Bi-Weekly poll question : Should there be a ban imposed on organisations like Bajrang Dal and Jamat-e-Islam?
Scroll down and find the question in the side bar to vote.
Thanks
Anshul Tewari
I LOVE MY (discrimi)NATION
-Anshul Tewari
India is world’s largest democracy, world’s fastest growing free market economy, and a country where……….discrimination is still observed, a country where one voice raised leads to one voice less.
A few months back a Delhi University teacher was jailed for calling a fellow colleague by that name.On 26th December, 04 when India witnessed one of the biggest disasters, Tsunami. The Government of India had ordered relief operations in states of the South. Less did it know that these operations were being carried out with caste as a determining factor. Villages like Kadapakuppam and Pattipulam of Kachipuram in Tamil Nadu, which are homes to the so called ‘untouchables’, received no immediate relief whatsoever. 175 families in Kadapakuppam and 280 in Pattipulam have suffered. Despite complaints no Govt. official had gone to their aid.
This is just a story of the South, in a Government school in Uttar Pradesh, Dalit students were given the worst treatment by teachers who were later handed over to the police when a local Govt. official made a surprise visit to the school.
These incidents are indicative of the persistent caste discrimination throughout the country.
It is a sad reality that even in times of extreme necessity, caste prejudices dominate social exchanges.
In India the caste system is a powerful tool for social segregation and has implications in our everyday life. It weakens the human urge to excel and liberate
Though the Constitution provides certain safeguards against such discrimination but the constitutional remedies are often inaccessible to the lower castes.
On June 20th, 2008, another shameful incident by a well know private school in Delhi gave us a reality check of where our humanitarian behavior actually stands. Salwan Public School on Pusa Road, refused to admit seven waste pickers out of fear that they might carry disease.
This is not it, Indians from North Eastern states face high level of discrimination, abuse; be it of a mental or a physical nature, which makes them feel alienated in their own motherland.
When a foreign tourist is raped, it takes our judiciary to solve that case in a month, or even weeks, but there are millions of rape cases of Indian women which are still pending. We are not saying that don’t solve the foreign cases, we are saying that if the foreign cases can be solved so fast, why can’t the Indian cases be?
Here a small boy who is HIV positive is treated like an untouchable. I feel irritated to see such incidents.
Muslims find it hard to be trusted by others, why? Not only this, the politicians take advantage of this and play their vote bank politics.
When will we realize that we are all the same? We all deserve the same. Please open up your eyes and treat everyone, if not like your brother/sister, at least like a HUMAN BEING. All this won’t stop until we take the charge.
These incidents will always be made a part of the filthy politics and will be played with.
I plead to you genuinely to open up your eyes and feel the brunt that others feel when they are discriminated in their own motherland.
BE THE CHANGE AND HELP OTHERS LIVE IN A BETTER ENVIRONMENT. Post your comments. Read full article...
WHY SHOULDN'T WE ACCEPT 'THEM' ?
Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex, or to a homosexual orientation.
Introduction and Overview
In recent years, however, attitudes towards homosexuality have shifted slightly. In particular, there have been more depictions and discussions of homosexuality in the Indian news media and by Bollywood which can be quoted as a positive sign. Homosexuals are human beings just like you and me and we ought not discriminate them just because of their sexual preferance. After all its their life. Isnt it?The relevant section reads:
"Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine''
All i want to convey to the youth is that homosexuality should be accepted for the simple fact that Homosexuals are humans and what have you go to do with their sexuality? If they find the same sex a better companion, its not their FAULT. Its the way they are, and should be accepted.
None of the major Indian political parties have endorsed gay rights concerns into their official party manifesto or platform. However, one of the Politburo members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Brinda Karat, did write an open letter in 2003 to the then Minister of Law and Justice, Arun Jaitley, demanding a repeal of section 377, IPC.
Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination stemming from negative societal attitudes toward homosexuality leads to a higher prevalence of mental health disorders among lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals compared to their heterosexual peers. However, evidence indicates that the liberalization of these attitudes over the past few decades is associated with a decrease in such mental health risks among younger LGBT people.
Gay and lesbian youth bear an increased risk of suicide, substance abuse, school problems, and isolation because of a "hostile and condemning environment, verbal and physical abuse, rejection and isolation from family and peers", psychological and physical abuse by parents or caretakers, and more sexual abuse.
Youth Ki Awaaz Plea: I, Anshul Tewari at Youth Ki Awaaz, would like to tell all of you reading this article that we might find it hard to accept the fact that a man can ever love a man or women can ever love women, but the fact is that Homosexuals exist in every strata of the society. Homosexuals are human beings and deserved to be treated like one. You can’t just discriminate them because of their sexual preference. It’s their life for god sake and they have the Right to choose. Don’t they? Are they affecting us? NOT AT ALL. They are not affecting our life at all and neither are they affecting our society. So why should our behavior affect them? They are not taking your breath away. They just demand one thing, freedom and space. Freedom from the boundation of the society, and space to live their life. Homosexuality is NOT a social evil. It’s a way of society. We see a homosexual and say ‘Yuck’, but consider this, if later in life you get to know that your friend, brother, sister or your very own son or daughter are gay what would you do? I asked this question to quite a few people and the response I got was somewhat like this: 40% said that they would get honor killing done, 40% said they would disown them at that moment, 17% said that they would accept it but wouldn’t show it much in front of the society and only 3% said that they would accept it and they meant it.
We are humans and we should give other humans the right to choose their love.
I have personally had talks with various homosexuals and have come across their problems. They face high degree of prejudice, they are treated nothing less that cockroaches. Where has our humanity that we feel proud of gone? Think practically me dear friends, we are all same, then why treat someone differently? Why not include Gays and Lesbians in the mainstream society and why discriminate them? They are not harmful. When we celebrate independence day and rejoice, they feel bad and ask god that when would they get their freedom?
I thoroughly support homosexuality and why not? They are human beings…….and so am I. Many people feel that if Section 377 is abolished it would lead to rapes between same sex, forced slavery and stuff like that. Answer my question people….. Does this not happen today? Isn’t this the responsibility of the judiciary system?
Today I request the youth to give each and every point quoted in this article due consideration and then rethink……what if, just what if your relative was a homosexual….would you stop loving him or her….. then why not accept others? Lets come closer to practicality and think about it…………. If someone can make a change it is the youth……………. I would love to know your comments. I would like if you could answer my poll question related to homosexuality in the side bar. Thank you. Read full article...
Teenage Pregnancy: A Question of Social Acceptance
Anshul Tewari [This article won the prize for Best Report by MeriNews.com]
Our society claims to be modern and following the western culture. But, are we able to change our thought process accordingly or are we still facing doubts on whether to accept certain issues or not. One such issue that I am going to talk about today is Teenage Pregnancy. A topic which is certainly not acceptable in the society and I don’t think will ever be. But can teenage pregnancy be termed as a “Social Evil”. Shouldn’t we as citizens understand the issue and help curb it rather than calling it an ill culture.
Let us have a look at the aspects of this problem and the main problems faced by a teenager in such a situation and the solutions to them. And, our main question would be that “Should such an instance be socially acceptable or not?”
Teenage pregnancy is pregnancy attained between puberty and the age of 19. There are various reasons and causes for teenage pregnancy, such as:
1. Child marriage: No matter how modern our country becomes, there are social evils like child marriage which need to be curbed in order to curb teenage pregnancy and the ruining of the lives of millions of adolescent girls.
2. Exposure to domestic violence especially of a sexual nature and minors’ being raped often leads to pregnancy.
3. High risk behavior such as smoking, alcohol and substance abuse can be one of the main reasons.
4. Stress and depression often leads to a situation in which a child might fall into the pit of unprotected sex and can be pregnant.
5. Financial constraints in poor families often lead to adolescents taking steps which are bound to affect their lives in a negative manner.
6. OUT OF ALL THE ABOVE, ONE REASON WHICH IS MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR TEEN PREGNANCY IS UNPROTECTED SEX.
Nowadays, instances of teenagers indulging in sexual activities are quite normal. In the absence of adequate contraceptive the female can become pregnant. This is quite common in teenagers as they do not use contraceptive measures. 90% of teenage girls who do not use contraceptives have chances of getting pregnant.
A study on about 400 girl students proved that most of the sexually active girls worry about contraceptive only after 6 months of sexual activity.
It is not wrong to say that sexually active teenagers often end up in situations in which they forget to use contraceptives. The important thing for any teenager is to have proper knowledge and understanding of their body and its functions before they become sexually active.
SOCIAL EFFECTS OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY
The teenager who gets pregnant finds it difficult to be accepted socially.
They experience isolation, guilt accompanied by stress and depression, low self esteem, lack of interest in studies, limited job prospects, and lack of support group or friends, mental and emotional trauma. In such a situation even the parents and friends find it hard to help the female. Friends often want to help, but due to the social stigma, do not come forward.
In such a situation the teenager is left in isolation and the post effects of this can be prolonged and depressing.
PREVENTION AND CARE:
There are various methods by which teenage pregnancy can be prevented.
Let us have a look at a few of them:
1. Delaying sexual intercourse. A teenager should as far as possible delay sexual intercourse and not put himself/herself in an awkward position.
2. Parents and schools should have open talks with teenagers regarding sex and related issues. Sex education forms an important part of the above process.
3. Providing advice on how to prevent teenage pregnancy.
4. Proper contraceptive counseling should be done and the teenagers should have full information about contraceptive options such as birth control pills, condoms, etc. They should be taught about emergency contraception in case of spontaneous sex.
5. Having safe sex.
6. Display responsible sexual behavior and abstain from sex as far as possible.
Finally, the teenage girls should take it upon themselves to make their choice of contraception because it is they who suffer from the consequences of an unwanted pregnancy.
WHAT THE YOUTH HAVE TO SAY:
When I personally asked people most said though it is not, it should be acceptable as sex between peers is spontaneous. When asked, would they help a friend in such a situation, most of them said, not publicly but may be privately. Some even said that they would not feel shy to provide help publicly.
Most of them were OK with sex before 19 but all had a view that teenage is not the age to raise a child.
CONCLUSION
Whatever be the case, it’s easy to say and hard to be in a situation and cope with it.
The question still remains that will teenage pregnancy ever be socially acceptable? As in, will people ever come forward to help a child in such a situation or will they disregard the poor girl and let her live a life of hell without any help.
THE UNPOLITICAL INDIAN POLITICS
-Anshul Tewari
According to the Oxford Dictionary, ‘Politics’ is defined as “ the activities involved in getting and using power in public life, and being able to influence decision that affect a country or a society based on GOOD JUDGEMENT”.
Doesn’t that sound a bit unreal to you? Well, it does to me. I’ve been following the current political scenario in India, based on which, here is my definition of ‘Politics’,
The Political system in India is lacking just every positive aspect. We are in dire need of a true leader, maybe someone like Indira Gandhi, who can lead us to a better world.
Political parties (supposedly) work on issues that matter to the general public in a way that it gives them dividend. They come in alliance over these issues and promise to deliver a solution.
In simple words, POLITICS IS ALL ABOUT SELLING DREAMS, WITH NO ASSURANCE OF THEIR FULFILLMENT.
Today, the established political parties, like BJP and Congress are worried as they are no longer able to sell their concrete dreams (at least some are concrete). Politicians are now worried about the new voters as they are not concerned with ideologies.
So, as a hit and trial solution to this, political parties are launching new faces, in new regions, specially different linguistic states, in order to attract more voters (on regional and linguistic basis) and also remove the incumbency factor.
Though Congress and BJP are Tired Parties, Congress does have quite a few new faces; that do influence the new voters.
Talking of Left, its ideologies are no longer appalling and are mostly unacceptable. Its communist politics has been like Anarchy. But, Left parties have realized that ‘Ghairaos’ and ‘Bandhs’ are no more clicking as people are craving for jobs and don’t want such Anarchies, but their politics is still considered as anti-national, making them unpopular among the young voters, but sometimes , just sometimes, their issues do have a humanistic approach.
Not to forget, the discarded ideologies of the Left parties have now been taken over by honorable Ms. Mamta Banarjee whose politics has led to a cease work situation at the TATA NANO plant in Singur. Certainly, she does not want employment opportunities in West Bengal, she does not want West Bengal to be industrially developed, she does not want economic development, but, she wants people to crave for jobs and better living standards. What a joke!!!!
The Orissa, Kandhamal issue is also an issue mixing the image of India as a Nation in mud. Statistics by The Tribune state that 41 years earlier, there were around 4500 something Christians in the district and in 2006 there were around 1, 00,000 something Christians in the same district. Well, that’s nice, but the thing to be noted here is that the same stats prove that since 41 years only 3 people have willingly converted themselves to Christianity. Well, what about the rest. Obviously there has been forced conversion. And this has now created a rift between VHP and the Christian Missionaries, especially after the murder of a prominent VHP leader. People are being killed & harassed.Well, what we need to understand and get straight in our brains is that each and every person, be it of any caste, creed, color, sex, or religion, demands basic human Dignity.
If they get the dignity demanded they will be much content and this would certainly reduce 70% issues and also the chances of politicians to play with the minds of people.
Also, the emotive issues always give a back to social issues like gender bias, child labor, abuse,etc. which are of great concern and without whose solution, development cannot be attained as they are a gap between being Developing and Developed .
Parties are under a pressure to perform and to be more civil, to create opportunities as facilitators.
All these factors will certainly decide the fate of each political party in the elections.
It is on us, the young voters to think about it, about electing the right Government and even about being a part of the system by JOINING POLITICS. Read full article...
ARE WE A DEAD PEOPLE'S SOCIETY ?
This article is dedicated to those who lived for others, for what they thought was right for the society and the country and had to pay a heavy price for being human in a true sense.
One such case is the Satyendra Kumar Dubey case of 2003. Project director at the National Highways Authority of India, S.K. Dubey was extremely hard working, dedicated and a very honest man. He was an important part of the Golden Quadrilateral project and was assassinated in Gaya, Bihar for fighting against high level of corruption in the project.
India is a country with the largest number of youth population between the age group 18-25. Even if 20% of that population joins hands to fight against the odds, it would be enough to throw out all the evil forces, corrupt politicians and bureaucrats, or even the roadside rowdies.
But the question is, ARE WE A DEAD PEOPLE’S SOCIETY?
A society where people see wrong but never rebel against it; a society where people stay quiet and let things be the way they are; and those who do speak up against them have to pay a heavy price for it.
Are we no one to stand up for our country? Are we no one to fight for others, with whom we have the relationship of humanity and brotherhood?
Wouldn’t it be proud for us to say, “I stood for what was right and I won.” Then why don’t we do it? Are we waiting for a leader? Its high time we realized that there is a leader in all of us, all we have to do is initiate, and others are bound to follow us. Why don’t we spread awareness and motivate others to make a change, to throw out all the evil forces, be it politicians, bureaucrats, mafias, terrorists or even the neighborhood rowdy boys.
The youth must realize its potential and power and let the whole world see that if the youth joins hands, nobody has the guts to stop them.
Lets all pledge today, “ We will initiate, We will make a change, We will create a better world, We…will be the Youth Ki Awaaz.”
[Photos: From top to bottom: Manjunath, Satyendra Kumar Dubey, Navleen Kumar] Read full article...
SENSATIONALISM IN JOURNALISM
-Anshul Tewari
Recent happenings in India have been a regular feed for the Indian media. Its quite obvious that people will form their views on the basis of what they see and hear in the news or from other media sources. Be it the Aarushi murder case or the Nuclear Deal.
I personally feel that the broadcast as well as the print media is taking full advantage of this and in many cases misusing these advantages.
Lets take the Aarushi murder case for example, the poor girl was killed, the father arrested, charged with murder of his own daughter, a case of lack of professionalism by the Noida Police. The investigating police officer literally slaughtered the images of Aarushi and her father. This was the moment when the media must have played a transparent role and brought forward the lack of duty by the police. Well it did, but what i see is the Media jumping on Dr. Talwar, saying that he was the step father, and flashing news such as " The killer Father"
In the Nuclear deal as well, the electronice media was busy counting the votes and saying controversial things when it should have shown the positive and negative aspects of the deal and leave it on the people to decide what is right and what is wrong.
I myself being a student of Journalism feel that Media holds great power and importance in our democracy, but what is the use of such power when it cannot use it correctly. Instead of getting into sensationalised journalism the Media must create awareness and not do case trials, as this is certainly not the job of the media. It should leave it on the judicial system. The role of the media should be transparent, unbiased, non-sensational, it should show both aspects of any news and not play with the mind of the mob.
ARE WE HEADING TOWARDS WORLD WAR III
When i think about our world and the problems that we face am forced to let my thoughts ponder over the question that ARE WE HEADING TOWARDS WORLD WAR III ? This is a question which if given a thought can bother the hell out of you.
We all know about global warming, it will soon create a kind of a hell for us. The environment will soon be coming to an end. The animals will reach extinction, the rain forests will end, the glaciers will melt and we will be covered in snow, snow age will come.
We also know about issues like child labour in which 70% children are employed and forced to do labour. Issues like unemployment which is breeding irate youngsters who feel rejected. Issues like women empowerment, the lack of which is leading to no freedom for women in India. The point to be noted here is that theses problems are not only limited to India, but are being faced globally.
Recently Japan announced its non military use of space which can pose as a big threat to other countries.
You might be wondering what i am trying to convey here. Well, so let me tell you. All these problems are being faced by us at the same time and are leading to further problems like Inflation and inter country problems as well. If all this continues at the same rate and that too together, Wouldn't it lead to a scenario in which all the countries could jump into a kind of a world war? All of us would use the immense power as a result of our irateness. Wouldn't it lead to the III rd world war? What do u think? Global Warming+Child Labour+ Nuclear power+ Irrate citizens= world war III............
Girls& Women Discrimination and its Consequences
Systematic discrimination against girls and women in the world’s poorest countries will prevent the United Nations from meeting its goals to reduce poverty. Girls and women were more likely to be poor, hungry, illiterate or sick than boys and men. According to Action Aid which produced the report in South Asia women are getting a shrinking share of income as the economy grows. Amid growing concern that the millennium development goals set by UN for 2015 will not be met, Action Aid said a focus on women was vital to put the international community back on track.
Ten million more girls than boys miss out on primary school while African women accounted for 75% of all young people living with the human immunodeficiency virus /AIDS. The aim of universal primary education was being hampered in Africa by the 40 billion hours spent each year by women and children collecting water-equivalent to a year’s labor for the entire workforce of France.
A special session of the UN will be held in September to discuss ways of making speedier progress with discussions centered on four areas: health and education; climate change and the environment; the role of business and trade and growth. The disproportionate impact of poverty on girls is not an accident but the result of systematic discrimination.
On current trends the goal of halving hunger would not be until 2035, 40 countries would have equal enrolments for boys and girls until after 2025 and current progress in cutting maternal mortality rates was less than 1/5th of what was needed to meet the goal. The total number of HIV/AIDS infections in 2007 was 33 million-the highest ever. According to Action Aid discussions at the UN and this year’s meeting of the G-8 industrial nations in Japan would only succeed if they started with the recognition that the development emergency is first and foremost an emergency for women and girls. The lack of progress on maternal health shows people’s lives are at stake.
source: http://www.azadindiafoundation.com/
Click . Shoot . Publish .
Got a video with a message that you want to share with the world? A special image depicting a special cause? Something that needs immediate attention?
Share it now. Send it across to Youth Ki Awaaz and we will publish it within 24 hours. Simply fill the form below.
AN INDIA FORGOTTEN BY BOTH MAN AND GOD.
In an era of growth and development, where India is forging ahead as an economy, there are still places in our country less known about or rather, forgotten by both man and God.
SAVE ME FROM THE POOR...... REMOVE THE CLASS DIVIDE
Recently, on 14 june 08, i read an article in the hindustan times How to save ourselves from the poor......... Based on the article i would like to share a few points with you on how to make a change for the poor rather than just blaming the Government for everything.
First point to be kept in mind:
IF YOU HAVE IT, THEN DONT FLAUNT IT : Lets not flaunt our wealth. We have a right to the fruit of our hard work and opportunities. But we are so very well to do in a country where millons are dirt poor and never had the opportunities to work hard like us for a better life.
So, lets NOT discuss the cost of anything before our home help. Lets remove and destroy price tags before they can see them.When we take them to the malls, lets not use them like coolies while we casually spend Rs. 500 on ten little pieces of chocolate.
Lets make a point of feeding the helpers first at children's birthday party..........
REMEMBER: THE GRACE AND PUNYA OF FEEDING THE 'SERVANTS' FIRST IS BEYOND COMPUTATION AS MANY OF US REALISE ALREADY.
RESPECT THEM: At the end of the day, no matter how much we earn, which luxury holiday we've been to, the true test of class is how we speak to our social 'inferiors'. Classy families, even if they are in their reduced circumstances, always speak more politely to their 'servants' than to their own relatives. It's an unfailing test of class anywhere in the world in any society.
PRACTICE SELF RESTRAINTS: Money usually leads to moral irresponsibility, that people feel they can buy their way out of accountability. Small stuff like not buying everything that catches our eye, like valueing home food more, praising and respecting our helpers, not being afraid of them but earning their good feelings and therefore our own well being, can really help.
BAPU SAID : " The first step towards equal distribution is for him who has made this ideal part of his being, to bring about a change in his personal life. He would reduce his wants to minimum, bearing in mind the poverty of India. His earnings would be free of dishonesty. The desire for speculation would be renounced. his habitation would be in keeping with his new mode of life. There would be self restraint practiced in every sphere ."
If more scriptual affirmation is needed for toning down and refraining from 'show off', do lets consider Sudama, who was rewarded most magnificent by Sri Krishna. The literal meaning of 'Su-dama' is 'good restraint'.
( source: Hindustan Times)
I AM A ……………. CHILD LABOUR
I love the days when I was carefree, 
The days when my life was work free,
I used to wander around in streets,
With a carefree attitude,
My happiness had no substitute.
I had a lot of friends to play with,
We lived each moment to the fullest,
We had no worries and tensions,
Of the modern world or about our salary or pensions,
Loved the way we used to live.
Saw my parents work hard as labors,
To earn the days bread and to give us small favors,
But I lived every moment to the most,
Was happy that my child hood was carefree,
But I was sad that my parents didn’t care much for me,
They had their burdens and tensions,
They are the bread earners and had worries about their pensions,
Then a day came when I lost everything
The carefree attitude and my friends I played with,
Not that I was grown up now,
I must be around 6 or 7 now.
Now I hold the axe and pick up the bricks,
My childhood has been buried under these pricks,
Which pierce me each day I live,
And ask me to earn more and give
To my family so they eat more,
And do not sleep with stomachs which are sore.
My days to live were over now,
I had dreams which were shattered now,
Now even I had burdens and tensions,
I was one of the bread earners and worried about my pensions,
My happy childhood is over now,
I work hard and toil each day,
Wanted to study, and earn big some day,
My family can’t afford my books,
They can only teach me how to use the crooks.
I want to express myself but cannot say 
With tears in my eyes and fingers which pain,
This is my plight, I cannot fight
The family or the caste burden
In which I am born and will have to follow
The family tradition of doing labor,
If you’ve been wondering who I am,
CHILD LABOR is what I am.
You see me and say “poor kid”
That’s it that you can do for me,
Or thousands who are meant to be
Born in this caste and have the stigma,
Of being called “poor kid”
I miss my friends who played with me
Its you who can make a change for me,
And make the world brighter for me to see.
So that I live carefree again, And study hard to change my future full of pain.
- Anshul Tewari (COPYRIGHT)
(PHOTO SOURCE: PHOTO 1- http://www.alchemistpoonam.wordpress.com/, photo 2 http://www.globullaffairs.com/)
RESERVATIONS: IS THE HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF?
In today’s world of growth and progress, one major factor that still holds us back from walking with the world ahead is RESERVATIONS. Do we really need reservations? Shouldn’t the admissions in IIT’s, and other universities be on the basis of merit and academic performance rather than reserving seats for candidates who haven’t worked hard? What will be the difference between a student scoring 90% and getting admission in a esteemed institution and a student scoring 50% getting into the same institution just because he/she has a reservation. Because of this a deserving student might just lose an opportunity.
I myself have just given my 12th board examinations and am running around for admissions, which ever form I have bought there has been one thing in common, questions about cast, category, etc.
For example, I was faced with questions like Do u belong to Gujarati community?
Do u speak Tamil? Are you SC/ST or OBC? Are you a Christian?
I mean, where do I go? I read the prospectus and I find that preferences and reservations are given to so and so community, etc. and seriously, I got so fed up. I discussed it with my mom and she was quite chilled out about it.
But when I told her that St. Stephens has a quota for Christians, Venki for Tamilians and Telugu, Narsee Monjee for Gujrati’s, etc. she started laughing and said “ Shouldn’t Hindu college have a quota for Hindu’s? There should be a reservation for Hindu’s. Then she said thank god it is not like that” And then she started laughing. Obviously she was joking. Thamkfully there is no reservation for the Hindu's and other mainstream communities. I think reservation creates a caste divide. I dont think that there should be reservations, every community should be given equal opportunity.
Even if there are reservations they should be on the basis of economic backgrounds. Those who are of a weak economic background but are deserving should be given reservation and provisions should be made to enhance their talent. I read in a survey that every year out of the number of children born in India 45% are highly talented but 95% of them are not able to enhance their talent just because they are poor or of an economically weaker background. Shouldn’t children like these belong to the reserved categories?
But still, now that even Gujjar’s are fighting for reservation, there will be a time when the whole country would be full of reserved categories.
Now that’ll be funny for sure, those who are in majority will then become minority and the minorities will be the majority.
But the point to be noted is that at the time of independence we were all together, each individual had his/her integral value, after independence reservations started and now 49% of the population is reserved. Isn't that bad.
Am sure that there will be a time when the whole country will be divided into castes, classes, quotas for everyone and a world where there would only be fights and riots. Where will people like you and me go? Will we be accepted anywhere?
Wouldn’t that be a pre-independence scenario?
Just think about it. Isn't it scary? Would you like to live in a world like that? IS THE HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF? THINK ABOUT IT.
- Anshul Tewari.
HAVE WE IRREVERSIBLY COMMITTED OURSELVES TOWARDS THE END OF THE EARTH?
The question here is : Have we irreversible committed ourselves to the end of this planet?
A survey by a youth climate network proves that we have already done the damage, our irresponsible behaviour has created a problem for the next 40-50 years.
We have to be the eco-logical youth and play an important role in creating awareness and leading to a change to help our environment.
Although pacts like the KYOTO PROTOCOL have been signed, many researchers and economies still believe that the changes in our climate are not due to Global Warming, they still believe that there is no point in taking action against the climate crisis. Now what is interesting is that, according to them, if we take action against the climate change and we then come to know that the change was not due to Global Warming then it will lead to great depression in the economies of the world which will lead to mass poverty, unemployment and consequently will lead to great disparity among the mass. NOW THAT'S BAD. ISN'T IT? Ofcourse it is. Who would want their country to enter economic depression and poverty and leave no scope for personal growth and progress.
What they do not realise is that what if, what if the climate change is due to Global Warming, and we do not take any action, what would it lead to?
END OF THE WORLD............... SCARY, ISN'T IT?
It is certainly more scary than economic depression. A world where you and me might exist, but our future generations WILL NOT.
Please spread awareness and try making a change. Atleast take the initiative so that you can later say that I TRIED. Do it in any way, speak to people, friends, anyone. Educate the backward people, SPREAD THE MESSAGE........ Who knows, you might be able to create a better and safer world.
People often tell me "What can i do? I am only one of the many billions of people. Who would listen to me?"
Consider tjis, if many millions of the billions of those people were to reduce their energy emissions and create awareness, the impact would be tremendous.
As we pass our critical thresh hold to a warmer and warmer climate it will become more and more difficult to reverse or even lessen the impact of this golbal climate change.
If we step forward as individuals to create awareness, to muster the political will in the nationspolicy makers, we can take concrete steps to lessen the effect, if not reverse it.
SO LETS START TODAY, JOIN THE DRIVE TO CREATE AWARENESS.
The youth of today does not like to listen to lectures on saving our planets or reading long documents, so, here is a video, watch it and think about it. Help in Saving the Earth and be the ECO-LOGICAL YOUTH. SAVE THE PLANET, WAKE UP:
Go to
fightglobalwarming.com
Lack of Humanity: Is the youth even concerned?
What the hell is happening to this country, whenever i read the news or watch the channels all i see is a death here, people killing each other for no reason, i recently saw a few police men taking in custody a few scavengers for no reason, and the worst part is that the police took away whatever they had.......
Now this is the biggest crime, making the poor even more poor and the rich even more rich day by day.
I seriously feel a need for a serious change, but who will be the change, the youth?
I dont think so, cause I've realised that only 10% of the youth actually mean it when they say that "we will stand for what is right", others think that why should we even bother, but what they don't understand is that if they do not take part, then there can't be a single change.
We must realise that this is our world and our time, i know its hard to realise, even i have many friends who talk of inhumane behaviour of people and standing against them for what they THINK IS RIGHT, but none of them even try to take the initiative...........
TALKING BIG is easy, but working towards it is very tough, but if we don't then there is no point in calling ourselves a true citizen........ Some say that everyone is corrupt so they won't be able to make a change, did they even try?
Be honest, how many of you have stood for what is right? Just for instance, How many of you call 100 emergency when you see a road accident, maybe 1 or 2 of you. Why dont you call 100, just because of the thinking that why should we interfere, just because of the thinking that maybe the Police might take us in. Tell me something, why would the police take you in for dialing emergency when you see 10 people dying in front of you? why? They don't even ask your address or sometimes even name when you call them. I have done it a million times and nothing happened..........
I am no different, even i used to think that why should i take the initiative, but i just realised that if the youth will not then who will, certainly not those who have suffered for no reason. Come on people, think about it, please, take the initiative, it can be major or minor, as long as you do it, its good. Be proud of your country, and BE THE CHANGE.
- Anshul Tewari
Moods of DELHI
SHOULD WE ENDORSE SUCH POLITICS OF HATRED?
{In an apparent bid to recapture his party's Marathi sons plank being hijacked by MNS leader Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Wednesday targeted Biharis saying they were an "unwanted lot" in all parts of the country.
"They are not wanted in Southern India, Assam and also Punjab and Chandigarh. The Biharis have antagonized local population wherever they had settled. The UP-Bihari MPs have shown their ingratitude towards Mumbai and Maharashtra with an anti-Marathi tirade in Parliament," Thackeray said in an editorial in party mouthpiece Samana.} – NEWSLIB.
In a rally on Saturday May 3rd , 2008, in which Raj Thackeray addressed his party’s rally by saying that Shatrughan Sinha being a Bihari insults the Biharis, he even made rude comments on Amitabh Bachchan, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav and other political and social figures residing in or visiting Maharashtra.
Raj Thackeray lashed out at North Indians working in the city, especially those from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
A member of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena went to the extent of saying that the U.P.ites and Biharis ( Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha) should not speak until they are asked to because “ Maharashtra unke baap ka ghar nahi hai ’’
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray's controversial remarks on north Indian people led to clashes in parts of Maharashtra in February while the state government ordered a high-level probe into the violence, a group called for a protest shutdown in Mumbai.
Now this is the vote bank politics Raj Thackeray is playing in order to convince all Marathi’s to vote for MNS. He should not forget even Bal Thackeray was not able to come to power on his own even after pursuing the politics of hatred for well over four decades and he had to reconcile himself to wooing all voters of Maharashtra irrespective of the state of their origin.
Rather than playing this cheap politics Raj Thackeray should take up issues which concern the average Mumbaikars – issues that affect their day to day life. Instead of spreading bitterness by his narrow-minded talks about regionalism, he should come out with policies and plans for the betterment of Maharashtra. But it seems that there is total bankruptcy of ideas in that party as far as common Maharashtrians’ upliftment is concerned.
They are disrespecting the Constitution of our country which gives every Indian the right to roam around freely in his/her country and work wherever he/she wants.
They should work for improving the overall standard of living (by tackling infrastructure issues like roads, electricity, housing, railways, judiciary, administration and other aspects of the society) of the people living in Maharashtra rather than giving speeches which incite mobs and act as a catalyst for violence and hatred. Has he ever raised the issue of corruption in day to day life which every citizen, whether Maharashtrian or not, has to face?
Please post your comments and be a part of the active and aware youth of India.
BEGGARY IN INDIA
Associated with the problems of poverty and unemployment is the problem of beggary which is a social problem of great magnitude and grave concern in developing countries. Begging is a problem for society in as much as a large number of beggars means non utilization of available human resources and drag upon the existing resources of the society.
According to a recent survey by Delhi School of Social Work there has been a phenomenal increase in the numbers of beggars in India. In a decade since 1991 their number has gone up by a lakh.There are some 60,000 beggars in Delhi, over 3, 00,000 in Mumbai according to a 2004 Action Aid report; nearly 75000 in Kolkata says the Beggar Research Institute; 56000 in Bangalore according to police records. In Hyderabad one in every 354 people is engaged in begging according to Council of Human Welfare in 2005.
It is common to find beggars at rubbish dumbs, road sides, and traffic lights and under flyovers. The frail, crippled and mentally ill share space with children, women and able bodied men. The line that separates beggars from the casual poor is getting slimmer in a country where one in every four goes to bed hungry every night and 78 million are homeless. Over 71% of Delhi's beggars are driven by poverty. More than 66% beggars are able -bodied. The survey reveals that begging as a livelihood wins over casual labour. For 96% the average daily income is Rs 80 more than what daily wage earners can make. Spending patterns also reveals a unique pattern: 27% beggars spend Rs 50-100 a day.
Mumbai is home to majority of beggars. According to the Maharashtra Government they are worth Rs. 180 crore a year with daily income ranging between Rs 20-80.Almost every survey profiles beggars as a largely contented lot unwilling to take up honest labour. Nearly 26% in the DSSW survey claimed they were happy.81% claimed that they do not face any problem during begging and only 15% mentioned humiliation from public and police. A survey done in 2004 by the Social Development Centre of Mumbai revealed similar attitude. The majority of beggars see it as a profitable and viable profession.
However study published in the International Journal of Psychological Rehabilitation by Dr Yogesh Thakker reveals that 39% of the 49 beggars surveyed in Gujarat's Baroda district by a group of medicos suffer from one or other psychiatric illness. Nearly 74% of them had a history of addiction, psychiatric illness in the family and poor attitude of family members towards them. Over 68% admitted to feeling of shame and losing self-esteem, 25% to guilt, 4% to suicidal tendencies and 8% to anti-social activities.
There is no proper enumeration of beggars in the country. Moreover the number of women and children is ever increasing. The 1931 census mentioned just 16% women beggars. The figure shot up to 49% in 2001.There are 10 million street children many among who beg for livelihood.
The biggest problem lies in the changing attitude towards beggars. According to Mr Upendra Baxi former vice-chancellor traditionally begging has been an accepted way of life in India. Giving alms to the needy was built into the social fabric. That changed with the colonial rule. To the Victorians beggary embodied laziness and moral degeneration. Colonial laws held a beggar punishable for his condition. The newly independent nation imbibed this attitude towards poverty. In the new millennium the Government doesn't want them lying around middle class regards them as a nuisance.
India's beggary laws are a throwback to the centuries old European vagrancy laws which instead of addressing the socio-economic issues make the poor criminally responsible for their position. The definition of beggar in law states as anyone who appears poor. The anti-beggar legislation is aimed at removing the poor from the face of the city. The beggars who have spent years on the street find it very difficult to live in confined space. There are provisions for vocational training in the government run beggar homes. But these are worse than the third rate jails where convicts can spend up to 10 years.
India as a nation needs to think for its begging population. With the nation aspiring to achieve world standards in every field socio-economic measures are needed to curb the begging problem in India. The solution calls for a comprehensive programme and reorientation of the existing programmes. Philanthropic approach to beggar problem should be replaced by therapeutic and rehabilitative work.
credits: Azad India Foundation
Read full article...
HUNGER TO GROW: GLOBAL FOOD STOCKS FALL
The Great Wheat panic of 2007 saw global prices shoot up by over 92% during the year. Rice and corn prices also rose as sharply. Food riots have been reported from Kolkata to Namibia, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Austria, Hungary and Mexico. According to Food and Agricultural Organization 854 million people go hungry around the world. This situation is going to worsen in 2008.
Global consumption of wheat and rice has outstripped production for the past 7 years running except in 2006-07.Production is growing but population is growing faster. Global wheat stocks were down to 107 million MT in 2007 compared with over 197 million MT in 2001; rice stocks were just 71 million MT compared with 136 million MT.All this means that the future supply of both wheat and rice is becoming more uncertain.
In India food grain production is stagnating. Wheat output was 72.8 million MT in 2002.This year it is estimated at about 74 million MT.Rice output was 93.3 million MT in 2002 and this year it is estimated at about 90 million MT.Meanwhile the population has increased by about 88 million. So India needs to import foodgrain.This in turn will fuel global prices. According to grain economist Mike Woolverton as soon as India bought 795000 MT of wheat at a record price of $ 389.45 in August 2007, wheat futures in Europe rose by 70% on expectations of more orders.
In 2007 the world supply of wheat was affected due to drought in Australia, a freeze in US and lower production in Ukraine. The price surge was also fuelled by the new US law saying the use of ethanol for automobiles should be doubled to 15 billion gallons by 2015.Ethanol is made from corn. So corn prices surged.
According to Greg Wagner with global economies continuing to expand the demand base has been increasing while the supply has been decreasing. As a consequence prices must go high enough to cut back on demand otherwise there will not be any wheat left.
credits: Azad India Foundation
Read full article...AIDS IN INDIA: BE INFORMED AND SPREAD AWARENESS
AIDS was recognized for the first time in the USA in 1981.In India it was identified in after 5 years in May 1986. In October 1985 the health authorities of the Government of India realizing the threat and spread of HIV and AIDS through the Indian Council of Medical Research organized the screening of high risk groups with the aim of finding out whether HIV infection has reached India. Among the states, Manipur stands first followed by Maharashtra and thirdly TamilNadu.HIV is currently spreading in the world at the rate of one new infection every fifty seconds. The HIV/AIDS is not confined to any one class, community, religion, age-group, sex or profession, though according to the Indian Health Organization women and children are believed to be more prone to AIDS. The HIV infection is spread over all religions and all groups.
HIV is an infectious disease but is not easily transmitted through the environment such as air, water, food etc. Therefore it is non-communicable disease. However the main causes or the modes through which the virus enters the body are:
1. Sexual intercourse with an infected person. The virus transmission is facilitated when either partner has other sexually transmitted disease (STDs). Genital ulcers and other infections such as syphilis could act as co-factors, aiding and abetting the AIDS virus.
2. The second mode is through the transfusion of HIV infected blood or the blood products or through infected blood in needles, syringes and other such instruments. These include needles and syringes shared by intravenous drug users and those that are induced for injections without proper cleaning and sterilization. 3. The third way is the transmission from an infected mother to her newborn.
Although HIV has been detected in several body fluids, it is infectious mainly from blood, semen and vaginal secretions e.g. very few virus have been detected in saliva, tears and breast milk. One does not get AIDS by kissing, hugging, sharing food, bed linen, mosquitoes, living or working with infected persons. Only certain situations are likely to facilitate the spread of AIDS virus. Most important among these are those with risky life-styles or risk behavior. A study conducted by the Directorate of Health Services, Manipur in 1991 pointed out that in the analysis of 6,680 specimens of HIV the highest risk factor (93.9%) in spreading HIV was found to be intravenous drug addicts followed by blood donors (2.93%) and homosexuals (2.61%){Health for millions, Vol XVII, No.4, New Delhi, and August 1991}.
We will now analyze the main sources of transmission of virus, i.e prostitutes, intravenous drug addicts, blood donors, pathological laboratories and mothers with HIV infection giving birth to children. Prostitutes or the sex workers are believed to be about 20 lakh and distributed over 817 red-light areas in different parts of India. This does not include those who operate from their homes or hotels. A large number of them are infected with out any access to health services like screening and getting counseling. They infect their clients and in turn also get infected by them. According to one estimate the level of HIV infection escalated from 1% to 30% among the sex-workers in Mumbai in just three years from 1989-1991.Drug addicts who take drugs by injection carry the possibility of spreading the HIV infection through shared infected needles. The use of drugs is spreading among the students, industrial workers, truck drivers and people living in slums. A good number of drug-users gradually become so addicted that they started taking them by self-injection. Some-times same syringes are used by many drug-addicts increasing the possibility of spreading the HIV infection. In Manipur where 40 to 50%of intravenous drug-users are HIV positive many of them are sent to jail in some cases even by their own parents. Blood donors too transmit the HIV infection. There are estimated to be 2000 blood banks in our country which supply about 20 lakh bottles of blood every year. Half of these blood banks are government banks and the remaining half is unlicensed. There are many professional donors who are also drug addicts which in turn may be HIV positive. When their blood is transfused to the patients without proper testing the HIV is transmitted. The pathological laboratories too transmit the HIV virus when they supply blood without scientific testing. Pregnant women who are HIV positive transmit the virus to the new-born children. About 65% of the pregnant women remain anemic and require blood transfusion on the other hand some of the women get infected from their husbands.
The HIV/AIDS epidemic in India is a rapidly escalating crisis. The government's estimate that about 4 million persons in the country are HIV-positive is widely thought to understate the true figure. In several states of India, such as Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the epidemic has spread to the general population. The states that have not reported any HIV positive cases may be because of poor surveillance. It does not necessarily mean they are HIV-free. In Rajasthan 23,689 blood samples screened by the Rajasthan Medical and Health Department in six cities from August 1992 to August 1996 revealed 4.4% samples were HIV positive. An estimate by UNDP suggests that HIV/AIDS has reduced the annual growth rate of GDP per capita around the world by nearly 0.06%. In most severely affected areas the reduction in annual growth rate may be around 0.15%.
It is difficult to visualize the devastating effects of the pandemic in our lifetime and beyond. What initially appeared to be an illness confined to few homosexuals has affected millions of men, women and children worldwide. AIDS is not a just a health problem rather it is a societal problem with important social, cultural and economic dimensions. It threatens the basic social institutions at the individual, family and community levels. Its economic consequences are equally serious as it could claim up to half of the national expenditure for health if the needs of AIDS patients were to be met fully. AIDS attacks people in their economic and socially most productive years and those responsible for the support and care of others. Consequently when the earners are dead, they leave behind families without any source of livelihood. Thus not only the HIV infected people initially face emotional trauma and later on social isolation and in the last one or two years suffer from serious body problems but economically too they are shattered. The victims are sacked from their jobs, disowned by their families and communities rejected by their friends, refused treatment by doctors, turned down by schools, colleges, universities and even sometimes imprisoned and humiliated. Their families too suffer economically, psychologically and socially.
Programs that provide information, condoms and HIV testing to persons in high-risk groups are crucial to preventing the further spread of the disease. In its official policies and statements, the Indian government has recognized the importance of reaching out to women in prostitution and men who have sex with men as a central element of its HIV/AIDS response. The national AIDS program led by AIDS control society of India, funded largely through a $200 million World Bank loan, invests in programs that target persons in high-risk groups. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged international funding amounting to $ 200 million for combating the disease. Still the potential costs of fighting the disease are staggering. However the facilities available for the care of AIDS patients are woefully inadequate.
Some measures have been suggested by protecting and preventing the AIDS and HIV infection. The greatest need is to educate people to have safe sex by using condoms and avoiding multiple sexual partners. This is done through T.V, radio, newspaper and other mass media. It is also required to introduce awareness through course content in the educational institutions. The medical fraternity in our country is prejudiced about HIV/AIDS with the result that patients are denied admission in hospitals and neglected in treatment by not regularly visiting them in the isolation wards. This has resulted in panic reactions. Such rejections are counter-productive. Effective strategies have to be designed and developed which can help the patients in overcoming fear and hysteria. Counseling families, neighborhoods and members of social-support networks is also an important need because eventually they have to bear a major responsibility for the sick and the survivors. The trained medical staff can impart information about AIDS to the patients and to their relatives. Since persons suffering from STDs are also a significant risk factor it is important to give high priority to the programmes for the prevention and control of STDs.The blood or blood products should be tested for HIV before transfusion. The HIV tests should be made free and confidential for persons who indulge in high-risk activities. The medical staff should ensure the use of disposable syringes and other operation equipment. The condoms should be freely distributed and its use should be encouraged among the sex-workers who are the most vulnerable group. The drug-users should be persuaded away from using intravenous drug abuse. The voluntary organizations should help spread knowledge on AIDS to different vulnerable groups through innovative and community-based approaches. Nongovernmental organizations working through peer educators with women in prostitution in India have had remarkable success in raising awareness of the basic facts of HIV transmission and AIDS care, promoting condom use, and, not least, empowering marginalized women to take into their own hands the struggle against HIV/AIDS. Thousands of cases of AIDS have been prevented by this work, some of which has been supported financially or in kind by the government. Indeed, the Indian government recognizes officially the effectiveness of peer education as a strategy, the importance of condom distribution in prevention of HIV transmission, and the need to work with women in prostitution.
credits: Azad India Foundation
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SPREAD AWARENESS AMONG THE RURAL AND UNEDUCATED PEOPLE, LET YOUR FRIENDS BE AWARE, DON`T BE SHY, ITS AN ISSUE OF OUR EVERYDAY LIFE, LETS ALL TRY TO MAKE A CHANGE AND FIGHT THIS HUMONGOUS DISEASE..... BE THE CHANGE
DRUG ABUSE IN INDIA
June 26 is celebrated as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking every year. It is an exercise undertaken by the world community to sensitize the people in general and the youth in particular, to the menace of drugs. The picture is grim if the world statistics on the drugs scenario is taken into account. With a turnover of around $500 billions, it is the third largest business in the world, next to petroleum and arms trade. About 190 million people all over the world consume one drug or the other. Drug addiction causes immense human distress and the illegal production and distribution of drugs have spawned crime and violence worldwide. Today, there is no part of the world that is free from the curse of drug trafficking and drug addiction. Millions of drug addicts, all over the world, are leading miserable lives, between life and death.
India too is caught in this vicious circle of drug abuse, and the numbers of drug addicts are increasing day by day. According to a UN report, One million heroin addicts are registered in India, and unofficially there are as many as five million. What started off as casual use among a minuscule population of high-income group youth in the metro has permeated to all sections of society. Inhalation of heroin alone has given way to intravenous drug use, that too in combination with other sedatives and painkillers. This has increased the intensity of the effect, hastened the process of addiction and complicated the process of recovery. Cannabis, heroin, and Indian-produced pharmaceutical drugs are the most frequently abused drugs in India. Cannabis products, often called charas, bhang, or ganja, are abused throughout the country because it has attained some amount of religious sanctity because of its association with some Hindu deities. The International Narcotics Control Board in its 2002 report released in Vienna pointed out that in India persons addicted to opiates are shifting their drug of choice from opium to heroin. The pharmaceutical products containing narcotic drugs are also increasingly being abused. The intravenous injections of analgesics like dextropropoxphene etc are also reported from many states, as it is easily available at 1/10th the cost of heroin. The codeine-based cough syrups continue to be diverted from the domestic market for abuse Drug abuse is a complex phenomenon, which has various social, cultural, biological, geographical, historical and economic aspects. The disintegration of the old joint family system, absence of parental love and care in modern families where both parents are working, decline of old religious and moral values etc lead to a rise in the number of drug addicts who take drugs to escape hard realities of life. Drug use, misuse or abuse is also primarily due to the nature of the drug abused, the personality of the individual and the addict's immediate environment. The processes of industrialization, urbanization and migration have led to loosening of the traditional methods of social control rendering an individual vulnerable to the stresses and strains of modern life. The fast changing social milieu, among other factors, is mainly contributing to the proliferation of drug abuse, both of traditional and of new psychoactive substances. The introduction of synthetic drugs and intravenous drug use leading to HIV/AIDS has added a new dimension to the problem, especially in the Northeast states of the country. Drug abuse has led to a detrimental impact on the society. It has led to increase in the crime rate. Addicts resort to crime to pay for their drugs. Drugs remove inhibition and impair judgment egging one on to commit offences. Incidence of eve- teasing, group clashes, assault and impulsive murders increase with drug abuse. Apart from affecting the financial stability, addiction increases conflicts and causes untold emotional pain for every member of the family. With most drug users being in the productive age group of 18-35 years, the loss in terms of human potential is incalculable. The damage to the physical, psychological, moral and intellectual growth of the youth is very high. Adolescent drug abuse is one of the major areas of concern in adolescent and young people's behavior. It is estimated that, in India, by the time most boys reach the ninth grade, about 50 percent of them have tried at least one of the gateway drugs. However, there is a wide regional variation across states in term of the incidence of the substance abuse. For example, a larger proportion of teens in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh use gateway drugs (about 60 percent in both the states) than Uttar Pradesh or Haryana (around 35 percent). Increase in incidences of HIV, hepatitis B and C and tuberculosis due to addiction adds the reservoir of infection in the community burdening the health care system further. Women in India face greater problems from drug abuse. The consequences include domestic violence and infection with HIV, as well as the financial burden. Eighty seven per cent of addicts being treated in a de-addiction center run by the Delhi police acknowledged being violent with family members. Most of the domestic violence is directed against women and occurs in the context of demands for money to buy drugs. At the national level, drug abuse is intrinsically linked with racketeering, conspiracy, corruption, illegal money transfers, terrorism and violence threatening the very stability of governments. India has braced itself to face the menace of drug trafficking both at the national and international levels. Several measures involving innovative changes in enforcement, legal and judicial systems have been brought into effect. The introduction of death penalty for drug-related offences has been a major deterrent. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, were enacted with stringent provisions to curb this menace. The Act envisages a minimum term of 10 years imprisonment extendable to 20 years and fine of Rs. 1 lakh extendable up to Rs. 2 lakhs for the offenders. The Act has been further amended by making provisions for the forfeiture of properties derived from illicit drugs trafficking. Comprehensive strategy involving specific programmes to bring about an overall reduction in use of drugs has been evolved by the various government agencies and NGOs and is further supplemented by measures like education, counseling, treatment and rehabilitation programmes. India has bilateral agreements on drug trafficking with 13 countries, including Pakistan and Burma. Prior to 1999, extradition between India and the United States occurred under the auspices of a 1931 treaty signed by the United States and the United Kingdom, which was made applicable to India in 1942. However, a new extradition treaty between India and the United States entered into force in July 1999. A Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty was signed by India and the United States in October 2001. India also is signatory to the following treaties and conventions:
1961 U.N. Convention on Narcotic Drugs
1971 U.N. Convention on Psychotropic Substances
1988 U.N. Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
2000 Transnational Crime Convention
credits: Azad India Foundation
The spread and entrenchment of drug abuse needs to be prevented, as the cost to the people, environment and economy will be colossal. The unseemly spectacle of unkempt drug abusers dotting lanes and by lanes, cinema halls and other public places should be enough to goad the authorities to act fast to remove the scourge of this social evil. Moreover, the spread of such reprehensible habits among the relatively young segment of society ought to be arrested at all cost. There is a need for the government enforcement agencies, the non-governmental philanthropic agencies, and others to collaborate and supplement each other's efforts for a solution to the problem of drug addiction through education and legal actions.
GIVE YOUR VIEWS ON THIS SOCIAL EVIL. WE ARE ALL AWARE THAT IF THE LAWS ARE ENFORCED (POSSIBILITIES OF WHICH ARE MINIMAL) IT CAN LEAD TO A SAFER INDIA. WILL INDIA SEE A HAZY FUTURE?????
CRIME AGAINST WOMEN IN INDIA
Over 32000 murders, 19,000 rapes, 7500 dowry deaths and 36500 molestation cases are the violent crimes reported in India in 2006 against women. There are many instances of crime especially against women go unreported in India. These are figures released by the National Crime Records Bureau recently. While Madhya Pradesh is worst off among the states, the national capital New Delhi continues to hold on to its reputation of being the most unsafe city in India. Delhi takes the top slot for crimes ranging from murders and rapes to dowry deaths and abductions.
It reflects country's law and order situation when its capital is a cauldron of crime. Instead of leading the way in tackling crime, Delhi only seems to do worse year after year. For instance while the national crime rate declined negligibly by .02 % in 2006; Delhi's rate grew to 357.2more than double the national average of 167.7.
Rape is the fastest growing crime in the country today and as many as 18 women are assaulted in some form or the other every hour across India. Over the last few months cases of rapes and assault have made it to the headlines with alarming frequency. Mumbai watched with shame as an ugly mob attacked women on New Year's Eve. In Latur a 14 year old was raped and killed by four young men. In Konark four men were charged with dragging a woman out of a bus and gang raping her. It is an ordeal simply to file a police report and the investigations thereafter have been stories of apathy and down right humiliation meted out to the victims. Where convicted, punishments have ranged from capital punishments to a day in jail.
Equally horrific are news reports of foreign tourists being sexually assaulted. Recently an American was molested in Pushkar, a British journalist raped in Goa, Canadian girls attacked in Kumarakom to list the few instances. It looks like that India as a nation has ceased to know how to treat women as human beings who have a right to dignity and safety. The crime against tourists is against our culture of "atithi devo bhava' Government has decided to meet and discuss with the state government the safety of women tourists as a reaction from the fear that such incidents will impact India's image.
Despite the trauma women across all classes are reporting crimes such as rape and assault and do not feel helpless or abandoned by family or society as was the prevalent case before. Society is changing and government is forced to take action as it has run out of excuses such as society's mindset or class divide.
credits: Azad India Foundation
WHAT SHOULD WE AS YOUNGSTERS DO TO PREVENT SUCH HEDIOUS CRIMES IN INDIA? HOW CAN WE BRING AN END TO THE ROWDY ACTS OF PEOPLE? IS THIS THE INDIA WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE SAY THAT OUR COUNTRY IS HEADING TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT????
Read full article...
