NEW DELHI: Behind the scene party intrigues which ultimately resulted in the fall of the nine-day old Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) Government in Meghalaya, had its ripple effects at the Centre. Senior most Minister from the North East, P R Kyndiah's wings were rudely clipped with the appointment of a strong Minister of State (MoS) in last night's expansion and reshuffle of UPA Cabinet.

Dr Rameshwar Oraon, a former top cop from Jharkhand was appointed as MoS in the Tribal Affairs Ministry sending a strong signal to Mr Kyndiah whose reputation and performance have come under a cloud for some time now. Mr Kyndiah was already divested of the DoNER portfolio in the earlier expansion and reshuffle.

Incidentally, Mr Oraon is the first Minister of State in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. After Kyndiah was divested of the DoNER portfolio, the signal was clear. He had lost the confidence of the party bosses in Delhi.

Mr Kyndiah's fate was further sealed from the day his son Waibha Kyndiah lost miserably in the recently concluded assembly elections in the state. The Central leadership also noted that the senior Kyndiah despite being a Union Minister did not campaign actively for other candidates in the crucial polls, according to reports available with AICC.

As if this was not enough, Mr Kyndiah allegedly scuttled the much needed numbers that his party needed to form the government in Meghalaya because he was keen to project himself as the alternative Chief Minister, party sources said. He had assured the Central leadership as well as the state unit that at least two non-Congress MLAs were very close to him and that he could garner their support at the last moment. But this never happened, the reports said.

Mr Kyndiah's insistence on a party ticket for his son despite his having lost the Nongkrem seat twice over and the last minute wresting of the ticket from Mr HS Shylla earned the wrath of both party President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. Both were in favour of Mr Shylla in view of his staunch position as a champion for uranium mining. Mr Shylla was pushing the uranium agenda in his capacity as CEM Khasi Hills District Council, despite opposition from several quarters.

The former Union Minister played the game of brinkmanship when he fully assured the party bosses that his son would win the elections even though the odds were very high against the father-son duo. Not surprisingly, the junior Kyndiah was pushed to ignominy with few votes despite high voltage campaign by the Union Minister.

The loss of this crucial seat irked the Central leadership since that would have made a difference in the first trial of strength. In the sea-saw battle for majority one additional seat would have given the distressed party an edge, party insiders said.

Even after becoming a Cabinet Minister at the Centre, Mr Kyndiah continued to nurse a strong desire to become the Chief Minister of Meghalaya. He was reportedly behind every crisis in the five year old Government and often even openly expressed his desire return to state politics despite being snubbed by the top leadership. When it comes to delivery, Mr Kyndiah remains a non-performer going by the Congress party's progress report. Members of Parliament from the region, including those from his own party complained to Mrs Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh demanding their immediate intervention.Mr Kyndiah queered the pitch for himself by becoming "inaccessible" even to his own party men from Meghalaya, the state he belongs to. Those wanting to contact him were directed to meet non-government personalities who assumed extra-constitutional powers for obvious reasons.

Work in the DoNER Ministry came to a virtual standstill during Mr Kyndiah's regime even though he was the first representative from the region to be vested with this important portfolio. Funds were not released to several projects even in his home state Meghalaya for reasons that are not exactly above board. Mr Kyndiah's successor, Mani Shankar Aiyar on the contrary started with a bang and kept the momentum of development in the region. During Mr Kyndiah's time DoNER became a separate Ministry and the NEC was restructured putting him at the helm but to no avail.

Mr Kyndiah was divested of the important portfolio of DoNER in the first ever reshuffle of the UPA Government. He was the only Cabinet Minister who lost a portfolio without replacement but he failed to read the writing on the wall.

When questioned why Mr Kyndiah was retained as a Minister for so long despite so many complaints, Congress party sources said that until Mr Rishang Keishing (Manipur) and Mr Mukut Mithi (Arunachal Pradesh) came to the Upper House there was no senior tribal M.P. from the region to be represented in the Cabinet. But if things do not improve, Mr Kyndiah could lose even his truncated ministry in the next reshuffle, the sources added.

A section of police officials said Mr Pradhan was removed as Additional DGP in charge of CID without consulting the Police Establishment Board and that the State Government should review his transfer as IGP, Prisons.

Talking to reporters on Monday, a senior police official argued that any person or government staff could have political affiliation, and for this reason he or she should not be transferred.

"The State Government has created a precedence by transferring Mr Pradhan without looking into the rules," the police official said. He said transfer of any police official should be discussed at the Police Establishment Board.

"The Police Establishment Board was set up in 2007 with DGP and three seniormost police officials as members, and all the transfers should be first recommended by the Board," he said. The senior police official pointed out that in the case of Mr Pradhan no such step was followed, saying "this decision of the State Government has demoralised the whole police force."

DGP Mr Sawian has already gone on leave from April 2 in protest against the transfer of Mr Pradhan. According to sources, Mr Sawian felt "hurt" for not being informed of the transfer of Mr Pradhan.

Besides being associated with academic works for the last 30 years, Prof Syiemlieh has written several books on various subjects and contributed articles to national and international journals. NEHU has also appointed Dr CR Diengdoh as Director of College Development Council (CDC). Prior to this, Dr Diengdoh was head of the Zoology Department, St Mary's College here.

This was announced by Food and Civil Supplies Minister John Anthony Lyngdoh after the first meeting of the Price Monitoring Committee (PMC) in the city on Monday. All DCs, SDOs and representatives of Frontier Chamber of Commerce (FCC) and Meghalaya Chamber of Commerce (MCC) attended the meeting.

Talking to newsmen here, Mr Lyngdoh said the PDS had been activated to make available adequate subsidised commodities and Food Corporation of India (FCI) asked to keep sufficient buffer stocks for three months to avoid any lapse in distribution of essential items as had happened in the past.

"All shopkeepers should display their stock and prices of essential commodities. The district-level price monitoring committees have also been asked to meet at least once every fortnight to monitor the price situation," he said.

The minister said the PDS machinery would be strengthened by filling up all vacancies in the Food and Civil Supplies Department. He also said FCI would be asked to set up godowns at all district and sub-divisional headquarters.

"The increase in price of rice is mainly due to less rainfall in rice-producing states like Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh. We hope the price of rice would come down as this is the season for new crop to arrive in the market," Mr Lyngdoh said.

On public complaints about poor quality food grains and sugar in FCI godowns, he said it was the duty of lifting officers to see the quality of commodities, adding consumers should formally lodge complaint with the district authorities about any problem with FCI items.

The HNLC man, identified as Ossomon Rynjah alias Belu of Mawlai Nongpdeng, told BSF interrogators that he had deserted a camp of the outfit in Bangladesh to return to the mainstream.

Ossomon said joined HNLC on February 5 2001 along with three others. One of them died in a HNLC camp in Bangladesh a few months ago, while the other two had deserted the camp.

He also said in 2001 the strength of HNLC in the Bangladesh camp was about 100. As many as 26 NLFT members also stayed in the HNLC at that time, he added.

Meanwhile, BSF personnel gunned down an unidentified cadre of Dima Halam Daogah DHD(J) in an encounter in Thajury area of North Cachar Hills district of Assam.

SHILLONG: The Education department has chargesheeted the Principal, District Institute for Educational Training (DIET), Sohra Panbor Tariang and accountant HR Dhar for their alleged involvement in misuing the money meant for payment of salaries of the teachers amounting to Rs 60 lakh.

The scam came to light after the Education department temporarily suspended the two accused on January 2008 when it was found that a huge amount of money was missing from the accounts of the Institute.

Informing this on Monday, Commissioner and Secretary Education, Lambha Roy said that he has personally suspended Mr Tariang for his involvement in this huge scam adding that the director of the department suspended the accountant.

According to Mr Roy, this money amounting to Rs 60 lakh was for paying the salaries of the teachers, conducting survey research and other expenditure of the institute.

"The duo has to reply within seven days after receiving the charge-sheet. However, they can seek for more time to study the papers in details" Mr Roy said adding that if their response to the charge-sheet is not satisfactory then a criminal case can be filed against the two.

However, he stated that normally disciplinary action as per the State Government Service Rules are being taken against any person indulging in these sort of undesirable activities.

This was announced by Food and Civil Supplies Minister John Anthony Lyngdoh after the first meeting of the Price Monitoring Committee (PMC) in the city on Monday. All DCs, SDOs and representatives of Frontier Chamber of Commerce (FCC) and Meghalaya Chamber of Commerce (MCC) attended the meeting.

Talking to newsmen here, Mr Lyngdoh said the PDS had been activated to make available adequate subsidised commodities and Food Corporation of India (FCI) asked to keep sufficient buffer stocks for three months to avoid any lapse in distribution of essential items as had happened in the past.

"All shopkeepers should display their stock and prices of essential commodities. The district-level price monitoring committees have also been asked to meet at least once every fortnight to monitor the price situation," he said.

The minister said the PDS machinery would be strengthened by filling up all vacancies in the Food and Civil Supplies Department. He also said FCI would be asked to set up godowns at all district and sub-divisional headquarters.

"The increase in price of rice is mainly due to less rainfall in rice-producing states like Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh. We hope the price of rice would come down as this is the season for new crop to arrive in the market," Mr Lyngdoh said.

On public complaints about poor quality food grains and sugar in FCI godowns, he said it was the duty of lifting officers to see the quality of commodities, adding consumers should formally lodge complaint with the district authorities about any problem with FCI items.

Jaintia Hills DC Frederick Roy Kharkongor on Monday said though there was no written complaint from Wahiajer villagers about being socially ostracised, the district administration would convene a meeting of the Durbar Shnong of Wahiajer and the villagers facing social boycott on April 9 to find out ways and means to sort out the problem.

"Imposing a social boycott is unconstitutional, but I am yet to get a clear picture of what really is the problem as nobody has lodged a written complaint with me on the matter," Mr Kharkongor said.

Stating that a magistrate had been asked to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the matter, the DC said if the allegation of social boycott was true, the authorities would initiate legal action against those involved in such activity.

Meanwhile, North East India Christian Council (NEICC) Secretary Rev N Sandiwell Phawa, whose three children are among the 62 people affected by the boycott, has termed the action of the Dorbar Shnong as "unfortunate" and "unwarranted."

Reacting to news reports of the social boycott imposed in the village, Rev Phawa clarified that it was the tradition of his family never to openly volunteer for any political party or candidate during election.

"If our neutrality and casting of secret ballot during the election is the cause of social boycott of my family, I would consider that as a big mistake on the part of the Dorbar Shnong," Rev Phawa said, adding the incident had exposed the "foolishness" of the village authorities to the outside world.

"Maybe, there are people who are taking advantage of the situation by inciting the Dorbar Shnong to resort to such step, but the village authorities who are responsible for peace and welfare of the village should have properly verified what is legal or illegal instead of merely jumping to conclusions on this matter," he said.

While appealing to the Dorbar Shnong to be more progressive in its approach, the Church leader urged the district administration to take appropriate steps to deal with the matter and stop the situation from deteriorating further.

Dr Roy on Monday discussed the issue of border fencing with officials of the Coordination Committee on International Border (CCIB) and assured them of taking up the recommendations of CCIBBF with the Central Government.

"This is our first meeting with the new government. The Chief Minister has said that the State Government is committed to the recommendations of CCIBBF," CCIB spokesman GH Kharshanlor told reporters here.

CCIBBF, headed by Dr Roy, had submitted its recommendations to former Chief Minister DD Lapang on December 10 2007 for conveying them to the Centre before resumption of border fencing work.

Among the recommendations made by the Committee were conduct of fresh survey in Jaliakhola area between boundary pillars 1251 and 1299 and erection of fencing from Zero Line in areas along Hingoria-Mikirpara sector between boundary pillars 1300 and 1334.

The Committee had also suggested going ahead with fencing work along Ratachera-Mikirpara sector between boundary pillars 1334 and 1338, a reserve forest area.

Besides Mr Kharshanlor, FKJGP chief E Lyttan and general secretary J Marwein, KSU general secretary H Dohling and SSSS general secretary W Nongbet were present at the meeting with Dr Roy.

Besides being associated with academic works for the last 30 years, Prof Syiemlieh has written several books on various subjects and contributed articles to national and international journals. NEHU has also appointed Dr CR Diengdoh as Director of College Development Council (CDC). Prior to this, Dr Diengdoh was head of the Zoology Department, St Mary's College here.

B Nongrum, one of the students of the law college on Monday said, "though the college governing body has instituted an investigation committee into the imbroglio, its findings would be presented in time, though the college authority did not fix specific time frame for the committee to submit its report".

As no time frame has been fixed for the probe panel besides refusal to remove the concerned teacher, Ms Nongrum said the students have decided to continue their protest until their demands are met.

"Our demand was to remove the teacher, and if they could not do it, we will continue our agitation," she said, adding that the number of students registering a signature campaign has increased to 204.

Alleged racial remarks by Mrs FL Nonglait to a section of the student community in a class room of the college has snowballed into a major issue in the law institute.

The function was attended, among others, by the headman of Jail Road S Dhar and senior citizens H Dhar and R Bhattacharjee. Other highlights of the function were welcome dance by children of the locality and presentatiion of gifts and citations to the ministers.

SHILLONG: A seminar organised by Shillong Civil Hospital on Monday called upon NGOs, traditional bodies, etc to create awareness on prevention of deforestation to preserve the ecology of the State.

Participating in the day-long seminar, Conservator of Forest CP Marak and Meghalaya Urban Develop- ment Authority (MUDA) official W Syiem expressed concern over depleting forest cover of the State and urged effective measures to check deforestation in both rural and urban areas to avoid the fallout of climatic changes like global warming. The seminar, which coincided with the World Health Day, was participated also attended by officials from MUDA, Department of Social Forestry, Health Department and State Pollution Control Board.

According to sources, the boy was walking along with his mother by the roadside when a truck (AS01W-9391) proceeding to Ladrymbai from Guwahati, ran over him dashing his mother as well. The driver was arrested near Phramer and confiscated the truck. A case has been registered against the driver.

On Monday, he formally announced his road map for Nongkrem constituency at a public rally held at Lad Nongkrem. Proclaiming the agenda he was elected MLA from Nongkrem, Basaiawmoit said this would enable him to translate his promises into reality.

Speaking at the rally, Mr Basaiawmoit said it was important for the local village dorbars to work hand in hand with party units for successful implementation of various developmental schemes to be carried out in villages of the constituency.

"Both the units and dorbars can also act as monitoring groups to check each other and also to keep a tab on any attempt by individual or groups to misuse the funds of any particular project," Mr Basaiawmoit pointed out.

He called upon members of party units not to work only during election time but should continue their efforts for the betterment of the constituency.

Nongkrem legislator also aired his concern on the pitiable condition of farmers in the State, and Nongkrem in particular, whom he felt had been neglected, in spite of the fact that agriculture is considered as the backbone of the State's economy.

He assured to press upon the State Government to extend financial support to the farming community, particularly during natural calamities, and increase fund allocation for the development of agriculture.

Other assurances include abolition of toll on agricultural products by the Hima Mylliem, improve health sector and ensure that all the dispensaries in the constituency function in a proper manner, construction of more Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) in the constituency, provide better drinking water to all villages and regulate traffic flow on the National Highway that passes through Nongkrem constituency.

He further state that special emphasis would be laid to reduce number of school drop-outs and ensure that the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is implemented in its true spirit.

Meanwhile, his initiative was hailed by majority of the voters in the constituency, who stated that this was the first time they came across a legislator who is actually trying to work for the betterment of the people.

They alleged that legislators, who represented the constituency in previous years, once elected, they seemed to have forgotten the same people who had elected them to the Assembly and seldom visit the constituency, except in functions or meetings where they are invited as guests.

It is raining big bucks in New Delhi’s political Wonderland. A cursory glance would have Alice exclaim, "Who needs rabbits. Bureaucrats will do!" And over the last fortnight we have been witness to a grand show. The farmer loan waiver razzmatazz has made way for the Babu bonanza. Working on a perfect give and take. Pay hike in return for vote.

How else should one react to the Sixth Pay Commission’s report earmarking an over three-fold increase in the salaries and allowances for Government employees across the board for both civilian and defence personnel. All with retrospective affect beginning January 2006. No matter that when implemented, this is expected to cause an additional annual encumbrance of Rs 20,000 crore, Rs 12,500 crore this year alone. All in the aam aadmi’s khaata.

There is no gainsaying that there is a genuine case to increase the salaries of Government employees, but shouldn’t it be linked to better performance and productivity? The present hike doesn't seem to be have any realistic link to performance. Is it justifiable? Honestly speaking, absolutely not. Specially against the backdrop that the bureaucracy today works on Andrew Jackson's famous dictum "let the victors have the spoils." Bluntly, they have become a law onto themselves. Resulting in no accountability, no fear of being fired, and hence it’s the biggest pay packet for non-productive work, coupled with the arrogance that they are indispensable.

Most civil servants, according to popular belief, neither take initiative nor have any commitment to the service of the people. They are more than happy to be on the right side of their political masters. This helps, at least some of them, to get promoted more rapidly than their performance and seniority justify. Some even succeed in bagging political offices by obliging the right politician through thick and thin. Top slots in the administration are now filled in accordance with the whims and fancies of the political master, contrary to the established norms in regard to appointments and tenure in leading civil services.

Large-scale shuffles and reshuffles of the bureaucracy with every change of the political master have become overtly common. Feelings are gaining ground that political closeness and personal loyalty to powerful political superiors is more rewarding than mere seniority or merit. Instead of the right man for the right job being the criteria, there is invariably a wrong man for the right job for wrong reasons! Bringing it to such a pass that caste, corruption, political connections and administrative lacunae are the factors that count when it comes to promotions. Consequently, most babus have little interest in taking any initiatives and are willing to make self and boss-serving compromises with the fundamentals of administration.

Remember, some time back the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh abjectly confessed: "I am disgusted with the system", when it was discovered that even Cabinet decisions had remained where they were taken --- on paper. Perhaps, the file-pushers had to apply their heads to arrive at an agreed conclusion as to who should push the file. And on who’s orders? The Cabinet, their Minister or the political mai baap?

That apart, corruption is synonymous with babudom. Be it when applying for a telephone connection, ration card, driver’s license, passport et al. Nothing moves till palms have been greased for an average Indian. If one doesn’t have the paisa then one must be thick skinned and have no self respect. Babudom thrives on holding one to ransom and at the mercy of their whims and fancies. From the TC in the railways, to the Traffic cop, there’s no questioning them.

One recent study by the Center for Media Studies, New Delhi, on corruption in urban services reveals that "nearly half of those who avail the services of the most frequently-visited public departments of Government in the country have had first hand experience of greasing palms at least once". It is this pervasiveness that has forced many to charge that bureaucrats have "created such a steel frame around them that even the might of the State can't dismantle it".

Between 1996 and 2000, the CBI and the Central Vigilance Commission investigated 13,265 individuals for corruption. And, between 1998 and 2001, the CBI registered 2,256 cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Of these 41 were from administrative departments, four were from the police and 23 from the revenue department.

Think. Although India has more than 19 million State and federal Government employees, about 20,000-odd federal officers control the collection and disbursement of over $71 billion of federal revenues every year. Of these, 6,000 senior administrative officers and an equal number of revenue officers dictate the flow of funds throughout the country.

Even if a handful of these officials were to allow 10 percent leakage in revenue, it would cost the Government $7 billion. And, assuming corrupt officials get a cut of just 10 per cent, the Indian bureaucracy gets over $700 million a year - the amount of money that the Central Bureau of Investigation estimates is spent towards greasing the palms of Indian bureaucrats. Asserted an "honest corrupt babu," "If greedy Indian businessmen can evade taxes, influence policies and make money through devious means, why should not the Government officer who moves their files get a share of the booty?"

Tragically today corruption has become a low risk, high-profit area. Wherein the bureaucracy is the third angle of the triangular neta-babu-business axis which has perpetuated a vulturistic culture of the winner takes all. The modus operandi has been perfected to the last, deliberate scarcity of goods and services, red tapeism and delay, lack of transparency (no matter Right To Information Act), the cushion of a babu is innocent till proven guilty and last but not least the bhaichara and biradari which bind the corrupt together.

What kind of a system of governance then lies ahead of us? A clue can be found in a survey of probationers at the National Academy of Administration. It states that only 32 per cent of the new recruits condemn corruption in the civil services. Only five per cent believe in harsh measures to reduce corruption. Another 45 per cent believe that they are above the law.

What next? Clearly, the Government must downsize. From the Secretary down to the chaprasi. Non-performing government officers would be forcibly retired at the end of 20 years service. Alternatively, if need be, ruthlessly dump the deadwood and irrelevant baggage. Besides, organizational competence and productivity should be commensurate with a pay hike in salaries, perks and promotions as in the private sector. An exit policy of hire and fire is paramount if we desire an accountable, trustworthy and honest bureaucracy.

Most important, they should be made more accountable. The private sector is less corrupt because it has more accountability. We need is a law, which will provide for confiscation of all ill-gotten wealth without any delays and hesitations. Once the message goes down the rank and file that all ill-gotten wealth will be confiscated, then the burden of proof will be on the bureaucrat to prove that he got it legitimately. Ditto with the politician and the industrialist.

Will the bureaucracy have the courage to correct itself and overcome red tape? One way is to internalize the zero tolerance principle and the "sunset principle" as in the US. Under this method, justification for any governmental activity is all the time under scrutiny so that no acts of misdemeanour take place. True, the country can boast of a Government of the people and a Government by the people. The moot point is: Can India look forward to a Government for the people? Will our steel frame continue to rot and rust and revel in mediocrity?

The writing is on the wall. We are reaching a point of no return. If the Indian bureaucracy does not change its sense of values, it will become increasingly irrelevant. It may exist by the sheer force of Newton's First Law of inertia but it will not be playing a role which would make it a meaningful part of the governance. It is the responsibility of the bureaucracy to see that the government functions for the people Will babudom rise to the occasion? Or will it be remembered as the conversion of human energy into solid waste! ---- INFA

Stock shock? Hardly. Thanks to the market regulator’s panic response to the latest stock plunge by allowing share sell-short -- a form of fatka or gamble which allows the sale of shares without its physical possession – bulls are returning in hordes. On March 25, the prices of stocks made huge gains. Even before the renewed bull pressure, most of the active stocks in the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) continued to be traded at prices not only far above their intrinsic value in terms of their earnings and future potential, but also well above their corresponding levels a year ago. Take, for instance the top 50 market representative stocks, almost all of them are still priced at much higher levels than what they were in April, 2007.

The outlook of Indian economy early last year was a lot more buoyant than it was in January, this year. For the first time in the last six years, the economy started showing weaknesses in a number of sectors. By September, most economic analysts predicted a slow-down. But, the stock market gave a different signal. The two important indices – Sensex and Nifty – were jumping up like never before. By December, the prices had hit record levels. The prices of most of the stocks got appreciated by 100 to 300 per cent between March and November, 2007. The market behaved madly as the ‘bulls’ went on a rampage.

The first major shock came in January, 2008. Since then, over 5,000 points were shaved off the Sensex peak in what was being seen as the sharpest ever stock melt-down. Then came the announcement by the market regulator, SEBI, to revert to the practice of share short-sell, after its ban for nearly six years in the wake of the system manipulation by Ketan Parekh, the big bull.

What had changed suddenly? The excuses from the so-called market analysts are plenty – the US subprime misery, heavy losses reported by some international banks and financial institutions, including India’s own ICICI bank, decline of the US dollar, high oil prices, high food prices, high trade deficits, global stock shock, etc. – as if they were unknown four months ago. They were all there. Nothing has changed. Only the raging ‘bulls’ chose to play blind. They even failed to see the slow-down of the Indian economy and the poor performance of several key industries in terms of their output and growth targets.

Since the middle of 2006, the tiny Indian stock market, which does not find a mention even among the top five Asian markets, came under complete control of foreign funds of all sorts, including hedge funds, and their agents. Incidentally, the worst sufferers of such a violent market movement are invariably Indians – especially the small investors who invest in mutual funds. Almost all mutual funds which entered the market with initial public offering (IPOs) in the first seven months of 2007 have substantially lost their asset value in the last four months. However, these investors alone are to be blamed for their losses. They should have exercised caution before trusting those opportunist cash-hungry mutual fund operators taking advantage of a booming market to run IPOs.

Coming back to current stock prices, nearly 40 per cent of the blue chips is still commanding over 25 times earning multiples even in the so-called ‘dull’ market. Barring Hindustan Unilever, Siemens, ABB, Ashahi, Alsthom Projects, Suzlon Energy and a few others, almost all of them are Indian companies. They include Bharti Airtel, BHEL, L&T, HDFC, HDFC Bank, Axix Bank, Adani, Aditya Birla Enterprise, Bajaj Hindustan, Unitech, Reliance Energy, Sun Pharma, Idea Cellular, Tata Power, Tata Communicaions, Zee Entertainment, Crest Animation, Godrej Industries, Jagran Prakashan, Maharashtra Scooter, Pantaloon, Provogue, Nirma, Nagarjuna Fertiliser, Reliance Capital and Triveni Engineering. There are many more. The list merely shows the representative nature of the companies. The ruling market prices of all these scrips are far above the levels prevailing less than a year ago. Our suspicion is that several large multinational fund managers had booked decent profits through the financial year-end sale of shares in the Indian market. Several Indian fund managers, too, must have booked good profits in the process.

Unfortunately, the government and a section of the media are too hooked to the stock market to enhance their physical as well as psychological comfort levels. At the psychological level, a booming stock market generally implies a booming economy. This, at physical level, is supposed to get translated into more investment in the infrastructure, core areas, manufacturing as well as services sectors, including banking, telecommunications, information technology, technical education, travel and hoteliering, advertising and sales promotion, etc. Such activities, in turn, create more employment, income and demand for more goods and services.

However, the truth is no artificial market boom, engineered by a group of rogue operators or some deep-pocket foreign fund managers, can last for ever. It is bound to collapse some day. In fact, that is why the market needs a strong regulator. Both the government and the Securities and Exchange Board of India failed to measure the market and act in time to prevent the sudden burst of foreign fund flow into the Indian economy in 2007 which triggered the unprecedented market boom.

The government, on the contrary, was basking in its own glory for making India a great destination of foreign fund investors. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), habitually conservative, was concerned but lacked the courage to act on its own or, at least, publicly warn the government against the huge hot money inflows. The Left economists too were uncomfortable with the development but did not have time to push the issue beyond making a strong statement as their political bosses were more hooked to the ‘evil’ Indo-US civilian nuclear cooperation deal.

The stock market orientation of the economy must be curtailed if not stopped to avoid unwarranted external pressure on the country’s economy, business and finance. The market orientation of the economy at this stage is also risky in the absence of strong regulatory controls to check mischief-makers, both external and internal, and the unethical conduct of corporations, fund managers and brokers. This applies to the commodity market as well. The fake market boom allowed several companies to sell their IPOs at huge premiums at the cost of investors. The Reliance Power IPO is a case in question.

After the economic liberalisation which began in 1992, most new foreign direct investors are operating in the country as private limited companies or branches of the foreign entities. As a result, their shares are not quoted in the market. They have been contributing immensely to the growth and prosperity of Indian economy over the last 15 years and earning, rather silently, huge benefits for themselves and their overseas shareholders in the process. They entered India on the strength of its real market -- and not the stock market – and contributed to the market by offering lifestyle products and services for its further growth in terms of both the reach and diversity.

The Indian stock market does not reflect their achievements. (IPA Service)

Madam,

One of the issues tormenting the nation is the examination related suicides among school children across the country. It is a pity that the rigid examination pattern has made school children extremely stressful in recent years. Alarmingly, more than 30 students committed suicide during the last two months. Even though the NCERT and CBSE have implemented the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), only some states have put into effect the recommendations of the NCF. More than the curriculum, it is the rigid system of examination and ranking, coupled with high expectations of parents that have made school education so stressful.

Students from every corner of the country have fear psychosis for one subject or the other. Students from the South find language difficult while students from Meghalaya dread subjects involving numbers, formulas and calculations. Creativity has been subordinated by rote learning and the lofty objective sacrificed at the altar of admission to professional courses. There has been neither long-term planning nor continuous reform over a period of time to assess its impact. Whenever a government changes, there is tinkering in the field of education.

The alarming number of "deferred success" at every examination put a question mark on the educational policies in the state. It calls for a revamp in the educational policies and system. It is time we evolved a national policy on education and pursued it before things get out of control.

Three-hour examinations decide whether students get places in top professional colleges. The impression that they will be loved only if they make the grades adds to the student's stress. The learning or cramming ability differs from pupil to pupil. Even an indolent child learns at his/her own pace. We need an education system that nurtures children's creative instincts and recognizes all individual attainments. Unless there is a paradigm shift in the course contents, our education system will continue to languish, without preparing students for life beyond the campus.

Yours etc.,
Bivan Rodriques Mukhim
Via e-mail

Madam,

That day has come when Meghalaya is known for the largest number of cancer patients. Those days are not far when tourists would come to see these people as samples to alarm others. Today Meghalaya's beauty is rarely found in newspapers but covered with the information about people dying of cancer and TB. Yet, smokers are not ashamed.

Not only adults but also the children who have just taken their tentative steps in the world are seen with cigarettes in their mouths. Yes, I know it is considered as being fashionable but what is the use of fashion if it maims life? Smoking not only affects the smokers but also affects others and the environment.

Government needs to take strong action. In my view, the smokers should also be fined in the same way as those who break traffic laws, for smoking in public places.

Yours etc.,
Priyam SinghVia e-mail

Two scientists along with masks and necessary kits have rushed to the affected villages to monitor the situation. Besides, high officials of ARDD including its Director Ashim Roy Barman are camping at Kamalpur.

In the wake of the report, the two villages have been quarantined as part of preventive measures and culling operations would begin in the State from Tuesday. The Centre has sent a notification to the Tripura Government in this regard, officials from New Delhi said.

Officials of the Health Ministry have already reached the affected area and formulated a plan of action to launch control and containment operations against the disease.

A total of 15 Rapid Action Teams (RAT) were constituted to carry out culling operations from Tuesday, Minister for Animal Resource Development Department (ARDD) Aghore Debbarma said on Monday.

Debbarma said process for digging burial grounds has been initiated and the work will be carried out as per guideline of the Union Government.

He said all chicks and ducks would be culled from the entire subdivision if necessary.

Following outbreak, BSF authorities have been asked to intensify vigil along the border to stop movement of Bangladesh ducks, chicks and eggs to Tripura.

The situation is not alarming, the minister added.

However, unofficial sources as well as the patients claimed that the actual number of people suffering from AIDS could be much higher, even double or triple the number in the official records. ''The actual number of HIV positives is certainly much higher than the official record, which is evident from the number of new members enrolling in our organisation,'' the Mizoram People Living with AIDS (MPLAS) leader, who is himself an HIV-positive, said.

He was speaking at a meeting of the Mizoram Legislators' Forum on HIV/AIDS, organised by the Mizoram State AIDS Control Society here on Monday. Speaking as the chief guest at the function, state Health Minister R Tlanghmingthanga stressed the need for more awareness on HIV/AIDS. (UNI)

Imphal: Days after the Imphal-Moreh Jeep and Tata Sumo Taxi Service Welfare Association (IMJSTSWA) suspended services due to militants’ monetary demands, the Tiddim Road Motor Owners’ Co-operative Society Limited (TRMOCSL) has decided to cease the services of transportation along the usually busy Tiddim road — connecting the Manipur capital with two district headquarters of Bishnupur and Churachandpur — indefinitely from Tuesday due to monetary demands served to transporters by militants.

The Tiddim Road Transporters’ Union has said that more than 70 passenger buses were plying along the route daily. All passenger carrier buses have been made to pay taxes by various militants as ‘annual tax.’

According to a member of the TRMOCSL, the decision to suspend services indefinitely has been reached after a particular militant group insisted that Rs 3000 each from all the buses be collected and warned of torching the buses which fails to pay the amount. The motor owners’ society also appealed all other transporters along the route to cooperate and show solidarity to the society.

Meanwhile, the transportation service along the route of Imphal to the international border town of Moreh in Chandel district has came to a grinding halt on Monday after the IMJSTSWA cease services indefinitely with effect from Saturday due to huge monetary demands from various militant groups active in the State. The taxi service welfare association has decided cessation of service indefinitely till an amicable solution is reached between the militants and the association. (NNN)

"We are concerned about what is happening in Tibet ... we have ensured that calm prevails in the state," Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu told a group of visiting reporters here yesterday.

Tawang, the picturesque monastery town surrounded by snow clad Himalayan peaks, has a dominant Buddhist population known as Monpas, who regard the Dalai Lama as their spiritual head.

Section 144 CrPC has been indefinitely clamped in the township. (PTI)

Guwahati: The power and energy sector in North East (N-E) will witness an investment of over Rs 2,00,000 crore by 2017 to reverse the deficit status of the region and place it in a position to supply power elsewhere in the country within the next few years.

The transmission, sub-transmission and distribution system in the region will be thrust areas, with a plan of allocating base load thermal power from eastern states to NE in lieu of power from the hydro stations in the region to meet the deficit NE faces during non-monsoon season.

At present, the region has total installed capacity of 2,321 MW, with the region, including Sikkim, accounting for 39.5 per cent of the country’s hydro electric potential.

The region has a power supply deficit to the tune of 22.7 per cent during peak demand period as per 2007-08 figures against the all India deficit of 17.1 per cent. In case of energy supply position also, NE has a deficit of 20 per cent against the national 15.8 per cent.

As per data available on actual power demand and supply during 2006-07, among the NE states, Meghalaya recorded the highest deficit of 33.1 per cent, followed by Tripura with 16 per cent, Arunachal Pradesh with 12.6 per cent and Assam with 10,8 per cent, with the total deficit percentage for region being 21.1.

At present the NE has 57 per cent capacity from hydro projects in state and central sector. The balance comes from thermal projects including diesel, gas and coal based ones.

Most of the diesel/coal projects are not operational in NE, while in case of hydro projects during the lean hydro months, from september to March, the inflow is less and the power generation is to the order of 40 per cent only.

In severe winter months like January, the generation is as low as 14 per cent and the region faces the peak requirement during November to February, leading to severe power deficit.

According to estimated power deficit on seasonal basis for 2008-09, the maximum deficit of 340 MW would be during winter peak season, which is planned to turn into surplus of 953 MW by 2011-12 by capacity addition.

Moreover, to help meet the deficit during the lean season, it is planned that 50 per cent of hydro stations being set up by CPSUs in NE would be earmarked for other regions and NE would be allocated load-based thermal power from eastern states in lieu thereof so that the demand in NE states is fully met at all times and seasons.

At present, 19 hydro electric schemes (with station capacity over three MW) with an aggregate installed capacity of 1202.7 MW are in operation in NE. Out of these, seven schemes (860 MW) are in central sector, which comprise six schemes with aggregate capacity of 755 MW under National Hydroelectric Power Corporation NHPC. The remaining the schemes are in the state sector. Arunachal Pradesh accounts for the maximum 423.5 MW in the region, followed by Assam with 375 MW and Meghalaya with 185.2 MW. Taking into account the installed capacity of 599 MW in Sikkim, the total installed capacity in NE goes up to 1,801.7 MW. The present installed capacity in the region, a mere 2.04 per cent, has been developed with another 4.55 per cent in various stages of development. A re-assessment study of hydro-electric potential in NE, completed by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) in 1987, has placed the potential at 31,857 MW at 60 per cent load factor (corresponding to about 58,971 MW in terms of portable installed capacity) in NE.

Under the 50,000 MW Hydro Electric Initiative, Preliminary Feasibility Reports of 162 hydro electric projects having an aggregate installed capacity of 47,930 MW has been prepared. These include 72 hydro electric schemes with an aggregate installed capacity of 31,885 MW in NE and Sikkim. Such massive capacity expansion plans would witness the investment of Rs 1,77,330 crore in NE by the end of the XII Plan, besides an additional Rs 65,700 crore in the private sector.

The transmission and distribution system, including transporting the surplus power to other states, would also receive much importance during the period. (UNI)