tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post1034927576444262070..comments2024-03-07T08:46:11.362+05:30Comments on Feast for Thought: Ideas for Change, post Mumbai 26/11Swarnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623334723468773313noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-44149059334288866522008-12-15T08:43:00.000+05:302008-12-15T08:43:00.000+05:30KatNCC for all students is a good idea.And the com...Kat<BR/>NCC for all students is a good idea.<BR/>And the comment in Gardenia's - it was an email forward - which came at the right time.Swarnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623334723468773313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-39519865673085855712008-12-13T17:49:00.000+05:302008-12-13T17:49:00.000+05:30Brilliant post and well thought out ideas.Wish atl...Brilliant post and well thought out ideas.<BR/><BR/>Wish atleast NCC training is made compulsory to everyone, if not military training.<BR/><BR/>Yes, this epsiode at Mumbai has been targetted at the elite (railway station too..!!) and it would make everyone responsible to exercise their brains.<BR/><BR/>I read the touching article you wrote in Gardenia's... about the young men and women in armed services. How true and this country needs to respect their great contribution.Kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00469394323819969371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-77276850086403259732008-12-12T08:29:00.000+05:302008-12-12T08:29:00.000+05:30Apnitally,you are so right.Apnitally,<BR/>you are so right.Swarnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623334723468773313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-75899880225192912872008-12-12T02:51:00.000+05:302008-12-12T02:51:00.000+05:30Two party system may be difficult to implement but...Two party system may be difficult to implement but not impossible.<BR/>the right to recall is the need of hour to keep the politicians working.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-6752359262966342702008-12-07T12:07:00.000+05:302008-12-07T12:07:00.000+05:30Kallu, ThanksHappy Kitten, I could cry at the iron...Kallu, Thanks<BR/>Happy Kitten, I could cry at the irony of it. I served in Indian defence within India, yet have never seen my name in the rolls. Once in 1998 the locality did the digital photography exercise for the purpose of issuing voter I-cards, then we were told the 'data was lost'...Swarnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623334723468773313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-16651663509542195032008-12-06T13:21:00.000+05:302008-12-06T13:21:00.000+05:30So many ideas and we only need them to be implemen...So many ideas and we only need them to be implemented to make things right...<BR/><BR/>now that the corporates are also shaken, I m sure they will push from their side too... <BR/><BR/>As for online voting for NRI's, it is high time it is implemented. If USA can do it, why not India when we are supposed to be advanced in Information Technology.<BR/><BR/>http://www.rockthevote.com/electioncenter/rock-your-rights/overseas-rights/overseas.htmlHappy Kittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14406399936808407736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-43341064829428815572008-12-06T09:17:00.000+05:302008-12-06T09:17:00.000+05:30Bravo, Swarna! Lots of good thinking there. To sta...Bravo, Swarna! Lots of good thinking there. To start with using ex-servicemen as a back-up unit in times like these and for training and organizing ordinary citizens would be good.<BR/>Sad that committed citizens like you can't vote. Rather, haven't been able to because our electoral system hasn't caught up with the idea of voting by post. Strange when we have electronic machines. Hopefully it happens soon. <BR/>Good post.kalluhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12682887665098073111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-45171321396567506212008-12-06T08:38:00.000+05:302008-12-06T08:38:00.000+05:30Tanu - ThanksRight now I am in a frame of mind whe...Tanu - Thanks<BR/>Right now I am in a frame of mind where I feel that the present dispensation may listen to industry / corporate voices.<BR/>1. The current position vis-a-vis NRI citizens and voting is summed up here - from <A HREF="http://www.gopio.net/publications_articles/NRI-PIOs_and_India_-_Mutual_Expectations.doc" REL="nofollow">NRIs/PIOs and India – Mutual Expectations</A><BR/>"We thank Govt. of India for initiating the legislation to grant voting rights for Indian citizens living outside India in the Assembly and Parliamentary elections, provided they are in the constituency at the time of elections. This will make NRIs feel full participants for India’s developmental activities. GOPIO had passed resolution on this at its convention in Zurich in 2000 and has been campaigning on this issue since then. We would like to see a step further that the Indian parliament adopt a constitutional amendment to have up to 5 Lok Sabha seat to provide representation 10 million Indian citizens living outside India. With advances in information technology, it is not at all difficult to physically conduct such an election among NRIs/PIOs who still have Indian passports. Personally, after 34 years of my living outside India, I still hold an Indian Passport and my wish before I die is that I should have an opportunity to vote in Indian election. It is also just and is in India’s interest to engage those citizens of India to take an active role in its development. With increasing trend in migration, the NRI/PIO population outside India is likely to increase in future. In this borderless society, let India show to the world that Indian citizens, wherever they are, are full participants in Indian democracy and in India’s development."<BR/><BR/>Let us hope for a system where NRI's with Indian passports can visit the local embassy to cast thier vote in EVM's. Online voting - let's be optimistic about that as well! :)<BR/><BR/>2. Sure - this gives me an opportunity to familiarise myself with efforts of others.<BR/><BR/>3. As to media - let's put it this way - we don't need an 'electronic mob'.*<BR/>(*Harish Khare writes <A HREF="http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120555981100.htm" REL="nofollow">here</A> -<BR/>"If a framework of unhindered leadership can be put in place, there will still be a problem: how to prevent decision-making from being stampeded by the electronic mob? The country paid a huge price in 1999 when the government of the day lost its nerve and gave in to media-induced hysteria over the Kandhar hijacking. The anti-politician nerve was touched to coerce the Vajpayee government into swapping major terrorists for hostages; the same mood is being created today to goad the country into an unfocussed confrontation with Pakistan. The same ambience of ‘public anger’ after the December 13 attack on Parliament House pushed the Vajpayee government into an ‘aar –paar’ (do or die) game with Islamabad. The itch for ‘doing something’ against Pakistan must be avoided.")Swarnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623334723468773313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-55941803093231416182008-12-06T01:11:00.000+05:302008-12-06T01:11:00.000+05:30sorry, forgot to say that I agree with most of you...sorry, forgot to say that I agree with most of your TO DO that you have come with. <BR/><BR/>But w.r.t Media, it IS because of Media 24 7 presence I think people got so angry and agitated to see the reality and not just given the superficial information. <BR/><BR/>Yes, Media can be more responsible BUT that depends on their group leaders and a commendable team.I amhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14768569924039692072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-621159213836559772008-12-06T01:07:00.000+05:302008-12-06T01:07:00.000+05:30Excellent post Swarna, I myself have been thinking...Excellent post Swarna, <BR/>I myself have been thinking how to get people outside India vote. India is a country with so many of its citizen living outside and each one us want our votes to count. <BR/><BR/>I was wondering if an ONLINE Election Option can be created. <BR/><BR/>This would be secure, fast and ensure that every Indian votes irrespective of where they are in India or abroad. Suggested this to Ashutosh as well. <BR/><BR/>2. WAS the EX-Army and Defense personnel in training civilians. I was having a discussion on similar lines with a friend who signed up for red cross disaster management program after the Mumbai attacks. If I understood correctly, I think you have been in defense and hence will be the right person to give this idea a proper shape. <BR/><BR/>If you wouldn't mind I will ask him to get in touch with youI amhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14768569924039692072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-30060216527995021782008-12-05T11:04:00.000+05:302008-12-05T11:04:00.000+05:30Raji, I hope so too.Raji, I hope so too.Swarnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623334723468773313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-20801863428001865222008-12-04T14:50:00.000+05:302008-12-04T14:50:00.000+05:30That is a brilliant post , full of necessary and p...That is a brilliant post , full of necessary and practical advice. I hope someone in the right place sits up and takes note of it, and acts on the excellent points you have so painstakingly recorded.RAJI MUTHUKRISHNANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09767924355822361427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-44534788367455126912008-12-04T12:53:00.000+05:302008-12-04T12:53:00.000+05:30JP, That's an illustrative incident. The whole sys...JP, <BR/>That's an illustrative incident. The whole system needs an overhaul - top down and bottom upwards, all of us Indians need to recognize and see things in the right perspective. <BR/>Thanks for sharing.Swarnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623334723468773313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-51374310967828312712008-12-04T12:35:00.000+05:302008-12-04T12:35:00.000+05:30Hi Swarna :)Kudos to your excellent post with a lo...Hi Swarna :)<BR/><BR/>Kudos to your excellent post with a lot of research , deep thought, amazing insight and impartiality. <BR/><BR/>If only some of your points can be implemented our country will be a wonderful place on earth.<BR/><BR/>Ministers should be made accountable for their performance and a system should be established for assessing their work at periodic intervals. If they don’t measure up to expectations, they should be sacked unceremoniously. No excuses should be accepted.<BR/><BR/>Recently I was walking on MG Road in Kochi. Suddenly the traffic cops brought to a standstill traffic on both sides of the road near Ravipuram junction. Soon two police jeeps came blaring their sirens. I thought they were chasing a terrorist. A huge expensive car followed and another police jeep followed. All these vehicles suddenly stopped near a building. My curiosity was aroused. I went close to find out. There were another four more police jeeps parked and at least 25 cops were there. When I enquired, I was told that the home minister was attending an inaugural function of his relative’s shop.<BR/><BR/>You can see an irresponsible minister inconveniencing the public, wasting his time, misusing police force and squandering public money. He is not accountable. This kind of misuse of power can happen in all others states. The general public watch all this stupefied as mute spectators. No one protests. <BR/><BR/>The top brass of the police force encourage their subordinate officers to do this kind of things to please the ministers and get into their good books.<BR/><BR/>Is it possible to find a remedy for all this? I am at a total loss.<BR/><BR/>My congratulations to you for educating and mobilising the blogging world for a better India. <BR/><BR/>Have a good day :)Joseph Pulikotilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07074346261093541776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-15305159784980230232008-12-03T20:38:00.000+05:302008-12-03T20:38:00.000+05:30Excellent, Swarna!Excellent, Swarna!Indranihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13097788106899971708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-89713756504168781052008-12-03T19:22:00.000+05:302008-12-03T19:22:00.000+05:30Happy Kitten...Nothing should! A citizen over 18 s...Happy Kitten<BR/>...Nothing should! A citizen over 18 shd be in the electoral rolls, and (s)he should vote, for the 'right' candidate or else exercise <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/49-O" REL="nofollow">Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961</A><BR/>Not sure I answered your query? :)Swarnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623334723468773313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-82650140005590365392008-12-03T17:57:00.000+05:302008-12-03T17:57:00.000+05:30and Swarna.. what stops from letting us vote?and Swarna.. what stops from letting us vote?Happy Kittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14406399936808407736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-59148207170409141142008-12-03T17:15:00.000+05:302008-12-03T17:15:00.000+05:30Happy Kitten, thanks. Good point - NRI's can proba...Happy Kitten, thanks. <BR/>Good point - NRI's can probably influence family, friends back home? Meaningful, and purposeful debate will mean a lot.Swarnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623334723468773313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511615.post-4141686499200692692008-12-03T17:04:00.000+05:302008-12-03T17:04:00.000+05:30That was too good..The right to recall, i believe ...That was too good..<BR/><BR/>The right to recall, i believe is the best one. This would make the the elected representative to deliver the promises that he gave to his people.<BR/><BR/>but this still leaves out the NRI's.. since even we would like to be a part in this process.Happy Kittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14406399936808407736noreply@blogger.com