Sunday, October 11, 2015

INDIAN RULERS DREAM ABOUT AGRICULTURE WITHOUT IRRIGATION

FARMERS FORGOTTEN:
CORPORATES FAVOURED




Farmers have become a forgotten tribe in our corporate democracy. The dream to interlink Indian rivers for which then Union Minister of State for Water Resources Dr.K.L.Rao in eighties of last century to President of India Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam in 21st century were spokespersons had been laid to rest by recent Supreme Court observation, reported in The Times of India, reproduced in verbatim link below :

Supreme Court had expressed inability to direct the Government of India to pump in 5 lakh crore this year to start the river interlink project. In six years from 2005-2006 to 2010-2011, the UPA Government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Finance Minister Pranab Mukerjee had written off corporate income tax to the extent of 3,7,937 crores. It had foregone excise duty by 7, 49, 623 crores. Customs duty to the meager amount of Rs 1000463 crores had been written off.  Twent one lakh twenty five thousand and twenty three crores had been written off benefitting the corporate world. Successive budgets reveal this massive bonanza to companies. At this rate per day 240 crores is saved by companies, and this Government has no money, just 5 lakh crore to interlink rivers and generate agricultural employment to the largest chunk of Indian voters.

According to the Stolen Asset Recovery initiative of the World Bank and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime published in 2011, titled Puppet Masters reminds us that Indian rulers are mere puppets and puppeteers are multi-national companies and other mafias.

If only people with conscience can ask, why our stolen assets could not be brought back to finance the river inter-link project it would awaken the rulers from slumber and lethargy.
Our rivers are diverted by China. Our Himalayan glaciers are melting year after year. North India faces flood fury without fail in every year. Our rivers are emptying in our seas. Farmers have no water left for agriculture.

As per 2003 statistics of World Commission of Dams China tops with 22,000 dams. America follows with 6575 dams, India has 4291 dams and tiny Japan is with 2675 dams. These dams not only cater to agricultural needs but also generate power.

Our river waters should not be used by our farmers, and Indian rulers have put river interlink project in cold storage, only to redeem it on the day corporate farming catches in India. There cannot be any other reason to be debating beyond 4 decades river inter linking, and the failure of which results in flood furies year after year.

The Drivers and Dynamics of Illicit Financial Flows from India: 1948-2008 published by Global Financial Integrity states the total value of illicit assets held abroad represents 72% of India’s underground economy. Estimated around $213 million in 2008 it would be around $ 462 million now.

If this or partial amount of this had been brought back Supreme Court need not have expressed inability to direct the Government of India to cough up 5 lakh crore for interlinking of rivers.

One who first knocked the Supreme Court, which even the Times of India news mentions, I can only express my anguish in Govern Good website edited by Dr.P.Kangeaune, who hails from an agriculturalist family.

N.Nandhivarman

General Secretary Dravida Peravai

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