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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