Friday, August 29, 2014
Trekking in India – The Best Spots
While you might have hit some well known treks in India again and again, I couldn’t come to terms with the fact that India has just those and the Himalayas to offer. Plus, the heavy tourist influx took away the airs of surreal from many of the much loved treks. Thus, I sat down to do some research and got together some bits of my experience to make this list. While you might have heard of some of these, there are some little known entries too.
Photo Courtesy – mckaysavage
Take your pick from these. If nothing, days spent with wildflowers, bamboos, and pines are assured. Happy trekking.
Sandakfu Trek
Photo Courtesy – solarshakti
You hit this one at Manebhanjan, some 51 kms from Darjeeling. The highest peak in Bengal, Sandakfu lets you pore over Lhotse, Everest, Kanchendzonga and Makalu. To reach Sandakfu, you got to trek through Singalila National Park. It’ll lead you to Tonglu via Meghma (4 hours), which seems inviting enough for a tea break. Though trails from Tonglu can take you to Nepal, you better take off for Sandakfu in this race against rains that come seldom and uninvited.
Photo Courtesy – Calumr
An easy trot through bamboo coves will greet you on your way to Gairibas the next morning. A tiny hut for trekkers is built here, and you can doze off before hitting it off again. Once there, you can have a pit stop and clear your camera lens, for a whole forest of rhododendrons is spread till Kala Pokhari (3186 mts). Pack enough of water, for the Sandakfu-Phalut trek has no major source of water. Now, you are just 2 hours away from Sandakfu. While you soak in the views that have four out of the five highest peaks in the world, do not forget to look down at the sparkling waters of ice fed river, Teesta, winding around.
You need an average of 4 days for this trek.
Harishchandragad Fort Trek, Ahmednagar
Photo Courtesy – flickrohit
Harishchandragad Fort, which lies at the end of this trek, is nothing short of a mystery. The main complex is believed to have been built in the 6th century and found mention in both history book as well as Hindu mythology. Trekking enthusiasts hike all the way to this fort for the sheer charm of witnessing history from close quarters. You need to drive till Bailpada from Kalyan for the trek. It’s an easy one and you can reach the fort in some eight hours. Make Kokan Kada your pitstop at the top.
Photo Courtesy – Rohit Gowaikar
The nearby Kedareshwar Cave has an ancient shivalinga inside, which is usually half submerged in water from a nearby stream. Moreover, the cave’s roof rests on just one pillar, while the other three are completely broken! You can soak in a bird’s eye view of the whole of Konkan from the fort.
You need a whole day for this trek.
Triund Trek, Himachal Pradesh
Photo Courtesy – Alesandr Zykov
One of the most inviting treks for novice trekkers, this one starts from McLeodganj or what is lovingly called as Mini Tibet. It’s a 4-5 hour trek from Bhagsu Nath, the old shiva temple near German Bakery. Largely unexplored by Indian trekkers, you are bound to bump into quite a many foreigners on the trail. This one is perfect for the ones wishing to hit the hills before going overboard with the adventure, for their are small eateries and camping equipment available all the way. Start trekking early in the morning, for you’ll be safely in the shade of pines before the unblinking gaze of sun.
Photo Courtesy – Wiki Commons
The mysteriously fascinating and always clad in snow range of Dhauladhars closes in as you reach Triund. Pitch in a camp right there, as the stars hang loose over you, at just an arm’s distance away. And yes, in the morning, you can walk up to the snowline. With some luck, you’ll have balls of snow hurled around by the people around.
You need a leisurely 2 days for Triund trek.
Pemako Trek, Arunachal Pradesh
Photo Courtesy – Dhilung
Also known as the beyul (meadow) trek, this one is for the lovers of mysticism and, of course, trekking. The trek name itself translates to “the hidden land the shape of a lotus”. For this one, you need to start from Tuting, the last motorable town, near the border of Tibet. Take off towards Kuging Village via the suspension bridge. You’ll cross some of the most beautiful scenery across terraced farms and Yangsang Chu River here. While a night’s rest here is much called for, you can trek to village Mabi the next day. The change in flora is quite evident here, as sub-Alpine vegetation marks the landscape here. Another 3 hours from Mabi will have you at Yungchak, where you can call it quit for a day and pitch your tent right in the forest of rhododendrons. Start early the next day for you need around 5 hours to reach the next stop that is Kanebenga. Try standing on tiptoes and you can see Chinese villages from here. While you spend a night here with the lightbulbs at those villages gleaming at a distance, trek to Pao Limik the next day. While there’ll be nothing in terms of vegetation now, you’ll stumble upon little know beautiful lakes on the stretch. Your next stop after it is the holy lake of Danakosha.
Photo Courtesy – Wiki Commons
After trekking up a steep stretch, you’ll come face to face with the still distant peak of Titapori mountain. As you cross the five holy lakes and leave for Wangchen Phukpa you might find a freely loitering Ibex or Red Panda! A quick start the next morning can have you cover both Dungchen Droma and Tashi Droma the next day, taking you across a forest full of orchids to Tashigang Village. Your next stop after it is Payengdam village, where you’ll come across a little known monastery. Stay here for the night, for this is the last stopover of the trek before you begin the descent.
Around 20 or more days are needed to do this trek.
Nanda Devi Trek, Uttarakhand
Photo Courtesy – Michael Scalet
Hugh Ruttledge, the famed English mountaineer, couldn’t win over this. After his second attempt, he turned nonchalant and said that gaining even an entry to the Nanda Devi National Park is a task tougher than reaching the North Pole! Now, if you’re game for this tryst with the Himalayas, this one is for you. The trek starts from Lata village near Joshimath, from where you need to take the ridge towards the campsite at Lata Kharak. You’ll be able to see the peaks of Trishul, Nanda Ghunti, Dronagiri, Hathi Ghodi from here.
If you leave for Semi Kharak the very next day, don’t forget to capture the Rishi Ganga river gorge via your camera. Pitch a tent here for a calm, breezy evening. Next day, leave early for Jhandi Dhar, one of the steepest stretches. A really difficult 500 mt stretch starts from village Tolma, only to award you with a gorgeous, unforgettable view of Nanda Devi.
You need around 3 days for this trek.
Ravangla Trek, Sikkim
Oaks, hemlocks and rhododendrons are your companions on this trek. The dense forests run right by the side of almost the entire trek. You can reach the trek start at Ravangla by taking a cab from the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station or from Bagdogra airport. You can spend an evening at Ravangla and check out the Ralanag Monastery there. If you start early the next morning from base camp, you’ll be at the top by dusk. The trek is a fairly easy and straight one and you’ll find a clearly marked trail to pick. One of the best parts about this trek is that there are a few trekkers on this.
Photo Courtesy – Krishna Kiran
The greenery soon gives way to bamboo and other higher altitude plants. Further up the trek, you can watch the gorgeously rising Mt. Norsing, Pandim & Siniolchu While you trudge up this trek in the Kanchenjunga range, you can stop for some rest at the Maenam Hill. You can stay for a night or maybe two at the gompa here. Just remember that camping and bonfires other than this place isn’t allowed in any other part of the whole region.
While you go trekking on these wondrous terrains, do let us know if there’s more to the list. And like always, happy travelling.
Now Sofia Hayat sheds clothes for the Ice Bucket challenge
Yet another Bollywood celebrity to take the Ice Bucket challenge is none other than Bigg Boss 7 contestant, Sofia Hayat.
And Sofia's video is nothing compared to Poonam Pandey 's or Sunny Leone 's because she braved the icy storm in a bucket, in the buff.
Sofia Hayat
Her reason, as she wrote on her YouTube challenge: "I did this nude because women should not be ashamed of their bodies! Thx to Lucas and the nudists who allow me to shoot there!"
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Governance Track Record
Narendra Modi is well known in India and across the globe as a leader who is totally committed to development and good governance. His record four terms as the Chief Minister of his home state of Gujarat in Western India exemplifies Narendra Modi’s commitment to a development Agenda, rising above all other political considerations. He ushered in a paradigm shift towards pro-people and pro-active good governance, bringing in a positive change in the life of each and every citizen of Gujarat. His tireless efforts were guided by the principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas (Collective efforts, inclusive growth) where each and every person was an important stakeholder in Gujarat’s development journey.
As he demitted office on 21st May 2014, Narendra Modi bid farewell to a Gujarat that had become a powerhouse of growth and had emerged as an important contributor to India’s development journey. Under his able leadership Gujarat became known for its quality infrastructure and excellent grievance redressal systems.Narendra Modi’s governance in Gujarat saw a government that listened to the people and one that built its success through equal economic growth in all three sectors namely agriculture, industry and services. Through innovation and emphasis on detail he brought in record investment that benefitted people of Gujarat and drew people from all over India to work in Gujarat and make a living.
When he took over as Chief Minister on 7th October 2001 Narendra Modi did not have much time to settle into his new job. The state was reeling under the aftereffects of a severe earthquake. Before the quake there were floods, a cyclone and successive droughts. The entire world had written off Gujarat and it was believed that Gujarat would take years to develop. Narendra Modi proved them all wrong. In a record span of time Gujarat was up and running and it became the cynosure of the world’s eyes.
Narendra Modi’s success as an administrator lay in his out of the box thinking and never say die spirit. When he took over as Chief Minister the people of Gujarat told him one thing- “Modi ji we want electricity atleast when we have our dinner”. Narendra Modi went beyond that! He dreamt of a Gujarat where there is 24/7 electricity all through the year and thus, the Jyotigram Yojana was born. Under this Yojana (scheme/initiative), feeders for agriculture and residential use were separated and over 78,000 kms of electricity lines, over 18,000 electricity transformers and 17 lakh electric poles were installed.
Jyotigram not only gave 24×7 electricity but also gave an impetus to the economic landscape of Gujarat. Most importantly, rural employment went up and rural migration reduced by almost 33%. School drop out and absenteeism rates fell drastically. Students could now study till late in the night without any fear of power cuts and patients could receive quality treatment all through the day.
While Jyotigram is among Narendra Modi’s most celebrated development initiatives, a more quiet transformation took place in providing water to the people and farmers of Gujarat. This was a focus area for Narendra Modi from Day 1. Over 10 lakh hectares of land came under drip irrigation. From 1960-2001 only 12,000 hectares of land came under drip irrigation. Lakhs of check dams have been built through people’s participation. Gross irrigated areas expanded by 57% in the last decade. The net sown area increased by 8% in Gujarat. Several Pani Samitis were formed where citizens took the lead in managing and operating drinking water supply.
The easy availability of electricity and the mass movement towards water conservation led to an unprecedented growth in Gujarat’s agriculture sector. Traditionally Gujarat is not known for agriculture and it was a drought prone state but from 2001 onwards that image has changed.
During Narendra Modi’s 12-year stint as Gujarat CM agriculture growth remained above 10% through the entire decade. Gujarat’s farmers became about 8 times richer from the time Narendra Modi took over in 2001 bringing smiles to many faces. There was also a 40% increase in agriculture land- from 106 lakh hectares to 145 lakh hectares.
It is Narendra Modi’s firm belief that – “a Government does not have any business doing business”. What a government should do, however is to create a positive climate that will bring investment. Instances of these approaches were seen time and again during the biennial Vibrant Gujarat Summits that brought record investment and gave a boost to employment creation in Gujarat. There was quantum jump in both the MoUs inked and the investment coming. At the same time the SMEs flourished in Gujarat. As of 2014 there were over 5 lakh SMEs in Gujarat contributing to its development and economic growth.
In his 4609 days as CM, Narendra Modi devoted topmost priority to social sectors of Gujarat such as healthcare and education. From 2001 till 2011 there was a marked increase of almost 80% in Gujarat’s literacy rate including a significant rise in female literacy. The credit for this goes to the Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelavani Abhiyan spearheaded by Narendra Modi where during the peak summer the entire Government machinery went to across Gujarat and asked parents to educate their children.
In 2001 Gujarat had 11 Universities and in 2014 that number has shot up to 42. The number of Colleges stood at 442 today that had risen to 1762. The increase in engineering and medical seats has been manifold.
On the healthcare front, Narendra Modi waged a spirited battle against malnutrition. From 2007 till 2012 Gujarat witnessed a drop of 45% in malnutrition. Gujarat’s efforts to tackle malnutrition have also been appreciated by CAG report and other scholars. In tackling malnutrition there is still a lot more to be done across India but the effort put in Gujarat reveals the strong foundations laid by Narendra Modi and his commitment to eradicate malnutrition. Another initiative that is successfully implemented in Gujarat is the 108 Ambulance service that has saved several lives especially in the tribal areas of Gujarat.
Grievance redressal is the most important duty of any elected Government and under Narendra Modi Gujarat developed a wonderful grievance redressal system in SWAGAT, where grievance redressal was integrated with usage of technology in the larger interest of the common people. SWAGAT facilitated direct communication between the citizens and the Chief Minister. SWAGAT won several awards including a UN Public Service Award.
People have heard of One Day Cricket but Narendra Modi created something called ‘One Day Governance.’ This model focused on providing time bound services to citizens through e-governance. This eliminated red tape and brought smiles on the faces of people.
A firm believer in the philosophy of Antyodaya or reaching the very last person in the queue, Narendra Modi literally took the government to the poor through the Garib Kalyan Melas where the fruits of development reached the poor without any middlemen. Another example is the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana, a special package devoted to the tribal communities. When the scheme began in 2007 the package stood at Rs. 15,000 crore but today the package stands at Rs. 40,000 crore!
Narendra Modi did not have much time to catch his breath when he took over as CM in 2001 facing grave adversities and in challenging circumstances. But he rose to the occasion, turned every challenge into an opportunity and transformed Gujarat into a state that not only India but also the entire world is today proud of.
Narendra Modi PM's Profile ( Know your PM)
PM’s Profile
Dynamic, dedicated and determined, Narendra Modi arrives as a ray of hope in the lives of a billion Indians. His laser focus on development and his proven ability to deliver results have made him one of India’s most popular leaders. His promise is to build a nation that is strong, prosperous and inclusive, where each and every Indian can realize their hopes and aspirations.
On the 26th May 2014 Narendra Modi took oath as the Prime Minister of India. He made his mark on both the Indian and global stage as the chief minister of the western state of Gujarat for a record four terms. There, he brought about a paradigm shift in people’s lives by delivering pro-citizen good governance, where the state served its people humbly and honestly. He transformed Gujarat, which was reeling from the aftereffects of a devastating earthquake, into a growth engine that made a strong contribution to India’s development.
Always leading from the front and working towards all-round development, Modi built layers of infrastructure across the state, just as he restructured and simplified the bureaucracy of government to make it work efficiently, honestly and humanely. Under his leadership the Gujarat government won over 300 awards at the domestic and international level including those from bodies such as the UN.
Narendra Modi has achieved all this thanks to hard work and the values instilled in his childhood. Born on 17 September 1950 in a small town in Gujarat, he grew up in a loving but poor family ‘without a spare rupee’. The initial hardships of life not only taught the value of hard work but also revealed to him the avoidable sufferings of the common people. That is why as chief minister, he lived his life by the principle of ‘Antyodaya’, of serving the last person in the queue. From a very young age he immersed himself in service to the nation, working with patriotic organisations. He completed his MA from Gujarat University.
He is a ‘people’s leader’, dedicated to improving their well-being. Nothing is more pleasing to Modi than being among ordinary people, sharing their joys and alleviating their sorrows. His powerful, personal ‘connect’ on the ground is complemented by a strong presence online where he is known as India’s most techno-savvy leader, using the web to reach people and bring about change in their lives. He is very active on social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other forums.
Beyond politics, Narendra Modi enjoys writing and is the author of several books, including poetry. His day always begins with yoga, which centres him and instills a sense of calm in an otherwise fast-paced routine.
This is the man, an embodiment of courage, compassion and conviction, on whom the nation has bestowed its mandate, hoping that he will rejuvenate India and make it a bright beacon to the world.Narendra Modi 15 Aug 14 speech
मोदी की 'विशेष योजना' में जुटी पूरी सरकार
देश के 7.5 करोड़ परिवारों तक बैंकिंग सेवाएं पहुंचाने की योजना को मोदी सरकार पूरे जोर-शोर से शुरू करने की तैयारी में हैं। पूरे देश में 28 अगस्त को लांच होने वाली प्रधानमंत्री जन-धन योजना को सफलता पूर्वक शुरू करने के लिए नरेंद्र मोदी ने पूरी सरकार को लगा दिया है।
दिल्ली में प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी खुद योजना को लांच करेंगे। वहीं, देश के दूसरे क्षेत्रों में गृहमंत्री राजनाथ सिंह से लेकर केंद्रीय मंत्री कलराज मिश्र, नितिन गडकरी ,अनंत गीते, संतोष गंगवार और मनोज सिन्हा से लेकर पार्टी के प्रमुख नेता भी लांच के विभिन्न शहरों में मौजूद रहेंगे।
सरकार योजना के जरिए देश के 7.5 करोड़ परिवारों को बैंकिंग सेवाओं से जोड़ना चाहती है। इस योजना के प्रति लोगों में जागरूकता बढ़ाने के लिए मोदी सरकार ने मंत्रियों की पूरी टीम को तैनात किया है।
सूत्रों के अनुसार 28 अगस्त को गृहमंत्री राजनाथ सिंह लखनऊ में रहेंगे, वहीं सड़क परिवहन एवं राजमार्ग मंत्री नितिन गडकरी नागपुर में रहेंगे
दिल्ली में प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी खुद योजना को लांच करेंगे। वहीं, देश के दूसरे क्षेत्रों में गृहमंत्री राजनाथ सिंह से लेकर केंद्रीय मंत्री कलराज मिश्र, नितिन गडकरी ,अनंत गीते, संतोष गंगवार और मनोज सिन्हा से लेकर पार्टी के प्रमुख नेता भी लांच के विभिन्न शहरों में मौजूद रहेंगे।
सरकार योजना के जरिए देश के 7.5 करोड़ परिवारों को बैंकिंग सेवाओं से जोड़ना चाहती है। इस योजना के प्रति लोगों में जागरूकता बढ़ाने के लिए मोदी सरकार ने मंत्रियों की पूरी टीम को तैनात किया है।
सूत्रों के अनुसार 28 अगस्त को गृहमंत्री राजनाथ सिंह लखनऊ में रहेंगे, वहीं सड़क परिवहन एवं राजमार्ग मंत्री नितिन गडकरी नागपुर में रहेंगे
1 करोड़ खाते खोलने की योजना
प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी के संसदीय क्षेत्र वाराणसी में सूक्ष्म, लघु एंव मध्यम उद्योग मंत्री कलराज मिश्र उपस्थित रहेंगे। गाजीपुर में रेलवे राज्य मंत्री मनोज सिन्हा, इसी तरह कपड़ा मंत्री संतोष गंगवार बरेली उपस्थित रहेंगे। इसके अलावा भी पार्टी के प्रमुख नेता और सांसद भी अपने क्षेत्रों में मौजूद रहेंगे।
क्या है योजना
योजना को दो चरणों में लागू किया जाएगा। इसमें 14 अगस्त 2015 तक सभी परिवारों के पास कम से कम एक बैंक खाता होगा। आम बचत खाता खोलने के साथ-साथ खाताधारक को रु-पे आधारित डेबिट कार्ड दिया जाएगा।
इसके अलावा हर खाताधारक को एक लाख रुपये का दुर्घटना बीमा मिलेगा। साथ ही छह महीने तक अच्छा रिकार्ड रखने वाले ऐसे खाताधारक, जिनके पास आधार कार्ड है, उन्हें 5000 रुपये तक ओवर ड्रॉफ्ट सुविधा भी मिलेगी।
इससे खाता धारक अपने खाते मौजूद रकम से 5,000 रुपये ज्यादा तक की राशि निकाल सकेंगे। योजना के दूसरे चरण में खाताधारकों में बीमा और पेंशन उत्पादों की सेवाएं दी जाएंगी।
क्या है योजना
योजना को दो चरणों में लागू किया जाएगा। इसमें 14 अगस्त 2015 तक सभी परिवारों के पास कम से कम एक बैंक खाता होगा। आम बचत खाता खोलने के साथ-साथ खाताधारक को रु-पे आधारित डेबिट कार्ड दिया जाएगा।
इसके अलावा हर खाताधारक को एक लाख रुपये का दुर्घटना बीमा मिलेगा। साथ ही छह महीने तक अच्छा रिकार्ड रखने वाले ऐसे खाताधारक, जिनके पास आधार कार्ड है, उन्हें 5000 रुपये तक ओवर ड्रॉफ्ट सुविधा भी मिलेगी।
इससे खाता धारक अपने खाते मौजूद रकम से 5,000 रुपये ज्यादा तक की राशि निकाल सकेंगे। योजना के दूसरे चरण में खाताधारकों में बीमा और पेंशन उत्पादों की सेवाएं दी जाएंगी।
देश के 7 करोड़ परिवारों तक बैंकिंग सेवाएं पहुंचाने के लिए मोदी सरकार 28 अगस्त से प्रधानममंत्री जन-धन योजना शुरू कर रही है।
योजना को तेजी से अमलीजामा पहनाने के लिए बैंकों को बूस्ट करने के लिए सोमवार को मोदी ने खुद अधिकारियों को ई-मेल किया है। इसमें उन्होंने बैंक अधिकारियों से अपील की है कि आप इस अहम योजना को लागू करने में पूरी तरह से लग जाएं। इस तरीके से काम करें कि एक भी व्यक्ति बैंक खाते के बिना न रह जाए।
साथ में मोदी ने यह भी लिखा है कि वह पूरी योजना पर खुद नजर रखेंगे। बेहतर काम करने वाली बैंक शाखाओं को वह सम्मानित भी करेंगे। प्रधानमंत्री जन-धन योजना के पहले चरण में प्रत्येक खाता धारक को एक रू-पे आधारित डेबिट कार्ड दिया जाएगा।
योजना को तेजी से अमलीजामा पहनाने के लिए बैंकों को बूस्ट करने के लिए सोमवार को मोदी ने खुद अधिकारियों को ई-मेल किया है। इसमें उन्होंने बैंक अधिकारियों से अपील की है कि आप इस अहम योजना को लागू करने में पूरी तरह से लग जाएं। इस तरीके से काम करें कि एक भी व्यक्ति बैंक खाते के बिना न रह जाए।
साथ में मोदी ने यह भी लिखा है कि वह पूरी योजना पर खुद नजर रखेंगे। बेहतर काम करने वाली बैंक शाखाओं को वह सम्मानित भी करेंगे। प्रधानमंत्री जन-धन योजना के पहले चरण में प्रत्येक खाता धारक को एक रू-पे आधारित डेबिट कार्ड दिया जाएगा।
Feeling of wartime on India-Pakistan border due to recent skirmishes
JORA FARM: The habits of wartime have crept back into life here along the border between India and Pakistan.
In the mornings, villagers stitch up shrapnel wounds on the hides of their water buffalo and climb to the rooftops to examine gouges left by exploding shells. Desperate for a night's sleep, some have descended into concrete-reinforced bunkers that were nearly forgotten after 2003, when the two countries agreed to a ceasefire.
It is not clear what has caused the rise in nightly artillery firing across the border, which intensified in mid-August and, according to officials, has killed two Indian civilians and four Pakistani civilians, and injured dozens more. On Wednesday, there was hope that a de-escalation had begun. Two rare nights had passed without gunfire, and junior commanders from both countries met in a first step toward bringing down tensions.
Each side blames the other for shooting first: Indian officials say Pakistani rangers are launching the attacks to provide cover for militants hoping to cross into India. Pakistani officials say the Indians are firing without provocation, perhaps to retaliate for Pakistani successes against Afghan-based militants who, they claim, are supported by India.
READ ALSO: Pakistan violates ceasefire again despite assurance in flag meet
The crisis comes at a moment of shifting policy in each of the nuclear-armed neighbors. India's new prime minister, Narendra Modi, this month abruptly canceled talks with Pakistan to protest its contact with separatists in Jammu & Kashmir, and his national security adviser is a counter-terrorism specialist well known for his hawkish stance. The United States' pullout from Afghanistan looms in the months ahead, a shift that some Indian analysts fear will swing militants' focus toward India.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, has squabbled with Pakistani military leaders over policy toward India. Sharif wants to build business ties between the two countries to stimulate Pakistan's ailing economy. But the generals, who have a long history of wrecking civilian-led peace initiatives, have resisted - a possible factor, analysts say, in the increased shelling.
Stephen P Cohen, who last year published a book on the India-Pakistan conflict, said that border exchanges like this one have repeatedly led the two countries to the brink of conflict and that it is all but impossible to trace their origins.
"On one or the other side, a local commander gets a little nervous and starts firing at what he thinks is someone crossing over," he said. "Or, secondly, a local commander could be ambitious. Or, thirdly, you could have a deliberate policy choice by the government on either side."
This section of the 1,800-mile border between India and Pakistan runs through rich farmland, close enough for workers to look up at the enemy watchtowers from their rice paddies. Civilians here are becoming accustomed to small-arms fire, but in recent weeks villages have seen nighttime attacks with long-range 81 mm mortars, some of them striking in the heart of residential areas.
The chief of India's Border Security Force, D K Pathak, who made an impromptu visit to the Jammu region on Tuesday, said the exchanges began with Pakistani sniper fire in mid-July, making it the most intense and prolonged stretch since two countries went to war in 1971. This year, he said, "we have been told very clearly to respond appropriately."
"Our response," he said, "will not be less, it will be equal or more. But not less."
Asked what had set off the crisis, he said that he believed militants were gathering on the Pakistani side, waiting for the chance to cross into India.
In Pakistan, Brig Mateen Ahmad Khan, the commander of Chenab Rangers, dismissed that claim, saying the flat, bare terrain in the area made it an unfavorable crossing-point for guerrilla fighters and noting that India has erected a double fence equipped with sound detectors and illuminated after dark.
"There is no jungle, no forest," he said. "Everyone is looking at everyone. Why haven't the Indians killed or captured anyone who is trying to infiltrate? No crosser has been killed. It is simply because there is nothing like that." He also disputed Pathak's claim that the episode began with Pakistani sniper fire.
"These are lame excuses," he said. "They lie with flat faces."
On Wednesday, two nights without firing had allowed some people to relax a little. At a border post on the Pakistani side, an officer of the Chenab Rangers peered through binoculars toward the Indian position half a mile away and spotted a shadow near the pinkish post. He sent out a subordinate to tell a Pakistani farmer to come in from his rice fields.
"He could come under fire," he said. "Tell him to have patience for a few days, until things normalize."
Settlements on both sides remained largely deserted, and those who remained behind were eager to show visitors the punctured ceilings and deeply gouged walls. In Jora Farm, a cattle-herding village about 20 miles south of the city of Jammu, a patch of soft mud covers the spot where Mohammad Akram Hussain and his son, Aslam, who was said to be 6, were killed by a mortar.
Before dawn on Saturday, firing on the village had become so heavy that Hussain, 30, and his family worried that their thatched roof would catch fire, so they crept outside and sat against a wall, thinking it was safer there. The children climbed into the adults' laps.
That is how Hussain and his son were sitting when a mortar round fell about 5 feet away, shearing off part of Hussain's face and slicing through his son's leg and arm, relatives said.
At a funeral gathering this week, elders discussed how to evacuate the whole settlement, 800 people and 5,000 heads of cattle, a measure they have not taken since 1999, when the two armies faced off in a month-long conflict. Salamuddin, an elder who uses one name, said the attacks this month were of the same scale.
"For us, it is a war," he said. "What else worse will we see in a war? Two members of our family have been killed."
In the mornings, villagers stitch up shrapnel wounds on the hides of their water buffalo and climb to the rooftops to examine gouges left by exploding shells. Desperate for a night's sleep, some have descended into concrete-reinforced bunkers that were nearly forgotten after 2003, when the two countries agreed to a ceasefire.
It is not clear what has caused the rise in nightly artillery firing across the border, which intensified in mid-August and, according to officials, has killed two Indian civilians and four Pakistani civilians, and injured dozens more. On Wednesday, there was hope that a de-escalation had begun. Two rare nights had passed without gunfire, and junior commanders from both countries met in a first step toward bringing down tensions.
Each side blames the other for shooting first: Indian officials say Pakistani rangers are launching the attacks to provide cover for militants hoping to cross into India. Pakistani officials say the Indians are firing without provocation, perhaps to retaliate for Pakistani successes against Afghan-based militants who, they claim, are supported by India.
READ ALSO: Pakistan violates ceasefire again despite assurance in flag meet
The crisis comes at a moment of shifting policy in each of the nuclear-armed neighbors. India's new prime minister, Narendra Modi, this month abruptly canceled talks with Pakistan to protest its contact with separatists in Jammu & Kashmir, and his national security adviser is a counter-terrorism specialist well known for his hawkish stance. The United States' pullout from Afghanistan looms in the months ahead, a shift that some Indian analysts fear will swing militants' focus toward India.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, has squabbled with Pakistani military leaders over policy toward India. Sharif wants to build business ties between the two countries to stimulate Pakistan's ailing economy. But the generals, who have a long history of wrecking civilian-led peace initiatives, have resisted - a possible factor, analysts say, in the increased shelling.
Stephen P Cohen, who last year published a book on the India-Pakistan conflict, said that border exchanges like this one have repeatedly led the two countries to the brink of conflict and that it is all but impossible to trace their origins.
"On one or the other side, a local commander gets a little nervous and starts firing at what he thinks is someone crossing over," he said. "Or, secondly, a local commander could be ambitious. Or, thirdly, you could have a deliberate policy choice by the government on either side."
This section of the 1,800-mile border between India and Pakistan runs through rich farmland, close enough for workers to look up at the enemy watchtowers from their rice paddies. Civilians here are becoming accustomed to small-arms fire, but in recent weeks villages have seen nighttime attacks with long-range 81 mm mortars, some of them striking in the heart of residential areas.
The chief of India's Border Security Force, D K Pathak, who made an impromptu visit to the Jammu region on Tuesday, said the exchanges began with Pakistani sniper fire in mid-July, making it the most intense and prolonged stretch since two countries went to war in 1971. This year, he said, "we have been told very clearly to respond appropriately."
"Our response," he said, "will not be less, it will be equal or more. But not less."
Asked what had set off the crisis, he said that he believed militants were gathering on the Pakistani side, waiting for the chance to cross into India.
In Pakistan, Brig Mateen Ahmad Khan, the commander of Chenab Rangers, dismissed that claim, saying the flat, bare terrain in the area made it an unfavorable crossing-point for guerrilla fighters and noting that India has erected a double fence equipped with sound detectors and illuminated after dark.
"There is no jungle, no forest," he said. "Everyone is looking at everyone. Why haven't the Indians killed or captured anyone who is trying to infiltrate? No crosser has been killed. It is simply because there is nothing like that." He also disputed Pathak's claim that the episode began with Pakistani sniper fire.
"These are lame excuses," he said. "They lie with flat faces."
On Wednesday, two nights without firing had allowed some people to relax a little. At a border post on the Pakistani side, an officer of the Chenab Rangers peered through binoculars toward the Indian position half a mile away and spotted a shadow near the pinkish post. He sent out a subordinate to tell a Pakistani farmer to come in from his rice fields.
"He could come under fire," he said. "Tell him to have patience for a few days, until things normalize."
Settlements on both sides remained largely deserted, and those who remained behind were eager to show visitors the punctured ceilings and deeply gouged walls. In Jora Farm, a cattle-herding village about 20 miles south of the city of Jammu, a patch of soft mud covers the spot where Mohammad Akram Hussain and his son, Aslam, who was said to be 6, were killed by a mortar.
Before dawn on Saturday, firing on the village had become so heavy that Hussain, 30, and his family worried that their thatched roof would catch fire, so they crept outside and sat against a wall, thinking it was safer there. The children climbed into the adults' laps.
That is how Hussain and his son were sitting when a mortar round fell about 5 feet away, shearing off part of Hussain's face and slicing through his son's leg and arm, relatives said.
At a funeral gathering this week, elders discussed how to evacuate the whole settlement, 800 people and 5,000 heads of cattle, a measure they have not taken since 1999, when the two armies faced off in a month-long conflict. Salamuddin, an elder who uses one name, said the attacks this month were of the same scale.
"For us, it is a war," he said. "What else worse will we see in a war? Two members of our family have been killed."
PM’s Jan Dhan Yojana: Modi is using state-run banks to gain political mileage
n the last 10 days, public sector banks have been competing each other with unprecedented aggression to make visible their active, wholehearted participation in prime minister Narendra Modi’s flagship financial inclusion programme - Jan Dhan Yojana, formally launched today (28 August).
The plan requires nationalised banks to open 7.5 crore bank accounts, offer a free Rupay debit card and accident insurance of Rs 1 lakh for each account. Further, an overdraft of Rs 2,000 will be provided to each account holder after satisfactory operation in the account for six months.
The accident cover will be doubled for those who join in the initial 100 days.
The aggression among bankers is clearly visible.
“Yes we are confident of achieving the programme. It will be done,” said a senior banking industry official when asked how confident is he about achieving the target.
Interestingly, a few days back, the same banker had highlighted the challenges of implementing the massive financial inclusion programme.
“Who will bear the cost of going to rural areas? Should a bank operate an account only for getting government benefits?” the banker had asked then.
Surprisingly, his concerns have vanished in a matter of few days. What caused it? The answer possibly lies in the endless missives originated from North Block and Prime Minister’s Office to the offices of state-run banks pushing the plan.
According to a PTI report, 7.25 lakh emails have been sent to bank officers informing them about the financial inclusion scheme, which Modi had announced in his Independence Day address to the nation.
As per the plan, banks will organise more than 60,000 camps in rural and urban areas on the launch day, i.e. today.
The estimated target given to state-run banks on the first day of the programme is opening one crore accounts. “It is quite possible,” told the chairman of a public sector bank to Firstbiz.
One crore bank accounts in a single day: that’s something banks haven't done ever since barter system gave way to currency and later to conventions of formal banking in any part of the world. Remember, in the entire 2013-14, banks opened 6 crore basic savings deposit accounts under the financial inclusion programme - the aim is to open one-sixth of this in a single day. (As of March 2014, the total number of such accounts stood at 24.3 crore.)
To be sure, it is not impossible for the banking system to do so given the massive branch network and reach of state-run banks in rural India.
In fact, banks have already collected required information from the new account openers through preparatory camps. One would imagine that the so-called camps were formally organised in the last 10 days since Modi announced the plan only on 15 August.
In the last few days, bankers are vying with each other to ensure the much needed public attention needed to show off their active participation in Modi’s dream project. That’s understandable because publicising the targets achieved on financial inclusion is equally important for PSBs as achieving the targets, since their fortunes are inevitably linked to that (read the annual capital infusion).
One of the government banks even issued a press release saying it planned to open more than 2 lakh basic savings accounts under Jan Dhan Yojana. Other state-run banks too have been busy organising camps to mobilise their potential account holders much like some school managements run for students to meet the minimum strength to retain their recognition.
There are a few questions remains to be answered:
First, if the government’s intention is indeed to empower the unbanked population, giving them meaningful access to formal banking services and also ensuring that they continue using those accounts, there is no logic in issuing instructions to banks, effectively forcing them, to open the magic number of one crore accounts on the launch day? Such diktats will naturally push all state-run banks run from pillar to post in their hurry to add account holders and in the process compromising on following minimum KYC norms.
By doing this, isn’t this whole exercise becoming an act of micromanaging public sector banks and using them as mere tools to gain political mileage, rather than ensuring steady progress on financial inclusion?
Second, one of the conditions, which nationalised banks had put forward in the run up to Jan Dhan Yojana was to make Aaadhar a mandatory reference document for opening the bank accounts under Jan Dhan Yojana. The idea was to avoid duplication and misuse of the freebies offered by the government along with the no-frill accounts.
Senior bankers, including State Bank of India Chairman Arundhati Bahttacharya had pointed out that Aadhaar must be made mandatory for opening new accounts, to prevent a situation where the same person open multiple accounts to avail the promised debit card and overdraft facility. Reports suggest that the finance ministry has rejected this demand from bankers. Besides, the government has also finalised the counters of credit guarantee fund to safeguard banks against possible defaults from such accounts. Who will be answerable to possible losses of state-run banks?
According to the ministry’s estimate, 59% of households in the country have currently bank accounts, which works out to about 71 crore bank accounts, assuming at least one per household. Now, the Aadhaar cards have been issued to about 70 crore citizens so far by the Unique Identification Authority of India.
Assuming that chances of someone who manages to get an Aadhaar card already possessing a bank account are relatively high, how will the yet-to-be-banked, who are not necessarily Aadhaar-enabled, produce Aadhaar for the purpose of opening a bank account? If the governments push banks to accept any document (electricity, telephone bills) to open accounts, bankers' fears of widespread duplication during the programme are likely to come true.
Third, and the most critical, why are the private sector bankers totally left out of Jan Dhan Yojana and the whole burden of spreading financial inclusion imposed on state-run banks? As of March 2013, private banks had 16,000 branches across the country and many of them have increased their presence in semi-urban and rural areas. The number is not insignificant compared with the 75,000 plus branches of government banks.
In a banking system, where private banks are treated at par with public sector banks on any regulations and operations, including the priority sector lending requirement (under which banks have to lend 40 percent of their loans to agriculture, exports and economically weaker sections), what is the logic behind excluding private banks when it comes to the government’s financial inclusion exercise?
Nowhere in the world, distribution of free bank accounts have worked to empower the poor and unbanked, beyond facilitating the purpose of transfer of government benefits to the citizens.
Instead, a model, which encourages people to use the banking channels based on their requirements and increase in the income standards would have worked better.
Freebies only help to increase the number of dormant accounts and imposing cost-burden arising out of such accounts to state-run banks.
If Modi wants to experiment with the noble intention of upliftment of the poor through steady progress of financial inclusion, he should prod private sector banks to be part of the plan and lessen the burden on the state-run banks.
The rule of law says norms can't be different for same kind of entities.
Indian Festival Holi
Indian Holly Festival
Holi is an important festival to Hindus. It is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalgun (February/March), (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in March, sometimes in late February.[22]
The festival has many purposes; most prominently, it celebrates the beginning of Spring. In 17th century literature, it was identified as a festival that celebrated agriculture, commemorated good spring harvests and the fertile land.[5] Hindus believe it is a time of enjoying spring's abundant colours and saying farewell to winter. Holi festivities mark the beginning of new year to many Hindus, as well as a justification to reset and renew ruptured relationships, end conflicts and accumulated emotional impurities from past.[12][21]
It also has a religious purpose, symbolically signified by the legend of Holika. The night before Holi, bonfires are lit, in a ceremony known as Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) or Little Holi. People gather near fires, sing and dance. The next day, Holi, also known as Dhuli in Sanskrit, or Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated. Children and youth spray coloured powder solutions (Gulal) at each other, laugh and celebrate, while elders tend to smear dry coloured powder (Abir) on each other's face.[1][21] Visitors to homes are first teased with colours, then served with Holi delicacies, desserts and drinks.[23] After playing with colours, and cleaning up, people bathe, put on clean clothes, visit friends and family.[12]
Like Holika Dahan, Kama Dahanam is celebrated in some parts of India. The festival of colours in these parts is called Rangapanchami, and occurs on fifth day after Poornima (full moon)
Night before: Holika Bonfire
On Holi: spray colours on others, dance, party; eat festival delicacies
Holi is an important festival to Hindus. It is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalgun (February/March), (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in March, sometimes in late February.[22]
The festival has many purposes; most prominently, it celebrates the beginning of Spring. In 17th century literature, it was identified as a festival that celebrated agriculture, commemorated good spring harvests and the fertile land.[5] Hindus believe it is a time of enjoying spring's abundant colours and saying farewell to winter. Holi festivities mark the beginning of new year to many Hindus, as well as a justification to reset and renew ruptured relationships, end conflicts and accumulated emotional impurities from past.[12][21]
It also has a religious purpose, symbolically signified by the legend of Holika. The night before Holi, bonfires are lit, in a ceremony known as Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) or Little Holi. People gather near fires, sing and dance. The next day, Holi, also known as Dhuli in Sanskrit, or Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated. Children and youth spray coloured powder solutions (Gulal) at each other, laugh and celebrate, while elders tend to smear dry coloured powder (Abir) on each other's face.[1][21] Visitors to homes are first teased with colours, then served with Holi delicacies, desserts and drinks.[23] After playing with colours, and cleaning up, people bathe, put on clean clothes, visit friends and family.[12]
Like Holika Dahan, Kama Dahanam is celebrated in some parts of India. The festival of colours in these parts is called Rangapanchami, and occurs on fifth day after Poornima (full moon)
Night before: Holika Bonfire
On Holi: spray colours on others, dance, party; eat festival delicacies
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