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Tuesday, March 18, 2008

[vinnomot] Re: [khabor.com] WB & IMF Destroyed Jute Sector: Experts

Dear Mr. Hasnat

Thanks for your emotional and biased comments on my mail. Yes, I repeat that had these erudite Harvard trained economist were capable to steer the economy than we would not have suffered till date. There is a saying that morning shows the day but since our morning was covered with cloud by wrong decision of Nationalization of all industries(most of them were profitable) an depute illiterate/half educated "Administrators" on party cadres basis. The country saw the good (?) effect of such decision that all those industries became not only burden on the national exchequer but became junk yard.But the administrator's wallet were full. What else I can say about them. There are lot many decisions of then Planning Commission were not efficacious resulting in zero growth of economy. Of course then churi chamari was also a factor of impediment for such failure.

Please be sure that Bangladeshis are not fools to blame for every failed issues on the Porom Mitra India. There are reasons to do that. It will require pages to explain. Just I want to request you to please cite a single example where India had acted as a helping hand to augment Bangladesh's causes either bilaterally, regionally or internationally. You will find none. I am sure that's one of the reason amongst many that people of Bangladesh(except the pro? people) have become anti-india.

You refer that after the post 1975 the Razakar Janwars took opportunity cunningly to undo all the good works and tried best to make united Pakistan. This a laughing story for the kids for kids of 3 year old !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a concocted story made by the Chetona who wish to hold the sole agency ship of War of independence. But when these people do hobnob and get their offshoots married to Razakar Janwar's (Beai Mosharaf of Khulna) son then there is no harm. The problem with our so-called intellectuals(Budhdhi jibis) and political activists that there is no tolerance to others opinion(which is called real democracy) and that resulted in the disastrous decision of Sheikh Mujib to strangulate the holy constitution to establish the Monster BAKSAL.

Dear Mr. Hasnat in your attitude it appears that you have lost your temper and made comments against me which does not fall under decency without evaluating the intricate meaning of my write up. Just as practiced by Awami League activists that opposers are to be termed as Razakar etc etc you did that. You termed me as "Dumber" plus pro janwar Golam Azam. This is highly objectionable, indecent and beyond norms of debate.I would request you to behave sane.

Dear friend, have you ever asked or censured Sheikh Hasina who had joint press conference with Janwar Nizami and met Janwar Golam Azam presenting Holy Quran to seek his blessings for the election and signed the agreement with Islamic Fundamentalist to allow "Fatwas" to supersede over the existing Law. These are not my statements it was published in news papers with picture). No, you didn't or could'nt as most of you believe in the theory of "King can do no wrong".

You have all the right to believe in the philosophy on party line basis but please do not try to impose those on others like monster BAKSAL. Now people have become much conscious that they don't care whether it is BNP or Awami League. They want people with right and honest commitment to steer the country for whom ocean of blood have been shed. Jonogon wants chors, chechors, thugs, mastans and Dalal's either of India or Pakistan out from political scenario of Bangladesh
Please be it known that no single individual or party or parties can claim the sole agency ship of the Shadhinata Judhdha. It was the joint and committed effort of Chatra - Janata - Sipahi - rajnitibid's to fight against the Bestial Paki forces.

Finally, Mr. Hasnat if you wish to continue discussion than I will request you to be tolerant and open and decent and not abuse opponent which depicts ill minds.

With regards and best wishes

Faruque Alamgir

Capt S S Hasnat <capt.hasnat@ctg.mghgroup.com> wrote:

Dear Mr.Faruque Alamgir

Please advise what happened to planning of the country, revival of
jute industry after 1975 !!!!! Post 1975 - it was and still the
war-criminals or more precisely the hyenas known as Jamaat /Rejakars
and Albadrs who very cunningly took the helm of the country in
disguise and brought the total disaster to take revenge of their lost
interest in 1971 . Isn't it Mr.Alamgir? However, they always used
the weapon 'hate India" or "blame it to India" to cover up their bad
intentions and to get popular support. Gentleman this is no more
working now. Things are very much visible now - thanks to advanced
information technology. People also became much smarter and rational
and responsive. Mr.Alamagir - your usual scrap of blaming what
happened 35 yrs ago for the present condition of jute industry proves
that you are dumber than a 3 yr old. And you dare to call a Harvard
Ph.D a duffer !!!!!!! Shame on you!!!! Try to show respect
dear. Thats one thing you people (all war-criminals and
associates) lack. You people do not want to respect our liberation
war (you people name it civil war), neither want to respect
Bangladesh as an independent country ( still dream of united
pakistan) nor like to respect its honoured citizens and intellectuals
(for you Golam Azam (MF) is the most intellectual person ever born in
east-pakistan). Sorry chap - you are not winning anymore. Try your
tricks somewhere else. One thing I can suggest - to make your dream
partly true - try to convince your soul-land Pakistan to accept
following proposals for unification:
1. The entire country will be called Bangladesh. They will be called
West-Bangladesh.
2. Only official language will be Bengali.
3. Capital will be Dhaka.
4. All business and economy will be controlled from Dhaka.
5. People of West-Bangladesh origin will be issued with limited
passports to travel around.
6. People of West-Bangladesh origin will be treated as 2nd class citizen.
7. 85% of blue colored government jobs will be earmarked for people
of East-Bangladesh origin.
8. Army force will be majorly dominated by East-Bangaldeshi
people. Only one West-Bangladesh regiment will be there consisting
mainly of panjabi people.
9. West-Bangladesh will be frequently screwed by Bangladesh police force.

Please try to convince your soulmates to accept above. Then we can
have a dream Bangladesh and devil India would never dare to harm us in anyway.

rgds

At 12:44 AM 3/18/2008, Faruque Alamgir wrote:

>Friends
>
>Since day one Bangladesh was steered by people who neither
>expreience nor expertise and the main one was none any commitment to
>the nation. Every action was taken politically,economically and
>socially was to please the "POROM MITRA INDIA".
>
>Sheikh Mujib appointed four duffer economists like Dr. Nurul
>Islam(Harvard P.hd), Dr. Mosharraf Hossain,Dr. Anisur Rahman, and
>the great non-Bengali Dr. Rehman Sobhan as the Dy. Chairman and
>Members of then Planning Commission.
>These quadrplets with Amarican knowledge of economy took the first
>bluderous decision of Nationalisation of all Indutrial sectors. That
>was the begining of the stepping down and collapse of all the main
>industries specially the "Jute". Our Jute industries was being
>closed one by one in three years 1972-75 and the dead Jute
>industries in the Bank of ganga(Calcurtta) started reviving.
>It is needless to say that all these decision were taken to pay off
>debt of the leaders of BAL for their refuge and rajokiuo tosaroki
>during 1971by Porom Mitra but at the cost of the newly born country.
>For the crime Bangladesh is still suffering as our back bone was
>crushed under illegitimate friendship?????????
>
>These are few instances of trecherous role of post independence BAL
>to make Bangladesh a "Bottom Less Busket" and make Bangladesh a
>subservient country under the tutelage of the Porom Mitra".
>
>So, friends it is of no use to blame IMF/WB the DFI's.Now this
>question is being raised by the pro BAL labour leaders who reaped
>the benifit by creating chaos in the industrial sector then. This is
>nothing but to become hero by shifting the blame of crime committed
>by them onto others. That is the characteristics of BAL and it's
>lezur Shoe jibis etc.
>
>Faruque Alamgir
>
>Isha Khan <bd_mailer@yahoo.com> wrote:
>WB & IMF Destroyed Jute Sector: Experts
>...a move is underway to disclose the list of corrupt suspects
>responsible for ruination of the jute industry this month
>
>
>The World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a
>planned way are destroying country's jute sector in a bid to make
>Bangladesh foreign aid dependent and create India's jute export in
>the global market. "WB does not want to see Bangladesh grow as an
>industrial country. On the other hand WB maintains a good relation
>with India; it is encouraging the country to set up more jute
>mills.(The Bangladesh Today)
>
>But at the same time it is pressurising Bangladesh to close down the
>jute mills. But we are surprised very much when we see that
>Bangladesh government is playing its role as a silent spectator. But
>our climate is very much favourable for growing of the finest jute
>in the world," economists, jute experts and political leaders told
>journalists at a press briefing held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Sunday.
>
>Under the banner of "Peoples Commission on Jute and Jute Industry"
>Economist Anu Mohammad, Justice Mohammad Golam Rabbani, Jute Expert
>Shah Alam and Communist Party of Bangladesh leader Shahidullah
>Chowdhury talked to the journalist about the latest condition of the
>jute sector.
>
>They said at present, there are 22 jute mills under the Bangladesh
>Jute Mills Corporation with over 43,000 workers and employees on its
>pay roll. Of them seven have already been closed down. Two are on
>the process of leasing out to the private sector, they said adding a
>few other jute mills are run by the private sector.
>
>"At least 28 lakh ( 2.8 million )workers, employees and officials
>were directly and indirectly involved in the jute industries in
>1982. But within 24 years, 27.5 lakh workers, employees and
>officials became jobless or retrenched following the closure of the
>jute mills," they added.
>
>Expressing grave concern they said many jute industrial belts
>including Khulna, Sirajganj and Chittagong have turned into a bleak
>and desolate landscape with the workers, employees and officers of
>jute mills with their family members passing days without food,
>house and treatment due to nonpayment of salaries, leading to the
>deaths of nine workers from starvation.
>
>It is learnt that in fiscal year 1972-73, Bangladesh had produced
>0.45 million tonnes of jute products, but by 2005-06 fiscal
>production had declined to only 0.15 million tonnes. On the other
>hand Indian production had increased by nearly 60 per cent in the
>period to 1.6 million tonnes.
>
>Meanwhile, the present caretaker government has decided in principle
>to cut the number of workers in public sector jute mills by 50 per
>cent to make the state-owned mills, now reeling under perennial
>losses, commercially viable.
>
>It may be pointed out jute has once been the called golden fibre of
>Bangladesh and the farmers used to call it a cash crop. The previous
>government shut down the country's largest Adamjee Jute Mills due to
>mismanagement and corruption.
>
>Meanwhile, a move is underway to disclose the list of corrupt
>suspects responsible for ruination of the jute industry this month.
>"We are continuing investigation at various levels to identify the
>corrupt suspects in jute sector and hope that the identity of many
>corrupt suspects would be disclosed this month", BJMC Chairman
>Ataharul Islam told The Bangladesh Today over phone on Sunday.
>Sources said inquiries are going on against store officers, Project
>Chief, Engineer, Accountants, Jute officers, Scale Man, Production
>Manager and Quality Controller under the Bangladesh Jute Mills
>Corporation (BJMC). There are massive allegations of
>misappropriating crores of Tk. against these officials who have
>pushed the jute sector on the verge of ruination, sources said.
>
>Sources said the officials in the state-run jute mills have built
>magnificent houses at Gulshan and Banani. If enquiries are carried
>out fairly and are made public, corruption in the jute sector will
>come out, sources said. "We will at first recover the finance from
>the corrupt suspects and afterwards we will refer cases to the
>Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for taking legal action", the BJMC
>chairman said.
>
>
><http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/back%20page.htm#back>http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/back%20page.htm#back
>page -01
>
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[vinnomot] Thoughts on Poona callcentre murder: from Nigel to Vinnomot 80318

To Moderator(s), Vinnomot

vinnomot@yahoogroups.com

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

There are in total two posts which I want to put. This, and another. Please consider them.

-- Nigel J. Shaughnessy

Tuesday 18th March 2008

nigel_j2000@yahoo.co.in

______________________________________

This is a discussion on callcentre worker Jyoti Choudhry's murder in November 2007. (Poona, India)

Nigel Shaughnessy's reply to Delia Maria:

Monday 12th November 2007

To Mrs. Delia Maria

(Copies to Ms Madhavi, Ms Vasudha, Mr Satish Khot, Ms Sheila Christian, Ms Feroza Saran, Ms M Rahirkar, StreeMukti, Navbharat, Ms Kavita Kowshik, Ms Madhuri Singh, Adv SV Prabhu)

Re: thoughts on call centre employee's murder

Dear Delia,

Thank you for sending me a copy of your activism emails.

As I promised, I would send my tips and suggestions and opinions on the subject, with copies to interested activists. I have numbered your paragraphs wherever not originally numbered.

(I have also attached them as an MSWord file).

Your Para.1: ("I am shocked that not only do women of my city now have to work night shifts, but they must also have to face the possibility of extortion, rape and murder as an added occupational hazard!")

In my opinion, your reaction is more emotional than intellectual, which is naturally because of the rape and death of the poor girl Jyoti.

Rape is a cruel and inhuman and despicable act. I too am disheartened at the rape and murder of Jyoti.

Men are also likely to be harmed (robbery, etc.). Taxpayers' money go for security for men also.

All over India esp. in big cities, call centres have sprung up. Many ladies work there. How many instances of rape, robberies, murders have taken place upon them? And compare it to those upon the society at large.

In your youth and childhood, and my youth and childhood, had we ever seen women go out after 10 o'clock at night even for night duty (other than nurses)? Now, in the IT industry women and girls fearlessly go out at any hour of the night. We never thought of it in our dreams. So, from such an environment as night duty for women on a large scale, problems are likely to take place, which can take place in any industry and any society. No matter what checks you put, crime will find a way.

In Poona 35,000 are employed in the IT sector. In India there are many more.. How many incidents of rape are there against or upon them? In Poona? Or even in the whole country? (I came to know that a pregnant callcentre employee was killed by a cabbie in Poona; Another cabbie was wooing a cc lady, was rejected and so threw acid on her; and Jyoti is the third case in Poona, as we know. I admit there may be a few more, hidden or suppressed cases). Probably this was the first rape and murder of the industry in Poona. What is the ratio? What is the ratio and number of cases in the rest of the society and industries? How can we stop that? Why only favour call centre women and why only tighten call centre cabbies? Because call centre women are rich? Or beautiful? Or educated? And because call centre cabbies are poor? Many maidservants are raped and molested by their masters. The fact rarely comes out. Even when it does, what, in your opinion, should be done about it and to prevent it?

Not only in the callcentre industry but in any industry, any society, there are problems for women. The government has to think about these too. Many women who work in STD booths, xerox shops, small school teachers, lawyers office workers, salesgirls, tuition teachers, dispensary staff, nurses, ayahs, domestic servants, etc. are paid Rupees 1,000 to 3,000 a month. The salary is used up in their travel itself. That is why even their marriages are delayed. Such women, if in call centres earn Rupees 10,000 to 30,000 a month, their lives will be financially secure and secure. Was this security there before? In such security, they can purchase good housing, get married, purchase vehicles, and take care of the expenses of their families. Also, the travelling expenses are saved because of the company providing conveyance. Also, their time is saved. So, do call centre women benefit or suffer because of the call centre industry? What is your opinion?

Before callcentres, nobody less educated could dream of getting such a good salary. Because of such salaries, the society in general benefits, as the purchasing power goes up. Not only does the industry benefit the employees and cabbies, but also the surrounding society and industries. Because of this unfortunate incident is it fair to attack call centre managements and cabbies? Unemployment has been lessened because of callcentre jobs, and it has benefited callcentre employees also the food contracters, cab drivers, etc. At least 35,000 people have got jobs because of the IT sector, in Poona. Unemployment has been solved to an extent. Unemployment is the country's biggest problem. I am sure you agree with me.

Your Para.2: ("Pune being a boom city, the call centre business is but naturally attracting our women, mostly young, with its high salaries and other perks. However, not only is unionization still not allowed, but other civic problems have been the fall-out of this industry. For instance, Intelligent Pune tabloid a few months ago had a report of how there are accidents on the streets because of speeding call centre cabbies. We on Airport road have been time and again bringing to the attention of the RTO about the multitudes of call centre cabs being parked on the streets or pavements posing a risk to pedestrians.")

Almost all top call centre employees, including women, have their own cars. THAT creates congestion and problems. So many car and twowheeler showrooms have come up. So many reachable auto finance and auto bank loan schemes have come up. There is no control on the purchase of vehicles, and no control with regard to ratio to population. The auto industry is now solelya profit business without regard to pollution, traffic or other problems. They do not care what happens to the country.

If callcentre cabbies allow other passengers than the company employees, many other public including ladies hike a lift and pay some fare. This is also a big security risk both for the outsider passenger, and also for the cabbie (if the outsider or outsiders turns out to be a rowdy). Also, even from the company, many cabbies give their own friends a lift. Many callcentre cabbies pick up people from busstops. (The public likes to go in such cabs as the bus service in Poona is poor and time taking, and there are no local trains in the city as in Bombay.) These practices should be firmly stopped.

The cause of traffic congestion is city roads badly planned, vehicle overpopulation, unlimited and unplanned constructions, and drainage problems and civic workers at work. To this you mad add a drop of call centre vehicles, but not solely call centre vehicles.

Your Para. 3. ("The rape of Jyotikumari Chaudhary is yet another dimension of how this industry will destroy the life and safety of citizens in this city. It is a wake-up call to all of us women that it is becoming unsafe to move around at night. It is time that womens groups take up the issue with the RTO, the Police and the government to put pressure on call centres on these issues"):

Your Para. 3(a)&(b): ("warn the cabbies against speeding and confiscate their license if they do so). (have all cabbies registered with both RTO and call centres with full information of any criminal history, etc; today's papers even suggest that they be forced to wear an i-card/billa.")

In addition to callcentre cabbies, why not put the heat on rickshaws, private cars, two-wheelers, handcarts, idlers, beggars? About the I-card/billas, bus conductors are also issued billas but hey hide it behind their pockets. Who catches them, even when they quarrel with women passengers? Also, do private vehicle riders have billas? And two-wheelers? Truck drivers? The actual problem is more general to traffic problems than specific to this industry.

In Poona, only PMT bus conductors/drivers, rickshaws, taxis, have billas. How can we identify all the others? Other than these and call centre cabbies, there are many, many more people (including you and your son, and myself).

Your Para. 3(c): ("ensure that women do not travel alone in the cabs no matter what the work pressures be")

No matter what the work pressures? When our unions have been crying foul all these decades or centuries, what will any other groups do for enforcing labour laws? If labour laws are to be made, it should benefit all, men and women alike.

I myself have worked in call centres. I know what instructions are given by the managements for the benefit of their women employees. It is possible that in the information you have received you have been misguided.

Call centre managements themselves insist that women not travel alone. Jyoti, as the other lady employees, was given instructions that when a cab comes, not to go before telephoning the company. And without another colleague in the cab, not to go. And if her stop is the first stop, she should tell the cabbie to pick up somebody else and then come to her place.

Your Para 3(d): ("if such incidents occur again (God forbid), then the call centre be asked to close down for not being able to protect its women employees")

Why should the call centre close down? If there is such a burden, it is best not to allow women to work at night. But when this is done, some women (and even organisations) will fight for the right of women to work at night, and then demand extra protection for them. Other companies should also close down if their male or female employees meet with any mishap on the way in the company bus. Will you agree? If not, then what logic can we use for closing the call centres?

In world history, how many wars and revolutions have been fought (including the French, American, Russian, Chinese revolution and the two world wars? How many people have died in total in such wars (since the beginning of history)? More people have died in automobile accidents (which is of only 125 years span) than all the wars and revolutions for more than 5000 years. So can I say, stop the automobile industry? Is it practical or not? Is it justified or not? With the fall of the automobile industry, the whole nation's and world's economy will collapse. (The food and medical industries, which depend on transportation, will collapse). If the call centre is to close down, and consequently their cabbies, and the callcentre employees, what are the other consequences? Have you thought of that?

If you were in the callcentre industry and/or dependent on it, would you consider closing down the industry because of the incident? You would surely say, "Because of one incident why should I suffer?" How many ladies in call centres would want a call centre to close down because of an incident?.

Many poor, illiterate or backward girls become bar girls, cabaret dancers, or prostitutes because of lack of jobs or insufficient earning. Better than that is the call centre industry, is it not?

If in a train, or plane, or PMT bus, or defence base, or hospital, a rape or murder takes place, can we shut down the railway, the airlines, the buses, or the hospital, or the army? Many students (including girls) die in college due to ragging. Should we and can we close down the college?

In our jails (e.g. Yerwada jail near your residence) many prisoners are kept, who are murderers, robbers, rapists, and such. How many of them are call centre cabbies? Even percentagewise? I feel that such crimes do not seem to be a callcentre speciality. For thousands of years there have been jails and in them prisoners, including murderers and rapists. Were there cabbies then? Or call centres? By your logic, if we ban call cenres, crime in India and the world would stop!! Including rape and murder!! What else will you stop in the effort to prevent rape and murder?

Your Para 3.(e): ("have company buses that will carry more employees at a time and thus decongest the road as well as ensure safety for women employees")

I strongly disagree. What if my daughter or sister or your daughter or sister stays deep in the interior of a colony. The bus would not enter there firstly because of the size of the bus, and then it would have a fixed route which would stop at the main road. What you imply is that she would have to walk to and from her house from and to the bus stop even at 3 o'clock in the night. In the case of the cab, she is picked up from dropped at her doorstep. Which is safer? Even if a family member or somebody has to accompany her to or from the busstop, that person would be in danger while returning or going to the busstop alone. So, the cab is still safer than buses with regard to female safety.

Your Para.4: ("We in the women groups, on our part can:")

Your Para 4(a): ("Demand union/association rights for women working in call centres")

Are you sure that unionisation is not allowed in call centres? Unionisation is certainly discouraged because of the large stake involved, but I think it is allowed by law. We should go against the corrupt government who oppresses and suppresses labour laws and labour movements, and give some support to the socialist and other groups who sincerely fight for the cause of oppressed women and men workers, rather than worrry about unionisation only for callcentre women.

The demand for union rights in call centres should not be only for women. It should also apply to all employees.

Your Para. 4(b): ("Create awareness among women working in call centres of their working and other civic rights")

There are many civic and civil rights common to both men and women. There are many men in call centres also who are unaware of their rights. There are many women, and men, in other industries also. We should educate them also.

Your Para. 4(c): ("Offer legal aid, counselling to women working in call centres for their problems")

Legal aid and counselling for women? Not a bad idea. But why only in call centres? And should not priority be given to other oppressed women? Like domestic servants, factory workers, smallscale & largescale industry workers, schoolteachers, nurses, private office workers, women at home (housewives)? I suggest you have a talk with Mrs. Kiran Moghe of Poona who will enlighten you about the general plight of women (not the call centre women, but the majority of the masses, many of whom are domestic servants).

Mrs. Kiran Moghe is well educated and has studied in the UK. The organisation she is a part of is Janwadi Mahila Morcha, which has 18,000 members in Poona, and it takes up the cause of oppressed women. She has a lot of experience. I suggest that if you you keep in touch with her, it would help.

It is the so-called "bechari" call centre women who are the most pampered and who least need or want any sort of help from NGOs. In my experience it is quite some of these call centre women who do the most politics and do not want to sit with males in the cabs and quarrel and defame and make false complaints against their colleagues and play the dirtiest politics. What can you do about such women? What should be done? What is your opinion and action plan? In your opinion what is to be done in the matter?

Your Para. 4(d): ("Research and study what the fall-out of this industry is on women and ask government to make policy decisions and strictly enforce them.")

Women want to work in call centres. They will have to expect certain discomforts. Make and enforce all the policy decisions you want. Especially for security. Talking of security. Have you ever seen policemen as a routine patrolling the streets at night? When that happens, the women's problems will be solved to a great extent. Enforce the government system first, wipe out the rot in the police and administration first. Do you know that a lot of the rapes in India take place in police custody/premises? It would be helpful if we pay some attention to these women also.

Two women died in a Kanpur hospital a few days ago because they did not pay Rs 1000 as bribe to the hospital staff for delivery, and they died. Even if the case were in Poona, I doubt if groups would do anything about the case. Even in Sassoon Hospital, Poona, many patients, especially women, die for want of proper treatment or treatment at all. Death, whether due to rape, or medical neglet, or accidents, is still death. Many nurses illtreat their patients, especially female patients, leading to their death. What is to be done against such nurses and hospital staff? Or shall we protect such staff because they are women?

__________________

Delia, there are two points, in addition to by above tips, which I would like to add:

(i) Rape is a crime committed by men upon women. There are other crimes, injustices and cruelties (both physical and mental) done by women upon women, and also upon men. Like mother-in-law and sister-in-law upon the "bahurani", stepmother upon stepdaughter (and stepson), mistresses upon their maidservants and child workers, female pimps upon prostitutes. What is to be done about such women criminals?

(ii) Indira Gandhi, Kiran Bedi, Maneka Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi were/are all famous and strong-willed and powerful women. But none of them did anything for the upliftment of women. The supreme court of India once ruled that women priests be allowed in Hindu society. What a lovely idea! How will allowing women priests uplift the lot of women? People who are thrilled at the thought of permitting women priests (thinking that this is a boon for women and a plus mark for their country) should be told one thing: WHY NOT ALLOW WOMEN OF ALL AGES TO ENTER THE CONTROVERSIAL SHABARIMALA AYAPPA TEMPLE? Also, both you (I suppose) and I are Catholics. Should we not allow women priests, bishops and popes also?

I am confident I have not bored you with all the above. Let me know your opinions and feedback on my above tips and suggestions and opinions.

I appreciate and commend your efforts and good work for society. What I am concerned is that your efforts do not go waste and with little effect on the society at large.

Best regards,

-- Nigel Shaughnessy

Cell: 9890415581

________________________________________________________

Delia Maria wrote:

Pune, 5^th October 2007

Dear Madhavi and Vasudha,

Diwalli greetings to you and to your families!

The light for Diwalli has gone out for me after reading the local newspapers the last two day about the rape and brutal murder of the young call centre employee Jyotikumari Chaudhary. I am shocked that not only do women of my city now have to work night shifts, but they must also have to face the possibility of extortion, rape and murder as an added occupational hazard!

Pune being a boom city, the call centre business is but naturally attracting our women, mostly young, with its high salaries and other perks. However, not only is unionization still not allowed, but other civic problems have been the fall-out of this industry. For instance, Intelligent Pune tabloid a few months ago had a report of how there are accidents on the streets because of speeding call centre cabbies. We on Airport road have been time and again bringing to the attention of the RTO about the multitudes of call centre cabs being parked on the streets or pavements posing a risk to pedestrians.

The rape of Jyotikumari Chaudhary is yet another dimension of how this industry will destroy the life and safety of citizens in this city. It is a wake-up call to all of us women that it is becoming unsafe to move around at night. It is time that womens groups take up the issue with the RTO, the Police and the government to put pressure on call centres on these issues :

a) warn the cabbies against speeding and confiscate their license if they do so

b) have all cabbies registered with both RTO and call centres with full information of any criminal history, etc; today's papers even suggest that they be forced to wear an i-card/billa.

c) ensure that women do not travel alone in the cabs no matter what the work pressures be

d) if such incidents occur again (God forbid), then the call centre be asked to close down for not being able to protect its women employees

e) have company buses that will carry more employees at a time and thus decongest the road as well as ensure safety for women employees

We in the women groups, on our part can:

a) Demand union/association rights for women working in call centres

b) Create awareness among women working in call centres of their working and other civic rights

c) Offer legal aid, counselling to women working in call centres for their problems

d) Research and study what the fall-out of this industry is on women and ask government to make policy decisions and strictly enforce them.

I hope that you will circulate this letter to our friends in NGOs and womens groups and that we will someday have a discussion on the same and a plan for action in the city along with citizens groups.

Love,

Delia Maria

Airport Road Mohalla Committee, Pune

Pragati Mahila Mandal Tingrenagar, Pune

Do you get hundreds of mails everyday? Delete none. Keep them all.

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[vinnomot] NCII 2007: COMMENTS ON SOME SPEAKERS' POINTS: from Nigel to Vinnomot 80318

To Moderator(s), Vinnomot

vinnomot@yahoogroups.com

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

There are in total two posts which I want to put. This, and another. Please consider them.

-- Nigel J. Shaughnessy

Tuesday 18th March 2008

nigel_j2000@yahoo.co.in

______________________________________

NCII 2007: COMMENTS ON SOME SPEAKERS' POINTS

The National Convention on Independent India 2007 was held on Sunday 16th December 2007 at Le Meridien Hotel, Pune. Invitees and speakers included Abdul Kalam, Ram Jethmalani, Vijay Bhatkar, and many others. Here are my points with reference to some points raised by the speakers:

(1) In the convention, Ram Jethmalani said that the 123-Treaty/ Hyde Act has given tribute to India and praised the democracy of India in both houses of the USA assembly. I have three points on this:

1.(a) I say: Why should a country like USA, who is doing nothing for the horrors that take place in Africa, Iraq, and South America (among others), take such an interest in the progress and development of India? Think, friends, think. USA surely has an ulterior motive.

1.(b) I say: Only a small portion of India's power would be utilised as nuclear energy (just about 8%). We would build nuclear plants whose waste we cannot throw away. Also, in order to maintain the plants we will be forced to buy from the USA so many products, parts, etc. By the 123 Treaty, USA wants to gradually control India.

1.(c) On India's democracy, I say: The democracy in India is a fake democracy, as India's maverick ex-bureaucrat Arun Bhatia has rightly pointed out repeatedly. You can talk against Bush, against Stalin, against Hitler. But can any one of us oppose, challenge or question even a local corporator of, let us say, Poona or Bombay? Try it, friends, and then you will see how democratic India is.

(2) In the convention, Ram Jethmalani said we have lost our moral courage because of Russia's support to us on Kashmir. I say: we will lose all our morals and sovereignty (not only courage or moral courage), if we go into the hands of USA by the 123-Treaty.

(3) I say: When Arun Shourie was disinvestment minister, much of the government's useful enterprises and premises were sold off, and that too, for a song. Both Arun Shourie and Manmohan Singh were employees of IMF or World Bank. Also, Manmohan was an RBI governor. From this you can now know why our government property and premises were sold off, and why the whole of India is being sold to the USA by the 123-Treaty.

(4) In the convention, Vijay Bhatkar talked of India's rôle of man on the moon, supercomputers, etc. I say: What is the use of all that if many are starving? How many malls have sprung up, but outside them the poor are still poorer, and the beggars are still beggars.

Regards,

-- Nigel J. Shaughnessy

Do you get hundreds of mails everyday? Delete none. Keep them all.

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