COLOURS OF INDEPENDENCE

Photos: Samiran Paul

ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, HER EXCELLENCY SMT. PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL ON THE EVE OF THE 63^rd INDEPENDENCE DAY.

New Delhi, 14th August 2009.

My Fellow Citizens,

Tomorrow, we celebrate our 63rd Independence Day. On its eve, I extend my warmest greetings to all of you in India and the world over. I would like to convey a special word of gratitude to the brave personnel of the Armed Forces and the Para-military forces who guard our frontiers. I also extend my greetings to the Central and State level police as well as our internal security forces.

Our independence was won after a long and arduous struggle. Countless men and women, yearning for liberation from the colonial yoke, joined the ranks of freedom fighters. Energized by the inspiring leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and his call for an agitation based on the principles of Ahimsa and Satyagraha, they displayed undaunted courage. They willingly went through great hardships guided solely by the desire that the country be independent and its people free to determine their own destiny. This selfless spirit and sacrifices won us our freedom. I call on fellow citizens to join me in paying homage and our deepest respect to our great national leaders, martyrs, freedom fighters and all those who took part in the freedom movement and gave us a sovereign nation.

Freedom was won and the task of nation building brooked no delay. The vision, the principles and responsibilities would now onwards be for the leaders and the people of India to determine. On 15^th August, 1947 itself, Bapuji was quick to remind us of this. He said, “From today you have to wear the crown of thorns. Strive ceaselessly to cultivate truth and non-violence. Be humble. Be forbearing ... Now you will be tested through and through.” The same day at the stroke of midnight the vision of a free India was enunciated by the first Prime Minister of Independent India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, in his stirring “Tryst with Destiny” speech. He said we would have to, “build the noble mansion of free India where all her children dwell.”

Thus, we embarked on our journey. The four essential pillars necessary to support the edifice of India have been and remain - democracy, inclusive economic development, social empowerment and a value system based on our civilizational heritage. Each one of them is individually important and must be equally strong for a stable and progressive nation.

The 15^th General Elections were held this year. Spread over five phases, the effort was to reach out to every voter, even in the remotest parts of the country. That is why even where there was only one voter, arrangements were made for the casting of that one vote. The voice of every citizen is important and the principle of inclusiveness integral to democracy. In accordance with the mandate, the new Government assumed office. The electoral exercise re-affirmed the strong faith of the people, across the country, in democracy. It once again proved that the world’s largest democracy is, indeed, a mature democracy. We can be proud that we have carried forward the torch of democracy in a manner that today the concept of democracy and India are inseparable.

If we can work to ensure that each citizen gets an opportunity to be heard while choosing representatives to Parliament and the Assemblies, it also becomes our bounden duty to ensure that they are heard even in the period between elections. Each elected Member of Parliament represents on an average the voice of over a 1.3 million electorate - larger than the population of some nations, and this imposes a huge responsibility to represent the aspirations of those who have elected them. They have a clear obligation to work for the welfare of the people and the progress of the nation.

At the same time, the expectations of the people are rising as they are becoming more aware of their rights and seek better opportunities. Facilities, amenities and services meant for them whether they are living in rural or urban areas can be delivered smoothly only is there is an effective governance system that is less cumbersome but more transparent and accountable. There is outrage when money meant for welfare schemes is pilfered out by corrupt practices. The flagship programmes of the Government are comprehensive ranging from health to education, employment to expanding social and economic infrastructure. Their implementation will have to be at optimal levels for an impact to be made on the lives of the people. Hence, the emphasis on reform of governance for effective delivery of public services is critical to change the lives of the people. The administrators must be responsive to the needs of the people. Their work is a public service – commitment, dedication and honesty should be the hallmarks of their work.

This year the monsoon has been less than normal impacting agriculture and availability of water. We have to be prepared to face the situation. The Government is taking all possible steps to deal with it. It is also taking necessary measures to handle the H1N1 influenza. Citizens have to come forward to contribute to Government’s efforts in these areas and in other development initiatives through public-private partnerships, NGOs, community groups or Self Help Groups. An enlightened citizenry conscious of its civic duties and social responsibilities, maintaining discipline, following good habits particularly about hygiene and cleanliness, respectful towards nature’s bounty and sensitive to environmental concerns is the greatest asset of a nation.

Fellow Citizens,

Our uninterrupted democratic credentials and our steady economic progress achieved due to our hard work have fortified India’s stature. Even in the face of a global slowdown, which demands that we manage the economy to counter its effects, we must work to continue our upward trajectory. We have a large domestic market and inherent strengths to drive the economy forward. As we focus on areas of proven strength, on building of infrastructure throughout the country and rural development, it should be our incessant endeavor to expand into new areas of growth.

We must prepare for the future world whose contours will be shaped by innovation, technology and a spirit of enterprise. India has been playing a leading role in the knowledge economy and in the IT and IT enabled sectors. We are well placed to face the future with confidence, but we must not be complacent. Transformational changes have taken place in India when technology has been used for development. The building of modern India requires a focus on strengthening our academic institutions and research facilities. Our efforts in this direction should be motivated by the desire to achieve excellence. India can set high standards of Research and Development so that these can become the international benchmarks in a knowledge society. The world expects India to be one of the largest economies of the world. We know we can achieve this position. After all, history tells us that since ancient times India was a wealthy nation well known for its riches and its global importance. However, India which is a civilization in continuum seeks in addition to material progress, enrichment of human lifethrough cultural advancement, a constant search for knowledge and understanding, and above all, social justice.

Our narrative of growth should be a story of opportunity and a life of dignity for all. Social empowerment requires considerable amount of work and, hence, must occupy centre stage in our national consciousness. There are the weaker and the vulnerable sections of society who are not full partners in the growth and development process and remain on the sidelines. These sections of society need to be drawn into the national mainstream. They need to be given access to education, health and skill-building - the tools of empowerment. This will equip them with abilities and capabilities and generate confidence about their future prospects. This will give them a sense of control over their destinies. It is within the realm of possibility to achieve this. Signs of change are becoming visible. Today, there are girls joining colleges, whose parents had never ever been to school. This is a development that has happened within a generation. People are today realizing the advantages of being educated and are ready to seize opportunities. The passage of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill is a landmark legislation for achieving our goal of universal education. The National Mission on Empowerment of Women will socially and economically empower women – 50 percent of our population to play an active role in nation building. Giving an equal chance to everybody to get ahead in life is an article of faith for the Republic of India, and building an inclusive society our objective.

I am confident that our nation will move forward to become an exemplary democracy, an economic power and a progressive society. However, what will be the value system upon which we will judge our performance? There will be sweeping changes in the world. What will be our anchor to cope with these changes? In such situations, if we are not rooted in values we become rudderless. Hence, the importance of values in the nation building endeavour. We, as a nation, are fortunate that we are the inheritors of values which have stood the test of time.Harmony and peaceful co-existence have been at the core of our civilization. They are messages relevant for all times and ages. They can, perhaps, never be outdated. Therefore, even as we progress it will be these values which would help to provide us strength as they have done throughout our history. India should build its destiny on a culture of peace and harmony. There should be harmony between good traditions and progress.

India has shown a remarkable capacity to assimilate change as well as the influences that have been brought to its land over centuries by the many groups who came here. This has made us a composite society consisting of many different strands but yet united. This unity has been brought about by the philosophy of harmony which demands a sense of responsibility towards fellow human beings. It seeks to resolve differences rather than widen them. It seeks to bring people together rather than divide them. It looks at change not as a threat but as a reality of the march of time. Peaceful co-existence is inherent in our culture.Terrorism, which targets innocent people, is the very anti-thesis of peaceful co-existence. It is condemnable because it is against the tenets of every religion and faith. It must be defeated in the interest of the collective goal of humankind to build peaceful societies and a peaceful world. We need to work together towards this end as humankind shares a common destiny.

Fellow citizens,

We have struggled since the first war of independence in 1857. We have fought against the sentiments largely created by a divide and rule policy, which aimed at defeating our unity. We won because our freedom struggle was based on noble principles. We have adhered to secularism, equality and respect for all religions. I call upon my brothers and sisters of every religion – whether they be Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Parsees and all others, to live together in harmony. Here, I am reminded of the famous lines:-

‘Mazhab nahin sikhata

Aapas mein bair rakhna’

If we have to progress, communal harmony is important. It is like the thread which holds together a garland of beautiful flowers made of different colours and fragrance. Let us prove that we can be united as human beings and not divided. Let us fight against violence and extremism and be an important part of promoting peace and harmony. If we choose to be bound by the feelings of hatred, mistrust and apathy we will never move forward. Therefore, let us build a strong, united and progressive India for us and our future generations as also a peaceful world. I end with the message contained in these lines:-

Common be our resolve,

Our hearts be united,

Our thoughts be in unison,

So that all may live harmoniously.

Once again, my greetings to all Fellow Citizens on the occasion of Independence Day.

Jai Hind.

New System for Accreditated Media perons to avail Concessional Train Fare PIB, 14 Aug:As a follow up to the announcement made by the Minister of Railways Kumari Mamata Banerjee in her Railway Budget 2009-10 speech, for the convenience of accredited media persons, the Ministry of Railways has decided to replace the existing system of Coupon Books for accredited press correspondents by Photo Identity Card based system for availing concessional train fare. Photo identification card will be issued by Railways to accredited press correspondents instead of coupons books. The Photo identification card will be issued on production of the certification by the Press Information Bureau, Government of India and other competent State and local authorities as per the specimen form of certificate. Detailed guidelines and procedures are available at www.indianrailways.gov.in(>Railway Board Directorates > Traffic Commercial > Commercial Circulars > Year 2009). Accredited press correspondent will be eligible for 50 per cent in the basic fares all classes of Mail/Express trains & all other charges are to be collected in full; and 50 per cent in the all inclusive fares of all classes of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains. This concession will not be admissible in Garib Rath trains. The new system of concession based on Photo Identity card and the increased concession on Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains will be effective from 15th October 2009. The same concession will be extended to Spouse of the accredited Press correspondent while travelling with him/her once in every financial year (April to March). This concession will be issued to the spouse of the accredited Press Correspondent when travelling from the station serving the headquarters to any place and back. This concession is not admissible for the spouse when travelling alone. For availing the concession for spouse the accredited press correspondent shall give an undertaking to the Chief Reservation Supervisor /Station Manager/Booking Supervisor as per the guidelines at the time of booking the ticket. Parisangh’s unit formed in Financial Capital – Mumbai

Retired ACP Lalit Dutraj addressing the meeting as Chairman Parisangh’s unit formed in Financial Capital – Mumbai Kalimpong (BGP Media Cell): In its effort to form organizational unit in each and every state of India the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh received a warm reception from the local Gorkhas of financial capital of India -Mumbai which resulted to constitute an ad-hoc committee after its first ever meeting held at Wilson College located near Chowpatty beach. On 9th August the top brass leaders from the central committee of the only national body of the Indian Gorkhas held a meeting at the above college hall with Lalit Mahavir Dutraj, ex-Addl. Commissioner of Mumbai Police in the chair. The BGP was represented by Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, Vice President and National Spokesperson, C.K. Shrestha, Working President, Sukhman Moktan, Secretary General, Prof. Joel Rai and Munish Tamang, Vice-President and General Secretary, Central Programme Cell, Col (Retd) B.S. Rana, President, Punjab State, P.K. Tamang, President, Chhatisgarh State, Bhupendra Adhikari, Co-ordinator, Zone IV and others while the local residents like Chhatra Bahadur Chhetri, Dhruva Pradhan, P.K. Shasanker, Ranjit Gazmer, Indu Gazmer, Usha Rai, Sahadeep Tamang, Punam Chhetri and social activists including Master Thapa, President, Nepali Shramnik Mazdoor Union (affiliated to Shiv Sena), Prof. S.D. Singh, Vice-President, Nepali Jansampark Samity etc. attended the meeting. Apart from presenting the documentaries, C.K. Shrestha, Sukhman Moktan, Prof. Munish Tamang and Joel Rai highlighted various aspects of their organization. They also tried to convince the local Nepali speaking Gorkhas about the need of unity in the present juncture. The speakers reiterated that until and unless the Gorkhas of India get a separate state their national political identity would be always misconstrued. They claimed that the movement of a separate Gorkha state within the constitutional framework of India is not a problem pertaining to the development and deprivation of the residents of Darjeeling hills and its adjoining areas. According to them the need of a separate Gorkha state is the aspiration of 1.25 million Gorkhas spread throughout the country. In the meeting the authorities of Wilson College and social activist Master Thapa presented bouquets of flowers to the BGP leaders and wished for their goal. After holding a fruitful interaction session the BGP leaders also constituted Mumbai unit of Maharashtra state on ad-hoc basis with social activist Chhatra Bahadur Chhetri, Million Dollar Round Table Member of LIC of India as Convenor and Lalit Dutraj, Dhruva Pradhan, Usha Rai, Roshni Rai, Naveena Kumai, Indu Gazmer, Kusumlata, Bishnu Singh, Bikash Dutraj, Bishal Chhetri, Shadeep Tamang, P.K. Shasanker and Bholanath Dahal of Pune as members. A meeting of the ad-hoc committee is likely to be convened by the end of this month to form a permanent body. Meanwhile, the BGP leaders are scheduled to attend another meeting of Maharashtra state to be held at Nagpur on 6th September. The BGP has also planned to form Goa unit of the organization in January, 2010 and for this purpose the members of Mumbai unit have already started the ground work. DGHC Dead Now State

TT, Darjeeling, Aug. 13: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today claimed that either statehood or Union Territory status would have to be conferred on the Darjeeling hills, now that a decision has been taken to drop the Sixth Schedule bill and scrap the DGHC. The consensus to repeal the DGHC Act and abandon the bill which would have given the hills a special status under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution have put an end to the possibility of an autonomous body, the Morcha believes. “This means that the only option is either a Union Territory or a state status,” said Anmole Prasad at a media conference at the Gymkhana Club here today. Prasad was the spokesperson for the 12-member delegation that came back today after attending the tripartite talks in Delhi on Tuesday. The state and central governments were the other two participants in the talks. The Morcha said it was not bothered about the interim arrangement. “We are not too worried about the set-up as it is necessary to fill the administrative vacuum once the DGHC goes. However, we will ensure that the 7,000 temporary workers do not lose out. They will be protected,” Prasad said. “Whatever agreement was reached at the August 11 meeting, the demand for statehood has not been diluted.” Fearing an uncertain future after it became clear that the DGHC would be dissolved soon, the contractual workers yesterday under the banner of the Janmukti Asthahi Karmachari Sangathan reasserted their demand for permanent jobs. The delegation alleged that the two representatives of the Bengal government, chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti and home secretary Ardhendu Sen had tried to “tarnish” the Morcha image before the Union home secretary, G.K Pillai. “They brought up the issue of Gorkhaland Personnel cracking down on liquor, drug and timber smugglers as well as stopping traffic to Sikkim along NH31A. But we could convince the central government representatives that we, as citizens, had every right to clamp down on illegal activities and the blockade of the highway was a compulsion not a deliberate act.” The party has also welcomed the appointment of an interlocutor. “As the interval between the tripartite talks is more than four to six months (the second round was held in December), the appointment of an interlocutor was necessary. Through him negotiations could be speeded up.” However, the Morcha leadership conceded that the statehood demand would have to be met only through talks at the political level and through consensus in Parliament, hinting that the fourth round of talks on December 21 here would also be held at the secretary- level. After arriving here from Bagdogra around 5.30pm, the delegation met Morcha president Bimal Gurung for about an hour. Gurung did not attend the media conference. Morcha leader Amar Lama said the central committee would meet on August 17. GOVT GIVES GJM JUST A SMALL ROPE Union Home Secretary G K Pillai shakes hands with GJM leader Anmol Prasad in New Delhi on Tuesday. PTI IE, Kolata, 13 Aug:Even as the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) started to rejoice at the decision taken at the tripartite meeting in Delhi on the abolition of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) — it says it is the first step towards the formation of a separate Gorkhaland — the state government made it clear that the demand of a separate state was not acceptable to it. The tripartite meeting was held between the state government, the GJM and the Centre in New Delhi on Monday. “The people of Darjeeling have lots of grievances and we can take steps for their redressal and total development of the Hills. But that does not require the creation of a separate state. We don’t think that is necessary,” Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti, who led the state government’s delegation, said on Tuesday. The chief secretary said the state government was soon going to send two officials to Darjeeling to find ways of utilisation of Rs 70 crore in central funds lying with the DGHC. At the meeting, it was also agreed that an alternative administrative set-up would come up in place of the DGHC, which would be scrapped. “By the alternative set-up, we mean there will be another elected body which will be more acceptable to the people of the Hills and which will have more powers. We are looking for models and will talk to all concerned on what that model can be,” Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said. Ex-IB chief likely interlocutor for Gorkhaland talks Former Intelligence Bureau chief P C Haldar is likely to be appointed as the interlocutor to carry forward the discussions between the Union government, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and the West Bengal government over the Gorkhaland issue. On August 11, the Centre had announced that an interlocutor would be appointed to carry forward the discussions held during the third round of tripartite talks. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials said that Home Minister P Chidambaram will shortly announce the name of the interlocutor. A few other retired bureaucrats are learnt to be in the running for the job. While all three parties will have to agree over the appointment of the interlocutor, sources said there was already some opposition to Haldar’s name from the GJM side over his Bengali background. Leave hills ‘request’ TT, Darjeeling, Aug. 13: The Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha has with “folded hands” requested a former GNLF leader who has already resigned from Subash Ghisingh’s party, to leave her home in the hills within a week. A letter, the first of this sort, was personally handed over to Manikala Tamang, a former GNLF vice- chairperson of the Darjeeling Municipality, by members of the Nari Morcha yesterday at her Matardhura residence, about 10km from here. Signed by Rohita Rai and Soma Sherpa, the president and the secretary of the Singamari unit of the Nari Morcha, the letter talks about “their compulsion to request” Tamang to leave because of “various controversies”. The controversies have not been highlighted but sources said the Nari Morcha, the women’s wing of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, believes that Tamang was working against the party interest in the area and had been keeping in touch with GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh. “Her family members can stay. We want only her to leave (read the hills),” said Sona Sherpa. When contacted over the phone, Tamang confirmed that she has received the letter. “But I feel there has been some miscommunication as people in my village know that I am only associated with social work.” Tamang has not filed any complaint with police.In the past, too, many GNLF leaders, including Ghisingh, have been forced to leave the hills. In most of the cases, the Morcha, which swears by the Gandhian philosophy, had maintained that it was the people of the hills and not party cadres who had forced the GNLF leaders out of the hills. At the height of the agitation against the GNLF leaders a year ago, Tamang left her residence at the Kutchery area of town and shifted to Matardhura. But in incidents like the ouster of Kurseong MLA Shanta Chhetri, the Morcha has come out openly resisting her bid to return home. However, this is the first time that someone has been told so explicitly in writing — the message was sent through the official letter pad of the party — to leave the hills. The assistant secretary of the Morcha, Binay Tamang, refused to speak much on the letter. “This is an issue that has been taken up by the local unit. What can we (central committee) members say?” General secretary Roshan Giri refused comment. Swine flu suspect TT, Siliguri, Aug. 13: A 34-year-old resident of Sikkim was today admitted to the isolation ward of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital with symptoms of swine flu. Kamal Basnet, a resident of Durgabari village in Singtam, had been under treatment at the Rongpo hospital in Sikkim for the past four days for fever and frequent vomiting. His throat swab has been sent to Calcutta for tests. SWINE FLUE TOLL 19 Kolkata, Aug 13 (PTI): With six more suspected swine flu cases testing positive, the total number of confirmed H1N1 infection in West Bengal mounted to 19 today. The six patients who were quarantined at home and found positive by the NICED have been asked by the health department to admit themselves in the state-run I D Hospital at Beliaghata, the only facility for the pandemic here, nodal officer for swine flu information Tapas Sen said. Of 75 suspected cases, 19 persons have so far been declared positive by the NICED. Of them 11 have been discharged after treatment, he said. Four others have been admitted with swine flu symptoms, while those admitted yesterday have been discharged after they tested negative, Sen said. Enhanced train fare concessions for amateur artists and Police Medalists from 15th August PIB 13 Aug:As announced by the Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee in her Railway Budget 2009-10 speech, the Ministry of Railways has decided that amateur artists (theatrical, concert, musical, dancing and magician troups & students-artists of the National School of Drama, New Delhi when traveling alone or in group) who are presently eligible for 50 per cent concession in First Class and 75 per cent concession in Second and Sleeper Classes basic Mail/Express fares will now also be entitled to 50 per cent concession in AC Chair Car, AC 3-tier and AC 2-tier classes in Mail/Express trains and 50 per cent concession will also be granted in the all inclusive fares of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains in AC Chair, AC 3-tier and AC 2-tier classes. This concession will be admissible on tickets purchased on or after 15th August 2009. As per another Railway Budget announcement, the Ministry of Railways has also decided to enhance the concession for Police Personnel of 60 years and above who have received President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service from 30 per cent to 50 percent for men and 60 per cent for women in the basic fares of Mail/Express trains of all classes and in the all-inclusive fares of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains. This concession will be admissible on tickets purchased on or after 25th August 2009. (PIB)