DILIP PATEL
The state election commission is working out details to enable people to cast a negative vote in local elections, including civic polls. In the coming weeks, the commission will ask the manufacturer of electronic voting machines (EVMs) to add an extra button and install a new software in the instruments to activate the feature.
“We have started the procedure for empowering people with the right of negative voting,” the panel’s secretary, Prakash Shah, told Mirror. “Once modifications are made in EVMs, people of Gujarat will be able to cast a negative vote against a candidate/party in local elections.”
The panel initiated the process for activating the aforesaid feature in EVMs after the state assembly passed the Gujarat Local Authority Laws Amendment Bill, 2009 on December 19. The bill makes voting in polls of seven civic bodies, 26 district panchayats, 223 taluka panchayats and 13,706 village panchayats mandatory and provides people the right to record a negative ballot against a candidate/party.
Gujarat is the only state, which has made these provisions. Chief Minister Narendra Modi, in fact, has described the bill an attempt to strengthen democracy. The state election commission possesses 20,000 EVMs, each of which has 16 buttons. Now, an additional button and new software for the aforementioned feature will be added in all of them.
Meanwhile, the commission and state government are reportedly discussing implications of negative voting. They are apparently exploring the option of holding a local election again if more than 50 per cent of the votes turn out to be negative.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
ECO-FRIENDLY BAGTRENDHITS GANDHINAGAR
DI L I P PATEL
Amovement against usage of
plastic, the scourge of the
environment, is gaining
momentum among
women in Gandhinagar. On Monday,
as many as 1,500 eco-friendly
reusable bags, were distributed for
free in three vegetable markets in
Sector 7, 21 and 24.
The exercise was conducted by
Gandhinagar Residents’ Association
(GRA) that had support from Gujarat
Pollution Control Board and
Kalpataru Power Transmission
Company.
The GRA had been toying with
the idea of giving shoppers ethical
alternatives to plastic bags that
don’t harm the environment during
production and don’t need to be
discarded after each use.
SHUNNING PLASTIC
ON MONDAY, around 5.30 pm,
GRA president Arun Buch and his
team, accompanied by GPCB’s
chairman C L Meena and member
secretary R G Shah, distributed the
cotton bags to women at the vegetable
markets.
They were asked to empty the
veggies from their plastic carry bags
into the cloth bags and urged to
bring it along everytime they came
shopping.
Buch said: “When we asked them
why they weren’t using cloth bags,
some said they found it
embarassing to hold it as compared
to the plastic bag that could be folded
and kept in a purse. It was saddening
to know that plastic was
some sort of a status symbol for
them. But beautifully designed
cloth bags can change their mindset.
Most women who were distributed
the cloth bags loved them and
promised they won’t touch a plastic
carry bag now on.”
HOUSEWIVES TAKE A PLEDGE
THE WOMEN were also made to
sign on a pledge sheet stating they
shall not use plastic carry bags and
shall participate in activities to combat
climate-change. Even pamphlets
detailing the ill-effects of plastic
were distributed. They were urged to
inform the GPCB about any vendor
giving away plastic bags that were
less than 20 microns in thickness.
Buch said: “Four months ago, in
a similar exercise, 300 eco-friendly
bags were distributed among shoppers.
Even I use it and see many people
bringing it along with them to
the market.”
He adds further: “The cloth bag
costs Rs 15 and will last for nearly
two years.
The plastic bags you’ll use in two
years’ time will cost the vegetable
vendor not less than Rs 60. But using
it costs us even more. Look at
what we have done to our environment.
Plastic bags that get buried in
landfills may take up to 1,000 years
to break down, and in the process
they separate into smaller and
smaller toxic particles that contaminate
soil and water.”
Buch says that as per existing
rules vegetable vendors have to pay
Rs 50 fine if they give away bags below
20-micron thickness. “This is
not enough. You have to raise the
fine if you want to effectively curb
the habit of using plastic.”
Jyotsna Darji, who received the
free cloth bag on Monday, said:
“Stray cattle often eat plastic bags
while trying consuming vegetable
waste and it leads to slow starvation
and death. I don’t know what other
damage it causes to the environment.
But I now know plastic is
harmful. I shall use the cloth bag
given to me.”
Ritaben Parmar, a housewife said:
“I was quite embarassed to take the
cloth bag with me to the market.
They look very downmarket. But
such classy cloth bags can easily replace
plastic carry bags.
THE NO-PLASTIC REVOLUTION
A group of environment-conscious citizens distributed 1,500
cotton bags to customers at vegetable markets in the state
capital in its first step towards combating climate-change
Arun Buch (right) convinces Jyotsna Darji, a shopper, to empty vegetables from the plastic bag into the cloth bag
I was quite
embarassed to
take the cloth bag with
me for shopping. They
look very downmarket.
But such classy cloth
bags can easily replace
plastic carry bags
– Ritaben Parmar,
Housewife
I don’t know
what other
damage it causes to the
environment besides
killing stray cattle. But I
now know plastic is
harmful. I shall use the
cloth bag given to me.
– Jyotsna Darji,
Housewife
Amovement against usage of
plastic, the scourge of the
environment, is gaining
momentum among
women in Gandhinagar. On Monday,
as many as 1,500 eco-friendly
reusable bags, were distributed for
free in three vegetable markets in
Sector 7, 21 and 24.
The exercise was conducted by
Gandhinagar Residents’ Association
(GRA) that had support from Gujarat
Pollution Control Board and
Kalpataru Power Transmission
Company.
The GRA had been toying with
the idea of giving shoppers ethical
alternatives to plastic bags that
don’t harm the environment during
production and don’t need to be
discarded after each use.
SHUNNING PLASTIC
ON MONDAY, around 5.30 pm,
GRA president Arun Buch and his
team, accompanied by GPCB’s
chairman C L Meena and member
secretary R G Shah, distributed the
cotton bags to women at the vegetable
markets.
They were asked to empty the
veggies from their plastic carry bags
into the cloth bags and urged to
bring it along everytime they came
shopping.
Buch said: “When we asked them
why they weren’t using cloth bags,
some said they found it
embarassing to hold it as compared
to the plastic bag that could be folded
and kept in a purse. It was saddening
to know that plastic was
some sort of a status symbol for
them. But beautifully designed
cloth bags can change their mindset.
Most women who were distributed
the cloth bags loved them and
promised they won’t touch a plastic
carry bag now on.”
HOUSEWIVES TAKE A PLEDGE
THE WOMEN were also made to
sign on a pledge sheet stating they
shall not use plastic carry bags and
shall participate in activities to combat
climate-change. Even pamphlets
detailing the ill-effects of plastic
were distributed. They were urged to
inform the GPCB about any vendor
giving away plastic bags that were
less than 20 microns in thickness.
Buch said: “Four months ago, in
a similar exercise, 300 eco-friendly
bags were distributed among shoppers.
Even I use it and see many people
bringing it along with them to
the market.”
He adds further: “The cloth bag
costs Rs 15 and will last for nearly
two years.
The plastic bags you’ll use in two
years’ time will cost the vegetable
vendor not less than Rs 60. But using
it costs us even more. Look at
what we have done to our environment.
Plastic bags that get buried in
landfills may take up to 1,000 years
to break down, and in the process
they separate into smaller and
smaller toxic particles that contaminate
soil and water.”
Buch says that as per existing
rules vegetable vendors have to pay
Rs 50 fine if they give away bags below
20-micron thickness. “This is
not enough. You have to raise the
fine if you want to effectively curb
the habit of using plastic.”
Jyotsna Darji, who received the
free cloth bag on Monday, said:
“Stray cattle often eat plastic bags
while trying consuming vegetable
waste and it leads to slow starvation
and death. I don’t know what other
damage it causes to the environment.
But I now know plastic is
harmful. I shall use the cloth bag
given to me.”
Ritaben Parmar, a housewife said:
“I was quite embarassed to take the
cloth bag with me to the market.
They look very downmarket. But
such classy cloth bags can easily replace
plastic carry bags.
THE NO-PLASTIC REVOLUTION
A group of environment-conscious citizens distributed 1,500
cotton bags to customers at vegetable markets in the state
capital in its first step towards combating climate-change
Arun Buch (right) convinces Jyotsna Darji, a shopper, to empty vegetables from the plastic bag into the cloth bag
I was quite
embarassed to
take the cloth bag with
me for shopping. They
look very downmarket.
But such classy cloth
bags can easily replace
plastic carry bags
– Ritaben Parmar,
Housewife
I don’t know
what other
damage it causes to the
environment besides
killing stray cattle. But I
now know plastic is
harmful. I shall use the
cloth bag given to me.
– Jyotsna Darji,
Housewife
SANAND GIDC ESTATE PLAN CLOUDS SCHOOL’S FUTURE
DI L I P PATEL
Students of the district panchayat-
run primary school
at North Kotpura face an uncertain
future due to Gujarat
Industrial Development Corporation’s
(GIDC) decision to acquire
5,000 acres of land in Sanand and
shift the entire village to make way
for an industrial estate.
The school, where 65 students
studied eight months ago, is now
left with only 22 of them as children
of agricultural university
staff have shifted. The school
lacks basic facility like drinking
water and school teachers as well
as students bring their supply
from home. For the students, who
want to continue their study, the
nearest school is about 5 km away.
“I want to study. I know the
poor conditions in which my
family lives can improve only if I
study. But I don’t know what will
happen now,” said Kanku Rathod,
a class VI student of the school.
There are many like Kanku who
are distressed due to the prevailing
uncertainty.
The ground where children
once played has become a hot bed
of discussion where students
share their anxiety. Not only the
students’ but the future of 40 families
living here is also uncertain
as there is no rehabilitation plan
ready for them.
“We shudder to think what will
happen after six months. Our
families are caught in a dilemma
as there is no rehabilitation plan
ready,” she added.
There are only three teachers in
the school. Hiral Soni, one of the
teachers, said, “All these students
want to study. But they do not
know where they and their families
will be six months from now.
Their future looks bleak.” District
panchayat education officer SP
Chaudhary said, “The school has
to be shifted. We are preparing a
report on the school to present
before the education committee.
The panel will take the final decision.
We are aware of the fact that
there are 22 students and three
teachers in the school.” If the
families decide to stay there, then
district panchayat will have to
think about their accommodation,
he said.
Chandu Thakor, a resident of
North Kotpura whose son is in the
school, said, “We feel as if we have
been uprooted from our land.
Neither we nor our kids seem to
have a future.” Mukesh Vaghela,
a social leader, said, “We have met
the mamlatdar and have made a
representation to him to allow
these people to stay here and to
continue with the school.”
PLEA CHALLENGING LAND
ACQUISITION FOR NANO
PROJECT TURNED DOWN
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court dismissed
a plea challenging the
land acquisition by state government
for Nano car project. The
apex court questioned the locus
standi of an NGO and its head in
opposing the project which was
aimed at producing the cheapest
four-wheeler.
Students of the district panchayat-
run primary school
at North Kotpura face an uncertain
future due to Gujarat
Industrial Development Corporation’s
(GIDC) decision to acquire
5,000 acres of land in Sanand and
shift the entire village to make way
for an industrial estate.
The school, where 65 students
studied eight months ago, is now
left with only 22 of them as children
of agricultural university
staff have shifted. The school
lacks basic facility like drinking
water and school teachers as well
as students bring their supply
from home. For the students, who
want to continue their study, the
nearest school is about 5 km away.
“I want to study. I know the
poor conditions in which my
family lives can improve only if I
study. But I don’t know what will
happen now,” said Kanku Rathod,
a class VI student of the school.
There are many like Kanku who
are distressed due to the prevailing
uncertainty.
The ground where children
once played has become a hot bed
of discussion where students
share their anxiety. Not only the
students’ but the future of 40 families
living here is also uncertain
as there is no rehabilitation plan
ready for them.
“We shudder to think what will
happen after six months. Our
families are caught in a dilemma
as there is no rehabilitation plan
ready,” she added.
There are only three teachers in
the school. Hiral Soni, one of the
teachers, said, “All these students
want to study. But they do not
know where they and their families
will be six months from now.
Their future looks bleak.” District
panchayat education officer SP
Chaudhary said, “The school has
to be shifted. We are preparing a
report on the school to present
before the education committee.
The panel will take the final decision.
We are aware of the fact that
there are 22 students and three
teachers in the school.” If the
families decide to stay there, then
district panchayat will have to
think about their accommodation,
he said.
Chandu Thakor, a resident of
North Kotpura whose son is in the
school, said, “We feel as if we have
been uprooted from our land.
Neither we nor our kids seem to
have a future.” Mukesh Vaghela,
a social leader, said, “We have met
the mamlatdar and have made a
representation to him to allow
these people to stay here and to
continue with the school.”
PLEA CHALLENGING LAND
ACQUISITION FOR NANO
PROJECT TURNED DOWN
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court dismissed
a plea challenging the
land acquisition by state government
for Nano car project. The
apex court questioned the locus
standi of an NGO and its head in
opposing the project which was
aimed at producing the cheapest
four-wheeler.
4,000 villagers rally against govt
DI L I P PATEL
Around 4,000 villagers of Sanand taluka, including some 700 women and 200 children, took out a rally from the ST depot in Sanand town to the mamlatdar’s office on Monday against the state government’s decision to acquire their land for setting up an industrial park. The government has issued a notification to acquire around 7,000 acres of land near the Nano plant for setting up a Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation. Besides people from the seven villages that have been served government notices, people from three other villages — Motipura, Jholapura and Rasulpura — also joined in the rally, fearing their land too might be taken over by the GIDC. The villagers presented a memorandum, signed by around 100 people, to the mamlatdar. and later staged a dharna outside his office. Eyewitnesses told AM that the rallyists shouted slogans of ‘Jaan denge, par zameen nahi denge’ (We will give up our lives, but not our land), GIDC hatao, zameen bachao, (Remove GIDC, save our land). One of the leaders, Kamsibhai Patel, said, “People of all seven villages are furious, so all of us decided to take out a rally. We intend to adopt an even more aggressive attitude. “The mamlatdar has given us seven days to look into the matter. If we don’t get a proper reply after this period, we will intensify our agitation.” Virjibhai Patel, a farmer, said, “We had informed people only around 12 noon that we were going to take out a rally. Yet, around 4,000 people turned up. We will pass resolutions in every village against giving any land to the government.” Most farmers believe the government should choose non-agricultural, barren land rather than fertile land. And Ahmedabad has thousands of hectares of such arid land, they said. Radhaben Patel, a widow who was part of the rally, said, “The four villages, Hirapur, Kuwar, Gokadpur and Sinyavad, have around 8,000 cows. Women in these villages earn their livelihood by rearing them. We will not leave this land at any cost. If need be, we will gherao government offices. If we don’t save our land, our next generation won’t forgive us.” Sanand Mamlatdar Sudhir Patel said, “I’ve received a memorandum from the farmers which I will pass it on to the collector. After listening to their grievances, a decision on acquiring
Around 4,000 villagers of Sanand taluka, including some 700 women and 200 children, took out a rally from the ST depot in Sanand town to the mamlatdar’s office on Monday against the state government’s decision to acquire their land for setting up an industrial park. The government has issued a notification to acquire around 7,000 acres of land near the Nano plant for setting up a Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation. Besides people from the seven villages that have been served government notices, people from three other villages — Motipura, Jholapura and Rasulpura — also joined in the rally, fearing their land too might be taken over by the GIDC. The villagers presented a memorandum, signed by around 100 people, to the mamlatdar. and later staged a dharna outside his office. Eyewitnesses told AM that the rallyists shouted slogans of ‘Jaan denge, par zameen nahi denge’ (We will give up our lives, but not our land), GIDC hatao, zameen bachao, (Remove GIDC, save our land). One of the leaders, Kamsibhai Patel, said, “People of all seven villages are furious, so all of us decided to take out a rally. We intend to adopt an even more aggressive attitude. “The mamlatdar has given us seven days to look into the matter. If we don’t get a proper reply after this period, we will intensify our agitation.” Virjibhai Patel, a farmer, said, “We had informed people only around 12 noon that we were going to take out a rally. Yet, around 4,000 people turned up. We will pass resolutions in every village against giving any land to the government.” Most farmers believe the government should choose non-agricultural, barren land rather than fertile land. And Ahmedabad has thousands of hectares of such arid land, they said. Radhaben Patel, a widow who was part of the rally, said, “The four villages, Hirapur, Kuwar, Gokadpur and Sinyavad, have around 8,000 cows. Women in these villages earn their livelihood by rearing them. We will not leave this land at any cost. If need be, we will gherao government offices. If we don’t save our land, our next generation won’t forgive us.” Sanand Mamlatdar Sudhir Patel said, “I’ve received a memorandum from the farmers which I will pass it on to the collector. After listening to their grievances, a decision on acquiring
Vote, Amdavad, vote. You really have no choice
DILIP PATEL
Beginning October 2010, 35 lakh voters in 56 wards of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation will have to vote. Compulsorily. In a first-of-its-kind decision in the country, the state government has set the ball rolling to make it mandatory for all voters to cast their vote in local self bodies elections. he state government has already legalised the framework for the same and will present it during the two-day Vidhan Sabha session to start on Thursday. The law will also have a no-vote provision for voters who do not find a candidate worthy of their vote. The state government has proposed a law granting 50 per cent reservation for women in local self-government bodies’ elections, Urban Development Minister Nitin Patel told Mirror. “The decision to make voting mandatory will be the first of its kind in the country. We are also taking a lead in 50 per cent reservations for women in local self government body elections,” Patel said. He said that voters who do not exercise their franchise will be served a show cause notice by the state election commission and asked to give a clarificaition in 30 days. If the voter fails to safisfy the state election commission than he will be declared a defaulter. The state government is in the process of framing the rules for penalty or punishment for defaulter voters. The state government will amend three laws under the Gujarat Local Authorities Law Amendment including the BPMC ACT, the municipalities act and the panchayat act to accommodate the new law. The Gujarat local self government bodies have 3.5 crore voters. There are 13,000 gram panchayats, 225 taluka panchayats,167 municipalities and 27 district panchayats besides seven municipal corporations. All of these will go for an election between September and December 2010. The state government is also in the process of forming a Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation following the high court order.
Beginning October 2010, 35 lakh voters in 56 wards of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation will have to vote. Compulsorily. In a first-of-its-kind decision in the country, the state government has set the ball rolling to make it mandatory for all voters to cast their vote in local self bodies elections. he state government has already legalised the framework for the same and will present it during the two-day Vidhan Sabha session to start on Thursday. The law will also have a no-vote provision for voters who do not find a candidate worthy of their vote. The state government has proposed a law granting 50 per cent reservation for women in local self-government bodies’ elections, Urban Development Minister Nitin Patel told Mirror. “The decision to make voting mandatory will be the first of its kind in the country. We are also taking a lead in 50 per cent reservations for women in local self government body elections,” Patel said. He said that voters who do not exercise their franchise will be served a show cause notice by the state election commission and asked to give a clarificaition in 30 days. If the voter fails to safisfy the state election commission than he will be declared a defaulter. The state government is in the process of framing the rules for penalty or punishment for defaulter voters. The state government will amend three laws under the Gujarat Local Authorities Law Amendment including the BPMC ACT, the municipalities act and the panchayat act to accommodate the new law. The Gujarat local self government bodies have 3.5 crore voters. There are 13,000 gram panchayats, 225 taluka panchayats,167 municipalities and 27 district panchayats besides seven municipal corporations. All of these will go for an election between September and December 2010. The state government is also in the process of forming a Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation following the high court order.
CM’s security upped after terrorist threat
DI L I P PATEL
Following intelligence reports of
threats from LeT to Chief Minister
Narendra Modi, Somnath temple
and Ahmedabad city, security at important
installations across the state has
been tightened.
While security at Somnath has been
upped, decision on Modi’s security will
be taken in a week. Modi has Z+ category
security, the highest level of security
provided to any public person in
India. T S Bisht, secretary, home department,
said, “After the FBI report,
the Centre had alerted the state regarding
threats to the CM, Somnath temple,
coastal areas and Ahmedabad city.
We are in the process of reviewing the
security in the state.”
A home department source said, as
part of increasing security for Modi, on
both sides of the 26-km road from
Ahmedabad airport to the chief minister’s
enclave, four-and-half-feet high
railings, will be put up. Pits, 2.5 feet
deep, will be dug up on the entire
stretch.
Following intelligence reports of
threats from LeT to Chief Minister
Narendra Modi, Somnath temple
and Ahmedabad city, security at important
installations across the state has
been tightened.
While security at Somnath has been
upped, decision on Modi’s security will
be taken in a week. Modi has Z+ category
security, the highest level of security
provided to any public person in
India. T S Bisht, secretary, home department,
said, “After the FBI report,
the Centre had alerted the state regarding
threats to the CM, Somnath temple,
coastal areas and Ahmedabad city.
We are in the process of reviewing the
security in the state.”
A home department source said, as
part of increasing security for Modi, on
both sides of the 26-km road from
Ahmedabad airport to the chief minister’s
enclave, four-and-half-feet high
railings, will be put up. Pits, 2.5 feet
deep, will be dug up on the entire
stretch.
Prohibition, civic body bills in 3-day Assembly session
The state government will reintroduce the bill on prohibition with provision for death penalty and another bill providing for50per cent reservation for women in local self-governing bodies and making voting compulsory during the three-day winter session of the state Assembly. The assembly that was to meet only for two days, beginning Thursday, will now meet for three days, said Speaker Ashok Bhatt. The session was extended on the advice of the Business Advisory Committee of Gujarat Vidhansabha. There will be a question hour on all three days, Bhatt said. The Bombay Prohibition (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, 2009, provides for capital punishment for manufacture, supply, transport and sale of spurious liquor if its consumption results in a death. The Bill was passed in the last Assembly session in the backdrop of the hooch tragedy in the city in July in which more than 130 people died. The then governor Naval Kishore Sharma sent back the Bill to the Assembly for reconsideration contending that the provision for capital punishment is contrary to IPC clauses and Central Acts. The governor’s advice notwithstanding, the government has decided to reintroduce the Bill in its original form, a government source said. The government may also introduce a bill to amend Gujarat Disturbed Area Act (Aashant dharo) that regulates sale of immovable properties in communally disturbed areas, said the
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