Centre trying to unilaterally rule over States: Trinamool delegation tells President

Posted on August 23, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

A delegation of 10 Trinamool MPs led by Leader of the party in Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, met the President of India at Raj Bhavan, Kolkata.

“Our main purpose to meet the President was to show how the Centre is breaking the barriers of the federal structure,” Sudip Bandyopadhyay said.

“They are dictating the terms to States on how schemes are to be implemented and how money is to be spent on such schemes or what should their names be,” he added.

“Earlier there was Planning Commission where the States had the chance to interact with the Deputy Chairman. Now the Planning Commission has been dissolved and Niti Ayog has been set up,” the veteran MP said.

“We raised the issue of monitoring of State Treasury. This is unbelievable. There is also the other issue of unilateral deputation of officers at under-secretary level. Then there is the issue of 100 Days’ Work. Centre owes Rs 1700 crore to the State,” Sudip Bandyopadhyay added.

Centre is making an attempt to unilaterally rule over the States.
Decisions about developmental projects are being taken without consulting States at any level, the senior parliamentarian alleged. He said that Trinamool will raise these issues in the Parliament.

যুক্তরাষ্ট্রীয় পরিকাঠামোয় কেন্দ্রের হস্তক্ষেপ নিয়ে রাষ্ট্রপতির দ্বারস্থ তৃণমূল

লোকসভায় তৃণমূলের দলনেতা সুদীপ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের নেতৃত্বে আজ এক প্রতিনিধি দল দেখা করে রাষ্ট্রপতি প্রণব মুখোপাধ্যায়ের সঙ্গে। কেন্দ্র যুক্তরাষ্ট্রীয় পরিকাঠামোয় হস্তক্ষেপ করছে সেটাই রাষ্ট্রপতিকে কাছে আমরা জানিয়েছি, বলেন সুদীপ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।কেন্দ্র রাজ্যের কাজে হস্তক্ষেপ করছে। কোন প্রকল্পে কত টাকা কি ভাবে খরচ হবে, সেটাও কেন্দ্র বলে দিচ্ছে, অভিযোগ সুদীপের। আগে প্ল্যানিং কমিশনে রাজ্য নিজের দাবিদাওয়া রাখতে পারতো। কিন্তু এখন কমিশন উঠিয়ে তৈরী হয়েছে নীতি আয়োগ, বলেন সুদীপ।

“রাজ্যের ট্রেজারির ওপর নজরদারির চেষ্টার কথা মারা রাষ্ট্রপতিকে জানিয়েছি। বলেছি আন্ডার সেক্রেটারি লেভেলের অফিসারদের ডেপুটেশনের প্রসঙ্গ। এছাড়াও ১০০ দিনের কাজে রাজ্যের পাওনা ১৭০০ কোটি টাকার বিষয়টিও জানানো হয়েছে,” বলেন বর্ষীয়ান এই সাংসদ।

উনি আরও বলেন যে কেন্দ্র চাইছে রাজ্যের সব ক্ষমতা কেড়ে নিতে। রাজ্যকে না জানিয়ে উন্নয়নমূলক কাজের সিদ্ধান্ত নেওয়া হচ্ছে। সুদীপ বলেন যে এই বিষয়গুলি সংসদে উত্থাপন করবে তৃণমূল।

Mamata Banerjee tears into Central Govt. Here are 10 things she said

Posted on August 20, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Mamata Banerjee tears into the Central Government. Here are 10 things she said:

The situation in the country is worse than Emergency now.

In the name of cooperative federalism, opinions of States are being bulldozed. This is dictatorship. This is against spirit of Constitution. The Centre is not taking States on board. We have never faced such discrimination before. Is the Centre following Presidential form of government? Where is federalism?

The Centre’s Kashmir policy failed. Their diplomacy is a disaster. Pakistan issue has become worse because of the Centre’s failure. I believe apart from Finance, Rail, Defence and External Affairs, Centre should not have any other subject in its jurisdiction. In the name of external affairs, the Centre goes on foreign trips. Rail Budget is also being done away with.

If States pay most of the funds, why should the schemes be named after leaders of the ruling party in the Centre. I have never seen a more arrogant Central Government. Do they want to do away with State governments? The Centre wants to control how States spend their Budget money? They want to appoint a person to State treasury. Why? They want to control the functioning of the States even at BDO level. Why will we allow that?

Few days ago, the Union Finance Minister paid tributes to Netaji on his “death anniversary”. Are these mistakes or planned actions? Bhashan on social media can get you votes. But what about nation-building? BJP is a hi-tech publicity oriented party. Under Narendra Modi’s government, the entire country has lost freedom again.

We are protesting against the Centre’s interference. We are being victimised. We will approach the President of India about the Centre’s undue interference in the business of States.

Federal structure is being bulldozed by the unilateral, arbitrary action of the Centre. This is a dangerous ‘red’ signal to stop democratic system. If the Centre does not correct its course, we will be forced to hit the streets.

Inflation is up. Development projects for weaker sections are stagnant. There is controversy over GDP numbers. Narendra Modi suddenly went to Pakistan on their PM’s birthday. Surprise visit. Many things happened after that. Total mishandling. In the name of gau-raksha there is violence across the country.

The Centre will be strengthened if the States are empowered.

Tamil Nadu has also expressed strong opinion on various issues. We will discuss with other Opposition-ruled States. Every party must come together to fight unitedly against the attempts by Modi Govt to thwart the federal structure.

Aadhaar card impasse: TMC Parliamentary team will meet PM, says Mamata Banerjee

Posted on August 17, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

A Trinamool Congress Parliamentary team will meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will urge him to resolve the impasse over issuing of Aadhaar cards, party Chairperson Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday.

She said despite repeated requests, the Centre did not resolve the problem. Of 9 crore people in the state, more than 2.5 crore people have not received their Aadhaar cards. The problem started after the Centre decided to complete the procedure of issuing Aadhaar cards by August 31.

She said the state government would launch massive campaign involving all sections of people including students urging the people to maintain cool.

“The Centre has failed to resolve the issue and on the contrary has made Aadhaar cards mandatory for many of its projects,” the Chairperson said.

She had raised the issue during her meeting with the Prime Minister in Delhi recently. She maintained that non availability of Aadhaar cards was creating serious law and order problem.

Image Source: India Today

আধার সমস্যা নিয়ে প্রধানমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে দেখা করবে তৃণমূলের সংসদীয় দল

তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসের সংসদীয় দলের প্রধানমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে সাক্ষাৎ করবে এবং আধার কার্ড সংক্রান্ত সবরকম সমস্যা সমাধান করার আর্জি জানাবে, মঙ্গলবার একথা জানিয়েছেন তৃণমূল সুপ্রিমো মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

তিনি বলেন, “আধার কার্ড নিয়ে ভয়াবহ পরিস্থিতি তৈরি হয়েছে। গুরুতর আইন-শৃঙ্খলার সমস্যা দেখা দিয়েছে”।

তিনি বলেন, বার বার অনুরোধ করা সত্ত্বেও কেন্দ্রে আধার কার্ড সমস্যা সমাধান করেনি। রাজ্যের ৯ কোটি মানুষের মধ্যে ২.৫ কোটির বেশি মানুষ তাদের আধার কার্ড পান নি। কেন্দ্র নিজের মত সময়সীমা ঠিক করেছে ৩১শে আগস্ট আর তারপর থেকেই সমস্যা শুরু হয়েছে।

মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন, “কেন্দ্র আধার কার্ড সমস্যার সমাধান করতে ব্যর্থ হয়েছে এবং এর পরিবর্তে এই কার্ড বাধ্যতামূলক করেছে”।

সম্প্রতি দিল্লিতে প্রধানমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে বৈঠকে তিনি বিষয়টি উত্থাপন করেছিলেন। তিনি বলেন যে আধার কার্ডের অপর্যাপ্ততা গুরুতর আইন-শৃঙ্খলা সমস্যা তৈরি করছে।

Matters of public importance raised by Trinamool in the last week of Monsoon Session

Posted on August 12, 2016 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Trinamool Congress raised various issues concerning the nation as well as made fervent demands regarding West Bengal in both the Houses of the Parliament during the week.

Party MPs spoke on various issues during Question Hour, Zero Hour and legislative business (including discussions on Bills, Short Duration Discussions and Calling Attentions Motions).

Here are the links to the speeches, interventions, questions made by Trinamool MPs in the course of the week.

Question Hour

Derek O’Brien’s supplementary question in Rajya Sabha on MGNREGA | goo.gl/8wbkwe

Derek O’Brien’s supplementary question in Rajya Sabha on electrification | goo.gl/wAhjij

Jogen Chowdhury’s supplementary question in Rajya Sabha on underground wiring | goo.gl/b19YFg

Derek O’Brien’s supplementary question in Rajya Sabha on National Rural Drinking Water Programme | goo.gl/FQLDfk

Satabdi Roy’s question in Lok Sabha on the violation of electromagnetic field (EMF) norms for mobile phone towers | goo.gl/jyhSrP

Kalyan Banerjee’s question in Lok Sabha on re-employment of retired bureaucrats | goo.gl/JYNmTW

Choudhury Mohan Jatua’s question in Lok Sabha on construction of a sea port in Gangasagar | goo.gl/cZWcSI

Zero Hour

Derek O’Brien in Rajya Sabha on the utilisation and disbursement of cess collected under various heads | goo.gl/SvDtvz

Dasarath Tirkey in Lok Sabha on the occasion of Adivasi Diwas | goo.gl/7m3822

Saugata Roy in Lok Sabha on the situation in Kashmir | goo.gl/kLYBMX

Aparupa Poddar in Lok Sabha on increasing grant amount for Indira Awas Yojana | goo.gl/eNKDPb

Sudip Bandyopadhyay in Lok Sabha on problems in the distribution of minority scholarships | goo.gl/wDiXo8

Arpita Ghosh in Lok Sabha on the demand for dredging Atreyi River | goo.gl/sS02I9

Sudip Bandyopadhyay in Lok Sabha on the Centre owing West Bengal Rs 1,700 crore in MGNREGS wage dues | http://goo.gl/P45fVH

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy in Rajya Sabha demanding discussion on the Kashmir issue | goo.gl/LRzUgQ

Discussions

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy in Rajya Sabha sought clarification on the recent militant attack in Kokrajhar | goo.gl/vgjcAy

Ahamed Hassan Imran’s intervention in Rajya Sabah on recent attack in Kokrajhar | goo.gl/2alxTo

Derek O’Brien in Rajya Sabha on RSS involvement in education | goo.gl/yn41ZY

Jogen Chowdhury in Rajya Sabha on National Education Policy | goo.gl/MwyTQS

Derek O’Brien in Rajya Sabha on Government resolution on Railways | goo.gl/2srSKm

Derek O’Brien in Rajya Sabha on the situation in Kashmir | goo.gl/h1LIOb

Saugata Roy in Lok Sabha on atrocities committed on Dalits in the country | goo.gl/VW0es4

Calling Attention Motions

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy in Rajya Sabha during a Calling Attention Motion on the impasse regarding appointment of judges | goo.gl/Gdbtbd

Sudip Bandyopadhyay in Lok Sabha during Calling Attention Motion on encephalitis | goo.gl/BO97q6

Legislations

Ahamed Hassan Imran in Rajya Sabha on The Mental Health Care Bill, 2013 | goo.gl/kPGgMe

Vivek Gupta in Rajya Sabha on The Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill, 2016 | goo.gl/25TI4B

Dola Sen in Rajya Sabha on The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 | goo.gl/V3Ihh6

Derek O’Brien in Rajya Sabha sought clarification on The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 | goo.gl/hMJjat

Kalyan Banerjee in Lok Sabha on The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Second Amendment) Bill, 2014 | goo.gl/eOINJW

Pratima Mandal in Lok Sabha on The Employee’s Compensation Amendment Bill, 2016 | goo.gl/w6QaX1

Aparupa Poddar in Lok Sabha on The Central Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill, 2016 | goo.gl/CT587U

Mumtaz Sanghamita in Lok Sabha on The Employee’s Compensation (Amendment) Bill, 2016 | goo.gl/P4VQne

Sugata Bose in Lok Sabha on The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2016 | goo.gl/Z4rTmf

Aparupa Poddar in Lok Sabha on The Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2016 | goo.gl/BquFfs

Kalyan Banerjee in Lok Sabha on The Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2016 | goo.gl/m7Vdml

Saugata Roy in Lok Sabha on The Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2016 | goo.gl/ZJiTQj

Sudip Bandyopadhyay in Lok Sabha makes intervention during the introduction of The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 | goo.gl/SdaTSw

Centre owes Bengal Rs 1700 Cr as MGNREGA wage dues: Sudip Bandyopadhyay

Posted on August 12, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Leader of the party in Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandyopadhyay today raised a very important issue during Zero Hour in the presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister.

Centre owes Bengal Rs 1700 crore towards wages under the MGNREGA scheme. The Centre pays wages to those who work for the scheme. Large number of wagers in Bengal have not been paid, Sudip Banerjee said.

He demanded that the dues be cleared immediately.

This was the only issue raised during Zero Hour today in Lok Sabha, Sudip Banerjee spoke amid the din.

১০০ দিনের কাজের ১৭০০ কোটি টাকা বকেয়া রেখেছে কেন্দ্র: সুদীপ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

লোকসভায় সর্বভারতীয় তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসের দলনেতা সুদীপ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় আজ মাননীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রীর উপস্থিতিতে জিরো আওয়ারে একটি খুব গুরুত্বপূর্ণ বিষয় উত্থাপন করেন।

“১০০ দিনের কাজের ১৭০০ কোটি টাকা বকেয়া রেখেছে কেন্দ্র, এই প্রকল্পের অধীনে যারা কাজ করেন তাদেরকে কেন্দ্রের টাকা দেওয়ার কথা। এছাড়া আরও অনেক প্রকল্পের ক্ষেত্রে বাংলার টাকা বাকি রেখেছে কেন্দ্র”, বলেন সুদীপ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

তিনি দাবি করেন যে তাদের এই বকেয়া যেন অবিলম্বে মিটিয়ে দেওয়া হয়।

আজ জিরো আওয়ারে শুধুমাত্র এই একটি ইস্যুই লোকসভায় উত্থাপিত হয়, তৃণমূলের পক্ষ থেকে বক্তা ছিলেন সুদীপ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

Jogen Chowdhury speaks during a discussion on National Education Policy in RS

Posted on August 11, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Sir, I start with a quote by Rabindranath Tagore, he said, “the highest education is that which does not merely gives us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.”

Knowledge cannot be obtained only through books. But more through individual life experience, involvement, hard work and practices. Therefore education is not limited to books. Education is the most powerful tool to make a person self confident, capable and an ideal human being and enables someone live and let live others in peace, prosperity, dignity and harmony with life and nature. Education is not essentially to make a career and just to money but to become a total human being. We must remember that a population when is uneducated, poor, physically incapable is not a human resource but a burden to the society. So we will have to exert all our efforts to change this situation and education is ultimate tool for that and we cannot stop until the entire Indian population is educated, particularly the women of each family and backward classes. We have to remember that even in the time of war when our army cannot do anything if our population is unhealthy, uneducated and incapable. We need a quality education for all. I think it is through proper research and study, it is important to identify which areas of education are in demand, from the perspective of true education and growth oriented education.

I think it is important to have holistic form of education which can be divided into two main parts. One is academic education which revolves around formal subjects such as math, science, language, history, etc, which is mainly obtained through books, study and research. Two, life oriented education like sports, games, yogas, gymnastics, visual arts, performing arts, crafts, designing and planning, skill development of various nature, maintenance of environment and protection of heritage including all sorts of groups, sociocultural activities which encourage self confidence, discipline, friendship or fellow feeling, initiative, organizational ability, leadership and to do hard work, which normally lacks among our people. This is important to make a strong, vibrant, live Indian society. Until we make a clear distinction of academic education and life oriented education in the policy and concentrate on both areas separately in equal measure, we will not be able to make our education purposeful and effective.

I think that in Indian society, we do not lack in informative or academic knowledge, but we do not have any involvement or initiative in organization, planning, hardwork and education. Rabindranath Tagore once remarked that we start our work but it never finishes. I think at this moment this is an important moment of education and practice.

Dola Sen makes a Special Mention on the rising incidents of violence against particular communities by vigilante groups

Posted on August 11, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Over the last one month, our nation has been a mute witness to brutal acts of horror on a particular section of people by vigilante groups in the name of cow protection. Innocent lives have been lost and families scarred while democracy has been bulldozed.

The Centre is a mute spectator as a few vigilante groups are dictating what people can eat or wear. This is gross interference with personal choices. As the Chief Minister of West Bengal and the Chairperson of All India Trinamool Congress has said, if I consume goat meat, there is no problem, but if someone else has cow meat, it is a problem. We may like wearing dhotis but someone else may prefer lungis. Who are you to decide what people will wear and eat?

Some groups have started going from house to house in rural Bengal and asking people how many cows they own. Who has given them the right to do so? Why should it be of any concern to anyone how many cows, goats or hens a person has?

Moreover, education is being politicised in several parts of the country. Textbooks have now become serious instruments for the proliferation of communal tensions in north India. Researches on violence in north India show that the new history textbooks play a major role in the construction of communal violence in many micro-regions in north Indian states.

The government needs to take stock of the situation before it goes out of hand and rein in these vigilante groups. The Centre needs to reinforce the faith people have in our Constitution and act as per the vision of the founding fathers of our great democracy.

Trinamool’s Derek slams RSS involvement in education

Posted on August 11, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Minister is not convinced about this and calls these “a few inputs….” So my interpretation is that this note has less than 10 percent of the inputs and the Minister will listen to all our inputs, and we will all give the rest of the 90% inputs.

When formulated the policy should be inclusive, open to diversity of thought and belief.

There are a lot of Christian schools running across the country. Many non-Christians, from various economic backgrounds, also go to Christian schools. In Christian schools they never ask you to go to Church. Christian schools impart secular education. We need a modern, secular outlook to education.

Minority schools in India are feeling very threatened because consultative process has not really taken place. The consultative process has been a “natak.” Ensure the autonomy of minority communities to administer their institutions. Guarantee their independence to preserve their culture and traditions.

The States cannot be ignored, Sir. Take them on board. They consulted the States for GST and got their full backing. So do the same with the Education Policy. Don’t rush it because States do not agree with your approach.

There is a genuine fear that the RSS wanted control over one ministry. Government needs to take mature steps. Secularism is our system’s greatest strength. It is our constitutional heritage.

With this, I go back to my opening plea that make there is no rush for any policy. First there has to be inclusivity and diversity of thought and belief.

Saugata Roy speaks during a discussion on the atrocities committed on Dalits in the country

Posted on August 11, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Sir, yeh badi dukhat ghatna hai ki azadi ke 69 years ke baad hume yahaan per Dalit ke upar atyachar ki charcha karna pad raha hai. Aj se 84 saal pahle Gandhi Ji ne anshan kiya tha Scheduled Caste ke separate electorate ke khilaf. Us samay historic Gandhi-Ambedkar pact sign hua. Gandhi Ji apne sara zindagi Daliton ke utthan ke liye, asprishyata dur karne ke liye aur gau-seva ke liye bitaya. Uske baad jab hamara samvidhan bana – Dr Ambedkar jiske sthapati the – Article 17 mein humne untouchability ko eliminate kar diya. Aur Article 46 mein ‘promotion of educational and economic interest of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe and other weaker sections’ rakha gaya.

Sir, iske baad 1989 me jab Rajiv Gandhi Pradhan Mantri the ‘The SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act’ yahaan par paarit kiya gaya aur 2015 mein isko bohut acha sanshodhan kiya gaya. Toh aaj Dalit par atyachar rokne ke liye kanoon ka koi kami nahi hai. Humara jo ‘Prevention of Atrocities Against SC/ST Act’ hai usme bahut sara kadam lene ka pravdhan hai. Aur Sir, us mein exclusive special court, yeh sab crime ke khilaf, banane ki baat hai. Lekin abhi tak exclusive special court kahin par bana nahi hai. Mai is per aap ka dhyan aakarshan karana chahta hoon.

Sir, aankre zyada dena zaroori nahi hai. Fir bhi mai thode aankre dena chahta hu. 2014 mein Hindustan mein Daliton per atyachaar ka ghatna lag bhag 47000 huya tha. Us mein sab se zyada tha UP mein (8075), Rajasthan mein 8028, Bihar me 7893, Andhra Pradesh mein 4114, Madhya Pradesh mein 4151, Odisha mine 2206, Karnataka mein 2138. West Bengal mein keval 169 ghatnayein hui. Is ka matlab kya hai? West Bengal mein ghatnayein 500 percent kam tha dusre pranton se. Humare wahaan Dalito ke upar atyachar nahin hota hai.

Rajnath Singh ko yeh khabar lena chahiye ki kyun West Bengal mein Daliton per atyachaar ka ghatna itna kam hai, Mamata Banerjee ke sarkar mein? Iska karan humari sarkar aur West Bengal ka sanskritik parampara hai.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy se leke Swami Vivekanand tak sab logon ne samantha ke liye jo baat fehlayi hai the usi ka asar hamare samaj mein abhi hai; is liye humare wahaan na Dalit, na Muslim aur nahi Adivasi ke khilaf atyachaar hota hai. Mai is liye isko political debate ya blame game nahin banana chahta hoon kyun ki jo sab pranton mein Daliton pe atyachaar ka ghatna zyada hua hai us mein Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat BJP ruled States hai, lekin Bihar mein JD(U) ki sarkar hai, Andhra Pradesh mein Chandra Babu Naidu ki sarkar hai, aur UP me Samajwadi Party ki sarkar hai. Toh main kehta hoon ki kaun sa sarkar hai yeh badi baat nahi hai, samaj mein Daliton ke liye kya bhavna hai yeh hi sabse zaroori cheez hai.

Aaj dukhat baat yeh hain ki Gandhi Ji hamare beech nahin hain, Vinoba Bhave nahin hain. Aise netaon ki bahut zaroori hain jo samaj ko jod sakey. Abhi vote bank ka politics chalta hain. Logon mein vibhajan karte hain, Hindu polarization kiya jata hain aur isi se yeh ghatnayen badte hain.

Rajnath Singh Ji yahan hain. Main unka dhyan akarshan karta hoon. Una mein jo ghatna hua uske aur. Una mein 11 July char Dalit naujawanon ko pedh mein bandh ke belt se mara gaya, lathi se mara giya. Logon ko shayad pata nahin hoga, jo log mara wohi usko internet mein post kar diya. Hum sabne dekha. Lekin iske baad kya hua?

Sara Saurashtra mein bandh hua 20 July ko. Daliton ne bare bare juloos nikale. Lekin dekhiye, Sir, Sarkar kaise chalta hain. Lok Sabha mein jeb yeh baat uthaya gaya, Rajnath Singh Ji bole ki sarkar ne toh jaldi kadam uthaya hain. Lekin kadam kahan uthaya hain? Anandiben Patel ko Gandhinagar se Una jane main 9 din kyun lag gaye? Kyun aap pehle yeh monitor karne ka kohshish nahin kiye yeh sawaal main aap se puchna chahta hoon.

Sir, Gujarat mein har saal hazaron atyachar ka ghatna hote hain. 50 Dalit mahilaon ke upaar balatkar hota hain, aur 20 Dalit Jawan ko haar saal murder kiya jata hain. Yeh agar Gujarat model hain toh mujhe kuch kehna nahin hain. Yehi shayad Gujarat model hain. Sir, lekin yeh intolerance – Daliton ko nahin sehna, Muslim ko nahin sehna – yeh sara desh mein fehlaya gaya hain. Yeh aur kuch jagah humne debate kiya – about the atmosphere of intolerance. Trinamool Congress ke barabar aap kab honge? West Bengal ko dekhiye, itna achha Daliton ka sanrakshan koi nahin karta.

Sir, Muslim log bhi isse mukt nahin hua. Daliton par atyachar hum charcha karte hain, lekin humko yaad hain Dadri mein kya hua. Akhlaq ko mara gaya yeh bol ke ki uske ghar mein beef hain, gau mans hain. Sir, keval yeh hi nahin. Kuch din pehle Kharge Ji ek mudda uthaye they – Madhya Pradesh ke Mandasur mein do Muslim mahilaon par atyachar hua kyun ki bola gaya woh gau mans carry kar rahe the; un logon ne bola ki hamare paas buffalo meat hain, receipt hain, lekin phir bhi unko pita gaya.

Toh, sir, asahishnuta ka vataavaran desh mein ban raha hain. Main sochta hoon ki kyun hamare desh mein yeh vataavaran bana. Sir, 7 August Hyderabad mein humare Pradhan Mantri ne ek bayan diya, ek zaroori bayan. Narendra Modi issued a call to stop attacking Dalits, saying, shoot me if you want, not Dalits, and ask people to be beware of fake gau-rakshaks who have problems with the country’s unity and want to destroy society. Main isko swagat karta hoon. Lekin Pradhan Mantri ko yeh bayan dene mein itna samay kyun laga? 11 July Una mein ghatna ghata aur unko bayan dene mein 26 din lag gaya.

Aur mai ye bhi puchna chahta hoon, ki yeh bayan me kyu nahi bola ki ‘ mujhe maro magar Dalit aur Muslim ko maat maro’, dono hi toh ho jata hai. He left out Muslims, he only said Dalits, kyu. Agar Pradhan Mantri khud marna chahte hai, toh unhe ye bolna tha, ‘Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai/ Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai.’

Pradhan Mantri ke bayan ke ek din baad maine dekha ki RSS ke General Secretary, unka naam hai Bhaiyaji Joshi, une bayan deke Pradhan Mantri ko samarthan kiya. Toh in logo ko laga 26 din bayan dene mein aur tab bhi ghatna band nahi hua. Sir, in Andhra Pradesh, a Dalit was stripped, thrashed, tied to a tree for skinning a dead cow. Sir, yeh Dalit, jo mara hua gau hai uski chamra barabar utarte hai, ye unki profession hai, aur aaj uske liye mara jaraha hai.

Rajnath Ji, aapke ek neta the Arun Shourie, abhi thora out of favour hai. Unhone ek achha bayan diya tha ki NDA aur UPA me koi farak nahi hai lekin NDA is UPA + Cow. Humare Hindustan mein 48 dharaon mein yeh kaha gaya ki state shall endeavor to stop cow slaughter, slaughter of milch animals. Hamare desh ka zyada pranton mein cow slaughter banned hai. Haryana mein das saal jail ho sakta hai agar ko cow slaughter karta hai. Lekin ye issue naye dhang se utha hai. Main kehna chahta hoon ki yeh mindset ka baat hai.

Chunav ke pehle Modi Ji ne bola tha gau-raksha ko lekar UPA ke log kya kar rahe hai. Lekin Modi Ji to abhi Pradhan Mantri ban gaye. Woh to zimedar ban gaye lekin unke jo chela chamche the woh bola ki hum gau raksha suru karte hai aur woh hi maidan mein utre hai.

Toh aaj Modi Ji jab bayan dete hai, Sir, Vishwa Hindu Parishad condemns Modi’s remarks on gau rakshaks. VHP aur Rashtriya Gau Raksha Dal ne Modi Ji ko condemn kiya. Mai toh in logon ko condemn karta hoon aur maang karta hoon Rajnath ji se ki Vishwa Hindu Parishad aur Rashtriya Gau Raksha Dal ko aap baan kar dijiye. Inka koi zaroorat nahi Hindustan mein, aap ke haat me ye hukumat hai.

Ek naya vatavaran banana parega, yeh ho sakta hai ki chunav ke pehle BJP ke log Hindutva ka hawa uthaye the lekin abhi woh hukumat mein aa gaye hai toh zimmedari se kaam karna padega aur desh mein ek sahishnuta ka vatavaran banana parega jahaan hamara Musalman aur Dalit bhaiyon ko suraksha ka chinta nahi ho.

Main Gandhi Ji ko yaad karta hoon. Woh bolte the “always think of the talisman, think of the poorest person you know. And think of your action whether it will wipe the tears of his eyes”.

Main ruling party ke logo ko kehta hu ki aisa kuch kijiye ki Daliton ke aansu pocha jaye. Dalito ko aansu hatane ka kaam kijiye, Hindutva ka baat ho gaya, aaplog hukumat mein aa gaye. Abhi humare samaj ko thanda hone dijiye.

Dola Sen speaks on The Maternity Benefit Bill, 2016

Posted on August 11, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

The object of maternity leave and benefit is to protect the dignity of motherhood by providing for full and healthy maintenance of a woman and her child when she is not working. In today’s age, more and more women are joining the workforce and in this scenario, it is important to ensure that a woman striving for self sufficiency does not have to compromise on her role as a caregiver to her child. Studies have shown that longer maternity leaves are likely to produce health benefits.

Expectant and nursing mothers require special protection to prevent harm to their own health and the infant’s health. They need adequate time to give birth, to recover, and to nurse their children. At the same time, they also require protection to ensure that they will not lose their job simply because of pregnancy or maternity leave. Such protection ensures a woman equal access to employment.

But one point I must say. The proposed Amendment is silent on the question on the aspect of paternity leave. This is one very important point that the Labour Ministry must address. Extending paternity leave will lead to men and women sharing responsibilities of child care. This we have already started practicing in West Bengal under the leadership of our Hon’ble Chief Minister and the Health Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee. This is a progressive step which Bengal is already taking.

The present Bill seeks to increase the maternity leave for women to 26 weeks, as against the current provision of 12 weeks. This is a commendable reform, and I wholeheartedly support this provision. Another good provision is the option of “work from home” for nursing mothers, after completing the duration of their maternity leave, though this will be decided by the employer. It also provides 16 weeks leave for women who adopt a child or opt for surrogacy. In case an establishment employs 50 employees or more, a crèche will have to be provided by the establishment. These are all very progressive provisions and I laud the Government for bringing them.

However, it is important for us to go beyond the books and look at the bigger picture. Women are estimated to be only 30% of all economically active individuals, even though they account for 48% of the population. Only 1% of women are employed in State and Central governments, and 3% in legislative, management and senior official positions.

Maternity benefits are crucial as malnutrition continues to be a huge hurdle. In India, almost one in every three children, or an alarming 4.8 crore children are stunted.

Without benefits, it often becomes difficult for a single mother to provide adequate nutrition for her child. A mother also has to ensure that her child is fully immunised against all types of diseases. India is still a long way off from securing 100% immunisation for all children. In fact, the first phase of the National Family Health Survey 2015-16 revealed that the highest percentage of fully immunised children are from Goa, Sikkim, Puducherry and West Bengal.

Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana is a conditional cash transfer scheme for improved health and nutrition of pregnant and lactating mothers. This scheme is being implemented in 52 districts for women above the age of 19 years for their first two live births. It is estimated that about three crore women get pregnant every year. If Rs 6,000 is to be given to each of them, then Rs 18,000 crore is needed every year. However, in the present budget, only Rs 400 crore has been allocated to the scheme. This needs to be looked into by the Government.

Some more points for consideration. One, it should be addressed by the Government that the timing of this 26 weeks maternity leave should be flexible in nature, and according to the necessity and choice of the pregnant mother. Two, an establishment with 10 employees is entitled to ESI facilities; this Maternity Benefit Bill should not clash with the existing ESI facilities. Three, there are some provisions in the Act for maternity leave allowance or medical bonus for the pregnant mother. I would like to know whether the Government is planning to increase this allowance or medical bonus as it is not at all up to the mark. Four, it is there in the amendment that ‘every establishment shall intimate electronically to every woman at the time of her initial appointment about the benefits available under the Act.’ That means, this Maternity Bill should be implemented from the very first day of the service of the pregnant mother. This Maternity Benefit Bill must address the working woman of the unorganised sector.

I appreciate the thought that the Government has put behind the Bill. We also need to work towards building a future where women hold an equal stake in the every aspect of India’s social, political and economic life. For a child, the most important person in their life is the mother. Let us ensure that we build an India where every woman is free to achieve her dreams, and no child is bereft of the love that only a mother can provide.

Thank you, Sir.