Promoting Voters’ Education and Elector Participation: Initiatives at Birbhum

By Saumitra Mohan.

As the District Election Officer, the undersigned had a very satisfying stint at Birbhum. As far as management of West Bengal Assembly Election 2011 is concerned, it is said to have turned out one of the most peaceful and orderly elections in the electoral history of this district. The media reports, feedback from various political party functionaries and common people attest to this fact. The same was made possible due to many innovative steps taken by us at Birbhum. Everyone else associated with the management and conduct of election in the district chipped in to support and strengthen the entire exercise. As a student of Humanities from Jawaharlal Nehru University and as someone who has been associated with the conduct of the Parliamentary, Assembly, Municipal and Panchayat elections for quite some time, one always knew that Voters’ awareness and familiarity with the election process and his/her confidence in the fairness of the entire process is a key to the success of the entire exercise.

The need for the same was doubly felt given the surcharged atmosphere preceding the multi-phase Assembly elections in the state where stakes were quite high for all concerned. Hence, right from the beginning our focus was on Voters’ Education and Elector Participation (VEEP). To realize the same, we made a multi-pronged strategy and a foolproof plan for ensuring maximum elector participation predicated on sound voter education. The methodologies adopted by Birbhum were appreciated many times during the multiple meetings taken by the Election Commission of India and Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal preceding the actual election, many of them followed and replicated in other districts as well.

To begin with, we took care to apportion the work among carefully drafted senior officials who were all entrusted with various tasks. We took care to ensure that a particular task was assigned as to the qualification, experience and interest of the officer and staff members concerned. This was important because we wanted to ensure that the basic preparations and groundwork were properly done to realize the objectives as mentioned above. We had preliminary meetings with all the officials concerned at all levels including Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, Block Development Officers, Deputy Magistrates, Sub Divisional Officers, Additional District Magistrates, Designated Officers and Booth Level Officers, not to speak of an army of Group ‘C’ and D’ staff members whose roles were equally crucial in the entire exercise. These meetings provided excellent opportunity to explain specific role to each and every person involved during various stages preceding the actual election. This was followed by a carefully designed training module and calendar for training each and every person involved in the process.

Education, awareness and training of these officials were important as voter awareness and participation depended on an efficient and effective role played by these persons in various capacities. Multi-media tools including frequent video conferencing, power point presentation, demonstration of various processes by Master Trainers, hands-on training and customized reading materials were harnessed for the training purposes to the best effect as borne out by huge elector turnout at the hustings. One of the major ways to ensure wide electoral participation was a clean and inclusive electoral roll as borne out by the fact that in Birbhum, our EPIC percentage was over 99 per cent (which was around 94 per cent at the time of my joining the district), itself a positive sign of better electoral awareness which in turn was an outcome of a hard ground-work. Now the challenge before us was to ensure their actual coming forward to exercise their franchise. For this, all the senior Group A officers, as already mentioned above, along with their counterparts from police, as part of our confidence building measures, made more than 900 visits to different parts of the district, most of them sensitive and vulnerable pockets, to freely interact with the voters, answer to their various queries and instill a sense of confidence among them about freely exercising their franchise.

Be it kindly noted that these visits and interactions were over and above those made by hundreds of lower level officials including those by the Sector Officers, Assistant Sector Officers and Booth Level Officers, which were in thousands. Most of these interactions were also photographed and video-graphed. Based on their feedback, we made special security arrangements including improving our vulnerability mapping for the final deployment of the security forces, digital camera, video camera and web-casting. These interactions were the most effective in ensuring a historically peaceful and fair election in the district. Besides, frequent meetings and interactions with the political parties and having their feedback regarding their inputs in the overall vulnerability mapping and in ensuring improved voter participation also helped better electoral participation. The insights gained from these interactions were factored while finalizing the security arrangements, given the Naxalite extremism in our district.

The sense of confidence we could instill among the voters to elicit their better participation was predicated on a better law and order situation we could ensure by prosecuting and bounding down around 11,000 persons (against 1408 during 2006 Assembly and 1818 during 2009 parliamentary elections) who could have vitiated the electoral process, deposition of 2788 licensed arms against 52 in 2006 and 966 in 2009, execution of around 7,205 NBWs compared to 1594 during 2006 and 1641 during 2009 elections, seizure of 42,000 litres illicit liquor against 1022 in 2006 and 1420 during 2009 elections, seizure of massive arms and explosives, ensuring better law and order by personal involvement to tackle such trouble areas as Md. Bazar, Nanoor, Khoyrasol, Illambazar, Dubrajpur and other Naxal-affected areas, destruction of over 7000 acres of poppy cultivation to preempt drug-money from being channeled into elections and prompt action on political complaints relating to law and order.  The inter-state coordination meetings with the districts of neighbouring states also helped our effort.

The left-wing extremism was always at the back of our mind while planning and making our security arrangements. That is why we were always very keen on having feedback from all the corners including those from the common man, the political parties, the media persons and the various experts on the subject. So, our CBM exercises, our interactions with the political parties, contesting candidates, our officers in the field, interactions with the officials from the neighbouring districts and the intelligence reports formed the corner-stone of our detailed security planning. Our efforts were further bolstered, strengthened and fine-tuned by the regular suggestions we received from ECI during specially convened meetings for the purpose.Given the fact that some of our regions including Dubrajpur, Khoyrasol, Rajnagar, Illambazar and a substantial portion of Rampurhat Sub-Division were seriously affected by Naxalism, we were deeply concerned regarding the ‘Fear Factor’ in these areas discouraging the voters against coming out in the open to vote as was experienced in some of the Naxal-infested states during past elections in those states including ours. So with the help of all the resources and inputs at hand, we not only concretized a detailed deployment plan for the central security forces and state police, but we also put in place an effective and over-arching monitoring mechanism which formed the key-stone of our overall election planning. Ours was a resilient mechanism, so we were always fine-tuning the same given the regular inputs received from various quarters including our intelligence agencies. The multiple meetings we had with the District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police, Officers-in-Charge of bordering police stations and other officials of Dumka, Pakur and Jamtara from the neighbouring Jharkhand proved very effective and useful. We not only coordinated our efforts with the relevant agencies of the bordering districts from neighbouring Jharkhand, we also shared intelligence with them almost on daily basis. Many arrests and seizure of arms/explosives followed. The ‘Naka’ or border Check-posts set up in coordination with the neighbouring district authorities helped us not only in checking the illegal movement of arms and ammunition, persons with criminal records, trouble-makers from the neighbouring districts and in effecting seizure of arms/explosives/cash and in preventive detention of many habitual offenders, but also helped us greatly in keeping the Naxal extremism at bay as the supply lines for the latter were effectively cut off. Even though the latter did some threat-carrying ‘postering’ in some areas, the same did not have the intended impact because of the massive ‘Home Work’ done at every level by the election machinery in our district.

Birbhum had been notorious for poppy cultivation and the area under poppy cultivation was always growing and expanding. We were sensitive to this fact, more so because of baneful potential of poppy cultivation in pumping illegal cash into election campaigning as had reportedly been done during the last elections. The involvement of the Naxals in this illegal poppy cultivation further heightened our anxieties, as the spectre of ‘Poppy Cash’ making its insidious incursions into our electoral process always loomed large. Having known this, we set up before us the objective of destroying not only this illegal poppy cultivation, but also making the cultivators and the hoi polloi aware with regards to the socio-political implications of the same. The West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections and the authority coupled with the independence, which flowed from it provided us with an excellent opportunity to eradicate this menace forever. We started some three months before the actual poppy cultivation started. We had meetings with the Central Bureau of Narcotics, the Narcotics Control Bureau, local police authorities, Magistrates, the excise authorizes, representatives of political parties, NGOs, prominent members of the public and elected representatives to sensitize them regarding the problem and also making them aware regarding the negative legal implications of poppy cultivation for the actual farmers.

We organized processions, wall-writing, distribution of specially-written leaflets and miking to inform and sensitize all concerned about the problem. This had significant snowballing impact in terms of reducing the scale of cultivation. The cultivation was also less because of the legal action taken against the cultivators last year including a number of arrests of the people found involved in the poppy cultivation. After this, we set about destruction of the actual poppy cultivation, which was still done notwithstanding all our efforts. We destroyed a massive over 7000 acres of poppy cultivation, something which is said to be a record in the world for a district like ours, if we are to believe the statement made by Sri P Shankar, IPS, the then Zonal Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Kolkata.

The undersigned in coordination with the Superintendent of Police personally monitored the destruction. Other senior officials including Additional District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Officers, Superintendent of Excise, Block Development Officers and Officers-in-Charge of police stations formed part of the many teams formed for the purpose. Our operations spanned over a month and we stopped only when we were convinced that there was no poppy cultivation left to be destroyed. The satellite imageries supplied by the Narcotics agencies helped us in the exercise. Every day’s operation was followed by cases being registered against those found to have committed the offence of poppy cultivation. The total number of cases registered was 44 involving 260 persons of which 94 were arrested. These monumental efforts were greatly instrumental in choking the supply lines for the left-wing extremists which coupled with other measures to tighten noose around their neck helped us in creating an atmosphere which inspired enough confidence among voters to come out in hordes to exercise their franchise.

Our close involvement with the chronic law and order problem in Nanoor, Dubrajpur, Md. Bazar and Khoyrasol helped a great deal in creating an atmosphere, which was congenial for a peaceful and fair election. Our frequent visits to these areas, interactions with all stake-holders including the common voters and holding regular meetings to create confidence and trust among the voters went a long way in inspiring voters to come out and vote in favour of the candidate of their choice without any trace of fear as borne out by the massive turn-outs. There was a communal angle to the problem involving stone-mine quarries at the Md. Bazar Block, which was also effectively tackled with personalized meetings with all the groups including tribal communities involved.

It was indeed a herculean task that we set out to do by trying to ensure a peaceful atmosphere of trust and confidence by having a much better law and order situation than there ever was with cooperation and coordination of all concerned, not to speak of the constant guidance and mentoring received from ECI from time to time. Our effort never went in vain as vindicated by the high turn-out of voters at the hustings.

We made specially designed ‘easy-to-understand’ reading materials for the voters and the same were distributed from the various Voter Assistance Booths and EVM Demonstration Centres set up across the district. These materials were greatly appreciated by the Hon’ble Observers deployed in the district. Voters were also shown specially shot videos to educate them on various aspects relating to EVM and how to cast their vote using the same. There were special Voter Assistant Booths meant only for female voters. Be it kindly noted these voter assistance booths were apart from the booths set up on the day of actual poll to help the voters locate their names in the electoral rolls. Effective distribution of voter slips added another dimension to their increased turnout. The BLOs and other specially trained staff members ensured proper publicity through miking and meetings with the political parties before actually distributing these slips. The distribution of these slips was hundred percent and almost flawless as we had no complaints whatsoever with regards to their distribution. We, however, made it sure to inform the voters that non-possession of these slips was no disqualification for exercise of their franchise as long as their name figured in the electoral roll and as long as they had proper identification documents including EPIC as per ECI guidelines. This became necessary because of some mischief mongers spreading rumours that if voters did not have these slips, they shall not be allowed to vote in spite of them being in possession of statutory identification documents including EPIC.

We also harnessed traditional cultural medium like Baul communities and specially written songs for increased voter education and participation. Street plays (Nukkad Nataks) and street corner demonstration-cum-awareness camps were held for maximizing voter awareness. Besides, specially organized quiz programmes for the voters and elections officials also proved useful. The National Voters Day, as conceived by ECI, was organized effectively with a wide range of activities and had also helped us with our exercise in voter awareness.

We had mobile vans equipped with voter education materials and audio-visual materials for on-the-spot demonstration to the voters in the inaccessible areas. We also had a special Public Grievance Cell including a Help Line to handle various complaints from all corners including those from the voters. The undersigned personally wrote a Blog (www.deobirbhum.blogspot.com) for wider appreciation of various aspects relating to the conduct of election, which was greatly appreciated by all. The use of WEBGIS for electoral management was another effective tool in voter education as it provided various information relating to electoral process including those relating to electoral roll, past election data, information relating to better electoral management, easy report generation and telephone numbers of all the election-related officials up to the BLO level. It was greatly used by all concerned including voters and election officials. Its use by the common man was greatly facilitated by the special information kiosks set up across the district including block, sub-divisional and district headquarters where the voters could go and access such desired information. It was later replicated in other districts of West Bengal as well.

The pre-election shifting of a number of booths also ensured that voters travelled less than they did earlier thereby ensuring their better participation in the electoral process. We had regular interaction with the members of the press (apart from the statutory press conferences) to ensure that the right information reaches the voters in right fashion at right time.

We also saw to it that the voter assistance booths function efficiently and effectively on the poll day, the traffic in the town is smooth and voter related amenities at the polling premises including construction of sun/rain shed, public convenience, medical attention including provisioning of first aid kits and drinking water are provided for all those who come to vote. As we had publicized the same in advance, the voters came in hordes to cast their vote. It was because of the above measures taken by the Office of the District Election Officer, Birbhum that we finally had a voting percentage as high as 87 per cent (compared to 82.7 per cent during 2009 parliamentary election), one of the highest in the state. The voter turnout in many assembly constituencies was markedly high, particularly at Labhpur and Hansan where female voters outnumbered the male voters at the polling booths. This is clearly reflective of effective harnessing of all resources at hand in winning over the confidence of the voters from enrollment till the actual exercise of franchise.

Post-result peace was ensured by consensually deciding postponing the victory processions by winning candidates and political parties in consultation with the latter, something which was followed by other districts as well at the behest of Hon’ble ECI. We could not have achieved the same without the common man i.e. the voter appreciating our viewpoint in this regard and deciding not to come on the streets to celebrate the victory of their beloved candidates. One also feels that the high voter turnout was also an effect of better polling personnel performance whose overall satisfaction was very high because of introduction of online payment of polling remuneration, better training and better polling personnel amenities.

The Great Indian Family: Some Reflections

*Saumitra Mohan



We have always taken pride in our celebrated Indian family values, asserting their superiority over similar values of any other culture. In fact, asked to define the ‘Heaven’, someone defined it as a life that would include a British house, an American salary, Chinese food and Indian family. Accordingly, the hell was defined to subsume the worst from the same four cultures namely an Indian salary, a Chinese house, the British food and an American family. Whatever that is supposed to mean, the fact remains that still our Indian family system and the cognate family values are deemed to be the best, at least, when we compare them with other cultural values.

But notwithstanding many positive and wholesome attributes of our hoary family values, many negativities appear to have crept into the same over the years or have never been acknowledged to be part of our value system as they represent toouglier or seamier sides of our culture to be accepted.

Lets discuss certain aspects of our family values, which are noticed quite often but simply brushed beneath the carpet. These values have come to be associated with our day-to-day life so much that we do not even realize that many monstrosities have slowly come to imbue our family values over a period of time.

Take, for example, the ubiquitous son preference in our society, a problem also afflicting the Chinese society, which owing to its single child norm has also been facing the problem of sex selection in favour of the male children. The Son preference norm is so strong in our society that people would go to any extent to have a baby boy. If your first child is a girl, your so called well wishers around you including those in your family keep irritatingly reminding you that you should definitely have a baby boy. And many of us often yield to that pressure. That is why,a good number of the people who have a first girl child, generally have a baby boy born to them as a second child. The same is made to appear as normal delivery, but is often the result of resorting to the illegal sex selection techniques. They surreptitiously get the pre-natal tests done to ensure that they do have a baby boy.

But reverse sex selection is rarely seen i.e. those having baby boy as their first child going for sex selection to have a baby girl as their second child. The parents and our supposed near and dear ones often keep up the mental pressure in various ways us to nudge us into having a baby boy.The parents or parents-in-law often target the womenfolk i.e. the daughters or daughters in law to push for a baby boy. And the result of it all this is the skewed sex ratio we have in our society, and the same is also resulting in increased crime against women or forced bachelorhood for many men.

Another value relates to describing a good soul in our society as a ‘cow’, which often means a dumb person and this appellation is often used for our daughters in law. In our society, the dumb daughters in law who serve their in-laws without a murmur are supposed to be the best of their ilk. But educated, smart or quick-tongued daughters in law are often branded as bad specimens. When the Indian parents start the hunt for their daughters in law, they generally scout for such a dumb ‘cow’. A stereotypical ‘Bahu’ (read daughter in law) is in many cases preferred to suit their selfish interests and old age comforts rather than a human being who would be more compatible for their sons. Naturally, such arranged marriages don’t last long as they are predicated on wrong foundations.

It is people of such kind who ask forthe dreaded dowry in the name of various excuses including for securing the future of their children. However, most of them desire dowry as an insurance cover for their own old age. This applies more to the people with low self-esteem, inferiority complex or unplanned old age. That is why, the caste marriages are insisted upon because in inter-caste and inter-religious marriages, the scope for dowry is almost nil. Caste marriages and caste values are, therefore, promoted to put a premium on the marriage worthiness of the menfolk i.e. to jack up the amount of dowry.

Parochial societal notions of religion are also said to be responsible for a blinkered world-view, which together with limited education engender all wrong notions about family and culture. Ergo, universal liberal education is required to reinforce and supplement our family values.This would better equip our culture, whereof our family values are a sub-culture, to be more amenable and open to liberal values of human society and also be ready to adopt better ideas and values from other cultures. The resultant cultural fusion shall also promote better tolerance and understanding among various cultures thereby denting Samuel Huntington’s ‘Clash of Civilization’ thesis to realize Marshall McLuhan’s concept of ‘Global Village’.

Ours being a patriarchal society, the patriarchal values get so imbibed by the hoi polloi that they become their second nature. The people, of both gender, become great defender of those values. The people schooled in patriarchal values would not like more rights for women or equitable gender relations as they see the same as threats to the dominance of these values in society. The dominance of such family values after having been associated with a convoluted sense of cultural superiority work at various levels to ensure suppressing anyone and everyone who comes forward to challenge them.

Newer, liberal values are perceived as a threat to traditional values, challenging the established notions of various aspects of social life. The redoubtable mothers in law would not like their daughters in law to have more freedom or better status vis-a-vis their husbands or the family as they did not have the same available to them. So the control and restraints exercised over the daughters in law are actually psychological ventilation of delayed retribution against the society, sublimating as atrocities and churlish behavior against the younger women in the same roles.

Some parents, particularly the female one, would do anything to seek attention of their kids, often verging on histrionics to sideline their daughters in law or to keep them suitably in check. It is notable that women in classical Indian families, who are supposed to play a subdued role, come into their own as they become older with a more pronounced role than they played in their younger avatars. Some of these parents are very demanding, so much so that they would not baulk at maligning their daughters in law or playing divide and rule within the family. And all this is done to ensure their dominance or importance in the family.

Such attempts at one-upmanship also result in psychological torture or physical assaults, often reported as dowry harassment cases under 498 A of the Indian Penal Code. In many cases, such shenanigans lead to marital break-ups or dowry deaths as well. These senior family members including parents at times conspire against their own children to prove themselves right. They don’t mind going to any extent to serve their selfish interests as well represented and portrayed in many of those gooey Indian TV soaps including ‘Man Ki Awaz: Pratigya’. Sometimes the entire clan or society comes forward to support such people. It could be very well noticed in many pathological judgments and ‘honour killings’ by the clan Kangaroo Courts masquerading as Khap Panchayats in North India. These are extreme cases, but such stories in one or the other form could well be heard from different parts of our society. These discontents keep simmering all the time in many families. Various stories with poignant details are heard with sickening regularity in a good number of families. Sometimes these coolies of family values go extra mile to break and spoil all relations at the pretext of protecting their wards, which is actually an extension of their own selfish interests.

One another deemed reason for the recurrence of such incidents is said to be non-engagement of some of these people including parents with some productive and ego-satisfying work. As they retire from work or from the active family life, most of these parents stop doing anything or stop reading some intellectually rejuvenating literature resulting in development of a stunted world-view. The same also engenders an inferiority complex resulting in their over-demanding and nagging nature. In their bids to seek attention and importance, they talk nonsense or do such hateful things, which often leads to family discords.

The perception of being neglected forces them to do such things as spoils the healthy atmosphere inside a family thereby making it difficult for many to continue as part of the joint family. Many parents obstruct the marriage of their children to the person of their choice, a la Rizwanur Rahman and Priyanka Todi, resulting in all sorts of problems including dowry deaths, marital atrocities, wife battery and what not leading to broken marriages and broken families. Hence, the breakdown of our celebrated joint family system.

The pathologies of Indian family system shall take a while to go. However, one does feel that these are transitional problems which shall go as Gen X pass on the baton to the next generation as they would be better educated and better equipped to be tied down with the moth-balled values. Hence, healthy relationship within and without family is expected once such people are in charge of our families. However, in the meantime we have to ensure better universal education imbued with liberal values as ought to be practiced in a futuristic society. There is need for a conscious attempt at promoting such humane values as ought to be germane to a modern, liberal society.

*The views expressed are personal and don’t reflect those of the Government.

Refashioning Our Literacy Programme


Saumitra Mohan



It was John Stuart Mills who had once said that you can not hope to be a great society if the members of your society continue to be dwarfs with no qualities and character. And education, both formal and informal, definitely does that remarkable value addition as is required in this age for the multi-dimensional development of a society. That’s why, every welfare state infused with the ethos of a liberal democracy makes all possible endeavours and essays towards provisioning elaborate arrangements for developing the human resources of their citizenry today. This effort is undertaken to make such societies as egalitarian as possible, without any traces of stratified inequalities. And one key measure of the exercise of human resource development is promotion of literacy among all members of the society with an emphasis on the three ‘R’ i.e. reading, (w)riting and (a)rithmatics.

While in 1971, the percentage of literacy was 22 among women, it was around 46 per cent among men. The figures improved to 39 and 64 per cent respectively among the two gender categories by 1991. And if the latest Census data, as published in April, 2011, are to be believed, the number of people who can read and write in India today is around 74 per cent, with male literacy being 82 per cent and female literacy being 65 per cent.

The Government of India, in keeping with the ‘Directive Principles of State Policy’ as enshrined in Part IV of the Constitution of India, has been formulating customised programmes for various sections of our society to increase the level of literacy in our country. The Government of India in coordination with all the state governments have been conceiving and executing ambitious literacy programmes to take Indian citizenry out of the darkness of illiteracy and ignorance. All these plans have been implemented in synergy and synchrony with the cognate programmes of the state governments with varied success. But notwithstanding all these herculean efforts over the years involving substantive public expenditure, a substantial number of our populace continue to be illiterates.

Be it the National Policy on Education through its various avatars in 1968, 1979,r 1986, 1991 or 2001, the Farmers’ Functional Literacy Projects during the heyday of the Green Revolution during the 1960s and 1970s, the Non-Formal Education for Youth in 1975, the National Adult Education Programme in 1978, the Rural Functional Literacy Project in 1978, the National Literacy Mission as started in 1988, the Continuing Education Programme through the first decade of the new millennium, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan or the extant Sakhshar Bharat Programme, the Government of India has always made concentrated efforts to promote the level of literacy in the country with suitable introduction of changes from time to time as required for the purpose. There have also been popular movements in this sphere duly supported by various Governments and non-government organisations, particularly the literacy movements, noticed in the 1990s, resulting in many districts of our country attaining 100 per cent literacy levels. Ernakulum in Kerala and Burdwan in West Bengal were the first and second such districts to achieve this feat in the country. However, the positive streak and motivation marking our society are no longer visible.

The latest avatar in the form of ‘Sakhshar Bharat’ has also been making steady headway in this direction. However, being associated with various literacy programmes in various capacities, one feels that a Government programme in this sphere would not cut much ice as long as society is not associated therewith. Ergo, the ‘Sakhshar Bharat’ focus on the involvement of the civil society through the instrumentality of voluntary teachers (VT) is very well taken. However, one also feels that this focus needs reorientation to be more effective and successful. As it is very difficult to find motivated volunteers, suffused with an altruistic sense of service, who would serve gratis as voluntary teachers, the new literacy programme is running in fits and starts, thereby running into executional bottlenecks. The huge programme funds, because of non-involvement of motivated volunteers, also seem not to be producing requisite output in proportionate to the financial inputs.

The empirical insights, gained through literacy programme implementation, motivate one to broach an ideational reform in the conception and execution of literacy programmes. One firmly believes that, if rightly implemented and followed through, the same would also result not only in saving huge amount of public money, but shall also make our society better in terms of quality and character. The previous and present avatars of literacy programmes conceive of a huge army of specialised manpower yoked to the task of literacy promotion and the same involved huge government spending to boot. The following proposal shall make use of the already existing structures in the cause of literacy promotion and consequent human resource development.

The proposal involves implementing literacy programmes through our school and college kids in keeping with our literacy slogan of yesteryears i.e. ‘each one teach one (sic)’. While the modality and finer details of actual programme implementation are subject to further debate and discussion, one does feel that involvement of our school and college kids can revolutionise and completely transform the literacy scenario in the country. To start with, the school and higher education departments of respective state governments should make it compulsory for the high school and college youths to participate in a literacy programme. The responsibilities of these youths under able guidance of their teachers could range from organising these literacy camps/classes to teaching the learners themselves.

A school or a college could act as the programme implementation unit (PMU) in their respective bailiwicks. The various funding to the educational institutions including those meant for the literacy programmes could be allotted to such schools/colleges in proportion to their overall performance, to be measured by the parameters set for the purpose. The literacy component could be one of the key factors in such evaluations. The motivation for the school/college kids shall be specially earmarked scores to be awarded to them in keeping with their performance by the teacher/faculty assigned for the purpose of such evaluation. Such scores shall be added to the overall academic performance of these kids. The arrangement of awarding special marks for participation in literacy programme shall not only motivate our youths to participate in a socially productive programme, but shall also make them a responsible citizen. Such a move shall also sensitize them to the sundry problems afflicting our society

There shall also be no need to create or hire additional space for running these literacy camps/classes as the same shall be run at the premises of respective schools or colleges. The involvement of our youths in a community building exercise shall be an enriching and enlightening experience for them which shall also help the cause of ‘nation building’, promoting national feeling among them in a society under attacks from different fissiparous and reactionary forces. This shall also encourage a positive competition among various schools and colleges towards excellence.

With right mentoring, their positive energies shall be channelled properly in strengthening the pillars of our body politic. If implemented in right earnest, the scheme of things as proposed above, is cinch to be a success with little need to spend even a dime. However, the proposal does not mean that all other ways to involve the civil society in such an exercise should not be tried. The above proposal is only one of the very effective ways to involve them. If carried out effectively with suitable monitoring and supervision, such a programme shall definitely be more effective with least of leakage or wastage of resources. It shall also be one of the effective ways to reap our famed demographic dividends.

Sainthia Train Accident - A Case Study in Disaster Management


Dr. Saumitra Mohan





Disasters keep happening and they happen anywhere in the world and when they happen, there is no prior information. They just happen and then have demands over human faculties of management and coordination to tackle the same. So, once has to anticipate them and be prepared for them in advance. That is what disaster management is all about. Today, disaster management has been perfected as an art by many countries and that is why we often witness clinical rescue and relief operations in many of the disasters. India is slowly joining this elite club with a National Disaster Management Policy and Plan being in place. Today, almost all the government departments, particularly all the district administration across the country have their own disaster management plan in place, something that has proved to be of great help. The disaster management plan and corresponding logistics mechanism in Birbhum district was also of great help when a train accident struck in the dead of the night.

This train accident took place at Sainthia Railway Station (under Sainthia PS of Suri Sadar Sub-Division) on 19/07 2010 at 2.05 a.m. due to collision between 3404 DN Bananchal Express and 3148 DN Uttarbanga Express. As it transpired, the engine of 3148 DN Uttarbanga Express collided and rammed into the rear of the 3404 DN Bananchal Exp, which at the time of the collision was still stationed at platform no. four at Sainthia Railway Station.

Immediately on receipt of the news of the accident, the police mobile van of the local police station reached the spot at 2.25 a.m. The officials belonging to the district and police administration, including myself and SP Birbhum rushed to the spot. We reached the accident site by 3 a.m. along with a big rescue and relief team comprising civil defence volunteers, medical teams, ambulances, big vehicles, dead body carriers, casual labourers, more police forces and fire brigade among others. We started our rescue operations immediately. It was revealed that the last two compartments of 3404 DN Bananchal Exp. were severely damaged and mangled as a result of the accident. The existence of a Disaster Management Plan with the names and contact numbers of all those concerned including the list of ambulances and NGOs proved to be of a great help in mobilization of the entire disaster management team at a short notice.

We could also contact and mobilize a large number of local volunteers belonging to different clubs and NGOs who also assisted us in the rescue operations. Some of them helped us with the relief works at the Hospital as well. More than 50 Ambulances were sent to the accident spot from all corners of the district and the injured, after being rescued, were brought to Suri Sadar hospital. The bodies of the dead passengers were also brought to the morgue of Suri Sadar Hospital. Gas cutters from nearby workshops were also brought in to be used in the rescue operation. And with the help of these cutters, a number of bodies entangled and trapped inside the mangled compartments were taken out. Civil and police administration, with the help of the local people, managed to rescue all the injured passengers by 7 a.m. in the morning.

A total of 96 injured passengers and dead bodies of 61 persons were brought to Suri Sadar Hospital. 54 injured passengers were referred to Bardhaman Medical College Hospital as their condition was found to be critically serious. The others were provided treatment at Suri. New clothes were also provided to all of them. Those in position to talk and having contact numbers of their relatives were helped to contact their relatives in their respective places. Later, two of the referred passengers died at Bardhaman Medical College Hospital, taking the final death toll to 63. It was timely and proper medical attention which kept death toll figures in check. Considering the inadequate arrangement at Suri Sadar Hospital for storing such large number of dead bodies, the district administration, to prevent decomposition of the corpses, immediately arranged for large quantity of ice from all over the district and even from places outside the district like Kandi (Murshidabad) and Asansol (Burdwan) to have in place improvised morgues within the Hospital premises.

Presuming there might be need for more blood later and since we were not sure as to how much units of blood we might need, we immediately contacted and arranged for sufficient blood from the neighbouring hospitals in and around the districts. We also had blood donation camps organized on the morning of the accident to collect more blood. Besides, we had with us the names of over three hundred volunteers ready to donate blood as and when demanded. By the time the injured were brought to the Hospital, we actually had excess blood.

A help line was opened within the hospital premises since 7 a.m. on the same day i.e. 19th July, 2010. The relatives and friends of the injured and dead who arrived at Suri Sadar Hospital since the occurrence of the accident were provided with all kinds of assistance. A round-the-clock Assistance Booth was opened at the Suri Sadar Hospital along with the photographs of the dead and injured passengers to help the relatives identify their near and dear ones, something which worked very well. We could also rope in the local and regional media houses to flash these photos on their TV screens to help the families of the affected passengers. The management of Hospital activities involved with the relief was closely supervised and monitored leading to the best results.

Doctors from other Govt. hospitals in and around districts also assisted in treating the injured and in conducting PM inspections. As per instruction received from the Department of Health and Family Welfare Deptt, some 20 dead bodies were sent to BMCH, Bardhaman the next day for proper preservation, DNA testing and post-mortem (PM). These bodies were also identified and released to the relatives as they arrived. As both the Indian Railways and the Government of West Bengal had announced various benefits to the injured and dead passengers including financial grants and jobs, it was necessary to ensure that the bodies were released to right persons to avoid any complications, noting down the names, contact number and addresses of all the relatives who came down to have the bodies released to them. Almost all the dead bodies were identified by their near relatives and after conducting of PM inspection, all these dead bodies, respectfully wrapped in body bags and coffins, were handed over to them. The arrangements for short stay and dead passengers as and when requested by them. The dead bodies were carefully handed over to the identified and confirmed families of the deceased after receiving proper details and confirmation about the relationship for future reference relating to compensation and other requirements.

The district administration also provided vehicles, when demanded, to the relatives of the dead and injured passengers so that they could carry the bodies to their respective places (Kolkata, Bhagalpur, Sahebganj, Godda et al in West Bengal or neighbouring Jharkhand) for disposal or for treatment.

The entire operation lasted barely three days and it was the first day which was more exacting and demanding in terms of the logistics required. And even on the first day, it was the first few hours which were more crucial. After we could mobile all the concerned people and departments in time, everything fell in place. There was also a 'Planning Group' working during the entire rescue and relief operation which was always thinking hard as to what to do next to make the operation better and then there a 'Core Executing Group' which translated the thinking into action.

But one does feel the need to beef up the disaster inventory i.e. the need to have customized stocks for every envisaged calamity and disaster so as to preempt the need to look for the same in need of hour. Our learnings from the Sainthia Train Accident amply prove the need for an effective disaster management plan and its efficient execution. In this case, the existence of a good information and communication plan did wonders and one is sure, shall remain a key to the success of any such disaster management.

Rediscovering The Import of Human Ontology


*Saumitra Mohan



The human society has come eerily long way in its march to material progress, much ahead of the times when man used to live in the Hobbesian state of nature with his life being ,’nasty, brutish, poor and short’. Man’s insatiable desire to make his life more comfortable has seen the rapid inventions and discoveries of newer things. But notwithstanding all this progress have we, as human beings, really learnt to live a life of comfort and dignity? Human endeavours fuelled by unrestrained curiosities and desires have been unravelling mysteries of the universe and have also been successful in conquering the various elements of nature. With man scaling newer heights of progress and dreaming to colonise celestial bodies and with people like Stephen Hawking visualizing man’s journey into future, are we really satisfied with what we have? One is reminded of Jean Jacques Rousseau’s ruminations and commentaries on human life.

In the “Discourse on the Origin and Foundation of Inequality”, Rousseau described as to how ‘man was living in a past golden age, prompted by conscience, not yet led astray by the harlotries of reason, uncorrupted by that perennial propagator of evil…that great deformer of man which calls itself society’. He speaks as to how man’s self-love creates imaginary and utterly insatiable needs which are so incompatible with man’s instincts of sympathy. Today, we might have made our lives much more comfortable, but with every new discovery and ever new invention, our simple, unsullied and sublime life has become more and more complicated. While all these discoveries and inventions are intended at creating more happiness and comfort for the human beings, the fact remains that our lives have actually become more wretched and unhappy than we ever were. It is this phenomenon that people like Karl Marx, Herbert Marcuse and Louis Althusser have theorised as ‘alienation’. They have talked of man having become lost in his self-created developmental maze. Today, man has got so alienated that the real happiness of life has been eluding him for quite some time now.

The Hindu philosophy has long philosophised about the theory of Karma, as enunciated in The Gita whereby one is supposed to keep on doing one’s Karma without any expectations. But we have all been doing exactly the opposite. Man’s thirst for more and more carnal comforts has so dehumanised and alienated him that he has ceased to be a human being at all. Human beings have created societies, states, boundaries, communities, castes, religions, education systems, languages, monetary systems, hierarchies, multiple cultures and what not. And today, man is busy managing the multiple contradictions and paradoxes emanating as a result thereof. We live each day of our life vying for more land, more money, more power and more status, something that we have ourselves created and something which we shall live behind once we complete our transient stint on this Blue Planet. We lose our happiness and comfort in the bargain for whose realisation we cherish those worldly possessions. This is what has been described as the ‘Maya’ in Hindu mythology.

While Rousseau appeared to be at another extreme when he assailed the society (or what Sigmund Freud called ‘Superego’) for artificially creating so many fetters for human freedom, but he forgets that but for those reasonable restraints, human life would have continued to remain ‘nasty, brutish, poor and short’ as Thomas Hobbes referred to life in the state of nature. However, this is also true that humans have increasingly been making their life increasingly more complex. While human craving to make his life more comfortable by way of newer scientific inventions and newer discoveries is very much in sync with his instincts to realise the real evolutionary potential pregnant in nature, still there are many things which have become anachronistic with the march of time and should cease to exist at the earliest possible. One does get a feeling that human emphases have wrongly been on arrogant acquisitions and misplaced pleasures which believe more in snatching and taking than in giving and sharing. We have given too much importance to status and ersatz divisions among humans leading to constant strife and hatred in the society. The result has been the evaporation of the human feelings of shared happiness and corporate living. The delights of empathetic philanthropy and compassion don’t inform our behaviour anymore.

Different cultures, languages, religions, mores, rituals and societies developed because they developed in isolation from each others in different geographical locations. Humans lived separately from each others in different parts of the world without knowing that there might exist any other society similar to them, as we exist in this universe in the sublime belief that we might be the only living planet in the cosmos. So, because of this segregated development of different human communities, we developed different languages to communicate with each other, different religions and culture to regulate our social life and different states to promise a safe and secure life. May be that is how the destiny willed it. After all, all these varieties add colours to our life and make it more pulsating. But how can we justify the insular feelings stemming from these parochial creations. Today, we as a human being, may not be interested in jingoistic patriotism or linguistic chauvinism, but we are supposed to be swayed by the politics informing these notions. Why can’t we just enjoy our life just as a human being without being encumbered by the restrictions or the simulated notions of communalism or nationalism? Why can’t we decide to live anywhere, go anywhere and do anything as long as we don’t impinge or hurt the sovereignty of another homo sapien? This is more so when we know jolly well that our sojourn on this earth is transitory and ephemeral.

While answering the Yaksha’s question about the ‘greatest irony of life’, Yuthisthir, a character in Indian mythology, had famously said that notwithstanding the fact that every human being knows that he is going to die one day, he lives as if he would never die. Really, many of us live as if we are never going to die while most of us die as if we never lived. Many thinkers do detest the baloney of human life which forces a man to live a full cycle of his life desiring newer acquisitions and trying to attain the same at any cost, compromising the quality and peace of life and eventually kicking the bucket leaving them all behind. The man would not baulk at hurting others, snatching from others or conspiring against others in his bid to get ahead in life without thinking for a moment as to what he is losing in the bargain. The man loses a righteous life, a life full of sublime happiness and a life characterised by the values of sharing and caring, something which distinguishes him from other creatures of nature.

Almost all of us develop lifestyle and habits that please our senses, and most of the time we are slovenly happy without any concern for anyone. In fact, some also believe that if we really start caring for others or start getting perturbed with others’ sorrow, we would make our life hell. Not really. Sometimes even others problems, if left unresolved, may affect our own life very negatively, bringing us ruin. Many of us who have ordinary comforts of life available to them forget very easily that we are actually God’s chosen ones whom His Almighty has entrusted with the onus of taking care of the uncared and neglected millions on this planet. Just imagine. We might have been in their places, not having all that we have today. Whatever status or possessions we have is by an accident which could have been different or could be different in our next lives. By not doing our duties honestly and responsibly and by not being moved by fellow human beings’ troubles, we are actually breaching the trust reposed in us by the destiny.

If we notice carefully, then we would find that the world is actually moving with us or moving around us or is actually fixated on us. Has any of us ever thought as to why does this happen? Despite the universe being so huge and there being so many characters and players therein, why is it that the world seem to be fixated on us? As if God were constantly watching us through his spy camera. Why it is not focused elsewhere? This really needs to be followed very closely. This very fact should make us realize that the God has really assigned each of us a separate role on this world stage and all of us are there to play a particular role.



Now, what role do we choose for our self is something that totally depends on us? We wish to play a negative or a positive role is something that we have to choose. But one thing is clear. We definitely deserve and need to lead a life which is superior to the animal life. The life of an animal/a beast does not go beyond the pleasures of the flesh, including eating, drinking, defecating and procreating. God has endowed the human beings with the capacity to think and create. That is why, humans have not only won and survived the existential race, but also dominate the forces of nature, proving their superiority thereby. But we definitely can do much better than we have done so far. While we judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, the others always judge us by what we have already done.



We should never forget the eternal truth that this human existence is ephemeral and transient. All the worldly possessions, we keep fighting about thereby debasing our humanity, are finally to be left behind in this mortal world only. The only thing that survives us and lives forever is our good deeds, our good name and fame. What matters most in life is not what we do for ourselves, but what we do for others. And believe me by doing good to others, we actually do good to ourselves. After all, the good name and fame earned are definitely and solely ours and would survive us even after we depart from the world stage. All the great men we remember is because of what they have done for the others and for the society and not for what they did for themselves and their families. So, let’s make an essay to rediscover our true self and live a life that we ought to live as a human being.

*Saumitra Mohan is an IAS officer working as the District Magistrate and Collector, Birbhum. The views expressed are his own and don’t reflect those of the Government.

To, All Returning Officers, SDOs, ADM/OC/BDOs/staff members Counting Cell

Dear Colleagues,

After having completed a very peaceful and successful election on 23rd April, 2011, we need to focus ourselves immediately on the final leg of the election process i.e. the counting of polled EVMs on 13th May, 2011. While one is sure that you shall accomplish this job also as well as you have done in the past, I just thought to bring the following to your notice for refreshing your memory:



Basic Preparations in the run-up to Counting:

1. ROs/AROs shall check for themselves the arrangements in their respective Counting Halls including PA system, computer, lighting, materials and electric connection.

2. AROs shall familiarize themselves with their counting personnel and verify with them any matter deemed necessary for the conduct of smooth counting process.

3. SDOs shall also coordinate with various Cell-In-charges including those relating to Media Cell, Data Transmission Cell, Nazareth, Material Cell and Control Room for better coordination and optimum output.

4. Statutory Cell shall prepare a ‘Key Person-wise Duty Chart’ (as illustrated below) for convenience.

5. There shall be a Black/White Board in all halls.

6. Meeting with political parties, police and key counting personnel shall be held at SDO levels.

7. Training for counting personnel and Micro Observers should be carefully planned and completed well in advance.

8. Counting details including the number of halls, tables and counting personnel shall be shared with the political parties during meeting with them. A copy of the arrangement could be supplied, if demanded.

9. Counting of all Postal Ballots meant for each AC is to be done in a single Hall

10. Media Cell shall be equipped with a TV with cable connection, a PA system, telephone and fax. Adequate seating arrangements for media persons shall be there.

11. Permitted media-men with identity cards to be allowed inside the Counting Hall in small batches to take photographs of the proceedings inside the hall. DICO/SDICO shall personally accompany them during such visits. However, there shall not be any camera/video camera with pedestals/tripod/fixed stands.

12. There shall be CCTV in each Counting Hall with a common Control Room with monitors to watch the proceedings in all the counting halls.

13. Videography shall be done of the entire counting process including that of opening and closing of the Strong Rooms.

14. There shall be arrangements for generators as additional power back-up with electrician/mechanic being there in the premises during the entire process of counting.

15. Fire Tender shall be requisitioned in advance for being stationed in the counting premises.

16. PA system inside the halls shall be so arranged so that one mike addresses people inside the hall while the other addresses the people outside the hall, as far as the booths of the political parties and Media Cell.

17. RO shall announce results himself using the PA system at the end of every round.

18. The Communication Cell shall be readied in advance for transmission of round-wise results to CEO Office and ECI as per instructions.

19. There shall be specified persons who shall act as go-between for immediate compilation and communication of the results.

20. Medical Unit shall be there at every counting venue for provisioning of any emergent service.

21. Randomization of counting personnel to specific counting tables should be done at 5 a.m. on the dot in presence of Hon’ble Observers. The same could be done manually or through computer software. The entire process should be videographed.

22. The officials, who have not been assigned any table, would form a reserve pool.

23. Reserve Counting Personnel should be at pre-decided space and should not move till the end of counting process.

24. Appointment letter and identity cards should be issued to all counting personnel including Counting Supervisors, Assistant Counting Supervisors, contingent menials, Group ‘D’ staff, Micro Observers and one Additional Counting Assistant for Hon’ble Observers.

25. The Returning Officers shall ensure that all statutory reports are timely sent. Advance preparations shall be made in this regards.

26. Certificate of Election shall be prepared and issued by the District Election Cell for uniformity and conformity.

27. Communication and Transmission Cell shall be properly equipped and trained for timely transmission of all requisite information and reports.

28. The table-wise result shall be countersigned by the Hon’ble Observer before announced by RO/ARO.

29. There shall be dedicated personnel for SMS communication with CEO Office.

30. Counting Kits to be procured in advance and placed on counting table on the day prior to actual counting.

31. Pigeon Holes for postal ballot counting should also be arranged and put in place.

32. Vehicle Permits for counting hall entry should be issued in advance and a list of such permits should be handed over to the police for checking the same.

33. The issues relating to counting personnel randomization, random checking of EVMs, Micro Observer assistance and randomization of staff to assist Hon’ble Observer, Strong Room opening, two additional representative of political parties to be allowed for making food arrangements, mobile use restrictions and such other issues should sorted out with Hon’ble Observers in advance.

34. There shall be a separate arrangement for the counting of postal ballots. The candidates/their Election Agents shall be advised to nominate a separate counting agent.

35. One ARO shall be dedicated to handle the postal ballot counting. The Observer and RO should closely monitor the counting of postal ballots and EVMs simultaneously.

36. Before finalizing the tally of postal ballot counting, the RO shall personally verify the invalid and rejected postal ballots and also verify candidate-wise tally.

37. In case, the victory is being decided only on account of postal ballot counting, there should be a mandatory re-verification of postal ballot counting in presence of Hon’ble Observer and RO.

38. Whenever such r e-verification/re-counting is done, the entire proceeding should be videographed without compromising the secrecy of ballot and the video cassettes/CD should be sealed in a separate envelope for future reference.



Things to Remember on the Day of Counting:

39. Attendance Counters on the day of counting should be adequate in number and suitably manned.

40. There shall be a Display Board with Hall-wise duty chart for counting personnel.

41. The Counting Staff shall have their tiffin outside the Counting Hall in the morning itself before entering the Counting Hall.

42. None shall be allowed to carry food or any beverages inside the Counting Hall.

43. Part II of Form 17-C shall be signed by all concerned including counting agents and counting supervisor after tallying.

44. Signatures of counting agents shall be obtained on round-wise proceedings as drawn for the purpose.

45. Secrecy of Vote shall be maintained and Oath of Secrecy to this effect shall be administered to all before start of counting.

46. 630 a.m shall be the reporting time for all the counting personnel and officers.

47. The Hall-in-Charge shall take his/her seat at 7 a.m in the morning and ensure that other personnel have also entered the Hall.

48. The Counting Supervisor should check their counting materials as per the check-list given.

49. The postal ballots should reach ARO I/C at 7.30 who should start sorting them right away.

50. The opening of Strong Room for taking out postal ballots should also be informed to all concerned in advance.

51. The EVM Strong Room shall be opened at 7 a.m in the morning and EVMs should reach destined halls by 7.40 a.m sharp and EVM for a table should be ready for counting by 8 a.m sharp.

52. Postal Ballot, as usual, shall be taken up first for the counting.

53. EVMs shall be counted after immediately after the postal ballot counting is taken up.

54. List of round-wise EVMs should be with the ARO concerned.

55. There shall be a dedicated official who shall work as a Floor Supervisor and shall monitor the movement of EVMs and supply of 17-C, PRO Diary and Declaration.

56. One officer shall be in-charge of statutory report returns and shall also coordinate with the District Control Room.

57. The Observer shall randomly pick up any of the counted Control Units for checking results.

58. There shall be some randomly selected staff from the Reserve Pool for assisting Hon’ble Observers.

59. Counting Officials/Agents should be pre-informed about parallel checking of two EVMs from every round by Hon’ble Observers.





Strong Room and Sealing:

60. The opening of Strong Room for taking postal ballots should also be informed to all concerned in advance.

61. The EVM Strong Room shall be entered 7 a.m in the morning and EVMs should reach destined halls by 7.40 a.m sharp and EVM for a table should be ready for counting by 8 a.m sharp.

62. Strong Rooms should be properly barricaded to preempt any direct access to the same.

1The candidate, his election agent or authorised representative could be present during the opening/closing of the EVM/Postal Ballot Strong Room and can put their signatures/seal on the sealing material.

63. The Log Book for the Strong Room shall be maintained for movement of EVMs within and without the Strong Room.

64. Sealing of EVMs and other election papers shall continue as the EVMs are counted at the place earmarked for the purpose.

65. Sealing process shall also be videographed.

66. Political parties’ or candidates’ representative shall be allowed to put their seal or signatures.

67. Proceedings of the sealing process shall be made as per standard format.

68. Sealing Agents shall also be there as per instructions.

69. Secret seal shall be put on inside stuff and RO seal shall be there on the outside of trunks.



Security Arrangements for Counting:



1. Utmost order and peace shall be maintained inside and outside the Counting Premises.

2. The entire counting premises should be suitably sanitized.

3. No mobile phone, cigarettes, lighter et al shall be allowed inside the Counting Premises. Arrangements for deposit of such personal effects against token shall be made at the entrance.

4. A senior Executive Magistrate shall be posted at the entrance to identify the staff and officers.

5. Vehicles of only pre-decided officers shall be allowed inside the counting premises

6. A senior police officer shall be in-charge of overall maintenance of law and order within and without the premises. All aspects of security should be checked and verified.

7. The identity cards of all officer and staff members/counting personnel should be carefully checked.

8. Crowd Management outside the Counting Premises should be carefully planned.

9. Booths of principal parties/candidates should be suitably located at a safe distance from each other.

10. Three-tier cordoning system of security should be in place.

11. First Cordon should be meant for checking Photo Identity Cards and proper frisking. Only female constables shall frisk female counting personnel or counting agents.

12. Second and Third Cordons checking should be carefully executed. There shall be no frisking at this level unless felt otherwise.

13. People allowed in Counting Hall include Hon’ble Observers, district election officials and counting personnel with proper identity cards other than police, Micro Observers, Counting Supervisors, Assistant Counting Supervisors, Candidates, Election Agents and Counting Agents.

14. Police officials shall not enter the Counting Halls unless and until called in for assistance.

15. Counting Agents/Election Agents shall be allowed entry only if they produce the second copy of the Appointment Letter after duly completing and signing the declaration contained therein under RO authority.

16. The Counting Premises shall be a ‘No Smoking Zone’.

17. None other than Hon’ble Observers, DEO, RO and AROs shall be allowed to carry their mobile phones inside the counting premises. However, the mobile phones shall not be allowed to be used inside the Counting Hall.

18. Police shall ensure against loitering inside the Counting Premises.

19. Utmost discipline and vigil shall be maintained inside the premises.

20. Proper prior planning and security arrangements shall be made to tackle unforeseen law and order problems in the aftermath of declaration of results. Utmost vigil shall be maintained during the victory processions/rallies of candidates/parties.

21. Vehicle checking for transportation of arms, liquor and cash shall be thoroughly done in the run upto and till the day of counting.

22. A close watch shall be maintained over the activities outside the Counting Premises.





Counting Agents:

1There can be one counting agent appointed by the candidate or his/her election agent for each table.

70. Appointment Letter to the Counting Agent is to be given in Form-18.

71. Identity Cards shall be issued by RO on receipt of names of counting agents along with two stamp size photographs by 10th May, 2011.

72. There could be one counting agent for each ARO’s table as well.

73. Each counting agent shall have a badge indicating the name of the candidate, table number along with counting agent’s full signature.

74. Seating Arrangements for Counting Agents shall have the following order: Recognised National Party-Recognised State Party-Recognised State Party of Other States permitted reserved symbols-Registered Unrecognized Party-Independents.

75. Candidates or his/her election agents are free to move around inside the Hall.





Random Checking of EVM by Hon’ble Observer:

1. There would be a random checking of counted EVM by the Hon’ble Observer.

2. The staff to assist the Hon’ble Observer for this cross-checking would be randomly selected from the Reserve Pool.

3. The Additional Staff who will be randomly deployed by the Observer would be sitting at each of the 14 counting tables. They will be provided with an identity card by the DEO.

4. At the closure of each round, Hon’ble Observer would randomly select any two EVM control units from amongst the Control Units of the concerned round which have been counted.

5. He would then direct the counting staff, specially deployed for this purpose, to independently note down from the control units so selected, the details of the votes polled as indicated by the machine.

6. This Additional Staff shall note down the details of votes exhibited by the EVMs being counted in each round in that table.

7. He will be provided with a pre-printed statement on which there will be space for noting down the CU number, Round number, Table Number, PS number and thereafter the names of all the contesting candidates as they appear in the ballot paper.

8. These details would then be compared with the details provided by the officials in the table-wise result to check for any discrepancy between the two.

9. Care must be taken to ensure that the staff assigned for random checking is not aware of the details provided in the table-wise result.

10. Any staff who is found to have wrongly noted the counting result would be taken off and replaced by another set of staff. Severe disciplinary action should then follow on the erring staff for their willful omissions and commissions.

11. They will put their signature at the end of the statement and shall hand over the statement to the Hon’ble Observer after each round.

12. The Observer/RO will cross-check the figures noted in Part-II of Form 17C as submitted by the counting staff with the additional statement submitted by the additional staff.



Instructions to the Counting Supervisor and Assistant Counting Supervisor:

1. Check polling station number of EVM given along with the flow chart given.

2. Open the case after breaking seal by a sharpener/blade.

3. Show the address tag of EVM to the counting agents.

4. Show the strip seal and open it.

5. Show the paper seal number to agents and allow them to compare.

6. Tear the green paper seal in a manner so that the paper seal number is preserved.

7. Switch on the Control Unit.

8. Press Result-1.

9. Display unit of CU will show result.

10. Part-II of Form 17-C is to be filled up accordingly.

11. In case of discrepancy, if any, the same is to be noted in Part-II of Form 17C.

12. Part-II of Form 17C is to be signed by both the supervisors and agents at counting table.

13. Fill up From A with 17C very carefully, repeat, very carefully.

14. Sending of filled up 17C and Form A to ARO’s table immediately.

15. Ask the ARO to provide the CU of EVM meant for his table for next round.

16. Carry on this system till the last round in his table is completed.

17. Draw the proceedings as per format be given by ARO.





Immediately After Completion of Detailed Counting, RO shall ensure:





i) Preparation of Final Result Sheet in Form-20

ii) Dispatch of one original hard copy and one soft copy of Form-20 to CEO by Special Messenger on 14th May, 2011.

iii) Declaration of Result in Form 21D. One copy (original) of signed 21D to be sent immediately to :

a) E.C.I

b) Union Ministry of Law & Justice

c) The Chief Secretary of Government of West Bengal

d) The Secretary to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly



Two copies (original) 21D to be sent to CEO on 14th May, 2011 by Special Messenger.



iv) One copy (original) Form-21E to be sent to :

a) E.C.I

b) Secretary to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly



Two copies (original) 21E to be sent to CEO on 14th May, 2011 by Special Messenger.







Remember full name of the party must be written in party affiliation column of Form-21E







v) After declaration of election result, following documents are to be sent to CEO:



a) Report on the election by Returning Officer (two-copies)

b) Check Memo (original) ( one copy)

c) One copy of certificate of election (Form-22)

d) Check slip (original) (one copy) for notification

e) Two unused ballot papers (with the words “Cancelled for record in the ECI) written on reverse side of each ballot paper under the seal and signature of Returning Officer).

The above salient points are only illustrative and shall be read with in any other supplementary and subsequent orders issued in this regard by the Election Commission of India.

With best wishes,
Dr. Saumitra Mohan, IAS,

(District Magistrate and District Election Officer, Birbhum).

Media Trial in Trying Times


*Saumitra Mohan



There has been a lot of debate and discussion in recent times over the phenomenon of so-called ‘Media Trial’. There have been arguments for and against it. There is definitely a need to discuss the various nuances and implications relating thereto before we can pronounce any judgement over it. First and foremost, the question arises as to why has such a thing called ‘Media Trial’ has emerged. Is trial by media a completely new phenomenon or has existed since the inception of the Fourth Estate? One would argue that anything in this world comes into being following a demand for the same. So if trial by media has started, then the reason lies in the perceived failure or dysfunctionality of various institutions of the system, the institutions whose working has not been to the satisfaction of the civil society at large, the clientele media caters to.

As in the human body’s homeostatic system where in case of the failure of an organ, another organ comes to take over the function to carry on the function to maintain a stable equilibrium through sustainable physiological processes to ensure human survival as far as possible. Similarly, at a time when there is a perceived failure of other institutions, media, like judiciary, starts over asserting itself and chips in, in its own way to fill in the vacuum left by the non/under-performance of other institutions. And that is how emerges the phenomenon of ‘judicial activism’ or ‘Media Trial’. And the latter is definitely not a new phenomenon, but has existed for quite some time now. Remember all the famous movements across the world including our own freedom movement when media, even in its early days and when it was tied in multiple fetters, has championed myriad causes. Who can forget the proactive role played by the press during the heydays of emergency in this country? So, today’s media trial is not something surprising.

But media trial or championing is not something which exists in exclusion of other systems rather it exists together with the classical justice mechanism and such other champions of public causes as the civil society, NGOs, various pressure and interest groups. Media often works in association or alliance with some or many such institutions. Media trial is a way to give expression to the largely-felt aspirations or predominant public opinion. Media often comes forward to support or oppose the dominant predilection in a particular judicial trial or to support/oppose a particular decision by the executive in sync with the popular mood. Media just throws its entire weight in support or in opposition of a popular stance in light of available evidence or perceived public interest.

Many of the recent celebrated judicial cases or instances of corruption were brought to public notice after the media took up the cause to nudge the system out of slumber to bring about a particular decision or judgement has thereby also highlighted cases of major irregularities (read corruption). The Jessica Lal Murder Case, the Priyadarshini Mattoo Murder Case, the Rizwanur Rehman Murder Case, Shivani Bhatnagar Murder Case, Ruchira Girhotra Molestation Case, Sukna Land Scam, Adarsh Society scam, IPL corruption case, the historic Nanawati case, the innumerable sting operations and so on. The list of cases, where media has played a proactive role to sway the popular opinion to bear upon a particular executive or judicial decision to successfully overturn it, is endless.

Though most of the time media seems to be on the right side of the justice, in many instances it has also been accused of being partisan, actually championing the cause or the interests of the House it belongs to. It has also been alleged that quite often media’s taking a particular side arises out of its bid to survive the competitive commercialism that that mark journalism these days. So, next time you see some Houses indulging in yellow journalism, you should look for reasons in its political background or its commercial interests. Often, some stories are deliberately planted in keeping with the interests of the House. Quite often, many stories are reflections of a journalist’s individual predilection, his/her own vested interest in cahoots with other vested interests. It is here that it becomes difficult for the unsuspecting and naïve hoi polloi to sift through the truth, to separate the chaff from the grain.

What is shocking is the fact that quite often media goes with the tide and misses the wood for the trees. In stead of judging an incident on merit, its many analyses are imbued with emotionalism or rank irrationalism. Sometimes same incident has evoked different reactions from different media houses. In this country, the media panned a particular state government when one of the legislators belonging to the ruling dispensation was humiliated and man-handled by the local people. The media justified anomic popular reaction on ground of the government’s failure to do anything for the cyclone-affected people. Again, when another legislator belonging to opposition was attacked and man-handled by the local people, then again media criticized the government for failing to ensuring security to the Hon’ble MLA. Like in previous case, here also the media could have justified the anomic popular reaction as an expression of popular anger against the particular legislator. But media came out with two different reactions in the two cases.

However, the truth is that in both the cases the people who took law into their hand by attacking, humiliating and man-handling Hon’ble legislators were wrong, committed a crime by doing so and ought to have accordingly been booked for the act. But media justified one reaction by the public and did not in another case and government was criticized in both the cases. One does expect that in true spirit of professional journalism, the media reaction shall be dispassionate and above board which was not noticed in the two instant cases. It is here that media neutrality or freedom of speech granted to press becomes questionable.

Lord Acton rightly said, ‘power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’. If one has a got a license to shoot, it is expected that one would know as to whom to shoot, when to shoot and how to shoot. When one shoots indiscriminately, then it borders on derangement and needs to be regulated. Similarly, media needs to conduct itself with more responsibility while exercising its power to report and opine. An unfettered power without accountability needs to be checked and used with caution.

For someone who has spent considerable time in media, one does know that more often than not, you are directed to carry a particular story or not to carry it or to give a particular tilt/angle to a particular story with a motivation to help a particular faction or some vested interests with whom the House ownership or management identifies. Quite often a media House also desists from carrying a particular story because the subject concerned has been their one of the biggest advertisers. A nexus between media and various vested interests is said to have emerged to endanger the classical neutrality of the media. The l’affaire Barkha Dutt is a case in point.

One basic problem with media trial is the fact that media espouses mostly the celebrated or high-profile cases, but millions of not-so-famous cases just fade away as they have no champions anywhere. But all said and done, media trial still remains a positive development to have happened, something which can be utilized in the better interest of the larger society. Today, in the times of ‘Sting Operations’ and ‘Right to Information’, all the decision makers and government officials are definitely on their toes, knowing very well that they can’t keep on doing things as they have always done. They are definitely more careful today and think twice before doing anything wrong, fearing a proactive and snoopy media. The political class, the bureaucracy, the police and everyone else are definitely more responsible today than ever before.

Earlier, none could think of a Minister being jailed, an IAS/IPS being arrested or a powerful politician being convicted, something which have happened quire regularly in recent times in this country. The conviction of Manu Sharma, Santosh Singh, ex-IGP of Haryana RK Sharma, ex-DGP of Haryana HKS Rathore, arrest and imprisonment of many influential politicians or resignations of high profile office bearers do prove the efficacy and effectiveness of media trial in bringing quicker justice than possible through the conventional justice system. One just hopes that media shall exercise its power with more discretion and responsibility to continue facilitating the conventional justice and decision making system rather than trying to replace the same. Similarly, the watchdog like the Press Council of India should be more than careful to ensure that media never overshoots or breaches its power or freedom.

*The views expressed are of the author and do not reflect those of the Government.

Right to Information: Some Reflections and Ruminations
Dr. Saumitra Mohan

As they say, information is necessary to 'form, perform, conform and reform'. It is so basic to any aspect of human existence, be it learning or acquisition of knowledge, performance of one's duties or any activity, compliance to any rules or laws and reform in any system subsequent to revelations of deficiencies discovered and changes required. It is subsequent to this realization that Right to Information Act (RTI Act) was enacted way back in 2005 in our country. Since its enactment in 2005, RTI has become a potent tool in the hands of hoi polloi and it has used this Act to further the cause of democracy and democratic rights in this country. Principles of natural justice also subsumes the right to fair hearing which presumes a right to information.
The various powers and rights accruing to common people under the Act have been widely used, with positive implications for effective governance in this country. The government and its sundry administrative wings have literally been on toes in the past few years providing various kinds of information to different classes of people. The war against various systemic evils unleashed in the wake of RTI has been termed as the 'Third War of Independence'. The conservative bureaucracy can no longer hide behind the fig-leaf of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 to deny information to the citizens unless the same could be justified in strict public interest.
Even though RTI came into existence only in 2005 in this country, it is argued that it has always been there an inalienable part of our democratic ethos. The right to information is said to be implied across many disparate rules and provisions of the Representation of Peoples Act, Consumer Protection Act, 1986, Indian Factories Act, 1948, The Constitution of India (e.g. Articles 19, 21 and 22), Indian Evidence Act, 1941, The Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, The Public Records Act and many judgements of the Supreme Court and High Courts. It has also been part of global discourse due to its inclusion in various international Instruments and Conventions including the Universal Declaration of Human Right, 1948 and in the Acts/laws of many developed countries.
In fact, for any law or Act to be effective in a democracy, it is very important that the common public is duly informed about the various aspects and provisions. Not only that, these people should also be conscious and conscientized about the need to use their various rights and powers available under the Act. And RTI is no different. The common people of this country have not only been greatly empowered by the Act, but they are also gradually learning to use the same effectively resulting in more democratization of the system.
With the increased popular participation made possible by the Act, the overall accountability in the system has also increased remarkably. As almost any and every information is now in public domain, the wily government servant thinks twice before doing anything wrong as he/she is aware that tomorrow he/she might have to account for or explain the action/decision taken by him/her. The RTI Act has definitely made the administration more transparent and accountable than it ever was.
The basic features of good governance include transparency, accountability and predictability. After the enactment of RTI, these parametres could clearly be seen to be writ large across the governance system in this country. Still, there is a lot which needs to be done to make this Act further effective.
First of all, voluntary disclosure of information and appointment of public information officers (PIOs) as warranted under respective sections 4 and 5 of the Act by various agencies have still not been done suitably and properly. Section 4, sub-section 2 of RTI Act says, "It shall be a constant endeavour of every public authority to take steps in accordance with the requirements of clause (b) of sub-section (1) to provide as much information suo motu to the public at regular intervals through various means of communications, including internet, so that the public have minimum resort to the use of this Act to obtain information." RTI actually implies the 'Theory of Full Belly' i.e. if someone's stomach is full, he/she would never ask for food. Similarly, if information is provided suo moto, people shall never resort to RTI.
Again, Section 5, sub-section 1 of RTI Act says, "Every public authority shall, within one hundred days of the enactment of this Act [i.e. 21st June, 2005], designate as many officers as the Central Public Information Officers or State Public Information Officers, as the case may be, in all administrative units or offices under it as may be necessary to provide information to persons requesting for the information under this Act." So, it is important that to realise the objective of this Act, the spirit behind these sections are realised and actualised as early as possible.
Notwithstanding the fact that there are approximately 50,00,000 public authorities in the country, still, these SPIOS and ASPIOS (State Public Information Officers and Assistant State Public Information Officers) have not been notified by many of them. And where they have been so notified, they have not been suitably publicised, resulting in confusion and inefficiency in the disposal of the RTI petitions. At many places, there is a single SPIO for the entire Organisation, something which makes the system very cumbersome because of dependence on a lone person. So, the onus could be suitably and conveniently apportioned among many SPIOs for better performance and speedier disposal.
While in the beginning, the public authorities would complain against the paucity of funds to take various measures as required by the Act including voluntary disclosure of information. However, now there is enough contingent funds under different schemes which could be suitably utilised to realise this basic prerequisite to make RTI more effective. As there is always shortage of manpower for such work, it won't be out of place to suggest outsourcing of such works. The massive amount of work required towards voluntary disclosure of information could be better executed by professional agencies skilled in such tasks. The care, however, should be taken to ensure that the information is easy to understand and is provided through suitable linguistic media.
Even though we have come a long way in implementation of RTI in this country, there is still considerable lack of awareness among public and public servants regarding various aspects and provisions of the Act. The ignorance is reflected in the kinds of petitions filed and the responses of various public authorities.
Many of the petitions filed have been found to be motivated. The political parties, as one could say with experience, often use it to literally annoy the local administration e.g. loads of RTI petitions if you don't listen to them or accede to one or the other of their demands. While the brief of the Act is to supply the information available in public domain, people have actually been seeking action and justice under the Act which is not the brief of the Act. Many of the petitions are filed without any purpose or locus standi. More often than not, the way RTI petitions are filed or the way information is sought also creates confusion among the public authorities who themselves are often not clear as to how to deal with such petitions.
Though anyone and everyone could seek any and every information in the public domain, the information not readily available and which involve disproportionate diversion of public resources need not be provided as per section 7, sub-section 9 of the Act. However, such petitioners could seek the benefit of record inspection subject to the payment of requisite charges. Again, many of the public authorities provide information free of cost even to non-BPL people, something which is not advisable as it encourages the non-serious types to file frivolous and motivated petitions. The SPIOs and ASPIOs should invariably desire the RTI petitions to be made along with the payment of the requisite fees as required for the purpose. Not only this, the petitioners should also be asked to fork out the bill for provisioning of information including the inspection charges, Xeroxing charges or charges for providing a CD as applicable.
Sometimes, sending the estimated cost of provisioning information including Xeroxing charges should be sufficient to discourage the non-serious seekers of information to approach public authorities and waste their quality time and energy. In fact, the public authorities could save a lot of their time and energy dealing with such petitions if only they could comply with the directions enshrined in section 4 relating to voluntary disclosure. A good website or kiosk shall do the needful in this regard. The petitioner could just be informed about the website, if one is computer savvy, to access the information required. And for the non-computer savvy ones, the hard copies of such information should be made available in the local libraries.
Many SPIOs and ASPIOs still wait for the approval of their superiors or appellate authorities to finally pass on the information to petitioners, something which delays sharing of information and is completely avoidable. The SPIOs and ASPIOs could right away share information without referring the same to their superiors as should be decided well in advance unless there is confusion with regards to a serious issue or a policy matter. Also, some queries involving lots of manual work could be dealt by requesting or inviting petitioners to come and inspect the records at the payment of requisite charges. The really need shall come forward but the non-serious ones shall never venture forth. But as the burden of providing information within the stipulated timeframe is on SPIO/ASPIO, they definitely should take care to evince enough desire to share the information sought.
There are still many grey areas with regards to implementation of this Act e.g. 'which information is in public domain and which is not' is still not clear to many. The stipulation of provisioning information within 30 days is still very vague as the same is interpreted differently by public and public authorities. As people living below the poverty line (BPL) are exempted from paying charges for information sought, many petitioners have been filing proxy petitions through BPL people to avoid paying charges of accessing information.
Many vague or abstract petitions are often left undisposed for quite some time, even at the expense of inviting pecuniary penalties from the last appellate authority. It would be more advisable to dispose these petitions early by scheduling a quick hearing or by inviting a written clarification from the petitioner. In fact, one needs to be doubly sure before providing information involving some costs. It is, therefore, advisable to hear the petitioner in person in such cases before supplying the same.
The information relating to judiciary and its activities is still out of bounds for the public, something which is still mired in controversy. When we are talking of democracy, people's rights, none being above law, there is no reason why judiciary should be out of RTI ambit. One hopes this tangle is resolved early for making RTI more effective.
Again, there has been a confusion as to whether foreigners or non-citizens could be provided information under the Act. The answer is in the affirmative for the rights admissible to them and for the information available in public domain. While many of the information (as per section 8 of the Act) could not be shared including the information relating to purely personal matters and the information held in fiduciary capacity, but property returns or IT returns of public servants are supposed to be in public domain and could be demanded under RTI. Such petitions should be transferred to the requisite SPIO in time.
The awareness about the various aspects of the Act among public and public authorities need to increase with strengthening of the RTI set up at various levels including provisioning of adequate resources and man power. Given the massive expansion in the welfare state activities, RTI set up is in urgent need of having dedicated officers and staff members to attend to various queries and requests for information from members of the public.
This would definitely make our service delivery more efficient and effective. Those found deliberately skirting or avoiding sharing of information should be duly penalised. But, there should also be action or penalties prescribed against the motivated petitioners. However, the provision for penalties should be applied with lots of care and discretion than arbitrarily as seen in many cases. While there is also a need to clarify and define the role of the competent authorities, some observers feel the need to give more discretionary powers to PIOs and appellate authorities to deal with such situations and cases.

Development Schemes: Need for a Remodelling
Dr. Saumitra Mohan

The social welfare state to realise an objective of an egalitarian society endeavours to ensure maximum good of maximum number of its people. And in its bid to do so, it tries various measures including launching multiple schemes for the hoi polloi. India also has its share of welfare and development schemes and programmes targeted at different sections of the society. Such schemes are executed and implemented by the huge bureaucratic machine in close coordination with the governments at various levels including the local self governments. The contours of a liberal democratic state could very well be delineated by an overview of the detailed planning and execution of such schemes.
Today, there are numerous such welfare schemes and development programmes being run in our country. Some of them include the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF), Backward Villages Development Programme, Community Development schemes, Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), various region-specific funds e.g. Uttar Banga Unnayan Prakalp (UUP) or Pachimanchal Unnayan Prakalp (PUP) in West Bengal, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Swaranjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY), Special Component Assistance for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes-dominated area development (as in SCA to SCP/TSP), Swajaldhara, Multi-Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP), Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), Integrated Watershed Development Programme (IWDP) and various other schemes relating to sericulture, pisciculture, animal husbandry, horticulture and agriculture.
The number of such schemes being directly supervised or implemented through the office of the District Magistrate (DM) or the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) wherein DM has significant role in ensuring proper implementation of these schemes is endless. The multiplicity of schemes by creating various layers of execution often complicates the execution by making the system cumbersome. The same invariably creates problems during the execution of schemes. It is here that one would like to moot a proposal for the integration and consolidation of all such schemes. This proposal, if minutely planned after factoring in all relevant aspects and practical problems envisaged, shall go a long way in not only improving the planning and execution of these schemes but in also reaching their benefits to the targeted beneficiaries in a more efficient and effective way.
To begin with, such integration and consolidation of schemes/programmes relating to construction and creation of permanent assets or infrastructures should all be pooled together to be one overarching programme. However, the entire programme could be suitably sub-divided into different components with earmarked percentage of the total allotment to be spent on particular sectors e.g. for connectivity improvement, for rural housing, for watershed development, for minority-inhabited areas, for agriculture and so on, depending upon the need or weightage as perceived by the government.
These sectors could still be named variously like now, but they should all be an inalienable part of a single programme with uniform guidelines including those relating to fund management and account keeping. Such uniformity shall facilitate better fund management and efficient account keeping, thereby obviating the need for maintaining multiple ledgers and cash books for multiple schemes. Even if the records or ledgers are maintained sector-wise, there shall still be uniformity. The need for opening and maintaining multiple bank accounts shall no longer be there, thereby making accounting relatively simpler than now. This would ensure better account keeping and better financial management. The complexities created by the need for maintaining scores of records and files shall be eliminated.
The NREGA model is a good example to fall back on. The new programme after integration and consolidation of the multifarious welfare and development schemes should function in the same way as NREGA. Even though NREGS visualises an important roles for BDOs, SDOs and DMs, the role and responsibility of the local self-governments shall still be very important and critical as it is the latter that would do the micro-level planning and execution of the programme as done now. As the scheme has enough allowance for employment of surplus/additional manpower and other administrative desiderata, the various NREGA schemes are never constrained at the executional level in the way as many other schemes are marked as they are by delay and sundry executional snags.
Similarly, the new programme should be modelled on NREGS to be able to benefit from the experience gained through its implementation. NREGS, in its short life-span, has proved to be a leader among all the previous and extant government schemes. It has not only ensured more efficient fund utilisation and better creation of community assets, the various measures visualised to ensure executional transparency have also minimised the scope for corruption and leakage. Hence, NREGS model should be the ideal template for modelling this new avatar on.
However, one still feels that the new scheme should be based on NREGS only after making some rectification and modifications in some of NREGS parametres. These include stipulations relating to employment for minimum number of man-days for every household, wage-material ratio, kind of schemes to be executed and permissibility of scheme execution through contractors. One feels that that after all these schemes are merged together, the pool of financial resources available with the government shall be significant enough to allow for demand-based employment throughout the year. Therefore, the NREGA cap of a minimum of 100 days work in an year for a rural household should be removed completely.
Also, the wage-material ratio should be made 50:50 instead of present 60:40, thereby maintaining the material-intensive work at the level where they are at the moment. But pooling other schemes' wage components with the new scheme shall create enough leverage and leeway to provide work throughout the year to a rural household. Also, deviating from the present NREGA norm of not executing any scheme through contractor, there ought to be a little scope for 15 per cent of the total schemes to be executed through contractors. The scheme permissible to be executed through the contractors shall be material-intensive (say those which shall require 80 per cent material) and which shall require to be executed emergently. The decision for selection of such schemes must be left to the discretion of the local self-government.
Similarity and uniformity stemming from the integration and consolidation of many of these ongoing schemes and programmes shall markedly improve monitoring and supervision at the field level. The consolidation of these schemes shall also mean availability of more contingent funds, allowing for engagement of additional manpower and additional supervisory infrastructures as permissible under NREGP now. The transparency norms imported from NREGP shall ensure that the common public remain duly informed and participate at the various levels of planning and execution of the schemes. Also, the manpower now engaged in implementation of different other schemes shall become available and could be pooled together for better supervision and monitoring.
Many of the present schemes require identification of beneficiaries which often become cause of partisan politics and friction. The same not only often results in violent clashes or deadlock in the working of the panchayats or decision-making bodies, but also results in delaying the execution of the entire scheme e.g. IAY. After the new programme comes into being, there shall be no need for beneficiary identification as the new scheme shall not be confined to BPL families only as is the case with NREGS whose benefits are available to all sections of society.
There could, however, be a priority list to be decided by the local self-government e.g. Gram Sabha in accordance with which various individual benefit schemes (IBSs) including low-cost housing or sanitary toilets shall be built. The number and kind of schemes to be taken up under individual benefit schemes could be further diversified to include rural housing, sanitation, kitchen gardens et al to cater to many other perceived needs of the people in the countryside. And the truth remains that present focus of NREGA cannot be sustained beyond a point e.g. we cannot continue constructing water harvesting, minor irrigation or flood proofing structures beyond a point as land is limited.
So, we need to get ready in advance to prepare for future by modifying the way we reach various benefits to the underprivileged sections of the society. As almost any and every scheme could be executed depending on the availability of skilled and non-skilled manpower, there shall not be any need for wasting time in discussing the advisability of a scheme. The local self-government shall have a shelf of schemes which shall be executed in order of priority. This would save a lot of time and cost over-runs would be avoided, thereby improving creation of capital assets in the countryside and thereby also bridging the rural-urban divide.
Whether such a programme shall be extended to urban areas or not shall depend on the decision to merge the schemes executed by the municipal bodies with the proposed programme. But if we do it, it shall not be such a bad idea as it shall give a better fillip to development process in the municipal areas though there could be different programme officer e.g. the municipal commissioners or executive officers could do the needful in this regard.
The above is just a proposal and this author feels that the same needs to be considered, discussed and debated thoroughly before actually going on the anvil. One does feel that such a programme shall definitely revolutionise the way different welfare and development programmes are planned and executed in this country.