Whispers Forum

There are around 150 vacancies at the level of DS in central Government which are to be filed by promotion of Under Secretaries and in this difficult time such huge vacancy is adversely affecting the working of govt...
A Regular Visitor
Independence Day celebrations
Due to Covid-19 infections in the country, the Union of India must consider scaling down celebrations of the Independence Day functions both at Centre and States, at least this year. This can be achieved by eliminating participation of children, old citizens ( both vulnerable to Corona infections) and general public to enforce mandatory physical distancing. Extra-ordinary situations call for bold decisions.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

The Complainant sought the district wise details of the hospitals and healthcare facilities designated as COVID-19 treatment centres; address and telephone numbers; criteria for designating them as COVID-19 treatment centres; hospitals and healthcare facilities whose status as COVID 19 treatment centres was withdrawn, etc. Explaining that the information sought was in the larger public interest directly pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Complainant submitted that the suo motu disclosure of information would immensely benefit the patients for taking timely action. Similarly, a non-COVID-19 patient could avoid approaching the hospitals designated as COVID-19 treatment centres. The Complainant submitted that the since the consolidated district wise information of COVID-19 treatment centres was not available in the public domain or the website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Directorate General of Health Services or the Indian Council of Medical Research, he was constrained to file an RTI application and subsequently the instant Complaint since it is a matter pertaining to life and liberty of citizens.
The CIC was appalled to learn this basic information could not be provided to the information seeker by any of the Respondents. The CIC further observed that the information sought ought to have been suo motu disclosed on the website of the Public Authority at the outset so as to obviate the necessity for an information seeker to obtain the same through an RTI application. The CIC observed that the decisions themselves and the senior decision makers involved are thoroughly documented in order for the Governments to remain accountable both during and after the crisis for future generations to be able to learn from these actions. The CIC issued an advisory to the Secretary, M/o H&FW to designate an officer of an appropriate seniority as a Nodal Officer to examine the matter and suo motu disclose the information sought in the RTI application on the website of the Public Authority within a period of 15 days in the larger public interest.
Comments
India is known as a software power and it would be quite easy to have a consolidated district wise data of Covid facilities and their mapping om Google Maps for the benefit of the citizens. Section 4(2) of the RTI Act mandates every public authority to provide as much information suo-motu to the public at regular intervals through various means of communications, including the Internet, so that the public need not resort to the use of RTI Act.
Citation: Mr. Venkatesh Nayak v. Indian Council of Medical Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, DGHS, Department of Health & Family Welfare in Complaint No. CIC/MOHFW/C/2020/668909-BJ + CIC/DTGHS/C/2020/668913-BJ, Date of Decision: 05.06.2020
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is an expert on RTI matters and has co-authored the books RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI. Apart from her weekly article here, her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link: www.rtifoundationofindia.co

Vivad se Vishwas scheme was brought in this year budget and is being implemented to resolve the cases which are stuck in different courts and tribunals. The whole idea is to generate Vishwas between tax administration and tax payers. But it looks that tax authorities are in no good mood to create a positive trust factor. The things can be judged by the fact that only 3 to 4% people are paying tax in the country. ITR forms have been notified for AY 2020-21. ITR1 is being used by salaried class, pensioners, house wives who do not income from business and has highest compliance. ITR1 filers have been deprived of legitimate right to mention tax exempt income under Sec.112A as this section does not appear in exempt income category in drop down menu in the form. This approach is not right, Earlier Sec,10(38) in FY 2017-18 was available in ITR1. As this section was removed but sec.112A was not brought in the form. This is arbitrary and not right approach. There is no justification not to bring sec.112A in ITR1. As there is no tax liability upto 1 lakh LTCG on transfer of equity or equity oriented MF as per sec.112A. Why tax authorities want salaried class should file ITR2 even if there is loss in LTCG or gain upto 1 lakh? This clearly shows that tax authorities have some other intention in this regard and may create a VIVAD in the process. The form ITR2 is lengthy and complicated and requires CA help to file return. It means we are moving opposite to Vivad se Vishwas. Where is Vishwas by not providing opportunity to salaried class to mention exempt income in ITR1 under sec.112A. It is heartfelt request to PM to see that justice is done with salaried class, pensioners, housewives to mention tax exempt income under sec.112A in ITR1. Let Sahaj be sahaj and people file their returns with trust and simple manner. In simpler world ITR1 must contain Sec.112A under exempt income for reporting purpose in drop down menu. Section C of ITR1 form.
Naveen
Positive and implementable suggestions
Very positive and implementable suggestions by V K Pandey. Government(s) should consider them seriously.
S Gopal

This is with reference to Kumar's post on ACC. The people in ACC are flouting the DoPT guidelines without any fear of facing contempt charges from courts. This indicates that in this regime the rules have no meaning. Several IRS officers are retiring without any finality to their deferment. The daring officers who go to CAT are threatened with dire consequences. Is anybody watching ? Cabinet Secretary needs to pull up DoPT for flouting its rules with regard to the innovative idea of deferment. Can he do it and assert his authority by upholding the rule of law as the master of civil services?
Prasad
In continuing the discussions about migrant labourers, i would like to mention that what ever is being written about their migration, plight, deplorable working conditions, non acceptance at their home villages etc are newly found wisdom arose due to Corona pandemic only. There would not have been any answer from anyone had the question whether they will migrate if the lockdown was imposed would have been popped up. Even those people have migrated who were more or less settled for more than 10-15 yrs in adopted cities. The fact is that nobody cared about them as long as they were working against the wages decided mutually with the service provider. Labour departments are the biggest culprits. Now is the time to utilise the newly found statistics about the migrants and devise strategy which can benefit both the workers and the service providers. I my opinion, something like following can be thought of: 1. Each worker is registered in labour departments at their respective district and unique number is provided and should be linked with aadhar and 'one nation one ration card'. Make it mandatory for them to get their name entered into some authorised agencies (may be labour departments) in the city they migrate for work. Roadside vendors may also be included. 2. Now a fair idea has been obtained how much workers migrated 'to' - 'from' with the mapping of migrants being carried out. Make 50-100 shelter homes scattered in the entire cities to curtail commuting distances. Provide minimum basic space with hygiene. Day to day expenditure can easily be met once they get the works. If service provider wants to provide space for stay, they can leave but labour department should ensure it and make periodic checking. Slowly remove all the slums of the city. 3. Very difficult task considering that migrants may be 20-25 lakhs in numbers in cities like Delhi or Mumbai or Bangalore but anyway they were staying before Corona pandemic also. For this numbers, you may need 500 shelters homes but so what, after all they are also Indians. 4. Either part with PF or follow it vigorously. Let all have PF numbers with registration card. I worked in Infrastructure sector and know how much difficult it is to follow all PF rules. I used to find that every third day 20-25% workers would get changed by labour contractors and labour contractor would disburse the wages after raising the bills with the service provider. It would be difficult to ensure the implementation of all labour laws including wages and PF for main service provider therefore all labour contractors must mandatorily be registered with the authorities. 5. Any welfare schemes of States/Central would easily reach to them. Bank account should also be made must. Not an easy task considering the population, illiteracy prevailing in the country and not so honesty at some places but why not to take new step in this direction for better India.
V K Pandey

Mass exodus of migrants to native villages , was not welcomed by rural India. It merely accepted regular remittances. The migrants should forget returning to earlier work places and should, instead, help their own native states in economic development.
States governments of UP, Bihar must create work for the poor and stop them from going to other States in search of employment. Urban India failed to provide poor migrants, food and lodgings, let alone express gratitude for contributing to States' economy. Let urban India face human tragedy as punishment for not absorbing the migrants.
The big joke going viral in Beijing these days is “ how could India send space mission to Mars and the Moon when it cannot figure out how to send humans,a 1000 Kms on earth” ( @LinBiYao Twitter account,China).He also twittered “ Kerala is the first of the big States as it is a communist state”
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)
No beggars, Skilled Workers only
Migrants are not beggars but skilled, trained and experienced workers. They work on machines in small/ micro one-man enterprises and businesses. They have suffered due to lack of honest implementation of labour laws. We still pride in using the term “majdoor” (derogatively just as Chaiwala/doodhwala/policewala) instead of calling them electricians, plumbers, mechanic, packers, transporters, shop executive (learn from foreign operators who treat their staff with some respect e.g. “delivery executive” rather than “ladka” or any “wala”- a variant of the Varna Vyavastha. They were forced to migrate by incompetent governments in the states, who failed to use their services for economic development. Such states benefited from the money sent home by these workers. When COVID-19 forced them to return home, those states turned cold as their money alone was welcome, not they. Had they the right vision, they would have utilized the services of these skilled/trained and experienced workers by developing MSME industries, providing necessary facilities to start those businesses. Instead, politicians only played dirty politics on the misery of the returning migrants. It is some of these very majdoors who have made India proud by producing required number of face masks/PPE kits making India self-reliant largely. Politicians quote figures of lost employment/jobs in tens of Crores. The plight of migrant workers is a result of “under-payment”. Had they been paid the prescribed wages for their labour, their financial condition would have been better to survive temporary job loss. They generally work 12 hours a day without a break. Our economists consider it cheap labour even though it is exploitation. So, they are called just “majdoor”! People in India don’t realize the value of work and workers contribution without which neither machines can run nor businesses nor even households in metros. Yet we refuse to call them anything more than majdoor. The politicians of all shades, who are shedding crocodile tears for the migrant majdoors have given them only slums with deplorable sanitation arrangements, schools, hospitals etc. in all these 73 years, something worse than what the feudal order had given them. We treat them like the British labour during the industrial revolution in England which gave birth to thinkers like Karl Marx. Working in the informal/unorganized sector, they are not protected by labour laws like those in the organized sector. That is how the macro and micro economists have planned for economic growth in India! The employment potential of the informal sector is estimated to be 80%. It means, it is a loss more for the Indian Economy rather than the migrant workers. The politicians have not provided these majdoors any support in terms of food or shelter even for a day but resorted to feigning concern for them. They only sell liquor and opium to them so that they continue to work at less than lawful remuneration. The most questionable role was that of the trade unions, which did not come forward to provide succour to these majdoors in distress in the current disruptive times brought about by COVID-19. Trade Unions/ Leftists played petty politics in collusion with other family concerns (political party) though they survive on support of majdoors/ proletariat for big political rallies against the government or the employers.
M L Gupta

The Central government had authorised eight agencies to monitor the comments and opinions posted on social media platforms including e-Mails and WhatsAp chats even when encrypted. Under the circumstances how can you guarantee that the communication to you will remain confidential despite your promise that your lips are sealed.
Paarth Garg
Finance Ministry working very hard
Finance Minister and Finance Ministry is already working very hard to come up from crisis due to Covid-19. The last date for filing income tax returns have been extended to 30th November, 2020. Finance Minister is taking normally a broad view to deal with the situation. A scheme Vivad se Vishwas was launched and the date for the cases have also been extended. Actually this scheme should not only be considered as a scheme but it should be the vision of the department to create positive TRUST FACTOR. A positive trust factor has to be created between tax administration and tax payers. If trust is created, number of cases will get resolved and there will be increase in number of return filers so the revenue. but it does not look be so. Still there is fear in the mind of tax payers as the old incidents are still fresh in the mind of tax payers. It can also be judged by the less number of tax return filers. ITR forms for fy 2019-20 have been released but it looks surprising why ITR 1 does not include Sec.112 A for showing exempt income in pull down menu. Most of the salary class and pensioners including house wives are filing returns using ITR1 but unable to report tax exempt income under Sec.112A. When there is no tax liability why to file tax return using ITR2 creating unnecessary trouble by making some mistakes. It shows that tax authorities still to follow the spirit of creating Vishwas. Revenue Secretary and Finance Minister to make sure that Sec.112A is brought in ITR1 for reporting exempt income otherwise it will show that MInistry has no seriousness to create TRUST between tax administration and tax payers. Why create Vivad then resolve it. It is not healthy trend. Need to know should be the moto. Let us have a trust then proceed. It may require for the change of mindset of tax authorities and work as a guide to the tax payers. Finance Minister will definitely consider the relief to tax payers who are filing ITR1 has a provision to report exempt income under Sec.112A. Let us hope for the creation of Vishwas between tax administration and tax payers.
Naveen

The Fifteenth Finance Commission is scheduled to submit its final report by October 2020. Prior to the amendment to the Constitution in the year 2000, only the income tax and union excise duties were sharable with the States while customs and corporate income tax were not sharable.. As an Officer on Special Duty for the Ninth and Tenth Finance Commissions in Tamil Nadu, I found that the Central Government was in the habit of hiking the non sharable customs duty and corporate tax as successive Finance Commissions had increased the share of the States in the Income Tax and the Union Excise Duty from 50 percent to 90 percent. The Centre was also having recourse to various surcharges which were also not sharable. As a result the tax structure in India had become highly skewed.
In an article published in the Economic and Political Weekly in August 1992, I had suggested that all the central taxes including the various taxes and the duties contemplated in Articles 268 and 269 of the Constitution like taxes on advertisements in the radio and newspapers and the States' share should be fixed at 33.33 percent of the Centre's gross tax revenue. I wrote this paper in 1990 while at the IMF .Since I was only on deputation to the IMF from GOI . IMF sought clearance from the MOF. Dr Manmohan Singh the then FM , suggested that I should publish the paper in India after my return. and the was carried by in the EPW in August 1992.
Late KC Pant, Chairman of the 10th Finance Commission, recommended this model to GoI. This was accepted and the Constitution was amended in the year 2000. The level of devolution which was 29.5 percent in 2000-2005 was hiked to 30.5 percent by the 12 th FC and to 32 percent by the 13 th FC.
The 14th FC headed by Dr Y.Venugopal Reddy hiked the percentage to 42 percent which I chose to term as totally irresponsible in an article in the Hindu Business Line ( February 2016.)
With this development we were back to square one by the Centre levying various surcharges. In my view, it is the duty of the Fifteenth FC to do the required damage control in its Final Report .. Though the 15 th FC has made a good beginning by reducing the devolution to 41 percent in its Interim Report it is grossly inadequate and boldly fix the devolution percentage 33.33 percent..
I would also suggest that in order to prevent vertical devolution being to subject to vagaries of Finance Commissions, the TOR for the next FC to be set up in 2022 should include only the horizontal redistribution of devolution among the States and take vertical devolution from the ambit of the Finance Commission.
Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi IAS (Retired)
Former Member State Planning Commission &
Additional Chief Secretary to the Governent of Tamil Nadu
Reduce dominance of IAS officers in DoPT
In continuation of Kumar's ‘irregularities in ACC appointments’, would like to say that unless the dominance of IAS officers in DoPT is reduced, things will not improve. Why is EO and Secretary Personnel manned by IAS officers only ? Hope PM takes note of it and set things right.
S Gopal
A K Sharma continues to be PM’s man
To remain trustworthy to PM is not easy task.
V M Upadhyay

Release of Wuhan Virus - Military gingoism in Indo- Pacific , SCS , Taiwan , Hong Kong , Mekong Delta countries! About a million people have died globally around the world from an invisible virus. Nobody is going to forget that and boycott of Chinese goods has commenced . PLA's generals are currently realising that they have aimed for a Bridge too far. The Chinese political party will pay for the consequences as happened in the USSR in1990.
Devindra Sethi
Non Deduction of Transport Allowance on using official vehicle
Every Government Official working in the various Ministries/Departments of the Government of India is withdrawing TRANSPORT ALLOWANCE . Only Joint Secretaries and above level officers have to get deducted the Transport Allowance from their monthly salary. But subordinate officers like Section Officers, Under Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Directors, PPS, Sr. PPS, P.S.O., working in the branches or in the offices of Addl. Secretary, Secretary, Minister etc. have been using official vehicles without getting deducted their TRANSPORT ALLOWANCE. This has been resulting in a loot of lakhs of Rupees from the |Consolidated Fund of India from where all the salaries and allowances are paid to the officials of Government of India. On an average in every Ministry/ Department about over and above 10 vehicles are engaged for these officers who are very closed to Senior Bureaucrats or Minister. If we reckon the amount of TRANSPORT ALLOWANCE @ Rs.7200+DA say about Rs.7500 x 20 officials =1,50,000/- There are more than 100 Ministries/Departments. Then multiply 100 Departments x Rs.1, 50,000/-. = Rs, 1,50,00000/- It means every month the amount of Rs.1.50 crore is siphoned off by the Government Servants /officers only, despite taking pledge of Vigilance Awareness Week, delivering lecture to the common public do not ask for bribe and do not pay bribe.
Per annum Rs.1.50 crore x 12 months ................... calculate.
B Kant
“Wisdom of a former civil servant”
Thanks to M P Bauer ( WIC Forum dt June 2) on his left-handed compliments to my views on India’s candy floss approach Sino-Pak axis. I am surprised as only the other day you had expressed encomiums on my posts. Having aggressive approach against hostile neighbours, is not jingoism. It is cowardice. In WIC Forum dt May 31, another pseudonymous contributor posing as one “ Ajay” labeled my suggestion as “ foolish”. Cowardice.
Do pseudonymous contributors not want India to retrieve PoK, Gilgit-Baltistan and Aksaichin, illegally occupied by Pakistan and China to realise PM Modi's commitments ? These will not be handed back to us on a platter. Coercive approach has no substitute for India.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

Half the correspondence in Forum is from a former civil servant Mr A. K. Saxena. He has a view on every subject under the sun. In his last post he has proposed that India should suddenly attack Pakistan and China together right now. He predicts a swift win for India because 192 countries will back India. Such jingoism has not been observed anywhere in the world. Surely, after defeating Pakistan and China, the grateful nation will award Padma Vibhushan to the former civil servant who advises such a brilliant strategy.
M P Bauer

A news item says that Supreme Court will hear a petition on 02 June seeking a direction to Government of India to amend our constitution to change the name of our country to Bharat from India. In this context it may be worthwhile to note that after independence when Government started many Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) some were named Bharat something, many Hindustan something, some Indian something. Examples are Bharat Electronics, Bharat Heavy Electricals, Bharat Earth Movers etc all of which have survived and are existing today profitably.Hindustan machine Tools (HMT), Hindustan Teleprinters, Hindustan Photofilms, Hindustan Paper Corporation, Hindustan Insecticides and so on who are either wound up or are on liquid oxygen support which is continuous Government subsidy, like Air India. The oxygen-subsidy- does not allow them to die and the liquid -accumulated huge losses- does not allow them to live. Companies starting with Indian something are also in the same boat-Indian Telephone Industries for example, independent India's first CPSU. So there is perhaps something in a name as astrologers would say. Let us hope that if and when India becomes Bharat, our destiny will change for the better.
S.Raghavan
Is Modi aware of irregularities committed in ACC ?
If the Government of India does not follow rules formulated by itself and disobey Supreme Court Rulings, what can a hapless government servant do ? Go to CAT to face further persecution in the form of 56J ? Even if he goes to CAT, the Secretaries do not budge and they refuse to implement CAT orders and even High Court orders. Where is this Modi regime leading to ? The all powerful ACC under Modi is refusing to promote IRS officers even though no charge sheets are pending merely because some complaints are being processed against them. As per DoPT rules promotion can be refused only when a charge sheet is pending on the date of passing of promotion order. Of course officers under suspension, facing criminal prosecution are also ineligible for promotion. However, the ACC is gladly promoting officers figuring in agreed list,which is correct as per rules. The point is why ACC is denying promotion merely on the basis of preliminary inquiry? Is PM Modi who is a stickler for rules, aware of the irregularities committed by his babus in ACC which amounts to contempt of Supreme Court. The CBDT also on 27-5-2020 gladly following irregularities committed by the ACC demoted some young JCs to DCs dealing a nasty blow to their morale. All these demoted officers have no charge sheets against them and yet CBDT demoted them. PM Modi needs to put his foot down and arrest the spread of this jungle raj perpetuated by his ACC babus before facing embarrassment in Supreme Court for contempt.
Kumar
Aar-Paar ki ladayi - what a foolish suggestion ?
Aar-Paar ki ladayi is the sole option: What sort of suggestion sir, at this age. World war... when there is so much suffering all over the world. What could be the economic, demographic cost.
Ajay

It is really a sad state of affairs for the service personnel who are other than IAS. Even during this pandemic they are regularly getting promotions and services like CSSS CSS etc are languishing for years together without any tangible promotion. Eventhough litigations are there it could be resolved and the Government can come up with proposals which are beneficial to the cadres mentioned above. Never ever we delay or deny our work and always sincere in our efforts and during this pandemic we all are working together for the welfare of the nation. Government should at least now open their eyes and ears for our welfare. Hope something good happens in the near future. Otherwise we are really frustrated.
Seth
Overlapping shifts
This kind of shift working is called overlapping shifts. Three shift working means working 24X7, which can never happen in a govt office.
S A Narayan
Congratulations !
Heartiest Congratulations Nidhi Srivastava Ma'am on being appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Personnel & Training, Govt. of India. I wish you all the luck for new assignment
H. S. Chauhan Former Sector Officer, AC-48, Ambedkar Nagar

A week ago, I had emailed you the third post about a MOF official calling me to say the recovery beyond 11 years is something like an insurance premium to which I explained saying my suggestion was to restore the pension only after 12 years and not 11 years as demanded by the Retired IPS Officers' Association before the Delhi High Court in 2017. I would highly appreciate if you could kindly carry it as I have no intention to continue to write on this topic any more.
I have forwarded the certificate issued by President Donald Trump. I have explained to both Lara Trump (Eric Trump's wife & President Trump's daughter in law) Senior Advisor Trump's Re election campaign that i am neither a Permanent Resident of US nor a US citizen. I also told Ms Ivanka Trump when she got in touch with me two months ago when I politely declined her invitation to Delhi. A year ago Donald Trump my Facebook as the official login page of :President Trump when Shri Jayashankar had called Sri TN Seshan to ask me to remove my Facebook page as this had not gone well with the powers in Delhi ( Jayashankar is the son of late K Subramanian IAS (TN 1951 topper) a close friend of Seshan I did try but the Facebook Chairman who lives in the US refused and I climosed my FB. Trump was impressed by my articles on him Some are attached Jimmy Carter who has sponsored me for the Economics Nobel 2020 did not approve of my articles on Donald Trump
Sitnaram Gurumurthi IAS Retired
One More Year Of Good Governance In India
Narendra Modi completes one more year of good governance in India on May 30, 2020 in his second term as Prime Minister. In this one year he has corrected a great historical blunder by abrogating Article 370/35A inserted in the Constitution of India unconstitutionally and unwisely. It was such a huge strategic blunder that the country has paid a very heavy price for it. Narendra Modi’s name will be written in Golden Letters as a statesman of extra-ordinary qualities for this act of political sagacity. Narendra Modi has devoted the year for introducing structural changes in many areas like finance, economy, agriculture. Unfortunately, the Congress and other political parties once against lost the year in foul-mouthing the prime minister. Their vision is so short that they continued to play the political games of the last century and failed. They displayed only hatred for the prime minister personally and his admirers generally, calling them “Bhaktas”, though they only set new standards of sycophancy on a daily basis. They ridiculed patriotism liberally, spoofed corruption where there was none because they are unable to accept the reality of a transparent and honest government working in India. The Opposition, especially the Congress Party and the Leftists, tried to develop an anti-Modi narrative in COVID-19 too. They spared no occasion to attack the Prime Minister for the lockdown and tried to incite the masses to disobey the government orders. The people rejected the opposition and supported the government wholeheartedly. During lockdown 4.0 they heightened their assault in the name of the economy, jobs and employment as workers were laid off in large numbers. Millions of the workers started moving to their native place, braving all difficulties by whatever mode of transport was available or on foot. It saddened the whole country to see the workers with their families and children undertake the journey on foot without getting food or water. The opposition has been looking for such a scenario to validate their hate campaign against Narendra Modi and the government. However, no political party showed any love or care by serving food or water to these walking workers, whom they call “majdoor”, a word equivalent of labour but highly derogatory coming from feudal glossary of the manor born. They only used their misery to attack the government, demanding opening of transport and the economy. They imagined that the government was caught in a bind and will never be able to extricate itself from it, at least in the next few months and by that time they will arouse enough public anger to dislodge Narendra Modi. The misfortune of the opposition is that they are led by people who refuse to acknowledge the stature of Narendra Modi. The prime minister held more than one video conference with the Chief Ministers, some of them from the opposition parties, to brief them on the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic induced medical emergency and steps needed to contain its spread in the country. Similar conferences were held with the leaders of the opposition parties. The need was to work together to fight the disease. The prime minister tried to take everyone on board but the opposition carried on as usual creating unrest in the name of the labour, though they had party workers, Youth Wings and Student Wings in every nook and corner of India and could have exhibited a bit of social responsibility, if not charity/philanthropy, by helping the needy workers traversing to their homes. This presented a very difficult situation before the government. Left with no scope for any further sacrifice from the people affected by nearly two-month long lockdown, the Government of India decided to run special trains to ferry the workers. The flexibility shown by the government un-nerved the opposition and many state governments expressed unwillingness to allow the trains. The government also declared opening of air travel from 25th May 2020, and again many (opposition run) state governments expressed unwillingness for it. The political parties found themselves unprepared for this sudden turn of events. Used to the jargon of communal politics played by them, the opposition lost the narrative as it became their responsibility now rather than that of the government of India or Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The work done by Narendra Modi is bound to bring a positive change in the attitude and functioning of the opposition parties in India post COVID-19. The politics overloaded style of working of these parties will change to economic and development ideology dominated approach and language. COVID-19 has taught many lessons to the world and India too. Politics in India will not be the same anymore. States will need to develop local livelihood for their people rather than exporting them to industrially developed states. The migrant workers are not majdoor but skilled, trained and experience hands capable of producing goods and services making valuable contribution to the economy and GDP. The states which have driven them away in the first place to distant places for employment and now the states that have pushed them back to their native places, both will suffer unless intelligent correctives are employed to create local opportunities and labour is treated with respect for its contribution instead of pitying them and throwing crumbs at them in lieu of their labour. The effects of COVID-19 will affect the world for many more months. Even if a drug to treat it or a vaccine is produced, the world economy will take years to recover. Added to it is the way technology is bound to reduce opportunities of employment. Reorganisation and restructuring of work as WFH will become another norm to cut expenses and AI will further cut in to prospects of employment worldwide.
M L Gupta
Under stress due to CoronaVirus
A lot of people are under stress nowadays, due to coronavirus. Even children are suffering. Ways to reduce stress are to chant some mantra, sing some bhajan, meditate and exercise. Remembering God, Allah, Ishwar, Bhagwan, Akal Purakh are also good stress busters. One may also remember the gurus, Guru Nanak Devji, Sai Baba and so on. Another way to bust stress and depression is to look for ways to be compassionate and help people.
Vijay Kumar