Whispers Forum

Welcome the opportunity to march to Atmanirbharta jaldi-jaldi. America will harm only EU, which had defaulted on “hafta vasool” for American security provided to them. If India revises salary structures for talented persons upward rendering allurements from America unattractive, we will attain our goal with super speed. We have grown in spite of GATT, UNCTAD, Globalisation- weapons to keep countries suppressed forever and become only a market for their products and services. Were we not exploited by hyper-charging developing countries' producers for consultancy, drawings, designs, machinery and raw material? Only used machinery, outdated when sold to us technologically, was given to us at exorbitant prices. In collusion with corrupt politicians-Babu nexus, India always suffered. The truth is that we were not allowed to invest in R&D. However, they forgot that we are a real superpower intellectually and the nation grew in spite of this trinity of the anti-people forces. Our SSI, KVIC and informal sector kept the graph northward! It was only in 1991 that the SSI sector was irreversibly damaged under pressure from the USA and its crony multi-national institutions. Every challenge posed to India from 1948 to this day had only woken up the sleeping lion called Bharat. It should not take more than 6 months for India to recover the loss of revenue due to tariffs if we decide (1) not to interfere with price mechanism of private industry and; (2) stop free gift of products and services but let them be honestly commercialised (pharma products on one hand and HMT watches on the other). We have to scale up each product to the level of MS etc. type companies.
M L Gupta

At present,commuted amount of pension is recovered by central govt in 15 years and thereafter,resoration takes place and full pension is given.This period was fixed long long back when interest rates on fdrs hovered around 12%.At present,interest rate has come down to 6% and hence there is strong case foe reducing commutation period drastically.In fact there are some judicial decision curtailing the commutation period to 12 years.Will DoPT look into the matter and give justice to vast chunk of cental govt pensioners.
Rajesh Gohel

Student suicides have reached an alarming scale in India, with students making up 7.6% of the country's total suicide deaths, according to a recently released report by National Crime Records Bureau.
Student suicides in India are a pressing concern, particularly in the context of harassment and mistreatment. Several potential causes contribute to this issue :
1.Academic Pressure : The highly competitive education system, coupled with restricted opportunities for higher education and employment, can lead to significant stress and anxiety among students.
2. Harassment by Authorities: Cases of students being harassed by college management or faculty members, can push students to extreme measures.
3.Mental Health Infrastructure India's mental health infrastructure is woefully inadequate, with a severe shortage of mental health professionals. This scarcity makes it difficult for students to access affordable and quality mental health support.
4.Financial Constraints: Students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds may face additional stress due to financial constraints, such as inability to pay fees, which can exacerbate feelings of hopelessness.
5. Social and Relationship Issues: Bullying, relationship problems, and social isolation can also contribute to the mental health struggles of students.
6.Lack of Support Systems: Inadequate support systems, including counseling services and peer support groups, can leave students feeling isolated and without a safety net.
7.Stigma around Mental Health: The stigma surrounding mental health issues in India can prevent students from seeking help, further exacerbating the problem.
To address this complex issue, it's essential to implement a multi-faceted approach that includes:
1. Education System Reforms: Reforming the education system to reduce competition and emphasis on grades.
2.Improved Mental Health Support*: Increasing access to mental health professionals and counseling services.
3.Awareness Campaigns: Organizing awareness campaigns to reduce stigma around mental health issues.
4.Support Systems :Establishing robust support systems, including peer support groups and counseling services, to help students cope with academic and personal pressures.
Krishna Joshi

Crowd management in India is a pressing concern.The sheer volume of people gathering in public spaces often leads to chaotic situations, increasing the risk of stampedes and tragic loss of life. This issue is multifaceted, stemming from a combination of factors such as inadequate infrastructure, insufficient security measures, and poor crowd control strategies.
During festivals like Kumbh Mela, shavan month, celebration of win of Cricket match millions of people gather, putting immense pressure on local authorities to ensure safety and order. However, the lack of effective crowd management planning, inadequate barricading, and insufficient deployment of security personnel often result in overcrowding, pushing, and shoving, which can quickly escalate into stampedes.The consequences of such incidents are devastating, with loss of life, injuries, and long-term psychological trauma for survivors. Moreover, these incidents also lead to a significant economic burden on the government and individuals affected.
To mitigate these risks, it is essential to adopt a comprehensive approach to crowd management. This includes:
1. Advance planning Conduct thorough risk assessments, identify potential hotspots, and develop contingency plans.
2. Infrastructure development: Improve venue infrastructure, including adequate entrances, exits, and crowd control barriers.
3. Security deployment: Ensure sufficient deployment of trained security personnel, including police, marshals, and crowd control experts.
4. Crowd monitoring: Utilize technology, such as CCTV cameras and crowd monitoring software, to track crowd density and movement.
5. Public awareness: Educate the public on crowd safety, emergency procedures, and the importance of cooperation with authorities.
Stuti Gupta

The documentary requirement for a bus driver in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and other information was sought. The PIO stated that on directions of the FAA, the reply along with copy of Recruitment Rules has been provided to the appellant. During the hearing before the CIC, the PIO tendered his apology for delay in reply by explaining that delay occurred due to reorganization of units within DTC and resultant reshuffling of staff and records. He added that it was unintentional and may be condoned in the interest of justice. He further agreed to file a written submission explaining the reason for delay in giving reply with supporting documents on the CIC’s website and will mark a copy of the same to the appellant. The CIC accepted the apology and condoned the delay in the absence of malafide on the part of the PIO holding it as unintentional.
Comments
The simple deed of sending a timely reply could have saved the PIO from the embarrassment of tendering an apology and would have also avoided the appellant from going through the hassle of filing a complaint. The time frame for filing a reply to the RTI application should be strictly followed by all the PIO’s.
Citation: Rakesh Kumar v. Delhi Transport Corporation, CIC/DTCOR/A/2024/601322; Date of Decision: 30.04.2025
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com

The reason behind former V-P Dhankhar’s sudden,mid-term resignation,remains a riddle inside an enigma wrapped in mystery. There is much more to it than meets the eye.It is evident that even chatukaars are not spared in the BJP.Political analysts, journalists, members of the bar etc are sharing their speculative views in public debates citing knowledgeable sources.The public is confused.The controversy can be set at rest only after Mr Dhankhar de-mystify the position by going public.His attitude towards the opposition ,during the Rajya Sabha proceedings,was perceived as autocratic and partisan.Good riddance,anyway.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)