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2022 के नतीजों ने तय किये 2024 के परिणाम: प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी

Jitendra Meena
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2022 के नतीजों ने तय किये 2024 के परिणाम: प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी

नई दिल्ली: मोदी ने गुरुवार को कहा कि 2019 में भारतीय जनता पार्टी को देश में मिली बहुमत के लिए 2017 में उत्तर प्रदेश में मिली जीत को जिम्मेदार ठहराया गया था। वे मानते हैं कि इस बार भी राजनीतिक पंडित इस बात को स्वीकार करेंगे कि 2022 के नतीजों ने 2024 (लोकसभा चुनाव) के नतीजे तय कर दिए हैं।

प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने गुरुवार को पांच राज्यों में से चार राज्यों उत्तर प्रदेश, उत्तराखंड, गोवा और मणिपुर में पार्टी को मिली जीत के बाद पार्टी मुख्यालय में कार्यकर्ताओं को संबोधित किया। प्रधानमंत्री ने अपने भाषण में कार्यकर्ताओं और देश के मतदाताओं को धन्यवाद दिया। उन्होंने जीत के कारण को विकास की राजनीति से जुड़ा और परिवारवाद की राजनीति के खात्मे की भविष्यवाणी की।

भारत में परिवारवादी राजनीति का होगा सूर्यास्त:

पीएम मोदी ने कहा कि इन चुनावों में मैंने लगातार हर विषय पर भाजपा का विजन लोगों के सामने रखा। इसके साथ ही जिस बात पर मैंने चिंता जताई थी, वह थी- घोर परिवारवाद। मैं किसी परिवार के खिलाफ नहीं हूं। न ही मेरी किसी से व्यक्तिगत दुश्मनी है। मैं लोकतंत्र की चिंता करता हूं। इसी संदर्भ में आगे उन्होंने कहा कि एक न एक दिन ऐसा आएगा, जब देश के नागरिक भारत में परिवारवादी राजनीति का सूर्यास्त करके रहेंगे। इस चुनाव में देश के मतदाताओं ने अपनी सूझ-बूझ का परिचय देते हुए आगे क्या होने वाला है, उसका इशारा कर दिया है।

भाजपा को चारों दिशाओं से मिला आशीर्वाद:

चुनौतियों की चर्चा करते हुए उन्होंने कहा, “इन राज्यों की चुनौतियों भिन्न हैं, सबकी विकास यात्रा का मार्ग भिन्न है, लेकिन सबको जो बात एक सूत्र में पिरो रही है, वह है- भाजपा पर विश्वास, भाजपा की नीति, भाजपा की नियत और भाजपा के निर्णयों पर अपार विश्वास। सीमा से सटा एक पहाड़ी राज्य, एक समुद्र तटीय राज्य, मां गंगा का विशेष आशीर्वाद प्राप्त एक राज्य और पूर्वोत्तर सीमा पर एक राज्य, भाजपा को चारों दिशाओं से आशीर्वाद मिला है।”

विकास के मॉडल पर एक बार फिर जनता ने जताया भरोसा:

गौरतलब हो, उत्तर प्रदेश, गोवा, उत्तराखंड और मणिपुर के मतदाताओं ने भारतीय जनता पार्टी (भाजपा) के शीर्ष नेतृत्व और विकास के मॉडल पर एक बार फिर भरोसा जताया है। वहीं पंजाब में कांग्रेस को हराकर आम आदमी पार्टी (आप) ने बाजी मारी है।

भाजपा की प्रचंड जीत:

उत्तर प्रदेश में 403 सीटों में से भाजपा ने 255 सीटें जीती हैं। उत्तराखंड में 70 सीटों में से भाजपा ने 47 सीटों पर जीत दर्ज कर की तो वहीं गोवा में भाजपा ने 40 में से 20 सीटें जीती हैं। मणिपुर में भी वह कुल 60 सीटों में से 32 सीटें जीतकर सबसे बड़ी पार्टी के रूप में उभरी। वहीं आप ने पंजाब में 92 सीटें जीतकर शानदार जीत दर्ज की है। देखा जाए तो भाजपा ने इस बार राज्य विधानसभा चुनावों में प्रचंड बहुमत से जीत दर्ज की है।

यूपी में भाजपा को स्पष्ट बहुमत:

आबादी के लिहाज से देश के सबसे बड़े राज्य उत्तर प्रदेश में भारतीय जनता पार्टी को स्पष्ट बहुमत मिला है। उत्तर प्रदेश में भाजपा ने 403 में से 255 विधानसभा सीटों पर जीत दर्ज की है। वहीं उनके सहयोगी अपना दल (सोनेलाल) ने 12 सीटें जीती हैं और निर्बल इंडियन शोषित हमारा आम दल ने छह सीटें जीते हैं। वहीं मुख्य विपक्षी समाजवादी पार्टी के खाते में 111 सीटें आई। उनके सहयोगी राष्ट्रीय लोकदल को 8 और सुहेलदेव भारतीय समाज पार्टी को 6 सीटें मिली। जबकि कांग्रेस के खाते में दो सीटें गई हैं।

लगातार दूसरी बार पद पर बने रहने वाले पहले भाजपा के CM योगी आदित्यनाथ:

उत्तर प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ राज्य में लगातार दूसरी बार पद पर बने रहने वाले पहले भाजपा के मुख्यमंत्री हैं। योगी 37 साल में पहले ऐसे मुख्यमंत्री भी हैं जो लगातार दूसरी बार जीते हैं और अपना पद बरकरार रखा है। नोएडा से भाजपा के पंकज सिंह ने रिकॉर्ड 01 लाख 79 हजार से भी अधिक मतों से जीत हासिल की है। वहीं उत्तर प्रदेश में भाजपा छोड़कर सपा में गए स्वामी प्रसाद मौर्य अपनी सीट हार गए हैं।

उत्तर प्रदेश की राजनीति में बड़े नेताओं की भी हुई हार:

उत्तर प्रदेश की राजनीति में बड़ा रसूख रखने वाले कई चेहरों को इस बार हार नसीब हुई है। इसमें पहला नाम प्रदेश के उपमुख्यमंत्री केशव प्रसाद मौर्या का आता है। सिराथू से चुनाव लड़ते हुए सपा की पल्लवी पटेल ने उन्हें शिकस्त दी है। वहीं सरदना से भाजपा के संगीत सोम और कुशीनगर की फाजिलनगर सीट से स्वामी प्रसाद मौर्य हार गए हैं। यूपी कांग्रेस के अध्यक्ष अजय कुमार लल्लू कुशीनगर स्थित तमकुहीराज सीट से चुनाव हार गए। वहीं, उत्तर प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ के खिलाफ गोरखपुर सदर से चुनावी मैदान में ताल ठोकने वाले आजाद समाज पार्टी के मुखिया चंद्रशेखर आजाद की जमानत जब्त हो गई। राष्ट्रीय लोकदल के नेता अवतार सिंह भड़ाना भी अपना चुनाव हार गए। जबकि जौनपुर की मल्हनी सीट से पूर्व सांसद धनंजय सिंह को भी हार नसीब हुई।

पंजाब में आम आदमी पार्टी:

पंजाब में आम आदमी पार्टी बड़े बहुमत के साथ सरकार बनाने जा रही है। पार्टी ने राज्य में 117 में से 92 सीटों पर जीत दर्ज की है। वहीं कांग्रेस महज 18 सीटें ही हासिल कर पाई है। इसके अलावा अकाली दल को तीन, भारतीय जनता पार्टी को दो, बहुजन समाज पार्टी को एक और एक सीट निर्दलीय को मिली है।

पंजाब में सभी पूर्व मुख्यमंत्रियों को मिली हार:

पंजाब में चुनाव लड़ रहे सभी पूर्व मुख्यमंत्रियों को हार का सामना करना पड़ा है। निवर्तमान मुख्यमंत्री चरणजीत सिंह चन्नी दोनों सीटों से चुनाव हार गए हैं। इसके अलावा कैप्टन अमरिंदर सिंह और प्रकाश सिंह बादल अपनी सीट बचाने में विफल रहे। कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष नवजोत सिंह सिद्धू, अकाली दल अध्यक्ष सुखबीर सिंह बादल भी अपनी सीट नहीं बचा पाये। सूबे में मुख्यमंत्री पद के उम्मीदवार भगवंत मान ने संगरूर की धूरी सीट से जीत दर्ज की।

उत्तराखंड की पांचवीं विधानसभा में भाजपा ने तोड़े सारे मिथक:

उत्तराखंड की पांचवीं विधानसभा में भाजपा ने सारे मिथक तोड़ एक बार फिर इतिहास रचने का काम किया है। प्रदेश के 70 विधानसभा सीटों में से 47 सीटों पर शानदार जीत के साथ भाजपा ने भगवा परचम लहराकर सत्ता में वापसी की है। वहीं कांग्रेस को इस बार 19 सीटों पर संतोष करना पड़ा। बहुजन और निर्दलीय ने कुल 4 सीटों पर जीत दर्ज की। हालांकि भाजपा के मुख्यमंत्री पुष्कर सिंह धामी को खटीमा और पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री हरीश रावत को लालकुआं सीट से हार का मुंह देखना पड़ा। धामी की इस हार के साथ उत्तराखंड में मुख्यमंत्रियों की हार का सिलसिला भी बरकरार रहा। पहले भुवन चंद्र खंडूरी, फिर हरीश रावत और फिर पुष्कर सिंह धामी मुख्यमंत्री रहते हुए अपनी विधानसभा सीट को नहीं बचा पाए।

गोवा में भारतीय जनता पार्टी को 40 में से 20 सीट:

गोवा में भारतीय जनता पार्टी बहुमत से एक सीट पीछे है। उसने 40 सदस्यीय विधानसभा में 20 सीटें हासिल की हैं। इसके अलावा महाराष्ट्रवादी गोमांतक पार्टी को 2 सीटें और निर्दलीय को 3 सीटें मिली हैं। इनके साथ पार्टी राज्य में सरकार बनाने का दावा पेश करने जा रही है। गोवा में कांग्रेस को 11 सीटें, आम आदमी पार्टी को दो सीटें, गोवा फॉरवर्ड पार्टी को 01 सीट और रिवॉल्यूशनरी गोअन पार्टी को 1 सीट हासिल हुई है।

मणिपुर की 60 सीटों में से 32 पर भाजपा की जीत:

मणिपुर की 60 विधानसभा सीटों में से 32 पर भारतीय जनता पार्टी ने जीत दर्ज कर स्पष्ट बहुमत हासिल कर लिया है। कांग्रेस को यहां पांच सीटें, जनता दल यूनाइटेड को छह सीटें, नेशनल पीपुल्स पार्टी को सात सीटें, नागा पीपल्स फ्रंट को पांच सीटें, कूकी पीपुल्स अलायंस को दो सीटें और तीन सीटें निर्दलीय के खाते में गई हैं। यहां मुख्यमंत्री एन. बिरेन सिंह ने हिंगांग सीट से जीत दर्ज की है।

पलायन और उत्तराखंड

raghavbijalwan07
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पलायन और उत्तराखंड

उत्तराखंड एक देवभूमि है और वीरभूमि हैं। उत्तराखंड का कण कण प्राकृतिक सौंदर्य और विरासत से परिपूर्ण हैं। परंतु उत्तराखंड का दर्द पलायन है। उत्तराखंड का सबसे बड़ा मुद्दा पलायन है। उत्तराखंड की शान उसके गांव है, जो अब विरान हो चुके हैं। उत्तराखंड के नागरिक अब गांव छोड़कर शहरों की तरफ़ बड़ रहे हैं। पलायन का दर्द, गांवों से लोगों को दूर ले जा रहा है। उत्तराखंड के लोग खास तौर से गांव के लोग, शहर और शहर के लोगों से प्रभावित होकर गांव छोड़ देते हैं। इससे गांव विरान होते जा रहे हैं। उत्तराखंड का असली रूप आज लुप्त होते जा रहा है। उत्तराखंड के गांव के गांव आज विरान होते जा रहे हैं और हम सब हाथ पर हाथ रख बैठ गए हैं। भूतिया गांव का रूप ले रहे इन गांवों में अब सिर्फ सन्नाटा रहता है। उत्तराखंड की पीड़ा सिर्फ उत्तराखंड के लोग जान सकते है। अभावों की ज़िंदगी में और कहीं न कहीं शहरी जीवन से प्रभावित होकर गांवों को पलायन का फैसला लेना पड़ता है। उत्तराखंड में अभाव की बात करें तो पहाड़ी क्षेत्र में स्वास्थ्य सुविधाओं का अभाव, शैक्षणिक संस्थानों का अभाव, रोज़गार का अभाव पलायन की ओर उत्तराखंड को ले जा रहा है।

उत्तराखंड में पलायन से गांव के खेत अब बंजर पड़े हैं। उत्तराखंड में पलायन की वजह से विकास की यात्रा पहाड़ चढ़ने को तैयार नही। पालन की वजह से जनसांख्यिकी परिवर्तन होना शुरू हो चुका है। जितने जितने गांव खाली होते रहेंगे, वहां, शहर के लोग गैरकानूनी तरीके से कब्ज़ा कर सकते हैं और वहां की ज़मीन बेचते रहेंगे। धार्मिक और सामाजिक  संतुलन भी इससे बिगड़ सकता है। पलायन का असर लोगों की जिंदगी पर भी पड़ रहा है। एक तरफ जब हम आत्मनिर्भर भारत की बात कर रहे हैं तो हमें भी आत्मनिर्भर उत्तराखंड बनने से पलायन एक बहुत बड़ी रुकावट बन कर उभर रही है। पलायन उत्तराखंड को विकास की राह पर जाने से रोक रहा है।

जनसंख्यिक परिवर्तन उत्तराखंड के वर्तमान और भविष्य के लिए खतरे की बात है। इससे उत्तराखंड की संस्कृति, सभ्यता और विरासत को लुप्त होने में समय नहीं लगेगा। उत्तराखंड की संस्कृति को बचाने के लिए और परंपराओं की रक्षा के लिए, पलायन को रोकना बहुत ज़रूरी है। उत्तराखंड में हमें और सरकार को मिलकर एक रास्ता निकालना पड़ेगा। वर्तमान मुख्यमंत्री, पुष्कर धामी जी ने पलायन को रोकने के लिए ये कहा है कि उत्तराखंड के लोगों रोज़गार के लिए स्वरोजगार की तरफ चलना होगा। हमें स्वरोजगर को अपनाना होगा जिससे पलायन को रोकने में मदद मिलेगी। माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी की ये सोच है कि पहाड़ का पानी और पहाड़ की जवानी, पहाड़ के काम आनी चाहिए। पहाड़ के लोगों को खुद अपना रास्ता चुनना होगा।  ये बात उत्तराखंड को आत्मनिर्भर उत्तराखंड बनाने की ओर अग्रसर करेगा। हमे खुद ये पहल शुरू करनी चाहिए जिससे हम खुद भी सशक्त हो और दूसरों को भी सशक्त करें। इससे हम हमारी संस्कृति, सभ्यता और परंपराओं की विरासत को लुप्त होने से बचा सकते हैं।

जय उत्तराखंड।


Literature and gender inequality

sagnikdatta
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Literature and gender inequality

Literature is considered to be a reflection of society since ages that has voiced the voiceless. To address the society properly, all the corresponding and contemporary issues and sufferings are to be illustrated. Authors across ages artfully portrayed the burning issues of their times, among which gender inequality stood out to be one. Literature is no less prone to inequality than any of the other forms of artistic expression. Literature through time and tide, elucidates the existing gender inequality along with the pain and agony associated, across the globe through the lenses of literary magnificence.

Most of the existing societies are patriarchal where a woman is only supposed to be in multifaceted capacities like that of a mother, an ideal wife or daughter, in the family. This becomes a convention to consider a woman’s sacrifice, tolerance and submissiveness to be her necessary attributes, along with her power of adjustments in life and living. Thus in such a setup, amidst all a woman is expected to do, her self-identity and self worth have very little recognition. In spite of the significant roles within as well as outside their homes, women are still considered to be the weaker sex and inferior to their male counterparts. Literature artfully captures the prevalent patriarchal societies across ages, along with gender inequality being one of the most significant social evils.

Gender inequality is an age-old crisis that our society is into. From oppression of women to male domination, gender, class and racial hostilities always cause social instability and turmoil. Plato and Aristotle are undeniably the significant philosophers of all time. But quite interestingly, how women are meant to be treated, is what brings the major difference between their outlook towards the society. Plato is in for the potential equality of men and women. He believes that the human souls are devoid of a specific gender or sex and can change genders by the virtue of reincarnation. Plato claimed for the equal accessibility of women across all the fora of society. In his words:
“If women are expected to do the same work as men, we must teach them the same things.”

On a very contrary note, Aristotle firmly believes that women are meant to be best-suited under male domination only. In his opinion, it is by means of nature that women are designed for some specific roles like procreation and nurturing only, and not to be equal or superior than their male counterparts:

“The relation of male to female is by nature a relation of superior to inferior and ruler to ruled.”
In the victorian era, gender inequality was based on a fixed structure, dictated by societal expectations. It was a tradition to consider women placed behind men and as socially weaker. Women as a matter of fact could not inherit properties, leaving aside their inability even to possess any form of ownership. The general consensus of the time regarding marriage was that the good fortune must be acquired first before going hand in hand. Elizabeth Bennet in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ rightly informed:
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

Aristocrats traditionally had the grasp over the society as a whole in the 19th century England. Belonging to the upper class comes with restrictions on mannerisms and conduct. Women were also not exceptions. For a woman to behave beyond the socially recognised ‘code of conduct’ simply meant that she was ridiculed and outcast. Jane Austen, through ‘Pride and Prejudice’, skillfully portrays the roles, situations and sufferings of women in then Britain, in a way that all the contemporary women could relate to the same. Even marriages were dictated by societal terms of class and status during 18th century. Strategic marriages used to take place for further prosperity or wealth in commonplace. The women were completely dependent on the remaining male members of the family for their support.

In Indian perspective, Kamala Das is one of the many significant literary personalities, who throughout her career, fought for the rights of women. She herself confronted the oppression and henceforth made literature as a weapon to fight this menace from the society and to bring a change.

One of the major concerns of literature across the world has been to highlight the plight of oppressed women and individuals, their physical and psychological exploitation and subjugation by and within family. Male domination in a patriarchal society and subsequent suppression of women, have prompted writers, especially women, to pen down the cause of women, to break the shackles and for the betterment of the mankind as a whole and most importantly for the women to search for their identity as an individual, rather than compromising.

The Kashmir Files- Our Schindler’s List

soulinexile
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The Kashmir Files- Our Schindler’s List

11:30am March 11 2022

Time just froze for me again.
And almost three hours later, when I was reminded by the cleaning staff that it was time to leave, I was still Numb. Stunned. Shaken. shivering.

Today I went all alone to the theatre before I go for a group viewing with a huge group of KPs tomorrow. Alone, because I wanted to cry unabashedly alone. I had cried over every trailer clip already. So I was sure I would cry endlessly. But surprisingly, I didn’t as much. Just because I was too stunned, too frozen and too shocked to see it all unfold on screen.
Stunned. Shaken. Shivering.

The movie captures a lot of painful reality and lived trauma in under 3 hours of story telling, while even maintaining a substantial balance of narratives.

But as a Kashmiri Hindu myself, the movie captures our lived memory. Rips off band aids that we had administered to keep silence. A pain that we swept under the carpet in an effort to get on with life, a pain the world at large anyway had turned a blind eye to. A lived trauma that a few of us even spoke much of because, what difference will it make, who will listen? Till, social media came along.

But by then, decades had already passed. And our lived history already branded a myth, a Hindu propaganda. We, the 2% minority of the valley had been branded oppressive majority by media, our killers wined n dined with PMs and Lutyens elite. Even the eminent Lordships of Supreme Court snubbed us and told us to forget what had happened and move on to uphold secular chatter of the country. We had truly gotten lost in pages of time within just few years. That’s why this one movie is a landmark for us all.

Our Schindler’s List… indeed.

Nothing may change for us Kashmiri Hindus. This movie won’t change our destiny. But, as an Indian, seeing more Kashmiris take roots across India is far more traumatic. This movie, if seen by all Indians – could bring about awareness to prevent that. After all, those who don’t learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

And that’s what I have often told folks over years or written in my blogs. Greatest help our country can do to us is that rest of the country learn from what happened to us. And pledge never to let it repeat. This movie can surely be a milestone on that road of awareness and awakening.

Its a tough movie to watch though. Almost 3 hours of nerve wrecking facts being thrown at you. Its a long history class that many may not find nerve for. But it’s history that we are still damn in middle of. That still is developing around us. That is still shaping narratives and future of our land. History that is still unfolding. History that’s is yet to be fully written. So we surely can’t brush it away. By being aware, we may just be able to write a better history for future generations to be proud of.

The amazing thing about this movie is that that every event shown in the movie, even the most gruesome ones, are based on real happenings. Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri indeed stands true to his claims that everything is backed by his four years of research and everything is factual. Hanging of Pandit Sarvanam Koul Premi and his son, killing of BK Ganjoo in his attic, feeding blood soaked rice to his wife, rape and cutting of Girija Tickoo on a bandsaw, the Nadimarg/Wandhama massacres, boastful interview by terrorist Bitta given to Manoj Rajvanshi (of NewsTrack), connivance of Farooq Abdullah, buddyship between Arundhati Roy and Yasin Malik, and many more subtle nuances quoted. Every single thing shown is based on real events and facts.

Of course, nitpickers will still find something to quibble about just coz all these were woven into a single story, the sequencing of events, the combining of doings of several terrorist orgs into one character, abundant use of Kashmiri dialogues that larger audience may find difficulties with, the use of Mussorie terrain to depict downtown Srinagar which is flat terrain otherwise. Even I had some. But that’s all immaterial.

The point is this is the first time our side of story has been told point blank and without sugar coating. And it’s important more and more people see it. And hear our side of story. Next generation of Kashmiri Hindus who have grown away from their roots and largely unaware of our story. Almost as clueless as Krishna Pandit himself. And all non Kashmiris too because there may not be another one for decades hereon. Especially non Kashmiris and even more if you are one who thinks this is propaganda. Don’t dismiss it without seeing the facts. It’s overbearing and unpalatable no doubt.

But that’s what truth always is..

A roadmap for Digital Bharat: Budget 2022

vasureddy
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A roadmap for Digital Bharat: Budget 2022

The union budget 2022-23 presented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman February focused more on investment in capital expenditure keeping in mind the future next 25 years (considered as Amrit Kal) in boosting up the economy and creating more jobs. Also the budget focused on delivering the basic amenities to the poorest of the poor what we call the antyodaya- like constructing 80 lakh houses which will be completed for the identified eligible beneficiaries under PM Awas Yojana, both rural and urban and Rs 48,000 crore is allocated for this purpose. Also Rs 60,000 crore to cover 3.8 crore households in 2022-23 for Har Ghar, Nal Se Jal – the Jal Jeevan mission is been allotted.

Presently 8.7 crore households have tap water access of this 5.5 crore households were provided tap water in the last 2 years itself. PM kisan Yojana designed  to help the farmers, PM garib Kalyan yojana under which 80 crore people below proverty line were given free ration during the pandemic also helped the poor. Budget also focused on digitalization and plan to improve the technology sector, render better services to everyone from urban to rural, rich to poor. The steps taken for digitalizing India were discussed below sector wise:

  1. 5G network: Mobile network played a crucial role during the pandemic for education where students attended online classes. Finance minister had proposed that 5G network would be brought during this financial year.  Present day nationwide around 50,000 villages don’t have mobile network. During the economic survey of Orissa in 2018-19 around 10,000 villages didn’t have mobile network. In India, people having internet connection to the mobile services stood at 38%. Even states with highest literature like Kerala, where people in Munnar need to move 6 kms to get internet connection to attend academic classes. Spectrum auction will also be conducted in this year to deliver better internet service even to these remote areas.
  2. Broadband connection: As per WHO survey, increase in broadband connection by 10% can increase GDP of a nation by 1.38 %. Under BHARAT net scheme, central government has planned to provide minimum 100mbits/second broadband connection to 2.5 lakh gram Panchayats covering 6.25 lakh villages spread around 6,600 blocks, 640 districts with 7,00,00 Wi-Fi hotspots.  As per the economic survey, till date 5.46 lakh Kms optical fiber cable was laid, of which 1.73 lakh gram Panchayats have been connected by optical fiber cover and 1.59 lakh gram panchayats were ready for service by September 27,2021. The fund for this project will be 5% of annual collection under ‘Universal Service Obligation Fund’ .
  3. Increased production of Smart phones: India has emerged as second largest manufacturer of mobile hand sets up from 6 crore in 2014-15 to 30 crore mobile phones in 2020-21 and manufacturing units increased from 2 in 2014 to 200 units in 2020-21.Increase in smart phone production will make availability for even the poor by cost deduction.
  4. Digitalisation for education: During the covid pandemic, students all over the nation have attended the classes through online. During this budget, the plan is to increase “One class, One TV channel” from 12 to 200 channels in all states under PM e-Vidya. This will help in implementation of National education policy, improve the skills of teachers and students and can be accessed even in the rural areas. The budget allocated was increased to Rs 1.04 lakh crore from Rs 93,224 crore (Budget estimate) in 2021-22 under Samgra Siksha Abhiyan. Also, Digital Ecosystem for Skilling and Livelihood – DESH stack e-Portal to improve the skills of students has been implemented.
  5. Digital currency: After lifting ban on cryptocurrency on March 2020 by RBI, there were increased transactions of cryptocurrency in India. Worldwide around 2.23 lakh crore dollars was invested by  people  in cryptocurrency. In India alone 10 crore people have invested 75,000 crore dollars in cryptocurrency. With center government proposing 30% tax on cryptocurrency, India has put upon a view that it’s not going to ban cryptocurrency unlike China.
  6. Digital University: With a good demographic dividend, the median age in India being 28 years which is  less than China and US with a median age of 37, it’s time for India to utilize the youth of the nation to build up economy. Also, the gross enrollment ration (GER) for higher education in India is 27.3% in prepandemic year 2018-19 compared to China which has GER of 51%. It also becomes important how many are able to get employment following higher education. Yearly 1.3crore join jobs  in India, of which many are not skilled even after graduation. This brings focus to develop skills from childhood onwards for which the National education policy (NEP) has been brought and also it needs to be implemented at higher education level to develop an effective work force. Keeping in mind this a digital University has been brought into picture were in various central and international universities can be brought to the door step to get a powerful, unique skilled force and there by curtail the unemployment. India  presently  has 2 digital universities -Indian institute of information technology (IIITM-K )and the other one in Jodhpur. This new digital University will be developed in hub and spoke model were many public universities in collaboration with industries for courses will be as a hub and they can be used to skill, reskill, upskill professionals even to the remote areas .
  7. Digital Post offices to be brought to banking system: Though once an extensive network and it vital role was played by post offices for delivering messages in the form of letters , telegrams,etc, their role present day in performing these activities had dwindled down. To better utilize them, the government decided that 1.5 lakh post offices nationwide to be linked up with banking system to bring financial inclusion of persons and bring unbanked customers into the financial frame network. This will enhance digital banking system.
  8. Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comic (AVGS): As per a report given by Sequoia India and Boston collaboration group, the gaming industry in India with a revenue of $1.5 billion is expected to raise to $5billion by 2025. There are nearly 300 million gamers in India.  When combined with the coming 5G spectrum services this would boost up the gaming sector further. The gaming sector would become in future ‘ create in India’ and ‘brand in India’.  Also the tax extension for 4 years would boost up the gaming sector with new startups lining up and increasing the job opportunities to the youth.
  9. Nation digital health ecosystem: As per National  digital health mission proposed by Prime minister Shri Narendra Modi on August 15, 2020 steps have been taken forward and an announcement of Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission with a budget outlay  of Rs 64,180 crore over a period of 5 years was proposed. Last 2 years of pandemic had shown the weakness of healthcare in our country and time has come to invest more on health and research , upgrade existing institutions and digitalize health records of all people of the country.  This year budget was prioritized on digitalization of healthcare services, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and focus on development of 23 tele mental health centers as a part of National Tele Mental Health Programme.
  10. Digital aid to farmers: The estimate of drone turnover in India is said to raise from Rs.8000 crore in 2021 to Rs. 12,000-15,000 crore by 2025-26  by a survey done by union civil aviation ministry.  Presently 90% of drones are imported. Agriculture contributes to 18% of India’s GDP and 58% of population are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. To support drone utilization in agriculture, central government will provide 100% funding (10 lakh) for Krishi Vignan Kendras, training institutes and 75% funding for drones purchased by Farmer producer organizations (FPOs).  Drones can be used to monitor crops health, monitor irrigation, assess damage of crops and spray pesticides(especially recently where locust swarms had damaged the crops). To promote drone manufacturing in India, central government taken steps to promote domestic sector like
    1. Production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for a period of 3 years worth Rs. 120 crore. This would attract investments of Rs. 5000 crore over a period of 3 years
    2. Ban of completely built up, semi-knocked down or completely knocked down drones ( except for defense and security) to promote domestic sector. But drone components exempted from import
    3. No need of license to operate non commercial drones < 2 kg and pilots can get remote pilot certificates from any of the 12 directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) approved drone schools through single window Digital sky platform instead from the regulator.
  11. Data center, Energy storage system:  Data centers ad energy storage system to be classified under infrastructure bring more investments in this field. Its expected for the data storage to double from 499 megawatts in the first half of 2021 to 1008 megawatts by next year.
  12. MSMEs: Udyam, e-Shram, National Career Service (NCS) and Atmanirbhar Skilled Employee-Employer Mapping (ASEEM) portals will be interlinked. Udyam is a government portal to register new MSMEs. e-Shram  developed by government to have database of people working in all unorganized sectors. NCS shows all the available employment services, jobs available, job matching and information on skill development courses. ASSEM portal connects supply of skilled workers as per the market demand providing opportunities for the youth thereby fighting unemployment.
  13. E-Passport services: They are similar to normal passports with microchip and would have storage of the entire personal data and travel history.
  14. One nation -one registration system: The Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP), a Central Sector scheme was initiated long back and presently 90%of land properties were digitalized in India. National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) a one site linkage for uniform registration is been initiated to decrease the fraudulent transactions and to ease the process of registration.

From the beginning of Modi government formation, steps were taken to make digitalization drive forward like demonetization, JAM (Jan dhan, Aadhar, Mobile linking), promoting united payments interface (UPI) transactions. Steps taken in this way like increase in budget allocation by 67% for the digital india programme up from Rs. 6,388 crore in 2020-21 to Rs. 10,678 crore in 2021-22 is an illustration of Modi governments target. The aim is to bring socioeconomic and financial inclusion of every citizen of India. With these target, Modi government had set on in converting corporeal agrarian country to digital Bharat.

CSR in the pandemic year

Shubham Kumar
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CSR in the pandemic year

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit India, the fault-lines in the social, economic and political spheres widened and deepened. The disruptions in lives and livelihoods changed the interface among the state, the market and the people. It was the time when the state deliberated on ways to increase the public spending to improve the falling social and economic situation of the people. But how did the market respond to this unprecedented crisis?

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is considered as a management concept that helps the market to integrate social and ecological outcomes, and address all stakeholders including the local area and the people. India is the first country that experimented with mandatory CSR for businesses registered under Companies Act, 2013. After 2015, with universal call for sustainable development goals, CSR projects and public-private partnerships received greater motivation.

Since the advent of mandatory provision, total amount spent under CSR was on a steady increase. For perspective, total amount spent in 2014-15 was over 10,000 crores rupees, which increased to 24,600 crores rupees in 2019-20. During this time, total number of CSR projects increased from around 9,300 to over 34,800. The share of total spending by non-government companies increased from 72% in 2014-15 to 79% in 2019-20. The number of companies which spent over 100 crores in CSR also increased from 17 to 41 in the given time-period.

Clearly, pandemic-induced catastrophe pulled down India’s economic success story further and alienated millions from the workforce. However, the annual report by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the year 2020-21 uncovers some interesting divergence. Despite a significant contraction in India’s GDP, the profitability of Indian corporates increased by seven percent year-on-year. This improvement in operational profits was also corroborated by stock market which experienced an all-time high, where Sensex outperformed ten major world indices during the year.

So, how CSR spending was reported in year 2020-21? The recent data available from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs indicate a major shrinkage in the total CSR spending. To begin with, there was a 64% fall in the total spending of less than 9,000 crores rupees comparing to 2019-20. In fact, it hits the bottom this year, as it is 12% less than the year 2014-15. Total number of CSR projects came down to just above 8,000 which is less than a quarter of preceding year. The number of companies which spent over 100 crores in CSR also come down to 19.

An interesting change came in the share of spending by non-government companies that increased from 79% to 94% implying that government companies had a major pull back in the CSR spending. For the year 2020-21, CSR spending for non-government companies shrunk by 57% while it was almost 90% for the government companies. 

Assessing CSR spending profile for the last two financial years could give us a sense of changing priorities in given twenty-nine development sectors. In terms of proportion, healthcare received maximum upward change, with 29% of total spending in 2020-21 comparing to 20% in the preceding year. Still, in absolute terms, the total spending in healthcare sector decreased from 4,825 crores rupees to 2,559 crores rupees during these years. On the other side, the sector which had the maximum downward change is Education, from 29% to 25% in the given time-period. Art and Culture, and Rural Development Projects are the two other sectors which received relatively lesser share of spending in the pandemic year. 

In terms of spatial distribution, around 43% of the total spending in 2019-20 was on Pan-India projects that remains unchanged in the pandemic year. Maharashtra had maximum share of 13.8% in 2019-20, that comes down to 12.5% in 2020-21. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were next two leading states in 2019-20 with 10.5% share together, while Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh are two leading states for 2020-21 with 11.7% together. Although, total CSR spending remained below 2% for the eight north-eastern states.  

With the latest reports on income and unemployment estimating at least seven million job loss and 12% average income loss, and deficits in the nutrition indicators among others, show various areas of concern. Moreover, the small, medium and micro enterprises, and the informal sector has been smitten by the pandemic, with a profound impact overall. The government spending has increased to set-off some of the negative consequences of the pandemic, through subsidies as well as income support schemes. But these initiatives are short-term measures, and there is an immediate need to place a more robust long-term view in the present development discourse.  

One of the foremost steps in that direction is by undergoing a review on the nature of CSR spending in terms of not only compliance but also qualitative assessment and alignment with the sustainable development goals. For example, if a company spend a certain amount in any rural development project, then how much improvement is recorded in the quality of life and incomes of rural people should be reported. This should be accompanied by evaluation studies of such major projects, so that real progress could be demonstrated. CSR spending should also be integrated with other modes of grassroots transformation such as social enterprises and collectives.

Moving ahead, with internationally benchmarked business responsibility and sustainability reporting, and impact investments, a network could be created that is result-oriented, accountable and efficient. To conclude, it can be underscored that the market functions at the best when there are disclosures and dividends in actions, not merely a mandate.

Looming lifestyle craziness with Mod gadgets

subbiah sridhar
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Looming lifestyle craziness with Mod gadgets

Recent research shows that an average user of ‘world-in-palm’ smartphones touches the screen around 2617 times or 2.42 hours in a day and that for the heaviest users the same is in the ratio of 5,427 touches or 3.75 hours in a day. Nowadays, there is hardly any person whose morning does not start with WhatsApp culminating with last touch of WhatsApp button before going to retire for the day in bed. Although the world now-a-days seemingly is to be in one’s palm with whatever little occurring in one part of the world immediately being made viral/known to the other part of the world within a fraction of seconds which was not at all believable or could have been thought of being possible in yesteryears, yet it can be said to a much extent that such an advancement has only reduced the human behaviour similar to that of an ape. Or, is it that since human race originated from the ape, so is getting attracted to the same ape culture again! 

It is a common sight nowadays on the streets to see a solitary person seemingly speaking to himself and acting somewhat crazy but later only to be found that he is not lonely but instead busy chatting with some other person be it his friends, relations or any other fellow either in his city of dwelling or in some other corner of the world made possible through the mode of this smart device called mobile or colloquially termed Cell. Be it a person travelling by bus, metro, rail or even airplane, it is a common sight nowadays to see almost everyone glued to some such mod gadgets unconcerned or seemingly careless about the happenings nearby busy with one’s own self, thereby secluded physically from others sitting nearby, at the same time engaged with someone sitting in some corner of the world. They wake up to the happening nearby or come to senses of such occurrence in nearby surrounding, that too majority of such tech-savvy people, not with the intention of helping out the victim but instead to get first hand video clipping of such incident or accident and immediately viral it in the social media with no loss of time. 

One of the other such crazy behaviors, is when one finds person carrying expensive, state-of-the-art technology and updated version of I-phone or other expensive gadgets but at the same time, seen bargaining with roadside vegetable vendor to reduce the price of a kilo of vegetable or fruit.  Strange, isn’t it? 

Similarly, we find enormous number of people busy with ear phone wires inserted into their ears or almost munching on the wires with their teeth to speak on the connector and behaving as if they have come from a different world or as if some aliens from some other planet on a trip to the Planet Earth, whereas the ground reality is that most of them are travelling in a crowded bus, tightly packed suburb train trying, or rather struggling, to make their both ends meet. Why all this outwardly show for? What do they want to prove? Are they the busiest people in the world or rather the most-sought after being in this world or, rather a sort of ventilation to wade away their feeling of inferiority complex.   The concept of using ear phone or buds is rather riskier to say the least as other than shying oneself away from the people around, such gadgets also go to make one almost half-deaf and invites serious accidents or danger not only to one’s life but even for others, as concentration definitely gets distracted. 

Then, there is this new concept of taking ‘Selfie’, which again is emerging as a killer habit. Day-in-and-day-out, news reports abound about many of the people losing their lives while attempting a ‘Selfie’ shot some falling into the river, some from the mountain or run over by the passing train while taking selfie, etc. What is all these crazy behaviors meant for?  Is it fashion syndrome at the cost of one’s own life ? 

Last but not the least, there should be an absolute ban on usage of such gadgets particularly at work place as it not only consumes lots of man hours but is also irritating to the customers, when one is managing a public dealing desk. In many of the developed countries across the world, a scheduled time for smoking or going to canteen, etc. is granted during office hours. Similarly, the internet facilities should be restricted in office just for official work and should not be enabled for surfing the internet or use Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Twitter, or other such social media platforms. Such a step would definitely save on lots of man hour wastages in offices and definitely improve on employees’ output.

Game on for runners up in 2024

sdn32
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Game on for runners up in 2024

In his career spanning 20 years, Sergei Bubka, the great Soviet-Ukrainian pole vaulter broke the world record for a record 35 times. He was the first man to clear 6 meters in pole vault and barring his failures in Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney Olympics as the only dark spots in his otherwise glittering career, he strode like a colossus on the Track and field events and brought worldwide fame to himself, his country and of course the event of pole vault. But on a day when we have the results to elections of 5 states being declared, is there a reason why I’m reminded of Sergei Bubka? But more of that later.

The elections to Punjab, Uttarakhand, UP, Manipur and Goa will have a long reaching impact. With only 2 years to go for the 2024 general elections, this is much more than mere assembly elections. With almost 30% (80) of the total 272 seats that are required for an absolute majority, the electoral landscape of UP has always punched above its weight in the national politics. The BJP won 71 and 62 seats in the national elections of 2014 and 2019 respectively and 273 seats in the recently concluded assembly elections. With this BJP has broken jinx where no sitting chief minister who has completed his term has been re-elected to form the government again in the state.

If there was one strand that conjoined the fates of Modi and Yogi, it was the brickbats that the so-called liberal/ secular brigade had to throw them. The strong attempt to build the narrative that BJP would lose Western UP because of the resentment of the Jats/ farmers who see the role of the BJP in the farmers agitation and holds it as anti-farmer in orientation and policies should be seen in that context. Hannan Mollah, the Communist leader and one of the organizers of the farmers agitation while debunking the exit polls showing BJP coming to majority in the face of the successful farmers agitation, questioned the credibility of the media and moaned ‘How can the impact of the one of the longest protests in India’s history be not reflected on the polls outcome?’

And he was not alone, series of commentators predicted rout for BJP in Western UP against the simmering famers anger. So, what happened? How did the BJP managed to evade and even overcome the ‘farmers’ anger’? In a nation where 67% of the farmers have an average land holding less than one hectare, the ‘farmers movement’ was actually a movement of the ecosystem of rich farmers, mandi agents and colluding political opponents of Modi who saw this as an irresistible opportunity to put his government in dock, their hypocrisy notwithstanding since many of them had similar promises in their election manifesto in the past. Often derided as a cow-belt and Hindi speaking party, the BJP has bellied the pejorative definitions and the dimensions that opponents have tried to cram it in as it extends it’s reign from Gujarat to Manipur.

This election has proved one thing that everyone from former, present Congressmen, their support system but excluding the Gandhis feels that the Congress is a dead horse, and now even the other opposition parties has jumped on to the bandwagon of Congress-mukt Bharat. Unlike the previous ones, this election was preceded by some unusual events :

  • Mamata Banerjee like all the opposition leaders has read the tea leaves on the future of Congress winning elections under Rahul Gandhi correctly. But what was different this time that unlike her previous attempts in coalescing opposition leaders under her leadership, like previous avatars of United Front, this time she has understood that for other political leaders to accept her leadership, she needs more seats in the Lok Sabha that Bengal can afford to sacrifice for her ambitions. With this realization in her mind and Prashant Kishore by her side, she has tried expanding her geography by reaching out to the states where she sees an opportunity to replace Congress while sparing other regional fronts who may be needed to stake a claim to the center should the BJP fall short of majority in 2024. Hence the decision to fight in Goa and campaign for Samajwadi Party in Varanasi. That she has come up with a cropper as the TMC has managed to bag only _-seats in Goa and ended up in a losing cause in UP.
  • With Congress on terminal decline in Telangana and BJP on rise as can be gauged by it winning 4 seats in the 2019 elections, KCR understands that it is not the Congress but the BJP that will emerge as his principal challenger come 2024. To fend off this challenge, KCR has met Tejaswi Yadav, Marxist leaders, Prashant Kishore, Stalin and Rakesh Tikait recently to explore a common non-Congress, non – BJP front that can take on the BJP and prolong his rule in Telangana and perhaps even lay claim to some loaves of power in Delhi. BJP winning 4/5 states has only added to KCR’s nightmare.
  • But there is another man who is impatient to make history. Arvind Kejriwal has long fancied himself as the principal challenger to Modi. Remember he fought the 2014 elections against Modi in Varanasi and claimed the AAP would win more than 100 seats in the election. Chastened by the resounding defeat that the voters handed him, Kejriwal is smarter now and he picks up his battles carefully. He has long realized that to challenge Modi he has to be a notch better than being a Chief Minister of Delhi which many in the rest of India perceives as not being far above than a glorified city Mayor in the political hierarchy. Although Kejriwal had a shot in both Uttarakhand and Goa, time has rewarded Kejriwal with his first win the state of Punjab but he also had the fortune of the Congress scoring a self-goal in the one of rapidly declining states where it is the principal ruling party. There would be a marked difference now – he would have to prove the AAP model in a state where the center is not footing most of the bills of freebies as he would have to earn revenues to foot them unlike in Delhi. But come 2024, the AAP would be spreading its wings far wide and Kejriwal would be fancying his chances as the principal challenger to Modi. His party colleagues calling KCR as Chota Modi and being autocratic should be seen in the same light as one challenger fending off the competition.

Not too long ago, we saw all the above opposition leaders with mutual admiration for each other. But come 2024, the daggers will be drawn as with the win of UP, the primary bone of contention is on who gets to challenge Modi in 2024? But if hubris is set aside and with a pinch of realization, it is no longer difficult to understand that for political watchers, the real fun is akin to what the audience of the pole vault events in all those 35 events must have betted on – who gets to take the second spot?

Suman Debnath

Spectacular win – Splendid performance

G Indira
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Spectacular win – Splendid performance

The comprehensive win in all four states: Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa (by the BJP) indicates that the BJP and P.M. Modi are unassailable. They are at their peak in voters’ hearts. Many political pundits are attributing this win to welfare schemes viz. free-ration, DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer of cash to the poor), hard work of the cadre and coordinated party effort. Above all in the case of U.P., “law and order” provided by the bulldozer Baba by targeting Mafia Gangs added value to this political dividend. Hence, the safety and security of women and also men in the businessmen, who do their work late night, ensured the stupendous victory. People’s verdict was for: perform or perish.   

To win an election in any state: a credible face, a clear narrative (on what the party stands for) and cadre- support are the prime requisites. P.M. Narendra Modi’s face is the face of the party. His presence was larger than life in all four states that went to polls. He energetically campaigned. The P.M. narrated the party’s poll plank. This kind of story-telling about the party’s perspectives to people, is intrinsic to politics. Especially, in U.P. he cautioned people against the earlier regime of Samajwadi Party and the kind of nefarious forces that it unleashed, when in power. The prime minister’s speeches were vociferously against the major and minor political dynasties in the country. In India, in each state and at the Centre these dynasts have been running their fiefdoms.

Like inheritance of property from parent to offspring, the power baton is passed on from father to son/daughter/niece/nephew but not to any eligible member within the party. For any family-dynastic-party, the youth means not the youngsters that come to politics, but their own children. The family shares the spoils of power. P.M. Modi had successfully conveyed to people to break all these citadels, especially in U.P. In any democracy, if the election result goes against the party, the leader of the party has to resign and leadership is changed, but not in dynastic parties like: Samajwadi or the Congress. The dynasts are always entitled to be commanders, as they are family-run parties. This does not augur well for democracies.

Merely showing face before elections, being in Ivory-Towers with no connect with the cadre, non-availability to redress grievances and infights within the party, aloofness and living only with a small limited coterie- built-in with yes-men, that only show the surreal world, had cost the Congress dearly. As a result, in Punjab Aam Admi Party (AAP) has with its new brooms swept Congress clean. All opposition parties are now blaming the Congress for not being able to stand firmly and fight with the BJP. For, a democracy needs along with ruling the opposition. Though, the BJP have had an infirm and dysfunctional opposition in Congress, now, with this election it (Congress party) has been shredded into smithereens. Congress’ pocket-boroughs i.e. Amethi and Rae Bareli are taken away by the BJP into its kitty. Indeed, a humiliating defeat for Congress!

Certainly, the opposition and other civil rights organizations raised certain issues. They are pertaining to U.P. like: Hathras, Lakhimpur Kheri, Covid-19 handling, dead bodies floating in Ganga etc. However, the oppositions’ disunity, no cohesive narrative and tainted baggage of the past have affected their image and the messaging. People do not like mere questioning. They need answers, as to what they would have done in power. Though the first two issues are in the court, on the issue of Covid- 19 deaths, the P.M., explained and normalized everything by saying that all countries had to grapple with the pandemic and India was no exception to Covid-horrors.

The women- voters, in fact, praised the prime minister by saying: khana diya, ration diya, surakhisth rakha (safe from Covid-19 by lockdown). They did not blame him for frequent prolonged lockdowns that led to losing daily earnings. In each rally in Uttar Pradesh the prime minister reminded:  as to how the earlier government of Akhilesh Yadav was negligent of law and order and gave fillip to gangsters. He lauded Yogi Adityanath for dismantling the mafia to establish law and order. Women got security by the building of toilets, as it would be risky to go out early morning and night to outside. He also reminded how Samajwadi party had filled in all high places with their family-members in their government, just to show how nepotism was practiced. Finally, to the credit of the prime minister, the double-engine Sarkars are established in all four states the BJP won. Hard-work pays. It is an easier success march for the BJP in 2024.

Stress relieving celebrations for women-folk

subbiah sridhar
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Stress relieving celebrations for women-folk

Be it whatever field, it seems women enjoy work and life more than their male partners, colleagues or counterparts. This is a trend which might have been observed by majority of us and it is not that only during this period but instead long before. Does it seem by nature? Not only work place, even in schools and colleges, girls are more enjoying studies and are more a favourite of their respective teachers and peers than are the boys, and in fact develop a friendly and close family-type relationship with their teachers which is absent among the boys. 

Women also share their concerns with their friends and relations more conveniently than are the men folk, who are rather calm type at least when it comes to sharing their thoughts. Women pour out their thoughts and feelings with their friends, peers and with other ladies in a joint family system rather easily unlike men folk. Even in history one can see there are separate designated place for women’s enjoyment like rang-mahal where female-folk just enjoy and no such enjoyment place for the men-folk who are in fact more engaged in participating in war and other matters. 

During the period of marriage there is an evening designated for ladies sangeet one day prior to marriage and is full of energy and enjoyment for the women. Is there any such designated time or place for the men-folk? Even there are many festivals and celebrations in which the womenfolk are more active and energetic. In fact, there are ample number of festivals and celebrations earmarked for the women. There are many festivals such as Chhath Puja, monsoon festivals of Haryali Teej celebrated by girls with folk music and dances, Mehendi ceremony, romantic festival of Karva Chauth earlier celebrated for the long life of soldiers in the war and now extended today for husband, then Attukal Pongala which witnesses huge gathering of Women-folk and is in fact listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as largest annual gathering of women, then Gowri Habba or Hartalika festival in which women-folk are the one who participate and celebrate. Has anyone seen men folk enjoying the swing with their friends as do the women during Haryali Teej? 

Leave behind festivals, even among students it is the girls who are more attached, friendly and ever ready to share thoughts with their respective teachers than does the boys in schools. As far as work place is concerned, the aspect of jealousy, competitiveness, career progress and with that intention going to any extent of buttering their boss or even boot-licking is more prevalent among many of the men folk than is found with the female counterpart. It’s a common sight to see women celebrating International Women’s Day, enjoying kitty-party or many other events celebrated by going on outing, picnicking, having common lunch, shopping, etc. How many of us have witnessed men celebrating International Men’s Day or going on kitty-party, if at all that exists or some such gathering or going for shopping together?  

Even coming to the dress-code, it is the women-folk who have lots of colours, models and choices and go to any market place the ratio between female and male customers, the former will dominate. They just enjoy whatever be the occasion – be it festival, be it marriage ceremony, be it shopping, be it partying, be it wearing designer clothes, etc. etc. These enjoying spirit might also be the reason that the cases of cardiac arrest is less prevalent among women than men. It is said 70-90 per cent of cases of sudden heart attacks are experienced by men. Another reason might also be that men-folk keep their stress within and hardly pour out or even find occasion to pour out and whereas women-folk share their feelings with their friends and colleagues and thereby ventilate themselves, and which seems a good habit too. 

All said and done, majority men-folk are not found to pour out their feelings or share them with their own friends and colleagues and are in fact more reserved as far as that part is concerned. Heart disease tends to develop earlier in men than women and these might be the reason too. It is high time men-folk also start enjoying the day to day life just like their female counterparts. If we speak of enjoyment among men, the first and foremost things that occurs to one’s mind is having drinks and eating chicken or playing cards, etc. But these habits of men-folk hardly serve the real purpose of ventilating oneself or becoming a stress-reliever and even if it seems a sort of stress-reliever but it is for a very short and temporary phase, if compared with the feeling of outlet or ventilation attained by women-folk by such kind of participation in various celebrations, merry-making and sharing of thoughts and feelings by women-folk in normal routine.

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