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Nandini Voice For The Deprived, April 2014 Page 1

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WHAT WOMEN SAY ABOUT

TASMAC LIQUOR SHOPS IN TAMIL NADU ?

“POLITICIANS UNDERSTAND ONLY VOTE BANK POLITICS

AND

WOMEN SHOULD VOTE

ONLY FOR THOSE WHO PROMISE PROHIBITION”

ISSUE 11

APRIL 2014

“THE PROBLEMS FACED BY

WOMEN & CHILDREN ARE

VERY SEVERE

AND

THEY SHOULD BE SEEN

TO BE BELIEVED”


WHAT ARTHASHASTRA SAYS ON PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNANCE

NEXT PRIME MINISTER SHOULD READ THIS

Art of governance The leader of government should remember the two pillars of the art of governance namely Nyay (the justice) and Dharma (the ethics), without which good governance will not happen.

Centralisation of power Kautilya warns against centralisation of power by stating "one wheel alone does not move a chariot”.The leader of the government can govern only with the help of advisors and ministers. Standards of ministers and advisors Kautilya is specific about the qualifying standards that the ministers must possess. These qualities are: Drudhachitta (power of concentration), Shilavan (character), Pragna (thinking capability), Vangmi (communication skills) and Daksha (observation / vigilance). The advisors should have clarity in thought, practical experience, sound judgement and ability to differ while keeping total devotion to the leader. Required qualities for leader of government * Foundation of leadership consists of honesty, truthfulness and straight dealing. * Self discipline is the most important personal quality of a leader. * Leaders should be sensitive and should be aware of the needs, feelings and motivation

of those they lead. * A good leader shows ability to make decision and act boldly in the face of setbacks and

adversity. * Most important basis of success in any venture is pragmatism. Do not ask where the

new idea came from or who thought of it first. Ask only one question: does it work?

Arthashastra, was written by Kautilya in the 4th century before Christ. It consists of 15 chapters, 380 shlokas and 4968 sutras.This treatise is essentially on the art of governance and has an instructional tone. Kautilya wrote this treatise for the king Chandragupta Maurya and stated in its preface that it has been written as a guide for "those who govern".

Essence of leadership The essence of leadership lies in its acceptance by the citizens.Kautilya decries autocratic behavior of leader of government and advises him / her to introspect to identify the deficiencies and improve and develop, so as to increase the acceptance level by the citizens.

Nandini Voice For The Deprived, April 2014

DESPERATE CALLS

Contact address:Mr.D.Arulmani,147, Nadu Theru, Sorathur Village, Thaiyur

Post-604 205, GingeeTk., Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu

Mr.C.S.Balachandar requests for donatistudent.

Contact address:Mr.C.S.Balachandar,17/1.B/32,Kandan Street,

Mr.A.Ramesh requests for financial help for his surgery. Cheque may be drawn in favour

to the following address:

Mr.A.Ramesh,H/o.N.Radha,134, 7

Differently abled lady needs support

Ms.P.M.Ramya is a poor differently abled lady. Her husband is

going to school.

You can enjoyincome with the deprived and thus discover the

satisfaction that it provides.

Visually impaired person needs support

Mr.D.Arulmani, age 28 years is a poor visually impaired person.

He has failed

Mr.D.Arulmani requestemployment

Needs computer

Mr.C.S.Balachandartimes he got heart attack.

Kidney patient needs s

Mr.A.Ramesh,age 35 years is suffering from chronic renal failure.

At present,Renal Centre Pvt.Ltd, Chennai.He has to undergo kidney cadaver

transplantation very soon. The cost of the transplahospitalization charges, fees, etc. comes to Rs.4,70,000/

Nandini Voice For The Deprived, April 2014

DESPERATE CALLS


ngeeTk., Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.Cell:8124260399*****

lachandar requests for donation of used computer for his son,who is a

Mr.C.S.Balachandar,17/1.B/32,Kandan Street,Perambur,

*****

Mr.A.Ramesh requests for financial help for his surgery.

Cheque may be drawn in favour of Kaliappa Renal Centre Pvt.Ltd, Chennai and sent

H/o.N.Radha,134, 7th Block, Mugappair west, Chennai*****

Differently abled lady needs support

Ms.P.M.Ramya is a poor differently abled lady. Her husband is

You can enjoy your prosperity only if you share your income with the deprived and thus discover the

satisfaction that it provides.

Visually impaired person needs support


He has failed in SSLC examination.

Mr.D.Arulmani requests for financial supportemployment.

Needs computer

Mr.C.S.Balachandar lost his two legs due to polio attack. Two times he got heart attack.

Kidney patient needs support


, he is undergoing dialysis twice in a week in Kaliappa Renal Centre Pvt.Ltd, Chennai.He has to undergo kidney cadaver

transplantation very soon. The cost of the transplahospitalization charges, fees, etc. comes to Rs.4,70,000/

Page 3


.Cell:8124260399

on of used computer for his son,who is a

Perambur,Chennai-11

of Kaliappa Renal Centre Pvt.Ltd, Chennai and sent

Block, Mugappair west, Chennai-600 037

driver. Her child is

your prosperity only if you share your income with the deprived and thus discover the


for financial support for self

lost his two legs due to polio attack. Two


he is undergoing dialysis twice in a week in Kaliappa Renal Centre Pvt.Ltd, Chennai.He has to undergo kidney cadaver

transplantation very soon. The cost of the transplantion, hospitalization charges, fees, etc. comes to Rs.4,70,000/-.


DESPERATE CALLS

For further details, Please contact: Jiban Ch.Dey, Near DBS Road, P.O.Lumding, Dist.Nagaon (Assam), Vill.Khangar Gaon, Pin.782447

*****

Contact address: Ms.A.Regina Mary, D/o.Mr.Anthony Muthu, New No.30, Old No.3, Anthoniyar Kovil Street, Chennai-43. Cell No.9941010814

*****

Mr.A.Sabeer, age 33 years is differently abled person. He has undergone tailoring course.

Mr.A.Sabeer requests kind hearted persons for donation of sewing machine to self employ himself.

Contact address: Mr.A.Sabeer,9/5, Anna Salai, Kodungaiyoor, Chennai-118

Cell No;: 9791082618 *****

Ms.P.M.Ramya is making small and big wire

baskets.Ms.P.M.Ramya needs support for selling her products. Contact address: Ms.P.M.Ramya ,D/o.Mr.Pitchai Kuppan, Poondi,

Vempi (PO). Villupuram Tk. Villupuram, Tamil Nadu.

***** Patient needs support

Mr.Jiban, age 10 years ,son of (late) Mr.Santi Ranjan is suffering from recurrent tuberculosis due to immune deficiency.

He has been advised to take gamma interferon injection for 3 months at Apollo Speciality Hospital. The cost of injection

treatment is Rs.5,00,000/-.

Visually Impaired student needs support Ms..R.Nageshwari, visually impaired lady is presently studying

B.Ed., course in N.K.Thirumalachariar College of Education for Women, Triplicane, Chennai-5. She has to pay fees of Rs.30,000/-

For further details, please contact the student Cell No: 9791 076 179

*****

Need sewing machines

Ms.A.Regina Mary, has worked in a export company as tailor for 3 years.

Ms.A.Regina Mary requests for donation of sewing machine to self employ herself.


DESPERATE CALLS

For further details, please contact: Mr.P.Akash Immanuel,S/o.Ms.P.Pushpalatha, 2/7, Pandalamman Koil Street, Oragadam, Ambattur, Chennai-53.Cell No.9841184083

***** Mr.C.B.Karthik belongs to a poor family and he is presently studying diploma course in a polytechnic in Chennai. He has to pay Rs.30,000/- as the fees for the next academic year. For further details, please contact: Cell No.9445293174, Chennai.

*****

Student needs support Mr.P.Akash Immanuel is studying IX std in Sharon Matriculation School, Kallikuppam, Chennai.His father is visually impaired and his mother is house maid. Mr.P.Akash Immanuel requests for financial help of Rs.2000/- to pay for his school fees for the month of April and May

FREE COMPUTER CLASSES DURING SUMMER VACATION IN BESANT NAGAR & KORATTUR, CHENNAI

The course will commence on 1st April,2014 and will be conducted in three batches every day. Those interested should contact Nandini Voice For The Deprived, Tele No. 24916037 for registration .

Nandini Voice for the Deprived, NGO will conduct free short term computer course during summer vacation for the benefit of the students belonging to lower income group at Besant Nagar and Korattur in Chennai. Venue :* Kakkan Colony, Besant Nagar, Chennai-600090

* Central & State Pensioner’s Association premises, Korattur, Chennai- 600 080

Such deserving poor students have to be helped financially to realize their potentials. Please look for deserving poor students and help them.

HELP THE POOR STUDENTS There are thousands of earnest and intelligent students in poor families, who can reach great heights in life, if only they could be financially supported in their school and college days. Many bright students are forced to discontinue the education, as their parents can not afford to pay the fees to the educational institutions. This is resulting in loss of talent for the country.


Reader’s Forum

The fact is that the journalistic values have been showing a paradigm shift from positive reporting of events and success stories to that of negative reporting of news that have sensational value. For instance, the personal life of a so called celebrity involved in any scam or social evil like rape gets priority over a brilliant research findings of a doctor or a scientist.My analysis of half a dozen daily news papers showed that the space allotted for informative, educative and inspiring news is much less as compared to trivial and gossip based news.Dr. Kalam is right in expressing his anguish about the media coverage in the country. V. Rajagopal ***** Tirupathi Truly special magazine Dear Sir, Excellent front cover on the March issue, reflecting the critical issue facing today's India. Nandini Voice for the Deprived magazine is truly special and is forthright. Balamurali Balaji ***** Chennai The atman Dear Sir, I am giving below an extract from Bindu Upanishad for the benefit of the readers. Just as sugar pervades the juice of the sugarcane and sweetness pervades sugar, so also this subtle atman pervades the whole world and the whole body. Atman is “Amruta” without any form. He is `Atanu’ or bodiless. On account of his all pervading nature, atman is called “purusha’ That aspirant, who is endowed with a subtle, sharp intellect, is able to perceive the all pervading atman. That sadhak who has turned the mind inward by the practice of sama and dama and who has been longing for the liberation, sees the self in his own self by constant and deep meditation. K.N.Narayana Pillai Madurai

Readers’ forum provides space for the readers to give expression to their views on a variety of socio economic issues that is of relevance to the society. Further enrichment of the journal with your thoughtful inputs would certainly go a long way in promoting the cause that the journal seeks to espouse.

Dr. Kalam’s views on media Dear Sir, I refer to the question by Dr. APJ Kalam: 'why our news media reports negative aspects? (March 2014 issue)


RICH HAVE THEIR WAY IN TEMPLES TOO Dr.V.Rajagopal Email:- [email protected]

Although it is vociferously claimed that in the eyes of God every devotee is equal (‘Samadhrishti’), but in reality, some famous temples in the country indulge in providing darshan on the basis of huge money collection as tickets with different denominations. The affordable (rich) devotees can get better darshan in short time with money power, while ordinary devotees have to struggle for long time to have glimpses of the same God. This is against the basic principles of ‘dharmapracharam’ (spreading the message of righteousness).

From a simple decoration of God with flowers and ordinary ornaments, now some of the deities are bedecked with most costly jewels, each temple competing with one another for the display of their wealth. It looks as if there are ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ Gods. For rich people, it has become a status symbol to donate money to temples with much publicity, sometimes to avoid the tax also. From simple one or two ‘prasadams’, one finds now variety of ‘prasadams’ offered in temples, as if it is a cafeteria. With publicity and media hype on temple festivals, the pilgrim centers are gradually converted as tourist spots with modern facilities for accommodation and expensive food for the visitors. Thus, the erstwhile sacred and spiritual atmosphere around temples is lost in many places, giving prominence for commercial practices. Normally, one would expect that prayer/worship to God by millions of people should not only enhance ‘bhakthi’ but also prevent them from indulging in undesirable activities. However, the graph on corruption, crimes like murder in the country has been increasing, parallel with the graph on worship to God.

People with power and the so called celebrities have started controlling the places of worship in some cases , with claim on privileges even to receive God’s blessings. The number of temples have multiplied in recent years with modern and expensive construction, while some of the old temples are in dilapidated conditions. New temples with pomp and show are gaining publicity, perhaps due to their money power .

The scenario in places of worship have changed in recent times from simplicity with high sanctity and pure divinity in previous decades to one of commercialization of worship at the expense of true sanctity. From free darshan (dharma darshan) of God for all, many Hindu temples now adopt the system of paid darshan with profit motive, which has led to mismanagement and corruption, with the glaring sign of decline in sanctity.


ARE INDIAN ELECTION COMMISSIONERS MERE PAPER TIGERS ?

Will forthcoming elections become murky and unruly? Now that the persons like Kejriwal and his political party are in the election fray, the forthcoming parliamentary poll campaign is bound to become murky and unruly , with politicians using vituperative and abusive language and making wild allegations, while treating the dictates of election commission with contempt and scant regard. These persons think that the election commissioners will only issue warnings and notices and will not go beyond this. If such trends would continue in the next few weeks , then the forthcoming parliamentary election itself will become a mockery. Election commission is not mere administrative body The election commissioners who were bureaucrats and have shaped themselves as election commissioners, should realise that election commission is not merely an administrative body but a constitutional body with great responsibility and inherent powers to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner. In the past, the election commissioners have been hesitant to discipline the politicians during the election times in an effective manner and this probably was due to the confusion amongst the election commissioners themselves as to what extent they should go in the matter. Perhaps, the election commissioners think that any of their strong actions may be challenged in the court and the judiciary may strike them down. However, this is an unnecessary fear amongst the election commissioners which arise only due to their lack of realisation that they are, in fact, as much a constitutional body as the judiciary.

Tirumangalam formula There was a notorious assembly election in Tirumangalam in Tamil Nadu a few years back , when crores of rupees were spent by the then ruling party to bribe the voters openly and finally it won with thumping majority. This method is now known in Tamil Nadu as “Tirumangalam formula”. The then chief election commissioner said during his interaction with the journalists that the electoral rules were violated in Tirumangalam. This was all that he could say but he did not countermand the poll. In case he had done this, this would have done lot of good in cleansing the electoral politics in Tamil Nadu to a considerable extent .

Indian election commissioners are known to issue notices and warnings to political parties who violate the election rules and norms, but rarely they punish them effectively. An impression is increasingly gaining ground in the country that the election commissioners view the violations by the political parties in a routine manner.


ARE INDIAN ELECTION COMMISSIONERS MERE PAPER TIGERS ?

It is absolutely necessary that the election commission should reiterate and redefine what it considers as violative of the acceptable electoral practices and clearly state as to what would be the type of punishment that it would impose. Such punishments should certainly include barring the erring persons from contesting in the polls, if it would become necessary. Certainly, the election commissioners should avoid giving an impression that they feel helpless in tackling the misbehaviour of the politicians and political parties.

*****

Election commission should not feel helpless It is very important that the election commissioners should immediately convene a meeting of all the political parties and issue a firm warning to them that any violation of the electoral procedures would be viewed very seriously and those violating would be punished very severely.

The latest is that the Tamilnadu government has now announced amma theatre, which is to be built to provide entertainment such as cinemas at low cost. This follows several other amma products such as amma idly, amma water etc. Should governance of a state amount to only this ? What the state urgently needs is development oriented activities and projects that would promote opportunities for growth , particularly for those belonging to lower income group. But, people get from the government largely liquor, idlies and theatres. The liquor sales in Tamilnadu is increasing at alarming level and is now likely to exceed Rs. 26,000 crores this financial year, which constitute around 25% of the state’s income by way of revenue and taxes. Due to rapid spread of liquor habit, peace and harmony in thousands of poor families have been uprooted and lakhs of women and children in lower income group are undergoing enormous sufferings in day today life, with menfolk fritting away their income in TASMAC shops and driving women and children in families to despair. The problems faced by such women and children should be seen to be believed. Tamilnadu deserve better.

NOW AMMA THEATRE IN TAMILNADU TAMILNADU DESERVE BETTER


WHAT POOR PEOPLE EXPECT FROM NEXT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ?

In recent years, most of the benefits due to any improvement in national economy have largely benefited only the organised class who get regular increase in wages from time to time and have reasonable level of living standards. Improving the life conditions of the unorganised class of people are the primary task and responsibility of the governments, which have been found to be wanting. Poor people needs opportunities and not freebies What the poor people need today is opportunities for education and skill acquisition at reasonable standards and at affordable cost, which the governments are not able to provide them. If such opportunities are extended with good efficiency , the poor people will remain somewhat satisfied and can strive to improve their conditions to the extent possible for them. The fact is that poor people do not have such advantage to a very large extent. What the government does for the poor people is more in terms of extending freebies to them by way of free or subsidised ration or free sarees and dhothies during festival seasons , which are not substitutes for tangible and worthy welfare measures. The freebies do not contribute to the basic improvement in the confidence and morale of the poor people but really hurt them in the long run by making them lead a life with a begging bowl and with an attitude of ever dependence on government support for their survival. Poor people remain on the ring side In the last several years, whatever economic growth that has happened in India have largely benefited those who belong to middle and upper income group, who are in a position to seize the opportunities. On the other hand, the poor people remain on the ring side and are reduced to watch helplessly the growth taking place around them, without such growth benefiting them in equal measure.

The poor and deprived citizens who constitute around 30% of population, largely constitute the unorganised working class or those physically crippled and unable to take up any productive work. They do not have steady income and they are not protected from the inflationary conditions and uncertainties of life to the extent needed. Such people are those who desperately need the support of the government to improve their living conditions.

While the income in terms of rupee has gone up for all sections of the people, the fact is that the rupee fetches less and less due to its falling value. In such scenario, the standards of living of the large segment of the people have really not improved, though it may look that their income have gone up. This is particularly so, in the case of poor people.


WHAT POOR PEOPLE EXPECT FROM NEXT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ? It is extraordinary that such poor people remain tolerant of such conditions and continue to believe the vague promises made to them by those in power and authority.

As a matter of fact, the governments are fooling them by extending freebies periodically, which have become regular practice now , even as the governments fail to improve their basic conditions in quick time in worthwhile manner. Less role of government in education It is extremely disturbing and unfortunate that the state and central governments have withdrawn from the field of education for all practical purposes, by largely looking upto the private sector to fulfil the emerging needs. Not only the governments are not investing adequately on its own in building educational institutions but have also allowed the standards of education imparted by the government institutions to deteriorate gradually. The net result is that whereas the poor people have no alternative other than going to the government owned educational institutions, they are condemned to receive poor quality of education , which make it difficult for them to survive and grow in the competitive world. Just as in the educational field, the medical field have also been largely left to the private institutions to meet the growth in demand.The poor people have no alternative other than going to the government hospitals where the administration is tardy and attention is inadequate.

Need quality government at centre This is the crux of the issues and the poor people expect that the central governments should sort out such issues quickly and competently. This requires a central government whose leaders have extraordinary level of commitment and capability to meet the expectations of the poor people. The corrupt leaders in the government cannot do this.

Poor people left with disadvantages With education and medical facilities , now largely under the control of private sector, becoming expensive and beyond the reach of the poor people and the standards of the government run institutions are so poor, the poor people are left with all the disadvantages and therefore , are forced just to stay where they are. In many cases. Even staying at the same status have become difficult and they helplessly further go down.


IMPACT OF TASMAC SHOPS ON WOMEN’S LIFE IN TAMIL NADU WHAT TAMIL WOMEN SAY ?

Quite a number of them started writing after expressing their gratitude to the organisers of the essay competition for providing them an opportunity to vent out their views and feelings, which they feel , have not been heard so far by those in charge of governing the state. Quite a few women have said that it would be immaterial for them as to whether they would win prize in this competition and they are satisfied that an opportunity has been given to them to express their views, which they hoped will be conveyed to the government of Tamil Nadu and there would be impact on the future developments in the state with regard to TASMAC shops. Number of them have described their personal experience in detail, which really brought tears in the eyes of the judges who evaluated the essays. Prize winners : 1. Ms. P. Alli 2. Ms. Kalyani Sreedharan 3. Ms. P. Anu 4. Ms. M. Uthamaseeli 5. Ms. Thirumamagal Kannan 6. Ms.Jayalakshmi Thirunavukarasu 7. Ms. Vasanthi Krishnamurthy 8. Ms. Geetha Gopalan

9. Ms. Bhuvaneswari K.K. 10. Ms. B. Saraswathi 11. Ms. A.M.Valarmathi 12. Ms. N.S.C. Aarthi 13. Ms. Kavitha Manikandan 14. Ms. N.Hemavathi

Observation of the judges : None of the 603 participants approved the TASMAC shops and all of them wanted the shops to be closed. While many said that the shops should be closed forthwith immediately, a few of them said that it should be closed in stages over a period of time. All the 603 women participants provided their full name and address, which give the impression that women have very strong views on the subject and they do not mind about any consequences that they may have to face by revealing their identity.

Nandini Voice for the Deprived , organised an essay competition for women in Tamil Nadu on “Impact of TASMAC shops on women’s life in Tamil Nadu”. 603 women from all over Tamil Nadu , belonging to cross section of society at different economic and educational level, submitted their entry for the competition either in English or in Tamil.


IMPACT OF TASMAC SHOPS ON WOMEN’S LIFE IN TAMIL NADU- WHAT TAMIL WOMEN SAY ?

Highlights of the views of the participants are given below

Privatisation of educational institutions and government take over of TASMAC shops In a welfare state , it would be more appropriate that the government should invest and manage educational institutions and hospitals in good measure directly for the sake of the poor people and it should leave affairs such as TASMAC shops in the hands of private sector, so that the government would not be a party to it and it can control and discipline such activities. It appears to be the other way in Tamil Nadu now.

Miserable conditions of women: In the prohibition days, women particularly belonging to lower income group , certainly lived with greater peace and with harmony in the family. Today, with more than 40% of men folk in Tamil Nadu reported to be consuming liquor, the atrocities against women and children in homes and even in public places and work places have reached intolerable level. The breakages of marriage have become too frequent and abuse of girls by drunken relatives and even by drunken men teachers are no more uncommon. The sufferings of women and children should be seen to be believed.

Death due to liquor habit : In the prohibition days, the number of death due to illicit liquor was in the region of 500 per annum. But, now, the number of people dying , losing limbs and becoming disabled consequent to accidents due to drunken driving, murders due to liquor brawl , suicide by helpless women etc. could be well over 10,000 in Tamil Nadu every year. The government’s argument that TASMAC shops are necessary to avoid deaths due to illicit liquor fall flat in the light of the above data. Age of liquor addicts: In the prohibition days, some people used to become liquor addicts at the age of 25 and above, which is a microscopic figure compared to the present number of increasing liquor addicts in the state. These days , there are many instances of boys in the age group of 13 taking to liquor habit and several boys in their teens becoming liquor addicts.

Rapidly increasing number of liquor addicts : The percentage of increase in income for the government through sale of liquor in TASMAC shops is well over an average of 19% per annum in the last ten years. Such increase in sale is due to increasing number of liquor addicts, who are increasing at well over 8% per annum in Tamil Nadu, of which youth constitutes a big share. Due to such conditions, the future of Tamil Nadu itself has become a question mark. This is an alarming scenario about which any welfare government should be highly concerned.



Government spending on welfare measures & freebies After driving thousands of poor families into poverty and debt condition by opening many TASMAC shops in nook and corner of the state and tempting people to spend substantial portion of their income in buying liquor, government is extending welfare measures such as rehabilitation and counseling for drunken men and providing idlies and chapathis at very low price and free rice to poor people to save them from starvation.

While any welfare government should help the poor people to improve their life conditions by providing concessions and support measures so that they would live and progress with dignity and confidence, what the government of Tamil Nadu is doing amount to making the citizens poor both economically and in health due to liquor consumption and then providing support measures. It is sad that the government does not realise that its actions are affecting the productivity of the society and the dignity of the people, forcing them to live life long expecting the government freebies for their survival. Liquor habit spreading amongst women too What should cause even more concern is that liquor habit is gradually increasing amongst women too, particularly amongst the educated and well employed women, who should know better. While some women too have taken to liquor habit in lower income group also, the percentage of women amongst the educated class taking to liquor habit is much more than the percentage of women amongst lower income group taking to liquor habit. Pleadings of great men ignored : Great patriots and scholars like Mahatma Gandhi, Rajaji, Periyar, Kamaraj and Annadurai pleaded for the cause of prohibition and did their best to wean away people from liquor habit during their life time. A new generation was brought up by their efforts, who do not have liquor habit. All such good work have now been wiped out in one stroke by government lifting the prohibition. The successive governments of Tamil Nadu during the last few decades , which have lifted the prohibition , have treated the views of such great leaders and sayings of Tirukural with scant regard. It is ridiculous that the Tamil Nadu government celebrate the birthdays and anniversaries of these leaders while ignoring their messages.



Actions reveal that the Tamil Nadu government does not care: While there have been number of protests by women in different places in the state against TASMAC shops and many agitations have been carried out by people to remove TASMAC shops from their localities and courts have given number of directives with regard to location of TASMAC shops near schools, temples and residential areas, the government is actually increasing the number of TASMAC shops with an eye on the liquor income. Further, it has started promoting elite liquor shops in malls, obviously with the intention of attracting rich people and making it easy for well employed women to purchase liquor conveniently. While the government gives lame excuse that TASMAC shops are necessary to avoid death due to illicit liquor , its real objective is to multiply its income , so that it can extend freebies to buy peace with the poor people, who are facing economic distress conditions

Does the government need liquor income? Today, more than 25% of Tamil Nadu government’s income is contributed by TASMAC liquor sale. This has resulted in avoidable and wasteful spending by the government and investments in unproductive schemes and inadequate concern about efficiencies.

Society is losing its sensitivity: It is tragic that society itself appears to be reconciling itself to such sordid conditions due to widespread consumption of liquor in Tamil Nadu. These days, whether it is marriage or funeral or parties, liquor has become an essential item. While women live in great fear and law and order has become a grave issue with the liquor addicts doing havoc, many members of the society seem to have reconciled themselves that such conditions are unavoidable anymore.



This has also resulted in increase in corruption and dishonest acts , as people want to make money by whatever means to buy liquor, for which they have become addicts. In the prohibition days, there was no dearth of development activities and the fiscal discipline in the government machinery was of high order. Certainly there is a lot of scope for the government to reduce its expenses by avoiding wasteful and unproductive activities and projects and not spending money on freebies for the poor which have become counter productive. As a matter of fact, the TASMAC liquor income conveniently covers the inefficient governance. Tamil Nadu government should see the governance in Gujarat , where prohibition is in force. Will the government respond? : Whatever maybe the pleadings of the poor women against TASMAC shops, the politicians running the government and members of some political parties in the state are unlikely to care.

Views of the readers Thank you for the information you have given on the problems faced by women due to TASMAC shops . I agree with you that this is a great curse in our society. I agree that such shops should be closed. Dr. M S Swaminathan ,Chennai ***** Very interesting and informative. Is anybody interested? Can women become a vote bank ? Susheela Kaushik, New Delhi

***** It is so revealing. What a shame that the Government is contributing to make the younger generation to become addicts. Col.S.Krishnaswami,Chennai

*****

Women who are the principal sufferers have to organise themselves and protest strongly but this is also unlikely , since the poor women have now become too weak even to protest. Therefore, the only option available for women is to take a united decision that during the forthcoming parliamentary poll, women will not vote in favour of any political party that would not promise prohibition in it’s election manifesto. The present day politicians understand only vote bank politics and women should respond.

*****


ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: RS.100/RS.100/RS.100/RS.100/---- FOR TWELVE ISSUESFOR TWELVE ISSUESFOR TWELVE ISSUESFOR TWELVE ISSUES

We look forward to your support and encouragement.

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Edited & published by N.S.VenkataramanEdited & published by N.S.VenkataramanEdited & published by N.S.VenkataramanEdited & published by N.S.Venkataraman

RESIST CORRUPTION

AT INDIVIDUAL LEVEL

CORRUPTION CAN BE EFFECTIVELY

ROOTED OUT IN INDIA ONLY BY LARGE

SEGMENT OF CITIZENS MAKING THE

NECESSARY SACRIFICE TO RESIST

CORRUPTION, BOTH BIG AND SMALL, AT

INDIVIDUAL LEVEL.

THE CITIZENS SHOULD BE BOLD AND

FEARLESS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION.

SWAMI VIVEKANADA SAYS ”BE NOT

AFRAID OF ANYTHING. YOU WILL DO

MARVELOUS WORK. THE MOMENT YOU

FEAR, YOU ARE NOBODY”.

A DOZEN OF SUCH HONEST CRUSADERS

CAN WIPE OUT CORRUPTION IN THE

GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY.

THEN, INDIA WILL MOVE TO BETTER

TIMES.

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