tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66824399126080011472024-03-04T20:18:43.222-08:00manakottaiRamah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-20288254831753719962020-04-20T01:25:00.000-07:002020-04-20T01:26:05.326-07:00Post Covid Pandemic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">POST COVID-19 PANDEMIC<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yes, I am talking about
the Corona Virus named COVID-19 which has caught us all off guard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has now slowly mushroomed like the
poisonous ivy and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has swallowed nearly
1,58,691 innocent lives globally and 507 nationally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that too for no fault of ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Well! What is the way out or solution for this
Pandemic. Medical experts and scientists the world over have agreed that
self-quarantining oneself at home and distancing oneself from each other are
the only somewhat surer measures of self-protection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced
the “Janta Curfew” for the whole day of 22<sup>nd</sup> March, 2020 due to the
Covide-19 attack, people were busy looking for the hidden agenda behind
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZA0336MtFYghOQBM_lfGm5cfs8C-DBCXgFju8cOYsGNJgxYM7OPH1wWJOCMVbJHI2x-zVk02xMgbH82E0hgYKbAq08HsfZT_yuptg9Y-KmdicILU0VO9uC2AeXWaaJle2uZEqCcx0Jarw/s1600/Modi+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZA0336MtFYghOQBM_lfGm5cfs8C-DBCXgFju8cOYsGNJgxYM7OPH1wWJOCMVbJHI2x-zVk02xMgbH82E0hgYKbAq08HsfZT_yuptg9Y-KmdicILU0VO9uC2AeXWaaJle2uZEqCcx0Jarw/s320/Modi+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">However, undeterred, the Prime Minister went on to
announce the 21-day lockdown from 24<sup>th</sup> March 2020 and later followed
it up with another 14-day lockdown till May 3<sup>rd</sup>, 2020.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he did that keeping the nation’s safety
and health in mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNfAwVPhpofABG2FIHTqoqYhoxSOFbkgwRBRul990YYcYLUEv5qBcqmPTeB_OUpJ-0hA58c9c1Rz-8McVjFZiidrqMCC-XrdpE-Zl3gCUk6Yab0o0v168BX22HoMXANFhsh9kgQyksKoT/s1600/Modi+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNfAwVPhpofABG2FIHTqoqYhoxSOFbkgwRBRul990YYcYLUEv5qBcqmPTeB_OUpJ-0hA58c9c1Rz-8McVjFZiidrqMCC-XrdpE-Zl3gCUk6Yab0o0v168BX22HoMXANFhsh9kgQyksKoT/s320/Modi+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As we are steadily progressing towards the 20<sup>th</sup>
April 2020 when essential and mandatory businesses will start operating with
skeleton staff, we should clearly understand that this lockdown is in place
only to stagger the progression of the disease. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Scientists and medical experts, the world over, are laboring
day and night to find a vaccine or cure to this COVID-19.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And still, we are only at the beginning of
the curve. So let’s not go around believing that miraculously the entire life
threatening disease will be eradicated from the face of the earth by the end of
May, 2020. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8U3eaZMrijz2_C34v2KjmJwimFbgwQnlz5-bT4PLY9sV68yIzuL-noOrLlB-Rw-fKJ818IYZMQFagcudP_NknIq_nkKrxV0DGS7z-wCp8p3ctr6hsYCDsHJ6DA-GV7X3zg1HqBRTuv9Z/s1600/lockdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8U3eaZMrijz2_C34v2KjmJwimFbgwQnlz5-bT4PLY9sV68yIzuL-noOrLlB-Rw-fKJ818IYZMQFagcudP_NknIq_nkKrxV0DGS7z-wCp8p3ctr6hsYCDsHJ6DA-GV7X3zg1HqBRTuv9Z/s320/lockdown.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Let us not be naïve enough to think that the Indian
Government or the World Health Organisation, for that matter, will somehow
manage to get rid of it quickly so that life can again go back to being normal
and smooth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Friends, let it sink into our heads that life all over
the globe has changed once and for all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let us not be those people who have ignored the global reality flashing
in our eyes since January 2020.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">We will then end up being those dangerously delusional
people advocating stoppage of lockdown because we are waking up to the
permeating danger only now or during our first lockdown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So, for the benefit of such delusional people, let’s
raise the curtains a wee bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flattening the curve means slowing down the
rapid progression of the disease so that hospitals are better prepared to cope
with sick persons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does not mean
eradicating the disease all together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">No Government or WHO
will be in a position to eradicate the disease altogether this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The COVID-19 is here to stay until a cure or
a vaccine is discovered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Let it sink in that a
vaccine or a cure is about a year away, i.e. April 2021.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The earliest vaccine trials and tests started
only a month ago. It takes approximately 18 to 24 months to find, test and
assess the efficacy of the vaccine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
a minimum of one year period is literally a “Hail Mary”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And very importantly,
friends, there is no going back to your favorite normal niche.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That has disappeared from the face of the
earth and will not be sighted for nearly another year or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Globally, economies
will continue bleeding. And there are bound to be rolling lockdowns on and off
until a vaccine is found.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Even when lockdowns are
done away with in the near future, the tourism, hospitality and many other
industries will not see the light of the day for another year. Even after the
lockdown is lifted, people will continue to self- quarantine and self-isolate themselves
for their own good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The only reprieve and
silver lining will be the marginal level of herd immunity developed during the
course of the pandemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thousands of
people who have been infected and recovered and the minimum unavoidable deaths
would have paved way for this herd immunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">However, this may still
be an unproven theory since there is a strong suspicion that reinfection may
also creep in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With all these
uncertainties and confusions, NORMAL is not at all feasible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fear and panic still reigns supreme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fear of the unknown is wide spread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence, people will continue to remain
isolated till safety and security is guaranteed either through a cure or a
vaccine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">All this is still six
months away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>World Medical Institutions
predict that India will peak only in September, 2020.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means bleeding economy, rolling
lockdowns, mortality and chaos and confusion till then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">One significant point to be noted here is the Government decision to ban
alcohol and dog walking or running and also no e-commerce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This decision was not taken keeping the
privileged society in mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was taken
keeping the masses in mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is
permissible in the towns should be allowed in the suburbs also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the two decisions look completely
different when implemented in their respective localities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Kudos to the Indian Government for the way it is going
about tackling the pandemic. And also for the way in which the State
Governments are rising up to the occasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We should know that our Government has reacted faster and more
intelligently than most other developing countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our progress is much better than most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are also wishfully hoping that somehow BCG
will give us some fighting chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, this has still not been proven scientifically. So it remains as
I said “wishful thinking”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Let’s do our very best and give our country and its
leaders the very best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s strive to
help them positively and fruitfully to fight this evil COVID-19. By our
combined united effort, let’s raise the world’s eyebrows for a good deed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s do all we can to help our neighbors,
each other and support staff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Finally, once again I stress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s not have any delusional ideas about any
level of normalcy by the end of this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">NORMAL IS DEAD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let it sink in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">However, HOPE is very much alive. And hope and pray we
will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-83805897441024486572020-03-27T02:58:00.002-07:002020-03-27T03:14:08.362-07:00Social Distancing and its importance for Covid 19 Break-out<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: center 3.25in right 6.5in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Social distancing and its importance for Covid 19
Break-out<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I</span><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">t has struck </span><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">a
death knell to thousands of people, world over. Yes, I am talking about the
Corona Virus named COVID-19 which has caught us </span><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">off
guard.</span><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is now threatening to engulf the entire world and end more lives than
it already had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well! What is the way
out or solution for this Pandemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Medical experts and scientists the world over have agreed that self-quarantining
oneself at home and distancing oneself from each other are the only some-what
surer measures of self-protection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When Prime Minister,
Narendra Modi announced the “Janta Curfew” for the whole day of 22<sup>nd</sup>
March, 2020 due to the Covid – 19 attack, people were busy looking for the
hidden agenda behind it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Since the fateful day of announcement at late
night <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in
2016 of de-monitization of India’s currency, public are not willing to take any
later announcements or statements casually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because what followed after de-monitization was pandemic of a different
kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, honestly, we have still not
gotten over it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When
Narendra Modi, true to our expectations, was to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>address the Nation, in quick succession for a
second time on the night of 24<sup>th</sup> March 2020, it was preceded by wild
speculations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he came out with the
most loud and clear announcement! “From midnight of 24<sup>th</sup> March 2020,
the country as a whole will be under lockdown for 21 days”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People had to suddenly get used to the idea
of forgetting what going out meant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Prime
Minister Narendra Modi is a show stopper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He knows to strike the right chords at the right time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time and again both here and abroad, he had
demonstrated his ability to win hearts and minds simultaneously. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Not by showmanship
but by a genuine passion for mankind, is the indisputable truth, to which the
whole world is a witness, including his COVID-19 Emergency SAARC Tele-meet
initiative of the world G-20 leaders, as late as at 5/00pm last <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>evening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Having said
that, it will not be wrong to say that this Covid-19 pandemic, is a testing
time even for his Government to lead our own Nation on the right path to safety
and security.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Janta Curfew ended on 22<sup>nd</sup> March
2020, a round of applause at 5 p.m. from our own homes to the health workers went
up the sky, in praise of them for giving up their time with their families to
help us stay with our families alive!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we could not help standing up to give
him the first round of applause and salutation along with our heroes who are
fighting there at the forefront of our frontiers the Corona war.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">However, the 5 p.m. applause turned out to be a farce in
some parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This made him stress the
significance and the need for “social distancing” in his second address to the
Nation on the 24<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His words
were clear : "Step outside in the next 21 days, and you set this country
back 21 years”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I would like to point out here that the national events
forced themselves upon Mr. Modi forcing him to announce the all out 21 days
lockdown nationwide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even before the 24<sup>th</sup>
announcement, one state after another had initiated the process of curfews and
lock-downs seeing that the virus, left unchecked, may overtake the entire
nation catastrophically. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As
per a mathematical model developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR), India were to rigidly and religiously implemented social distancing
measures either in the form of home quarantine or maintaining safe distance
between individuals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
is hoped to positively bring down the overall expected number of cases by 62
percent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, peak number of cases may
stand to drop down by 89 percent. This will result in “flattening” of the
alarmingly spiking curve. This, in turn, will offer more chances for
interventions, treatment and cure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Again, India is a nation where numerous people lead a hand
to mouth existence. Even for mere survival, most of them have to slog every
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In such a scenario, long-term
lock-downs may not go down well with the masses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it is, even three weeks is cutting it too
fine. And frequent lock-downs are as good as ruled out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now, we are drawn up to the million dollar question as to
whether the lock-down implemented was too premature or too late.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Grim as it may sound now, I feel that it may be even more
latter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My personal opinion is that the
lock-downs could have been initiated much earlier in a phased out manner in
stages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This would have given people the time to assimilate the
situation and gradually get used to the dangerous pandemic that is staring them
in the eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">No doubt that the first lock-down on the 22<sup>nd</sup>
was a curtain raiser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, even then it
was too late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The country was already
struggling with Covid 19 positive cases and many Covid – 19 carrier cases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And people were still returning from
overseas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even as it took time for the
government and the authorities to put restrictions and curfews in place, they
were overtaken by the alarming rise in the number testing positive as also the
number of carrier cases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The government was a wee bit slow in rolling out the
testing modules, because it had taken six weeks for the Pune-based Molecular
Lab to bring out a 100% indigenous Testing Kit, which is a record time. In the
meantime one lakh ten thousand Kits were procured through the help of WHO.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The self-quarantine protocol for the incoming
travellers and their surroundings had gaping holes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the speed with which the virus spreads
including through infected but asymptomatic people, the government could have
started off the exercise much earlier, say at least, a month before, in early
Feuruary.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">However, there are always exceptions to the rule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should mention my appreciation for the
southern state of Kerala.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
government had managed to trace every possible contact of infected people including
the seat that they may have used in movie theatres. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The success and victory of this
national lock-down will totally rest on each State Government’s ability to make
it work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strict monitoring measures have
to be put in place and the state should be prepared to hand out essential
services to large sections of the people who may find it difficult to survive
sans them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are a 1.3 billion
populated country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is not easy to
keep the wheels grinding without well thought out protocols and exceptional
planning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">With a migrant labour population
surviving as a dozen in a room, what will be the decision of the State
Governments regarding “social distancing”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are quite a few confusing and confounding questions staring them
in the face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">What will be the plight of these
countless migrant labourers? Will they be forced to return home thus hiking up
the virus spread ? Or do we just look the other way and pray that this crowded
condition does not immediately lead to transmission disasters?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And finally, what will happen to the
Indian working class who have to earn every day to feed themselves and their
families? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And, mind you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This protocol is not for a short time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As of now, it is for three weeks and is
likely to be extended further indefinitely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What are the Government’s plans to feed the daily wage earners if they
are forced to lock down for the greater good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The emerging picture is both scary and sad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But, I see the federal government
quite confident about handling the pandemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let’s wait and watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“After the first death, there is no other” –</span></b><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">is the famous quote by the welsh Poet Dylan Thomas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am strangely reminded of this quote when I think
of the de-monetization drive in 2016 and its fallout. Six months of chaos and
confusion ensued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The central
government’s brilliant announcement was not sufficiently backed up by
organizational<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>competence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And closely on its heels came the new
Goods & Service Tax implementation in July 2017.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new tax regime has not yet fully seen the
light of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is still ridden
with so many gaping holes and deficiencies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A very beneficial tax indeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, again this was also blighted by bad planning and even worse
implementation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I strongly feel that though the Prime
Minister’s decisions and projects are heroic and far sighted in their vision,
they invariably come to naught due to the reality of the shaky Indian state and
its not-so-well-prepared administration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The government under Narendra Modi<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will have to bring on a multi-pronged
strategy to fight and ultimately win over this pandemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Indian State will have to create history
by reassuring the public that its primary task is to take care of each and
every Indian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should prove, by its
actions that this government is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“for the
people, of the people and by the people”</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Some states
may come out successful in their fight against the pandemic. They may even
achieve world-class results for managing the lock-down admirably. However, some
other poor North-Eastern states and over populated Northern states may not fare
so well. Like for example in Arunachal and Ladakh there are no testing
facilities at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Prime Minister Narendra Modi did well
to implement the 21 day lock-down at least now. “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thank God, we did it at least now” and “Better late than never”</b> are
honestly what is on all our minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As things are, it is true that we do see a ray of light at
the end of the tunnel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sure the
Prime Minister’s hands were forced to do what he did in this regard and sure it
will do more to lead us all to our old glory and light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And mind
you, he goes all the way to achieve his end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ushering in a complete lock-down for the entire 1.3 billion people for
21 days is indeed unimaginable, unthinkable and what not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, usher in, he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Narendra Modi is known to think big and act
with an iron hand as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Whether the huge gamble pays or not
rests in the way it is handled by the people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Through numerous national addresses and state addresses, the Prime
Ministers, Ministers, Chief Ministers and the Administrative Heads should tutor
the public about the dos and don’ts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
people should be made aware of the danger lurking at the end of the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They should be made to realize strongly that
there will not be a second chance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Most importantly, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>however, I was wondering how the Government
was going to back up its announcement of the 21 day national lock-down in terms
of providing the poorer sections with enough to last out the panic period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">YES.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Government today has come out with further announcements putting my
ponderings at rest. The Prime Minister had announced even on the 24<sup>th</sup>
instant that Rs.15,000 crores fund has been set aside for treatment and medical
expenses concerned with the Covid-19 pandemic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now, today on the 26<sup>th</sup>,
the Finance Minister has come out with various schemes and allocations to tide
over the present crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has
announced a 1.7 crore lakh package for the benefit of the not so fortunate
nationals of India :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5 kg. cereals
and I kg. pulses for next 3 months in addition to what they are already getting
through PDS. This can be drawn in two instalments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Farmers, poor
widows, MANREGA, poor pensioners, poor handicapped, women having Jan Dhan
Accounts, Ujwala Scheme beneficiaries, women in Deen Dayal Upadhya Schemes and
Construction workers have been made eligible for cash transfer scheme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Farmers already
receiving Rs.6000 annually have been permitted to draw Rs.2000 upfront now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wage increase
from Rs.182/- to Rs.202 declared for MANREGA workers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will benefit about 5 crore families
Rs.2000/- annually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Old age people,
disabled and widows have been sanctioned additional ex gratia of Rs.1000/- in
two instalments benefitting nearly 3 crore persons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Women Jan Dhan
account holders have also been sanctioned ex gratia of Rs.500/- per month for
the next three months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Incidentally,
this will stand to benefit about 20 crore women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>8 crore of the
below poverty line families will be given free gas cylinders for cooking for
the next three months under the Ujwala Scheme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>63 lakh women self help groups will be
sanctioned collateral free loan of Rs.20 lakhs hiked up from Rs.10 lakhs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will impact 7 crore households.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the organised sector, Government of India
will pay the EPF contribution of the employer and the employee tallying up to
24 percent for the next three months. This is restricted to those organisations
having less than 100 employees and 90 percent of whom are drawing less than
Rs.15000/- salary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as 80
lakh employees will stand to gain by the amendment to the EPFO regulation to
allow non refundable advances of 75 percent of EPFO account balance or
equivalent of three month of wages whichever is lesser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will make it easy for 4 crore workers
registered with EPFO.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The government
holds a fund of Rs.31000/-</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">crore</span><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">under the Construction Workers’
Central Act framed exclusively for construction workers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The State Governments are being directed to
utilize this fund for the benefit of construction workers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>District
Mineral Fund is being ordered to be used by the Districts for medical testing
facility, medical screening, providing health attention etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Having put
all steps in place to effectively wage a war against the Covid-19 pandemic, I
once again applaud the Prime Minister and the national government for its slew
of initiatives and schemes to beat the disease. We have to be also content with
the policy of less is more and make the best out of the financial package
worked out by the FM, under fiscal stress and deficit financing and having to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>preserve fiscal prudence and Macro stability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In conclusion, I sign off saying that
the India that emerges at the other end of these three fateful weeks will be
one that is wiser, stronger and healthier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All Indians, nay, all world population will have gone through enough
fear, turmoil, confusion and panic to emerge more sober and mature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And to conclude, I would like to turn
on to you a faithful note that “even this will pass” which we all want badly to
pass for good, sooner than later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-11684420598400059502020-03-13T08:10:00.000-07:002020-03-13T08:10:12.819-07:00A WOMAN BORN TO RULE - DR. SASHIKALA GURPUR<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><u>A WOMAN BORN TO RULE - DR. SASHIKALA GURPUR</u></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
strength of a woman is not measured by the impact that all her hardships in
life have had on her; but the strength of a woman is measured by the extent of
her refusal to allow those hardships to dictate her and who she becomes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- C. JoyBell C</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And did she prove this
quote right ? YES and that successful woman is Dr. Sashikala Gurpur.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr.
Sashikala Gurpur graduated in law from Mangalore University in 1988.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is currently reigning supreme as the
Director of Symbiosis Law School, Pune and Dean of Faculty of Law, Symbiosis
International University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
is the proud recipient of the Prestigious Fulbright Fellowship as also the
Legal Education Innovation Award of SILF-MILAT in 2011 Scholar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are only two from the numerous
prestigious awards and honors she has had in her career, so far and way to go!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr. Gurpur has been a winner of many distinctions and awards
throughout her law studies. Today, she holds the reputation of having held
office as a member of the Law Commission of India and having taught at the
National University of Cork, Ireland in addition to having authored many
academic books and carried onthe role as a constituent of Editing Boards of
various foreign/ international journals.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nearly 12 years of experience at SLS Pune had proved to be a journey of
growth and learning for her. When she initially joined the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Symbiosis Law School, Pune</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> in
2007, she had behind her substantial years of teaching and research experience
in reputed institutions in India and abroad. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFMl4AZTJRCMX2ED0TfSOzcV6QrsSbRaZRNXdxCjn1A3eI1jGAme9voGMfiV0iv7TbEZC4R4c7a83D0TkFA-GRe_MGaG9jCqqOb7i6IQBD03ag8Hkp_eBjtau2BgsiOI5Hns1BLicmBdn/s1600/photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFMl4AZTJRCMX2ED0TfSOzcV6QrsSbRaZRNXdxCjn1A3eI1jGAme9voGMfiV0iv7TbEZC4R4c7a83D0TkFA-GRe_MGaG9jCqqOb7i6IQBD03ag8Hkp_eBjtau2BgsiOI5Hns1BLicmBdn/s320/photo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt;">Further, buffered by an international corporate stint and NGO
experience, she was clearly looking at education as a means to an end for
students. For this, she strongly felt that a blend of corporate management and
a mentor-guru relationship is the right approach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her unfailing mantra is human development, through capacity building in
staff, students and faculty with a carefully structured skill chart, process
and team culture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr. Sashikala Gurpur was fortunate enough that the top management of
Symbiosis provided her that essential space and support with their time-tested
experience and brand. Her team consisting of people with an average age of 30
years proved to be of great support, eager and enthusiastic to learn and branch
out further.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2ECcdMxQuROYKOuRt0zRqU3jx-7fqJ3lZ8VtkB7LLwVtNu9mY1xRCGI64rP0sc4dGHNfqGpbCmNWXhKZqX1clOZxigRK2s5Lh8eSH14FDEN_YSsFiJ9Y0A6D6El_B_X4WbxxakAFAx8H/s1600/photo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2ECcdMxQuROYKOuRt0zRqU3jx-7fqJ3lZ8VtkB7LLwVtNu9mY1xRCGI64rP0sc4dGHNfqGpbCmNWXhKZqX1clOZxigRK2s5Lh8eSH14FDEN_YSsFiJ9Y0A6D6El_B_X4WbxxakAFAx8H/s320/photo2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She, with her efficient team insisted upon ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">doing good to do well</b>’ thus going on to strengthen community legal
service. Besides, overall quality and excellence focus in Symbiosis
International with its inter disciplinarity added to the Midas Touch of Dr. Gurpur.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While i</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt;">n 2007, the application intake ratio at Symbiosis Law School,
Pune was 15:1, it hiked up to 45:1 by 2017 due to her dedicated, well planned
and ceaseless efforts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr. Gurpur was also part of the team that designed Symbiosis’s own law
entrance test by 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was also the
face behind the upgraded programs to honours level which ultimately pushed up
their international partnerships from 9 to 56.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It would be unfair to deny the fact that SLS Pune spearheads a unique
12-point internationalization under the able guidance of its equimanous and
farsighted Chancellor <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Dr. S. B.
Mujumdar and </span>Pro-Chancellor <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Dr.VidyaYerwadekar</span>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is relevant to state here that SLS, Pune was the only law school in
India to be a part of the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Consortium. It has now
been selected to be a part of the prestigious <i>Erasmus Mundus</i> programme
which is about Capacity Building in Higher Education Project European Studies
Revitalized Across Asian Universities (EURASIA). </span><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In November 2017 SLS, Pune under Dr.Gurpur’s confident and worthy
guidance, hosted the Global Law Deans’ Conference and Annual Meeting of
International Associating of Law Schools. This was a unique step in the right
direction as it saw the representation of more than 75 delegates from countries
across the globe.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hdv2B4j_ZpP30Lr9LWC2KhZNUoQ8zBNH78aW-tW7oDNjHzJQKKB4eeZmNaf3hJPvoFaoHXTUVHDev86Hx53J3Vm93MdEY2d41gMcqi4AV8EHNfFSgfBhmsA4HpioKVMcP0rqqk8c1iXn/s1600/Photo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hdv2B4j_ZpP30Lr9LWC2KhZNUoQ8zBNH78aW-tW7oDNjHzJQKKB4eeZmNaf3hJPvoFaoHXTUVHDev86Hx53J3Vm93MdEY2d41gMcqi4AV8EHNfFSgfBhmsA4HpioKVMcP0rqqk8c1iXn/s320/Photo3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Legal education is expanding and breaking ground at the rate of 40%
addition every year. New private players have entered the scene with noteworthy
infrastructure, best of faculty and are involved in healthy competition and
collaboration with the national law universities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The need of the hour for students now is good professional mentors and
practice-ready orientation to prepare them to meet difficult legal needs which
appear to be the reason for huge backlogs in India as well as at the global
level. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A dynamic and
transformative leader is the need of the hour</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> : There
is no doubt that Dr. Sashikala Gurpur is one such leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has always looked at faculty as
colleagues providing them the space to air their views.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never was there a feeling that she was the
Dean and others were subordinate to her. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She carried them along as a team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was always the first to share her
accolades and applause with them giving them due credit for their perseverance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJZE7LK8E8pUFpU9TQR9-X_SFn2bwHQmGr_BT_jZWNYYgTuspMuX9ED2biqrL7m34bWnaKsaoE4GiMYFL2iIl7oX4UNYRS49ncPK6YjpCZ3b1qUJSgmzUGWc-3lAYZUovQcgk-GlC0Y1f/s1600/Photo6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJZE7LK8E8pUFpU9TQR9-X_SFn2bwHQmGr_BT_jZWNYYgTuspMuX9ED2biqrL7m34bWnaKsaoE4GiMYFL2iIl7oX4UNYRS49ncPK6YjpCZ3b1qUJSgmzUGWc-3lAYZUovQcgk-GlC0Y1f/s320/Photo6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr.Gurpur was never an island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was quite amazed at the way students, faculty and even non teaching staff
gravitated towards her like family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
always had a good word for each one she met on the corridors, classes or even
the canteen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This particular trait made her unique. She stood out tall and
magnificent by her humane and thoughtful ways. According to her <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“This teamwork helps me to realize their
strengths and potential”</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZHDg1Fd1k7qGttgJF438igKPo0y10ARXR0sniwttQpM6s6NoRCtHVaGJoEnGpf4noHi2iJhd_xpbsUJQGNoxOoTSaCjNKVNECsiUYcIXvzrCvq9dzGRzQORaWpRuqBAQqzMyb0UIuLzI/s1600/Photo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZHDg1Fd1k7qGttgJF438igKPo0y10ARXR0sniwttQpM6s6NoRCtHVaGJoEnGpf4noHi2iJhd_xpbsUJQGNoxOoTSaCjNKVNECsiUYcIXvzrCvq9dzGRzQORaWpRuqBAQqzMyb0UIuLzI/s320/Photo5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The governance model is one that proves successful when it is
inter-active and participatory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
stakeholders of legal education such as lawyers, judges, parents, alumni, industry
experts and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>community organizations
could engage to contribute to student-training and also provide feedback on
governance as well as academic content.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is
a fact that the Symbiosis Law School is itself a huge University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its management requires major paperwork and
administrative accountability and multifarious responsibilities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amidst all this apparent confusion, she is thrust with the
responsibility of remaining unique and original among countless choices that
the students may look at. Hence, she has thoughtfully chartered the safe path
of reaching global standards in legal education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this invariably compels them to
undertake too many responsibilities in at short notice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Therefore, the show stopper here is that pedagogy has to change to
facilitate learning rather than culling out statistical information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Since the present day student lot is well informed, well prepared and
well aware, holding their attention is very tricky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to make your teaching interesting
and welcoming. And that she does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Besides, she also suggests the use of technology with multimedia and
experience-based learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need
in-built systems to include diverse learners as well as diverse learning
styles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr.Gurpur was asked to comment about the curriculum of SLS Pune and
whether project – based learning should be integrated with the mainstream
education system in India.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She very
beautifully summed up her entire answer in the following two lines :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">best practice of industry is brought in by
robust and systematic feedback drawn independently and during placement
interviews”.</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On the other side of the coin, she ensures that the </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">faculty leadership in various specialization committees builds in the
latest national and global vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Competitive law school approaches, best practices and stakeholder
feedback is synthesized into the revision process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Project-based learning is a must across many courses. These pan out into
research projects and term projects as learning, researching, and assessment
avenues. Legal clinics in IP realm, as well as community legal care centre are
some of the examples. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Under Graduate Curriculum includes 6 Legal Skills Courses that are
spread throughout the 5 years. These are practical learning classes where
students learn the skills of drafting, negotiation, mooting, advocacy,
research, transaction, ethics, alternative dispute resolution, simulation, and
client counselling. These are guided as experiential learning through
internships, field visits, sharing ideas with experts who visit or camp at SLS
Pune. Most of the law students at SLS Pune were and are very fortunate to be
participants at special lectures delivered by illustrious Legal Luminaries like
Ram Jethmalani, Fali S. Nariman, Rohinton S. Nariman and so on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Nowadays,
college rankings play a very crucial role, and the fact that SLS Pune has
bagged the top ranks in the past several years is a testimony to the fact that
it is updated with skills required to have a high ground in the present
industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Project-based learning being integrated with mainstream learning is very
essential because it ensures that knowledge, skills and values with multi various
dimensions are all rolled into one and offered on a platter to the students.</span><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> As for
providing apt placement opportunities to the students, she stated that at
Symbiosis Law School, this is taken care of through the </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Professional Development and Career Guidance Cell. This cell is so
thoughtfully built that it maintains a database of companies, Law Firms, NGOs,
etc. where law graduates can be appropriately placed for internships or jobs
after completion of their Law Degree.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This cell is the birth child of countless hours of research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It lists out avenues for the law students for
their development, exposure and career building so that they are practice-ready
while leaving the SLS portals. The students are handed out an introduction of
skills and specializations in a progressive manner, culled out through careful
research based on the profession and the industry and on stakeholder feedback.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What makes this Symbiosis Law School stand out is Dr. Gurpur’s unceasing
efforts at providing various workshops and guest lectures on Entrepreneurship,
Higher Education opportunities in India and abroad, systematic Personality
Development, etc. through its Professional Development and Career Guidance
cell. The students get a hang of a holistic path in progressively developing
competencies for at least two options based on capacity, interest, and
opportunities aligned with their specialized courses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hence, as the parent of a law student at SLS, Pune I can vouchsafe that
most of the students are clear about their choices by the time they are in the
penultimate year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One more quality of Dr. Gurpur worth emulating is the fact that she is
always available to the students for advice, counsel, guidance and what not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the very beginning of the semester, an orientation discussion is
conducted for the new batch stepping into Symbiosis Law School, Pune. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With nostalgia, I remember gratefully the day when my daughter along
with many others, was introduced to the faculty members and heads of all cells
and clubs in the college. The students are all the time egged on to take active
participation in co-curricular activities and events, such as moot court
competitions, criminal trial advocacy competition, client consultation
competition, workshops, symposiums, exchange programs and so on. The sky is the
limit for all the activities that pan out before a law student.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, we gratefully acknowledge the hours and
hours of thought and work that would have gone into the making of all these
activities possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Again in her own words, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Apart from being the Director, I am
first and foremost a Professor”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even today, her lectures are always the most sought after and most
attended ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Study while others are sleeping; work while others are loafing; prepare
while others are playing; and dream while others are wishing”- <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">William Arthur Ward</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This was the thumb rule she had, has and will always have while teaching
her wards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her first priority is to take time off to teach subjects to Under
Graduate as well as Post Graduate Students. She is part of the mentor-mentee
program that is run at SLSP and each year have 10-15 student mentees. Any
student is free to contact her via email to which she responds promptly. Her
cell number is available all the time and she practices open door policy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Students are always welcome to meet her on campus for any issues. Apart
from this, an Open House is conducted for all batches once in each semester
i.e. twice a year where any student is free to raise any grievance or seek
clarification, which is recorded and action is taken within 7 working days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her reflections about an ideal school environment is one where each and
every student is open to an environment and ambience which maximises learning
capabilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Dr.Gurpur, a
free market of fearlessness and overall development can be defined as an ideal
school environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One another beauty about </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Symbiosis
Law School, Pune is that it is home to a host of students from outside
Maharashtra thus providing a multi cultural and multi traditional environment from
around the country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We can unostentatiously say that it is almost like a miniature India
where students from Kashmir and Kerala, Manipur and Gujarat or Delhi and West
Bengal sit in the same class rubbing shoulders and looking out for each other.
Here, all castes, cultures and nationalities blend into one that is universal
and that is “good human beings”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hats off to the University Management that has made this possible. The
University celebrates all major religious festivals together and experience
equal and enthusiastic participation from the entire college be it Ganesh
Chaturthi or Saraswati puja or Navratri or Christmas or even Ramzan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Besides, there are also cross country students from abroad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again as a parent, I was witness personally
to the beautiful way in which cross cultures are assimilated here among
students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much so, it is very
difficult to distinguish students by their nationalities and cultures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For the purpose of international students, internationalization is in
the very DNA of Symbiosis Law School and they can proudly claim that they have
carried it very well on their shoulders over all these years. They are all
bonded together as one SLS University in the name of “Universal Brotherhood”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The students are also given the privilege of wearing their traditional
clothes on Wednesdays and Saturdays to celebrate their religion and
culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, you will not be surprised
to see a Tamilnadu student in a traditional saree or a Keralite male student
wearing Mundu and Melmundu on one of these days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The college also plays host to a special food festival on 31st July
every year, being the birthday of the Chancellor, Dr. S.B. Mujumdar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here, I will be failing in my duty if I do not talk about the noble man
that he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A far thinking visionary,
Dr. S.B. Mujumdar is the reason for what and why Symbiosis group of
Institutions is here today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for all
that, he is such a soft spoken man, always ready to listen to new ideas and new
plans of action.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Grievance Redressal Committee, as also the student welfare committee
address the problems and difficulties of students thereby ensuring a smooth and
unruffled sailing for the new entrants and also the senior in times of
need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Symbiosis Law University makes available various scholarships UG Merit
Scholarship, Central Sector SC/ST Scholarship, S.N. Gupta Scholarship, Ram
Jethmalani Scholarship, S.K. Jain Scholarship, Shantanu Tomar Scholarship,
Jayatee Deshmukh Scholarship, etc. to worthy students to ease out their
expenditure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is relevant that in the
last 10 years, the scholarships so disbursed amount to around Rs. 2 crores.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6dX-aUT0JdvvSXcodAzmOY6OvgDasgPHZfvm4U-7nYw9pYyD-sv4gOllCRylsopj5VmNqpzzT5-18hCpCEAZx6ojkrSXLDRGRB_-uqOiV-ln7Tv_Yo6KDn3JG3ul-41XTvQkpp1pRWak/s1600/photo7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6dX-aUT0JdvvSXcodAzmOY6OvgDasgPHZfvm4U-7nYw9pYyD-sv4gOllCRylsopj5VmNqpzzT5-18hCpCEAZx6ojkrSXLDRGRB_-uqOiV-ln7Tv_Yo6KDn3JG3ul-41XTvQkpp1pRWak/s320/photo7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt;">Dr. Gurpur, as I know her, is a very dedicated and sincere
Professor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to her, </span><b style="text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Nothing should be
blindly accepted unless it conforms to logic and rationality”.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is a very
candid piece of suggestion from her to all budding lawyers. In her own words, “</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Legal education creates lawyers who serve the ends of justice. This role
is performed not only in formal forums of dispute settlement, namely courts but
also in other avenues such as governance, business, family, international
interactions etc. In the core, it trains one in problem-solving and social
equilibrium according to the rule of law. It is the only profession which is
validated in the constitution. Be proud of your choice, make the best use of
these learning years and also ensure that you contribute top-level human
resource to the judiciary, legal practice, and businesses in India, and abroad
guaranteeing efficiency and professionalism; thus defend justice and contribute
to nation-development/human welfare”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr. Sashikala
Gurpur’s areas of specialisation and interest are International Law and Human
rights, Jurisprudence, Legal Education and Legal Education and Legal Research,
Public Law, Media Law, Comparative Law, Family Law, IPR, Community Legal
Service, Global Justice and Biodiversity / biotechnology Law, Business and
Human Rights. </span><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Beyond all
this facade, Dr. Sashikala Gurpur is a very warm person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we got to admit our daughter soon after
her 12<sup>th</sup> Boards into Symbiosis Law University at Pune, the attending
confusion, anxiety and sorrow were large writ on our faces. Besides, we are
from Tamilnadu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our daughter was just a
child and the prospect of leaving her in a different state all together was
frightening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For us, language was also a
barrier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add to this the visualisation
of a different North Indian culture, North Indian food and different climatic
environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All this was very
overwhelming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It so
happened that Dr. Gurpur was casually walking past us when we were seated in
the waiting lounge for my daughter’s hostel accommodation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Catching a glimpse of the anxiety large writ
on our faces, Dr. Gurpur stopped in her tracks and approached us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what followed for the next ten minutes
was unbelievable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Initially,
she put us, the parents, at rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
made us understand that Symbiosis Law University and the Hostel are “a home
away from home”. By her candid talking and body language, she convinced us that
we had made the right choice in opting for their University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Next, she
went on to sit near our daughter and converse with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mind you, she was the Dean of the
University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her casual chat with my
daughter and concerned enquiries about her habits, hobbies and study habits
were there for all to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as the
conversation took roots, slowly and steadily the anxiety and confusion in our
minds and my daughter’s mind vanished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She bolstered us with confidence, hope and joyful expectation of the
unchartered journey ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And actually
made us look forward to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That was not
the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were two or three other
parents who were in the same quandary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And there are ever so many stories of her putting them back on track
with regard to their choice of this University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And later I learnt from my daughter that Dr. Gurpur had periodically got
back to her to see that she settled down fully and properly to the demands of a
University and Hostel life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Last but not
the least, Dr. Gurpur has a knack of drawing everyone into her fold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is so cheerful and warm and friendly that
you cannot but help migrating towards her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So much so that we, as parents of a Symbiosis Law University student,
have now become part and parcel of the University’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>progress, growth and victory strides.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And that’s the secret behind SLS, Pune sitting pretty and on top of all
the Private Law colleges and fourth of all the Law collegesin the country and
Dr. Sashikala Gurour sitting as its proud Dean-Director closeted by the Doyen
of Maharashtra’s higher Education of Management and Law and Chancellor of SIU
Shri. Dr.S.B.Mujumdar and his well accomplished daughter and Pro-Chancellor DR.
Smt.Vidya Yerwadekar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Finally I
conclude with this beautiful quote of Kavita Ramdas <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We need women who are so strong they can be gentle,</span></b><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So educated then can be humble,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So fierce they can be compassionate,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So passionate they can be rational<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And so disciplined they can be free.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I see
Dr.Gurpur’s name written all over this quote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is every bit of the quote and much more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I am so glad
that I am able to cull out a small accolade to her in the form of this
writ-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That too during the
International Womens’ Day 2020 Celebrations Week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the
least I thought I can dedicate to her who has, in her unique way, chartered my
daughter’s career and had indirectly set a new trajectory of her life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-35168769894417507472020-03-09T02:54:00.001-07:002020-03-09T02:55:08.135-07:00Tamilnadu's Pioneering Midday Meal Scheme<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">TAMILNADU’S PIONEERING
MID DAY MEAL SCHEME<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The roots of the programme can be
traced back to the Pre-Independence era when a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mid day Meal Scheme </b>was introduced by the British administration in
1925 in Madras Corporation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Government
of <b>India</b> initiated the National Programme of Nutritional
Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) on 15<sup>th</sup> August 1995.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">With a view to enhancing enrolment, retention and attendance
and simultaneously improving nutritional levels among children, the National
Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) was launched as
a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on <b>15th August 1995.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b> Objectives</b>:
The <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">objectives</span> of
the <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">mid day meal</span> scheme
are to improve the nutritional status of children in classes I – VIII in
Government, Local Body and Government aided schools, and EGS and AIE centres.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Finances</b> : </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The central and
state governments share the cost of the Midday Meal Scheme, with the centre
providing 60 percent and the states 40 percent. The Central Government
provides grains and financing for other food. Costs for facilities,
transportation, and labour is shared by the federal and state
governments. The participating states contribute different amounts of
money. While the eleventh five-year plan allocated </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">₹</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">384.9
billion (US$5.4 billion) for the scheme, the twelfth five-year plan
has allocated </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">₹</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">901.55 billion (US$13 billion),
a 134 percent rise. The public expenditure for the Mid Day Meal Programme
has gone up from </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">₹</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">73.24
billion (US$1.0 billion) in 2007–08 to </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">₹</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">132.15
billion (US$1.9 billion) in 2013–14. The per day cooking cost per
child at the primary level has been fixed to </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">₹</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">4.13 (5.8¢ US) while at the
upper primary level is </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">₹</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">6.18 </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span class="mw-headline"><span style="color: black; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal;">Centralised model</span></span><span class="mw-editsection-bracket"><span style="color: #54595d; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> : </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">In the centralised model, an
external organisation cooks and delivers the meal to schools, mostly through
public-private partnerships. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Centralised
kitchens are seen more in urban areas, where density of schools is high so that
transporting food is a financially viable option. Advantages of centralised
kitchens include ensuring better hygienic as large scale cooking is done
through largely automated processes. Various Non Governmental Organisations such
as the Akshaya Patra Foundation, Naandi Foundation, and Jay Gee Humanitarian
Society & People's Forum provides mid-day meals. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 36pt;">A study of centralised kitchens in Delhi in 2007 found that even with centralised kitchens, the quality of food needed to be improved. The study also found that when the food arrives and is of inadequated quality, even teachers feel helpless and do not know whom to complain to. </span></h4>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
Ministry of Human Resource Development reported that 95% of tested meal samples
prepared by NGOs in Delhi did not meet nutritional standards in 2010–12. In
response, the ministry withheld 50% of the payment for the deficient meals.<sup>
<o:p></o:p></sup></span></div>
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span class="mw-headline"><span style="color: black; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal;"> International
assistance</span></span><span class="mw-editsection-bracket"><span style="color: #54595d; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> : </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">International voluntary and charity
organisations have assisted. Church World Service had provided milk powder to
Delhi and Madras Municipal Corporation; CARE has provided corn soya meal,
Bulgar wheat, and vegetable oils; and UNICEF has provided high proteins
foods and educational support. In 1982, 'Food for Learning' was launched
with assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Initially the
programme was aimed at scheduled caste and scheduled tribe girls. In 1983,
the federal Department of Education prepared a scheme under the auspices of
the World Food Programme</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> to supply meals to 13.6 million
scheduled caste girls and 10.09 million scheduled tribe girls in classes one to
five in 15 states and three union territories. The value of the food itself was
$163.27 million per year. Labour, facilities, and transportation costs were to
be paid by the state governments. The reaction among the states and union
territories was mixed. Many states were interested, but some were concerned
about their ability to afford it if the FAO support were to be withdrawn. </span><span class="mw-headline" style="text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Tithi Bhojan</span></span><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="color: #54595d; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;"> : </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 36pt;">is a concept
designed to ensure greater public participation under the Mid Day Meal
Programme being followed in Gujarat</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarat" style="text-indent: 36pt;" title="Gujarat"></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 36pt;">. In order to
bring in greater community participation, local communities are encouraged to
celebrate important family events viz., birth of a child, success in exam,
inauguration of new house, etc. by contributing to the mid day meal served in
the local schools. It is voluntarily served by the community/family among
school children in several forms like sweets and namkeen along with regular
MDM, full meals, supplementary nutritive items like sprouted beans,
contribution in kind such as cooking ware, utensils, dinner sets or glasses for
drinking water. The concept has been adopted by different states with local
nomenclatures like "Sampriti Bhojan" in Assam</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam" style="text-indent: 36pt;" title="Assam"></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 36pt;">,
"Dham" in Himachal Pradesh</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himachal_Pradesh" style="text-indent: 36pt;" title="Himachal Pradesh"></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 36pt;">, "Sneh
Bhojan" in Maharashtra</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtra" style="text-indent: 36pt;" title="Maharashtra"></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 36pt;">,
"Shalegagi Naavu Neevu" in Karnataka</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnataka" style="text-indent: 36pt;" title="Karnataka"></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 36pt;">, "Anna
Dhanam" in Puducherry<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puducherry" title="Puducherry"></a>, "Priti Bhoj" in Punjab and "Utsav
Bhoj" in Rajasthan</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthan" style="text-indent: 36pt;" title="Rajasthan"></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 36pt;">.</span></h4>
<h3 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span class="mw-headline"><span style="color: black; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Evaluation of the Scheme</span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span style="color: black; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">
: </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">The MDM Scheme has many potential benefits: attracting children from
disadvantaged sections (especially girls, Dalits and Adivasis) to school, improving regularity,
nutritional benefits, socialisation benefits and benefits to women are some
that have been highlighted.<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 3.6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Studies by economists show that some of these
benefits have indeed been realised. The positive effect on enrollment of
disadvantaged children (Dreze and Kingdon), on attendance (by Chakraborty,
Jayaraman, Pande), on learning effort (by Booruah, Afridi and Somanathan),
on improving nutritional inputs (Afridi), and on improving nutritional outcomes
(by Singh, Dercon and Parker).<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Caste based discrimination continues
to occur in the serving of food, though the government seems unwilling to
acknowledge this. Sukhdeo Thorat and Joel Lee found in their 2005 study
that caste discrimination was occurring in conjunction with the Mid Day Meals
programme. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt;">Media reports also document the
positive effect of the programme for women, especially working women and
its popularity among parents, children and teachers alike. Media reports have
also highlighted several implementation issues, including irregularity,
corruption, hygiene, caste discrimination, etc. A few such incidents are listed
below:</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">- In December 2005, Delhi police seized eight trucks laden
with 2,760 sacks of rice meant for primary school children. The rice was being
transported from Food Corporation of India godowns Bulandshahr district to
North Delhi. The police stopped the trucks and investigators later discovered
that the rice was being stolen by an NGO. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">- In November 2006, the residents of Pembong village
(30 km from Darjeeling</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling" title="Darjeeling"></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">) accused a group of teachers of embezzling midday meals.
In a written complaint, the residents claimed that students at the primary
school had not received their midday meal for the past year and a half. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">- In December 2006, The Times of India reported
that school staff were inflating attendance in order to obtain food grains. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">- Twenty three children died</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihar_school_meal_poisoning_incident" title="Bihar school meal poisoning incident"></a><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">in
Dharma Sati village in Saran District on 16 July 2013 after eating
pesticide-contaminated mid day meals. On 31 July 2013, 55 students at a
government middle school fell ill at Kalyuga village in Jamui district after
their midday meal provided by an NGO. On the same day, 95 students at Chamandi
primary school in Arwal district were ill after their meal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Criticism</b> : </span><span class="mw-headline"><span style="color: black; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Despite the success of the program, child hunger as a
problem persists in India. According to current statistics, 42.5% of the
children under 5 are underweight. Some simple health measures such as using
iodised salt and getting vaccinations are uncommon in India. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">"India is
home to the world's largest food insecure population, with more than 500
million people who are hungry"</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">,
India State Hunger Index (ISHI) said. Many children don't get enough to eat,
which has far-reaching implications for the performance of the country as a
whole. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"Its rates of child
malnutrition is higher than most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa</b>," it
noted. The 2009 Global Hunger Index ranked India at 65 out of 84
countries. More than 200 million went hungry in India that year, more than any
other country in the world. The report states that "improving child
nutrition is of utmost urgency in most Indian states"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Launched : </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Tamil Nadu</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> is a pioneer in introducing <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">mid day meal</span> programmes in India to increase the number of
kids coming to school</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">. First, child <b>mid
day meal</b> plan was introduced in the state of <b>Tamil Nadu</b> in
India under then Chief Minister K Kamaraj in 1962–63. The Government of India
initiated the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education
(NP-NSPE) on 15th August 1995.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2_18Hy8UPhgl1MIzjwdagxEoi3Lx_lkoK18O-FAdHXroLqdbZ_10FNZvgb_6ThNAG-vMItByDpFlbc-2_g_-sPUUtAy_1dwI_UbfGrdy7P_QKmCTPxRYF6WvIuscwEtYXk3GVzbUVf1g/s1600/IMG_20200309_115911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2_18Hy8UPhgl1MIzjwdagxEoi3Lx_lkoK18O-FAdHXroLqdbZ_10FNZvgb_6ThNAG-vMItByDpFlbc-2_g_-sPUUtAy_1dwI_UbfGrdy7P_QKmCTPxRYF6WvIuscwEtYXk3GVzbUVf1g/s320/IMG_20200309_115911.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A novel school mid day meal scheme at
the cost of just one anna per student per day was introduced as early as the
1920s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The uproar and the ongoing controversy
stalking the breakfast scheme in the Chennai Corporation schools presently has,
all the more, highlighted the pioneering role played by the Tamilnadu
Government in introducing and implementing the noble mid-day meal scheme .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Tamilnadu government has proved to be a
role model for all states in this venture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On November 17, 1920, the Chennai
Corporation Council approved and adopted the resolution for providing breakfast
to the students of a Corporation School at Thousand Lights at a cost of one
anna per student per day.</span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>During
that period, there were only 165 students in that school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shri P.Theagaraya Chetty, the then President
of the Corporation (now Mayor) and a luminary in the Justice Party emphasized
the need for the scheme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the boys
at that school hailed from a very poor background, their motivation to attend
school was greatly affected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Consequently, the strength of the institution was also affected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence, he came up with this novel idea to
encourage students to attend school by providing them healthy breakfast.</span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Subsequently,
when four more schools were roped into the scheme, the combined strength
improved by leaps and bounds from 811 in 1922-23 to 1,671 in 1924-25.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But,
this noble scheme was not to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
British government denied expenditure from the Elementary Education Fund for
provision of mid-day meals to students and the scheme was abruptly aborted on
April 1, 1925.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>However,
the scheme again came into being two years later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It stood tall to benefit around 1,000 poor
students in 25 Government schools.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In 1956, the then Chief Minister
K.Kamaraj took initiative to extend the free meals scheme to poor children in
all primiary schools across the State.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The 1956-57 Budget allocated enough funds for providing mid-day meals to
school children from poor families for 200 days a year, initially covering
65,000 students in 1,300 feeding centres. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Government’s contribution was only
one and a half annas per meal while the rest of the expenditure was borne by
local people said a report published by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Hindu </i>on December 7, 1982 when a controvery erupted as to who was the
author of the noon meal scheme – Theagaraya Chetty or Kamaraj.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is politics without controversies ? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This controvery was triggered by none
other than the then Chief Minister M.G.Ramachandran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is indeed an irony that this program was
improved upon and extended to children in the age group of 2-5 years in
Anganwadis and those between 5-9 years in primary schools in rural areas in
July 1982 by the same Chief Minister M.G.Ramachandran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Subsequently, the scheme named after
him was extended to cover urban areas also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since September 1984, the scheme has been expanded to cover students in
the age group of 10-15 years too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>M.Karunanidhi of the DMK Party, as
Chief Minister for a short stint during the DMK Ministry (1989-91), introduced
the provision of boiled eggs once every fortnight beginning from June
1989.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This entire scheme was modified by Jayalalithaa in 2013 with the
inclusion of variety meals accompanied by masala eggs as per the children’s
choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">According to the Budget document for 2020-21, the Puratchi
Thalaivar MGR Nutritious Meal Programme is being implemented in 43,243 noon
meal centres and benefit nearly 48.57 lakh students every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">A outlay of Rs.1,863.32 Crores has been sanctioned for the
program in the Budget Estimates for 2020-21. </span><b><span style="color: #133b5a; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #133b5a; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">All said
and done, hats off to <b>King Maker K.Kamaraj</b> for his initiative in
launching the Midday Meal Scheme in our State way back in 1962-63.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And accolades, applauds and appreciations for
the ensuing State Governments who have ceaselessly got the Scheme going and
going excellently till date.</span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-65796022703440696162020-03-02T21:06:00.001-08:002020-03-02T21:06:27.310-08:00Namaste Trump and the Underlying Agenda<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt; line-height: 115%;">NAMASTE TRUMP AND THE UNDERLYING
AGENDA<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #454545; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">On his first official visit, the US
President Donald Trump along with First Lady Melania Trump was on a fleeting
trip to India lasting for less than 36 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He visited the Sabarmati Ashram where he was received by the Prime
Minister Narendra Modi for a high tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">The invitation to Mr.Trump was, by
itself, a firm political endorsement coming as it did in an American election
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXGqx2OCO9dvZsJ8otzunjZ8b9htphOEZhsCfOL5GMHbemxj086kYMQEkklZqO1nsFg3ZP-2yWJDLNm-KQdGF9VV6CjTKVR98Hye-HQoYjOFkHjeyyir2sY9beOzDjCzWy08F4Gk1ux2b/s1600/+sabarmathi+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXGqx2OCO9dvZsJ8otzunjZ8b9htphOEZhsCfOL5GMHbemxj086kYMQEkklZqO1nsFg3ZP-2yWJDLNm-KQdGF9VV6CjTKVR98Hye-HQoYjOFkHjeyyir2sY9beOzDjCzWy08F4Gk1ux2b/s320/+sabarmathi+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">This visit can easily be categorised into
two parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first was the symbolic
joint rally with our Prime Minister. Their obvious personal rapport and
bonhomie was there for all to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">The second more difficult one was the
actual bilateral outcomes of their Delhi meeting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">The US President’s visit to India this
week has catalysed progress on outcomes in trade, defence, security and energy
cooperation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it has also set
implicit parameters on how far Mr. Trump and Mr. Modi will go to publicly or
privately challenge each other’s governments on areas where they are faced with
criticism from other quarters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">On the positive and brighter side,
this was the largest rally that the US President had ever addressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Prior to arriving at the Sardar Patel
Stadium, Trump visited the historic Sabarmati Ashram where Mahatma Gandhi and
his wife had lived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eschewing the
opulent feats usually laid out for visiting presidents, the ashram offered
Trump and Melania assorted canned juice, biscuits and the typical Gujarati
street food snacks of khaman and samosas.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaW6NgBd4oBL4M4oKeyPEBPEUAVsOxMFvgBoMIhXUBZu9xYZoZYNMH3Fl1av-L8OQgpYHrl42KT56rTYAVrOg0UTx0nqP2Y7JSa8uJl_R_SXrs4_Ez_VIU5824enmJ2Hb9gBfqX3gp47Q/s1600/+sabarmathi+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaW6NgBd4oBL4M4oKeyPEBPEUAVsOxMFvgBoMIhXUBZu9xYZoZYNMH3Fl1av-L8OQgpYHrl42KT56rTYAVrOg0UTx0nqP2Y7JSa8uJl_R_SXrs4_Ez_VIU5824enmJ2Hb9gBfqX3gp47Q/s320/+sabarmathi+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">As per The Times, basking in adulation from a massive, colourful
crowd, President Donald Trump and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi lavished
each other with praise on Monday in a reaffirmation of U.S.-India ties as the
subcontinent poured on the pageantry in a joyful welcome for the U.S.
president.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Embarking on a
whirlwind 36-hour visit, Trump opened his speech by declaring that he had travelled
8,000 miles to deliver the message that “America loves India, America respects
India and America will always be faithful and loyal friends to the Indian
people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Trump extolled India’s
rise as a stable and prosperous democracy as one of the achievements of the
century. “You have done it as a tolerant country. And you have done it as a
great, free country,” he said.</span><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mr.
Trump extolled the peaceful rise of India as an economic giant” that has lifted
270 million people out of poverty in a decade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
US President went on to praise the rapid increase in Indians’ access to basic
sanitation and cooking fuel and the construction of highways across the
country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“We will be making very,
very major, among the biggest ever made, trade deals. We are in the early
stages of discussion for an incredible trade agreement to reduce barriers of
investment between the United States and India,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">According to
Reuters, the US officials have described Trump’s visit to India as a sure way
to counter China’s rise as a superpower. </span><span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">India is one of the few big
countries in the world where Trump’s personal approval rating is above 50%. It
has built up ties with the United States in recent years as Washington’s
relationship has become strained with India’s foe Pakistan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“As
we continue to build our defence cooperation, the United States looks forward
to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on
the planet,” Trump said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The agreement signed for
defence purchases worth $3-billion, including American helicopters has led to
both sides signalling more cooperation in defence, military exercises and
technology sharing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, the United
States has become the premier defence partner of India, which relied on Russian
equipment during the Cold War. Reuters reported earlier that India has cleared
the purchase of 24 helicopters from Lockheed Martin worth $2.6 billion. Two
more MoUs in health care and one Letter of Cooperation on LNG pipeline
infrastructure were also struck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">On security cooperation, there is
much to look forward to by way of improved coordination between the two
countries’ governments in terms of joint military exercises and
interoperability as also in fighting international crimes like drug
trafficking, narco terrorism, human trafficking, organised crime and violent
extremism.</span><span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">However, there are inevitable
cracks in the armour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From presidential
nomination frontrunner Bernie Sanders, who said in recent days, “Instead of
selling $3 billion in weapons to enrich Raytheon, Boeing and Lockheed, the US
should be partnering with India to fight climate change”, to Pramila Jayapal,
Indian American Congresswoman who was denied a meeting with Indian External
Affairs Minister for criticising India’s violation of minorities’ right to
religious freedom, there is a gradual mushrooming disenchantment with several
major policy plans of the Modi government including its Kashmir policy and the
Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens.</span><span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Putting the most elusive
trade deal question in perspective, it is felt that more economic openness
would be to the benefit of not only India’s trading partners but India
itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Addressing journalists at
the Hyderabad House, Mr. Trump stated that the US and India were working to
revitalise the quadrilateral initiative consisting of Japan, the US, India and
Australia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both countries were also
working on cyber security and counter terrorism issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
two leaders shared strong language in references aimed at China’s hegemony in
the South China Sea as also the Belt and Road Initiative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The two sides did not
manage to hammer out a trade deal ahead of the visit, with differences
remaining over agriculture, medical devices, digital trade and proposed new
tariffs. Trump said he was going to discuss economic ties with Modi, describing
him as a tough negotiator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">US and India must now put heads
together and strive to complete the unfinished agreements and charter the path
for their newly designated “Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership”. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">More importantly and immediately,
with the political backing of both leaders, negotiators must move toward the
much anticipated yet elusive trade deal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Having put in place a favourable
climate and a proactive leadership agenda, it is for us to wait and watch
whether a profitable and economically viable atmosphere pans out in the months
and years to come or not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #313132; font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Cushioned by the obvious<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>goodwill and positive sync between Mr. Trump
and Mr. Modi, let us fervently hope that only good news and good tidings for
India are around the corner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-23663353302969405472020-02-26T02:46:00.000-08:002020-02-26T02:46:19.481-08:00CORONA VIRUS AND CHINA'S REBOUNDING CAPACITY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">CORONA VIRUS AND CHINA’S REBOUNDING CAPACITY</span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Corona viruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses causing
illnesses ranging from the common cold to really severe diseases like the
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS-CoV).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This novel corona
virus (nCoV) is a new train that has not been previously identified in humans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0lc2GPDeeKA558m3nPyTMWaXnO9AzugeoTxKBLgli-g2bCj9huuQHxkdeJ7g3EU7AAAP0zQFuDhV18mSPVS-y3hDE7C77QT5r3kiWaUGaNFii3pf342mx2N_CxQ01lqd11_LE-G7mMox/s1600/IMG_20200226_155858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0lc2GPDeeKA558m3nPyTMWaXnO9AzugeoTxKBLgli-g2bCj9huuQHxkdeJ7g3EU7AAAP0zQFuDhV18mSPVS-y3hDE7C77QT5r3kiWaUGaNFii3pf342mx2N_CxQ01lqd11_LE-G7mMox/s320/IMG_20200226_155858.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They are zoonatic literally
translating that they are transmitted between animals and humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Investigations revealed that SARS-CoV was
transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to
humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are several other known
corona viruses that are circulating in animals but that have not yet infected
humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Common signs of infection to watch out for are respiratory
symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more
severe cases, infection can lead to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory
syndrome, kidney failure and ultimately even death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Standard protocols to prevent infection spread include
regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing and
more importantly thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. And it is advised to
religiously avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory
illness such as coughing and sneezing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">So much for what corona virus is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">China’s business leaders have always maintained the
invisible line of leaving politics to the Communist Party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That will ensure that they, the business
leaders, make money in peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">However, this time tested formula was upended by a vicious
viral outbreak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The country’s hyper
economy has thrashed down to ground zero and every business activity has ground
to a halt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The authorities are up in
arms battling a corona virus that has, so far, killed more than 2000 people and
sickened thousands more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Liang warned that “if the country becomes poorer because
of emergency health measures, that might hurt public health more than the virus
itself”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Now, back to square one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hundreds of millions of people are now living essentially in isolation
as roadblocks have sealed off entire towns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The local authorities have also restricted companies from reopening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Let’s now have a look at the larger picture about Corona
Virus and its implications.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">While China should mandatorily do everything in its
capacity to arrest the outbreak, business leaders and economists argue that
some of its methods are proving hurtful to the lives and livelihoods of
millions of people while contributing little or nothing to the containment
effort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Again James Liang, Executive Chairman, Trip.com, China’s
dominant online travel agency, wrote : “Strike a balance that is conducive to
protecting lives”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">There are no two opinions about the fact that the disease
is a very serious and lurking danger, especially in Hubei province and its
capital, Wuhan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nearly 70,000 people
have already been stricken according to official figures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Foreign medical experts are of the view that
the true total figures may be much higher.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">On the other side of the coin, business leaders and
economists in China have raised questions as to whether the mandatory 14-day
quarantines, roadblocks and checkpoints are truly necessary across the country
particularly in provinces distant from Hubei where there have been relatively
few cases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A difficult question to
answer indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The Communist Party has swiftly started tightening its
grip on many aspects of Chinese life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>China is a country where dissent is normally censored or squelched.
Subjects as simple as business and economy have grown very sensitive as the
country’s economy has slowed down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">However, even the Chinese government has been flummoxed
for once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has painfully acknowledged
the wounds that have been inflicted on the country’s economy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Li Xingquian, Director of foreign investment, Commerce
Ministry said :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“If the epidemic lasts for a long time, agricultural
products, food and industries with long industrial chains and labor-intensive
industries are expected to be greated affected”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And the
ripples are spreading far beyond China hurting companies like Apple, General
Motors, and Adidas. Amazon, the e-retailing giant is trying to make hay while
the sun shines by striving to keep its virtual shelves stocked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Beijing is
urging its officials to ceaselessly wage “the people’s war”. However, it is
indeed a very difficult balancing act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Simultaneously,
Beijing is also going the extra mile to help its workers and farmers by cutting
down lending rates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This brings more
access to money to stimulate farmers and workers to get back to their jobs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>According
to a survey of 1,000 business owners by Peking University and Tsinghua
University, many of China’s businesses, mainly, small ones appear to be in deep
trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One third of small firms in
China will be bereft of cash over the next four weeks while another one third
will run out of cash in the next two months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A very bleak picture is presenting itself to China for the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Beijing is
now up against a wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An iron wall at
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surprisingly, news Daya on Thursday
showed that the number of newly confirmed infections had taken a nose
dive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sting is that much of that
nose dive appeared to reflect a narrowing in the definition of a confirmed
infection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Zheng Jin,
the spokeswoman for the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, said :<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“We
actively support the orderly resumption of work and production, but we still
cannot relax our vigilance in the slightest”.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Indications
of progress wrapped up with growing worries over the plunging economy have
spurred calls for Beijing to loosen up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Peking
University Chinese economists and the brokerage Huachuang Securities wrote an
online analysis about the containment effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They highlighted the sad fact that too many areas of China were trying
hard to stop the virus, so much so that they were preventing normal commerce among cities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I quote
from an essay in Caixin, China’s best regarded publication : <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“If all regions rely on blocking,
they may block viruses, but they may also block the economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that time, a wave of corporate closures
and unemployment may occur, worse than the current epidemic.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Though this may appear over emphasized, that is
reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And reality here appears to be
threatening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is
necessary to restore normal urban life for the Chinese economy to rebound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No single business or city can resume regular
activity on its own because every company and community requires materials and
workers from elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If Beijing
decides to ease back a little too quickly, it would result in the congregation
of large numbers of labourers and workers in factories and offices which may
again reinvigorate the spread of the corona virus – something that neither the
Chinese business leaders nor the Government desires to confront.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>E-commerce
China Dangdang was faced with such an unfortunate situation last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of its employees ran a fever on Tuesday
and by Wednesday was diagnosed positive for corona virus by the Chinese Center
for Disease Control and Prevention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While
working from home is an option for companies like Dangdang, manufacturers and
factories continue to operate at a small fraction of the capacity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world business is now a sad witness to
dwindling Chinese products and components.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>However,
for Chinese citizens this is not the end of the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Government is initiating incremental
moves for the movement of people and goods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Migrant workers are being transported back from hometowns they visited
over the recent Lunar New Year holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Special trains are being arranged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>High speed trains have been put in place to transport workers from
central Henan province and western Sichuan province.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Out of the
box thinking is the need of the hour in China. And the Government is proving it
true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Xi’an a city in north western
China offered a one time subsidy of $ 285 for each worker hired by companies
making medical protective gear and $ 430 per worker for companies of any
industry hiring large numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another
side of the coin is that food prices were surging more than 15% a year in China
by last autumn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main cause for this
is a different epidemic, namely, the African swine fever, that had killed half
the country’s pigs, their main source of protein.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Chinese
Agricultural Ministry has directed villages all over to dismantle roadblocks
and checkpoints to facilitate movement of animal feed and livestock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>However,
there are already reports of mass slaughter of poultry due to lack of feed and
plunging of chicken prices – a possible sign of panic selling.</span><span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt;">Lu of Industrial Bank wrote :</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“The overall impact of production
shutdowns on agriculture across the country cannot be underestimated.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another
frustrating offshoot of the corona virus is that air travel and travellers
would redirect their journeys to anywhere other than China.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence, the tourist segment of China will also
suffer a major setback and loss. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Most
airlines have announced suspension of flights to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou
and Chengdu into June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Though
China accounts for only 2% of international seat capacity for Indian Airlines,
the China segment was doing very well before the suspension.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt;">If the
Corona Virus is not curtailed swiftly, key segments like Thailand and Singapore
will also crash resulting in severe negative revenue impact.</span><span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is
every possibility of the European travellers shifting their vacation
destinations from Asia to Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
were indicated strongly during the earlier outbreaks of SARS and bird flu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>China is
everywhere and in every country’s economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And so when China struggles, the whole world economy struggles with it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">China is the key supplier of aircraft components.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Airbus’ completion center for A320 and
A330 models of Indian aircrafts in Tianjin was shut down briefly, Indian
aircraft industry suffered terribly due to delayed aircraft deliveries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">French Aviation giant Safran, which supplies engines,
avionics, safety and landing systems, had also shut down its manufacturing
facilities across more than 20 Chinese cities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Finally international concern about the spread of corona
virus outside China increased on Sunday with steep rise in infections in South
Korea, Italy and Iran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The virus has, so far, ended 2,442 lives in China out of
reported 76,936 cases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has also
spread to over 26 other countries and territories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Sadly, Chinese President, Xi Jinping acknowledged on
Sunday that there were obvious shortcomings in the response to the
epidemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He further urged the officials
to learn lessons and improve their skills to respond to public health
emergencies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3c4245; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">All said and done, this is a very difficult and trying
phase not only for China but for the entire world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How China is going to emerge out of it and
how and when the world economy is going to rebound back to its original state
is for all of us to wait and watch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-11301215883820568702020-02-24T03:33:00.001-08:002020-02-24T03:33:22.619-08:00வல்லி மாமி. ஒவ்வொரு வெண்டைக்காயும், கத்தரிக்காயும், முறுங்கைக்காயும் ஒரு தனி கதை சொல்கின்றது. அவர்கள் சமைக்கும் விதம் நம்மை வெட்கத்தில் ஆழ்த்துகின்றது. நாம் எல்லாவற்றையும் அதிகப் படுத்துகின்றோமோ என்று எண்ண வைக்கின்றது. அவர்கள் பரிமாரும் நபர்களை பார்க்கும்போது கண் கலங்குகின்றது. share செய்ததற்கு மிக்க நன்றி. ரமா ஸ்ரீனிவாசன்.Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-73282822107403435182020-02-24T03:04:00.000-08:002020-02-24T03:04:18.135-08:00தமிழக பட்ஜெட் 2020<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif";">தமிழக பட்ஜெட்டும்
அதன் பண்முனை அம்சங்களும்<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif";">“</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">கலங்காது கண்ட
வினைக் கண் துளங்காது</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">தூக்கங் கடிந்து செயல்”</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">மு</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">வரதராசனார் அவர்களின்
விளக்கத்தில் :<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">மனம் தளராமல் ஆராய்ந்து துணிந்து ஏற்றுத் தொழிலைச்
சோர்வு கொள்ளாமல் காலந்தாழ்த்தாமல் செய்து முடிக்க வேண்டும் என்பதேயாகும். <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">இதுவே ஒரு நிதியமைச்சரின் தலையாய கடமையாகும். இந்த 2020
தமிழக பட்ஜெட் மூலமாக நம் நிதியமைச்சர் தமிழகத்திற்கு என்ன வழங்கியிருக்கின்றார்
என்பதை ஒரு சிறு கண்ணோட்டமாக வரைய முற்படுகின்றேன்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tgkYp2Be18ZNgpazIQnz0LM0lLq34q1nn4PpAo9CYnO6rVZf0RTluSwsa0zWsXJrY4PGzWh1BvDuiI2IOHftvpOHnnebJGlExaihZ-kqHNCgBtH9ROWMpG81JZnE3pEHOJ8zrUMZpxFp/s1600/IMG_20200220_115308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tgkYp2Be18ZNgpazIQnz0LM0lLq34q1nn4PpAo9CYnO6rVZf0RTluSwsa0zWsXJrY4PGzWh1BvDuiI2IOHftvpOHnnebJGlExaihZ-kqHNCgBtH9ROWMpG81JZnE3pEHOJ8zrUMZpxFp/s320/IMG_20200220_115308.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>இந்த பட்ஜெட்டில் வரவு செலவு மதிப்பீடு பின்
வருமாறு :<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(ரூபாய்கோடியில்)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>வரவுகள்<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2,19,375.14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>செலவுகள்<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2,40,992.78<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>பற்றாக்குறை<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>21,617.64<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">கடன்கள்<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>4,56,660.99<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">சொந்தவரி<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">வருவாய்<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1,33,530.30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>இந்த 2020-21 ஆண்டுக்கான நிதி நிலை
அறிக்கையில் கல்வி, வேளாண்மைத் துறைகளுக்கு முன்னுரிமை வழங்கப் பட்டுள்ளது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>கல்விக்கு ரூ.39.233 கோடி ஒதுக்கப்
பட்டுள்ளது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>குறிப்பாக பள்ளி
கல்வித்துறைக்கு ரூ.34 ஆயிரத்து 181 கோடியை ஒதுக்கி நடப்பில் உள்ள திட்டங்களை தொடர
வழி வகுத்திருக்கின்றது.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>இது மிக மிக வரவேற்கத் தக்க ஒரு
ஒதுக்கீடாகும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>பள்ளி மாணவர்களின்
முன்னேற்றமும் வெற்றியும் சிறப்பான கல்வியிலும் அதை செவ்வனே கற்பிப்பதிலுமே
இருக்கின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>இந்த ஒதுக்கீட்டால், இந்த
கிளையே ஒரு உச்சத்தைத் தொடும் என்பதில் சிறிதும் ஐயமில்லை.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>வேளாண் உற்பத்தியைப் பெருக்கும் வகையில் அந்த
துறைக்கு ரூ.11,894.48 கோடி ஒதுக்கீடு செய்யப் பட்டுள்ளது.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>மற்றொரு கண்ணைச் சுண்டி இழுக்கும் ஒதுக்கீடு
பெண்களின் பாதுகாப்பை உறுதிப் படுத்தும் வகையில் அரசும் பேருந்துகள் அனைத்திலும்
சி.சி. டிவி கேமரா பொருத்தப் படுவதாகும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>நல்ல தீர்க தரிசனத்துடன் எடுக்கப் பட்ட முடிவென்பதில் எந்த ஐயமுமில்லை. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>37 மாவட்டங்களில் முதியோர் ஆதரவு மையங்கள்,
திருநெல்வேலி மாவட்டத்தில் உணவு பூங்கா, மூன்று மீன் பிடி துறைமுகங்கள்,
பொன்னேரியில் மாபெரும் தொழில் பூங்கா என்று பல முக்கிய அம்சங்கள் இந்த நிதி நிலை
அறிக்கையில் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளன. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>மாமல்லபுரம் சுற்றுலா தலத்தை மேம்படுத்த
ரூ.563 கோடி ஒதுக்கப் பட்டுள்ளது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>இந்த
ஒதுக்கீடு நம் தமிழகத்தை ஒரு மேன்மை மிகு சுற்றுலா தலமாக்கும் என்பதில் சிறிதளவும்
ஐயமில்லை.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>வாடகை
ஒப்பந்தங்களுக்கான முத்திரை தாள் வரி 1%லிருந்து 0.25% வரை குறைக்கப் படும் என்று
அறிவிக்கப் பட்டுள்ளது.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>உழவர்–அலுவலர் தொடர்பு திட்டம் மிக விரைவில்
செயலாக்கப் படும் என்றும் அறிவிக்கப் பட்டுள்ளது.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>பணி புரியும்
பெண்களின் நலன் கருதி சென்னையில் 8 இடங்களிலும் கிருஷ்ணகிரி, திருச்சி, ஓசூர்,
காஞ்சிபுரம், நாமக்கல் ஆகிய இடங்களில் மகளிர் நல விடுதிகள் அமைக்கப் படும் என்நும்
அறிக்கையும் வரவேற்கத் தக்கது.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ராமநாதபுரம்,
விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டங்களி ரூ.3,014 கோடியில் இரண்டு கடல் நீர் சுத்த்கரிப்பு
நிலையங்கள் அமைக்கப் படும் என்ற அறிக்கை பல விவசாயிகள் மற்றும் குடி மக்களிடையே
குதூகலத்தை ஏற்படுத்தியிருக்கும்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>கீழடி
அகழ்வாராய்ச்சியில் கண்டு பிடிக்கப் பெற்ற பொருள்களை காட்சிப் படுத்துவதற்கான உலகத்
தரம் வாய்ந்த ஒரு புதிய அகழ் வைப்பகம் அமைத்திட ரூ.12.21 கோடி ஒதுக்கீடு செய்யப் பட்டுள்ளது.
இந்த அரசின் ஆணை நம் தமிழகத்தின் பெருமைகளுக்கும் அகழ்வாராய்ச்சிக்கும் ஒரு உந்துதலை
ஏற்படுத்தும்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>தமிழ் வளர்ச்சி துறைக்காக ரூ. 74.08
கோடி நிதி ஒதுக்கப் பட்டுள்ளது என்றும் நிதியமைச்சர் கூறினார். இது ஒரு தொலை தூரப்
பார்வை பொருந்திய அறிக்கை.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>அனைத்து தமிழ் விரும்பிகளின்
பேராசிரியர்களின் மகிழ்ச்சிக்கும் காரணமான ஒன்றாக இருக்கும்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>நீர் பாசன திட்டப் பணிகளை மேற்மொள்வதற்காக
ரூ. 6,992 கோடி ஒதுக்கப் பட்டுள்ளது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>இதில்,
குடிமராமத்து பணிகள், கல்லணை கால்வாய், அணைகள் புனரமைப்பு திட்டம் ஆகியவை அடக்கம்.
காலம் கடந்தாலும் ஒரு இன்றியமையாத நல்ல பணிக்கான ஒதுக்கீடு.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>இந்த தொலை நோக்கு கொண்ட அறிவிப்பு நீர் பற்றாக்குரைக்கு
அடிக்கும் சாவு மணியாக இருக்கு வேண்டும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>ரூ. 1,002 கோடியில் சேலத்தில் கால்
நடை ஆராய்ச்சி நிலையம் அமைக்கும் செயல்பாடு நம் தமிழகம் கால்நடை பராமரிப்பு துறையை
மேலும் வலுப்படுத்த எடுத்துக் கொள்ளும் ஓர் உண்ணத முயற்சியாகவே எனக்கு தெரிகின்றது.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>ஊரகச்
சாலைகள் யாவையும் ரூ.1,400 கோடியில் மேம்படுத்தப் படும் என்னும் அறிக்கை யாவரையும்
மகிழ்ச்சியிலாழ்த்தும் என்பது நிச்சயம்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ஸ்மார்ட் குடும்ப அட்டை உள்ளோர் எல்லா நியாய விலைக்
கடைகளிலும் பொருட்களை வாங்கி கொள்ளும் திட்டம் விரைவில் செயல் படுத்தப் படும் என்னும்
அறிக்கை பாமர மக்களுக்கு ஒரு மிகவும் வேண்டிய தக்க வரப் பிரசாதமாக விளங்கும். <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>அண்ணாமலை பல்கலை மருத்துவ கல்லூரியை
அரசே ஏற்று நடத்தும் என்ற அரசின் அறிக்கை ஆழ்ந்து கற்கும் மாணவர்களுக்கும் அவர்களுடைய
பெற்றோருக்கும் மகிழ்ச்சியளிக்கும்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>காவல் துறை மேம்பாட்டிற்காக ரூ. 8,876 கோடி அரசு
நிதி ஒதுக்கீடு மிகவும் அவசியமானது. மாநிலத்திற்காக ஓயாது உழைக்கும் காவலருக்கும் அவர்களது
குடும்பங்களுக்கும் இந்த நிதி ஒதுக்கீடு மட்டற்ற மகிழ்ச்சியைத் தரும். லேட்டாக வந்தாலும்
லேட்டஸ்டாக வருகின்றது.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>நிதி நெருக்கடியிலிருந்து மீள, சென்னை பல்கலை கழகத்திற்கும்
அண்ணாமலை பல்கலை கழகத்திற்கும் தலா ரூ. 11.72 கோடியும் ரூ. 225.78 கோடியும் அரசு ஒதுக்கீடு
செய்திருக்கின்றது. இந்த 2020 பட்ஜெட் கல்விக்கு இவ்வளவு முக்கியத்துவம் வழங்கியிருப்பது
பார்பதற்கே ஆனந்தமாக இருக்கின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ஏனெனில்
கல்விதான் நமது மாணவர்களின் வாழ்வாதாரமாகும்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>இப்போழுது நாம் பட்ஜெட்டின் மற்றொரு
பக்கத்தைப் பார்ப்போம்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>நகர்ப்புற உள்ளாட்சி அமைப்பு மானியங்கள்
31 சதவிகிதம் குறைக்கப் பட்டுள்ளது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>இதை
15 ஆவது நிதி குழு ஆழ்ந்து ஆராய்ந்து உடனடியாக சரி செய்ய நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும்
என்பது என் எண்ணம்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>இந்த நிதி நிலை அறிக்கையில் நிதி
பற்றாக்குறையை விட செலவு அர்ப்பணிப்பு அதிகமாக இருக்கின்றது. அதை பார்க்கும் பொழுது,
முன்னால் முதல் மந்திரி ஜெயலலிதா அவர்களின் நிதி பற்றாக்குறயை குறைக்கும் கனவானது இன்றும்
கனவாகனே இருக்கின்றது என்பது மிகவும் வருத்தத்தை அளிக்கின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>இந்த நிதி பற்றாகுறை தொடர்ந்து எட்டு வருடங்களாக
ஓடிக் கொண்டிருக்கின்றது என்பதையும் நாம் தெரிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும். <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>அதே போல், முக்கியமாக வேலை வாய்ப்புத்
திட்டத்தின் கீழ் எந்த தெளிவான ஒதுக்கீடும் இல்லாதது மக்களின் குழ்ப்பத்தையும் அச்சத்தையும்
அதிகரிக்கின்றது. பொறுப்புடைமை என்பது ஒரு அரசின் நற்சான்றிதழாகும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>அதை தக்க வைத்துக் கொள்வதும் அதே அரசின் கையில்தான்
இருக்கின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>பொறுத்திருந்து பார்ப்போம்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>தமிழக வர்த்தக குழுமங்களும் முன்னனி
வர்த்தகத் தலைவர்களும் வேறுபட்ட கருத்துக்களை பட்ஜெட்டை பற்றி முன் வைத்திருக்கின்றனர்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>இந்த பட்ஜெட் வெற்றியடைய ஒரே கருவி முழுக்க முழுக்க
தமிழக அரசின் அயராத உழைப்பும் ஒத்துழைப்பும்தான் என்பது நம் முன்னால் வருவாய் செயளாலர்
திரு. சிவராமன் அவர்களின் கணிப்பு.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">மிகச் சிறிய, சிறிய மற்றும் நடுத்தர வர்த்தகங்களுக்கான கொள்கைகள்
மூலம் வேலை வாய்ப்புகளை அதிகரிக்கும் பணி 65 சதவிகிதம் தமிழக அரசின் உதவியை நம்பி இருக்கின்றன.
நம்பிக்கை வீண் போகாது என்று நம்புவோமாக.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“ <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">இந்த பட்ஜெட் எப்பொழுதும் ஒரு வசப் படுத்த தக்க
புள்ளி விவரங்கள், வாக்குறுதிகள் மற்றும் எதிர்பார்ப்புகள் கொண்ட ஒரு அறிக்கையே தவிற,
இந்த மாநிலத்தின் எதிர்காலத்தை மாற்றும் என்று எனக்கு பெரிதாக எந்த நம்பிக்கையும் இல்லை</b>
“ என்று ஆல் இந்தியா வங்கி ஊழியர்கள் சங்கத்தின் தலைவர் திரு. வெங்கடாச்சலம் கூறியிருக்கின்றார்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>பெரும்பாலான வல்லுனர்கள்
இதை ஒரு சாதரணமான பட்ஜெட்டாகவே பார்க்கின்றார்கள்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>நம் தமிழக அரசு இந்த பட்ஜெட்டின் மூலம் எல்லா முயற்சிகளையும்
களத்தில் இறக்கி அனைத்து தொழில் நிருவனங்களின் உற்பத்தியையும் மேம்படுத்த பாடு பட வேண்டும்.
பாடு படும் என்றும் தோன்றுகின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ஏனினில்,
முந்தய ஆண்டில் காணாத ஒரு வேகத்தையும் உந்துதலையும் இந்த வருடத்தில் காண முடிகின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>அது மறு தேர்தலுக்காகவே கூட இருக்கலாம். இருந்து
விட்டு போகட்டுமே.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>நமக்கு நல்லது நடந்தால்
சரி.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>தமிழக பட்ஜெட் மசூதிகளின்
வருடாந்திர பராமரிப்பு தொகையை ரூ. 60 லட்சத்திலிருந்து ரூ. 5 கோடிகளாகவும், மாதா கோவில்களை
பழுது பார்ப்பதற்கும் பராமரிப்பதற்கும் வழங்கும் தொகையை ரூ. 1 கோடியிலிருந்து ரூ.
5 கோடிகளாக உயர்த்தியது வரவேற்க தக்கதாக இருந்தாலும், இதே தாராளத்தை ஏன் இந்து கோவில்கள்
பக்கம் திருப்பவில்லை என்று யோசிக்கும்பொழுது, சிறிது வருத்தமாகத்தான் இருக்கின்றது.
நாம் ஒரு ஜனநாயக நாடு. தமிழக அரசே, ஒரு கண்ணில் வெண்ணையும் ஒரு கண்ணில் சுண்ணாம்பும்
ஏன் ? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“ யாதும்
ஊரே, யாவரும் கேளீர் ” </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">என்பதற்கேற்ப இந்து கோவில்களின் பராமரிப்பிற்கும் புனரமைப்பிற்கும்
தமிழக அரசு நிதி வழங்க வேண்டும் என்பது என் சொந்தக் கருத்தாகும். <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ஆயிரம்தான் கூறினாலும், எழுதினாலும் நம் தமிழக அரசு நன்றாகவே
செயல் படுகின்றது என்பது எனது ஆழ் மனக் கருத்தாகும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>சிறிது பொருத்திருந்து பார்ப்போம்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>சில நற்செயல்களும் நற்செய்திகளும் வரலாம்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">இங்கு உங்கள் முன் வைக்கப் பட்டுள்ள கருத்துக்கள் யாவையும்
என் சொந்த கருத்துக்களேயாகும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>பட்ஜெட்டை படித்து
நான் எவ்வாறு புரிந்து கொண்டேனோ அவ்விதமே இங்கு வடித்திருக்கின்றேன்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-8616288823150600092020-02-21T02:45:00.000-08:002020-02-21T02:45:12.985-08:00BUDGET 2020 – THE PROS AND CONS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BUDGET
2020 – THE PROS AND CONS<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As a sequel to my Budget article of 5<sup>th</sup> February
2020, here come some more snapshots for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Budget 2020 has proved to be a deft balancing act. There are two
sides to any coin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So also with a
Budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finance Minister, entrusted with
the tough job of presenting the 2020 Budget, has done a decent job of it, in my
opinion. My ability and comprehension permitted, I am presenting the analysis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The so called NPA norms are competence-based in India.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our country is basically an agrarian
economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence, the million dollar
question is “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will the 90 days cut off
provided for counting NPA first prove right and next feasible</i>”? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is good that the Government on Thursday, the 13<sup>th</sup>
February 2020 directed banks not to declare any stressed loan account of MSMEs
as NPA till March 2020 and work on recasting their debts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Finance Minister, at a press conference, after meeting
Public Sector Undertaking bank heads, drew reference to a circular from the
Reserve Bank that provides for stressed loan accounts of MSMEs not being
declared non-performing assets (NPAs).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She had directed that banks to follow that circular and not
declare any stressed MSME loan as NPA till March 2020.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This, she felt, would help the MSME sector.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to a press report, the gold loan companies in India
are competing not just with each other, but against financial service providers
also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the size of the unorganised
gold loan sector which is estimated to be three times the size of the organised
sector, implying significant growth potential, it is unfortunate that it is
actively being encroached upon by financial service players who offer unsecured
loans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The report further added that customers who previously had to
pledge gold to fund their emergency cash shortages, consumer durable purchases
and holidays now have a risk-free avenue to source funds without any
collateral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence, it is strongly felt that
the NPA norms for gold loans need to be revisited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another significant point to be considered is whether the tax on
medical equipment imported into India need to be jacked up at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, another question lurking in many minds
is whether the online pharmacy concept spoken about in Budget 2020 can be
ethically proven to be right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is for
the Government to study these important points and revert to us with answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On a studied analysis of the Budget 2020, it is acceptable to be
crafted for the present times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the
Budget 2019 proved to be an over ambitious one setting unreachable GST targets,
the present Budget walks a very thin line drawn between the fiscal frugality
and the prevailing market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was a cost cutting drive of Rs.75,000 crores with
reference to MNREGA in the last year’s budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, the sad part is that the farmers were not paid the finance
promised to them through the Budget. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Despite a slowdown in the rural economy and the need to
stimulate rural demand, the Centre has slashed budgetary allocation for the
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme by Rs.9,500 crore for
the coming year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced Rs.61,500 crores
for the scheme in 2020-21, a 13% drop from 2019-20 revised estimates of
Rs.71,000 crores. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As of last week, the scheme had already run through its original
budgetary allocation of 2019-20, and 15 states were already in the red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The additional money granted in the revised
estimates provides some breathing space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, groups representing rural workers said that the lower
allocation would have a disastrous impact on the rural economy.</span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3d4239; font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #3d4239; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">This is
likely to deprive a large number of rural poor accesses to income and
consumption because of growing rural distress and unemployment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3d4239; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The budget 2020-21 has
generated a mixed reaction from economists. While some have pointed at the
fiscal constraints due to inadequate revenue receipts for not providing enough
space for an expansionary fiscal policy, others have praised it for setting
more realistic projections for growth and tax buoyancy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3d4239; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">As financial accruals are
important to boost investment and growth, these need a closer look.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="color: #3d4239; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Heavy dependence on
non-tax receipts</span></b><span style="color: #3d4239; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3d4239; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">A reading of the budget
documents shows that the central government is heavily banking on <b>disinvestment
and communication services</b> for higher receipts (revenue and capital)
in FY21 - total receipts up from Rs 26.99 lakh crore in FY20 (RE) to Rs 30.95
lakh crore in FY20 (BE). This is an increase of 15%.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3d4239; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Of this,
"miscellaneous capital receipts" go up dramatically from (minus) 38%
in FY20 (RE) to (plus) 223% in FY21 (BE) - from Rs 65,000 crore to Rs 2,10,000
crore. This head shows two capital receipt sources: (a) "disinvestment
receipts" of Rs 1,20,000 crore and (b) "disinvestment of government
stakes in public sector banks and financial institutions (LIC and IDBI) of Rs
90,000 crore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3d4239; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Another component going up
substantially is "other communication services" (non-tax revenue)
from which the budget estimates to receive Rs 1,33,027 crore in FY21(BE) - up
from Rs 58,989.64 crore in FY20 (RE). This is an increase of 125%. There is as
yet no clarity whether this would be generated from spectrum auction or
adjusted gross revenue (AGR) from telecom companies which is still pending
before the apex court.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #3d4239; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">When it comes to "gross tax revenue", the budget
documents show a <b>massive shortfall of Rs 2.97 lakh crore </b>in
FY20 (RE) from the FY20 budget target - (minus) 12.1%. More than half of this
(Rs 1.55 lakh crore) is accounted for by a shortfall in corporate tax. The
government had <b>cut the corporate tax by Rs 1.45 lakh crore </b>in
September 2019.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3d4239; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">What happens to the
government's investment plans if the receipts from disinvestment and
communication services receipts fail to match the budget estimates?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #3d4239; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Surely, that would be a major setback to all
its investment plans. </span><span style="color: #282828; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, the 12 percent growth rate targeted in Corporate Direct
Taxes appears very ambitious. So also the capital expenditure which is about 18
– 22 percent more than 2019.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the
National Savings Scheme (NSS) stands at Rs.1.25 lakh crores in the last two
years, the fiscal deficit staring us in the face is 7 – 8 percent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since the Finance Minister’s Budget speech was too long in the
first part and too short in the second part, the Sensex was confused and did
not know how to react.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As per the Budget 2020 proposals, the scope for fictitious
donees has been totally sealed. </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Naveen Wadhwa, DGM,
Taxmann.com leading publisher of taxation and corporate law books, says,
"There are three ways through which the income tax department can find out
if an individual has submitted fake bills to claim reimbursements. These are:
a) If the ITR of that individual is selected for scrutiny and supporting
evidence cannot be provided by the individual to substantiate his claims, b) If
the Department asks the employer to furnish supporting evidence for tax
deducted at source (TDS) calculated under Section 192 and bills submitted by
the employees are not found to be genuine, and c) If the tax department gets
some information through search or survey indicating that the employee has
claimed deduction on the basis of false bills."</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will greatly help in curbing
corruption at the lower and middle levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The income tax department is actually tracking
your every financial transaction. Every bank is required to report high value
transactions to the department through an Annual Information Return (AIR). Some
of these types of transactions include cash deposits aggregating to Rs 10 lakh
or more in a financial year, in one or more saving accounts of a person,
depositing money in fixed deposits aggregating to Rs 10 lakh or more in
financial year and so on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Taking a big leap towards transparent tax
administration, the income tax department on Monday rolled out faceless
e-assessment scheme that eliminates physical interface between an assessing
officer and an assessee.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is aimed at moving to faceless scrutiny and elimination of human
interface,” revenue secretary AB Pandey said while inaugurating the National
e-Assessment Centre (NeAC).</span><br />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ease of compliance for taxpayers, transparency and efficiency,
functional specialisation, improvement in the quality of assessment, risk-based
and focussed approach, better monitoring and expeditious disposal of cases are
some of the salient features of the new scheme.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A total of 2,686 officials of the I-T department
have been deputed for implementation of the scheme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
setting up of National e-Assessment Centre is a ‘momentous step’ towards the
larger objectives of better taxpayer service, reduction of taxpayer grievances
in line with prime minister's vision of ‘Digital India' and promotion of ease
of doing business,” the department said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The income tax department's e-filing website has
undergone many changes over the past one year. It is important that you are
aware of these changes to avoid making any kind of mistakes at the time of
filing your income tax return (ITR). This is time it becomes all the more
important because late filing of ITR will cost you.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you are eligible to file ITR-1 for the FY 2017-18 and you are filing
it using 'Prepare and Submit Online', you now have to the option to get certain
fields auto-populated (this is a new feature). You can choose to auto-populate
the fields selecting last year’s ITR or Form 26AS.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you select the 'auto-populate' check boxes
then these details will be auto-populated and you will not be required to fill
/select them again while filing your ITR using the ITR method.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If you do not match
the TDS details (which are auto-populated) with the Form 26AS, then you may
miss out on the tax-credit available to you.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Therefore, while filing your ITR you must not rely solely on the
automatic import of data and must check all the details from Form 26AS. In case
of mis-match, take the TDS figures from the Form 26AS as downloaded from the
TRACES website.</span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The panic trying to be
created due to the 5-10 percent disinvestment in Life Insurance Corporation
reforms is misplaced and unwarranted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is only for the purpose of raising money to fill the budget hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The disinvestment will help to be transparent
and not opaque.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not to be confused
with privatization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only disinvestment
is proposed which will improve accountability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The much awaited proposals with regard to bonds has proved to be
revolutionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As per these proposals, a
few categories of Non Resident Indians will be permitted to hold shares in
government holdings in the form of sovereign bonds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Finance Minister broke ground by addressing the woes of the
walnut manufacturers and the willow industry in Kashmir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consequently, their business is bound to see
a new high in the near future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kudos to
the FM for this insightful gesture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Though we hear a lot of noise about the protectionist trend in
the Budget 2020, I strongly feel that while every other country is proving to
be protectionist in their attitude and outlook, we need not have any qualms
about towing the line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The 'Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Bill, 2020'
introduced in the budget seeks to resolve disputed tax cases worth Rs 9.32 lakh
crore.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mumbai, which contributes one-third of the total tax collections, has
already started working on implementing the scheme and has identified around
one lakh cases which could come under the ambit of the tax amnesty once it gets
the President’s assent.</span><br />
</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to sources,
in Mumbai, over 60,000 cases are before the Commissioner of Incometax
(Appeals), over 22,000 cases are before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and
over 13,000 cases before the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court.</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Mumbai is currently 2.5 percent behind its tax collection
target. Many of the big corporates and PSUs like LIC and SBINSE -2.46 % are
locked in tax disputes. If these entities avail the scheme, not only will it
(the Mumbai cirple) meet the tax mop up targets but will be able to perform
much better,” said an official.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This will reasonably free the hands of the government with
reference to revenue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Overall world economy has slowed down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Post 2018, we saw many economies
rebound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the current context of the
world economy slowing down, government spending would prove to be more
beneficial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The most significant fact is that this Budget does not stand in
the way of performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Government is
not a magician who can stimulate growth with a swish of the magical wand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are countless other dynamics at
play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the social media is also not
helping in any way with its random forwards and WhatsApp messages which are
highly misleading than informative.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We should realise that while is it easy to rant on about the
negatives in the Budget, the devil rests in the details.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is for the government to work on these
details and brush the devil and the cobwebs away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One welcome announcement by the government is that there will not
be multiple examinations for various government jobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Examination for all government jobs will be
rolled into one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The finance minister’s proposals with regard to the educational
sector are very encouraging and welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These seem to be framed keeping improvement in skilling in mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While education support from the government
will be conditional, growth, performance and results will rest in the hands of
the common man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He should use the
educational support and sops to grow from small to middle to big sector.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is very emphatically felt that the farm sector and the
factory sector in India are too fragmented for anybody’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>liking. It is left to us the natives to strive
to get rid of this lacuna and convert them into planned and organised
sectors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this exercise will
definitely take a long time to fructify.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, it would be beneficial if we rang the gong for the start of the
exercise early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moreover, the public and opposition should not make it a habit
of creating distortions and confusions in well meaning Government laws and
proposals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us exercise patience and
forbearance in waiting for the well drafted proposals to take wings and
fly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us patiently wait before we
jump to conclusions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All economic laws are not universal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What applies to one country may prove
anathema to another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So let’s simply
wait for the Budget 2020 to take its course and watch for the final results
before we blow the trumpet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-48043142303510859172020-02-10T21:52:00.000-08:002020-02-10T21:52:11.166-08:00BREXIT AND ITS REPURCUSSIONS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">BREXIT AND ITS REPURCUSSIONS<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><u>What is Brexit ?<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJb6lHgVYmV3LXZ_n_FFM7pOCk80NKL7qjUjkJdMH4MGu7AlrL3fkTMEjfLmnlIJh9B4GBHx824So5TgrETHXLpEocmOp6B4tTd5HQ2YPdCKp2U4HmIVsVFK2DQEwPPlv4yAIwPy5GQLC/s1600/IMG_20200211_111240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJb6lHgVYmV3LXZ_n_FFM7pOCk80NKL7qjUjkJdMH4MGu7AlrL3fkTMEjfLmnlIJh9B4GBHx824So5TgrETHXLpEocmOp6B4tTd5HQ2YPdCKp2U4HmIVsVFK2DQEwPPlv4yAIwPy5GQLC/s320/IMG_20200211_111240.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A portmanteau of the words Britain and
exit, Brexit caught on as shorthand for the proposal that Britain split from
the European Union and change its concept and relationship to the bloc on
trade, security and migration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Britain’s </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">departure from the European Union was
backed by European lawmakers on Wednesday the 29<sup>th</sup> January 2020,
after a debate that mixed warm words of love with hard-headed warnings to the
country not to seek too many concessions during upcoming trade talks on a
future relationship.</span><span style="color: white; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Right from the word “go”, this proposal has
been a bone of contention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any number of
debates on the pros and cons of membership in a European community of nations have
been held.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first referendum on
membership in what was then called the European Economic Community in 1975 was
held less than three years since it joined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then, 67 percent of voters supported staying in the bloc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In
the year, 2013, the Prime Minister David Cameron promised a national referendum
on European Union membership with the single idea of settling the question once
and for all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The options offered to the
voters were broad and of course, vague – Remain or Leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Mr. Cameron was hopeful or rather
convinced that “Remain” would win hands down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
turned out to be a very serious miscalculation by the Prime Minister.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As
the Britons faced the polls on June 23, 2016, the unfortunate refugee crises
had made migration a subject of political rage across Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Meanwhile, the Leave campaign was hard hit with accusations
that it had relied on lies and also that it had broken election laws.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While backing Britain's departure in the wake of
the country's vote to leave in a referendum in June 2016, EU countries are
already preparing for the possibility that talks on a new trade deal with
Britain could collapse by the end of the year, and no-deal contingency planning
for a chaotic end to the transition<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>period is necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The European Parliament overwhelmingly approved
Britain's departure terms from the EU - the final major decision in the
four-year Brexit saga. The vote was 621 to 49 in favour of the Brexit deal that
the British </span><a href="https://m.economictimes.com/topic/British" target="_blank"></a><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prime Minister Boris
Johnson </span><a href="https://m.economictimes.com/topic/Boris-Johnson" target="_blank"></a><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> negotiated with
the other 27 EU leaders in the fall of last year.</span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
Britain's departure on Friday, the U.K. will remain within the EU's economic
arrangements until the end of the year though it won't have a say in policy as
it will not be a member of the EU anymore.</span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">"We will always love you and you will
never be far," said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on a day
when some legislators were moved to tears.</span><span style="color: white; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Britain is the first country to leave the EU and for many in Europe its
official departure at 11 p.m. London time on Friday, Jan. 31 is a moment of
enormous sadness and reduces the number in the bloc to 27.</span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The parliament's chief Brexit official, Guy
Verhofstadt, said that "this vote is not an adieu," adding that it is
"only an au revoir."</span><span style="color: white; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With only two days to spare, legislators
approved the withdrawal agreement that will end the 47-year membership of
Britain. At the same time, the vote cut the 73 U.K. parliamentarians from the
751-seat legislature where die-hard Brexiteers have been a disruptive force for
years.</span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally, the poll results saw 52 percent voters supporting
withdrawal from the bloc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However
ill-defined the result was, it was reality staring in the face of Britain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But, that was not the end of the debates. The debates still
rage as the Brexit advocates had saved for another day the confusing question
of what should come next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even after the
withdrawal vote, Britain is still not clear as to the sort of relationship it
would have with the European Union in future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This question is proving to be as divisive as the debates over
withdrawal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>What is the cause of the referendum vote break down ?<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Numerous voters from the rural areas and smaller cities in
England and Wales supported Brexit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
helped overcome the majority support for remaining in the European union among
voters in London, Scotland and Northern Ireland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The significant fact is that while
young people overwhelmingly voted against leaving, the older voters were for
leaving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Brexit
Playout in the larger spectrum :</span></u><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Europe is Britain’s major export market and
its biggest source of foreign investment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The membership in the bloc has greatly helped London cement its position
as a global financial center. <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>With
periodic regularity, major businesses have declared leaving Britain solely on
account of Brexit or at least have been threatening to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The list of such companies is crowned by
Airbus which employs about 14,000 people and indirectly supports more than
100,000 other jobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
Government had cried hoarse that in another 15 years, the country’s economy
would be 4 percent to 9 percent smaller if Britain left the European Union than
if it remained, depending on how it exits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Mrs.
May had promised that Brexit would mean the end of free movement – the right of
people from elsewhere in Europe to live and work in Britain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working class people, who view immigration as
a threat to their jobs, saw that as a triumph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Little
did they realise that there are two sides to a coin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The end to free movement could cut both ways
and this prospect was very dispiriting to young Britons fondly hoping to study
or work abroad.<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">How
did Britain end up with a January 31 deadline ?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ahead
of Parliament approving Mr. Johnson’s withdrawal agreement in January, just
about the only clear decision it made on Brexit was to issue a formal notice in
2017 to quit, under Article 50 of the European union’s Lisbon Treaty, a legal
process setting in on a two-year path to departure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That made March 29, 2019 the official divorce
date.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">However,
departure was stalled when the hard-line pro-Brexit Conservative law makers
refused to accept Mrs. May’s withdrawal deal since they strongly felt that it
would trap Britain in the European Market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
European Union pushed back the date to April 12. But, to no avail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mrs. May was again forced to push for more
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this time the clock was set at
October 31 affording a slightly longer breathing time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When
Mr. Johnson took over in July and vowed to take Britain out of the bloc by the
prescribed deadline with or without a deal, opposition lawmakers and rebels in
his own party swiftly seized control of Brexit and pushed for a no-deal
withdrawal meaning Britain would leave without being able to cushion the blow
of a sudden divorce.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
forced Mr. Johnson to seek an extension, something he had said he would rather
be “dead in a ditch” than do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Britain
continued to consider its options, the European leaders agreed for an extension
of the deadline by three months to January 31<sup>st</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ultimately,
Mr. Johnson persuaded enough opposition lawmakers to agree to an early general
election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His Conservative Party won an
80-seat majority unfortunately proving to be the death knell of anti Brexit
debates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">What
next ?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Janaury
31<sup>st</sup> is symbolically a milestone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Be that as it may.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should be
aware that it is merely the beginning of a potentially more volatile chapter of
the turbulent divorce wherein political and business leaders are jockeying over
what sort of Brexit will come to pass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Mr.
Johnson will now tread a path ridden with risks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More so after an election wherein he was
buoyed by voters in ex-Labour heartland seats in northern and central England
who are standing monuments of sufferings from trading barriers with Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And,
mind you, the clock is ticking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The end
of the transition period is December 31.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Any request to extend that deadline would have to come by June.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Mr.
Johnson, though, has consistently vowed to close the departure by the end of
the year. If he sticks to his word, Britain and the European Union will have to
strike a deal governing future trade across the English Channel at an unusually
fast pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And mind you, it took seven
years for the European Union and Canada to negotiate their 2016 trade deal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now,
Brexit is happening :</span></u><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After three long years of haggling in the
British Parliament, convulsions at the top of the government and pleas for
Brussels to delay its exit, Britain has almost come to closing the book on
nearly half a century of close ties with Europe on January 31<sup>st</sup>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
split with the European Union was sealed when Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s
Conservative Party won a thumbing majority and sound victory in December’s general
election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That gave Mr. Johnson the
parliamentary majority to pass the legislation in early January setting the
terms of Britain’s departure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the
European lawmakers gave the plan their blessing later in the month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In
my honest opinion, Mr. Johnson, a brash proponent of withdrawal, will now guide
the country through the most critical and crisis ridden phase of Brexit : trade
negotiations that will determine how closely linked Britian remains with the
Bloc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">At
midnight in Brussels on January 31<sup>st</sup> – 11 p.m. in London, Britain
will begin an 11-month transition in which it continues to abide by the bloc’s
rules and regulations while deciding what sort of Brexit to pursue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even though the European Commission's task force, led by Michel
Barnier, is negotiating on the EU's behalf, the impact of major nations like
France</span><a href="https://m.economictimes.com/topic/France" target="_blank"></a><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Germany on those talks is important.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">De Montchalin said that unless Britain
asks to extend the transition period before the summer, both sides will be
facing a cliff-edge scenario by the end of the year where borders could be
closed, tariffs imposed and rules changed overnight, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to the detriment of free trade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"That's why we had long
discussions this morning on the need to prepare for such a scenario, through
contingency measures that we have to keep active to be ready for all eventual
scenarios," de Montchalin said in Paris.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"We will not yield to any pressure," French President
Emmanuel Macron said. "The priority is to define, in the short, medium and
long term the interests of the European Union and to preserve them." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The EU has said such a timespan is far
too short and fears remain that a chaotic exit, averted this week, might still
happen at the end of the year if the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>transition ends without any agreement in
place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"The urgency of the 11 months of
the calendar should in no way lead us to rush, to accept compromises that would
hurt our interests," said Macron's Europe minister, Amelie de Monchalin.
"A trade accord is an agreement that lasts for several decades and we
should ensure that we always put fundamental issues of content before calendar
issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">What
finally and ultimately emerges as Britain parts ways with the European Union
will now determine the shape of the nation and its place in the world for
decades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-3997252506193519172020-02-05T23:15:00.002-08:002020-02-05T23:15:41.023-08:00Budget 2020 and its implications at a glance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BUDGET 2020 AND ITS
IMPLICATIONS AT A GLANCE<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Don't tell me what you
value, show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>― </span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joe Biden</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Finance Minister was faced with the
unenviable task of immediate challenges of the slowdown in growth and
investments along with frequent global event risks including the recent
outbreak of the corona virus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The longer
term challenges of climate change, demographic shifts and technological
disruptions were also staring her in the face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNeI95nfwa1_mhlqDHPiaRzv9cGsUTIFMVRyoNvkc6bpv69-NnaBUq7QJv5v4piRhEm3uTLfNMszhmcvzqAoDmnwDXLqZHbsfrrcNVTm3Kup3MEsQDvggjTCrz9cSze2oFk3h0J6swiSh/s1600/IMG_20200206_124112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNeI95nfwa1_mhlqDHPiaRzv9cGsUTIFMVRyoNvkc6bpv69-NnaBUq7QJv5v4piRhEm3uTLfNMszhmcvzqAoDmnwDXLqZHbsfrrcNVTm3Kup3MEsQDvggjTCrz9cSze2oFk3h0J6swiSh/s320/IMG_20200206_124112.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Amidst
all this and varying comments, both good and bad and brickbats, the Finance
Minister should be commended for designing and handing out a Budget proactive
during stressed times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has managed
to keep the capital expenditure steady amid receipts shortfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, sadly her overall plan does not meet
market expectations of sweeping reforms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well
! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There can never be one Budget that is
welcome to all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some ayes and some neys
are the hallmarks of any Budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s
now get down to seeing what Budget 2020 is actually about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Finance Minister’s job is a greatly coveted one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, no politician would have wanted to fill
her shoes this Budget Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>According
to a quote from The Hindu : “The Indian economy has slowed to a 5% crawl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The financial system is under considerable
stress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Assumptions about tax revenues
have gone awry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The clamour for
government to do something to get the economy going is deafening but there are
simply no quick fixes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What
exactly could the Finance Minster have done? She could have pushed growth
along<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>through a higher-than-normal
increase in government capital expenditure and ushered in reforms that would
kick in quickly for long run pay-offs. It is a well rounded Budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is also an underlying fear that its
performance may fall short of market expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Amid
persistent and loud criticisms about the economy being in a free fall mode and
the danger that the nose diving GDP numbers and social unrest would eventually
spark off unrest leading to destabilisation of strong regimes in other parts,
the Government is steadfast about proceeding on the path vehemently attacked by
all and sundry both locally and abroad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has also resisted the temptation to abandon the road of rectitude to
buy peace with sections that are identified to be sullen and unhappy all the
time..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
revenue so collected due to initiatives drawn out in this Budget will develop
infrastructure needs which will be in line with the Vision Statement of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“powerful nation</b>” that Modi has
successfully pushed since 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “aspiring” chunk who have been a big
factor in BJP’s success, will certainly be strengthened by the concessions.
They will be enthused by his latest move to sheer NRIs of their tax immunity
and glamour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>True,
the promises made in the last term have not yet borne fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The schemes to create a network of cold
chains and running of special trains and flights to transport perishables are
still to see the light of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, there is a fervent hope that steps will be initiated to remedy
the ‘raw deal’ meted out to farmers over the decades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I was greatly impressed with the 16 point
agenda the Government targeted under rural development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The forecast about doubling farmers’ income
by 2020, solar pumps for farmers, warehousing and cold storage to water
sufficiency measures for over 100 water stressed districts are all impressive
as Budget declarations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But a lot
depends on proficient execution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
focus on the rural and farm sector would help facilitate smooth functioning in
the sector with a rise in farm income.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Finance Minister proposed a personal income tax regime with reduced rates for
those earning up to Rs.15 lakhs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tax
payers have been given the choice to choose between the new and old regimes.
But most exemptions used by salaried employees for leave travel allowance,
house rent allowance, housing loan repayments, savings instruments such as PPF
and LIC as also the standard deduction will cease to exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She
opined that this could result in savings of Rs.78,000/- for someone earning
Rs.15 lakhs and not availing any incentives in the existing regime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Given the slowdown of consumption,
reduction of Individual Taxes for income brackets Rs.5-15 lakhs resulting in
Rs.40,000 crore revenue loss will prove to be positive for consumption spends, provided
it works. This will, in turn, spike the “buying spree” and raise up the spurt
in demand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>However,
the hitch is that the new regime would only serve as attraction to non salaried
tax payers or those who don’t avail any exemption as of now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those taxpayers who avail benefits, the
difference in tax outgo is not substantial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The lower tax rates that the tax payers enjoy will be negated by the
absence of sizeable deductions for those who are already claiming them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the taxpayers felt they are disappointed,
it is understandable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
addition, the Finance Bill also initiated three major changes to prevent tax
abuse by citizens who don’t pay taxes anywhere in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a number of policy announcements in
the Budget which would boost private investments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These include the abolition of Dividend
Distribution Tax, the exemption on interest, dividends and capital gains for investment
in infrastructure projects by sovereign wealth funds and the relaxation in the
limits of foreign portfolio investment in corporate bonds from 9% to 15% (of
the outstanding value of the bonds).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This will increase investments in the Indian bond market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The budget recognised that it would be
difficult to kick-start growth without improvement in the business
sentiment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The Finance Minister has been able to
keep Budget deficit within reasonable limits largely on account of huge
expectations from disinvestment and monetisation of assets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It is probably unfair to expect miracles
from the FM, given the complex challenges facing the economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between keeping the fiscal deficit within
reasonable limits, satisfying the clamour for lower rates of personal taxation
and simultaneously providing a thrust to growth must have been clearly a Himalayan
task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be that as it may, we would still
have to conclude that even the most moderate of expectations have been
belied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we are left with now is
surplus capacity, depressed consumer sentiment, unaddressed unemployment
heightened risk aversion and a very uncertain global environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This pushes us to think that the Budget was
long on words and short on numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
removal of dividend distribution tax will enhance the rate of return on
equity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the coming months, the
government should take forward the measures announced in the Budget and ensure
that they are implemented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example,
the disinvestment target has been set at an ambitious level of Rs.2.1 lakh
crores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Investment in loss making public
sector undertaking like Air India and Railways would be hard to come by. The
government should ensure that it is realised unlike in the current financial
year when only a small percentage of the target was raised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
expectations of Corporate India from this Budget were very high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By and large, the supply side had been taken
care of by many steps that were initiated post July 5 till before the Budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, something more could have been put
in place for immediate revival of demand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The fiscal deficit of 3.5% though more than 3.3 of last year, could have
been hiked up a little more to 3.8%.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This could have left the Government with a wee bit more to raise
expenditure and thus revive or sustain demand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dr.Pawan
Goenka, M.D., Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. calls it a Budget that will
positively spur mid-long term growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
the limited fiscal room that the government had, the FM has announced several
measures and initiatives to address these challenges and built them around the
themes of Aspirational India, Economic Development and Caring Society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He strongly feels that the review of rules of
origin norms under the FTAs and provisions against dumping are very welcome
steps in the right direction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Caring
Society, the third theme of the FM focused on Women & Child as its first
pillar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gross enrolment of girls across
all stages of schooling exceeds boys is clearly a worthwhile achievement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Governance
was the second theme under Caring Society and decriminalization of Offences
under Companies Act is laudable as it has all along been advocated to attract
foreign investors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Given
that the macroeconmic fundamentals are sound, currency is stable, inflation
manageable, commodity prices are low, could it have taken more risks to pull
the county out of its growth quagmire? That question does remain unanswered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>According
to Shri Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman Bharti Enterprises “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the biggest takeaway from the Budget for me was the call out from the
FM that wealth creators will be respected</i>”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
need has also been felt to regulate imports from FTA (Free Trade Agreement)
countries as there is a view that several entities are taking undue advantage
of the benefits provided by FTAs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unregulated imports under the existing FTAs appear to be causing
distress to domestic producers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
norms relating to rules of origin, value addition requirements etc. should be
more effectively enforced in order to ensure that only those imports that
fulfil FTA requirements are permitted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Customs duty changes are oriented towards promoting and protecting domestic
businesses and ensuring that they have a level playing field whilst they deal
with global headwinds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On
the other side of the coin, the former Union Finance Minister opined that the
government had given up on reviving the economy or accelerating the growth
rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>CPI(M)
General Secretary, Sitaram Yechury stated that the Budget failed to give a
clear road map on how to pull the economy out of the slump and categorically gave
it the thumbs down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
gross tax revenue growth projection of 11.99% appears very optimistic
especially because it has been built on the premise of an 11.54% rise in
corporate tax collection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the
slowdown in profit growth and the lower corporate tax rate now, it is
questionable and debatable if this projection can be met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The compression in spending is a strong
reflection of the extent of revenue shortfall this fiscal.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While there have been statements in
the Budget on rationalising the GST, what the Budget has done with personal
income tax is quizzical and inexplicable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On this score, the feeling is a combination of appreciation and yet
bewilderment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As such, the long-term growth
story of India is an organic consumption-led growth story and the FM has played
out this assumption only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, that
could have been possible without introducing multiple tax rates across income
slabs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the GST, this may deter
compliance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Despite these and many other lacunae,
this Budget seems to be heading in the right direction and appears to have a
broader long-term vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such a
holistic framework approach is indeed unprecedented and looks like marking a
new era of out of the box development thinking !</span><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">To conclude and to sum up, there is nothing spectacular about
this Budget which seems to ride more on optimistic growth estimates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it flies or falls flat depends on how
growth plays out in the economy in the next four quarters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let’s
hope for our own sakes and for the sake of Modi’s Government <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that this Budget 2020 works and works well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-2642765552257732382020-02-01T00:20:00.000-08:002020-02-01T00:20:56.199-08:00The memorable Presidential Award 2019 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">வெள்ளத்தனைய மலர் நீட்டம் –<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">மாந்தர்தம்
உள்ளத்தனையதுயர்வு.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- திருவள்ளுவர்<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“As the length of water plants increases with the level of
water, so the heights reached by you vary with your will.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I was
reminded of this couplet by Thiruvalluvar when I witnessed the regal
Presidential Award Winners of 2019 seated impressively in the Ambedhkar
International Centre, New Delhi waiting with bated breath to be felicitated by
Shri Anurag Thukur, the hon’ble Minister of State for Finance on the 27<sup>th</sup>
of January 2020, the day after the 71<sup>st</sup> Republic Day 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I was fortunate and lucky enough
that my spouse, Krishnamachari Srinivasan, Assistant Commissioner, Goods &
Service Tax, Chennai North Commissionerate, Chennai is one of the 46
Presidential awardees who had been selected under the category of “extraordinary
devotion to duty and specially distinguished record of service” for the year
2019.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is being bestowed with this
award for his meritorious service in propagating and elucidating GST throughout
the length and breadth of India since its initiation in the year 2018.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Incidentally, GST was rolled out on the 1<sup>st</sup>
July, 2017.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The pomp and splendour with which the
entire Investiture Ceremony panned out has to be seen to be believed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It all started in December 2019 when the
Notification was issued publishing the names of the 46 personnel who have been
selected for receiving the prestigious Presidential Award for distinguished
service during the year 2019.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And was I
delighted to find my spouse’s name there !!!!!!!!!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all went up in raptures at the very
prospect of him being honoured in the name of the First Person of India, the
President.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And more so since he superannuated
from service in the month of May 2020.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was extremely lucky to be at the right place at the right time with
the right persevering attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I would like to recount the entire
process since the Government of India has been extremely respectful and
reverential from the minute we landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport
on the 24<sup>th</sup> January 2020 till we boarded the flight back to Chennai
on 27<sup>th</sup> January 2020. This
respect and reverence applies to each and every single one of the 46
Presidential awardees and their family members.
We were treated like royalty. </span><span style="font-family: Latha, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The minute I set foot
on the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi alongwith my spouse
Srinivasan Krishnamachari, there was a Protocol Officer there waiting to
receive the awardee with a name board and a sedan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were then driven to the most elegant Hotel
for our stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After we had rested and
refreshed ourselves, he was back to accompany us and show us round our
prestigious Capital and its important spots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since the 71<sup>st</sup> Republic Day 2020 was just round the corner,
the entire New Delhi was all decorated and adorned with zeal, patriotism and of
course, the Tricolour everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a
spectacle of devotion and patriotism to our great Motherland India.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None can surpass us Indians in patriotism<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The great saint
Thiruvalluvar had carved out this couplet in no time.</span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;">However, I was witness to the perseverance,
labour, devotion and ceaseless work that my spouse put in to make this couplet
come true in his own life.</span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mr.Srinivasan
Krishnamachari is an Assistant Commissioner of GST since 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his career spanning over 36 years, he has
been honoured with any number of awards and medals for his excellent
performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goods and Service Tax was
rolled out on the 1<sup>st</sup> July 2017.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Through his unfailing interest and perseverance, my husband delved deep
into the myriad clauses and rules underlying the GST reforms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He managed to establish himself as a “Master
Trainer”of the GST reforms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Till date,
he has managed to train and impart knowledge on the intricacies of the ACT to
about 25,000 Central Government officials, Chartered Accountants, ICWAs and
Company Secretaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has been the
face of GST and acted as a bridge between the Department and the Trade and Industry
in the successful implementation of GST. He has played a commendable role in
initiating GST awareness through hundreds of his live seminars, Presentations
and articles in both print and electronic media targeting Trade Chambers,
schools, colleges and universities across the state and over AIR and
Doordarshan. Consistent and exceptional performance in diverse fields of work,
role modelling and mentoring officers throughout his career has made him richly
deserve the “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Presidential Medal of <br />
Appreciation for specially distinguished record of service, 2019”. </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is one among the 46 awardees selected in
2019 out of a total workforce running into a lakh or more throughout India.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglygwVEUzEip_LZHmGwAZ5DdFOT6VaWKKVDnz81h7KGxyvh0kp279VEg31u9O5_s-wXuH-Pf5K71rp4zxiUIRPfjBvjIL003AF7tzo6K2wA8YbyQxUa9Y4S6UIYM6X8qXE5Z2gpbyt9tMr/s1600/PHO.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglygwVEUzEip_LZHmGwAZ5DdFOT6VaWKKVDnz81h7KGxyvh0kp279VEg31u9O5_s-wXuH-Pf5K71rp4zxiUIRPfjBvjIL003AF7tzo6K2wA8YbyQxUa9Y4S6UIYM6X8qXE5Z2gpbyt9tMr/s320/PHO.1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvqgKbOKbbD5pCuKL7byisX_u-iS5U0KUCSGEa8z8pqiwvQF3G_7A8F0jj2qCkAOhM07lME9HpYcy8Acw-MjhzpdE5fmvWLW2LNv0WQnra1KyHeyYa6nVvqell4_YjGFiJkg9j35uhwt3/s1600/PHO.1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvqgKbOKbbD5pCuKL7byisX_u-iS5U0KUCSGEa8z8pqiwvQF3G_7A8F0jj2qCkAOhM07lME9HpYcy8Acw-MjhzpdE5fmvWLW2LNv0WQnra1KyHeyYa6nVvqell4_YjGFiJkg9j35uhwt3/s320/PHO.1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A rehearsal for the
actual Investiture Ceremony on 27<sup>th</sup> January 2020 was slated for the
25<sup>th</sup> January 2020 at the prestigious <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ambedhkar International Centre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Since
the rehearsals went on for nearly two hours, sumptuous tea and snacks had been
arranged for the awardees and their families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After filling our stomachs, we were again provided with our vehicles to
go site seeing around New Delhi. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;">The awardees were also provided VIP passes for the Republic Day 2020
parade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fervour and patriotism with
which each individual there was swelling should be seen to be believed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Entire New Delhi was adorned with a
celebratory mood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were so overwhelmed
to physically be a part of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the
parade, we went around visiting a few friends and various memorable places and
returned home to once again a well planned and executed dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3c9i7LloSza2cAEFrCKtmYljg1qh6su1wLsXNGx9VEsKITu3rgiYmu3ZJ9j8vVBt_zCc9SDDrtfcsfYx1OF6bJvVNqhqjHK06XJtzaLhRr42_6jFNV_bPAOB_a2GZaesrsydJoY3JBoE/s1600/PHO.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3c9i7LloSza2cAEFrCKtmYljg1qh6su1wLsXNGx9VEsKITu3rgiYmu3ZJ9j8vVBt_zCc9SDDrtfcsfYx1OF6bJvVNqhqjHK06XJtzaLhRr42_6jFNV_bPAOB_a2GZaesrsydJoY3JBoE/s320/PHO.4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;">At 9 a.m. on “D”Day, we left for the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ambedhkar International Centre. </b>The
whole Centre had been tastefully and beautifully done up with flower
arrangement and lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only the
awardees, but the families of awardees were provided with a special VIP Bay to
sit and view the proceedings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And watch
it !!!!!!!!!!!!! Every awardee was seated in a separate chair bearing his name
and designation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;">The Minister of State for Finance, Shri Anurag
Singh Takkur arrived around 10 a.m. and the proceedings started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Minister of State, the Chairman, Central
Board of Indirect Taxes, Member (Customs), CBIC (It was International Customs
Day 2020 also) were seated on the dias.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Latha","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the welcome address, the Member
(Customs) addressed the gathering bringing out the significance and importance
of Customs role in country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
followed by the speeches of the Chairman, CBIC and the Revenue Secretary who
drew out the importance of both GST and the Customs branches in Nation building
activities. This was followed by a meaningful short film titled “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Customs and its role in sustainability</b>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shri Anuraag Siingh Thakkur then addressed the
gathering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What stood out in his
participation was the fact that inspite of his busy and compelling schedule, he
took time out to happily celebrate the awardees. And his speech was candid and
simple but drawing out and appreciating all the intricate details and nuances
of both GST and Customs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon after his address, the first three
awardees were from J & K and North East Provinces where they had performed
life saving feats at risk of their own lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then came the Presidential Award Winners of GST and Central Excise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As each awardee’s name was announced, you could
see his achievements and feats and excellence pan out as a documentary behind
him on the screen till his exit after receiving the award.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my spouse, Krishnamachari Srinivasan’s
name was announced, my ecstatic daughter let out a loud cheer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After pin drop silence for a minuite, the
entire auditorium erupted into loud cheers and applause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was indeed an emotional moment. And the
star on the crown was that the hon’ble Minister patiently and smilingly waited
till all the cheers subsided and presented him with the award. I’m mentioning
this incident here because it is a small example of the extra mile that our
Central Government is willing to go to showcase its respect and reverence for those
individuals who are excelling by their sheer hard labour and perseverance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;">Once the Investiture Ceremony drew to a close, the
hon’ble Minister, the VIPs, the awardees and their families were escorted to a
VIP enclosure for high tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The candid
and cheerful countenance and interaction of the Minister with all around and
the casual way in which he smilingly obliged to all photo shoots was refreshing
and exhilarating. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One more interesting detail here is that
both my husband, Mr.Srinivasan and his colleague Shri Srivatsan, Superintendent
(Presidential Medal awardee) were both felicitated by the prestigious and
legendary <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delhi Tamil Sangam</b> on the
evening of the memorable Republic Day 2020 for their meritorious achievement in
winning the award and also because both of them were from Tamilnadu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZYWh9XpvCdFAhRdzbPlCGsdYeT96aFhYC36joV5cNjOnWsWTO_ExeRjH9zdzVTHNdY2-Pjso-8w1msG7Cm8MmXDLNzN93CulPf9d7Lc6uuczY4-nYLuAehWh9mg7eLwyb7miRxdenPbT/s1600/PHO.9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZYWh9XpvCdFAhRdzbPlCGsdYeT96aFhYC36joV5cNjOnWsWTO_ExeRjH9zdzVTHNdY2-Pjso-8w1msG7Cm8MmXDLNzN93CulPf9d7Lc6uuczY4-nYLuAehWh9mg7eLwyb7miRxdenPbT/s320/PHO.9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another noteworthy aspect is that
all expenditure for transport, accommodation and food for all the 46 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Presidential Appreciation for specially
distinguished record of service, 2019 awardees</b> was completely borne by the
Central Government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was their way of
reflecting their gratitude for the awardees’ service to the nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E3hOfSwDZfNAWJpVA7xX9Mi3gZ3DJl5oKmqz1_Mv1alyFI2ib6-72A7ZcPretd0EeUgUpJtO2O4Tqon3I0f5QXNntkGYNKoHumY07yxES5YcbeQJ3StuXFKcBt7g6wDVUBMNwo6g0CH0/s1600/PHO.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E3hOfSwDZfNAWJpVA7xX9Mi3gZ3DJl5oKmqz1_Mv1alyFI2ib6-72A7ZcPretd0EeUgUpJtO2O4Tqon3I0f5QXNntkGYNKoHumY07yxES5YcbeQJ3StuXFKcBt7g6wDVUBMNwo6g0CH0/s320/PHO.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once all the felicitations and
functions drew to a close, we headed towards the New Delhi Airport only after
profusely thanking the officer Shri Mohit, Inspector who had accompanied us
throughout the four days we were there and ensured that we were comfortable and
happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that moment, there was only
joy, happiness and pride dancing in our hearts.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ISe2gijiollhiiZ6JfVlQ8lc1hIZ4EMSHtDdiH3U8knTF514Lbnk0BWIuqo-8spLM6wlu_NRgd7gIXnqkeja2g1MdRlL6pNeD4SdAgnGCLMal29nK50K6hfarqqDPKiVod0h5REYqraF/s1600/PHO.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ISe2gijiollhiiZ6JfVlQ8lc1hIZ4EMSHtDdiH3U8knTF514Lbnk0BWIuqo-8spLM6wlu_NRgd7gIXnqkeja2g1MdRlL6pNeD4SdAgnGCLMal29nK50K6hfarqqDPKiVod0h5REYqraF/s320/PHO.15.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“No
country can excel mine” </b>was the line ringing in my lips and my heart as we
headed back home with pride and a wee bit of arrogance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Chennai Edition of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Thinamani” </b>of 28.01.2020 did us doubly
proud by publishing a photo and a half a page n article about all the six Tamil
Nadu Presidential Appreciation Awardees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvovi9-QRrNZ_yehecKG-NzsZpRkyuQKbeTMKhoGcA3gKtg9PKMrB_uFlywzmeX7t13THxgxKdXe97bq-PG_BcWfohNumf3LpCQJG1CxqRJHFXdyg43AYo19srkseLxZdnWt1IXaV5UND/s1600/PHO.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvovi9-QRrNZ_yehecKG-NzsZpRkyuQKbeTMKhoGcA3gKtg9PKMrB_uFlywzmeX7t13THxgxKdXe97bq-PG_BcWfohNumf3LpCQJG1CxqRJHFXdyg43AYo19srkseLxZdnWt1IXaV5UND/s320/PHO.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My only sadness was that it being
such a prestigious and noble award, it would have given us and the Government great
pride if only it had been presented by the hon’ble President himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Atleast the hon’ble Finance Minister could
have filled in the gap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would have raised
the benchmark of not only the award but the Central Government as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my humble opinion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is one occasion and incident
that will be etched in our minds and memory forever and for time immemorial. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-23226719435202066072020-01-28T01:58:00.003-08:002020-01-28T01:58:40.929-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CITIZENSHIP
AMENDMENT ACT 2019<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Protests
and confusion have rocked all parts and across the length and breadth of India
against this Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the last few
months, the country has seen violent and very unfortunate strikes and protests
against this CAA2019 and the proposed pan-India National Register of Citizens
(NRC) in the national capital region as also other parts of India.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Before
we go into the details and nitty gritties of the Act, let us first try to
understand what Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 (CAA) is all about. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
is an act that was passed in Parliament on December 2019.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 2019 CAA amended the Citizenship Act of
1955 allowing Indian citizenship for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and
Christian religious minorities who fled from the neighbouring Muslim majority
countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before December 2014 due to
“religious persecution or fear of religious persecution”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the Act excludes Muslims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under the CAA 2019 amendment, migrants who
entered India by December 31, 2014 and had suffered “religious persecution or
fear of religious persecution” in their country of origin were made eligible
for citizenship by the new Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
indicates that the applicant should have entered India on or before that
date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indian Citizenship under the
present law is given either to those born in India or if they are residents of
this country for a minimum of 11 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This Bill also proposed to incorporate a sub-section (d) to Section 7
providing for cancellation of Overseeas Citizen of India (OCI) registration
where the OCI card-holder has violated any provision of the Citizenship Act or
any other law in force. These types of migrants will be granted fast track
Indian citizenship by the new Law in six years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The amendment also relaxed the residence requirement for naturalization
of these migrants from eleven years to five years. This Act seeks to amend the
definition of illegal immigrant for Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist and Christian
immigrants who have lived in India without documentation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Central Government’s logic is that minority groups have come escaping
persecution in Muslim-majority nations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, this logic fails to remain consistent in that the Bill does not
protect all religious minorities nor does it apply to all neighbours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sects like Shias and Ahmedis also face
persecution in Muslim-majority countries like Pakistan but are not included in
the CAA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Questions were also raised on
the exclusion of persecuted religious minorities from other regions like Tibet,
Sri Lanka and Myanmar. The Government’s response was that Muslims can seek refuge
in Islamic Nations but has not effectively answered the other lingering
questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our
Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah has stated that the Bill would not have been
necessary if the Congress had not agreed to partition on the basis of
religion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, that India was not
created on the basis of religion is an undisputed fact staring them in the
face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the founders of India then
were committed to a secular state where all citizens irrespective of religion
enjoyed full membership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way,
this logic for the CAB also collapses since Afghanistan was not part of
pre-Partition India.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
enlightening fact is that CAB will not apply to areas under the sixth schedule
of the Constitution – which deals with autonomous tribal-dominated regions in
Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This Bill also has no relevance in states that have the inner-line
permit regime like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now,
a very intriguing yet interesting and fact is the anger and outrage exhibited
by the people of Assam against CAB.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While a big chunk of this state has been exempted from the legislation,
CAB covers a large part of Assam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
protests and outrage stem from the fear that illegal Bengal Hindu migrants from
Bangladesh, if regularised under CAB, would threaten the very fabric of
cultural and linguistic identities of Assam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
soon as the Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed in both Houses of Parliament
and given Presidential nod making it a law, there were loud murmurs about
another move – the National Register of Citizens or NRC and whether together
both of them would create a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, let us first try to understand what the National Register of
Citizens or NRC actually is.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
National Register of Citizens or NRC is one which identified illegal immigrants
from Assam on the hon’ble Supreme Court’s order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has been a state-specific exercise to
keep its ethnic uniqueness unaltered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, ever since its implementation, there has been a loud and
growing demand for its nationwide coverage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, the hitch according to the Opposition is that many top BJP leaders
including our Home Minister are loudly proposing that the NRC in Assam be
implemented across the entire country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In essence, it effectively suggests that a legislation will be assured
in that will enable the Government to identify infiltrators who have been
living in India illegally, detain them and deport them to where they came
from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
my opinion, is this not a welcome move from National Security and National
Protection point of view ? I may be a layman not aware of technical
implications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, is the Government not
justified in protecting and securing its borders and territories against
illegal infiltrations by identifying them and ekking them out ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, the Government, for the first
time, is attempting to do its job ? Why is there such a hue and cry against a
Government that is actually acting as it should and as per principles of
Law<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;">This
proposed Bill, once initiated and implemented, will singularly target illegal
immigrants in India.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;">But, Hindu, Sikh,
Parsi, Buddhist and Christian immigrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and
Bangladesh will not be affected in any way if they claim that they have arrived
in India after fleeing religious persecution. Thus, in a nut shell, if and when
National NRC comes into force, any illegal immigrant from other than
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh will be targeted.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;">And as for these three nations, people
migrating from there who belong to the Muslim community will also be affected
as they are not part of the CAA.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;">My
nagging worry is where will all these people who have made this country their
home for good or bad go when they are forced to move out due to NRC. On the
other hand, again I repeat, the Government is looking at the larger future
picture of a trouble free and violence free India.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hence, we, as its citizens, have to give it
to them and stand by them as they are struggling to put our house in order.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now,
let’s come to the major question of what would happen to the affected illegal
immigrants after National NRC is put in place. They will be transported to
large detention centres.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that, the
Ministry of External Affairs will reach out to the concerned Nations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the details of the detainees are matched
and accepted by the concerned Nations, deportations will follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
late as October 2019, our Home Minister has been raising the pitch for a
nationwide NRC in West Bengal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
Haryana, the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar too had promised to bring in
NRC in the state in his election manifesto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Though behind closed doors, even Shri Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS supremo has
been pitching for the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Whether
the nationwide NRC will be put into place or not is a premature question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But going by the speed with which the
Government is moving in bringing in some very bold legislations like the
abrogation of Article 370 in the monsoon session of Parliament 2019 and the CAB
in the winter session, it looks like a pan-India NRC Bill in the next
Parliament session will definitely not be a farfetched idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Several
petitions have been filed challenging the constitutional validity of the
Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 including by RJD leader Shri Manoj Jha,
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the first hearing on petitions challenging
the CAA, the hon’ble Supreme Court decline to stay the contentious law but
directed the Centre to file its reply against the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>petitions that insist that it violated the
Constitution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also claim that it
discriminates against Muslims and violates the right to equality enshrined in
the Constitution.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now,
let us see what the Opposition has to say about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Opposition’s stand is that the CAB ringfences
the Muslim identity by declaring India a welcome refuge to all other religious
communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This seeks to legally
establish Muslims as second-class citizens of India by meeting out preferential
treatment to other groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This violated
the very essence of Article 14 of the Constitution, the fundamental right to
equality to all persons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Opposition
strongly feels that this basic structure of the Constitution cannot be reshaped
by any Parliament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="b-qt" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">However,
the Government stoically maintains that this law does not in any way
discriminate or violate the right to equality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Government also made it distinctly clear that NRC and NPR are not
part of CAA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If one only looks at ways
of protesting and creating confusion among the masses, then they are pushing
our people towards a non-democratic atmosphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My take is that Citizenship Amendment Act is right for India and good
for India. If the Government is so strongly sure about its stand, there must be
underlying and strong background researches done for boldly taking such a
stand. After all, as we all know, the famous quote by none other than the
famous <b>Abraham Lincoln reads “ </b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #101010; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall
not perish from the Earth”.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019
has now become officially an ACT as of 12<sup>th</sup> December 2019 assuring
in the process of amendment to the already existing Citizenship Act, 1955.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="b-qt" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Onthe sidelines, I would like to relate an interesting event in this
context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As per our Prime Minister
Modi’s initiative and directions to all the Central Ministers to propagate
Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, a small but impressive event was organised in
Chennai on Sunday, the 12<sup>th</sup> January 2020 at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha
which I was fortunate enough to attend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Chief Guest was none other than our own Finance Minister, Smt.
Nirmala Sitharaman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire event
stood out for its simplicity, focus and awareness propagation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moment she walked in, she was all
business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, she charmed us all by her
candid, simple and smiling countenance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All the welcome speeches were rendered in Tamil and were short and to
the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The speech by the Finance
Minister was clear, distinct and understandable even to the common man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She started by patiently explaining the
entire CAA as to how it stood since 1955 and how it is being amended now in
2019.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the lay man on the streets
would be able to appreciate its benefits fully as she was able to explain well
both in Tamil and English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her speech
was followed by a short question answer session.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The questions put up to her were relevant and
genuinely intriguing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her answers to the
questions were astounding, very clear and candid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to paucity of time, she was only able to
spend about an hour and a half for the question answer session.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, she stood out because of her simple
demeanour, straight speaking and simple body language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The usual pomp and show of such political
events was completely lacking in this event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anybody could question her and she was there waiting to answer all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="b-qt" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif";">The Finance Minister had
done her homework.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stated that 2838
Pakistanis, 914 Afghans and 172 Kashmiris had been made eligible for
citizenship under the CAA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than 4
lakh Srilankan Tamils and 566 Muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh
have also been accommodated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shri </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Adnan Sami Khan who is a Pakistani Indian singer, musician,
music composer, pianist and actor has also been offered citizenship rights
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CAA is for the benefit of those
refugees in the camps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Finance
Minister reiterated that the present Government was implementing CAA since the
previous Government had failed to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She also drew attention to the fact that the Opposition was advocating
States to reject CAA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having become an
Act of Parliament, the advice to reject implementing the Act is
unconstitutional and liable for punishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead of rebutting the false propaganda, the present Government is
taking the benefits of CAA to the people through numerous discussions,
workshops, meetings and political forums, each of them addressed by very senior
Ministers who are aware of the lie of the land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Incidentally, the Finance Minister also insisted that the Srilankan
Tamils are not being left out or neglected as alleged by the Opposition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are also being wrapped in through the
process which is a continuous one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
may be a question of time before they get included but included they will be.
After all, the FM categorically concluded that this Government is one that
stands by the people and work for their welfare and improvement. She also added
that this Government is devoted to disprove all false propaganda by taking the
actual truth about CAA to the public through discussions, awareness programs
and workshops simple enough for the common man to understand the ground reality
about CAA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She further stated that this
Government is one with the people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole
Cabinet will stand as one and popularise the positive and truthful aspects
about CAA. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="b-qt" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I must hand it over to them, our Government for their united
and devoted path of bringing out the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It is only rarely we get to meet the Central Finance
Minister and that too for an event like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, having been there and seen it all, my humble opinion is that we are
extremely lucky and fortunate to have a Finance Minister from our very own
state and that too in the form of such a simple and uncomplicated
individual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The latest development on the petitions
against CAA on 22.01.2020 is that the Supreme Court bench headed by Chief
Justice S.A.Bobde announced that it will not grant any stay on CAA without
hearing the Centre and that it may refer the pleas to a larger constitutional
bench.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Supreme Court had also
granted the Centre four weeks to reply on the pleas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let me sign off this article with the
fervent and sincere hope that good things and good tidings come our way very
soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-51142994819625217422020-01-23T03:00:00.000-08:002020-01-23T03:00:00.862-08:00அத்தி வரதரும் காஞ்சி வைபோகமும்<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">அத்தி வரதரும் காஞ்சி வைபோகமும்<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>காஞ்சிபுரம் என்றாலே நம் கண் முன் நிற்பது ஸ்ரீ
வரதராஜ பெருமாளும் கஞ்சி காமாக்ஷி அம்பாளும்தான்.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>இந்த
இடத்திற்க்கு பெயரே “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">வைகுண்டபதி</b>”
என்றும் உண்டாம்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ஏன் இருக்க கூடாது?
இங்குதானே வரதராஜ பெருமாளையும் படி தாண்டா பத்தினி பெருந்தேவி நாச்சியாரையும்
ஒன்றாக சேவிக்க முடியும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>சக்தி மிகுந்த காமாக்ஷி
அம்பாளும் இங்கிருந்து நமக்கு அளவில்லா, ஈடில்லா அருள்பாலித்துக்
கொண்டிருக்கின்றார். காஞ்சியம்பதியை சுற்றி வந்தாலே போதும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>யதோத்தகாரி அல்லது சொன்ன வண்ணம் செய்த
பெருமாள், பாண்டவ தூத பெருமாள், பச்சை வண்ணன், பவள வண்ணன், மஹா தேசிகர் சன்னதி
மற்றும் காஞ்சியிற்கே என்றும் செழிப்பை வாரி வழங்கும் குபேரன் கோவில் என்று
எண்ணற்ற பாடல் பெற்ற ஸ்தலங்களை பெருமையுடன் சுமந்து கொண்டிருக்கும் ஊராகும் இது.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>இதையெல்லாம் விட, 2019 ஜூலை மாதம்
பொன்னேடுகளில் பொறிக்கப் பட வேண்டிய மாதமாகும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>ஏனெனில், இந்த வருடம்தான் <b>அத்திவரதர்</b> அனந்தசரஸ் குளத்திலிருந்து வெளி கொணரப்படும் மாதமாகும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>பண்டைய காலத்தில் முகலாய மன்னர்கள் நம்
நாட்டின் மேல் படையெடுத்து, சூறையாடி, கோவில்கள் யாவையும் தவிடு பொடியாக்கி
அங்குள்ள பொக்கிஷங்களான சுவாமி சிலைகளை கொள்ளையடித்து கொண்டுப் போன கால
கட்டத்தில், அத்தி வரதரை காப்பாற்ற எண்ணி அன்றைய பட்டர்களும் மக்களும் சேர்ந்து
அவரை அனந்தசரஸ் குளத்தில் புதைத்தார்கள் என்று வரலாறு கூறுகின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><img alt="Image result for athivaradhar image" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRHYmo_TuIiosV25yBVyBl_ipYl1tiibbXFVPEOM4mx1L-rsJS9qA&s" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>வருடங்கள் உருண்டோடின.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>பின்னர், கோவில் அதிகாரிகளும் நிர்வாகிகளும்
சேர்ந்து, 40 வருடங்களுக்கு ஒரு முறை வெளிகொணர்ந்து மக்கள் தரிசனத்திற்கு வைப்பது
வழக்கமாகியது. இந்த வருடம் 2019 இந்த வழக்கத்திற்குட்பட்டு 1979ஆம் ஆண்டிற்கு பின்
40 வருடங்கள் கழித்து வரும் வருடமானது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>காஞ்சிபுரத்தின் மற்றொரு பெயர் “ஆத்திகிரி”
ஆகும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>எனவேதான் பெருமாளுக்கு அத்தி வரதர்
என்று பெயர் என்றும் ஒரு கூற்றுள்ளது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>அது
மட்டுமின்றி, இக்கோவிலை சுற்றி அத்தி மரங்கள் சூழ்ந்திருந்ததாலும் அவருக்கு இந்த
பெயர் விளங்கியது என்றும் ஒரு கூற்றுள்ளது.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>அத்திவரதர்</b> என்னும் பெருமாள் ஒன்பதடி உயரம் கொண்ட அத்தி மரத்தாலான
பெருமாளாவார்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>சரஸ்வதி தாயார் தன் பதி
ப்ரம்மாவுடன் சண்டையிட்டு அவருடைய மந்திரக்கோலை கோபத்தால் அபகரித்தார் என்றும்,
அதை மீண்டும் பெற ப்ரம்மா காஞ்சியம்பதியின் அத்திகிரியில் அஸ்வமேத யாகம் செய்தார்
என்பதும் வரலாறு. அசுரர்களையும் ராக்ஷசர்களையும் துணை கொண்டு, சரஸ்வதி தாயார்
வேகவதி நதியாக உருவெடுத்து ப்ரம்மாவின் யாகத்தை கலைக்க முற்படுகின்றார்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ஆயின், விஷ்ணு யாக அக்னியிலிருந்து எழுந்து
சரஸ்வதி தாயாரின் கோபத்தை கலைத்து, யாகத்தை தொடர உதவுகின்றார்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>முனி விஷ்வகர்மா அவர்கள் அத்திவரதரை அத்தி மரத்திலிருந்து
வடித்தவுடன், பெருமாள் காஞ்சியம்பதியிலேயே யானை மலை மேல் இருந்து தரிசனம் தர
விழைகின்றார்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>நாத்திகர்களுக்கு இது ஒரு கேலி கூத்தாகக் கூட
தெரியலாம்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ஆனால் ஜூலை மாதம் 2019 முதல்
காஞ்சியம்பதியில் நடக்கும் வைபவத்தை காண்பவர்களுக்கே புரியும் அதன் வலிமையும்,
சக்தியும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ஆழ்வார்களும் ஆச்சார்யார்களும்
இவ்வத்திவரதரை பற்றி பெரிதாக எதுவும் கூறவில்லை.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>இந்த அத்தி வரதர் பண்டைய காலத்தில் எங்கோ பிண்ணமாகி விட்டார் என்றும்,
அதனால்தான் ஆகம விதிகளின்படி அவர் குளத்திற்குள் வைக்கப் பட்டார் என்பது இதை
பற்றிய இன்னொரு கூற்றாகும்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“ஆத்தி வரதர் முகலாய படையெடுப்பின் காரணமாகவோ
அல்லது ஆகம விதிப்படியோ பல வருடங்களாக நீரில் கிடந்திருந்தாலும், அது இப்பொழுது
ஒரு 40 வருடங்களுக்கு ஒரு முறை நடக்கும் ஒரு வைபவமாகவே நின்று விட்டது”
என்கின்றார் கோவிலுக்கு அருகில் வசிக்கும் <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">அக்கரகனி
ஸ்ரீனிதி</b> என்கின்ற வைணவ மூதறிஞர்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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பெற்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>வரதர் கிடந்த திருக்கோலத்தில்
முதல் 40 நாட்களும் (ஜூலை 1 முதல் ஆகஸ்ட் 9 வரை)</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> நின்ற திருக்கோலத்தில் கடைசி 8
நாட்களும் (ஆகஸ்ட் 10 முதல் 18 வரை) யாவருக்கும் சேர்வை சாதித்தார்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>காஞ்சிபுரத்தில் குடியிருப்பவர்களை தவிற வெளி
மனிதர்களுக்கு காலை 5 மணி முதல் மாலை 5 மணி வரை சேர்வை னேரம் ஒதுக்கப்
பட்டிருந்தது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>காஞ்சிபுரத்தினருக்கு
மட்டும் மாலை தரிசனம் இரவு 8 மணி வரை நீட்டிக்கப் பட்டிருந்தது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>எனவே, ஆன்லைன் டிக்கட்டுகளோ அல்லது கோவிலிலேயே
வாங்கிய டிக்கட்டுகளோ (விலை ரூ.50 – 500 வரை) சகிதம் நீண்ட நெடும் வரிசைகளில்
பொருமையாக நின்று தரிசனம் நடை பெற்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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நம் தமிழக அரசின் முறையான திட்டமிட்ட உழைப்பும் அதை அழகாக அமைத்து சென்ற
விதமும்தான்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>இந்த விழாவின்
ஏற்பாட்டிற்காக ரூபாய் 29 கோடிகள் ஒதுக்கியது மட்டுமல்லாமல், நம் அரசு இடைவிடாத
ஷட்டில் சேவையையும் பேருந்து நிலையத்திலிருந்து டவுனிற்குள் வரும் வரைக்கும்
ஏற்பாடு செய்து மக்களுக்கு பேருதவி புரிந்தது.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>என் கணவரும் நானும் அருள்மிகு அத்தி வரதரை
தரிசிக்க 2019 ஜூலை 13ஆம் நாள் சென்றிருந்தோம்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>சேவார்த்திகளின் வசதிக்காக தமிழக அரசு செய்திருந்த அத்தனை ஏற்பாடுகளையும்
என் கண்ணாரப் பார்த்தும் ப்ரமித்தும் போனேன்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>ஷட்டில் சேவை முடியுமிடத்திலிருந்து தரிசன மண்டபம் வரை மக்களை
வெயிலிலிருந்து காப்பதற்காக அமைக்கப் பட்ட பந்தல்களும் ஷாமியானாக்களும் தெரிந்தன.
நீண்ட வரிசைகளில் பத்தடிக்கு ஒரு சேவார்த்தி மக்களுக்கு தாகம் தீர்க்க நீரும், இன்னொருவர்
மோரும் இன்னும் ஒருவர் உணவும் வழங்கிய வண்ணம் இருந்தனர்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>பந்தல்களுக்கு எதிர்புறம் வரிசையாக பெட்டி
கடைகள் ஜூஸ்கள், தண்ணீர் பாட்டில்கள் மற்றும் உணவு பொட்டலங்கள் விற்றபடி
இருந்தன.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>வாழ்க்கை ஆசையே அத்தி வரதரை
தரிசிக்க வேண்டும் என்றிருந்த முதியோருக்கும் பக்தர்களுக்கும் தாகத்தையும்
பசியையும் தனிக்க அரசு செய்திருந்த இவ்வசதிகள் மிகவும் உதவியாக இருந்தன.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>இதை தவிற நான் முக்கியமாக குறிப்பிட வேண்டிய
ஒன்று அங்கு இரண்டு படுக்கைகளுடனும், மருத்துவர்களுடனும், நர்சுகளுடனும் தயார்
நிலையில் இருந்த அம்மா மருத்துவ முகாம்தான்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>எந்த ஒரு பிரச்சினையும் இல்லாமல், அப்படி பிரச்சினைகள் வந்தாலும் திறம்பட
சமாளிக்கும் சாமர்த்தியம் கொண்ட முகாமை காணும்போதே பெருமையாக இருந்தது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>அதே போல், சக்கர நாற்காலி வசதியும் தடையின்றி
ஏற்பாடு செய்யப் பட்டிருந்தது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>இதற்காக ஒரு
தனி வழியே வகுக்கப் பட்டிருந்தது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ஒரு
வயது முதிர்ந்த பெண் சக்கர நாற்காலியில் அமர்ந்தபடி வரதைரை காண முடியாமல்
திண்டாடியதை பார்த்த நான்கு காவலர்கள் அவர்களுடைய சக்கர நாற்காலியை அப்படியே
அலக்காக உயர்த்தி அந்த பெண்ணின் விருப்பத்தை பூர்த்தி செய்தனர்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>அத்துடன் நிறுத்தாமல், அவரை மிகவும்
பாதுகாப்பாக இறக்கி அவருடைய குடிம்பத்தாரிடம் பத்திரமாக ஒப்படைத்த பின்னரே
ஓய்ந்தனர்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRsaqD-eR5StpWjpGHpAsNgsVGxY4O_LvYcEdywT2FUc2Gf4JrquB9WwpF0Gzk-BFhxj-V2BcDSeE7-GqlZNYTaMeavtoeQaOydv-edGqBOcq8JCsXr9_I4X3ftJiuCQ1iOjdwYdcSI6j/s1600/athivaradhar+pho.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRsaqD-eR5StpWjpGHpAsNgsVGxY4O_LvYcEdywT2FUc2Gf4JrquB9WwpF0Gzk-BFhxj-V2BcDSeE7-GqlZNYTaMeavtoeQaOydv-edGqBOcq8JCsXr9_I4X3ftJiuCQ1iOjdwYdcSI6j/s320/athivaradhar+pho.4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>தமிழக அரசு முதியவர்களும்
முடியாதவர்களும் ஓய்வெடுக்கவும் இடங்கள் தயார் செய்திருந்தது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>மேலும், தற்காலிக கழிவறைகளும் ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்
பட்டு, அவைகளை சுத்தமாக வைக்க ஆட்களும் நியமணம் செய்திருந்தது. அதே போல், எங்கும்
நீர் வழங்கிகளும் பொருத்தப் பட்டிருந்தன.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>இங்கு நாங்கள் இரு வகையான அபூர்வ குணங்களை
காஞ்சி வாசிகளிடம் அன்று கண்டோம்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>அவர்களுடைய தாராளமாக மற்றவர்களுக்கு உதவும் குணத்தையும் கண்டோம். அத்தி
வரதர் முன்னே அவர்களின் அபார பக்தியையும் கண்டோம்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>அசந்தோம்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>காஞ்சியிலிருந்து திரும்பும் பொழுது
முழுவதுமே எங்களின் மனத்தில் காஞ்சி மக்களின் அன்பும் அரவணைக்கும் தன்மையும்தான்
மேலோங்கி நின்றது. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Latha","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">மக்கள்
சேவை மகேசன் சேவை” </b>என்பதற்கேற்ப செயல் பட்ட காஞ்சி மக்களுக்கும் நம் தமிழக அரசிர்க்கும்
என்றும் எல்லோரும் கடமை பட்டிருக்கின்றோம். அவர்களுக்கு நமது பாராட்டுக்களும்
வணக்கங்களும் உரித்தாகுக. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-17819835030084766712020-01-22T02:12:00.001-08:002020-01-22T02:12:48.802-08:00Sabarimala judgement of the Hon'ble SC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sabarimala
Judgement of the Hon’ble SC and the surrounding complexities <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The aftermath of the Supreme Court decision in the
Sabarimala case is essentially concerning if not unnerving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Faith is something that cannot be questioned or
dissected. There is strong resentment
and disenchantment among the devotees with regard to the Supreme Court
judgement. Thousands of devotees, most
among them also being women, are spearheading protests all over Kerala and
outside opposing the above judgement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The age old customs and religious rituals being judiciously
followed by the devotees have now come up for questioning from the
constitutional view of fundamental rights and equality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Gordian knot is the conflict between age old religious
practice and faith and the inconsistent constitutional protection under
Articles 25 and 26. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is a very serious but a sensitive one, too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kerala, which is always at the forefront as a role model
state for the highest literacy rating, is now caught in a whirlwind of
increasing unrest and confusion which appears to shake its very
foundation. There is also the danger of
this unrest spilling into other states where there are Sabarimala devotees in
large numbers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a situation of an uncompromising divide between
deeply hurt religious sentiments and an analytically perfect Court order. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Government of Kerala is not helping to resolve the
conflict in any way by its attempt at strict action against devotees and
demonstrators.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No doubt the Supreme Court judgement is the outcome of
detailed analysis and interpretation of previous judgements. In this context, the lone dissenting order of
the woman judge gains significance indicating that there is more than one side
to a coin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Supreme Court’s Order is looked upon as final only because
we firmly believe that it is incapable of being wrong. There is no place for any mistake or
misstatement since so much study, analysis and discussion has gone into the
making of the historic order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, there is some truth in what Shri Ashok Kumar Bal,
a retired Civil Servant opines. He says
“the Court may not be the appropriate forum to resolve such sensitive issues or
disputes. They cannot also assume the role of a theological guide or
adjudicator on such issues”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As an aftermath of the judgement, countless petitions have
now been filed before the Supreme Court. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Hon’ble Supreme Court is looked upon with great respect
and reverence from time immemorial. It was firmly believed that the Indian
judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, is incapable of hasty or shaky
judgments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While reviewing these petitions, it was sincerely and
fervently hoped that the Supreme Court will pull off a victory by issuing a
studied judicious order that balances equally well both time tested religious
sentiments and fundamental rights. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In matters of religious faith, belief, customs and rituals
have existed for centuries without any harm being rendered to the society and
they also have the stamp of the widest acceptance of the people at large. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It needs to be seen that at times, law or logic may not
necessarily be the tool to resolve a dispute.
It is the intelligent step of helping faith and law mutually coexist
that is expected of the Judiciary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The clever knack of making both appear equally represented is
what the public looks for in a judicial decision. But, it is also true that it is this same
faith that made the law to stand for it all this while. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now,
the honourable Supreme Court has come out with a considered judgement ordering
the Kerala Government to frame a separate law for the management of the
Sabarimala Temple by the third week of January 2020. It also </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> referred the Sabarimala issue to a larger,
seven-member bench after hearing pleas seeking a review of its decision to
allow women of all ages into the temple. In September last year, the court held
that a centuries-old ban on women and girls aged 10 to 50 was illegal and
constitutional. But protesters thwarted most attempts by women to travel to the
Sabarimala temple, located northeast of Pathanamthitta in a tiger reserve.</span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">This
judgement I sincerely hope will put to rest all unrest and confusion.</span></div>
</div>
Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-88825627974058879242020-01-21T21:50:00.001-08:002020-01-21T21:50:18.101-08:00நம்மாழ்வார் சேர்க்கை சேர்வை<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">நம்மாழ்வார்<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>வைணவத்தை நாடு முழுவதும் சளைக்காமல் பறப்பிய 12 ஆழ்வார்களுள் <b>நம்மாழ்வார் </b>ஐந்தாம் இடத்தில் மிக முக்கியமாக விளங்கியவர். அவர் தமிழ்நாட்டில் தூத்துக்குடி மாவட்டம் ஆழ்வார் திருநகரியில் </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">பிறந்தவர். <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>நான்கு வேதங்களையே தீந்தமிழில் பாடியதால் "வேதம் தமிழ் செய்த மாறன்" என்று <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>புகழப்படுபவர். கம்பர் இயற்றிய "சடகோபர் அந்தாதி" எனும் நூலின் தலைவனும் இச்சடகோபனே ஆவார்.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">திருநெல்வேலியில் தாமிரபரணிக்கரையிலுள்ள திருக்குருகூர் என்னும் ஊரில் வசித்த காரியார் மற்றும் உடைய நங்கைக்குத் திரு மகனாராக நம்மாழ்வார் அவதரித்தார். பதினாறு ஆண்டுகள் திருக்குருகூர் நம்பி கோவிலின் புளிய மரத்தின் அடியில் எவ்வித சலனமும் இல்லாமல் தவம் செய்து வந்தார். வடதிசை யாத்திரை மேற்கொண்டிருந்த மதுரகவி என்பவர் அயோத்தியில் இருந்தபோது தெற்குத் திசையில் ஒரு ஒளி தெரிவதைக் கண்டு அதனை அடைய தென்திசை நோக்கிப் பயணித்தார். மாறனிடமிருந்தே அவ்வொளி வருவதை அறிந்து அவரை சிறு கல் கொண்டு எறிந்து விழிக்க வைத்தார். சடகோபனின் ஞானத்தாலும், பக்தியாலும் கவரப்பெற்று அவருக்கே அடிமை செய்தார் என்பது வரலாறு. மாறன் கண்விழித்த உடன்</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">மதுரகவி ஆழ்வார் கேட்ட<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">"செத்ததின் வயிற்றில் சிறியது பிறந்தால் எத்தைத் தின்று எங்கே கிடக்கும்?" கேள்விக்கு<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">"அத்தைத் தின்று அங்கே கிடக்கும்" என்று பதில் அளித்தார் நம்மாழ்வார்.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">பன்னிறு ஆழ்வார்களிலும் இவரே மேலோங்கி நிற்பவர். இவர் நாலாயிர திவ்ய ப்ரபந்தத்தில் 1352 பாசுர்ங்களை அளித்தவர் ஆவார்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">கண்ணிநுண்சிறுத்தாம்பு, வைணவ சமயத்தில் நம்மாழ்வாரைப் போற்றி மதுரகவியாழ்வாரால் இயற்றப்பட்ட நூலாகும். இந்நூல் 11 தனியன்களைக் கொண்டது. மதுரகவியாழ்வாரால் நம்மாழ்வாரை வணங்கி பாடப்பட்ட இந்நூல் நாலாயிர திவ்யபிரபந்தம் தொகுப்பில் முதாலாயிரம் தொகுப்பில் இடம்பெற்றுள்ளது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>நம்மாழ்வாரையும் அவரை ஒத்தவர்களையும் ஒப்பிடும்போது, அவரின் எழுத்தின் நடையும் அழகும் நாடக வடிவில் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருப்பதால், இவர் மற்றவர்களிடமிருந்து தனித்து நிற்கின்றார்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">கலியுகத்தில் வைகுண்ட வாசல் முதன்முறையாக </span><span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">நம்மாழ்வாருக்கே ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணால் திறக்கப் பட்டது என்று நம்ப படுகிறது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">பகல் பத்தும் இரா பத்தும் மார்கழி மாதம் கொண்டாடப் படுகிறது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> இ</span>ரா பத்தின் முதல் நாள் “வைகுண்ட ஏகாதசி” ஆகும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>அன்றுதான் நம்மாழ்வார் சொர்கவாசல் அடைந்தார் என்றும் நம்பப் படுகிறது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ஒவ்வொரு வருடமும் இந்த வைபவம் நாடகமாக கோவில்களில் கொண்டாடப் படுகின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">இந்த வருடம் நான் சென்னை லஷ்மிபுரம் (ம்யூசிக் அகாடமியின் பின்புரம் உள்ளது) ஸ்ரீனிவாச பெருமாள் கோவிலுக்கு சென்றிருந்தபோது அந்த காட்சியை காணும் பேறு பெற்றேன். <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">இ</span>ரா பத்தின் கடைசி நாள் நம்மாழ்வாருக்கு மோக்ஷம் கிட்டியது என்று புராணம்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>அப்போது, பக்தர்கள் யாவரும் வேண்டி கேட்டதின் பொருட்டு, ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணன் நம்மாழ்வாரை திரும்பி பூலோகத்திற்கு அனுப்பினார் என்றும் பூர்வீக நூல்கள் கூறுகின்றன.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TrfZQpnW5rEop8b6n5f5pLjMwXiKOv1PPd4D5EM8GwjKFKQI0YhBZ-sR0CICT2_ob9SCfhZYHCjLRYyNgshUBs1Ps0c1wh9_L8LDJgLm_H9XXwmH4iIOREznOww4pGoXCYAcCxWJuvjM/s1600/nam+photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TrfZQpnW5rEop8b6n5f5pLjMwXiKOv1PPd4D5EM8GwjKFKQI0YhBZ-sR0CICT2_ob9SCfhZYHCjLRYyNgshUBs1Ps0c1wh9_L8LDJgLm_H9XXwmH4iIOREznOww4pGoXCYAcCxWJuvjM/s320/nam+photo+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; text-indent: 36pt;">இந்த கோவில் ஒரு தனி குடும்பத்தினரால் பரம்பரை பரம்பரையாக நிர்வகிக்கப் பட்டு வருகின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>இதனை </span><span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">சீருடனும் </span><span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">சிறப்புடனும் நிர்வகிக்கும் மூன்றாவது பரம்பரை ட்ரஸ்டீயின் பெயர் திரு. ராஜப்பா. இவர் 82 வயதை நெருங்கும் ஒர் வழக்கறிஞர் ஆவார்.</span><span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;"> இவர் மிருதங்கமும் வாசிக்கும் சிறப்புடையவர். கோவில் கைங்கரியங்களை கண்ணும் கருத்துமாக மேற்பார்வை இடுபவரும் இவரே. பகவத் கைங்கரியங்களில் மிகவும் கண்டிப்புடனும் விழிப்புடனும் கடந்த ஐம்பது வருடங்களாக இக்கோவிலை வழி நடத்தி வருபவர்.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">இந்த விழாவிற்காக பாயென கோலமிட்டு கோவிலை அலங்கரித்திருந்தனர்.</span><span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">இக்கோவிலின் அழகே எங்கும் சுத்தமாகவும் சுகாதாரமாகவும் இருப்பதுதான்.</span><span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">ஆண்களும் பெண்டிருமாக ஒன்று சேர்ந்து இரு வரிசையாக நின்று </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">நாலாயிர திவ்ய ப்ரபந்தத்தை இனிமையாக பாட, </span><span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">நம்மாழ்வாரின் சிலையுருவம் ஒரு புறமும் பெருமாள் மற்றும் உபய நாச்சியார்கள் மறுபுறமும் வீற்றிருந்தனர்.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> நடுவில் வெள்ளை பாய் விரித்து, வாசனை மலர்கள் தூவி நடையை அழகு படுத்தியிருந்தனர்.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>கம்பீரமாக </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; text-indent: 36pt;">நாலாயிர திவ்ய பிரபந்தம் ஒலிக்க, பரத் மற்றும் ரவிச்சந்திரன் (கோவில் பட்டர்கள்) நம்மாழ்வாரை பய பக்தியுடன் ஏந்தி ஒய்யாளி என ஆடி ஆடி பெருமாளை நோக்கி முன்னேரினர்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">எங்கள் யாவரின் கண்களும் நாம்மாழ்வாரையும் பெருமாளையும் மாறி மாறி பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருந்தன. மெல்ல மெல்ல நம்மாழ்வார் ரங்கனை அடைந்து வைகுண்டம் ஈன்றார்.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">இதை அழகாக சித்தரித்து நம்மாழ்வாரின் சிலா ரூபத்தை ரங்கனின் பாதத்தில் அமர்த்தி திருத்துளாவினால் மூடினர்.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">அப்போது, பக்தர்கள் யாவரும் ரங்கனிடம் நம்மாழ்வாரைத் தங்களுக்கு திரும்பி ஆழ்வாராக வேண்டி யாசிக்க, “தந்தேன் !! தந்தேன்!!” என்று பெருமாள் கூறியதாக ஏற்று நம்மாழ்வார் திருத்துளா புதையலிலிருந்து வெளி கொணரப் பட்டார்.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">மீண்டும் ஒய்யாளி ஆடி நம்மாழ்வார் பெருமாளை பார்த்தபடியே திரும்பி தன் இடம் சென்று அமர்கின்றார்.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoCnbPTNVJORnvhkxZoLO3ENOPLFQqSfXAF8W2N6wJ4WY9w5v1Gx3NgjceoveikVOZPhYzE5KF5JF_BBJ50xZal4u_PNzTlbROQsk9_OW7S0Qmt80Y_ZgUkzB4DdxP-CzAticCCNNrEFu/s1600/nam+photo+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoCnbPTNVJORnvhkxZoLO3ENOPLFQqSfXAF8W2N6wJ4WY9w5v1Gx3NgjceoveikVOZPhYzE5KF5JF_BBJ50xZal4u_PNzTlbROQsk9_OW7S0Qmt80Y_ZgUkzB4DdxP-CzAticCCNNrEFu/s320/nam+photo+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">இந்த வைபவத்தின் முக்கியதுவத்தையும் அழகையும் திறம்பட சித்தரித்தவர்கள் அங்கு குழுமியிருந்த ஆண்களும் பெண்டிரும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>சுமார் இருபது ஆண்கள் ஒரு வரிசையாகவும் இருபது பெண்கள் ஒரு வரிசையாகவும் நின்று நாலாயிர திவ்ய பிரபந்தத்தை பாசுரம் பாசுரமாக பாடியது இப்பொழுதும் என் நினைவில் நிற்கின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7ds3Jr7bPm9wMmFUD7fNoTQwLQVGq3-wdiwXggMiZGtwrMdxsqqgLovi3CK_ViOAnGlfKgkRrjwIaM5cwVfFUgkRyu4Ga2lR7yt5i_ZoQo2DhwKr4JrHncq9MIU65CJue8dHHVREp37h/s1600/nam+photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7ds3Jr7bPm9wMmFUD7fNoTQwLQVGq3-wdiwXggMiZGtwrMdxsqqgLovi3CK_ViOAnGlfKgkRrjwIaM5cwVfFUgkRyu4Ga2lR7yt5i_ZoQo2DhwKr4JrHncq9MIU65CJue8dHHVREp37h/s320/nam+photo+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>என்னே ஒர் பக்தி, என்னே ஒர் உருக்கம், என்னே ஒர் ஆன்மீக ஒழுக்கம் !!!! நம்மாழ்வார் சென்று இறைவனடி அடைந்ததும் அனைவரின் கண்களும் கலங்கின.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>அவர் திரும்பி பூலோகம் அடைந்ததும் அனைவரும் ஆர்பரித்து மகிழ்ந்தனர்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>உண்மையாகவே, நம்மாழ்வார் சேர்க்கை இன்றுதான் நடக்கிறதோ என்ற எண்ணம் மேலோங்கி நின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">கோவிலை அலங்கரிக்க அவர்கள் இழைத்திருந்த கோலங்கள் கண்ணை பறித்தன.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>மலர் மற்றும் விளக்கு அலங்காரமோ சொர்கபுரி என கோவிலை மாற்றி இருந்தன.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHN5SPktJHoHTf-W0zZZxeu__lRZhck8W8ykBUEfh6y5jUMoSoc46bMFUQ92kl1k_eABzHQnNq5w69YIvGlPzDK81fIJSB3QoQXbbJ2HQKSEQkPyuZkbCFy77ysxhZsPFcfgdnk-B5aC2/s1600/nam+photo+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHN5SPktJHoHTf-W0zZZxeu__lRZhck8W8ykBUEfh6y5jUMoSoc46bMFUQ92kl1k_eABzHQnNq5w69YIvGlPzDK81fIJSB3QoQXbbJ2HQKSEQkPyuZkbCFy77ysxhZsPFcfgdnk-B5aC2/s320/nam+photo+5.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>இவை யாவையும் தாண்டி, ஆண்களும் பெண்டிருமாக அவர்களின் நெறியான நடத்தலும், யாவரையும் சந்தோஷிக்க செய்யும் அணுகுமுறையும் பார்ப்பவர்கள் மனதில் பரவசத்தை ஏற்படுத்தின.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>நான் பெண்ணாக இருப்பதாலோ என்னவோ, இங்கு நான் <b>லஷ்மி, ஜெயந்தி மற்றும் பத்மப்ரியா</b> ஆகிய பெண்டிரின் பெயர்களை முக்கியமாக குறிப்பிடுகின்றேன்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>பம்பரமாக அவர்கள் சுழன்ற வேகமும், ஒவ்வொரு வேலையையும் அவர்கள் நிறைவேற்றிய நேர்த்தியான விதத்தையும் இங்கு நான் குறிப்பிட கடமை பட்டிருக்கின்றேன்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTugOTE7vgrjGSBPMFMMj_2AW5OJ7YhLoTm5Sp28__yrbzY3z7zffmNxogrtzt1iLi690TbJZ7X-bUWPSCRM4MDDY4JdqJAlANotqBLPMsTUvoJT2YujSOwfFcGgoJBk2NnnseSdg9UN8J/s1600/nam+photo+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTugOTE7vgrjGSBPMFMMj_2AW5OJ7YhLoTm5Sp28__yrbzY3z7zffmNxogrtzt1iLi690TbJZ7X-bUWPSCRM4MDDY4JdqJAlANotqBLPMsTUvoJT2YujSOwfFcGgoJBk2NnnseSdg9UN8J/s320/nam+photo+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">இதை எல்லாம் தாண்டி, எந்த இறை பணியிலும் அவர்கள் யாவரும் எந்த சமரசமும் செய்யாமல் இருப்பதுதான் என் கவனத்தை ஈர்த்தது.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">ஆன்மீகப் பணிகளில் ஒரு “</span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: latha, sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">லஷ்மன ரேகையை</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">” வரைந்து, அதை மீறாமல் அவர்கள் தங்கள் வேலைகளில் முற்பட்டது மிகவும் மனத்தெம்பையும் சந்தோஷத்தையும் அளித்தது.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">இதற்கு பின்னர், யாவருக்கும் வயிறு புடைக்க கேசரியும் (அதில் முந்திரியும் திராட்ஷையும் போட்டி போட்டுக் கொண்டிருந்தன), அக்காரவடிசலும், புளியோதரையும் தயிர் சாதமும் பிரசாதமாக வினியோகிக்கப் பட்டன.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">முடிவில் இந்த ஆன்மீக வைபவம் செவ்வெனே முடிந்து, வீடு திரும்பும்போது, ஒர் நல்ல மாலைபொழுதை கழித்த மகிழ்ச்சியும், அதே சமயம் “ஐயோ, முடிந்து விட்டதே” என்ற ஏக்கமும் மாறி மாறி மனதில் குடி கொண்டன.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">“எங்கும் திரிந்து ரங்கனை சேவி” </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">என்ற வாக்கியத்திற்கேற்ப ஒரு உன்னதமான சேவையை அனுபவித்து கடைசியாக, இக்கட்டுரையை முடிக்கும் முன், என் மனமார்ந்த நன்றியை இங்கோவில் </span><span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ட்ரஸ்டீ அவர்களுக்கும் அங்கு திறம்பட கோவில் நிற்வாகத்தில் துணையாக நிற்கும் ஆண்களுக்கும் பெண்களுக்கும் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கின்றேன்.</span></div>
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Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682439912608001147.post-29097523395452884242020-01-21T02:18:00.000-08:002020-01-21T21:47:33.208-08:00நம்மாழ்வார் சேர்க்கை சரிதை<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">நம்மாழ்வார்<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>வைணவத்தை நாடு முழுவதும் சளைக்காமல் பறப்பிய 12 ஆழ்வார்களுள் <b>நம்மாழ்வார் </b>ஐந்தாம் இடத்தில் மிக முக்கியமாக விளங்கியவர். அவர் தமிழ்நாட்டில் தூத்துக்குடி மாவட்டம் ஆழ்வார் திருநகரியில் </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">பிறந்தவர். <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>நான்கு வேதங்களையே தீந்தமிழில் பாடியதால் "வேதம் தமிழ் செய்த மாறன்" என்று <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>புகழப்படுபவர். கம்பர் இயற்றிய "சடகோபர் அந்தாதி" எனும் நூலின் தலைவனும் இச்சடகோபனே ஆவார்.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">திருநெல்வேலியில் தாமிரபரணிக்கரையிலுள்ள திருக்குருகூர் என்னும் ஊரில் வசித்த காரியார் மற்றும் உடைய நங்கைக்குத் திரு மகனாராக நம்மாழ்வார் அவதரித்தார். பதினாறு ஆண்டுகள் திருக்குருகூர் நம்பி கோவிலின் புளிய மரத்தின் அடியில் எவ்வித சலனமும் இல்லாமல் தவம் செய்து வந்தார். வடதிசை யாத்திரை மேற்கொண்டிருந்த மதுரகவி என்பவர் அயோத்தியில் இருந்தபோது தெற்குத் திசையில் ஒரு ஒளி தெரிவதைக் கண்டு அதனை அடைய தென்திசை நோக்கிப் பயணித்தார். மாறனிடமிருந்தே அவ்வொளி வருவதை அறிந்து அவரை சிறு கல் கொண்டு எறிந்து விழிக்க வைத்தார். சடகோபனின் ஞானத்தாலும், பக்தியாலும் கவரப்பெற்று அவருக்கே அடிமை செய்தார் என்பது வரலாறு. மாறன் கண்விழித்த உடன்</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">மதுரகவி ஆழ்வார் கேட்ட<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">"செத்ததின் வயிற்றில் சிறியது பிறந்தால் எத்தைத் தின்று எங்கே கிடக்கும்?" கேள்விக்கு<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">"அத்தைத் தின்று அங்கே கிடக்கும்" என்று பதில் அளித்தார் நம்மாழ்வார்.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">பன்னிறு ஆழ்வார்களிலும் இவரே மேலோங்கி நிற்பவர். இவர் நாலாயிர திவ்ய ப்ரபந்தத்தில் 1352 பாசுர்ங்களை அளித்தவர் ஆவார்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">கண்ணிநுண்சிறுத்தாம்பு, வைணவ சமயத்தில் நம்மாழ்வாரைப் போற்றி மதுரகவியாழ்வாரால் இயற்றப்பட்ட நூலாகும். இந்நூல் 11 தனியன்களைக் கொண்டது. மதுரகவியாழ்வாரால் நம்மாழ்வாரை வணங்கி பாடப்பட்ட இந்நூல் நாலாயிர திவ்யபிரபந்தம் தொகுப்பில் முதாலாயிரம் தொகுப்பில் இடம்பெற்றுள்ளது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>நம்மாழ்வாரையும் அவரை ஒத்தவர்களையும் ஒப்பிடும்போது, அவரின் எழுத்தின் நடையும் அழகும் நாடக வடிவில் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருப்பதால், இவர் மற்றவர்களிடமிருந்து தனித்து நிற்கின்றார்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">கலியுகத்தில் வைகுண்ட வாசல் முதன்முறையாக </span><span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">நம்மாழ்வாருக்கே ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணால் திறக்கப் பட்டது என்று நம்ப படுகிறது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">பகல் பத்தும் இரா பத்தும் மார்கழி மாதம் கொண்டாடப் படுகிறது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> இ</span>ரா பத்தின் முதல் நாள் “வைகுண்ட ஏகாதசி” ஆகும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>அன்றுதான் நம்மாழ்வார் சொர்கவாசல் அடைந்தார் என்றும் நம்பப் படுகிறது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ஒவ்வொரு வருடமும் இந்த வைபவம் நாடகமாக கோவில்களில் கொண்டாடப் படுகின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">இந்த வருடம் நான் சென்னை லஷ்மிபுரம் (ம்யூசிக் அகாடமியின் பின்புரம் உள்ளது) ஸ்ரீனிவாச பெருமாள் கோவிலுக்கு சென்றிருந்தபோது அந்த காட்சியை காணும் பேறு பெற்றேன். <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">இ</span>ரா பத்தின் கடைசி நாள் நம்மாழ்வாருக்கு மோக்ஷம் கிட்டியது என்று புராணம்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>அப்போது, பக்தர்கள் யாவரும் வேண்டி கேட்டதின் பொருட்டு, ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணன் நம்மாழ்வாரை திரும்பி பூலோகத்திற்கு அனுப்பினார் என்றும் பூர்வீக நூல்கள் கூறுகின்றன.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TrfZQpnW5rEop8b6n5f5pLjMwXiKOv1PPd4D5EM8GwjKFKQI0YhBZ-sR0CICT2_ob9SCfhZYHCjLRYyNgshUBs1Ps0c1wh9_L8LDJgLm_H9XXwmH4iIOREznOww4pGoXCYAcCxWJuvjM/s1600/nam+photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TrfZQpnW5rEop8b6n5f5pLjMwXiKOv1PPd4D5EM8GwjKFKQI0YhBZ-sR0CICT2_ob9SCfhZYHCjLRYyNgshUBs1Ps0c1wh9_L8LDJgLm_H9XXwmH4iIOREznOww4pGoXCYAcCxWJuvjM/s320/nam+photo+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; text-indent: 36pt;">இந்த கோவில் ஒரு தனி குடும்பத்தினரால் பரம்பரை பரம்பரையாக நிர்வகிக்கப் பட்டு வருகின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>இதனை </span><span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">சீருடனும் </span><span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">சிறப்புடனும் நிர்வகிக்கும் மூன்றாவது பரம்பரை ட்ரஸ்டீயின் பெயர் திரு. ராஜப்பா. இவர் 82 வயதை நெருங்கும் ஒர் வழக்கறிஞர் ஆவார்.</span><span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;"> இவர் மிருதங்கமும் வாசிக்கும் சிறப்புடையவர். கோவில் கைங்கரியங்களை கண்ணும் கருத்துமாக மேற்பார்வை இடுபவரும் இவரே. பகவத் கைங்கரியங்களில் மிகவும் கண்டிப்புடனும் விழிப்புடனும் கடந்த ஐம்பது வருடங்களாக இக்கோவிலை வழி நடத்தி வருபவர்.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">இந்த விழாவிற்காக பாயென கோலமிட்டு கோவிலை அலங்கரித்திருந்தனர்.</span><span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">இக்கோவிலின் அழகே எங்கும் சுத்தமாகவும் சுகாதாரமாகவும் இருப்பதுதான்.</span><span style="font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">ஆண்களும் பெண்டிருமாக ஒன்று சேர்ந்து இரு வரிசையாக நின்று </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">நாலாயிர திவ்ய ப்ரபந்தத்தை இனிமையாக பாட, </span><span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">நம்மாழ்வாரின் சிலையுருவம் ஒரு புறமும் பெருமாள் மற்றும் உபய நாச்சியார்கள் மறுபுறமும் வீற்றிருந்தனர்.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> நடுவில் வெள்ளை பாய் விரித்து, வாசனை மலர்கள் தூவி நடையை அழகு படுத்தியிருந்தனர்.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>கம்பீரமாக </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; text-indent: 36pt;">நாலாயிர திவ்ய பிரபந்தம் ஒலிக்க, பரத் மற்றும் ரவிச்சந்திரன் (கோவில் பட்டர்கள்) நம்மாழ்வாரை பய பக்தியுடன் ஏந்தி ஒய்யாளி என ஆடி ஆடி பெருமாளை நோக்கி முன்னேரினர்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">எங்கள் யாவரின் கண்களும் நாம்மாழ்வாரையும் பெருமாளையும் மாறி மாறி பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருந்தன. மெல்ல மெல்ல நம்மாழ்வார் ரங்கனை அடைந்து வைகுண்டம் ஈன்றார்.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">இதை அழகாக சித்தரித்து நம்மாழ்வாரின் சிலா ரூபத்தை ரங்கனின் பாதத்தில் அமர்த்தி திருத்துளாவினால் மூடினர்.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">அப்போது, பக்தர்கள் யாவரும் ரங்கனிடம் நம்மாழ்வாரைத் தங்களுக்கு திரும்பி ஆழ்வாராக வேண்டி யாசிக்க, “தந்தேன் !! தந்தேன்!!” என்று பெருமாள் கூறியதாக ஏற்று நம்மாழ்வார் திருத்துளா புதையலிலிருந்து வெளி கொணரப் பட்டார்.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">மீண்டும் ஒய்யாளி ஆடி நம்மாழ்வார் பெருமாளை பார்த்தபடியே திரும்பி தன் இடம் சென்று அமர்கின்றார்.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoCnbPTNVJORnvhkxZoLO3ENOPLFQqSfXAF8W2N6wJ4WY9w5v1Gx3NgjceoveikVOZPhYzE5KF5JF_BBJ50xZal4u_PNzTlbROQsk9_OW7S0Qmt80Y_ZgUkzB4DdxP-CzAticCCNNrEFu/s1600/nam+photo+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoCnbPTNVJORnvhkxZoLO3ENOPLFQqSfXAF8W2N6wJ4WY9w5v1Gx3NgjceoveikVOZPhYzE5KF5JF_BBJ50xZal4u_PNzTlbROQsk9_OW7S0Qmt80Y_ZgUkzB4DdxP-CzAticCCNNrEFu/s320/nam+photo+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">இந்த வைபவத்தின் முக்கியதுவத்தையும் அழகையும் திறம்பட சித்தரித்தவர்கள் அங்கு குழுமியிருந்த ஆண்களும் பெண்டிரும்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>சுமார் இருபது ஆண்கள் ஒரு வரிசையாகவும் இருபது பெண்கள் ஒரு வரிசையாகவும் நின்று நாலாயிர திவ்ய பிரபந்தத்தை பாசுரம் பாசுரமாக பாடியது இப்பொழுதும் என் நினைவில் நிற்கின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7ds3Jr7bPm9wMmFUD7fNoTQwLQVGq3-wdiwXggMiZGtwrMdxsqqgLovi3CK_ViOAnGlfKgkRrjwIaM5cwVfFUgkRyu4Ga2lR7yt5i_ZoQo2DhwKr4JrHncq9MIU65CJue8dHHVREp37h/s1600/nam+photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7ds3Jr7bPm9wMmFUD7fNoTQwLQVGq3-wdiwXggMiZGtwrMdxsqqgLovi3CK_ViOAnGlfKgkRrjwIaM5cwVfFUgkRyu4Ga2lR7yt5i_ZoQo2DhwKr4JrHncq9MIU65CJue8dHHVREp37h/s320/nam+photo+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>என்னே ஒர் பக்தி, என்னே ஒர் உருக்கம், என்னே ஒர் ஆன்மீக ஒழுக்கம் !!!! நம்மாழ்வார் சென்று இறைவனடி அடைந்ததும் அனைவரின் கண்களும் கலங்கின.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>அவர் திரும்பி பூலோகம் அடைந்ததும் அனைவரும் ஆர்பரித்து மகிழ்ந்தனர்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>உண்மையாகவே, நம்மாழ்வார் சேர்க்கை இன்றுதான் நடக்கிறதோ என்ற எண்ணம் மேலோங்கி நின்றது.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">கோவிலை அலங்கரிக்க அவர்கள் இழைத்திருந்த கோலங்கள் கண்ணை பறித்தன.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>மலர் மற்றும் விளக்கு அலங்காரமோ சொர்கபுரி என கோவிலை மாற்றி இருந்தன.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHN5SPktJHoHTf-W0zZZxeu__lRZhck8W8ykBUEfh6y5jUMoSoc46bMFUQ92kl1k_eABzHQnNq5w69YIvGlPzDK81fIJSB3QoQXbbJ2HQKSEQkPyuZkbCFy77ysxhZsPFcfgdnk-B5aC2/s1600/nam+photo+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHN5SPktJHoHTf-W0zZZxeu__lRZhck8W8ykBUEfh6y5jUMoSoc46bMFUQ92kl1k_eABzHQnNq5w69YIvGlPzDK81fIJSB3QoQXbbJ2HQKSEQkPyuZkbCFy77ysxhZsPFcfgdnk-B5aC2/s320/nam+photo+5.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>இவை யாவையும் தாண்டி, ஆண்களும் பெண்டிருமாக அவர்களின் நெறியான நடத்தலும், யாவரையும் சந்தோஷிக்க செய்யும் அணுகுமுறையும் பார்ப்பவர்கள் மனதில் பரவசத்தை ஏற்படுத்தின.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>நான் பெண்ணாக இருப்பதாலோ என்னவோ, இங்கு நான் <b>லஷ்மி, ஜெயந்தி மற்றும் பத்மப்ரியா</b> ஆகிய பெண்டிரின் பெயர்களை முக்கியமாக குறிப்பிடுகின்றேன்.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>பம்பரமாக அவர்கள் சுழன்ற வேகமும், ஒவ்வொரு வேலையையும் அவர்கள் நிறைவேற்றிய நேர்த்தியான விதத்தையும் இங்கு நான் குறிப்பிட கடமை பட்டிருக்கின்றேன்.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTugOTE7vgrjGSBPMFMMj_2AW5OJ7YhLoTm5Sp28__yrbzY3z7zffmNxogrtzt1iLi690TbJZ7X-bUWPSCRM4MDDY4JdqJAlANotqBLPMsTUvoJT2YujSOwfFcGgoJBk2NnnseSdg9UN8J/s1600/nam+photo+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTugOTE7vgrjGSBPMFMMj_2AW5OJ7YhLoTm5Sp28__yrbzY3z7zffmNxogrtzt1iLi690TbJZ7X-bUWPSCRM4MDDY4JdqJAlANotqBLPMsTUvoJT2YujSOwfFcGgoJBk2NnnseSdg9UN8J/s320/nam+photo+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">இதை எல்லாம் தாண்டி, எந்த இறை பணியிலும் அவர்கள் யாவரும் எந்த சமரசமும் செய்யாமல் இருப்பதுதான் என் கவனத்தை ஈர்த்தது.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">ஆன்மீகப் பணிகளில் ஒரு “</span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: latha, sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">லஷ்மன ரேகையை</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">” வரைந்து, அதை மீறாமல் அவர்கள் தங்கள் வேலைகளில் முற்பட்டது மிகவும் மனத்தெம்பையும் சந்தோஷத்தையும் அளித்தது.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">இதற்கு பின்னர், யாவருக்கும் வயிறு புடைக்க கேசரியும் (அதில் முந்திரியும் திராட்ஷையும் போட்டி போட்டுக் கொண்டிருந்தன), அக்காரவடிசலும், புளியோதரையும் தயிர் சாதமும் பிரசாதமாக வினியோகிக்கப் பட்டன.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">முடிவில் இந்த ஆன்மீக வைபவம் செவ்வெனே முடிந்து, வீடு திரும்பும்போது, ஒர் நல்ல மாலைபொழுதை கழித்த மகிழ்ச்சியும், அதே சமயம் “ஐயோ, முடிந்து விட்டதே” என்ற ஏக்கமும் மாறி மாறி மனதில் குடி கொண்டன.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">“எங்கும் திரிந்து ரங்கனை சேவி” </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif";">என்ற வாக்கியத்திற்கேற்ப ஒரு உன்னதமான சேவையை அனுபவித்து கடைசியாக, இக்கட்டுரையை முடிக்கும் முன், என் மனமார்ந்த நன்றியை இங்கோவில் </span><span style="font-family: "latha" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ட்ரஸ்டீ அவர்களுக்கும் அங்கு திறம்பட கோவில் நிற்வாகத்தில் துணையாக நிற்கும் ஆண்களுக்கும் பெண்களுக்கும் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கின்றேன்.</span></div>
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Ramah Srinivsanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008833424050897697noreply@blogger.com1