Mining – India
1. Underground mine fire now threatens Jharkhand rail lines
2. Traditional mines blamed for causing major damage
3. Chile mining labor contracts due in 2009 to 2010
4. Vigilance grills DoM on mining scam
5. 74 mines on forest department radar in Goa
6. Over 100 companies keen on strategic ties with CIL
7. 74 mines on forest department radar in Goa
Mining – International
8. Billiton shelves bauxite mine
9. JSW may buy African mine for Rs 1,680 cr
10. Mining Conservation Land Could Hurt Tourism, Industry Says
11. 11 officials sacked over coal mine blast in Shanxi
12. Supreme Court Asked to Consider Mining Appeal
Other News
13. Battery operated vehicles for disabled and elderly passengers at major railway stations
14. Water quality monitoring at major river basins
15. At the end of 100 days... 12
16. U.N. agency to investigate Indian massacre in Colombia
Mining – India
Underground mine fire now threatens Jharkhand rail lines
August 28th, 2009 - 3:32 pm ICT by IANS
Ranchi, Aug 28 (IANS) An underground mine fire that has been raging for nearly six months in Jharkhand now poses a threat to railway tracks after it led to the closure of the Ranchi-Patna National Highway earlier this month, officials said.
The mine fire spotted at four to five places near the Kalyani project of Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) at Bermo in Bokaro district has posed a threat to both the Bermo-Chandrapura-Dhanbad highway and the Gomoh-Barkakhana railway route.
The railway track is around 40 feet away from the fire and the highway is around 10 feet away. The fire is spread out in a two-kilometre area.
Earlier, the National Highway-33, which connects Ranchi and Patna via Hazaribagh and Koderma, was closed Aug 7 because of the underground mine fire that touched the road.
The district administration has written several letters to CCL to contain the fire before it affects the rail route.
While smoke was spotted in the area some six months back, a CCL team visited the region in Bermo only earlier this week.
“We have launched an operation to douse the mine fire. The cause of the fire is illegal mining. We have contained the fire in some areas and efforts are on to contain it in other areas also,” CCL spokesman M.N. Jha told IANS.
Meanwhile, another underground mine fire now poses a threat to railway tracks at Basjora, a railway halt station in Dhanbad district. It falls between Dhanbad and Katras railway route used daily by the Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains.
The Dhanbad district administration has written a letter to Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) to take suitable measures to douse the flames, officials said. BCCL authorities say appropriate measures are being taken to control the mine fire.
However, railway authorities said the Dhanbad and Katras railway route was not in danger as of now.
“We have the safety certificate of Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) and chief mining advisor of the railways. In future, if we are alerted about any danger then we will not hesitate to shift the railway track,” said Amrendra Das, spokesman of the Dhanbad railway division.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/underground-mine-fire-now-threatens-jharkhand-rail-lines_100239361.html
Traditional mines blamed for causing major damage
Andi Hajramurni , The Jakarta Post , Makassar | Fri, 08/28/2009 4:01 PM | The Archipelago
The major cause of environmental damage in the country, particularly in eastern Indonesia, is mining, especially small-scale mines managed by local communities, says the State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar.
According to him, there is a large number of small-scale mines spread throughout the country that create extensive environmental damage, especially traditional mines that do not have environmental impact analysis permits (Amdal).
He said that large-scale mining companies usually complied with the correct environmental procedures before commencing operations, including post-mining restoration.
"I'm not defending large-scale mining companies, but they generally always complete operations earlier and carry out mining activities in line with Amdal, thus making supervision much easier in comparison to traditional mines that operate without abiding by the rules," Rachmat said in Makassar on Wednesday.
However, Rachmat was quick to add that applying similar sanctions to small-scale miners would be ineffective because of the economic discrepancies between small and large scale mining operations.
According to Rachmat, people working in traditional mining did out of economic necessity despite the environmental damage it caused and should therefore be provided with assistance, while recalcitrant large-scale mining companies should be reprimanded if they failed to follow environmental regulations.
"Generally, people carry out mining activities in the forest and damage the environment because they are poor and don't have other job opportunities to support their families. It would be more effective to empower local communities rather than hand out the harsh sanctions that we use for large-scale mining companies," said Rachmat.
He said that empowering local communities and providing them with jobs would curb the number of traditional mines that cause severe environmental damage.
According to Ridwan D. Tamin, the head of the Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua region Environmental Management Center, gold mining by residents in Bombana, South East Sulawesi, was causing extensive environmental damage in protected forest and national park areas.
"We must raise awareness and empower local communities so their livelihood no longer depends on illegal mining activities. Besides damaging the environment, illegal mining can endanger their lives. Communities must be empowered because the main cause of environmental damage is poverty," said Rachmat.
The government should also provide privileges to traditional mines, such as facilities and mining equipment, which is currently very limited, in order to prevent unnecessary accidents and death.
A law on environmental management and protection is currently being drafted to prevent greater damage, including an environmental strategic research program (KLHS) regulating environmental management and benefits.
Rachmat said that in the future all environmental management activities, including mining, should abide by the rules stipulated in the KLHS and environmental law. If they failed to adhere to regulations, he said, companies and agencies that issue permits would be duly sanctioned.
Rachmat added the government had pinned its hopes on protecting eastern Indonesia because it was less populated in comparison to the western part of the country.
Eastern Indonesia is also rich in natural
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/28/traditional-mines-blamed-causing-major-damage.html
Chile mining labor contracts due in 2009 to 2010
Friday, 28 Aug 2009
Reuters reported that recovering copper prices could mean trouble for mining companies in top producer Chile as they head into contract talks with workers eager to reap the benefits of the red metal's upswing.
Chile's No 1 producer state run Codelco and giant miner BHP Billiton are scheduled later this year to negotiate collective deals with thousands of workers at their main mines Chuquicamata and Escondida.
Key collective contracts are due around the time Chileans head to the polls on December 13 to choose a new president.
Any disruption in Chile's copper supply could further lift the red metal's prices that surged to 10 and a half month highs in mid August after plunging from historic record level around USD 4 per lb.
The following table lists the major Chilean mining labor contracts that will expire in 2009 and early 2010.
Operation Copper
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/08/28/MTA5MDQ1/Chile_mining_labor_contracts_due_in_2009_to_2010.html
Vigilance grills DoM on mining scam
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Bhubaneswar, Aug 27 (PTI) Anti-corruption bureau officials today grilled Orissa's Director of Mines R N Sahoo over his alleged involvement in the multi-crore mining scam, official sources said here.
Sahoo, who was recently granted anticipatory bail by a court in Balasore after his surrender, was asked to depose at the vigilance office where he was interrogated for about an hour.
The sources claimed Sahoo, during interrogation, admitted to allowing one Shakti Ranjan Dash, a power of attorney holder of a private company, to guard two manganese mines.
The DoM, however, maintained that he allowed the third person to guard the government properties based on the reports of two Deputy Director of Mines posted in Keonjhar district.
"The DoM's examination will continue", said Vigilance Superintendent P D Patnaik, adding the anti-corruption wing had seized some documents from Sahoo's office.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/252169_Vigilance-grills-DoM-on-mining-scam
74 mines on forest department radar in Goa
Tags: Panaji
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(Source: IANS)
Published: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 at 12:22 IST
Panaji: After suspending the operation of 13 open cast mines because they lacked the requisite clearances, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has asked the forest department to seek more information on 74 other mines operational in the state.
In a letter addressed to the state chief conservator of forest, GSPCB Chairman Simon D'Souza has asked whether these 74 mines have obtained "required forest and wildlife permissions and clearances stipulated in the Forest Conservation Act".
Speaking to reporters here Friday, D'Souza said GSPCB would not hesitate to take action against the mines in question if they were found operating without permission.
"We are awaiting a response from the forest department before initiating further proceedings," he said.
Illegal mining has been the subject of debate in the state over the last few months and figured prominently during the recently concluded monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly.
A high level committee appointed by Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has already indicated that nearly half of the state's mines were operating without crucial permissions and sanctions required from various government departments.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has repeatedly alleged that several cabinet ministers in the Congress-led alliance government were involved in illegal mining. Manohar Parrikar, leader of the opposition, has also alleged that nearly 18 percent of Goa's 33 million tonnes of iron, manganese and bauxite mining exports were fed by illegal mining.
There are presently more than 100 mining leases in the state.
http://www.samaylive.com/news/74-mines-on-forest-department-radar-in-goa/651612.html
Over 100 companies keen on strategic ties with CIL
Jayajit Dash / Bhubaneswar August 28, 2009, 0:33 IST
Over 100 global mining companies from countries like Australia, US, Indonesia and South Africa have evinced interest in entering into a strategic partnership with the state-run Coal India Ltd (CIL), the world’s single largest coal miner.
Also Read
CIL had invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from global mining companies in July this year for selection of strategic business partners in Australia, US, Indonesia and South Africa for undertaking joint business initiatives in coal mining.
The deadline for these overseas mining firms for responding to CIL’s EoI notice is August 31 this year.
“The response to our EoI notice for a strategic business partnership with global mining firms has been overwhelming. More than 100 mining firms have evinced interest in this proposed partnership,” CIL Chairman Partha S Bhattacharyya told Business Standard.
He, however, declined to comment on the names of the mining companies which had shown interest in having a strategic business partnership with the coal major.
A high-level empowered committee would scrutinise the proposals of the overseas coal miners. CIL may forge joint ventures with select mining firms or pick up stakes in their operational mines.
“The business model would depend on our overseas partners. CIL’s objective is to ensure availability of the raw material in the domestic market in a cost-effective manner,” said Bhattacharyya.
CIL with a cash reserve of around Rs 30,000 crore was looking to expand overseas by forging partnerships with global mining giants.
It may be noted that in March this year, CIL was awarded two exploratory coal blocks — A1 and A2 — in Tete province of Mozambique having an estimated reserve of one billion tonnes.
CIL is in negotiations with the Mozambique government for carrying out exploration work on the two coal blocks. While the exploration of these two coal blocks spread over 224 sq km was set to commence within a few months, the mining activities were expected to begin after three-and-a-half years.
CIL has also formed a special purpose vehicle called International Coal Ventures Ltd (ICVL) with four other state-run firms — Steel Authority of India Ltd, National Thermal Power Corporation, National Mineral Development Corporation and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd — for acquisition of overseas coal assets.
The race for acquisition of overseas coal assets was gaining momentum in view of the burgeoning coal demand in India. The domestic coal demand was projected at 730 million tonnes (mt) by 2011-12, but domestic coal production was pegged at 520 mt by then, thereby creating a shortfall of over 200 mt.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/over-100-companies-keenstrategic-tiescil/368357/
74 mines on forest department radar in Goa
2009-08-28 12:40:00
After suspending the operation of 13 open cast mines because they lacked the requisite clearances, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has asked the forest department to seek more information on 74 other mines operational in the state.
In a letter addressed to the state chief conservator of forest, GSPCB Chairman Simon D'Souza has asked whether these 74 mines have obtained 'required forest and wildlife permissions and clearances stipulated in the Forest Conservation Act'.
Speaking to reporters here Friday, D'Souza said GSPCB would not hesitate to take action against the mines in question if they were found operating without permission.
'We are awaiting a response from the forest department before initiating further proceedings,' he said.
Illegal mining has been the subject of debate in the state over the last few months and figured prominently during the recently concluded monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly.
A high level committee appointed by Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has already indicated that nearly half of the state's mines were operating without crucial permissions and sanctions required from various government departments.
The Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) has repeatedly alleged that several cabinet ministers in the Congress-led alliance government were involved in illegal mining. Manohar Parrikar, leader of the opposition, has also alleged that nearly 18 percent of Goa's 33 million tonnes of iron, manganese and bauxite mining exports were fed by illegal mining.
There are presently more than 100 mining leases in the state.
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?a=ji2mEebhhii&title=74_mines_on_forest_department_radar_in_Goa
Mining – International
Billiton shelves bauxite mine
FRIDAY, 28 AUGUST 2009 15:01 ITH SOTHOEUTH AND NATHAN GREEN
BHP Billiton and Mitsubishi Corp have pulled out of a bauxite-mining concession in Mondulkiri province following exploratory drilling and have cancelled plans to build an aluminium refinery in the region, officials said this week.
The companies have informed the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy that they will not use their exclusive right to mine the area under the terms of a 2006 mineral-exploration agreement signed with the Cambodian government, a source inside the ministry said.
"They have filed the document officially, but it's not done yet because it needs to be sent to the Council of Ministers," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said he was unaware of the issue.
Poor returns
The source said a feasibility study, which cost US$10 million and covered 400 hectares of the company's 996-hectare concession, failed to find bauxite in sufficient quantities to make extraction profitable and justify the construction of the aluminium refinery.
Bauxite ore is the unrefined component of aluminium.
A spokesman for BHP Billiton said by email from Australia late Thursday: "We completed our exploration field work in the Mondulkiri province and are in the process of sharing our evaluation with the Royal Government of Cambodia. As such, we have reduced our presence in Phnom Penh."
However, the spokesman refused to give further details, saying only that "we do not comment publicly about the results of our exploration activities".
BHP Billiton was no longer in its Norodom Boulevard offices Thursday when the Post visited, and its project and risk manager, Dave McCracken, could not be reached on his mobile phone.
The general manager of Mitsubishi Corp's Phnom Penh representative office, Morihiko Kondo, refused to comment when approached by the Post on Thursday, saying only that inquiries should be directed to the joint-venture partner.
Kong Piseth, the chief of the Department of Industry, Mines and Energy in Mondulkiri province, said the joint venture had wound up its operations.
"The company has withdrawn from the site in Mondulkiri and even asked us to cut off the electricity," he said Thursday.
"I have the licence they asked for to continue the second phase, but I haven't seen them go back to work yet."
His deputy, Um Saran, said the company suspended its activities in February or March this year. "They have explored for nearly three years and drilled more than 1,000 holes," he said.
'Billions of dollars'
Australia's BHP, the world's largest mining company, and Japan's Mitsubishi, one of the world's largest diversified trading and investment companies, signed a mineral-exploration agreement with the government in September 2006, according to documents on BHP's Web site.
Exploration operations began in May 2007 and were due to conclude this year. No projections were made as to the likely quantity of bauxite reserves in the province, but Deputy Prime Minister Sok An told an investment conference in November 2007 that bauxite in Mondulkiri could result in an investment worth "billions of US dollars".
No estimate was ever publicised concerning the potential value to the province of the proposed aluminium refinery.
Cambodia's mining sector has long been wracked by controversy, with international NGO Global Witness slamming a "total lack" of transparency in the sector in a 70-page report released in February this year.
In Country for Sale, the London-based NGO said the government had granted more than 100 mining concessions - including 21 in 2008 - to companies controlled by "elite regime figures", with little environmental oversight.
It also singled out a 2007 comment by Lim Kean Hor, minister of water resources and meteorology, where he described a $2.5 million BHP Billiton-Mitsubishi social development fund as "tea money".
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2009082828051/Business/billiton-shelves-bauxite-mine.html
JSW may buy African mine for Rs 1,680 cr
28 Aug 2009, 0037 hrs IST, MV Ramsurya, ET Bureau
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MUMBAI: The Sajjan Jindal-owned JSW Group is in advanced talks to acquire a coal mine in Swaziland, Africa, at an estimated cost of about $350
million (around Rs 1,680 crore). The move is part of the group’s efforts to secure coal supplies for its forthcoming power projects and is also in line with the recent steps taken by the Indian government to allow domestic companies to buy mines overseas, said people familiar with the development.
The JSW Group, which also owns India’s third-largest steel company, has been carrying out a detailed geological exploration in the Emaswati Colliery (Mpaka Mine) and Maloma anthracite mine, in the eastern part of Swaziland, which has a major chunk of the country’s over one billion tonne coal reserves.
JSW had earlier signed an MoU with the government of Swaziland for detailed exploration of coal reserves in the African country. A final approval for prospecting and mining rights will be granted by the mineral management board of Swaziland.
JSW’s move is also a part of the recent efforts made by the government of Swaziland that had invited global partners to build a coal-fired thermal power station in Mpaka, which has coal reserves of about 150 million tonne.
Apart from being used in the generation of thermal power, coal is also vital for steelmaking. It can be an important move by the Jindals to reduce their production cost. JSW officials declined to comment. JSW Energy, part of the JSW Group, has scheduled an initial public offer to raise Rs 3,000 crore that will part-finance power projects with a total capacity of 3,000 mw. The group said it plans to have total power producing capacity of 11,400 mw by 2015.
Strong demand from steelmakers, especially from Chinese mills, has led coal prices to rebound from a 35% decline last year, with international agencies saying that coal futures for September delivery at Rotterdam have risen 39%. This has enabled most companies to scout for global raw material assets before they rise further.
In fact, on Thursday, state-owned Coal India said it will invest about $1.5 billion (about Rs 7,200 crore) to acquire coal mines overseas to tackle tight supplies as India plans to almost double power capacity. India could likely see shortage of about 228 million tonne by March 2012.
ET had recently reported that JSW Energy is close to finalising a coal-supply linkage pact in Indonesia and is also exploring options to acquire coal mines in South Africa and Australia.
JSW signed a coal sales purchase contract in January with PT Sungai Belati Coal of Indonesia for the supply of coal. The coal shipments are scheduled to start from June 2011 with the supply of one million tonne. The quantity of coal to be bought by JSW in every delivery year shall progressively increase to 8 million tonne by 2014.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News-by-Industry/JSW-to-buy-African-mine-for-350-mn/articleshow/4942816.cms
Mining Conservation Land Could Hurt Tourism, Industry Says
Contributor:
NZPA
Friday, 28 August 2009 - 5:57pm
Gerry Brownlee
Wellington, Aug 28 NZPA - Opening the conservation estate to mining could put New Zealand's $20 billion tourism industry at risk, the Tourism Industry Association said today as opposition to the Government's decision to carry out a stocktake of valuable mineral resources increased.
Greenpeace said the mining industry should identify which areas of conservation land it was interested in mining and said it had previously indicated it wanted national parks opened up.
The warnings followed an announcement by Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee that the Government was planning a stocktake of mineral resources in conservation land protected under Schedule Four of the Crown Minerals Act.
The estimated value of untapped minerals in New Zealand has been put at about $140 billion and around 70 percent of that involves conservation land.
"We certainly have no intention of digging up the Crown's conservation estate. This is a stocktake, which is perfectly reasonable," Mr Brownlee told reporters yesterday.
Tourism Industry Association chief executive Tim Cossar said New Zealand's natural scenery and landscapes were the main reason international visitors came here.
"Taking a long-term view, it may be that tourism is a more valuable and sustainable industry to New Zealand's economy than mining," he said.
Greenpeace spokesman Geoff Keey said the mining industry had expressed interest in parts of the Coromandel and Kahurangi, Paparoa and Mt Aspiring national parks in the past.
He said the land was covered by Schedule Four for a reason -- so it could not be mined.
Minerals Industry Association chief executive Doug Gordon said the Government's approach would boost the industry.
The Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand said the mining industry already had extensive powers to explore land.
Labour MP David Parker said coal and lignite mines were "enormous".
"Allowing increased mining in the DOC (Department of Conservation) estate, or allowing it at all in National Parks, is lunacy."
http://www.guide2.co.nz/politics/news/mining-conservation-land-could-hurt-tourism-industry-says/11/10613
11 officials sacked over coal mine blast in Shanxi
Friday, 28 Aug 2009
It is reported that a coal mine blast in north China Shanxi Province has led to the dismissal of a county official. Monday explosion killed at least 11 people while three others are still missing.
The blast ripped through a shaft of the Xingguang Coal Industry Company in Jinzhong City. At the time, 16 miners were working around the area. Two of them were able to escape unharmed.
Mr Guo Xingchuan a county head assistant in charge of the coal sector was dismissed from his post as a result of the explosion. More than 40 rescuers worked overnight to try to send a pipe into the 300 meter deep shaft to increase ventilation and prepare for an underground search.
The mine, with a reserve of 203 million tons of coal, is part of the Shanxi International Electricity Group Limited Company. Authorities are now investigating the cause of the accident.
(Source from CCTV.com)
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/08/28/MTA5MDcx/11_officials_sacked_over_coal_mine_blast_in_Shanxi.html
• AUGUST 27, 2009, 12:15 P.M. ET
Supreme Court Asked to Consider Mining Appeal
Associated Press
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Several environmental groups are asking the Supreme Court to consider whether the Army Corps of Engineers is properly issuing fill permits for mountaintop-removal mines.
Thursday's filing asks the nation's highest court to overturn a February ruling by the Richmond, Va.-based 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.
In that ruling, the circuit court overturned U.S. District Judge Chuck Chambers' 2007 ruling that required the corps to conduct more extensive environmental reviews before issuing permits that allowed mining companies to bury streams with excess rock and dirt.
In mountaintop removal mining ridgetops are blasted apart to expose coal seams.
The groups argue the corps issues permits in violation of the federal Clean Water Act.
Copyright © 2009 Associated Press
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125138843511263837.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Other News
Battery operated vehicles for disabled and elderly passengers at major railway stations
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16:14 IST
In a significant move aimed at providing traveling comforts to disabled and old aged passengers, the Ministry of Railways has decided to allow private parties to operate free round the clock service of battery operated cars at the platforms of major railway stations for carrying disabled and old aged passengers for boarding the trains. The policy guidelines in this connection have been sent to all the Zonal Railways.
The parties would be allowed of first cum first serve basis under certain terms and conditions which include; i) No charge shall be levied either from the passenger or from the Railway. ii) Railway shall provide only electricity free of cost for charging the batteries of the vehicle. iii) Party shall be allowed to advertise on the panel of the vehicles which shall be bound by the guidelines stipulated for advertisement on railway premises. iv) The vehicle shall be used to cater only the disabled and old aged passengers. v) An agreement with the party shall be entered into for a period of maximum one year. vi) Repairs, maintenance and replacement, if required, will be done by the party. vii) The number of vehicles to be piled at a station will be decided by the Zonal Railways based on requirement. And viii) An annual review of the performance shall be undertaken to assess the revenue involved and possibility of revenue sharing.
AKS/HK/LK/TR
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=52210
Water quality monitoring at major river basins
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12:26 IST
Central Water Commission (CWC) under Ministry of Water Resources monitors water quality at the key locations covering all the major river basins of the country. It has a three-tier laboratory system for analysis of the parameters for monitoring.
The Level – I laboratories are located at 258 field water quality-monitoring stations on major rivers of India. The physical parameters such as temperature, colour, odour, specific conductivity, total dissolved solids, pH and dissolved oxygen of river water are observed in these laboratories.
The Level-II laboratories located at 24 selected divisional headquarters to analyse 25 physico-chemical characteristics and bacteriological parameters of the river water.
The Level–III/II+ laboratories are located at 4 places namely Varanasi, Delhi, Hyderabad and Coimbatore. 41 parameters including heavy elements/toxic parameters and pesticides are analysed periodically in these laboratories.
CWC computerizes the data generated in the Data base system and disseminates in the form of Hydrological Year Book and Status Reports. Water Quality yearbooks are published and water quality bulletins also issued regularly.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=52202
At the end of 100 days...
Kalyani Shankar
The UPA Government’s pre-poll promises of generating jobs, strengthening internal security and empowering women through electoral quotas, all to be fulfilled within the first 100 days, have proved to be no more than tallk talk. What happens next?
To rate a Government’s performance 100 days’ work may not be the right parameter. This becomes amply apparent in the case of the Congress-led UPA Government, which retained power on the strength of promises that it would fulfil its wishlist within the first 100 days of the Government.
While the official report card of the Government is yet to be known, general perception of the Manmohan Singh Government is that of a half empty-half full kind.
When the Cabinet was sworn in after the Lok Sabha election, there was a lot of feel-good factor for the Government. People’s expectations were high as the Congress emerged stronger, sending signals for a stable Government, and also because this time the Government was not to face any irksome opposition from its earstwhile Left partners. Except for the initial problem of finding berths for allies like the DMK, the Government formation was quite smooth.
The first broad contours of what the Manmohan Singh Government wanted to do during its second term were spelt out in the President’s address to the joint session of the 15th Lok Sabha on June 5.
The President listed 24 things the UPA Government would do in its first 100 days in office. They included internal security and preservation of communal harmony and stepping up of economic growth, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing and services. The President also mentioned consolidation of the existing flagship programmes for employment, education, health and rural infrastructure besides introduction of new food security and skill development programmes. Women empowerment, including early passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, and constitutional amendment to provide 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats and urban local bodies were also mentioned. Action for welfare of weaker sections and minorities besides disabled and senior citizens and governance reform were the other points covered in the President’s address. The other important areas were prudent fiscal management and energy security.
How much of these ambitious proposals have been concretised? While the Right to Education Bill and NREGA have become reality, we can only hear talks about women’s reservation. The Land Acquisition Bill has been shelved in the Budget session, following opposition from the UPA ally Trinamool congress and Judges Bill also could not be taken up.
As expected, the Left parties have ridiculed the performance of the UPA Government as a big flop, particularly in the areas of price rise, foreign policy and enactment of new laws in Parliament. Even the Right to Education Bill passed in both the Houses of Parliament came in for criticism.
The BJP too is quite dismissive of the Government’s performance.
One cannot entirely blame the Government as things beyond its control have made it difficult to implement some of the ambitious projects. Several Cabinet Ministers, especially those of agriculture, human resource development, minority affairs and rural development, have prepared ambitious agendas but not even half them could be taken up for Government’s consideration.
A cursory look at the performance of some key Ministries reveal that the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee came up with a good Budget and also fulfilled the promise of a new direct tax code. The social sector got higher allocation. The Union ministry of rural development has already written to State Governments to send fresh proposals for allocation to be made in the NREGS and Backward Region Grant Fund for their States.
But the biggest setback for the Government plans on economy came from the failure of the monsoon, resulting in 171 districts declared as drought hit and the agriculture ministry battling with the drought. The kharif crops are lost and the only hope is the rabi crop for which the Government has hiked the minimum support price.
The second big jolt came from the price rise of essential commodities hitting the roof. With the festive season round the corner, the Government is set to draw flak if spiralling prices are not checked.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s joint statement with his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani in Sharm el-Sheikh de-hyphenating action on terror from India-Pakistan talks caused the Government major embarrassment in the country from not only the Opposition parties but also from his own party leaders. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna was also in for criticism for not taking up the issue of racist attacks on Indian students in Australia. The MEA and the PMO failed to do any damage control.
On internal security issue, besides setting up NSG commando hubs in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Kolkata, nothing concrete has been done. Though Home Minister P Chidambaram has declared the Maoists as “terrorists”, much more needs to be done on the ground to counter the menace created by the Maoists. The ministry is in talks with State Gov
http://www.dailypioneer.com/198621/At-the-end-of-100-days.html
Vice President inaugurates International Seminar on “Adivasi/ST Communities in India: Development and Change”
ALIGNING OUR DEVELOPMENT NEEDS WITH ADIVASI RIGHTS AND ENHANCING THEIR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR – VICE PRESIDENT
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11:11 IST
The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that the reality is unpalatable and the data speaks for itself. Compared to other sections of our society, the tribal population has the lowest Human Development Index. Delivering inaugural address at the International Seminar on “Adivasi/ST Communities in India: Development and Change” organized by the Institute for Human Development here today, he said that the literacy rate of the Schedule Tribes (STs) at 47.1 in the 2001 Census is far below the national literacy rate of 64.84. Tribal children suffer from high drop out rates and low female literacy. They also have high infant mortality rates and malnutrition as compared to other population groups.
He expressed his concern that STs suffer from geographical and social exclusion, high poverty rates and lack of access to appropriate administrative and judicial mechanisms. Low level of infra-structural endowments and growing gap in infrastructure creation in tribal areas, as compared to the rest of India, has further diminished prospects for progress. For the 85 million Scheduled Tribes in India, the struggle to retain their identities and seek empowerment through our Constitutional framework has not yielded commensurate outcomes.
The Vice President opined that the Forest Rights Act of 2006 represents an important step in attempting to reverse the marginalisation of our tribal people. It gives legislative teeth to the Constitutional provisions for protection and development of Scheduled Tribes, provides them a level playing field and casts tribal rights in a new matrix based on community control andcustomary access. It acknowledges the immense hardship caused to the Scheduled Tribes due to insecurity of tenurial and access rights and forced relocation due to State development interventions. Quick implementation of the provisions of this Act by various State Governments would go a long way in realising the vision of our Founding Fathers and ensuring that economic development and social progress is inclusive.
Following is the text of the Vice President’s inaugural address:
“It gives me great pleasure to inaugurate this international seminar organised by the Institute for Human Development. The choice of the theme is appropriate. It covers a range of issues of local, national and global importance relating to the well-being of Adivasi communities in India.
A look at recent history provides a perspective. The political, social and cultural heterogeneity of India was amply reflected in the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly. The Objectives Resolution was tabled by Jawaharlal Nehru in December 1946. It sought to secure social, economic and political justice, equality of status, of opportunity, and before the law to all the people and promised adequate safeguards for minorities, backward and tribal areas, and depressed and other backward classes. The contours of the debate were quantified by Jaipal Singh of Chotanagpur who, speaking on behalf of, as he put it, “millions of unknown hordes… unrecognised warriors of freedom, the original people of India who have variously been known as backward tribes, primitive tribes, criminal tribes and everything else”, supported the Resolution.
Jaipal Singh also gave vent to long standing grievances and articulated the problem candidly:
“If there is any group of Indian people that has been shabbily treated it is my people. They have been disgracefully treated, neglected for the last 6,000 years. This Resolution is not going to teach Adibasis democracy. You cannot teach democracy to the tribal people; you have to learn democratic ways from them. They are the most democratic people on earth. What my people require is not adequate safeguards… We do not ask for any special protection. We want to be treated like every other Indian….The whole history of my people is one of continuous exploitation and dispossession by the non-aboriginals of India punctuated by rebellions and disorder, and yet I take Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru at his word. I take you all at your word that now we are going to start a new chapter, a new chapter of Independent India where there is equality of opportunity, where no one would be neglected.”
Six decades later, a few questions need to be answered:
1. Has the experience of six decades been different from that of the earlier millennia and have Adivasis been treated with greater attention and justice?
2. Have Adivasis been afforded the equality of opportunity?
The reality is unpalatable and the data speaks for itself. Compared to other sections of our society, the tribal population has the lowest Human Development Index. The literacy rate of the STs at 47.1 in the 2001 Census is far below the national literacy rate of 64.84. Tribal children suffer from high drop out rates and low female literacy. They also have high infant mortality rates and malnutrition as compared to other population groups. They suffer from geographical and social exclusion, high poverty rates and lack of access to appropriate administrative and judicial mechanisms. Low level of infrastructural endowments and growing gap in infrastructure creation in tribal areas, as compared to the rest of India, has further diminished prospects for progress.
For the 85 million Scheduled Tribes in India, the struggle to retain their identities and seek empowerment through our Constitutional framework has not yielded commensurate outcomes. I therefore wish to highlight a few points for the consideration of this audience:
First, over 80 per cent of the Scheduled Tribes population works in the primary sector, with 45 per cent of them being cultivators and 37 per cent being agricultural labourers. Land thus represents the most important source of livelihood, emotional attachment and social stability in tribal communities. It is critical for cultivation horticulture, forestry and animal husbandry. The Draft National Tribal Policy testifies to it and notes that “alienation of tribal land is the single most important cause of pauperisation of tribals, rendering their vulnerable economic situation more precarious.”
The Forest Rights Act of 2006 represents an important step in attempting to reverse the marginalisation of our tribal people. It gives legislative teeth to the Constitutional provisions for protection and development of Scheduled Tribes, provides them a level playing field and casts tribal rights in a new matrix based on community control and customary access. It acknowledges the immense hardship caused to the Scheduled Tribes due to insecurity of tenurial and access rights and forced relocation due to State development interventions. Quick implementation of the provisions of this Act by various State Governments would go a long way in realising the vision of our Founding Fathers and ensuring that economic development and social progress is inclusive.
Second, the Constitution of India provides specific social, economic and political guarantees to the Scheduled Tribes. In the social dimension, these are covered under Articles 14, 15(4), 16(4), 16(4 A), 338 (A) and 339 (1). The economic provisions are covered under Article 46, 275(1) and 335. The political provisions are very elaborate and are spelt out in Article 244 and 5th and 6th Schedules of the Constitution, as also in Articles 330, 332, and 243 (D).
The extent to which the Constitutional provisions have been implemented and the normative guarantees translated into policy are a matter of ongoing debate. Civil society groups and activists have pointed out the manner in which the application of the Indian Forest Act 1927 and The Land Acquisition Act 1894 has caused marginalisation and hardship to the Adivasis. They also note that 5th Schedule provisions to prevent application of such laws to Scheduled Areas had not been invoked.
Third, in comparison to other disadvantaged communities and groups, the Adivasis have been less effective in constituting themselves as a Pan-Indian interest group and in articulating their grievances through the formal political system. This could partly be attributed to lack of national homogeneity in the context and mechanisms that have led to the exclusion and oppression of the Adivasis. Geographical dispersion of the Adivasis and lack of iconic leadership with a national appeal also prevents effective political mobilisation. To a lesser extent, our education system and our media are also to blame for the lower profile accorded to the predicament of Indian tribes.
Fourth, the development paradigm of independent India has led to, in the words of the Draft National Tribal Policy, tribal communities witnessing “their habitats and homelands fragmented, their cultures disrupted, their communities shattered, the monetary compensation which tribal communities are not equipped to handle slipping out of their hands, turning them from owners of the resources and well-knit contented communities to individual wage earners in the urban conglomerates with uncertain futures and threatened existence”.
Across the nation gigantic industrial, power, irrigation and mining projects representing the current development paradigm of independent Adivasi protests against land acquisition and displacement. Aligning our development needs with Adivasi rights and enhancing their Human Development Index is the need of the hour. This is also essential to prevent violent manifestations of discontent and unrest in our tribal areas emanating from exclusion and alienation.
Fifth, it is lost sight of that many Adivasis straddle multiple dimensions of deprivation and vulnerability. Besides being Scheduled Tribes, many of the Adivasis are also religious and linguistic minorities. It is very important that the protections afforded by the Constitution to the religious and linguistic minorities be fully made available to tribal communities that qualify.
I hope this seminar would act as a powerful tool for public advocacy on the extent of deprivation of Adivasis in the country and means to address them. I am confident that your deliberations would be immensely helpful for formulating policies conducive to Adivasi development.
I thank Dr. Yoginder Alagh for inviting me to inaugurate this seminar.”
U.N. agency to investigate Indian massacre in Colombia
• STORY HIGHLIGHTS
• Another slaughter of Indians: 12, including five children and newborn, killed
• President: Gunmen in camouflage attacked Indians near cocaine-growing region
• FARC has killed Indians in the past, saying they were government collaborators
• Human-rights groups, state governor say FARC killed 27 Awa Indians in February
August 27, 2009 -- Updated 1550 GMT (2350 HKT)
BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) -- A United Nations human rights agency has agreed to help Colombia investigate the massacre of 12 Indians in the southwestern part of the country.
Twelve Awa Indians, including five children and a newborn, were found dead Wednesday about 50 miles from the city of Tumaco, in the state of Narino, near Colombia's border with Ecuador, President Alvaro Uribe said in a statement.
"This pains our soul," Uribe said.
The Colombian government asked the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to help investigate and the agency has agreed to assist, according to a statement published on the president's Web site.
The president said it seems "criminals" in camouflage attacked an Indian community with guns near a place where cocaine is grown.
The Colombian government has offered a reward of up to the equivalent of $50,000 for information leading to the capture of those responsible, the Colombian Ministry of Defense said in a statement. Investigators know little about the group that conducted the attack or its motive, the statement said.Uribe
In February, guerrillas with the Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, better known as FARC, admitted that they killed several Indians they had accused of collaborating with the Colombian government, news outlets reported.
A FARC statement about the killings was posted then by the New Colombia News Agency and Caracol Radio's Web site.
Human-rights groups and a state governor in Colombia accused FARC of killing at least 27 Awa Indians in separate attacks in southwest Colombia in early to mid-February.
The statement said the guerrillas were not targeting indigenous populations but took the action "against people who independent of their race, religion, ethnicity, social condition etc. accepted money and put themselves at the service of the army in an area that is the object of military operations."
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/08/27/colombia.massacre/
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