rastr annual report 2008-09

8/3/2019 RASTR Annual Report 2008-09

1/11

Annual Report 2008-09

Registration No.: JAY-4-00405-2007-08

#285/B, 38th Cross, 8th Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore-560082

Tel: +91-9886024990 email: [email protected]

1


2/11

The year 2008-09 has been very eventful for Rashtrotthan Sankalp. We worked on

various issues affecting the society and the people. The main issues we dealt with this

year were related to development, proper implementation of laws, correction of

imbalances in development, bringing accountability in administration through citizens'

participation and use of tools like the Right to Information. Herewith we present a brief

account of the prominent activities of Rashtrotthan Sankalp during 2008-09, other

important matters of the Trust, and the programmes and activities we plan to take up

during the next year. The report ends with expression of our thanks to all associates,

supporters, well-wishers and friends of Rashtrotthan Sankalp.

Peoples Agenda for Hubballi-Dharwad (PAHD)

Development in Karnataka has not been uniform. The feeling of negligence persists

among many parts of the state particularly the northern districts. The High-power

Committee for Redressal of Regional Imbalances, headed by Shri D. M. Nanjundappa

has studied the matter in great details and has come out with several recommendations

to correct the imbalances. However, much needs to be done to see changes on ground.In this context, Rashtrotthan Sankalp through discussion with prominent citizens of Hubli-

Dharwad, including the intelligentsia, academicians, NRIs, students, businessmen,

professionals, youth and Common Citizens, prepared the People's Agenda for Hubli-

Dharwad.

Citizens in meetings with (Left) Shri Ajay Nagbhushan,Commissioner, HDMC, and

(Right) DCP-Crime and Traffic, Hubli-Dharwad and Superintending Engineer, HDMC

A 28 point agenda was framed in diverse fields including Public Amenities, Industry &

Commerce, Administration, Education, Transport, Culture & Tourism, Environment &

Recreation, and Sports. The agenda which came directly from the people points to the

lack of development in the twin city and the north karnataka region and the aspirations of

the people. Through the initiative, the clear public opinion was carried to the powers the

state government, politicians and bureaucracy to give Hubballi-Dharwad and North

Karnataka its due. It was also made clear that this agenda does not point to a struggle

against the south or other regions, but was for the things that the rightful things that

northern part too deserves as an indivisible part of Karnataka.

2


3/11

News articles on Peoples Agenda for Hubli-Dharwad

Wide consultations were held through conferences and the collective opinion was

conveyed through meetings to the administration, in particular to the newly elected Chief

Minister of the state, the ministers and legislators concerned, and the Hubli-Dharwad

Municipal Corporation. All details about the Peoples Agenda can be found on our

website.

Election Awareness

Elections play a major role in a democratic state. The onus of bringing right set of people

to represent and lead us, rests on us, the citizens. We at Rashtrotthan Sankalp took up

this matter with seriousness and responsibility. In this regard we have worked on two

projects, 'Karnataka Election Watch 2008' and the campaign by name 'Vote for Mr/Ms

Right'.

Karnataka Election Watch (KEW) 2008

Spearheaded by eminent citizens like former Chief Justice of India and former NHRCChairman, Shri M. N. Venkatachallaiah, and a host of Civil Society Organizations led by

Association for Democratic Rights (ADR), the effort was to publicise the assets and

liabilities, criminal antecedents and educational qualification of candidates to the

Karnataka Assembly elections 2008. This data was compiled from the affidavits made by

the candidates and made available to the public to make a informed choice in electing

their representatives to the assembly. The work was carried out in 3 phases. The

releases for the 3 phases and also the consolidated report are available on our website.

The study results were propagated through the media, internet and a vastnetwork of

voluntary organisations.

3


4/11

Vote for Mr/Mrs Right

This campaign was intended in educating the citizens to choose the right candidate who

represents their voice in the local bodies, assemblies, or the parliament, and works for

the welfare of the constituency, rather than candidates who ride merely on family

background, rhetoric, or other divisive policies including caste, religion or language.

The Trust has come up with a checklist to guide the voters in electing the best available

candidate and in making democracy work properly. This was extensively circulated

through the media, friends, associate organizations and also through leaflets. The

campaign was carried out during the elections to local bodies in karnataka, particularly in

in Hubli Dharwad Corporation elections and during the Karnataka State Elections 2008.

Copies of the material circulated hare available on our website.

Sadashivnagar Road in Belgaum

Most of the roads in Belgaum city in Karnataka are in a bad shape. The 1st main road in

Sadashiv Nagar is no exception. This road was in a pathetic condition for long. Theresidents of Sadashiv Nagar have been facing a lot of problem due to such a condition of

the road.

Sadashiv Nagar 1st Main Road in Belgaum in a very pathetic condition

The pictures above, taken in the 3rd week of Feb. 2008 give a glimpse of the pathetic

condition in which the road exists. Volunteers of Rashtrotthan Sankalp took up the

matter. One of the residents of Sadashiv Nagar, Rajiv and Comrade Chetan of

Rashtrotthan Sankalp, prepared a RTI application on the particular road and decided to

file it with the City Engineer, PWD department of the Belgaum Municipal Corporation

(BMC). The PIO (Public Information Officer) made them run from pillar to post in the

Corporation office for three days quoting vague and nonsense reasons instead of

accepting the application. This irresponsibility of the concerned officer was made public

through the help of media. Some of the media reports are attached below for the

reference.

After about a week Rashtrotthan Sankalp in consultation with RTI activists from Mahiti

Hakku Adhyayana Kendra, Bangalore decided to file the RTI application by Registered

Post. By 25th

of February 2008 applications reached the PIO concerned. The RTI

4


5/11

applications sought details like reasons for bad condition of road, funds allocated and

spent, names and address of the contractors, etc. in the past 3 years.

News reports on the Sadashiv Nagar Road

The PIO failed to reply to the RTI applications. However, by the third week of March, road

construction material was being dumped of the 1st main road of Sadashiv Nagar. The

work on widening and asphalting of the road started thereafter. Volunteers took the

matter to the Karnataka Information Commission. The BMC's failure on the Right to

Information was widely condemned in the media. The residents however, got the road

done.

Road Widening and Asphalting going on in Sadashiv Nagar Road

after Rashtrotthan Sankalp's initiatives

Mission Dhwaja Samman

It is a well-known fact that the Tricolour is treated too casually by many in the public. The

National flags are seen lying on the roadside by the evening of the Independence /

Republic Day, the Republic Day and other National Days. Cheap plastic flags, rather than

the sacred Khadi Flags have become the order of the day. Such a treatment is not only a

5


6/11

violation of the Flag Code and other applicable laws like the Emblems and Names Act,

1950, Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, but also an atrocity on the

patriotic sentiment of every true citizen of India.

We at Rashtrotthan Sankalp have been creating awareness among the public about the

proper use and disposal of the National Flag. Over the past few years we have carried on

this activity as 'Mission Dhwaja Samman' through various means like distribution ofpamphlets, organizing educative sessions among children in schools and institutions,

through circulation of awareness material through the media and the Internet.

News articles on Mission Dhwaja Samman

It is our experience that, though some citizens are conscious about the proper disposal of

the national flag, they have no proper means to do the same. Carrying forward the

campaign, we have now requested the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to

take lead in creating and providing facilities for proper disposal of used national flags to

the citizens of Bengaluru. We have suggested the following simple things to achieve this

task to preserve the national honour:

The used national flags should be collected separately by the pourakarmikas

during their daily rounds of garbage collection in the morning after National days

like Independence Day and Republic Day.

These separately collected flags should be brought to a single place and disposed

off honorably as per the Flag Code.

BBMP should give wide publicity in media and through circulars to schools, trade

establishments, offices, etc. to this proposed facility offered by it, so that the

citizens preserve the used flags and hand them over in a dignified manner to thePourakarmikas instead of throwing them away on the street or in the general

garbage.

Complete details on this campaign are available on our website.

Section 49-O of The Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961

There has been lot of speculation, particularly over the Internet, on Section 49-O ofThe

Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961. There are different versions by different people on this.

Some have portrayed the provision under Sec. 49-O as a negative voting option. One

most circulated version is that if in any election, the number of votes recorded under Sec.

6


7/11

49-O, "rejecting all candidates", exceeds the votes polled by the contestant winning the

highest number of votes, re-election would be held in that particular constituency, with all

the original contestants debarred in the new election.

We had always doubted this under the existing election rules. To clear the smoke around

this hyped provision, we initiated a confirmatory fact-finding mission. We had talks with

officers in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka and also the State ElectionCommission, but they did not to concur on the assumed re-electionunder Sec. 49-O.

However, to get accurate details, we filed an application under the Right to Information

(RTI) Act, 2005, with the Election Commission of India (ECI), itself.

The Election Commissions reply to our RTI application, confirms what we always

believed as a hoax! The ECI stated that at present, there is no provision under any rule

or Act providing for negative vote. However, a voter may, under the provisions of Sec.

49-O, decide not to record his vote and prevent any attempt of impersonation or bogus

voting. The ECI also stated that there is no provision in the existing election law to

conduct the election again in any of the events speculated by people, and mentioned

here above. This categorical denial by the ECI was publicised through the media and the

internet to prevent the misinformation being spread by undiscerning citizens

Bharatiya Grammena Mahila Sangh (BGMS)

BGMS is an institution supporting orphan children, children from economically under

privileged sections, and a center for destitute and blind women and senior citizens. Even

before the foundation of Rashtrotthan Sankalp Trust, members of the Trust have been in

touch with this institution. Every year an several programmes and activities have been

conducted for the inmates of this organisation.

Interaction with inmates of BGMS

7


8/11

On 26th of January 2008, volunteers of Rashtrotthan Sankalp visited the institute and

organised for an inspirational movie on nationalism and then had a discussion on the

rights and duties of citizens with the students. Earlier essay and quiz competitions were

conducted for students on Indian History, Science and Technology and Freedom

movement of India. Prizes for winners of the competitions were distributed on the

Republic Day. Authentic Khadi flags were distributed to the 200 odd students here and a

session on the proper use and respectful disposal of National Flag was conducted.

Prevention of Beggary Act, 1975

There have been a lot of pro-people Acts which have come up and a lot of committees

that have been set up for the welfare of the people. The question is how much efficient

has the government been in implementing these acts or the findings of the committees.

One such Act, which has failed drastically is the Karnataka Prevention of Beggary Act,

1975. Even after 34 years of passing of the Act, the state has been inefficient in

implementing the Act in its totality. These are not mere statements that we are making in

here.

Interacting with Beggars during a survey

Beggary, the most inhumane condition in which a person can be, caught our attention as

we set to work towards a self reliant Nation. After three and a half decades of the Act,

with comprehensive provisions for cessation of beggary and rehabilitation of the

apprehended beggars, all that can be said is that the state has failed woefully in

implementing the Act. Scores of beggars are spotted at every busy junction, market,railway train or religious or public place. In many places, beggary is a thriving 'profession'.

And Karnataka is not the only state with this situation. Nor is the government alone to be

blamed. Beggary will keep popping up until citizens stop encouraging the beggars

believing that they all are 'needy'. Only a marginal number of the people who take to

beggary are victims of circumstances. We have done a long study of the matter,

conducted surveys and dug out information from various state agencies through long-

drawn RTI battles from village panchayats to the Karnataka Information Commission. A

detailed report of the findings is being drafted and would be published for the information

of the public and the government and to push for corrective measures to have the Act

8


9/11

implemented in the right spirit, create public opinion in favour of ending beggary and

make Karnataka a really beggary free state.

RTI Activities

The 'Right to Information Act, 2005' is a landmark legislation of Independent India,

empowering citizens to obtain information from public agencies and thereby facilitating

citizens' participation in public affairs as also in solving their personal grievances. With a

view of taking the knowledge of this effective tool to the common citizens, Rashtrotthan

Sankalp has been working continuously. For the past 3 years volunteers are involved in

propagating the Act to citizens across the state and the country. In 2008-09, several

workshops on RTI were conducted, notably in the Bommanahalli area of Begaluru, Hubli-

Dharwad and Belgaum.

Workshops on RTI

Besides awareness activities, we have been using the RTI as a major tool in meeting the

objectives of the Trust. Rashtrotthan Sankalp volunteers have obtained information in

various fields to clarify misinformation among the public or as part of its various activities.

Some of the applications filed by volunteers, apart from those already mentioned, are

pertaining to the Nanjundappa Committee Report on Regional Imbalances, details of

budget and spending on parks in Hubli-Dharwad, details about non-provision for filing of

public interest litigations (PILs) in the newly established Karnataka high court benches atDharwad and Gulburga, quality report and sampling of road construction materials for the

Sadashiv Nagar 1st main in Belgaum, HDMC Mayor and Councillors' foreign visit, and

statutory self-declaration under section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act from a host of government

agencies. These cases are at different stages and the information received is being

studied. The outcomes will be published in the coming days.

9


10/11

Internal Streamlining of the Organisation

The Trust had applied for registration under Sections 12A and 80G with the Income Tax

department. The trust has been granted registration u/s 12A(a) of the IT Act, 1961 w.e.f.

The assessment year 2008-09 and also u/s 80G(5)(vi) of the IT Act, 1961. The

registration u/s is valid until 31/3/2009 and is being taken up for renewal.

To stream line the induction and grooming of volunteers, byelaws are being drafted for

association/registration of volunteers, which will be adopted by the Board of Trustees,

after discussion during the next year.

Upcoming Activities

Besides taking forward the activities already initiated, Rashtrotthan Sankalp plans to take

up the following main activities during the next year.

Workshops on Importance of Righteousness in Life and Active Participation in

Social and Political Affairs of the Nation.

Studies of Budgets, Spending and Programmes of local bodies like Hubli-Dharwad

Municipal Corporation (HDMC) and Belgaum Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Interaction with Auto Rickshaw Drivers/operators and the consumers with a view to

facilitate honest and efficient Auto service and harmonious relations between the

public and the Auto Drivers/Operators.

Traffic Awareness Campaigns.

Working for pedestrian rights and removal of encroachments on footpaths and

roads, and other public places. Cleanliness in Public places, including campaign against illegal hoardings in public

places and defiling of public property.

Pursuing the implementation of Prevention of Beggary Act 1975 with the end goal

of making Karnataka a Beggary Free State.

Condolence

We express deep sorrow for the loss of the father figure, Sri Anantha Krishna, who was

Secretary of Bharatiya Grameena Mahila Sangh (BGMS), Vibhuthipura, Bangalore for

nearly three decades. A very noble and humble man by nature, Shri Anantha Krishna,

called affectionately as Anna, was a great source of inspiration for people who came in

touch with him. We have lost a great energetic man, whose complete dedication and

untiring hard work till the end of his life transformed BGMS into a paradise for over 200

orphan children, blind and destitute women and women under trauma. His love, affection

and dedication in life will always inspire us.

10


11/11

Thanks & Appreciation

Our sincere thanks to all associate organisations, well-wishers, and financial supporters.

In particular, we would like to mention the following people/organisations/groups:

Shri. Vikram Simha ofMahiti Hakku Adyayana Kendra, Bangalore, for his guidance

and continuous support for our works related to the Right to Information Act.

Shri Ashok Halagali, Advocate, Belgaum for his cooperation, camaraderie and

guidance in all matters, in particular RTI.

Late Shri Anantha Krishna and the staff ofBGMSfor providing us opportunities to

interact with the inmates there.

Hubli City e-Group andmembers, in particular, Shri Sunil Nalavade, Prof Veer

Mahantesh Swamy, Shri Ankesh Jain, Shri Aneel Desai and Shri Upendra Kukanur,

for working hand-in-hand with us in taking ahead the Peoples Agenda for Hubli-

Dharwad.

Dr. Ashok Shettar, Principal and B.V.B. College of Engineering & Technology,Hubli, for facilitating the organisation of the meetings of People's Agenda for

Hubballi-Dharwad in their campus.

Shri Arvind Reddy, Industrialist and Activist, Hubli, for working with us in spreading

awareness on RTI in Hubballi by organizing workshops and disseminating

information.

Shri Noshir Dadrawala ofCenter for Advancement of Philanthropy, Mumbai,

Comrade Sundeep Jalan, Businessman and Activist, Mumbai, and Brother

Soundarrajan, ofEmmanuel Day Care Center, Bangalore, for their invaluable

guidance and help in legal matters related to the trust and general support to our

activities

Shri Ashiesh and friends of Nammahubbali.com / Maverick Software, Hubli for their

support to Rashtrotthan Sankalp and for their help in developing the website of

Rashtrotthan Sankalp.

Prof. Trilochan Shastri, IIM, Bangalore, of Association for Democratic Rights (ADR),

for counting on us during the Karnataka Election Watch 2008 Study.

Shri. Sachin Pawar & Shri Amit Kamat our major financial supporters

Shri Ram Prasad Nidwannaya, for his guidance in finance related matters of the

Trust .

Com. Chetan Ganiger, Belgaum, and all our associates and friends for their faith in

us, tremendous efforts, cooperation and encouragement.

Jai Hind!

11

rastr annual report 2008-09

Documents