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August 20, 2005
Address to President Kalam
Dear President Kalam For most part, your understanding of the problems of India and thence its solutions seems to be completely defined by technology. Unfortunately, Sir, that is not how most of the nation sees its reality. While you bemoan the plight in Maharasthra and solicit solidarity for the work of the Chief Minister, I would like to point out to you, Sir, that this is the same administration that has made more people homeless than the Tsunami that struck the Eastern Coast of India late last year. Even during the recent floods in Maharasthra, police was ordered to tear down shelters set up by the poor in numerous slums coping with the heavy rains. One would do well to remember that a significant section of these slum dwellers are communities who have been displaced from ‘development’ projects like mines and dams without any rehabilitation plan and another significant section comes from rural India where the collapse of the rural economy has forced them to leave or commit suicide like 18000 of their brethren committing suicide every year. I would request that you also note that ministers in this state administration actually stated that slums were the cause of the floods, completely eschewing any reference to thousands of instances of urban development that are illegal and hinder the drainage of water in this metropolis. On the topic of displacement, I would also urge that you request the appropriate ministries to make public studies that suggest that Interlinking of Rivers is an economically and socially feasible solution. After all, a project that is of the same order of magnitude as the budget of the nation surely needs greater public debate and transparency. As the President of India, you will be well aware of the extent of corruption that exists in our society and in the administration and will agree that transparency will help make the project more efficient and accountable. And while you are at it, I would also urge that you find out where people displaced by this project will be rehabilitated since the governments of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh currently claim that they have no land for rehabilitating people from the dams in the Narmada Valley and the Orissa CM cannot find land to rehabilitate the people being displaced from mining projects in Kashipur. Sir, I would also like to respectfully point out that one of the most dastardly phenomena in our country does not need billions of dollars of technological outlay. It is the phenomena of bonded child labor that binds millions to tens of millions of children (based on varied estimates). If the government cannot protect its children, who can it protect? And if you, as a visionary, and as the conscience of this government, cannot address this, Sir, I am sorry for the state of my country. This is a problem that needs political will. It is a problem no one wants to talk about. And it does not get the government much political brownie points. But, Sir, it is a problem that a nation should be ashamed of. How many more years, Mr. President, before the government can protect the rights of our children? These need political solutions, Mr. President, that ensures that powerful lobbies cannot exploit children, that the weakest, and those who have little voice are not exploited. They require implementation of land reform and sustenance of rural livelihoods so that people do not have to present their children as collateral. Sir, in your address you have spoken about the need for early warning systems for geo-seismic activity. Earthquakes and tsunamis have claimed about 10000 lives in our nation in the last 3 years. And every life is a potential, a dream, a possibility. It must be saved. No price can be attached to these. We should consider advanced technology to address these through any preventative technologies we find possible. But, then, Mr. President, what about lives being lost that do not need billions of dollars of investment and advanced technologies? What about over tens of thousands of lives lost in Delhi, in Mumbai, in Gujarat through mindless violence incited for political gain and encouraged through a political process that has failed? What about the lives being lost to TB, malaria, cholera, polio – diseases that have been conquered and require basic medicines, a working health care system and access to clean water and hygiene? What about the millions who are starving in the absence of droughts or floods, simply because the rural economy has collapsed and they cannot afford to buy food? What about Amartya Sen’s presentation that suggests that rural poor have access to smaller calories per capita than during the Bengal famine? Sir, there is a serious issue with respect to gender inequality. I am sure you are aware of the highly skewed sex ratio in a large part of India, a high incidence of female infanticide, and the low ratio of female child participation in education programs. Again, Dr. Amartya Sen has written much on this issue and is quick to point out that a solution requires political will from our governments. Instances of violence against women – across all religions and economic status – are reported regularly in newspapers. Surely, we have the technology to file FIRs and arrest those who are involved in such forms of violence against women. Another research by the UN suggests that the absence of toilets for girl students is a big reason for dropout. Surely, we have the technology to build toilets. And what technological solutions do you present to the people of Nagaland and Manipur, Sir, that will address their concerns that they are but a colony of India to exploit, mere second class citizens whose needs are never accounted for by the policy makers or India, whose communities have been completely destroyed by the Indian armed forces, where laws and justice has collapsed under constant military presence, where women raped by the military have little voice? Sir, in your address you have almost exclusively spoken about problems that have technological solutions. A very large number of problems facing our nation are of socio-economic and political nature – problems of immense exploitation, rights, justice, of employment and social equality, of security from unfathomable violence. Surely, these are problems that need to be tackled, Mr. President? Will you not add your voice that the government may address these? Will you not include them in your vision Sir? Dear Mr. President, it is easier for us to implement technological solutions. They do not demand that we share what we have more equally. Unfortunately, they do very little for those who are most exploited. They could have done little in our fight for independence in the early part of the last century and they can do little now in ensuring greater equality and justice. Unfortunately, Mr. President, the solutions are political in nature and require a government with will and with a conscience. Can we count on you, Mr. President, to demand these from your government? Respectfully Posted by collective at August 20, 2005 11:32 PM Comments
Respected President of India, From Old Passport Address: To Respected Sir, Sub: Saudi Arabia working time (2003 – sep) I am working at Saudi Arabia last Nov-20, 2001 to June’2004 my visa Owner comet trading contracting company, c/o. Saudi Hills. This company manager Sathick Al-mathur More than 150 Indian Passport he took the absacoined this matter, so and so matter knows secretary Narayanan, after return India Throw India Embassy make emergency certificate issuing date 9.6.2004. My Passport Expiry may-2003 I can Renewal another Passport at Riyadh Indian Embassy that New passport and old Passport. That both are he took (Sathik-almathur) abscoined, that new Passport Xerox copy I don’t have. I have only old Passport Xerox copy. I am return to India after I can apply the New Duplicate Passport applied dated 6 August 2004. Reference:- Saudiarabia working 20.11.2001 to 11.06.2004 Saudi Arabia Indian Expairy Old - Passport No: P684375 Passport details Date of issue 22.06.93 Emergency certificate details - E.C.No: 713260 Saudi Id - IQMA: 2178831497 Duplicate Passport - Passport Applied date: 06.08.2004 Needed Riyadh Indian Embassy - Passport No…………………… Thanking you, Yours faithfully S. VASU Posted by: sadayagounder vasu on February 11, 2006 05:40 AMplease send me the e-mail address of president of india on which i can put my quries to Mr president of india as i am a student of engineering & very confused about further studies. Posted by: somya on February 25, 2006 02:02 AMmithilesh patel wrote: TO In life there are times when the disciples need the help of their preacher, teacher,mentor etc. That time for me has come and I desperately need one support,one help from you.Your vision for our INDIA to be a Developed Nation by 2020 is the GOAL of my life.I treat this goal of mine as my prayer so that every moment I must have a sense of it. I want to serve my Country as a Management Professional determined to strive hard to get every bit of my energy utilised in the managerial development. I had given my Higher Secondary exams and had secured 73.4%. I had planned to get admitted to the BBA section of My request to you is that, I sincerely wait for a positive and quick response from you my sir. One response from you can make an Indian to think more,work more for our country.You can respond me over 09331827001 as I am eagerly waiting for your response. Good Night, Thanking You, Yours Sincerely, Vaibhav Rathi. Posted by: VAIBHAV RATHI on August 17, 2006 12:08 PMsir, i m mithilesh patel from vadodara,gujarat Post a comment
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