South Asia Citizens Web

The CPI(M) is fond of narcissistically flaunting its world record of 32 years in power in West Bengal as "proof" of its performance. But in the past two decades, a new kind of virtually totalitarian power has been put in place. The local panchayat, MLA, district administration, police and the ubiquitous ’party’ act in tandem. There is no avenue forum for redress, no way to appeal against corruption, non-implementation of schemes and the absence of simple developmental activity such as water (…)

A song on the present day exploitation of tribal land and forests in the name of development. Directed by KP Sasi

If you are worth over Rs. 50 million, you are 75 times more likely to win an election to the Lok Sabha than if you are worth under Rs. 1 million. At least, in the case of the 2009 polls. (Some 23 of 64 Cabinet Ministers whose asset worth is in the public domain fall into this Rs. 50 million-plus category. Providing it stability of sorts, I guess. In the entire Cabinet, only one falls into the less-than-Rs.1 million group.)

During the process of enactment of the Forests Right Act in 2006, the National Forum for Forest People’s and Forest Workers (NFFPFW) passed two important resolutions in the second National Conference held at Ranchi:
1) Establishment of community governance over forest resources. 2) To resist commodification of forests and related resources.

The military offensive in Swat Valley and surrounding districts of Malakand Division has more or less completed its initial phase. This may be a good moment therefore to assess the operation so far.

There is little doubt that there was a fundamental shift in the attitude of the army before such an unprecedented military offensive could be launched against the Taliban whom the military until recently was fond of referring to as its ‘strategic assets’. What led to this ‘change of heart’?