PRIs or Guinea pig of Indian democracy?

    Historically  Haryana is a place of great importance of human civilization. Archaeological excavation at 'Rakhi Garhi' of Hisar district proved that the oldest Harappan Civilization has been flourished here. 'Mitathal' of Bhiwani district is the other important location of  Indus Valley Civilization or early Harappan Civilization. Agroha is another place of such development towards human civilization. Kurukshetra and the area towards west up to 48 'kos'  is believed to be center of Mahabharata where mythological war of truth and justice was fought between two brother's 'Pandvas and Kaurvas'. The remains existing in this area are believed by the people and historians that Haryana has been the land of Mahabharata. Thanesar was the capital of king 'Harshvardhan'. Since Haryana has been near the Delhi so this land witnessed great turmoils and war of historical importance that decided the fate of India from time to time. Earlier Muslim rulers of Turkistan and Arab origin invaded and plunder this area. Char Qutub Masjid situated in Hansi was founded by the ancestors of Sufi saints in sixth or seventh century. The tomb of only female ruler of Delhi Sulatnat 'Razia Sultan' (1236-1240)exist in Kaithal who was killed by Jats on October, 13,1240 that is the testimony of that this area has been undergone great acts of historical importance. Hisar was founded by Feroz Shah Tuglaq (1351-1388) in fourteen century. Battle of Taraori indicates that this land has witnessed the struggle between Mughals fought three battles at Panipat to gain supremacy and establish their rule in India. Hansi near Hisar was the center of military training under the 'Skinners' an Ireland military strategist during the early days of Queen's rule in India. In nutshell it may be said that Haryana is a land that witnessed great turmoil and struggle of power and seen growth and destruction of many regimes. All such happenings over the centuries in Haryana affected the common men in significant manner in their socio-economic standings and creating a mind set. Villages of Haryana has been influenced by the social hegemonic structure called 'Khaps' over a significant time period who used to deliver diktats and justice to common man. Today's Khaps are the rudimentary reflection of those social structures.  Haryana is a small state in the close vicinity of national capital. It took shape in the year 1966 after big brother separated it from the main Punjab as if brothers settle new houses after division of family. Haryana was given the most backward areas of Punjab where development of any kind was a dream and that was the main reason of its creation because leaders of that time thought that this land is eating the resources of Punjab. Agriculture was not developed as most of the land was rained. There was no significant availability of inputs needed for agriculture viz; improved seeds, irrigation facilities, newer and improved implements, fertilizers, plant protection measures and money to sustain the demand of agriculture. After its creation the subsequent governments and its people shown courage to fight all odds and within a small span of few years Haryana exhibited a remarkable leap in all fields of development. Every village was linked with roads and electricity was made available in each village. Network of minor irrigation was developed to make the payable and irrigation water up to the potential level. Hard work and fighting spirits of its people make the nation wonder during the era of 'green revolution'. And a new discussion starts in the country that small states could be vehicle of all-round development of humans in every walk of life. The area surrounding national capital convert into a new hub of industrialization. The rest of Haryana shown significant development in agriculture and reached the distinguished position of agriculture production and productivity. After independence new form of village administration at lower level established as in rest of India.73rd constitutional amendment in year 1991 provided the constitutional status to such panchayats and renamed and created a three tier system as Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). 74th amendment provide and created such structures in urban areas and named as urban local bodies. First elections under new system were held in year 1994 in Haryana. Under superstructure of a national Act, states were empowered to incorporate rules and statutes based on local needs. Section 175 of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act deals with qualifications of the members of these PRIs. Three children norm was inserted in the new Act for eligibility to contest election for these PRIs in 1994 and that provision was against the fundamental rights enumerated in Article 21 of the constitution. Many elected representatives has to bear the burnt of this unconstitutional insertion for three terms. Many of such ineligible members have to have adopt illegal and criminal modes to save their offices from disqualification. Supreme Court of India struck down this clause later on. Now elections to PRIs are

overdue in Haryana since July 2015. New government didn't bother to honor the constitutional obligation of conducting elections within prescribed limit on the flimsy ground that wardbandi and voter lists are not prepared in time. It's a lame excuse to render these constitutional bodies worthless and at the level of unimportant. There was ample time and scope to reorganize the wards and to prepare the voter lists. But deliberately no attention was paid to fulfill the obligation to Indian constitution. Instead of meeting the basic requirements for conduction of elections of PRIs, government brought an Ordinance to effect and alter the qualification for the candidates of PRIs in the month of August. Some aspirants for the election for PRIs challenged this Ordinance in Punjab &Haryana High Court. And court stayed the implementation of this new qualification criteria for PRIs. Instead of honoring the order of court, government shows haughtiness and belligerent attitude and introduced the amendments to Panchayati Raj Act in the recent session of State Legislature. Despite strong opposition from the masses and opposition political parties, government passed the amendments knowing the Ordinance in this regard has been  stayed by the court. Interestingly in the middle of night necessary concurrence of Governor was obtained and notification was got published in the same night to thwart the procedure and remedy available with the citizen to approach the courts. At the same time it raises question on the office of Governor and State Election Commission which are autonomous bodies and have constitutional status and suppose to behave and act in accordance with law. Government came forward with the plea that it believe in strong Panchayati Raj System where each and every member is well qualified to transact the business of PRIs. By this act of government most of the population of state rendered ineligible to contest the elections. On refusing to entertain the writ against  new amendments, Smt. Jagmati Sangwan, President All India Democratic Women's Association and few other aspirants challenged the new amendments in the Supreme Court stating that this new Act will render the 82% scheduled caste women, 72% General Caste women and 54% men ineligible for contesting the elections to PRIs. In the meantime election process reached the stage of filing of nominations when appeal came before court for hearing. Supreme Court stayed the operation of new amendments without stopping the process of election. State government instead of respecting the decision of court filed an appeal for early hearing and hired big advocates to defend its weak case. Government showed utter haughtiness and adamant attitude and ultimately the process itself got struck and this resulted into halting of elections those were already overdue since July, 2015. Election to PRIs are very prestigious to the  villagers and fought on tough pitch. Their stakes are very high and most of them are ready to invest all what they have in hand. Most of the candidates are awful struck in a situation of catch22. They can neither forego nor in a position to sustain the heavy demands of money. They are made to raise huge loans or sell their properties to contest these elections when new dates will be announced. Government spokespersons are out with armory of new justifications that they were not aware of such a low percent of people are eligible. They only relied on the slogan of previous government of 'Number1 Haryana'. They are not aware what a huge harm they are doing for the common men. Many of the aspirants will become bankrupt and the enmity between the groups of individuals will be more stronger as the process stretched too longer. For centuries, Haryana has been a battlefield for gain of power, hegemony and a media to conquer throne. Today also it's people were made to suffer for political gain on the cost of their democratic rights, respects and brotherhood. Is  Haryana a land of great civilization or a laboratory of experiments how to rule the state and its people are guinea pigs? 

Politics of crop failure in Haryana

Haryana is predominantly an agriculture  state. It's vicinity to national capital provide special significance to it. After its creation on Nov.1,1966, agriculture in state shown an unpredictably upsurge both in production and productivity of cereals particularly wheat and rice and contribute significantly in national pool. Green revolution of sixties played a vital role in unprecedented growth in agriculture. Creation of new state and advent of Green Revolution provided tremendous opportunities to farmers and farm labors to attain newer heights in production of cereals. Farm university and many agricultural institutions were established in Hisar and Karnal. Regional

agricultural institutions were also came into the existence in different parts of Haryana to cater need and demands of farm sector and this new development created availability of technology and knowledge at the door step of farmers. Farmers of Haryana grabbed this new opportunity with both hands and by investment of their hard work and labor took the state on higher pedestal of agriculture growth. But this growth also brought new challenges before the farm sector. New varieties and technology was high input intensive package. Now  Agriculture production was not possible without  fertilizer, pesticides and irrigation. These inputs demanded for higher dose of furnace in agriculture production. And we see the simultaneous growth in the fields of new farm implements, tractors, more pesticides and seed agencies and more tube wells and submersibles. These inputs burdened the agriculture enormously. Farmers were made to raise crop loans from commission agents initially and later on from organised banking sectors against pledging of their lands. Since Haryana is in the bracket of high growth of population and its population increased exponentially over the past 48 years. This led to shrinkage of farm holdings and over burdened by crop loans. Requirement of irrigation led to more installation of tube wells and so power bills surprised the farmers of this new state. In nutshell, higher production created higher indebtedness of farmers. Agriculture remains a profitable vocation anymore. Most of the farmers are debt ridden and find it difficult to pursue agriculture as an vocation. But there is no other option and hence pursuing this. The landless agricultural laborers who reaped dividends of boom in agriculture production are now find it difficult to be engaged in agriculture because farmers family could meet the requirements of labor. At the peak of season such as seeding of crop or harvesting provide work to agriculture laborers. Both farmers and farm labors are in dire straits.

The plight of farmers breed opportunity for politics. Political parties are engaged in create a demand of compensation for crop loss to weather's vagaries or for any other flimsy ground instead of making a comprehensive agriculture policy to save the agriculture. They created it a tool to garner sympathy and votes. In last decade this demand of compensation is at fore now and then. Farmers are made to demand compensations rather than remedy for challenges before agriculture. Compensation on crop loss is the duty and responsibility of government of the day but assessment and distribution of such competition must be objective and the benefit must reach to the actual looser. Unfortunately this is not happening. Political clout of a ruling party leader rules the assessment and its distribution. Recently, rabi crops were affected by unseasonable rains and hailstorms in some parts of Haryana and it was the duty of the government to compensate the farmers whose crop lost beyond the prescribed limit of the damage parameters. But department and government failed to make an objective assessment of crop loss and hasten got the report of special harvest inspection and sanctiond an amount of ₹1072 crore for compensation. This was the big amount to be distributed for crop loss within a month or two after crop loss. What is glaring is that actual area of damage and farmers were not identified properly rather pressure groups and heavy weights in government successfully got the bigger share for their areas. It was the politics of compensation and that rubbed the salts on the wounds of lakhs of affected farmers who were robbed of the chances of fair compensation. It is also glaring that the total production of rabi crops surpassed the arrivals in markets. There is no logic how to justify this crop loss and drama of compensation. It's also fact that certain areas really affected by the unseasonable rains and weather's vagaries. But the areas where such loss was marginal were benefited the most. Episode of Assandh is more shocking where farmers were able to press the government to a mince the compensation after the harvest of rabi crops and without any subjective or objective crop loss assessment. It is imperative that now on farmers have been made to demand compensation and they forget the comprehensive agriculture policy or implementation of Swaminathan Commission Report for saving the farm sector and bestowing honor and respect to the producers of grain whose tireless efforts and bone breaking labor fills the bellies of the millions of Indians. At the same time the important parcel and agent of agriculture Production network is ignored and that is landless agriculture laborers. None spoke for them from where they'll earn their yearly pool of grains when crops were lost in their villages? Without their contribution agriculture is not possible and they should be made a part of fair compensation program. Is politics of compensation is doing good for farmers or ruining their zest to fight the odds and turning them into potential beggars? Is politics of compensation is deliberately destroying their demand and fight for comprehensive crop policy? Is this the way to treat 'anndata'? 

Economics has potential to crumble and kill the existence of women

               Haryana is a tiny state situated in the norther-en part of India. It is segmented in to 21 Districts and 80 Sub Divisions.  Sirsa is one of the district in north-western part of Haryana surrounded by Punjab on north and Rajasthan on its west. although rural Haryana is similar in character and socio-economic make but this part is uniquely different because of rural area is dominated by the big land owners that is not the case in rest of Haryana. Land reforms has been implemented in Haryana in seventies and land owners were allowed to retain less than 18 acres land which is capable of growing two crops, assured irrigation and one crop  area with less than 25 acres while other kind of land could be ratained up to 50 acres. Ellenabad is  a Sub Division of Sirsa and situated in the north western part of the district. Ghaggar passes from the northern part whereas western side of Sub Division  shares its boundaries with Rajhasthan. Villages are distinctly inhabited  of marginal and landless; and big land lords. When land reforms were under implementation, this area was largely unirrigated and barren and so the land lords could allot/save big chunks of agricultural land. Over the time agricultural development  see new advent in this state and these land were improved and become very profitable and productive and fertile. Because there was huge gap between small farmers and big landlords in terms of financial conditions. Small farmers need money for productive and non-productive needs such as marriage of girls, treatment of family members, bhat-chhuchhak(giving kind & monetary help to girls on specific occasions), seed, fertiliser, implements and so many other things of social & economic orientation and have to borrow the money from land lords on exorbitant interest. Over the times they fails to repay this borrowed amount and have to have sell their small portion of land to these land lords on the terms dictated by them. This process results in to the clubbing of land in the hands of few big land lords. They accumulated land more than the permissible limit. Then question arised how to save it?They found a way out of this in the legally wedded women of the family. It was easy for the men as the society and family structure was highly feudal and  patriarchal in nature where women have no voice and in most cases they are not aware what is happening. The land grabber has now fixed their eyes on the women of the family in robbing their status of married women. And the whole process of this robbing  is well articulated and planned where not only socially approved mores are destroyed but also misused the judicial and legal  process. It looks strange but true how sentiments and very existence of women of family put on stake and to implement their ill design, mutually agreed divorce petitions were filed in the courts. In the courts, male counterpart agreed to give the land to the women for her livelihood and sustenance and actually  this was the land that falls in the surplus pool. An unit of surplus land is saved by dissolving the marriage legally where women who is now mother of young kids and rearing the kids of her divorced husband in the same four walls. It is the gruesome act of the male hegemony where women are used as a tool to save the economic interest on the pyre of sacred relationship that was created in a bond for life after walking around the fire and taking seven sacred pledges to safeguard the honor, dignity and safety of his woman. This is the status of women in society who is used as a weapon to meet the sexual needs of her man, procreating and rearing his children and ultimately sacrificed her existence for his men by walking away from the bond of marriage and living a life without any legal status and dignity in the society and family. The agony is not culminated here. She is now made to indulge in the criminal conspiracy of her man. Government has notified in June 2014 that stamp duty will be exempted for transference of acquired property in the family. The same woman is now made to transfer her share that she got in decree of divorce from the court citing herself as divorced wife. It is well known fact that once the marriage Is annulled, her relationship with the man dissolved in all manners. The government is now robbed of stamp duty on a transaction that is  not tenable. Economics plays a deciding role how a women of so called affluent society lead her life in social milieu. Women are born to sacrifice and the women of feudal society where patriarchal norms prevails are supposed to vanish their existence itself to save and safeguard the economic interest of their men. We can fight and mitigate the monitory corruption but how and who will fight against these decaying human values, callousness of highest order and demeaning a human creature who lives her life for her parents, husband and children without any voice of regret and protest when her existence itself is killed. Is this a society of humans? Is this a sort of corruption or a society that stands on immorality which is more glaring and creating a web of corruption of unique kind?