As Terror Strikes, No More Weekend Shopping Please!

K Ramanathan Iyer

After Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Delhi blasts, terrorists have achieved one thing for sure, the TERROR in the minds of people. Whoever I met talks only about terror and wants to avoid going to market places, particularly during the weekend.

As festival seasons are already on and Hindu’s major festival Deewali is round the corner, their predicaments are understandable seeing the inadequate security arrangements in vulnerable areas.

As most of the time the blasts occur on weekends, it’s advisable to finish Deewali shopping in the weekdays itself, no matter bunking the office for a day or two. After all, life is precious of all. Isn’t it?

The tentacles of terror have spread so effectively in India that home-grown terrorists can plant bombs anywhere at their own sweat will. Can’t we stop these killings? We can, but we need an effective intelligence and anti-terror law.

With POTA being ruled out by the central leadership fearing that the law will be misused by MODI, it seems the UPA government wants that a few more lives should be lost before amending an anti-terror law. Is it not ridiculous?

The UPA government’s inefficiency in dealing with the terror has proved costly for the country. Several attacks in the last few months have killed hordes of innocent people. The government has failed in all counts. The country’s economy is all time low now and the unprecedented price rise of essential commodities has breathed down the middle-class and poor people.

Terrorism is on the high and people are no longer feeling safe on streets. Once a government is formed for five years in India people have no right to impeach the government on any ground. If we had the provision, this government would have long gone for sure. But sadly, we have to watch the government ruining our country helplessly.


A few tips before you step out to a crowded market place for Deewali shopping:

1. Make sure that you have the best insurance cover for you and your family, even though you don’t have bullet proof covers.
2. Avoid shopping during the weekends as most of the terror attacks target weekend shoppers.
3. Keep your mobile phone fully charged and identity card of yours in your pocket or bag. You can inform the health or security services in case of emergency using your phone.
4. Try to finish the shopping as fast as possible. Don’t do the shop-hopping in the name of best bargain. Remember, your life is precious of all.
5. Try to buy all items in one single shop like supper mall etc. This will save your time and cut short your stay in the vulnerable market areas.
6. Always be alert. If you find someone is moving suspiciously, alert the security agency and quit the place fast. Same thing applies if you find an unattended bag or any suspicious thing.
7. Be aware of the number of exit points in the shopping area in case of emergency.
Don’t be panic in case of bomb blast near you as this may create confusion and stampede leading to more causality.
8. Keep your blood group card with you. This may help you in case of need or you may save a life in case of emergency.


Happy and safe shopping.

Happy Deewali Folks!

Land 'grabbing' in Sriperumbudur: Take Cue from Singur

K Ramanathan Iyer

Kudos to Singur villagers! One must admire their courage and gusto to extract fatty compensation for their farm lands much higher than the market prices from the government.

Farmers from other states should take a cue from Singur counterparts. Take the case of the villagers in and around Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu, some 50 km from Chennai on the Bengalore Highway.

Thousands of acres of farm land have already been taken away by the state government-run SIPCOT to be distributed to the industrial giants from within and outside India. Several Korean, German and Japanese industrial majors have already got allotted lands at much cheaper rate, while farmers and villagers were given only peanuts in the name of compensation for their acquired land. Did anyone hear a murmur from these villagers or land owners against the land acquisition? No way.

Some of the land-owners who had bought their housing plots from land developers for their future purpose or for their old-age settlement in a pollution-free environ a decade ago, are now ruing their fate as their lands had been taken away by the SIPCOT with a meager compensation package.

I am sure that some of our Sulekha members too from Mumbai, Delhi or elsewhere must have bought land in Sriperumbudur. One must contact the SIPCOT office in Sriperumbudur or Egmore in Chennai immediately quoting the survey number and name of the village mentioned in their sale deed to find out the fate of their land. If one’s land is not under the purview of SIPCOT his or her one ground plot (of 2400 sq ft) will fetch Rs 10 lakh or even more.

If the land survey number falls (unfortunately) under SIPCOT’s acquisition map, one will get a compensation of Rs 1.5-2 lakh only depending upon the proximity of land to the main road. To reach the compensation, one may have to wait up to two years or more!

Several acres of orchids have been slashed to make way for this maddening industrialization being executed by the state government without increasing the basic infrastructure for these industries. As the state has already been reeling under acute power crisis due to heavy distribution of power to IT sector, the onset of industries in Sriperumbudur near Chennai will only add to the woes of the power-starved state.

When I was in Chandigarh three years back, I was told by my journalist colleagues that even Punjab and Haryana buy electricity from Tamil Nadu. I wonder, what has happened to the state, which had surplus electricity only three years back to impose 3-6 hours forced power cut now on people?

Friends! Those who have land in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Sriperumbudur, should raise their voice against this forceful acquisition and those who are attached to judiciary should file a suit in an appropriate court of justice to claim rightful compensation. You can also visit this link to find more details about the latest acquisition by SIPCOT and compensation details.

http://www.sriperumbudur.in/forum/property-related-developments-and-other-recent-updates/updates-for-plot-owners-at-sriperumpudur-t-41.html

or


http://www.sipcot.com/

India allows foreign news magazines to have Indian editions

New Delhi, Sep 18: In a further liberalisation of its media policy, the Indian government on Thursday allowed foreign news magazines to have Indian editions.

The cabinet notification said that such editions would be granted only to those Indian companies registered under the Indian Companies Act, 1956.

The publishers of such editions would be eligible for 26 percent foreign direct investment.

The notification said the decision would provide Indian readers access to foreign magazines at cheaper rates in comparison to the same magazines imported at much higher rates.