Dance of Democracy

After being an 'observer' and 'arm chair analyst' and 'political news junkie' and many other things, I finally got to experience the action, i.e election. first hand.  I had more than the usual share of curiosity and inclination to participate in electoral politics for a long time and when the rare opportunity  presented itself in the form of Lok Satta, I jumped all over it and packed my bags to volunteer for the election.

I'm part of the LokSatta team that is responsible for one of the 7 divisions in Kukatpally constituency. The last few days have been very hectic, to put it mildly; but these few days will be forever etched in my memory; the acquaintances  made, the camaraderie of the volunteers, the intricacies of election day procedures, the last minute surprises, the mid-flight course corrections during the day, meeting the candidate that has potential to CHANGE our society in our lifetime, calling for help when things got tense and folks got threatened...

I saw people wait in line on a hot summer day for more than 3 hours to vote

I saw senior citizens (over 80!) anxious to figure out why their name is not in the list

I met people who are bounced around from one booth and still kept searching for their booth

I noticed lot of mothers bringing their kids with them

I observed the cops as they went about their business quietly and efficiently. with respect.

I was proud of our EC.  The scale of the operation is probably equivalent to a google search and they pulled it off.  Hats off!

there is so much to write and so little time. 

later.

WE NEED YOU

JP IN YOUR HOME

Candidate profiles

Here are few candidate profiles mostly from Hyderabad. Thanks to Anand Mohan

If any of you have profiles of other candidates, please post them here as comments.

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Hyderabad: Lal Bahadur Nagar Constituency - Anugu Rama Rao
Issues the candidate cares for in the constituency:

1. Address water pollution and seepage of drains into lakes
2. Improve roads and eliminate corruption in public works.
3. Regulation of commercial buildings

Laws the candidate will fight for:

1. Laws for police reforms and reduced political interference in police
2. Laws making education a basic right in the State
3. Stringent laws for implementation of Citizen Charters.
4. Stricter anti-corruption laws

Source of funding: Donations from public

Age: 45

Education: BA LLB (Osmania University)

Work Experience: Advocate in Ranga Reddy Distt. Member of Lok Satta since 1999. Member of Red Cross.

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Qutbullapur Constituency - Nandipeta Ravinder
Issues the candidate cares for in the constituency:

1. Pollution
2. Improve higher education infrastructure - set up colleges in the constituency
3. Combat corruption
4. Improve civic amenities like play grounds

Laws the candidate will fight for:

1. Decentralisation and empowerment of local governments
2. Stricter laws for implementing Citizens' Charters.
3. Anti corruption laws.

Source of funding: Donations from public. Candidate specifically says "I do not need unethical money. I need ethical money for ethical politics".

Age: 46

Education: BA from Osmania University

Work Experience:
Associated with Lok Satta since 1997
Janata Dal District Party President in early 1990s


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Musheerabad Constituency - Parsa Rohit Kumar
Issues the candidate cares for in the constituency:

1. Address traffic jams
2. Improve drainage system
3. Initiatives to improve usage of footpaths, overhead bridges, subways

Laws the candidate will fight for:

Stronger civic laws

Source of funding: Candidate uses a unique scheme of "give money and give votes". Public donate money and promise to vote for clean politics.

Age: 35

Education: LLB (Osmania University), MBA from Australia

Work Experience: Managing Director Springsoft solutions. Has previously contested in by-elections.


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Amberpet Constituency - Chintaboina Vinod

Issues the candidate cares for in the constituency:

1. Drinking water problems
2. Education for all in the slum areas
3. Roads and traffic issues

Laws the candidate will fight for:
1. Stricter civic laws

Source of funding: well wishers, party funds
Age: 32
Education: B.Com from Ambedkar University
Work Experience: Own an event management business unit. Worked extensively for the previous by-elections that Lok Satta contested.



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Yes, I gave money to a POLITICAL PARTY!

add a comment below if you contributed to Lok Satta

LokSatta == JP?

When I was growing up it was said that "India is Indira and Indira is India" this is probably thanks to the '71 victory and lot of people bought into it sincerely. Oh well, we know what happened later. (sorry if you are born in the late '80's- you need to catch up on '70s)

I'm concerned if there is an analogy here with Lok Satta and JP. The media certainly plays it that
way. As JP himself said (heard him live on this one!) media does not consider anyone who is not an ex MLA, ex Minister, ex MP to be interesting enough to interview or cover. This makes it very difficult for a young party like LokSatta which does not have people who are "in" politics and most of the candidates, officers are regular people like you and me with a day job.

To some extent, I believe even the supporters of Lok Satta are also contributing to this. It is impossible not to be intimidated by a personality like JP but the party got to be larger than any one individual. Every opportunity they get, they need to promote and bring visibility to rest of the folks in the party. Quote people other than JP. Volunteer for local candidates. Figure out local issues and make those your discussion topics.

I liked Katari Srinivasa Rao, for example, who spoke at one of the meetings I was at and demonstrated beyond any doubt that there are capable folks at the helm of the party. He is running from SeriLingampally. Here's his [website]

More info (thanks to Anand Rao for posting elsewhere)

Serilingampally constituency - Katari Srinivasa Rao

Issues the candidate cares for in the constituency:

1. Drinking water
2. Drainage system
3. Roads and infrastructure

Laws the candidate will fight for:

1. Statutory empowerment of local bodies with 2 crore/ year funding.

Source of funding: Donations from public

Age: 49

Education: MCA from Nagarjuna University

Work Experience: Assistant Professor in Computer Science, CBIT; Associated with Lok Satta from 1996.

opportunity knocking

If you are going to be in A.P on April 16th (Phase 1 polling) or 23rd (phase 2) you might want to grab an opportunity of life time.

Lok Satta is looking for volunteers to work as booth workers and poll agents. We need 1000 people per constituency so lot of room for all of you. What better way to make your presence felt in the biggest festival of democracy?

I'm going to be there. Are you?

Investment ideas for election season

based on "buying" trends and forecasts coming out of A.P here are some ideas you can use today to start your business 

1. Cricket Kits :  a bat, few balls, stumps, pads (high quality), guards, gloves ..

2. Sweet Packets : small cardboard boxes that can carry cash and small liquor bottles. The label should be  "Sri Sweets"  and does not need to actually carry any sweets. Any other innovative packaging products that can conceal the actual contents can have a huge market.

3. Biriyani - if you can design and deliver a instant biriyani making machine tomorrow, you can retire in 4 weeks.

4. Masks : thanks to Modi, this seems to be the in-thing now. Though volumes may not reach as much as other ideas, margins could be great as there are thousands of chamchas willing to buy 'em and whatever price you quote.  

5. Liquor : duh!  believe me, the existing companies cannot make them fast enough. there is room for more players in this market segment.  

6. Shirts, Kurtas.  Must be White.  Khadi is good.  Khadi look alike works.

 

I'm not kidding. Take a look

"It's raining currency notes in Andhra Pradesh"

"Rs 45 Lakh is the price of democracy in Andhra"

but there is hope after all

"Efforts of Election Watch to sensitise voters on these issues paying off"

What can I do?

Assuming you agree that LokSatta is now a platform solid enough to stand on and participate in electoral politics, I sincerely believe you can contribute  to advance the cause regardless of where you are. Here are some ideas

1. Volunteer. Contribute time. This is relatively new in India but I'm happy to report that I've seen 100s of full time volunteers who took time off from their jobs, schools in some cases, families, to volunteer in various activities surrounding the election.  Just walk into any LokSatta office around the state and they will be happy to get you on board.  

You can also help remotely  but everyone is so busy with whatever they are doing, it is hard to get someone to be on the phone and explain the work items etc at this point of time. Remember, that the election is just one milestone, LokSatta will go on.

2. Donate. I'll write a separate post on How LokSatta spends its money but you should know that running a clean campaign that doesn't involve liquor and giving freebies and outright cash also requires money.  Think the TV and Print ads that are running now.  Thanks to these ads, LokSatta is able to reach main stream.  It is no surprise that many people in the state know what LokSatta is.  LokSatta is committed to adhering to spend limits set forth by Election Commission. I read recently that even deposit money (Rs 10,000) for candidates came from public donations! Contrast that to the number of 'dummy' nominations major party candidates file (to avoid errors etc)..

I was told that LokSatta has less money to spend for the entire state than what major parties would spend in just one assembly constituency! 

Here's how you can donate: [website]   

Pick up the phone +91 040 4040 5050

LokSatta TV ads can be seen [here]

3. Talk to people. Your circle is bigger than you think. Discuss LokSatta with friends and family.  If they do not know about it, bring awareness. If they do, ask them what might stop them from voting this time and convince them that every vote counts.  Some of the common reactions are 'what difference does my vote make?' 'even if I vote, they won't win' 'I don't think any one can change the system now'  

Can we fix the 'failing system'?

“I see a system failing,” Ms. Menon said. “It is doing something, but it is not solving the problem.”

From NY Times, March 2009 "As Indian Growth Soars, Child Hunger Persists"

Malnutrition in India is worse than in many African nations, stunting the growth of children

In India, despite robust growth and good government intentions, the malnutrition rate is 42.5 percent (42.5% of children under 5 are under weight). Malnutrition makes children more prone to illness and stunts physical and intellectual growth for a lifetime.

In another alley, Ms. Menon met a young mother named Jannu, a migrant from the northern town of Lucknow. Jannu said she found it difficult to produce enough milk for the baby in her arms, around 6 months old. His green, watery waste dripped down his mother’s arms. He often has diarrhea, Jannu said, casually rinsing her arm with a tumbler of water.

Ms. Menon could not help but notice how small Jannu was, like so many of Jahangirpuri’s mothers. At 5 feet 2 inches tall, Ms. Menon towered over them. Children who were roughly the same age as her own daughter were easily a foot shorter. Stunted children are so prevalent here, she observed, it makes malnutrition invisible.

“I see a system failing,” Ms. Menon said. “It is doing something, but it is not solving the problem.”


From IndiaTogether : http://indiatogether.org/photo/2004/pov-malnutr.htm

Do you want a 5 year vacation?

No kidding. It can be possible. Read on..

1. According to 2006 Swiss Banking Association report, Indians have nearly USD1.46 Trillion (with a T) in the banks of Switzerland. This is the highest among all nations… the second highest is from Russia… USD 450Billion (1/3rd of what Indians have in there). But wait..

2. Former Joint Director of CBI B.R.Lall writes in his book – Who owns the CBI? “I had attempted to investigate and analyze the Swiss banking chain alone and had assessed Indian wealth in that single country at $5 trillion. There are some other well known ‘slush parks’ like St Kitts, Antigua, Bahamas, Isle of Man and Liechtenstein that multiply such holdings manifold.”

3. Germany approached India couple of years ago to open up the accounts in the principality of Liechtenstein because majority of its deposits are from India and they are worried this could be used for Money Laundering by terrorists – Mr.Singh’s govt. didn’t respond.


Summary: India’s annual GDP is $1.5Trillion. Total black money out there is 5 times our GDP…. There is no country in the world that has this distinction..

If we can find a way to get that money out :

No Indian has to work (produce) for 5 Years. But can keep getting paid as usual.

Government doesn’t need any Tax revenues for 5 years and still can continue to spend just like it is spending now.

Each state in India spends more money on its elections than both Obama & McCain spent over 2 years.. Imagine all the money spent on ONE election is used for Infrastructure development?

Did I mention there are 5 Million people in the state of Andhra Pradesh alone without access to a toilet!

(this entry is based on an email from KP)

A rare opportunity

When citizens in Andhra Pradesh go to polls this April for electing their representatives to State Assembly and Parliament, they have an opportunity that millions of Indians have been waiting for years.

A New Age Party is going to be on the ballot paper. A Party built by people who do not consider politics as a business proposition. By people who did not want to give up on electoral politics because 'we can't do anything now'. By people who are like you and me. Educated, Middle-class, Young professionals with day jobs, Retired folks who got sick of the system and with a strong desire to 'do something' instead of analyzing the rotten state of politics and criticizing the 'system' folks that have made it big in society and are eager to "give something back" I can go on and on but the most important thing that binds them I think is the fear of leaving a bleak future to our next generations and the realization that it is not too late for us to get involved.

These people are true believers of " Be the Change You want to see in Others"

Lok Satta is founded by JayaPrakash Narayan (fondly referred to as "JP" but not the '70s JP you might know) many years ago after spending years in the Government as an IAS officer, not as a political party but as civic awareness organization. Over the years, they have done amazing things to introduce legislation and reforms to voter rights, voter registration, RTI among other things. Like many other NGOs, they stayed away from 'active' politics but one fine day, the reality dawned upon them that broad 'systemic' changes can only happen when we participate in the democratic process and reignite the spirit of public service that was once responsible to unite this entire country to stand up against a much larger enemy and emerge victorious. The enemy is entirely different now but the damage can be much larger. No wonder it strikes a chord when JP says 'we need to be ready for the 2nd Freedom Movement'

In my humble opinion, Lok Satta offers a rare opportunity to the people of Andhra Pradesh. Vote for candidates that you believe in bringing about a change. Vote for a party that you know is committed to public service and understands the role of government. Vote for people that do not believe in 'investing in elections' in order to make 'returns' when they elected. Vote for people that are not interested in public office because it will 'help' their business interests.

Are we ready to use this opportunity?