Executive Member Training : Katari Srinivasa Rao

Katari Srinivasa Rao, General Secretary of Loksatta Party visited Bangalore office on Sept 13th 2009

We invited him to Bangalore to give us his inputs on building the party here  and
share his valuable experiences for the past 12 years he has been associated with Loksatta.
All LSPK Executive Members were invited to this training/interaction with Mr. Katari.

The session started at 10:30AM and ended at 3:30PM with a brief lunch break.  Katari spoke on a wide range of topics; from organizational activity to leadership; from doing field level surveys to campaigning for elections. From preparing manifestos to posters and other material. Almost every aspect of his talk is drawn from personal experiences from recent past and this made the entire
event extremely interesting and all of us had a great time listening, learning and asking questions.

The main focus was on identifying  and running political activities. Katari enthralled us with real life experiences from field and every example he quoted made a great impact on all of us.  It is indeed a great  experience for all members to listen to Mr. Katari who took on the role of a Professor
(some of you know, he is actually a Computer Science Professor at CBIT but taking a rather long break from his faculty position at the moment) and had his students actively engaged in listening and interacting for more than 4 hours.  About 45 executive members of LSPK attended this session.

More Photos posted here: 

http://picasaweb.google.com/loksattakarnataka/KatariInLSPBangaloreOffice

JP in Bengaluru : A quick summary

It has been a wonderful weekend at Loksatta Karnataka Chapter. Dr JP was in town for several events, a conference in Jain University, a talk at IISc (Indian Institute of Science), several press interviews (see our website ) and LSP Members meet.

Details will be posted later, but I realized lot of folks are looking for some news from here browsing the Orkut Official Loksatta community (I discovered this just today, thanks to Raj, sounds like an exciting place to be for all of us LSP members! More power to Orkut!)

The main event undoubtedly is our very first  'members only' meet on Saturday. See [Pictures here ]

When we first decided to do this meeting for members only, we were little worried about the response since attending a public meeting (like we had on the 17th July in Koramangala ) is quite different from enrolling as a member (that too with not a user friendly title "Executive Member") and being a card carrying member of a political party.  But we now learned not to underestimate the passion for LSP!

It was overwhelming to see more than 150 "Executive" members (did I mention 'Executive?') all in one room with Dr. JP for more than 4 hours.  Best part is many of them stayed long after meeting got over
to chat with others and see what they can do next! We are certain that this meeting is going to make a huge difference for our upcoming activities and help us go to the next level!

We started the event with couple of speeches from LSP Karnataka Members. Mr Yogiah, who is one of the first members of LSP in Bangalore, spoke passionately about the door-to-door campaign he started along with a bunch of other volunteers. His team's experience has been terrific in creating the awareness about LSP with local folks who might have never heard of LSP before. Mr. Yogiah is ready to contest the upcoming BBMP polls!  Dr. Meenakshi who is renowned Gynecologist and also spearheading solid waste management activities in Malleshwaram spoke about why she is willing to come into public life and our duties as responsible citizens and leaders.   Dr. JP announced formally that Dr. Meenakshi became an executive member and will be contesting the upcoming BBMP elections in Bangalore. This is indeed a big boost for LSP and we look forward to the upcoming election.

Dr. JP started his speech by lighting a lamp to celebrate Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's birthday and speaking briefly about  fundamental rights (fascinated by his deep reverence to our constitution)
and our executive membership model and course of action for near term future.

Since this is designed to be an 'internal' meeting, the members asked extremely relevant questions about building the party, taking our message to people and highlighting our weaknesses etc. We will be posting a summary of questions and responses soon..

One of the common questions we get from new members is 'So, I became a member, what do I do now?' or "I have very little time, how can I contribute?" - we designed the venue in such a way that there are booths set up (somewhat like a conference exhibition) for each of the 'teams' we have created here in Bangalore. For example, a booth for 'Fund Raising', 'Volunteer Management' "Media and PR" , 'Women's group' etc.

We put up brief descriptions of what these groups are supposed to do and volunteers were present to explain the role of each of these groups. New members could discuss with existing members, understand
what the expectations are and then sign up to one of the groups they want to contribute their time to.

Based on my own conversations with more than 40 new faces, I think this went well.  Folks appreciated the clarity and our attempt to make them join a group of their preference rather than asking them on work on something they may not feel comfortable with or not have much passion about!

Many thanks to Mr. Purandhar for providing lunch for all the members at the venue.

More later..

Rare occasion : agree with YSR!

A.P Chief Minister YSR says "TDP in finished"  -  it appears that way to me too..

Indian Express "TDP is finished : YSR"

Not because of so called Operation Akarsh or other political games,  but because..

1. People of A.P are sick and tired of choosing a better evil

2. TDP does not seem to understand the role of a political party in democracy. see this:

Dr. JP pointed out that the budget envisaged a daily outlay of nearly Rs.283 crore. Yet, the Assembly passed all the demands without any debate on the last day of its session by voice vote.

3. There are viable alternatives to Congress now in A.P gaining momentum not just in
educated middle class but in all sections of society.

I think you know what that alternative is.

Special Teacher's Day in Bangalore

.. for all Loksatta Members.

Loksatta Members meet with Dr. JP on Saturday, Sept 5th at 9AM

Venue : Inner Ring Road, Domlur Flyover - Behind Nandhana Restaurant

More info at www.loksattakarnataka.org

What does it mean to "Own and Lead the Party?"

how about:

• being able to ask questions about our promises?
• having direct response from the leader of the party?
• your criticism and the response being put on public domain ?

Few weeks ago a friend of mine told me he is not sure if Loksatta is any different from other parties and whether we really understand the issues and offering realistic solutions. I asked him to put this thoughts on paper and send it to us.  

Few days later I was pleasantly surprised to get an email response from Dr. JP and the entire conversation posted on loksatta.org for the benefit of everyone.  It is indeed gratifying to see our leader take the time to respond to concerns in a detailed fashion. 

Thank you Dr. JP for being transparent and forthcoming.  for being accessible to all members.

See this link on loksatta.org site 

some excerpts from the response:

Dear Keshav,

 

Thank you for your email on Lok Satta’s agenda and commitments. As you said, we share the same concerns, and therefore I accept your criticism in that spirit, and offer my comments and perspectives briefly.

 

First, we must recognize that access to quality education is the greatest guarantor of human dignity and opportunity to fulfil human potential. India’s failure in this sector is appalling when compared to any other large, modern society with aspirations to global power or economic prosperity. The issue is only partly linked to resources. We certainly need more money, but even more important is the way we deploy resources. Public institutions are not a panacea, but abdication of the state is unpardonable and unacceptable in a civilized society.

 

We are not guaranteeing equality of outcomes, nor are we assuring equality of opportunity in every minute detail. But the least we should, and can, do is to ensure that the minimum acceptable quality of education is available to even the poorest children, and there are minimum levels of learning attained by every child.

 

In order to accomplish this goal, we require investment, public-private partnership, independent evaluation and sample-testing, competition, choice, parent control, and a host of other mechanisms. Even now public expenditure per child at school in AP is of the order of Rs 10,000 per annum. While it is not vast, it is by no means an insignificant sum relative to our per-capita income and the purchasing power of rupee.

 

Lok Satta has a fairly comprehensive approach to school education, and the details are available on the web. Briefly, we need to convert the existing so-called primary schools (two-room, two-teacher, neighbourhood facilities) into play schools for 3-6 years age group, and build/ promote decent schools with 5-10 class rooms and teachers for every 5000 or so population. We have now about 60,000 primary schools. Instead we will have 60,000 play schools and about 15,000 decent primary schools with proper monitoring and support, and free public transport where necessary. A strong inspection mechanism, random sample testing, parental monitoring, and focus on communication and language, civic education, arithmetic and environment will be integral to primary schools.

 

Similarly, there will be a good quality high school – public or private – available to every 10,000 – 20,000 population, with integration of 11th and 12th grades (Intermediate) with the school. The school will become the hub of the community, and the point of convergence for many services.

 

Your critique overstates the cost of infrastructure. The truth is, to build about 5000 high schools, we need a capital cost of Rs 5000 crore, which is under 5% of the state’s annual expenditure. The state even now spends about Rs 12000 crore annually on education alone! Money is not the key constraint. Political will, meaningful reform to create the right kind of incentives, and sustained public and media attention are the real constraints.

 

Regarding weightage to rural and poor students, there are always going to be challenges. But we need to move from the present quotas to weightages, and from caste-based affirmative action to means-based support. The problem of targeting can be addressed by applying criteria like parental education and the kind of school the child goes to, both of which are verifiable. The issue should be seen in the larger context of cracking the complex, zero-sum-game problem of reservations as practiced now without adequate benefits to society.

 

Regarding healthcare, free and universal care is both necessary and eminently feasible. Please refer to Lok Satta’s detailed documents on healthcare – ‘Public-Private Partnership’ and ‘Towards a national health service’. All these have been costed, and together they will constitute less than 2% of GSDP. Again money is not the key constraint. The design of the system, incentives, and cost-effectiveness are the challenges. You will find many details in Lok Satta Party literature (www.loksatta.org).We are opposed to the AP government’s Arogyasree precisely for the reasons you have stated – that it will bankrupt the state without improving the health of the people. Lok Satta’s primary focus is on primary and family care, and nutrition and immunization are integral parts of primary care.

 

Lok Satta has been persistently opposing wasteful, populist, expensive measures, and has repeatedly supported painful measures to enchance revenues or reduce subsidies. Our opposition to expensive lift irrigation projects like Pranahita-Chevella, loan waiver to farmers, free power, free television sets, Rs 2000 every month to families, and Arogyasree are very well known. All these are expensive and ineffective in meeting our challenges. Similarly, we are the lone party in India to support increase of fuel prices (petrol and diesel) and oppose farmers’ loan waiver. All these are mere illustrations of Lok Satta’s commitment to fiscal prudence.

I deeply appreciate your concerns. I am sure you will find that your concerns are more than adequately addressed in the overall approach and policy framework of Lok Satta. My speech in the Assembly on the AP Budget, which is available on the Youtube amply illustrates the responsible and innovative approach of Lok Satta.

 

Let us continue the debate. Meanwhile, all of us need to act together to help transform India. Some minor differences are bound to persist. But the challenge is to avoid the ‘narcissitm of small differences’ and focus on the goals we all believe in.

 

With warm regards

Jayaprakash Narayan

Traffic, Rain, 500+ Attendees, 170 Questions and overwhelming support for Loksatta in Bangalore

Press Note on Dr. JP's Bangalore Meeting on 17th July

Dr. JP: We require new politics for a new generation of Indians!

Delivering the key note address to a gathering at the  Kalyana Mantapa in Koramangala, Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) of Lok Satta Party urged the people to work together to create a political transformation in the country.  India requires a new politics for a new generation. The 500 seating in the hall was overflowing with people comprising youth, men and women and senior citizens, some having to sit uncomfortably in passageways. 

The introductory address given by Dr. Ashwin Mahesh, editor India Together and member of AbiDe Taskforce, said Dr. JP cannot be introduced as a statesman or a politicians as this would not cover a range of other possibilities that he can do. Three things he has noticed in course of his long association with Dr. JP is his respect for politics and that it represents a way of giving voice to aspirations of people, he being a national person and he fact that he is touched by human suffering at a very personal level. His work as a member of the National Advisory Council (NAC) and his contribution to the drafting of the Right to Information (RTI) legislation is scarcely recognised.

Initiating his address Dr. JP thanked the audience for their overwhelming presence inspite of it being a working day in Bengaluru, in the midst of bad weather and peak traffic. The diversity of people that have come show the resilience of all people for a change. When India got independence in 1947, it constituted 2% of global GDP. This dropped to 1% in 1991 and by 2009 has only recovered enough to reach the 2%. But the potential of India is to reach 18-20% of global GDP, second only to China. However, to make this happen first world economy cannot be sustained by third world politics. In the present state of affairs, politics will derail the economy.

Dr. JP brought out the five challenges faced by India today

* Abject poverty

* Poor education system

* High degree of centralisation in administration

* Endemic corruption

* Political parties today are captive of feudal families

JP recollected that India can boast of more leaders during the independence period than any other country. But today the finest in India are moving away from political engagement. True politics is a noble endeavour and we cannot shun it. Afterall Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela were also politicians. It has to be redefined as new politics for a new generation of Indians. He urged people to contribute to this in varying degrees depending on their commitments. 

He emphasised that Lok Satta is eagerly looking for leaders. Bengaluru which has shown the way forward to the world in important sectors, can also bring out leaders to transform politics in the state!

The interactive session following the address saw an overwhelming response. There were more than 170 written questions from the

audience and the volunteers had a tough time managing time. The interactive discussion touched upon a wide range of topics, including the National ID project, caste based reservations, leadership in LSP and  analysis of recent elections in A.P.

Dr. Meenakshi Bharath concluded the meeting by urging the attendees to become part of new politics for the new generation.

JP in Bangalore

For many of us working in Loksatta Karnataka, this Friday is a BIG DAY.

We are having our first public meeting in Bangalore when our fearless leader Dr. Jaya Prakash Narayan (JP) is in town.


We welcome all individuals and groups committed to better governance and clean politics.

More information on our website http://www.loksattakarnataka.org

Venue : Koramangala, Mangala Kalyana Mantapam (Police Choultry) Near Forum
Mall, 80 feet Road, 5th Block, Koramangala

see you there!