Kartik Lokhande's blog

By Kartik Lokhande In the second half of the month of May earlier this year, Rural Development Department launched with fanfare ‘Aamdar Adarsh Gram Yojana’ taking a cue from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative ‘Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana’. Under the State’s scheme, MLAs and MLC were to adopt and a develop a village each. However, almost seven months have passed by and more than half of the legislators in Maharashtra have failed to complete the process for adopting a village. Of course, there are a few honourable exceptions like Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, who has adopted village Fetri in Nagpur district. However, there are many legislators including ministers and prominent leaders of the Opposition parties who are yet to submit a proposal for adopting a village. In fact, sources said, many have not even evinced interest in adopting a village. Interestingly, though many MLAs and MLCs are from urban centres including cities like Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Nagpur, Nashi...

By Kartik Lokhande  They are from diverse backgrounds and different locations across Maharashtra, have varied interests. Four months ago, they joined the internship programme with mixed feelings -- different perception and curiosity about the Government functioning. With seven months remaining to complete the internship, they are a group of youngsters motivated to join the administrative services in Government domain. They are the ones chosen for the first batch of 11-month internship programme launched by none other than Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Taking a cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Fadnavis had floated the idea of appointing the interns from among screened youngsters and attaching them to work with various establishments including Chief Minister’s Office, Chief Minister’s War Room for projects, different Collector offices, and other agencies. Fadnavis had said some time ago, that the youths full of innovative ideas could help the Government in b...

  * Another instance of fraud in the name of Government schemes comes to fore  By Kartik Lokhande  First, they misused the name of Kisan Call Centres. Then, it came to light, they misused the name of Swarna Jayanti Swarozgar Yojana. Now, it has come to fore that the fraudsters operating at national level are misusing the name of Rajiv Awas Yojna, an initiative of Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MHUPA), Government of India.  ‘The Hitavada’ has in possession an ‘appointment letter’ issued to a city-based girl in the name of Rajiv Awas Yojna. The girl has been offered job as ‘Clerk, Customer Care Executive’ with a monthly salary of Rs 23,700/-. The said letter mentions that the salary of Rs 23,700/- is payable to candidates selected from Maharashtra; Rs 23,500/- to those selected from Gujarat; Rs 22,500/- to candidates from Punjab; Rs 21,200/- to those from Madhya Pradesh; and Rs 20,600/- to candidates selected from Rajasthan and Ut...

  * MGNREGS Commissioner appeals to people not to fall prey to such unverified offers, advise duped youths to lodge police complaints By Kartik Lokhande A few months ago, it was Kisan Call Centres. Now, it is Customer Service Centres under Swarna Jayanti Swarozgar Yojana. The fraudsters operating from Delhi and nearby areas like Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurgaon are targeting unemployed youths by offering them ‘Government jobs’. In the latest case, some unemployed youths from Nagpur have been offered jobs of Customer Service Representatives under Swarna Jayanti Swarozgar Yojana. The appointment letters received by some of the youths from the city bear the Government emblem as well as logo of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), and image of ‘Father of the Nation’ Mahatma Gandhi in the seal. Besides, it is signed by one Sanjay Bhardwaj, whose designation has been mentioned as ‘Director’ at ‘Rozgar Bharti Karyalaya’ (Recruitment Office), Swarn...

By Kartik Lokhande The ratification of Land Boundary Agreement of 1974 and the Protocol of 2011 between India and Bangladesh is indeed a new chapter in not only the foreign relations between both the countries but also in India’s external affairs. Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina both showed their determination to iron out the issues pertaining to land boundary through expeditious implementation of the historic Land Boundary Agreement (LBA). The agreement has its roots in the partition of India in 1947. Then, Sir Cyril Radcliffe had drawn up a line separating India and Pakistan. Later, this Radcliffe Line became the border between India and liberated East Pakistan now known as Bangladesh. There were issues to be settled and Land Boundary Agreement of 1974 was signed between both the countries. These issued included undemarcated land boundary of 6.1 kms, exchange of enclaves, and ‘adverse possessions’. However, the situation on ground...

  Dear friends, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met 22 top Chinese CEOs in Shanghai today, where he pitched his "Make in India" agenda to them. 21 business agreements worth 22 billion dollars were signed between Indian and Chinese companies. He also addressed the business leaders after the meeting. Here is the full text of Prime Minister Modi's speech: Friends! I am really happy to be here with you. Before coming to this forum, I had very detailed discussion with the CEOs of major Chinese companies. I am sure our interactions today will lead to benefits to the people and businesses of the two countries. Alongwith me a number of officials and prominent Indian CEOs are also present here. As you know, China and India are two great and old civilisations of the world. They have provided many lights of knowledge on the entire human society. Today, we together, represent more than one third of the Global population. India and China have a common History o...

Dear friends,  Herewith I am uploading the image of text of the speech of Mr Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, at Forum of Leaders of India and China, at Great Hall of People in Beijing on May 17, 2015.  I hope you find it useful.  Kartik Lokhande 

By Kartik Lokhande As the Central Government under Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi completes one year in the office, already there is much high-pitched discussion whether it has been successful in ushering in ‘Achche Din’ (good days) for the people. And, instead of helping in shaping a balanced view, there is clear distinction based broadly on political inclinations – yes and no. The supporters say that good days are here, and the critics say that the promised goods have not been delivered. If one looks beyond the smokescreen of television-centric debate over the issue, one finds that in some areas the good days have already arrived and in certain areas they are on the horizon. Also, in several areas, groundwork is being done so that the results will be visible in years to come. Having said that let us look at some broader points. For the long years of the rule of Congress and its allies, the focus was only on religion and caste centric politics. There was appease...

  * Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule to launch the schemes ceremoniously in a function to be held in city on Saturday Staff Reporter As announced in the Union Budget 2015-16, the Central Government will be launching two insurance schemes and a pension scheme to expand the net of social security for all, on May 9. On the same day, the schemes will be launched ceremoniously at Nagpur in a function to be held at 5 pm at Deshpande Hall here. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the schemes nationally in a function to be held at Kolkata, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will launch these in a function at Mumbai. The schemes will be launched in Nagpur Division, in a function to be held in Nagpur city. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Surface Transport; Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Guardian Minister of Nagpur district, will grace the launching ceremony in the city on Saturday, said Anoop Kumar, Divisional Commissioner. Add...

* NHAI to conduct survey of 3 lakh km of road length using the advanced system Staff Reporter National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), made a presentation on Road Network Survey planned through a specially equipped survey vehicle, at the residence of Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Surface Transport and Highways, here on Sunday. Soon after the presentation, Gadkari performed pooja of the survey vehicle to formally launch the survey. Talking briefly to reporters on this occasion, Gadkari said that the Road Measurement Data Acquisition System (ROMDAS) for road network survey would be helpful in mapping the roads and knowing the condition of roads. Such vehicles and technique of road network survey are already in use in various countries of the world. This particular vehicle has been brought to India from New Zealand. “The survey and the well-equipped vehicle will help in curbing corruption and expediting the pace of quality development, especially in remote and inacce...

By Kartik Lokhande The recent comment of Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi has stirred up the atmosphere especially in political, judicial, and activist circles. Almost everyone is criticising the comment, apparently because it has come from Mr Modi as an individual, forgetting that he is the Prime Minister of India. In the cacophony of criticism, the point he wished to make, and to which many common citizens would agree, has been lost. Is he the first person occupying a seat of power to have said this? The answer to this question is ‘No’. Previously also, several of the dignitaries and luminaries ranging from sitting or former President of India, Prime Minister, to Chief Justice of India and Solicitor General have said this. Though they did not use the term ‘five-star’ activists, they often referred to perception-driven judgments coming from courts, having direct or indirect influence of some or the other activist group. In the recent past, the then Prime Minister Dr Man...

By Kartik Lokhande Religious Intolerance. These two words have been at the centre of debate once again in the recent times. The debate, in this round, started with effort to give political colour to condemnable incidents effected by vandals who cannot be said to represent the peace-loving majority of any religion. Since that effort was made recently first by US President Mr Barack Obama vis-a-vis India, everywhere scene is being created as India is ‘the’ country witnessing religious intolerance. This, obviously, is not the case. Let us examine the issue. Mr Barack Obama made a statement on February 6, 2015 in Washington that ‘acts of intolerance’ experienced by religious faiths of all types in India would have shocked Mahatma Gandhi. He was speaking at National Prayer Breakfast. Within a few days, on February 15, 2015, ‘unidentified miscreants’ sprayed swastika and painted ‘Get Out’ on a wall of Bothell Hindu Temple in Seattle Metropolitan Area in Mr Obama’s own country....

By Kartik Lokhande The latest so-called ‘dissatisfaction’ and ‘staunch opposition’ expressed by China against the visit of Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi to Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh on its 23rd foundation day, is totally uncalled for. In fact, it is yet another time that the expansionist China has tried to flex its diplomatic muscle on Arunachal Pradesh. The reason behind China’s frustration is clear -- Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh on its foundation day indicates that India is reconsolidating its position on countering the Chinese influence. Arunachal Pradesh came into being as a state on February 20, 1987. The then Prime Minister Mr Rajiv Gandhi had presided over the statehood event that time. Since then, Mr Modi is the only Prime Minister to have attended the statehood anniversary celebrations of Arunachal Pradesh. In the intervening years, no Prime Minister had shown enough diplomatic and strategic courage to do so for want of an overa...

By Kartik Lokhande Is India growing into an impatient democracy? If one goes by the recent some happenings, one has reason to believe so. For, in less than one year of a majority Government coming to the power at the Centre, many people have started asking it to deliver things that could not be delivered in past several years. For, in less than a week of a fledgling party getting re-elected to power in Delhi, many people have started asking it to deliver on the promises of perceived freebies. For, many people who voted these parties to power at the Centre and in Delhi, are suffering from ‘shaken faith’ syndrome because the other political parties that were in power so far have started planting questions against new Governments instead of providing answers for their own failure in delivering what they had promised previously. For instance, people have started asking the Central Government under Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi to bring back black money stashed abroad ...

By Kartik Lokhande The one who draws lessons from a defeat is likely to emerge winner the next time. Precisely, this has proved true in case of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has done a clean sweep in the Legislative Assembly elections in the national capital -- Delhi. Winning as many as 67 out of total 70 seats is, by all standards, a solid historic victory. That, it has been scored against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that has come to power at the Centre with a thumping majority in Lok Sabha elections only a few months ago, makes it even more stupendous. Apart from decimating the presently ruling BJP from 32 to a paltry 3, with which it technically cannot even get the post of Leader of Opposition; AAP’s victory has also left ‘was-ruling-till-recently’ Congress party with a big zero, a loss of eight seats it won in 2013 elections. What caused this landslide win of AAP? There are various reasons. The first and foremost reason is that the BJP resorted to a ‘negative campai...