Courtesy of For free distribution only, as a gift of dhamma.
Preface
Dhammapada is one of the best known books of the Pitaka. It is a
collection of the teachings of the Buddha expressed in clear, pithy
verses. These verses were culled from various discourses given by the
Buddha in the course of forty-five years of his teaching, as he
travelled in the valley of the Ganges (Ganga) and the sub-mountain tract
of the Himalayas. These verses are often terse, witty and convincing.
Whenever similes are used, they are those that are easily understood
even by a child, e.g., the cart’s wheel, a man’s shadow, a deep pool,
flowers. Through these verses, the Buddha exhorts one to achieve that
greatest of all conquests, the conquest of self; to escape from the
evils of passion, hatred and ignorance; and to strive hard to attain
freedom from craving and freedom from the round of rebirths. Each verse
contains a truth (dhamma), an exhortation, a piece of advice.
Dhammapada Verses
Dhammapada verses are often quoted by many in many countries of the
world and the book has been translated into many languages. One of the
earliest translations into English was made by Max Muller in 1870. Other
translations that followed are those by F.L. Woodward in 1921, by
Wagismara and Saunders in 1920, and by A.L. Edmunds (Hymns of the Faith)
in 1902. Of the recent translations, that by Narada Mahathera is the
most widely known. Dr. Walpola Rahula also has translated some selected
verses from the Dhammapada and has given them at the end of his book
“What the Buddha Taught,” revised edition. The Chinese translated the
Dhammapada from Sanskrit. The Chinese version of the Dhammapada was
translated into English by Samuel Beal (Texts from the Buddhist Canon
known as Dhammapada) in 1878.
In Burma, translations have been made into Burmese, mostly in
prose, some with paraphrases, explanations and abridgements of stories
relating to the verses. In recent years, some books on Dhammapada with
both Burmese and English translations, together with Pali verses, have
also been published.
The Dhammapada is the second book of the Khuddaka Nikaya of the
Suttanta Pitaka, consisting of four hundred and twenty-three verses in
twenty-six chapters arranged under various heads. In the Dhammapada are
enshrined the basic tenets of the Buddha’s Teaching.
Verse (21) which begins with “Appamado amatapadam” meaning
“Mindfulness is the way to Nibbana, the Deathless,” is a very important
and significant verse. Mindfulness is the most important element in
Tranquillity and Insight Meditation. The last exhortation of the Buddha
just before he passed away was also to be mindful and to endeavour
diligently (to complete the task of attaining freedom from the round of
rebirths through Magga and Phala). It is generally accepted that it was
on account of this verse on mindfulness that the Emperor Asoka of India
and King Anawrahta of Burma became converts to Buddhism. Both kings had
helped greatly in the propagation of Buddhism in their respective
countries.
In verse (29) the Buddha has coupled his call for mindfulness with a
sense of urgency. The verse runs: “Mindful amongst the negligent,
highly vigilant amongst the drowsy, the wise man advances like a race
horse, leaving the jade behind.”
Verses (1) and (2) illustrate the immutable law of Kamma, under
which every deed, good or bad, comes back to the doer. Here, the Buddha
emphasizes the importance of mind in all our actions and speaks of the
inevitable consequences of our deeds, words and thoughts.
Verses (153) and (154) are expressions of sublime and intense joy
uttered by the Buddha at the very moment of his Enlightenment. These two
verses give us a graphic account of the culmination of the Buddha’s
search for Truth.
They
tell us about the Buddha finding the ‘house-builder,’ Craving, the
cause of repeated births in Samsara. Having rid of Craving, for him no
more houses (khandhas) shall be built by Craving, and there will be no
more rebirths.
Verses (277), (278) and (279) are also important as they tell us
about the impermanent, unsatisfactory and the non-self nature of all
conditioned things; it is very important that one should perceive the
true nature of all conditioned things and become weary of the khandhas,
for this is the Path to Purity.
Then the Buddha shows us the Path leading to the liberation from
round of rebirths, i.e., the Path with eight constituents (Atthangiko
Maggo) in Verse (273). Further, the Buddha exhorts us to make our own
effort in Verse (276) saying, “You yourselves should make the effort,
the Tathagatas only show the way.” Verse (183) gives us the teaching of
the Buddhas. It says, “Do no evil, cultivate merit, purify one’s mind;
this is the teaching of the Buddhas.”
In Verse (24) the Buddha shows us the way to success in life, thus:
“If a person is energetic, mindful, pure in thought, word and deed, if
he does everything with care and consideration, restrains his senses;
earns his living according to the Dhamma and is not unheedful, then, the
fame and fortune of that mindful person increase.”
These are some of the examples of the gems to be found in the
Dhammapada. Dhammapada is, indeed, a philosopher, guide and friend to
all.
This translation of verses is from Pali into English. The Pali text
used is the Dhammapada Pali approved by the Sixth International
Buddhist Synod. We have tried to make the translation as close to the
text as possible, but sometimes it is very difficult, if not impossible,
to find an English word that would exactly correspond to a Pali word.
For example, we cannot yet find a single English word that can convey
the real meaning of the word “dukkha” used in the exposition of the Four
Noble Truths. In this translation, wherever the term “dukkha” carries
the same meaning as it does in the Four Noble Truths, it is left
untranslated; but only explained.
When there is any doubt in the interpretation of the dhamma concept
of the verses or when the literal meaning is vague or unintelligible,
we have referred to the Commentary (in Pali) and the Burmese translation
of the Commentary by the Nyaunglebin Sayadaw, a very learned thera. On
many occasions we have also consulted the teachers of the Dhamma
(Dhammacariyas) for elucidation of perplexing words and sentences.
In addition we have also consulted Burmese translations of the
Dhammapada, especially the translation by the Union Buddha Sasana
Council, the translation by the Sangaja Sayadaw (1805-1876), a leading
Maha thera in the time of King Mindon and King Thibaw, and also the
translation by Sayadaw U Thittila, an Ovadacariya Maha thera of the
Burma Pitaka Association. The book by the Sangaja Sayadaw also includes
paraphrases and abridgements of the Dhammapada stories.
Dhammapada Stories
Summaries of the Dhammapada stories are given in the second part of
the book as it is generally believed that the Dhammapada Commentary
written by Buddhaghosa (5th century A.D.) is a great help towards a
better understanding of the Dhammapada. Three hundred and five stories
are included in the Commentary. Most of the incidents mentioned in the
stories took place during the life-time of the Buddha. In some stories,
some facts about some past existences were also retold.
In writing summaries of stories we have not tried to translate the
Commentary. We have simply culled the facts of the stories and have
rewritten them briefly: A translation of the verses is given at the end
of each story.
It only remains for me now to express my deep and sincere gratitude
to the members of the Editorial Committee, Burma Pitaka Association,
for having meticulously gone through the script; to Sayagyi Dhammacariya
U Aung Moe and to U Thein Maung, editor, Burma Pitaka Association, for
helping in the translation of the verses.
Verses (153) and (154) are expressions of sublime and intense joy
uttered by the Buddha at the very moment of his Enlightenment. These two
verses give us a graphic account of the culmination of the Buddha’s
search for Truth.
They
tell us about the Buddha finding the ‘house-builder,’ Craving, the
cause of repeated births in Samsara. Having rid of Craving, for him no
more houses (khandhas) shall be built by Craving, and there will be no
more rebirths.
Verses (277), (278) and (279) are also important as they tell us
about the impermanent, unsatisfactory and the non-self nature of all
conditioned things; it is very important that one should perceive the
true nature of all conditioned things and become weary of the khandhas,
for this is the Path to Purity.
Then the Buddha shows us the Path leading to the liberation from
round of rebirths, i.e., the Path with eight constituents (Atthangiko
Maggo) in Verse (273). Further, the Buddha exhorts us to make our own
effort in Verse (276) saying, “You yourselves should make the effort,
the Tathagatas only show the way.” Verse (183) gives us the teaching of
the Buddhas. It says, “Do no evil, cultivate merit, purify one’s mind;
this is the teaching of the Buddhas.”
Verses (153) and (154) are expressions of sublime and intense joy
uttered by the Buddha at the very moment of his Enlightenment. These two
verses give us a graphic account of the culmination of the Buddha’s
search for Truth.
They
tell us about the Buddha finding the ‘house-builder,’ Craving, the
cause of repeated births in Samsara. Having rid of Craving, for him no
more houses (khandhas) shall be built by Craving, and there will be no
more rebirths.
Verses (277), (278) and (279) are also important as they tell us
about the impermanent, unsatisfactory and the non-self nature of all
conditioned things; it is very important that one should perceive the
true nature of all conditioned things and become weary of the khandhas,
for this is the Path to Purity.
Then the Buddha shows us the Path leading to the liberation from
round of rebirths, i.e., the Path with eight constituents (Atthangiko
Maggo) in Verse (273). Further, the Buddha exhorts us to make our own
effort in Verse (276) saying, “You yourselves should make the effort,
the Tathagatas only show the way.” Verse (183) gives us the teaching of
the Buddhas. It says, “Do no evil, cultivate merit, purify one’s mind;
this is the teaching of the Buddhas.”
In verse (29) the Buddha has coupled his call for mindfulness with a
sense of urgency. ā¨¤āŠā¨ ā¨ĻāŠāŠā¨Ļā¨ž ā¨šāŠ: “ā¨¤āŠā¨°ā¨ŋā¨Ēā¨¤ ā¨¤āŠā¨° ‘ā¨¤āŠ ā¨˛ā¨žā¨Ēā¨°ā¨ĩā¨žā¨šāŠ ā¨ĻāŠ ā¨ĩā¨ŋā¨ā¨ā¨žā¨°
ā¨āŠā¨¤āŠ°ā¨¨, ā¨¸āŠā¨ā¨ĩā¨žā¨¨ ā¨ā¨Ļā¨ŽāŠ ā¨ā¨ ā¨°āŠā¨¸ ā¨āŠāŠāŠ ā¨ĩā¨žā¨ā¨ ā¨āŠąā¨¨ā¨Ļā¨ž ā¨šāŠ, ā¨āŠā¨Ą ā¨¨āŠāŠ° ā¨Ēā¨ŋāŠąā¨āŠ ā¨āŠąā¨Ą ā¨ā¨ŋā¨.”
Verses (153) and (154) are expressions of sublime and intense joy
uttered by the Buddha at the very moment of his Enlightenment. ā¨ā¨š ā¨ĻāŠ
ā¨ā¨ā¨¤ā¨žā¨ ā¨¸ā¨žā¨¨āŠāŠ° ā¨ŦāŠāŠąā¨§ ā¨ĻāŠ ā¨¸āŠąā¨ā¨žā¨ ā¨ĻāŠ ā¨āŠā¨ ā¨ĻāŠ ā¨ āŠ°ā¨¤ ā¨ĻāŠ ā¨Ŧā¨°ā¨žā¨Ŧā¨° ā¨Ļā¨ž ā¨āŠąā¨ ā¨āŠā¨°ā¨žā¨Ģā¨ŋā¨ ā¨ā¨žā¨¤ā¨ž
ā¨Ļā¨ŋāŠ°ā¨ĻāŠā¨ā¨ ā¨šā¨¨.
They
tell us about the Buddha finding the ‘house-builder,’ Craving, the
cause of repeated births in Samsara. Having rid of Craving, for him no
more houses (khandhas) shall be built by Craving, and there will be no
more rebirths.
Verses (277), (278) and (279) are also important as they tell us
about the impermanent, unsatisfactory and the non-self nature of all
conditioned things; it is very important that one should perceive the
true nature of all conditioned things and become weary of the khandhas,
for this is the Path to Purity.
Then the Buddha shows us the Path leading to the liberation from
round of rebirths, i.e., the Path with eight constituents (Atthangiko
Maggo) in Verse (273). Further, the Buddha exhorts us to make our own
effort in Verse (276) saying, “You yourselves should make the effort,
the Tathagatas only show the way.” Verse (183) gives us the teaching of
the Buddhas. It says, “Do no evil, cultivate merit, purify one’s mind;
this is the teaching of the Buddhas.”
ØĸÛاØĒ (153) اŲØą (154) اØŗ ÚŠÛ ØąŲØ´Ų ØŽÛاŲÛ ÚŠÛ Ø¨Ø§ŲÚŠŲ ÛÛ ŲŲ ØÛ Ø¨Ø¯Úž ÚŠÛ Ø°ØąÛØšÛ
بŲŲÛ Ø§ŲØą شدÛد ØŽŲØ´Û ÚŠÛ Ø§Ø¸ÛØ§Øą ÛÛÚēÛ These two verses give us a graphic
account of the culmination of the Buddha’s search for Truth.
They
tell us about the Buddha finding the ‘house-builder,’ Craving, the
cause of repeated births in Samsara. Having rid of Craving, for him no
more houses (khandhas) shall be built by Craving, and there will be no
more rebirths.
Verses (277), (278) and (279) are also important as they tell us
about the impermanent, unsatisfactory and the non-self nature of all
conditioned things; it is very important that one should perceive the
true nature of all conditioned things and become weary of the khandhas,
for this is the Path to Purity.
Then the Buddha shows us the Path leading to the liberation from
round of rebirths, i.e., the Path with eight constituents (Atthangiko
Maggo) in Verse (273). Further, the Buddha exhorts us to make our own
effort in Verse (276) saying, “You yourselves should make the effort,
the Tathagatas only show the way.” Verse (183) gives us the teaching of
the Buddhas. It says, “Do no evil, cultivate merit, purify one’s mind;
this is the teaching of the Buddhas.”
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2552nd SACRED BUDDHA JAYANTI CELEBRATIONS 2008
VESAK
Dear Sir,
Heartfelt greeting on Buddha jayanti.I’m very thankful to you all for showing your concern for the liberation of Mahabodhi Temple, Buddhagaya. I will be going to Bihar in second week of June,2008 for initiating legal action. I have made legal research on the issue of Buddhgaya. Apparantly the Bodhgaya Act of 1949 which provides for provision for constitution of Temple Management Committee with Invaders and thier slaves majority is unconstitutional on ground several provisions and principles (14, 25,26, secularism etc)of Indian Constitution and International Bill of Human Rights.
Its shocking to learn that how state government had courage to enact such illegal and unconstitutional Act. I feel that becouse of Invaders and thier slaves majority in legislatve body has committed mischief on the pretext of better management of affairs of temple.
It is a grave fraud on the Constitution of India and state and society have committed crime of collective conspiracy.
I belong to Buddhagaya itself but since born in untouchable
(Original Inhabitant of Jambudvipa that is the Great Prabuddha Bharath) family, was unaware of my real identity. When I started reading the works of Babasheb Ambedkar and Buddha, I realized that we are defacto Buddhist and then committed to Buddhism and humanity. I’ll fight till last blood of body to liberate Buddhagaya and Buddhism from the domination of Invaders and thier slaves.
I’m looking forward for your active participation and cooperation.
You may publish this letter in your esteem news magzine.
On 19th May 2008 at 09:15 P.M.Bangalore Akashavani Kendra will broadcast Poojya Ananda Bhanteâs Discourse on Life of Buddha and His Peace Message
On 18-05-2008Sunday 9:30 PMAt Maha Bodhi Society, Gandhinagar, Bangalore-9
DISABLED SERVICE DAY was observed by Launching of the Malaria Prevention Program with Donation of wheel chairs and blessings by Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita Founder President, Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore
Chief Guests were Shri P.L.Nanjundaswamy Chairman, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital
Founder Member, Pancajanya Vidyapeetha Welfare Trust & Navachetana Social & Educational Society
&
Dr.R.M.Verma
Emeritus Neuro Surgeon
Taking Care of a Sick Monk
MAHABODHI MALARIA PREVENTION PROGRAM of
Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore
On the Sacred Buddha Purnima Day 500 mosquito nets will be distributed to poor people in remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh for malaria prevention. This will be a continued yearlong program. Join us by generously contributing to this program.
On 19-05-2008Monday9:00 AM At Maha Bodhi Society, Gandhinagar, Bangalore-9
SACRED BUDDHA PURNIMA DAY was celebrated in a grand manner
Siri Maha Bodhi Puja,Vishwa Maitri Stupa Puja, Buddha Puja at Mahabodhi Loka Shanti Buddha Vihara, Pindapata Puja Undertaking of Tisarana, Atthasila and Pancasila, Laying of Foundation for
MAHABODHI MAHA DVARA And Dhamma Desana By Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita
Founder President, Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore & Presentation of the Sacred Pali Tipitaka in Kannada Script to Mahabodhi Library by Devoteeswas performed in a hifhly spiritual manner
For
TIPITAKA PARAYANA
Year long chanting of âSACRED PALI TIPITAKAâ
At Mahabodhi Vihara everyday
Inauguration of Tipitaka Parayana was performed by
Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita
Upasaka A.M.Rajanna Donor of Mahabodhi Mahadvara was honoured
At 11 AMSanghadana was carried out & At 12 NoonMeals for devotees was offered
(Service by Dr.D.Ramachandrappa, Chairman and Managing Director, Yellamma Dasappa Hospital , Bangalore )
At 1:00 PM there was a Film Show & at 2:30 PMDhamma Deeksha was undertaken by devotees
At5:30 PM
There was a SACRED BUDDHA JAYANTI Symposium on THE BUDDHAâS RELEVANCE TO TODAYâS WORLD with Buddha Puja and Blessings by Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita
Founder President, Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore
Chief Guests were &Release of bookâLifeâs Great Blessings-12â by Honorable Justice Shri N.Santosh Hegde Lokayukta, Karnataka State
Release of book âLifeâs Great Blessings -13â Shri C.Anjanaya Reddy IPS (DGP Retd) Vice Chairman, Ananda Buddha Vihara, Secunderabad Former Managing Director, AP Tourism Corporation Ltd. & Director General Vigilance and Enforcement
Release of âSatipatthana Sutta â Foundations of Mindfulnessâ by Shri Molkalmooru Sreenivasa Murthy
Kannada Buddhist Writer Deepa Puja
Thanks to all the donors who have generously helped to make these programs successful.
AN APPEAL
We seek your generous donations for the welfare activities of the Maha Bodhi Society and for the 2552nd Sacred Buddha Jayanti Celebrations. May your dana conduce to your well being, peace and prosperity! May you be happy!
BUDDHA PURNIMA DAY on 19-5-2008 at 10 AM : Buddha Puja, Bodhi Puja, Stupa Puja
& At4 PM HOSPITAL DANA SERVICE AT K.R.HOSPITAL, MYSORE Led by Upasika Smt.Parvatamma
Upasaka Shri Kalaiah & with the Blessings by
Venerable Aggadhammo Bhanteji was performed in a grand manner.
2552nd SACRED BUDDHAJAYANTI
CELEBRATIONS 2008
ON 20-05-2008
Namo Buddha
Asoka Dhamma Dutha Buddhist Society, Trust
Buddha Vihar & Sri. H.M. Gangadaraiah
Memorial Meditation Centre
Gotham Nagar, Opp. KSRTC Bus Depot,
Kolar Gold Fields -563 113
President and Members of ADDBS are cordially inviting the gracious presence of Sarv Samaj on the occasion of the Buddha Jayanti Celebration at the above Buddhist Society, Trust, Buddha Vihar & Sri. H.M.Gangadharaiah Memorial Meditation Centre, Gotham Nagar, Opp. KSRTC Bus Depot,Kolar Gold Fields -563 113 on Tuesday the 20th May 2008 at 5.00 P.M. Presence of one and all on the occasion is solicited.
Buddha Pooja, Tisarana, Pancasila and Dhamma Discource
IN PRESENCE OF :
Venerable Poojya Ananda Bhanteji
Vice President, and other Monks of Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore
Guest of Honor :
Sri. Lakshminarayana IAS
Commissioner for Transport, Govt. of karnataka, Bangalore
Sri. Molakalmuru Sreenivasamurthy
Kannada Buddhist Writer, Bangalore
Dhana by :
Dr. ramani Poorneson & Family Poornima Nursing Home
Smt. Jayalakshmi Manivachagam & Family
Director, Longevite Health Care, Bangalore
Sri.Chandrasekar & Family A.R.T.O., Bangalore
Sri.R.Kannan & Family Muskum KGF
In the Service of Dhamma
Trustees, Executive Members and Friends
Services of Free Health Checkup & Treatment Camp at the above premises may be availed on 20-05-2008 between 9.00 a.m.& 4.00 p.m. Sponsored by LONGEVITE HEALTH CARE Lady Curzon Road, Bangalore -560 001
Upasakas/Upasikas are requested to bring flowers,incence sticks, Candles to perform Pooja.
B Media 4 Sarvajan Hitaya Sarvajan Sukhaya
Triple Gem Study Circle analysis predicts 130 seats for BSP because of Price Rise and anti-incumbency factors on Congress, BJP and JD(S) and because of Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Ms Mayawatiâs performance to be repeated in Karnataka
Silver punch-mark coins of the Mauryan empire, bear Buddhist symbols such as the Dharmacakra, the elephant (previous form of the Buddha), the tree under which enlightenment happened, and the burial mound where the Buddha died (obverse). 3rd century BC
Distribution of the Edicts of Ashoka and Ashokan territorial limits.[7]
This is the famous original sandstone sculpted Lion Capital of Ashoka preserved at Sarnath Museum which was originally erected around 250 BCE atop an Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath. The angle from which this picture has been taken, minus the inverted bell-shaped lotus flower, has been adopted as the National Emblem of India showing the Horse on the left and the Bull on the right of the Ashoka Chakra in the circular base on which the four Indian lions are standing back to back. On the far side there is an Elephant and a Lion instead. The wheel âAshoka Chakraâ from its base has been placed onto the center of the National Flag of India.
Jyotirao Phule
Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj
Narayana guru
periyar
Jai Bheem BSP Jai Bharath
An âAppealâ
To The People of Karnataka for
Legislative Assembly Election â 2008
Kumari Mayawati
National President
Bahujan Samaj Party
Brothers and Sisters,
It is well known to every one the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is the only party in the country, which âbelieves in doing rather than sayingâ.
It is for this reason that our party, unlike other parties, does not release any tempting âElection Manifestoesâ and instead, issues âAppealâ to the people in general and voters in particular to ensure their vote and support for BSP in order to fulfill the remaining commitments for completing its missionary goal by adopting the path shown by Saints, Gurus and Mahapurush (Great men) born in different periods in the Bahujan Samaj like Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Chatrapati Sahu Maharaj, Narayana Guru, Periyar Ramaswamy Ji, Baba Saheb Dr.Ambedkar and more recently Manyawar Shri Kanshi Ram ji.
This we do with an aim to earn good results for the party in the elections and to achieve power to rule so that with the help of the âMaster Key of Political Powerâ we become master of our own destiny and could ensure work and proper welfare of the poor, deprived and downtrodden sections of the society belonging to all castes and religions i.e.âSarv Samajâ. Param pujya Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar has beautifully and wonderfully explained about the significance of the âMaster Key of the Political Powerâ, declaring that the political power is such a âMaster Keyâ through which all problems can be solved and also doors of progress and prosperity can be opened up.
Following this principle of Babasaheb Dr.Ambedkar, our party is contesting, on itsâ own strength, KARNATAKA Legislative Assembly General Elections-2008. The Karnataka Legislative Assembly has a total number of 224 seats and the BSP is contesting on almost all the seats on its own. BSP has not at all entered into any kind of alliance or seat adjustments with any other party in this election. So, we are fighting this election on all seats on our own.
But, the pertinent question which arises here is, as to why there is a necessity for the people of the State of Karnataka to cast their votes in favour of the BSP only, rather than voting for the Congress, B.J.P. or their supporting parties? We have to understand this issue very clearly for an outstanding performance. .
In this regard, I am of the view that BSP is the only Party in the country whose âPrinciples & Policiesâ and also its âstyle of functioningâ suits very much the interests of the people belonging to âSarv Samajâ (all sections of the society). On the other hand, other political parties make too many promises to people just before the elections or in the election year but they never translate them into reality for the true welfare of them, leaving most of their lofty electoral promises confined to papers only, rather than getting them implemented in practical terms.
It is for this very reason that, even after 60 years of independence, the âSocial and Economicâ condition of people belonging to Bahujan Samaj, which comprises of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Class (OBCs) and Religious Minorities such as Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Parsis and Buddhists have not significantly improved due to faulty economic policies adopted by various governments of castiest leaders of different political parties, even though the population of these sections of society is very large and for this reason , we call them as âBahujan Samajâ.
Here, I am especially talking about their wrong and erratic economic policies, mainly because at the centre as well as in most of the States, Governmentsâ were formed with the monetary or otherwise help of big capitalist powers and for this very reason, these parties, after coming to power, as a âreturn giftâ to them formulated their âEconomic Policiesâ in subservience of these capitalists, fully ignoring the interests and welfare of general public.
Due to this kind of unjust behaviour of the governments of Congress, BJP and their supporting parties, the economic condition of people belonging to Bahujan Samaj as well as poor people of âSavarn Samajâ i.e. the upper castes is turning from bad to worse. The malice is still continuing, rendering more and more such people unemployed and live a life under the darkness of poverty.
In view of the complexity and seriousness of such kind of problems, these deprived and exploited sections of the people revolted in such a manner to form a separate political party of their own called as (the Bahujan Samaj Party-BSP) under the leadership of Manyawar Shri Kanshi Ram Ji on April, 1984, basing its ideology on policy and progrmmes of Great Baba sahib Dr. Ambedkar. And quiet obviously, with the massive support and cooperation of all the sections of the society, the BSP has acquired a âNational Statusâ and has grown enough to be officially by the Election Commission of India as one of the main national political parties of India .
Not only this, our party also gradually expanded its mass base and graduated to send its representatives in Parliament, apart from winning assembly elections in various States of the Country. In Uttar Pradesh, which is the biggest State of India in terms of the size of the population, the BSP under the leader ship of mine had formed government four times. And all the four times, the governments of our party has worked with full devotion and dedication to provide âjusticeâ to all, besides giving impetus and dynamism to the issue of âDevelopmentâ in the State.
Giving priority to weaker sections of the society in the process, with an aim to improve âSocial and Economicâ condition of the underprivileged sections of the society and poor people belonging to Sarv Samaj, our party Government in Uttar Pradesh, for the first time in the country, constituted separate âWelfareâ Departmentsâ in 1995 right at the inception of the first BSP government.
And the aspect of development were given new meaning when 25,000 villages, having predominantly Original Inhabitants of Jambudvipa i.e. the Great Prabuddha Bharath (SC/STs) population, were selected for âDr.Ambedkar Village Development Schemeâ to develop them fully with all kind of basic amenities and infrastructure facilities. The process is going on and gradually all the villages of the State will be taken for such kind of developmental activities all over the State, surely changing the very face and of course the life of the rural poor in real terms. Presently, however, the name of this scheme has been changed as âBaba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar U.P. Gramsabha Samagra Vikas Yojana (Gramsabha Integrated Development Scheme.)â.
Similarly, an ambitious âUrban Integrated Development Schemeâ has been formulated in the name of âManyawar Shri Kanshi Ram Jiâ. Under this scheme, small towns and cities of Uttar Pradesh are being developed in a systematic manner and within time bound period. But under both these schemes, all the activities are being speeded up as much as the economic condition of the State allows. These developmental activities could well get further momentum and much speed if the Central Government fulfills its obligations of providing funds for the purpose.
Apart of this, priority has been accorded especially to Original Inhabitants of Jambudvipa i.e. The Great Prabuddha Bharath (SC/STs) and other exploited sections of the âSarv Samajâ in all other developmental activities. The homeless and poor people were allotted vacant land, besides possession has also been ensured to landless poor for the purpose of farming/agriculture on that land. About 20 lakh poor people have so far been benefited from this decision of the government in the State, and this work is still continuously in progress.
In addition, my government has taken an unprecedented and historic decision to provide with more than one lakh permanent government jobs in rural areas for the Valmiki community of Scheduled Castes. By this decision, all the 1.08 lakh revenue village of Uttar Pradesh will have at least one Sarkari Safai Karmachari, and the person appointed will be from the same village in most of the casesâĻ This besides meeting employment problem will also make a sea change in the health atmosphere of rural areas for it will ensure cleanliness and help eradicate diseases spreading due to unhygienic conditions.
And, so far the issue of giving boost to education is concerned, the government of our party, for the first time in the country, took a policy decision to grant scholarship to the children of persons belonging to poor Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and also to poor children of Other Backward Classes and Religious Minorities, especially to the poor children belonging to Muslim community.
The scholarship amount has also been doubled in view of the rising inflation and cost of living; besides that the amount of scholarship is being distributed to students immediately after their admission. Our government also arranged free coaching to ensure their admissions in the prestigious institutions and for high-grade prestigious jobs like IAS, IPS. PCS etc.
Along with the above facilities, for the first time in the State, 25% of the State budget has been allocated separately for the welfare and development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the State.
Besides, in order to infuse the sense of security among the people belonging to Bahujan Samaj, a policy of reservation has been introduced for the first time in the postings at the police stations in each and every district. Under the new provision, police officers belonging to SC/STs, for the first time in the country, will be getting 25 percent of such posts of police station will go to the people belonging to OBCs and 5 percent to officers from Religious Minorities (Muslims) in all the districts of the State. This system of governance is still continuing in the State with a slight modification.
And especially, full care has been made towards protecting, in all spheres of life, the interests and welfare of the Muslims, which is the largest section of Religious Minorities in the State. Apart from their economic development, the safety and security of their lives and Religion has also been fully ensured. In addition, our government was first in the country ensuring government jobs to economically weaker Muslims by including them in category of other Backward Classes (OBCs) and issuing government order facilitating release of caste certificates accordingly.
âNew Positive Reservation Initiativesâ
In The Interest of Sarv Samaj
You know very well that âwhere there is will, there is way.â That is why for the first time in the country, the BSP government of Uttar Pradesh has taken â New Positive Reservation Initiativesâ
In The Interest of Sarv Samaj
i.e. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes (OBC), Religious Minorities and Upper caste, for it is more thanevident that the benefit of reservation, which was provided on account of the untiring efforts of Param Pujya Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimarao Ambedkar, to the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Castes (OBCs) in the Government jobs under the Constitution of India, was not reaching fully to the dire needy people because of anti-reservation attitude of the Congress, BJP and their supporting parties.
Not only this, various Government Departments and Institutions are being handed over to the Private Sectors for the past several years on the pretext of poor economiccondition of the government, without ensuring provision of the same kind of reservation in the privatised firm/sector at any level. And, if this current state of affairs/practice of handing over the government departments and Institutions to Private Sector continues, a day will come when the constitutional facility of reservation will cease to exist.
Taking this issue of great importance very seriously, the Government of my party in Uttar Pradesh wrote several letters to the Government of India and requested that before the privatization of various Government and public sector institutions, the same quantum of reservation for those sections of society should be ensured as they were already getting in the Government sector and institutions. But no Government of any party has so far acceded to our contention and our party is âseriously concernedâ and âworriedâ about this issue.
But the people belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs) & Schedule Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) will be happy to know that throughout the country, it is only the Government of my party, the BSP in Uttar Pradesh which was fulfilled these tasks, which are as follows:
¡ Public-Private- Partnership (P.P.P.) is the main component of âall inclusiveâ realistic and practical economic policy of my government in Uttar Pradesh.
¡ All the Schemes/projects/ industries with partnership with state government, the State Government would have a maximum partnership of 49 percent of 11 percent.
¡ The provision of job reservation in enterprises developed on Public-Private Partnership model will continue in the proportion and manner as the State Government has been providing quota which is in the government jobs 21 percent for Scheduled Castes, 02 percent for Scheduled Tribes and 27 percent for Other Backward Classes.
¡ The interests of employees will be fully safeguarded in the projects/enterprise s established under PPP model.
¡ Now along with this, the Uttar Pradesh Government of my party has applied the policy of âSarvjan Hitai âSarvjan Sukhaiâ (Progress and Prosperity for all) also in the area of the reservation. In pursuance of this policy, our government has taken historical initiative to provide the benefits of reservation to all the poor and needy people belonging to all castes and the implementation of this new system has already been taken up in the right earnest in Uttar Pradesh. This step has been taken for the first time in the country.
¡ Under it, if the services rendered by the Govt. Departments, Corporations, Authorities, Councils and other Semi-government institutions or the maintenance of their establishment are substituted by outsourcing, then the contract to be executed for the said purpose would include the provision of providing 21 percent of jobs created through this out sourcing to the persons of Scheduled Castes, 2 percent to the persons belonging to Scheduled Tribes and 27 percent to Other Backward Classes.
¡ In the Industrial Units, Educational Institutions, Infrastructure/ Service Sector Projects, Disinvested Units are being set up in which the private sector is provided land, subsidy, state aid or assets by the Government or any of its government departments, then as per the âvoluntaryâ and âmutual agreementâ, the employers have to provide 10 percent of the total jobs created in the projects to the persons of Scheduled Castes, 10 percent to Other Backward Classes, including Backwards of Religious Minorities and 10 percent to the economically weaker persons of the Upper Castes
¡ Over 30 thousand posts of backlog have so far been filled by my partâs government in Uttar Pradesh. Recruitment on remaining posts is in progress.
¡ Besides, it is to be clear in mind that the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (prevention of atrocities) Act, 1989, has been enacted by the Government of India, hence a central act, and no State Government can make any alternation in this Act nor repeal it. The State Government of Uttar Pradesh has ensured strict enforcement of this law.
¡ My Government has done everything possible regarding implementation of reservation policy.
¡ The Government of India has also been asked to fill the vacant posts in Government Services in accordance with the policy of reservation. The policy of reservation should be extended to private and other sectors and it should be included in the ninth Schedule of Constitution as a safeguard.
¡ We have also urged the Government of India to amend the Constitution for providing benefits of reservation to the people belonging to upper castes living below the poverty line. But, the attitude of the Congress and BJP and its supporting parties has been throughout negative.
¡ But for that matter, I would like to fully assure the people of upper castes that the day the government of our party come to power at the centre, they will be given the benefit of reservation, similar to the pattern which has been introduced by us in Uttar Pradesh and this will be done without their asking for it, and will also make all positive efforts for the eradication of their poverty and un-employment. And, you all know very well about the style of functioning of my party that whatever we say, we do the same. In other words, there is no difference in our partyâs saying and doing.
¡ Besides, Adequate additional reservation should also be provided to such persons of Scheduled Castes who were converted to Muslim or Christian religion, but maintaining the present share of quota of prescribed reservation for the Scheduled Castes. For this, necessary amendment should be made in the Constitution to relax the total limit of 50 percent reservation as laid down by Hon. Supreme Court and this amendment will be included in the 9th schedule of the Constitution so that this arrangement becomes a permanent feature.
So far as the matter of providing Social Security to the people is concerned, my partyâs government in Uttar Pradesh is very serious and sensitive over the issueâĻ That is why immediately after assumption of power my government increased to double the amount of pension to old age persons and farmers from Rs.150 to Rs.300. And also the number of beneficiaries was raised to 24 lakh from 20 lakh, for which sum of Rs. 1410 crores has been earmarked in the budget.
Similarly, labourers , who belong to the poorest and weaker section of the society and mostly fall under the categoryof farming labour, were not being cared properly as they belong to unorganized sector, but my government has raised their daily remuneration wage to Rs.100 from a meager of Rs.58, which they were getting previously.
And, over the issue of plight of farmers and farming becoming less remunerative day by day and thereby ultimately affecting our self-reliance on food, my party is in full sympathy with the farming community. It is beyond any doubt that the governments of the Congress, the BJP and their supporting parties during their rule in the past 60 years have done a criminal act of ignoring farm and farmers. In the course of promotion of heavy industries, there was a criminal neglect of farm sectors and farmersâ requirements.
This is also a tragedy that in the course of developing heavy industries particularly in the tribal areas, where the native people were deprived even from the fourth class jobs, adding more burden on their life to ensure protection of the interests of tribals & farmers.
Besides, my government has taken a stand that the Self-esteem and Self-respect of the unemployed youth will not be ridiculed every month by providing them meager âunemployment allowanceâ. Instead, our party wants them to live with pride, as they would instead be provided permanent jobs, with the creation of job opportunities, for which Regional Rural Employment Centre will be established.
And education is another area that has been accorded top most priority by my government in Uttar Pradesh. It is with this reason a decision was taken without any delay to recruit 88,000 teachers to help improve the standards of education. The process of recruitment of such a large number teachers in just one go is on.
In addition of all these, my government has paid attention in according full respect and honour to Sants, Gurus and Mahapurush born in Bahujan Samaj at different period of times such as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj, Narayana Guru, Periar Ramaswamy, Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and more recently Manyawar Shri Kanshi Ram Ji. A number of new Districts, Universities, Memorials, Museums and other important public places and institutions have been named and erected in their name to perpetuate the memory of their hard-faught struggles.
And in this connection, you all know very well that no government, be it the government of the Congress, the BJP or their supporting parties, ever gave proper respect and regards to the Sants, Gurus and Mahapurush born in the Bahujan Samaj.
And regrettably, the castiest mentality of these political parties still persists. . The biggest proof of it is that the Congress party, ruling at the centre did not even declare one or two days holiday nor they ordered flying of national flag half mast in the mourning of Manyawar Shri Kanshi Ram Ji, the creator and founder of the BSP movement.. And the BJP and other opposition parties remained a mute spectator to all this.
In brief, the lesson to our people of all this happenings is that if the people belonging to Bahujan Samaj and those of Savarn Samaj (upper castes) living in your state of Karnataka want to create an atmosphere like that of Uttar Pradesh for leading a life full of self-esteem, respect and dignity, they will also have to capture the âMaster Key of political powerâ in their hands by ensuring good results in the general election being held in your State.
Therefore keeping all these factual propositions in mind, I earnestly âAPPEALâ to the supporters of the BSP to follow the above mentioned suggestions in order to make an all out effort to achieve partyâs goal of capturing power in order to get rid of their poverty, helplessness, backwardness, unemployment, injustice and exploitation by making your own government in your State, following the true path shown to you by your messiah Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar on the basis of exercise of franchise based on the concept of âOne Man-One Voteâ given to you by Baba Saheb himself and thus fulfill the unfinished task of Manyawar Shri. Kanshi Ram Ji.
In other words, you should understand your Messiahâs message properly and utilize the right to vote wisely to help yourself so that you could form a government of your own party in your State which will in real terms help improve your socio-economic condition as well as of education, besides ensuring a civilized self-esteem life to you. In the meantime, this could be also help improve the economic condition of the Upper castes people.
But to create such an atmosphere in your State, you have to acquire the âMaster Key of Political Powerâ in your hands, like people have done in the Stae of Uttar Pradesh and you will have show good result in the coming Assembly elections in your State. And to achieve this great goal of success in the assembly election, you will have to be cautious and alert from various nasty tricks and Saam-Daam-Dand- bhed like nefarious designs of the opposition parties during the elections, because these parties can go to any extent to damage our party.
And I want to warn you that these opposition parties will go all out and will make allefforts to sabotage the voting of Savarn Samaj inn favour of BSP and for this purpose , these parties will propagate our âIdeology and Principlesâ in a wrong, vicious and twisted manner among these sections of society.
Therefore, I consider it important to explain the ideology and principles of B.S.P. I would also like to clarify here that the ideology and principles of our party âare not against any caste or creedâ. B.S.P. wants to change the unequal social order of this country based on âcasteâ and wants to establish here a âSamatamulak Samaj Vyavasthaâ ( A Social Order based on Equality), which is in the interest of this country and Sarv Samaj.
For this, we have to change the Jaatwadi (casteist)mentality of Savarn (High Castes) Hindus and on the basis of Samajik Bhaichara (Social Brotherhood) we have to take them also along with us and only then âSamtamulak Samaj Vyavasthaâ can be established in this country in accordance with the thinking of the architect of Indian Constitution, Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar and only after that Sarv Samaj will be unified and disparities or casteism in the society will be completely eradicated forever.
Along with this, they will get full opportunity to move in every walk of life. The members of our party should always remain cautious from different kind of rumours, which may be spread by opposition parties during elections.
Apart from the above, I also appeal to all of you â âBeware that your vote is invaluable. No vote should be allowed to be purchased. No vote should be allowed to be looted. No vote should be left out from being cast and no selfish person should misuse your vote on account of defrauding or misleading you in the name of caste, money, religion or emotions.
Hence, to save democracy you have to give power into hands of right person to safeguard the interests of your KARNATAKA State, so that you may formulate the policy of :Sarvajan Hitai â Sarvjan Sukhaiâ in all the areas and make the poor and unemployed persons of Bahujan Samaj and Savarn Samajhappy.â
In the end, keeping in view all the above mentioned observations, I âAppealâ to the supporters and well wishers of my party that you should not be misled by any alluring promises of Election Manifestoes of opposition parties and that you should follow the appeal of B.S.P. which is your own party, to make the candidates of B.S.P. victorious in the General Assembly Elections of KARNATAKA by pressing the button against âElephantâ (Haathi), the election symbol of B.S.P. I hope and expect that you will accept my âAppealâ and act accordingly.
Km Mayawati
National President,
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
In the Interest of Sarv Samaj, Contribute your Physical, Mental and Economic Might in Favour of BSP to Help its Ideology And Policies Reach its âUltimate Destinationâ
Vote for the Candidates of
Bahujan Samaj Party
Make B.S.P. successful by pressing the button opposite Election Symbol â Elephant (Haathi)
B.S.P. Ki Kya Pehchaan !
Neela Jhanda, Haathi Nishaan !!
TheIdentity of BSP is
Blue Flag & Elephant Symbol
Jai BheemJai KansiramJai Bharath
Mayawati Sisterâs
Appeal for Karnataka Brothers & Sisters
To Vote for Elephant Symbolised BSP Candidates
We say what we do and do what we say
Which is the way to be Happy and Gay
That is Sarva Jan Hithay Sarvajan Sukhay
Before the commencement of election the other political party
For a short while give you a goodie
From Exploitation & discrimination you get away
For progress of a diversified society
And for a developmental ruling assuring safety
Since BSP born from ashes of untouchability
Promises to wipe out your tears and provide you safety
Until you are all supportively behind this mission of
Because of UPA, NDA and their Supporting Parties Sins !
Such as not providing constitutional amendment to provide reservation even to the poor among the forward castes !
Non-inclusion of Original Inhabitants of Jambudvipa that is the Great Prabuddha Bharath Christians !
And poor Muslims in the SC/ST category for giving them reservation in various sectors !
Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party responsible for the backwardness of SC/STs !
Over five decades of rule, the Congress did not consider poor people as this Countryâs citizens !
The BJP gave prominence only to the rich and neglected the economically weaker sections !
Both parties receive funds from capitalists during elections !
They later frame policies suiting their needs but not favouring the poor after their selections !
Thereby not the earning of the workers !
But the prices rises !
Hence !
BSP wins !
For allotting three acres of land to each poor and landless !
Benefiting over 25 lakh families !
Filled all the backlog posts reserved for SC/STs and backward classes !
Constituted separate welfare departments for all backward communties !
for their social and economic advancement,to ensure that they receive all the government benefits !
Deprived of a right and De-Franchised
â Photo: K. Murali Kumar
left out: Voters whose names were missing from the votersâ list, which prevented them from exercising their franchise, showing their identity cards during the repoll
at one of the booths in Bangalore on Monday.
The Election Commission is responsible for De-franchising large number people who were deprived of their right to vote as their names were missing from voter’s list.
Many of them those who had their photo identity cards also did not find their names in the voter’s list.
There was haste in conducting elections by the Election Commission without ensuring that all the eligible people in Karnataka were included in the voters list.
However Election Commission has to postpone the date for formation of the New Government and not on 28 th May 2008 as required by the Constitution.
With thousands of people not finding their names in the voters list, People must have the Right To Information on the exact percentage of names missing in the voter’s list.
Those who tried to include their names before 29-04-2008 had their acnowledgements. Yet their names were not found in the voters list.
Thousands of people stood in scroching sun to get photo identity cards before the elections. But they could not get because of lack of proper infrastructure such as enough numbers of computers and staff who could either include peoples name in the voters list or provide them photo identity cards.
People must also have the Right To Information on the type of chip used in the Electronic Voting Machine with the source code for transparency.
In Reserved Constituencies, the Major Opposition Parties have encouraged False Caste Certificate holders as candidates.
When objected during scrutiny they were not rejected but accepted since the Tahsildars had issued them certificates and EC said that they were helpless and only the Courts can help them.
The Election Commission must have a mechanism to ensure that genuine SC/STs only contested elections in Reserved Constituencies.
Since the Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy on Thursday fixed the responsibility for preparation of error-free voters list, ahead of the election to Karnataka Assembly, on political parties, it is high time that the present Election Commission be scraped and an Election Committee representing all the Political Parties like various Parliamentary Committees be formed forthwith. And work out to see tha all the eligible people of India are included in the voter’s list. This must be made mandatory.
And no elections has to be conducted until all the peoples’ names are included in the voter’s list.
Till then the present election has to be scraped
for a Real Free and fair Election.
Election Commission India
Elections India : Article 324 of the constitution establishes an independent Election Commission to supervise parliamentary and state elections in India. Supervising elections in the world’s largest democracy is by any standard an immense undertaking. Some 521 million people were eligible to vote in 1991.
Now the people of India must have the Right To Information from the Election Commission know as to how many million people were elegible to vote in 2009 and 2008 Karnataka Assembly elections. There is no official information on the exact number of people whose names are not found in the voter’s list.
We the people - these are the most important words in our constitution. Everything depends on us- the voters,who have an opportunity and the right to choose our representatives, demand accountability and determine the direction of growth and governance of the country. Several problems have surfaced in the gigantic task of conducting elections in India and to ensure that elections are free and fair. With each passing election, the educated citizens of our country seem to have grown ignorant and apathetic about the electoral process and elections. The result has been a steady deterioration in the standards and practices of political parties reflected in rampant corruption and the reckless use of money and muscle power to win elections.
Active participation of citizens is an absolute prerequisite to make the electoral system more representative, fair, transparent and free from all the other ills. Eleanor Roosevelt once said: ânobody can hurt you without your consentâ which in this context can be rephrased as ânobody can marginalise you without your cooperation
Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy on Thursday fixed the responsibility for preparation of error-free voters list, ahead of the election to Karnataka Assembly, on political parties. Speaking to reporters here, Mr Gopalaswamy said the political parties would be given two separate lists on February seven for deletion and additions to be made in the final list.
‘’They will be given two weeks time for raising objections to removing and adding names of the voters for the final list to be prepared on March ten,'’ he said.
‘’It will be the responsibility of the political parties to ensure the final list did not contain discrepancies any more as the EC has adopted a new mechanism for producing error-free list,'’ he said.
To a question on whether the elections would be postponed in case of a delay in the implementation of the report of Mr Justice Kuldeep Singh who headed Delimitation Commission, he said the EC did not work on the basis of ‘ifs and buts’ and as of now, it would conduct the elections before May 28.
‘’The Commission is concerned about the voter’s list as there are only additions and no deletions in the list.
‘’This is the reason I sent Deputy Election Commissioner R Bhattacharya, who is in charge for Karnataka, to oversee the whole exercise,'’ Mr Gopalaswamy said.
The EC would hold elections before May 28, as the state completes six months under President’s Rule on the date, he said.
In the draft list submitted by the State Election Commission (SEC) names of 3.48 lakh voters had been deleted while 9.27 lakh new voters had been added as of yesterday.
Mr Gopalaswamy and his Deputies Navin Chawla and S Y Qureshi have been here for the last two days reviewing the voters list and preparedness of the official machinery to hold elections, following the detection of large number of bogus voters in the voter’s list.
Earlier, Congress and the BJP submitted memorandum to the CEC urging him to provide error-free voters list and elections be held in the stipulated time.
He replied in the affirmative when asked whether he would take action against the officials for their ‘lapses’ in preparation of the voter’s list.
Voters list mess in poll-bound Karnataka
Bangalore, Jan 5 - A family with 90 voters and a town with 30,000 voters in a population of 36,500! These are just some of the glitches in the voters list in poll-bound Karnataka. R. Bhattacharya, deputy election commissioner at the Election Commission of India has been in Bangalore for the last three days having talks with state election officials on steps to ensure proper voters list ahead of polls to the 224-member assembly expected in April/May.
The irregularities in the voters list pointed out by people and political parties has forced the state election commission to cancel its plans to release the final list on Jan 10.
Bhattacharya met state chief electoral officer R. Ramaseshan, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (Greater Bangalore City Corporation) commissioner S. Subramanya and senior officials from several districts and told them of the Election Commission’s displeasure over the way the voters lists had been prepared.
The state officials now plan to revise the lists and publish them by the end of this month. They have sought the help of voters to point out anomalies.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Mallikharjun Kharge Friday mentioned the instance of one family in north Karnataka having 90 voters on the list and of Humnabad town in Bidar district that has 30,000 voters in a population of 36,500.
More than 7,000 in the town are school-going children, yet there are 30,000 names in the voters list.
Another Congress leader H.K. Patil said there could be around four million bogus names in the voters list. Karnataka’s population is estimated at 55 million and voting population at around 42 million.
The two other main political parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal-Secular also allege there are many irregularities in the list. The three parties have urged the state and central election officials to rectify the anomalies
MCC to revise votersâ list in three Assembly segments
Special Correspondent
Door-to-door campaign to be launched along with booth committee members
Training programme to be held for booth committee members
Exercise to be launched at one booth each in
the three Assembly segments
â PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM
Major decision: Mayor Ayub Khan announcing the involvement of booth committees in the revision of the votersâ list. Deputy Mayor Kamala Venkatesh is seen.
MYSORE: The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) will revise the votersâ list in the three Assembly constituencies within its jurisdiction by launching a door-to-door campaign along with members of the booth committees.
There are 607 booth committees in the city covering all the 65 wards. The initiative is expected to be more precise; it will involve people at the grassroots level unlike in the the top-down approach followed so far.
Apart from updating the votersâ list, the exercise will help rectify the anomalises and help add to the list the names of those who were left out while deleting the names of bogus voters. The initiative will complement the steps taken by the district administration before the elections.
Disclosing this, Mayor Ayub Khan said here on Saturday that during his visits to polling booths in his capacity as the first citizen of Mysore, he had received several complaints from registered voters.
âEither their names were missing or the details were faulty. Hence I have decided to accord priority to ensure that the citizens are not deprived of the right to exercise their franchise,â he said.
âI consider it my duty to ensure that the names of all eligible voters are incorporated in the revised votersâ list and hence have decided to take the step with the assistance of booth committee membersâ, Mr. Khan said.
It has been decided to undertake a survey according to which, the head of each booth committee, along with officials of the MCC and other members, will cover the area coming under their respective booths and ensure that the discrepancies are removed.
âThe entire responsibility of revising and updating the votersâ list will be vested with the new teamâ, according to the Mayor. It has also been decided to conduct a one-day workshop-cum-training programme for all booth committee members so that they can familiarise themselves with the process of revising the list. âDetails will be collected from every household on individuals who have been transferred, women who have left the locality after marriage and those who have expired so as to ensure that their names are deleted from the listâ, Mr. Khan said.
Once the workshop-cum-training programme is completed, the votersâ list revision exercise will be taken up as a pilot project at one booth each in the three Assembly constituencies coming under the MCC limits.
The team involved in this exercise will record its findings and experience, collate the pros and cons of such an approach and table a report which will be subjected to scrutiny.
âWe will thoroughly analyse the report and streamline the exercise before extending it to cover all the booths coming under the 65 wards of the MCCâ, Mr. Khan said.
Cooperation sought
He called for public cooperation, and sought the assistance of non-governmental organisations so as to ensure that in the subsequent elections genuine voters will not be deprived of their right to exercise their franchise.
There are 607 booths in the three Assembly segments in Mysore Urban which has a population of nearly 7.55 lakh according to the 2001 census.
The Election Commission recently called for revision of the votersâ list in Mysore on learning that the number of voters in the city was more than 65 per cent of the total population.
Though the revision exercise was conducted over an extended period of time, there were some discrepancies which the Mayor wants to rectify by launching an exercise involving the booth committees.
Reforms could ensure more voter turnout
Research could throw up answers for poor poll percentage
Poll percentage could improve if the Government makes a âdetermined attemptâ to bring in reforms
âInvolvement of Resident Welfare Associations, NGOs and other concerned citizens would helpâ
MYSORE: The voter turnout in the second phase of the elections held in ten districts has been put at 60 per cent, which is a drop of six per cent from the first phase of polls. What could be the reason for voter apathy? Can reforms set right the apathy and ensure people turn out in large numbers to exercise their franchise?
Social activist Vasanthkumar Mysoormath, who conducted voter awareness movements in 1999, 2004 and 2008 elections (first phase), has echoed Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer P. Manivannanâs reported view that research has to be conducted on poor poll percentage.
âIt is high time that such an exercise is undertaken by the Government of India. A number of election reforms are long-pending before the Centre.
The Election Commission itself has forwarded some suggestions that are pending since many years now,â said Mr. Mysoormath, who was the presiding officer in more than 10 elections.
Mr. Mysoormath, who retired from the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, maintained that the poll percentage can be substantially improved if the Government makes a âdetermined attemptâ to bring in reforms as recommended by the Election Commission and experts over the years.
He, too, had made certain suggestions for improving the poll percentage.
Missing names
Many eligible voters have been denied their right to vote because their names were missing, although they held Electorâs Photo Identity Cards (EPIC).
âWhy should they keep running around in circles to obtain updated EPICs every time there is an election, only to be turned down because the revised rolls do not contain their names,â he asked.
The money and energy spent for enumeration and preparation of electoral rolls with the help of teachers and government officials has time and again failed to produce the required results.
This needs to be answered because public money is being splurged to prepare incorrect rolls and to deny the citizens their right to vote, he said.
Involvement
It is also time for the citizens to behave in a responsible manner and involve themselves at the grassroots level to help the EC set right the perennial problem, he said.
The three-tier system applicable to rural areas viz., zilla, taluk and gram panchayats, is absent in urban areas. To fill this gap, involvement of Resident Welfare Associations/ NGOs and other concerned citizens would help.
Better network
âStreet committees with volunteers from the residents in a street are the need of the hour.
They, in turn, can coordinate with ward committees for enumeration and compilation of near-perfect electoral rolls and also for assessing the works and projects that need attention and for projecting their demands and grievances with the concerned service providers,â Mr. Mysoormath suggested.
Sensitising youth
The youth of the country has exhibited rank apathy due to their feeling that âpolitics is a dirty businessâ.
Many have expressed disgust over the behaviour of politicians in Parliament/Assemblies.
âNot botheredâ
âThe youth have not bothered even to register themselves as voters because of the cumbersome procedure and running around to get an EPIC which nevertheless becomes useless by the next election. This attitude needs to be changed,â he said.
Political will
What the country needs is political will to bring necessary legislation through amendment to those rule books that govern elections.
âCountries like Turkey and Australia have compulsory voting and the turnout is about 90-plus per cent. What made those countries prescribe such a rule and how it is implemented may be studied and adopted in our country also,â he said.
Incentives
Can incentives attract voters?
Some incentive is bound to attract at least a percentage of people to stop being apathetic and cynical and proceed to vote.
âA system may be prescribed: those who vote may be given a certificate by the EC for claiming say one or two per cent reduction in their electricity bills or water bills or property tax for a certain period after an election. If the percentage of voting can be increased by spending a few crores, then it will be well worth trying,â said Mr. Mysoormath.
EC has failed to check flow of money
Election Commission has failed to check distribution of money and other articles among voters. Mine lords, members of land mafia and anti-social elements were controlling the elections, which a dangerous development in democracy.
Major political parties had no moral right to go before the electorate as they had forgotten the basic principles of politics.
four polling booths in Bellary alleged rigging during the second phase of Karnataka assembly elections.
Tribal organisations, demand, disqualification, of candidates
Adivasi Swayattategagi Rastriya Rangha (ASRR)
and Nagarahole Tribal Rights Samithi have urged the Election
Commission to disqualify three candidates contesting from H D Kote
(Reserve) Assembly Constituency for allegedly producing false caste
certificates.
According to a press note issued by Samithi Convenor P K Ramu,
the candidates Mr Chikkanna (Congress), Mr Chikkaveera Nayaka (BJP)
and (Mr Doddanayaka (JD-S) had contested the Assembly elections from
this reserved constituency for tribals and urged the Commission to
disqualify and file criminal cases against them.
Earlier, based on a complaint filed by the public, Deputy
Commissioner and District Election Officer P Manivannan had
suspended H D Kote Tahasildar T Vijya and ordered a departmental
inquiry against her for issuing S T certificate to BJP candidate
Chikkaveera Naika.
They alleged that all three candidates had tampered with the
school documents and produced the false caste certificates during
the time of the election process and contested from H D Kote.
The Assistant Commissioner of Hunsur Sub Division M R Ravi had
submitted a report to the district election officer alleging
tampering with the records by the three candidates to claim the
Scheduled Tribe status to contest the election.
In his report, Mr Ravi stated the Tahsildar of H D Kote had
issued controversial caste certificates without verifying the
original documents and failed to follow the procedures before
issuing them.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer
P Manivannan said the report had been sent to the Election
Commission for further action.
In Reserved Constituencies, the Major Opposition Parties have encouraged False Caste Certificate holders as candidates.May be to keep them under their control for not asking for any provisions of reservation.
In CV Raman Nagar Constitutncy similar action was not taken when objection was raised during scrutiny, they were not rejected but accepted since the Tahsildars had issued them certificates and EC said that they were helpless and only the Courts can help them.
Some political parties were involved in the bomb blast at Hubli court to gain political mileage during the election.
Polling in sensitive booths of Bellary City and Rural was slow, but peaceful on the whole except for an incident in Srirampur Colony (SC (Original Inhabitants of Jambudvipa that is the Great Prabuddha Bharath) Colony), where a voter, Shivaji an asthma patient was not permitted to vote as he had produced only the xerox copy of his ID card which was not accepted by the polling officer.
An altercation ensued and the Border Security Force (BSF), who could not understand Kannada manhandled the voter and pushed him out. A group of people gathered and the situation was tense for a while. However, special observer Raymond Peter arrived on the spot. The voter and the local people mobbed his car and represented the case. The situation was brought under control.
Such a huge number of contestants has made the officials organize for two electronic voting machines in each polling booth. Each EVM can display a maximum of 16 names. Both machines will be connected to a single controlling unit, according to B P Adnoor, Commissioner, Bellary City Corporation.
Will voters be confused as they will have to look for their choice of candidates in two EVMs?
âNo. Each candidate has been allotted with a number and a symbol. Voters will have to know that number. But in case of national parties, voters go by the symbol. In 2004, two EVMs were used in each booth as elections to the Assembly and Lok Sabha were held simultaneously. A voter will have to spend a second or two just to read the symbols as there would be two EVMs,â he said.
A tour around Bellary city showed that none of the independents are campaigning. Even major political party leaders admit that no independent is serious about the elections. Then why do they pay Rs 5,000 as deposit and enter the fray? A senior Congress leader said, âMajority of the independent candidates are dummy. They contest and approach us (major parties) for money to withdraw their nominations. This time none withdrew their papers. Each candidate is allowed to use only four vehicles for campaigning. This EC restriction has come as a major hurdle for us to campaign. So, we have kept the vehicles of independent candidates at our disposal. Of course, we have their money. This is done in by all major parties. Many of the independents are fielded by national partiesâ.
Another challenge being faced by the officials is to weed out the bogus student ID cards. The EC has listed 20 types of identity cards which can be used for casting vote. A voter has to produce any one of these to exercise his franchise. Students are allowed to produce their college ID card.
In the first phase of polling, students were found producing fake ID cards. So, the EC has sent mails to all the DCs to check the veracity of studentsâ ID card. âWe have held a meeting with the principals of all colleges in Bellary and have directed them to ensure that their colleges are not found issuing bogus cards. If fake cards are found, then principals of such colleges will face criminal action,â said Aravind Srivastv, Deputy Commissioner, Bellary.
Security
Giving protection to polling booths in Bellary city is also a major challenge to officials. Each booth will be monitored by para military personnel because each one of the total 211 polling booths in the city is branded as hypersensitive, said Srivastav.
As many as 7,244 government staff has been drawn for election duty on March 16. Of this, 1,811 are presiding officers.
In fact, no staff is allowed to work in their home town or village. They have been allotted postings on a random basis. Till May 15 morning, they would not know where they will be posted. All these measures are taken to see that fare and free elections are held in the district, added Mr Srivastav.
Rs 10 crore worth liquor, gifts seized
As many as 1,418 criminal cases have been booked under provisions of IPC and Peoples Representation Act, while 1,705 cases have been registered under the Excise Act and Rs 3.5 crore worth IMF liquor and spirit has been seized since April 1….
Around 120 cases of inducement to voters by giving various gifts have been booked while property worth Rs 7 crore worth property have been seized, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Shankar Bidari said here on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters he said 16,616 persons have been arrested since April 1 and bonds have been obtained from them for good behaviour.
He said as many as 56,000 police personnel will be deployed in the second phase of elections to be held for 66 constituencies on May 16. This includes 21,000 civil police, 10,000 Home Guards, 22,000 para military forces and 3,000 KSRP personnel.
a total of 214 Central Para Military Force (CPMF) companies have been allotted to 66 Assembly constituencies in 10 districts, that include 21 for Raichur, Koppal (15) Uttara Kannada (18), Bellary (31), Chitradurga (18), Davanagere (24), Shimoga (22), Udupi (18), Chikmagalur (20) and Dakshina Kannada (27).
One mobile squad will be provided for every 20 polling stations. Each mobile squad comprises one police sub-inspector, one head constable, three constables and one Home Guard.
In all, there will be 650 mobile squads for all constituencies, Bidari said.
The CPMF pickets with one head constable, four constables/two head constables and 10 PCs will be posted in sensitive areas. Each constituency will have a striking force consisting one platoon of KSRP, he informed.
Polling booths
Bidari said out of the 12,271 polling stations in phase two, 3,754 have been classified as hypersensitive and 4,282 have been considered as sensitive. For every hypersensitive and sensitive booth, two uniformed police personnel and for every normal booth, one police personnel will be deployed.
families, in implementing housing programme and maintaining law and order.
BJP failure
BJP like the Congress and JDS also had to bear the burden of anti-incumbency as it had failed to issue ration cards to BPL
Peter takes charge
Senior IAS officer Raymond Peter, who was appointed as a special observer to oversee polling process in Bellary district, where mine owners have locked horns in the second phase, took charge on Wednesday.
He held a meeting with returning officers, top police officials and commandant of central security to review the poll preparations and arrangements.
In the December 2006 byelection to the Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, Peter was the election observer and was known for dealing any violation of poll code of conduct with an iron hand.
The appointment of Peter in Bellary takes significance following allegations that voters are being lured with cash by mine owners. All the 211 polling stations in Bellary City has been declared as hypersensitive
In several areas, voters protested deletion of their names
Technical snags delaying and disrupting poll process for brief spells has been reported from several places.
Repolling in two polling stations
Electoral authorities on Sunday ordered repolling in two polling stations where elections were held during the first phase of Karnataka assembly polls
Repolling has been ordered at a polling station in Malleshwaram and another in Ramanagara following malfunctioning of EVMs there, Chief Electoral officer M N Vidyashankar told reporters.
BSP made whirlwind tours of the areas going to the polls seeking votes for stable governance, development and all-round welfare of the people.
For votes: . BSP supremo Mayawati and party leaders waving to the crowd in Gulbarga
Congress, BJP targeted
Ms. Mayawati accused the Congress and BJP of not protecting the quota rights of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
She said that thousands of posts reserved for SC/STs had not been filled and the number of backlog vacancies in the country was alarmingly high.
Addressing a public meeting in Gulbarga, Ms. Mayawati alleged that all governments at the Centre after Independence had been anti-reservation and anti-poor.
The economic policies pursued by Congress and BJP governments were blatantly anti-poor and pro-rich.
She said it was only in Uttar Pradesh, after the BSP came to power, that all backlog vacancies had been filled.
âAll that is required is the will and commitment for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the oppressed sections, which was lacking in all other political parties,â she said.
She said the BSP was a cadre-based party and it was the funds provided by workers that kept the party going and not the money provided by industrialists and âthatâs why we are independent and take pro-people decisions.â
Singling out Congress for attack, Ms. Mayawati questioned the contribution of that party and its governments for the welfare of the Muslims, who traditionally supported it.
âThe economic condition of the Muslims is poor,â she said
She asked the Muslims to identify the parties that really worked for their welfare and support them.
The BSP leader said she favoured extension of reservation benefits to Original Inhabitants of Jambudvipa that is the Great Prabuddha Bharath Christians and Original Inhabitants of Jambudvipa that is the Great Prabuddha Bharath Muslims and added that she had already written to the Union Government in this regard. However, this reservation should be extended only after increasing the percentage of reservation for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Ms. Mayawati called upon the people of the State to defeat the BJP, Congress and regional parties and support the BSP which aimed at the welfare of all sections of society, including upper castes.
Party general secretaries Satish Chandra Mishra and P.G.R. Sindhia spoke. The former Minister D.T. Jayakumar and other leaders were present.
Manual scavenging still rampant in North East Delhi, says report
Parul Sharma
Finance and Development Corporation had sponsored the study to identify scavengers in the city
As per the report scavenging is a women dominated profession
âThe scavengers have high aspirations for their children and want them to studyâ
NEW DELHI: While 15 years have lapsed since the demeaning and humiliating practice of manual scavenging was banned through the enactment of the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993, manual scavenging is still rampant in North East Delhi, where a majority of Delhiâs 1,282 scavengers work, a study by a Delhi University lecturer has revealed.
According to the study conducted by Pamela Singla, a lecturer at the Department of Social Work at Delhi University, the main pockets of residence and workplace of people engaged in removal of night soil are in areas like Karawal Nagar, Old Seelampur, Shahdara, Gandhi Nagar, Nand Nagri and Babarpur. âScavenging is done mainly by two ways, either by cleaning of drains or emptying the containers containing night soil,â said Dr. Singla, sharing the findings of the study that she conducted for the Delhi SC/ST/OBC/Minorities/Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation.
The Corporation had sponsored the study to identify scavengers in the city. Acting on the report, the Delhi State Cabinet had recently decided to initiate steps for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers.
As per the report, âScavengers and Scavenging in Delhiâ, submitted to the Corporation in July last year, scavenging is a women dominated profession.
âAbout 80 per cent of scavengers are women and majority of them are married. Over 71 per cent are below 40 years of age. Out of 1,282 scavengers, 1,085 reside and work in Delhi, while the remaining work in the Capital but live in Loni. Besides scavenging, they also collect garbage and clean septic tanks. They are engaged in scavenging purely owing to financial reasons as they have to fend for their families,â shared Dr. Singla.
A majority of them are not satisfied with their jobs since the work is âextremely filthyâ. About 12 per cent of scavengers said they could not quit the profession as there was no alternative means of employment available to them because of their illiteracy.
âThey are not sure what they want to do. During informal interactions with some of the women, I could gauge that they were not ready to undergo training for any other job. They showed willingness to do government jobs. Some women even said they would not mind scavenging if it would be counted under government jobs and would give them a regular, fixed income at the end of the month coupled with weekly holidays,â she said.
According to the report, the scavengers had high aspirations for their children and wanted them to study and get into some âdignified professionâ.
Interestingly, Dr. Singla had conducted the same study way back in 1992 and was glad to note that the number of human scavengers in the Capital had come down from 8,000 back then to 1,282 this time round.
âThings have improved in some ways. In 1992, there were many scavengers who carried it (night soil) head load. In 2007, such persons were almost negligible with most carrying it in a cart,â she noted.
Dr. Singla said the profession can be completely abolished only when the authorities convert âdryâ latrines to âwetâ latrines with simultaneous programmes for their rehabilitation.
âAs long as there is a demand for their services, scavengers will continue to exist,â she concluded, adding that the Corporation is sharing the report with some ministries.
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