School Lunches Are An Excellent Idea

Modi's Blind Spot: Smriti Irani?

School lunches are an excellent idea. And it should be universal. All government schools should implement this all the way through high school. दिन में कमसेकम एक बार स्कुल अटेंड करने वाले प्रत्येक बच्चे को संतुलित आहार मिल जाए --- balanced diet. नहीं तो मोदी demography, demography करते रहते है, अगर बच्चे बड़ी संख्या में malnutrition का शिकार होते रहें तो कोइ demographic dividend नहीं मिलने वाला।

स्कुल लंच के बहाने भी बच्चे स्कुल आएंगे, कि चलो पढाई कम मटरगश्ती ज्यादा करेंगे लेकिन लंच तो खाएंगे।

लेकिन खाना अच्छा होना चाहिए ------ balanced diet. दाल और सब्जी पर ध्यान दो तो ज्यादा खर्चा भी नहीं बैठता।

In America they don't do it right. बच्चो को कोका कोला पिलाते हैं। ये भी कोइ तरिका है? बच्चे मोटे (obese) हो जाते हैं।

एक स्कुल लंच और दुसरा प्रत्येक स्कुल तक ब्रॉडबैंड पहुँचा दो फिर देखो कमाल।

Related articles

• Brain development suffers from lack of fish oil fatty acids, study finds
• Rahul plans 'emergency' visit to Amethi as Government sends Smriti Irani to meet farmers
• Smarter Food Choices 101: Tips for Busy Women
• Former UN Sec General Kofi Annan: Eat Bugs To Stop Global Warming...
• Smriti Irani compels Rahul Gandhi to schedule Amethi visit
• Minister Smriti Irani's Fiery Speech in Parliament is Talk of the Town
• Women should get 30% reservation in police forces: Rahatkar
• Government constitutes task force for yoga promotion

Modi's Blind Spot: Smriti Irani?

I like Smriti Irani, but she is perhaps not the best choice for the, what is it called, the Human Resources Ministry. And I thought she was Education Minister.

When Modi was Gujrat Chief Minister, and Nitish was Bihar Chief Minister, they both had stellar economic growth rates, but Modi was seen better at courting the private sector, Nitish was seen doing better work in education and health.

Education has to be top priority. And traditional ways will not work. The traditional way is where you count how many school buildings you erect. That is too slow. That is not scalable enough. Education should be in the air. Education should be lifelong. High school should be available to all illiterate adults. The goal should be 100% high school graduates, and 50% college graduates.

Use FM technology. Illiterate adults too proud to show up at school should be able to tune in to their classes. You should be able to do 12 years of schooling by tuning in. Cheap tablets with the Wikipedia downloaded and preloaded should be handed out to top performing high school students across the country. I believe the Wikipedia is available in several Indian languages. Get it done in all major languages. Getting broadband to every citizen is more important than taking roads to every citizen, although roads are also important. Jahan broadband pahunch gaya samjho wahan university pahunch gaya. Khan Academy ke videos dekh ke log education hasil kar sakte hain. 

Some of those criticizing her are being sexist. And there are plenty of those inside the BJP. The RSS is plain wrong in trying to saffronize education. What do you want? Hindu madarsas? She is giving the impression of being a woman who does not know her place. How can she act bossy towards people she is a boss of?

The babus are upset, the RSS is seething ..... She has been accused of rubbing colleagues in the BJP up the wrong way, failing to understand the RSS's demands when it comes to the education sector and being unable to retain key administrative officials in the ministry. .... her educational qualifications, the decision to celebrate 'good governance day' instead of Christmas day in CBSE schools, respected nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar threatening to quit from the board of IIT-B directors and dropping German as a third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas. ..... none of these seem to have tempered the manner in which she deals with her ministry ...... wary and distrustful of bureaucrats, Irani has reportedly been known to humiliate and put them down in ways that have resulted in more than one of them seeking transfers. ...... while a vice chancellor of a central university is quoted as saying those trying to suggest ideas to Irani could be told "this is not your classroom, this is my ministry", a senior ministry official speaks about how she flung a file at additional secretary-rank official only to apologise later, and promise to 'restore his honour'. ....... Irani had once told a top official that although she had less education, she had more brains than him, accused another of selling the sovereignty of the nation and told an official at a meeting of an academic body 'I am the council'. ........ the official who reportedly had a file thrown at him reportedly preferred to opt for a transfer rather than have his honour restored, and other bureaucrats have been cited as wanting to be repatriated rather than continue to have to deal with her. ........ despite bragging of long standing third generation ties with the RSS, the organisation reportedly has no love lost for her ....... the RSS is not very happy with the manner in which Kakodkar was treated and believe she's "rude, oppressive and bossy". ....... Senior leaders are unhappy with the manner in which she has been treating senior leadership, including not standing to greet Rajnath Singh, not responding to requests for appointments and making people who do meet her feel "uncomfortable". ....... when Irani was the subject of a sexist barb from JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav ..... she does not seem to like most of us

But even after taking all that into account, the job has been tough on her, and the stress has been showing. She should be kept in the cabinet, but at another ministry. Perhaps.

But Modi has a big incentive to stick by Irani. He wants Irani to snatch Rahul's constituency away from him. That is a tall task, but he wants to keep trying. Unko abhi bhi nahin lag raha hai ki Bharat Congress mukt ho gaya.  

Smriti Zubin Irani. Inke middle name aur last name se to lagta hai she might be Muslim. Is that what the RSS people are unhappy about?



Smriti, A Fading Memory?

On May 26, after the grand swearing-in ceremony of the Narendra Modi government, the most beaming face in the BJP was that of Smriti Irani. At 38, she had been made a cabinet minister and was being projected as the new woman face of the party. With her trademark sindoor and flashing eyes, the actress-politician accepted congratulations as if it was her due. Commentators on TV debates waxed eloquent about how this bright young woman, who had fought a gritty battle against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, now represented the future of the BJP. She epitomised Indian womanhood, it was said. She smiled and accepted many congratulations before the cameras. ...... There have been remarks about Smriti imagining she is the “Jhansi ki Rani about to lop off four heads with her sword”. ...... Instead of charming people who come to meet her, she makes them uncomfortable. ..... She has developed a persona of being aloof and indifferent. ..... “Smriti has also been the butt of sexist barbs and comments in Parliament and under normal circumstances we should all have been rallying around her. But the problem is that she does not seem to like most of us ...... Still, to Smriti’s credit, she has endured those controversies involving sexist remarks well, eventually giving it back in a dignified manner. For instance, when Sanjay Nirupam of the Congress called her a ‘thumkewali’, she just took him to court. ......... in 2006 that Smriti very consciously worked to get herself into the good books of the most powerful chief minister in the BJP, a man who seemed poised for bigger things. ..... Women in politics often run the risk of being objectified, particularly if they are not part of the bahu-beti brigade, that is women who are token representatives of men or come from a political dynasty. Smriti has made it to the top of the party on her own steam. As a former actress, she would inevitably have had to face pretty crude sexism from those who would resent the rise of a powerful woman. ..... And there’s no doubt that women can at times be as bad as men in spreading gossip, innuendo and resenting the rise of a rival. It’s human nature really, and the BJP has always been a party of great rivalries and competing ambition. ....... Smriti has been a star act in the BJP. She has also turned out to be much smarter and quicker on the uptake than other star acts in the BJP, most notably the beautiful and charming Hema Malini, who really does not contribute much beyond her presence. As a politician, Smriti is undoubtedly of a different calibre: she thrives in the cut and thrust of debate, in taking on challengers in the electoral battlefield, in giving smart replies to pesky reporters. She may not have degrees but it’s hard to doubt that she is a smart and savvy woman.

No Jottings, The Babu Has Left The Building
‘I Wouldn’t Trust Her With Jam And Pickle Ministry’
A Matter Of Orientation
The Better Bindi Diplomat

Related articles

• Rahul plans 'emergency' visit to Amethi as Government sends Smriti Irani to meet farmers
• Women should get 30% reservation in police forces: Rahatkar
• Smriti Irani hails new social security schemes as 'historic step'
• Smriti Irani compels Rahul Gandhi to schedule Amethi visit
• Minister Smriti Irani's Fiery Speech in Parliament is Talk of the Town
• Smriti Irani asks women to be Lord Krishna on BJP's chariot
• I am a hard nut to crack, says HRD Minister Smriti Irani
• 4 MPs write to President, PM against Smriti
• RSS think tank pitches for Institute for Classical Studies
• Smriti Irani has showdown with Sugata Bose

जितन और पप्पु ने बिहार को पेंचिंदा बनाया

जीतन राम माझी का नीतिश से अलग हो जाना, पप्पु यादव का लालु से अलग हो जाना ------- अब तो बिहार का contest triangular हो चला और बीजेपी का पलड़ा भारी सा हो गया है। ये दोनों भले न जिते लेकिन वोट तो काटेंगे जरूर। Advantage BJP? जितन और पप्पु ने बिहार को पेंचिंदा बनाया।

बीजेपी को लेकिन इस बात का घाटा है कि वो किसी एक को मुख्य मंत्री पद के लिए सामने नहीं ला रहे हैं।

मंडल तो मोदी खुद मंडल। दोनों development men --- क्या JD(U) और BJP फिर से एक साथ नहीं आ सकते क्या?

नीतिश वैसे master strategist हैं। Caste equation में खुद मंडल man लालु को मात कर दिया दो दो बार। दलित और महादलित कर के लालु और पासवान दोनों को मात कर दिया दो दो बार।

मेरे को लगता है सुशील मोदी अभी भी नीतिश का लोहा मानते हैं। अभी भी वो शायद नंबर टु होने को तैयार हो जाए। लेकिन बात शायद बहुत आगे बढ़ चुका है। There are stakeholders in both camps who do not want a rapprochement. The fact remains that the JD(U)-BJP government in Bihar was a pretty good government.

BJP इतनी बड़ी पार्टी है कि उसमें तरह तरह के लोगों का होना स्वाभाविक है। जब RSS के कुछ लोगों ने लव जिहाद और घर वापसी की बात की तो मैंने अपना मुँह बिचकाया। तो मोदी ने भी तो अपना मुँह बिचकाया। जब मोदी गुजरात के मुख्य मंत्री थे तो उन्होंने वहां पर बहुत बखुबी से RSS को sideline कर के रख दिया था। उनका मानना था कि राजनीति करनी है तो RSS से बीजेपी में आ जाओ और चुनाव लड़ो, जित के दिखाओ, तब दिन भर राजनीति करते रहो।

जिस Hindu supremacist thinking को देख के नीतिश मुँह बिचकाते हैं, उसको देख के तो मोदी भी मुँह बिचकाते हैं। और देश में सबसे बड़ा मंडल तो मोदी ही है। और दोनों development के मामले में सबसे आगे रहे हैं।

But perhaps Nitish has waded too far. उनके ही शब्दो में "अब तो गुंजायस नहीं है। "

It is still 50-50 in Bihar, it could go either way. But Jitan and Pappu walking away weakens the chances of a Nitish comeback. नीतिश ने २०१३ में जो निर्णय लिया क्या वो hubris था? Perhaps he gambled, कि मोदी का डट के विरोध करो तो बिहार के २०% मुसलमान साथ में आ जाएंगे। लेकिन वो हुवा नहीं।

“Na Khuda hi mila, na visaal-e-sanam/Na udhar kay rahay, na idhar kay rahe (I found neither faith, nor union with my lover/And now I belong neither there nor here).”

Related articles

• Pappu Yadav expelled from RJD, may join hands with BJP
• Pappu Yadav expelled from RJD, may join hands with BJP
• The other Parivar
• BJP terms new Janata party an alliance of 'political warlords'
• HAM kisise kum nahin! Manjhi floats new party in Bihar
• Janata Pari-WAR? Lalu and Nitish smile for the cameras as six parties agree a merger... but their camps remain deeply divided
• BJP calls new Janata party an alliance of 'political warlords'
• Janata Parivar Merger Not Possible Before Bihar Elections: Samajwadi Party
• Pappu Yadav opposes Lalu's merger plan
• Bihar: Janata Parviar 'deal' gives RJD, JD(U) 100 seats each

बिहार का मामला

बिहार में नीतिश का पोजीशन दिल्ली में केजरी के जैसा नहीं है --- फिर भी मजबुत तो है। २०१४ में प्रधान मंत्री पद के लिए मोदी के अलावे और कोइ लड़ ही नहीं रहा था। मैदान में कोइ और था ही नहीं। अभी बिहार में नीतिश अकेले कैंडिडेट हैं मुख्य मंत्री के। बीजेपी का कोइ कैंडिडेट नहीं है। जितन तो सिर्फ वोट काट्ने के फिराक में हैं। उनको लोभ है कि हंग असेंबली आ जाए किसी तरह तो बीजेपी वाले शायद भाव दें, अभी तो नहीं दे रहे हैं।

नीतिश ने शायद गलती की --- जब वो २०१३ में बीजेपी से बिहार में टुट गए। उसके बाद गलती किए मुख्य मंत्री पद से इस्तीफा दे दिया। दो दो बार जनता के मैंडेट का अपमान हुवा। अभी भी नवीन का लाइन मेरे को ठीक लग रहा है। वो knee jerk opposition के पक्ष में नहीं हैं। कांग्रेस के पास दुसरा ऑप्शन नहीं हैं। उनको तो knee jerk opposition ही करना होगा। लोकतंत्र का असुल है। लेकिन नवीन उसमें नहीं फँसना चाहते। वो thoughtful opposition का रोल अदा करना चाहते हैं।

नीतिश क्या चाहते हैं? वो चाहते थे मोदी न आवे, आडवाणी आवे, हिन्दु rate of growth को बरक़रार रखे। बीजेपी ने आडवाणी को sideline किया तो इन्होने पगड़ी पहना दी मुलायम को। बीजेपी में अडवाणी और जनता परिवार में मुलायम --- दोनों ही हिन्दु rate of growth वाले हैं।

ये आश्चर्य की बात है। नीतिश खुद development man हैं। फिर?

बिल क्लिंटन का कहना है ---- all elections are about the future. पिछे जो किए सो किए। अब आगे क्या करेंगे -- ये नीतिश को कहना है।

Laloo was the best Railway Minister India ever had. लालु ने १,००० साल पुरानी कास्ट सिस्टम को चैलेंज किया, छोटी मोटी बात नहीं है। उनके समय के शिक्षा मंत्री, और कितने सालों से उनके पार्टी के बिहार यूनिट के प्रमुख (एक ही तो स्टेट यूनिट है) मेरे मामा लगेंगे: रामचन्द्र पुर्वे। मेरी पैदाइश बिहार की है --- दरभंगा।

Nitish has been the best Bihari Chief Minister of my lifetime. But he is about to face his toughest election since 2005.

बिहार का मामला पेंचीदा है। Right now I think it is 50-50. It could go either way.

लेकिन सिर्फ सुशासन कहने से नहीं होगा। विकास का भविष्यमुखी एजेंडा देना होगा जनता को।

२०१४ में बिहार के लोगों ने मोदी को वोट दिया -- गलती नहीं किया। मोदी अच्छा काम कर रहे हैं।

In the market the consumer is always right. That is the premise. In an election, the voters are always right. That has to be the premise.

Related articles

• 'India keeping a close eye on China-Pak military cooperation'

Obama's Peace With Iran = Less Threat For Israel

English: Cropped version of File:Official portrait of Barack Obama.jpg. The image was cropped at a 3:4 portrait ratio, it was slightly sharpened and the contrast and colors were auto-adjusted in photoshop. This crop, in contrast to the original image, centers the image on Obama's face and also removes the flag that takes away the focus from the portrait subject. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Barack Obama has had Israel's best interests in mind. All along. I don't doubt Netanyahu's stated intentions, or even his smarts. I am sure there are a bunch of people who think he is smart and all that. But Netanyahu is not the first right wing guy on the planet who will let ideology trump facts. He also comes from the Don't-Confuse-Me-With-Facts school of thought. And he has allies in Congress.

Look, if John McCain was smarter the American people would have figured it out in 2008. Don't let McCain confuse you in that august chamber.

It is not like Iran does not have the extreme right wing. One of them would be the Ayatollah himself. No, I don't think Netanyahu is more to the right than the Aya.

That is formula for combustion, if not for nuclear combustion, then for rhetoric combustion. And we have been seeing that.

Enter Barack Obma, the No Drama Obama. A cool headed guy who still feels the need to prove as to why he ever got that Nobel Peace Prize. Those opposing his Iran moves should apologize now, and profusely so. Suddenly the cloud of a potential existential threat on Israel has subsided. Who did that? Not Netanyahu.

Related articles

• John McCain: I Don't Know Whether to Believe Kerry or Ayatollah
• John McCain is literally laughing at Rand Paul: "The worst possible candidate of the 20 or so that are running"
• Rand Paul: Lindsey Graham, John McCain are 'lapdogs' for President Obama's foreign policy (VIDEO)
• Declaring Independence from Israel - It's Way Overdue!
• Mike Huckabee Announces Second Run for President
• Obama Blasts Attempts to Derail Iran Nuclear Deal
• What obstacles remain in ironing out a nuclear deal with Iran?
• President of Pique Obama Assails U.S. Critics but Gives the Ayatollah a Pass.
• Watch: Obama Unloads on John McCain and the 47 Traitors for Sabotaging Iran Peace Deal | Occupy Democrats
• Obama Rakes Partisanship Over Iran Nuclear Deal

Biju Janata Dal And The Land Bill

I kind of like the BJD proposed amendment. Not only it makes political arithmetic sense, it also plain makes logical sense.

मोदी का Land Acquisition
Trying Hard To Understand The Nitish Viewpoint On Land Acquisition
Land Acquisition: मोदी माँग रहे है तो दे दो
Land Acquisition Bill: The Details
Modi Should Be Allowed Land Acquisition



मैं समझने की कोशिश कर रहा हुँ। नवीन कह रहे हैं ---- आप किसान हैं, आप के पास जमीन है, उसका बाजार में भाव ५ लाख है, तो फैक्ट्री बिठाने के हिसाब से कोइ आएंगे तो वो उस जमीन को १५ लाख में खरीदेंगे --- ये मोदी कह रहे हैं ---- नवीन कह रहे हैं, पैसा दो १० लाख, बाँकी के ५ लाख के उसी फैक्ट्री में शेयर दो। ये कोइ बुरा सुझाव नहीं है। ऐसा नहीं हो सकता कि ये फैसला किसान पर छोड़ दो? वो चाहे तो १५ का १५ नगद ले ले --- या १० का नगद और ५ लाख का शेयर ले ले।

Land bill jolt to govt: BJD opposes, AIADMK may follow suit

The Centre’s hopes to pass the contentious land bill took another hit as Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janta Dal (BJD), a party that had earlier supported many government legislations, unequivocally announced on Saturday that it would oppose the bill. ..... J Jayalalitha’s AIADMK, the second-largest party in the Opposition camp after the Congress, is also “inclined to oppose” the land bill that has led different Opposition parties to join hands to dub the government as “anti-farmer”. ...... “We had welcomed the land bill in Lok Sabha. We even said we are happy with it. But happiness doesn’t mean that we will support it. We will oppose the land bill when it comes in Parliament,” Bhartruhari Mahtab, BJD’s Lok Sabha wing chief ...... If the BJD and the AIADMK joins the Opposition ranks against the bill, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) -- even with the help from an array of fence-sitters like the BSP and the NCP -- would not be able to reach the majority mark of 123 in the 244-strong Rajya Sabha. The Opposition strength, including the SP, BJD and the AIADMK, stands at 148, while the entire the NDA is just 69. ...... The BJP is 66 MPs short of majority in a Joint Session of both Houses of Parliament. The Congress has already waged a war against the bill that would make it easier to acquire land for crucial infrastructure projects. ....... The proposed bill exempts projects related to defence, rural housing and power, along with industrial corridors, from the requirement that 80% of the affected landowners must agree to a sale. ...... The stand of the BJD may come as a rude jolt for the government as it had incorporated as many as four demands of the Odisha-based party through amendments to the original bill

We will back land bill if Centre make changes: BJD

the BJD opposed the land acquisition ordinance as it demanded that the land losers should have a stake in projects for which their land is acquired

Land Bill: Government mulls joint session in parliament for legislation as some parties change stance

BJD had walked out of the Lok Sabha the last time the bill was debated, after the government accepted four of nine amendments the party had proposed. ...... "Four of our amendments were accepted but we want an important amendment, giving a stake to landholders in any economic enterprise accruing from acquired land, to be accepted" ...... It has been liaising with 'like-minded parties' Trinamool, AIADMK and the Left to push for the amendment." ..... BJD has 20 MPs in the Lok Sabha. By voting against the bill in both the Houses, BJD may push the government into calling a joint sitting of both the Houses. ..... That appears to be the only way of getting the bill cleared quickly, something the Modi administration wants to achieve as a mark of its ability to get cracking on reform. "If we get stuck on this, so early in our tenure, it will derail everything. Time is of essence," said a senior Cabinet minister. ..... Determined to clear the land bill, the government apparently sees a joint sitting as the only way out.

Jairam Ramesh Sees Secret BJP-BJD Deal on Land Bill

Explaining reasons behind Congress’ opposition to proposed changes in Land Acquisition Act, Ramesh said there were guidelines in the existing law that the Government would return the acquired land if it is lying unused for five years. However, there is no such system in the new law, he pointed out....... Similarly, the mandatory “consent” clause and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) will not be in the new Bill where ownership of land continues to be vested with the Government, he said....... Ramesh said that while the original Act has provision of securing the consent of 80 per cent affected people before land acquisition, the new law will abolish the provision.

Congress wants BJD to oppose land acquisition bill
Centre deciphering Opposition strategy to pass land bill

Amidst indications that the Modi regime would explore the option of a joint Sitting of both houses of Parliament as a last resort for the passage of the land acqusition bill, there are apprehensions within the government that this is easier said than done. ....... The government is keeping an eye on all possible strategies that the Opposition could consider for stalling the bill's passage or rejection in the Rajya Sabha ...... The government was hoping that parties like the Samajwadi Party, BJD and AIADMK, which run state governments, would warm up to the bill. However, with the Janata Parivar merger, the SP may find it difficult to take a stand which is not in line with its allies — the JD(U) and RJD, which are likely to use the bill to target the BJP ahead of the Bihar elections. ...... The Samajwadi Party has 15 MPs, the AIADMK 11 and BJD 7 in the Rajya Sabha. Senior ministers have been reaching out to parties as part of an exercise to garner support for the legislation ...... Parties which may not take an unbending stand against the bill are waiting to see if the government will bring in more changes. "We are expecting more amendments to the bill.

We want the land owner to be made a share holder in economic activity for which the land is acquired

," said BJD's B Mahtab. The government has been arguing that compensation was left to the state government. ........If the Shiv Sena, which had abstained from voting in Lok Sabha, backs the government, the NDA's numbers add up to 395 in a joint sitting of nearly 760 members. However, according to sources, the government is unlikely to act in haste and may focus on bills like GST and black money before taking up the contentious land bill. ........ the Congress launched a website called "zameenwapsi.com" as part of its agitation against the bill.

Related articles

• GST under a cloud as numbers elude NDA
• Janata Parivar announces merger, Mulayam to head new party
• Samajwadi Janata Party formed to take on Narendra Modi's BJP
• Mission 2017: BSP ups ante against Modi, Akhilesh regimes
• Land Bill protests to gain momentum