Public Dialogue of Women's Reservation Bill @Chennai on 21 Jul 2019 - 5 MPs participated

What is Women's Reservation Bill?  

The Women's Reservation Bill or The Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill, 2008, is a pending bill in the Parliament of India which propose to amend the Constitution of India to reserve 33% of all seats in the Lower house of Parliament of India, the Lok Sabha, and in all state legislative assemblies for women. The seats were proposed to be reserved in rotation and would have been determined by draw of lots in such a way that a seat would be reserved only once in three consecutive general elections.

The Rajya Sabha passed the bill on 9 March 2010.  However, the Lok Sabha never voted on the bill. The bill is still pending as it never went to the Lok Sabha.   In 1993, a constitutional amendment was passed in India that called for a random one third of village council leader, or pradhan, positions in gram panchayat to be reserved for women.

There is a long-term plan to extend this reservation to parliament and legislative assemblies.Its opponents consider this preferential treatment of women in India as discrimination against them in admissions to schools, colleges, and universities.

Why is it not presented in the floor of Parliament by Governments at Power so far.?    A Public Dailogue on the Womens Reservation Bill in Chennai on 21 Jul 2019

“You can tell the condition of the nation by looking at the status of women.” - Jawaharlal Nehru

“Na Stree Swathantryam Arhati”  - Manusmriti,   Meaning - Woman is undeserving for independence.This phrase reflects our whole attitude  towards women in our country.   Those following Manusmriti has been consistently opposing the WRB.

Ms.Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, honourable Member of Parliament in her keynote address mentioned that this is the only bill pending from passing for the longest period in the parliament.   Sharing of Power is always a question as Power represent authority to take decisions and make changes which will not be beneficial to men.  Seat sharing does have physical challenges even during the UPA government period.  Manifestos of NDA always included the WRB, however, not a single time it was passed in any session of Parliament and it is sad that this is not in agenda of the current session of the Parliament as well.   

There is no response to voices of the people.  Today with 78 women MP’s, it is only 14% in Parliament.   The need for this Women’s Reservation Bill as 108^th amendment to the Constitution will give assured seats/ party tickets for even contesting by the women.    Every law is a problem to someone, and women need to decide on what they want and fight for it.    With the WRB kind of legislations in place, women will be able to voice out for stricter laws against crimes on women like Rape etc. 

"The Bill that every party promises and none pass,"

as DMK MP Kanimozhi eloquently said,

was my power packed Saturday at Loyola college.

VCK MP Ravikumar's words were memorable, Dalits & women have similar standing - lesser among equals by birth, and underserved in political power.

And as Thamizhachi rightly said, political power is a woman's right, not ask.

Dr Ranjana Kumari pointed out that when we say a Bill is tabled there is usually no actual document presented. This one, strangely enough, was presented as a document and torn. And again, and again! Until the ensuing ruckus stalled the bill for 9 years now.

2 MPs from the DMK, Kanimozhi & Sumathy (ThamizhachI), VCK MP Ravikumar and INC MP Dr Jayakumar accepted our demand to raise the #WomensReservationBill in this first session of Parliament.

The ball moves, nay inches towards the goal post ...

Chennai, July 20th 2019.   (Written by Tara Krishnaswamy of Politcal Shakthi)

Merits of Women's Reservation Bill

1.      It will increase the number of women members in Parliament and state assemblies.

2.      Issue related to the women will get much more priority in the Parliament and can be resolved easily.

3.      The abusive and bad atmosphere of the Parliament and state assemblies can become better.

4.      Gender Equality in parliament leading to women empowerment

5.      Provide women with much needed opportunity to come out and participate in political activities

6.      Give women a chance to play an active role in the governance of the country- giving women of India a level playing field in politics and raise their status adn efficiency in the same

7.      Everyone will respect women in our country. Management of Parliament will be better because of the managerial skills of women.

8.      Equal access to participate in social and political activities. Decision making in economic life and politics of the nation.

9.      It will eliminate the gender discrimination in the Parliament.

10.  Rapid improvement in the lifestyle of women.

11.  Full advancement to women in legislation.

12.  Easier to access the democratic functioning for women.

13.  Women in the Parliament will act as a complement to men.

Mindful Consumption Conclave from EWIT @ 10 Jul 2019 Held at Madras Boat Club

Mindful Consumption Conclave curated by EWIT held on 10 Jul 2019 at Madras Boat Club:

Mindful Consumption of Resources

Today, we are in the era, where our Natural Resources are fast depleting and the world is grappling with the climate change and its consequences.  The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. SDG 12 speaks about “Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns”

WHY, HOW and WHEN need to be brainstormed, to create an effective and implementable framework on sustainable consumption, stop waste levels along production and supply chains and create an environmentally sound management of these resources.   

EWIT brought in experts to talk on this this most important SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL in par with the United National SDGs

Mindful Digital Consumption

In addition, we also covered mindful digital consumption. The deep penetration of social digital in our lives, everything under the surveillance of camera phones and videos, excessive usage of digital resources and creating of e-waste that would soon become a curse to the world.  How can we ensure a balanced Digital Consumption approach that will protect our generations from an excessive usage of the digital content? 

Our panel spoke on:

1.      Framework on sustainable consumption of natural resources

2.      Mindful Digital Consumption

 Speakers

1.      Mr. Arun Krishnamurthy, Founder, EFI

2.      Dr. Vidya Durai, Director, BNY Mellon

3.      Mr. Santhosh T, Vels University

4.      Mr. Manikandan T, Director for Digital Apps and Games Services, Amazon

Moderator:

Mr. Vijay Anand, Founder CEO, The Startup Centre

The evening started with Nirmala Gopalakrishnan, President of EWIT welcoming the Gathering and giving a brief introduction on EWIT and its vision and work.    Treasurer and Program curator Umasree Raghunath gave a briefing on the need for this Environment based Conclave on Mindful consumption and introduced the eminent Panel for the evening. 

Moderator Vijay Anand set the stage with starting the discussion on the Conscious Consumption Changes needed in environmental framework

Environmental Crusader Arun Krishnamurthy – Founder of EFI explained on the need to understand the 2 terms - Anthropocene and legion.    Which basically talks about the human impact on nature and the chemical waste generated

The Anthropocene is a proposed epoch dating from the commencement of significant human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems, including, but not limited to, anthropogenic climate change.  (Meaning from internet)

Arun emphasised on the need to understand social research statistics and fact that people are consuming more than what cannot degrade.  Awareness to reduce waste must begin within the local communities. 

Student Representative Santhosh gave an emotional but factual detail from the student perspective.  How the society is today behind the star rating process and aggregate the quality of work.     He said that smart phones are the most poisonous toys we are giving our children today.   It does not end there.  The availability of data and phones for every child not only results in excessive data consumption but also create e-waste that this Earth cannot handle.  He expressed deep anguish on the waste of time and lack of human interaction.  Every smile, tear and fear are now expressed only in emojis than in human expressions.  The digitalization despite having visual teaching aids etc is constraining people from having real time experience.  

He revealed the research details that 14 Million tonnes of e-waste generated in 2018 out of which 50% are personal devices like phones and computers and only 20% of this is properly recycled.     Unfortunately, India is in the 5^th place in e-waster producers in the world.   By 2020, these numbers will be alarmingly increase filling up our land, space and sea.    He explained how the inactive satellites and expired vehicles are left behind in space with no technology to get back from space.   All this will have considerable impact in environment.  1.5% only is equipped today to manage e-waste.  Which is a very alarming statistic.

Manikandan T, Director from Amazon who became the key speaker having to answer consumer-based audience expressive various viewpoints, he managed it extremely well, composed and keep up to the values of being a responsible consumer and a strong corporate leader.    He suggested 3 Key Ways to address this:

1.      Drive awareness on Reducing Waste

2.      Moderation of Policies - like electricity bills based on consumption slabs

He explained how every non-living thing will become living thing with artificial intelligence playing its role soon.   Everything will become intelligent

3.      Drive Innovation to simplify Human life and address burning issues. 

Academician and Director of BNY Mellon Technology, Dr. Vidya Durai emphasised the need for Corporate being houses that drive responsible businesses.    She cited examples of how they adopted 3 villages after 2015 Floods and reconverted the village which used to be called as Vellam Konda agaram even today from inundation and making the water bodies manage excessive water after rains.  Creating community kitchens and water rejuvenation where the corporate worked with SMEs who have expert knowledge on managing the eco system.

She explained the need for collaboration and synergy between all entities, NGOs like EFI, Corporates and Government authorities.    She also highlighted how the 2% CSR funding is making a change in the way the Corporates are responding towards social responsibility.

Moderator moved the discussion on the Plastic Ban.    Vidya went on her strong views on the need for Comprehensive efforts to take this plastic ban to real effect.   Synergy between Government, NGOs and Corporates along with the citizens being responsible is the key to success.  Even then achieving 100% is a distant dream.  If we don’t ban packaging of chips like LAYS in plastic covers and our groceries still coming in plastic packets and milk supplied in plastic covers.      Abundance is a curse than Scarcity.

Arun explained how this policy on Plastic ban was designed by experts after months of research and study, and to please everyone involved and the list of what is included and what is not. and to keep up with the standards of the Global Political Framework on Environment required.  And there is a dire need to stick to the environment norms too and Government set up to be made in the optimal resource areas.   The key is the consumption consumer choices that are made.  Human beings to think beyond the business and abide by the cultural and value systems that guide our consumer behaviours.  

We need to localize cultural changes -   go back to roots of using mango leaves and banana trees torans instead of balloons and plastic flowers.   Use Palm tree products and improve composite bins in the communities.   We are so used to blaming the system and others instead of making the changes from ourselves.   There is no social divide of rich/poor, educated/illiterate, male/female, religion, caste, creed, the responsibility of mindful consumption lies with everyone.   WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES HERE and NO ONE ELSE

Vidya informed on the work done by PIST (Association of IITian) that work towards responsible environment behaviours.     Arun informed on the Himalayan task of work done by EFI currently where they must clear 64 water bodies before 10 Oct.

Arun called out for ‘TREAT YOUR BODY and PLANET THE SAME WAY’.   He explained the need to have the focus on 3 Key Areas

·       WASTE

·       WATER

·       WILDLIFE

He said that bodies like EWIT can organizing ‘Bird Watching’, ‘experimentation with waste’ – like collecting samples of the waste in the bottle and keeping it in the table near the TVs.   He explained how these experiments worked wonders in schools like APL Global in creating environment awareness.   The small things like throwing waste only in the bins in the schools.

As a final note, Mani explained the need for three things….

1.      Make Environmentally Friendly consumer behaviour part of life- Make Habitual Life

2.      Make Punishments stronger to create fear of doing wrong

3.      Inculcate behavioural changes that need to be brought in only by creating awareness

Vidya mentioned on the need to classification of our digital consumption under 5 headings:

Classify on what we do:

1.      Infotoxication

2.      Consumption

3.      Interaction – Limited

4.      Participation Levels

5.      Education

These will result in Actualization of creating self-esteem, cognizant of where we are, what we are and inculcate values in our present and future generations

Human behaviour on Planet can be classified into 1:9: 90 as per Arun.  Which means

1% thinks on its own

9% process the information available

90% are innocent followers

There is need to create a happy mindsets as happy minds explores and evolves.  This will help in creating experiences that are excessive or obsessive consumption behaviours.  

The final tag line with which this conclave ended was

Time to SAVE YOURSELF.  ……Planet Saves It selves. 

The conclave ended with thanking the Panel and Vote of Thanks by Vice President of EWIT- Bhanurekha Condur.    EWIT members were happy to have curated this event that had a combination of technology and the need of the hour to have mindfulness in our consumption behaviours.   The main reason why EWIT took this up is that IT/ITES sector is the largest sector utilizing and excessive usage of the available resources today and this awareness and insights was very important.  

-           Written by Umasree Raghunath. 

Recommendations/Expectations from IT/ITES Industry for Union Budget 2019-2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmMb3i9ldfE&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR29LCsEjMdEzutTSel-Ni_yy-OV-fetjDCZbS9zfJ1kN7r64gCAxiWxc4g

Puthiya Thalamurai on 5 Jul 2019

1. Need to sustain competitiveness of India as Key Business destination

2. Foreign Tax Credit Provisions to be in line with business trends and supportive to Global Indian industries

3.  Boost to increase CEO confidence levels of countries including US, UK and China

4.  India to emerge as Prime Destination for Foreign Investments

5.  India to showcase as Open Economy and Laws aligned to standards required by Global stakeholders

6.  IT Industry with digital transformation is critical to India's economy

7. Focus on Incentivizing investments

8.  Enable ease of doing business and promote growth of IT sector

9.  Harness opportunities offered by Digital Economy

10. Mainstream Technology disruption started in 2018

              Artificial intelligence

              Internet of Things

              Augmented Reality

              Blockchain Technology

              Big Data Analysis

              3D printing became mainstream cutting across industries

11.  Champion Services sector

12. Skilling of employees/ upskilling/ reskilling investments in budget

13. Use of technology to establish economic allegiance in country

14.   Necessity of Significant Economic Presence SEP

15.  Place of effective management provisions (POEM) without creating tax uncertainties

16. Promote market place with its just share of taxes

17. Reduction of rates of TDS for payment to call centres from 10% to 2% for small and medium sized  software product companies

18.  Tax authorities construing Service Permanent Establishment PE of Foreign company in India by mere secondment of employees of foreign company to India...Foreign companies are not willing to send employees to India on deputation

19.  Review income tax provisions related to secondment of employees to India

20. GST operations and legal complexities to be addressed to ensure ease of doing business

21. Specific concerns - determining place of supply, blockage in working capital due to self-supplies, treatment of HO branch office transactions, SEZ procurements require urgent resolution

22. Request Govt to provide support towards industry and consider NASSCOM recommendations

23 Create conducive policy environment

24.  Ensure voices are heard and create climate to leverage new developments in IT industry

25. Creating secured services to operate business of software development, software services, software products, consulting services, BPO services, e-commerce & web services, engineering services and animation and gaming.   Acknowledge the growth of Blockchain technology to handle cyber security issues

Open Letter to Honourable Minister Sri. S. P. Velumani - Municipal Administration and Water Supply Minister of Tamil Nadu

Respected & Honourable Sri Velumani Sir,

As a Citizen of Chennai, I am not only surprised but shocked to see your interview to the Media yesterday.    Your statement that the 'Water Crisis' in Chennai is a rumour is unfortunately biggest humour coming from a Minister of your stature.    We understand and appreciate the measure taken by you and your esteemed Government of Tamil Nadu.   But kindly also look beyond your posh Ministerial Bungalows and Homes, that will never have the scarcity that will scare you as you wake up every morning.

Dear Sir,  I may not be super intellectual citizen, but definitely not a fool who will believe in the fabricated media news or every whatsapp forward.   The brutal truth is that I am a citizen who is for sure effected by the Water Scarcity in the city and I will tell you my own example. 

I live in a colony which is just adjacent to 'Meteorological Department Meenambakkam,  few kilometers from Chennai Airport,  less than a kilometer from the Metro Station and GST Road and 200 meters away from Nanganallur Railway Station.   Ironically, the owners of the colony were mostly retired Municipal Employees and Teachers.   The fact is that we diligently pay for the metro water taxes, respecting the law of the land and even kept quite when the Water Tax bill multiplied 4 times this year.  But for a fact, that it has been more than 2 years that our Colony has got the Metro Water.   Palar vandhu pallla varudangal agivithathu sir!

Today, the ground water is dried up.  Our motors happily send us Air and don't respond.  200 feet bore-wells are too much strained.  The local hotels Trident and Radisson have borewells measuring more than 500 Feet,  don't know how much we will brutally rip our Mother Earth.    House Wells are a thing of the past!  We have them to showcase our next generations that we once had them abundantly.   Rain Water Harvesting is done in every house.  Unfortunately Rain Gods show no mercy in our city!

Last couple of weeks, we have been victims of unscrupulous business but they are our God's now.  Yes, the local freelance Water Tank Water Sellers!   Initially we were paying Rs.700 for 2000 liters last year, this year, it started with 1200 for 2000 liters and went up to Rs 1700 and yesterday, we had to shell out Rs 2300/- for 2000 liters of Water.  The man who distributes contributes it to his side of sober story of going far beyond Vandalur, in the midnight and standing in queue to get his share of water and then paying touts in uniform couple of hundreds before he reaches us!  We can't blame him.  For now, he is our God.  Or else, we have no water for cooking, washing and sadly even for washrooms!

My metro water booking made online on 4 June is yet to come!  Don't even know when it will come and will ease our situation...today is 18 June....

I appreciate you talking about mindful consumption!   But was the Government Mindful after the 2015 floods when we had to let gallons of water to the Sea.  Why were steps not taken to keep our water bodies ready to preserve the same?   Why are lakes and water beds given for construction and who approved this?   

Sir, I work for an IT Company.  Working from home is a privilege some enjoy due to certain obligations like ill health,  post maternity care and odd shifts.   But the IT companies working in the OMR asking employees to work from home is a TRUTH.  It is not a Rumour!  Please check the facts

If the situation is not scary, why are the Metro Railway Stations Bathrooms closed for Public and kept the board saying 'No Water'?  May be you should take the train once sir!  Anyway our other bus stands and local railway stations don't even have toilets..so forget about the water problem!

Coming to the special services your Department is providing in this hour of need.   Sending Water Tankers.  Absolutely divine call of duty and appreciate it.  However,  do you know what time they come?   Have you taken your car and went around 2 am in the morning...That's when people in Triplicane, Royapettah, T. Nagar, Nanganallur, Pammal, Mount,  Porur, Sowcarpet,  Saidapet and Mylapore and all areas queue up around the tankers to get the water.   And it is the same case in most of the places.   Many times they come at 12 noon or 3 pm, where most of us are at work!  They don't have a pattern or timing that they follow and we don't blame them.  Just telling you our part of the story!

Next, are you even aware that they charge you somewhere between Rs.10 to Rs 15 per pot as they come to distribute ...the Road adjacent to our colony, which has mostly daily wage labourers living...and they/we shell out Rs 100- 200 for 10-20 pots of water every 4th or 5th day when they get a chance to get water when the tanker comes...but  if this is Government Distribution System..why is not free or who is taking this money?

My Recommendation dear Minister,  please for a week,  let us swap our houses.  My home is comfortable to live, except that you have to wait for the water tanker... and I will be in your home to feel what you felt when you gave that press statement yesterday. 

Nextly, please put up Water Bunks - Like Petrol Pumps...we will pay what ever nominal charges government asks and buy it in for our consumption.   No taxes, no water tanks, no questions asked.   You supply for our demand ....

I now know that our Social Teacher was wrong when she taught us in school that natural resources like, water, air , mountains are Free.  Probably today, they are the most costliest commodities in the world.   If at all the next World war comes, it will start because of consumable water scarcity!

Thank you dear Minister...I am not sure if you will get to read this..but if you do, kindly do something for us - ordinary Chennai Citizens before this city becomes another Cape Town...atleast Cape Town revived with the best practices and now out of the situation..but with a 1.5 crores of population, it is not easy for Chennai to come out of this...unless you show mercy or Rain Gods do!

Thank you

Umasree Raghunath

Other Links for your reference

https://www.thequint.com/news/environment/chennai-water-crisis
https://www.ndtv.com/topic/water-crisis
https://factly.in/drinking-water-availability-india-how-far-rural-indian-travels-everyday-fetch-drinking-water/
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tamil-nadu-water-crisis-chennai-all-you-need-to-know-1550915-2019-06-18
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48672330
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/chennai-hotels-battle-severe-water-crisis-1560830100325.html

And lot more if you do a bit of factual analysis..I am sure your team can help with that!

Chennai - Pic taken from Internet