No dilutions in Land Acquisition Act 2013 and Forest Rights Act

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People’s Movements in Odisha write to the Governor, demanding no dilutions in Land Acquisition Act 2013 and Forest Rights Act

From: napm india <napmindia@gmail.com> Wed, 19 Nov ’14 5:01p

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

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Bhubaneswar/New Delhi, 19^th Nov 2014: Several people’s movements from Odisha gave a memorandum to the Governor Mr. S.C Jamir to register their protest against the attempts by the Central Government to dilute the Right to Fair Compensation, Resettlement and Rehabilitation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act 2013 and Forest Rights Act. In the memorandum, they strongly asserted that the news of proposed amendments in two of the key provisions, ‘;consent’; and ‘;Social Impact Assessment’; of Land Acquisition Act 2013, is completely unacceptable to the people’;s movements, and that these two provisions are central to addressing the issue of ‘;forced land acquisition’; and ‘;resulting impoverishment’ to the communities. People’;s movements representatives also said that it would be a retrograde step if we were to go back to the colonial process of forced land acquisition and no regard to its impact on people, environment and democratic institutions. Any move to dilute pro-people laws for corporate and political gains is undemocratic and unacceptable, and people’;s movements will resolutely fight against that.

To                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Dt.19.11.2014

            

            Shri. S. C Jamir

            Honourable Governor of Odisha

            Bhubaneswar

Respected Sir,

Since, the time NDA government has come to power on various occasions its Ministers Shri Arun Jaitley, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Shri Piyush Goyal and others have advocated for bringing amendments to the “Right to Fair Compensation, Resettlement and Rehabilitation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act 2013”. NDA is considering bringing amendments to the Act in the Winter Session of the Parliament or even an Ordinance to make significant changes to the Act. We know that the new Act has been framed after consulting all the stake holders and over a period of seven years after going through two Parliamentary Standing committees (2007 & 2009), both headed by senior BJP leaders, Shri Kalyan Singh and Smt. Sumitra Mahajan.

The new Act was a response to the Colonial Land Acquisition Act, 1894 which resulted in forcible land acquisition without any resettlement and rehabilitation, drastically affecting not only people who lose their land, but also those who lose their livelihood. These forced land acquisitions led to massive protests in places like Nandigram, Singur, Kalinganagar, Kakrapalli, Bhatta Parsaul, where many people died. For years  Narmada Bachao Andolan, Niyamgiri Suraksha Parishad, Anti SEZ protests in Raigarh, Jhajhar had been demanding a repeal of the colonial act and enactment of a new development planning act marking people’;s participation and provisions for livelihood based  R&R. Finally, we have an Act, passed by last Parliament and rules for which have been notified by NDA government in August 2014.

The new Act has not even been fully implemented in earnest by either State or Central government, but a climate is being prepared by them that new Act is an impediment to the developmental needs of the country.

The news that two of the key provisions, ‘;consent’; and ‘;Social Impact Assessment’; of the Right to Fair Compensation, Transparency in Land Acquisition, resettlement and Rehabilitation Act, 2013 is to be amended by the NDA government is completely unacceptable to the people’;s movements. These two provisions are central to addressing the issue of ‘;forced land acquisition’; and ‘;resulting impoverishment” to the communities.

We are writing to you  to convey the Govt. Of India with utmost urgency on this issue. You must be aware of the intense struggles going on in various states across the country including Odisha around the issues related to land acquisition, displacement, development plans and projects. The farmers, fish workers, labourers, artisans, facing uprootment from not just their socio-cultural environs but also livelihoods, are compelled to get united and raise their voices against unjust displacement.

Non-violent, peaceful and democratic organizations and their alliances are questioning forcible acquisition of land and everything attached to land, including minerals, ground water, as well as habitats, tree cover and common property resources that result in pauperization, more often, without rehabilitation.

It is in this context that the Right to Fair Compensation, Resettlement and Rehabilitation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act 2013 need to be implemented.

It will be a retrograde step if we were to go to back to the colonial process of forced land acquisition and no regard for impact of land acquisition on the people, environment and democratic institutions which need to be consulted and their consent taken in the process of SIA. If we are to truly respect the rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution then Parliament must work towards the following :

1. Let the provision of Consent for the public purpose projects also be made mandatory for the government projects too.
2. We need to limit the definition of the ‘;Public Purpose’;. Infrastructure doesn’;t equal development. We have seen how Reliance Industries has been creating infrastructure for nation, they work for profit alone and in the process loot the citizens and arm-twist the government, prime example being Delhi and Mumbai Metro and KG Basin Gas projects  ?
3. We must have mandatory Social Impact Assessment provisions for the irrigation projects as well, given the huge displacement, in case of Sardar Sarovar dam the sword of displacement is hanging on 2.5 lakh people even after three decades.
4. Urgently establish a National resettlement and Rehabilitation Commission to deal with the grievances of 10 crores of people who have sacrificed their land and livelihood in the process of development.

We would also like to bring to your notice that the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the 13^th and 14^th Lok Sabha, had given its unanimous report that is self-explanatory. Some of the prominent recommendations included :

1. No forcible land acquisition for private corporations.

1. Free prior informed consent of project affected people, not land losers alone, for every kind of project, including government one, contrary to what is there in the current Act, 80%  and 70% consent of land losers for private projects and PPP projects respectively. (Even this is not acceptable to NDA government, what a shame!)

1. No acquisition of agricultural land for any project to be covered under the new Act.

1. Role of Gram Sabhas, Basti Sabhas in Social Impact Assessment, R&R and in other processes emphasized.

The Proposed amendments to the new Act are against the transparency, accountability and democratic participatory planning of development projects with people whose resources are to become the capital, indispensable. Any such effort by the ruling party must be defeated.

We would also like to point out that, 13 Central Acts which are used for the land acquisition, need to brought under the coverage of the new Act by January 2015 and NDA government should work towards that.

In order to ensure that all this happens, the only way forward, is that government implement the 2013 Act and no amendments are made to the ACT. As esteemed Members of Parliament we want you to intervene and bring your party to understand that the current move to amend the Act is anti farmer and anti people.

Therefore, we on behalf of National Alliance of People’s Movements of Odisha unit like to urge you to take up our appeal on above matters to the Central Government and initiate appropriate action so that the State Government implement sincerly Forest Right Act & Land Acquisition Act 2013.

With warm regards,

Yours Sincerely

Prafulla Samantara (Lok Shakti Abhiyan and National convenor , NAPM)

Rabi Das, Adviser (Odisha Jansamilani)

Lingraj ( Odisha Krushak Sangathan)

Lingraj Azad (Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti)

Laxmipriya Mohanty ( State Convenor, NAPM)

Kalyan Anand ( Lok Shakti Abhiyan and State convenor, NAPM)

Arun Jena ( Bita Mati Suraksha Samiti and State convenor, NAPM)

Balkrishn Sendha ( Sahara Power Plant Virodhi Manch)

Trilochal Punji ( Jindabad Sangthan)

Satya Bandhor ( Lower Sukhtel Budi anchal Sangram Samiti )

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Categories : CSR, culture

Shankar Das takes flight with a seven-under-65, leads by three

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Digboi, Assam, November 19, 2014: Shankar Das of Kolkata fired a blistering seven-under-65 in round one of the IndianOil Servo Masters Golf 2014 to open up a three-shot lead at the top at the Digboi Golf Links. Abhinav Lohan of the DLF Golf & Country Club, Gurgaon, was in second place at four-under-68.

The tournament was inaugurated on Wednesday morning by Mr. S S Bapat, Executive Director, (CC and Branding), IOCL and Mr. Barun Barpujari, Executive Director (IC), Assam Oil Divison, IOCL. Mr. S S Bapat’s ceremonial tee-off was followed by the release of pigeons and balloons. Mr. Bapat and Mr. Barpujari also planted trees on the course to mark the inauguration of the event.

Shankar Das, a two-time winner at Digboi in 2010 and 2011, was quick off the blocks as he struck a purple patch with five straight birdies from the 11^th through the 15^th. The 30-year-old, currently second on the Rolex Rankings, set up eagle opportunities on the 12^th and 14^th thanks to two brilliant drives, one of which found the green. Shankar however, narrowly missed eagles on both occasions and had to settle for birdies.

A couple of accurate wedge shots helped Das gain two more strokes on the 11^th and 15^th. His longest putt of the day was the 15-footer for birdie on the 13^th. A bogey on the second was a minor setback as Shankar roared back with birdies on the fifth, seventh and ninth.

“I always do well at this venue. So I had the confidence coming into this tournament. I struck the ball really well and also played some good chip shots. The birdie-spree early on helped me raise my game further. I set up three eagle opportunities but couldn’t take any of them. The most disappointing was missing the two-feet eagle putt on the seventh,” said Shankar.

He added, “I’m eager to do well here this week since it can help me become number one in the Rolex Rankings. I also want to make up for last year when I didn’t fare too well at Digboi due to a back injury.”

Abhinav Lohan holed three long-range birdie putts and came up with two well-executed chip-putts for birdies. He had a lone bogey and thus closed the day in second place with a 68.

Lohan, looking for his maiden title, said, “I had a couple of low scores last week at Shillong, but ended the tournament with an ordinary 74. I feel I’ve got back my rhythm with today’s round. A sharp short-game will hold the key at this course and I feel I did well in that area today.”

The six players who took a share of third place at three-under-69 were Delhi’s Shamim Khan, Kolkata’s Nur Hossain Sardar, Vishal Singh of Jaipur, Lucknow golfer Sanjay Kumar who won at Shillong last week, Bangalore’s C Muniyappa and Karan Taunk of Jamshedpur, the current leader in the Emerging Player of the Year race.

Nur Hossain Sardar, playing only his second event of the season, came close to making a hole-in-one on the 16^th where his tee shot stopped one foot from the flag.

Karan Taunk made five birdies on the trot from the 11^th through the 15^th during his opening round.

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Ringing in the New Year: Monte Carlo Style!

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All India, 19th November 2014: If you want to spend your New Year’s Eve in a country that is a perfect concoction of monarchical rule as well as openness to the modernistic approach of Europe – then Monaco is the place that can satiate your desire. Monaco is one of the most festive countries of Europe. During the New Year’s Eve, the country offers an array of parties, gala nights and also celebrates the New Year’s Eve with outdoor parades.

Monaco welcomes the New Year by ushering themselves in the potential of the coming year and bidding farewell to the previous years. What makes Monaco a hot spot for enjoying the winter festivals is the temperate weather that is very much suitable during the Christmas and New Year. Whether you want to indulge yourself in mass party with friends or you want a luxurious party with your spouse or family, Monaco has an array of options.

Many nightclubs featured with DJs and dance troops and live music performances, entertain the party animals until they lose their last bit of enthusiasm and energy. The best and the most popular DJs spin the disc throughout the night to offer the hottest numbers in the chart-busters. There are plenty of options for the travellers and the citizens of Monaco to indulge themselves in the best of parties in this country.

The New Year’s Eve in Monaco is a night of glitz and glamour.

You can also visit the casino square and participate in the countdown along with the mass. It is an experience itself. See the champagne corks fly high as soon as the clock strikes twelve. Monaco is one party country when it comes to celebrating and bringing in the New Year in style! New Year celebration is a grand affair and the New Year party is a very popular way to welcome the New Year. New Year parties based on various themes are organized in every nook and corner of the country. Lot of private yacht parties are also organized to start the New Year in uber style.

Monaco is not a place for the New Year’s Eve celebration only, but also a wonderful place for spending the holidays with your loved ones. Hotels also offer special Christmas and New Year packages for the travellers. So pack your bags and celebrate this festive season is style.

About Monaco:
Monaco is one of the world’s most desirable destinations with over 300 days of sunshine a year and mild temperatures, it celebrates with enthusiasm the arts, culture, sumptuous cuisine, spas, beautiful surroundings, spectacular landscapes and high-adrenaline activities like the Formula One Grand Prix, casino gaming, land and water sports and exciting nightlife.

Tourists will be more than happy enjoying luxurious accommodation, family restaurants and exceptional landscape in Monte Carlo. This charming destination adds that magnificence experience to your holiday which everyone dreams for. The place is gorgeously clean, the hotels are a marvel, the people are beautiful and the food is delicious. There are wonderful restaurants, shops, attractions, coast, nightlife, sports facilities and culture all within walking distance. You can have a fulfilling romantic experience with the world class spas, set in gorgeous surroundings and offering a variety of therapies and treatments from around the world.

For further details please contact:
Monaco Government Tourist Bureau – India
C/o TRAC Representations India Pvt. Ltd
Akanksha Sharma | 011 22312294, 9873812364 | Email: pr@tracrep.com

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Categories : Tourism

6TH WORLD BODY BUILDING & PHYSIQUE SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP, 2014

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The Indian Body Builders Federation (IBBF) and the World Body Building & Physique Sports Federation cordially invites you to 

PRESS CONFERENCE 

     

TO ANNOUNCE THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES AT THE 6^TH WORLD BODY BUILDING & PHYSIQUE SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP, 2014

Present at the occasion will be – Mr. Chetan Pathare – General Secretary IBBF; Mr. Arvind Madhok – Vice President IBBF; Mr. Surinder Sharma – President, The Association of Body Builders, Delhi, Vice President IBBF and Mr. Gyan Singh – Secretary, The Association of Body Builders Delhi

Participants from Delhi will also be joining us at the conference. Mamta Devi Yumnam, India’;s First Female body builder who has won bronze at Asian Body Building Championship will be present at the conference.

                 Date: Thursday, November 20, 2014

Time: 12:00 Noon onwards

Venue: Russian Cultural Centre

24, Firozshah Road,

New Delhi – 110001

RSVP to- Deepika Kohli: +91 9811788350; deepika@moes-art.com

              Veenit Tiwari: +91 9990650264, veenit@moes-art.com

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Categories : Media

Raise your voice with UNICEF and Imagine a better world for children

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UNICEF invites aspiring pop stars to join Hugh Jackman, Katy Perry, Ang鬩que Kidjo, Priyanka Chopra, Yoko Ono and David Guetta to sing John Lennon’s Imagine and help raise awareness of children’s rights

NEW YORK, 20 November 2014 – During a musical event at the United Nations General Assembly today, UNICEF will unveil the #IMAGINE project as part of celebrations for the 25^th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The #IMAGINE project brings together artist Yoko Ono, renowned music producer and DJ David Guetta, UNICEF Ambassadors – including Katy Perry, Ang鬩que Kidjo, Daniela Mercury, Priyanka Chopra, Yuna Kim – and a host of other high profile supporters with the aim of creating a unique moment in music history that will highlight the tremendous challenges children face the world over.

A new interactive digital experience, powered by TouchCast, will allow everyday people to record their own version of Imagine, John Lennon’s iconic anthem of hope and peace, alongside their favourite stars, in what UNICEF hopes will be the largest ever global sing-along.

These individual recordings, and those of UNICEF’s Ambassadors and other artists, will be made into a multi-lingual ‘world’ version of Imagine, produced by David Guetta. Everyone who records the song has the chance to have their vocals and videos used in the new UNICEF version of Imagine and in the accompanying interactive music video, created by TouchCast and TheBridge.co – both of which will be released in the lead up to New Year’s Eve 2014.

“The Convention on the Rights of the Child asked us all to imagine a better world for children – and calls on all of us to make that vision a reality,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “The #IMAGINE project gives people across the globe a chance to join a global movement for children, lending their ideas, their visions and, not least, their voices to advance the rights of every child, everywhere.”  

#IMAGINE participants can share their own recording of Lennon’s classic song with friends and family on social media and encourage others to perform Imagine too. They can also record personal messages describing what they imagine a better world for children would be like.

“A dream you dream alone may be a dream, but a dream two people dream together is a reality,” said Yoko Ono.

Participants will also have the opportunity to donate to UNICEF. Funds raised through the #IMAGINE project will support the organisation’s programmes providing education, nutrition, healthcare and immunisations, clean water and sanitation, protection and emergency relief for children in more than 150 countries and territories.

“I’m really excited to be working with UNICEF on this incredible new project. Our ‘world’ version of Imagine will be like no other – I am proud to be a part of this collaboration,” said Guetta. “We have to get the word out that every voice counts and every child counts too.”

The event at the United Nations General Assembly will include live performances by Grammy Award winner Ang鬩que Kidjo, Brazilian singer-songwriter Daniela Mercury, Swedish-Iranian pop sensation Laleh, cellist Trey Lee from Hong Kong, Nigerian musician Don Jazzy and Kristian Kostov, the winner of the Russian The Voice.

Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor Hugh Jackman, Yoko Ono and Bj沮 Ulvaeus from ABBA will also make special appearances during the event.

The #IMAGINE digital experience will be available via the TouchCast app for iOS on the App Store on 20 November or at http://imagine.unicef.org

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Demonstration outside Chattisgarh Bhawan, Chanakaya Puri on November 20 at 3.30pm.

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PRESS INVITE

Dear Sir/ Madam,

Many groups are jointly organising a demonstration outside Chattisgarh Bhawan, Chanakaya Puri on November 20 at 3.30pm.

The Chhattisgarh Govt continues to deny any responsibility for the deaths of 15 women in a sterilization camp. The Central and State Govt’s both seem unmoved by this crime, and are protecting the perpetrators and refusing to review the policy regime that makes India’;s women vulnerable to such deaths.

Against the cynical and callous apathy of the State and Central Govt’s, a number of groups are staging a protest demonstration at Chhattisgarh Bhawan.

Kindly send a reporter and a photographer to cover the demonstration.

Yours sincerely,

Mohd Aamir

8586942950

On behalf of -

AIDWA, AIPWA, AISA, ANHAD, JNUSU, JSSF, JTSA, MOEMIN, NFIW, NOMORE, WPC, YWCA