Mass movement against graft

People from all walks of life join hunger strike against the malaise of graft

Following the Mahatma:Activists of the Anti-Corruption People's Movement holding a satyagraha against corruption in Kochi on Monday.

KOCHI: Representatives of NGOs fighting against corruption, Gandhian, consumer, RTI, environmental and religious organisations, residents associations' apex bodies, civil servants and people's representatives jointly staged a hunger strike here on Monday, demanding that the government clamp down on corruption with a heavy hand.

The stir was organised by the Anti-Corruption People's Movement at TDM Hall, demanding among other things, the making into law of the Lokpal Bill to fight corruption, as promised by the Centre before August. Prominent among the other demands is the appointment of people with credentials in the soon-to-be appointed Kerala Cabinet and at the helm in universities and PSUs. The movement has also demanded transparency in government functioning and in the handling of funds. It pledged its support to the national agitation against corruption led by Anna Hazare.

Addressing the gathering over the telephone, former Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan pledged his support to the crusade against corruption.

An old problem

Former judge of the Supreme Court V.R. Krishna Iyer, who inaugurated the function, said India has been unable to check corruption and violence over 60 years since Independence. He exhorted people to have concern for their less-fortunate brethren, animals, birds and nature. Former DGP, MGA Ramen expressed shock at increasing tolerance levels among Keralites to corruption. “The youth is so fed up with the vice that they came out to support Anna Hazare's crusade.” Literary critic M.K. Sanu said that corruption must be fought tooth and nail, to cleanse society.

Former Additional Solicitor General T.P.M. Ibrahim Khan said that school and college syllabi must be revised so that the youth fight with more vigour against corruption. “We must introspect how just two lakh British soldiers could rule 20 crore Indians for 200 years. Lakhs of crores of Indian money is slashed away in secret bank accounts abroad, at a time when over half the population is living on less than Rs 20 per head per day,” said another panelist Rahul Easwar. “India's future is in the classrooms and steps must be taken to sensitise the youth on issues like corruption,” said former judge of the Kerala High Court P.K. Shamsudeen, State president of the Kerala Shanti Samithy. Swami Sunil Das spoke of how people must change their mindset that tolerates corruption. “Hands that do good deeds are better than lips that pray. Society needs to revive human values so that people desist from being selfish. Religious rituals are of no value if one does not care for others. Purity of one's mind can wipe out corruption.”Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran was the chief guest at the valedictory function. Former civil servants P.C. Cyriac and Alphonse Kannanthanam too spoke.
Courtesy: thehindu

ANTI CORRUPTION PEOPLE’S Movement

T D M Hall Complex, Durbar Hall Road,Kerala, Kochi – 682016
Convener - P.Ramachandran : Mob: 9447053940
Treasurer - M.R. Rajendran Nair : Mob: 9495952214

“ UPAVASA YAJNAM on 2nd May 2011, at T D M Hall MAKE IT A SUCCESS….

India against corruption, the movement initiated by Anna Hassare who adopts the Gandhian line of action, has attracted the masses of India including professionals, farmers, women and youth . In Kerala, hundreds of voluntary organizations and thousands of individuals have come together to support the movement and to fight out corruption. Each state has to develop its own movement to tackle state specific issues and has to join the national movement to achieve national goals. The challenge of the movement is two fold, Viz, (1) to bring about effective mechanisms to ensure that the corrupt are caught and punished, (2) to establish a systems in which the ordinary citizens are enabled to meet their daily needs without being subjected to corruption.
As a first step to initiate strong movement state specific, a large number of voluntary organizations, have formed a common platform with the Ernakulam Karayogam as a facilitator and has decided to organize a one day ‘ Satyagraha with fasting’ on 2nd May, 2011 from 7 A.M. to 5P M The venue is TDM Hall.
It is our proud privilege to invite you a ‘Satyagrahi’ if possible or as a sympathiser- United we stand, definitely we will be able to build a better world for ourselves and the generations to come. We are sure that you will make it convenient to reach TDM Hall on the day of the satyagraha. Prominent personalities like T N Sheshan, Ex-former Elction Commissioner, Swami Udit Chaithanya, Justice V R Krishna Iyer, Fr Robi Kannanchira etc. will be participate in the “Upavasa Yanjam”.
Ekopana Samiti, Art of Living- Kochi,Azhmathi Veerudha Samithi, Dharmarajaya Delegates from all over the state are expected to participate and it is hoped that we will be able to constitute a State Council to carry the mantle forward such as Ernakulam Karayogam, India Against Corruption, Sree Krishna Seva Charitable Trust, Gandhian Saktanakalude Vedi, Kerala Pulaya Mahasabha, Samatha Law Society, Al-Ameen Educational Trust, National Voters Forum, Muslim Service Society, Fiat Justice, Ernakulam Muslim Association, Federation of Consumer Organization Kerala, Adrek-Apex Body of Residential Associations, Save Kerala Movement, Kerala Santhi Samithi, Kerala Consumer Service Society, Parivarthan India, Gandhi Peace Foundation, Chavara Cultural Centre,, Kerala Parethasthithi Forum, Residence Apex Council-Ernakulam (Race), Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), National Foundation for Consumer Awareness and studies, Ernakulam Jilla Upabhokthra Samrakshna Samithi, Right to Information Federation, Ernakulam Merchants Association, Malayalam Brahmins Samajam, Samastha Samajam, National Patriotical Forum (NPF), Gawdasaraswatha Brahmana Vikas Pareekshith, Samastha Charitable Ernakulam etc.
Our main demands are Central Govt. may ensure that the Lokpal Bill will be enacted before August 15, New Kerala Cabinet shall include only Non-Corrupt Ministers, Govt. shall formulate action plan to eradicate corruption in the state, All Chief Executives of University, Public Sector Undertaking and autonomous bodies shall be corruption free, Public opinion shall be formulated before the Govt. takes policy decision. Administrative procedures shall be transparent, Necessary power may be delegated to Lokayuktha to take sue moto action against corrupted officials, And dispose the cases expediously. Politicicalization of autonomous bodies shall be discouraged, Only eligible and qualified person shall be appointed as Information Commissioner, Training for Public Information Officer need awareness to public shall be intensified, severe action may be taken to against Information Office who fails to give correct information in times, Strict action may be taken against each Dept. Heads who have not disclosed the information as specified under section 4 (1) of the R T I Act.
We have also proposed to have a state level convention on 4the June, 2011 to plan the state level activities aimed at getting the demands in the charter of demands met by the governments. All the activities need your participation and support. We request you to join this earnest effort by the people who were voiceless for the last several decades.

For further details please contact, phone – 9447053940, 9495952214, 9447985796

Regards

Convener
P.Ramchandran (Venu)


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