The equation is interesting. During the entire process of election in UP, the star campaigner was Rahul Gandhi.It was said if Congress wins in UP, it will be a feather in the cap of Rahul Gandhi and he will come nearer to the post of PM.

Now when all the exit polls conducted have given only the fourth position to Congress the equation has changed. Now Rahul Gandhi is not responsible for defeat, but the responsible persons are the state leaders.

People are enjoying the joke.

I was going in bus from the  Airport to my daughter’s house in Bengaluru today ( 3rd March ) afternoon. On the way I saw a vanishing hill. It is a hill full of strong and heavy rocks. Half of the hill is already gone by continued breaking of the rocks / stones for the construction of buildings or metals for road repairs. If the present process continues for some more time, the entire hill will disappear.

At the same time, concrete buildings with 20 – 25 stories are coming up on both sides of the road, mostly apartments for the increasing population in the city. The man is destroyer of the natural hills and creates artificial hills. Where it will reach?

The Fourth Brazil Russia India China South Africa (BRICS)  Summit meeting will be held in New Delhi by the end of March. BRICS is the economic co-operation organisation of the above countries. This is an emerging economic body with a good future. This will benefit India much lust like the other countries.

In preparation for the Summit meeting, the BRICS Academic Forum is meeting in New Delhi from Monday. Over 50 scholars from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will take part in the March 4 to 6 event being hosted by Observer Research Foundation. From India. The theme for this year’s meeting is ‘BRICS Partnership for Stability, Security and Growth’. The three-day meeting will discuss various issues, including BRICS Vision 2020, Institutionalising Coordination Frameworks for CrisResponse, Climate Change, Food Security and Water, Urbanization, Universal Access to Healthcare, Skilling and Direct Investments in Education Sector, Skilling and Direct Investments in Education Sector, BRICS Development Bank and Impact Investment Fund and Technology Sharing, Innovation and Cooperation across Industries.

A number of high level dignitaries from all the five countries will be participating in the BRICS Summit.

The  Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance examining the  Direct Taxes Code (DTC) Bill has suggested to raise the income tax exemption limit to Rs 3 lakh and also hiking deduction on savings to Rs 2.5 lakh.

It is reported that the committee will  submit the report  within a week.This may be included in the Budget also to be presented in the session of the Parliament starting on 12th March.

There has been strong protests from Indian Sports and other sections for dropping the Dow Chemicals from the sponsorship of the London Olympics for the massive Bhopal tragedy and the responsibility of Dow Chemicals in the same. But the government was keeping a studied silence. At last, the government has also demanded that it should be removed from the sponsorship. The government has asked the International Olympics Committee to cancel the sponsorship for the sake of the ideals of human rights as thousands have lost their lives in the Bhopal tragedy and several more continue to suffer the side-effects.

We completely support the present stand of the government and demand it that the issue should be taken very strongly and effectively so that the killer Dow Chemicals is shunted out.

The truth has  come out of the Central Information Commissioner himself. Shri Satyananda Mishra, CIC, has stated that the government departments are least interested in supplying information as required under Right to Information (RTI) Act. He is reported to have stated : ” When we see websites of the government, we find half-hearted attempt to disclose information…Our national goal should be that no citizen is required to use the RTI Act. But our suggestions have not been followed.”

The experience of many are that the information as required are not given or are delayed indefinitely. In many cases it is given only after the intervention of the CIC. There should be clear directives and action for strict implementation of the RTI act.

I was at Pune today, 24th February, in connection with a Convention of the BSNL Employees to prepare for the 28th February strike. Before the meeting which was scheduled at 1500 hours, Comrades Nagesh Nallawade, Circle President and Purushotham Gedam, Circle Secretary took me to The Pune Posts & Telecom Co-operative Credit Society Limited, which is in Pune city itself. It is accommodated in a three storeyed plus ground-floor building newly purchased for an amount of Rs. 1.71 crore. It is a spacious building and there is a big Conference Hall, rooms for office purpose, sitting room etc. About 15 officials are employed by the society for the day-to-day work. It is kept neat and clean also. I was really impressed by the arrangement and functioning of the Society. I was told that loan to Rs. 5 lakh are given to the members. The Society has a proposal to start a Bank also. As social responsiblity, the society is giving  a good number of blankets to the old people, and I saw the same there purchased for supply. I suggested certain other social responsibilities which the society can undertake. Com. Nallawade is the President of the Society. I congratulated them for making the society to the present position.

It is not an isolated case. P&T employees have such big societies in many places like Thiruvananthapuram, Hubli etc. If the societies are run in an efficient manner, the workers will get much benefit. These societies can run stores also which will be helpful to our employees.