-Governance Now ‘They can’t convict Kalmadi, Vadra, Lalit Modi, Mallya; but will convict transparency advocates’ I am reminded of what my teacher had told me in school: “When a society wishes to blatantly show how unjust it can be, it will crucify the best.” On June 13 when I heard about the conviction of four of the nation’s transparency champions who have given their entire lives to promoting transparency and empowering the...
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RTI at a Cost: Activist Nikhil Dey, Four Others Convicted of 'Assault' in 1998 Case -Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar
-TheWire.in The activists have accused the village sarpanch, who had filed the case, of framing them after they sought to expose his corruption. New Delhi: Well-known rights activist Nikhil Dey and four others were convicted of trespass and simple hurt under sections 323 and 451 of the IPC by a Kishangarh court in Ajmer on Tuesday, June 13. The case, filed 19 years ago on May 16, 1998, pertains to a dispute...
More »Excluded by Aadhaar -Nikhil Dey & Aruna Roy
-The Indian Express Thousands of crores are supposed to have been saved in this massive anti-corruption drive, but not a single criminal case has been filed. It is delusional to celebrate the Aadhaar tidal wave, and criminal to turn a blind eye to hard facts about exclusion. Sita of Karkala village, Lassadiya Panchayat, was one of many who spoke at the annual MKSS Mazdoor Mela in Bhim on May 1. “I...
More »Non-payment of due MGNREGA wages recurred in 2016-17
The focus on MGNREGA got renewed when the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley during the presentation of Union Budget 2017-18 increased allocation under the programme to Rs. 48,000 crore (B.E.), up from Rs. 47,499 crore (R.E.) in 2016-17. However, it has been noticed by the Inclusive Media for Change team that nearly Rs. 9,748.7 crore of due payment during the last financial year is still pending, as on 2 April,...
More »Poor swiped out in choice-less, not cash-less, society -Aruna Roy and Nikhil Dey
-The Indian Express For the poor, with little cash in the first place, digital promises to ‘swipe’ them out, before their marginalisation is even addressed. Demonetisation is, by its very nature, an autocratic, coercive step. The demonetisation of November 2016 has affected every single Indian. We are, as usual, persuaded to bear the pain and suffering, to “sacrifice” for the nation. The rhetoric continues but it now seems clear that the objective...
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