From sebydesiolim at hotmail.com Wed May 12 12:06:28 2010 From: sebydesiolim at hotmail.com (sebastian Rodrigues) Date: Wed, 12 May 2010 12:06:28 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Kalinga Nagar: Police lathi charges and opens fire at women of Chandia Message-ID: It is important to act on this mail immediately. Ultimately is to further the cause of capital accumulation coupled with urbanization of the world that the great Indian hunt of tribal people is on... Seby This is mayhem and the state must be pressurized to stop such brutalities on women/people. May I urge people in this list to please call up the CM office and force them to act immediately. Also call the DM and SP for whatever they are worth. They are the crusaders along with the CM and HM for all this brutal and utterly undemocratic nature of the state's behavior on its people.   This must stop...and the state must be asked in no uncertain terms about the criminal action by itself on its own people - why is it showing such desperation for a corporate raj? where is the democratic space left for raising a voice a dissent. people in Kalinganagar do no want to part ways with their land, livelihood and their space - period. How can the state inflict such continuous brutal action on them???   In shock,   Mamata mamata68 at gmail.com Kalinga Nagar: Chandia people's anger is reaching the tipping point as all houses on Anabadi land are threatened to be demolished 'Goondaism' is the real ideology of the Govt in Kalinga Nagar. At 7.30 AM Chandia village was quiet but prepared for yet another long day of repression & humiliation. By 9 AM police forces arrived to carry on with the demolition because the real agenda of this mission is yet to be accomplished, i.e. to provoke the people. And it seems the masterminds of repression are losing their patience because in what seems to be a planned strategy to push the people towards a final showdown, the police is trying all sorts of tricks to start a fight. Firstly they bullied the people into not assembling where they have been doing so since day before yesterday because the police forces have decided to assemble at that particular place. Then people from neighboring villages like Gobarghati and Baligotha were on their way to stand by Chandia people but the police stopped them midway. And then the final part of the strategy was played out as houses of people who have not been displaced were targeted for demolition, and ultimately it was declared that all houses not having record of rights ((which tribal people rarely have) would be demolished. The simmering anger of the people has reached a boiling point today. They have been pushed to the point of desperation and the blame for any untoward eventuality will not rest entirely on the proponents of State goondaism but also on the cowardly silence of the opposition parties and the media.   Chief Minister Orissa: Fax - 0674-2590833, Tel: 0674-2401100(office), 0674-2590299 (residence) Collector, Jajpur:   06728-222001 (O) 06728-222330 (R) 06728-222087 (F) SP, Jajpur - 06726-240112 (O) 06726-240104 (F) 06726-240100 (R On Tue, May 11, 2010 at 2:01 PM, surya wrote: In the name of demolishing houses of displaced persons, the resisting villagers of Chandia are being now terrorised almost regularly by large contingents of police forces. Villagers believe that the houses are being demolished slowly so that the police can keep coming back to the village to provoke them and find a reason to attack them. Since yesterday some eight odd houses are being demolished at a snail's pace while Police forces keep an eye for the slightest pretext to lash out at the resisting villagers. In yesterday's lathi charge Garkha Barla sustained serious injuries in his limbs and lower back. He has returned to Chandia today.    Meanwhile heavy police deployment is being planned around the villages opposing the POSCO steel plant. Sources say that a high-level meeting was held yesterday at Paradip where it was decided that at least 8 platoons would be mobilised today to disrupt the protest sit-in at Balitutha where 300-350 villagers have been protesting every day since 26 January. It is being feared that within the next 2 days the Govt is planning on a major Police offensive in the area with police already being strategically deployed around the resistance villages.    Sources say that one of the masterminds behind the Police action in Kalinga Nagar as well as Jagatsinghpur is the tainted I.A.S. officer Priyabrata Patnaik, MD of IDCO and the former Nodal Officer for the POSCO project who had been relieved from all charges for almost 2 years for alleged involvement in a high profile murder case. He is the same person who had made the infamous statement to media, 3 years when goons had hurled bombs at peaceful women protestors at Bailtutha, that "the people have been taught a lesson and will not dare to raise their voice again. It seems he has been brought back to teach the people some more lessons in repression.    And while people of Kalinga Nagar and Jagatsingpur are taught many lessons there seems to be not even a whimper of protest from the opposition parties. Their silence is rather a sign of support for the corporate friendly CM of Orissa, Naveen Patnaik and that they are complicit in this corporate assault on people's land, forest and water.    On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 10:23 AM, surya wrote: Kalinga Nagar: Police Lathi charges in Chandia village today   On the 6th of May, the large contingent of police had stayed out of Chandia village when villagers strongly opposed them from entering the village (see below) and only a small group was allowed to enter the village and demolish the displaced people's houses. There was no untoward incident reported that day but four days later a large contingent of armed security forces arrived again today morning to demolish more houses of the displaced. Villagers opposed this as they had struck a deal on the 6th that all demolition jobs were to be done with by the end of that day. Then the police resorted to lathi charge at a crowd made of men, women and children. Many people have sustained injuries and one Garkha Barla, aged between 30-35, has been seriously injured and taken to a hospital by the police. The demolition has begun and the village is besieged by fear of more violence by the Police.    Will update when more information is available.     On Thu, May 6, 2010 at 10:05 AM, surya wrote:     URGENT: SAVE CHANDIA!   Today morning a large contingent of armed forces have reached Chandia village where people have threatened to commit mass suicide if they are forced out. Despite yesterday's meeting where thousands of people gathered to protest against forceful land acquisition the Govt has responded to the people by sending armed forces again. Yesterday the leaders of the Bisthapan Birodhi Jan Manch had clearly stated that they were not protesting against any particular company or industry but against the loss of their land and livelihood. Please appeal to the Chief Minister of Orissa to stop this cruel treatment of the people and pushing them towards mass suicide.   Chief Minister Orissa: Fax - 0674-2590833 Tel: 0674-2401100(office), 0674-2590299 (residence)     Monthly Tata Sponsored Devastation of Baligotha village by Govt?  29 April 2010   Today, exactly a month after the savage attack on 30 March by armed forces and Tata goons, a large contingent of armed forces arrived again at Baligotha village alongwith some JCB machines. Then they unleashed another  round of devastation upon the village that is yet to recover from the last attack and has also lost two villagers to diseases as they have been cordoned off by Tata goons and the Police. Today, the houses of Purna Banara, Nitendra Palia, Jema Hessa and Tuna Palia was razed to the ground. Also Baligotha's community house and Litu Banara's cattle-shed were demolished. Nitendra Palia has a widowed sister and child who have been unwell for several days and the villagers fear the two will die within a day or so. Now they cannot even die in peace with their home completely demolished. The rest too are now without a roof on their head.    This is part of the demolition drive that the administration started around the 18th of this month after pro-Tata groups staged protests (around 3-4 April '10) in front of Jajpur ADM's office demanding that the belongings of the displaced people be brought from their villages. The District Magistrate had then ordered for heavy police deployment for protection of the displaced people to go back to their villages and collect their belongings and demolish their houses. In a newspaper notice the DM warned that protestors would not be spared. But this was used as a pretext to demolish homes of people refusing displacement.    From Gadapur to Gobarghati the police was used to terrorise villagers and break houses of key members of the Bisthapan BIrodhi Jan Manch like Noti Angarai of Gobarghati and people refusing displacement. In Kalamatia village at least 2 houses of people yet to be displaced was demolished, in Champakoila it was at least 3 houses, in Bandargadia it was 1, in Gobarghati it was 2, so on and so forth. Community houses of Baiduburi & Champakoila alongwith Baligotha have been demolished. Altogether at least 20 houses have been forcefully demolished despite the fact that the Collector had assured that the whole exercise was just for the displaced to collect their belongings. The demolition of people not displaced, community houses, cattle-shed and even tombs is blatant evidence of the Govt's real intentions.   A month long wave of repression that still continues is a sign of the times we live in and the shape of civil society. Leaders of opposition parties are nowhere in the picture after being beaten & chased away by Tata goons & BJD cadre. All along the media remains silent and its unclear if they are mourning or if they have been gagged or they prefer to stay quiet. Like all other pillars of democracy even media in Kalinga Nagar seems to have crumbled. Of course there are a few individuals everywhere doing whatever they can but will that save the tribals of Kalinga Nagar?   Sources say the next target of the Govt is Chandia village and the attack is likely to be executed tomorrow. It is also likely that Nitendra Palia's widowed sister and child lose their lives by tomorrow with no medical care available.   Tata Steel Plant Foundation being laid with Mysterious Murders & Forceful Demolitions in Kalinga Nagar 23 April 2010 Late night yesterday villagers of Gadapur in Kalinga Nagar heard the sound of a tractor approaching. They were alarmed it might be the police again as in the last one week some 20-odd houses in the village have been demolished by the District Administration & Industrial Development Corporation of Orissa under heavy police deployment. The reason is that these houses belong to people who agreed to be displaced for the Tata factory and as per the Resettlement & Rehabilitation Policy they will not be given new houses until their old houses are demolished. But the tractor yesterday had come for some other reason and never reached the village. Whatever the reason was the people manning the tractor were secretive about it and didn't even switch on the headlamp.   In the morning migrant workers from the nearby slums were collecting firewood when they discovered a dead body near Gadapur. This is where the villagers had noticed the tractor the night before. The deceased is Rasananda Patra, about 40-years old and a Dalit trolley puller from the Dalit hamlet Bandragadia located about 200-300 meters from Gadapur. Bandragadia hamlet no longer exists since a few days ago as it has been completely demolished. All 20 families living there had decided to be displaced except for one Sarat Patra who had not agreed to displacement but his house was nevertheless demolished. Sarat now lives in a makeshift leaf hut he has built where his house once stood. Many people who are refusing displacement have faced the same fate as Sarat. Yesterday, out of the 7 houses demolished in Champakoila village 3 were forcefully demolished while 2 days ago in Kalamatia village 2 houses were forcefully demolished. The people are aware that this is a provocation from the administration and therefore have not fallen prey yet. In the demolition drive today at Gobarghati, Nati Angarai's house was forcefully demolished because he happens to be a leader of the Bisthapan Birodhi Jan Manch (BBJM). BBJM is a local non-violent & democratic tribal outfit opposing displacement for the last 5 years despite 14 people being killed in a police shooting on 2nd Jan 2006. The mystery of the cause of Rasananda's death might be solved after the post-mortem but its hard to understand how his dead body reached Bandragadia when he should have been in Tata's transit camp. Maybe the mystery is not difficult to crack if one were to consider another murder case in the recent past. That of Sridhar Soy, a contractor engaged in petty works for Tata at Bhitar Manika. He was found dead in a forest with his motorbike and a case was registered against the leaders of the BBJM. Many people randomly arrested from markets, roads, hospitals and during the midnight raids on the villages in the last few months have been implicated in this case. But they mystery has hardly been solved. Sridhar Soy belongs to Masakia village located some 7 km away from the controversial site of the Tata plant where the Bisthapan Birodhi Jan Manch villages are located. There was no previous altercation between BBJM & Sridhor Soy, not even any communication. Sridhar Soy was a Tata contractor operating in a different area. How could villagers of the BBJM whose movement is terribly restricted by the police, BJD cadre and TATA goons manage to kill him and dispose his body in jungle far away from their villages? Then why would BBJM activists resort to murder of a contractor when they are involved in a movement of a different nature raising issues related to land, livelihood and displacement? Would it not weaken their movement that has received widespread support after the 2nd Jan massacre? At the same time while several people have been arrested in the Sridhar Soy murder case not a single arrest has been made in the Amin Banara murder case or the Jogendra Jamuda attempt to murder case though Jogendra Jamuda himself has been arrested. Jogendra was shot at while driving his motorbike with his mother in front of the Kalinga Ngr police station by unknown assailants. Amin Banara was killed in a shooting on 1st May '08 by Arbind Singh, a Tata contractor and his associates. Arbind Singh was actually gunning for Dabur Kalundia, a leader of the BBJM who has been targeted in another attack in his village some months ago. Arbind Singh was arrested that very day while he was trying to flee the area but released three months later and sources say he is now cooling his heels in the air-conditioned environs of Fortune Towers in Bhubaneswar. So the mystery of Rasananda's death last night might not be a mystery at all judging the recent history of murder cases in Kalinga Nagar. Villagers of Gadapur say that Rasananda was personally opposed to displacement and had been coerced by others to leave Bandragadia. Why he was killed and dumped in the land he never wanted to leave can evoke many wild guesses but foul play seems for sure and that foul play has an uncanny resemblance to the Sridhar Soy murder case. Amidst all this those responsible to investigate and solve the mysteries are openly biased against the BBJM. Sources say the SP of Jajpur has threatened the journalists of three mainstream media houses to not go to the BBJM villages. The media camps are also openly divided into pro-people and pro-Tata camps. Rumours abound in the area that the SP has a stake in the industrialisation process and that he has a relative who is complicit with the mining mafia in Keonjhar. Though these are charges that might be impossible to prove the SP himself has proved that he is capable of executing operations like 30 March '10 where armed security forces and Tata goons unleashed a brutal medieval-style invasion upon Baligotha village on the pretext of dealing with opposition by the villagers for the construction of the Common Corridor road project. They destroyed foodstocks, killed cattle, stole lifestock, destroyed valuables, looted money, set property afire and injure at least 40 people by firing rubber bullets and plastic pellets. After that the villagers were denied any kind of medical assistance. Then there are many more like the Jajpur SP involved in the rape of Kalinga Nagar who have a tainted history like the MD of IDCO, Priyabrat Patnaik who was stripped of all duties for a couple of years for being involved in a high profile murder case in Bhubaneswar. He is known to be one of the masterminds behind the attack on peaceful women protestors in the proposed POSCO site in 2007.  Where does the common man's quest for justice feature here? What about Sikur Kalundia, Balema Goipai and Ghanshyam Kalundia, all of whom died for lack of medical attention because their villages have been cordoned off from the rest of the world by police, Tata goons and BJD cadre?? Does that not amount to murder?? And What happened to the judicial probe into the 2nd Jan massacre that claimed 14 lives?? What happened to Amin Banara's murderers?? Who attacked Jogendra Jamuda? Why were Dabur Kalundia's attackers released? Who really killed Sridhar Soy?? And now, Rasananda, who killed him and dumped him in Bandragadia while he should have been in the transit camp? Will the BBJM be again framed?? It seems the foundations for the Tata Steel project shall bury many such mysteries, deaths & demolished homes. The BBJM though is gearing up to live upto its claim that they will rather die than leave their land.    Kalinga Nagar: Reign of Terror Continues 5 April 2010   Today a man from Gobarghati village died from cerebral malaria as he could not receive any medical aid on time due to the prevailing situation in Kalinga Nagar where the police, BJD cadre and Tata goons are not allowing anyone to come out or enter the villages resisting the Tata Steel factory and the Common Corridor road. There is huge tension in the area after the state BJD chief and India's former tribal affairs minister, Jual Oram was attacked and his vehicles was vandalised. Two journalists, Amulya Pati and Manas (sambad) were also attacked and their cameras were snatched away. The journalists were rushed to the nearby hospital where they were given first-aid and are safe now. A medical team carrying medicines and other necessary supplies has just managed to enter the villages. Jual Oram is adressing the press at 4.30PM in Bhubaneswar. While this is happening in Kalinga Nagar, some journalist for ANI has decided to declare that peace has been restored in the area. It is clear from the report itself that the reporter doesn't even know anything about ground reality and is talking about some imaginary town called Kalinga Nagar. K Ngr is the name of a huge area landmarked as an industrial estate to setup steel projects. Then the report also says that people have put off their protests... This particular piece was posted 16 hours ago on the net and now it remains to be seen whether how the ANI reporter will react to the news of the attack on the scribes. Fellow journalists should take special note of this report that misinformed the world and is most likely sponsored by Tata or the Govt while two journalists are getting beaten up by goons. And to remind everyone, the videographer who was shooting the police attack on 30 March was specially targetted by the police and shot at with rubber bullets. The bottomline is that every pillar of democracy has now been completely demolished in Kalinga Nagar.   URGENT: DEMOCRACY BUTCHERED IN KALINGA NAGAR AS POLICE FORCEFULLY INVADES VILLAGES 30 March 2010   On March 28,2010 the Bisthapan Birodhi Jan Manch leaders and villagers welcomed Jajpur District Collector and had a discussion with him on the controversial common corridor though they knew it very well the district administration had other motives. After talks with activists of Bisthapan Birodhi Jan Manch and more than 300 villagers the Collector assured them that there would be no construction activity for the Common Corridor Road till the matter is resolved through dialogue. But the administration has gone back on its words. They started the work yesterday and made a huge media publicity of the event to provoke people. In today's newspapers the SP has said 'protestors will not be spared' and the Collector is saying "construction of the road will happen at any cost."  This gave the manch no other alternative but to protest. But today 29 platoons of armed police with 60 officers and hundreds of BJD and Tata goons reached the place of dispute. They first denied media any entry to the place and the started attacking the peacful protesters. Many have been injured including women and children as indisciminate rubber bullet firing and lathi charge has taken place. They have entered the villages and unleashed a reign of terror. The villagers have tremendous patience and are still resisting peacefully. The area has become a war zone and more than a dozen people including women and children have been seriously injured.      This is being carried out under the supervision of IG Special Operations, Arun Sadangi. Despite Sec 144 being imposed in the area large number of Tata supporters, BJD cadre have assembled at the site and are giving instructions to the police. All people who have a conscience must act now as democracy in Kalinganagra is being butchered in the most vulgar manner and the political and bureaucratic leadership of the state have completely sold themselves to the Tatas. There has been absolutely not even a murmur of protest from any of the mainstream political party leaders which signifies the absolute power Tata wields over them. Just now reports reach us suggesting that firing has started in Baligootha village and where about of the leaders are not known. One person, Member Kalundia received bullet wounds in the chest and legs... Police has demolished houses and set them ablaze... Cattle have been indiscriminately shot at... Two days before Orissa Day the Govt celebrates with a bloodbath...   The police vacated the village but gathered about half a kilometer away in front of Rohit Ferro Chrome Factory where the construction of the common corridor road is to begin... All houses have been ransacked... foodstocks set afire... televisions, radios, etc have been destroyed... the girl who was beaten up by police has been admitted to the hospital... its not clear yet how many have been arrested but some 20-30 people have sustained serious injuries in the attack...    _________________________________________________________________ Climate, controversies and the changing signatures of nature http://green.in.msn.com/ From bhargavi_srao at yahoo.com Mon May 17 14:42:36 2010 From: bhargavi_srao at yahoo.com (Bhargavi S.) Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 02:12:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Urbanstudy] Guardians of Biodiversity_ A workshop on the occasion of the International day for Biodiversity Message-ID: <426737.62726.qm@web113315.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Environment Support Group [Environmental, Social Justice and Governance Initiatives] Invites you to “Guardians of Biodiversity” A Workshop Saturday, the 22nd of May 2010 2 pm to 7 pm at Environment Support Group, Banashankari 2nd Stage, Bangalore On the occasion of the International Day for Biodiversity, & in commemoration of United Nations’ International year of Biodiversity According to the recently released UN Global Biodiversity Report “There is a high risk of dramatic biodiversity loss and accompanying degradation of a broad range of ecosystem services if ecosystems are pushed beyond certain thresholds or tipping points. The poor would face the earliest and most severe impacts of such changes, but ultimately all societies and communities would suffer.” Calling for “urgent action …..to reduce the direct drivers of biodiversity loss”, the report states “better decisions for biodiversity must be made at all levels and in all sectors, in particular the major economic sectors, and government has a key enabling role to play.” The workshop will provide participants a deep understanding of the multiple values of biodiversity conservation and International and National legal provisions and social safeguards available to protect our living ecosystems. The focus will be on taking proactive personal and institutional actions by working with different sections of our government and society to make change happen. Participate in “Guardians of Biodiversity” and be informed of the power you have to safeguard our planet: fully, meaningfully and responsibly. To register call ESG or email sruthi at esgindia.org / bhargavi at esgindia.org Environment Support Group, 1572, Sapthagiri, Outer Ring Road, Banashankari 2nd stage, Bangalore -70. Phone- 91-80-26713559 - 61. Email: esg at esgindia.org Web: www.esgindia.org -- Bhargavi S.Rao Coordinator (Education and Training) Environment Support Group 1572, Outer Ring Road, Banashankari 2nd Stage Bangalore-70 Tel:91-80-26713559/60 Email:bhargavi at esgindia.org Website:www.esgindia.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20100517/e6b8a8d8/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Biodiversity Workshop Invite_22May2010.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 137410 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20100517/e6b8a8d8/attachment-0001.pdf From kchamaraj at gmail.com Wed May 19 22:53:15 2010 From: kchamaraj at gmail.com (Kathyayini Chamaraj) Date: Wed, 19 May 2010 22:53:15 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] =?windows-1252?q?CIVIC-_Invitation_-=91Implementatio?= =?windows-1252?q?n_of_BSUP-JNNURM_housing_projects_in_Bengaluru=92?= =?windows-1252?q?_-Saturday=2C_22=2E05=2E10=2C_2=2E30-6=2E00_PM=2E?= In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: *CIVIC Bangalore* has great pleasure in inviting you to the release of and consultation on a study report on *‘Implementation of BSUP-JNNURM housing projects in Bengaluru’* * *and the release of * ‘A Compendium of Government Schemes for the Urban Poor’* * Presided by* ** *Dr. A. Ravindra, IAS (Retd.)** * **Urban Advisor to Chief Minister of Karnataka Honourable Chief Guests *Sri* *S. K. Nataraj* Worshipful Mayor of Bengaluru & *Sri Dayananda, N.* Deputy Mayor of Bengaluru * Guests of Honour* * **Sri Bharat Lal Meena*, IAS*** *C**ommissioner, BBMP** * *Sri G. V. Kongwad, **IAS*** * Secretary, Housing Department, GoK* * * * Date: Saturday, 22nd May 2010 ** * *Time: 2.30 PM to 6.00 PM* *Venue: Senate Hall, Central College, Dr. Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore*** *ALL ARE WELCOME* * *** Awaiting confirmation * Programme Schedule *Time* *Agenda* *By * ** 2.30PM – 3.00PM Tea and registration 3.00PM-3.10PM Welcome & briefing on the objectives of the consultation CIVIC 3.10PM- 3.30PM Screening of documentary film on BSUP-JNNURM in Bangalore CIVIC 3.30PM-3.50PM Presentation of the research findings on BSUP-JNNURM in Bangalore Kavita Kanan, Researcher 3.50PM-4.30PM Presentation on BSUP implementation by grassroots organizations and community representatives Community representatives/ workers from the slums 4.30PM-5PM Open discussion on road map for implementation through participation, accountability and transparency 5PM-5.05PM Remarks about the Compendium Lakshmikantha - CIVIC 5.05PM-5.10PM Release of books: 1. BSUP-JNNURM study report 2. Compendium of Government Schemes for the Urban Poor Chief Guests: Worshipful Mayor & Deputy Mayor of BBMP 5.10PM-5.40PM Remarks by Chief Guests 5.40PM-5.55PM Chairperson’s remarks Dr. A. Ravindra 5.55PM- 6PM Vote of thanks CIVIC CIVIC Bangalore (Citizens’ Voluntary Initiative for the City) # 6, Kasturi Apartments, 35/23 Langford Road Cross, Shanthinagar Bangalore 560025 Email: info at civicspace.in URL: www.civicspace.in Tel: 22110584 / Telefax: 41144126 Cell Nos: 97318 17177/ 9739439220 / 9880963996 __._,_.___ Reply to sender| Reply to group| Reply via web post| Start a New Topic Messages in this topic( 1) Recent Activity: Visit Your Group MARKETPLACE Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now. ------------------------------ Get great advice about dogs and cats. Visit the Dog & Cat Answers Center. ------------------------------ Hobbies & Activities Zone: Find others who share your passions! Explore new interests. [image: Yahoo! Groups] Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use . __,_._,___ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20100519/ee4ab9d9/attachment-0001.html From nandlaljotwani at yahoo.com Thu May 20 18:39:39 2010 From: nandlaljotwani at yahoo.com (Dr. Nandlal Jotwani) Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 06:09:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Urbanstudy] =?utf-8?q?Invitation_-_=E2=80=98Implementation_of_BS?= =?utf-8?q?UP-JNNURM_housing_projects_in_Bengaluru=E2=80=99?= In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <909774.77179.qm@web63206.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Dear Friends, Thanks for your invitation, which I accept with pleasure. Wishing the event a great success. Best wishes. Prof. Nandlal Jotwani, Ph.D.  -------------------------------------------------                                           CIVIC Bangalore has great pleasure in inviting you to the release of and consultation on a study report on ‘Implementation of BSUP-JNNURM housing projects in Bengaluru’  and the release of  ‘A Compendium of Government Schemes for the Urban Poor’  Presided by Dr. A. Ravindra, IAS (Retd.) Urban Advisor to Chief Minister of Karnataka  Honourable Chief Guests  Sri S. K. Nataraj Worshipful Mayor of Bengaluru & Sri Dayananda, N. Deputy Mayor of Bengaluru  Guests of Honour    Sri Bharat Lal Meena*, IAS Commissioner, BBMP Sri G. V. Kongwad, IAS                              Secretary, Housing Department, GoK                                           Date: Saturday, 22nd May 2010                 Time: 2.30 PM to 6.00 PM Venue: Senate Hall, Central College, Dr. Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore Programme Schedule Time Agenda By   2.30PM – 3.00PM   Tea and registration   3.00PM-3.10PM   Welcome & briefing on the objectives of the consultation CIVIC 3.10PM- 3.30PM Screening of documentary film on BSUP-JNNURM in Bangalore   CIVIC 3.30PM-3.50PM Presentation of the research findings on BSUP-JNNURM in Bangalore   Kavita Kanan, Researcher 3.50PM-4.30PM Presentation on BSUP implementation by grassroots  organizations and community representatives   Community representatives/ workers from the slums 4.30PM-5PM Open discussion on road map for implementation through participation, accountability and transparency     5PM-5.05PM Remarks about the Compendium Lakshmikantha - CIVIC 5.05PM-5.10PM Release of books: 1.      BSUP-JNNURM study report 2.      Compendium of Government Schemes for the Urban Poor   Chief Guests: Worshipful Mayor & Deputy Mayor of BBMP   5.10PM-5.40PM Remarks by Chief Guests       5.40PM-5.55PM Chairperson’s remarks Dr. A. Ravindra 5.55PM- 6PM   Vote of thanks CIVIC   CIVIC Bangalore (Citizens’ Voluntary Initiative for the City) # 6, Kasturi Apartments, 35/23 Langford Road Cross, Shanthinagar Bangalore 560025  Email: info at civicspace.in          URL: www.civicspace.in Tel: 22110584 / Telefax: 41144126 Cell Nos: 97318 17177/ 9739439220 / 988096399 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20100520/8a9fd640/attachment.html From esgindia at gmail.com Thu May 20 18:41:33 2010 From: esgindia at gmail.com (ESGINDIA) Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 18:41:33 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] CAMPAIGN APPEAL: STOP REGRESSIVE AMENDMENTS TO THE KARNATAKA TREE PRESERVATION ACT Message-ID: <4BF53505.3010800@gmail.com> *CAMPAIGN APPEAL* *STOP REGRESSIVE AMENDMENTS TO THE KARNATAKA TREE PRESERVATION ACT* *State wide protest on Friday, 21 May 2010, 4-5 pm (in front of District Forest Offices)* * *In the International Year of Biodiversity, it is a shocking development that the Karnataka State Forest Department has formulated a proposal to amend the Karnataka Tree Preservation Act that would allow expansion of the list of trees that are exempted from the purview of the Act. At present only 11 trees are exempted from the purview of the Act and thus do not require prior permission of the Tree Officer for felling. The Forest Department now proposes to expand this list to 41 tree species. Unbelievably the proposed expansion list includes Aala (/Ficus benghalensis/, National Tree of India), Arali (/Ficus religiosa/, Sacred tree), Goni(/Ficus mysorensis/), Atthi (/Ficus racemosa/, Queen of Trees) and three types of basari. All these Ficus species are home to millions of birds and small mammals which feast on the figs but also act as insect controlling agents. Removal of ficus will devastate bird life and thus aid spread of pests. The exemption list also includes major fruit trees such as Mango, Jack, Sapota, Lime, Tamarind, etc. and Neem, Honge (/Pongamia pinnata/), Dalbergia Sissoo amongst others which are part of the ecological and cultural landscape of this region. Not surprisingly, Shivni (/Gmelina arborea), /an excellent timber tree known as white teak is also listed for exemption. There is growing concern across the State that urbanisation, mining, infrastructure development and degradation of land are causing widespread loss of vegetation. At a time when the State is reeling under the hottest summer ever recorded, one expects the Government to take steps to restrain tree felling, increase protection to trees and aggressively promote tree planting drives. The proposed amendment instead makes it easy to fell trees. It must be noted that the trees proposed to be exempted from the protection of the Tree Act include some of the most valuable species that support livelihoods of thousands of families that depend on their produce. These are also the very trees that abound our cities on roads, parks, gardens and open spaces. The proposed amendment will be a free license to civic authorities, infrastructure developers, timber contractors, miners, etc. to clear-fell these trees on one excuse or the other. The result would surely be devastating to our local and regional environments. Opposing this proposed amendments, environmental and social action groups, local communities and concerned people across Karnataka have come together to organise a joint protest on* 21 May 2010, Friday, between 4-5 pm, in front of all Forest Department Headquarters in all districts*. As a part of this protest a Memorandum will be handed over to the Department to stop this amendment and demand the meaningful implementation of the Tree Act in consultation with local governments, local communities, environmental and social action groups amongst others. The protest is organised on the eve of the International Day of Biodiversity to draw the attention of the people of Karnataka to the regressive and anti-environmental policies that Karnataka Government is promoting. In Bangalore, Environment Support Group and Hasiru Usiru (a voluntary network of progressive individuals and organisations) are organising the protest in front of the Headquarters of Karnataka Forest Department, Aranya Bhavan (Next to Sankey Lake), Malleshwaram, between 4-5 pm on 21 May 2010, Friday. * Please join this protest and come with your friends and families. Do please bring appropriate poster messages. (Please confirm your participation by emailing leo at esgindia.org or calling 26713559-61). * We also request you to sign on to the memorandum that will be handed over the Forest officials. *The memorandum for endorsements is online at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/treeact/* (Kindly leave you full contact details in the comments section of this online petition - please be assured this information will not be publicly accessible) Thank you for your cooperation and support. Environment Support Group [Environmental, Social Justice and Governance Initiatives] and Hasiru Usiru -- Environment, Social Justice and Governance Initiatives Environment Support Group Trust 1572, 36th Cross, Banashankari II Stage Bangalore 560070 Tel: 91-80-26713559-61 Voice/Fax: 91-80-26713316 Email: leo at esgindia.org Web: www.esgindia.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20100520/226d1a8c/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: esgindia.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 346 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20100520/226d1a8c/attachment-0001.vcf From cugambetta at yahoo.com Fri May 21 21:44:51 2010 From: cugambetta at yahoo.com (Curt Gambetta) Date: Fri, 21 May 2010 09:14:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Urbanstudy] list maintenance announcement re: mail server migration Message-ID: <828777.89072.qm@web57410.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Hi all, A quick note regarding list maintenance. All Sarai mailing lists are being shifted to new, upgraded servers on Friday May 28th at 7pm IST. This will take about 12-13 hours. During this time, the list will be unavailable. -Curt From esgindia at gmail.com Sun May 23 08:15:10 2010 From: esgindia at gmail.com (ESGINDIA) Date: Sun, 23 May 2010 08:15:10 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Fwd: PRESS RELEASE : 22 May 2010: Mangalore Air Crash Tragic Fallout of Criminal Negligence of Planning and Regulatory Authorities Message-ID: <4BF896B6.8020504@gmail.com> PRESS RELEASE : 22 May 2010 *Mangalore Air Crash Tragic Fallout of Criminal Negligence of Planning and Regulatory Authorities* An Air India Express Boeing 737-800 aircraft arriving from Dubai with 167 on board 2010 tragically crashed at Mangalore International Airport at 6.30 am today (22 May 2010). It is reported that the plane overshot the runway while landing and fell over a cliff resulting in this disastrous crash. Very few are known to have survived this horrific crash. This was no accident, but the direct result of deliberate failure of officials at the highest level in the Director General of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Government of Karnataka for allowing this 2^nd runway to be built in criminal negligence of applicable norms and standards. Such a strong charge is being made as the likelihood of this kind of a crash (the worst case scenario) was predicted. A series of Public Interest Litigations were fought by the undersigned to stop the construction of this 2^nd runway in Mangalore airport on grounds that the design simply did not conform to the most basic national and international standards of airport design. The PILs also highlighted that the airport does not conform with the most minimum safeguards for emergency situations -- particularly during landings and takeoffs, and could not have emergency approach roads within a kilometre on all sides of the airport as required. It is truly sad that because of the failure of key decision makers at the highest levels so many innocent lives have been lost. It is quite possible that many lives were lost as emergency rescue teams could not access the crash site due to the difficult terrain (a valley) for over a hour after the incident, even though it was proximal to the site.^1 <#sdfootnote1sym> Vimana Nildana Vistharana Virodhi Samithi (Local Communities Alliance Against Airport Expansion), Bajpe and Environment Support Group had repeatedly highlighted the high risk expansion of the Mangalore airport during the late 1990s. The expansion was proposed to enable flight movements of wide bodied aircrafts, such as Airbus A 320. Authorities were repeatedly informed that the proposal did not at all conform with the standards prescribed for runway design as laid down by the Director General of Civil Aviation, National Building Code of India and Ministry of Civil Aviation. Further, considering that the airport was proposed for international flights, a case was also made that the 2^nd runway could not conform with International Civil Aviation Authority standards due to terrain limitations. No one in authority cared to listen to our fervent pleas. This even when we demonstrated through a variety of representations that that the site chosen for expansion at Bajpe was surrounded by deep valleys on three sides of the runway and did not provide for emergency landing areas as required. This neglect of our legitimate concerns forced us to move the High Court of Karnataka in a PIL in 1997 (Arthur Pereira and ors. vs. Union of India and ors., WP No. 37681/1997). A key concern raised was that the 2^nd runway in Mangalore could not meet the standards required in dealing with an emergency, particularly during landings and takeoffs -- a time when air crashes are most likely to happen. The Airports Authority of India filed an affidavit in Court dismissing all our concerns and stated this, amongst other things: "It is submitted that as regards the apprehensions of the petitioner that the Length and width of the runway is insufficient for a plane making an emergency landing, the same is without any basis. It is respectfully submitted that all the requirements as per the ICAO recommendation will be met and that there has been no infringement of any of the recommendation and limitation therein." (Copy of this affidavit dated 14 October 1998 is accessible at: http://www.esgindia.org/campaigns/bajpe/docs/Statement%20of%20Objections%20of%20AAI.htm) On the basis of this affidavit, Hon'ble Chief Justice Mr. Y. Bhaskar Rao and the Hon'ble Mr. Justice A. M. Farooq (as their Lordships then were) dismissed this PIL ordering as follows: "_It is stated that the fear of the petitioners that the runway is insufficient for any emergency landing of a plane is without any basis since before the project is to proceed, the authorities will be meeting the recommendations of the ICAO_. It is also stated that there is no basis for the allegations made by the petitioners to the effect that the various safety measures have not been followed. That on the other hand they will be getting all the relevant materials described by the petitioners which will be followed in letter and spirit without which the airport would not have been conceived in the first place. Thus it can be seen that the expansion of Bajpe airport project is at the initial stage and the second respondent has in their objections mentioned above unequivocally stated that all the safety measures etc., stated by the petitioners in their writ petition will be followed during the progress of the project and nothing can be said before the lands are handed over to the second respondent. Considering these facts, _we are of the view that the petitioners have rushed to this court before commencement of the project itself and the writ petition is premature_. *It is not, therefore, necessary to consider the various grounds taken by the petitioners in the writ petition to allege that the respondents have been proceeding with the project in a casual manner*. /There is nothing to doubt about the statement made by the second respondent in their objection statement and we are sure that the respondents will be taking all necessary measures under the different enactments etc.., before proceeding with the project in question/. The writ petition stands dismissed." (Emphasis added. A copy of this order is accessible at: http://www.esgindia.org/campaigns/bajpe/docs/1998%20Karnataka%20High%20Court%20Judgement.htm) Even though alternative sites existed, the authorities proceeded obstinately to expand the airport yielding to pressures from business, real estate and hotel lobbies who benefited immensely from an airport at Bajpe. Politicians keen to make the expansion a part of their legacy overlooked all concerns raised. Even at the existing Bajpe alternative sites existed to expand the airport, that conformed with most safety norms, but this site was not pursued as it would affect large landholders and influential people. Consequently, nothing whatsoever was done to respond to the concerns we raised about the risks involved in the 2^nd runway. The Airport Authority did not even have a proper feasibility study, and claimed that such a critical information detail would only be prepared after the land was acquired for the airport. Surely this amounted to putting the cart before the horse, for the study, even if eventually prepared, would have been tailor made to justify the decision to so expand the airport. Distressed by such a turn of events and the absolute lack of compliance with applicable norms and standards, we appealed to the ICAO to intervene in the matter. The ICAO claimed did not respond and so we returned to the High Court with a fresh PIL in 2002. In this exhaustively researched PIL many significant concerns were raised and a case was made that the 2^nd runway could not conform with ICAO norms for the following reasons: _"Minimum Area for Stop-way_: At page 155 of the said (ICAO) report, para 2-1 prescribes standards for providing the minimum area for a stop way and/or a clear way in the event an aircraft undershoots or over-runs the runway. For instance, if an aircraft has initiated take off, and a technical flaw requires emergency stop, the standard prescribes the minimum area that should be kept free to enable such a stop. In the instant case, the runway distance itself is about 2400 metres, and even if the area left is most cautiously utilised, what is left is only about 300 metres on each end of the runway. By the prescribed standard, this is far below the required distance needed for an emergency stop way. *Therefore, the chances of an aircraft that has achieved the decision speed forcing an emergency stop are critically minimised, and the inevitable consequence could be that the plane would come crashing down the hillsides from a height of 80-100 metres on either side of the proposed runway.*" (Emphasis added. A copy of the PIL is accessible at: http://www.esgindia.org/campaigns/bajpe/docs/Bajpe%20HC%20PIL%2020905%20May%202002.htm)^2 <#sdfootnote2sym> The High Court of Karnataka dismissed this PIL initiative by their order dated 27 May 2002 (WP 20905/2002) stating the following: "No doubt, in an appropriate case, this Court can issue directions, if there is gross violation of fundamental rights or if the issue touches the conscience of this Court, _but not for personal gain or political gain._ The construction of 2^nd Runway and Terminal Tower in Mangalore Airport will otherwise be in the interest of public. Learned Counsel has not been able to show how the construction of 2^nd Runway and Terminal Tower in Mangalore Airport will be against the public interest. On consideration and in the facts of the given case no direction as prayed for can be issued in this PIL. The authorities concerned have to complete all formalities as per law before commencement of the project. Accordingly, this Writ petition is dismissed. However, it is made clear that *dismissal of this petition will not preclude the concerned Authorities to take all necessary precaution and to complete the formalities as per law before proceeding with the project in question*." (Emphasis added) In a desperate effort to stop the Mangalore airport from so expanding and needlessly exposing innocent people to unnecessary risk, we went on appeal against the High Court order to the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. Dismissing the appeal, the Supreme Court ruled 07 February 2003 in Environment Support Group and ors. vs. Union of India and ors. [SLP(C) 1172 OF 2003] as follows: "_We see no reason to interfere with the impugned order._ Accordingly, the special leave petition is dismissed. *We, however, clarify that in constructing the Airport, the Government shall comply with all applicable laws and also with environmental norms.*" (Emphasis added. A copy of this order can be accessed at: http://www.esgindia.org/campaigns/bajpe/docs/BAJPE%20SC%20ORDER%20070203.htm) One hopes with the benefit of hindsight that the Director General of Civil Aviation or Airports Authority of India had complied with this order of the Supreme Court and ensured Mangalore airport was developed in full conformance with applicable laws, standards and norms. In case the current site was not feasible, they could have easily explored alternate sites, as such sites did exist -- within Bajpe itself, or even in Padubidri, between Mangalore and Udupi. Instead, the authorities preferred to view the Supreme Court order as a victory, as did the Karnataka Government and Mangalore Chamber of Commerce and Industry which had systematically campaigned for the expansion. Without any further hesitation the 2^nd runway construction began in 2004 and was commissioned in May 2006. No techno-economic assessment, feasibility study, or even an comprehensive Environment Impact Assessment was ever done for the 2^nd Runway. Simply put, the runway was built in comprehensive violation of applicable laws, standards and direction of the Hon'ble Supreme Court. On 8^th March 2004, we wrote to Dr. Naseem Zaidi, Chairman (Addl. Charge) & Joint Secretary, Airport Authority of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, reminding him of the need to comply with the Supreme Court direction. In particular we highlighted that "such action would jeopardize passenger safety, put local communities to risk, needlessly dislocate people by acquiring land on a location that in no way could comply with the said provisions and thereby contributed to gross wastage of public money and resources." We did not get any response. Six years later today we are mourning the unfortunate death of so many people who should have been alive. We are clear that this is no accident, but a direct result of the series of deliberate failures of officials and key decision makers at the highest levels of all authorities connected with the decision to allow the 2^nd runway to be constructed and commissioned. Of course all sorts of explanations will be on offer, but none of that can bring lost lives back or cure the tragedy that has wrongly befallen so many families. India today is frenetically building airports all over, and for all sorts of flaky reasons. Such is the political, bureaucratic and corporate pressure to build and expand airports that anyone questing the rationale is quickly dubbed as a "busybody", "useless interloper", "promoted by vested interest" and raising "frivolous" concerns. *To ensure such incidents do not recur, we demand that the Union Minister of Civil Aviation orders an impartial Commission of Enquiry into the causative factors of this crash, especially investigating the absolute lack of conformance with basic runway design standards and emergency approach measures.* *As a small tribute to those who lost their lives in this tragic air crash, ESG offers to assist crash affected families to initiate a damage suits against the Government. We will also initiate criminal negligence proceedings against all authorities connected with the decision to commission the 2^nd runway at Mangalore in violation of the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court. We take these corrective actions in the hope they would serve as a deterrence against the lackadaisical approach to critical decisions by key decision makers.* Leo F. Saldanha Coordinator Environment Support Group Cell: 9448377403 Email: leo at esgindia.org Arthur Pereira Trustee Environment Support Group and Spokesperson Vimana Nildhana Vistarana Virodhi Samithi, Bajpe, Mangalore Cell: 9449208264/9481439921 Email: arthurjpereira at gmail.com 1 <#sdfootnote1anc>That such a crash has occurred at the Mangalore airport is unpardonable as a similar crash had occurred at this airport over a decade ago. Fortunately the plane did not tip over into the valley and all passengers, including Union Law Minister Mr. Veerappa Moily, were fortunate to escape.. 2 <#sdfootnote2anc>This safety standard of ICAO also applies to air crafts when landing. It is truly sad that today's tragic air crash could be a consequence of the lack of conformance with this standard. For further details, contact: -- Environment, Social Justice and Governance Initiatives, Environment Support Group - Trust, 1572, 36th Cross, Banashankari II Stage Bangalore 560070 Tel: 91-80-26713559-61 Voice/Fax: 91-80-26713316 Email: leo at esgindia.org Web: www.esgindia.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20100523/6b63794c/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Press_Release_Mangalore_Air_Crash_ESG_220510.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 182782 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20100523/6b63794c/attachment-0001.pdf -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: esgindia.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 346 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20100523/6b63794c/attachment-0001.vcf From cugambetta at yahoo.com Mon May 24 22:09:38 2010 From: cugambetta at yahoo.com (Curt Gambetta) Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 09:39:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Urbanstudy] Fw: Fwd: Workshop on BROADENING POVERTY DEFINITIONS IN INDIA: BASIC NEEDS IN URBAN HOUSING on May 25, 2010 at 3.45 p.m. at CPR. In-Reply-To: <4bf652f7.2274730a.624e.ffff9f93SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> References: <4bf652f7.2274730a.624e.ffff9f93SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <874537.16367.qm@web57412.mail.re1.yahoo.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: PRESIDENT Date: 21 May 2010 15:01 Subject: Workshop on BROADENING POVERTY DEFINITIONS IN INDIA: BASIC NEEDS IN URBAN HOUSING on May 25, 2010 at 3.45 p.m. at CPR. To: president_cpr at vsnl.com Dear Friend As part of our new Urban Workshop Series, the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and Centre de Sciences Humaines (CSH), Delhi are delighted to invite you to a workshop byProf. S. Chandrashekar, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai and Prof. Mark Montgomery, StonyBrookUniversityand Population Council, NewYork, USA on BROADENINGPOVERTYDEFINITIONS IN INDIA: BASIC NEEDS IN URBAN HOUSING. Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 Time: 3:45 pm Venue: Conference Hall, Centre for Policy Research, Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021 ---------- Inthis paper,weask whethertheofficialpovertydefinition inIndia gives sufficientattentiontobasic needsinurbanhousing.WhentheIndian povertylineswereworkedintotheir currentform,the procedurethatwas used wasbased onanutritional norm,andit providedsomeassurancethat householdslivingatthe povertylinewouldhavethemeanstoconsumeaminimallyadequate levelof calories(GovernmentofIndia,1979,1993).Butthedefinition left unresolvedwhetherhouseholds officiallyclassified asnon-poorwouldhaveadequateresources onhandtomeettheir non-food needs,whetherin housing orinotherdimensions ofneed. Amongallnon-foodneeds,those in housingpresentespeciallyvexingproblems,becausetheterm “housing” isshorthandforanumber ofshelter-relatedcharacteristics that affectindividualandfamily well-being.Inadditiontosecurityof tenure,theseincludethephysicalconditionofthedwelling, whether thehouseholdhasaccesstoadequatedrinkingwater,sanitation,anddrainage,thesocial andenvironmentalrisks presentedbyanygivenlocation, andthe access toemploymentthat it provides.Access toimprovedwaterandsanitationcanhelpin reducingoccurrenceofwaterborne diseasesand diseases causedbypoorsanitation. Ifhousing needs aretobeexpressedin monetizedform(as basic nutritionalneeds havebeen) then themoneycosts ofthesebundledcharacteristics mustsomehowbeestimated.Drawinguponthe 58thRoundNSSO surveyof housingconditionsweusearegressionbased approachtoestimate monthlyrents. Weestimatemonthlyrent levelsforbasic-needshousingatRs495perhouseholdbasedonordinary regressionmodelandRs518usingthemedianregressionmodel.Ifwetranslatethesefigures toper- memberequivalents,itworks outtoRs124per personusingtheOLSresults.Inthecontextofurban povertylinethe 1962expertgroup(Gadgil et.al.)madethe followingsuggestion: "Anelementof subsidyin urbanhousing willhavetobeincluded aftertakingRs10per month,or 10percentas the rent elementpayablefromtheproposednational minimum ofRs100permonth(1960-61prices)." Wearriveatanamountequivalentto22–32percentoftheurbanpovertyline depending onthe methodologyused.Wepresentourresultnotasbeing definitivebutratheras anopeningfora broader constructiveconversation onthemultiple dimensions ofpovertyinurbanIndia. --------- This is the fourth in a series of Urban Workshops planned by the CPR and CSH. These workshops will seek to provoke public discussion on issues relating to the development of the city and try to address all its facets including its administration, culture, economy, society, and politics. For further information, please contact Marie-Hélène Zérah at zerah at ird.fr or Partha Mukhopadhyay at partha at cprindia.org We look forward to welcoming you to CPR for what promises to be an interesting discussion. Please feel free to share this invitation with friends and colleagues who may be interested. Yours sincerely, Pratap Bhanu Mehta ===================================================== Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta President & Chief Executive Centre for Policy Research Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri New Delhi - 110 021 [INDIA] Tel: +91 11 26114797 Tel: +91 11 2611 5273-76 (4 lines) Fax: +91 11 26872746 / 26886902 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20100524/9f796195/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: UrbanWorkshop4.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 89116 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20100524/9f796195/attachment-0001.pdf From nandlaljotwani at yahoo.com Mon May 24 23:19:58 2010 From: nandlaljotwani at yahoo.com (Dr. Nandlal Jotwani) Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 10:49:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Urbanstudy] Workshop on BROADENING POVERTY DEFINITIONS IN INDIA: BASIC NEEDS IN URBAN HOUSING on May 25, 2010 at 3.45 p.m. at CPR. Message-ID: <591878.52704.qm@web63208.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Dear Dr. P.B. Mehta, Ms. Marie-Hélène Zérah and Mr. Partha Mukhopadhyay: Greetings.   Thank you for your 'invite' for the Workshop, which indeed was close to my head and heart. However, owing to preoccupation, I regret my inability to participate in it.   I wish the Workshop a great suceess.   Sincerely,   Prof. Nandlal Jotwani, Ph.D. 57 Vinoba Puri, Lajpat Nagar-II New Delhi-110024 Mobile: 9311902211 ----------------------------   From: PRESIDENT Date: 21 May 2010 15:01 Subject: Workshop on BROADENING POVERTY DEFINITIONS IN INDIA: BASIC NEEDS IN URBAN HOUSING on May 25, 2010 at 3.45 p.m. at CPR. To: nandlaljotwani at yahoo.com Dear Friend As part of our new Urban Workshop Series, the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and Centre de Sciences Humaines (CSH), Delhi are delighted to invite you to a workshop by Prof. S. Chandrashekar,  Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai and Prof. Mark  Montgomery, Stony Brook University and Population Council, New York, USA  on BROADENING POVERTY DEFINITIONS IN INDIA: BASIC NEEDS IN URBAN HOUSING. Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 Time: 3:45 pm Venue: Conference Hall, Centre for Policy Research, Dharma Marg,  Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021.   In this paper, we ask whether the official poverty definition in India gives sufficient attention to basic needs in urban housing. When the Indian poverty lines were worked into their current form, the procedure that was used was based on a nutritional norm, and it provided some assurance that households living at the poverty line would have the means to consume a minimally adequate level of calories (Government of India, 1979, 1993). But the definition left unresolved whether households officially classified as non-poor would have adequate resources on hand to meet their non-food needs, whether in housing or in other dimensions of need.   Among all non-food needs, those in housing present especially vexing problems, because the term “housing” is shorthand for a number of shelter-related characteristics that affect individual and family well-being. In addition to security of tenure, these include the physical condition of the dwelling, whether the household has access to adequate drinking water, sanitation, and drainage, the social and environmental risks presented by any given location, and the access to employment that it provides. Access to improved water and sanitation can help in reducing occurrence of water borne diseases and diseases caused by poor sanitation.   If housing needs are to be expressed in monetized form (as basic nutritional needs have been) then the money costs of these bundled characteristics must somehow be estimated. Drawing upon the 58th Round NSSO survey of housing conditions we use a regression based approach to estimate monthly rents.   We estimate monthly rent levels for basic-needs housing at Rs 495 per household based on ordinary regression model and Rs 518 using the median regression model. If we translate these figures to per- member equivalents, it works out to Rs 124 per person using the OLS results. In the context of urban poverty line the 1962 expert group (Gadgil et. al.) made the following suggestion: "An element of subsidy in urban housing will have to be included after taking Rs 10 per month, or 10 percent as the rent element payable from the proposed national minimum of Rs 100 per month (1960-61 prices)."   We arrive at an amount equivalent to 22–32 percent of the urban poverty line depending on the methodology used. We present our result not as being definitive but rather as an opening for a broader constructive conversation on the multiple dimensions of poverty in urban India.   Yours sincerely,  Pratap Bhanu Mehta =============== Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta President & Chief Executive Centre for Policy Research Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri New Delhi - 110 021 [INDIA] Tel: +91 11 26114797 Tel: +91 11 2611 5273-76 (4 lines) Fax: +91 11 26872746 / 26886902 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20100524/fdc910fa/attachment-0001.html From yanivbin at gmail.com Mon May 24 22:32:47 2010 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 22:32:47 +0530 Subject: [Urbanstudy] Delhi govt has introduced congestion tax Message-ID: NDTV News Ticker says today The G o Delhi has introduced congestion tax which maybe linked with a High Court judgement (i presume) and also cars and 2-wheelers will now cost more. A 3rd time elected govt like in Dli shd be confident enough to take this decision but will others ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup/attachments/20100524/c18fc301/attachment.html