States News and Discussions

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 12 Apr 2011 23:58

ramana wrote:More confirmation on Bengal polls

WB Poll survey

That is the best thing to happen for INC if they want some leaverage over Mamata. Otherwise she will become Mother-in-law instead of didi.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 13 Apr 2011 00:00

I guess bahu is already taken!

But my prediction was not based on surveys but on higher need

Airavat · Post by **Airavat** » 13 Apr 2011 06:46

Marwari businessmen in West Bengal elections

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 13 Apr 2011 20:02

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a ... 693271.ece

Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry on Wednesday recorded a very high turnout of voters with an average of about 78 per cent.

Tamil Nadu and Kerala registered approximately 75.21 per cent and 74.4 per cent turnout respectively while Puducherry the highest at 85.21 per cent, the Election Commission here said.

This is not a good sign for DMK. It means everyone turnout to vote not just the committed.

5 more years of AMMA await. Gulp!

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 13 Apr 2011 20:15

^ Does it mean Ayya is a better option to TN than Amma?

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 13 Apr 2011 20:29

Ayyathurai definitely. More pragmatic, less ideological, business friendly.

Amma is just too unpredictable. Even her closest companions don't know what she will do tomorrow.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 13 Apr 2011 21:04

I agree. She can become na ghar kaa naa ghat kaa. But can Ayyadurai be awake for another term?

Viv S · Post by **Viv S** » 14 Apr 2011 09:46

Quite two to type

People forget (and lie) about all kinds of things all the time and our netas are no different. A little bit of cash under the mattress, bars of gold in the barn and couple of crores in Swiss banks - these things are forgotten often, especially when the income tax sleuths are at the door. But, even by our standards, what Mangnilal Mandal managed to do was phenomenal. Mandal, a Janata Dal(U) MP from Bihar claimed in court recently that he did not remember how many wives he had! It seems he also suffered from selective amnesia when he had filed his nomination papers: one wife and a large quantity of assets were quietly tucked away somewhere. However, when it came to voting, he remembered a little too sharply: Mandal is accused of voting from two different Lok Sabha constituencies with different wives in the same election. For his tremendous commitment and passion to the cause of this democracy, the Election Commission must use Mandal as a model voter.

But, as you know, the world is an unkind place. A political worker, who probably knew 'Bhabhi No. 1' before he chanced upon 'Bhabhi No. 2's' existence saw something amiss and lodged a case against Mandal. And that is when the MP faced that nagging question: how many wives do you have?

While the world will now be accusing Mandal of lying in court, presenting false data to the poll panel and lying to the voters, the neta is actually not as big a liar as he is being made out to be. Under the glare of the media and the judges, he just could not think of a more convincing lie. A contrast to many of our netas to whom lying comes so much easier than telling the truth. But then that is the lie of the land.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Quite-two ... 84908.aspx

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 15 Apr 2011 21:01

Ayyathurai is only 58.

The EC mandated ban on opinion polls is annoying but they are right to do so...

Most people are missing the recent delimitation exercise in TN. The Chennai area gained 6 full seats. If you win this area you will now hold about 30%+ of the seats needed. Most urban areas gained at least 2 seats. Rural areas lost... People here are pi$$ed that Kanyakumari lost one.. South TN lost 5 seats.

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 21 Apr 2011 14:16

BJP loses Gandhinagar Municipal Election to Congress

sum · Post by **sum** » 21 Apr 2011 14:22

^^ Tomorrow's headlines in DDM quoting the usual suspects : evil communal Modi should resign now since people are against him ( never mind he has won all the muncipal and local elections in last 10 years)

kittoo · Post by **kittoo** » 30 Apr 2011 12:08

Seven people burned alive in Orissa. Why though is not clear. Some outlets are saying that it was because a stone crusher was damaging a temple and others say cause it was causing pollution.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/seven ... ge/783764/

Seven persons including a woman were burnt alive by an angry mob in a village of coastal Ganjam district on Friday night after they clashed with the villagers over operation of a stone crusher in the area. Though the village is close to a Maoist-infested area, police have ruled out the hand of Maoists in the incident.

The seven, all working with a stone crushing unit on a hill near Badagada village under Seragada block of Ganjam, were charred to death as the diesel stored in cans in the tin shed they had taken shelter caught fire. “Minutes before an angry and armed mob from Badagada had chased them following which they locked themselves in the tin shed. The shed had cans full of diesel which caught fire once the assailants set fire to the shed. They had no chances of escape. The bodies were so badly burnt that it is difficult for us to recognize them,” said Ganjam SP Nitinjeet Singh.

Ads by Google

Police said last evening a group of people from Badagada village clashed with the henchmen of a stone crusher over damages to the local temple. Though the crusher unit was closed for some days following local protest, its owners started operating it last morning through some local labourers. “The local people had problems with the crusher unit and they had minor clash recently. A few days ago, the temple had developed cracks after a chunk of stone from a crusher nearby hit its wall. The villagers had complained to the crusher owner and demanded money for repair of the crack. However, the crusher owner did not pay heed. Yesterday’s re-opening triggered a public fury,” said sub-divisional police officer Binod Kamila.

http://www.inewsone.com/2011/04/30/mob- ... issa/47083

Bhubaneswar, April 30 (IANS) Seven people, including a woman, were burnt to death by a mob in Orissa’ Ganjam district over a dispute related to the operation of a stone crushing unit, police said Saturday.

The incident took place at Badagada village, some 250 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, late Friday.

Police said locals were opposed to the small stone crushing unit in their village as it caused pollution, and demanded money from the owners.

However, the dispute escalated Friday when hundreds of villagers attacked the unit and set fire to a room where the seven people, including four workers, were sleeping.

State police chief Anup Patnaik said seven bodies have been recovered from the site.

‘We have deputed a team for further investigation,’ he told IANS.

Airavat · Post by **Airavat** » 01 May 2011 05:56

The Indian Grape Processing Board today asked entrepreneurs in Meghalaya to put pressure on the state government to legalise fruit wine-making as the region has the potential to become the “fruit wine capital” of the country. Around 10 local wine makers participated in the festival showcasing wine made from a variety of local fruits like Sohiong (blackberry), strawberry, wild berry, guava, ginger and others.

Meghalaya as "fruit wine" capital of India

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 13 May 2011 07:58

Counting under way... TN tense...

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 13 May 2011 09:26

Theo, Try the GDF for the assembly elections thread.

vijayk · Post by **vijayk** » 16 May 2011 00:21

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 347993.cms
Karnataka crisis deepens, governor recommends dismissal of Yeddyurappa govt

Virupaksha · Post by **Virupaksha** » 16 May 2011 01:35

vijayk wrote:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 347993.cms
Karnataka crisis deepens, governor recommends dismissal of Yeddyurappa govt

very very interesting, without even asking Yedurappa to prove it on the floor.

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 16 May 2011 01:48

Next round of reforms should include changes to the A356 operates such that consent of the PM + 50% of the incumbent CMs is required before dismissing a state government.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 16 May 2011 20:54

ravi_ku wrote:very very interesting, without even asking Yedurappa to prove it on the floor.

The Karnataka Governor seems to be partisan to the core

. He seems to have some sort of a personal issue with a BJP led govt. running the state. If we have such governors in abundance, I feel politicians themselves would start discussing whether such posts are required any more.

Virupaksha · Post by **Virupaksha** » 16 May 2011 21:04

Sachin wrote:
ravi_ku wrote:very very interesting, without even asking Yedurappa to prove it on the floor.
The Karnataka Governor seems to be partisan to the core . He seems to have some sort of a personal issue with a BJP led govt. running the state. If we have such governors in abundance, I feel politicians themselves would start discussing whether such posts are required any more.

The governor works at the pleasure of the President (i.e. on MMS's advice) only.

They are still required so as to stop things like what the Punjab assembly tried to do regarding a river. Without the governor/some kind of central leverage, there can be all out fights with the neighboring states

Vikas · Post by **Vikas** » 16 May 2011 21:34

He is acting more like leader of congress party than a Guv.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 17 May 2011 11:29

ravi_ku wrote: quote="Sachin"]quote="ravi_ku"]very very interesting, without even asking Yedurappa to prove it on the floor./quote]
The Karnataka Governor seems to be partisan to the core . He seems to have some sort of a personal issue with a BJP led govt. running the state. If we have such governors in abundance, I feel politicians themselves would start discussing whether such posts are required any more.

The governor works at the pleasure of the President (i.e. on MMS's advice) only.

They are still required so as to stop things like what the Punjab assembly tried to do regarding a river. Without the governor/some kind of central leverage, there can be all out fights with the neighboring states

Why is this complicated to understand
Facts
1) Bharadwaj was Law Minister in UPA-1 moved to Karnataka Governor after 2009 General Election
2) Veerapa Moily Law Minister in UPA-2, he is a Congress Leader from Karnataka and also a former Chief Minister of Karnataka, who took over from Bangarappa after the anti-Tamil riots in Karnataka in the 1990's (irony Law minister was part of a Government actively involved in riots).
3) SM Krishna Former CM of Karnataka is also presently got the FM portfolio in UPA-2[/quote]

Conjenture
1) If Bharadwaj needs his ministry at the center back he needs by hook or crook to get one of the Congress Karnataka strongmen the CM post, hence his actions since 2009 to get rid of the BJP Govt.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 17 May 2011 16:09

Aditya_V wrote:1) If Bharadwaj needs his ministry at the center back he needs by hook or crook to get one of the Congress Karnataka strongmen the CM post, hence his actions since 2009 to get rid of the BJP Govt.

So more than any thing else it is the "acute interest in one's own survival" which is the main motivator for being partisan

.

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 19 May 2011 13:57

Gujarat does a double!

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat's gross state domestic product ( GSDP) grew by 11.58 per cent during 2010-11, with all three sectors — agriculture, industry and services — demonstrating an impressive double digit growth rate for the first time since 2005-06. Latest official figures, prepared by the directorate of economics and statistics, show that agriculture, which had stagnated in the preceding two years, performed the best with 16.73 per cent. The service sector came next, growing by 12.24 per cent, while the industrial sector grew by exactly 10 per cent. What is particularly significant is that, for the first time in the last one decade, Gujarat managed to achieve a double-digit rate of growth in two consecutive years.

In 2009-10, Gujarat's economy grew by 10.23 per cent. The state has finished the decade on a buoyant note, after the initial setbacks because of the earthquake in 2001 and the communal riots in 2002. On an average, Gujarat's economy grew by a remarkable 10.3 per cent over the last one decade, from 2001-02 to 2010-11, something that chief minister Narendra Modi would almost certainly like to highlight as he ruled right through this period. The decadal growth of all three sectors was in double digits — 10.7 per cent for agriculture, 10.3 per cent for industry and 10.9 per cent for services. Officials said the figures showed a very healthy trend of overall robustness in the state, helped by good rainfall during the 2000s and the extension of the Narmada canal network.

The successive Vibrant Gujarat summits, which brought in heavy investments, had put Gujarat on a growth trajectory that would lift India's GDP as well.

link

Airavat · Post by **Airavat** » 21 May 2011 07:16

Angry people blocked the Jammu-Pathankote National Highway at the main chowk near Bus Stand, Samba and disrupted the movement of traffic for over three hours, in protest against the increasing incidents of smuggling of bovine animals in the area. Nine bovine smugglers were arrested by police from Nud and adjoining areas yesterday on the inputs provided by locals and nearly 54 bovine animals were rescued from the smugglers, all from a particular community.

They said many times same persons were arrested and the same vehicles seized by police but they are easily released. Such identified people be detained under PSA and permit of vehicles be cancelled. They pointed out that smuggling of bovine animals from parts of Jammu for the slaughter houses in Kashmir valley will not be tolerated. The people threatened to intensify the agitation in this regard in Kathua and Jammu as well.

Daily Excelsior

Raghavendra · Post by **Raghavendra** » 26 May 2011 09:36

Juta son of Moja, ABVP son of BJP to revive Rahul’s Youth Congress http://www.indianexpress.com/news/juta- ... s/795610/0

Member's name Roti, son of Sabzi; Pani, son of Jal; Sunil Saetty, father’s name Shilpa Saetty; Juta, offspring of Moja; Pila, from Nila — when Rahul Gandhi went on a talent hunt with his massive Youth Congress membership drive, look who all he found.

These were among the names on the IYC website of all its new members in Madhya Pradesh — till The Indian Express went to the AICC secretary in-charge of the Youth Cong, Jitendra Singh, with the list on Tuesday. Today, the names were taken off the IYC website with Singh claiming that the list obtained by The Indian Express from the state unit was wrong.

However, in line with the bloopers the IYC seems to have let pass, many names still remain on the website, including perhaps the mother of it all: Member’s name Known Unknown, father’s name Cund.

In Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh, for example, a member gave his name as “Rahul”, with father’s name “Rajivganedi”. There are other gems from the same district: Member’s name ABVP, father’s name BJP; Member’s name Ram, father’s name Lakhan; and Member’s name Lal, father’s name Pila.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 May 2011 19:18

Aditya_V wrote: Conjenture
1) If Bharadwaj needs his ministry at the center back he needs by hook or crook to get one of the Congress Karnataka strongmen the CM post, hence his actions since 2009 to get rid of the BJP Govt.

He is burnt.

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 28 May 2011 19:25

We will see how she reacts when the press and the people turn on her, as they surely will... ..that is when AMMA changes her spots..

http://tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?fil ... 1FIRST.asp

On Saturday evening, Banerjee walked out of office, sat on the front seat of her black Santro, and went on a whirlwind city tour. Huddled in the backseat were Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee and Firad Hakim. Frantic, her security convoy tried to follow, but no route was predetermined. She turned where she pleased. She inspected an ongoing flyover project, the Parama Island-Park Circus flyover. “Why is work happening from only one end?” she asked Chatterjee and Hakim. “Get this started from the other end as well.”

And then there are the alarm bells: In a Mamata-esque move, the chief minister chose to keep nine key ministries with herself: home, agriculture, land and land reforms, health, power, information and cultural affairs, hill affairs, minority affairs and madrassa education, personnel and administrative reforms. For all the elation about women’s power, her Cabinet has only one other woman — Women and Child Development Minister Sabitri Mitra. Morever, Banerjee’s portfolio allocation has surprised many in the party.

One explanation among party sources is that Banerjee does not want anyone to have too much power. Another is that she doesn’t want anyone to get complacent — handling ministries within their field of expertise would apparently make them. A third explanation is that there is no explanation.

A TMC source puts it best. Rule No. 1: Didi can do no wrong. Rule No. 2: If you think Didi is wrong, see Rule No. 1.

Meanwhile...

The sad thing is AMMA won in a wave. The freebies were not what brought her to power. Yet look at her thought process...

http://profit.ndtv.com/news/show/tamil- ... rly-155254

The free mixers she has promised for all households will involve a cost of around Rs. 3500 crore and grinders for all households will cost another Rs. 3500 crore. Apart from these items, the distribution of fans will cost about Rs. 1000 crore. Furthermore, 20 kg of free rice for the poor will involve around Rs. 400 crore.

The bill for the DMK government’s free colour television scheme involved the distribution of over 1 crore 72 lakh TV sets at a cost of Rs. 3950 crore.

The only ones excited – apart from the voter – are grinder manufacturers.

“Our turnover is around Rs. 50 crore. As the government invites for bids we will also submit the bids. If we are successful it will revive our business altogether and not just our company. Many others in Coimbatore which is the centre for grinder manufacturing will benefit,” said Parimala, MD of PVG Grinder.

Tamil Nadu is already under Rs. 1 lakh crore in debt but fiscal responsibility seems to be the last priority for its political parties.

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 04 Jun 2011 06:25

X-posting from Indian Military Aviation dhaga

Rs 4,000 crore aircraft project HAL plans in Gujarat

link

GANDHINAGAR: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), a government of India public sector undertaking directly operating under the ministry of defence, has shortlisted Gujarat for setting up a Rs 4,000 crore unit for design, development, manufacture, repair and overhaul of aircraft, aero engines and helicopters.

Well-placed sources in the state industries department told TOI on Friday that senior officials of HAL, led by its executive director, Ashok Tandon, met principal secretary, industries, Maheshwar Sahu in Gandhinagar on May 30 and discussed minor details of the project.

"State government officials offered two different locations to the HAL team - Dholera, where a special investment region (SIR) is being set up in Ahmedabad district, and Vadnagar in north Gujarat, which is chief minister Narendra Modi's birthplace.

However, the HAL team expressed its desire to locate its plant at three alternative preferences it has identified -- Dholera, Sanand and Dahej. "Its officials went to these places and have conveyed to us that they will tell us their final location in due course," a senior official said, adding, "It will be a Greenfield project."

HAL's main office is situated in Bangalore, from where the planning chief of the helicopter manufacturing division and head of the finance division also came down to Gandhinagar along with Tandon for talks. "The team told us that it wanted 600 acres of land," the official said, adding,

"When the unit starts operating, initially the HAL plans to go in for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). But it would later diversify into design, development and manufacture of aircraft, aero engines and helicopters."

State officials said, a land site along the northern tip of Dholera SIR can be an "ideal location" for the HAL, as just outside the SIR, the state government plans to set up a new commercial airport, preferably with private help. Also to be a Greenfield project, area for the airport, about 7,500 hectares (ha) of government land, has been set aside off Fedra village, 20 kilometres outside the Dholera SIR boundary. It has received a nod from the Airport Authority of India (AAI).

This is a another major development. Dholera is approx 80-100Km from Ahmedabad where State government is planning Fedara international airport. This falls in DMIC route.

Virupaksha · Post by **Virupaksha** » 04 Jun 2011 06:51

ok this is the same project for which andhra pradesh is in the running.

Kakkaji · Post by **Kakkaji** » 26 Jun 2011 21:59

Bihar to be among Eastern states to usher 2nd green revolution

Marut · Post by **Marut** » 26 Jun 2011 22:16

Welcome back Kakkaji! Glad to see you posting after such long time

Kakkaji · Post by **Kakkaji** » 27 Jun 2011 03:40

Marut wrote:Welcome back Kakkaji! Glad to see you posting after such long time

Thank you, Marutji. I have not been posting, but have been lurking in the shadows.

There is so much gyaan, and so many gyaanis, on BRF these days, I've just been trying to soak up all the wisdom being disseminated.

Airavat · Post by **Airavat** » 07 Jul 2011 06:31

12th Five-Year plan critical for Arunachal:

Sharing some of the problems of the state, he said that difficult terrain combined with a very sparsely distributed population posed a peculiar development challenge. "There are places which require 6 to 8 days of foot-march to reach and where a kg of salt costs Rs 120 and a cement bag up to Rs 4,000. As such development activities in these areas turn out to be costly," he said. "In addition, the minimum population criteria now followed results in a lot of our habitations not benefiting under many centrally sponsored schemes."

He said that the state government has envisaged a capacity addition of 12,086 MW during the 12th plan period through commissioning of 91 hydroelectric projects. The entire potential is expected to be realised by the end of the 14th plan period when the annual accruals by the sale of state's share of free power are expected to be in the range of Rs 10,000 crore. Gamlin, however, pointed that since all the power produced would need to be evacuated to the National Grid through the Siliguri corridor, the transmission system must be looked into seriously.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 07 Jul 2011 07:22

He said that the state government has envisaged a capacity addition of 12,086 MW during the 12th plan period through commissioning of 91 hydroelectric projects. The entire potential is expected to be realised by the end of the 14th plan period when the annual accruals by the sale of state's share of free power are expected to be in the range of Rs 10,000 crore. Gamlin, however, pointed that since all the power produced would need to be evacuated to the National Grid through the Siliguri corridor, the transmission system must be looked into seriously.

Wow. Add to that another 5 GW planned output from sikkim by 2018 and we're looking at a 'power-nagri' Siliguri as a huge T&D hub for the national grid.

Too bad the eastern region is almost barren in heavy industrial terms to consumer even a decent fraction of that kind of power. T&D losses will be huge by the time that power reaches the booming south and west (if it ever reaches there, that is).

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 07 Jul 2011 07:41

HVDC lines have line losses of 7% over 3000 km. Power Grid Corporation is already planning the switch. A single line can carry 7000 MW.

abhischekcc · Post by **abhischekcc** » 08 Jul 2011 14:26

Airavat wrote: Angry people blocked the Jammu-Pathankote National Highway at the main chowk near Bus Stand, Samba and disrupted the movement of traffic for over three hours, in protest against the increasing incidents of smuggling of bovine animals in the area. Nine bovine smugglers were arrested by police from Nud and adjoining areas yesterday on the inputs provided by locals and nearly 54 bovine animals were rescued from the smugglers, all from a particular community.

They said many times same persons were arrested and the same vehicles seized by police but they are easily released. Such identified people be detained under PSA and permit of vehicles be cancelled. They pointed out that smuggling of bovine animals from parts of Jammu for the slaughter houses in Kashmir valley will not be tolerated. The people threatened to intensify the agitation in this regard in Kathua and Jammu as well.

All from a particular community you say, then they won't be punished under this ~~anti-Hindu~~ secular dispenation.

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 05 Aug 2011 04:54

Premier of South Australia state Mike Rann has also visited CM Narendra Modi. Both have expressed interest in co-operating in field of defence. Lets see if NaMo can suck something out of this part of the world too.

South Australia is pretty industrial state and has been home to Holden motors and major Australian defence projects. More info @ defencesa.com

The manufacturing industry plays an important role in South Australia's economy, generating 11.7%[21] of the state's Gross State Product (GSP) and playing a large part in exports. The manufacturing industry consists of automotive (44% of total Australian production, 2006) and component manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, defence technology (2.1% of GSP, 2002–03) and electronic systems (3.0% of GSP in 2006). South Australia's economy relies on exports more than any other state in Australia.[citation needed]

State export earnings stand at A$10 billion worth per year[when?][citation needed] and grew by 8.8% from 2002 to 2003. Production of South Australian food and drink (including agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, fisheries and manufacturing) is a $10 billion industry.[when?][citation needed]

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 16 Aug 2011 10:09

Gujarat alone had a share of 59 per cent of the entire job opportunities created in the country

The six crore people of Gujarat would not tolerate any attempt to defame the State'

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked the critics of the State to stop their vilification campaign and become partners in the progress of the State, and in turn of the country, instead of trying to block the developmental activities.

Speaking after hoisting the national tricolour at Nadiad, the birth place of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, to celebrate the 65th Independence Day, Mr. Modi, without naming the Congress leaders, said the six crore people of Gujarat would not tolerate any attempt to defame the State and advised them not to side with the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre which was leaving no stone unturned to come in the way of Gujarat's progress.

Mr. Modi enumerated the developmental measures being taken in the State, and announced that the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda next year would be celebrated as the “year of the youth power” during which about 25 lakh youths in the State would be provided with training in various professional skills while about 60,000 youths would be employed in the government jobs.

Mr. Modi claimed that Gujarat was the only State which maintained balance between industrial and agricultural growth.

He said that while the growth rate in the agricultural sector in the country had come to a dead stop, for which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too had expressed concern, Gujarat maintained a healthy growth rate of 10 per cent in the last decade in the agricultural sector.

He said it was a known fact that industrial growth tend to stop the agricultural growth, but his government did not allow it to happen in Gujarat. He said even as industries grew in the State, the hard-working farmers in the State succeeded in bringing additional 8,00,000 hectares of land under cultivation in the last decade.

For the women, he said, the government intended to create more income opportunities under its “Mission Mangalam” which already was providing an additional income of over Rs. 1,000 through some two lakh “Sakhi Mandalis” formed by rural women.

Strongly criticizing those who were opposing industrialization in the State, Mr. Modi said that even in the creation of job opportunities through industrial development, the State was far ahead of all other States in the country.

According to him, Gujarat alone had a share of 59 per cent of the entire job opportunities created in the country while all other States together had the share of the remaining 41 per cent.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/oth ... 359082.ece

krisna · Post by **krisna** » 18 Aug 2011 06:17

Maharashtra village turns to Gujarat

Frustrated at the lack of development and infrastructure, a village in Maharashtra tries to shame the state government into action

On 30 April, the eve of Maharashtra Day, the village of Vairagadh in Buldhana district of the state held a meeting of the gram sabha (village administration). Tired of waiting for the government to deliver basic infrastructure and services, the villagers decided to take matters into their hands. They wrote a letter, not to their local leaders or even to the state government, but to Narendra Modi, chief minister of the neighbouring state of Gujarat.

Vairagadh is not a border town, but lies right in the middle of the state, at the western edge of the Vidarbha region, which has become notorious for its farmer suicides. It is a poor region, and although it provides an estimated two-thirds of Maharashtra’s mineral resources and is a net producer of power, many villages have limited access to electricity as well as water. Despite media attention, a state sponsored relief package of Rs1,075 crore, and a visit by the Prime Minister in 2006 (during which he announced an additional Rs3,750 crore relief), the suicides continued.