BATTLEGROUND TAMIL NADU

MANIFESTO: TOOL FOR POPULISM & VOTER BRIBING

Parties Have Turned The Document Promising Infrastructural Change Into Lure For Voters

Jaya.Menon@timesgroup.com  21.03.2019

Tamil Nadu politicians can be credited with many things – the noon meal scheme, free rice and loads of goodies for the poor. It was former chief ministers M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa who first rolled out promises that seemed incredible, even impossible. Packaged in poll manifestos that are meant to showcase policies and people’s aspirations in the runup to elections, they are now tools for competitive populism.

Rivals outdo each other their offers of freebies and doles, some of which remain unfulfilled. Over the years, since the 2006 assembly elections to be precise, the AIADMK and the DMK have honed populism to a fine art of voter bribing. Manifestos are meant to be promises to provide basic infrastructure and jobs in return for votes, a carefully prepared and crowdsourced wish list. But political parties, especially those in Tamil Nadu, are crafting manifestos that are, voter inducements.

“Earlier, political leaders prepared manifestos that were not so long. It had a crisp text of their ideologies to promote Tamil culture and language,” said former state Congress leader and likely Trichy candidate S Thirunavukkarasar. The clarion calls for Dravida Naadu and secessionism too found their way into manifestos. But, for today’s politicians, they are commercial channels to lure voters. So much so, the public declarations of free colour TVs, grinders, mixers or ceiling fans are now critical to a party’s campaign strategy.

The Election Commission of India, the poll watchdog, has been a helpless spectator. “Many ar-reaching changes have been initiated only by the Supreme Court. The problem is there is no adjudicating body in the election process,” said former CEC N Gopalaswami. For long the SC has been asking for the freebie culture to be stopped. In 2013, the apex court, while pointing out that since there was no enactment that “directly governed” the contents of the manifesto, the EC should frame guidelines for such legislation in consultation with all recognized parties. It said a set of guidelines for preparing a manifesto should be included in the Model Code of Conduct.

Three years later for the May 2016 assembly election, Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK got away with an overdose of populism in its manifesto. It promised waiver of all farm loans, free laptops with internet for Class X and XII students, 50% subsidy for two-wheelers for women and one sovereign gold to brides and free cellphones for all ration card holders.

A few days after the election which AIADMK won, the EC issued show-cause notices to the party and its rival DMK, seeking an explanation for not complying with its guidelines, the rationale behind the promises made in their manifestos and “to indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirement”. The EC found their replies unsatisfactory. “They are not mere freebies. Whatever we promise is within the budgetary allocation. All the finances are worked out carefully,” said DMK spokesman and Rajya Sabha member T K S Elangovan.

The manifesto committees of political parties claim to get inputs from various sectors. “It is supposed to be a feedback from the people,” said Thirunavukkarasar. But thanks to the magnanimity of the DMK’s 2006 manifesto for the assembly election, freebies are now par for the course. “Voters are also to be blamed. Those who don’t need it are the first to stand in the queue,” said Gopalaswami.

But professor M Vijayabaskar of Madras Institute of Development Studies had a different take on the bulging basket of goodies that are dangled before the voter. “Tamil Nadu has been growing as per all indices, so spending on freebies is not really a waste of money,” said the professor. “Many of the state’s welfare schemes have accounted for 45% of poverty eradication in rural areas shows the human development report five years ago,” he said. This, he said, has not hindered its development in any way.

The SC, while pointing to the need for a separate law to govern political parties, however, observed that freebies “shake the root of free and fair elections to a large degree”. But, there’s no stopping the parties. On Wednesday, the ruling AIADMK did it again, promising a ₹1,500 dole for the poor.

BOUQUET OF GOODIES:

Former chief minister J Jayalalithaa distributes fans and grinders in 2011

‘This election is all about money’

Times of India 21.03.2019
A medical practitioner and pioneer in vanilla cultivation, Pollachibased R Mahendran, for years, had been glued to agriculture, promoting contract farming and helping people find markets for their produce across the globe. Now, as vicepresident of actor Kamal Haasan’s fledgling political party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), he speaks to D Govardan about his strategy for the electoral battle ahead. Excerpts:

From a medical practitioner involved in farming to politics – what enticed you to make the shift?

Inside four walls, one can remain happy and contended if self-sufficient. Once you step out, if you have any concern for society, you find a lot of things that have to be set right. In business, we call it corporate social responsibility. Likewise, there is individual social responsibility. But you need the right vehicle, right people and the right platform to do that. Kamal sir is a great leader with a great vision. In his party, I found an opportunity to serve society.

Is the MNM the right vehicle?

It is a great vehicle. Though I have been with it from the beginning, I was just an ordinary member. After becoming a functionary and getting involved in implementing the vision, I regret that I could not start it earlier. There is passion to work, right from the top to the grassroots. Many are salaried, earning just about ₹10,000 a month.

What does the MNM stand for?

We are here to bring about a change. One can write books on the muchneeded change. Every sector, whether it be industry or agriculture or health care, needs change. Tell me about one vertical that is good in the country. Some make comparisons between states to claim that one is better than the other. It is like an African country claiming it is not the poorest, most corrupt and most impoverished.

Does the MNM have a grassroots network to reach out to people?

Of course, we have. Our decision to contest polls was taken after hours of analyzing our strengths in each district. There are 3.85 lakh streets in Tamil Nadu and we have more than four lakh functionaries. We have achieved our target of having one functionary in every street.

Is money going to play a major role in this election?

If there is an agreement among all of us, it is on that one thing. This election is all about money. What a shame! That is the level the two major parties have brought this state to. Their alliance talks were also conducted like business deals. It makes the MNM look better in the eyes of the people, because we will never do such things. But for our presence, the scenario would have looked worse. This is our biggest contribution.

With two strong alliances, will the MNM end up fighting for a 5% vote share?

No. We are aiming for much more. We want to win seats and not just keep looking at percentage of vote share. Of course, political analysts say that achieving 5% is great. That, anyway, is not difficult to achieve.

Email your feedback to southpole.toi @timesgroup.com

R Mahendran, vice-president of MNM

Anna univ fires 37 zonal staff for exam malpractice

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.03.2019

Anna University has fired 37 temporary staff for exam malpractice.

Earlier this year, allegations pertaining to malpractice in semester exams conducted in November/December 2017 surfaced. After receiving similar complaints during subsequent arrear exams in February/ March 2018, the university formed a committee to probe the issue. The committee found that students and faculty members colluded with staff at zonal offices to take out answer scripts.

Each candidate had paid ₹15,000 to ₹40,000 for the scripts to zonal office staff, the committee said in its report.

Answer scripts of the students who had paid the sum were taken out from the bundle and the students or someone entrusted by them were allowed to write on them outside the exam hall. Later, the same was inserted back into the bundle before being sent for evaluation.

This game usually happened a day or two after payment is received. The money was shared among staff, the committee said. Based on this report, the university syndicate fired 37 zonal office staff.

Last year, former controller of examinations S Uma was suspended for her alleged involvement in the re-evaluation scam.

But no action was taken against top officials this time and only peon, clerical assistants and drivers from Madurai, Salem and other zones are in the line of fire.

4 yrs on, accident victim gets STC bus, no relief

Insurance Cess Fund Launched In 2018 Lies Idle

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:21.03.2019

“What will I do with a seized government bus?” asked T Gowthami, daughter of 45-yearold Govindammal who lost one of her legs in an accident involving a government bus four years ago.

Despite a direction from the motor vehicle accident tribunal, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC), Villupuram, has refused to pay the ₹20 lakh compensation to Govindammal.

The order specified that the bus be seized and returned only after the victim received the compensation. After five failed attempts, the victim’s family was finally allowed to seize the bus this week.

“I had to sell my jewellery to pay ₹10,000 for parking the bus at a private site till I receive the compensation amount,” said Gowthami. She was to get married in early 2015. But, when her mother Govindammal was hit by a government bus plying towards Ponneri, her plans were put on hold.

A tailor, Govindammal could not work after the accident and the family’s financial burden fell on Gowthami’s shoulders. She found employment at a local petrol bunk for a monthly salary of ₹11,000. After work, she had to shuttle between the court, police station, hospital and TNSTC office to get the accident compensation so her mother could get a prosthetic leg. “The one she uses now causes frequent infections,” she said, expecting a response from TNSTC Villupuram. General manager of the corporation Ganesan refused to comment.

This is not an isolated case. At least 6,700 were killed and 8,000 suffered injuries in accidents involving government buses over the last five years.

Advocates V S Suresh and Dhivakar said there was no point in seizing government buses as it is almost impossible to resell them or obtain permits to operate them. To expedite the accident claim settlement, the government in January 2018 began collecting an accident cess from all passengers. According to official data, more than ₹30 crore has been collected as cess every month. Consumer rights’ activist K Kathirmathiyon said, “RTI replies show that not a single accident victim in Coimbatore received compensation from the corpus fund created using cess. No one monitors this fund.”

“Victims have a long wait despite cess collection as transport corporations go on appeals and finally release compensations only in installments,” Suresh added.

17 dists get drought-hit tag ahead of TN polls
State & Central Aid May Follow

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:21.03.2019

Bracing itself for a drinking water crisis this summer, the Tamil Nadu government has declared 17 districts, including Chennai and neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, and 38 blocks in seven other districts as drought-hit.

These districts recorded deficit rainfall ranging between 19% and 59% last year. The four reservoirs that supply drinking water to Chennai have a combined storage of only 17% and water supply has been erratic in several places across the city. Dharmapuri tops the list in water shortage, followed by Krishnagiri with 57% and Chennai 55%.

Revenue and disaster management department had issued the order just ahead of poll notification on March 10. “The declaration of drought is a prerequisite for central and state governments announcing relief for the affected, and waiver of crop loan in cooperative banks,” revenue minister R B Udayakumar told TOI.

‘Drinking water supply can become precarious’

The declaration reveals a sense of urgency on the part of ruling AIADMK, which is confronted with the challenges of poor supply of drinking water in rural and urban areas of the poll-bound state. Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had sanctioned in January ₹158 crore to Metrowater and Twad to tackle the summer water crisis.

The rainfall received during southwest and northeast monsoons ensures recharging of groundwater and replenishing of sources of water supply schemes. They ensure sufficient supply until next year’s northeast monsoon. But the deficiency of rainfall forced the government to declare hydrological drought (shortage of water resources) in Karur, Salem, Vellore, Trichy, Perambalur, Tiruvallur, Namakkal, Virudhunagar, Kancheepuram, Madurai, Dindigul, Erode, Pudukottai and Sivaganga districts.

While northeast rainfall was normal last year in seven districts, including Thanjavur, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Ramanthapuram, annual rainfall deficiency was reported in 38 blocks. “As a result, the surface water and groundwater resources are fast depleting and the districts/ blocks are already experiencing drinking water problems. They would be affected further due to drought in the ensuing summer,” the commissioner of revenue administration said in a communication to the government. The block-wise assessment was done based on the seasonal rainfall of more than 10 to 15 years.

The rural development has indicated that14,333 habitations will be affected in March this year, 20,212 in April and another 25,993 in May. “We have declared hydrological drought in districts where drinking water can become precarious. Issues may arise depending on whether we receive rainfall in the coming monsoon. We have summer rains as well. So the situation has to be watched very closely by the districts concerned,” said a senior revenue official.

Stillborn’s head severed during delivery at PHC

Pushpa Narayan & A Selvaraj TNN

Chennai:21.03.2019

The head of a fetus got separated, leaving the rest of the body in the mother’s womb, when a staff nurse and midwives at a primary health centre at Koovathur near Chennai attempted to facilitate a natural delivery on Wednesday. Doctors said the fetus had been dead in the womb for at least 48 hours and that the “accidental decapitation” could have happened because it was underweight, undernourished and macerated.

The 26-year-old mother, Bommi T, was rushed to the government Chengalpet Medical College and Hospital with the rest of the fetus stuck inside her body. Doctors there removed the fetus.

Earlier this year, the head of a fetus was stuck in a womb of a mother in Rajasthan. Medical literature shows a similar case in a London hospital, where an Indian doctor working for the NHS, was suspended for accidental decapitation. “The fetus was alive in both these cases when the women went into labour. But in Koovathur, the fetus was dead,” said Dr Kumutha, national health mission consultant and neonatologist, who has been assigned to probe the case.

“The fetus did not have skin on some parts of the body. We don’t yet know if there were any congenital or genetic disorders. Since the fetus was tiny, doctors managed to save the mother,” Dr Kumutha said.

WOMAN STABLE

No docs at PHC, allege kin, authorities blame poor health of woman

The condition of mother, wife of a daily-wage labourer Thiyagarajan, is stable.Hospitaldean Dr Usha Sadasivam said, “The mother is very weak. She is anaemic and underweight. We are monitoring her closely.” Bommi’s relatives, meanwhile, protested outside the hospital and lodged a complaint with the Koovathur Police station alleging medical negligence.Her uncleDDhanushsaid nurses ignored her requests for pain relief and went ahead with a vaginal delivery. “There were no doctors at the PHC. They should have referred her to a bigger hospital,” he said.

Bommi, who was in the 36th weekof pregnancy,had movedto her mother’s place in Koovathur from Tiruvallur on Monday. She came to the PHC at 6.30am with labour pain on Wednesday. She told the nurse that she had been experiencing “watery discharge”for nearly a day.“Her water broke and fluid had been draining for nearly a day. She was in active labour and tests showed absence of fetal heartbeat. There was no time. Nurses informed the family of her condition and rushed her to the labour ward because the fetus was already crowning,” said deputy director of health service Dr V K Palani.“Anydelaycouldhaveled to maternal death,” he said.

The PHC, which has about five beds and a labour ward, had three staff nurses on duty at that time. Director of Public health Dr K Kolandaisamy said Bommi had told doctors that she conceived this baby two months after an abortion. “The gap between the pregnancies is too short. She gainedjust6kg during her pregnancy. The fetus weighed1.4kg againsttheexpected weight of at least 2.7kg. The umbilical cord was narrowed  with depleting nutrition supply. The placenta was less than half the required weight,” he said.

The inquiry panel has suggested postmortem on the fetus. Meanwhile, based on the complaint of relatives, the Koovathur police registered a case of unnatural death. Police conducted inquiries with staff nurse Muthukumari. “She has told us that alldecisionsweretaken basedon instructionsfrom duty doctor Dr Arulmozhi. Bommi had to be shifted out of the PHC before the doctor could arrive. Investigations are on,” the police said.

Man runs fake diploma institute, held

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.03.2019

Police arrested a 42-year-old man for running a fake diploma institute and cheating youngsters to the tune of ₹40 lakh on Wednesday. The arrested suspect, K Thirugnanam, was remanded in Puzhal prison later in the day.

The bogus institute was exposed after one of the duped students, T Sandhya, 18, of Avadi, lodged a police complaint against Thirugnanam.

Police said Thirugnanam rented a building in Chepauk and ran a polytechnic institute from it for the past three months. He had not obtained permission from the government agencies concerned to run the institute. “He had advertised in a few vernacular newspapers about his institute and believing his attractive offers and promise of diploma, jobs, at least 40 students approached him,” a police officer said. Thirugnanam collected ₹40,000 from each student for course material.

Though daily classes were scheduled, the students were left idle most days. When questioned about the classes, Thirugnanam said teachers did not turn up, police quoted the complainant as saying. Following this, the student lodged a complaint.