Census 2011 -Population growth rate finally drops

Posted on September 13, 2011 by SRRF

India’s population of 1.21 billion is 17.5 % of World Population.

During the decade 2001-11 it has grown at 17.64%. This decadal growth rate is almost 4% (3.9% to be exact) less than the decadal growth of 21.54% during 1991-2001.

The six most populous states (UP, Maharashtra, Bihar, WB, AP & MP) all have shown healthy decline in their respective growth rates. In fact as many as 25 states have shown annual growth rates of 2% or less, while 15 of them have shown annual growth rate of 1.5% or below. Considering that only 4 states during 1991-2001 recorded less than 1.5% annual growth rate, this is a significant improvement.
____________________________________

Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

Posted in Census | 2 Comments

Appointment of Transparency Officers in each Ministry

Posted on September 12, 2011 by SRRF
Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed GoI to appoint Transparency Officers in each ministry who will serve as nodal officer between the CIC and the ministry. Further it will be the task of these officers to ensure implementation of Section 4 of the RTI Act.

The relevant section imposes a number of responsibilities on each public office / department to maintain and disclose official records in a manner that it enhances transparency in the public office. Appointment of a nodal officer would bring better accountability at the Dept. / Ministry for ownership of RTI provisions.

Presently only 170 of 1,847 public authorities have designated transparency officer in their offices.

____________________________________

Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in
Posted in Accountability, Transparency | 1 Comment

Right to Education – Progress Card

Posted on September 10, 2011 by SRRF

There is no doubt that country has made a good progress in enhancing literacy in the country. As per Census 2011 the literacy rate has gone up by almost 10% to 74.04 % from 64.83% in 2001.

It is hoped that RTE will give further impetus to this literacy drive, since the last mile is the most difficult one. It’s been a year the Right to Education Act (RTE) was enforced on 01 April, 2010.

Progress Card

Bright side

27 States announce no-detention policy
28 ban corporal punishment
26 scrap exams to elementary level
18 ban private tuitions
18 ban screening procedure

Flip side

21% teachers sans qualification
9 % schools have single teachers
Only 41 % primary schools have 40:1 as pupil-teacher ratio

Some of the immediate areas where possibilities of improvement exist:

– Only 10 States have notified the rules for implementation of RTE Act. 15 States have only managed to prepare drafts rules so far. Others need to follow suit.

– Only 11 States have set up the State Commission for Child Protection Rights (SCPCR), which will operate as grievance redressal authority.

– According to 2009-10 data compiled by the Ministry of HRD, total enrolment at the primary level is 133 million. But there are still 8 million children, aged between 6-14 years ‘out of schools’.

____________________________________

Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

Posted in Education | 1 Comment

Census 2011

Posted on September 9, 2011 by SRRF

Some of the pertinent information as per Census 2011 provisional:

Population                            : 1.2 billion (2001: 1.02 billion) 

(121,01,93,422 to be exact)
2011 2001
  • Decadal Growth          :
 17.64% 21.54%
  • Rural                             :
 68.84% 72.19%
  • Sex Ratio                      :
    • Rural              :
    • Urban             :
 940/1000 

947

926

 933/1000 

946

900
  • Child Sex Ratio           :

(0-6 years)

    • Rural              :
    • Urban
 914/1000 

 

919

902

 927/1000
  • Literacy Rate                :
 74.04% 64.83%
  • Female Literacy           :
 65.46% 53.67%

State-wise data chart is attached for information.

____________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

 

 


As mentioned the data is provisional as it is yet to be validated for omissions / duplications
Posted in Census | Comments Off on Census 2011

Population Density – How it has Impacted Northeast Delhi: Most densely populated

Posted on September 9, 2011 by SRRF

As per 2011 census district of North-East Delhi has highest population density of 37,346 persons per sq km – a whopping 37% increase since 2001 census. The gravity of situation becomes more alarming when considered with some other areas:

North-East District of Delhi 37346 per sq km
Delhi 11297
Bihar 1102
(Most populous state after Delhi)
India 382

It is obvious that such a huge population in this district is mainly because of availability of cheap accommodation for migrant population, who are regularly coming to Delhi in search of jobs. No planning or little governance in the small alleys of the district have resulted even in small plots of 12 or 20 sq yards (meters) being converted into 3 and sometimes even 5 stories buildings. Each floor having 1 or 2 rooms. Sometimes even landlords are the poor migrants themselves who have constructed extra floors to enhance their income.

Is this a massive Lalita Park tragedy in making? Some of the members of the SRRF Dialogue may remember that a 5-storey building in Lalita Park in East Delhi collapsed killing 67 in November last year. Last year after heavy rains, large parts of East Delhi (which is on the down-side of the Yamuna river) particularly lower lying areas had problems as water level was rising impacting foundations of several buildings in these areas. Are large parts of East Delhi and North East Delhi moving into the directions of Lalita Park tragedy? Hope not. But we will have some answers when an Enquiry Commission, which is surveying the both the Districts ( a gigantic task by itself) comes out with its findings.

Apart from the safety issue such congestion makes even the ‘basic amenities’ as ‘scarce commodities’. Resulting in squalor, lack of hygiene, frequent outbreaks of infectious diseases, lack of sensitivity to others among the residents, and what not. Very frankly it is an economic issue and of course lack of governance. Solutions possibly not in our life-time.

Chart of populations of Delhi districts based on provisional figures of 2011 census is given below.

____________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

 

 

 

 

Posted in Urban Governance | Comments Off on Population Density – How it has Impacted Northeast Delhi: Most densely populated

Transfer of FC money outside India

Posted on September 7, 2011 by SRRF

Dear Friends,

I am facing a practical problem. We have recently signed an agreement with EU for a 5 year project. As part of the project proposal we had included GUES, Denmark as one of the partners (In EU language, it is associate) in the project.

1. Can CWS transfer FC funds received in India to GUES?

2. What are the FCRA implications to this?

I would request your feedback on this.

Thanks and regards,
______________________

B V Soma Sastry
Centre for World Solidarity
12-13-438, Street No. 1, Tarnaka
Secunderabad 500 017
Andhra Pradesh
www.cwsy.org

Posted in FCRA, TAX, LEGAL | 9 Comments

CSR and Brand Building

Posted on September 7, 2011 by SRRF
Amid increasing focus on business transparency, a recent survey undertaken by KPMG called ‘India Corporate Responsibility Survey 2011’ indicates that only 16% of the top 100 listed companies in India have a corporate responsibility strategy in place. The global scenario is much brighter, as 73 % of the world’s 250 largest companies have defined objectives, 65 % have key performance indicators related to set objectives and around 60 % report on such identified indicators.

Some of the corporate are now realizing the importance of brand building of the company by integrating it with CSR. For example, Mahindra Group plan is to mould the image of its company as a purpose-driven and socially responsible firm. Mahindra will give away 48 grants totalling Rs 4 crore as seed capital. It has been advertising the initiative, which it says is more a corporate brand initiative than a CSR one. TATA steel also recently released an ad campaign that talks about its values and brings to fore its CSR initiative to empower women and communities.

This trend of demonstrating that the brand is socially responsible is an important development. It is an opportunity for the sector as it can work with the corporate sector on how to make its programmes relevant both socially and help in enhancing the Social Brand Capital of the company. Those companies that authentically and deeply tie their social causes to the essence of their brand will be the winners.

It may be of interest to note that the government, which had been trying to make it compulsory for Indian corporate to spend 2% of net profits on CSR also dropped the idea in mid-July and made the spending voluntary.

____________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

Posted in Corporate Governance | 1 Comment

Making ”Smoking Ban” more effective

Posted on September 6, 2011 by SRRF
A few days earlier a Post was shared on Global strategy for curbing use of tobacco products. Ban on public smoking is one major component of this strategy. In this post we share how this legal recourse is panning out in Delhi. It may be noted that the Courts are taking active interest in enforcing this ban.

In an affidavit in a PIL (filed by NGO World Lung Foundation’s South Asia chapter) Delhi Govt stated that more than 16000 persons were fined  during 2010 for smoking in public places, this was more than three times compared to 2007 when around 5900 were fined. These persons paid fines to the tune of Rs 36.7 lakh.

Delhi Govt also prosecuted 2700 vendors for selling tobacco, etc. within 100 meters of a school, college.

The Govt. also informed that to make the ban more effective, schools and colleges have been asked to appoint nodal officers to enforce the ban.

One can understand that the task of implementing a smoking ban is gigantic, perhaps a more rigorous awareness campaign against smoking in public and effect of indirect smoke inhalation would be more appropriate.

____________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
Website:www.srr-foundation.org

Posted in Health | 1 Comment

Right to Recall Elected Representatives

Posted on September 5, 2011 by SRRF

Anna Hazare has recently reignited the debate of Right to Recall elected candidates. This demand was first given out by Jayaprakash Narayan in mid-seventies. However the process to recall the elected candidates did not progress much despite the Janta Govt. coming into being. However rather than going into rights and wrongs of the same, it may be more relevant to consider practicality of implementing any such legislation.

Bihar has recently proposed legislation for recall of councilors if 2/3rd of the registered voters sign a petition and submit the same to the Urban Development Dept. of the state, the Dept. would take necessary steps to remove the councilors. A present legislation already exists, which allows removal of a councilor if 2/3rd fellow councilors sign a petition in this regard.

In Chattisgarh process can be initiated only after a councilor has completed a minimum of 2 years. 3/4th of the councilors need to right to District Adm. (DA) asking for the councilors recall. Once DA recommends the case to the state election commission, it holds a confidence vote in the constituency and if the majority votes against the councilor s/he is removed. At least 3 Presidents of Municipal Councils have been removed using this process. The process also applies to Head of Panchayats in the State.

Some of the arguments against recall while this may be feasible in small constituencies how will genuineness of the signatures in large constituencies will be verified, where the number of voters is very large. Second, often the governments have to take unpopular decisions; such a law would make parties shy away from taking such decisions affecting the governance processes.

On a connected issue we provide you here with a link to a website which provides financial, educational & criminal background of all the candidates standing for an election. http://myneta.info/ls2009/

____________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
Posted in Accountability | 1 Comment

Controlling spread of Tobacco to reduce Death & Suffering

Posted on September 3, 2011 by SRRF

Tobacco is one of the largest killers. Globally nearly 6 million people die each year from its use and exposure and could reach 8 million by 2030. WHO which is spearheading the fight against Tobacco, it has developed Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2005. The convention has been signed by 172 member states.

The convention includes provisions for reducing demand as well as supply of tobacco products. It has catalysed actions across the globe and elevated the importance of tobacco control as a global health issue. It has stimulated policy changes at the national levels and brought new public and private resources and also helping financially low & middle income level countries.

9 countries, including India, have formulated comprehensive national laws to implement the provisions of the Framework Convention. These laws include banning smoking in public places, prohibiting tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotions enhancing the warnings of the packs of tobacco products.

India and Thailand have shown innovative ways of financing campaigns against tobacco use. While Thailand uses 2% of its tobacco and alcohol tax for health promotion, India is using 10% cess on tobacco products for financing NRHM. India which was ranked low in health warnings has recently started working on making these warnings more strong using pictures as well as increasing the size of such displays. However GoI which allocates only around Rs 50 lakhs annually for campaigns against tobacco use could certainly do more.


____________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation
(A Non Government Organisation)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
Tele/Fax: +91-11-25821088, 25817157, 25722044
Posted in Health | Comments Off on Controlling spread of Tobacco to reduce Death & Suffering