6 POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS Sunday BusinessStandard STAY UPDATED THROUGH THE DAY, VISIT WWW.BUSINESS-STANDARD.COM MUMBAI, 27 NOVEMBER 2011 Will do the job faster than MAYA SLAMS RAHUL OVER FDI UIDAI, says NPR Says Centre’s move will benefit Gandhi and his foreign cronies; won’t allow Walmart in UP SREELATHA MENON BS REPORTER to brahmins till now, compared New Delhi, 26 November HOW THEY COMPARE New Delhi, 26 November to Congress’ 13. In the 2007 NATIONAL POPULATION UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION elections, it gave tickets to 85 THE National Population Reg- REGISTER AUTHORITY OF INDIA ahujan Samaj Party brahmins, 45 of whom won. In ister (NPR) under the Registrar Data collected so far: Data collected so far: (BSP) supremo and the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, General of India, which is com- 7.5 million people 140 million people UP Chief Minister 19 brahmins got BSP tickets, peting with the Unique Identi- UID numbers issued: UID numbers issued: B Mayawati today vi- seven of whom won. fication Authority of India 150,000 70 million ciously attacked Rahul Gand- Conscious of the fact that (UIDAI) for getting the rights Main partners: Main partners hi, the Congress’ poster boy in BSP is the chief opposition in for full enrolment (collection of Central PSUs: Coastal districts, All states the upcoming state elections, the state, Rahul Gandhi has data) of the population for issu- Nagaland,Manipur, Delhi and UTs Deadline for country-wide alleging the move to allow for- been chipping away at her vote ing unique identification num- Department of Information data collection and issual of eign direct investment (FDI) in bank. Highlighting the rampant bers, has set a target of Decem- Technology: Other states numbers: 2017 retail would only benefit Rahul corruption in the state, he said ber 2012 for completing the Deadline for countrywide Gandhi and his foreign cronies. yesterday, “An elephant in Luc- task, five years earlier than biometric scan: December 2012 As the upper caste vote in know is eating up the central UIDAI Chairman Nandan the state appears to be unde- funds.” Nilekani’s deadline. cided as yet, Mayawati’s firm Giving example of Con- For the NPR, the task is eas- manual data entry, biometric who don’t get paid by anyone, championing of traders’ inter- gress-ruled states, Rahul said ier than UIADAI. The former enrolment, consolidation of both changing rules to allow NPR to ests and the implications of that while they were progress- has already collected the citi- data and deliver it to the Regis- accept data collected by outside cronyism is seen as an astute ing, people from UP were zen’s basic data in the first trar General of India for further agencies, to stop NPR from tak- political move to broaden her forced to go to states like Ma- round it undertook this year de-duplication and assigning of ing biometric data, and lastly, support among the upper caste, harashtra, Haryana, Punjab along with the Census. UID numbers. to let it do the entire enrolment including brahmins. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s championing of traders’ interests is seen as an astute and Delhi for work. Ridiculing What remains to be done are DIT has nominated the Na- after UID completes its allotted Significantly, Rahul Gand- political move to broaden her support among the upper caste, including brahmins. PHOTO: REUTERS Mayawati’s luxurious lifestyle the citizen’s biometric and iris tional Institute of Electronics share of 200 million enrolments. hi’s repeated assertions of ram- in contrast to his close interac- scans. With just 2,500 equip- and Information Technology According to NPR sources, pant corruption in UP during ing the government move to per- as it may turn out to be a crucial include the wealthy Agarwals, tion with the “aam admi” in UP, ment, NPR has covered 7.5 mil- (formerly, DOEACC Society) as the first won’t work as registrar his ongoing jan sampark yatra mit multi-brand FDI as “anti- deciding factor. Maheshwaris and brahmins and he said, “Present day politicians lion citizens so far. It would need its nodal implementing agency agencies like banks, phone com- appeared to be aimed at under- people”, she said her govern- Hitting out at Rahul Gand- have a clear hold over big cities do not visit villages, eat with the another 20,000 instruments to for executing the NPR project. panies and gas agencies would mining Mayawati’s appeal ment would not allow it in UP, hi, who has been making fre- such as Kanpur, Banaras, Luc- people and drink water from cover the entire population. Work for biometric enrol- not be interested in enrolling among dalits — the BSP’s loyal adding that she would not allow quent inroads into what she per- know and Meerut. Her appeal their wells and, therefore, are While work on demograph- ment would start in February people without an incentive. vote bank. At present, the fight Walmart to come to the state. ceives as ‘her state’, Mayawati lies to this segment. unaware about the problems of ic data digitization and capture and conclude in December “Which bank would go in- in UP appears to be poised be- The brahmin vote bank con- said, “With the UP assembly Mayawati’s recent recom- the public.” of biometric data for 13 coastal 2012, NPR sources said. NPR side villages to enrol people if tween Rahul and Mayawati, stitutes 16 per cent of the UP elections nearing, Congress ‘yu- mendation to the Centre, urg- A stung Mayawati today shot states/union territories, Ma- enrolment was underway in 44 they are not its customers?,” with both trying to outdo each electorate. In the last Assem- vraj’ (Rahul), in a bid to benefit ing for reservation to the poor back, “As the Congress ‘yuvraj’ nipur, Nagaland and Delhi has districts currently, officials said. asks an official. other in reaching out to their bly polls in 2007, Mayawati had the companies of his foreign among the upper castes, is also was brought up and educated been entrusted to a consortium The Cabinet Committee on States won’t get volunteers captive vote banks. attracted the brahmins in a big friends, is indulging into dra- aimed at this section. in a foreign country, his mind- of public sector undertakings UIDAI is expected to decide the to conduct enrolments if there While the dalit vote is con- way, something she is trying to matics to bring his party in pow- At a Brahmin Samaj con- set is that of a foreigner. There- comprising Bharat Electronics, future course of action on en- is no money involved, they solidated behind Mayawati, the repeat this time too. The Mus- er”. She further alleged that the vention earlier this month, the fore, whenever he comes to UP, Electronics Corporation of In- rolment. The deputy chairman point out. UP chief minister today seized lim vote is likely to be split be- decision on FDI was taken to BSP chief said she had given a he brings along his foreign dia and ITI Ltd, the rest of the of the Planning Commission The proposal is currently the opportunity to send out a tween the BSP, Samajwadi Par- benefit the companies of these large number of tickets to brah- friends on a leisure trip and, for country is being covered by the had written to Prime Minister with the PM and the Cabinet strong message to the upper ty and Congress. Both the BSP foreigners and to make them mins, unlike other parties. For entertainment, takes them to Department of Information Manmohan Singh, saying he committee on UIDAI is ex- caste traders — banias and and Congress are trying to billionaires. the forthcoming assembly elec- the huts of poor people to mock Technology (DIT). could consider four options: A pected to take a decision on who brahmins — in the state. Brand- reach out to the brahmin vote Traders and retailers in UP tions, BSP has given 104 tickets their poverty.” DIT would undertake the model of multiple registrars should ultimately do the job. BJP states need not follow Jairam turns to CAG for help on NREGA Centre’s FDI norms: Gadkari SREELATHA MENON November 14. Claiming that less than that prescribed un- New Delhi, 23 November NREGA was in good health in der state schemes. “This BS REPORTER UP, Mayawati had accused THE BIG SPENDERS amounts to higher financial New Delhi, 26 November IN a move most ministries Ramesh of indulging in poli- (in `crore) „ 2009-10 „ 2010-11 outflow from the Central ex- What suits the US, Aus may not would shy away from, Rural tics in light of the coming As- Uttar Pradesh 5,900 chequer compared to what it IN a major move opposing Development Minister Jairam sembly elections. 5,631 would have been if similar foreign direct investment be ideal for India: Naidu Ramesh has written to the In his letter to the CAG, quantum of work would have (FDI) in the retail sector, the Comptroller and Auditor Gen- Ramesh has listed multiple Andhra Pradesh 4,509 been done under any of the Bharatiya Janata Party THE BJP will block any government move, either in Par- eral (CAG) of India, request- channels through which mon- 5,439 state’s schemes.” (BJP) leadership has said liament or in any other way, aimed at facilitating FDI in- ing him for a performance and ey has been lost between the Madhya Pradesh 3,722 The other method of diver- governments of BJP-ruled to the country's retail sector, senior party leader M Venka- financial audit of the National Centre and the NREGA bene- 3,637 sion is most rampant in the states were not bound to fol- iah Naidu said in Hyderabad on Saturday. Rural Employment Guaran- ficiaries. north east, Ramesh writes. low the Centre’s latest norms “The entry of FDI into retail sector will not only ruin tee scheme (NREGA), the Giving the example of Rajasthan 5,669 States pay people on a time- 3,289 on multi-brand and single- millions of smaller kirana shops in the country but also most heavily funded flagship Andhra Pradesh, he said an rate basis, or minimum wages brand retail. ruin the lives of the millions of small and marginal farm- scheme of the UPA govern- additional `500 crore had been Bihar 1,816 paid for working for eight Supporting the nationwide ers,” Naidu said while terming the Centre’s decision to al- ment. billed to the Centre, citing man 2,664 hours, rather than for com- call for bandh given by trad- low 51 per cent FDI into multi-brand retail “suicidal”. The minister has written to days given to the workers even Karnataka 2,739 pleting a certain amount of er associations and social or- According to him, over 60 per cent of land holdings in CAG Vinod Rai, who was re- after they had completed the 2,537 work per day, as is done in ganisations to protest against the country were around 2.5-5 acres, highlighting the fact cently criticised by Prime 100 days mandated by the Act. most states. The measurement the decision, the party would that most of these land holders were dependent on sub- Minister Manmohan Singh for Under NREGA, a worker West Bengal 2,108 of work has been a major cause urge all opposition parties and sistence farming. calling frequent press confer- is entitled to only 100 days of 2,532 for delay in payments and ac- allies of the ruling United Pro- “The vegetables, pulses and other food items produced ences on policy issues. paid work each year. Howev- Tamil Nadu 1,761 tivist Jean Dreze has been gressive Alliance (UPA) to by farmers are consumed by themselves and fellow rural Addressed to “My dear er, the state has allowed peo- 2,323 pushing the time rate-model come out in support. folk within villages. If the MNCs enter the retail business, Vinod”, the letter is a plea for ple to work for more days and Chattisgarh 1,322 for the whole country. Citing “The BJP-ruled states are village people also would be subjected to buy these items help from the minister, who then billed the cost on the Cen- 1,633 the model practiced in Sikkim, not bound to follow the gov- at the prices paid by urban consumers,” he said. says the `40,000-crore scheme tre. “This could also be true of he had said at a NREGA con- ernment norms on allowing Therefore, a solution which may suit the US or Aus- needs CAG policing on a pri- other states,” Ramesh writes. Orissa 938 ference called by the minister FDI in multi-brand retail tralia can not be ideal for India, Naidu argued. BS REPORTER ority basis in the top spending “There are some serious 1,533 recently: “It helps promote trading and easing those in 12 states. “It needs focus and concerns about the manner in Jharkhand 1,379 transparency and cuts delays. single-brand retail. With the attention and has to be ac- which NREGA funds are be- 1,284 If more money is spent, it is on- entry of global retailers into Manch and Bharatiya Maz- was against the interests of corded a high priority,” he ing utilised,” he writes and Assam 1,033 ly going to the beneficiaries.” the supermarket sector, India door Sangh have called a na- millions of traders and farm- writes in the letter dated No- goes on to give a list of in- 921 However, the minister says would lose both manufactur- tionwide bandh on December ers,” Gadkari added. vember 15. stances of deviation. it should be stopped, calling it ing and services sector jobs. 1 to protest the government’s The party president ar- While Uttar Pradesh leads On top of the list is the Source: Ministry of Rural Development illegal and a financial strain We would oppose the govern- move to allow FDI in multi- gued the Indian economy was this list, it is followed by above mentioned Andhra on the Centre. ment’s decision tooth and nail brand and single brand retail. dominated by the services Ramesh’s home state, Andhra Pradesh model of deviation The last form of deviation and would urge other opposi- “The BJP will stand by the sector, which accounted for Pradesh. The plea follows his which has been burning a hole Last year, a district in Ra- scheme, which is strictly comprises misuse of adminis- tion parties and UPA allies to large section of small retail- 58 per cent of GDP. Gadkari war of words with Uttar in the Centre’s pockets. jasthan had cited a railway meant to provide wage em- trative overhead funds avail- join the bandh organized by ers and farmers across the said self-employment was the Pradesh Chief Minister Second is a breach of the overbridge built under NRE- ployment to the needy. able under the scheme. About various trader organizations,” country and shall oppose the single largest source of jobs Mayawati, who had rejected ratio of money spent on mate- GA as a case befitting a re- The third deviation is re- `2500, or six per cent, of the BJP President Nitin Gadkari government’s effort, both in- in the country and allowing his demand for a CBI inquiry rials and wages, which, ac- ward under the scheme, ac- garding the quantum of work budget is available for ad- said. side and outside Parliament. multinational companies with into alleged corruption in the cording to the law, is 40:60. tivists say. There has been a prescribed to calculate wage ministrative expenses. Says Confederation of Traders We strongly feel the govern- deep pockets would have an scheme in UP. He had made The minister does not quote blatant breach, with money rates. The work assigned for the minister: “This is a huge Association, Udyog Vyapar ment’s lopsided move without adverse impact on the do- the request in a letter dated examples, but the violation is being given to contractors to payment of one man day’s amount and is open to mis- Mandal, Swadeshi Jagran consulting even its own allies mestic retail sector. October 24 and then again on widely known to be prevalent. do pucca work under the wages under NREGA is much use.” Government to define CAG’s mandate Labour min drafts national AKSHAT KAUSHAL New Delhi, 23 November WAR OF WORDS policy for domestic workers DISAGREEMENT between NOVEMBER 21 NOVEMBER 29 JANUARY 8 AKSHAT KAUSHAL mestic workers and other the government and the the New Delhi, 26 November stakeholders. The committee Comptroller and Auditor Gen- "Unlike the present CAG, never in has been given three months eral (CAG) — the country’s the past has the CAG held a SOON your domestic help to formulate a report and its apex auditor — over the latter’s press conference. Never in the will have the right to demand recommendations would be mandate has prompted the past has the CAG decided to minimum wages, regulated used to “provide advice” to government to finalise a Bill working hours, paid leave and the labour ministry. defining the mandate and pow- comment on a policy issue. It much more. All these provi- However, many doubt if ers of the CAG. should limit the office to the role sions are included in the Min- the government would be able Prepared by finance min- defined in the constitution." "The CAG report is erro- istry of Labour and Employ- to implement these various istry, the Bill is being consid- ment’s draft national policy provisions. ered by a Group of Ministers “We do not accept the MANMOHAN SINGH, neous. The logic of for domestic workers. “The policy would go a (GoM) on transparency head- loss figure put out by the during interaction with calculating the loss of The draft policy, which has long way in improving the ed by Union Finance Minister CAG. If at all there was a newspaper editors `1,70,000 crore to the govt been developed under a task working conditions. Howev- Pranab Mukherjee. A draft has loss, it cannot go from is flawed and there is a force set up by the ministry, er, I doubt whether the im- been sent to the CAG’s office "We follow the mandate given has been placed in the public plementation would be mon- for comments. zero to `4.19 lakh crore. mistake in the way they cal- domain till the month-end for itored. Many provisions un- In addition to defining the Something is seriously by Parliament and have not culated it. To err is human, inviting comments and sug- der the labour laws are not powers of the CAG, the Bill will amiss there.” transgressed our mandate." but there is no actual loss." gestions. It is expected to af- implemented because of a also spell out the powers and fect around 6.4 million do- lack of administrative ma- MANISH TEWARI, CAG VINOD RAI, KAPIL SIBAL, Telecom Minister mandate of the Public Accounts in reply to the PM mestic workers. chinery,” said Amitava Committee and auditors in state Congress spokesperson on the 2G loss pegged by CAG The proposals include Ghosh, senior vice-president, finance departments. minimum wage protection, The proposals include Teamlease. A senior CAG official aware normal work hours (including minimum wage protection J John, editor of the bi- of the Bill’s contents said the fined by the Constitution, dif- for holding a press conference follow the mandate given by upheld the validity of the CAG compensation for overtime), and normal working hours monthly magazine Labour Bill defined the mandate for ferently from what the CAG on the telecom scam and going Parliament and have not trans- to hold press conferences. The paid annual leave and sick File, said the policy would each of these agencies and thinks they mean,” described into policy issues outside its gressed our mandate." Bill proposed by the govern- leave, protection from sexual subject, the central govern- help bring a huge section of would ensure the audit agency a senior CAG official. “This Bill mandate. “Never in the past has Article 149 of the Constitu- ment aims to clear the ambi- harassment and social secu- ment would be required to workers, who have been ig- did not extend its brief. The of- removes these anomalies,” he the CAG held a press confer- tion defines the powers and du- guity around such issues and rity coverage, including ma- take the states along. nored so far, under the law. ficial, however, clarified that added. ence as the present one has. ties of the CAG, but doesn’t un- clearly state the procedure to ternity benefits. The policy’s implementa- “This is being done as the the draft Bill, at this stage, did Recently, the government Never in the past has the CAG equivocally state the extent of be followed. To facilitate these changes, tion would be the responsi- government is under pressure not arrest any power of the and the CAG have been having decided to comment on a poli- the mandate of its office. It is Since the Bill doesn’t intend the ministry plans to amend bility of the labour ministry, from the International Labour CAG. disagreements over the latter’s cy issue. It should limit the of- also silent on issues such as to change any constitutional eight existing laws, which in- which will set up an imple- Organisation. However, since “At present, the CAG knows mandate. During an interaction fice to the role defined in the whether the CAG can hold a provision related to the CAG’s clude the Minimum Wages mentation committee com- domestic workers cannot be its powers. However, the gov- with newspaper editors in June, Constitution,” Singh said. CAG press conference or comment powers and duties, it won’t re- Act, Trade Union Act, Work- prising workers’ and employ- classified, the implementa- ernment might differentiate Prime Minister Manmohan Vinod Rai countered the argu- on policy issues. However, in quire an amendment to the men’s Compensation Act, etc. ers’ organisations, represen- tion of these laws is very dif- the provisions of the CAG de- Singh had criticised the CAG ment by writing to the PM: “We 2005, the Madras High Court Constitution. Further, since labour is a state tative organisations of do- ficult,” he said.