Congress meets its first deadline

As part of Congress Promise #6 it has been promised that all villages will be connected by broadband by 22 May 2010. The announcement by Sachin pilot claims the government is on route to achieving this goal. But how many of these villages have electricity or the means to by computers to use these broadband connections? Its funny.

However, the promise of introducing goods and services tax from April 1st 2010 has been more or less realized as part of the budget. An excerpt of the announcement by Chidambaram can be seen here.

The promise of giving a solid foundation for local governments seems to be lost to its vague description. The way to go would have been to implement atleast few of the recommendations given by the commission which investigated the issue.

Kerala - leading in the implementation of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY)?

As part of Promise# 4 of Congress, the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to provide health insurance to all families below poverty line will be implemented in 3 years (22 May 2012).

28 states and 7 Union territories of India need to Implement and achieve this scheme. Hence a total of 625 districts need to be covered by the scheme. Although it would be interesting to track the implementation of the project through out the country, many states are yet to get the data updated in the RSBY website. There is no related data available for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andrha Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kasmir, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Orissa, Pondicherry, Sikkim, and Tripura. Either the scheme is yet to be implemented in these areas or have not yet reached the Post advertisement phase in which these documents need to be submitted to the Central government technical team. Hence, status of the scheme in 16 of the 35 entities is unclear.

Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujrat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarkhand and West Bengal. Of the 19 entities that have provided data, only one state (Kerala) has provided the tender document with details of the entire scheme.

Among the 19 entities that have provided data, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka are yet to issue any smart cards. The main problem seems to be that the scheme calls for 10 bed hospitals with surgical facility and qualified staff for enrolment, which unfortunately is not available.

The most successful implementation of the scheme seems to be in Kerala with the insurance company as United India Insurance Co. Ltd with the nodal agency as CHIAK. Based on provisional data provided on the website which due to its dynamic nature are not to be trusted J the following is the implementation status of the scheme. Kottayam seems to have achieved the impossible by accomplishing 113% (more smart cards than BPL families - data might be wrong due to its provisional and dynamic nature) success. The least successful is Thiruvananthapuaram with just 31% implementation.


District BPL families No of smart cards issued Percent Completion
Alappuzha 119192 106512 89.36170213
Palakkad 143592 64288 44.77129645
Thrissur 93160 72530 77.85530271
Ernakualam 79527 49401 62.11852578
Idukki 84176 39584 47.02528036
Kottayam 64168 72800 113.452188
Pathanamthitta 50310 43054 85.57742
Kollam 105393 69630 66.06700635
Thiruvananthapuaram 147408 46661 31.65431998
Malappuram 110539 79592 72.00354626
Kozhikode 87828 71777 81.72450699
Wayanad 51442 27643 53.73624665
Kannur 75386 56832 75.38800308
Kasaragod 54286 38165 70.30357735
1266407 838469 66.20849379
State Total 1266207 838469 66.21895156


The scheme is to be providing BPL families to make use of hospitals like Gokulam Medical College, Divya Prabha Eye Hospital in Thiruvananthapuaram.However, its yet to be seen how the scheme will be implemented further after the issue of the smart cards.

SP, BSP and NCP - Promise # 1 - Joke, Alms, What security?

The SP manifesto has become a widely circulated joke. A copy of the entire manifesto is not available online at the web site of the samajwadi party does not have the manifesto. Also no points regarding Secuirty could be found in any of the jokes made by them.

The BSP leader has declared that they dont believe in promises but only in delivering. A nice way to say you have to accept watever we deliver? May be BSP achievements speak louder than words, but its put a bare neccessity that any party should highlight the action plan it will use when it comes to power. Bahujan Samajwadi parties stand on providing security still reamins unclear.

NCP manifesto does not talk about any change in security other than food security. Improving the police force ? why should it be done? :) Nationalist Congress Party also does not list internal security among the "Important issues before the country", so am feeling safe already.

The more manifestos we see, the more we are certain that parties dont fight elections based on manifestos or issues like change.

JDS - Promise #1 - Comprehensive defence policy

Promise #1:
JDS manifesto - People want
1) The Janata Dal (Secular) party will give top priority to modernize and strengthen our defence preparedness. As a first step, our party will build a minimum nuclear deterrent force as a safeguard against any unexpected eventualities. Corresponding to the development of minimum nuclear deterrence force, the Janata Dal (Secular) party will encourage the development of weapons delivery system like nuclear weapon carrier missiles. The Janata Dal (Secular) party will encourage the building of ICBMs. - What about Internal security? is the police force going to be modernised or not?
2)India has come to be surrounded by countries with space weapons capability. Therefore, the Janata Dal (Secular) party will create a new division within ISRO to develop space weapons system for use as quickly as possible. - Are you aware of the Outer Space Treaty and the SALT II treaty? How will the pressure from the international community be handled
3)The Janata Dal (Secular) party will create Airborne Brigade, Assault Landing Brigade and a Helicopter Gunship Brigade by acquiring more fighter aircrafts, helicopters and aircraft carriers. It will create four units of Rapid-Assault Force to be stationed in four corners of the country for dealing with any terrorist attack. -Just the four corners? why not all state capitals?
4)The Janata Dal (Secular) party will create a new section of defence procurement within each of the embassies in major countries with the responsibility of collecting information about new defence hardware and software ready for use and sale and acquiring them after the approval by the appropriate authority. Though there is a military attaché in each of our embassies, they simply do defence surveillance work. Hence, we will assign them clearly defined specific tasks to help the country to modernize its defence equipments by constantly watching the developments in defence related science and technology and feeding the information to the defence ministry which will help in their decision making.- Why are we still dependent on other countries? why not have indigenous development?

CPI (M) - Promise #1 - Against Terrorism

Promise #1:CPI (M)Manifesto - People want
The CPI (M) stands for:
1) Revamping the intelligence machinery and enhanced coordinationbetween security and intelligence agencies - How?
2) The Federal Investigating Agency functioning without violating the federal structure and ensuring association of State Governments forinvestigation within a particular State
3) Modernisation of the Police forces - by doing what? police force can be said to have modernised by giving them mobile phones, so be more specific.
4) Strengthening of the coastal security system - how?
5) Amending the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to remove draconian provisions like detention without bail for 180 days, threeyears imprisonment for withholding information, etc. what does etc include? Hopefully it does not include murder :)

BJP Promise # 1 - NATIONAL SECURITY

The 12 points regarding National Security which makeup Promise #1:
BJP Manifesto - People want
The BJP will initiate the following measures within 100 days of coming to power:
1. Revive the anti-terror mechanism that has been dismantled by the Congress; improve upon POTA to ensure it is more effective as an instrument of deterrence and a tool to prosecute offenders without innocent people being harassed; and, strengthen the operational role of the National Investigating Agency. - Can we get more specifics rather than broad terms like strengthen, improve.
2. Give assent to laws drafted by State Governments for dealing with organised crime and terrorism; encourage other State Governments to adopt similar laws. - Which state governments?
3. Launch a massive programme to detect, detain and deport illegal immigrants. - How massive? will the identification of each person in India be checked?
4. Completely revamp the internal and external intelligence agencies and review the existing system of coordination, convergence and dissemination of intelligence inputs. A massive exercise will be undertaken to modernise intelligence agencies so that they are better equipped to use technology and cope with the rapidly changing trends and patterns of terrorism at home and abroad. The National Security Council will be made the hub of all sector-related assessments. It will be accountable for real-time intelligence dissemination;intelligence agencies will be held responsible for lapses. Appointments to intelligence agencies will be on merit and not because of political patronage as has been the system during the Congress years. - The same list of hopes applies for BJP as it applies for the congress in terms of modernisation.
5. A Digital Security Agency will be set up to deal with cyber warfare, cyber counterterrorism,and cyber security of national digital assets. - This seems new :) trying to impress the tech crowd?
6. State Governments will be provided with all assistance to modernise their respective police forces and equip them with the latest weaponry and communications technology.This will be done on a mission mode approach. The police are the first responders to any crisis situation. Drawing lessons from experience, police forces will be trained and fully equipped to deal with situations similar to that of Mumbai and in meeting the challenge posed by Maoists and insurgents. - Will states ruled by Non-BJP givernmnets be given support?
7. Border management will be reviewed and improved. Punitive measures will be introduced to block illegal immigration. Please be more specific- hopefully the review and improvements will be clarifeid when implemented.
8. India’s vast coastline is virtually unprotected. Coastal security will be strengthened for better patrolling of Indian waters and preventing terrorists from taking the sea route to enter India. A National Maritime Authority will be set up to coordinate coastal security. Strengthened how? new equipment? increase in size?
9. Special courts will be set up for speedy prosecution of those involved with acts of terrorism.Their trial shall be fair and justice will be done to the victims swiftly. Special courts that follow the constitution or not ? What is the meaning of special courts? does it mean separate courts or separate laws or separate judges?
10. Coercive measures, including diplomacy, will be used to deal with countries which promote cross-border terrorism. India will engage with the world in the global war on terror while not compromising on its domestic interests, primarily protecting citizens from the ravages of terrorism. :)
11. The Centre will facilitate better inter-State coordination and real-time intelligence-sharing,apart from helping States to raise anti-insurgency forces, to face the threat posed by Maoists. The ‘Chhattisgarh Model’ will be used for counter-Maoist operations. At the same time, every effort will be made to address the social and economic issues that make the ground fertile for Left-wing extremism. - Real time intelligence sharing? how?
12. Any talks with insurgent groups will be conditional and within the framework of the Constitution.The BJP will send out a simple message, loud and clear, to terrorists and their sponsors:They will have to pay a heavy price for each innocent life lost. Retribution will be swift and exemplary. The authority of the state, which has been diminished by the Congress in pursuit of vote-bank politics, shall be restored. - How? What measures will be taken to do these?

National Identity Cards for All
The BJP will launch an innovative programme to establish a countrywide system of multipurpose national identity cards so as to ensure national security, correct welfare delivery,accurate tax collection, financial inclusion and voter registration. Voter identity cards, PANcards, passports, ration cards and BPL cards are already in use though not all with photoidentity. The NDA proposes to make it incumbent for every Indian to have a National IdentityCard. The programme will be completed in three years.The National Identity Card will contain enough memory and processing capabilities to run multiple applications. Through it the NDA will ensure efficient welfare delivery and tax collection. The card will also be linked to a bank account. All welfare payments, including widow and old age pensions, through the wide range of schemes such as Mother and Childsupport/ Kisan Credit, Students Assistance and Micro-Credit will be channelised through the National Identity Card. The card will make it possible for individuals to save and borrow money;for farmers to get bank credit, also establish accurate land titles data.The National Identity Card will also strengthen national security by ensuring accurate citizen identity, thus tracking illegal immigration. All financial transactions, purchase of property and access to public services will be possible only on the basis of the National Identity Card which will be made forgery and hacking resistant.
National Identity card of BJP is more specific than Congress :) But at least we can be assured that if any of these two come to power we can be assured of a National Identity card.
The Promise # 1 can be accessed based on the implementation of each of above 12 targets and the National Identity card.

Congress manifesto Promise # 1

The first promise from the manifesto is given below (hope to discuss each one in detail in the next few posts): Congress Manifesto - Peoples hope

Promise # 1 : We will guarantee the maximum possible security to each and every citizen by doing the following:

1) Process of equipping our police and other specialist security forces with the latest weapons and technology to meet terrorist threats. We the people hope the latest weapons and technology will include but will not be limited to:

1.1) Personal weapon up gradation at all levels.

1.2) Bulletproof vests for at least the specialist battalions.

1.3) Sophisticated night vision technology allowing maneuvering and combat at night.

2) More specialist battalions will be raised and positioned in key locations across the country. Although the exact security measures are not listed - We the people can safely assume Key locations include all the metros and state capitals will have such specialist battalions?Its not clear by which date this promise will be implemented - can we expect it within 100 days of oath taking?

3) Provide every Indian with a unique identity card after the publication of the national population register in the year 2011.Will this identity card be different from the voter id card? What will its function be? Can it be used as a combination of PAN Card, Driving license, voter id, passport, ration card and all other government issued cards? Can we expect this to be completed by December 2011? Will this identity information be accessible through a centralized database to the police and security forces?
The Promise # 1 can be accessed based on the implementation of each of above 3 targets.

Indian politics seems to be entering the cybercanvasing ers

Just google for "Manmohan Singh" in google and don't be surprised to see an Google ad for BJP's prime ministerial candidate Advani. See the screenshot below:


The election wars have come into the cyberspace finally. So does the politician worry about the educated net savy user? Surely he does. The times are changing, every vote counts and the politician wants to leave no leaf unturned. Cybercanvasing is surely a step towards our greater dream of a manifesto maker. Lets wait for a day when we the People can decide what our policies should be.

The manifesto Maker - an attempt to get heard

Election promises made by political parties are based on popular demand of the people. In an attempt to make the demands of the people more clear, we take the help of web 2.0. Although it may be argued that the web just represents one side of the digital divide it does represent a significant portion of the country. The ultimate aim is to be able to include all people who are eligible to vote.

Five phases of this program hopes to make the common man heard to the minister to be. Rather than having sweeping general statements that don’t promise anything specific, the promises are to be very specific. If just one of the promises suggested makes it to reality, this program will be a step in the new direction.

A brief outline of the program is given below:

Phase 1:

Allow for the creation of promises by various users. The various promises can be voted for or against by users who are logged in.


Phase 2:

The top promises of utility are selected and sent to registered users via e-mail for voting.


Phase 3:

The various parties and candidates are given a chance to add promises to their manifestos.


Phase 4: (To be completed before the Elections)

The manifestos of various parties are published. Each of the individuals who have voted for or against a promise is notified of the preferences of different parties or candidates.

Phase 5

Performance of elected representatives is monitored. Each promise is checked and the level of fulfillment is analyzed.

We hope to get help from every possible source to make this program a success as it finally hopes to achieve the common good.