RTI reveals "Gandhi Jayanti not celebrated in Gandhi’s Nation"
PROJECT VIJAY
Project Vijay is a youth cantered social organization registered under
the Society Act. One of the central aims of the organization has been
to cultivate and encourage patriotism among the citizen. There has
been a thorough the study of the National Holidays like Republic Day,
Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti and Ambedkar Jayanti by Mahendra
Pratap Singh, Secretary, Project Vijay & Dr. Indu Choudhary (Assistant
Professor, Department of English, Faculty of Arts, Banaras Hindu
University) for the past one and half years. In series of attempts,
the Maharatna and Navratna Institutes/Units/Organisations of Govt. of
India (GAIL, SAIL, BHEL, ONGC, NTPC & IOCL), Higher Education
Department, UGC, MHRD and Research Institutes of the Govt. of India
were questioned on the issue of the expenditure done in these
Institutes/Units/Organisations in last five years 2005, 2006, 2007,
2008 & 2009 (Through RTI Act 2005) on the celebration done on these
National Holidays and their foundation day celebrations. The figures
that came to us were quite surprising and full of anxiety. These
Institutes/Units/Organisations spend thousands of Rupees for
celebrating the foundation day of the concerned
Institutes/Units/Organisations but never spend a single penny for
paying homage to the founder’s of our nation, Gandhi’s betrayal in his
own nation is really shocking.
Instances show that the compiled RTI data on all the units of GAIL
have spent not a single penny on Gandhi Jayanti & Ambedkar Jayanti.
The PATA Unit of GAIL spent over 12.5 Lakhs on the Foundation Day of
GAIL. They are not ashamed of the fact that Gandhi who gave us a free
air to breathe and Dr. Ambedkar who gave us a Constitution to act by,
are completely neglected and betrayed. The similar figures come from
ONGC and SAIL also. NTPC asked for the amount required for the
preparation of the information. Information is not available in form
it has been sought, Hence they are not able to provide information as
per section 7(9) RTI Act 2005, reply given by BHEL & IOCL.
The eminent CSIR Laboratories, the research organization of the Govt.
of India spend millions to celebrate the CSIR foundation day but never
try to remember Gandhi ji. Report and statistics show that there are a
few institutions who don’t care to spend even on the Republic Day,
Independence Day and Ambedkar Jayanti.
Even the Institutes of Higher Education IIMs, Central Universities
etc. are least bothered to remember them. Choudhary Charan Singh
University, Meerut (UP) presented letter, written by Dr. Chandrabose
in a RTI reply (Letter No. 5339 Dated 09/08/10), in which it was
stated that from 2005 to 2007 not a single penny was spent on Republic
Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti and Ambedkar Jayanti, with the
exception of 15 August 2007 when Rs. 2000 were spent for line by lime
“Choona Dalwaya”. Shame on the University which spent Rs. 2000 for
line by lime but not a single rupee on the flowering petals. Shah
Goverdhanlal Kabra Teacher’s College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan in an answer
to the question of RTI replied (Ref No. sgktc/Ju./282) wrote- “14
April-Expenditure Nil-Due to Holiday, 2 Oct- Expenditure Nil-Due to
Holiday” If this is the situation of the Teacher’s College that they
are not recognizing the importance of these National occasion’s then
what can be expected of the youths.
Under RTI Act 2005 when information's regarding National Holidays were
asked in name DoPT, Govt. of India; dated 29/07/11 then instead of
replying they forwarded it to the Ministry of Home Affairs (Ref No.
F.No.19/1/2011-JCA-2 Dated 05.08.11) Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt.
of India through a letter (Ref. No. A-43020/01/2011-RTI Dated
16.08.11) forwarded it to the Public Section which again forwarded to
the DoPT Govt. of India (Ref. No. 24/125/2011-Public Dated 29.08.11)
saying that the information are not related to the Dept. of Public
Section, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India. These documents
reveal the absence of a strict rule and regulation for the Govt.
Institutes/Units/Organisations regarding National Holidays.
The Birthdays of the Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi and the
Chairperson of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution Dr.
Bheem Rao Ambedkar are Gazzeted Holidays. The Bureaucrat’s,
Politician, Technocrat’s and the millions of the officials sit at
their home with their families celebrating these days as holidays.
What should this be called the irony of fate for our nation or its
misfortune ?
The ruling Government that has been the major participator in the
Indian Freedom struggle comes with a great gap between its manifesto
and practical execution, it is clear from the compiled RTI data.
Gandhi ji and Ambedkar ji have become merely vehicles to reach their
success by the politicians.
PROJECT VIJAY appeals to the Government of India and the State
Governments to issue departmental directions to all the departments
starting from the basic education to the governmental and the
semi-government offices that Gandhi Jayanti and Ambedkar Jayanti be
celebrated and the various departments and offices should send the
report to their concerned authorities.
In addition to this we filed an appeal via speed post to Hon’ble
President of India, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Chairperson UPA
Smt. Sonia Gandhi & Youth leader Shri. Rahul Gandhi regarding the
celebration of Gandhi Jayanti in the Government or Semi-Government
Institutes/Units/Organisations.
Media is the fourth pillar of democracy and its work should be
appreciated for making a corruption free nation and in the present
scenario whatever anti-corruption welfare state scene has been
created, media played a very important role in it and we believe that
again such important issue will also be taken seriously and presented
before the common public of the nation. Since Nation is above all in
any country and until & unless we have a respect for our freedom
fighters of the nation, our nation shall be converted in the category
of the developing and would be a developed nation.
Jai Hind.....Jai Bharat....Jai Jagat
Mahendra Pratap Singh
Secretary, PROJECT VIJAY
Mobile: 09415509920
E.mail: rti....@gmail.com
Blog: www.projectvijay.blogspot.com