Thousands crores wasted in Reviving Sick PSUs

"Corruption in India" Article no 2


Thousands crores wasted in Reviving Sick PSUs

To tackle corruption one has to have a clear understanding of the various dimensions of corruption. Corruption can be of various types with varying impacts on any given society. It is a well known fact that in India PSUs and government departments have become major breeding ground of corruption . In the name of running the government and PSUs thousands crores are pumped in each year with no results whatsoever.

In the important disclosure made under RTI Act by Department of Heavy Industies it revealed that even after the government of India pumped thousands of crores for reviving sick PSUs nothing tangible happened and turn around of these PSUs could be made. Mostly these units were closed down ultimately or are under the process of liquidation. This was tax payers money which was given to these sick units . Financial support is not only for VRS but money was given in the form of equity, interest free loan, waiving off of loan etc. with the hope that these units would be revived. Even after spending huge money in these sick units these units could not be revived. At the time of making proposals for revivals of these units a lot of promises in the form of high turnover and decent profits in few years are made. These promises are given on paper just for taking money from the government of India. Their promise and plans which are bound to be failed never materialize. After a year or so every body including CMD, secretary get change in the fast changing scenario of industry. Money is taken and siphoned off with impunity. In name of doing business and reviving the company those projects where personal interest of higher management and ministry officials are involved are taken . After some time these projects fail and so the money . But who cares for this.
If we analyse the data we will find that only one out of ten PSUs are revived with the efforts of government. In nine cases where money worth thousands of crores are invested go waste. Who is to blame for the scam which is going on since many years. We do not know any name of official who has been made responsible for the failure. In the collective responsibility no body is responsible. In the working of PSUs we find ministers take utmost interest in the reviving of company. These ministers who do not have a business sense of doing a small business take the decisions worth thousands crores . In PSUs thousands of employees work. In the name of helping these employees for which they also get the support from left parties money worth thousands crores get sanctioned from government of India. Once money is sanctioned first the arrears of employees are paid so that employees keep quiet. After distributing money to employees then work of starting projects begin . In the award of work of major projects the ministry dictate terms. Small works are kept for Directors or officers of the rank of GMs. Some directors who are left out in the award of works keep themselves satisfied by enjoying cars , air travels for self and family , free holidays at the expense of company. In a nutshell every body is satisfied except of tax payer whose money is actually spent in this process . .
Here are some the live examples of PSUs which were sanctioned revival plans but they could not be revived:
1. Hindustan fertilizers Ltd.
From the financial year 1998-99 to 2003-04 the company was sanctioned Equity/Plan/Non plan loan to the extent of Rs. 1275 crores. Now the company is under closure as approved by government of India.
2. Braithwaite & company Limited (BCL) Kolkatta
During 2005-06 Rs 4 crore was provided in the form of equity. Interest amounting o Rs. 43.61 crores was waived off on GOI loan till 31.05.05. Rs 69.30 crores of GOI loan was allowed into equity . Rs 167.30 crore was reduced from eqity capital by way of adjustment of accumulated losses. In addition From 2001-02 to 2005-06 the company was sanctioned Rs 57 crores but it could not be revived.

3. Braithwaite Burn & Jossop Construction Co. Ltd. (BBJ), Kolkatta

During 2005-06 Rs 4 crore was provided in the form of equity. Interest amounting o Rs. 30.73 crores was waived off on GOI loan till 31.05.05. Rs 13.88 crores of GOI loan was allowed into equity . in addition to this in 2005-06 the company was sanctioned Rs 2 crores but it could not be revived.
4. Hindustan Photo Films Manufacturing Co. ltd.
From 2001-02 to 2005-06 the company was sanctioned Rs 145 crores but it could not be revived.
5. Burn Standard Company Limited (BSCL)
From 2001-02 to 2005-06 the company was sanctioned Rs 251 crores but it could not be revived.
6. Bharat Wagon & Engg. Co. Ltd.(BWEL)
From 2002-03 to 2005-06 the company was sanctioned Rs 59 crores but it could not be revived.

7. HEC Ranchi

The company is engaged in manufacturing Iron casting , forging slab caster etc. HEC was referred to BIFR in 1994 and a revival package was approved in 1996. The revival package was declared failed by BIFR which on 06.07.04 recommended winding up of the company under SICA. Government went against the recommendation of BIFR and instead approved a revival package and financial restructuring of the company. GOI invested Rs 453.24 crore in HEC as on 31.03.04 with no concrete result. During 2005-06 government of India wrote off Rs1101.03 crore outstanding as loan and interest thereon. Plan loan as on 31.03.05 of Rs 15.27 crore was converted into equity capital. A non plan bridge loan of Rs 102 crore was released on 30.03.06 Even after spending so much the turnover of the company during 2005-06 was merely Rs. 171.53 crore.

8. HSL (Hindustan Salts Ltd. )
Outstanding loan and interest thereon amounting to Rs. 66.32 crore as on 31.03.05 was written off by government of India. During 2005-06 Rs 100 lac was also sanctioned for payment of pension to the pensioners of ex Salt Department.The turnover of the company during 2005-06 was merely Rs. 5.69 crore and net loss as Rs. 1.20 crore. Recently the CMD of the company was arrested while accepting a bribe of Rs 50000 from a contractor .
8. Cement corporation of India
From 2001-02 to 2005-06 the company was sanctioned Rs 366 crore by government but the company could not be revived.
Like above there are many other PSUs which after receiving financial support amounting to thousands of crore from government of India were closed down. In the attempt of reviving the companies government of India spent thousands of crore on them. Just pumping in the money is not the solution. Main area of concern is not lack of fund but inefficient management . If the government gives adequate thought on appointment of professional management the scenario can be changed. The present system of appointment through PSEB should be dispensed with. Instead PSEB should be totally revamped and appointing committee members should be taken from eminent personalities from corporate and management school. At present most of the appointments to the PSU board are political motivated. There is sufficient pull and pressure being exercised on PSEB members to select a particular candidate with political backing instead of selection on merit basis.
After the advent of globalization in India there are many industries which are facing intense competition from all over the world. PSUs of telecom, fertilizer industries are facing heat of the competition. With heavy baggage of surplus manpower and social cost these companies can not be expected to compete with thin private players. Pumping in huge money in these companies is like throwing money in bottom less pit. Had the government of India sanctioned smaller amount that too for making compulsory retirement of employees the government could have saved thousands of crore. Sooner these companies are closed the better.

Private Security Guards: Stop Their Exploitation

Episode no. 1 “Corruption in India ” Serial

Private Security Guards: Stop Their Exploitation
(By Ajit Kumar – A member of SDJ Team) 22nd Oct 2007

Security guards in their uniform with the non existent power creates a false notion about them as belonging to formal sector/organized sector of labour category having all financial benefits like decent pay with bonus etc. but the fact seems to be that working and living conditions of majority of these workers are even worst than a daily wage labour. These working force which is meant to protect lives and property of others find themselves totally unprotected. Behind every security guard standing before you in stylish and well stitched uniform there is story of exploitation perpetuated by their employers including large private and public sector companies. These companies in their books show heavy payments to various security agencies for deputing large number of security force in their premises but in true sense these payments do not reach to these innocents security guards because large amount is siphoned off by agencies in collusion with corrupt officials . These security guards are made to sign for a amount which is not given to them in real sense. They are given only a part of the amount they have signed for. It is not a small amount which siphoned off in the name of security but involves a large racket with amount running into hundreds of crores monthly. It is a very sorry state of affair that our government department and public sectors companies are also involved in this racket.
Security through private guards has become a common phenomenon especially in urban part of India. Similarly it is very common in mega city like Delhi. One can easily spot a private security at all nook and corners of Delhi in their variety of colorful uniforms. In the last decade the number of such guards and agencies employing them had grown with an accelerated pace. Delhi is no exception to that.
During the last decade there has been mushrooming growth of security agencies in Delhi and other major urban centres of the country. As per one estimate there are more than 5,000 registered and semi-registered security agencies in Delhi it self engaging more than 2,50,000 security guards. Apart from providing security to multinational companies, consulates, corporate offices, industrial units, residential apartments and VIP residences, they also engage themselves in areas of fire protection, surveillance services, cash van services, training services, security audits, house keeping services, utility services etc.
These security guards constitute a major part of unorganized sector Though unorganized sector constitute 80 % of total work force in India the unfortunate part of this sector is that they are not represented by way any credible leader or unions , associations etc. . Left or other national parties do have workers unions but that too in organized sector which constitute only a small fraction of total work force. The organized sector employees get all sort of benefits like bonus, medical , education etc. by doing just less than half of physical work against their counter part in unorganized sector. Frankly speaking nobody is there to hear their grievances and problems. When organized sector employees get regular pay hike with every increase in inflation rate those in unorganized sector are worst hit with no compensation whatsoever available to them from the government
Even though government has prescribed minimum wage for any type of worker but there are thousands of security guards who are denied even the minimum wages prescribed by government of India. Many security agencies though pretend to pay minimum wage to their security guards but they pay only part of total amount payable. Bound by law these security agencies get full payment from their principal employers but they end up paying only half of claim. One can imagine how hundreds of crores rupees is swindled by these agencies in league with corrupt officials.
For many lucky security guards their survival and livelihood revolves round the minimum wages prescribed by the Delhi Government that is Rupees 2592 per month. Looking at the number of security agencies and security guards as also their role in providing security to different sections of society, it is astonishing that there is no specific government department to register, provide direction and regulate these agencies. There is hardly any law or ordinance to safeguard their interest.
Workers drawn from different states are engaged in this profession and hence majority of them are migrant. The basic difference between those employed as security guards from other workers is their socio-economic and educational background. A good number of security guards are educated up to graduate and postgraduate level. Besides, a significant number of them are retired defence officials but they are hardly paid full amount of their due. Majority of security agencies does not follow the basic rules and regulations of labour departments while employing security guards. The terms and conditions related to employment are based on very ordinary contract, which leads to continuous oppression and dismissal. In a large number of cases security guards are not being even provided uniform by their employers. They work upto twelve hours a day, for a meager amount as low as Rupees 2000-2500 a month. They are rarely allowed to take leave even for a day in a month. Single day leave in emergency period without prior intimation often leads to dismissal from the service. They are not given any benefits under ESI and PF Act. Before joining an agency security guards have to pay Rupee 1000 on an average for dress, which has the market price of not more than Rupees 400. A guard is often dismissed from service just to recruit another one to grab Rupees 1000 of dress money, which fetch rupees 600 average for every new recruitment. Once dismissed from service they have to run from pillar to post to clear their dues with the respective agency.
SDJ plans to unravel these horrifying working conditions of private security guards and have come out with suggestions and recommendations to improve their working and living conditions. It is as follows:
1. There is urgent need of a viable act , legislation and a regulatory authority to safeguard the right and bring improvement in the working environment of these security guards. This will provide a shield to them so that they put forward their grievances at a suitable platform.
2. A proper directive and guideline should be given to all the security agencies employing these guards so that any discrimination may be avoided.
3. Seeing the mammoth growth in the size and number of these private security guards and the agencies employing them, there should provision for their stay and living facility.
4. There should a compulsory provision so that all the private security guards should get a minimum salary as prescribed and enacted by the government .. Although, Minimum Wage Act is in force but a few security agencies are following it. There should agencies to monitor the payment of minimum wages by security agencies to their security guards . It may be ensured that security guards get full payment against their monthly wage bill. Payment through cheque/ECS may be one of option of payment.
5. It may be ensured by a regulatory body that all security guards are registered with ESI , PF and get all benefits as per law . In order to ensure transparency , working of ESI and PF department requires major changes like computerisation etc. A smart card consisting their ESI/PF and other personal particulars may be issued to all security guards .
6. Principal employers mostly of them PSUs should ensure that the security guards employed in their premises through various agencies get all their dues in time and as per law. Strict monitoring on there part is essential. They should interact with ESI/PF authorities frequently to enquire whether amount paid by them towards ESI / PF etc. is being deposited regularly

RTI more powerful than ‘OSA’

In view of the transparency RTI more powerful than ‘OSA’regime ushered in by the 2005 Right to Information Act. according to Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah the Government may undertake a review of the 1923 Official Secrets Act (OSA) after Major General (retired) V K Singh wrote a book on corruption in the RAW. Where there is a direct conflict between the OSA and RTI Act, it is the RTI which will prevail. The OSA cannot be used in a manner in which it is inconsistent with provisions of the RTI Act. Even documents marked secret or confidential, which would normally attract provisions of the OSA, can be disclosed since the discretionary provision is there in the RTI Act. And if these requests are turned down, the applicant can always appeal to the CIC and argue about the public interest served. With such RTI provisions, the relevance of OSA has become very limited.

Terrorism : Fighting it spiritually Gandhigiri way

Two people were killed on Thursday as thousands of Muslims were breaking their day-long Ramzan fast when a bomb ripped through the dargah of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, a shrine in Rajasthan venerated by Hindus, Muslims and Christians across northern India . On March 7, 2006 twin blasts in Sankat Mochan Temple of Varanasi city left 28 dead, Blasts took place on Tuesday, when the temple is usually packed with devotees. On May 18, this year only 2007 14 persons killed, in blasts in Mecca Masjid Hyderabad . Blasts took place during Friday prayers.
All these blasts once again highlight the grave threats to secular fabric of India . While we mourn the dead and treat the injured, there is a need to reflect on the problem of terrorism and its huge implications for secular democracy framework of India . Over the next several weeks and months the focus will be on the investigation to track down the perpetrators. But given the frequency of these incidents in India and elsewhere, there is an urgent need to understand the problem with a view to formulating effective responses that are in consonance with the rule of law.
Bombs that are used in blasts do not differentiate its victims as Hindus or Muslims . The direct consequences of terror attacks are: one, they result victimisation of the people who get killed, are injured or otherwise affected. Two, the family members of the victims are also affected because of their loved ones being directly involved. Three, the society in which the terrorist attacks take place becomes a victim as the people develop a sense of fear and lack of freedom to pursue their goals. We can not label these terrorists as freedom fighters. There is a wide gap between a freedom fighter on one hand and terrorist suicide bomber on the other. The former sacrifices his own life alone, the latter also sacrifices the lives of innocent civilians; the former gives up his life so that innocent people may live, the latter gives up his life ( or sometimes just flee from the scene) so that innocent people may die. The former's action is life enhancing; the latter's is only a form of necromania..
It is important that we understand the problem of terrorism better. This is so that we can formulate counter-terrorism policies that are effective and also take into account the need for balancing human rights and civil liberties while protecting national security.
In this regard, the response to terrorism should encompass the following:
1. Tackling it spiritually and building strong Public Opinion against terrorism
Recent terror attacks are on both Hindu temples as well as on mosques . From these attacks at least it is clear that terrorists want to divide the country on communal lines by creating a rift between two strong communities of India. Time has come when the people of India understand the dirty design of terror and rise to the occasion to give befitting reply to these attacks. Political and religious leaders can play crucial role in mobilizing public opinion against terrorism. One way of showing disapproval to such acts of terrorism may be by way of observing a day fasting on mass scale on the next day of terrorist attack. Gandhiji went on fasting on several occasions as a spiritual discipline. Fast in the names of those innocents who are killed by act of terror, fast to show the people disapproval of these acts of terrorism , fast to show solidarity with those who are engaged to protect us from such evils of society . Fasting helps to express, to deepen, and to confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice everything, [even] ourselves to attain what we seek for peace . Unleash the power of fasting to help you discover your inner power . A centuries-old tradition, fasting has historically been recognized as a way to heighten human sensitivity to all things . Fasting is soul power that will beat the psychology of the terrorist and stops his hand mid-air and makes him retreat from his action and thought without harming him, damaging him. Without the least bit of violence delivered to him. It is inaction, in action.
2. Reducing social and economic inequalities:
While it cannot be said that poverty and impoverishment are the causes of terrorism, reducing social and economic inequalities helps in dealing with discontent and marginalisation in society. Institutionalised social and income disparities over a period of time can result in people losing hope and a sense of despair can prevail. This can lead to the affected adopting violent and unconstitutional measures to achieve certain economic or political ends.
3. Strengthening the law-enforcement machinery
An effective law-enforcement machinery will be better equipped not only to appropriately respond to terrorism but also to develop intelligence and to provide proper training to officials in formulating counter-terrorism policies. India is faced with huge challenges relating to enforcing the rule of law. The criminal justice system is under severe stress and all institutions of governance suffer from corruption, mediocrity, and inefficiency, all of which undermine the effectiveness of the legal system. The fight against terrorism needs the support of the legal system and civil society whereby the law-enforcement machinery, including the criminal justice process, needs to be strengthened. This is essential so that acts of terrorism are thoroughly investigated, fairly prosecuted, and justice delivered within a reasonable time frame with due regard to the principles of equality and fairness. Unfortunately, in the Indian context, strengthening the law-enforcement machinery has been misunderstood to be the passing of draconian laws in the form of TADA and POTA, both of which have had a dubious track record of violating human rights and civil liberties, besides not being very effective in fighting terrorism. The development of a sound legal framework relating to anti-terror laws is necessary but not enough. Even with a good legal framework, it is not possible to effectively fight terrorism if the law enforcement machinery is not sufficiently empowered. It is important to recognise that the support of civil society is essential. The strengthening of the law-enforcement machinery for adopting suitable counter-terrorism policies ought to focus on the availability of necessary resources, proper training and support for the police and other institutions engaged in protecting national security, and most important, instilling faith and trust of the law-enforcement machinery among the people by reducing corruption and inefficiency.
4. Protecting basic human rights and respect for all :

The responses to combating terrorism should not deviate from the universal values of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. The question of what should be done when the enforcement of human rights appears to clash with the enforcement of national security measures is the key issue in the aftermath of terrorist attacks. It is important to recognise the need for valuing human rights and promoting civil liberties so that democracies can create space for meaningful dialogue and debates while maintaining the notion of dissent within civil and political society. Any deviation from the rule of law framework will not only be ineffective in fighting terrorism but may also lead to further problems.
The anti-terrorism laws should be compatible with both the national and international human rights framework. The courts and the human rights commissions are best suited to ensure that such laws do not undermine the existing protection of human rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India and other laws.
(AJIT KUMAR)
29 VIGYAN VIHAR
DELHI

800 millions poor people of India

The spectacular cricket victory in Twenty/20 match, Sensex touching a new high , the India@60 celebrations in New York , TATAs acquiring Arcelor , Mukesh Ambani becoming the 5^th richest Indian globally — all these things do not matter much for 800 million poor citizens of India working in unorganized sector and struggling to meet their both ends meals. Though unorganized sector constitute the largest work force in India but they are not represented by way any credible leader or unions , associations etc. . Left or other national parties do have workers unions but that too in organized sector which constitute only 5-6 % of total work force . These organized sector employees get all sort of benefits like bonus, medical , education etc. by doing just less than half of physical work against their counter part in unorganized sector. Frankly speaking nobody is there to hear their grievances and problems. When organized sector employees get regular pay hike with every increase in inflation rate those in unorganized sector are worst hit with no compensation whatsoever available to them from the government . Strangely speaking judiciary also has turned hostile towards them. Ironically, PIL, which started by trying to make justice accessible and fundamental rights real for the exploited and oppressed sections of society, today is being used to mount attacks on the poor and marginalized. Today, slums are being demolished on the orders of the court. In fact, the pleas of the executive and legislature to have a relief and rehabilitation scheme before demolition are brushed away and the courts are rendering lakhs of people homeless in an attempt to beautify cities for the elite sections of society. Thousands of workers are being rendered homeless by the apex court ordering the closure of industries. In each and every sphere the trend is clear. Postulating a people versus environment paradigm and evicting tribals from huge tracts of land in the name of sanctuaries, national parks and tiger reserves is also being done on the orders of courts.

The quality of India’s policies, institutions and governance , judiciary leave much to be desired. Other countries with such problems have often suffered bloody revolution , economic stagnation or collapse . Yet India has accelerated to 9% for four years, a feat rarely achieved in history. Textbook theories cannot explain this. But we can ill-afford to overlook the compelling needs of the 800 million people who remain poor and vulnerable even while we celebrate our new prosperity

CIC orders for Review of Health insurance scheme for weavers

It is good news for the general public that CIC is very much serious about the matters relating to the welfare of generals public. In a recent order the CIC took it very seriously and ordered a central ministry to implement health insurance scheme. The Central Information Commission (CIC) has asked the Union Textiles Secretary to review the implementation of health insurance scheme for the weavers and submit a compliance report within a month. The matter came up before the commission after a weaver from Varanasi, Rustam Nawaj, invoked his right to information to seek details on action taken report from the textile ministry on an earlier representation submitted before its Union Minister. Nawaj, along with his associates, had filed their representation with the ministry, in January this year, alleging non-implementation of health insurance scheme for weavers. The Ministry's information officer in its reply said that the health insurance scheme had been implemented through a private insurer, ICICI Lombard General Insurance. The matter was brought before the CIC after the applicants alleged that their complaints were not looked upon seriously, while further stating that the promises made as part of the insurance scheme were never actualised. Nawaj also raised his grievances over the lack of proper implementation of the scheme by the insurer.

'Harassment' drives RTI activist to suicide

Right to information and right to life, both seem to have been casualties of corruption and abuse of power in Nanded district last week.
The police are investigating the possible role of a health department official in pushing a young right-to-information activist from Mukhed, some 75 km from Nanded, to suicide.Jaipal Chavan, a government hospital superintendent, was named in the suicide note of Shivam Jankuatar (24) for having brought the activist “social shame by lodging a false criminal complaint against me”. On Wednesday morning Jankuatar handed the note to people at the local taluka office and consumed poison on the premises. The note maintains that Chavan had lodged a false case because Jankutuar was attempting to expose corruption by asking the official for copies of expenditure bills under the Right to Information Act. On September 22 the local police had booked Jankutuar for extortion after receiving a complaint from Chavan. State Information Commissioner Suresh Joshi said a report had been sought on the incident from authorities in Nanded, which is about 650 km from the city. SP Singhal said the extreme step of suicide was mysterious, and the police were also inquiring into the kind of information Jankutuar had sought

Mahatma Gandhi : Need for serious introspection

Bapu is identified with many values and principles which he practiced with great conviction but at the core were his belief in non-violence (ahimsa), truth, honesty and rectitude in personal and institutional conduct.

Bapu lived and died for secular India. But what happened in 2002 in Godhra Gujrat . The 2002 carnage will remain a blot on the face of India. Even after five years of this dastardly incident, the hapless victims are yet to receive meaningful justice and the perpetrators are free .

Bapu led the country by giving his own example of clean life . But see what has happened to his India . The corruption index accorded to India by Transparency International. India is ranked at 72 and is deemed to be just above the benchmark for "rampant" corruption. Regrettably the world's largest democracy is largely corrupt. The Indian system has become so distorted ,corrupt and manipulative -- that commitment to Gandhian values is considered to be a sure path to failure by young India. Thus corruption is rationalised at every level and the cynical quip now is that if Rajiv Gandhi as an earnest young prime minister in 1985 bemoaned the fact that only 15 paisa of every rupee allocated by the state was actually utilised for the given purpose, the figure has slid down now to five paisa! . An increasingly state apparatus where even chief ministers, chief secretaries and DGs of police have led the charge in (mis)using their high office for personal gain makes mockery of the Gandhian concept of a 'public servant'.

Equitable justice in an independent India -- a Gandhian objective -- remains a mirage and the courts are clogged with pending cases that go back to three and four decades! At last count, the total number of cases pending before courts in India totaled 2,59,00,000 (2.59 crores) of which the apex court accounted for 43,000 and the high courts had 98,00,000 (98 lakhs) pending with the rest floundering in the lower courts. And the degree of corruption and bribery that is rampant in the system makes a mockery of the centrality of the rule of law in a normative democracy. More recently the stand-off between the judiciary and the media over 'contempt' vis-�-vis a former chief justice of the Supreme Court and the tenet of freedom of speech reveals the brittleness inherent in the system and its inexorable drift from the Gandhian dictum of institutional rectitude and transparency in public life.

Wiping the tears of the most oppressed in society and giving them succor remains central to the Gandhian vision and the mismatch between rhetoric and reality in the current Indian context is glaring. The Sachar Report draws attention only to the Muslim community but much the same could be said of many minority constituencies such as the tribals and other disenfranchised groups scattered in rural and urban India.

Gandhi Jayanti calls for a serious introspection by all of us - about the mismatch between the rhetoric and the reality that is India.

Mahatma Gandhi : Do we need another Mahatma

The greatness of a man is realized when his life influences and inspires people to change for the better. Such was the Mahatma's life that even decades after his death, people drastically changed their lives for the better. Though Gandhi was not tall and well built his indomitable will made him a man few would think of opposing. His desire for justice and equality for people of all castes and creeds made him popular with the masses. The poor and simple folk identified with him due to his simple lifestyle. His honesty and belief in loving the enemy, even at the cost of his own life, endeared him to his friends and foes alike. His non violence brought him international recognition and followers. If we are under the impression that the Gandhian age is over because 60 years have passed since Gandhi assassination, we are wrong. It is quite likely that the Gandhian era is just commencing, that what we see are the first indications of that new beginning. Tomorrow belongs to Gandhi wherever there is resistance against the forces of death, wherever there is injustice, wherever there is repression unleashed by oppressed Gandhi is present. About this, we must firmly convince ourselves.
We are today passing through an extremely critical and controversial phase of terrorism. The climate of terrorist violence is explosive. Terrorism is being used every where either with enthusiasm or with fear. In recent years, we have witnessed terrorist violence affecting almost all countries. Even the so-called advanced, affluent nations suffer from the menace of terrorist violence. In such circumstances the teachings of Mahatma also become more relevant.