Tuesday, 8 April 2014
Saturday, 22 March 2014
Wednesday, 19 March 2014
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Debate on Moving from Caste based reservation system to Economic Criteria
Recently there was a debate, on whether Indian Constitution should be amended so that, incorporate economic criteria based reservation in the place of caste based reservation system. Here will discuss, to my potential need to continuation of affirmative action like caste based reservation system and how to ward-off caste based reservation system in a gradual manner..
Is that caste based reservation system sole motive is to alleviate poverty? Answer is certainly no. Historically certain so called lower caste people have been culturally uprooted, economically marginalized, politically dis empowered and socially discriminated by the so called upper caste people. In order to compensate centuries old injustice and humiliation for the lower caste people, Positive discrimination or reservation system is an attempt to redress their socio-economic and cultural problems in a holistic manner.
Then why there is a debate about shift from Caste based reservation system to Economic based system? Because As an eminent sociologist Andre Beteille pointed out that, poverty is more contagious than pollution (lower caste). I'm sure, we might have come across situations where, so called higher caste people also struggling under poor conditions. But to alleviate their poverty conditions and uplift from BPL(Below Poverty Line) to APL, Indian nation state is embarked on social welfare schemes. I think we need to implement poverty eradication schemes in a robust manner rather than abrupt shift towards economic based criteria of reservation system.
Then next query could be how many year we need to continue caste based reservations and where there is an end to the caste based discrimination? I think it is difficult to answer the above queries because:
1) Emergence of caste based political parties. e.g. BSP, SP, RJD, etc
2) Recently Indian government embarked upon gigantic exercise of Socio-Economic Caste Based Census
3) Caste based mobilization, etc
4) Mckim Marriott says, caste lies in the minds of the people.
I think there could be some self initiation and self introspection from the low caste people, who really doesn't need use of reservation system after at least one or two generations. Eg. SC/ST/OBC civil servants, business people dont need caste based reservation system after one or two generations.
The above step, could be a good start to mitigate suspicion among the upper caste poor people and leave positive impact on the whole system.
Is that caste based reservation system sole motive is to alleviate poverty? Answer is certainly no. Historically certain so called lower caste people have been culturally uprooted, economically marginalized, politically dis empowered and socially discriminated by the so called upper caste people. In order to compensate centuries old injustice and humiliation for the lower caste people, Positive discrimination or reservation system is an attempt to redress their socio-economic and cultural problems in a holistic manner.
Then why there is a debate about shift from Caste based reservation system to Economic based system? Because As an eminent sociologist Andre Beteille pointed out that, poverty is more contagious than pollution (lower caste). I'm sure, we might have come across situations where, so called higher caste people also struggling under poor conditions. But to alleviate their poverty conditions and uplift from BPL(Below Poverty Line) to APL, Indian nation state is embarked on social welfare schemes. I think we need to implement poverty eradication schemes in a robust manner rather than abrupt shift towards economic based criteria of reservation system.
Then next query could be how many year we need to continue caste based reservations and where there is an end to the caste based discrimination? I think it is difficult to answer the above queries because:
1) Emergence of caste based political parties. e.g. BSP, SP, RJD, etc
2) Recently Indian government embarked upon gigantic exercise of Socio-Economic Caste Based Census
3) Caste based mobilization, etc
4) Mckim Marriott says, caste lies in the minds of the people.
I think there could be some self initiation and self introspection from the low caste people, who really doesn't need use of reservation system after at least one or two generations. Eg. SC/ST/OBC civil servants, business people dont need caste based reservation system after one or two generations.
The above step, could be a good start to mitigate suspicion among the upper caste poor people and leave positive impact on the whole system.
Monday, 1 April 2013
Civils mains 2012 Interview
My board chairman was Mr.Manbir Sing( Former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer) and was the second person in my board. It lasted around 20 to 25mnts.
Chairman: You have worked in good MNC, earning good amount of salary and in civils you wont even get half of the salary! then what is your motivation behind it?
Me: I hail from a backward village in a SPSR nellore district of AP. Whenever my village people faces any problem, they would say that, we have to meet collector and only he can solve our problems. From my childhood, i have grownup thinking in such a way that, collector can solve majority of rural community problems. Sir, even while i was studying at social welfare residential school, one IAS officer delivered a speech, that incident further inspired me. After that, i went and asked him, sir what should be done to become a collector, he replied become a IAS officer. After that I pursued my higher education with an emotional and financial support extended by family and well wishers. Apart from that, my inspiration is Dr.P.Subrahamanyam I.A.S, who also hails from the same village and passed away along with Dr.YSR unfortunate helicopter crash. Since my village produced an outstanding civil servant, after that tragic incident, further inspired me towards civil services.
Apart from that, i understand that, civil service as a career gives me immense opportunity to work with people and self respect and esteem to me and family as well.
Chairman: even if you get selected then you wont be posted as a DM to your district and for your village?
Me: Sir, I assume that, India village problems are same as my village and would like to be part of any where in india.
Chairman: AP is undergoing turmoil! talk about on political and economic angles?
Me: I talked about political instability, investment, power crisis and employment, etc
Chairman: Telangana stand?
Me: I took pro telangana stand.
M1(Member 1): Tell me about SWOT?
Me: I tried but couldn't complete Opportunity and Threat!
M1: link SWOT with respect to Assam?
Me: Strength --> Assamese people, so cordial.
Weakness--> Public infrastructure, recurrent floods
Opportunity---> hydro electricity power, rich biodiversity and bamboo technology
Threat ---> terrorism, insurgency and infiltration from bordering areas.
M1: what do you understand by hydroelectricity?
Me: power which is generated by water.
M1: How do you transfer hydroelectricity from north east to Power deficit area like Andhra?
Me : by connecting the grid sir.
M1: how do you actually transfer power through grid?
Me: sorry sir i don't know(Statutory right to give this answer:-))
M1: asked about rock climbing? which is part of my biodata..
M2: Who is your role model?
Me : my father sir. Then he asked me why? I am here because of him sir!
M2: then who else?
Me: Dr.P.Subrahamanyam I.A.S
M2: then who else?
Me: My IITG professors sir! looks like he was expecting from me a national figure?
M2: then asked me, is there anybody from national figure?
Me: I replied Father of the nation Mr.Mahatma Gandhiji.
M2: why? what qualities did you attract?
Me: his leadership skills, visionary skills like sustainable development(SD).
M2: what do you understand by sustainable development? What are the components of that?
Me: exploiting the benefits of natural resources without compromising for future generations.
M2: Then he was waiting for social justice and social equity part of SD!
Me: then i explained about Social justice and social equity part.
M2: he asked me, where are we not following social equity and social justice?
Me: I replied with conviction that, we are looking at tribals, in terms of minerals like bauxite, coal and uranium but not as a humanbeing. They are excluded from benefits of the modern development..(by refering some sociological studies)
M2: MDG
Me: i explained.
M2: asked specifically on sanitation and progress we had achieved..
Me: sorry sir, don't know specifically..
M3: What is ASEAN?
Me: group ten countries sir.
M3: Is china part of ASEAN?
Me: I replied no sir.
M3: then what is the interests of China?
Me: Economic interests, esp trade and commerce. South china sea as well!
M3: Who are all involved in south china sea dispute?
Me: Vietnam, philippines, brune, etc
M3: Whats the importance of south china sea?
Me: I replied it is a minerals rich area, strategically important for navigation and trade..
M3: whats the India's interest?
Me: To tap energy resources and engaging with ASEAN countries.
M3: If i say pakistan then what immediately comes to your mind?
Me: I replied, recently pak govt successfully completed first time 5yrs and about to going for elections this year.
M3: what else?
Me: i was trying to say something but he intervened then said that, what about Mr.Musharaff?
I replied that yes, sir, recently came back and willing to contest in democratic electoral politics.
M3: have you heard about Pipelines, which is news recently?
Me: TAPI, iran-pak pipeline sir.
M3: he asked about TAPI pipeline..what is the USA role?
Me: i replied USA is having it's own interests sir but since india is energy deficit country need to import..
M4: you said that, collector can solve all the probs? then what abt people, civil society org, political parties and PRI's?
Me: I replied with confidence that, without people participation, no govt scheme can be successfull. I quoted AP MGNREGA example, where civil society, PRI are coordinated conducting social audit. because of that, people demanding their entitlements.
M4: What do you mean entitlement?
Me: What are the benefits people supposed to get!
M4: You said, Telengana people are alienated but on the other hand your saying that, civil society org are vibrant? Isn't contradictory?
Me: mam, there are inter regional imbalances esp in telangana region, we do have less awareness level because lack of education, meagre presence of NGO, etc
M4: explain about PPP?
Me: i answered.
M4: As a civil servant what would you do for PPP?
Me: facilitate conducive env like sound legal system, speedy justice delivery if there is any litigations, etc
Then finally chairman said, thank you suneel. You may leave now!
I thought, i should answer more points in some questions..
Suneel Anchipaka
Chairman: You have worked in good MNC, earning good amount of salary and in civils you wont even get half of the salary! then what is your motivation behind it?
Me: I hail from a backward village in a SPSR nellore district of AP. Whenever my village people faces any problem, they would say that, we have to meet collector and only he can solve our problems. From my childhood, i have grownup thinking in such a way that, collector can solve majority of rural community problems. Sir, even while i was studying at social welfare residential school, one IAS officer delivered a speech, that incident further inspired me. After that, i went and asked him, sir what should be done to become a collector, he replied become a IAS officer. After that I pursued my higher education with an emotional and financial support extended by family and well wishers. Apart from that, my inspiration is Dr.P.Subrahamanyam I.A.S, who also hails from the same village and passed away along with Dr.YSR unfortunate helicopter crash. Since my village produced an outstanding civil servant, after that tragic incident, further inspired me towards civil services.
Apart from that, i understand that, civil service as a career gives me immense opportunity to work with people and self respect and esteem to me and family as well.
Chairman: even if you get selected then you wont be posted as a DM to your district and for your village?
Me: Sir, I assume that, India village problems are same as my village and would like to be part of any where in india.
Chairman: AP is undergoing turmoil! talk about on political and economic angles?
Me: I talked about political instability, investment, power crisis and employment, etc
Chairman: Telangana stand?
Me: I took pro telangana stand.
M1(Member 1): Tell me about SWOT?
Me: I tried but couldn't complete Opportunity and Threat!
M1: link SWOT with respect to Assam?
Me: Strength --> Assamese people, so cordial.
Weakness--> Public infrastructure, recurrent floods
Opportunity---> hydro electricity power, rich biodiversity and bamboo technology
Threat ---> terrorism, insurgency and infiltration from bordering areas.
M1: what do you understand by hydroelectricity?
Me: power which is generated by water.
M1: How do you transfer hydroelectricity from north east to Power deficit area like Andhra?
Me : by connecting the grid sir.
M1: how do you actually transfer power through grid?
Me: sorry sir i don't know(Statutory right to give this answer:-))
M1: asked about rock climbing? which is part of my biodata..
M2: Who is your role model?
Me : my father sir. Then he asked me why? I am here because of him sir!
M2: then who else?
Me: Dr.P.Subrahamanyam I.A.S
M2: then who else?
Me: My IITG professors sir! looks like he was expecting from me a national figure?
M2: then asked me, is there anybody from national figure?
Me: I replied Father of the nation Mr.Mahatma Gandhiji.
M2: why? what qualities did you attract?
Me: his leadership skills, visionary skills like sustainable development(SD).
M2: what do you understand by sustainable development? What are the components of that?
Me: exploiting the benefits of natural resources without compromising for future generations.
M2: Then he was waiting for social justice and social equity part of SD!
Me: then i explained about Social justice and social equity part.
M2: he asked me, where are we not following social equity and social justice?
Me: I replied with conviction that, we are looking at tribals, in terms of minerals like bauxite, coal and uranium but not as a humanbeing. They are excluded from benefits of the modern development..(by refering some sociological studies)
M2: MDG
Me: i explained.
M2: asked specifically on sanitation and progress we had achieved..
Me: sorry sir, don't know specifically..
M3: What is ASEAN?
Me: group ten countries sir.
M3: Is china part of ASEAN?
Me: I replied no sir.
M3: then what is the interests of China?
Me: Economic interests, esp trade and commerce. South china sea as well!
M3: Who are all involved in south china sea dispute?
Me: Vietnam, philippines, brune, etc
M3: Whats the importance of south china sea?
Me: I replied it is a minerals rich area, strategically important for navigation and trade..
M3: whats the India's interest?
Me: To tap energy resources and engaging with ASEAN countries.
M3: If i say pakistan then what immediately comes to your mind?
Me: I replied, recently pak govt successfully completed first time 5yrs and about to going for elections this year.
M3: what else?
Me: i was trying to say something but he intervened then said that, what about Mr.Musharaff?
I replied that yes, sir, recently came back and willing to contest in democratic electoral politics.
M3: have you heard about Pipelines, which is news recently?
Me: TAPI, iran-pak pipeline sir.
M3: he asked about TAPI pipeline..what is the USA role?
Me: i replied USA is having it's own interests sir but since india is energy deficit country need to import..
M4: you said that, collector can solve all the probs? then what abt people, civil society org, political parties and PRI's?
Me: I replied with confidence that, without people participation, no govt scheme can be successfull. I quoted AP MGNREGA example, where civil society, PRI are coordinated conducting social audit. because of that, people demanding their entitlements.
M4: What do you mean entitlement?
Me: What are the benefits people supposed to get!
M4: You said, Telengana people are alienated but on the other hand your saying that, civil society org are vibrant? Isn't contradictory?
Me: mam, there are inter regional imbalances esp in telangana region, we do have less awareness level because lack of education, meagre presence of NGO, etc
M4: explain about PPP?
Me: i answered.
M4: As a civil servant what would you do for PPP?
Me: facilitate conducive env like sound legal system, speedy justice delivery if there is any litigations, etc
Then finally chairman said, thank you suneel. You may leave now!
I thought, i should answer more points in some questions..
Suneel Anchipaka
Thursday, 28 March 2013
Firsthand experience @NRHM field visit
Recently I visited Turimerla village in Sri potti sriramulu district (Andhrapradesh) along with Auxiliary Nurse Midwife(ANM) named Rajeswari, to observe National Rural Health Mission(NRHM) implementation at the field level. Before dwelling into some interesting observations, lets briefly discuss about mandate of NRHM and ASHA.
National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) is an Indian health program for improving health care delivery across rural hinterland. One of the key components of the NRHM is to provide every village in the country with a trained female community health activist ASHA or Accredited Social Health Activist. Selected from the village itself and accountable to it, the ASHA will be trained to work as an interface between the community and the public health system.
Selection of ASHA worker is from the most backward communities. Order of the preference would be first ST, then SC and OBC, etc. In the Turimerla village, selection of ASHA worker, itself is very democratic process of involving various community groups, self-help groups, Anganwadi Institutions, the village Health Committee and the Gram Sabha, etc. The reason behind this sort of inclusive selection is that, ASHA workers can effectively mobilize community people and build sense of attachment with the disadvantaged communities. Although caste barriers are persist in this village but in a broader manner, entire village is working for the common cause.
In the Turimerla village, ASHA workers are able to work actively with other communities, providing information to the community on basic sanitation & hygienic practices, health & nutrition education, council women on birth preparedness, importance of safe delivery, breast-feeding and complementary feeding, immunization, and contraception techniques, etc. Thus ASHA workers are fountainhead of community participation in public health delivery system. No system is false-proof across the universe, so let me put few things which needs to be improved:
ASHAs will receive performance-based incentives for promoting universal immunization, referral services and other healthcare program's, and construction of household toilets,etc. Due to lack of fixed salary, their wages are not guaranteed if they do not find any mentioned services in that particular month. They are overburdened in terms of responsibilities but lacking minimum economic security! So need of the hour is fixed salary plus performance based variable incentives to motivate and boost morale of ASHAs.
In Primary Health Centres(PHC's) found only one doctor, who has to visit field level and looking-after patience's. It is very daunting task for doctors to address the above within time bound manner. Some people stated that, at times doctors are lacking service motto and unwillingly working at the village level. Hence need to inculcate service motto's and increase doctors strengths at the PHC level.
ASHAs would be a promoter and facilitator of good health practices, providing a minimum package of curative care as appropriate and feasible for that level and make timely referrals. To achieve the above, Capacity building of ASHA is being seen as a continuous process.
Lets discuss, how Turimerla village people making NRHM more transparent, accountable and efficient way of implementing.
I really wondered regarding the community accountability because people are questioning ASHA's workers, about their basic health needs! E.g. people are asking about usage levels of bleaching powder, etc services which they are statutorily entitled to!
One more interesting point would be how collective social action of Anganwadi workers, ASHA, ANM's and gramasabha empowering the backward populace and curbing corrupt practices which is rampant in the other villages. The entire social vision of Turimerla people, brought down the MMR, IMR and various health indicators.
Recently, there was a path breaking program of 'Ravamma Mahalakshmi', where ASHAs responsibility is that every woman has to access of BP, sugar, TB, etc tests, so that collect disease info and then proper medication could be delivered in time bound manner.
After, speaking with SC community, found that, their economic well being has been improved and they are happy with primary health care needs.
To sum up, Monitoring, reviewing mechanism of ASHAs by nodal officers, motivation of district apparatus, time bound wage delivery system through bank accounts, community accountability, vibrant functioning of gross root institutions and active participation of SHG's, village sanitation committees etc are attributed for the successful implementation of NRHM and efficient public health delivery system.
I think above system is testimony for collective vision, sound gross root participation and collective social action. The same needs to be adopted in other villages to check spreading of Dengue fever, reducing IMR, MMR, and contain various endemic diseases, etc to realize success of NRHM and achieve Millennium Development Goals.
Suneel Anchipaka
anchipaka.suneel@gmail.com
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