New Delhi. Data from National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) says that every twelve hours a Farmer in India Commits Suicide. Now the question is when Farmers commit suicide, what does the officials of Ministry of Agriculture Do?

Here is the answer. When debt ridden farmers end their lives, the department of Agriculture and Cooperation officials read Stardust and Femina Miss India to swallow their sorrow.

It might seem ridiculous but the reply to an RTI filed by BeyondHeadlines says that The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation has subscribed to Magazines like stardust and Cosmopolitan.

The Department has total subscription of 42 Newspapers and 88 Magazines. In last five years the department has spent a total of 2359111 Rs on just Magazines and Newspapers.

We appreciate that the officials should read newspapers and magazines to keep them updated with latest news. The News also give them understanding of the ground reality.

But what surprises is that why should a Agricultural Ministry official read magazines like champak, chandamama, children’s world, cosmopolitan, cricket Samarat, Alive, Femina, Filmfare, Good House Keeping, Grahlaxmi, Grahon ka Khel, Grahshobha, Kadambini, Life Positive, Manohar Kahaniya, Meri Saheli, Mukta, Nandan, Navneet, Nirogadham, Sportstar, Stardust, Swamy’s News, Vanita, Women’s era and Sarita to name a few.

Now the question is, why should a Department of Agriculture & Cooperation subscribe to magazines like stardust and Cosmopolitan? The facts about Farmers suicide may answer this question. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data from 2009, more than 216, 000 farmers have killed themselves since 1997. Add the figures for 1995, 1996 and 2010 and the total crosses 250,000. That is, two farmers a day for the past 15 years.

Shahid Balwa is one of the Youngest Indian Billionaires, was on the Forbes list of richest 50 Indians in 2010 and owns an empire worth more than 4 thousand crores.

His father, Usman Balwa, known as Usman Bhai in the Mumbai central locality also has a reputation of a charitable person who helps people of his community. (Later you will read how his company buy property of charitable organisation at peanut price)

The question is what is the secret of Balwa’s riches? And the answer is he can buy a property worth several hundred crores for just one crore and can create his realty empire on it despite all illegalities and irregularities. He can buy the property even if it is a Wakf property. Balwa can do this because he knows the secret, the secret of greasing every palm that holds the papers related to the property.

As for his reputation, he is an accused in 2G scam case and is currently out of jail on Bail. CBI investigation in the matter is currently under way.

Meanwhile, BeyondHeadlines brings to you a classic example of Balwas bribing Skills. Before we proceed further. Let us ask you a simple question? How much does a property in vicinity of Mumbai Central Railway station, measuring 13837.06 Sq. Meter worth? A crore, a few hundred Crore or nearly a thousand crore? Any rough estimate will worth property at several hundred crores. But if the Buyer is Shahid Balwa’s company and seller is a trust for orphans then the worth is just Rs. 31,80,240 and Purchase price is just One crore rupees or Around Rupees 722 per Sq. Meter.

Here we are talking about the property of Haji Zakaria Haji Ahmed Patel Trust (Mohammedan Orphans and Asylum Fund) with C.S no 243, Tardeo Division sold to Neelkamal Realtors and Developers, company of DB realty Group. The property measuring 13837 sq. meter was sold to Balwa’s Neelkamal Realtors in 2004 for just 1 crore.

Interestingly, According to documents the said property is a wakf property. According to Wakf Property Act 1995 a property once declared wakf is wakf for always and can not be sold or put to any other use.

But for Balwa buying a wakf property is no big task. He not only bought the property worth several hundred crores for Just one crore but also constructed a sprawling mall and shopping centre on it. The Orchid City Centre Mall, which by now is a commercial symbol, stands on the property that once belong to orphans.

Now You might be thinking How Balwa bought this property and nobody questioned him? Let us have a look at this fact-Sheet, meanwhile you can also think how a man who buys orphans property for peanuts can be called a man of charity?

Fact-Sheet

1. In year 1907 A suit was placed before the Bombay High Court for management of property and Fund of Haji Zakaria Haji Ahmed Patel (Mohammedan Orphanage and Asylum Fund) The Bombay High Court by its order on 12.02.1907 in suit number 882/1900 approved scheme for management of property with C.S. No 243 of Tardeo Division by Mohammedan Orphanage and Asylum Fund. The property was meant for orphans whose parents belong to Muslim religion. And according to the High Court ruling the trust was not at all secular in Nature.

2. The Plot with C.S no 243 was leased to Mr. Hormasji Sorabji in on 14 March 1935 by the Haji Zakaria Haji Ahmed Patel Trust. He created Tenancies on the said plot and was collecting rent from the occupants. He was collecting the rent throughout his life time and after his death his son Mr. Soli J Sorabji started collecting rent from the occupants and was issuing rent slips.

3. On 10.12.1952 the Haji Zakaria Haji Ahmed Patel (Mohammedan Orphanage and Asylum Fund) was registered as a trust under the provisions of the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950. 

4. The trust decided to sell the property and got evaluation of the property by Kanti Karamsey and Company. On 19 July 2004 The evaluation firm valued the property net worth at 31,80,240 rupees. Interestingly, the trust members accepted this peanut price which was around 229 rupees per square meter.

5. The trust on 21 August 2004 Published Advertisement in Two local Newspapers namely ‘The Financial Express’ and ‘Vartahar’ for inviting offers from the prospective purchasers on ‘As is where’ and ‘as it is’ Condition. Interestingly, the trust got only one offer, that is from Neelkamal Realtors and Builders Pvt. Ltd. Shahid Balwa’s company had offered One crore for the property, the trust bargained the price and finally settled only at the initial offer price.

6. On 6th September 2004 the trust passed a resolution to sell the said property to Neelkamal Realtors and Builders Private Limited.

7. The trust filed for the sale of the property before Charity Commissioner, Mumbai. In his Judgement dated 16 Nov 2004, Charity Commissioner Mr. S.B. Dhumal ruled that the property in question belongs to a trust which is secular in nature and allowed sale of the property. The charity commissioner gave this ruling on base of an affidavit presented before him by Trustee Mr. Rasheed Omar, saying that original documents related to trust are misplaced and the trust is secular in Nature. The property was finally sold to Neelkamal Realtors and Builders on 15th Dec 2004 for a price of one crore rupees.

8. The Maharashtra Government Gazette published on 13th November 2003 included a notification by Chief Executive Officer of  Maharashtra State Board of Wakf, Aurangabad. The Notification included list of wakf Properties including Haji Zakaria Haji Ahmed patel Mohammedan Orphanage as a Wakf Property. But the Wakf Board of Maharashtra vide its notification published in official Gazette dated 05.05.2005  published list of wakf properties in which the Name of Haji Zakaria trust was excluded. Although the wakf board published another notification dated 07.10.2008 cancelling the 05.05.2005. The notification also said that the original notification of list of wakf properties published on 13 November 2003 remains as it is. This notification declared Haji Zakaria Ahmed Patel Mohammedan Orphanage a wakf property. In its judgement the charity commissioner ruled that The Haji Zakaria Trust is secular in Nature, But Maharashtra Wakf Board says that the trust properties are wakf Properties. 

9. At Present Balwa’s Company Neelkamal Realtors and Builders is fighting a case about the said property in Bombay High Court. 

The above facts prove that the sale of the orphanage property to Balwa’s company was pre planned. In fact Balwa has an eye on the property for long. It is beyond understanding that how a trust can sell property worth several hundred crores for just Rupees One crore without trust members being offered some wrongful gains. The saddest part of the story is that the full government machinery helped Balwa buy this property, which belongs to orphans trust. Although a question regarding the property was raised in Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha, but nothing much has been done in this regards.

At present Balwa’s Orchid City Centre Mall sparks at the land that once belong to orphans and was sold to realtors by conspiracy of the trust members and other government officials involved.

New Delhi.  The Supreme Court on Monday will hear a special leave petition filed by Union of India against the verdict of Mumbai High Court in a case regarding Haj Subsidy and Haj quota to private tour operators.

Vivek Jeph, under secretary Ministry of External Affairs, has filed an affidavit in Supreme Court on behalf of Union of India giving details about Haj subsidy and other Haj related Functions.

According to the affidavit the Haj Subsidy given by Government of India in Year 2011 was 685 crore. The Government pays Haj subsidy on Airfare.

Shockingly in a reply to RTI filed by BeyondHeadlines the Ministry of External Affairs on 20^th April, 2012 said that the subsidy paid in year 2011 was 605 crores.

The difference of 80 Crore in the affidavit and the RTI indicates towards a new scam in name of Haj Subsidy or the Government of India is lying to the Supreme Court by Producing False facts.

More Shockingly in last year 124921 Hajis went to Haj by Haj Committee of India. The Government paid subsidy of 38,800 per Haji on the airfare. If we calculate the total Haj subsidy on airfare it comes to nearly 483 crores.

But in the Affidavit the government says 685 crores were spent on the Haj Subsidy. BeyondHeadlines and the people of India would like to ask the government that where were 202 crores spent?

It should be noted that the government pays Haj Subsidy only on the airfare.  In last five years the Government (as per the affidavit submitted in SC) paid Haj Subsidy of 3347 Crores. Shockingly the total Airfare subsidy comes to 2557 Crores (calculated on No. of Hajis and Airfare).

The data show that 810 Crore more were spent on Haj Subsidy then the total subsidy on Airfare in last 5 years.  This difference indicates towards a larger scam in name of Haj Subsidy.

Also why there is difference in facts provided through RTI and in the affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court.  There are also differences in No. of Hajis as well.

According to the affidavit filed in the Supreme Court the Government says that Ministry of Civil Aviation floats a tender to select an airline to get competitive fare to ferry Haj Pilgrims.  From 2007 onwards the airfare is as follows. 47182, 72640, 55200, 47675, 54800.

The airfare is fluctuating every year but in 2008 it was shockingly high and the government paid subsidy of 60640, which is nearly double from the earlier and later year. BeyondHeadlines would like to ask the MEA that what happened in 2008 that ministry was forced to select an Airline with such high rates? In 2008 the total airfare subsidy paid was 895 crore, which is nearly double to the earlier year.

The tables below shows the difference in Haj Subsidy.

Affidavit submitted in Hon’ble Supreme Court

Information Received by RTI

*Includes provisional figures

Haj Committee of India (HCOI), A body formed by act of Parliament to render services to Indian Haj Pilgrims is cheating both the Indian Government and the Pilgrims.

In year 2011 alone, the HCOI spent 581 crore rupees more in catering to Hajis. According to private tour operators the HCOI spent around Rs 46520 per Haj Pilgrim. In this amount Rs 24000 extra were spent on Airfare which was paid by government of India and rest on facilities in Mecca and Medina. The rest amount was paid by Pilgrims themselves.

According to Private tour operators the HCOI charged around Saudi Riyal 1691 extra from each pilgrim.

Let us understand the Issue in Detail… 

The Issue…

Haj Committee of India (HCOI) is enacted by the Parliament to render service to the Pilgrims without profit hence no one can challenge HCOI in the Consumer court. But the records presented by the Haj Committee in its guidelines issued in 2011 suggests otherwise. http://hajcommittee.com/foreignratesjul2011r.pdf .

It appears that something is fishy in the whole process from the famous Haj Subsidy to the overcharging in the name of Extra Facility, from foreign exchange remittance to the accommodations in Mecca and Medina. The case of Missing Pilgrims is another chapter in the making.

Three Categories of the Pilgrims are categorized on the basis of services provided to them as Green, White and Aziziya. The category is mainly on the basis of a distance between the residence of the pilgrims and the holy Mosques Viz. the holy mosque in Mecca and Masjid-e-Nabvi in Medina, besides few other luxury of life.

Green Category means the residence of the pilgrims will be nearer to the Holy Mosque and the Masjid-e- Nabvi than White and Aziziya Category. Majority of the Indians are poor and therefore opt for Aziziya category which is the lowest one and is located outside Mecca.

Overcharging…

The press release of 2011 mentioned the expenses of Rs.1, 02,754. (Saudi Arabian Riyals- SR-6911.5 equals to Rs.84275+ 30000 taken in advance).

Press release elaborated the expenses at different places of the Haj Guidelines in Saudi Riyals-SR- as

Accommodation in Aziziya & Transportation to Makkah	2620.00
Medina Accommodation	500.00
Foreign Exchange remitted to Pilgrims on Departure	2100.00
Total	5220.00

HCOI mentioned total of Rs. SR 6911.5, where as the expenses mentioned is of SR-5220, the difference of SR-1691 is not mentioned anywhere in the Haj Guidelines. Why is it so?

We came to know that the Saudi Government charged SR-942 or 1043 or 1089 depending upon the rout for all the services it provides to the pilgrims that includes, Muallims, bus services between Makkah, Madina, Jeddah, Mina Arafat, Tents in Mina, Blanket and Pillows, supply of Zamzam, Transportation of baggages and other services in Mina and Arafat, Muzdalifa, which are same for all the pilgrims from all over the world. Even the Guidelines issued by the HCOI mentioned, “No preferential treatment during the stay in Medina Munawwarah and Mina / Arafat / Muzdalifa during Haj days.”

If we add this figure of SR-942 to SR 5220 that comes to SR- 6162, whereas the HCOI has charged SR- 6911.5 per pilgrim. It means it has overcharged 749.5 per pilgrim that comes to nearly Rs.9000/-.

In a reply to a press report, CEO of HCOI said that they paid SR-600 per pilgrim to South Asian Mossassa, for providing additional facility which is contrary to the information provided in the Haj Guidelines. This amount is paid illegally, if ever paid.

The Haj guidelines book give breakup of even 1000 rupees charged as processing fees then why the break-up of SR-746 (INR 9099) not given?

South Asian Mossassa provides services to 6 Countries i.e. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Afganistan and Nepal. None of the remaining five most of them Muslim Countries pay this SAR 600, except India. Then Why HCOI pay this amount?

Is it approved or sanctioned by the Ministry of Haj, Saudi Arabia? Does Bilateral Agreement between India and Saudi Arabia contain this amount? And finally what kind of additional facilities South Asian Mossassa provides to the Indian Pilgrims?

All the facilities like of Muallims, Tents at Mina, Transportation, Zam Zam canes and others mentioned by the CEO are provided by the Saudi Government in SAR 942. If it is not true then Why this amount is charged by the Saudi Government and what facilities does it provide for that amount?

Important issue is the website of Ministry of External affairs has the bilateral agreement of most of the countries but no mention of the agreement between India and Saudi Govt.

In a reply to RTI regarding Bilateral agreement, MeA said , “It can’t be disclosed as per Saudi norms.”

http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/03/hci-scam-ceo-reply-raises-more-questions/

Myth of Haj Subsidy…

Government Claim- According to reports Government of India provide Subsidy of nearly Rs.57000/- per pilgrims which is mainly the Airfare. In 2011, Government hired chartered flights to ferry nearly 1,25000 Indian Pilgrims, which according to the government comes to Rs.73000/- per pilgrims whereas Haj Committee charged Rs.16000/- that means subsidy of Rs.57000/- per pilgrims.

Whereas the Tour operators of India who provided services to only few thousand pilgrims hired a chartered flights and paid maximum Rs.49,000 per pilgrim. The difference between the tour operators and the government is of Rs. 24000 per pilgrim. (73000- 49000). It means HCOI paid Rs. 24000/- per pilgrim more than required.

If a tour operator can bargain for few thousand pilgrim to Rs.49000/- per pilgrim than the GOI must bargain for 1,25000 to nearly Rs.30,000 per pilgrim.

Accommodation…

For Accommodation in Azizya and transportation between aziziya and Ka’aba Sharif, HCOI charged SR-2620 (SR-2500 Rent + SR-120 Bus Service or transportation charges), whereas the other Indian Tour Operator Paid SR-1000 to SR-1600 per pilgrim as Rent and SR-60 for Bus Service. It means HCOI Is over charging or paying higher than required nearly SR-960 per pilgrim i.e. Rs. 11520.

Foreign Exchange Remittance…

Foreign Exchange Remittance can be divided in two part. One is SR-2100/- which are given to the Pilgrims whereas remaining amount is for Accommodation and other services i.e. SR- 4811 (SR- 6911- 2100). HCOI issues tender for SR- 2100, whereas SR- 4811 are remitted directly.

In the year 2011, Inconsistency in the Foreign Exchange is reported. Haj Committee of india granted the contract to IndusInd Bank on 5^th July at the rate of Rs.12.1935 for one Saudi Riyals and the rate was around Rs.11.70 to 11.90 in the month of June when all the pilgrims have deposited there total amount. If we calculate total remittance loss to the exchequer it comes to Rs. 25 crore.

•  Difference of Rs.0.30 (12.19-11.90=0.29)  have cost us Rs. 25,9162500.00

HCOI paid more than required Rs. 0.30 for one Saudi Riyal remittance. Minimum amount paid by a pilgrim is SR – 6911.5. if we calculate additional charged per pilgrim in foreign exchange it comes to around Rs.2000.  (0.30 * 6911)

Conclusion

Effectively total overcharging or paid higher by the HCOI is Rs.46520/- per pilgrim.

Head of account	Amount in INR
Subsidized Airfare	24000.00
Over charging in the garb of extra facility	9000.00
Accommodation	11520.00
Foreign Exchange	2000.00
Total	46520.00

It means that HCOI is effectively overcharging or paid more than required Rs. 46250.00 per pilgrim that comes to around Rs. 581 crore. (Total Number of pilgrims arrived in previous years (2011) through Haj Committee of India: 1,24,921)

New Delhi. On Friday BeyondHeadlines (BH) broke story about rampant Corruption in Haj Committee of India (HCI). In our Story we have clearly mentioned that HCI, a no profit no loss organisation established under Act of Parliament, is actually earning around Rs. Ten thousand from each Haj Pilgrim.

We got a response from Shakir Hussain, CEO of Haj Committee of India. He presented the detail expenses of SAR 749 which was alleged as overcharged as follows-

SAR Particulars (Total Amount- 750 SAR) 

 In light of his reply BH would like to raise a few questions:

1. The Haj guidelines book give breakup of even 1000 rupees charged as processing fees then why the break-up of 746 SAR (INR 9099) not given?

2. HCI paid SAR 600 to South Asian Mossassa (Head of Muallims). South Asian Mossassa provides services to 6 Countries i.e. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Afganistan and Nepal. None of the remaining five most of them Muslim Countries pay this SAR 600, except India. Then Why HCI pay this amount? 

Is it approved or sanctioned by the Ministry of Haj, Saudi Arabia? Does Bilateral Agreement between India and Saudi Arabia contain this amount? And finally what kind of additional facilities South Asian Mossassa provides to the Indian Pilgrims?

3. BH asks Shakir Husain to provide us the copies of Bilateral Agreement of 2011 and 2012. Also the Service Agreement between HCI and South Asian Mossassa for 2011 and 2012.

4. All the facilities like of Muallims, tents at Mina, Transportation, Zam Zam canes and others mentioned by the CEO are provided by the Sadui Government in SAR 942. If it is not true then Why this amount is charged by the Saudi Government and what facilities does it provide for that amount?  

5. Does the accommodation charges SAR 2620 paid for Mecca, and SAR 500 Paid for Medinah not include charges for Beds and Pillows? We ask HCI to furnish detailed break of these charges and what facilities are given for them too.

Foreign Exchange

About Foreign Exchange and the rates of SAR to Indian Rupees, CEO responded “The finalizing of foreign exchange rate in terms of Saudi Riyals is fixed by the Haj Committee of India, by inviting sealed quotation from various Banks, as per prescribed norms. During Haj – 2011, IndusInd Bank, submitted the lowest quote, 1 SAR = Rs. 12.1935, accordingly the job for issue of Saudi Riyals to the Pilgrims proceeding for Haj – 2011, was awarded to IndusInd Bank on 5th July, 2011. The actual payments to the Bank by HCI takes place 15 days before first flight.”

BH like to state that this tender is for SAR-2100, which was handed over to the Pilgrims at the Jeddah Airport and not for the approximately SAR- 5000 for the stay in Aziziyah, Madina, Mina, other holy cities and Travelling.

BH asks that when did HCI receive the last payment of Pilgrims from them and when this other amount of approximately SAR-5000 per pilgrims remitted and at what rate? Because BH believes that in June 2011 all the Pilgrims have deposited their amount and remitting this would have been done earlier in June to book the hotels at Aziziya, Makkah and Madina.

Accommodation

About the stay in Azizia the CEO of HCI answered, “The allegation of over-charging the rentals towards hiring of accommodation for the Pilgrims stay in Azizia area is not at all correct. The accommodation rates in Makka are decided on the basis of inputs received form CGI, Jeddah after due consultation with SHCs and Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India.” 

Further he said, “There is a cut-throat competition from major countries, towards hiring of accommodation of pilgrims in the Kingdom, during Haj pilgrimage. The accommodation units in Makkah Mukarramah are hired by the Consulate General of India, Jeddah for the entire Haj season. The buildings are not hired on daily rental basis. The rate charged is for the entire Haj season. Taking in to consideration the above the rate charged was competitive.”

BH likes to ask that in this cut throat Competition between Countries to accommodate Millions of Pilgrims, “How come Tour Operators of India who send meager, nearly 40,000 Pilgrims, get so competitive price of SAR 800 to SAR 1600?

Previous Story Link: http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/03/haj-committee-earning-rs-10000-from-each-pilgrim/

Krishnaraj Rao

Mumbai: Do educated people handcuff themselves? Yes, very often. Ask Sukhraj Nahar. The big boss of Nahar Group – one of India’s biggest builders – routinely makes top professionals and businessmen tie up their own hands. Lured by dreams of greenery and world-class amenities, intelligent people from Mumbai, Dubai, UK etc. book flats in Nahar Amrit Shakti complex in Chandivali, near Powai. The reality turns out to be dry and dusty, but the buyers rarely fight for their rights. Poocho kyon?

Because, in their Agreement of Sale, they renounce their right to seek legal remedies. Call it bullishness, lack of due diligence or herd mentality – the flat purchasers readily agree to numerous illegal and discriminatory terms and conditions.

A source reveals that someone bought a flat in Lantana building in Nahar Amrit Shakti complex. It is one of the 17 buildings built like conjoined twins inside a single plot called Sector R-12.

BeyondHeadlines has all related documents and photographs.

Documents and photographs show flat-purchasers living on a dusty construction site with stone quarrying happening in the surrounding hills, under Nahar’s supervision. The lush gardens, clubhouse and parking podiums promised by the builder are simply not there. The space reserved for parking podiums has been made into duplex flats, almost ready for sale. If Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) increases the Floor Space Index (FSI) or Transfers of Development Rights (TDR) in coming years, more flats will be built in the 50,000 sq ft. space reserved for the clubhouse; the stage has already been set by the agreement itself.

Does the Agreement specify what the Builder must deliver, and when?

The answer is No. There are no dates and deadlines for delivery – not even tentative ones.

Does the Agreement specify Common Amenities?

No. It only contains a bare minimum promise of delivering flat no. 401 on the 4th floor of a building called Lantana in Sector R-12 Chandivali, having built-up area of 842 square feet in exchange for Rs 42.73 lakhs. Even the number of floors in the building is unspecified. The list of amenities says “Children’s Park” and “Recreation Garden”. How big? Where? By when? Not mentioned.

Similarly, the agreement does not safeguard the buyers. The builder can even mortgage the whole building if he wants. The agreement talks about the rights and privileges of the land owners, who are signatories to this agreement, but is silent about their contractual obligations to the flat-buyer.   

Nine Parties are involved in the agreement. Are we finished with counting the loopholes in this agreement? No, not yet. A dozen more blatant unlawful points are lurking in the same agreement. 

The Haj Committee of India (HCI) is constituted to provide facilities to Indian Haj Pilgrims and to make their Holy Journey better is actually earning from Indian pilgrims. The HCI is charging around Rs 10000 extra from each pilgrim it sends on the Haj.

Corruption allegations are not new for the Haj Committee but this time the funds involved are so high that committee may find it difficult to explain. Many allegations have been leveled against the Committee and yet not much has been done. This time HCI has allegedly overcharged Rs.112 crore from nearly123000 Indian Pilgrims in 2011 as shown by the records published by them. The deficiency came in to the light when the account presented by the Haj committee is analyzed.

Revised press release of the Haj Committee issued in August 2011 (http://hajcommittee.com/foreignratesjul2011r.pdf)  explains the expenses as 6911.5 Saudi Arabian Riyals (SAR) (Indian Rupees 84275/-) for the Pilgrims opted for accommodation at Aziziya in Makkah. This is in addition to Rs. 30000 in advance paid by them. Total comes to Rs.114275.00

Subsidised airfare is Rs.16000, miscellaneous expenses is Rs.1504/-. Other Expenses incurred on individual pilgrims in the year 2011 are 2620 SAR for Makkah accommodation including transportation from Aziziya to Haram Sharif. Accommodation in Madina and uniform charges are 500 SAR. Facilities in buildings in Makkah, Madina, Mina Arafat and Muzdalifa are same for Green, White and Aziziya Category. 

In the above table the only figure missing is of Muallim, Stay at Mina and travelling by bus with in different Holy cities which according to the Saudi government is provided for in SAR 942 (594 for Muallim, stay in Mina, Arafat and others +348 for bus travel).

Adding Rs.11486.00 to 82154.00 comes to INR 93640.00 where as the Haj Committee of India charged Rs.102379.00 from the Pilgrims opted for Accommodation at Aziziya. Thus it charged Rs. 9099 more than it incurred on per pilgrim. This is the account of only one category; likewise there are Green and White Category pilgrims where this amount is allegedly over charged to pilgrims.

According to a news report 123486 pilgrims went for Haj in 2011from India. Although this figure is of the cheapest of three categories and figures may go up if all the three categories are analyzed. Thus total amount that Haj Committee of India overcharged with the Indian Pilgrims comes to around Rs.112 crore.

Besides, the HCI also overcharged nearly 800 SAR per pilgrims in the accommodation at Aziziya. According to the sources it costs nearly 800 to 1600 SAR while travelling from Aziziya to Haram Sharif is 120 SAR per pilgrim, while Haj Committee is charging 2620 SAR per pilgrims.

Inconsistency has also been alleged in the foreign exchange. The rate of Saudi Arabian Riyal is quoted to the Haj Committee of India @ Rs.12.1935 for one SAR but the rate was around Rs.11.70 to 11.90.

The Parliament Act provides safeguard to the Haj Committee of India and therefore cannot be challenged in the consumer court. The guidelines issued states that the HCI is constituted under the Act of Parliament renders service to the pilgrims without any consideration. The Haj Committee of India works on no profit no loss basis. It collects from pilgrims the exact amount required for payment of various facilities and services to the concerned agencies. It goes on stating that the Haj Committee of India renders its services free of cost. It also does not come under the purview of Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The pilgrims therefore, cannot claim any compensation against HCI.

The media, both in Bihar and Delhi most often assert and want us to believe that Bihar is changing and in fact transforming to a developed state. No wonder, this media portrayal has attracted positive attention of global investors and researchers. But very few have looked at the impact of corruption and organized crime on Bihar’s environment, local community and overall human development. At a time when illegal mining in Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand etc has been part of a national political and policy debate on mining, the sand mining mafia in Bihar seems to have missed the critical eye of our national media. BH last month had a story of a recent seminar on the Sand Mining Mafia in Bihar at the Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI) of the University of Pennsylvania.

This CASI seminar by Dr. Jeff Witsoe focused on the emerging development discourse in Bihar and how to understand the role and impact of mining mafia in contemporary Bihar. Dr. Witsoe, who is an anthropologist at the Union College in New York and a visiting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania had visited and lived in Bihar to conduct his ethnographic research on caste empowerment and democratic politics in Bihar, recently with a more focus on brokers and mafias. The local media in Bihar have mentioned that Dr. Witsoe has established in his research that Bihar is on development track now and Sand Mafia are almost extinct in the state. However, our initial reading of Witsoe’s writings does not reflect this assertion and neither his research has established the extinction of the sand mafia. Nonetheless, we would like to present the picture that was portrayed and revealed to one of the authors of this article during BH’s ongoing investigative field work in Bihar. 

The Story of the Sand Mining

If you travel across Bihar particularly Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, Jamui, Lakhisarai, Shaikhpura, Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Rohtas, Bhabhua, Aurangabad, Buxar, Gaya, Nalanda, Jahanabad, Navada, Siwan, Gopalganj, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Bettiah, Motihari, Madhubani, Kishanganj, Saharsa, Supaul and Madhepura you will find that illegal mining is still going on, perhaps in a more organised fashion. The only change you will notice is that now the miners are white collared politicians who have hired goons for themselves. Earlier the mining used to be done in shadow of guns, now bribe has replaced guns.

The strange coincidence with the University of Pennsylvania seminar is that on 09 February 2012, the day when Dr. Witose was to present his research update, the villagers of Sitti Panchayat in Gaunaha Block of West Champaran District submitted a complaint to the District Magistrate (DM) about illegal mining mafia. The villagers also presented a video CD to the DM showing destroyed farmlands and loss to the nearby river.

The bitter truth is that mining mafia are more active than anytime in the past.  The ‘Sone’ River is completely ruined. The Bihar govt. has banned rock mining but in Sasaram alone more than 400 mines are operating illegally. Only 8 mines here have valid lease. The Kaimur Rock lands are worst affected. Their greenery is completely lost. Likewise more than a thousand rock mines are operating in Bihar illegally.

Pawan Kumar Pathak, a journalist in West Champaran says that sand mining Mafia is more organised now. The local residents are and environment is at greater loss than ever before while the mafia and the state government are making good money out of this.

The government on one side is giving land to mining mafia at greater price but this is causing erosion leading to shifting of many villages. The changed course of rivers is washing out many villages forcing government to rehabilitate displaced villagers. The gains in revenue turn out to be greater loss to environment and people. Also in reality the government has to spend more on rehabilitation than it earns from the mining leases. In the process the local political leaders and mining mafia are making great profits. The mining and subsequent construction work for rehabilitation gives scam opportunities to leaders.

The locals live in fear. A resident says that no officer dares to question the mining mafia, they have such terror that if anybody asks anything they answer with physical intimidation without any fear. The villagers were so afraid of the mafia that no one dared to speak openly about them.

The picture media or the government has portrayed about sand mining in Bihar is completely different from what the locals say. There is no doubt that Nitish Kumar government has regularized mining by a New Sand Mining Policy and has even earned good revenue for the state. But that revenue is nowhere in comparison to the losses suffered by the local community and more importantly by the local environment.

(Mr. Sahil is Editor-investigations and Mr. Dash is the Hon. Editor both at BH. This article is part of Mr. Sahil’s ongoing fieldwork in Bihar during Feb-March 2012.)

Previous Story Link: http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/02/university-of-pennsylvania-lecture-on-sand-mafia-in-bihar/  

It has been a decade since 2002 riots in Gujarat. However, justice is still eluding.

It started from Sabarmati Express near Godhra where the returning devotees from Ayodha were burnt in the coach of S-6. 54 people died. No one knew immediately why and who alight the coach and the train. But rumor quickly engulfed the locality that people from the other community have burnt down the innocent lives. It was just the trigger to start the riot. Minorities were selectively targeted, humiliated and killed in broad day light even in the presence of the police. Homes, shops all were burnt down. Women and children were not spared. Many were forced and raped. Nevertheless people from the majority also were killed during this three day mayhem. Thousands were killed, more were rendered homeless. The CM who prefers to call himself as the common man, not the Chief Minister, did nothing to protect these innocent lives.  More than 2000 people were killed however, the government report has only recognised the death of 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus.

Remembering the Riots 1992 and 2002

People in Surat still remember the 1992 riots. More than 200 people were killed then and many homes and businesses were looted and destroyed.  Remembering the 1992 riots Mr. Haji Maqsood has become tearful. It was 2002 just before the riots Maqsood was informed by his friend not to venture out of home. Incidentally his  policeman friend is a Hindu. There was another Mulsim policeman friend who lost his sister in the riots. Mansoor Mian feels luckky to have been in Delhi during the riots in 2002.

55 year old Sayyed Khan is now ageing fast. Dry eyes, no frontal teeth and wrinkles on his face is enough to imagine the pain the man has gone through in last ten years. He lost 10 people of his family. Among others his wife, mother and brother were killed. Everything was destroyed and he looks lost in those cruel days of 2002.

Mohd Haneef of Surat does not find words to explain the events of 2002.Even though Surat did not see mass killings as happened in other parts of Gujarat, but it broke the backbone of the Muslim community. The community lives in fear. He tells that Muslims have been always the target when something has happened in Gujarat. Whether it is the bombings of 1992/1993, 2008 or 2011 Muslims were targeted and hundreds of innocent Muslims are still in the jails.

Many people like Mansoor Mian complain that justice has not been done. But still are hopeful that justice will be done in the coming days. Many of them feel that Modi’s dream to become the PM of India is not going to materialize as people have known his real self. Modi is already known as someone who wants to sow the seeds of hate and yield electoral results out of this hatred. Some assert that leave alone PM of India, in the coming state elections Modi is going to face tough fight to become even the CM of Gujarat.

People have got hold of the real picture of his hyped theory of development. Modi has allowed at least 167 corporates who have acquired thousands of hectors of land including the tax exemption in many cases. There is no space for raising voice against these companies. Labour movements have been systematically demolished.  Police is ready to put you in the jail if you raise your voice. Its well known that TATA was welcomed in Gujarat after it was not allowed to start the factory in Singur. The most curious thing is that Gujarat Agricultural University land was given to the Tata nano factory.  Nevertheless, the farmers that have lost their land to the Tata Nano Factory have got high compensations, sometimes four times the market price.

The NHRC response to an revealed that 432 communal riots have taken place during 1993-2009. In most of these episodes of violence neither the government nor the NHRC have been effective to do anything.

No matter who did it and who was killed, the riots can never be justified. Whether it was during the freedom struggle, or killing of the Hindus in Nuakhali, or the killing of Sikhs in 1984, or the killings in Odisha. We as a country have seen several communal riots, most have been covered up to protect the perpetrators and victims have not been compensated. Some are still running from offices to offices to collect the death certificate of their dead relative.  I am still amazed that the common man in Surat who suffered in 1993 and 2002 is still hopeful. I sometimes feel hopeless, but when I talked to these common people in Surat, their hope, gives me hope that justice will be done.

Kamala Kanta Dash and Afroz Alam Sahil

Today the Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI) at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania will host a lecture on Sand Mafia in Bihar by anthropologist Dr.  Jeff Witsoe from 12.00 noon to 1.30pm, the local time. Dr. Witose is an Assistant Professor at the department of Anthropology at the Union College in New York.  At present a Visiting Scholar at CASI, Dr. Jeff Witsoe is a PhD from the University of Cambridge.

The lecture “The Baloo Mafia: An Ethnographic Exploration of the Political Economy of Sand Mining in Bihar” by Dr. Witsoe, as the official CASI release mentions, will focus on the changing political and policy discourse in Bihar under the Nitish Kumar government and how there has been, if at all, a successful shift from the caste empowerment to economic development. Acknowledging the recent growth story of Bihar, Dr. Witsoe, is going to discuss the story of Baloo Mafia (Sand Mafia) in the backdrop of such changes leading to a construction boom and the increased demand for sand. Dr. Witose will focus on the district of Bhojpur in the northwestern part of Bihar.

The mining mafia, however, have not become weak or insignificant, in fact they have become more powerful in different ways. As per the confidential sources of Beyond Headlines, we are aware that Sand Mining is continuing in full swing. Nevertheless, the government of Bihar has been self-congratulatory irrespective of the illegal practices in sand mining. The terror of the Sand Mining Mafia still runs large and no one in the affected villages was willing to talk to us on this aspect. 

In this backdrop, this is important to note that many states including Bihar, Rajasthan and Karnataka are in the process of either having a new or modifying their existing policy framework to regulate sand mining in 2012. More importantly the Government of India Standing Committee on Coal and Steel is also inviting suggestions to improve upon the proposed Mining and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill 2011. The deadline is 11 February 2011. So the lecture will hopefully draw some anthropological insights tempered with the current development so that Dr. Witose’s observations can be used by the states and as well as the central government in improving their existing policy frameworks. Beyond Headlines will publish an investigative feature story on the sand mining and other mining activities in Bihar in the coming days.

Mr. Dash is the Honorary Editor and Mr. Sahil is the Editor Investigations at BH.