Achal K Jyoti takes over as new Election Commissioner

Achal Kumar Jyoti, a former chief secretary of Gujarat during Narendra Modi's tenure as chief minister, on Wednesday took over as the new Election Commissioner, filling one of the two vacancies in the three-member body.

"Jyoti took charge on Wednesday at the Election Commission of India," a senior official said.

Jyoti is a 1975-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who retired as state Gujarat chief secretary in January 2013.

He served in the top post in Gujarat when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chief minister.

Jyoti (62) had also served as the state Vigilance Commissioner and worked in various capacities in his cadre including as chairman of the Kandla Port Trust between 1999 and 2004 and managing director of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL).

Born on January 23, 1953, Jyoti will have a tenure of nearly three years as ECs demit office at the age of 65.

An EC or a CEC has a tenure of six years in office or till he or she attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

After V S Sampath demitted office in January, H S Brahma was elevated as CEC. But after Brahma demitted office, two posts of ECs in the three-member body have remained vacant.

Between April 19, when Nasim Zaidi took over as the CEC till today, he was the only member in the poll body.

The government is soon expected to appoint one more Election Commissioner to fill up the last vacancy.

Jyoti has also worked as Secretary in the Industry, Revenue and Water Supply Departments.

Private banker K V Kamath named first BRICS bank head

India has named private banker K.V. Kamath as the first head of a new development bank being set up by the BRICS group of emerging market economies, Finance Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi told reporters on Monday        the 11^th May, 2015.

The BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - agreed to set up the $100 billion development bank last July, in a step toward reshaping the Western-dominated international financial system.

It was agreed that the New Development Bank, which will fund infrastructure projects in developing nations, would be based in Shanghai. It would be headed by an Indian for a first five-year term, followed by a Brazilian and then a Russian.

"Kamath has been appointed as the head of the BRICS bank, the appointment will become effective when he becomes free from his current assignments," Mehrishi told reporters in New Delhi.

Kamath, 67, is a veteran banker who was credited with developing ICICI Bank into India's second-largest lender. He headed the bank for 13 years until 2009 and is now its non-executive chairman.

He is also non-executive chairman of India's second-biggest software services exporter Infosys.

Atul Tiwari, a senior official in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office, said India has conveyed the decision to nominate Kamath for the BRICS bank presidency to partner countries.

"They have been notified about it," Tiwari said. "There is no scope for any partner country to raise an objection to Mr. Kamath's appointment because it was already decided that India will choose the first BRICS bank head."

Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters; the festival is also popularly used to celebrate any brother-sister like loving protective relationship between men and women who are relatives or biologically unrelated. It is called Rakhi Purnima, or simply Rakhi, in many parts of India. The festival is observed by Hindus, Jains, and many Sikhs. Raksha Bandhan is primarily observed in India, Mauritius and parts of Nepal. It is also celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs in parts of Pakistan, and by some people of Indian origin around the world.

Raksha Bandhan is an ancient festival, and has many myths and historic legends linked to it. For example, the Rajput queens practised the custom of sending rakhi threads to neighbouring rulers as token of brotherhood. On Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie a rakhi (sacred thread) on her brother's wrist. This symbolizes the sister's love and prayers for her brother's well-being, and the brother's lifelong vow to protect her. The festival falls on the full moon day (Shravan Poornima) of the Shravan month of the Hindu lunisolar calendar.

Significance

Raksha Bandhan in Sanskrit literally means "the tie or knot of protection". It is an ancient Hindu festival that ritually celebrates the love and duty between brothers and their sisters. The sister performs a Rakhi ceremony, then prays to express her love and her wish for the well being of her brother; in return, the brother ritually pledges to protect and take care of his sister under all circumstances. It is one of the several occasions in which family ties are affirmed in India.

The festival is also an occasion to celebrate brother-sister like family ties between cousins or distant family members, sometimes between biologically unrelated men and women. To many, the festival transcends biological family, brings together men and women across religions, diverse ethnic groups and ritually emphasizes harmony and love. It is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Śrāvaṇa, and typically falls in August every year.

Description and rituals

The festival is marked by the several rituals, which vary regionally within India. Typical rituals include:

Prepare for Raksha Bandhan

Days or weeks before Raksha Bandhan, women shop for Rakhi, the ceremonial thread to tie around her brother's (or brother-like friend's) wrist. Some women make their own Rakhi. A Rakhi may be a simple thread, woven and colorful; or a Rakhi may be intricate with amulets and decoration on top of it. Sometimes, a Rakhi may be a wrist watch or men's wrist accessory in the form of bracelet or jewelry. Rakhi in the form of a colorful woven thread is most common. Typically the brother(s) too shop for gifts for the sister, ahead of Raksha Bandhan. The gift from the brother can be a simple thoughtful token of love, and may be more elaborate.

Rakhi ritual

On the morning of Raksha Bandhan, the brother(s) and sister(s) get together, often in nice dress in the presence of surviving parents, grandparents and other family members. If the sister and brother are geographically separated, the sister may mail the Rakhi ahead of the Raksha Bandhan day, along with a greeting card or letter wishing her brother well. The ritual typically begins in front of a lighted lamp (diya) or candle, which signifies fire deity. The sister and brother face each other. The sister ties the Rakhi on her brother's wrist.

Prayer, aarti, promise and food

Once the Rakhi has been tied, the sister says a prayer for the well being - good health, prosperity and happiness - for her brother. This ritual sometimes involves an aarti, where a tray with lighted lamp or candle is ritually rotated around the brother's face, along with the prayer and well wishes.

The prayer is a self composed note, or one of many published Rakhi poems and prose. One of the earliest examples of a Rakhi prayer is found in Book V, Chapter V of Vishnu Purana; it is the prayer that Yasoda says while tying a Raksha Bandhan amulet on Krishna's wrist. An abridged form of the prayer is:

May the lord of all beings protect you,
May the one who creates, preserves and dissolves life protect thee,
May Govinda guard thy head; Kesava, thy neck; Vishnu, thy belly;
the eternal Narayana, thy face, thine arms, thy mind, and faculties of sense;
May all negativity and fears, spirits malignant and unfriendly, flee thee;
May Rishikesa keep you safe in the sky; and Mahidhara, upon earth.

After the prayer, the sister applies a tilak, a colorful mark on the forehead of the brother. After the tilak, the brother pledges to protect her and take care of his sister under all circumstances.

The sister then feeds the brother, with her hands, one or more bites of sweets (desserts), dry fruits and other seasonal delicacies.

Gifts and hugs

The brother gives his sister(s) gifts such as cards, clothes, money or something thoughtful. The brother may also feed his sister, with his hands, one or more bites of sweets, dry fruits and other seasonal delicacies. They hug, and the larger family ritually congratulate the festive celebration of brother-sister love and protection.

The brother(s) wear the Rakhi for the entire day, at school or work, as a reminder of their sister(s) and to mark the festival of Raksha Bandhan.

Myths and parables

The scriptures, epics and ancient fiction of Hinduism is peppered with stories of Rakhi and Raksha Bandhan. Some of these include:

Indra Dev:- According to Hindu scripture Bhavishya Purana, in the war between Gods and demons, Indra - the deity of sky, rains and thunderbolts - was disgraced by the powerful demon King Bali. Indra’s wife Sachi consulted Vishnu, who gave her a bracelet made of cotton thread, calling it holy. Sachi tied the holy thread around Indra wrist, blessed with her prayers for his well being and success. Indra successfully defeated the evil and recovered Amaravati. This story inspired the protective power of holy thread.

King Bali and Goddess Laxmi:- According to this legend, credited to Hindu scriptures Bhagavata Purana and Vishnu Purana, after Vishnu won the three worlds from the demon King Bali, he was asked by Bali that Vishnu live in his palace, a request Vishnu granted. Vishnu's wife, Goddess Lakshmi did not like the palace or his new found friendship with Bali, and preferred that her husband and she return to Vaikuntha. So she went to Bali, tied a Rakhi and made him a brother. Bali asked her what gift she desired. Lakshmi asked that Vishnu be freed from the request that he live in Bali's palace. Bali consented, as well accepted her as his sister.

Santoshi Ma:- Ganesh had two sons, Shubh and Labh. On Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh's sister visited and tied a Rakhi on Ganesh's wrist. The two boys become frustrated that they have no sister to celebrate Raksha Bandhan with. They ask their father Ganesh for a sister, but to no avail. Finally, saint Narada appears who persuades Ganesh that a daughter will enrich him as well as his sons. Ganesh agreed, and created a daughter named Santoshi Ma by divine flames that emerged from Ganesh's wives,Rddhi (Amazing) and Siddhi (Perfection). Thereafter, Shubh Labh (literally "Holy Profit") had a sister named Santoshi Ma (literally "Goddess of Satisfaction"), who loved and protected each other.

Krishna and Draupadi:- In the epic Mahabharat, Draupadi tied a Rakhi to Krishna, while Kunti tied her Rakhi to her grandson Abhimanyu, before the great war.

Yama and the Yamuna:- According to another legend, Yama, the god of Death had not visited his sister Yamuna for 12 years. Yamuna, the goddess of Yamuna river, was sad and consulted Ganga, the goddess of Ganga river. Ganga reminded Yama of his sister, upon which Yama visits her. Yamuna was overjoyed to see her brother, and prepared a bounty of food for Yama. The god Yama was delighted, and asked Yamuna what she wanted for gift. She wished that he, her brother should return and see her again soon. Yama was moved by his sister's love, agreed and to be able to see her again, made river Yamuna immortal. This legend is the basis for a Raksha Bandhan-like festival called Bhai Duj in some parts of India, which also celebrates brother-sister love, but near Diwali.

Historical references

Alexander the Great and King Puru:- According to one legendary narrative, when Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BCE, Roxana (or Roshanak, his wife) sent a sacred thread to Porus, asking him not to harm her husband in battle. In accordance with tradition, Porus, a Katoch king, gave full respect to the rakhi. On the battlefield, when Porus was about to deliver a final blow to Alexander, he saw the rakhi on his own wrist and restrained himself from attacking Alexander personally.

Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun:- A popular narrative that is centered around Rakhi is that of Rani Karnavati of Chittor and Mughal Emperor Humayun, which dates to 1535 CE. When Rani Karnavati, the widowed queen of the king of Chittor, realised that she could not defend against the invasion by the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a Rakhi to Emperor Humayun. Touched, the Emperor immediately set off with his troops to defend Chittor. Humayun arrived too late, and Bahadur Shah managed to sack the Rani's fortress. Karnavati, along with a reported 13,000 other women in the fortress, carried out Jauhar on March 8, 1535, killing themselves to avoid dishonor while the men threw the gates open and rode out on a suicidal charge against Bahadur Shah's troops. When he reached Chittor, Humayun evicted Bahadur Shah from fort and restored the kingdom to Karnavati's son, Vikramjit Singh. Although contemporary commentators and memoirs do not mention the Rakhi episode and some historians have expressed skepticism about it, it is mentioned in one mid-seventeenth century Rajasthani account.

Rabindranath Tagore & Rakhi:- Rabindranath Tagore, the Indian Nobel Laureate for literature, invoked Raksha Bandhan and Rakhi, as concepts to inspire love, respect and a vow of mutual protection between Hindus and Muslims during India's colonial era. In 1905, the British empire divided Bengal, a province of British India on the basis of religion. Rabindra Nath Tagore arranged a ceremony to celebrate Raksha Bandhan to strengthen the bond of love and togetherness between Hindus and Muslims of Bengal, and urge them to together protest the British empire. He used the idea of Raksha Bandhan to spread the feeling of brotherhood. In 1911, British colonial empire reversed the partition and unified Bengal, a unification that was opposed by Muslims of Bengal. Ultimately, Tagore's Raksha Bandhan-based appeals were unsuccessful. Bengal not only was split during the colonial era, one part became modern Bangladesh and predominantly Muslim country, the other a largely Hindu Indian state of West Bengal. Rabindranath Tagore started Rakhi Mahotsavas as a symbol of Bengal unity, and as a larger community festival of harmony. In parts of West Bengal, his tradition continues as people tie Rakhis to their neighbors and close friends.

One of Tagore's poem invoking Rakhi is:

The love in my body and heart
For the earth's shadow and light
Has stayed over years.

With its cares and its hope it has thrown
A language of its own
Into blue skies.

It lives in my joys and glooms
In the spring night's buds and blooms
Like a Rakhi-band
On the Future's hand.

Regional variations

While Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in various parts of South Asia, different regions mark the day in different ways.

Kumaon region:- The people of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, celebrate Raksha Bandhan with Janopunyu. Along with the sister-brother ritual, men change their janeu (sacred thread). The region also marks the day with Bagwal fair at Devidhura in district Champawat.

West Bengal& Odisha:- In the state of West Bengal and Odisha, this day is also called Jhulan Purnima. Prayers and puja of Lord Krishna and Radha are performed there. Sisters tie Rakhito Brothers and wish immortality. Political Parties, Offices, Friends, Schools to colleges, Street to Palace celebrate this day with a new hope for a good relationship.

Nepal:- In Nepal, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on shravan purnima. It is also called Janaeu Purnima (Janaeu is sacred thread and purnima means full moon). A sacred thread is tied on wrist by senior family members and relatives. Nepalese people enjoy this festival, eating its special food "Kwati", a soup of sprout of seven different grains.

Maharashtra:- In Maharashtra, the festival of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated as Narali Poornima. Kolis are the fishermen community of the coastal state (Maharashtra). These Kolis offered prayers to Lord Varuna for invoking his blessings. As part of the Rakhi rituals, coconuts were thrown into the sea as offerings to Lord Varuna also they apply vermillion on each other's foreheads as a symbol of prosperity.

Multiculturalism:- In contemporary practice, Raksha Bandhan festival has developed into a broader context and a multicultural event. Priests tie rakhis around the wrists of congregation members. Rakhis are often shared between close friends. Women tie rakhis around the wrists of the heads of state, political party or social leaders. Ceremonies are also held to tie Rakhi around the wrists of soldiers.

Muslims:- There is no mention of Raksha Bandhan in Quran or Hadiths. However, some Muslims in India view it a secular, multicultural festival. 

The FIFA World Cup

The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not held because of the Second World War. The current champions are Spain, who won the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

The current format of the tournament involves 32 teams competing for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over a period of about a month; this phase is often called the World Cup Finals. A qualification phase, which currently takes place over the preceding three years, is used to determine which teams qualify for the tournament together with the host nation(s).

The 19 World Cup tournaments have been won by eight different national teams. Brazil have won five times, and they are the only team to have played in every tournament. The other World Cup winners are Italy, with four titles; West Germany, with three titles; Argentina and inaugural winners Uruguay, with two titles each; and England, France, and Spain, with one title each.

Trophy:-  From 1930 to 1970, the Jules Rimet Trophy was awarded to the World Cup winning team. It was originally simply known as the World Cup or Coupe du Monde, but in 1946 it was renamed after the FIFA president Jules Rimet who set up the first tournament. In 1970, Brazil's third victory in the tournament entitled them to keep the trophy permanently. However, the trophy was stolen in 1983, and has never been recovered, apparently melted down by the thieves.

After 1970, a new trophy, known as the FIFA World Cup Trophy, was designed. The experts of FIFA, coming from seven different countries, evaluated the 53 presented models, finally opting for the work of the Italian designer Silvio Gazzaniga. The new trophy is 36 cm (14.2 in) high, made of solid 18 carat (75%) gold and weighs 6.175 kg (13.6 lb). The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite while the bottom side of the trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup winner since 1974.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the 20th FIFA World Cup, an international men's association football tournament that is scheduled to take place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014. It will be the second time that Brazil has hosted the competition, the previous being in 1950. Brazil was elected unchallenged as host nation in 2007 after the international football federation, FIFA, decreed that the tournament would be staged in South America for the first time since 1978 in Argentina, and the fifth time overall.

The national teams of 31 countries advanced through qualification competitions that began in June 2011 to participate with the host nation Brazil in the final tournament. A total of 64 matches are to be played in twelve cities across Brazil in either new or redeveloped stadiums, with the tournament beginning with a group stage. For the first time at a World Cup Finals, the matches will use goal-line technology.

With the host country, all world champion teams since the first World Cup in 1930 (Uruguay, Italy, Germany, England, Argentina, France and Spain) have qualified for this competition. Spain is the defending champion, having defeated the Netherlands 1–0 in the 2010 World Cup final to win its first World title. The previous four World Cups staged in South America were all won by South American teams.

Each participating team will receive at least US$8 million. The World Champions will receive $35 million, while the losing finalists will receive $25 million. Teams that lose in the round of 16 will receive $9 million, and the quarter-finalists receive $14 million. The clubs in which the players are playing for at the time of their World Cup departure will receive $70 million as a compensation for insurance costs and expenses, which will be distributed through their national associations. Overall, FIFA will allocate $576 million, a new record, and an increase from the $420 million allocated in South Africa.

India:- India qualified by default for the 1950 FIFA World Cup finals as a result of the withdrawal of all of their scheduled opponents. But the governing body AIFF decided against going to the World Cup, being unable to understand the importance of the event at that time. Reason shown by AIFF was that there was the cost of travel, although FIFA agreed to bear a major part of the travel expenses, lack of practice time, team selection issues and valuing Olympics over FIFA World cup.

The India national football team is governed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for football. In 1954, the AIFF became one of the founding members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). At the peak of its success during the 1950s and 1960s, the team was automatically advanced to play in the 1950 FIFA World Cup (all the other Asian teams withdrew), but they did not go to the tournament in Brazil due to the cost of travel, lack of practice time, team selection issues and valuing the Olympics over the FIFA World Cup. They won gold medals at two Asian Games and one silver at the Asian Cup.

Football was introduced to India by British soldiers in the mid-nineteenth century. It spread because of the efforts of Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhichary. In 1888 the Durand Cup was founded by then India's Foreign Secretary, Mortimer Durand at Simla, India. The Durand Cup is the third oldest football competition behind the FA Cup and the Scottish Cup. It was initiated, as a recreation for British troops stationed in India. 

The History of Indian football is a long and detailed one, as it was the national sport at one time. The impetus for this was to unify the Indian Army. There is evidence for refereed team football games being played in the Indian Army since at least 1949. India is home to some of the oldest football clubs in the world and the third world's oldest competition, the Durand Cup.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be the 21st FIFA World Cup, an international association football tournament that is scheduled to take place in 2018 in Russia.

The finals tournament will involve 32 national teams, including that of the host nation, assuming the current format of the finals is maintained. This will be the first time Russia has hosted the tournament, the first World Cup to have been held in Eastern Europe, and the first to have been held on two continents.

Agartala – Akhaura rail work to start from Jan, 2015

The work of proposed 15.54 Km Agartala – Akaura international rail route is expected to start from January 2015, said Alok Sinha leader of the Indian delegation.Interacting with media today after the Project Steering Committee meeting of the railway project he announced that the land demarcation of Indian side is complete, the work on Bangladesh is near completion and the detail project report is expected to be submitted this year. He informed that the 4th PSC meeting will held at Dhaka on September.The leader of Bangladesh delegation Sunil Chandra Pal said the demarcation of land is near completion and Bangladesh Railway is working with close collaboration with IRCON, a central PSU unit of India in certain parts of the proposed alignment due to land owner ship issues. He assured that the Bangladesh government ready to start work of the project within the same time frame along with India by January, 2015.The Government of India sanctioned a fund of Rs. 252 crores for the 15 Km rail-line project connecting Agartala railway station in India with Akaura rail station via Gangasagar railway station in Bangladesh plying through Siddhi Ashram, Badharghat Martripalli and Charipara in the outskirts of Agartala city. The rail line would be connected with its counterpart in Bangla through Nischintapur in the Indo-Bangla borderline.

North-Eastern State Tripura and It’s Trade Condition

 Tripura is one of the smallest states in terms of area in the north-east India. The total area of Tripura is 10,477 square kilometer. Geographically Tripura looks like a cashew nut. The state was not a part of the Indian Territory in the pre independence era. India got rid of the clutches of the British Empire, TRIPURA merged with the Indian soil. Erstwhile the state had four districts but recently eight districts twenty three Sub-divisions and forty-five blocks have also been introduced. Tripura also has one Tribal Areas Autonomous District    Council (TTAADC) which was set up in 1982 under the seventh schedule of the Constitution. The TTAADC covers about 2/3rd of the total area of the state.

                                        Tripura shows its border with the neighborhood country Bangladesh in its north, south and west. The length of its international border with Bangladesh is 856 kilometer (84 percent of its total border), while it shares 53 kilometer border with Assam and 109 Kilometer border with Mizoram. Tripura is connected with the rest of the country by road, air and train.

                                     The state is characterized by geographical isolation, poor infrastructure facilities. Communication bottleneck, inadequate exploitation of natural resources (national gas, rubber, forest etc); low capital formation, almost non-existence of industry and high level of incidences of poverty and un-employment.

                                 In these aspects we can say that the north-eastern state of Tripura is an underdeveloped state. By the development of economics we can say that international trade plays a vital role in the process of economic development of underdeveloped economy. The classical and neoclassical economist also attach great importance to international trade .Renowned economist Robertson considers international trade as an engine of growth. We shall try to discuss how international trade helps in economic development of an underdeveloped economy.

                                   An underdeveloped country’s economy may enjoy various benefits from international trade.

·    When a country is engaged in international trade, it specializes in the production of few goods and involves division of labor. If exports those commodities in which a country enjoys a comparative advantage.

·     We know that an underdeveloped economy suffers from a vicious circle of poverty. One of the main reason s behind this vicious circle of poverty is the narrow internal market in the underdeveloped countries. Foreign trade or international transactions will help to break the vicious circle of poverty of an underdeveloped economy inducement to invest by extending the market. International trade helps to break the Nurksian vicious circle of poverty.

·    Land and labor are under utilized in the traditional subsistence sector in an under developed economy. The opening up of the economy to international trade provides larger opportunities to produce more primary products for export. 

·    According to Haberler, international trade increase international completion .It thus eliminates inefficient monopolies and creates an urge for increasing efficiency among the entrepreneurs. This also helps in economic development.

     Thus, there are direct or indirect benefits of international trade. International trade extends the market, rises the scope of specialization, makes greater use of productive capacity, encourages inventions and innovation, help to borrow foreign capital and foreign technology, induces to increase efficiency, eliminates inefficient monopoly, creates new demand patterns and thus induces change in output  structure and soon.

      Now if we look at the state of Tripura, we see that there is lots of possibility to take the international trade policy. International trade between India and Bangladesh started from 1995-96.Before international trade it was illegal trade. At present there are eight land custom stations in Tripura. These are Agartala, Sonamura, Belonia, Muhuripur, Khuwai, Dhalaighat, Manughat, and Raghnaghat.

                   There is a short distance between Tripura and important cities of Bangladesh. The average distance between Tripura and the capital of Bangladesh Dhaka, Cartogram and others important cities of Bangladesh is 150 kilometer.

                  Before 1960 and 1970 there was no international trade. At that time there was illegal international trade. Then Tripura illegally imported Fish,Jamdhani sharee ,Egg and Gold etc, from Bangladesh. Not only Tripura but also Bangladesh imported Sugar, Cloth, Jackfruit, Orange, Pineapple, Bamboo, and Hardware goods.

               After 1995-96 Tripura and Bangladesh both have started international trade facilities. Now Tripura exports Rubber sheet ,  Orange , Jackfruit ,Pineapple , Fish of Andhra , Onion , Ginger , coal ,  etc, to Bangladesh.

               On the other hand Tripura imports Bricks , Jute , Stone chips , Fruit juice , Jamdhani sharee , Cosmetics , Dry fish , Raw material of cotton , Mineral water , Edible oil ,Petrochemicals ,  Potato chips , Synthetic piper , Biscuit , P V C pipe , Screw of iron , Toilet sop , M S rod  , and etc  from Bangladesh.

              If we see the export and import of Tripura then we see that there is unfavorable trade for the state of Tripura. Because import goods of Tripura is more than export of Bangladesh.

            Export and import view of Tripura can be express by the help of following table.

Year	Export of Tripura(in corers)	Import of Tripura(in corers)	Balance of trade(Export - Import)in corers
1995-96	0.36	3.76	-3.4
1998- 99	1.36	14.1	-12.74
1999-2000	1.74	7.44	-5.7
2000-2001	0.81	9.69	-8.88
2001-2002	1.27	4.38	-3.11
2002-2003	1.57	5.47	-3.9
2004-2005	1.500	12.49	-10.99
Total	8.61	57.33	-48.72

            

            Sources: (1) Govt. of Tripura, Economic Review of Tripura 2002-2003

                            (2) Dainik Sambad; Date: 30-03-2006; Page: 5.

      

            If we see the upper export and import year basis table then we see that the import is higher than export in the case of Tripura. The amount of deficit of international balance is increasingly increased in case of Tripura. In the year of 1995-96 the amount of deficit was 3.40 corers now it has increased 11.99 corers in 2004-05 financial year.

     To conclude we can say that in the short run international trade between Tripura and Bangladesh is contrariety in the case of Tripura. However, ultimately this scenario will be changed. If the government policy of India “Purbe Takao” (see the east) materialized practically then the condition of Tripura’s industries structure will be changed. Despite of the existence of these types of policy Tripura will not be a developed state without industry or industrial products. It is important to increase or adopt the new industry for the development of Tripura. Any state or country cannot be a developed country without industry. If we cannot expand industry, market size, involvement of private entrepreneurs, it                                  is impossible to overcome the deficit of international trade in future. So we can say Tripura will be a developed state in future by international trade.

Integrated Farming Can Increase Agriculture Productivity

BY: Kiran Bhowmik

[A farmer who depends on rains, conserving every drop of water by increasing moisture retention in the soil is important. Maximizing yield with less water should be his objective. To achieve this one needs to integrate mixture cropping, tree growing and animal breeding. Thus the multi product of one unit will serve as input for another. Labour utilization will be optimum. ]

Agriculture is the riskiest profession in the world, since natural factors like temperature, precipitation, hail and thunder thunder storms, and pest epidemics influence crop yield and thereby the economic fate of the farmer. Indian agriculture has long been described as a gamble in the monsoon. But it is also now becoming a gamble in temperature. The Government’s National Rural employment scheme is also creating a big labour shortage and forcing many farmers to abandon their cultivation. Getting access to financial loans from banks is also proving to be difficult for many who turn to private money lenders.

Indian agriculture is prone to all possible hazards, which Often end-up in disasters. Unique geoclimatic conditions make the country vulnerable to hazards & disasters, which are both natural and human-induced. The common natural hazards in India are droughts, floods, cyclones, land slides, forest fires, avalanches and pest / disease outbreaks in plants & animals, besides earth-quakes and tsunami.

Of these, the most common are droughts and floods. Even within a year, while some regions are affected by drought, others face the flurry of floods. These are partly man-made because of the failure to adopt a long-term strategy for better management of available water resources.

Frequently occurring natural calamities play havoc with the people, especially the vulnerable sections living in rural areas, which constitute about 70 percent of the country’s population.

Not only there was losses of human and animal lives, there are devastating damages to rural infrastructure, which is already inadequate and poor, causing severe setback to the rural economy and retarding the already slow development process and at the same time putting a heavy strain on public exchequer. In India, about 68 percent of land is vulnerable to droughts. Droughts lead to economic losses resulting from low agricultural production, loss of animal resources, reduced nutrition and loss of health of workers.

In India, In the name of industrialization and urbanization, trees have been cut. With the absence of trees, rains fail and this has a direct impact on the planet. While others may feel it, farmers experience it acutely, and monsoon failure results in a disaster for farmers, especially dry land cultivators.

A farmer who depends on rains, conserving every drop of water by increasing moisture in the soil is important. Maximizing yield with less water should be his objective.

To achieve this one needs to integrate mixture cropping, tree growing and animal breeding. Thus the by-product of one unit will serve as input for another. Labour utilization will be optimum.

Even farmers having fertile land and abundant water resources are finding it hard to practice commercial agriculture. How can a small dryland farmer hope to succeed ?

A dryland is not nature-made. Nature is always flourishingly rich. Drylands are man-made. When one goes on cutting trees, over a period of time the area becomes barren and unproductive due to the absence of surface water and ground water recharge.

In due course, farmers sell these drylands to traders who buy these lands for a throwaway price and sell it as commercial plots for a huge amount.

With farm lands shrinking and erratic climate patterns, increasing food grain production and food security does become a vital point to ponder.

By proper planning and initial low investments drylands can be made productive. For example cropping patterns have to be closely monitored. Farmers can grow drought resistant native crops which require less water. Also the native varieties are resistant to pests and infestations.

In addition farmers can dig small ponds, or pits in the fields. These serve as effective rain catch ers. They can grow fishes such catla, roghu, mirgal and grass carper to get additional food and income when the the pits get filled with rain water.

If they have cattle, azolla can be ideally grown in these water bodies. The azolla can be harvested and used as a feed for their cattle and poultry as it has been proved that azolla increases the milk yield in cattle and egg laying in chicken.

The only answer to poverty alleviation springs from good income and this can be achieved when farmers adopt multiple cropping systems or integrated farming system and different occupational strategies rather than concentrating on a single area.

Local Self Government in Tripura with Special Reference to TTAADC

INTRODUCTION

Local Self-government is a form of administration such that the inhabitants of a certain territory form a community that is recognized by the Central government and has a specific legal status and was originated by the Anglo-Saxons.

Panchayat Raj (Rule of Village Committee) system is a three-tier system in the state with elected bodies at the village, Taluk and District levels. It ensures greater participation of people and more effective implementation of rural development programmes.

India has a chequered history of Panchayat Raj starting from self sufficient and self-governing village communities that survived the rise and fall of empires in the last to the modern institutions of governance at the third tier provided with constitutional support.

EARLY HISTORY

 During the time of Rig-veda (1700 BC) evidence suggest that self-governing village bodies called ‘Sabhas’ existed and with the passage of time, these bodies became panchayats (council of five persons)

DURING BRITISH RULE

During British rule the autonomy of Panchayat declined and replaced the Mahalwari or Village tenure system with individual Ryotwari (Village holder-wise) system assigning least priority to Panchayat system only for their self interest. To manage, suppress the protest and demand of Indian people British from time to time formed different commission and reform committee on formation of different local bodies.

Post-independence period: The first five year plans and 2nd five year plan has failed to bring into the planning and implementation of policies and the active participation of common people at the grass root level.

Following committees were formed for strengthening the PRI system:

The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957)

Ashok Mehta Committee (1978)

G.V.K Rao Committee (1985)

L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986)

THE 73RD CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ACT

All the measures taken so far could not eliminate the rural poverty and accelerate the development process to desired extent. The institutional initiatives failed and in response to this the idea of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act emerged as giant steps towards achieving the true spirit of decentralization. It was a political drive to see PRI as a solution to the government crisis that India was experiencing and interestingly it was moved by both the centre and state government.

The constitutional (73rd Amendment) Act passed in 1992 by the Narasimha Rao government came into force on April 24,1993.It was meant to provide Constitutional Sanction to establish “democracy at the grassroots level as it is at the state level or national level”.

THE SALIENT FEATURE

The Gram Saha or Village assembly as a deliberative body to decentralized governance has been envisage as the foundation of the Panchayati Raj system.

A uniform three-tier structure at village (Gram Panchayat-GP) intermediate or block (Panchayat samity-PS) and District (Zilla Parishad-ZP) levels.

All the seats in a panchayat at every level are to be filled by elections from respective territorial Constituencies.

Not less than one-third of the total seats for membership as well as of chairpersons of each tier has to be reserved for women.

Reservation for weaker castes and tribes (SC & ST) has to be provided at all levels in proportions to their population in the Panchayats.

To supervise, direct and control the regular and smooth elections to panchayats a state Election Commission has to be constituted in every state and Union Territory.

The Act has ensured constituted of a state Finance Commission in every state      /Union Territory for every five year to suggest measures to strengthen finance of panchayat raj institutions.

To promote bottom-up-planning the District planning Committee (DPC) in every district has been accorded constitutional status.

An indicative list of 29 items has been given in eleventh Schedule of the constitution panchayats are expected to play an effective role in planning and implementation of works related to these 29 items.

THE SETUP OF LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT IN TRIPURA AND TTAADC

Decentralization is popular word in social science discourse. It is widely interpreted as an instrument of good Governance and means of democratic development process.

In deed, a democracy works when all people including the most marginalized of the society participates in the process of governances has capability to ask questions and seek accountability. For countries like India, it is an indispensable precondition for social, economic and political development and necessary conditions for strengthening institutions.

The real test of decentralization lies in its contribution towards peoples empowerment by way of providing the significant role in decision making and in entire process of governance bodies have been held regularly since 1978 when Left Front was elected to govern the state. Since 1993,following the constitutional amendments in this regard Tripura has a three-tier structure of elected local bodies or Panchayat raj institution (PRI) at Gram Panchayat, Block Panchayat (Panchayat Samiti) and District Panchayat (Zilla Panchayat) levels. In addition, Tripura also has the unique institution of the Tribal Area Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) vested with power intended to ensure a large degree of self-government to tribal.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENTATION

To understand various development of decentralization governance in India with specific areas of development in TTAADC of Tripura

To highlight the level of involvement of people of the grassroots and the problem and difficulties faced by them in involvement of governance and development process in TTAADC area.

To understand the nature of such problem with the Indian experience of democratic decentralization and working of the institutions of grass-root democracy at rural level in TTAADC areas Local Self Government.

Focuses on the problems in effective and meaningful decentralization arising out of various legal, social, economic and political factors and seeks to suggest measures to make local self-governance more realistic and fruitful in TTAADC areas.

In Tripura, there are vibrant self local bodies in both ADC and Non-ADC areas. In addition to rural local bodies there are urban local bodies.

An important issue in the context of the state of Tripura is that of recognizing the distinct identity of tribal’s and the need to provide a degree of autonomy to them with a view to ensuring the protection of the economic, social and cultural interests of the tribal population. Historically, with in-migration of non-tribal’s, including displaced persons from other territories into Tripura over several decades, the tribal population has become a minority in the state in which tribal’s were originally the overwhelming proportion of the population. Several decades and struggles later, a distinctive and democratic resolution of the issue was arrived at when the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) was created under the seventh schedule of the Indian Constitution through the passage of a Bill brought forward by the Left Front government of Tripura in 1979. The first TTAADC was elected in January 1982. Subsequently, through a constitutional amendment, the TTAADC was brought under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in 1985.

TTAADC: STRUCTURE AND POWERS

The TTADC has 28 elected members and 2 tribal members nominated by the Governor of the State. 25 constituencies are reserved for tribal’s The TTAADC is vested with both legislative and executive powers. The Chairperson of TTAADC is responsible for the conduct of legislative functions. An executive council of members with a chief executive member (analogous to a cabinet of ministers and a chief minister) discharges the executive functions of TTAADC. The administrative, legal and financial powers of the TTAADC are listed in

TTAADC accounts for 70% of the State’s area and 30% of its population. It is spread over all the four districts. Corresponding to the Gram Panchayats of the non-ADC area, there are 522 village development councils in TTAADC territory spread over 13 blocks. There are 462 revenue villages spread over 151 Tehsils in the TTAADC territory. The TTAADC runs 1375 primary schools and 442 social education centers. It operates through 5 zonal and 37 sub-zonal offices. Though the TTAADC has some taxation powers, its expenditure is substantially covered by funds received from the state government. Some data on funds annually provided to TTAADC is presented.

The TTAADC is an example of the practical relevance of regional autonomy within a framework of formation of states based on the principle of linguistic nationality. It is noteworthy that both tribals and non-tribals were involved in and supported the process of formation of TTAADC. Thus the TTAADC was a product of the joint struggle of tribal and non-tribal democratic movements to protect the identity and rights of tribal’s. The objectives underlying the formation of TTAADC were to provide internal autonomy in compact areas inhabited overwhelmingly by tribal’s, protect the social, economic and cultural interests of the tribal population and promote the all-round socio-economic development of the territory covered by the TTADC

PROSPECTS AND OUTCOME

Participation of people through village Sabha, Social audit at the grass root level of policy making and implementation there by bringing greater transparency in public transaction and social checks on the actual implementation process.

Women empowerment through participation in village sabha meeting in all spheres of political, economic and social issues.

Effective management of natural resources and improvement in awareness on social issues.

Improvement in Education, Health in rural areas.

The regional autonomy within a state is safeguarded by providing through district council a distinctive elected autonomous body.

Due to overall development and greater participation of PRI bodies at the grass root level and the interaction with the common masses the threat of extremist violence in the interior areas of Tripura is brought under control. The separatist who got misguided went out of the mainstream to disturb the peace and tranquility of the region was tackled and solved.

Restoration of peace in the interior area of state due to active participation of PRI bodies

CHALLENGES

Capacity building

More awareness required for effective implementation of various policies of      government.

More administrative training on modern ICT etc for effective co-ordination.

Local self-government should give priority taking into account the regional specifics.

There are hurdles and problem due to different natural climatic condition, vast unpopulated area, communication problem lack of good road networks. So planning should be done taking into account all these things.

increasing efficiency and effectiveness of authorities

improving environment for business development

Harmonizing the relationship between citizen TTAADC authorities and business.

Establishment of civil society.

Increasing transparency and reducing corruption

Decreasing social tension

CONCLUSION

As a fruit of effective Self Government body in TTAADC exclusively for tribal areas has been boon for upliftment of the condition of poor tribal people in remotest habitations in the sector of Education, Health and all spheres of economic, political and social issue.To encourage the economical development it is necessary that state government  ensures the democratization of government management, de-monopolization of state economy as well as instulation of sustainable an efficient authority. At last the road map to successful local self-government can be achieved by the following root map.

Democratization of government managementàDevelopment of local self-governmentàStrengthening of rural economyàintensification of rural citizens creative effortàestablishment of Civil societyàrural development