Should we Blacklist ‘Herald’?

Savio Rodrigues

A lot has been said and a lot will be said about the integrity of ‘Herald’ – its management and owner Raul Fernandes and its editor Sujay Gupta. Frankly speaking Mayabhushan Nagvenkar’s sting operation has put Herald in an unpredictable situation.

I have seen many comments on GoaChronicle.com and other blogs looking into the personal issues of Sujay and Raul and I do not think it has any relevance to the professional misconduct issue raised. 

That Thulasidas Desai was indulging in an unethical media practice of taking money for news coverage from a political aspirant is a proven fact in this sting operation. More so Thulasidas Desai is known in the political circles to indulge in such practices, so it is not the first time that he has strayed from the ethics of the media profession. The exuberance of marketing to complete the targets to please the business bosses can never survive without the patronage of the editorial, so if Thulasidas has been doing such acts for some time now, then someone in the editorial would also be involved.
If Thulasidas Desai was working alone or with a few in editorial on such paid-news, all Herald would have to do is conduct an enquiry and sack the concerned people involved. But what throws serious suspicion on the entire episode is that Thulasidas in the telephonic conversation says that the cheque can be made on the Herald Publications Pvt Ltd, which clearly indicates that the Herald Business is too benefiting from this paid-news act. So someone in marketing or in the business affairs would have to have known that such money is coming to the Herald account and what is its reason, since it is certainly not advertising. Maybe in their books of account it may show as advertorial, that is anybody’s guess. But we will only know the truth on this if Herald management explains itself and clear this question that has been raised.
The act of Herald has put a lot of question on the integrity and credibility of most publications in Goa; because too many people within and outside of Goa, feel that publications are either controlled by politicians or mining barons. But being a media person let me state this for a fact, media today is a business and in a competitive environment it is about survival; many have and many will fall prey to decision between good business decision and good journalistic decision, sometimes some make the right decision in the eyes of their business which might be wrong in the eyes of their readers, who expect good journalism; and sometime they make the right decision in the eyes of the people which might be wrong in the long run of the business. In the end of the day no decision is right or wrong. But in the interest of the business we have started which is media and in the interest of the people who make their decision based on the information we dissipate to them, it becomes our core and moral responsibility to always stand by the truth, considering that there are many creative avenues within a combination of marketing and editorial that do not need to infringe on the basic ethics of journalism.
But the question I ask in the heat of all the discussion on ‘Herald’ is whether it should be black-listed and my answer is – no, it should not be blacklisted. And I say this not because I am an ardent reader of Herald, in fact at most time I find the overall reporting average, bar a few good exposes and columnists, but that’s my personal opinion. Also not known to many is that Herald too has not been kind or supportive of GoaChronicle.com on certain occasions when we have taken any issue up off-line, I remember one editorial of Sujay Gupta completely derogating me and GoaChronicle.com. But having said that, I still strongly believe that Herald should not be blacklisted because from some wrong that a few of its important employees have done, we cannot run it to the ground and forget all the good work it has done for many years and the hope it has presented to the people of Goa on numerous occasion. I cannot comment on the business strategy of the Herald business, because quite clearly I do not know what their business model is, but its journalism has had some spark of brilliance and if my memory serves me right it has been a newspaper many Goans in the past have sworn by.
It is important for Herald to conduct an enquiry into the sting operation and sack the culprits within its organization and if it includes even the top most executives of the organization, then so be it. People will want to know from one of its favorite newspaper what went wrong and what they are doing to correct it. Not saying or doing anything about it, so that the matter dies down will not help in the long-run.
I refuse to indulge or comment on any personal attacks on either the editor Sujay Gupta or Raul Fernandes, simple because what they do personally in their life is of no concern to me or GoaChronicle.com and I would hope that my fellow Goans will see it that way too; because I have seen many comments on GoaChronicle.com and other blogs looking into the personal issues of Sujay and Raul and I do not think it has any relevance to the professional misconduct issue raised.
If Herald takes a corrective action in interest of its people, I will consider that it is a wise decision and people need to continue to support it. But if they chose not to, then the people of Goa will automatically stop reading the Herald.

(Courtesy: Goa Chronicle.com)

Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary: Goan Miners Next Target !!!

Some of the wildlife found in Netravali are the Great Pied Hornbills,
Black Panther, Slender Loris and the Giant Squirrel

The Government mapping of the mining leases within a wildlife sanctuary, in a land use map has ruffled the feathers of the State’s anti-mining lobby, which is already gunning for the heads of those in the Government, who had permitted the illegal mining.

“The Goa Government is trying to bring in 336 other mining leases, which are non-operational for years, by including them in the Regional Plan 2021. There is no mining there for years now... why is the CM reviving them now?” noted environment activist Dr.Claude Alvares said.

“Out of 336 leases, 63 are in the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a protected area. Is the next mining thrust going to happen there?” Alvares said.

The Regional Plan is a land use document prepared by the Goa Governments, town and country planning department which was released recently. Mining within the sanctuary was brought to a halt after the area was notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 1996. Claude believes that this could be a means to revive the old dead leases.

The Netravali wildlife sanctuary is situated in the Sanguem Taluka in Eastern Goa. The government of Goa declared Netravali as a wildlife sanctuary to protect its Western Ghat range. It covers an area of 211 sq. km, is connected to the Madei Wildlife Sanctuary and together they cover an area of 420 sq. km.

The Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary which is an extremely significant source of fresh water is known to be named after the Netravali or Neturli which is an important tributary of the Zuari River. One can also see a high range of mountains here which the local habitants consider religious and which are of socio cultural importance to them.

To the north of the Netravali wildlife sanctuary lies the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary lies to its south. Some of the wildlife found here are the Great Pied Hornbills, Black Panther, Slender Loris and the Giant Squirrel. Also a number of many other animals are found.

Caurem Youths Dared To Challenge Goa's Mining Mafia !!!

The youth of Caurem, a tribal village, 

fight on despite threats

Nilesh Gaonkar (his hand is in plaster) and his friends have formed a front to fight for the rights of the 2,000 residents of Caurem (Photos: Ashwin Aghor)

While the authorities are busy calculating the losses caused by Goa's mining mafia to the state exchequer, little attention has been paid to the few people who dared to challenge the state's mining mafia.

Residents of the tribal village Caurem, situated eight-odd kilometres from Quepem town, once had everything in abundance in the village. They rarely had to visit Quepem for any needs. But the situation has now changed since their paddy fields, coconut and jackfruit plantations are getting destroyed. The reason: heavy contamination of ground water due to five mines operating within a one km radius of the village.

Five mines are operating within a one km radius of Caurem

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat once visited Caurem to inspect the extent of damage due to mining

After visiting the area, he assured that all the mines in the vicinity of the village would be closed immediately. But nothing concrete has happened

The mines are operated by powerful politicians and businessmen of the state.  The mines which are being operated in blatant violation of environmental and mining laws have destroyed groundwater aquifers in the village to the extent that all the perennial water streams have become dry.

Assaulted with iron rod

Disturbed by the extent of damage to environment and threat to their very livelihood, Nilesh Gaonkar, a 24-year-old youth from Caurem, decided to take on the might of powerful mining mafia. He is supported by Tuslidas Velip, Samir Gaonkar and several other friends. The youths in the village came together and formed the Caurem Adivasi Bachao Samiti (CABS) to save the livelihood of the 2,000-odd residents of the village. Recipient of news channel CNNIBN's bravery award this year, Nilesh Gaonkar holds a diploma in mechanical engineering. He works for a private company in Verna Industrial Estate, 10 km away near Panjim. He was brutally assaulted by two unidentified motorcycle-borne youths in mind-May this year and threatened with dire consequences if he did not give up his fight against illegal mining.

Dumpers lined up near the mine operated by Sheikh Mukhtar

“I was on my way to work when a person assaulted me with iron rod from behind. The first blow was on shoulder and before I could react, came the second blow on my left hand. After hitting me twice, the youths fled the scene,” says Nilesh, who is now more determined to fight illegal mining. Though police detained two youths in connection with the assault, they were let off within a couple of days and the case remains unsolved till date. The police at Quepem declined to comment, saying the Centre is probing illegal mining in the area.

The youths of Caurem village today want only one thing. Complete closure of all the mines operating in the vicinity and ecological restoration of the area. “We do not want the ore at the cost of our lives. Mine operators are earning huge profits by destroying us and we are left to the mercy of God,” says Tulsidas Velip. Mining has destroyed farming and blocked the water sources of the village, including a tributary of the Kushawati River that flows through the village.

The road connecting Quepem and Caurem, which is less than 10 metres wide, has become death trap with round the clock movement of trucks carrying ores from mines to jetties and loading spots. “The uncontrolled movement of overloaded ore trucks has made it difficult for children and senior citizens to use the road. Especially, the school going children, who find it difficult to reach their school right across the road,” says Nilesh.

Nilesh, Tulsidas and others mobilised the villagers and built a front against the mine operated by one Sheikh Mukhtar. After several representations to the mining ministry, state and central governments the villagers have only got assurances. “Chief Minister Digambar Kamat once visited Caurem to inspect the extent of damage due to the mines. After visiting the area, he assured that all the mines in the vicinity of the village would be closed immediately. But nothing concrete has happened,” Nilesh says.

Anna’s team is one of the most powerful lobby groups India has ever seen

Is Hazare the new swing factor in polls?

Chetan Bhagat

So the Congress party lost all three by-elections last week. As expected , their spokespersons continued to display false bravado, trying to shrug off the defeat and underplaying the Anna factor. Their fake overconfidence is almost cute. You want to give them a hug for trying to do their job even in the worst circumstances. The winners too, particularly the BJP, seemed somewhat surprised. Still figuring out how to react, they were dismissive of Anna’s role, claiming the victory as entirely their own.

And yet, one hopes the parties do not believe the spin they dish out. There are big lessons from the recent elections for both. No, neither is it game over for the Congress, nor is it guaranteed victory for the BJP. Also, team Anna does not decide who wins an election or who doesn’t. Yet, having them on your side or against significantly affects a party’s election results. The victory margins in Indian polls are slim, with a significant portion of voters being passive – that is, they vote in a predictable pattern that doesn’t change over time. In such a scenario, a relatively small number of enlightened, floating votes can alter election results. Statisticians will agree that even if 20 million Indians switch their vote, the election results will be dramatically different. Anna’s team is clearly inching towards having that kind of support base.

The Congress (or any party) should realize, that even though team Anna members cannot win an election (given passive voters will never vote for them), they can influence enough voters to make a party win or lose an election. In that sense, Anna’s team is one of the most powerful lobby groups India has ever seen. Fortunately, they are lobbying for a corruption free India, a cause that is good for the country.

Hence, just three tips for the Congress. One, do not give mixed signals to team Anna. While one day a minister will fold hands and speak obsequiously to ‘Anna ji’ , the next day he would dare Arvind Kejriwal to contest an election. That is foolish. Simply accept team Anna as part of Indian political reality. Two, figure out who the next leader is – if it is Rahul Gandhi, he has to begin taking centrestage. This strategy of letting others take the muck and wiping his chair clean until he arrives, will not work. Either he should take the heat, or give someone else the reins. It may be abold move, but replacing the PM right now may just be what the doctor ordered to show that you are serious about change. Such big scams have happened; in any other organization, heads would have rolled. Why haven’t they in the Congress?

Three, blatantly obvious, is to pass the Lokpal bill. No whining, no clever debates, no bashing team Anna , media or opposition. As one ad says – just do it. And when you do it, don’t get super-clever , high-IQ lawyers to modify clauses that take away the spirit and essence of the bill. Too many eyes are on the bill now, and frankly, no matter how smart your people are, they can’t outsmart millions.

These are exciting times for Indian politics. Younger leaders of both major parties can use the current turmoil to initiate change within their own party, which not only positions their party to win elections, but is also good for the nation. For, whether Congress or BJP, all we want is a better India, isn’t it?

Team RTI Anonymous: The fire of activism was always there within three of them !!!

Ritesh Singh

Anand Sharma

1a. Could you briefly tell me how Ritesh , Avnish and Anand came to collaborate on this
initiative.
The fire of activism was always there within the three of us. Anna’s 14 day fast, spurred us into action.
Ritesh (19 yr. old 3rd Computer Sc. Student IIT Kharagpur) ended up fasting for 14 days in Ramlila Ground and was admitted to ICU.
Avnish (An Entreprenuer, who heads various web-based companies) was a volunteer in Ramlila Ground, helping in the cleanup/crowd control, getting beaten up/yelled at by huge amount of people in Ramlila.
Anand Sharma (Sr. Staff Engineer - Seagate Technology, USA, was involved in various protests during Anna’s fast).  

We three were part of the the IAC facebook group and started posting our opinions on what should be done next, on various facebook IAC forums. That led to chatting over facebook and google talk. The Chat graduated to 3-way conference calls from Anand in US to Ritesh and Avnish in Kharagpur and Delhi respectively.  Currently, our daily communication is thru skype/Voice over IP Telephones/Email/Google Chat.
We may have not touched each other physically, but have seen/heard & read about each other, with the help of today’s technology

1b.  One of Ritesh's article mentions, that he had envisaged RTI Anonymous originally with Shehla Masood. Was that the original inspiration for the initiative?
Shehla was Ritesh’s close friend and both used to do RTI activism together. Ritesh & Shehla had envisaged a slightly different service named RTI Leaks. RTI Leaks was planned to be a one stop source for all RTI related expose throughout India. While the plan was materialising, Shehla attained martyrdom.

After about one month of activism through our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/JusticeForShehlaMasood and other initiatives, we noticed that there was a gaping  hole in the existing anti-corruption laws. People who dared to stand-up against corruption, were  being being victimised. RTI Anonymous, is one solution that would hopefully reduce this issue to a significant extent.

Long brainstorming sessions between the three of us, finally resulted in this idea.
With the technical expertise, experience and background that the three of us already have, implementing this idea on a website was the next most logical thing to do. And thus RTI Anonymous was born.

1c. How many individuals form your core team?
Ours is a movement where everybody is welcome and there is no specific core team.
However right now, we three (Ritesh, Anand and Avnish) are working the hardest for the cause and we like to fondly call ourselves the core team.

2a. When was RTI anonymous operationalised (rough date).
The site was operationalised on Oct 15th 2011

2b. What has been the response of the public, as of now?
From the day of launch (Oct 15th), we have had an overwhelming response from people and it was highly motivating to see that they started believing us and putting their faith in our organization.
As of Oct 30th (within 15 days) we have a a total of 130 RTI Requests.
What started of with just three people has now expanded to a volunteer group of about 35 people, from different parts of India & USA. .
We now have a team of about 15 IIT Kharagpur Students, working through the night, learning and drafting RTI’s
We have about few retired government officials, who are not only experts in legal matters/labor laws & state laws, but have also been Public Information Officer for few years, before retiring. They now do a final review of all RTI applications.
For Example: Mr. Ramakrishna Manja of Bangalore is a 65 year old retired Registrar and had been a Public Information Officer in the Institute of Mathematical Sciences.

We have about 10 experienced RTI activists from different parts of India, who are helping us too.
So the response is two fold -- 105 RTI Requests & about 35 volunteers and this number is growing

2c. Any success story you'll would like to highlight? (Eg: Your site shows number of RTIs filed/printed/resolved etc. Are those the latest figures or please send me the latest ones.
Yes, we have a very important success story that we want to highlight. It is about Madhya Pradesh High Court Judges given undue favours by Chief Minister’s Office. This can be a big story since the Chief Minister's Office was directly involved (see Document Number 3 from top on http://getup4change.org/rti/madhya-pradesh-high-court-judges-given-undue-favours/) and it was because of recommendation from that office that public money was used to pay for the judges' trips. Furthermore, 4th Document from top clearly shows written records by Sahayak Satkaar Adhikari stating that wife of Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Shri Arun Mishra utilized all facilities provided by the state even though she wasn't officially a state guest.
This is clearly a misuse of Public Money for personal luxury and shows one instance of how Chief Ministers can keep High Court Judges Impressed, even more so when India is a country of starving millions. It has taken a lot of time for us to expose this. Your coverage will help to prevent such irregularities in future.
Yes, all figures available on the site are latest.


3) At a time when the government is trying to clamp down on the reach of the RTI, what according to you is the role/importance of a platform like yours.
RTI Anonymous clearly assumes much more importance in current scenarios where RTI Activists are frequently being victimised. About Government clamping down on the reach of RTI, we as part of RTI Activist community are fairly confident that we won’t allow that to happen through peaceful and democratic assertion.

4a) Could you elaborate a little about how your initiative actually functions?
On RTI Anonymous, a user can simply click on ‘Submit RTI’ on the homepage to file an RTI Application. They can also send their request directly to us through email (by creating a dummy email address).
He/she has an option to give his email address if he/she wants to be notified about the status/progress of his RTI Application through his email. Otherwise he/she can very well file it through a dummy username. Once the user Submits his/her RTI Application on RTI Anonymous, we extensively edit it to make it stronger and less ambiguous.
And then we file it through a random volunteer, who are based in different parts of India completely bypassing possibility of any victimisation” So this means a volunteer in Delhi with a proper Delhi Residential Address will file an RTI for an issue with say BBMP-Bangalore.

4b) Does an RTI applicant need to pay RTI Anonymous any fees for the data he/she desires? What about RTI charges or xerox charges for documents that need retrieving?
We don’t charge anybody for any of our services. We are self funded but also supported by few generous donors. All our accounts are openly available on the website since we believe in 100 % transparency: http://getup4change.org/rti/fund-rtis-save-india/.
There are absolutely no charges of any kind we charge from applicants. All the charges related to RTI filing is been covered by organization itself. 5a) As you are aware RTI activists across the country have been under attack. What are the measures you think the government needs to incorporate to ensure the safety of such individuals.
We need strong whistle blowers protection clause as part of the Lokpal Bill with provision of severe punishment for harassing and threatening RTI activists
We never care about threats, every threat makes us more stronger and more determined towards our goal. The more you try to eliminate us, more we will increase in numbers and every time more stronger than earlier.However, we also do believe that RTI Anonymous can do a really good job in solving the problem of whistle blower victimisation.
5b) Have you'll had any such experience of threats/intimidation since the platform was floated? Given the experience of Wikileaks, do you'll fear a similar backlash from powers-that-be?
We did face hacking attempts to get our website down a few weeks ago.
We are prepared to face any such threat at all levels. Avnish himself is a x-Anonymous activist (an international group of people working for anonymous activism) and actively participated in Wikileaks movement. We have helped Wikileaks and IAC (India Against Corruption) technologically, by managing their web traffic and mirroring their website. .
6) There could be a fair deal of skepticism among users about how your platform would ensure anonymity of RTI applicants. What are the measures you'll take to protect the identity of applicants?
We don’t ask for any detail whatsoever of any applicant on RTI Anonymous. We deliver the reply on the site and send an email notification to the applicant (if he has put in his/her email address while Submitting his RTI). Since even we ourselves don’t have any details of the applicants, there is no room for skepticism/doubt that we would reveal it.

7a) Have you'll had any prior experience with RTI or is this a first-time foray into the field.
Among the core team, Ritesh is the most experience , since he has so far filed more than 100 RTI’s. But as mentioned above. The organization comprises of about 10 RTI Activists, 5  Retired and highly experienced government officials, who have been Public Information Officers. These retired government officials are experts in legal matters, State labor laws and also the entire RTI process.

7b) What according to you are the biggest challenges facing the RTI movement in the country, currently?

• A deliberate attempt to create red-tapism, by making the whole process of filing RTI’s extremely complicated
• Lack of Whistleblower Protection Act
• Government trying to dilute the RTI Act

8) Your site mentions that many members of your core group are based abroad. Could you please elaborate your source of funding the RTI applications, given the back-and-forth correspondence it would entail to India.
The original model of RTI-Anonymous was supposed to be a self-funded initiative and we consider any donations, as motivation and encouragement to our cause.
There are several people from India and abroad(NRIs) who have pledged to send us donations.

RTI Anonymous is going to train NRI’s in USA, to draft RTI’s, using Skype-based Conference Call on Nov 5th. We have so far had about 15 NRI’s from different parts of US, enrolled for this training.

Now, file RTI query online anonymously !!!

 A group of three, which had been actively associated with Anna Hazare’s recent agitation for the Jan Lokpal Bill, came out with an online service that enables citizens to file an RTI application incognito. Titled 'RTI Anonymous', the service (http://getup4change.org/) has been launched in the wake of the rise in attacks on the RTI applicants and threats issued to them.

Ritesh Singh, a third-year student from IIT Kharagpur; Avnish Singh, an entrepreneur from Delhi and Anand Sharma, an NRI based in USA, are the part of this initiative.

“So far, individuals who dared to stand-up against corruption were being victimised in one way or another. Some even lost their lives. RTI Anonymous, is one solution that would hopefully reduce this problem to a significant extent,” said 19-year old Ritesh, who fasted along with Hazare at the Ramlila Grounds and was subsequently admitted to the ICU due to his frail health.

On RTI Anonymous, a user can simply click on ‘Submit RTI’ on the homepage to file an application. One can also send his/her request directly through email by creating a dummy email address.

“Once the query is submitted, we extensively reframe it to make it stronger and less ambiguous, if needed. Then we file it through random volunteers, based in different parts of India, completely bypassing the possibility of any victimisation. We then upload the information obtained from public authorities on our website for the benefit of the public,” says Ritesh .

Among others, a few retired government officials, some of whom were Public Information Officers in the past and a team of IIT Kharagpur students have been rendering their help in dealing with the applications filed online.

“We are keen to develop volunteer support across India,” Ritesh said, adding that the online service already has some amount of support from Pune in the form of India Against Corruption (IAC) activists.

Significantly, since its recent inception, as many as 105 applicants have filed their queries through the site.

The trio of Ritesh, Avnish Singh and Sharma first came in contact through IAC’s Facebook campaign during Anna Hazare's agitation for the Jan Lokpal Bill.

What is RTI Anonymous?
RTI Anonymous is an online service through which any person can File Anonymous Right to Information (RTI) Applications WITHOUT REVEALING THEIR IDENTITY. This means that we file those RTI Applications in our name and upload the documents obtained from the government on this website for the person who filed the Application to see.


Why RTI Anonymous?
Since RTI act came into force, 28 RTI and Public Interest Litigation (PIL) activists have been brutally killed. Many more are living in the shadow of fear. We don't want to let this continue. We thought we could leverage technology to solve this problem, by acting as a facilitator.

Get Involved
Draft RTI's / Help Users: RTI Anonymous (RTIA) is a community based project. So, You, as a member of the community, are the biggest stake holder.
Login or Register

Go To UnFiled RTI's and then go to a post of your choice

If an RTI is possible for that post, Draft an RTI for it and post it as a Reply/Comment. We will take it over from there. Even if an RTI isn't possible for the post, try to help the author of the post as much as possible by posting informed Replies/Comments.

Make a News of RTI Anonymous (RTIA) or RTI Revelations: Are you a journalist? If so, covering us will help tens of thousands of victimised transparency activists and whistle blowers to use RTI Anonymous (RTIA) and stay safe. It will also help fight corruption by bringing attention to irregularities that we have exposed. We will do our bit, by spreading your article/story through social media as much as possible.
Spread the Word: The most important aspect by far for any community based project. Share RTI Anonymous (RTIA) and RTI Revelations on social media, blogs etc. as much as possible. It will also help fight corruption by bringing attention to irregularities that we have exposed.

Back link to RTI Anonymous (RTIA): Do you own a site? If so, back linking to us would be one of the biggest ways you can help us. It helps RTI Anonymous (RTIA) reach your audience too.

Dr.Kunal Saha - One Man Army

Kunal Saha’s name still does not ring a bell in Indian media like the many lesser fighters who bask in the regular national channels’ spotlight. But the HIV/AIDS researcher from Ohio battling India’s corrupt healthcare system after his wife’s death from medical negligence in 1998 is a one-man army who this October was awarded the highest ever medical damage by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).

In one of the longest running cases of medical negligence, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) recently awarded compensation ofRs. 1.72 crore to the husband on an NRI doctor who had died due to medical negligence while on a social visit to Kolkata in May 1998.

This is the highest quantum of compensation in the medico-legal history of India so far. Till now the highest award was of Rs. 1 crore granted to software engineer Prasanta Dhanaka in May 2009.

The consumer court asked the Kolkata-based Advanced Medicare and Research Institute (AMRI) Hospital and its three doctors to pay up the compensation for the death of Anuradha Saha, a US-based child psychologist and wife of Dr Kunal Saha.

The hospital and the doctors were found guilty of negligence by the Supreme Court in 2009 and the case was referred to the consumer court for the sole purpose of determining quantum of compensation. The NCDRC earlier found no negligence by doctors or AMRI and had dismissed the case in 2006, forcing Saha to approach the apex court.

The compensation includes Rs. 41.9 lakh each to be paid by AMRI and Dr Sukumar Mukherjee, Rs. 27. 93 lakh each to be paid by Dr Baidyanath Halder and Dr Balaram Prasad. Another guilty doctor Abani Roychowdhury is dead so the amount due to be paid by him has been deducted from the compensation package.

The NCDRC has deducted 10 per cent of the amount for 'contributory negligence' on part of Saha himself as he interfered in the treatment. Saha had sought damages totalingRs. 77 crore.

"This judgment makes mockery of justice. It is too meager an amount of compensation in context of this case", Saha said while speaking from Columbus, Ohio.

He said he had spent far more than Rs. 1.77 crore during the 12-year long legal battle, making innumerable trips to India. In any case, he said, he had already pledged to donate the entire amount to People for Better Treatment, a voluntary group set up by him in Kolkata to fight against medical negligence and corruption in medical field.

In the past one decade, Saha has fought against corruption in the Medical Council of India, West Bengal Medical Council, the judicial system and exposed a scam in HIV kits. It was because of his incessant campaign that former MCI chief Dr Ketan Desai was disallowed to take over as President of the World Medical Association and lost his license to practice as a doctor.

Anuradha was a qualified child psychologist who died at an age of 36 years because of maltreatment.

"Apart from my personal loss, pain and suffering due to the untimely death of my wife, the direct loss of income even of a minimum wage earner in the US would amount to far more than the compensation awarded by the NCDRC," Saha said.

Though the judgment brings hope to victims of medical negligence, Saha said he would move SC again seeking enhancement of the compensation.

Goa's CM Digambar Kamat Exposed Yet Again: Union Mines Ministry Says, 50% of Mines Are Illegal !!!!

Contradicting Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat's claim that there was no illegal mining in the state, the Union Mines Ministry has confirmed illegalities in nearly 50 percent of the operational mines.

In a letter, dated Oct 25, Joint Secretary, Mines G.Srinivas told state Mines Secretary S. Kumaraswamy to shore up measures to curb illegal mining in the state, rocked by a mega illegal mining scam, which the opposition has pegged at Rs.25,000 crore.

"Taken on a mine level basis, 44 mines had had exceeded the said 20 percent target production limits," Srinivas has said in his letter. Goa has nearly 100 operational open cast iron ore mines.

The letter confirming illegal and excessive mining in Goa comes on the heels of constant denials by Kamat - the minister of mines for 12 years - that illegal mining is marginal.

The Congress led coalition government in Goa has come under fire from the opposition over the scam.

The union mines ministry has also asked Goa's department of mines and geology (DMG) to conduct special field trips to establish whether mining in Goa's 100 odd operational mines is being conducted in accordance with the provisions of the forest conservation laws.

Anti mining agitators have complained that a majority of the mining operations fringing forest and wild life sanctuaries in Goa are brazenly flouting environment and forest norms.

"The ministry is of the view that mining operations should take place only with appropriate clearances, including, wherever required, under Forest (Conservation) Act 1980. In order to ensure compliance, you may like to issue directions to field units of the DMG to undertake the requisite inspections including follow up earlier inspections, so that there are no violations in this regard," Srinivas wrote.

"The DMG may also simultaneously prepare a list of such mining leases that have sought renewal but are pending environment and forest clearances and are operating under deemed extension, to ensure that such mines adhere to a mining plan," he said.

The mines ministry has also asked the state government to keep track and maintain an inventory of low grade iron ore reject dumps, which in the recent past were being illegally excavated and exported to China, which had opened markets to low grade iron ore to fuel its infrastructure projects.

To check large scale transportation of illegal ore, the union ministry has also asked the state to evolve a system of transit passes during transportation to ensure that the ore being ferries was legitimately extracted.

"In respect of operating mines, since an approved mining plan document is available with the state government, it is also necessary for the state government to introduce a check on the source of the ore and to introduce a system for allowing movement of minerals only through issue of transit passes after ensuring that not only royalty is paid for the mineral sought to be transported, but also after ensuring that the total minerals moved are accounted through the approved mining plan," the letter said.

Goa exported 54 million tons of iron ore in the last fiscal.

THE GOA'S PAID PIPER STORY IS DEFAMATORY, SAYS INTELLIGENT EDITOR SUJAY GUPTA

GOA PAID NEWS SHAME:

“ Pucca” Editor Sujay Gupta challenges to check out his mettle and transparency in Journalistic matters !!??!!!

Readers and contributors of Goanet, a widely read Goan portal worldwide have literally (with pen) stripped and heckled this editor on numerous occasions on grounds of professional and ethical conducts. One of his former colleagues from the prestigious Times of India, Assam says about him that,"Old habits, never die" !!!!

Goa's oldest newspaper Herald's editor Sujay Gupta has responded to news about his newspaper involved in Paid News Scandal, at last. Sujay has a very good reputation within journalist circles, as he has literally moved around the country working with many newspapers, news channels, mining companies. In Goa, he is very well known in social as well as the journalistic community having edited Gomantak Times earlier and also serving a mining company as its Vice President (VP) – CORP COMM.

In his statement this all India acclaimed journalist, now editor of Herald has 'emphatically' denied having been involved in this alleged Paid News Scam, saying that those series of interviews of prospective candidates were part of their socio-political promotional series namely 'Kins & Kinship', where 'kins' of political heavyweights in Goa are interviewed and the opinion on development of Goa and its environment is addressed.

Former VP of a Goan giant mining company Fomento owned by philanthropist Audhut Timblo, Sujay Gupta has now earned unquestionable reputation as an upright editor of Herald. However, he agrees that with elections in Goa around the corner, we (journalists) need to be more vigilant and watchful to ensure that the media continues to function as a neutral and independent watcher and not an interested part.

Further in his statement, this all India acclaimed journalist, now an editor, Sujay Gupta contest the accusations of Paid News Scam, by arguing that to even suggest that the alleged paid interviews his newspaper carried were part of paid news package is hugely defamatory and Herald will respond to these allegations urgently and appropriately in a proper forum.

Citizens of Goa still remember that Sujay Gupta created history in Goa, when this all India ‘famed’ journalist filed a defamation suit of FIVE BILLION INDIAN RUPEES against an ordinary but sincere environmentalist and a green blogger, interestingly in Kolkata High Court. 

Then, this intelligent journalist for time being was a vice president corporate communication at the Fomento Group of Industries, which operates several mines in Goa. The case he had filed in the ‘Kolkata high court’ was against Sebastian Rodrigues, an anti-mining activist, who had written about excesses of the mining company, which Sujay represented then.

In his +/- 750 words statement this "seasoned & well experienced" journalist cum editor Sujay Gupta has sincerely read the Paid News Scam story of investigative journalist Mayabhushan Nagvenkar along with the audio files about the alleged paid news negotiation between his newspapers advertisement dept manager and Mayabhushan and explained very carefully the definition & difference between paid news, advertorial and such other modified words, so that readers of his newspaper may know all the systematically classified parts of his newspapers. "editor" Sujay Gupta has in his statement, in fact, suggested that Mayabhushan should have paid Rs. 86400/- to checkout his “mettle and transparency in these matters " !!??!! Mayabhushan's interview would not have been published in Herald, after even paying this huge amount, editor Gupta claims with pride.

Meanwhile Investigative reporter Mayabhushan Nagvenkar has in a statement thanked to all those journalists who wrote back in support and appreciation of the story GOA'S PAID PIPER -- Paid political interview in Goa's Herald newspaper for Rs 86,400' .

Mr. Nagvenkar has given a befitting reply to herald editor Sujay Gupta to prove how his story on paid news scam by his newspaper stands, giving even some past 'good' deeds of editor Sujay Gupta persuading news-persons to publish some very 'important' news in their newspaper.
In his statement Nagvenkar says, “Thanks specifically to my senior colleagues in the media like P.Sainath who promised to take up this paid news case on the national forum and to noted media critic Pradyuman Maheshwari for running it on his newly launched media portal and to Outlook editor Krishna Prasad for featuring it on his blog. Incidentally, only Goa related web portals like goanet, targetgoa, nizgoenkar and goachronicle ran the story; a fact that I really appreciate, considering the fact that no print newspaper has done so. Perhaps… I should have paid for publishing this story … Joking of course…!!!" 

It may recalled here that the editor in question here has been supposedly boycotted by many Goan forums and accused of pushing files for the very powerful mining lobby, as a result of which the newspaper he represents has seen steep decline in its readership, as many respected and prominent Christian businessmen and intellectuals have declared a social boycott.Even this editor gentlemen was accused of gatecrashing a party with another socialite 'mirchi' at a seven stars hotel in Goa and were shown the doors !!!! 

Readers and contributors of Goanet, a widely read Goan portal worldwide have literally stripped and heckled this editor on numerous occasions on grounds of professional and ethical conducts. One of his former colleagues from Times of India, Assam says about him that,"Old habits, never die" !!!!

Below is the statement of Sujay Gupta and Mr. Mayabhushan Nagvenkar's response to it.


Sujay Gupta's statement

This is with reference to the complaint to the Press Council of India, by our esteemed and senior colleague in the profession for many years, Mayabhushan Nagvekar. (Para 1)

Since the matter concerns issues of editorial and journalistic propriety even though the conversations and interactions Mayabhushan, posing as one Bernard, has with our marketing Manager Tulsidas Desai,
I have chosen to respond to this. (Para 2)

Firstly, I wish to emphatically deny that any editorial content which has appeared in the Herald, without the “advertorial” tag line has been paid for. In his complaint, the complainant has attached newspaper clippings of several interviews we have conducted as part of our kins and kinship series of prospective new candidates in the fray.(Para 3)

The only exception was that of Somnath Zuwarkar, whose interview we carried after his return to politics. To even suggest that these interviews were part of a paid news package is hugely defamatory. Herald will respond to these allegations urgently and appropriately in a proper forum. (Para 4)

I wish to emphasize that I have been informed by my management that Desai’s remarks, (as heard on the audio) file in relation to any assurances given to “Bernard” for disguised editorial favours is absolutely incorrect. (Para 5)

As Editor, my stated position both within and outside the organisation has been that paid content cannot be disguised as news. Whenever politicians have sent out messages, statements of their achievements and other such information, through a paid route, we have prominently stated that they are advertorials. A case in point is the birthday of Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho where there were more than 2 pages of “news” items about Mauvin’s career and achievements. (Para 6)

Recently there was a four page advertorial supplement Vision 2015 where the Chief Minister’s interview was carried along with information on other departments. However, Herald has not softened its attack on this government on several issues, making a clear distinction between advertisements/advertorials and editorial. (Para
7)

Herald is the only newspaper which used the tag “advertorial” on top of their news pages so that the difference between editorial and advertorial is clearly established. (Para 8)

Coming to the proposed interview of the fictitious “Bernard” in HCN, our marketing team confirms that that such interviews are conducted with clear supers entitled “SPONSORED, indicating that its an advertorial. (Para 9)

The letter/email sent by Tulsidas Desai to the fictitious Bernard also clearly states that the rates were for advertising /advertorial rates. The marketing department is within its purview of seeking advertisements and advertorials with a clear understanding that they would be treated like any paid advertisement. (Para10)

Lastly and most significantly, Editorial was not in the know of any such negotiations or discussions the marketing had with any candidate or anyone else. The stray remark that “editos people” would be in the
know of any interview to HCN is also incorrect. (Para 11)

I am also clear that ultimately issues of newspaper ethics need to be addressed by the Editor directly since he is the custodian of content. At no given point of time have I allowed disguised and paid news to slip through as genuine editorial content. (Para 12)

However, it is imperative to ask if the media in Goa has done a serious introspection on whether we try hard enough to eliminate the ghost of paid news slipping through as genuine news. (Para13)

In the present case, too, it is naive to expect that the said Bernard’s interview would have been carried in any form. The final decision to run a story or not rests with me and my senior editorial colleagues so a clear distinction needs to be made between news and advertorials. The two cannot and don’t mix in The Herald. (Para 14)

If the complainant had indeed wanted to test Heralds mettle and transparency in these matters he should have tried paying the amount and getting his interview published as news and then taken us to task. (Para 15)

However, I agree that with elections around the corner, we need to be more vigilant and watchful to ensure that the media continues to function as a neutral and independent watcher and not an interested part. (Para 16)


MAYABHUSHAN NAGVENKAR'S RESPONSE

Para 3: I am not on the point that “any editorial content” which has appeared in the Herald, without the ‘advertorial’ tag has been paid for. The point I am trying to make is specific. That a fictitious proposition made by me for carrying my political paid news interview in the paper, has been accepted by a senior representative of your newspaper for a price after consulting with his editorial colleagues.

The representative, Herald’s marketing manager Tulsidas Desai has also told me that Raymond D’Sa’s interview (which was published as a news interview and not as an advertorial) which was published on Oct 20 in
the Herald had been paid for. It is on the basis of this information, which I have confirmed in course of the story, that I am saying that several from series of political interviews – some of which I have uploaded on the blog seem dubious and could have been published as ‘paid news’ in lieu of money.

Kins and Kinship: The choice of candidates according to the Editor is part of the newspaper’s series on ‘kins and kinship’. My question is, how do guys like Raymond D’Sa, Michael Lobo, Glenn Ticlo (whose press
clipping I did not manage to locate, if any of you guys have Glenn Ticlo’s interview cutting pls do scan and send it across), Somnath Zuwarkar, Sankalp Amonkar, fit this bracket. The only two who could pass off in a series defined under ‘kin and kinship’ are Tulio de Souza and Sameer Salgaonkar, who have kin in politics namely Dr
Wilfred de Souza and Anil Salgaonkar. Whose kin are the rest?

Para 4: Sujay Gupta has threatened me with defamation. I trust him to do it. The last defamation suit which Sujoy Gupta had filed was a Rs 5 billion one in 2009 in the Kolkata High court against a Goa based green blogger. Sujay was then vice president corporate communication at the Fomento Group of Industries, which operates several mines in Goa. The case he had filed in the ‘Kolkata high court’ was against Sebastian Rodrigues, an anti-mining activist, who had written about excesses of the mining company, which Sujay represented then.

Sujay had earlier tried to slip in stories in local newspapers including the Gomantak Times (GT). He had telephonically called GT's chief reporter Vithaldas Hegde -- an instance I am aware of because I was with Hegde on the other end of the phone, along with other staffers of the GT – which falsely projected Seby as a ‘naxalite’ who was whipping up unrest in the mining affected areas. The then executive editor of GT Derek Almeida and then deputy news editor Ashley do Rosario are aware of this incident as they were present when it happened.

Interestingly, Herald, the newspaper he now edits, had this to say about the entire episode.

Like in the Seby case (where attempts were made to brand him as a naxal), an attack on my credibility is something I expect now. I am only wondering how creative these guys are gonna be!

Para 6,7,8,9: If there were mechanisms existing in the Herald to route paid content as advertorials, then why does Tulsidas Desai, Herald’s marketing manager agree to shed the ‘advertorial’ tag as can be heard in the conversation with him in Tape III? Tulsidas is not some bottom rung marketing executive? He is a marketing manager and that’s a position of some responsibility. He assures me that the advertorial tag will be dropped. He also knows it is the wrong thing to do, when he says later in another conversation that he cannot put things like
this categorically on paper.

(Tape III excerpts; interview with Herald marketing manager Tulsidas Desai)

Me: In interview form.. I want in interview form so that people know no...
Tulsidas: Right... In that format only, how it has appeared today no
Me: And no advertorial no?
Tulsidas: Ah?
Me: No advertorial no
Tulsidas: Advertorial only
Me: But you are not going to say advertorial no?
Tulsidas: No... Today how nothing is mentioned no? Like that only...
Me: Ok ok.. and whom should I make payments and how much?


Para 10: Precisely my point. Herald’s marketing manager Tulsidas Desai already knows that paid news is not a kosher thing. He tells me in Tape IV that he cannot put down the exact quotation for the ‘paid news interview’ on paper in the way I have asked him. He knows he is in the wrong. He is selling me a paid news slot for my ‘political campaign’ and not a slot for a paid advertisement.


Please see transcripts below.
 (Tape IV excerpts; interview with Herald marketing manager Tulsidas Desai)

 Me: On Herald. Two interviews for the same price that you mentioned.
So that 86 (000) four hundred no?
Tulsidas: 86,400 right
Me: Into two.
Tulsidas: Ya ok
Me: But I want them
Tulsidas: Monday you are coming no?
Me: Ya but can you just send me a quotation? A rough quotation?
Tulsidas: No.. Actually this kind of this no... this is like a
editorial kind of things no, I cant mention on the paper you know
Me: Something yaar... so that I also have to show that somewhere no?
Tulsidas: Ok I'll do that
Me: Take my email address



Para 11: Once again I would like to remind Sujay about the fact that Tulsidas here is a marketing manager not a foot-soldier salesman of the Herald. How can you disqualify his statement made during a sales pitch that the editorial people were in the know? Do Herald reps fib during their sales pitches to their clients? If the editorial was not in the know of any such negotiations, then how did Tulsidas come back to me with a price? Whose were the people he consulted in between Tape I and Tape II and Tape III before he came back to me with his final
quote of Rs 86,400? He has consulted people back in the office. Who were these people with whom he talked about the rates with? Who were these guys with whom he discussed and confirmed (and later communicated to me in Tape III and Tape IV), that an interview would be carried in the newspaper as well as the cable news channel operated by Herald. You guys need to track these guys down? If you do not know, Tulsidas certainly will.

Para 12: If you have not Sujay, then someone else has. Your marketing manager himself says so.

Para 13: Point taken, but the scourge of ‘paid news’ can be tackled, if you first acknowledge that it exists in the first place. By denying its existence, in face of an admission by a senior marketing professional of the newspaper, is allowing paid news another lease of life.

Para 14: According to Tulsidas Desai, the twain have mixed. His clear reference to the fact that the Raymond D’sa interview has been paid for and published on October 20 without the ‘advertorial’ tag is testimony to the fact.

Para 15: This is sheer gall. If I had a whopping sum of Rs 86,400 bucks to shell out Sujay, it is more likely Sujay that I would have been dealing in paid news myself!!!. Establishing a senior Herald official’s intent in publishing a paid news story in return for a few phone calls, a few photo copies and CD writing expenses (hard copies
submitted to the Press Council of India and the Goa Union of Journalists) is good enough for me.

--
Mayabhushan Nagvenkar
1392, Anjuna, Bardez, Goa
pin code 403509
# 09420976862