Letter from the Editor-In-Chief

Dear friends,

January 2012

The year 2011 will be remembered in the history of India for scams and also for the voices raised against corruption in the country. Keeping in mind the blatant daylight robbery that is a common feature of society today, Eastern Panorama, as this month’s cover story; presents a story dealing with mining activities or should I say, export of coal to Bangladesh and the gross anomalies that have surfaced during the investigation carried out by the publication. The lapses on the part of the administration and authorities concerned is having a dual impact, i.e, loss of foreign exchange and generation of black money.

The highly anticipated and much talked about Lokpal Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha on the 22nd of December 2011 with claims and counter claims. Many feel that the Bill lacks teeth and may be unable, in its present form, to control corruption in the country and are also of the opinion that it will only add to legal complexities. We have carried an article on the issue by our Swati Deb who gives us an in depth view of the passing of this monumental Bill.

It escapes my understanding how Kapil Sibal, the Union Minister for Telecommunications wants to monitor social networking sites without going into the merits of such sites. In his efforts to protect his party, Kapil Sibal has emerged as a laughing stock and the subject of mass ridicule.

On another note, the erosion of the beaches of Orissa is a matter of grave concern as these beaches are the places where the Olive Ridley sea turtles nest on a yearly basis. This annual nesting is a global attraction and a source of pride for India. It is surprising that the Orissa Government has not taken this into account when it has incorporated ‘developmental’ activities which have a very negative impact on these same beaches.

Before I close, I wish our readers a very happy and prosperous 2012, a year which will see many changes in the country including a change of both the President and the Vice – President of our great nation.

Dr. K. K. Jhunjhunwala