Saturday, December 12, 2009

RE: [rti_india] Re: Join Protest Against Electronic ID Entry to Public Parks in Bangalore: Endor

 

I cannot believe that despite repeated requests to be taken off this group there is no action.

-----Original Message-----
From: rti_india@yahoogroups.com on behalf of sarbajitr
Sent: Sun 11/29/2009 5:49 PM
To: rti_india@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [rti_india] Re: Join Protest Against Electronic ID Entry to Public Parks in Bangalore: Endor

Dear Leo,

Firstly, I'm very sorry but I dont understand, weakly or otherwise :-), the NGO-speak which permeates your monologue stream. I am perhaps as equally involved in urban / public space access issues as you are - had you cared to research.

Secondly, I don't know who Usha Ramanathan is or why her dialogue stream is relevant to our RTI discourse.

Thirdly, As per the holy document, (I regret that my religion - Oh JFYI we have 8 million brothers whom urban elites call 'Dalits' among us - doesn't permit me the luxury of holy book/s), obligations come *after*- rights. Rights are enforceable - obligations are not.

You are perfectly welcome (please invite Ms.Ramanathan to join us) to misuse / abuse this sacred RTI resource - just mark your messages as OT or OFFTOPIC in the subject line as a courtesy to other members who may not want to read it.

BTW, this is not the first time we have had this little dialog.
http://www.mail-archive.com/rti_india@yahoogroups.com/msg01945.html
I reiterate that this group is not a dumping ground for press releases unless they are marked as OT.

Ciao

Sarbajit

--- In rti_india@yahoogroups.com, ESGINDIA <esg@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Sarbajit
>
> I am appalled and disppointed by your rather weak understanding of
> access - to information, public spaces, et al. Usha Ramanathan recently
> spoke in Bangalore in a meeting we organised, and she said in the
> journey from slave to subject of the state to citizen, we are stuck at
> the status of subject. Your view of RTI and access to public spaces is
> located within this subordinated spectrum. Rights come with
> Obligations, and aren't fettered otherwise - that's my reading of my
> only 'holy' document - the glorious Indian Constitution.
>
> So in protest I will continue to access this forum, much to your
> dislike. You can throw me out (as moderator) as much as the Karnataka
> State (custodian, merely) here is doing with their electronic ID card.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Leo Saldanha
> (Always and very much ON THE TOPIC of Access to All, Always!)
>
> sarbajit roy wrote:
> > Dear Leo
> >
> > Ours is a group focussed strictly on RTI. Your message is an invasion
> > of OUR PUBLIC SPACE.
> >
> > If you or any other member must post stuff like this very
> > occasionally, please include the term "OT" or "OFFTOPIC" in the
> > subject line. And, please do not "cross post" at the same time.
> >
> > BTW, have you considered that this proposal may be in the nature of
> > purchasing a smart entry access token to a precious heritage resource.
> > For eg. Cubbon Park being centrally located in Bangalore could cope
> > with the population of 100 years ago. Now with the city bursting at
> > the seams and no other such equivalent facility in sight, this could
> > be a much needed conservation measure.
> >
> > So please avoid the use of "red pepper" inflammatory NGO phrases like
> > :"highly illegal policy", "highly restrictive application process"
> > etc. BTW you have no Fundamental Right to access public spaces. All
> > Fundamental Rights are subject to reasonable restrictions. Even in RTI
> > the access is limited if it endangers the safety and preservation of
> > the information record.
> >
> > Sarbajit
> >
> > On 11/28/09, ESGINDIA <esg@...> wrote:
> >
> >> Dear Friends,
> >>
> >> Employing a highly illegal policy, the Government of Karnataka intends
> >> to restrict entry to Bangalore's heritage Cubbon Park and Lalbagh only
> >> to electronic ID wielding folks. Needless to state, this electronic ID
> >> comes at a price and will be regulated based on a highly restrictive
> >> application process. The intent is to prevent common folks from using
> >> such public spaces. All this is an effort in showcasing Bangalore as an
> >> elite friendly and global investment friendly city - with its public
> >> spaces out of bounds for local residents, especially the poor.
> >>
> >> To protest such abhorrent acts of exclusion, the undersigned have
> >> organised a protest on Monday, 30th November 2009, 4 pm to 6 pm at
> >> Queens Statue, Cubbon Park, M. G. Road. We urge you to join us in large
> >> numbers in this very critical struggle against encroachment of the
> >> Fundamental Rights to Access Public Spaces.
> >>
> >> The victims of this abhorrent policy will most certainly be the urban
> >> poor and voiceless, and this practice may soon extend to make such
> >> restrictive practices more common place. It may even initiate
> >> conversion of our public commons, such as Parks, Playfields and Open
> >> Spaces, into private havens - a practice already in vogue by the State
> >> granting large parts of Cubbon Park to the Karnataka Lawn Tennis
> >> Association, Century Club and various other private clubs.
> >>
> >> Enclosed please find a Leaflet urging you to join the Protest. Kindly
> >> circulate this amongst your communities.
> >>
> >> Also enclosed is a Petition to Karnataka Horticulture Minister Shri.
> >> Umesh Katti, who has initiated this policy, demanding that he
> >> immediately stop this illegal move. You may endorse this petition
> >> online at:
> >> <http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Protest_ID_to_enter_Parks>.
> >> Alternatively, you may send an email to zeenat@... latest by 10
> >> December 2009.
> >>
> >> (Please note that when you sign the online petition, you may be asked to
> >> contribute, which you could ignore and proceed to sign the petition.
> >> When endorsing please provide your full contact details. Leave these
> >> contact details in the comments section of the online petition - if you
> >> wish.)
> >>
> >> We look forward to your support for this important cause that matters to
> >> you now, a step that will also secure the Rights of Future Generations.
> >>
> >> Thank you and best wishes,
> >>
> >>
> >> Bhargavi S. Rao and Leo Saldanha
> >> Environment Support Group, Bangalore
> >> on behalf of
> >> Slum Jagatthu, CIEDS, Vimochana, Dalit Sangharsh Samiti- Samyojaka
> >> (Bangalore Dist.), Sanmathi, Alternative Law Forum, Sangama, Stree
> >> Jagruthi Samithi, CIVIC Bangalore, Hasiru Usiru and Open Space.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> *NO ENTRY FOR POOR AND COMMON PEOPLE TO CUBBON PARK AND LALBAGH *
> >>
> >> *(ENTRY RESTRICTED TO ID CARD HOLDING ELITES ONLY)*
> >>
> >> The Government of Karnataka plans to make ID cards mandatory to enter
> >> Cubbon Park and Lalbagh, and that at a cost of Rs 200/person. This is
> >> the beginning of the state's encroachment of people's right to freely
> >> access public spaces and a stage is being set to privatise public
> >> commons. All sorts of devious reasons are being flung at the public,
> >> including security concerns, morality and misuse of parks by
> >> "unnecessary elements".
> >>
> >> The manner in which the policy is formulated encourages the particular
> >> exclusion of access rights of the urban poor (especially from
> >> minorities), street and working children, elderly people, transgenders ,
> >> migrant workers, labourers, street vendors, drivers of autorickshaws and
> >> taxis, differently abled, families with children, etc. The idea of
> >> having to carry an ID merely to access these two parks, fundamentally
> >> distances them from their unfettered and constitutionally protected
> >> Right to Use Public Spaces. This policy also promotes discriminatory
> >> access to public spaces as it privileges 'regular walkers' and thus
> >> negates the very concept of parks as public commons. Simply stated this
> >> draconian policy encroaches our very fundamental Right to Live a Healthy
> >> Life based on dignified and unfettered access to public spaces.
> >>
> >> *Join the Protest against this fundamental encroachment of Our Right to
> >> Access all Public Commons*
> >>
> >> */COME JOIN THIS JUST PROTEST WITH FAMILIES, COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS,
> >> NEIGHBOURS/*
> >>
> >> *Queen's Statue, Cubbon park, Monday, 30^th November, 4.00 pm -- 6.00 pm*
> >>
> >> */Protest initiated by Environment Support Group, Slum Jagatthu, CIEDS,
> >> Vimochana, Dalit Sangharsh Samiti- Samyojaka (Bangalore Dist.),
> >> Sanmathi, Alternative Law Forum, Sangama, Stree Jagruthi Samithi, CIVIC
> >> Bangalore, Hasiru Usiru and Open Space./*
> >>
> >> *For more details contact: *Environment Support Group,1572, Outer Ring
> >> Road, Banshankari 2^nd stage, Bangalore-560070 _Tel:-91-80-26713559-60
> >> <tel:-91-80-26713559/60>_ Email:_esg@...
> >> <mailto:esg@...>,
> >> <mailto:esg@...>bhargavi@...
> >> <mailto:org/bhargavi@...>_ Website: _www.esgindia.org
> >> <http://www.esgindia.org/>_
> >>
> >>
>

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