Har subah sirf utho mat Jaago Re TATA TEA

‘ASTRA - ASSOCIATION for SOCIAL TRANSPARENCY, RIGHTS and ACTION’. Established in 2006, it is a non-profit organization working towards a just and fair society, that simultaneously works on the basis of a sustainable development, social transparency, towards a society free of corruption, while empowering the citizens on their rights and duties, privileges and responsibilities.

ASTRA has been constantly working towards achieving real transparency & good accountable governance in public offices. To achieve this vision one of our activities is to mobile citizens and intervene in taking social & legal action against corruption by government offices and authorities.

ASTRA’s area of operation is in 13 districts of Karnataka. Recently ASTRA has expanded its anti-corruption work to Kodagu district also & exposed the corruption in Somvarpet Taluk’s Valnur Thyagathur Grama Panchayat’s, MNREGA work. A few cases are under investigation in Lokayukta; because of this action the Abyathmangala village BJP President W.A. Pavithra & other BJP supported Panchayat members are against ASTRA & have tried several times to harm the ASTRA staff to take revenge. Deepika K.V. – is the Valnur Thyagathur Grama Panchayth member and honorary staff of ASTRA.

On 4/09/2011 youth group in the Abyathmangala Village of Valnur Thyagathur Grama Panchayth has organized a village development meeting in the village & invited ASTRA Director Chandan & Deepika to the meeting. The meeting started around 5pm & after finishing the meeting they got on their motorbike and the two were about to start, when all of a sudden W.A. Pavithra attacked Deepika by bodily pulling her down from the bike. Then he attacked Chandan and came to hurt him with a sword at his neck. In the meantime, the youth who participated in this meeting came forward and stopped Pavitra of BJP from cutting Chandan’s neck. The youth snatched the sword from W.A. Pavithra & he immediately escaped from the spot. After this Incident Chandan immediately informed the local police & by the time police arrived it was too late. The FIR could not be filed the same day, due to the distance of the police station, which is 25Km away from the Abytahmangala village.

The next morning Deepika & Chandan went to the police station to file a complaint. Police claimed that they are under a of political pressure not to register any complaint against W.A. Pavithra but finally filed complaint under IPC 354, 504 & 506 II on W.A. Pavithra. The sword which was snatched from him during the attack has been handed over to the Police as evidence.

Soon after this, the BJP supported Valnur Thyagathur Grama Panchayath member Umesh who is a Scheduled Caste, tried to file false counter case under SC/ST atrocity Act on Chandan. The Police did not buckle to his pressure and so the Kodagu ZP member - Ballaranda Mani Uthappa forced the police to register false case on Chandan. The police issued a ‘station bail’ on the same day.

The ASTRA team members have been fighting corruption in several instances in and around this area, have been threatened almost on a daily basis by the BJP workers and Panchayat members supported by the BJP. Many of the local workers and politicians are planning to file cases on ASTRA team on false charges so as to frightened and suppress the work against corruption.

ASTRA has reasons to believe that these complaints against ASTRA have been made on the instigation of some politicians involved either directly or indirectly in the activities pertaining to the MNREGA scheme and also with motive to bury the whole illegalities, misappropriation of huge public money and also to shut the mouth of ASTRA.

As we are aware, rarely have rules and procedures been followed anywhere in Karnataka with regard to MNREGA. We are committed social workers concerned in involving the people in the struggles towards making government departments more accountable to people.

Though the recent attack amounts to “attempt to murder” (IPC 307) Chandan & his wife Deepika, the police have categorically refused to add this section or the other relevant sections that of assault and threat to our lives by the Abythmangala village BJP President W.A. Pavithra. This filing of cases and the convenient absconding of the culprit is a game played almost on a daily basis by the various parties concerned. It is such an encouragement to see India supporting Anna Hazare’s fast for a Jan Lokpal Bill. In the same vein, my wife and I, seek the support of the citizens and the civil society. The police and the other arms of the government do not seem keen to protect people who challenge them. For the present our only hope are the media and the people!

To support & further details contact:
Chandan M.C.
Executive Director, ASTRA
e.mail: chandanastra@gmail.com
Mob: +91-95354 21620
Web: www.astraindia.org (under construction)