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2019 elections: Onyearugbulem unveils manifesto tagged ‘Imo Anew : Redefining the Course of our Beloved State”

The governorship candidate of Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) in the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria, Engineer Tony Onyearugbulem, has made public his manifesto. The manifesto which was rolled out by the governorship hopeful on January 1, 2018, embodies a fifteen point agenda which can best be described as the blue print to the economic revival of Imo state. Read the full text of the manifesto below:

IMO ANEW: REDEFINING THE COURSE OF OUR BELOVED STATE

TONY ONYEARUGBULEM [A New Imo Glorified] Jan 1, 2018.

MY AIM 

Public leadership is to do with possibilities; one who provides opportunities. Opportunities for all men to thrive and be productive in their God given talents and skill for the improvement of a common good.
Men who are capable of providing room for others to thrive are few. And it is expected today of leaders to be authoritative, burdensome, always meddlesome and lordly. Men given to such showmanship are surely not useless, but are perhaps useful for television entertainment, and pursuit for celebrity status and social standing. Government is not a stage. Government, fearfully, dictates the livelihood of all!
Government is not a brigade; not like an army that is required to be purloined by loud commands and regimental precision. There must be negotiation. A certain back and forth. Government is in an underworking, like unto a mechanised system that toils continuously, productive, not appreciated in mechanising, but in service. There must be an end. There must be a vision. And there must be men of like-minds, for government to be successful, and used judiciously, to work. I am of the opinion that public governance is predicated on biblical principles of righteousness exalting a nation. Therefore, society will only progress when right things are done, and when right men are public leaders. Men of sound minds, who place the welfare of others ahead of themselves. Men compliant with the dictates of rule of law, equity, fairness and justice. Men not a law to themselves, but accountable to God first, and then their fellow men.
Imo State, habited by over 4 million people, is not a by-word. The administration of such a great people will certainly be onerous, but if right-wielded would yield phenomenal results. This great number of people is our primary resource. The people must be our primary investiture—the yield would be awestriking. And then we exploit the natural resources we possess in goodly quantity.
Having lived and schooled in England and the USA, I have been privileged, and humbly so, to observe first-hand societies that prosper in this world. I have come to the conclusion that we can not only replicate, but fine-tune such progressive policies to suit our culture and society. I have managed businesses in the hospitality sector, and am currently administering realty and business investments. Farming is a vocation I have adopted lately, and am elated by its ease and intriguing rewards. I have authored books. I am married and a father of 3 children. And I am wholly subdued to God. I am the scion of one of the noble sons of Imo. My father, the late Anthony Onyearugbulem, is an inspiration to me, and his existence has deposited in me his qualities of compassion, sincerity and purpose. And I intend to saddle a cause he sadly could not possess, but for death. I intend to govern Imo State.
I might be lacking in experience, but am willing to be guided by men of age and wisdom. I might, due to my pursuit of learning and itinerary, be poor in cultural mannerisms and knowledge, but that is a price to be paid for world knowledge; I am willing to re-understand or re-possess my culture, and more so re-learn. I might add that I am not aspiring to be king, but just a governor, a purely administrative position; a governor still remains subject to principalities, he can never have subjects. I am passionate about my people. Determined to improve their welfare, reduce their cost of living, achieve a better standard of living, and proffer room for them to smile; have good times with their families and neighbours, raise children in a goodly fashion, and prosper.
I am always under no illusion, though my aspirations always appear divine and somewhat lofty, but I believe that there must be a collective front of men and women, who share the same mind-set. 2019 is not about grasping power. It is about coming to the reality that if we do not unite to front a base for a common good in our state, we might never in a long time have the chance again. This might just be our only opportunity, having experienced absolute democracy for almost two decades, to have a rethink, and ask, “Where is Imo State headed?”
I am passionate to be part of the process of repairing foundations for successive generations. Below, I have drafted a few ideas I have on how to go about this.

FINANCE AND TAXATION

Public goods: health, education, roads, water, law and order must be provided by our government. Water, pipe-borne water, for instance, is a public good that would yield revenue for the state government. The point is, public goods in meeting imminent needs can still be profitable to the state government.
A balance must be struck between current and capital expenditure. It always appears fashion-forward to [promise to] prioritise capital expenditure, but it is just not practicable. For instance, it is much more responsible to pay pensioners and public workers than begin any capital project. Capital expenditure must follow current expenditure. Fiscal policy must not be toyed with, and same with merit goods. 
Merit goods, services that all state citizens are entitled to, must be defined and prioritised. In my opinion, education and healthcare must be unequivocal merit goods. Taxation must be reorganised and made easy to trail and collect.
Taxation, good taxation, would be the bedrock of new government. Taxation must be progressive across board (and this should specially apply to the state-owned learning institutions, meaning the less privileged should still be given the opportunity to have quality education). Direct taxes are already established, but indirect taxes, taxation on spending, must be prioritised. Government must adequately finance itself.
Borrowing is always a constant, but must be sustainable, and surely not reckless. For government to finance capital expenditure, some of its assets must be sold to responsible private sector investors. This must happen. Government must redistribute its resources, and wisely so.
Taxation would finance our government, and this taxation must be fair, encourage the working class, easy to collect and convenient to pay.

STATE LIBRARY

Our state is in dire need of a functional base for resource and learning; a library that is a product of the aspirations of all intellectuals in our state. A state of the art library should give all citizens a getaway, from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis, into a serene environment where intense study and research can be undertaken. This library should merge the traditional and modern forms of what a 21st century library should look like. Citizens should be required to register for use of this library, as this would make the library profitable, and give citizens a sense of ownership, a sense of value.
This library should be managed by the state government with all responsibility. Concessions should be given to students of state run learning institutions. The end of this initiative will in the long term reproduce a people given to learning and innovation, a refined people, armed to face the challenges of ever changing times.

TRAFFIC SYSTEM

It is my opinion that the only sign of a hospitable people is their ability to map and signage their streets and landmarks. The cities in our state must therefore be marked, and perhaps with names that are already established or those that are easily recallable. A stranger should easily come into our cities and be able to find their way around.
Many of our roads, especially in the capital, are clogged and should become one-ways to aid traffic. Traffic signs should be well utilized to aid drivers and pedestrians alike. Pedestrian walks, bigger and wider, should be built in order to ease movement. Roads should be remodelled in such a way that pedestrian movement in the city would be seamless and car ownership could be discouraged.
An effective taxation system for car-parking should be created. This would provide revenue for the maintenance of roads and traffic accoutrements.

BEAUTIFICATION AND SANITISATION

There is not anymore beautification than the organised planting of trees and flowers. Our cities, especially the capital, is fast becoming a concrete jungle of smog and ash without earth. A calculated aggressive exercise of naturalising the city with beautiful trees, flowers and parks must take place. 
Many in times past have derided such exercise, but its intrinsic value for productivity and decorum can never be ignored. Citizens would seldom litter an environment that is well catered for. Dustbins must be provided for in the cities, and an attitude of cleanliness must be enforced.
The law must discourage urination and defecation in public, and enforce public places like markets, malls, eateries and the like to open their toilets for public use. In addition, a concerted effort to combat the scourge of mosquitoes must be initiated; this through fumigation and enlightenment.

EDUCATION

Free education is a phenomenon that has no place in the 21st century, what with all the unfettered access to knowledge that the internet provides. Education is fast becoming like unto an endangered species, which if not guarded and the more funded would disappear with time, being replaced with a half-baked process that renders our people savvy. Savvy, a street smartness, but without the refinement of sources, resources and order.
We cannot continue with free education! Subsidised education, surely, but not free. I intend to invest heavily in education. An investment that will tend to making our state the most intellectually productive state in Nigeria. Our teachers must be vast in their fields, and given the opportunity to research within and without the country; in this term education soars free. Our educationists must be creative, mindful of the problems in our society and ever-seeking to solve them. Theoretical solutions for development must emanate from our schools. Our lecturers should be ebullient in authoring books, researching; usurping education into a resource with export value within and without the country.
Our people are well-known to be intellectuals, and we must re-establish that notion. Our children in the hinterlands must be thoroughly educated by teachers zealous for their profession; teachers catered for and well regarded. Teachers qualified.
Additionally, we would ensure that vocational education (technical schools) is given more attention, and in this regard students are caught early, so we would not be burdened with the responsibility of proffering skill acquisition programs to university graduates. We would produce most skilful tradesmen.
We must make education valuable. A worthy and worthwhile investment.

ART CENTRE

The arts: Music, theatre, fine arts, poetry, and so on, are very necessary ingredients for the development and refinement of a people. It is my observation that government has become entangled in the expressions of the arts; confining artistic expression to government hosted events, smothering creativity. Government has no business in such exercise.
Artists need a hub, a place where they can exhaust their artistic talents and earn income. Therefore, the need for a centre of creativity cannot be overemphasized. This is a place where music, television and theatre productions can be recorded and showcased. An amphitheatre that can sit a good number of citizens.
As already stated government can only stifle artistic creativity, therefore a private sector partnership in this regard is what is required.

CONTROL OF PUBLIC ADVERTISING

Public advertising has been allowed to fester to a point of becoming hazardous. Signages litter streets and especially buildings, desecrating the wonderful architecture of most buildings in the cities, especially. This wanton abuse of advertising must be banned. In controlling advertising, our people can be systematically redirected to the place of learning.
We are one of very few states blessed with a robust newspaper industry, and through such a ban we can redirect advertising to local newspapers and magazines. This would further entrench journalism and reinvigorate the reading culture, and furthermore, lead to much more beautiful cities.
A new thriving printing industry would be created, and this would lead to the creation of several jobs. The roll-on effect would, apparently, only be positive. Additionally, government will judiciously patronise local publishers without any recourse to “in-house” publishing.

HEALTHCARE

Can healthcare be affordable? Yes it can, and this through public-private sector partnerships. The NHIS (National health Insurance Scheme) to a very great extent has succeeded in giving the poor access to good healthcare at very affordable rates. We need to work to tweak the shortcomings of the NHIS system, maintaining its positives and rolling out a healthcare system that will afford our people affordable and adequate healthcare.
We need to carter to the health needs of our people by providing ambulances and provisions for emergency situations. We must work with existing health facilities to improve their standards and practices. We must ostracise sham health centres.
Healthcare MUST become a merit good; a necessity for all.

ROADS

Roads, bad roads, has become a sour point in the existence of our state. And in this regard honesty is required. Too much attention has been given to roads for cars above that for human beings. Even human beings deserve to walk on paved paths. I hope to see that we begin with people first. Building roads that will serve ergonomics. 
Cost effective methods of building roads must be utilised, and cost effective materials must be sought for. Honest contractors must be engaged, and the welfare of the people must come first. Maintenance of roads must become second nature.
The multiplier effects of having functional roads cannot be overemphasized.

STATE OMBUDSMAN

A state ombudsman must be created. An impartial body that gives citizens of the state the opportunity to formally, and through due process, resolve whatever grievances they might have against abuses of state government officials. We all come from society, and to society we must all return. Therefore, as government, we must entrench the ideals of fairness, equity and justice.

TRANSPORTATION 

Communal buses have proved to be the best mode of public transportation the world over. Yet we continue to tinker with motorcycles, tricycles, kim-kims and now taximos. They all have proven to fail with time. We need to establish a functional bus network system for easy movement from the cities to the edges of the hinterlands. The brain behind the most successful bus company (ABC) hails from our state, and I am certain that he can in a whim solve this pending problem of bus transportation. This is a primary investment that would, in the long-run, yield economic dividend, and alleviate the economic burdens of our people.
Inland waterway transportation must be usurped as a mode of transportation. This would further link our communities, avail the movement of agricultural produce from the hinterland to the cities, and relieve the burden on our roads.

JUDICATURE, LAW AND ORDER

In as much as the federal police is on the ‘exclusive list’ it has become common practice for the state government to support them with security equipment and apparatus. Adequate support must be given to the federal police in the state. I am of the opinion that despite all the suspicion attached to the police, they must be given priority above any state-promoted security outfit. Shouldn’t this security outfits be privately sponsored and run for private security? Is it legal to have vigilante organisations? What is the position of law on this matter? It surely is debatable, but I believe that the federal police must have a better spread in our state, and should have their systems upgraded through the financial support of the state government.
The judicial system is overdue for a systems upgrade, even to a computer based system. The law courts have been neglected over time and are in dire need of renovation.

JOBS CREATION BUREAU

There are very few job opportunities for the youths; this has always been the primordial belief. I, however, believe that opportunities for youth vocation and employment are boundless; there is only a need for a lifeline for the unemployed youth. This is where the Jobs Creation Bureau comes in. It would be an organisation run by young people (counsellors) for young people.
Its primary duties would be to equip the unemployed youth for gainful employment, guiding them through employment opportunities and processes. It will also serve as a medium to educate the youth on how to establish businesses, finance them and also establish partnerships. Our youth must also benefit from opportunities offered by SMEDAN (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria), BOI (Bank of Industry), and other federal government institutions; our jobs bureau would see to that.
This organisation would essentially create young businessmen and women, armed with tools and initiative to cater for themselves and handle substantial private and government projects. 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

Personal opinions on the issues surrounding local government elections must be put aside. The law is absolute on such a matter. There must be an active local government powered by the people. Therefore, upon assuming office, LGA elections must be held immediately, giving no room for otherwise. The office of the state governor must learn to work with the local government chairmen and councillors, giving them free room to operate their office, disregarding political affiliations or inclinations. In this case probity and a good example must start from the top: state executive.

MINISTRIES
The primary role of state government ministries would be to regulate the private sector and citizenry. The ministries must see to the generation of a vibrant private sector. There would be 11 ministries; they are stated below.
1. Justice
2. Business and Industry
3. Communities and Local Government
4. Culture, Media and Sports
5. Education
6. Environment, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
7. Transportation
8. Job Creation and Pensions
9. Health
10. Finance and Taxation
11. Public Works

CONCLUSION

I intend to see that, working together with progressive minds, we create a state that can sustain itself, and even save for the future. I hope to see that Imo transforms from being a parasitical (considering its current political situation) state to one that is sustainable and highly productive; a state that can attract foreign investments. Remove the dross from silver and there would be substance worthy for refining. Therefore, we must put aside selfish ambition, and put our people first, and even set such a standard for succeeding generations to follow. We can bequeath a collective inheritance of nobility, dignity, self-worth and righteous government for our children and children’s children.




HOW THE ROTHSCHILDS CONQUERED EUROPE, ACQUIRED HALF THE WORLD'S FORTUNE

by Ebere Inyama
Published 12th May 2012

 

The Rothschild family known as The House of Rothschild, or more simply as the Rothschilds, is a European dynasty, of German-Jewish origin, that established European banking and finance houses starting in the late 18th century.

During the 1800s, when it was at its height, the family is believed to have possessed by far the largest private fortune in the world as well as by far the largest fortune in modern world history.

The first member of the family who was known to use the name "Rothschild" was Izaak Elchanan Rothschild, who was born in 1577. The name means "Red Shield" in old German. The family's ascent to international prominence began in 1744, with the birth of Mayer Amschel Rothschild in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. He was the son of Amschel Moses Rothschild, (born circa 1710), a money changer who had traded with the Prince of Hesse. Born in the ghetto (called "Judengasse", Mayer developed a finance house and spread his empire by installing each of his five sons in the five main European financial centres to conduct business.

Mayer Rothschild successfully kept the fortune in the family with carefully arranged marriages, often between first or second cousins (similar to Royal intermarriage). This idea was hatched probably in a bid to prevent non members of the Rothschild’s family from benefitting from their wealth and also to safeguard the family’s secrets.

Belief in other ‘gods’

According to press reports, eye-witnesses who were prominent enough to visit one of the British Rothschild homes alleged that the Rothschilds worship Satan. “They set a place for him at their table” he reported. The Rothschilds have been Satanists for many generations. The Rothschilds are an important part of the history of the Seal of Solomon (also known as hexagram, Magen David, six-pointed star, Star of David.) The Seal of Solomon, the hexagram, was not considered a Jewish symbol before the Rothschilds began using it. Throughout the Middle Ages the Seal of Solomon had been used by Arab Magicians, Cabalist Magicians, Druid witches and Satanists. One of the few ancient uses of the symbol was on the floor of a 1,200 year old Moslem Mosque found where Tel Aviv is today. In the twelve century, an Ashkenazic Jew, Menahem ben Duji, who thought he was the Messiah, used the magical symbol. Because the Rothschilds were Satanists, they adopted this powerful magic symbol in 1822 for their coat- of-arms.

The Rothschild coat of arms contains a clenched fist with five arrows symbolizing the five dynasties established by the five sons of Mayer Rothschild, in a reference to Psalm 127: "Like arrows in the hands of a warrior". The family motto appears below the shield: Concordia, Integritas, Industria (Harmony, Integrity, Industry).

Power within Christendom

The Rothschilds also wielded much influence and power not only in Secret Societies, but also in Christendom’s churches. The Salvation Army under the suggestion of the Rothschilds adopted the Red Shield (Roth-red Schild-shield) for their logo. One history of the Rothschilds remarks, "The Rothschilds had rapidly propelled themselves into a position of immense financial power and political influence. They were an independent force in the life of Europe, accountable to no one and, to a large extent, reliant on no one. Popular lampoons depicted them as the real rulers of Christendom..."(47) Some of the Rothschilds have been involved in the campaign to loosen public morals. The first executive Secretary of the National Student Forum was John Rothschild. This National Student Forum changed its name like articles of clothing. Speaking about clothing, one of the aims of this Socialist group was to promote public nudity, and free love. This organization had the following constituent groups Radcliffe Liberal Club, Union Theological Seminary Contemporary Club, Yale Liberal Club"(48) to name just a few.

EXTENT OF ROTHSCHILD POWER

According to one source "it was estimated that they controlled half the wealth of the world."(50) The Federal Reserve Bank of New York was controlled by five banks which owned 53% of its stock.

These five banks were controlled by Nathan M. Rothschild & Sons of London. Control over the U.S. Fed is basically control over the world’s money. That fact alone shows how immense the Rothschild Power is. If one examines who has been appointed to head the Fed, and to run it, the connections of the "Federal" Reserve System to the Rothschilds can further be seen. Another private enterprise using the name Federal that the Rothschilds also direct is Federal Express. Any one else might be taken to court for making their businesses sound like their are government, not the Rothschilds. It is appropriate for them to appropriate the name of Federal, because by way of MI6 via the CIA they instruct the U.S. government. Senators are bought and paid off by their system, as investigators of the BCCI are discovering. The Rothschilds have been intimately involved in witchcraft and the Illuminati since its early known history.

International high finance

In 1816, four of the brothers were each elevated to the hereditary nobility by Austrian Emperor Francis I; moreover, a fifth brother, Nathan, was elevated in 1818. All of them were granted the Austrian title of baron or Freiherr on 29 September 1822. As such, some members of the family used "de" or "von" Rothschild to acknowledge the grant of nobility. Barons (Knights) who received their title from the Holy Roman Emperor are known as Barons of the Holy Roman Empire, Reichsfreiherr, although the title is sometimes shortened to Freiherr.

In 1847, Sir Anthony de Rothschild, was made a hereditary baronet of the United Kingdom. In 1885, Nathan Mayer Rothschild II (1840–1915) of the London branch of the family, was granted the hereditary peerage title Baron Rothschild in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

The Frankfurt terminus of the Taunus railroad, financed by the Rothschilds. Opened in 1840, it was one of Germany's first railroads.

Rothschild family banking businesses pioneered international high finance during the industrialization of Europe and were instrumental in supporting railway systems across the world and in complex government financing for projects such as the Suez Canal. During the 19th century, the family bought up a large proportion of the property in Mayfair, London.

Major 19th century businesses founded with Rothschild family capital include:

• Alliance Assurance (1824) (now Royal & SunAlliance);

• Chemin de Fer du Nord (1845)

• The Rio Tinto mining company (1873) (From the 1880s onwards, the Rothschilds had full control of Rio Tinto)

• Eramet (1880)

• Imerys (1880)

• De Beers (1888)

The family funded Cecil Rhodes in the creation of the African colony of Rhodesia. From the late 1880s onwards, the family took over control of the Rio Tinto mining company.

The Japanese government approached the London and Paris families for funding during the Russo-Japanese War. The London consortium's issue of Japanese war bonds would total £11.5 million (at 1907 currency rates; £902 million in 2012 currency terms).

The name of Rothschild became synonymous with extravagance and great wealth, and the family was renowned for its art collecting, for its palaces, as well as for its philanthropy. By the end of the century, the family owned, or had built, at the lowest estimates, over 41 palaces, of a scale and luxury perhaps unparalleled even by the richest royal families. The soon to be British Prime Minister Lloyd George claimed, in 1909, that Lord Nathan Rothschild was the most powerful man in Britain.

In 1901, with no male heir, the Frankfurt House closed its doors after more than a century in business. It was not until 1989 that the family returned, when N M Rothschild & Sons, the British investment arm, plus Bank Rothschild AG, the Swiss branch, set up a representative banking office in Frankfurt.

Jewish identity and positions on Zionism

Jewish solidarity in the family was not homogeneous. Some Rothschilds were supporters of Zionism, while other members of the family opposed the creation of the Jewish state. Lord Victor Rothschild was against granting asylum or even help to Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. In 1917 Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild was the addressee of the Balfour Declaration to the Zionist Federation, which committed the British government to the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.

After the death of James Jacob de Rothschild in 1868, Alphonse Rothschild, his oldest son, who took over the management of the family bank, was the most active in support for Eretz Israel. The Rothschild family archives show that during the 1870s the family contributed nearly 500,000 francs per year on behalf of Eastern Jewry to the Alliance Israélite Universelle Baron Edmond James de Rothschild, James Jacob de Rothschild's youngest son was a patron of the first settlement in Palestine at Rishon-LeZion, and bought from Ottoman landlords parts of the land which now makes up present-day Israel. In 1924, he established the Palestine Jewish Colonization Association (PICA), which acquired more than 125,000 acres (22,36 km²) of land and set up business ventures. In Tel Aviv, he has a road, Rothschild Boulevard, named after him as well as various localities throughout Israel which he assisted in founding including Metulla, Zikhron Ya'akov, Rishon Lezion, and Rosh Pina. A park in Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris, the Parc Edmond de Rothschild (Edmond de Rothschild Park) is also named after its founder. The Rothschilds also played a significant part in the funding of Israel's governmental infrastructure. James A. de Rothschild financed the Knesset building as a gift to the State of Israel and the Supreme Court of Israel building was donated to Israel by Dorothy de Rothschild. Outside the President's Chamber is displayed the letter Mrs. Rothschild wrote to the then current Prime Minister Shimon Peres expressing her intention to donate a new building for the Supreme Court.

Edmond de Rothschild Group

In 1953, one Swiss member of the family, Edmond Adolphe de Rothschild (1926–1997), founded the LCF Rothschild Group (now Edmond de Rothschild Group), based in Geneva, with €100 billion in assets, which today extends to 15 countries across the world. Although this Group is primarily a financial entity, specialising in asset management and private banking, its activities also cover mixed farming, luxury hotels, and yacht racing. Edmond de Rothschild Group's committee is currently being chaired by Benjamin de Rothschild, Baron Edmond's son.

Investment

In 1991, Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild founded J. Rothschild Assurance Group (now St. James's Place) with Sir Mark Weinberg. It is also listed on London Stock Exchange.

In December 2009, Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild invested $200 million of his own money in a North Sea Oil company.

In January 2010, Nathaniel Philip Rothschild bought a substantial share of the Glencore mining and oil company's market capitalization. He is also buying a large share of the aluminium mining company United Company RUSAL.[54]

During the 19th century, the Rothschilds controlled the Rio Tinto mining corporation, and to this day, Rothschild and Rio Tinto maintain a close business relationship.

Wine

Château Lafite Rothschild, Bordeaux. Alongside Château Mouton Rothschild, it is perhaps the most prestigious of the many Rothschild wine estates

The name Rothschild has been associated with fine wines for a century and a half. In 1853 Nathaniel de Rothschild purchased Château Mouton Rothschild. In 1868 James Mayer de Rothschild purchase the neighbouring Château Lafite and renamed it Château Lafite Rothschild.

Today Rothschild family owns many wine estates.

Art and charity

The family once had one of the largest private art collections in the world, and a significant proportion of the art in the world's public museums are Rothschild donations which were sometimes, in the family tradition of discretion, donated anonymously.

INDIA, a country unsafe for women to live in

Published 29th December 2012

TrustLaw, a news service run by Thomson Reuters, has ranked India as the worst country in which to be a woman. This in the country where the leader of the ruling party, the speaker of the lower house of parliament, at least three chief ministers, and a number of sports and business icons are women. It is also a country where a generation of newly empowered young women are going out to work in larger numbers than ever before.

But crimes against women are rising too.

Female foetuses are aborted and baby girls killed after birth, leading to an an appallingly skewed sex ratio. Many of those who survive face discrimination, prejudice, violence and neglect all their lives, as single or married women.


With more than 24,000 reported cases in 2011, rape registered a 9.2% rise over the previous year. More than half (54.7%) of the victims were aged between 18 and 30. Most disturbingly, according to police records, the offenders were known to their victims in more than 94% of the cases. Neighbours accounted for a third of the offenders, while parents and other relatives were also involved. Delhi accounted for over 17% of the total number of rape cases in the country.

And it is not rape alone. Police records from 2011 show kidnappings and abductions of women were up 19.4%, women being killed in disputes over dowry payments by 2.7%, torture by 5.4%, molestation by 5.8% and trafficking by an alarming 122% over the previous year.

The Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen has estimated that more than 100m women are "missing" worldwide - women who would have been around had they received similar healthcare, medicine and nutrition as men.

New research by economists Siwan Anderson and Debraj Ray estimates that in India, more than 2m women are missing in a given year.

The economists found that roughly 12% of the missing women disappear at birth, 25% die in childhood, 18% at the reproductive ages, and 45% at older ages.

They found that women died more from "injuries" in a given year than while giving birth - injuries, they say, "appear to be indicator of violence against women".

Deaths from fire-related incidents, they say, is a major cause - each year more than 100,000 women are killed by fires in India. The researchers say many cases could be linked to demands over a dowry leading to women being set on fire. Research also found a large number of women died of heart diseases.

These findings point to life-long neglect of women in India. It also proves that a strong preference for sons over daughters - leading to sex selective abortions - is just part of the story.

Clearly, many Indian women face threats to life at every stage - violence, inadequate healthcare, inequality, neglect, bad diet, lack of attention to personal health and well-being.

Analysts say deep-rooted changes in social attitudes are needed to make India's women more accepted and secure. There is deeply entrenched patriarchy and widespread misogyny in vast swathes of the country, especially in the north. And the state has been found wanting in its protection of women.

Angry citizens believe that politicians, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, are being disingenuous when they promise to toughen laws and speed up the prosecution of rapists and perpetrators of crime against women.

How else, they ask, can political parties in the last five years have fielded candidates for state elections that included 27 candidates who declared they had been charged with rape?

How, they say, can politicians be believed when there are six elected state legislators who have charges of rape against them?


Culled from BBC