The silent protestors opposite Hazare’s camp

The silent protestors opposite Hazare's camp

Beside the Jan Lokpal Bill supporters' camp sit a group of fasting teachers from schools for disabled children around Maharashtra. They've been battling corrupt officials for 10 years to obtain government grants they say they are entitled to. How did the media miss them for a decade?

For the past 40 days, Azad Maidan has been home to nearly 100 protestors from around Maharashtra. They arrive at 10.30 am every day, and leave at 5.30 pm just before dusk. They are not allowed to remain assembled for longer.

Wheelchair user Jadhav Usamabadkar has fasted for 40 days
to agitate for government grants worth Rs 22 crore along with
members of the Maharashtrajya Apang Shala Karmashala
Samiti, at Azad Maidan. Pic/Bipin Kokate

These men and women belong to the Maharashtrajya Apang Shala Karmashala Samiti, a group of 138 government-recognised schools for disabled children spread across the state. Some have come from as far as Ratnagiri district.

They are agitating for government grants they claim are worth Rs 22 crore that they are entitled to under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Grant-in-Aid schemes, but haven't received.
Their fight has been on since 1999.

Nine of the 10 protestors, who have been fasting for 40 days, have been admitted to nearby GT Hospital, says Devidas Manohare, a teacher from Adarsh School, Nanded. While this group is up against some corrupt officials, not a single member is willing to say it out aloud. They fear that one wrong comment could derail their protest and anger officials at Mantralaya. "We were told to expect a positive result by April 20," said a member on condition of anonymity.

"There has been no written agreement till now," he said, "but we won't leave this place till they hand us our grants." A quick search on Google, Facebook and Twitter throws up no trace of their protest. Google 'Anna Hazare + Lokpal bill' and you are served up 1,370,000 results. The Samiti has had some stellar company for the past four days. To the right of their modest mandal is the elaborate tent of Hazare's fasting supporters.

Shabana Azmi and Dia Mirza visited them on Friday, Kailash Kher sang with them on Saturday, and a steady stream of Facebook users has been pouring in to meet them. Much has been said about the Facebook and Twitter revolutionu00a0-- the ease with which people can be informed about candle light vigils. Hazare 'went viral' ever since he began his fast-unto-death on April 5 in New Delhi. Most of the thousands of protestors who gathered in different cities (demonstrations were organised in Japan and Dubai too) are Facebook users. Others re-tweeted plans and bulk SMSes were sent out.

Catchy phrases like 'Hazaron Hazare' and 'I am Anna Hazare' were adopted as headings to Wall Posts, and those who couldn't make it to the marches were exhorted to 'join this movement now by making au00a0Free missed call to 022-61550789.' While a few protestors attending the Gateway of India and Carter Road marches on April 8 were armed with sufficient knowledge of the Jan Lokpal Bill, the majority cared too much, but knew too little.

"My only apprehension with the Bill is who will crack the whip against the institution of the Lokpal. Who will be the voice of the rural people, if all the committee members are Nobel Prize winners?" wondered 31 year-old businessman Anil Agarwal. His questions were drowned in the flag-toting jingoism on display at the Gateway on Friday night.

Some distance away, 21 year-old Ami Pandya expressed her displeasure at "the youth that wasn't there to show support to the cause." "If they can waste their time in pubs, they can come here too," she said.
Pandya wasn't alone in her righteous indignation. "We hear about people getting caught in scams, but no one talks about recovery of the money," said 28 year-old banker Pritam Gowankar. "I'm sure there's enough for us to survive without paying tax."

While the sentiment that drew hundreds into the streets is commendable, it was worrying to see no one question the demands of the draft bill that seeks to empower an elitist, all-powerful, non-elected body.
Few, it would seem, even interpreted the draft in such a manner. There was jubilation in the Hazare camp the following morning. The septuagenarian had broken his fast, and the 42 protesters fasting in solidarity in Mumbai, broke theirs too.

Urmila Lunvara, a 39 year-old BMC teacher who had fasted, said, "Bhrashtachar is not just about graft. In my opinion, any kind of bhrasht aacharan (wrong behaviour) deserves to be dealt with severely." There was a sharp gasp among listeners at what many thought was brilliant insight.A moment later, a member of the audience shouted, "Vande Mataram!" "Vande Mataram!" the rest echoed. That's probably all we'll hear at two more events planned for today: a 10 am vehicle rally at Shivaji Park, and a 4 pm peace march on Carter Road, Bandra.

The latest on the Bill
Anna Hazare ended his 97-hour fast on Saturday as the government issued a gazette notification for the formation of a joint committee headed by Pranab Mukherjee to draft an effective Lokpal Bill. The 10-member panel includes law minister Veerappa Moily, telecom minister Kapil Sibal, home minister P Chidambaram and water resources minister Salman Khurshid. The joint committee includes former law minister Shanti Bhushan (also co-chairman), lawyer Prasant Bhushan, retired SC judge Santosh Hegde and RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal. The order has set a deadline of June 30 for the bill to introduced in Parliament. The PM called it a "historic legislation". The first committee meeting is slated for April 16.