GoI Monitor

Gujarat govt's employment drive claims has gaping holes as proved by data accessed using RTI Act applications

Government of Gujarat has claimed often that unemployment rate in the state is quite low. It also cites the Central government's labour bureau report to point out that it has the lowest unemployment rate in the country. But those working in the labour sector in Gujarat since decades have found these statistics, be it by the State or the Union government not to be in sync with the ground reality.

Disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has been the biggest mystery of modern India running for almost seven decades and involving multiple international link ups, national political interests and mysticism. GOI Monitor talks to journalist-turned researcher Anuj Dhar who recently came up with his second book on Bose which tries to clear several doubts

Q. First of all, congratulations for having written such a well-researched book on the mystery. How do you gauge the sentiments on this issue in today's India when most of the people closely linked to Bose and championing the cause of a fair probe have passed away?

Thank you for the kind words. Justice, transparency and accountability are not tied to any particular period. While the generations before us definitely had a direct connect to Bose, ours is well placed to understand this complex issue. Much more information is available now than ever. I sense scattered but sufficient interest among public over the issue of Bose’s fate. All it needs is a little channelisation.

Migrant salt pan workers in Gujarat have to buy water at exorbitant rates as govt routinely fails to keep its promise

Whatever statistics and reports may say about Gujarat’s development, Agariyas (traditional salt workers), will surely be poorer this year, as they are forced to take more loans to purchase water. Though it is a duty of the government to supply basic services to its citizens, Agariyas don't seem to figure in this plan. In fact, the Water Supply and Sewerage Management Board claims that the Agariyas earn enough from salt production and should make their own arrangements. This despite the fact that workers make just 25 paisa for a kg of salt which is sold for Rs 15