Existential threat to India with corruption

New Jersey, Jan 9, 2011: About 100 people attended an awareness and fund raiser program at Ramada Inn in North Brunswick in New Jersey for organizing a conference on corruption in India with international and national experts on March 2nd and 3rd at New Delhi. About 10,000 dollars was raised for the program. The event is organized by Save India From Corruption and 5th Pillar and sponsored by Global Hindu Heritage Foundation. Satya Dosapati from Save India From Corruption, Vijay Anand from 5th pillar gave passionate presentations about corruption in India. Satya's presentation focused on corruption in high places, in light of the recent 40 billion dollar 2G scam and 13 billion dollar Common Wealth Game scam.

Quoting a newspaper article he explained what is happening in India is not corruption, but plundering of India by politicians that is creating existential threat to the nation. His presentation brought tears to one of the attendees and it showed how there is an estimated 1.4 trillion dollars stashed away in foreign havens while 80% India is poor with less than 2$ per day, every second child in India is malnourished, nearly 200,000 farmers committed suicide, India is facing both internal and external threat. He showed a slide of all the scams since independence with estimated loot of 73 lakh crores with Governments taking cut in every effort, from military procurement to mineral wealth. He concluded with call for people to come together beyond regions, religions and other divisive factors to stop the corruption, bring the looted wealth back and make India a prosperous country.

Vijay Anand, who gave up his career in US to dedicate his life to fight corruption in India, spoke about the 5th pillar successful efforts in bringing awareness to younger generations by addressing nearly 600 colleges/universities, human chains with students against corruption during country's holidays such as independence day etc, the well known Zero rupee brand they developed and distributed to millions to use as a symbol not only to take bribe but also not give any bribe. He told successful stories of how citizens faced the corrupt officials successfully and non corrupt officials can display zero rupee notes as a symbol to show that they are not corrupt. Many in the audience were very impressed with his efforts and have some came forward to support the organization. Babu Suseelan spoke about how corruption is destroying the fabric of the nation that generated several discussions on place of religion in the effort.

The conference in March will be held at New Delhi on March 2nd and 3rd. The conference is organized by Transparency International India, 5th Pillar, Save India From Corruption and other civic bodies. Lead India 2020 has officially announced during the event that they would be joining the effort. The conference is for first time bringing together in India the international and national experts to network and cooperate in bringing stashed wealth in foreign havens and bring in laws in the country for effective monitoring and curbing corruption without political interference. International experts invited include Global Financial Integrity, World Bank Governance, Tax Justice Network (UK), Basel Institute of Governance (Switzerland), SHERPA (France) and others. India's invitees include Supreme Court Chief Justice Kapadia, Baba Rama Dev, Dr. Subramanian Swamy, Janaagraha, India Against Corruption, RTI and other activists.

More awareness and fund raising events are planned in different cities as given below:

Jan 15(Sat): Atlanta (Contact: Amitabh Sharma, Ph: 404-434-7480
Jan 23(Sun): Dallas (Contact: Prakasa Rao Velagapudi, Ph: 601-918-7111).

For additional information contact Satya Dosapati at 732 723 7382 or Vijay Anand at cleanpolitics@gmail.com.