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New Delhi: Pallibani Mission, a reputed NGO of Orsisa based in the national capital will honour journalists and literateurs on Sunday. Journalists C K Nayak and Nilambar Rath who hail from Orissa have been chosen for their contibution to journalism.

Where am I? I am certain no one will believe me if I say I have no answer to this apparently straightforward question, but the truth is I just do not know. And if I were to be asked how I am, I would again answer: I don’t know. I am like the living dead: benumbed; robbed of the pleasure of existence and experience; unable to move beyond the claustrophobic confines of my room. Day and night, night and day. Yes, this is how I have been surviving.

The greatest challenge India is facing today is on the external front due to unprecedented influx of capital inflows and burgeoning foreign reserve. Appreciation of the rupee against dollar is also enumerated as a problem by Finance Minister of India, Mr P Chidambaram, in his speech in the Editors' Conference.

The real intentions of the government are now clearer than ever before. It only wants a “reform-oriented” regime, more properly a market economy for this country.

In one of the recent reports the department (Law and Justice) related Standing Committee of the Parliament found faults in the Collegium of the Judges who failed to appoint the vacancies in various High Courts and the Supreme Court. It noted that the Committee on Home Affairs examined the subject in detail in its Eight-fifth Report on Laws Delay: Arrears in Courts. That Committee was, inter alia, of the view that the delays in judicial appointment was a matter of serious public concern and pointed out that the failure to fill up judicial vacancies promptly could not be shielded or defended in the name of judicial independence.

There has been much ado about unemployment in this country but nobody seems to be serious enough to tackle this problem. “Employment for All” became election plank in many elections, but never became part of our planning except in the Eighth Five Year Plan, and was abandoned midway by the then Finance Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who is now our Prime Minister.

“It is a matter of regret that …Pariament is still to step in for framing a common civil code in the country. A common civil code will help the cause of national integration by removing the contradictions based on ideologies,” objerved the Chief Justice of India

The 'flower of the mountains' Sikkim has traditionally been considered strategically important for India as it lies astride the shortest route from India to Tibet. This mountain state is bounded on west by Nepal, on north by Tibet, on east by Bhutan and on south by an Indian state West Bengal. Therefore, implications of opening trade through Nathu La pass are obvious.

The question of right to strike has been settled by the Supreme Court in its various judgments implying thereby “ no trade union, political party, or organisation can resort to strike.” It has been declared illegal.

The case in point is the hasty announcement of the Relief Package announced for farmers. It may not only prove an extra burden for the government facing financial crunch, but also for the farmers, the very persons the relief is meant for.