AAP to focus on unconventional campaign due to fund crunch

March 17, 2014
Ahmedabad, Mar 17: AAP in Gujarat, has decided to go ahead with a low-profile political campaign for the Lok Sabha polls using unconventional ways to woo voters including street plays and youth internships, due to fund crunch.

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Low donations in comparison to biggies like Congress and BJP, has desisted the fledgling outfit to approach people through traditional methods like posters, advertisements on TV, radio or print media in a big way.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led party is aspiring to emerge as the third alternative in the Narendra Modi-ruled state.

“We are Aam Aadmi having less funds. We will launch our political campaign in very low profile manner in form of street plays from next week,” said AAP’s state convener Sukhdev Patel.

“Like other big parties, we can not afford to advertise through electronic or print media as we can not bear the high expenses,” he said.

“Apart from the traditional forms like door-to-door campaign the party will also hold Nukkad charchas, Mohalla Sabhas and an internship programme for youths,” Mr. Patel said.

The party claims to have planned a low profile campaign to maintain proximity with the common man.

“In Delhi election campaign, we launched an internship programme for students which met with great success. We will follow that model here in Gujarat,” party spokesperson Harshil Nayak said.

“We have launched the same programme here and some students have responded. We will also give them a small reward in form of an appreciation certificate,” he further said. “They help us as per their abilities in various sectors. Likewise we will rope in boys who are good in accounts so they will help the party in maintaining accounts. We have also found some young software engineers... they will help the party in maintaining the website,” he explained.

“We will throng the streets soon by presenting creative dramas, for which a team of 15 young people has been working hard on,” Mr. Nayak said.

“This way, we can also reach out to youths who are in majority among the total population,” he added.

“Through the students internship programme we can also reach to their families in a cost effective manner, without spending a penny on TV or radio ads,” he said.

Political commentator Dinesh Shukla considered this move as an attempt to look different from the two national parties.

“They are known to take unconventional ways to maintain their unique identity,” Mr. Shukla said. “If they keep campaigning in a typical manner, they cannot make a impact in the minds of common people,” Mr. Shukla said further.

On the issue of student internship programmes, Mr. Shukla considered it as a cadre-building movement in a typical Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) way.

“This country has the largest youth population, they surely want to reach out to them... by offering internship they can mould their mind as per their party’s ideology,” he said.

“Like RSS people reach out to the families of their young sevaks, they also want to encash the political benefit on the same line,” he added.

According to a Ahmedabad-based advertisement expert, “Media scenario has changed completely, there is a lot of fragmentation in it. Opportunity to see the ads is getting low. Social media or other unconventional media are coming out as cost-effective alternatives”.

“AAP, with limited resources, is raising its decibels by using the unconventional media,” he added.

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News Network
May 7,2020

May 7: Two people, including a child, were killed and nearly 70 hospitalised after a gas leak at a chemical plant in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam in the wee hours of Thursday, officials said.

People in Gopalapatnam area, where the chemical plant, LG Polymers, is located, complained of irritation in eyes, breathlessness, nausea and rashes on their bodies.

District Collector V Vinay Chand said two people were killed due to the gas leak, while some are in a critical condition.

Close to 70 people have been admitted to the King George Hospital after for treatment, he said.

TV channels showed people lying unconscious on roads.

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have rushed to the spot.

Reports said the gas leak has been contained.

Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy enquired about the incident and directed the Visakhapatnam district collector to ensure proper medical care for the affected people.

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News Network
March 25,2020

New Delhi, Mar 25: The Congress said on Wednesday that it stood with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his appeal for 21-day lockdown but was "deeply disappointed by the lack of coherent strategy" and demanded that Rs 7,500 should be transferred to every Jan Dhan, PM Kisan and pension account to tide over the nutrition needs for 21-days.
It also demanded that the Public Distribution System (PDS) ration should be given free.
In a series of tweets, Congress Communications in-charge Randeep Singh Surejwala said that the need of the hour was to implement 'Minimum Income Guarantee Scheme' (Nyay) mooted by the Congress and party leader Rahul Gandhi.
"Please transfer Rs 7,500 to every Jan Dhan, PM Kisan, and every pension account to tide over nutrition needs of 21 days and give free PDS ration. We will rise together as a nation and defeat COVID-19. We stand with lockdown but are deeply disappointed by the lack of coherent strategy or a clear 'way ahead' on your part," he said.
Surjewala asked what steps the government took despite an early warning about COVID-19 and sought details about isolation beds and ventilators available to people.
"Dear PM, India will adhere to the lockdown but what steps did the govt take to tackle the corona pandemic despite early warnings in Feb? When will doctors, nurses and health workers have adequate protection? How many 'isolation beds' and ventilators are available and where?" he said.
He asked how daily wagers and labourers will sustain during the 21-day lockdown.
"What's your plan to address the huge issue of bread and butter and livelihood for millions? How will daily wagers, labourers, MGNREGA workers, factory workers, unorganised workers, fishermen, farmers and farm labour sustain for 21 days?" he asked.
Surjewala said the crying need is to arm doctors, nurses and health workers with personal protection equipment and asked: "why are N-95 masks, Hazmat suits not available?"
"In March itself, India needs 7.25 lakh bodysuits, 60 lakh N-95 masks, 1 crore 3 ply masks? When will they be available?" he asked.
Surjewala said that the government banned the export of ventilators, respiratory devices and sanitisers only yesterday on March 24, "84 days after the spread of COVID-19."
"Is this your government's 'Modus operandi' to fight coronavirus? Too little, Too late!," he said.
Noting that two-thirds of the country's population is engaged in agriculture, he said that Prime Minister Modi did not refer to farmers during his address to the nation and demanded a moratorium on farmers' loans.
"Crop is ready for harvest in March itself. How will it be harvested and sold and who will buy at fair price? Indebtedness relief to farmers is the only way forward in these testing times. Please put a moratorium on farmers' loans and recoveries. Please ensure the procurement of crops at MSP. Let's not forget that farmers are the backbone of India's economy," he said.
Surjewala said the Prime Minister gave only four hours to prepare for 21-day lockdown.
"Did you think of over 5 lakh truck drivers, who are now stranded on roads? Did you think of millions of workers, who are stranded in cities away from home without food or money? What should they do," he asked.

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 31: In Kerala, the prisoners will now work as employees in petrol pumps and take home a salary, as the Kerala government has rolled out Petrol Pumps from jail premises in association with Indian Oil Corporation.

Speaking to news agency, Rishiraj Singh, Jail DGP said that initiative to employ jail inmates in petrol pumps was taken as in Kerala there are many projects of which prisoners are a part of and are being employed.

"In petrol pumps, 15 jail inmates will be employed at each pump. The outlets of Thiruvananthapuram, Viyyur and Cheemeni jails have been started to function from today. 

Many express doubt whether the prisoners will try to escape. But my experience working with them prove otherwise. They are managing five cafeterias in the state and selling food prepared by them. We pay them Rs 220 per day for their work and the jail inmates are running it successfully particularly at COVID-19 times," he said.

The Indian Oil Corporation is investing around Rs 9.5 crore to set up four petrol pumps at the jail premises. The share of the jail department is Rs 30 lakh for setting up petroleum outlet. Other than the three presently, it will also be started in Kannur jail.

"The land has been leased to the Indian Oil Corporation for 30 years. The prisoners are employed here and for that, they underwent a training in petrol pump of IOC and the uniform will also be supplied by them, " said Rishiraj Singh About 25 cents in Thiruvananthapuram, 39 cents in Kannur, 25 cents in Viyur and 25 cents in Cheemeni open jail have been allotted.

Through this, the government will get Rs 5.9 lakh per month in rent. 

It also plans to expand the project in the future by setting up a CNG and electrical charging station. 

The petrol pumps will be also accompanied by public comfort stations.

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