Ghaziabad:
An ex-corporator, a government employee, a trader and a criminal lawyer are among an unusual class of 100-odd volunteers in Anna's 'paathshala'. They come from different professions, different parts of the country, but are united in their support for Anna Hazare's agitation under the banner of India Against Corruption.
Like 30-year-old Mohan Vaishya from Madhya Pradesh. A government employee from Jabalpur, Mr Vaishya has seen corruption from close quarters and is here to contribute his two bits to fight it. He told NDTV, "I've seen how government employees' faces light up when they get a bribe, even if it means a labourer who earns Rs.100 a day ends up paying Rs 3000 to get his work done which should actually cost him nothing. It is his right. So why does he have to pay for it?"
He's consistently worked in the various agitations from April this year, the first time that Anna went on a fast at Jantar Mantar.
Advocate Naveen Jairath from Hoshiarpur says he got an e-mail asking him if he wanted to be a part of a training workshop. To be selected, he, like the others, had to send a detailed account of how he contributed to the movement. The final participants were then short-listed through this exercise.
"With my work, I am busy through the week. But I can give my weekends for this", said Advocate Jairath. "Anna can't be everywhere. We will spread his word."
Anna's two-day workshop, which concluded on Tuesday in Ghaziabad, looks at widening its support base and reach the grassroots level.
The veteran anti-corruption crusader said, "As much as we need to tackle corruption, the focus also needs to be on rural development. We are selecting 100 villages to make them model villages. We want businessmen to spend on 1-2 villages, we will give them leaders. The government is not focusing on village development. Look at what's happening with MGNREGA. Crores are spent on it. But of every rupee spent, not even 10 paise reaches the villages. 70 per cent of the money is spent on cosmetics like a/c offices, cars and on management, only 30 per cent goes towards implementation. It should be the other way around."
It seems Team Anna is already thinking ahead, keen not just to keep the issue of fighting corruption alive, but to also tap into a larger mass with its focus on rural development.