Justice Krishna Iyer

Justice Krishna Iyer was a poor man's judge who lived for 99 years and earned the high reputation for his relentless fight against the bad elements in higher judiciary of this country. 

One is not sure of the reason why he stood against R. Venkatraman of Congress party in presidential elections in 1987 knowing the fate. Probably he thought he would win the battle like V.V.Giri on the strength of conscience vote but in vain.

++++++++++++++++++++

Deluding Development

A typical issue of Indian livelihood

Place: Gandhinagar in Arumanallur Panchayat near Nagercoil (Tamil Nadu)

As many as 84 persons including 36 women from that place were arrested when they laid a siege to the Collectorate demanding proper water supply and other basic amenities braving the drizzle on Monday December 1, 2014.

The villagers complained that no action was taken so far on the representations made earlier to the authorities of Arumanallur Panchayat and district administration. They also alleged that these amenities were being denied for the last eight years by the local body.

It raises lots of questions and misgivings on the existence and efficiency of several agencies and their work style in the country!

+++++++++++

Loss of human lives in Chhattisgarh State

Under the Constitution of India, each citizen of this country has a right to live along with others enjoying equality in terms of justice - political, economic and social. No individual or a government has the right to take away the liberty of a human being living a peaceful life by causing fatal or temporary harm or injury knowingly or unwittingly at any cost.

Unfortunately the incidents that are unfolding in recent days and years in the state of Chhattisgarh are quite alarming and disheartening although the state was carved out of the former state of Madhya Pradesh for the exclusive development of tribals and other underprivileged sections of society. The lives of tribals and Dalits are at the mercy of the agents of state government, deprived of decent living and rather disabled permanently or done to death carelessly - all for the filling of some pockets in the hierarchy as also establishing oneupmanship in registering some half-made results.

A thick-wooded forest coverage in the state has unfortunately become a bane for the local tribals. In the last ten years or so as many as 5000 tribals have been killed by the Maoists/Naxalites or para military forces. If violence is threatening to uproot the lives of hapless tribals on the one hand due to the Naxalites and the very living disturbed by the multinationals in the name of industrial development, on the other hand the Department of Health, expected to ensure healthy life otherwise, has resorted to physically harm them or end their lives ruthlessly. So called welfare state has turned out to be an intolerable hell.

At a camp held at Bagbahara, 100 KM from Raipur, 12 poor people from the rural areas lost their vision after they had undergone cataract surgeries on December 9 and 10, 2010. In his reply to a demand for CBI inquiry, the Health Minister Mr. Amar Agrawal admitted in the state assembly on December 22 that as many as 44 people were blinded after being operated upon at an eye camp organised by the state government at Balod in Durg district between Sep 22- Sep 30 in 2011.

Again in July 2012 the matter of illegally-removed ovaries of the poor women violating standard treatment guidelines came to light. It is reported that up to 2,000 people were convinced into having their wombs removed in last few months as admitted by Mr. Amar Agarwal: " The women were deliberately ill-advised by doctors who removed their uterus to get money," 

In the latest man-made tragedy nearly 17 women are stated to have died after tubectomy operations conducted on them at a mass sterilisation camp organised in village Pendari near Bilaspur, the District HQrs, in Chhattisgarh state.  One more death of a tribal woman from Baiga community, a restricted one constitutionally, has been reported from the Community Health Centre, Gaurella. It is reported that as many as 83 operations were made in three and a half hours on Saturday, November 8, 2014 violating all medical norms and set guidelines, probably to catch up with the target fixed for the year by the higher ups.

About 17 more women are reported to be on ventilator being serious out of 139 women admitted in few hospitals for treatment due to these camps. A number of small kids and school going children have become motherless all of a sudden for no fault of theirs. A heart-rending scene should be seen to be believed for realising the type of disaster that the rural poor families have been subjected to. Human negligence supplemented by the greedy nature of some individuals in our society has led to such a catastrophe. A drastic action like life imprisonment or capital punishment alone can set right things. 

No doubt the state government has risen to the occasion of late and taken  the following measures:

Appointment of a retired district judge as one person judicial enquiry into the incident.

Dismissal of two doctors who did the operations in the camps.

Arrest of the manufacturers of spurious drugs.

Shifting of the Director and regional joint director and suspension of an assistant drug inspector.

Distribution of compensation of Rs Four lakh of rupees to the families each of the deceased women due to botched sterilisation.

Adoption of those children up to the age of 18 for education and free medical treatment at Apollo Hospital and depositing a sum of Rs 2.00 lakh in the name of each child.

However the general public is not satisfied with these announcements but keep agitating all over the state  including Raipur and Bilaspur cities daily and seeking the dismissal of the Health Minister. 

Nine murders in Seven days

It happened in Chennai city, the capital of Tamil Nadu, the state in which the police force is supposed to be most efficient next only to UK's Scotland Yard.

What a gradual decline in their work? Why does it happen despite heavy investment made for the police department by the AIADMK Government?

Some investigation is needed for safety and betterment of the Tamil Society.

++++++++++++++++++

Collapse of Administration in Chhattisgarh

Collapse of administration in Chhattisgarh

Fourteen women have died after a TT operation in a sterilisation camp organised in village Pendari near Bilaspur, the Dt. HQrs. It is reported that as many as 83 operations were made in three and a half hours on Saturday, November 8, 2014 by one surgeon named Dr R.K.Gupta probably to catch up with target fixed for the year by the higher ups. One more death of a woman from Baiga community, a restricted one constitutionally has been reported from the Community Health Centre, Gorella.

Again about 13 women are reported to be serious out of 65 women admitted for treatment due to these camps. A number of small kids and school going children have become motherless all of a sudden for no fault of theirs. A heartrending scene should be seen to be believed for realising the type of disaster that the rural families are subjected to. Human negligence supplemented by the greedy nature of individuals in our society has led to such a catastrophe. A drastic action like life imprisonment or capital punishment alone can set right things in the days to come.

The minister in charge of Health Department refuses to resign on moral grounds supported by the Chief Minister. Gone are the days when the ministers like Lal Bahadur Shstri stepped down voluntarily on such public disasters. Now we can hardly think of such examples in this century. 

The paradox is that the chief minister Raman Singh was a medical practitioner a few years ago and the Secretary to the Department is also an MBBS degree holder before joining the IAS. They seem unable to rectify the situation that has become really notorious in the recent past with too many deaths on account of eye camps and uterus-removal camps.

Remedy

The Chief minister being a doctor himself should handle the department of health before things turn awkward again in the near future.

The Principal Secretary to Health Dr Alok Shukla should devote half of his time in the Directorate of Health as the Health Commissioner and streamline the working of the department.

It is high time both the advisors (former chief secretaries) to the state government are directed to sit in Dr Ambedkar Hospital and Bilaspur Dt .Hospital and revamp the working of the department by dividing the state into two haves for their supervision and control for at least one year at a stretch.

Dr P.Raghavan,

A former civil servant

+++++++++++++++++

Power supply to over 97percent villages in Chhattisgarh State

Power Distribution Company MD said: 19567 populated villages, 19057 electrified, Distribution company supplied conventional power to 18208 villages and 39 villages electrified with non-conventional sources.

A good achievement! Only wish is that the supply is adequate, uninterrupted and available to all the users  all the time!!

+++++++++++++++

Elections to Delhi Legislative Assembly

A few months ago the electorate of Delhi gave a fractured mandate with the result the second largest party in the Assembly namely AAP headed by Arvind Kejriwal formed the government with the outside support of Congress party against whom Arvind and his team fought elections. Unfortunately that group left the government on such a small issue that people started doubting the credentials of Arvind's AAP. He probably thought he would become the Prime Minister of this country with a similar support of the voters across the country. That explains the reason behind distributing seats to hundreds of aspirants against the Congress and BJP. 

He burnt his fingers badly but even now thinks that Delhi voters would again vote him to power. With Narendra Modi as popular PM in the capital it is still more difficult for him to repeat the same performance now. The voters of Delhi would certainly give sufficient majority to BJP to form the government on its own. They are not foolish enough to defeat the BJP and face the music in terms of development.

What a waste of public money in electing a government so soon?

The best course would have been to allow the BJP, being the largest party in the assembly soon after the elections,  to form the government. The assembly work should have proceeded on the basis of the support on each of the topics being debated and decided and not necessarily on party basis.

Well. Let us wait and watch the result of the ensuing elections.

++++++++++++++++++

One tree gap of 10 meters cuts temperature by 2 degrees: Expert

Environment specialist Shams Parvez, who has done a research study of climatic condition of Raipur and Bhilai, said, “one tree gap of 10 meters will make you feel a difference in temperature to at least two degrees lesser. In Raipur, distance between two trees is 150-200 meters. This leads to temperature variation.  Had trees been planted at the specified distance, the temperature would have been lowered to 42 degrees Celsius.”

“They contribute up to eight degrees rise in temperature and result from pollution! Raipur and Bhilai suffer from 27-32% of industrial pollution, 45% vehicular pollution and 8% of civil construction pollution. Road pollution contributes maximum in temperature fluctuation.” TNN

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Judiciary crying out for reforms: Will Modi Government deliver?

 The problems are enormous: a backlog of more than 33 million cases; 4,296 of the 19,238 sanctioned subordinate courts lying vacant and 266 positions of high courts judges of the 906 sanctioned vacant.

Law commission member Mool Chand Sharma had remarked on the issue of pending cases thus: “The government being one of the largest litigants before the courts, it needs to reflect more closely, seriously and sensitively on how and when to pursue litigation and, importantly, also reflect on when not to pursue litigation".

Apex Court lawyer and writer Sanjay Hegde's view is that the new government should take good decisions and not duck them for the judiciary to step in. This has been endorsed by new Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that the government should avoid frivolous litigation. Rohatgi, upon his appointment, had said that he would try to reduce the filing of frivolous appeals or appeals involving recovery of pretty amounts by the government.

A thorough review of the existing cases before the courts of law - from the Supreme Court of India to a munsif/ lowest civil and criminal court can ensure the closure of frivolous cases without giving any adjournments under the pressure of the Bar. State governments should review the cases filed by them in a discriminative manner under some extraneous conditions and reasons. Law Secretary and the law minister should apply their minds and reduce the pendency by withdrawing the useless and trivial cases without any further delay. 

Status and Standard of school education in doldrums

Despite the tall talks, huge budget allocations and an army of teachers appointed so far, the deployment and posting of teachers are not done systematically and impartially with the result the teaching community is not properly motivated and managed. There are teachers who are not at all duty-conscious. The students in the primary schools scattered all over the country especially in the interior pockets are unable to get regular teaching and coaching. The fate of students thus hangs in the air in view of automatic promotions assured to the children up to the fifth standard or even eight standard without any examination in many states.

Best Example:

Village Dokidih near Anda in Durg district of Chhattisgarh state: strength of students around 70. Two male teachers and one female teacher posted there but they never turn up on time to school with the result the the peon, a class four employee, Damanlal Sahu conducts the morning assembly of the children after cleaning the premises and gets them seated in their class rooms till the teachers arrive from their destinations - never on time as reported by children and the peon. When the correspondent of Central,Chronicle, a news daily from Raipur, questioned the deputy sarpanch Rewa Ram Chandrakar who resides just behind the school and other village heads but they all showed ignorance over the matter. No supervisor or inspector of the schools ever visited this school due to its location in the interior. That explains the reason for such a state of affairs.

(September 21, 2014)

++++++++++++++++++++

World lost over 52 percent of its wildlife in the last 40 years

So we should be happy and content with the photographs/ pictures of extinct wildlife by 2050 in the text books for our posterity. May be, a few species might exist in some select zoos on this globe and the rest will get extinct forever. A great victory of the human species over the animal kingdom!

++++++++++++++

Africans an unwanted people on the Indian soil ?

 African people in the city of Delhi say they face verbal and physical abuse with racial undertones daily. Anyone should be ashamed of our behaviour towards the black people in our capital city. What is the difference between whites practicing apartheid in the West and Indians ill treating blacks in India, the land of Gandhiji?

+++++++++++++++ 

Stampede at Patna Dussehra Maidan, 32 die

It happened in the presence of VVIPs including the chief minister attending the function and a crowd of five Lakhs forced to disperse through a single gate. God knows why the other gates were kept closed and a rumour causing panic among the crowd was not properly and timely countered by loud speakers.

Our ministers, magistrates and police never learn a lesson from the past incidents and pressed into service a foolproof crowd management plan on such occasions. Immediate and effective punitive action must be taken against those lax police authorities. May be VVIP's  duty starved them of necessary force for deployment during such events.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Mission in life --  "shramdan" during Gandhi Jayanti

Whether one likes it or not,  Gandhiji was my childhood hero and so I continued to practice his principle of cleanliness and "shramdan" for community work from the day one I joined government service. I started celebrating Gandhi Jayanti regularly since 1972 starting with Durg District of erstwhile Madhya Pradesh by adopting a village as the Assistant Collector under training. My collector,  Additional collector and Asst. collectors posted at that time in that district used to wonder at my approach. Similarly I observed Gandhi Jayanti for two years as Sub Divisional Officer in Jashpur Sub Division (1973-75), as Additional Collector for two years in Raipur District (1975-77) and as Collector in Betul and Sagar districts (1977-82). I was considered a fool.

As a paradox I received a letter from my boss A.S Das, the Commssioner of Sagar Division asking my reaction and reply to the complaint against me as if I was taking drinks, eating non-veg foods and relaxing in the tents pitched for the tours in the interior part of the district. I was shocked to receive such a reward for the hard and sincere work with an innovative approach to solve the problems of the poor at their doorsteps. I never cared for my bosses in my career, nor bothered about their A.C.R (Annual Confidential Reports) on the basis of which promotions normally take place in the government. I used to wonder as to how I got promoted to the post of Principal Secretary because I never pleased my bosses both in the hierarchy and the ministers in office. My practices based on Gandhian principles - impartial treatment to those who approached for any work and always helping the poor and less-privileged people out of the way even at the cost of my career. My senior and junior colleagues were wondering at my attitude and behaviour in the presence of those who really mattered in official career.

As Commissioner of Sagar Division for two years (1990-92) I continued to clean the sewerage and drains in the lanes of Scheduled Caste mohalla (wards) of Sagar town in which I involved the gents and ladies of Rotary Club and Lions Club in addition to my wife and children.

Clean India campaign in Gullu village, Arang Block, Raipur district initiated in Government Primary and Middle schools with 200 students and twenty teachers is the latest on October 2, 2014 in the series even after retirement.

After 42 years of relentless pursuance of 'shramdan' on Gandhi Jayanti days I am now thrilled to see a Prime Minister with a similar approach towards cleanliness. 

Modi at his best

Madison Square Garden Address ( September 28, 2014)

One hour long speech mesmerised the audience.

Punch lines every minute followed by clapping and applause every minute. Fantastic and fabulous in every sense.

Thought provoking words and ideas flowing like Ganga!

A man from the grassroots on the way to touch the skies in a few years.

World is curiously watching this messiah from India.

True successor to M.K.Gandhi, the Father of Indian Democracy. To implement the ideas thar were dear to his heart. P.M. Modi will practice the Gandhian ideals that remained only as symbols to his followers for their personal gains in Congress Party.

History is in the making. I have only little apprehensions wether his colleagues would rise to the occasion as he would expect them to do.

All the best, dear Prime Minister!

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Integrity of an individual

Honesty of an individual is specific in a context
Honesty is a trait measured in terms of degrees
Integrity of an individual is inborn with a person
Integrity hardly differs from occasion to occasion

Definitions of integrity and honesty also differ now
Definitions badly depend on the superiors in posts
Service to the selfish interest of their boss praised
Service to the common man hardly matters to both

Honest opinion & hard decisions never recognised
Honest dealings at apex levels are rare at present
Manoeuvring & maintaining one's position on priority 
Masterminding situations ever order of the day now!

Chennai
28-02-14

+++++++++++++++++++++

In the service of mankind.......

In every walk of life esp. in the public arena, there are quite a few groups that devote their life and work for the service of common man - be it politicians, advocates, teachers, N.G.Os, administrators and the like. Even among these groups not all of their members are committed and devoted to pure and simple public welfare. Many an individual in these groups are totally selfish and manipulative to the core to achieve their own personal goals and reach the very top of their organisations through hard work in a calculated way.

Politicians become popular heroes over a period of time depending on their work and rhetoric. They occupy public posts on the basis of election or selection. Very few politicians are prepared to sacrifice personal life and comforts for the sake of common man. Many a time they invest very little of their wealth and incomes but mainly join politics to earn money and seize public office at others cost. M.K. Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad, C. Rajagopalachary, K.Kamaraj, Deendayal Upadyaya, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Ram Manohar Lohia, Jaya Prakash Narain, C.N. Annadurai were the stalwarts in Indian politics and a few like M.K.Gandhi sacrificed their family life totally without any expectations from the state or its agencies neither for themselves nor for their family members, a rare quality befitting sainthood in the days to come.

Among the advocates who had been or have been practicing for a century and a half in India very few only could be categorised as social activists or reformers in India. Or it is possible that many have not recorded or publicised their work like some intelligent beings. The society certainly needs the selfless services of hundreds of lawyers for the poor and the needy. Legal aid by a group of advocates at least selectively without sacrificing their own welfare totally would go a long way in helping the poor to get justice at no cost or at least at the least cost.

Teachers like Chanakya, Aristotle, Plato, Archimedes, in ancient times did a yeoman service by teaching men and women the various facets of human life and kindling their interest and spirit for tackling the contemporary issues and events having potential provocation for  the posterity without fail. Thoughts and discoveries of eminent teachers and scholars have made the human life in general worth living. Great discoverers and scientists too come under this category. Human beings who have occupied this green and blue planet, namely, earth in the solar system of the Milky Way for ages and yugas would feel grateful for such extraordinary men for millenniums to come.

Philanthropists did exist in all the periods of human civilisation. They had realised the importance of giving something to others when they are in need. Individuals or groups of individuals have tried their best to consolidate the gains and gifts to the deserving people from time to time. They feel they are repaying their debt at the end of the day to the society they are living in and where from they derived such immense amount of goodwill and wealth. Nowadays the corporate czars are trying to plough back a portion of their wealth and income in the service of community as Corporate Social Responsibility  mandated by the Company Law. N.G.Os of the day are getting donations and contributions from various sources to take care of one or multiple causes rightly, effectively or inefficiently depending on the integrity of  individuals concerned. 

Administrators are a different lot altogether although they represent the varied nature of the sections of the society they come from more or less proportionately. Commitment or dedication of an individual is born with the man invariably. It is possible it might get diluted as the one passes through various stages of life but the core desire  and mindset remains strong till the end. Whether it was Indian Civil Service or its later version Indian Administrative Service, it has had its eminent and enthusiastic youngsters joining in their early twenties with a lot of interest and devotion to serve the public under their charge. Of late one is not sure about the percentage of such selfless and totally service-oriented souls joining this premier administrative service. ICS had more authority and freedom of action unlike IAS of modern days. The initiative and enterprise of the young and bold administrators is mellowed and conditioned by the politicians at the local levels and later on at the top level. 

Truth behind Kashmir's catastrophe:

Times Nation( September 15,2014): the Deluge of Development by B.R.Singh: "Waterways turned into four-lane roads, wetlands filled up to build colonies and malls .... Srinagar disaster was a longtime in the making"

Further explanation is unnecessary, I suppose.

Relief operations: 

"What you see all around is the beauty of humanism, and what you don't is the government" (Basharat Peer) under the caption ' Guess who's not rising to the challenge'.

I would like qualify this statement with a word "state" prefixed to the term "government"

Omar Abdulla and his state government stands exposed totally. No official worth the name appeared on the scene in the last ten days for flood relief! In other words Omar and his company were enjoying the perks with no justification

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Vinod Roy Vs Manmohan Singh

Vinod Roy, the former Comptroller and Auditor General of India,  has written a book "Not Just an Accountant". He has also given an interview on the eve of its launch. 

His allegation is that Dr Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister was fully and equally accountable for the major scams of UPA II regime - 2G Spectrum and Coal Gate. He further alleged that when 2G Spectrum case appeared, three gentlemen /Congress leaders Sanjay Nirupam, Ashwini Kumar and Sandip Dixit tried to influence him not to include the name of Manmohana Singh in the scandal. If the allegation is not correct, let the congressmen prosecute the former CAG. 

His direct and open allegation on Dr Manmohan Singh is that the latter was equally responsible for both the scams - 2G Spectrum and Coal Gate. His honesty can't be confined to monetary gains personally but morally and professionally his dishonesty was proved beyond doubt. He certainly can't take shelter under the name of coalition politics for participating in such dishonest deals.

I too agree with his line of argument and finding. If someone else is taken to task there is no valid justification to spare him from such an accusation. His love and attachment to the chair of prime minister was so strong and solid that he was prepared to do anything in official life. Abetment of an offence is equally punishable in criminal law. Unless exemplary step is taken against such blue collared culprits and the latter are brought to book, things won't change in  the governments.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Drive for Cleanliness - Gandhian way!

Almost all the "Gandhi Jayanthis"since 1972 were special occasions for me as an administrator to celebrate it with the 'shramdan' for cleanliness using the participation of other civil members in the society. My peers in service and the politicians in public offices never cared for and appreciated my commitment in such an activity. I am grateful to Gandhiji's real successor in politics, namely, Modiji who understood its importance and has paved the way for the countrymen to follow!! Jai Hind.

++++++++++++++

Free under-trials who have served half their term. -- S.C

The CJI Mr R.M.Lodha said the situation demanded immediate action as 66 per event of the prisoners were under-trials, many too poor to raise bond money for bail.

"Many states have no finances for courts, there is no infrastructure, no courtrooms" said Lodha.

The Supreme Court of India ordered judicial officers across the country to visit prisons in their district over the next two months to identify the under-trials.

A historical judgment (September 6, 2014) in the interest of the poor and helpless. We feel grateful to Justice Lodha for this gift on the eve of his retirement. His predecessors spoke much after retirement but very little action while in office. 

A right step in enabling fast justice to the needy!

++++++++++++++++

Efficiency of state / civic administration!

It is now 2014. The 2011 census figures were out long back. Raipur city's population has increased by 25 per cent since 2001. But no revised demarcation of wards' boundaries with the result some ward has a population of 7000 while others have more than 35000. Instead of 12 zones we have only 8 in place till now for a population 12 Lakhs. The municipal polls are being conduced on the basis of old statistics and census 2001 (population: 605747).

Any particular reason for such a delay in effecting needed changes? Who is accountable and responsible?

++++++++++++

My India lives in festivals

Country goes through colourful festivals
Countless millions celebrate every year
North to Great South and West to East 
Warmth and mirth keep them cheerful.
What a variety and diversity to be seen
Rich and poor do it all in style and enjoy

Ganesh festival in Mumbai is a feast 
Goddess Kali in Kolkata is majestic
I've seen both places & felt the frenzy
Heavens feel small in their comparison
India is backward but rich in its culture
India is a destination for others to visit

+++++++++

Human trafficking in Chhattisgarh

Quoting police records the congress party has alleged that those running human trafficking rackets enjoy political protection and this has led to 17365 girls and women missing from state between 2008 and 2011. According to National Crime Record Bureau, Chhattisgarh has reported over 1000 rape cases in the last one year.

These figures are shocking to a state like Chhattisgarh which is doing well in other sectors.

++++++++++++

Offence and counter-offence

A Brave villager Hannulal(50)  the resident of village Andhiyarkhoh in Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh State (India) had the guts to bite the snake into pieces with his teeth after it had attacked him and poisoned him. Luckily he was rushed to a nearby hospital and saved from death. 

It is noteworthy that since the commencement of  monsoon rains as many as twenty cases of snakebite have been registered in this district.

Rich Parents leaving little to the legal heirs

Warren Buffett
The billionaire philanthropist has left 2 billion dollars to each of his three kids. He famously said, the perfect amount to leave children is "enough money so that they would feel they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing."

Melinda and Bill Gates
The couple are reportedly leaving 10 million dollars to each of their three children -- barely a day's interest on their 76 billion dollars fortune. Acknowledging it was minuscule portion of his wealth, Gates told the Daily Mail in 2011, "They will have to pick a job they like and go to work".

Intelligent parents, although fabulously rich, know how to handle and tame their kids unlike in India.

++++++++++++

Prime Minister's Priorities

Three major dream projects of the 15th Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi could be as follows:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands to be developed like Singapore in another 10 years

Cleaning of River Ganga from Rishikesh to Varanasi.

Interlinking of major rivers from North to South India.

++++++++++++++++

TIMES TRENDS,

THE TIMES OF INDIA, CHENNAI

SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2014

SpaceX unveils capsule to ferry astronauts to ISS

First Attempt by A Private US Firm To Send People To Space

Los Angeles: A sleek, white gum drop-shaped space capsule that aims to carry up to carry seven astronauts to the International Space Station and return to land anywhere on earth was unveiled on Thursday by SpaceX.

The dragonV2, short for version two, is the first attempt by a private company to restore Americans’ ability to send people to the orbiting space station in the wake of the space shuttle programme’s retirement. “It’s all around, I think, really a big











 leap forward in technology. It really takes things to the next level,” said SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

    A backup government

Estonia is one of the world’s most wired countries. It’s also right next to Russia, a country with which it shares a long – and not always happy – history. After the removal of a Soviet-era

 statue provoked both riots by Russian speaking citizens and cyber attacks from across the border, the country has become extra careful about its its digital infrastructure. And, now, it is considering moving its entire digital infrastructure to the cloud, with servers in its embassies outside the country. It’s the 21st century updating of the concept of governments-in-exile, writes Leo Mirani at Quartz, only that instead of the governments, it’s their data that’s moving out.

  New technology may let you answer phone from across the room.

Article by: Kounteya Sinha  TNN

A new laser system, developed by researchers at the University of  California can remotely sense objects across distances as long as 30ft, 10 times farther than what could be done with comparable current low - power laser systems.

The new system relies on LIDAR (light radar), a 3D imaging technology that uses light to provide feedback about the world around it. LIDAR systems emit laser light that hits an object, and then can tell how far away that object is by measuring changes in the light frequency that is reflected back. 

     Exposure to light while sleeping can make you fat

London: Women who are exposed to greater levels of light while sleeping are more likely to gain weight, a new study has claimed. Scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, found body mass index, waist-hip ratio, waist height ratio and waist circumference, all increased with increasing exposure to light at night.

   ‘Too much porn can shrink brain’

Researchers at the Marx Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin found that men who 

watch a lot of porn tend to have a smaller striatum , an area of the brain “linked to rewards and motivation”

NEWS ARTICLE

MONDAY, JUNE 09, 2

Galloping Inflation?

Last week tomato was selling @ Rs 60 a kg in Pahadganj retail market, Delhi. Today it has increased to Rs 100 a kg. 

Nobody seems to be having any control over such a development - by any government department or agency even in the national capital. No lessons learnt so far despite such a trend noticed in the recent and distant past. 

It is a challenge to the new rulers in Delhi. Let us see how is it going to be tackled in the near future.

+++++++++++++++

Cleaning of Ganga

It is Swami Vivekanand who said: " Give me 100 young Indians, I would transform India"

Ganga drains out not only the water received by melting of snow from Himalayan glaciers but also the rain waters collected along its entire route depending on the season and monsoon from time to time. This activity goes on for ages. The human beings and the animals survived on its banks for innumerable years. It's intrinsic quality and religious significance need no elaboration for an Indian citizen.

Till at least one hundred years back, the activities of the human settlements along its course had not created any major sources of pollution luckily, thanks to the limited use of water and the resultant sewage. Although the human numbers multiplied and the quantum of usage of water increased tremendously over the last few decades, the citizens failed to protect the clean waters from high doses of pollutants. Things have really taken a very bad shape the moment industries sprang up  in and around the river Ganga  and started adding their own share of polluting agents beyond one's imagination. It's major tributary Yamuna too carries tons and tons of sewage and chemical wastes and joins Ganga near Allahabad making things worse. Along with these unending sources of pollution the human corpses floated along the waters after the funeral rites near the Varanasi Ghats complete the cycle of total pollution  to the famous river Ganga making it unusable by any scientific and hygienic standards.  

The BJP government led by PM Sri Narendra Modi has rightly taken up the project of Ganga-cleaning in right earnest. Probably a team of officials from concerned ministries and departments have been pressed into service. The top team from Delhi would be able to earmark funds and equipments and also put in place a typical model of development but there is no guarantee  that it won't end up like the previous attempts in the past.

The alternative approach which I envisage would comprise the following components for proper execution of Ganga Project:

Two major teams - 

1) one is to cover the stretch of river Yamuna from Delhi to Allahabad 

2) and the other is to cover river Ganga from Allahabad to Varanasi.

Like Swami Vivekanand, I too seek the help of 100 young Indian officers to test my ability  to clean Ganga with the full support of the Prime Minister. 

Each team to comprise of 50 IAS officers and 50 engineers - selected from across the country on a voluntary basis and put under two highly qualified and committed officials with rich experience (around 50 -65 years in age) both physically and mentally fit for leading the projects for at least next five years.

Process of implementation:

Make a survey of all the effluents and identify their intensity and quantum of flow into the river for six months at least including a monsoon.

Take steps to divert them to a comparatively longer distance already selected and kept ready for the intake and permanent treatment. It would simultaneously involve construction of permanent drains on a massive scale throughout the length and breadth of the towns on the banks with large scale investment of funds.

Take the help of religious leaders and create alternative cremation grounds near Varanasi and provide for the cremation with Ganga water -to satisfy Hindu belief and tradition without spoiling the river waters. 

Widening of the lanes and roads leading to the Ghats with proper alternative accommodation provided for the occupants by erecting multi-storied apartments and condominiums in the neighbourhood.

Strictly closing down the polluting industrial units near the river and shifting them to alternative sites partly compensated by the state for their rehabilitation.

Offer for voluntary service  

I am willing to relocate myself and settle down on the banks of Varanasi Ghats for a period of five years - to lead a team of officials put in charge of Varanasi town with Re. One as monthly honorarium and a small accommodation of two-room tenement/apartment for stay with a chauffeur driven car for mobility at government cost.

Qualifications:

"Shramdan in laying of kutchha roads and cleaning of drains in dalit colonies with the help and manual work (scavenging) of ladies and gents from Lions Club and Rotary Club on Gandhi Jeyanti days when I was collector in two districts and the divisional commissioner in Sagar revenue division.

Cleaning of Sagar lake twice as collector (1979-82) and commissioner ( 1990-92) at Sagar on the basis of shramdan due to nonavailability of paid labour even during the drought conditions ( labour easily engaged in bidi-making)

Received an award from international Rotary Club Movement for public service at Sagar.

Dr P.Raghavan

+++++++++++++++++

Drop, drop of water, rains and floods

 On the indian sub continent, droughts and floods are common. If the monsoon fails in one region, the floods are threatening the other region. Local and provincial administrations are forced to bear the brunt of these from time to time. No doubt planning is done , preparations are made at times but the severity of these calamities/ disasters is so high their efforts are found wanting in coverage and content.

Initially in the beginning of this year it was predicted that we would face less than normal rain fall. Though it started little late the overall situation seems to be improving in many places and the reservoirs are getting filled up beyond expectations in states like Chhattisgarh and Tamil Badu. It is also true that there are patches in several parts of india where water scarcity continues for the third consecutive year resulting in shortage of drinking water and in increase of fallow and barren lands.

Indian planning is there for more than six decades but the citizens are unable to get drinking water throughout the year. Excess water flows into the seas whenever there are copious rains. We keep sitting and wondering what to do unfortunately. Our rulers and administrators have no determination to achieve the total and wholesome provision of water supply to Indian homes without any hassles.

We are unable to store and preserve the rain water not only to save the humans and plants for the present but get the underground water sources recharged for a year or two at a stretch.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Perverted procedure in Justice delivery!

"Hari Bhoomi", a daily (Dated July 27,2014) carried the news that about 41 years of struggle in the courts is still unable to deliver justice in the case of a dismissed bus conductor in Delhi Transport Corporation. The latter is adamant in not complying with the court's direction in reinstating the man to his post. The crime committed by him was that he collected only ten paise from a woman passenger, that is, five paise less than the actual fare on August 1,1973 -- detected by a supervisor and hence suspended & dismissed by DTC. Even after the High Court's decision in his favour in 2007, the DTC has filed a revision petition the very next year against that judgement which is still pending. Who is to deliver fast justice to this citizen in this world of misplaced priorities and careless peers in our midst?

++++++++++++++++++++

One lakh ration cards in circulation with no genuine identity

District Raipur, Chhattisgarh State. Daily Dainik Bhaskar reports (Thursday, July 24, 2014) that there are more than one lakh ration cards with no proper addresses or persons for  verification on the spot during the last one month. 

In other words there is a possibility of large scale bungling and siphoning of stocks indulged in by vested interests in collusion with petty politicians and departmental staff thoughout the district. The opposition party is up in arms in the state assembly during the monsoon session in questioning this development in the state.

+++++++++++++

habitual for admonition

It is unfortunate that the judiciary has to intervene, during the last two decades or so, in the omissions and commissions of the executives from the top to bottom very often. It not only eats into the time of judiciary in its routine work and delays the disposal of its original work in civil and criminal cases but also makes a sad commentary on the efficiency and integrity of the permanent executives in the performance of their actual duty.

I remember to have seen  an intervention by the Indore Bench of M.P. High Court directing the Ujjain district administration to take up the work of cleaning the Shipra River in a given period under the supervision of the Divisional Commissioner of Ujjain Division. The file concerning this subject came to me, the undersigned, the moment I took over as the commissioner in October, 2000. I was really shocked and also felt ashamed of the role of my tribe, the Indian Administrative Service, for having failed in their basic duty and the necessity of getting a direction for performing that duty from the high court on the basis of a P.I.L (Public Interest Litigation).

Of late every public inconvenience is unresolved and unattended with the result the public is forced to approach the courts for justice and problem-solving. The number is increasing day by day. If the trend continues, we may have to reduce the strength of the bureaucratic set up and increase the number of judges both in High Courts and the Supreme Court.

GDP grows 4.7% in the Financial Year 2014

Growth Sub-5% For Second Fiscal In A Row

India’s economy expanded 4.7% in 2013-14, the second successive year of Sub-5% growth hurt by policy delays, high inflation and global slowdown but the election of a new government has triggered hopes of revival in growth and sentiment in coming months.

Data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed the economy grew 4.7% in 2013-14, a shade below the original estimate of 4.9% but slightly above the 4.5% growth in 2012-13.

Much against the hopes and promises of economists under Manmohan Singh's regime, the economy behaved in a different way. Let us see what Modi's regime has in store for us.

Chhattisgarh news

The daily "Chhattisgarh" from Raipur on June 26, 2014 contained two painful news and one good news which are as follows:

Even 13 days after a young couple with a child who left in a four-wheeler from their village Bainsmudi to Korba, haven't reached the destination till date. They are missing.

Even a tribal region like Bastar isn't different from other areas in the country as far as the dowry-deaths are concerned. In the last one and a half years as many as 28 cases of dowry-related cases have been reported from different police stations in Bastar district. A change for the worse!

District Koriya, Development Block Khadgawa, Panchat Inderpur, Village Khandaura a community called Binjhia (40-45 families) deserves to be congratulated for the unique identity of being totally vegetarian and non-drinkers in the midst of a dense forest and other tribals. Hats off to this community with such a golden vow not to touch liquor and non-vegetarian food.

++++++++++++++++++ 

India can export 10 million tonnes of wheat every year

India can export 10 million tonnes of wheat every year by cutting down on wastage and managing its annual output better, an Assocham study said the other day.

According to the study, a staggering 40 percent of India’s annual wheat output worth Rs 50,000 crore is lost due to spoilage, because of the death of adequate scientific storage and slow pace of creating fresh warehousing capacity. (Times of India May 15, 2014).

Total production of wheat, which accounts for about 35 per cent of India’s foodgrains’ basket, may reach 100 million tonnes by 2016 -17 from the level of about 93.5 million tonnes as of 2012-13.

Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat   said, “India should formulate a strategy to corner about 10 per cent share in the 100 tonnes global wheat market and take steps to tap this potential in the long run,” he added.

One should agree with Rawat's statement in public interest.

++++++++++++

Judiciary crying out for reforms: Will Modi Government deliver?

The problems are enormous: a backlog of more than 33 million cases; 4,296 of the 19,238 sanctioned subordinate courts lying vacant and 266 positions of high courts judges of the 906 sanctioned vacant.

Law commission member Mool Chand Sharma had remarked on the issue of pending cases thus: “The government being one of the largest litigants before the courts, it needs to reflect more closely, seriously and sensitively on how and when to pursue litigation and, importantly, also reflect on when not to pursue litigation"

Apex Court lawyer and writer Sanjay Hegde's view is that the new government should take good decisions and not duck them for the judiciary to step in. has been endorsed by new Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that the government should avoid frivolous litigation. Rohatgi, upon his appointment, had said that he would try to reduce the filing of frivolous appeals or appeals involving recovery of pretty amounts by the government.

Dirty India!

Govind Nagar and Ravi Nagar, two colonies near Pandri, the central part of Raipur city in Chhattisgarh State of Indian Union - visited by me in early hours of Sunday, June 22, 2014

Hey Ram! Last night feast in the gurdwara of Govind Nagar has left the space near the front gate filled with garbage comprising left-overs, plastic cups, glasses etc strewn all around making the area dirty and filthy to walk through the street. A few yards away in Ravi Nagar the narrow streets have pucca ( permanent ) drains with no proper cleaning but with sewage and garbage not lifted probably for days and months - stinking and spoiling the atmosphere beyond one's imagination! I could pass through the area only with a hand towel covering my nose. God knows how the people in the colonies sleep in the night and do their work in day time.

When do we learn and how do we propose to live like humans and not like animals?

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Himalayan targets

Modi has promised, on the floor of the Lok Sabha while replying to the discussion on the address of the President of India on Thursday, June 11, 2014, to provide houses to the poor with water, power and toilet by 2022. He was serious on his statement. Let us hope his dream comes true in time.

Dr Manmohan Singh.

A  loyal political regent (of Nehru Dynasty) has peacefully retired. His omissions and commissions will be judged by historians in future,  favourably as he claims. All the best.

Attraction to IAS etc

It appears IAS still attracts the talented youth in this country - esp from professional background like engineers and doctors. It is a good development no doubt but the commitment to serve the common people should be there. Normally professionals are money-minded. 
I am also glad women are equally competing and entering services year after year. I also wish the political class of this country understand this phenomenon and engage these younsters in a more fruitful and non-discriminatory manner which is badly needed for this country. With Modi on the saddle things should improve for the better, I suppose.

Atlantic City Facts

The year-round population of the city numbers fewer than 38000,but more than 30 million people visit each year.

When the first casino opened in 1978, the line of people waiting to get in wrapped all the way around the building.

The first boardwalk was built in 1870 to keep sand out of ladies' shoes.

I wish we too have such boardwalks erected in many of the beaches in India.

+++++++++++++++++++++    

I saved a child

The child is none other than a new-born baby mouse inside my bath-tub. Probably this baby slipped into the tub from exhaust fan positioned 6 ft. above the tub during last night. The poor baby was struggling to get out but in vain. I saw it around 5.00 AM. I didn't know what to do. Should I wait for the waiter to come, kill it and take it out? Or allow it to escape if possible? When I entered the bath room again around 7.00 AM, the sweet little baby was found still struggling. I felt pity for it. I normally don't touch the new-born - whether human child or otherwise. 

I came out from my deep thoughts and decided to find a solution myself - how to save this life and keep my tub clean for my bath without waiting for any assistance. I took the old newspaper, made it a small tunnel and kept near it. It finally found en escape route and made two three unsuccessful attempts. But I made it possible for the little mouse to enter the tunnel. I safely brought it to the first floor balcony and drooped the baby and watched for a while. My little creature managed to get out of the shock from a fall and started moving. My soul and body became very happy that I could save a life without any harm.

To my surprise the mother rat seemed to have arrived little late and searched for her baby. Alas hid I known its search plan I would have not disturbed her child for an hour more.

God save this little mouse and its mother!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++  

Tamil Nadu State faces 11% water deficit, stares at acute crisis: study

 Tamil Nadu is facing a deficit of 11%, says a report. While the current total water demand in the state, for domestic, irrigation, livestock and industrial needs, is 1,867.85 TMCFT(thousand million cubic feet) year, the total availability,  from all resources, is only 1,681.78 TMCFT.    

This deficit will rise to 17% by 2045, said the report, jointly prepared by several central and state governmental agencies, including Tamil Nadu public works department and central water commission.  

Water experts say a 11% deficit at present means that the state is set for an acute water crisis in the coming years, and blame the situation on the lack of serious conservation efforts. 

Tamil Nadu, which had three reservoirs, in the pre independent era, has added 82 reservoirs in the last six decades and boasts of 39,200 tanks now. At least 17, 879 of them, big and small, are on the coastal belt, and their status is either ‘good’ or ‘normal’. But an alarming 80% overflows from river is wasted, said the report based on the study on ‘Effective utilization of northeast monsoon’.   

++++++++++++++++++++++

Man-made Disasters

“More people die from road accidents in India than any where else in the world.” 

It is indeed a damning and disheartening report.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) says death rate per 100,000 population rose in India from 16.8 to 18.9 between 2009 and 2013.  If you look at numbers in 2011, we had 440,123 road accidents and 136,834 people were killed in them. Between 2001 and 2011, death rates from accidents on Indian roads rose by 44.2 per cent.

At the moment, one person dies in a road accident every five minutes in India. By 2020, the number is expected to be one every three minutes.

Any solution to this problem?

Yes there is a solution provided the law makers make the following rules and the officials/ authorities concerned implement them sincerely and fearlessly.

1. Restrict the number of owned vehicles per family / institution/ organisation by raising the vehicle tax for the additional numbers acquired by them.
2. Rationing of fuels as per the actual need of the owners and charging more on the excess quantity utilised by them.
3. Quotas to be fixed for the manufacture of vehicles by different companies on the basis of certain parameters determined by the committee of experts.
4. Widening of the roads whenever needed and wherever feasible.
5. Encouraging the usage of public transport among the office-goers and discouraging the usage of cars / four wheelers by / for single persons on city roads.
6. Shifting of bigger establishments with a large number of workers in crowded localities of towns/ cities/ metros to the suburbs with a provision for accommodation and other public utilities like schools , shops etc.

Poor Manpower Planning?

Tamil Nadu State in the Indian Union adds 350 engineers per lakh of population every year, which is almost 2.5 times the national average. It is not as if each one of them is necessarily employed and fruitfully engaged.

What is the out-come of such a development both from the point of view of utilising the existing scarce resources including physical infrastructure and also from the side of the educated unemployed graduates increasing year after year. A mad rush to sanction and multiply the number of institutions resulting in large scale unemployment is certainly not to be welcomed in a developing economy like ours.

+++++++++++++++++++++