Mega / macro corruption Vs Micro corruption?

Indian citizens should be obviously more concerned about the micro corruption prevalent on a large scale at the cutting edge level (delivery stage) of each and every government service affecting the common man which in turn brings bad name not only to the society we live in but also among the comity of nations through Transparency International. Macro level corruption prevalent at the apex level both at the national as well as state levels involving major players - political and bureaucratic- as a fall out or the causality of big projects, give outs and statutory sanctions to big guns which normally do not come to the knowledge of the public. Abolition or reduction of bribe culture should certainly start from the top political level. But unfortunately it survives and sustains itself on the plea that they have to seize power in the elections with the help of both white and black money. Who is to then start and where from? First and only election to the primaries should be at government cost and the rest by nominations and selections to various public forums and offices on the basis of merit and experience with a riding principle that only one post/position be allowed to a family at a time and restricted to two terms in office to each individual in life. ++++++++++++++++++++++

China on the March

Many of the holy spots associated with Lord Shiva are located on the Tibetan territory under the occupation of China. The famous ‘Manasarovar Lake’ is located in the centre of Tibet including the spots like ‘Yamdwar’ & ‘Astapath’. One entry into these places is through Kathmandu – Kodari – Khasa Port (Lee Ping) China border. Those places visited by me on the way are: Zhang Mu, Nyalam, Prayong, Tanga, Dor Ching etc. The highway linking these places is newly-constructed in two lanes to international standards. One could enjoy a beautiful drive all along with patches of greenery – cultivation including green-house structures. Water flowing from the hills has been properly tapped and used for crops. Mining activities are also seen on the way here and there – Power tillers being used both for tilling and transporting. Large tracts of barren hills and valleys are waiting for settlement of Tibetans and Chinese citizens in the next one decade or so. Tourism is likely to flourish - mostly religious tourism. Pilgrims spend a few thousands of rupees from all over India to visit these sites - Mount Kailash is supposed to be the abode of Bholenath attracting thousands of pilgrims year after year. As of now except a few groups arranged by Uttaranchal Government, others are all arranged and managed by Travel agents and individuals on the basis of their past experience. Indian private agents arrange such trips with the help of their counterparts in Kathmandu, Lhasa and China (Beijing). A little more or less than one hundred thousand rupees are spent by each individual pilgrim for a tour of 10 – 12 days in all. Standard of accommodation arranged in Kathmandu and other towns is tolerable and worth the money parted with. But the stay in mud houses with open toilet system – 3 to 10 persons in each room / hall is pathetic, unhygienic and far from satisfactory. Exploitation and black mailing of agents in Kathmandu and Lhasa continue to harass the tour leaders from India. There is no proper and systematic guidance, briefing and coverage of promised places and for prayers with puja materials collected and carried with lot of care by the pilgrims. _+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Supreme Court’s decision on section 3(d) historic

Anand Grover in “The Times of India”, Chennai, on Tuesday. April 2 2013 reported that after 2005, India started granting product patents on medicines. However, section 3(d), one of the safe guards introduced by Parliament, seeks to prevent patenting of new forms of known substances unless they exhibit enhanced efficacy. Were it not for section 3 (d) , the standards for grant of product patents on medicines in India would be lower, almost identical to the standards in countries such as the United States and European Union, where a large number of patents are granted on minor modifications of a single medicine. Section 3 (d) also became the basis for the refusal of a patent to Novartis for the beta – crystalline form of imatinib mesylate, a drug used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a type of blood cancer. In 1998, Novartis filed a patent application in India for this medicine. In 2005, the Chennai Patent Office heard patent oppositions to this application including one filed by the Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA). The CPAA challenge was spurred by great concern over the price Novartis set for its version of the drug (sold as Glivec) at Rs.1,20,000 ($2,400) per month as against generic versions that were available at a cost of around Rs. 8,000 to Rs 12,000 per month. The Indian Parliament has balanced India’s obligations under TRIPS with the right to health through Section 3 (d). The Supreme Court has unequivocally interpreted the true intention and spirit of this provision. It behooves the Indian Government to respect the Parliament and the Supreme Court and ensure that it does not sign away these hard fought victories by health and public interest groups in trade negotiations. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Chennai Nokia Plant & its woes

Even as a meeting between Nokia India management and Union leaders of the company’s Chennai factory on March 19, 2014 failed to yield any clarity about the future of the plant, union heads alleged that work was being diverted to Vietnam and China and production here was falling. They further apprehended that the work force would get reduced in the coming days. The Supreme Court had last week dismissed Nokia’s appeal implying that the factory can hardly be transferred to Microsoft till the tax dispute is resolved. Microsoft had acquired the phone business of Nokia in September last year. It is a pity that a major investment made in Chennai some years back with a lot of expectation and promises to the local area and population is backing out and the management is readying to wind up its operations after the transfer to another company. The workers numbering about 8000 including 300 couples would find it hard to get placements soon. The state government should have taken steps to avoid such a situation before it raises its ugly head. This sort of a development would bring bad name to the country, state and discourage other investments from multinationals. Who would bother about this in any department of the state government? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A memorable cruise Journey

Norwegian Star, Saturday, September 25, 2010 Stardust Welcome Aboard Show: Cruise Director Ray Carr introducing non-stop entertainment featuring the high-energy cast of the Jean Ann Ryan Co and the Star Showband in a quick song and dance number called “it’s Fame”. [Time 9:15 P.M, Stardust Theater, Deck 6 & 7] Every hour worth-spending Shore Excursion, Star Club Casinos, Karaoke Special, Bar services, Guest Services including Video zone, Art Gallery, Spa and Salon, Fitness center, Golf Club, internet Café, Jogging Track, Kids Center, Library, Medical Center, Onboard credit Desk, Photo gallery, Pool/Jacuzzi, Pool slides, Sports Court, Teens Center, Quenching your thirst and Hunger: Satisfying afternoon appetite, eating lunch and dinner in Versailles Main Dining Room, Aqua Main Dining Room, Market Café up to 12:00 mid night, & whenever one is hungry go to Blue Lagoon Café, Room service, Ice cream bar, late night snacks at Market café. Finale show (Sea Day) on Friday, October 1, 2010: Norwegian Cruise Line presented the Jean Ann Ryan Co in Cirque Pacific, featuring the China Star Acrobats Lei Zang and Huai Lin Fan in a spectacular show that kept the audience on the edge of their seats. Immediately after the Show, a special farewell by the officers, staff and crew of the Norwegian Star followed mesmerizing the passengers. A memorable evening indeed! On Board: Dr.P.Raghavan & Mrs R. Dhanalakshmi ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

AT 4.7%, GDP fails to meet expectations.

The economy grew at a slower – than expected rate of 4.7% in the Oct – Dec quarter due to a poor show by the mining and manufacturing sectors, compounding the government problems and giving the opposition ammunition to target it with. Economists say given the trend so far in the three quarters, meeting the 4.79% growth predicted for the full yr may be difficult. The figures, released by the Central Statistics Office on Friday, February 28, 2014 saw India inc reiterating calls for a cut in the rates and need quick steps for boost growth. +++++++++++++++

'Oceans' underneath the Earth's crust

Scientists have found the first terrestrial sample of a water-rich gem suggesting large volumes of water deep underneath the Earth. An international team of scientists led by Graham Pearson at Canada Excellence Research Chair in Arctic Resources at the University of Alberta has discovered the first-ever sample of a mineral called ringwoodite. Analysis of the mineral shows it contains a significant amount of water — 1.5%, of its weight — a finding that confirms scientific theories about vast volumes of water trapped 410 to 660 kilometers beneath the Earth, between the upper and lower mantle. The diamond had been brought to the Earth's surface by a volcanic / rock known as kimberlite — the most deeply derived of all volcanic rocks. Pearson said the discovery was almost accidental in that his team had been looking for another mineral when they found a three-millimetre-wide, dirty-looking, commercially worthless brown diamond. The ringwoodite itself is invisible to the naked eye, buried beneath the surface, so it was fortunate that it was found by Pearson's graduate student, John McNeill in 2009. The sample underwent years of analysis using Raman and infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction before it was officially confirmed as ringwoodite. [TOI, 14, March, 2014] +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++