We must have the courage to write the obituary of Victorian-vintage jurisprudence and recreate and catalyse a new dynamic jurisprudence which will reverse the present law of India.
by V. R. Krishna Iyer
A universally accessible democratic system that can deliver justice in an inexpensive manner and can ensure early finality is one of the essential prerequisites today for India.
The progress or otherwise of a people will depend on their level of respect for human rights, and the willingness to share and care for the weaker sections of society that each member of the community has, be he high or humble. Today, the Indian government is democratic: it is without doubt a government by the people, of the people, for the people. But, is it really a government for the people?
The framers of the Indian Constitution thought that socialism is the only system that can guarantee equality among the people. But when there is a plurality of religions in rivalry, each god competes with the other and a certain divine conflict ensues. This divisive tendency is unhealthy, because according to human understanding there is only one god and one humanity. And everyone's well-being has to be ensured without some being high and some being low, some being in luxury and others in lowly circumstances.
In this spirit the Constitution has made the Republic a socialist and secular one. Every member of humanity is equal and god is one and above all creations. This is the quintessence of Sanatana Dharma — the perennial dharma of a civilised society. Judged by this standard, there is inequality writ large in India between region and region, man and man, man and woman, the wealthy and the poor. This syndrome has to change if moral majesty, and equal divinity and compassion for all living creatures, are to be realised.
Fortunately this is the Indian tradition and the culture of the Constitution to which Mahatma Gandhi was committed. Economic equality is social justice, if political power is not discriminatingly cornered by some and denied to some others. When India won its freedom and made its tryst with destiny, the responsibility devolved on the nation to ensure that every tear shall be wiped out, and that all suffering will be eliminated to the extent the human pharmacopoeia can. This was laid down in the Preamble as everyone's set of rights, critically as the right to justice, social, economic and political.
As a practical aspect of this materialistic principle, every person was given an equal right to vote through periodic elections. India has had elections at regular intervals. The little man or woman with a little seal making a little mark, or pressing a small button on a compact machine in a tiny enclosure in private — no amount of criticism or rhetoric can diminish the importance of this great democratic operation. The Father of the Nation, and the values of the Constitution, stand by this principle.
But what is the reality today? The Constitution is nearly dead. Its egalitarian values have been all but violated. The rich are rising to richer heights while the poor are going downhill to even more desperate depths. State power is in the hands of multinational corporations and there is much distortion of distributive wealth. The rich are very often able to control the electorate by bribery communalism and abuse of power by an executive that is apathetic to the tears of the many but is willing to purchase their ballots by means of money and extravagant publicity.
Even the courts of law where justice is dispensed are more amenable to the richer classes than to others. Being poor and under-privileged, the masses often give away their votes for cash. They have no hope in the system and can only either surrender to it or overthrow it by means of violence or extremism.
It would sometimes appear that there is no hope in the future save terrorism, and turning democracy into a travesty. One might wonder why god is so unequal. Poor god has indeed become a commodity to be purchased by the rich. The bishop may live the high life while the parishioner begs before the church. This was the fate of even Jesus who pleaded for change like a revolutionary.
In Hinduism and Islam there is the same sort of division of the haves and the have-nots. Indeed, piety and devotion make people succumb to the existing unjust order and accept the ruling system. Exploitation is concealed and becomes virtually the rule of law, since the law itself is formulated by the creamy layer of humanity. As for justice between the wealthy and “illthy,” it is a right too costly for the poor: the bureaucracy is often beyond the reach for them.
Aiding this sinister system we have mosques and churches and temples that are effectively instruments to silence the defenders. There is a certain hallowed reverence for judges, who like priests wear robes and costumes. Persons who are able to see through this mystic methodology of the Bench and the Bar have an authority exercised in mystic diction, going to the root of unhappiness among humanity. We have to change the system of the courts, and the superstition that their verdicts are final and infallible. In reality they are as much like ordinary mortals with their own flaws, prejudices, biases, self-interest and influences. They are not superhuman. But a cult of divinity, and the commanding dress and address, make them appear as mini-divinities. This goes with their social philosophy that is pachydermic to the poor.
The judiciary is regulated by a complicated system which only the Bar and the Bench can decipher. They are governed by Victorian values and jurisprudence, of which the spokesmen are Denning and Macaulay through the great codes of civil and criminal procedure, prison law and the system of the police force borrowed from Britain.
If you want to change the system in favour of the majority which is below the lachrymal line, we have to have a few things as a priority from Macaulay to Mahatma. The Code of Civil Procedure and the Criminal Procedure Code must be repealed without any mercy or tears. Fresh codes that are dialectic and dynamic, accountable and accessible to the people must be enacted. This cannot be done by legislators who are amenable to the power of wealth but radicals who are eligible to vote in a new equalitarian methodology.
India needs a National Commission with its dominant element composed of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the weaker sections, versus the rich and the mighty. Will this ever happen? Even V.I. Lenin's Soviet Union has undergone mighty change. The new world order is the despair of the masses. The challenge before India is how non-violently the transformation that is contemplated in the Preamble to the Constitution can be worked out.
Today the robed brethren of the judiciary or the religions are untouchable and unapproachable. Justice, justices and justicing need to be radicalised. The justice system should be such that the common man, the worker, the peasants and the social activist will be able to argue before them. Justices should uphold a socialist secular democratic order and strike down every law that strikes a different note. The language of the law should be made simple, lucid and understandable enough for the common man.
A universally accessible democratic system that can deliver justice in an inexpensive manner and can ensure early finality is the desideratum. The Bench and the Bar shall be the representatives of the Indian people. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, the have-nots and the humble, belong to humanity too. The principle of injustice crucified an innocent Christ and shot the Mahatma whose principle was truth, non-violence and settlement of disputes on fair terms. That half-naked fakir representing half-starved Indian humans gave us golden principles of jurisprudence that demand a re-orientation and transformation of the foundations of the social philosophy of every human sector and every mercenary profession which today thrive on money-making and jettison morals and humanism.
So, even our religions must be subject to a revolutionary change in faith and radical fraternity and comradeship. This combination of materialism and spirituality must be the new message and Preamble of 21st century India. The task of the new statesman emerging from the new generation must be to implement peace and friendship among all nations, making Article 51 of the Constitution a national essential of international relationship.
This was indeed the first principle and the last plea of the Mahatma, who spoke with burning faith that god is truth, nay more. Truths that are scientifically established and spiritually realised constitute god. We must have the courage to write the obituary of Victorian-vintage jurisprudence and recreate and catalyse a new dynamic jurisprudence which will reverse the present law of India.
source: The Hindu
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Talk with Nagas: Going round the mulberry bush
M. S. Prabhakara
The issues raised by the Naga nationalists are so complex that the talks between them and the Centre end in an impasse, only to be resumed at another time, another venue.
One has lost count but the present round of talks between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland led by Isak Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah (NSCN-IM) must be the 66th or 67th, not taking into account the informal contacts that began way back in 1967. Perhaps not even during the momentous negotiations for transfer of power that led to the emergence of India and Pakistan as two sovereign nation-states were so many rounds of talks held.
This is not surprising. The issues raised by the Naga nationalists, rooted in their conviction that the Naga people simply recovered their independence with the transfer of power in August 1947 and are now seeking only a de jure recognition of that de facto reality, are so complex that some of the earlier parleys too — dating back to the days before India formally attained independence, from the Nine-Point Agreement of June 1947 to the Shillong Accord of November 1975 — were equally prolonged. However, while the Centre seems to have become adept at stonewalling demands during these negotiations, the Naga nationalists who, above all, want a solution, are left floundering.
The Shillong Accord that was supposed to have brought peace to Nagaland marked the beginning of divisions within the Naga nationalist movement, reflecting the divide in Naga society. However, the emergence of the NSCN in January 1980 was no less divisive, leading eight years later to another split, this time in the NSCN, resulting in the formation of the faction that views itself as the legitimate standard-bearer of Naga nationalism. It is using the initials of its principal office-bearers to distinguish itself from the other faction, NSCN-K (for Khaplang) — a tribute, indeed, to the factionalism of despised India's mainstream political culture. Nor has the emergence of professedly militant and uncompromising, and contending, Naga nationalist factions meant the total political demise of the Phizoist Naga Nationalist Council. The result is that though the NSCN-IM claims with some legitimacy and the media too, even more than the Government of India, project the organisation as the structure with which an agreement has to be sealed for a “lasting peace in Nagaland,” there are several other actors who cannot be ignored.
First, there is the State government which, irrespective of its political persuasion, has always been in a symbiotic relationship with militant Naga nationalism of every complexion and persuasion. Then, there is the NSCN-K, with which too the GOI has a ceasefire agreement and is holding talks, though with less visibility. Of late, the NNC under the daughter of A.Z. Phizo has been demanding that it also be heard for a “lasting peace.”
The similarities to the situation obtaining with the United Liberation Front of Asom in Assam are striking. Any prospective talks between the GOI and the ULFA will necessarily include, irrespective of the outfit's claims that it is the sole representative of Assamese nationalist aspirations, the real and constructed clones of the ULFA claiming the same legitimacy, as well as the State government.
Formally, there is a ceasefire agreement between the GOI and both NSCN factions. Negotiations for “a lasting peace in Nagaland” are also on with both factions, each of which claims it is the “sole representative” of the Naga nationalist aspirations. This fiction has given tremendous leeway to the GOI while tying the other side in knots.
This was evident in the prolonged talks held in New Delhi over several weeks in early 2005, when Mr. Muivah gave vent to both his hopes and frustrations over the seemingly never ending negotiations in his April 2005 interview on the Hard Talk programme of the BBC. Indeed, even before that interview, he seemed quite reconciled to and even ready for the collapse of the peace process — ready to “walk away.” Addressing the Naga People's Consultative Conference (January 20-21, 2005) in ‘Hebron,' headquarters of the Government of the People's Republic of Nagalim (GPRN) near Dimapur, Mr. Muivah said the NSCN-IM would never compromise on its “core demands:” Naga sovereignty and the integration of the Naga-inhabited areas at present outside Nagaland into one territorial unit. Bhangile bhangibo (“if the talks break down, so be it”), he said, using the expressive Assamese idiom to communicate to a predominantly Nagaland-based audience whose lingua franca is a form of Assamese.
National sovereignty and the territorial imperative: these are the cutting edges of Naga nationalism. They are also the very essence of Indian nationalism, the bottom line on which no political formation can even appear to compromise. There is the even more problematic issue of Manipuri nationalism with a political programme of attaining a sovereign Manipur. The political map of ‘southern Nagalim' includes four districts of Manipur: Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel. It is true that Naga insurgency derived much support from these areas in its early years. However, such is not the case now. Half-a-century down the line, the very Naga character of a once totally homogenous Ukhrul district has changed. The demographic changes in other areas claimed for ‘Southern Nagalim' are even more far-reaching. They are also, like all demographic changes, irreversible. This probably explains the efforts of the NSCN-IM to mobilise public opinion in Ukhrul and Senapati districts in its support.
Even a trade-off between territoriality and sovereignty as a special case applicable only to the Naga nationalist struggle, retaining the substance of one and a compromise on the other, is not possible. The maximum concession the GOI is prepared to make is an unspecified assurance of “greater autonomy.” Both sides know this. And yet every round of talks so far has ended in a stalemate or impasse or deadlock, only to be resumed at another time, perhaps in another venue.
The fact is that despite its frustrations and threats of “walking away,” the NSCN-IM, no less than other Naga nationalist organisations, simply cannot afford to do so. Walking away would only mean walking away into oblivion. While the structures of the state and the government represented by ‘India' may be corrupt, a mixed bag as in every other component of the Indian state, the people of the State have had uninterrupted peace. The dramatic changes that began in the 1990s and their seamy underbelly, which are now a feature not merely of urban India but also evident in small towns and villages, have not bypassed the Naga-inhabited areas. Nagaland and the Nagas may be terra incognita and persona incognita to much of the rest of India; but the Naga people have discovered India in massive numbers.
The NSCN-IM, too, has made many gains. It runs what amounts to a parallel government in the State, collects taxes, and sometimes dispenses justice as it sees fit. When in February last year, a popular non-Naga official working in Ukhrul was killed apparently by persons linked to the NSCN-IM, the arrest of one of the suspects was ‘facilitated' by the NSCN-IM. Ukhrul at the height of the Naga insurgency was virtually dead by dusk; now shops, some of them owned and run by non-Nagas, are open late into the night. This correspondent was recently able to send an e-mail and speak to a friend in Johannesburg well past 10 p.m. from a cybercafé in Ukhrul. Life in Dimapur in Nagaland, only city where the Inner Line regulations apply and has consequently become an “open city,” is now more orderly, secure. These are not small gains.
The other side of peace is the spread and consolidation of the presence of the armed forces. Two corps, 3 and 4, of the armed forces are now headquartered in the northeast — in Tezpur and Dimapur. There is no need to press the point, or press the implications of such a massive presence of the armed forces for any attempt to resurrect insurgency. Unlike till late into the 1990s, the armed forces are now well equipped with the most sophisticated weapons. They are familiar with the region's social and political landscape, including those represented by the powerful and resourceful NGO sector. They are conversant with the theories and practice of insurgency and counter-insurgency as well as theories of development as a tactic to counter insurgency.
So, talk the two sides will, talk they must, though a satisfactory convergence of the stands taken by them is nowhere in sight.
source: The Hindu
M. S. Prabhakara
The issues raised by the Naga nationalists are so complex that the talks between them and the Centre end in an impasse, only to be resumed at another time, another venue.
One has lost count but the present round of talks between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland led by Isak Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah (NSCN-IM) must be the 66th or 67th, not taking into account the informal contacts that began way back in 1967. Perhaps not even during the momentous negotiations for transfer of power that led to the emergence of India and Pakistan as two sovereign nation-states were so many rounds of talks held.
This is not surprising. The issues raised by the Naga nationalists, rooted in their conviction that the Naga people simply recovered their independence with the transfer of power in August 1947 and are now seeking only a de jure recognition of that de facto reality, are so complex that some of the earlier parleys too — dating back to the days before India formally attained independence, from the Nine-Point Agreement of June 1947 to the Shillong Accord of November 1975 — were equally prolonged. However, while the Centre seems to have become adept at stonewalling demands during these negotiations, the Naga nationalists who, above all, want a solution, are left floundering.
The Shillong Accord that was supposed to have brought peace to Nagaland marked the beginning of divisions within the Naga nationalist movement, reflecting the divide in Naga society. However, the emergence of the NSCN in January 1980 was no less divisive, leading eight years later to another split, this time in the NSCN, resulting in the formation of the faction that views itself as the legitimate standard-bearer of Naga nationalism. It is using the initials of its principal office-bearers to distinguish itself from the other faction, NSCN-K (for Khaplang) — a tribute, indeed, to the factionalism of despised India's mainstream political culture. Nor has the emergence of professedly militant and uncompromising, and contending, Naga nationalist factions meant the total political demise of the Phizoist Naga Nationalist Council. The result is that though the NSCN-IM claims with some legitimacy and the media too, even more than the Government of India, project the organisation as the structure with which an agreement has to be sealed for a “lasting peace in Nagaland,” there are several other actors who cannot be ignored.
First, there is the State government which, irrespective of its political persuasion, has always been in a symbiotic relationship with militant Naga nationalism of every complexion and persuasion. Then, there is the NSCN-K, with which too the GOI has a ceasefire agreement and is holding talks, though with less visibility. Of late, the NNC under the daughter of A.Z. Phizo has been demanding that it also be heard for a “lasting peace.”
The similarities to the situation obtaining with the United Liberation Front of Asom in Assam are striking. Any prospective talks between the GOI and the ULFA will necessarily include, irrespective of the outfit's claims that it is the sole representative of Assamese nationalist aspirations, the real and constructed clones of the ULFA claiming the same legitimacy, as well as the State government.
Formally, there is a ceasefire agreement between the GOI and both NSCN factions. Negotiations for “a lasting peace in Nagaland” are also on with both factions, each of which claims it is the “sole representative” of the Naga nationalist aspirations. This fiction has given tremendous leeway to the GOI while tying the other side in knots.
This was evident in the prolonged talks held in New Delhi over several weeks in early 2005, when Mr. Muivah gave vent to both his hopes and frustrations over the seemingly never ending negotiations in his April 2005 interview on the Hard Talk programme of the BBC. Indeed, even before that interview, he seemed quite reconciled to and even ready for the collapse of the peace process — ready to “walk away.” Addressing the Naga People's Consultative Conference (January 20-21, 2005) in ‘Hebron,' headquarters of the Government of the People's Republic of Nagalim (GPRN) near Dimapur, Mr. Muivah said the NSCN-IM would never compromise on its “core demands:” Naga sovereignty and the integration of the Naga-inhabited areas at present outside Nagaland into one territorial unit. Bhangile bhangibo (“if the talks break down, so be it”), he said, using the expressive Assamese idiom to communicate to a predominantly Nagaland-based audience whose lingua franca is a form of Assamese.
National sovereignty and the territorial imperative: these are the cutting edges of Naga nationalism. They are also the very essence of Indian nationalism, the bottom line on which no political formation can even appear to compromise. There is the even more problematic issue of Manipuri nationalism with a political programme of attaining a sovereign Manipur. The political map of ‘southern Nagalim' includes four districts of Manipur: Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel. It is true that Naga insurgency derived much support from these areas in its early years. However, such is not the case now. Half-a-century down the line, the very Naga character of a once totally homogenous Ukhrul district has changed. The demographic changes in other areas claimed for ‘Southern Nagalim' are even more far-reaching. They are also, like all demographic changes, irreversible. This probably explains the efforts of the NSCN-IM to mobilise public opinion in Ukhrul and Senapati districts in its support.
Even a trade-off between territoriality and sovereignty as a special case applicable only to the Naga nationalist struggle, retaining the substance of one and a compromise on the other, is not possible. The maximum concession the GOI is prepared to make is an unspecified assurance of “greater autonomy.” Both sides know this. And yet every round of talks so far has ended in a stalemate or impasse or deadlock, only to be resumed at another time, perhaps in another venue.
The fact is that despite its frustrations and threats of “walking away,” the NSCN-IM, no less than other Naga nationalist organisations, simply cannot afford to do so. Walking away would only mean walking away into oblivion. While the structures of the state and the government represented by ‘India' may be corrupt, a mixed bag as in every other component of the Indian state, the people of the State have had uninterrupted peace. The dramatic changes that began in the 1990s and their seamy underbelly, which are now a feature not merely of urban India but also evident in small towns and villages, have not bypassed the Naga-inhabited areas. Nagaland and the Nagas may be terra incognita and persona incognita to much of the rest of India; but the Naga people have discovered India in massive numbers.
The NSCN-IM, too, has made many gains. It runs what amounts to a parallel government in the State, collects taxes, and sometimes dispenses justice as it sees fit. When in February last year, a popular non-Naga official working in Ukhrul was killed apparently by persons linked to the NSCN-IM, the arrest of one of the suspects was ‘facilitated' by the NSCN-IM. Ukhrul at the height of the Naga insurgency was virtually dead by dusk; now shops, some of them owned and run by non-Nagas, are open late into the night. This correspondent was recently able to send an e-mail and speak to a friend in Johannesburg well past 10 p.m. from a cybercafé in Ukhrul. Life in Dimapur in Nagaland, only city where the Inner Line regulations apply and has consequently become an “open city,” is now more orderly, secure. These are not small gains.
The other side of peace is the spread and consolidation of the presence of the armed forces. Two corps, 3 and 4, of the armed forces are now headquartered in the northeast — in Tezpur and Dimapur. There is no need to press the point, or press the implications of such a massive presence of the armed forces for any attempt to resurrect insurgency. Unlike till late into the 1990s, the armed forces are now well equipped with the most sophisticated weapons. They are familiar with the region's social and political landscape, including those represented by the powerful and resourceful NGO sector. They are conversant with the theories and practice of insurgency and counter-insurgency as well as theories of development as a tactic to counter insurgency.
So, talk the two sides will, talk they must, though a satisfactory convergence of the stands taken by them is nowhere in sight.
source: The Hindu
Friday, March 19, 2010
What is the Biodiversity? wHAT IS ITS VALUE ?
What is the Biodiversity?
More than 10 million different species of animals, plants, fungi and micro–organisms inhabits the Earth .They and the habitats in which they live represent the world’s biological diversity or biodiversity as it is often called. Humans use at least 40,000 species of plants and animals on a daily basis for food, shelter, clothing and medicinal needs.
The populations of developed nations depend on biodiversity for their survival and quietly of life. Close to 40 percent of the pharmaceutical used in the United States are either based on, or synthesized from natural compounds found in plants, animals or micro organisms.
The greatest value of biodiversity might still be unknown. Only a fraction of know species has been examined for potential medicinal, agricultural or industrial value. Nor do we fully understand how biodiversity contributes to the well-being of the larger global environment. And we are only just beginning to learn how biodiversity helps communities around the world satisfy their economic, dietary health and cultural needs
One thing is certain: the more we learn about biodiversity the more we realize how much the world depends on it. Yet whole species of plants, animals, fungi, and microscopic organisms are being lost at alarming rates.
Forests
Forests are the most diverse ecosystems on land, because they hold the vast majority of the world’s terrestrial species. Some rain forests are among the oldest ecosystems on Earth. Timber, pulpwood, firewood, fodder, meat, cash crops, fish and medicinal plants from the forest provide livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. But only a fraction of known species has been examined for potential medicinal, agricultural or industrial value.
Forest Biological Diversity
Forest biological diversity is broad term referring to all the life forms found within forested areas and the ecological roles they perform. As such, forest biological diversity encompasses not just trees but the multitude of plants, animals and micro –organisms that inhabit forest areas and their associated genetic diversity.
It can be considered at different levels, including the ecosystem, landscapes, species, populations and genetics. Complex interactions can occur within and amongst these levels. In biological diverse forests, this complexity allows organisms to adapt to continually changing environment conditions and to maintain ecosystem functions.
Protection of Biodiversity
One of the best ways to conserve forest biodiversity is to establish protected forest areas of a certain size, or consist of a well- designed network of forests areas, to allow the local forest ecosystems to continue operating effectively. The forest surrounding the protected area must then be carefully managed so that it serves as buffer zone. These surrounding forests also allow local communities to earn a livelihood without infringing on the protected forests.
There have been numerous efforts aimed at safeguarding the world’s biodiversity by protecting species in areas outside their original habitats. For example, seeds of some of the most economically important trees are being conserved in seed centres and gene- banks as a way of protecting their diversity. But a large number of forest species have seed that do not survive storage, and many species of animals and plant –life are hard to protect once removed from their ecosystems
A continuing Threat
Forest biodiversity is threatened by rapid deforestation, forest fragmentation and degradation, hunting and the arrival of invasive species from the other habitats. We are losing 12 million hectares of forest a year, much of it tropical rainforest with its unique and rich biodiversity.
Why Does it Matter?
In the past, timber production was regarded as the dominant function of forests. However in recent years this perception has shifted to a more multi –functional and balanced view. Other forest functions and services, such as recreation, health and well -being, biological diversity , maintained of ecosystem services and the mitigation of climate change , are now recognized as part of the importance of forests and have biological diversity is increasingly recognized as both a complex and unique element .
KP
More than 10 million different species of animals, plants, fungi and micro–organisms inhabits the Earth .They and the habitats in which they live represent the world’s biological diversity or biodiversity as it is often called. Humans use at least 40,000 species of plants and animals on a daily basis for food, shelter, clothing and medicinal needs.
The populations of developed nations depend on biodiversity for their survival and quietly of life. Close to 40 percent of the pharmaceutical used in the United States are either based on, or synthesized from natural compounds found in plants, animals or micro organisms.
The greatest value of biodiversity might still be unknown. Only a fraction of know species has been examined for potential medicinal, agricultural or industrial value. Nor do we fully understand how biodiversity contributes to the well-being of the larger global environment. And we are only just beginning to learn how biodiversity helps communities around the world satisfy their economic, dietary health and cultural needs
One thing is certain: the more we learn about biodiversity the more we realize how much the world depends on it. Yet whole species of plants, animals, fungi, and microscopic organisms are being lost at alarming rates.
Forests
Forests are the most diverse ecosystems on land, because they hold the vast majority of the world’s terrestrial species. Some rain forests are among the oldest ecosystems on Earth. Timber, pulpwood, firewood, fodder, meat, cash crops, fish and medicinal plants from the forest provide livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. But only a fraction of known species has been examined for potential medicinal, agricultural or industrial value.
Forest Biological Diversity
Forest biological diversity is broad term referring to all the life forms found within forested areas and the ecological roles they perform. As such, forest biological diversity encompasses not just trees but the multitude of plants, animals and micro –organisms that inhabit forest areas and their associated genetic diversity.
It can be considered at different levels, including the ecosystem, landscapes, species, populations and genetics. Complex interactions can occur within and amongst these levels. In biological diverse forests, this complexity allows organisms to adapt to continually changing environment conditions and to maintain ecosystem functions.
Protection of Biodiversity
One of the best ways to conserve forest biodiversity is to establish protected forest areas of a certain size, or consist of a well- designed network of forests areas, to allow the local forest ecosystems to continue operating effectively. The forest surrounding the protected area must then be carefully managed so that it serves as buffer zone. These surrounding forests also allow local communities to earn a livelihood without infringing on the protected forests.
There have been numerous efforts aimed at safeguarding the world’s biodiversity by protecting species in areas outside their original habitats. For example, seeds of some of the most economically important trees are being conserved in seed centres and gene- banks as a way of protecting their diversity. But a large number of forest species have seed that do not survive storage, and many species of animals and plant –life are hard to protect once removed from their ecosystems
A continuing Threat
Forest biodiversity is threatened by rapid deforestation, forest fragmentation and degradation, hunting and the arrival of invasive species from the other habitats. We are losing 12 million hectares of forest a year, much of it tropical rainforest with its unique and rich biodiversity.
Why Does it Matter?
In the past, timber production was regarded as the dominant function of forests. However in recent years this perception has shifted to a more multi –functional and balanced view. Other forest functions and services, such as recreation, health and well -being, biological diversity , maintained of ecosystem services and the mitigation of climate change , are now recognized as part of the importance of forests and have biological diversity is increasingly recognized as both a complex and unique element .
KP
STANDARDISING INDIAN EDUCATION
Cabinet approves major education reforms Bills
Duping students by charging capitation fee or failing to keep promise of quality education could now attract a fine of upto Rs 50 lakh for errant institutes or imprisonment upto three years for its administrators, according a Bill cleared by the cabinet on Friday.
Paving the way for stricter penal action against educational institutions indulging in unfair practices, the Cabinet approved the draft Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical, Medical Educational Institutions and Universities Bill, 2010.
The Cabinet also cleared two other education reforms Bills — one for setting up of Educational Tribunals to adjudicate disputes in campuses and another on setting up a National Accreditation Agency to give accreditation and benchmarks to institutions. These Bills will now be tabled in Parliament, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters here.
According to the Bill on Prohibition of Unfair Practices, charging of capitation fee or failure of educational institutions to keep promises of quality education could attract imprisonment up to three years for guilty administrators or fine up to Rs 50 lakh for the institute.
The Bill seeks to consider such practices as criminal or civil offences depending on the nature of the crime.
According the Bill, if an institute makes certain promises in its prospectus, but does not deliver or charges capitation fee from a number of students, then such practices should be considered criminal offences.
However, in case of an isolated instance of malpractice involving just one or two students, the offences could be considered civil offences. In such cases, the institutes could be slapped fines.
The criminal offences should be tried in a court of law while civil offences will be tried in educational tribunals to be set up soon.
The Educational Tribunal Bill will provides for setting up of tribunals to settle all types of disputes, including any type of malpractice or harassment of students.
The third Bill is on setting up of an accreditation agency which assess and accredit institution of higher education to ensure high standards. The proposed National Accreditation Authority will evaluate the quality of institutes.
Duping students by charging capitation fee or failing to keep promise of quality education could now attract a fine of upto Rs 50 lakh for errant institutes or imprisonment upto three years for its administrators, according a Bill cleared by the cabinet on Friday.
Paving the way for stricter penal action against educational institutions indulging in unfair practices, the Cabinet approved the draft Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical, Medical Educational Institutions and Universities Bill, 2010.
The Cabinet also cleared two other education reforms Bills — one for setting up of Educational Tribunals to adjudicate disputes in campuses and another on setting up a National Accreditation Agency to give accreditation and benchmarks to institutions. These Bills will now be tabled in Parliament, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters here.
According to the Bill on Prohibition of Unfair Practices, charging of capitation fee or failure of educational institutions to keep promises of quality education could attract imprisonment up to three years for guilty administrators or fine up to Rs 50 lakh for the institute.
The Bill seeks to consider such practices as criminal or civil offences depending on the nature of the crime.
According the Bill, if an institute makes certain promises in its prospectus, but does not deliver or charges capitation fee from a number of students, then such practices should be considered criminal offences.
However, in case of an isolated instance of malpractice involving just one or two students, the offences could be considered civil offences. In such cases, the institutes could be slapped fines.
The criminal offences should be tried in a court of law while civil offences will be tried in educational tribunals to be set up soon.
The Educational Tribunal Bill will provides for setting up of tribunals to settle all types of disputes, including any type of malpractice or harassment of students.
The third Bill is on setting up of an accreditation agency which assess and accredit institution of higher education to ensure high standards. The proposed National Accreditation Authority will evaluate the quality of institutes.
The Ex-President of India DR. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam's Speech in Hyderabad .
Why is the media here so negative?
Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements? We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?
We are the first in milk production.
We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.
We are the second largest producer of wheat.
We are the second largest producer of rice.
Look at Dr. Sudarshan, he has transferred the tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit. There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed in the bad news and failures and disasters.
I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.
In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime..
Why are we so NEGATIVE?
Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? We want foreign TVs, we want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology.
Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that self-respect comes with self-reliance? I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is. She replied: I want to live in a developed India. For her, you and I will have to build this developed India . You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly developed nation.
Do you have 10 minutes? Allow me to come back with a vengeance. Got 10 minutes for your country? If yes, then read; otherwise, choice is yours.
YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke. The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.
YOU say, say and say. What do YOU do about it?
Take a person on his way to Singapore. Give him a name - 'YOURS'. Give him a face - 'YOURS'. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best. In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their Underground links as they are. You pay $5 (approx. Rs. 60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity… In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU?
YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai .
YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah.
YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds (Rs.650) a month to, 'see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else.
YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, 'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost.
YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand .
Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo?
Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston???
We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here in India?
Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay, Mr. Tinaikar, had a point to make. 'Rich people's dogs are walked on the streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place,' he said. 'And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect the officers to do? Go down with a broom every time their dog feels the pressure in his bowels? In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan.
Will the Indian citizen do that here?' He's right. We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility.
We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.
We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity.
This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to the public.
When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl child! and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? 'It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.' So who's going to change the system?
What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me and YOU.
When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.Clean to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away.
Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we run to England . When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government. Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money.
Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too…. I am echoing J. F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians…..'ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY'
Lets do what India needs from us.
Forward this to each Indian for a change instead of sending Jokes or junk mails.
source: Vibha Chaitanya
Why is the media here so negative?
Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements? We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?
We are the first in milk production.
We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.
We are the second largest producer of wheat.
We are the second largest producer of rice.
Look at Dr. Sudarshan, he has transferred the tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit. There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed in the bad news and failures and disasters.
I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.
In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime..
Why are we so NEGATIVE?
Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? We want foreign TVs, we want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology.
Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that self-respect comes with self-reliance? I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is. She replied: I want to live in a developed India. For her, you and I will have to build this developed India . You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly developed nation.
Do you have 10 minutes? Allow me to come back with a vengeance. Got 10 minutes for your country? If yes, then read; otherwise, choice is yours.
YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke. The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.
YOU say, say and say. What do YOU do about it?
Take a person on his way to Singapore. Give him a name - 'YOURS'. Give him a face - 'YOURS'. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best. In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their Underground links as they are. You pay $5 (approx. Rs. 60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity… In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU?
YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai .
YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah.
YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds (Rs.650) a month to, 'see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else.
YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, 'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost.
YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand .
Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo?
Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston???
We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here in India?
Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay, Mr. Tinaikar, had a point to make. 'Rich people's dogs are walked on the streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place,' he said. 'And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect the officers to do? Go down with a broom every time their dog feels the pressure in his bowels? In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan.
Will the Indian citizen do that here?' He's right. We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility.
We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.
We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity.
This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to the public.
When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl child! and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? 'It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.' So who's going to change the system?
What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me and YOU.
When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.Clean to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away.
Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we run to England . When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government. Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money.
Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too…. I am echoing J. F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians…..'ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY'
Lets do what India needs from us.
Forward this to each Indian for a change instead of sending Jokes or junk mails.
source: Vibha Chaitanya
'10min of intensive exercise as good as hours of training'
The researchers found that HIT (high intensity interval training) is "a time-efficient but safe alternative to traditional types of moderate long term exercise".
The common excuse that there is not enough time to exercise effectively is now wearing thin as scientists have claimed that short but intensive bursts of workout are as effective as hours of moderate training.
The study into the benefits of "high intensity interval training", known as HIT, by McMaster University, Canada, suggested that staying in shape is not at all a time-consuming affair.
The researchers found that HIT is "a time-efficient but safe alternative to traditional types of moderate long term exercise".
HIT involves running or cycling at almost maximum effort for a minute and then resting for a minute before repeating the process around 10 times, The Telegraph reported.
For their study, volunteers rode an exercise bike in stints lasting just 60 seconds while peddling hard enough to get close to their maximum heart rate.
Tests afterwards showed that their muscles had improved as much as if they had been involved in endurance training.
Prof. Martin Gibala, who led the research, said the study "proved that it was possible to get more by doing less".
His report, published in the Journal of Physiology, said it was not clear why HIT was so effective but it appeared to "stimulate many of the same cellular pathways" as traditional training regimes.
"The findings also meant that a lack of free time was no longer an excuse for refusing to exercise," Prof. Gibala said.
source; The Hindu
The researchers found that HIT (high intensity interval training) is "a time-efficient but safe alternative to traditional types of moderate long term exercise".
The common excuse that there is not enough time to exercise effectively is now wearing thin as scientists have claimed that short but intensive bursts of workout are as effective as hours of moderate training.
The study into the benefits of "high intensity interval training", known as HIT, by McMaster University, Canada, suggested that staying in shape is not at all a time-consuming affair.
The researchers found that HIT is "a time-efficient but safe alternative to traditional types of moderate long term exercise".
HIT involves running or cycling at almost maximum effort for a minute and then resting for a minute before repeating the process around 10 times, The Telegraph reported.
For their study, volunteers rode an exercise bike in stints lasting just 60 seconds while peddling hard enough to get close to their maximum heart rate.
Tests afterwards showed that their muscles had improved as much as if they had been involved in endurance training.
Prof. Martin Gibala, who led the research, said the study "proved that it was possible to get more by doing less".
His report, published in the Journal of Physiology, said it was not clear why HIT was so effective but it appeared to "stimulate many of the same cellular pathways" as traditional training regimes.
"The findings also meant that a lack of free time was no longer an excuse for refusing to exercise," Prof. Gibala said.
source; The Hindu
BHUTAN: Tsirang’s earthworm farm
BY TASHI DEMA
Clean Fertiliser: The worms doth turn a profit
18 March: If an earthworm is the farmer’s best friend, 59-year old Dawa Sherpa has many friends on his farm.
The former gewog chimi from Patsaling, Tsirang, is a successful vegetable farmer, whose annual income ranges from Nu 60,000 to Nu 80,000. Dawa has about 5000 earthworms in his vermi-compost plant. Vermi-compost is the excreta of earthworm, which is rich in humus.
He got the idea of raising the slithering worms from a farmer’s tour to Kalimpong in May last year. Dawa Sherpa, the father of four, made a compost of kitchen waste, banana leaves and cow dung in a wooden container last October. “I went to collect earthworms from nearby marshy areas and put them here,” he said.
In the heaped compost, Dawa explains, as the earthworms go down, eating the layers, the darkish granular powder formed on the top is organic manure.
Collecting the earthworm was the most difficult, according to him, as he had to identify the worm that feeds from the top. “I’m told that there are about 300 species of earthworm and I had to identify it myself,” he said.
“This is my guru,” he said, showing a book on making vermi-compost, written in Hindi. He constructed the compost following instructions from the book.
According to Dawa, a few months after he took the initiative, the dzongkhag agriculture office supported him and gave him Nu 13,000 to buy CGI sheets and construct two cemented pits. “I can now breed about 50,000 earthworm here,” he said.
Dawa said that he developed interest in breeding earthworms because it produces organic fertilisers. His income comes from the largest vegetable-producing village in the dzongkhag, where all 46 households’ main income is from sale of vegetables.
“Using these fertilisers, all villagers can promote organic vegetables,” he said. “A lot of people are complaining of health problems because of chemical fertilisers these days, so the vegetable would be in demand in the market.”
The gewog agriculture extension officer, NB Lama, said that there is a high probability that organic fertilisers, if promoted in Bhutan, will have an edge over chemical fertilisers due to its negative effect on health. “With time, vegetable farmers would prefer to use the compost-cum-organic fertilisers that are safer and healthy.”
NB Lama said that the earthworm rearing initiative would also promote sustainable agriculture and organic farming. “All you need to do is scatter a handful of the fertiliser on top of the soil in your land,” said NB Lama. “It’s the best fertiliser.”
NB Lama explains that the compost should not be exposed to direct sunlight and heavy rain, and covered to protect the earthworms from birds. According to Dawa, it takes about three months to produce a compost fertiliser. “Earthworm population increases every 45 days,” he said, adding that his initial 500 earthworms today increased to about 5,000.
Dawa Sherpa is planning to share his idea. He wants to sell earthworms so that people can use them to produce their own vermicast or even for breeding.
He even collected the water, which trickles through the compost, in a jerry can at the base as vermiwash. “I used it as manure and see how good the vegetable is,” he said, proudly pointing to his garden filled with cabbages.
Vermin-compost fertiliser contained 19 types of minerals, including nitrogen, calcium, manganese, sulphur and iodine, which are absorbed easily and used by plants. “Earthworms eat cow-dung or farmyard manure along with other farm waste and pass it through their body and in the process convert it into vermi-compost,” say the literature on vermin-compost on the Internet.
Till today, Dawa has collected about a bucket of manure, and took it for exhibition in Gelephu trade show and for agriculture officials to see. He is hoping to earn from selling his manure, but is not sure where to sell his manure or at what price. “I hope the dzongkhag agriculture office will determine and help me.”
The dzongkhag agriculture officer, Pema Chopel, said that the dzongkhag would definitely explore market for his products.
“If not farmers, people, who grow flowers, will surely buy it,” he said.
source: Barun Roy
BY TASHI DEMA
Clean Fertiliser: The worms doth turn a profit
18 March: If an earthworm is the farmer’s best friend, 59-year old Dawa Sherpa has many friends on his farm.
The former gewog chimi from Patsaling, Tsirang, is a successful vegetable farmer, whose annual income ranges from Nu 60,000 to Nu 80,000. Dawa has about 5000 earthworms in his vermi-compost plant. Vermi-compost is the excreta of earthworm, which is rich in humus.
He got the idea of raising the slithering worms from a farmer’s tour to Kalimpong in May last year. Dawa Sherpa, the father of four, made a compost of kitchen waste, banana leaves and cow dung in a wooden container last October. “I went to collect earthworms from nearby marshy areas and put them here,” he said.
In the heaped compost, Dawa explains, as the earthworms go down, eating the layers, the darkish granular powder formed on the top is organic manure.
Collecting the earthworm was the most difficult, according to him, as he had to identify the worm that feeds from the top. “I’m told that there are about 300 species of earthworm and I had to identify it myself,” he said.
“This is my guru,” he said, showing a book on making vermi-compost, written in Hindi. He constructed the compost following instructions from the book.
According to Dawa, a few months after he took the initiative, the dzongkhag agriculture office supported him and gave him Nu 13,000 to buy CGI sheets and construct two cemented pits. “I can now breed about 50,000 earthworm here,” he said.
Dawa said that he developed interest in breeding earthworms because it produces organic fertilisers. His income comes from the largest vegetable-producing village in the dzongkhag, where all 46 households’ main income is from sale of vegetables.
“Using these fertilisers, all villagers can promote organic vegetables,” he said. “A lot of people are complaining of health problems because of chemical fertilisers these days, so the vegetable would be in demand in the market.”
The gewog agriculture extension officer, NB Lama, said that there is a high probability that organic fertilisers, if promoted in Bhutan, will have an edge over chemical fertilisers due to its negative effect on health. “With time, vegetable farmers would prefer to use the compost-cum-organic fertilisers that are safer and healthy.”
NB Lama said that the earthworm rearing initiative would also promote sustainable agriculture and organic farming. “All you need to do is scatter a handful of the fertiliser on top of the soil in your land,” said NB Lama. “It’s the best fertiliser.”
NB Lama explains that the compost should not be exposed to direct sunlight and heavy rain, and covered to protect the earthworms from birds. According to Dawa, it takes about three months to produce a compost fertiliser. “Earthworm population increases every 45 days,” he said, adding that his initial 500 earthworms today increased to about 5,000.
Dawa Sherpa is planning to share his idea. He wants to sell earthworms so that people can use them to produce their own vermicast or even for breeding.
He even collected the water, which trickles through the compost, in a jerry can at the base as vermiwash. “I used it as manure and see how good the vegetable is,” he said, proudly pointing to his garden filled with cabbages.
Vermin-compost fertiliser contained 19 types of minerals, including nitrogen, calcium, manganese, sulphur and iodine, which are absorbed easily and used by plants. “Earthworms eat cow-dung or farmyard manure along with other farm waste and pass it through their body and in the process convert it into vermi-compost,” say the literature on vermin-compost on the Internet.
Till today, Dawa has collected about a bucket of manure, and took it for exhibition in Gelephu trade show and for agriculture officials to see. He is hoping to earn from selling his manure, but is not sure where to sell his manure or at what price. “I hope the dzongkhag agriculture office will determine and help me.”
The dzongkhag agriculture officer, Pema Chopel, said that the dzongkhag would definitely explore market for his products.
“If not farmers, people, who grow flowers, will surely buy it,” he said.
source: Barun Roy
TRUE CHANGE: CHANGE IN CONSCIOUSNESS
INSIGHTS
TRUE CHANGE: CHANGE IN CONSCIOUSNESS
Call it the expressions of unending selfishness or the result of deep insecurity, a human being manages ‘not to change’ deep inside, while adapting his public behaviour very cleverly. Desire and fear lurk in his consciousness but he learns to show himself as highly service-minded and not afraid of material loss or criticism of any kind. His public behaviour makes him not only acceptable in the society but quite good in his own opinion. However there are skeletons in the cupboard and he therefore lives in conflict and his daily life lacks true peace.
Change in behaviour is not a big deal. You will achieve it with some intelligence. You succeed in conforming to the demands of family members, colleagues or the society in general. This business of getting social approval begins in school days when many a student gets the approving nod from his teachers. They say he is well-behaved. Words like obedient, loyal and disciplined are heaped upon the so-called good student. Less importance is given to the question if he is creative or if he is free from inner conflict. The poor boy may have suppressed many a curiosity or explorative urge in order to satisfy the expectations of the teachers and other elders. There is then no holistic growth for he is not learning in an atmosphere of freedom. The pressure of expectations makes him a second-hand personality.
Change in consciousness is of very great value. Your intelligence has to penetrate very deep in order to bring about it. You then show care and love to people not just because that is expected from you but you see clearly how lack of care and love is injurious to yourself and others. You directly notice the foul smell of insensitivity and indifference even as they arise in you. If you are a scholar, a speaker or a writer then you have a lot of knowledge. It does not ensure however that you have changed. Information does not mean transformation. Through constant intellectual activity, you may gather a lot of knowledge. Through direct perception, your consciousness changes. Hidden fears and lurking desires leave you when the magical faculty of seeing (which is not thinking or analysis) exposes their illusory nature.
You change in behaviour when thought operates. Change in consciousness takes place when attention works on thought. Thought is concerned with the self, which is its own creation. When you think, you cannot but keep the interest of the self as a priority. When you pay attention to how thought operates, there is no priority. There is only an effort towards understanding what is. This effort at understanding the movement of the self is distinct from the usual cerebral activity of reading books and forming concepts.
We must see therefore the importance of silence. Sitting silently, we may take a look at the way our thought operates. Without interfering with rising memories, without encouraging or suppressing any of them either, we may learn a lot through alert watching. While clever thinking brings to our view many solutions to problems, this seeing takes a quantum leap and dissolves problems. Words have power, we have always heard. Thought has power, we know it too. Do we realize how much power alert silence has?
by Swami Chidananda
Varanasi
March 15, 2010
TRUE CHANGE: CHANGE IN CONSCIOUSNESS
Call it the expressions of unending selfishness or the result of deep insecurity, a human being manages ‘not to change’ deep inside, while adapting his public behaviour very cleverly. Desire and fear lurk in his consciousness but he learns to show himself as highly service-minded and not afraid of material loss or criticism of any kind. His public behaviour makes him not only acceptable in the society but quite good in his own opinion. However there are skeletons in the cupboard and he therefore lives in conflict and his daily life lacks true peace.
Change in behaviour is not a big deal. You will achieve it with some intelligence. You succeed in conforming to the demands of family members, colleagues or the society in general. This business of getting social approval begins in school days when many a student gets the approving nod from his teachers. They say he is well-behaved. Words like obedient, loyal and disciplined are heaped upon the so-called good student. Less importance is given to the question if he is creative or if he is free from inner conflict. The poor boy may have suppressed many a curiosity or explorative urge in order to satisfy the expectations of the teachers and other elders. There is then no holistic growth for he is not learning in an atmosphere of freedom. The pressure of expectations makes him a second-hand personality.
Change in consciousness is of very great value. Your intelligence has to penetrate very deep in order to bring about it. You then show care and love to people not just because that is expected from you but you see clearly how lack of care and love is injurious to yourself and others. You directly notice the foul smell of insensitivity and indifference even as they arise in you. If you are a scholar, a speaker or a writer then you have a lot of knowledge. It does not ensure however that you have changed. Information does not mean transformation. Through constant intellectual activity, you may gather a lot of knowledge. Through direct perception, your consciousness changes. Hidden fears and lurking desires leave you when the magical faculty of seeing (which is not thinking or analysis) exposes their illusory nature.
You change in behaviour when thought operates. Change in consciousness takes place when attention works on thought. Thought is concerned with the self, which is its own creation. When you think, you cannot but keep the interest of the self as a priority. When you pay attention to how thought operates, there is no priority. There is only an effort towards understanding what is. This effort at understanding the movement of the self is distinct from the usual cerebral activity of reading books and forming concepts.
We must see therefore the importance of silence. Sitting silently, we may take a look at the way our thought operates. Without interfering with rising memories, without encouraging or suppressing any of them either, we may learn a lot through alert watching. While clever thinking brings to our view many solutions to problems, this seeing takes a quantum leap and dissolves problems. Words have power, we have always heard. Thought has power, we know it too. Do we realize how much power alert silence has?
by Swami Chidananda
Varanasi
March 15, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Baba Ramdev to make documentary on Sikkim
Patanjali Yoga Peeth in South Sikkim
by Sanjay Agarwal
source;voice of sikkim
18 March, Gangtok: Yog Guru Baba Ramdev today returned back after completion of his two days Sikkim visit. During the visit he interacted with media where he expressed his happiness for people of Sikkim, he said ‘People of Sikkim are living in Heaven and they should feel proud about it!’. Baba visited almost few locations in Gangtok , also he visited surrounding areas even due to his tight schedules.
Outmost dream of Baba Ramdev and people of Sikkim will come true shortly, a proposal was placed to the Chief Minister Dr Pawan Kumar Chamling during the meet to built a ‘Patanjali Yog Peeth Ashram’ , the location for said Peeth was selected Solophok, Namchi. It may be recalled that Solophok in Namchi where a Char Dham is also being coming up, on the other hand a Patanjali Yog Peeth Ashram in the same location would make the South Sikkim more focused heritage place.
With a profound heart Baba Ramdev also stated that overall development of Sikkim is incomparable with any other states in India, the idea which others Chief Minister also need to learn from Chamling. In behalf of Sikkim he assured to make a documentary on Sikkim, which will also highlight Chief Minister’s dedication and effort in making Sikkim a prosperous state. He said that the copies of the documentary film in CD will be disbursed to all the Chief Ministers in the country and encourage them to work on the same principal as well as qualities
Patanjali Yoga Peeth in South Sikkim
by Sanjay Agarwal
source;voice of sikkim
18 March, Gangtok: Yog Guru Baba Ramdev today returned back after completion of his two days Sikkim visit. During the visit he interacted with media where he expressed his happiness for people of Sikkim, he said ‘People of Sikkim are living in Heaven and they should feel proud about it!’. Baba visited almost few locations in Gangtok , also he visited surrounding areas even due to his tight schedules.
Outmost dream of Baba Ramdev and people of Sikkim will come true shortly, a proposal was placed to the Chief Minister Dr Pawan Kumar Chamling during the meet to built a ‘Patanjali Yog Peeth Ashram’ , the location for said Peeth was selected Solophok, Namchi. It may be recalled that Solophok in Namchi where a Char Dham is also being coming up, on the other hand a Patanjali Yog Peeth Ashram in the same location would make the South Sikkim more focused heritage place.
With a profound heart Baba Ramdev also stated that overall development of Sikkim is incomparable with any other states in India, the idea which others Chief Minister also need to learn from Chamling. In behalf of Sikkim he assured to make a documentary on Sikkim, which will also highlight Chief Minister’s dedication and effort in making Sikkim a prosperous state. He said that the copies of the documentary film in CD will be disbursed to all the Chief Ministers in the country and encourage them to work on the same principal as well as qualities
Morgan Stanley Leads $425 Million Investment in Asian Genco
The assets include the 1,200- megawatt Teesta III in Sikkim state
March 17, 2010, 9:52 AM EDT
source: Businessweek
March 17 (Bloomberg) -- Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners and a group of global investors plan to invest $425 million in Asian Genco Pte, an infrastructure company with power generation assets in India.
Asian Genco, which is developing about 4,000 megawatts of hydro, thermal and wind power projects in India, secured the funding from a group led by Morgan Stanley, the Singapore-based company said in a statement. Morgan Stanley declined to give its individual commitment in a separate e-mailed statement.
The group includes General Atlantic LLC, Goldman Sachs Investment Management, Norwest Venture Partners and Everstone Capital, Asian Genco said. PTC India Ltd., the nation’s biggest power trader, will remain an investor in the various projects. Spokesmen for the companies were not available for immediate comment.
Asian Genco said it will require about $4.5 billion in capital for its power projects. The assets include the 1,200- megawatt Teesta III in Sikkim state, which Asian Genco described as India’s largest non-state hydropower project, and a 2,640- megawatt coal-fired plant in Andhra Pradesh state.
--Editors: John Chacko, Abhay Singh.
The assets include the 1,200- megawatt Teesta III in Sikkim state
March 17, 2010, 9:52 AM EDT
source: Businessweek
March 17 (Bloomberg) -- Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners and a group of global investors plan to invest $425 million in Asian Genco Pte, an infrastructure company with power generation assets in India.
Asian Genco, which is developing about 4,000 megawatts of hydro, thermal and wind power projects in India, secured the funding from a group led by Morgan Stanley, the Singapore-based company said in a statement. Morgan Stanley declined to give its individual commitment in a separate e-mailed statement.
The group includes General Atlantic LLC, Goldman Sachs Investment Management, Norwest Venture Partners and Everstone Capital, Asian Genco said. PTC India Ltd., the nation’s biggest power trader, will remain an investor in the various projects. Spokesmen for the companies were not available for immediate comment.
Asian Genco said it will require about $4.5 billion in capital for its power projects. The assets include the 1,200- megawatt Teesta III in Sikkim state, which Asian Genco described as India’s largest non-state hydropower project, and a 2,640- megawatt coal-fired plant in Andhra Pradesh state.
--Editors: John Chacko, Abhay Singh.
Baba Ramdev on two days visit to Sikkim
by:Sanjay Agarwal
Voice of Sikkim
17 March,Gangtok: The vision to made India stronger, corruption free, peaceful might well get into action very soon, well known Yog Guru Baba Ramdev hints his debut entry into politics. Swami Ramdev or Ramkishan Yadav amicably wits to bring a changes in Indian routine political dais , last year himself maintaining a distance from BJP where he shared a platform with Hindutva parivar at Panipat on terrorism.
He lists the agendas that he thinks should be brought into implication those which are Cow Slaughter, raising 33% women reservation to 50% , recovering Black Money. Ramdev made the statement on Tuesday and determines about his political mileage would start from couple of years from now.
Baba also interpreted his stanza yesterday over conferring Mayawati a currency garland, terming it as a injustice to people’s expectations.
Baba Ramdev is on his two days visit to Sikkim from today, he today reached Sikkim’s capital at around 2:30 PM today on a helicopter from Bagdogra. While talking to the media he said that Sikkim is beautiful and very peaceful state only the thing that matters here are Drugs Abuse and raising suicide rates.Country needs a better guidance for bringing youths into a mainstream by letting them be focussed but in today’s world bad things like drugs abuse have dominated the society, which he said can only be overcoem through a spiritual cleanse and yog. Baba indeed wanted to establish a ‘Yog Peeth’ in Sikkim too for which he shall talk to the Chief Minister
Dr. Pawan Kumar Chamling, as he said to the media. Sikkim has a suffecient diversity to make its stand firm across the world , ‘Adhyatmik Yog Tourism’, ‘Health Tourism’ can benefit the tiny state in that case.
Baba Ramdev always thought to come to Sikkim since he was facinated with the rich cultural, flora,fauna vivid diversity of small himalayan state. While commenting over a politics which indeed is a big surprise pack of Baba Ramdev, Baba hinted that in his future political arena he may not nominate any Lok Sabha candidate from Sikkim from his party.
by:Sanjay Agarwal
Voice of Sikkim
17 March,Gangtok: The vision to made India stronger, corruption free, peaceful might well get into action very soon, well known Yog Guru Baba Ramdev hints his debut entry into politics. Swami Ramdev or Ramkishan Yadav amicably wits to bring a changes in Indian routine political dais , last year himself maintaining a distance from BJP where he shared a platform with Hindutva parivar at Panipat on terrorism.
He lists the agendas that he thinks should be brought into implication those which are Cow Slaughter, raising 33% women reservation to 50% , recovering Black Money. Ramdev made the statement on Tuesday and determines about his political mileage would start from couple of years from now.
Baba also interpreted his stanza yesterday over conferring Mayawati a currency garland, terming it as a injustice to people’s expectations.
Baba Ramdev is on his two days visit to Sikkim from today, he today reached Sikkim’s capital at around 2:30 PM today on a helicopter from Bagdogra. While talking to the media he said that Sikkim is beautiful and very peaceful state only the thing that matters here are Drugs Abuse and raising suicide rates.Country needs a better guidance for bringing youths into a mainstream by letting them be focussed but in today’s world bad things like drugs abuse have dominated the society, which he said can only be overcoem through a spiritual cleanse and yog. Baba indeed wanted to establish a ‘Yog Peeth’ in Sikkim too for which he shall talk to the Chief Minister
Dr. Pawan Kumar Chamling, as he said to the media. Sikkim has a suffecient diversity to make its stand firm across the world , ‘Adhyatmik Yog Tourism’, ‘Health Tourism’ can benefit the tiny state in that case.
Baba Ramdev always thought to come to Sikkim since he was facinated with the rich cultural, flora,fauna vivid diversity of small himalayan state. While commenting over a politics which indeed is a big surprise pack of Baba Ramdev, Baba hinted that in his future political arena he may not nominate any Lok Sabha candidate from Sikkim from his party.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
HIGH SPEED RAIL LINK BETWEEN INDIA AND CHINA by 2025
China wants high-speed rail link to India
Beijing to London via New Delhi will take two days.
BY Ananth Krishnan
The proposed plan is part of a 17-country transcontinental rail project
China wants to build a high-speed rail line connecting its south-western city of Kunming to New Delhi and Lahore, part of a 17-country transcontinental rail project, officials familiar with the plans told The Hindu.
After years of much talk and little progress, China has finally reached agreements with several Central Asian countries and given the green signal to its ambitious pan-Asian high-speed rail link, which envisages connecting cities in China to Central Asia, Iran, Europe, Russia and Singapore.
One proposal involves a line running from Kunming, in south-western Yunnan province, to New Delhi, Lahore and on to Tehran, according to Wang Mengshu, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and one of the country's leading railway consultants.
“India is a relatively small country with a huge population,” he told The Hindu in an interview. “It will be too costly to build highways for India, so our high-speed rail link project will improve transportation efficiency and resources. I am confident we can finally reach an agreement, which will greatly help exports to the Indian Ocean direction.” He said talks with Indian officials were “friendly,” and they had been “welcoming” of the idea
. The pan-Asian high-speed rail link has been talked about by Chinese officials since 1995, but appears to have finally begun to gather momentum following negotiations last year, and after China's own success in launching a domestic high-speed rail network.
In December, China opened what it described as the world's fastest rail link, between Wuhan and southern Guangzhou, where a 350 kmph-speed train covers the 1,068 km journey in three hours, down from 10.5 hours. By 2012, China will have opened 42 high-speed lines, covering 13,000 km of its total railway coverage of 110,000 km. When completed, China's will be the world's largest high-speed railway network.
Three lines
China now intends to extend this rail network far beyond its borders. The plan involves constructing three high-speed lines: a southern line through Cambodia, Vietnam and extending to Singapore; a western line from the country's Xinjiang region through Central Asia; and the third running north through the gas reserves of Russia to eastern Europe, and possibly even all the way to the United Kingdom. The proposed line to India, running through Myanmar, will join with the central line at Tehran.
Mr. Wang told The Hindu that China had reached an agreement with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, while negotiations with other countries “are now going smoothly.” Construction work has begun on the southern line, which starts from Kunming and runs to Singapore.
Negotiations with the military government in Myanmar and also with Singapore, where the southern line will end, had progressed positively, he said.
When completed, the plan will give China unprecedented access to energy resources in many of these countries.
A spokesperson at the Ministry of Railways told the official Global Times newspaper on Friday that the Chinese government has initiated talks with some of the 17 countries involved in the project. China will bear the brunt of the cost of building the high-speed rail lines in many of the countries involved, but will in return get access to energy resources in a proposed “resources for technology” arrangement, the Global Times reported.
Mr. Wang, also a professor of civil engineering at the Beijing Jiaotong University, said in the best-case scenario the rail link would be completed by 2025, when a train journey from Beijing to London would only take two days.
But two factors that have continued to hinder the project, Mr. Wang said, were differences in the standard of railway track used in some countries, as well as track renovations needed in some areas. In the southern line, for instance, more than 650 km of track need renovation in Cambodia, while some sections in Myanmar were below the required standards. The rail lines that will be constructed would be 1,435 mm standard gauge lines, he said, and “are to be exclusively used by the new high-speed transportation.”
Beijing to London via New Delhi will take two days.
BY Ananth Krishnan
The proposed plan is part of a 17-country transcontinental rail project
China wants to build a high-speed rail line connecting its south-western city of Kunming to New Delhi and Lahore, part of a 17-country transcontinental rail project, officials familiar with the plans told The Hindu.
After years of much talk and little progress, China has finally reached agreements with several Central Asian countries and given the green signal to its ambitious pan-Asian high-speed rail link, which envisages connecting cities in China to Central Asia, Iran, Europe, Russia and Singapore.
One proposal involves a line running from Kunming, in south-western Yunnan province, to New Delhi, Lahore and on to Tehran, according to Wang Mengshu, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and one of the country's leading railway consultants.
“India is a relatively small country with a huge population,” he told The Hindu in an interview. “It will be too costly to build highways for India, so our high-speed rail link project will improve transportation efficiency and resources. I am confident we can finally reach an agreement, which will greatly help exports to the Indian Ocean direction.” He said talks with Indian officials were “friendly,” and they had been “welcoming” of the idea
. The pan-Asian high-speed rail link has been talked about by Chinese officials since 1995, but appears to have finally begun to gather momentum following negotiations last year, and after China's own success in launching a domestic high-speed rail network.
In December, China opened what it described as the world's fastest rail link, between Wuhan and southern Guangzhou, where a 350 kmph-speed train covers the 1,068 km journey in three hours, down from 10.5 hours. By 2012, China will have opened 42 high-speed lines, covering 13,000 km of its total railway coverage of 110,000 km. When completed, China's will be the world's largest high-speed railway network.
Three lines
China now intends to extend this rail network far beyond its borders. The plan involves constructing three high-speed lines: a southern line through Cambodia, Vietnam and extending to Singapore; a western line from the country's Xinjiang region through Central Asia; and the third running north through the gas reserves of Russia to eastern Europe, and possibly even all the way to the United Kingdom. The proposed line to India, running through Myanmar, will join with the central line at Tehran.
Mr. Wang told The Hindu that China had reached an agreement with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, while negotiations with other countries “are now going smoothly.” Construction work has begun on the southern line, which starts from Kunming and runs to Singapore.
Negotiations with the military government in Myanmar and also with Singapore, where the southern line will end, had progressed positively, he said.
When completed, the plan will give China unprecedented access to energy resources in many of these countries.
A spokesperson at the Ministry of Railways told the official Global Times newspaper on Friday that the Chinese government has initiated talks with some of the 17 countries involved in the project. China will bear the brunt of the cost of building the high-speed rail lines in many of the countries involved, but will in return get access to energy resources in a proposed “resources for technology” arrangement, the Global Times reported.
Mr. Wang, also a professor of civil engineering at the Beijing Jiaotong University, said in the best-case scenario the rail link would be completed by 2025, when a train journey from Beijing to London would only take two days.
But two factors that have continued to hinder the project, Mr. Wang said, were differences in the standard of railway track used in some countries, as well as track renovations needed in some areas. In the southern line, for instance, more than 650 km of track need renovation in Cambodia, while some sections in Myanmar were below the required standards. The rail lines that will be constructed would be 1,435 mm standard gauge lines, he said, and “are to be exclusively used by the new high-speed transportation.”
‘Oceans covered earth 4 billion years ago’
A research from Jack Hills in Western Australia in 2005 had first suggested the existence of an ocean four billion years ago.
A study of arctic crystals found in Greenland has given a boost to the theory that the earth was covered by oceans as far back as four billion years ago.
The research by Australian and Swedish geochronologists also sheds light on the processes that formed the continents and crust in the Archaen Era between 2.5 and four billion years ago.
Scientists believe because of weathering and recycling of the earth’s crust by subduction into the mantle, most of the rocks of that era have been lost. However, clues are preserved in the ancient isotopic signatures of chemicals in crystals called zircons, said the researchers.
They found the evidence from sandstones in the Moraeneso Formation in North Greenland, which confirms the presence of oceans on the early earth, the CBS News reported.
The researchers, led by Chris Kirkland from the Western Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum, analysed the ratio of heavy to light isotopes of oxygen in zircons ranging from 900 million to 3.9 billion years old. They compared this isotopic ratio to the current average isotopic ratio of oceans called the “standard mean ocean water“.
“The nice thing is there is one grain that confirms the Jack Hills results and that is really critical in science,” said study co-author Martin Van Kranendonk, also from the Department of Mines and Petroleum.
A research on zircons from Jack Hills in Western Australia in 2005 had first suggested the existence of an ocean four billion years ago.
“Before we only had that data from one locality, now we have the same result literally from the other side of the world,” said Van Kranendonk.
The isotopic composition of this grain shows that it must have been altered by low temperature, near surface conditions, which points to weathering by liquid water, he said.
“Rain is probably not enough to give this sort of a signature because we are dealing with large areas of exposed rocks and they have been significantly altered (by weathering).
“The volume of water must have been significant.”
Since subduction is needed to drag water into the crust, the finding also confirms that plate tectonics — the cycling of the Earth’s crust — was happening at this time, albeit in a different way, said the researchers.
According to them, the evidence points to a weaker, hotter crust sinking at a shallower angle into the underlying mantle.
The research, published in the current issue of the journal Lithosphere, also confirms a suspected shift in the composition of the Earth’s crust 2.5 billion years ago.
“We think this oxygen isotope value shows changes in the style of continental crust, and reflects the continents getting stiffer,” added Van Kranendonk
SOURCE: tHE hINDU
A research from Jack Hills in Western Australia in 2005 had first suggested the existence of an ocean four billion years ago.
A study of arctic crystals found in Greenland has given a boost to the theory that the earth was covered by oceans as far back as four billion years ago.
The research by Australian and Swedish geochronologists also sheds light on the processes that formed the continents and crust in the Archaen Era between 2.5 and four billion years ago.
Scientists believe because of weathering and recycling of the earth’s crust by subduction into the mantle, most of the rocks of that era have been lost. However, clues are preserved in the ancient isotopic signatures of chemicals in crystals called zircons, said the researchers.
They found the evidence from sandstones in the Moraeneso Formation in North Greenland, which confirms the presence of oceans on the early earth, the CBS News reported.
The researchers, led by Chris Kirkland from the Western Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum, analysed the ratio of heavy to light isotopes of oxygen in zircons ranging from 900 million to 3.9 billion years old. They compared this isotopic ratio to the current average isotopic ratio of oceans called the “standard mean ocean water“.
“The nice thing is there is one grain that confirms the Jack Hills results and that is really critical in science,” said study co-author Martin Van Kranendonk, also from the Department of Mines and Petroleum.
A research on zircons from Jack Hills in Western Australia in 2005 had first suggested the existence of an ocean four billion years ago.
“Before we only had that data from one locality, now we have the same result literally from the other side of the world,” said Van Kranendonk.
The isotopic composition of this grain shows that it must have been altered by low temperature, near surface conditions, which points to weathering by liquid water, he said.
“Rain is probably not enough to give this sort of a signature because we are dealing with large areas of exposed rocks and they have been significantly altered (by weathering).
“The volume of water must have been significant.”
Since subduction is needed to drag water into the crust, the finding also confirms that plate tectonics — the cycling of the Earth’s crust — was happening at this time, albeit in a different way, said the researchers.
According to them, the evidence points to a weaker, hotter crust sinking at a shallower angle into the underlying mantle.
The research, published in the current issue of the journal Lithosphere, also confirms a suspected shift in the composition of the Earth’s crust 2.5 billion years ago.
“We think this oxygen isotope value shows changes in the style of continental crust, and reflects the continents getting stiffer,” added Van Kranendonk
SOURCE: tHE hINDU
Hits and misses in Padma awards
BY Vidya Subrahmaniam
BY Sandeep Joshi
Of 19 PMO recommendations, only 11 made the final cut; former militant Gulam Mir got in with BJP MLA's support
The Prime Minister's Office recommended 19 names to the 2010 Padma Awards Committtee in two batches — seven before the official deadline of November 20, 2009, and 12 after its expiry. Of the 19, only 11 made the final cut. Those weeded out included high profile names such as former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, painter Jatin Das, dancer-scholar Padma Subrahmanyam, and AIIMS professor and doctor-on-call with NDTV Sandeep Guleria.
President Pratibha Patil made no recommendations, nor did Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
Congress veteran Motilal Vora recommended 19 names, among them former Speaker Balram Jhakar. Mr. Jhakar lost the race, as did 16 others in the list.
Minister for Law and Justice M. Veerappa Moily followed with 16 names, of which none hit the bull's eye. Conspicuous among the losers on his list were educationist and former Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University Upendra Baxi, businessman and Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and dancer Pratibha Prahlad.
Minister for Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi had the most success. Of the eight names he recommended, four made it, including controversial hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukerjee, who supported five names, could get just one person into the Padma list — Bikas Chandra Sinha, who was conferred the Padma Vibhushan for Science and Engineering. However, Mr. Sinha was also backed by former West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, Planning Commission member K. Kasturi Rangan, and former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman M.R. Srinivasan.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who was rejected, had the support of a host of big names, among them the BJP government in Karnataka, Congress State unit chief R.V. Deshpande and three Cabinet Ministers — Murli Deora, Mr. Moily and Mallikarjun Kharge.
Stage and theatre personality Soorya Krishnamoorthy missed the award despite being backed by the Kerala government, former ISRO chairman and Padma Vibhushan awardee G. Madhavan Nair, Sarod maestro and Padma Vibhushan awardee Amjad Ali Khan, director Adoor Gopalakrishnan — also a Padma Vibhushan recipient — singer K.J. Jesudas, dancer Padma Subrahmanyam, and Union Minister Shashi Tharoor.
On the other hand, reformed Jammu and Kashmir militant Gulam Mohammed Mir got the Padma Shri for public service, with the backing of Union Cabinet Minister Farooq Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Minister Gh. Hasan Mir, Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, and BJP MLA from Delhi Harsh Vardhan.
A member of the Awards Committee, Kapilas Vatsyayan, was also recommended for a Padma. She was backed by the Union Ministry of Culture, the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and Padma Vibhushan awardee M.G.K. Menon. She did not get in — for the obvious reason that she would have had to recommend herself.
Actor Rahul Bose, recommended by Mr. Gopal Krishna Gandhi, was another prominent loser.
BY Vidya Subrahmaniam
BY Sandeep Joshi
Of 19 PMO recommendations, only 11 made the final cut; former militant Gulam Mir got in with BJP MLA's support
The Prime Minister's Office recommended 19 names to the 2010 Padma Awards Committtee in two batches — seven before the official deadline of November 20, 2009, and 12 after its expiry. Of the 19, only 11 made the final cut. Those weeded out included high profile names such as former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, painter Jatin Das, dancer-scholar Padma Subrahmanyam, and AIIMS professor and doctor-on-call with NDTV Sandeep Guleria.
President Pratibha Patil made no recommendations, nor did Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
Congress veteran Motilal Vora recommended 19 names, among them former Speaker Balram Jhakar. Mr. Jhakar lost the race, as did 16 others in the list.
Minister for Law and Justice M. Veerappa Moily followed with 16 names, of which none hit the bull's eye. Conspicuous among the losers on his list were educationist and former Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University Upendra Baxi, businessman and Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and dancer Pratibha Prahlad.
Minister for Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi had the most success. Of the eight names he recommended, four made it, including controversial hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukerjee, who supported five names, could get just one person into the Padma list — Bikas Chandra Sinha, who was conferred the Padma Vibhushan for Science and Engineering. However, Mr. Sinha was also backed by former West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, Planning Commission member K. Kasturi Rangan, and former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman M.R. Srinivasan.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who was rejected, had the support of a host of big names, among them the BJP government in Karnataka, Congress State unit chief R.V. Deshpande and three Cabinet Ministers — Murli Deora, Mr. Moily and Mallikarjun Kharge.
Stage and theatre personality Soorya Krishnamoorthy missed the award despite being backed by the Kerala government, former ISRO chairman and Padma Vibhushan awardee G. Madhavan Nair, Sarod maestro and Padma Vibhushan awardee Amjad Ali Khan, director Adoor Gopalakrishnan — also a Padma Vibhushan recipient — singer K.J. Jesudas, dancer Padma Subrahmanyam, and Union Minister Shashi Tharoor.
On the other hand, reformed Jammu and Kashmir militant Gulam Mohammed Mir got the Padma Shri for public service, with the backing of Union Cabinet Minister Farooq Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Minister Gh. Hasan Mir, Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, and BJP MLA from Delhi Harsh Vardhan.
A member of the Awards Committee, Kapilas Vatsyayan, was also recommended for a Padma. She was backed by the Union Ministry of Culture, the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and Padma Vibhushan awardee M.G.K. Menon. She did not get in — for the obvious reason that she would have had to recommend herself.
Actor Rahul Bose, recommended by Mr. Gopal Krishna Gandhi, was another prominent loser.
Allocation for North East
15:10 IST
LOK SABHA
The Minister of Mines and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region Shri B.K. Handique has said that all the Ministries/Departments of Government of India, except a few specifically exempted ones earmark 10% of their annual budget, less allocation for externally aided schemes and local or event specific schemes/projects for expenditure in the North East Region. Since 1998-99, the unutilized portion of the funds earmarked by the non-exempted Ministries/Departments is surrendered at the close of each financial year in the Non-Lapsable Pool of Resources, which is being maintained on a proforma basis.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today he said, the broad reasons for under utilization as reported by the Ministries/Departments are absence of proposals and utilization of certificates from State Governments. Each year, funds are allocated from this Pool for the Plan Scheme, Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), implemented in the North Eastern States for various development projects by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. The allocation under the NLCPR Scheme from the Pool is done based on annual requirements and the absorption capacity of the NE Region and there is no under utilization of funds under this Scheme.
15:10 IST
LOK SABHA
The Minister of Mines and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region Shri B.K. Handique has said that all the Ministries/Departments of Government of India, except a few specifically exempted ones earmark 10% of their annual budget, less allocation for externally aided schemes and local or event specific schemes/projects for expenditure in the North East Region. Since 1998-99, the unutilized portion of the funds earmarked by the non-exempted Ministries/Departments is surrendered at the close of each financial year in the Non-Lapsable Pool of Resources, which is being maintained on a proforma basis.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today he said, the broad reasons for under utilization as reported by the Ministries/Departments are absence of proposals and utilization of certificates from State Governments. Each year, funds are allocated from this Pool for the Plan Scheme, Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), implemented in the North Eastern States for various development projects by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. The allocation under the NLCPR Scheme from the Pool is done based on annual requirements and the absorption capacity of the NE Region and there is no under utilization of funds under this Scheme.
Oil exploration works in Rajasthan
Rajya Sabha
The Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Jitin Prasada informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today that oil and gas discoveries have been made in two exploration blocks in Rajasthan. While 17 discoveries have been made (13 oil and 4 gas) in the Block RJ-ON-90/1 block (Cairn-ONGC), 2 gas discoveries have been made in the Block RJ-ON/6 (FOCUS-ISIL-NOCL-ONGC). Under the PSC regime, commercial production of crude oil has commenced w.e.f. 29.08.2009 from the Mangala field in the block RJ-ON-90/1(Cairn-ONGC) in Barmer district in Rajasthan. Till 31.12.2009, about 1.62 Million Barrels of oil have been produced from Mangala Field.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation(ONGC) is currently holding one nomination and three New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) blocks covering area of Jaisalmer, Kota, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Jhalawar and Baran districts of Rajasthan and its exploration activities for oil and gas reserves are restricted to these blocks only and being pursued actively. As far as Pvt/JVs are concerned under the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) regime, so far 18 exploration blocks have been awarded under Pre-NELP and NELP rounds in the State of Rajasthan.
Replying to another query, he said that Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited(ONGC) is in consultation with the Government of Rajasthan(GoR) on the feasibility of setting up a refinery at Barmer. For this purpose GoR has set up a high level Committee on the 19th August, 2009 for the preparation of a report on the status of oil and gas sector in Rajathan in the context of future prospects and benefits for the State. Consequent on de-licensing of refinery sector since June, 1998, a refinery can be set up anywhere in India by a Private or Public Sector Enterprise depending on its commercial viability.
Rajya Sabha
The Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Jitin Prasada informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today that oil and gas discoveries have been made in two exploration blocks in Rajasthan. While 17 discoveries have been made (13 oil and 4 gas) in the Block RJ-ON-90/1 block (Cairn-ONGC), 2 gas discoveries have been made in the Block RJ-ON/6 (FOCUS-ISIL-NOCL-ONGC). Under the PSC regime, commercial production of crude oil has commenced w.e.f. 29.08.2009 from the Mangala field in the block RJ-ON-90/1(Cairn-ONGC) in Barmer district in Rajasthan. Till 31.12.2009, about 1.62 Million Barrels of oil have been produced from Mangala Field.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation(ONGC) is currently holding one nomination and three New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) blocks covering area of Jaisalmer, Kota, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Jhalawar and Baran districts of Rajasthan and its exploration activities for oil and gas reserves are restricted to these blocks only and being pursued actively. As far as Pvt/JVs are concerned under the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) regime, so far 18 exploration blocks have been awarded under Pre-NELP and NELP rounds in the State of Rajasthan.
Replying to another query, he said that Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited(ONGC) is in consultation with the Government of Rajasthan(GoR) on the feasibility of setting up a refinery at Barmer. For this purpose GoR has set up a high level Committee on the 19th August, 2009 for the preparation of a report on the status of oil and gas sector in Rajathan in the context of future prospects and benefits for the State. Consequent on de-licensing of refinery sector since June, 1998, a refinery can be set up anywhere in India by a Private or Public Sector Enterprise depending on its commercial viability.
DOCTORS IN INDIA: Prohibition on doctors from accepting gifts
DOCTORS IN INDIA: Prohibition on doctors from accepting gifts
RAJYA SABHA
The Indian Medical Council (Professional conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 were amended by Medical Council of India with the prior approval of Government of India by inserting a new Clause 6.8 which states that a medical practitioner shall not endorse any drug or product of the industry publically. Any study conducted on the efficacy or other wise of such products shall be presented to and/or through appropriate scientific bodies or published on appropriate scientific journals in a proper way.
Although some preliminary observations have been made by the MCI, however, there is no specific proposal to take up the matter with Department of Pharmaceuticals at this stage.
This information was given by Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question raised in Rajya Sabha today.
RAJYA SABHA
The Indian Medical Council (Professional conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 were amended by Medical Council of India with the prior approval of Government of India by inserting a new Clause 6.8 which states that a medical practitioner shall not endorse any drug or product of the industry publically. Any study conducted on the efficacy or other wise of such products shall be presented to and/or through appropriate scientific bodies or published on appropriate scientific journals in a proper way.
Although some preliminary observations have been made by the MCI, however, there is no specific proposal to take up the matter with Department of Pharmaceuticals at this stage.
This information was given by Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question raised in Rajya Sabha today.
Rural Business Hubs
Rajya Sabha
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is implementing a Scheme of Rural Business Hubs (RBHs) for promoting manufacturing of products using raw materials/skills available in the rural areas. Some of these products may reach the export market as well. The scheme works on a 4P (Public-Private-Panchayat-Partnership) model and is applicable in all the BRGF districts and all the districts in the North Eastern Region. Setting up of RBHs is primarily done through convergence of resources from various ongoing schemes. Assistance under the RBH scheme is available for professional support services, training/skill development and for purchase of minor equipment.
This was informed by the Minister of Panchayati Raj Dr. C.P.Joshi today in reply to a written question in Rajya Sabha today.
The Minister also said that the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Export Import Bank of India for the purpose of enhancing export possibilities of products sources from RBHs. Key activities covered under the MoC are (i) Facilitating identification of suitable exporters, willing to locate their production activities in rural areas, (ii) Fostering a mutually beneficial business relationship between such exporters and rural producers, availing of the support and facilitation of Panchayat, (iii) Facilitating wider visibility and promotion of identified products of RBHs in international markets by linking these products to EXIM Bank’s rural portal and by displaying such products at the overseas offices of EXIM Bank, (iv) Familiarizing select RBHs with the process of obtaining Ethical Trading, Fair Trade, Organic certification etc. so that market realization is better.
******
Rajya Sabha
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is implementing a Scheme of Rural Business Hubs (RBHs) for promoting manufacturing of products using raw materials/skills available in the rural areas. Some of these products may reach the export market as well. The scheme works on a 4P (Public-Private-Panchayat-Partnership) model and is applicable in all the BRGF districts and all the districts in the North Eastern Region. Setting up of RBHs is primarily done through convergence of resources from various ongoing schemes. Assistance under the RBH scheme is available for professional support services, training/skill development and for purchase of minor equipment.
This was informed by the Minister of Panchayati Raj Dr. C.P.Joshi today in reply to a written question in Rajya Sabha today.
The Minister also said that the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Export Import Bank of India for the purpose of enhancing export possibilities of products sources from RBHs. Key activities covered under the MoC are (i) Facilitating identification of suitable exporters, willing to locate their production activities in rural areas, (ii) Fostering a mutually beneficial business relationship between such exporters and rural producers, availing of the support and facilitation of Panchayat, (iii) Facilitating wider visibility and promotion of identified products of RBHs in international markets by linking these products to EXIM Bank’s rural portal and by displaying such products at the overseas offices of EXIM Bank, (iv) Familiarizing select RBHs with the process of obtaining Ethical Trading, Fair Trade, Organic certification etc. so that market realization is better.
******
Banking facilities to be provided by March 2012 to habitations having population in excess of 2000
In July, 2009, a total of 129 un-banked blocks were identified in the country. As a result of the concerted efforts made by the Government, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Banks in providing banking facilities in the un-banked blocks, the number of such blocks has come down to 93 in February, 2010. Low population density, inhospitable terrain, law and order problems and non-availability of the basic infrastructure have been indicated as the main impediments in providing banking facilities in these areas. The Government is monitoring the progress made in this regard on an ongoing basis.
To reach the benefits of banking services to the hinterland it has been proposed to provide appropriate banking facilities to habitations having population in excess of 2000 by March, 2012. These services will be provided by Banks using the Business Correspondent Model and other models with appropriate technology back-up, to cover around 60,000 habitations.
To extend the reach of banking to rural areas having a low penetration of bank branches, the RBI has liberalized the policy of branch licensing and permitted domestic scheduled commercial banks (other than Regional Rural Banks) to open branches in Tier 3 to Tier 6 centres (with population upto 49,999 as per Census 2001) without having the need to take permission from RBI in each case. The detailed RBI circular is available at its website www.rbi.org.in.
During the current financial year, the State Bank of India (SBI), the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) Convenor for Uttarakhand has reported that it has already opened 16 new branches and has received approval for opening another 18 new branches in Uttarakhand. As per the branch expansion programme of the Regional Rural Banks in Uttarakhand, the Uttaranchal Gramin Bank is to open 24 branches and the Nainital Almora Kshetriya Gramin Bank is to open 4 branches in the next two years in the State of Uttarakhand.
This information was given by Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena in written reply to a question raised in Rajya Sabha today.
In July, 2009, a total of 129 un-banked blocks were identified in the country. As a result of the concerted efforts made by the Government, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Banks in providing banking facilities in the un-banked blocks, the number of such blocks has come down to 93 in February, 2010. Low population density, inhospitable terrain, law and order problems and non-availability of the basic infrastructure have been indicated as the main impediments in providing banking facilities in these areas. The Government is monitoring the progress made in this regard on an ongoing basis.
To reach the benefits of banking services to the hinterland it has been proposed to provide appropriate banking facilities to habitations having population in excess of 2000 by March, 2012. These services will be provided by Banks using the Business Correspondent Model and other models with appropriate technology back-up, to cover around 60,000 habitations.
To extend the reach of banking to rural areas having a low penetration of bank branches, the RBI has liberalized the policy of branch licensing and permitted domestic scheduled commercial banks (other than Regional Rural Banks) to open branches in Tier 3 to Tier 6 centres (with population upto 49,999 as per Census 2001) without having the need to take permission from RBI in each case. The detailed RBI circular is available at its website www.rbi.org.in.
During the current financial year, the State Bank of India (SBI), the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) Convenor for Uttarakhand has reported that it has already opened 16 new branches and has received approval for opening another 18 new branches in Uttarakhand. As per the branch expansion programme of the Regional Rural Banks in Uttarakhand, the Uttaranchal Gramin Bank is to open 24 branches and the Nainital Almora Kshetriya Gramin Bank is to open 4 branches in the next two years in the State of Uttarakhand.
This information was given by Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena in written reply to a question raised in Rajya Sabha today.
JOB VACANCIES: Bank of Baroda Recruitment of – 1200 – Probationary Officers
Bank of Baroda, India’s International Bank, with a network of more than 3050 branches in India enjoys the unique distinction of overseas presence in 25 countries. The global business of the Bank is over Rs.3,71.000 crores. The Bank’s Mission is “To be a top ranking National bank of International Standards committed to augmenting stakeholder value through concern, care and competence”. The Bank believes that its people, process and technology are the key drivers for delivering customer service. The Bank firmly believes that its Human Resources are the most valuable asset and the HR Mission of the Bank is “Creating Competence and Passion for Business Excellence”.
The Bank is transforming itself into a ‘Technology-enabled Customer-centric Financial Services Organization’, in order to be in tandem with the modern customers’ aspirations. Having completed 102 years of our purposeful existence, we are architecting and laying a strong foundation for creating “A Bank of the Future for the Next Century and for emerging as a Financial Conglomerate and as a One-Stop Shop for Financial Services”, to deliver world-class banking experience to our customers.
We are looking for young, qualified, mobile and active minds to be partners in the transformation programme of the Bank as Probationary Officers in Junior Management Grade / Scale-I.
Candidates are advised to apply only ‘online’ & requested to carefully go through the detailed advertisement in Bank’s website www.bankofbaroda.com before applying online.
1. VACANCIES:
The total number of vacancies and reserved vacancies given hereunder, are provisional and which may vary depending upon future needs of the Bank.
No. of Vacancies Age (as on 01.01.2010)
SC ST OBC OTHERS TOTAL
183 91 326 600 1200 Minimum – 21 years
Maximum – 30 years
source: Barun Roy
Bank of Baroda, India’s International Bank, with a network of more than 3050 branches in India enjoys the unique distinction of overseas presence in 25 countries. The global business of the Bank is over Rs.3,71.000 crores. The Bank’s Mission is “To be a top ranking National bank of International Standards committed to augmenting stakeholder value through concern, care and competence”. The Bank believes that its people, process and technology are the key drivers for delivering customer service. The Bank firmly believes that its Human Resources are the most valuable asset and the HR Mission of the Bank is “Creating Competence and Passion for Business Excellence”.
The Bank is transforming itself into a ‘Technology-enabled Customer-centric Financial Services Organization’, in order to be in tandem with the modern customers’ aspirations. Having completed 102 years of our purposeful existence, we are architecting and laying a strong foundation for creating “A Bank of the Future for the Next Century and for emerging as a Financial Conglomerate and as a One-Stop Shop for Financial Services”, to deliver world-class banking experience to our customers.
We are looking for young, qualified, mobile and active minds to be partners in the transformation programme of the Bank as Probationary Officers in Junior Management Grade / Scale-I.
Candidates are advised to apply only ‘online’ & requested to carefully go through the detailed advertisement in Bank’s website www.bankofbaroda.com before applying online.
1. VACANCIES:
The total number of vacancies and reserved vacancies given hereunder, are provisional and which may vary depending upon future needs of the Bank.
No. of Vacancies Age (as on 01.01.2010)
SC ST OBC OTHERS TOTAL
183 91 326 600 1200 Minimum – 21 years
Maximum – 30 years
source: Barun Roy
Sikkim University-
Interview with Mahendra Lama-illustrious VC of Sikkim Central University
Payal Shah talks to Mahendra Lama, vice-chancellor of Sikkim Central University, on higher education in the North-east and the role it can play in promoting integration and cultural development of a region in turmoil
OVER and above proper planning, resource management and quality control, says Mahendra Lama, are the key factors that drive the economy and contribute to equitable development. In an excusive interview with The Statesman he shares his vision of higher education in the North-east and the importance of infrastructural development essential to the growth of the first central university in Sikkim, the reigns of which he took over a little more than a of couple years ago. Excerpts:
To start with, your views on the higher education scenario in Sikkim…
It is gradually developing. There is a lot of scope for promoting higher education here because of the increasing number of students coming out of schools, strategic location of the place and, of course, bourgeoning new career opportunities in areas that have hitherto remained unexplored. Another significant development is that students in and around the state are very talented and will go a long way if we provide them the right opportunities. Education is only the way to earn a decent living, especially in Sikkim, and happens to be the only means of promoting tourism in the state.
You were a member of the state planning commission and chief economic advisor to the chief minister. What, according to you, is the relationship between economy and education?
There are three fundamental factors that drive an economy like that of Sikkim: natural resource endowments; clear and concise planning and prompt implementation with an eye on people’s needs and requirements; and quality of human resources. Sikkim direly lacks quality human resources and, therefore, the means of consolidating and sustaining development. This is due in large measure to the absence of institutions to prepare and build human resources required by the economy. The government has initiated capacity-building projects that Sikkim University will try to use in training, educating and generating a rich quality of human capital in diverse fields. Personally, I see a bright future ahead.
Tell us something about the scope of south, central, south-east Asian and south-west Pacific studies. What is current research in the field focusing on, especially at Jawaharlal Nehru University?
The entire south, central, south-east Asian and south-west Pacific region is critical to both global politics and India’s foreign policy priorities. The 21st century is invariably called the “Asian Century” where these regions are the key players. Any aspect from these regions will help you realise that nothing much has been done despite creating so many area study centres in universities focusing on this region.
However, as the chairman of this particular centre in the School of International Studies at JNU, I, too, tried to make an effort to reorient the courses, undertake substantive research on various non-traditional issues and, more importantly, collaborate with international institutions. Numerous teachers and students have been engaged in new areas of research and have contributed in terms of knowledge and policy inputs. But there still remains a lot undone in areas like migration, natural resources, culture, cross-border exchanges, agricultural and societal practices, non-traditional security threats and, obviously, the environment. At Sikkim University, we plan to undertake some of these programmes and researches in the various schools like Global Studies, Peace and Conflict, Sustainable Development, Biotechnology, Climate Change and also Law and Governance.
What is the future of the government-private initiative in education in Sikkim?
Like other states, in Sikkim, too, the government has been omnipresent in the field of education. I do not see any strong need for private sector participation at the higher education level — particularly the routine types that provide degrees primarily for money and make students more unemployable and uncompetitive. There are already six to eight universities in Sikkim — the state with the highest per capita availability of universities in the country. But there’s a palpable need for meaningful private sector participation at the primary and secondary school levels and also at the cutting edge research levels, including biotechnology, environment, geology and natural resources management.
You had reportedly said in 2007 that developing the first central university in Sikkim would involve starting from scratch. How has the university progressed in the last couple of years?
When I got the appointment letter from the President of India assigning me the task to lead the 23rd Central university of the country, I had nothing but the zeal, commitment and vision to start the long drawn process of building the university. But I reached Sikkim to find that there was not even the proverbial “scratch” from where to start.
However, the process soon began with meetings with the major stakeholders, hiring buildings and bringing officials from the state government and other universities. We are now running our 32nd month in existence and have taken several major and far-reaching initiatives. These include laying down the vision of the university, total revamping of college education, including the introduction of the semester system and a new curriculum with an avowedly global outlook as well as local content, implementing modern and interactive evaluation techniques and introducing several university-level programmes, among others. We are likely to get over 300 acres at Yangang, 56 km off Gangtok, where we aspire to build a green campus with local contents. We dream of making Sikkim and the adjoining areas a major educational hub, essential for the all-round development of the state.
What are the new initiatives adopted by Sikkim Central University? Have new courses and streams been launched?
We now have three sets of programmes — traditional, non-traditional and policy studies. Under the traditional segment we have schools like that of global studies, media, life science and others. Under the non-traditional one we are planning to introduce indigenous and folk studies, sustainable development, livelihood security, etc. We also have an exclusive school of policy planning and studies where faculties from inside and outside the university can participate. All these schools conduct inter-disciplinary programmes. We have programmes on border studies, disaster management, horticulture-floriculture and many other critical domains. We are about to introduce economics, Chinese and ethno botany and chemistry from the current session onwards.
We conduct the all-India entrance test in May and have examination centres in Bhutan and Nepal.
In the past you had expressed an approval of the semester system in colleges and universities. What are the advantages of the same?
All the nine affiliated colleges and the core departments of Sikkim University have successfully adopted the semester system. The system will facilitate intense academic progress and lead to prompt evaluation. It is useful to track and maintain the individual performances of students. Within the semester system we have introduced innovative practices drawn from the successful models of universities in
India and abroad.
How can your vision of Sikkim University as a “truly high class academic institute” be fulfilled?
Sikkim University is being designed in such a way as to make it known for academic excellence and innovative interdisciplinary research, for its all-inclusive institutional character, and it can emerge as a strong instrument of regional development and cross-border integration. Therefore, the diverse constituents of Sikkim University shall constantly aspire and relentlessly strive for innovative ideas.
The university expects to attract students and faculty from both within India and abroad, particularly from neighbouring Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand. This will also help the schools and colleges in the region which still continue to attract a large number of students from these countries.
From the very beginning, the university has tried to ensure complete transparency, discreet individual accountability, targeted performance as well as banishing red-tapeism. We have to fight corruption in all its forms.
What kind of education instills a competitive spirit in students?
I think competitive fervour is instilled mostly by openness, exposure, orientation as well as inter-disciplinary courses and freedom of choice, which we rigorously practise.
Which is why, while designing the curriculum for each programme, we tried to rope in the best professionals, experts, academics and practitioners. The ministry of human resources development has told us that this is the first time such an exercise has been undertaken. We are keen to implement the educational reforms stipulated by the University Grants Commission.
Has education a role in getting Sikkim back to the Indian cultural and political mainstream?
I personally feel it is the institutions that play a critical role in the national integration process. Our national institutions have bound us together. Sikkim is emotionally well-integrated with the rest of India, which should be further consolidated and sustained by intellectual integration and institutional integration.
For me, the real mainstream areas are the so-called peripheries of the country — Sikkim, Darjeeling, Arunachal Pradesh, Amritsar, Kanyakumari and others. Without these, the notion of an integrated India will be meaningless and superficial.
source: The Statesman
Interview with Mahendra Lama-illustrious VC of Sikkim Central University
Payal Shah talks to Mahendra Lama, vice-chancellor of Sikkim Central University, on higher education in the North-east and the role it can play in promoting integration and cultural development of a region in turmoil
OVER and above proper planning, resource management and quality control, says Mahendra Lama, are the key factors that drive the economy and contribute to equitable development. In an excusive interview with The Statesman he shares his vision of higher education in the North-east and the importance of infrastructural development essential to the growth of the first central university in Sikkim, the reigns of which he took over a little more than a of couple years ago. Excerpts:
To start with, your views on the higher education scenario in Sikkim…
It is gradually developing. There is a lot of scope for promoting higher education here because of the increasing number of students coming out of schools, strategic location of the place and, of course, bourgeoning new career opportunities in areas that have hitherto remained unexplored. Another significant development is that students in and around the state are very talented and will go a long way if we provide them the right opportunities. Education is only the way to earn a decent living, especially in Sikkim, and happens to be the only means of promoting tourism in the state.
You were a member of the state planning commission and chief economic advisor to the chief minister. What, according to you, is the relationship between economy and education?
There are three fundamental factors that drive an economy like that of Sikkim: natural resource endowments; clear and concise planning and prompt implementation with an eye on people’s needs and requirements; and quality of human resources. Sikkim direly lacks quality human resources and, therefore, the means of consolidating and sustaining development. This is due in large measure to the absence of institutions to prepare and build human resources required by the economy. The government has initiated capacity-building projects that Sikkim University will try to use in training, educating and generating a rich quality of human capital in diverse fields. Personally, I see a bright future ahead.
Tell us something about the scope of south, central, south-east Asian and south-west Pacific studies. What is current research in the field focusing on, especially at Jawaharlal Nehru University?
The entire south, central, south-east Asian and south-west Pacific region is critical to both global politics and India’s foreign policy priorities. The 21st century is invariably called the “Asian Century” where these regions are the key players. Any aspect from these regions will help you realise that nothing much has been done despite creating so many area study centres in universities focusing on this region.
However, as the chairman of this particular centre in the School of International Studies at JNU, I, too, tried to make an effort to reorient the courses, undertake substantive research on various non-traditional issues and, more importantly, collaborate with international institutions. Numerous teachers and students have been engaged in new areas of research and have contributed in terms of knowledge and policy inputs. But there still remains a lot undone in areas like migration, natural resources, culture, cross-border exchanges, agricultural and societal practices, non-traditional security threats and, obviously, the environment. At Sikkim University, we plan to undertake some of these programmes and researches in the various schools like Global Studies, Peace and Conflict, Sustainable Development, Biotechnology, Climate Change and also Law and Governance.
What is the future of the government-private initiative in education in Sikkim?
Like other states, in Sikkim, too, the government has been omnipresent in the field of education. I do not see any strong need for private sector participation at the higher education level — particularly the routine types that provide degrees primarily for money and make students more unemployable and uncompetitive. There are already six to eight universities in Sikkim — the state with the highest per capita availability of universities in the country. But there’s a palpable need for meaningful private sector participation at the primary and secondary school levels and also at the cutting edge research levels, including biotechnology, environment, geology and natural resources management.
You had reportedly said in 2007 that developing the first central university in Sikkim would involve starting from scratch. How has the university progressed in the last couple of years?
When I got the appointment letter from the President of India assigning me the task to lead the 23rd Central university of the country, I had nothing but the zeal, commitment and vision to start the long drawn process of building the university. But I reached Sikkim to find that there was not even the proverbial “scratch” from where to start.
However, the process soon began with meetings with the major stakeholders, hiring buildings and bringing officials from the state government and other universities. We are now running our 32nd month in existence and have taken several major and far-reaching initiatives. These include laying down the vision of the university, total revamping of college education, including the introduction of the semester system and a new curriculum with an avowedly global outlook as well as local content, implementing modern and interactive evaluation techniques and introducing several university-level programmes, among others. We are likely to get over 300 acres at Yangang, 56 km off Gangtok, where we aspire to build a green campus with local contents. We dream of making Sikkim and the adjoining areas a major educational hub, essential for the all-round development of the state.
What are the new initiatives adopted by Sikkim Central University? Have new courses and streams been launched?
We now have three sets of programmes — traditional, non-traditional and policy studies. Under the traditional segment we have schools like that of global studies, media, life science and others. Under the non-traditional one we are planning to introduce indigenous and folk studies, sustainable development, livelihood security, etc. We also have an exclusive school of policy planning and studies where faculties from inside and outside the university can participate. All these schools conduct inter-disciplinary programmes. We have programmes on border studies, disaster management, horticulture-floriculture and many other critical domains. We are about to introduce economics, Chinese and ethno botany and chemistry from the current session onwards.
We conduct the all-India entrance test in May and have examination centres in Bhutan and Nepal.
In the past you had expressed an approval of the semester system in colleges and universities. What are the advantages of the same?
All the nine affiliated colleges and the core departments of Sikkim University have successfully adopted the semester system. The system will facilitate intense academic progress and lead to prompt evaluation. It is useful to track and maintain the individual performances of students. Within the semester system we have introduced innovative practices drawn from the successful models of universities in
India and abroad.
How can your vision of Sikkim University as a “truly high class academic institute” be fulfilled?
Sikkim University is being designed in such a way as to make it known for academic excellence and innovative interdisciplinary research, for its all-inclusive institutional character, and it can emerge as a strong instrument of regional development and cross-border integration. Therefore, the diverse constituents of Sikkim University shall constantly aspire and relentlessly strive for innovative ideas.
The university expects to attract students and faculty from both within India and abroad, particularly from neighbouring Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand. This will also help the schools and colleges in the region which still continue to attract a large number of students from these countries.
From the very beginning, the university has tried to ensure complete transparency, discreet individual accountability, targeted performance as well as banishing red-tapeism. We have to fight corruption in all its forms.
What kind of education instills a competitive spirit in students?
I think competitive fervour is instilled mostly by openness, exposure, orientation as well as inter-disciplinary courses and freedom of choice, which we rigorously practise.
Which is why, while designing the curriculum for each programme, we tried to rope in the best professionals, experts, academics and practitioners. The ministry of human resources development has told us that this is the first time such an exercise has been undertaken. We are keen to implement the educational reforms stipulated by the University Grants Commission.
Has education a role in getting Sikkim back to the Indian cultural and political mainstream?
I personally feel it is the institutions that play a critical role in the national integration process. Our national institutions have bound us together. Sikkim is emotionally well-integrated with the rest of India, which should be further consolidated and sustained by intellectual integration and institutional integration.
For me, the real mainstream areas are the so-called peripheries of the country — Sikkim, Darjeeling, Arunachal Pradesh, Amritsar, Kanyakumari and others. Without these, the notion of an integrated India will be meaningless and superficial.
source: The Statesman
TORRENT PHARMA & SIKKIM PROJECT
Ahmedabad-based Torrent Pharma has been charting a steady growth trajectory over the past four quarters. Strong growth in its domestic formulations
business coupled with robust performance by its Brazil and the US business enabled the company to post a healthy 19% y-o-y growth in revenues (calculated over four trailing quarters) and steady improvement in its operating profit margins.
The company has recently entered into a licensing and supply agreement with AstraZeneca, a UK-based pharma company. While the financial implications of the arrangement have not been divulged, the UK drug maker will brand and market 18 drugs manufactured by Torrent Pharma in nine emerging markets. This is likely to further boost Torrent’s revenues and earnings.
The company, which earns 50% of its revenues from the domestic market, manufactures drugs for a variety of therapeutic areas like cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, central nervous system, diabetology, anti-infective and pain management. It also offers contract-manufacturing services of sourcing, manufacturing and supplying
insulin formulations.
Torrent’s domestic formulations business has outperformed the pharma industry. While the performance of its German subsidiary Heumann remains far from satisfactory, its remaining international business is gaining traction. The company has been investing heavily in expanding its field force in the domestic market. It is also setting up manufacturing units in Sikkim and Dahej SEZ to cater to the increased demand from the regulated markets.
The company’s stock price has also tracked its financial performance. Torrent Pharma’s stock, which has been rallying since 2009, has undergone a rapid re-rating. It has appreciated by 285% in the past one year — outperforming the Sensex and ET Pharma Index. The company is now valued at a market capitalisation of over Rs 4,000 crore — more than twice its annual consolidated revenues. It is trading at a consolidated price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 20.
These are fair valuations for a mid-cap generic pharma company. With its international business gaining traction and domestic business growing better than the industry average, the company is likely to continue its growth momentum. This makes it a good investment bet for the long-term investor
Ahmedabad-based Torrent Pharma has been charting a steady growth trajectory over the past four quarters. Strong growth in its domestic formulations
business coupled with robust performance by its Brazil and the US business enabled the company to post a healthy 19% y-o-y growth in revenues (calculated over four trailing quarters) and steady improvement in its operating profit margins.
The company has recently entered into a licensing and supply agreement with AstraZeneca, a UK-based pharma company. While the financial implications of the arrangement have not been divulged, the UK drug maker will brand and market 18 drugs manufactured by Torrent Pharma in nine emerging markets. This is likely to further boost Torrent’s revenues and earnings.
The company, which earns 50% of its revenues from the domestic market, manufactures drugs for a variety of therapeutic areas like cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, central nervous system, diabetology, anti-infective and pain management. It also offers contract-manufacturing services of sourcing, manufacturing and supplying
insulin formulations.
Torrent’s domestic formulations business has outperformed the pharma industry. While the performance of its German subsidiary Heumann remains far from satisfactory, its remaining international business is gaining traction. The company has been investing heavily in expanding its field force in the domestic market. It is also setting up manufacturing units in Sikkim and Dahej SEZ to cater to the increased demand from the regulated markets.
The company’s stock price has also tracked its financial performance. Torrent Pharma’s stock, which has been rallying since 2009, has undergone a rapid re-rating. It has appreciated by 285% in the past one year — outperforming the Sensex and ET Pharma Index. The company is now valued at a market capitalisation of over Rs 4,000 crore — more than twice its annual consolidated revenues. It is trading at a consolidated price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 20.
These are fair valuations for a mid-cap generic pharma company. With its international business gaining traction and domestic business growing better than the industry average, the company is likely to continue its growth momentum. This makes it a good investment bet for the long-term investor
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
BREAKING NEWS: GJM Proposes Gorkhaland Regional Authority
source: THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE]
To,
Shri P. Chidambaram,
Honourable Home Minister,
Government of India,
North Block,
New Delhi
Sub: Draft Proposal for Interim Arrangement till 31-12-2011
Honourable Sir,
On behalf of the people of Darjeeling District and the Dooars, I am sending you a draft proposal for an interim arrangement after repeal of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Act 1988 for a period till 31-12-2011.This interim arrangement is without prejudice, affect, alter or diminish in any manner whasoever to the legitimate demand of the people of the region for creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland under Artice 3 of the Indian Constitution. Hence, I request you to accept the proposal for the aforesaid period for the larger interest of the people of the region.
Thanking you,Yours sincerely,Bimal Gurung,PresidentGorkha Janmukti Morcha,
INTERIM ARRANGEMENT AFTER REPEAL OF THE DARJEELING GORKHA HILL COUNCIL ACT- 1988.
PRINCIPLES:
Definitions:
“Constitution’ shall mean the Constitution of India.
“Region” herein shall mean the region of Darjeeling District and Dooars as enunciated in the demand of Gorkhaland and delineated in the map submitted by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
“Interim authority” shall mean the interim system of self-governance to be put in place in the interim period valid upto 31.12.2011.
1. DECLARATION: Trilateral declaration[to be included in all subsequent legislation as the first section/article/clause or preamble] to the effect that nothing in the interim arrangement or any act done thereunder shall or be deemed to] preiudice,affect,alter or diminish in any manner whatsoever the legitimate demand of the people of the region for the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution out of the territories now within the State of West Bengal and referred to herein as the region.
2. NAME: The name of the interim authority shall be THE GORKHALAND REGIONAL AUTHORITY OR DARJEELING & DUARS REGIONAL AUTHORITY
3. Before the formation of the interim authority
ALL THE GORKHAS must be declared SCHEDULED TRIBES to preserve the unique cultural heritage, tradition and ethnicity of the GORKHA community as a whole.
4. CONSTITUTIONAL SANCTION: There shall be all suitable amendments to the Constitution for ushering in the interim authority.
5. SAILENT FEATURES OF THE STRUCTRE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERIM AUTHORITY:
Regional Board with Speaker and Deputy Speaker of not less than fifty five members elected by adult franchise at elections to be held by the Election Commission of India with
Powers of legislation over the subjects mentioned in Schedule A without subjection to approval, sanction or consent of or reference to the Government of West Bengal.
Powers to exclude the application of laws of West Bengal (subject to laws made or to be made by Parliament).
Chief elected by the Board.
Executive Committee headed by the Chief
Judiciary subordinate to its own High Court
Full legislative and administrative jurisdiction over panchayats and Municipalities.
Legislative, Executive and Judicial control over the Departments administering the subjects enumerated in Schedule A.
Complete fiscal and policy authority in matters of planning, finance, tax, revenue, distribution of funds. borrowing, property, contracts rights, liabilities, obligations and suits as contained in Part XII of the Constitution.
Special non-Plan fund assistance direct from the Government of India for a period of five years, extendable up to ten years from the formation of the interim authority.
Special Initial Assistance of two thousand crore rupees to be divided and and disbursed equally over a period of five years.
Direct Plan Fund in accordance with approved yearly and Five Year Plans without routing through the State Government.
Direct and special allocation of funds from the Union Government without reference to the State of West Bengal in all matters bearing in mind the unique and peculiar geopolitical conditions obtaining in the region.
Guarantees by State/Union Government enabling borrowing by the interim authority.
Public Service Commission and full powers of recruitment and conditions of service.
Powers to impose regional restrictions on trade, commerce and intercourse subject to the limitations imposed by the Constitution.
Allocation of all regional benefits hitherto accruing to the State of West Bengal such as hydropower, trade and industrial subsidies.
Reservation of Seats in higher education in institutes in all over India.
Border Road Organisation to take over construction and maintenance of all National Highways in the region which are at present outside the jurisdiction of the BRO.
Special fund for the construction of super-speciality hospitals in the region.
Establishment of broad-gauge railway stations at Sukna,Sevoke,Malbazar,Birpara and Kalchini.
Concomitant opening of all closed tea-gardens within the region.
Induction of personnel of the Gorkhaland Personnel(GLP) in armed forces/paramilitary.
Office of the Advocate-General for the region.
More particularly, direct and special allocations for education, human resource development, environment and disaster management, employment generation, land and land use, settlement of land, rural and urban construction and regulation, etc.
Establishment of a Tribal Research Institute.
Such other powers and functions as may mutually be acceptable.
EXEMPTIONS:
Waiver of all revenues including electricity, telephones, taxes and other revenues accruing as a result of the agitation for a separate State of Gorkhaland during 2007 to the date creation of the interim authority.
Withdrawal of all criminal cases relating to the above period arising out of the agitation for a separate state in both Darjeeling District and the Dooars.
Schedule A
Public order (but not including [the use of any naval, military or Air force or any other armed force of the Union or of any other force subject to the control of the union or of any contingent or unit thereof] in aid of the civil power).
Police (including railway and village police) subject to the provisions of entry A of List 1.]
Local government, that is to say, the constitution and powers of municipal corporations, improvement trusts, district board, mining settlement authorities and her local authorities for the purpose of local self-government or village Administration.
Public health and sanitation; hospitals and dispensaries.
Relief of the disabled and unemployable.
Burials and burial grounds; cremations and cremation grounds.
Libraries, museums and other similar institutions controlled or financed by the region; ancient and historical monuments and records than those [declared by or under law made by Parliament] to be or national importance.
Communications, that is to say, roads, bridges, ferries, and other means of communication; municipal tramways; ropeways; inland waterways and traffic thereon with regards to such waterways; vehicles other than mechanically propelled vehicles.
Agriculture, including agricultural education and research. protection against pests and prevention of plant diseases.
Preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases; veterinary training and practice.
Pounds and the prevention of cattle trespass.
Water, that is to say, water supplies, irrigation and canals, drainage and embankments, water storage and water power.
Land, that is to say, right in or over land, land tenures including the relation of landlord and tenant, and the collection of rents; transfer and alienation of agricultural land: land improvement and agricultural loans: colonization.
Fisheries.
Regulation of mines and mineral development subjects to the provisions of this schedule with respect to regulation and development under the control of the Union.
Industries subject to the provisions of this schedule.
Trade and commerce within the State subject to the provisions mentioned in this schedule.
Production, supply and distribution of goods subject to the provisions mentioned in this schedule.
Markets and firs.
Inns and inn-keepers.
Incorporation, regulation and winding up of corporation, other than those specified in this schedule, and universities; unincorporated trading, literary, scientific, specified in this schedule, and universities. unincorporated trading, literary, scientific, religious and
Theaters and dramatic performances; cinemas, sports. entertainments and amusements.
Betting and gambling.
Works, lands and buildings vested in or in the possession of the region.
Elections to the Interim Authority of the region subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament.
Salaries and allowances of members of the Interim Authority of the region, of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Interim Authority.
Powers and privileges of the Interim Authority and of the members and the committees thereof and of persons for giving evidence or Producing documents before committees of the Interim Authority of the region.
Salaries and allowances of members of Interim Authority for the region.
Regional public services; Regional Public Service Commission.
Treasure trove.
Land revenue, including the assessment and collection of revenue, the maintenance of land records, survey for revenue purposes and records of rights, and alienation of revenues.
Taxes on agricultural income.
Duties in respect of succession to agricultural land.
Estate duty in respect of agricultural land.
Taxes on lands and buildings.
Taxes on mineral rights subject to any limitations imposed by Parliament by law relating to mineral development.
Duties of excise on the following goods manufactured or produced iit the region and countervailing duties at the same or lower rates on similar goods manufactured or produced elsewhere in India:
alcoholic liquors for human consumption;
opium, Indian hemp and other narcotic drugs and narcotics, but not including medicinal and toilet preparations containing alcohol or any substance included in sub paragraph (b) of this entry.
Taxes on the entry of goods into a local area for consumption, use or sale therein.
Taxes on the consumption or sale of electricity. ‘ •
Taxes on The sale or purchase of goods other than newspapers.
Taxes on advertisements other than advertisements published in the newspapers 2[and advertisements broadcast by radio or television].
Taxes on goods and passengers carried by road or on inland waterways.
Taxes on vehicles, whether mechanically propelled or not, suitable for use on roads, including tramcars subject to the provisions of this schedule.
Taxes on animals and boats.
Tolls.
Taxes on professions, trades, callings and employments.
Capitation taxes.
Taxes on luxuries, including taxes on entertainments, amusements, betting and gambling.
Rates of stamp duty in respect of documents other than those specified in the provisions of List 1 of the constitution with regard to rates of stamp duty.
Offences against laws with respect to any of the matters in this List.
Jurisdiction and powers of all courts, except the Supreme Court, with respect to any of the matters in this schedule.
Fees in respect of any of the matters in this schedule, but not including fees taken in any court.
Criminal law, including all matters included in the Indian Penal Code at the commencement of this Constitution but excluding offences against laws with respect to any of the matters specified in List I or List II of the Constitution and excluding the use of naval, military or air forces or any other armed forces of the Union in aid of the civil power.
Criminal procedure, including all matters included in the Code of Criminal Procedure at the commencement of this Constitution.
Preventive detention for reasons connected with the security of a State, the maintenance of public order, or the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community; persons subjected to such detention.’
Marriage and divorce; infants and minors; adoption; wills, intestacy and succession; joint family and partition; all matters in respect of which parties in judicial proceedings were immediately before the commencement .of this Constitution subject to their personal law.
Transfer of property other than agricultural land; registration of deeds and documents.
Contracts, including partnership, agency, contracts of carriage, and other special forms of contracts, but not including contracts relating to agricultural land.
Actionable wrongs.
Bankruptcy and insolvency.
Trust and Trustees.
Administrators-general and official trustees.
Administration of justice; constitution and organisation of all courts, except the Supreme Court and the high Courts.
Evidence and oaths; recognition of laws, public acts and records, and judicial proceedings.
Civil procedure, including all matters included in the Code of Civil Procedure at the commencement of this Constitution, limitation and arbitration.
Contempt of court, but not including contempt of the Supreme Court.
Vagrancy; nomadic and migratory tribes.
Lunacy and mental deficiency, including places for the reception or treatment of lunatics and mental deficients.
Prevention of cruelty to animals.
Forests.
Protection of wild animals and birds.
Adulteration of foodstuffs and other goods.
Drugs and poisons subject to the provisions of this schedule with respect to opium.
Economic and social planning.
Population control and family planning
Commercial and industrial monopolies, combines and trusts.
Trade unions; industrial and labour disputes.
Social security and social insurance; employment and unemployment.
Welfare of labour including conditions of work, provident funds, employers’ liability, workmen’s compensation, invalidity and old age pensions and maternity benefits.
Education, including technical education, medical education and universities, vocational and technical training of labour.
S I . Legal. medical and other professions.
Charities and charitable institutions, charitable and religious endowments and religious institutions.
Prevention of the extension from one State to another of infectious or contagious diseases or pests affecting men, animals or plants.
Vital statistics including registration of births and deaths.
Ports other than those declared by or under law made by Parliament or existing law to be major ports.
Shipping and navigation on inland waterways as regards mechanically propelled vessels, and the rule of the road on such waterways, and the carriage of passengers and goods on inland waterways subject to the provisions of List I with respect to national waterways.
Trade and commerce in, and the production, supply and distribution of
the products of any industry where the control of such industry by the Union is declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the public interest, and imported goods of the same kind as such products;
foodstuffs, including edible oilseeds and oils;
cattle fodder, including oil cakes and other concentrates;
raw cotton, whether ginned or unginned, and cotton seed; and
raw jute.
Weights and measures except establishment of standards.
Price control.
Mechanically propelled vehicles including the principles on which taxes on such vehicles are to be levied.
Factories.
Boilers.
Electricity.
Newspapers, books and printing presses.
Archaeological sites and remains other than those 2[declared by or under law made by Parliament] to be of national importance.
Custody, management and disposal of property (including agricultural land) declared by law to be evacuee property.
Acquisition and requisitioning of property.
Recovery in a State of claims in respect of taxes and other public demands, including arrears of land-revenue and sums recoverable as such arrears, arising outside that State.
Stamp duties other than duties or fees collected by means of judicial stamps, but not including rates of stamp, duty.
Inquiries and statistics for the purposes of any of the matters specified herein.
Jurisdiction and powers of all courts, except the Supreme Court, with respect to any of the matters in this schedule.
Fees in respect of any of the matters in this schedule but not including fees taken in any court.
source: THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE]
To,
Shri P. Chidambaram,
Honourable Home Minister,
Government of India,
North Block,
New Delhi
Sub: Draft Proposal for Interim Arrangement till 31-12-2011
Honourable Sir,
On behalf of the people of Darjeeling District and the Dooars, I am sending you a draft proposal for an interim arrangement after repeal of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Act 1988 for a period till 31-12-2011.This interim arrangement is without prejudice, affect, alter or diminish in any manner whasoever to the legitimate demand of the people of the region for creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland under Artice 3 of the Indian Constitution. Hence, I request you to accept the proposal for the aforesaid period for the larger interest of the people of the region.
Thanking you,Yours sincerely,Bimal Gurung,PresidentGorkha Janmukti Morcha,
INTERIM ARRANGEMENT AFTER REPEAL OF THE DARJEELING GORKHA HILL COUNCIL ACT- 1988.
PRINCIPLES:
Definitions:
“Constitution’ shall mean the Constitution of India.
“Region” herein shall mean the region of Darjeeling District and Dooars as enunciated in the demand of Gorkhaland and delineated in the map submitted by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
“Interim authority” shall mean the interim system of self-governance to be put in place in the interim period valid upto 31.12.2011.
1. DECLARATION: Trilateral declaration[to be included in all subsequent legislation as the first section/article/clause or preamble] to the effect that nothing in the interim arrangement or any act done thereunder shall or be deemed to] preiudice,affect,alter or diminish in any manner whatsoever the legitimate demand of the people of the region for the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution out of the territories now within the State of West Bengal and referred to herein as the region.
2. NAME: The name of the interim authority shall be THE GORKHALAND REGIONAL AUTHORITY OR DARJEELING & DUARS REGIONAL AUTHORITY
3. Before the formation of the interim authority
ALL THE GORKHAS must be declared SCHEDULED TRIBES to preserve the unique cultural heritage, tradition and ethnicity of the GORKHA community as a whole.
4. CONSTITUTIONAL SANCTION: There shall be all suitable amendments to the Constitution for ushering in the interim authority.
5. SAILENT FEATURES OF THE STRUCTRE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERIM AUTHORITY:
Regional Board with Speaker and Deputy Speaker of not less than fifty five members elected by adult franchise at elections to be held by the Election Commission of India with
Powers of legislation over the subjects mentioned in Schedule A without subjection to approval, sanction or consent of or reference to the Government of West Bengal.
Powers to exclude the application of laws of West Bengal (subject to laws made or to be made by Parliament).
Chief elected by the Board.
Executive Committee headed by the Chief
Judiciary subordinate to its own High Court
Full legislative and administrative jurisdiction over panchayats and Municipalities.
Legislative, Executive and Judicial control over the Departments administering the subjects enumerated in Schedule A.
Complete fiscal and policy authority in matters of planning, finance, tax, revenue, distribution of funds. borrowing, property, contracts rights, liabilities, obligations and suits as contained in Part XII of the Constitution.
Special non-Plan fund assistance direct from the Government of India for a period of five years, extendable up to ten years from the formation of the interim authority.
Special Initial Assistance of two thousand crore rupees to be divided and and disbursed equally over a period of five years.
Direct Plan Fund in accordance with approved yearly and Five Year Plans without routing through the State Government.
Direct and special allocation of funds from the Union Government without reference to the State of West Bengal in all matters bearing in mind the unique and peculiar geopolitical conditions obtaining in the region.
Guarantees by State/Union Government enabling borrowing by the interim authority.
Public Service Commission and full powers of recruitment and conditions of service.
Powers to impose regional restrictions on trade, commerce and intercourse subject to the limitations imposed by the Constitution.
Allocation of all regional benefits hitherto accruing to the State of West Bengal such as hydropower, trade and industrial subsidies.
Reservation of Seats in higher education in institutes in all over India.
Border Road Organisation to take over construction and maintenance of all National Highways in the region which are at present outside the jurisdiction of the BRO.
Special fund for the construction of super-speciality hospitals in the region.
Establishment of broad-gauge railway stations at Sukna,Sevoke,Malbazar,Birpara and Kalchini.
Concomitant opening of all closed tea-gardens within the region.
Induction of personnel of the Gorkhaland Personnel(GLP) in armed forces/paramilitary.
Office of the Advocate-General for the region.
More particularly, direct and special allocations for education, human resource development, environment and disaster management, employment generation, land and land use, settlement of land, rural and urban construction and regulation, etc.
Establishment of a Tribal Research Institute.
Such other powers and functions as may mutually be acceptable.
EXEMPTIONS:
Waiver of all revenues including electricity, telephones, taxes and other revenues accruing as a result of the agitation for a separate State of Gorkhaland during 2007 to the date creation of the interim authority.
Withdrawal of all criminal cases relating to the above period arising out of the agitation for a separate state in both Darjeeling District and the Dooars.
Schedule A
Public order (but not including [the use of any naval, military or Air force or any other armed force of the Union or of any other force subject to the control of the union or of any contingent or unit thereof] in aid of the civil power).
Police (including railway and village police) subject to the provisions of entry A of List 1.]
Local government, that is to say, the constitution and powers of municipal corporations, improvement trusts, district board, mining settlement authorities and her local authorities for the purpose of local self-government or village Administration.
Public health and sanitation; hospitals and dispensaries.
Relief of the disabled and unemployable.
Burials and burial grounds; cremations and cremation grounds.
Libraries, museums and other similar institutions controlled or financed by the region; ancient and historical monuments and records than those [declared by or under law made by Parliament] to be or national importance.
Communications, that is to say, roads, bridges, ferries, and other means of communication; municipal tramways; ropeways; inland waterways and traffic thereon with regards to such waterways; vehicles other than mechanically propelled vehicles.
Agriculture, including agricultural education and research. protection against pests and prevention of plant diseases.
Preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases; veterinary training and practice.
Pounds and the prevention of cattle trespass.
Water, that is to say, water supplies, irrigation and canals, drainage and embankments, water storage and water power.
Land, that is to say, right in or over land, land tenures including the relation of landlord and tenant, and the collection of rents; transfer and alienation of agricultural land: land improvement and agricultural loans: colonization.
Fisheries.
Regulation of mines and mineral development subjects to the provisions of this schedule with respect to regulation and development under the control of the Union.
Industries subject to the provisions of this schedule.
Trade and commerce within the State subject to the provisions mentioned in this schedule.
Production, supply and distribution of goods subject to the provisions mentioned in this schedule.
Markets and firs.
Inns and inn-keepers.
Incorporation, regulation and winding up of corporation, other than those specified in this schedule, and universities; unincorporated trading, literary, scientific, specified in this schedule, and universities. unincorporated trading, literary, scientific, religious and
Theaters and dramatic performances; cinemas, sports. entertainments and amusements.
Betting and gambling.
Works, lands and buildings vested in or in the possession of the region.
Elections to the Interim Authority of the region subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament.
Salaries and allowances of members of the Interim Authority of the region, of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Interim Authority.
Powers and privileges of the Interim Authority and of the members and the committees thereof and of persons for giving evidence or Producing documents before committees of the Interim Authority of the region.
Salaries and allowances of members of Interim Authority for the region.
Regional public services; Regional Public Service Commission.
Treasure trove.
Land revenue, including the assessment and collection of revenue, the maintenance of land records, survey for revenue purposes and records of rights, and alienation of revenues.
Taxes on agricultural income.
Duties in respect of succession to agricultural land.
Estate duty in respect of agricultural land.
Taxes on lands and buildings.
Taxes on mineral rights subject to any limitations imposed by Parliament by law relating to mineral development.
Duties of excise on the following goods manufactured or produced iit the region and countervailing duties at the same or lower rates on similar goods manufactured or produced elsewhere in India:
alcoholic liquors for human consumption;
opium, Indian hemp and other narcotic drugs and narcotics, but not including medicinal and toilet preparations containing alcohol or any substance included in sub paragraph (b) of this entry.
Taxes on the entry of goods into a local area for consumption, use or sale therein.
Taxes on the consumption or sale of electricity. ‘ •
Taxes on The sale or purchase of goods other than newspapers.
Taxes on advertisements other than advertisements published in the newspapers 2[and advertisements broadcast by radio or television].
Taxes on goods and passengers carried by road or on inland waterways.
Taxes on vehicles, whether mechanically propelled or not, suitable for use on roads, including tramcars subject to the provisions of this schedule.
Taxes on animals and boats.
Tolls.
Taxes on professions, trades, callings and employments.
Capitation taxes.
Taxes on luxuries, including taxes on entertainments, amusements, betting and gambling.
Rates of stamp duty in respect of documents other than those specified in the provisions of List 1 of the constitution with regard to rates of stamp duty.
Offences against laws with respect to any of the matters in this List.
Jurisdiction and powers of all courts, except the Supreme Court, with respect to any of the matters in this schedule.
Fees in respect of any of the matters in this schedule, but not including fees taken in any court.
Criminal law, including all matters included in the Indian Penal Code at the commencement of this Constitution but excluding offences against laws with respect to any of the matters specified in List I or List II of the Constitution and excluding the use of naval, military or air forces or any other armed forces of the Union in aid of the civil power.
Criminal procedure, including all matters included in the Code of Criminal Procedure at the commencement of this Constitution.
Preventive detention for reasons connected with the security of a State, the maintenance of public order, or the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community; persons subjected to such detention.’
Marriage and divorce; infants and minors; adoption; wills, intestacy and succession; joint family and partition; all matters in respect of which parties in judicial proceedings were immediately before the commencement .of this Constitution subject to their personal law.
Transfer of property other than agricultural land; registration of deeds and documents.
Contracts, including partnership, agency, contracts of carriage, and other special forms of contracts, but not including contracts relating to agricultural land.
Actionable wrongs.
Bankruptcy and insolvency.
Trust and Trustees.
Administrators-general and official trustees.
Administration of justice; constitution and organisation of all courts, except the Supreme Court and the high Courts.
Evidence and oaths; recognition of laws, public acts and records, and judicial proceedings.
Civil procedure, including all matters included in the Code of Civil Procedure at the commencement of this Constitution, limitation and arbitration.
Contempt of court, but not including contempt of the Supreme Court.
Vagrancy; nomadic and migratory tribes.
Lunacy and mental deficiency, including places for the reception or treatment of lunatics and mental deficients.
Prevention of cruelty to animals.
Forests.
Protection of wild animals and birds.
Adulteration of foodstuffs and other goods.
Drugs and poisons subject to the provisions of this schedule with respect to opium.
Economic and social planning.
Population control and family planning
Commercial and industrial monopolies, combines and trusts.
Trade unions; industrial and labour disputes.
Social security and social insurance; employment and unemployment.
Welfare of labour including conditions of work, provident funds, employers’ liability, workmen’s compensation, invalidity and old age pensions and maternity benefits.
Education, including technical education, medical education and universities, vocational and technical training of labour.
S I . Legal. medical and other professions.
Charities and charitable institutions, charitable and religious endowments and religious institutions.
Prevention of the extension from one State to another of infectious or contagious diseases or pests affecting men, animals or plants.
Vital statistics including registration of births and deaths.
Ports other than those declared by or under law made by Parliament or existing law to be major ports.
Shipping and navigation on inland waterways as regards mechanically propelled vessels, and the rule of the road on such waterways, and the carriage of passengers and goods on inland waterways subject to the provisions of List I with respect to national waterways.
Trade and commerce in, and the production, supply and distribution of
the products of any industry where the control of such industry by the Union is declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the public interest, and imported goods of the same kind as such products;
foodstuffs, including edible oilseeds and oils;
cattle fodder, including oil cakes and other concentrates;
raw cotton, whether ginned or unginned, and cotton seed; and
raw jute.
Weights and measures except establishment of standards.
Price control.
Mechanically propelled vehicles including the principles on which taxes on such vehicles are to be levied.
Factories.
Boilers.
Electricity.
Newspapers, books and printing presses.
Archaeological sites and remains other than those 2[declared by or under law made by Parliament] to be of national importance.
Custody, management and disposal of property (including agricultural land) declared by law to be evacuee property.
Acquisition and requisitioning of property.
Recovery in a State of claims in respect of taxes and other public demands, including arrears of land-revenue and sums recoverable as such arrears, arising outside that State.
Stamp duties other than duties or fees collected by means of judicial stamps, but not including rates of stamp, duty.
Inquiries and statistics for the purposes of any of the matters specified herein.
Jurisdiction and powers of all courts, except the Supreme Court, with respect to any of the matters in this schedule.
Fees in respect of any of the matters in this schedule but not including fees taken in any court.
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