Investment in Bonds of IFCI, IDFC, LIC and NBFCs (Classified as Infra Finance Company) Eligible for Tax Exemption under Section 80CCF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17:8 IST
The Central Government have specified bonds to be issued by (i) Industrial Finance Corporation of India; (ii) Life Insurance Corporation of India; (iii) Infrastructure Development Finance Company Limited; and (iv) a Non-Banking Finance Company classified as an infrastructure finance company by the Reserve Bank of India; as “Long-term Infrastructure Bond” for the purpose of section 80CCF of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Investment in these bonds up to rupees twenty thousand will be eligible for deduction from the total income of the assessee. The deduction will be in addition to the deduction of rupees one lakh allowed under sections 80C, 80CCC and 80CCD of the Act.
The tenure of the Bonds shall be a minimum of ten years with a lock-in period of five years for an investor. It will be mandatory for the subscriber to furnish permanent account number to the issuer for investment in the bonds.
BY/KP/GN-218/10
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Regulating medical education
Anand Zachariah
George Mathew
M. S. Seshadri
Sara Bhattacharji
K. S. Jacob
The opportunity to recreate the regulatory council for the education of health professionals is historic in its possibilities and potential to address the crisis facing health care in India. The lack of access to basic health care due to inadequate numbers and the skewed distribution of health care providers mandate urgent action. The new council should address these issues, in addition to ensuring propriety, increasing efficiency, and providing greater synergy among professionals.
The new National Council for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) Bill seeks to include medical education within the purview of the proposed council. The regulations suggested include facilitation, coordination and setting of policy by the NCHER, a health council to consider syllabi, curricula and exit examinations and local universities to regulate academic institutions. It is not clear how the NCHER Bill will address the specific requirements of education of professionals. Concurrently, the government has also proposed the formation of a National Council for Human Resources in Health (NCHRH) as a single apex body to oversee all education and practice related to health. It is apparent that there will be an overlap of functions between the two authorities.
Separate authority
Many issues mandate the need for a separate regulatory authority for health education and practice.
Links to health care delivery: The need to provide health services for a society demands the setting up of a system, which will sequentially address the following issues: selection of students from local areas, sufficient training in primary and secondary care hospitals, generalist postgraduate training opportunities (example family medicine), career opportunities in areas of need and continuing educational support. Such a system will mandate close linkage between educational institutions and the health care delivery systems.
Apprenticeship model of training: The education of health professionals requires that they achieve a high level of expertise at the end of the training. This requires that students acquire considerable clinical skills by taking care of patients under the supervision of teachers in an appropriate service environment. Such a model allows for narrowing the divide among teaching, research and practice. It facilitates a holistic approach to learning in health sciences and captures the essence of the Yash Pal Committee report.
Regulating health professionals: Overseeing the health profession and its professionals is an important task of any regulatory authority set up for this purpose. As medical education and eventual practice are a continuum, the regulation of education must be coupled with the regulation of practice. Across the world, experience with dual regulation has shown that it leads to a lack of coordination in training. For example, the United Kingdom established dual control of higher education and professional regulation by separate authorities (the General Medical Council and the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board) only to disband the model and revert to a single body for the oversight of both functions.
Some concerns
The problems of the past demand a re-examination of regulatory issues. The enabling Act, which constitutes the NCHRH, should clearly specify the model, framework and process in order to promote ideal functioning. Some important issues are highlighted.
Relationship between health disciplines: The proposed regulatory council includes medical, nursing, dental, pharmacy, paramedical, public health and rehabilitation services. A single regulatory authority will result in greater coordination and collaboration among these disciplines.
Composition of the authority: The new authority should be composed of diverse stakeholders, including patient advocacy groups and social scientists, in addition to distinguished medical and health professionals so that the overall health care needs of the country, rather than narrow professional interests, are the focus. The council should not be too small as that can lead to the concentration of authority in a few hands. Nor should it be so large as to be divisive and inefficient.
Independent accreditation and regulatory functions: The Medical Council of India handled accreditation and regulatory functions; this diluted and weakened both processes. The new authority should consist of two independent divisions: one accrediting education and the other overseeing professional practice. The complete lack of self-regulation of the past argues for a watchdog with sufficient teeth to ensure and enforce adequate technical and ethical standards in medical practice.
Model of accreditation: The new model of accreditation should move away from reliance on detailed prescriptive rules on structure and processes to that which describes broad principles and standards, focussing on outcomes. This will allow for flexibility and innovation while maintaining basic standards. A credible and transparent system of assessment, which balances routine self-report and review with monitoring and on-site inspections, needs to be designed.
Relationship with the government: The need for autonomy and independence of the regulatory body is crucial. Subjecting its decision to Health Ministry approval limits its role and delays decision-making. However, the government should have the power to provide overall policy direction to the body. In turn, it should also serve as the consultative body for the Ministry.
Relationship with hospitals, universities and specialist associations: Currently, basic medical and health degrees are within the purview of local universities. The vastness of the country and the large numbers of students mandate decentralisation of the educational process with local autonomy for universities and medical institutions. However, the need for uniformity mandates defining competencies required for basic medical and health personnel.
Now, all postgraduate qualifications are university degrees. While these degrees are supposedly academic credentials, in practice they focus only on clinical issues and skills. The academic component of the training that requires evaluation of competencies to carry out research is missing. To meet this requirement, a separation of medical and health care personnel into clinical and academic streams, as practised in many countries including the U.K., is a useful concept to consider. Specialist associations should conduct standardised exit examinations for clinical fellowships and oversee clinical streams. The academic stream should be upgraded to a research degree and should remain within universities. This separation will avoid the kind of conflict, which was common between the MCI and the National Board, increase the number of centres for training clinicians and raise the standard of research.
Single window: Previous regulatory procedures involved separate and independent inspections by the MCI, the university and the State government. This resulted in a many-tiered system that led to huge delays in obtaining approval. A single window for accreditation and approval of education is necessary.
Standardised exams and validation: A common licensing examination for undergraduate and postgraduate courses is necessary to maintain uniformity of defined technical standards. All health professionals should be required to maintain standards of professional knowledge and skill through regular re-validation. A system of continued education and credits and regular re-appraisals is also mandatory.
Transparency and accountability: The system should be transparent, accountable and open to public scrutiny. A record of excellence in one's field should be the basis of selection to the proposed council. The Nolan Principles — selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership by example — should form the standards for holding public office and in public service.
Need for reform
The Knowledge Commission and the Yash Pal Committee, which examined higher education, identified major lacunae and suggested an overhaul of the system. Many issues raised in their reports are very relevant to medicine and to education related to health care. There is need for broad-based holistic education and for dialogue among the diverse disciplines and centres of learning. The regulatory council should act as a facilitator and catalyst for the creation of knowledge for society.
While there is need to reform the entire higher education, the inclusion of education related to health within the NCHER may not be the ideal framework. The NCHER can foster an interdisciplinary research and identify national priorities. It can empower institutions with a proven record to enhance their autonomy as institutes of national importance. However, a new, separate and reformed regulatory authority, the NCHRH, best serves the goal of improving education in health sciences. It must ensure that education in health disciplines fulfils its social mandate. It should not only regulate education but also provide a vision to improve health care delivery.
(Professors Zachariah, Mathew, Seshadri, Bhattacharji and Jacob are on the faculty of the Christian Medical College, Vellore. This document was prepared in discussion with faculty from the institution and from other national and international medical schools and health networks
source: The Hindu
Anand Zachariah
George Mathew
M. S. Seshadri
Sara Bhattacharji
K. S. Jacob
The opportunity to recreate the regulatory council for the education of health professionals is historic in its possibilities and potential to address the crisis facing health care in India. The lack of access to basic health care due to inadequate numbers and the skewed distribution of health care providers mandate urgent action. The new council should address these issues, in addition to ensuring propriety, increasing efficiency, and providing greater synergy among professionals.
The new National Council for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) Bill seeks to include medical education within the purview of the proposed council. The regulations suggested include facilitation, coordination and setting of policy by the NCHER, a health council to consider syllabi, curricula and exit examinations and local universities to regulate academic institutions. It is not clear how the NCHER Bill will address the specific requirements of education of professionals. Concurrently, the government has also proposed the formation of a National Council for Human Resources in Health (NCHRH) as a single apex body to oversee all education and practice related to health. It is apparent that there will be an overlap of functions between the two authorities.
Separate authority
Many issues mandate the need for a separate regulatory authority for health education and practice.
Links to health care delivery: The need to provide health services for a society demands the setting up of a system, which will sequentially address the following issues: selection of students from local areas, sufficient training in primary and secondary care hospitals, generalist postgraduate training opportunities (example family medicine), career opportunities in areas of need and continuing educational support. Such a system will mandate close linkage between educational institutions and the health care delivery systems.
Apprenticeship model of training: The education of health professionals requires that they achieve a high level of expertise at the end of the training. This requires that students acquire considerable clinical skills by taking care of patients under the supervision of teachers in an appropriate service environment. Such a model allows for narrowing the divide among teaching, research and practice. It facilitates a holistic approach to learning in health sciences and captures the essence of the Yash Pal Committee report.
Regulating health professionals: Overseeing the health profession and its professionals is an important task of any regulatory authority set up for this purpose. As medical education and eventual practice are a continuum, the regulation of education must be coupled with the regulation of practice. Across the world, experience with dual regulation has shown that it leads to a lack of coordination in training. For example, the United Kingdom established dual control of higher education and professional regulation by separate authorities (the General Medical Council and the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board) only to disband the model and revert to a single body for the oversight of both functions.
Some concerns
The problems of the past demand a re-examination of regulatory issues. The enabling Act, which constitutes the NCHRH, should clearly specify the model, framework and process in order to promote ideal functioning. Some important issues are highlighted.
Relationship between health disciplines: The proposed regulatory council includes medical, nursing, dental, pharmacy, paramedical, public health and rehabilitation services. A single regulatory authority will result in greater coordination and collaboration among these disciplines.
Composition of the authority: The new authority should be composed of diverse stakeholders, including patient advocacy groups and social scientists, in addition to distinguished medical and health professionals so that the overall health care needs of the country, rather than narrow professional interests, are the focus. The council should not be too small as that can lead to the concentration of authority in a few hands. Nor should it be so large as to be divisive and inefficient.
Independent accreditation and regulatory functions: The Medical Council of India handled accreditation and regulatory functions; this diluted and weakened both processes. The new authority should consist of two independent divisions: one accrediting education and the other overseeing professional practice. The complete lack of self-regulation of the past argues for a watchdog with sufficient teeth to ensure and enforce adequate technical and ethical standards in medical practice.
Model of accreditation: The new model of accreditation should move away from reliance on detailed prescriptive rules on structure and processes to that which describes broad principles and standards, focussing on outcomes. This will allow for flexibility and innovation while maintaining basic standards. A credible and transparent system of assessment, which balances routine self-report and review with monitoring and on-site inspections, needs to be designed.
Relationship with the government: The need for autonomy and independence of the regulatory body is crucial. Subjecting its decision to Health Ministry approval limits its role and delays decision-making. However, the government should have the power to provide overall policy direction to the body. In turn, it should also serve as the consultative body for the Ministry.
Relationship with hospitals, universities and specialist associations: Currently, basic medical and health degrees are within the purview of local universities. The vastness of the country and the large numbers of students mandate decentralisation of the educational process with local autonomy for universities and medical institutions. However, the need for uniformity mandates defining competencies required for basic medical and health personnel.
Now, all postgraduate qualifications are university degrees. While these degrees are supposedly academic credentials, in practice they focus only on clinical issues and skills. The academic component of the training that requires evaluation of competencies to carry out research is missing. To meet this requirement, a separation of medical and health care personnel into clinical and academic streams, as practised in many countries including the U.K., is a useful concept to consider. Specialist associations should conduct standardised exit examinations for clinical fellowships and oversee clinical streams. The academic stream should be upgraded to a research degree and should remain within universities. This separation will avoid the kind of conflict, which was common between the MCI and the National Board, increase the number of centres for training clinicians and raise the standard of research.
Single window: Previous regulatory procedures involved separate and independent inspections by the MCI, the university and the State government. This resulted in a many-tiered system that led to huge delays in obtaining approval. A single window for accreditation and approval of education is necessary.
Standardised exams and validation: A common licensing examination for undergraduate and postgraduate courses is necessary to maintain uniformity of defined technical standards. All health professionals should be required to maintain standards of professional knowledge and skill through regular re-validation. A system of continued education and credits and regular re-appraisals is also mandatory.
Transparency and accountability: The system should be transparent, accountable and open to public scrutiny. A record of excellence in one's field should be the basis of selection to the proposed council. The Nolan Principles — selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership by example — should form the standards for holding public office and in public service.
Need for reform
The Knowledge Commission and the Yash Pal Committee, which examined higher education, identified major lacunae and suggested an overhaul of the system. Many issues raised in their reports are very relevant to medicine and to education related to health care. There is need for broad-based holistic education and for dialogue among the diverse disciplines and centres of learning. The regulatory council should act as a facilitator and catalyst for the creation of knowledge for society.
While there is need to reform the entire higher education, the inclusion of education related to health within the NCHER may not be the ideal framework. The NCHER can foster an interdisciplinary research and identify national priorities. It can empower institutions with a proven record to enhance their autonomy as institutes of national importance. However, a new, separate and reformed regulatory authority, the NCHRH, best serves the goal of improving education in health sciences. It must ensure that education in health disciplines fulfils its social mandate. It should not only regulate education but also provide a vision to improve health care delivery.
(Professors Zachariah, Mathew, Seshadri, Bhattacharji and Jacob are on the faculty of the Christian Medical College, Vellore. This document was prepared in discussion with faculty from the institution and from other national and international medical schools and health networks
source: The Hindu
THE GREEN MILE
Sikkim is experimenting with organic farming and reaping rich dividends, says SAUMYA TYAGI
AS CONCERN for the ecosystem runs high all across the world, a small, mountainous state in India’s northeast — Sikkim, has taken a step ahead and declared to go completely organic by the year 2015. What this means is the total phasing out of chemical inputs from agriculture. Sikkim has long been an ecologically conscious state with initiatives such as a comprehensive ban on plastic, bio-medical and chemical waste in 1997, declaring 1995 as a Harit Kranti Varsha to create awareness about the environment among the farming community, programmes such as the Smriti Van Programme and the Green Mission Plan in 2006 and the setting up of a Climate Change Commission. And with its organic initiative it is all set to become the first completely certified organic state in India.
Conscious steps Terraced fields garland the hillsides of Sikkim, pointing to a greener future
A concerted government effort towards the initiative became evident in May 2003, when the state withdrew subsidy on chemical fertilisers, following it with removing the transport and handling subsidy. The state also adopted a seven-year plan to completely phase out chemical fertilisers and increased its spending for the organic mission to Rs 20 crore for the year 2010-11.
Despite only 15 percent of the total state area being available for farming, about 64 percent of the population in Sikkim still depends on agriculture. Cardamom, ginger and oranges are some of the leading cash crops in the region and make the agricultural economy mainly export based. Robin Sharma, an organic ginger and orange farmer for the past three years in Karthok, says that even though the prices of organic produce are marginally higher, the better quality makes it an easy sell. “During the first year of our shift to organic farming, production levels fell, but ever since it has been on a slow rise.”
A key challenge to organic farming is the lack of infrastructure, as shelf-life of such produce is much less
“Other than improved soil quality and a better product, a benefit of the organic initiative will be the export potential,” says ML Arrawatia, Secretary, State Council for Science and Technology, Sikkim. What makes the organic initiative more possible for Sikkim is also the fact that most of the agricultural area is mountainous and to an extent still untouched. The use of chemical fertilisers is already minimal. “I have not used chemical fertilisers for the past 12 years and am happy with the results, using organic manure. The chemicals were damaging my land and the production was also falling,” says Mani Kumar Rai, a certified organic farmer and the president of a farmers interest group in Samsing.
Compact yield Sikkim provides its farmers with vermicompost kits to help them produce their own organic crops
Of the total 70,000 hectares of cultivable land in Sikkim, 6,000 hectares has already been certified. Certification involves documentation of all farming activities, training the farmers on crop management and appropriate farming practices, and monitoring the whole process. It takes a standard three years for a piece of land to be organically certified, making it a long and tedious process. “The problem we are facing in Sikkim is that of logistics — because of bad roads and hilly terrain, collecting produce becomes difficult. Also, the price of organically produced foodstuff is 10 percent more. We try to get a genuine price for genuine produce,” says V Bapna, General Manager, Morarka Foundation, a rural research organisation working on organic certification across India. While the state is providing farmers with vermicompost kits to help them produce their own organic fertilisers, there is still a shortage of organic manure in the state because of which it is being imported from Hyderabad and Pune. “We are providing rural compost and farm compost, and while some of it is still being imported, over time we will become self sufficient,” says SK Gautam, Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture Department, Sikkim.
AKEY CHALLENGE that organic farming faces in the state is the lack of infrastructure in the form of required number of warehouses and cold storages, given the lesser shelf-life of organic produce and proper channels of marketing such produce — from acquiring it from remote areas in the mountains to the marketplace. “Unless the produce is marketed through the right channels, organic certification comes at a cost,” says Renzino Lepcha, COO, Mevedir, a certifying body based in Sikkim. SK Gautam, Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture Department of Sikkim, while agreeing to the limited infrastructure, says the government is making efforts in the direction. “We are planning to set up 5-6 more cold storages and packaging units for organic produce.”
The organic farming initiative is not new and has been taken up in various parts of the country over time. In Himachal Pradesh, over 10,000 farmers have switched to organic farming, out of which 183 have been certified. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, on June 16, launched Mission Organic, whereby the islands would be completely organic in the next five years. Organic farming is also being adopted in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. However, something more concrete, in the form of a concerted effort by a government is what has made Sikkim stand out and seek to achieve the goal of going organic.
From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 7, Issue 28, Dated July 17, 2010
Sikkim is experimenting with organic farming and reaping rich dividends, says SAUMYA TYAGI
AS CONCERN for the ecosystem runs high all across the world, a small, mountainous state in India’s northeast — Sikkim, has taken a step ahead and declared to go completely organic by the year 2015. What this means is the total phasing out of chemical inputs from agriculture. Sikkim has long been an ecologically conscious state with initiatives such as a comprehensive ban on plastic, bio-medical and chemical waste in 1997, declaring 1995 as a Harit Kranti Varsha to create awareness about the environment among the farming community, programmes such as the Smriti Van Programme and the Green Mission Plan in 2006 and the setting up of a Climate Change Commission. And with its organic initiative it is all set to become the first completely certified organic state in India.
Conscious steps Terraced fields garland the hillsides of Sikkim, pointing to a greener future
A concerted government effort towards the initiative became evident in May 2003, when the state withdrew subsidy on chemical fertilisers, following it with removing the transport and handling subsidy. The state also adopted a seven-year plan to completely phase out chemical fertilisers and increased its spending for the organic mission to Rs 20 crore for the year 2010-11.
Despite only 15 percent of the total state area being available for farming, about 64 percent of the population in Sikkim still depends on agriculture. Cardamom, ginger and oranges are some of the leading cash crops in the region and make the agricultural economy mainly export based. Robin Sharma, an organic ginger and orange farmer for the past three years in Karthok, says that even though the prices of organic produce are marginally higher, the better quality makes it an easy sell. “During the first year of our shift to organic farming, production levels fell, but ever since it has been on a slow rise.”
A key challenge to organic farming is the lack of infrastructure, as shelf-life of such produce is much less
“Other than improved soil quality and a better product, a benefit of the organic initiative will be the export potential,” says ML Arrawatia, Secretary, State Council for Science and Technology, Sikkim. What makes the organic initiative more possible for Sikkim is also the fact that most of the agricultural area is mountainous and to an extent still untouched. The use of chemical fertilisers is already minimal. “I have not used chemical fertilisers for the past 12 years and am happy with the results, using organic manure. The chemicals were damaging my land and the production was also falling,” says Mani Kumar Rai, a certified organic farmer and the president of a farmers interest group in Samsing.
Compact yield Sikkim provides its farmers with vermicompost kits to help them produce their own organic crops
Of the total 70,000 hectares of cultivable land in Sikkim, 6,000 hectares has already been certified. Certification involves documentation of all farming activities, training the farmers on crop management and appropriate farming practices, and monitoring the whole process. It takes a standard three years for a piece of land to be organically certified, making it a long and tedious process. “The problem we are facing in Sikkim is that of logistics — because of bad roads and hilly terrain, collecting produce becomes difficult. Also, the price of organically produced foodstuff is 10 percent more. We try to get a genuine price for genuine produce,” says V Bapna, General Manager, Morarka Foundation, a rural research organisation working on organic certification across India. While the state is providing farmers with vermicompost kits to help them produce their own organic fertilisers, there is still a shortage of organic manure in the state because of which it is being imported from Hyderabad and Pune. “We are providing rural compost and farm compost, and while some of it is still being imported, over time we will become self sufficient,” says SK Gautam, Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture Department, Sikkim.
AKEY CHALLENGE that organic farming faces in the state is the lack of infrastructure in the form of required number of warehouses and cold storages, given the lesser shelf-life of organic produce and proper channels of marketing such produce — from acquiring it from remote areas in the mountains to the marketplace. “Unless the produce is marketed through the right channels, organic certification comes at a cost,” says Renzino Lepcha, COO, Mevedir, a certifying body based in Sikkim. SK Gautam, Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture Department of Sikkim, while agreeing to the limited infrastructure, says the government is making efforts in the direction. “We are planning to set up 5-6 more cold storages and packaging units for organic produce.”
The organic farming initiative is not new and has been taken up in various parts of the country over time. In Himachal Pradesh, over 10,000 farmers have switched to organic farming, out of which 183 have been certified. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, on June 16, launched Mission Organic, whereby the islands would be completely organic in the next five years. Organic farming is also being adopted in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. However, something more concrete, in the form of a concerted effort by a government is what has made Sikkim stand out and seek to achieve the goal of going organic.
From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 7, Issue 28, Dated July 17, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Veteran journalist and columnist CD Rai
Gangtok: Veteran journalist and columnist CD Rai will be honoured with the lifetime achievement award of ‘Khangchendzonga Kalam Puraskar’ on July 17 during the 8th Foundation Day celebrations of Press Club of Sikkim (PCS). This is informed in a release by PCS general secretary, Bhim Rawat.
“Mr. Rai, who has been associated with various media organizations as a journalist, columnist and editor for around five decades, has been selected for the Khangchendzonga Kalam Puraskar’ for his immense contributions for paving the path for a vibrant Sikkimese media of today”, the release said. The award was decided in an executive body meeting held Tuesday at PCS which was attended by Paras Mani Dangal (president), Bhim Rawat (general secretary), Amit Patro (working president) and other executive members.
The release further said, it was also decided by the PCS to felicitate Pema Wangchuk, editor, Sikkim Now! for his valuable contributions to the healthy growth of media in Sikkim. He will be felicitated during the foundation day celebrations of PCS. Chetan Gazmer, editor, Nayuma News (English) has been selected for the ‘Laganshil Yuva Patrakar’ (Promising Youth Journalist) award of the PCS. State Information & Public Relations minister CB Karki has already consented to be the chief guest during the 8th Foundation Day celebrations of PCS, the release informed.
[FROM SIKKIM REPORTER / EDITED BY ASHOK CHATTERJEE]
Gangtok: Veteran journalist and columnist CD Rai will be honoured with the lifetime achievement award of ‘Khangchendzonga Kalam Puraskar’ on July 17 during the 8th Foundation Day celebrations of Press Club of Sikkim (PCS). This is informed in a release by PCS general secretary, Bhim Rawat.
“Mr. Rai, who has been associated with various media organizations as a journalist, columnist and editor for around five decades, has been selected for the Khangchendzonga Kalam Puraskar’ for his immense contributions for paving the path for a vibrant Sikkimese media of today”, the release said. The award was decided in an executive body meeting held Tuesday at PCS which was attended by Paras Mani Dangal (president), Bhim Rawat (general secretary), Amit Patro (working president) and other executive members.
The release further said, it was also decided by the PCS to felicitate Pema Wangchuk, editor, Sikkim Now! for his valuable contributions to the healthy growth of media in Sikkim. He will be felicitated during the foundation day celebrations of PCS. Chetan Gazmer, editor, Nayuma News (English) has been selected for the ‘Laganshil Yuva Patrakar’ (Promising Youth Journalist) award of the PCS. State Information & Public Relations minister CB Karki has already consented to be the chief guest during the 8th Foundation Day celebrations of PCS, the release informed.
[FROM SIKKIM REPORTER / EDITED BY ASHOK CHATTERJEE]
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Garbage carry bags mandatory in Sikkim vehicles
Gangtok, Jun 30 (PTI) Carrying garbage bags in buses, taxis and other vehicles in Sikkim has been made mandatory to promote cleanliness and healthy environment to attract more tourists.Vehicles plying without garbage bags would be fined Rs 500, Tourism Department has said in a notification adding that the department would get in touch with big hotels to sponsor garbage carry bags.The rationale behind the imposition of fines is to make Sikkim clean, green and a garden state, Tourism Secretary S Bhaduria said.
Gangtok, Jun 30 (PTI) Carrying garbage bags in buses, taxis and other vehicles in Sikkim has been made mandatory to promote cleanliness and healthy environment to attract more tourists.Vehicles plying without garbage bags would be fined Rs 500, Tourism Department has said in a notification adding that the department would get in touch with big hotels to sponsor garbage carry bags.The rationale behind the imposition of fines is to make Sikkim clean, green and a garden state, Tourism Secretary S Bhaduria said.
World Bank to assist livelihood project in northeast India
Indo-Asian News Service
Agartala,
The World Bank will provide Rs 5 billion to four north eastern states Mizoram, Nagaland Sikkim and Tripura to create self-employment opportunities for the tribals and poor people living in rural and remote areas. The Bank would provide the assistance for the North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP),
starting this financial year (2010-11).
"The pilot project of the NERLP would be implemented in two districts each of the four north eastern states aiming to generate livelihood of those people who are yet to get any assistance from any medium or major scheme," Tripura Rural Development and Forest Minister Jitendra Choudhury told reporters in Agartala on Wednesday.
The NERLP has four components - social empowerment, economic empowerment, partnership development and management, project management.
"NERLP would play a vital role in transforming rural economy, eradicating poverty and providing viable employment opportunities by utilising local and natural resources. It is aimed at socio-economic development of tribals and other backward people," said Choudhury.
The Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) ministry in consultation with the Department of Economic Affairs and World Bank has finalised the NERLP. It would be implemented through a society registered at Guwahati.
A 25-member team of the Bank and the DoNER ministry is now on a week-long visit to Tripura.
Project Director Alok Kumar Srivastava said the NERLP is based on the IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) assisted North Eastern Regional Community Resource Management Project (NERCRMP) which has been successfully implemented in two districts each of Meghalaya, Assam and Manipur.
IFAD is a specialised agency of the United Nations and its mission is to enable the rural poor to overcome poverty.
Choudhury said that 32,000 self-help groups (SHGs) have been formed in Tripura and the state government has been providing Rs.50,000 to these under the Tripura Support Scheme (TSS). The SHGs are producing and marketing more than 250 products.
He said the state government has suggested to the visiting officials to involve elected local government bodies, including the tribal autonomous district councils, in the NERLP project.
Indo-Asian News Service
Agartala,
The World Bank will provide Rs 5 billion to four north eastern states Mizoram, Nagaland Sikkim and Tripura to create self-employment opportunities for the tribals and poor people living in rural and remote areas. The Bank would provide the assistance for the North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP),
starting this financial year (2010-11).
"The pilot project of the NERLP would be implemented in two districts each of the four north eastern states aiming to generate livelihood of those people who are yet to get any assistance from any medium or major scheme," Tripura Rural Development and Forest Minister Jitendra Choudhury told reporters in Agartala on Wednesday.
The NERLP has four components - social empowerment, economic empowerment, partnership development and management, project management.
"NERLP would play a vital role in transforming rural economy, eradicating poverty and providing viable employment opportunities by utilising local and natural resources. It is aimed at socio-economic development of tribals and other backward people," said Choudhury.
The Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) ministry in consultation with the Department of Economic Affairs and World Bank has finalised the NERLP. It would be implemented through a society registered at Guwahati.
A 25-member team of the Bank and the DoNER ministry is now on a week-long visit to Tripura.
Project Director Alok Kumar Srivastava said the NERLP is based on the IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) assisted North Eastern Regional Community Resource Management Project (NERCRMP) which has been successfully implemented in two districts each of Meghalaya, Assam and Manipur.
IFAD is a specialised agency of the United Nations and its mission is to enable the rural poor to overcome poverty.
Choudhury said that 32,000 self-help groups (SHGs) have been formed in Tripura and the state government has been providing Rs.50,000 to these under the Tripura Support Scheme (TSS). The SHGs are producing and marketing more than 250 products.
He said the state government has suggested to the visiting officials to involve elected local government bodies, including the tribal autonomous district councils, in the NERLP project.
Sikkim – The exotic beauty
by Kamna Arora
It was my first trip to a state situated in the lap of the world's third highest mountain, Khangchendzonga. Out of all the states in the Northeast, I had chosen Sikkim as my destination this summer. It was my chance to get a glimpse of one of the most beautiful and green states of India. And as I set foot in Gangtok, I knew I had made the right decision.
Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is one of Northeast India's most visited cities. The pleasant weather welcomed me with open arms. Away from Delhi’s scorching heat and horrible traffic, I was in a state endowed with exceptional natural resources, green lustre, beautiful waterfalls, gorgeous mountains, trimmed trees, wonderful landscapes, and scenic beauty.
Nestled in the Himalayas, Sikkim is a hotspot of biodiversity. The five-hour long drive from Bagdogra airport to Gangtok was not tiring at all since I was held spellbound by the arresting beauty of the mountains.
I spent two days in Gangtok. The capital was breathtakingly tranquil and truly emerald in colour. I had to miss my trip to Nathula, thanks to landslides, which are common during rainy seasons in Sikkim. Nathula is a pass on the Indo-China boarder. Here, not only one gets a chance to see an international border, but pose with Chinese Army officers as well. I had no option but to miss this opportunity to have a look at The Dragon.
People in Sikkim are warm, honest and humble. Trust me, you can’t get cheated in this northeastern state. A cabbie told me that you can roam on the streets of Sikkim with lakhs of rupees in your pocket, and you won’t be robbed.
I went for local sightseeing on the first day of my trip. Hiring a taxi in Gangtok is not difficult at all. The cabbie asked for Rs 2,000 for taking me to more than 10 sites. I saw the striking Enchey Monsatery, charming Flower Show, Sikkim’s Cottage Industry, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Banjhakri Waterfalls, Tashi view point (from where Khangchendzonga is clearly visible), Hanuman Tok (where Lord Hanuman rested while bringing Sanjeevani Buti for Lord Rama’s brother, Laxman), and Ganesh Tok.
MG (Mahatma Gandhi) road is the best place to spend evenings in Gangtok. It is one of the best shopping destinations I have ever seen. One can get almost everything here, and that too at a very reasonable price. Vehicles are not allowed inside this market. The use of plastic is also banned. Fountains in the middle of the road and slow music make it a tourist’s preferred choice in the evenings. Comfy chairs near the fountains give tired tourists much-required rest.
Who says it is difficult to get vegetarian food in Sikkim? I can assure you that you will get all kinds of varieties here. A number of vegetarian hotels on MG Marg were truly a delight.
Darap village: Home away from home
After Gangtok in east Sikkim, my next destination was Darap Cherry village in the western part of the state. I had preferred a village over the famous Pelling town to quell the curiosity about how a village looks. The village was almost 135 kms away from Gangtok. I had to cross Pelling to reach this village.
This was the first time I was going to stay in a village. I had read about the concept of village tourism on the Sikkim government’s website, and thought of just experiencing it. I had no idea what it would be all about, except that we would be away from the chaos of a town or city.
What a wonderful village it was! The panoramic view of mountains surrounding the village just stole my heart. It was no less than heaven. It was pure beauty, completely untouched by urbanisation. As soon as I reached the village, I was warmly welcomed by the president, Mr Sushil Tamang. The place was so refreshing and beautiful that I forgot it was time to have lunch. But my host did not. Within 20 minutes, I was served relishing ‘homely’ lunch. ‘Homely’ because food tasted as lip-smacking as it does at home. Less spices, less oil and more taste. Mr Tamang then showed me my room. Surrounded by trees, the room was pleasing enough (it was far better than the one I stayed in Gangtok). After a few minutes, I was served hot tea. I was told I could even use the kitchen if I wished to. It was frankly a home away from home.
After an hour or so, Mr Tamang and I went around to see the picturesque village. I visited a Limboos’ home (a community), a local school (though there were no students as summer vacations were on), cardamom gardens, meditation centre, and local nurseries.
The village was not only rich in natural resources and bio-diversity, but also in culture and customs of local tribes. I got a chance to experience the village lifestyle from close quarters. The villagers were very welcoming. I must share the fact that most of the villagers are not poor in Sikkim, thanks to cardamom gardens and the land which they have sold to the government for some projects. In fact, they are proud to call themselves a beggar-free state. And they love Zee TV. The entertainment channel has a major following in Sikkim, locals revealed.
Kids here were not shy at all. A four-year-old rosy-cheeked boy, Lohit, did not take much time in becoming my friend. He used to wave his little hand at me and share his ball to play.
In fact, the kids know the technicalities of the place really well and hence walk along the hills in a disciplined way.
In the evening, Mr Tamang told me how this concept of village tourism took birth. The Sikkimese government has started promoting tourism on a much larger scale recently, but this was just helping cities, not villages. The villages were not benefiting from the government’s tourism drive. It was then that the educated unemployed youth of Darap village realised the potential of the beauty of the place they lived in and started promoting community-based tourism to make it a sustainable source of livelihood for villagers. This concept is firming up in other villages too, and the concept of homestays is gaining popularity across the state.
And then I was briefed about the heroes of Sikkim - football captain Baichung Bhutia and Bollywood star Danny Denzongpa. After the dinner, I was told Mr Tamang is hosting Danny’s younger brother, who was there to celebrate a personal occasion with his set of friends. Danny owns a very famous brewery in South Sikkim.
The next day, we went for local sightseeing. The mighty Khangchendzonga Waterfalls, amazing Khechuperi (Wish fulfilling) Lake, scenic Sewaro Rock Garden and beautiful Rimbi Waterfalls made me realise what all I miss in Delhi. I miss ‘nature’. And the next day, I had my flight back to Delhi.
And as I landed, I was welcomed by scorching heat. What accompanied me till my home were not mountains and waterfalls, but pollution and vehicles’ noise. The transition was difficult to bear, but I had to accept how urbanisation has robbed Earth of its virginity.
(The views expressed by the author in the blog are his/her own)
by Kamna Arora
It was my first trip to a state situated in the lap of the world's third highest mountain, Khangchendzonga. Out of all the states in the Northeast, I had chosen Sikkim as my destination this summer. It was my chance to get a glimpse of one of the most beautiful and green states of India. And as I set foot in Gangtok, I knew I had made the right decision.
Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is one of Northeast India's most visited cities. The pleasant weather welcomed me with open arms. Away from Delhi’s scorching heat and horrible traffic, I was in a state endowed with exceptional natural resources, green lustre, beautiful waterfalls, gorgeous mountains, trimmed trees, wonderful landscapes, and scenic beauty.
Nestled in the Himalayas, Sikkim is a hotspot of biodiversity. The five-hour long drive from Bagdogra airport to Gangtok was not tiring at all since I was held spellbound by the arresting beauty of the mountains.
I spent two days in Gangtok. The capital was breathtakingly tranquil and truly emerald in colour. I had to miss my trip to Nathula, thanks to landslides, which are common during rainy seasons in Sikkim. Nathula is a pass on the Indo-China boarder. Here, not only one gets a chance to see an international border, but pose with Chinese Army officers as well. I had no option but to miss this opportunity to have a look at The Dragon.
People in Sikkim are warm, honest and humble. Trust me, you can’t get cheated in this northeastern state. A cabbie told me that you can roam on the streets of Sikkim with lakhs of rupees in your pocket, and you won’t be robbed.
I went for local sightseeing on the first day of my trip. Hiring a taxi in Gangtok is not difficult at all. The cabbie asked for Rs 2,000 for taking me to more than 10 sites. I saw the striking Enchey Monsatery, charming Flower Show, Sikkim’s Cottage Industry, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Banjhakri Waterfalls, Tashi view point (from where Khangchendzonga is clearly visible), Hanuman Tok (where Lord Hanuman rested while bringing Sanjeevani Buti for Lord Rama’s brother, Laxman), and Ganesh Tok.
MG (Mahatma Gandhi) road is the best place to spend evenings in Gangtok. It is one of the best shopping destinations I have ever seen. One can get almost everything here, and that too at a very reasonable price. Vehicles are not allowed inside this market. The use of plastic is also banned. Fountains in the middle of the road and slow music make it a tourist’s preferred choice in the evenings. Comfy chairs near the fountains give tired tourists much-required rest.
Who says it is difficult to get vegetarian food in Sikkim? I can assure you that you will get all kinds of varieties here. A number of vegetarian hotels on MG Marg were truly a delight.
Darap village: Home away from home
After Gangtok in east Sikkim, my next destination was Darap Cherry village in the western part of the state. I had preferred a village over the famous Pelling town to quell the curiosity about how a village looks. The village was almost 135 kms away from Gangtok. I had to cross Pelling to reach this village.
This was the first time I was going to stay in a village. I had read about the concept of village tourism on the Sikkim government’s website, and thought of just experiencing it. I had no idea what it would be all about, except that we would be away from the chaos of a town or city.
What a wonderful village it was! The panoramic view of mountains surrounding the village just stole my heart. It was no less than heaven. It was pure beauty, completely untouched by urbanisation. As soon as I reached the village, I was warmly welcomed by the president, Mr Sushil Tamang. The place was so refreshing and beautiful that I forgot it was time to have lunch. But my host did not. Within 20 minutes, I was served relishing ‘homely’ lunch. ‘Homely’ because food tasted as lip-smacking as it does at home. Less spices, less oil and more taste. Mr Tamang then showed me my room. Surrounded by trees, the room was pleasing enough (it was far better than the one I stayed in Gangtok). After a few minutes, I was served hot tea. I was told I could even use the kitchen if I wished to. It was frankly a home away from home.
After an hour or so, Mr Tamang and I went around to see the picturesque village. I visited a Limboos’ home (a community), a local school (though there were no students as summer vacations were on), cardamom gardens, meditation centre, and local nurseries.
The village was not only rich in natural resources and bio-diversity, but also in culture and customs of local tribes. I got a chance to experience the village lifestyle from close quarters. The villagers were very welcoming. I must share the fact that most of the villagers are not poor in Sikkim, thanks to cardamom gardens and the land which they have sold to the government for some projects. In fact, they are proud to call themselves a beggar-free state. And they love Zee TV. The entertainment channel has a major following in Sikkim, locals revealed.
Kids here were not shy at all. A four-year-old rosy-cheeked boy, Lohit, did not take much time in becoming my friend. He used to wave his little hand at me and share his ball to play.
In fact, the kids know the technicalities of the place really well and hence walk along the hills in a disciplined way.
In the evening, Mr Tamang told me how this concept of village tourism took birth. The Sikkimese government has started promoting tourism on a much larger scale recently, but this was just helping cities, not villages. The villages were not benefiting from the government’s tourism drive. It was then that the educated unemployed youth of Darap village realised the potential of the beauty of the place they lived in and started promoting community-based tourism to make it a sustainable source of livelihood for villagers. This concept is firming up in other villages too, and the concept of homestays is gaining popularity across the state.
And then I was briefed about the heroes of Sikkim - football captain Baichung Bhutia and Bollywood star Danny Denzongpa. After the dinner, I was told Mr Tamang is hosting Danny’s younger brother, who was there to celebrate a personal occasion with his set of friends. Danny owns a very famous brewery in South Sikkim.
The next day, we went for local sightseeing. The mighty Khangchendzonga Waterfalls, amazing Khechuperi (Wish fulfilling) Lake, scenic Sewaro Rock Garden and beautiful Rimbi Waterfalls made me realise what all I miss in Delhi. I miss ‘nature’. And the next day, I had my flight back to Delhi.
And as I landed, I was welcomed by scorching heat. What accompanied me till my home were not mountains and waterfalls, but pollution and vehicles’ noise. The transition was difficult to bear, but I had to accept how urbanisation has robbed Earth of its virginity.
(The views expressed by the author in the blog are his/her own)
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
FDI 100% IN RETAIL TRADE ?
The government pulled a sensitive item in the reforms agenda out of cold storage on Tuesday, with the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) releas- ing a discussion paper on per- mitting foreign direct invest- ment (FDI) in multi-brand re-tail chains such as those run by the likes of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Carrefour SA around the world.
This move is fraught with political risk and comes a day after opposition parties joined hands for nationwide protests against rising inflation. There have been widespread fears that the entry of global retail giants could hurt kirana stores that dominate the retail trade in India and employ 33.1 mil- lion people, the most outside farming.
The government has tried to defuse some of these concerns, by suggesting in its discussion paper that the sector would be opened up to foreign firms in a “calibrated manner“. It has also pitched issues such as in- flation control and employ- ment into the discussion about FDI in multi-brand retail.
It has been suggested in the discussion paper that modern retailers with efficient cold storage chains could minimize ofavailable Mint is also wastage and a for Rs3 without fresh produce ease food inflation. India cur- rently lets around Rs1 trillion of fresh produce go waste and more than half of this can be brought to market if the proper farm-to-fork infrastructure is in place. The department has argued that “FDI in front-end retailing is imperative“ to fund cold storage for farm produce.
Among the other indications that popular concerns are be- ing taken on board, the discus- sion paper asks whether half the jobs created by new retail chains should be reserved for rural youth and cites data from China to show that big-box re- tailers do not necessarily kill the existing system of mom- and-pop stores.
Both industry and the stock market welcomed the baby step towards opening up the sector. “The retail industry in India needs access to more capital. It can definitely go into the investment (for) the supply chain. But we just cannot build the back-end without an equal amount of development in the front-end,“ said Rakesh Biyani, CEO of Future Group.
Retail stocks rose by as much as 5%. Shares of Panta- loon Retail (India) Ltd ended 4.84% up at Rs441 on the Bom- bay Stock Exchange. Shares of Shopper's Stop Ltd rose 2.02% and Trent Ltd, 3.19%. The ex- change's key index rose 173.04 points, or 0.99%, to 17,614.48.
India currently allows 51% FDI in single-brand retail and 100% in cash-and-carry stores that can only sell to other re- tailers and businesses.
Thomas Varghese, CEO of Aditya Birla Retail Ltd, said he is in favour of allowing 49%
FDI in multi-brand retail. “If you are allowing FDI, do it in a cali- brated fashion because it is po- litically sensitive and link it (with) up some caveat from creating some back-end infra- structure,“ he added.
To allay fears about the impact on small retailers once the big boys step in, the discussion pa- per has asked whether a Shop- ping Mall Regulation Act should be put in place to protect them.
“The unfounded fear that large retailer will kill small ones is wrong. There is room for both to grow over the next foreseeable future,“ said Harsh Bahadur, general manager (wholesale) at Tesco Hindustan Wholesaling Pvt. Ltd. He added that if the government went ahead and al- lowed FDI, it would be “good news for the economy“.
Wal-Mart India's president Raj Jain declined comment on the grounds that he hadn't read the discussion paper.
An analyst appreciated the government's willingness to fi- nally get down to the business- end of policymaking.
“While there have been ongo- ing discussions for many years, this is very significant in putting down all these issues, talking about them very clearly and coming up with issues that we need to resolve,“ says Saloni Nangia, vice-president (retail) at consultancy Technopak Advi- sors Pvt. Ltd.
Both the Bharatiya Janata Par- ty and the Left parties are op- posed to allowing FDI in multi- brand retail.
asit.m@livemint.com Ruhi Tewari also contributed to this story.
This move is fraught with political risk and comes a day after opposition parties joined hands for nationwide protests against rising inflation. There have been widespread fears that the entry of global retail giants could hurt kirana stores that dominate the retail trade in India and employ 33.1 mil- lion people, the most outside farming.
The government has tried to defuse some of these concerns, by suggesting in its discussion paper that the sector would be opened up to foreign firms in a “calibrated manner“. It has also pitched issues such as in- flation control and employ- ment into the discussion about FDI in multi-brand retail.
It has been suggested in the discussion paper that modern retailers with efficient cold storage chains could minimize ofavailable Mint is also wastage and a for Rs3 without fresh produce ease food inflation. India cur- rently lets around Rs1 trillion of fresh produce go waste and more than half of this can be brought to market if the proper farm-to-fork infrastructure is in place. The department has argued that “FDI in front-end retailing is imperative“ to fund cold storage for farm produce.
Among the other indications that popular concerns are be- ing taken on board, the discus- sion paper asks whether half the jobs created by new retail chains should be reserved for rural youth and cites data from China to show that big-box re- tailers do not necessarily kill the existing system of mom- and-pop stores.
Both industry and the stock market welcomed the baby step towards opening up the sector. “The retail industry in India needs access to more capital. It can definitely go into the investment (for) the supply chain. But we just cannot build the back-end without an equal amount of development in the front-end,“ said Rakesh Biyani, CEO of Future Group.
Retail stocks rose by as much as 5%. Shares of Panta- loon Retail (India) Ltd ended 4.84% up at Rs441 on the Bom- bay Stock Exchange. Shares of Shopper's Stop Ltd rose 2.02% and Trent Ltd, 3.19%. The ex- change's key index rose 173.04 points, or 0.99%, to 17,614.48.
India currently allows 51% FDI in single-brand retail and 100% in cash-and-carry stores that can only sell to other re- tailers and businesses.
Thomas Varghese, CEO of Aditya Birla Retail Ltd, said he is in favour of allowing 49%
FDI in multi-brand retail. “If you are allowing FDI, do it in a cali- brated fashion because it is po- litically sensitive and link it (with) up some caveat from creating some back-end infra- structure,“ he added.
To allay fears about the impact on small retailers once the big boys step in, the discussion pa- per has asked whether a Shop- ping Mall Regulation Act should be put in place to protect them.
“The unfounded fear that large retailer will kill small ones is wrong. There is room for both to grow over the next foreseeable future,“ said Harsh Bahadur, general manager (wholesale) at Tesco Hindustan Wholesaling Pvt. Ltd. He added that if the government went ahead and al- lowed FDI, it would be “good news for the economy“.
Wal-Mart India's president Raj Jain declined comment on the grounds that he hadn't read the discussion paper.
An analyst appreciated the government's willingness to fi- nally get down to the business- end of policymaking.
“While there have been ongo- ing discussions for many years, this is very significant in putting down all these issues, talking about them very clearly and coming up with issues that we need to resolve,“ says Saloni Nangia, vice-president (retail) at consultancy Technopak Advi- sors Pvt. Ltd.
Both the Bharatiya Janata Par- ty and the Left parties are op- posed to allowing FDI in multi- brand retail.
asit.m@livemint.com Ruhi Tewari also contributed to this story.
Daily wages for workers enhanced
Ordinary labourer entitled to Rs. 130 per day’s work
GANGTOK, July 5: The State government has enhanced the existing daily wages for the workers engaged in various construction activities, industries, public and private sectors and commercial establishments operating in Sikkim.
As per the revised rates for daily wages, an unskilled worker is entitled to a daily wage of Rs. 130 as compared to the existing rate of Rs. 100. The daily wages of semi-skilled workers have been enhanced to Rs. 145 from Rs. 115.
Similarly, a skilled labourer is now entitled to daily wages of Rs.165 as compared to Rs. 130 that he or she was getting presently.
The daily wages of a highly skilled worker has been enhanced to Rs. 190 from the existing rate of Rs. 150.
The minimum rates of wages are applicable to workers employed by contractors as well as workers engaged in private masonry works like house and building also.
An unskilled worker falls in the bracket of those who are involved in simple operation requiring little or no skill or experience on the job. Chowkidars, peons, sweepers and cleaners fall in this category fixed by the State labour department.
Semi-skilled work has been defined as work which involves some degree of skill or competence, acquired through experience on the job and which is capable of being performed under the supervision or guidance of skilled employee.
Assistant fitter, hammer man, head attendant, gatekeeper and polishers are few examples of semi-skilled workers.
A skilled worker performs jobs which involves skill acquired through experience on the job or through training as an apprentice in a technical or vocational institute and the performance of which calls for initiative and judgement.
Workers like carpenter, artist, line operator, head cook, computer operator, compositor and librarian are skilled workers in the list of the State labour department.
High skilled work has been defined at work which calls for degree of perfection and competence in the performance of certain jobs including clerical work acquired through intensive technical or professional training or adequate work experience for certain reasonable period.
These workers are bull dozer operator, excavator operator, roller driver, plumbers, electrician, zoo keepers and grade 1 workers of Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms.
Meanwhile, the daily wages rates are also subjective to the various altitudes where the workers are engaged.
Workers engaged at areas in Sikkim up to 8000 ft will be paid normal wages but those working from 8001 ft to 12000 ft must be paid 50 percent more than the normal wages by their employers.
Workers at altitudes from 12001 ft to 16000 ft must be paid 75 percent more than normal wages as per the directives of the State government.
For those working in altitudes above 16000 ft have to be paid double the normal wages.
The department has also notified that workers who works without being absent during the period of 6 days consecutively in a week, he pr she is entitled to one paid holiday on either Sunday or any other Hat day. The department has also forbidden engagement of workers for more than nine hours a day without a break of one hour.
Workers engaged for overtime works are entitled to double the ordinary rate of wages.
source; sikkim express
Ordinary labourer entitled to Rs. 130 per day’s work
GANGTOK, July 5: The State government has enhanced the existing daily wages for the workers engaged in various construction activities, industries, public and private sectors and commercial establishments operating in Sikkim.
As per the revised rates for daily wages, an unskilled worker is entitled to a daily wage of Rs. 130 as compared to the existing rate of Rs. 100. The daily wages of semi-skilled workers have been enhanced to Rs. 145 from Rs. 115.
Similarly, a skilled labourer is now entitled to daily wages of Rs.165 as compared to Rs. 130 that he or she was getting presently.
The daily wages of a highly skilled worker has been enhanced to Rs. 190 from the existing rate of Rs. 150.
The minimum rates of wages are applicable to workers employed by contractors as well as workers engaged in private masonry works like house and building also.
An unskilled worker falls in the bracket of those who are involved in simple operation requiring little or no skill or experience on the job. Chowkidars, peons, sweepers and cleaners fall in this category fixed by the State labour department.
Semi-skilled work has been defined as work which involves some degree of skill or competence, acquired through experience on the job and which is capable of being performed under the supervision or guidance of skilled employee.
Assistant fitter, hammer man, head attendant, gatekeeper and polishers are few examples of semi-skilled workers.
A skilled worker performs jobs which involves skill acquired through experience on the job or through training as an apprentice in a technical or vocational institute and the performance of which calls for initiative and judgement.
Workers like carpenter, artist, line operator, head cook, computer operator, compositor and librarian are skilled workers in the list of the State labour department.
High skilled work has been defined at work which calls for degree of perfection and competence in the performance of certain jobs including clerical work acquired through intensive technical or professional training or adequate work experience for certain reasonable period.
These workers are bull dozer operator, excavator operator, roller driver, plumbers, electrician, zoo keepers and grade 1 workers of Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms.
Meanwhile, the daily wages rates are also subjective to the various altitudes where the workers are engaged.
Workers engaged at areas in Sikkim up to 8000 ft will be paid normal wages but those working from 8001 ft to 12000 ft must be paid 50 percent more than the normal wages by their employers.
Workers at altitudes from 12001 ft to 16000 ft must be paid 75 percent more than normal wages as per the directives of the State government.
For those working in altitudes above 16000 ft have to be paid double the normal wages.
The department has also notified that workers who works without being absent during the period of 6 days consecutively in a week, he pr she is entitled to one paid holiday on either Sunday or any other Hat day. The department has also forbidden engagement of workers for more than nine hours a day without a break of one hour.
Workers engaged for overtime works are entitled to double the ordinary rate of wages.
source; sikkim express
Virtual food may help treat eating disorders: Study
PTI
Scientists have found that food presented in a virtual reality environment causes the same emotional response as real food, a discovery that could be used for the evaluation and treatment of eating disorders.
Researchers believe that the technique, which allows one to pretend as if eating in a computer generated restaurant, could reduce the fear for food among people suffering from conditions like anorexia and bulimia.
The sight of food causes major anxiety to those patients, but the researchers said the new technique could help reverse their unhealthy relationship with food to the point where they can eventually be reintroduced to the real thing.
For their study, appeared in BioMed Central’s open access journal Annals of General Psychiatry, a team of international researchers compare the effects of the exposure to real food, virtual food and photographs of food in a sample of patients affected by eating disorders.
The virtual reality (VR) experience was shown to be much stronger than just showing the patients photographs.
Lead researcher Alessandra Gorini from the Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, said: “Though preliminary, our data show that virtual stimuli are as effective as real ones, and more effective than static pictures, in generating emotional responses in eating disorder patients“.
During the research, all the participants — 10 anorexic, 10 bulimic and 10 healthy subjects — were initially shown a series of six real, high-calorie foods placed on a table in front of them. Their heart rate, perspiration and psychological stress were measured during the exposure.
This process was then repeated with a slide show of the same foods, and a virtual reality trip into a computer-generated diner where they could interact with the virtual version of the same six items. It was found that the participants’ level of stress was statistically identical whether in virtual reality or real exposure.
Gorini said: “Since real and virtual exposure elicit a comparable level of stress, higher than the one elicited by static pictures, we may eventually see VR being used to screen, evaluate, and treat the emotional reactions provoked by specific stimuli in patients affected by different psychological disorders
PTI
Scientists have found that food presented in a virtual reality environment causes the same emotional response as real food, a discovery that could be used for the evaluation and treatment of eating disorders.
Researchers believe that the technique, which allows one to pretend as if eating in a computer generated restaurant, could reduce the fear for food among people suffering from conditions like anorexia and bulimia.
The sight of food causes major anxiety to those patients, but the researchers said the new technique could help reverse their unhealthy relationship with food to the point where they can eventually be reintroduced to the real thing.
For their study, appeared in BioMed Central’s open access journal Annals of General Psychiatry, a team of international researchers compare the effects of the exposure to real food, virtual food and photographs of food in a sample of patients affected by eating disorders.
The virtual reality (VR) experience was shown to be much stronger than just showing the patients photographs.
Lead researcher Alessandra Gorini from the Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, said: “Though preliminary, our data show that virtual stimuli are as effective as real ones, and more effective than static pictures, in generating emotional responses in eating disorder patients“.
During the research, all the participants — 10 anorexic, 10 bulimic and 10 healthy subjects — were initially shown a series of six real, high-calorie foods placed on a table in front of them. Their heart rate, perspiration and psychological stress were measured during the exposure.
This process was then repeated with a slide show of the same foods, and a virtual reality trip into a computer-generated diner where they could interact with the virtual version of the same six items. It was found that the participants’ level of stress was statistically identical whether in virtual reality or real exposure.
Gorini said: “Since real and virtual exposure elicit a comparable level of stress, higher than the one elicited by static pictures, we may eventually see VR being used to screen, evaluate, and treat the emotional reactions provoked by specific stimuli in patients affected by different psychological disorders
Centre opens up debate on FDI in retailing
by Sandeep Joshi
While there had been political resistance to the idea on the presumption that global players would swallow kirana stores, the industry has been pitching for allowing FDI in retail sector.
The Centre on Tuesday sought suggestions from various stakeholders on opening up foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail trading, an issue that could generate a lot of heat in political and business circles in the country.
“Keeping in view the large requirement of funds for back-end infrastructure, there is a case for opening up of the retail sector to foreign investment. At the same time, in the Indian context, there is a view that this may be more appropriately done in a calibrated manner. We must ensure that the FDI does make a real contribution to address the inadequacies of back-end infrastructure. Alongside, we need to address the challenge of integrating the small retailer in the value chain,” Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion said in its discussion paper, seeking suggestions and views by July 31.
Giving rationale for FDI in retail trading, the discussion paper said the agriculture sector needs well-functioning markets to drive growth, employment and economic prosperity in rural areas. To provide dynamism and efficiency in the marketing system, large investments are required for the development of post-harvest and cold-chain infrastructure nearer to the farmers' field. Allowing FDI in front-end retail operations will enable organised retailers to generate sufficient cash to fund this investment. As per the Planning Commission, infrastructure for the farm sector such as cold chain would need an investment of Rs.64,312 crore.
“Similarly, there is a need to address issues relating to farmers, through removal of structural inefficiencies. This could be achieved through liberalised markets, with direct marketing and contract farming programmes, from which farmers could profit, as also more predictable farm-gate prices, steadier incomes and better access to evolving consumer preferences through private investors, especially the organised retail sector…FDI in retail may be an efficient means of addressing the concerns of farmers and consumers,” it said.
Besides, the paper also sought to make a strong case in favour of small retailers in the unorganised sector, saying their growth was constant at around 15 per cent annually compared to dip in profits recorded by the organised retailers. Opening FDI in retail could also assist in bringing in technical know-how to set up efficient supply chains which can act as models of development. It would also help bring about improvements in farmer income and agricultural growth and assist in lowering consumer prices and inflation, it added.
While FDI in multi-brand retailing is prohibited in India, foreign investment in single brand retail — since being opened in April 2006 — is about Rs.900 crore. The discussion paper also pointed out that India was losing agri-products, fruits and vegetables to the tune of Rs.1-lakh crore annually.
by Sandeep Joshi
While there had been political resistance to the idea on the presumption that global players would swallow kirana stores, the industry has been pitching for allowing FDI in retail sector.
The Centre on Tuesday sought suggestions from various stakeholders on opening up foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail trading, an issue that could generate a lot of heat in political and business circles in the country.
“Keeping in view the large requirement of funds for back-end infrastructure, there is a case for opening up of the retail sector to foreign investment. At the same time, in the Indian context, there is a view that this may be more appropriately done in a calibrated manner. We must ensure that the FDI does make a real contribution to address the inadequacies of back-end infrastructure. Alongside, we need to address the challenge of integrating the small retailer in the value chain,” Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion said in its discussion paper, seeking suggestions and views by July 31.
Giving rationale for FDI in retail trading, the discussion paper said the agriculture sector needs well-functioning markets to drive growth, employment and economic prosperity in rural areas. To provide dynamism and efficiency in the marketing system, large investments are required for the development of post-harvest and cold-chain infrastructure nearer to the farmers' field. Allowing FDI in front-end retail operations will enable organised retailers to generate sufficient cash to fund this investment. As per the Planning Commission, infrastructure for the farm sector such as cold chain would need an investment of Rs.64,312 crore.
“Similarly, there is a need to address issues relating to farmers, through removal of structural inefficiencies. This could be achieved through liberalised markets, with direct marketing and contract farming programmes, from which farmers could profit, as also more predictable farm-gate prices, steadier incomes and better access to evolving consumer preferences through private investors, especially the organised retail sector…FDI in retail may be an efficient means of addressing the concerns of farmers and consumers,” it said.
Besides, the paper also sought to make a strong case in favour of small retailers in the unorganised sector, saying their growth was constant at around 15 per cent annually compared to dip in profits recorded by the organised retailers. Opening FDI in retail could also assist in bringing in technical know-how to set up efficient supply chains which can act as models of development. It would also help bring about improvements in farmer income and agricultural growth and assist in lowering consumer prices and inflation, it added.
While FDI in multi-brand retailing is prohibited in India, foreign investment in single brand retail — since being opened in April 2006 — is about Rs.900 crore. The discussion paper also pointed out that India was losing agri-products, fruits and vegetables to the tune of Rs.1-lakh crore annually.
Relations with China not externally driven: India
by Ananth Krishnan
Observing that India and China have “a relationship which is not externally driven,” National Security Adviser (NSA) Shiv Shankar Menon said here on Tuesday that China's decision to sell two nuclear reactors to Pakistan would have no bearing on the recent warming of ties between New Delhi and Beijing.
Mr. Menon, who raised the controversial deal in talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Sunday, said: “We have discussed the issue [of China's sale of two reactors] with them on two or three occasions. They have told us that what they are doing will be in accordance with their international obligations. I think we will wait and see where this is going.”
The NSA, in China as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy, held talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday. The focus of the talks — and this visit — was to explore new areas of co-operation to take the bilateral relationship forward, Mr. Menon said.
Much of the attention has, however, been on China's recent decision to sell two nuclear reactors to Pakistan. Some countries say the move goes against China's commitments as a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which prohibits the transfer of technology and equipment to countries which have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The attention on the deal, according to Mr. Menon, was misplaced. “This was not the whole point of the visit,” he stressed, adding: “This took less than two and a half sentences in the whole visit.”
Mr. Menon pointedly stressed in an interaction with journalists that China's close relationship with Pakistan, its all-weather strategic ally, would have no bearing on New Delhi taking forward its ties with Beijing, despite being a source of mistrust between the neighbours in the past.
“We're no longer in an either-or, zero-sum game kind of situation,” Mr. Menon said. “Our relationship with China is not dependent on the state of our relations with Pakistan, or vice versa. And judging by what we have seen in practice over the last few years, I think that is also true of China. Nowhere in my talks was there any such linkage [made] by them, or by us.”
He said an increasing convergence of interests on the global stage, on issues such as climate change, energy security and trade, was in some sense bringing the countries closer. They had moved into “a new stage of the relationship,” where they were engaging on a broader set of issues of global relevance
by Ananth Krishnan
Observing that India and China have “a relationship which is not externally driven,” National Security Adviser (NSA) Shiv Shankar Menon said here on Tuesday that China's decision to sell two nuclear reactors to Pakistan would have no bearing on the recent warming of ties between New Delhi and Beijing.
Mr. Menon, who raised the controversial deal in talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Sunday, said: “We have discussed the issue [of China's sale of two reactors] with them on two or three occasions. They have told us that what they are doing will be in accordance with their international obligations. I think we will wait and see where this is going.”
The NSA, in China as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy, held talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday. The focus of the talks — and this visit — was to explore new areas of co-operation to take the bilateral relationship forward, Mr. Menon said.
Much of the attention has, however, been on China's recent decision to sell two nuclear reactors to Pakistan. Some countries say the move goes against China's commitments as a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which prohibits the transfer of technology and equipment to countries which have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The attention on the deal, according to Mr. Menon, was misplaced. “This was not the whole point of the visit,” he stressed, adding: “This took less than two and a half sentences in the whole visit.”
Mr. Menon pointedly stressed in an interaction with journalists that China's close relationship with Pakistan, its all-weather strategic ally, would have no bearing on New Delhi taking forward its ties with Beijing, despite being a source of mistrust between the neighbours in the past.
“We're no longer in an either-or, zero-sum game kind of situation,” Mr. Menon said. “Our relationship with China is not dependent on the state of our relations with Pakistan, or vice versa. And judging by what we have seen in practice over the last few years, I think that is also true of China. Nowhere in my talks was there any such linkage [made] by them, or by us.”
He said an increasing convergence of interests on the global stage, on issues such as climate change, energy security and trade, was in some sense bringing the countries closer. They had moved into “a new stage of the relationship,” where they were engaging on a broader set of issues of global relevance
The Centre on Monday conveyed its willingness before the Supreme Court to spare more paramilitary forces for West Bengal to counter frequent blockades orchestrated by pro and anti-Gorkhaland agitators on National Highway 31A, the economic lifeline and sole domestic link to Sikkim.
For this, government counsel Wasim Ahmed Qadri said the Centre was willing to overcome the aspect that law and order is a state subject. But he also pointed out that it was ultimately the job of West Bengal to negotiate with agitating leaders.
“We have already provided three companies of the CRPF and are willing to provide additional forces, if required. But since law and order is a state subject, the problem can be taken up adequately only by the state of West Bengal by persuading the heads of the agitating groups,” Qadri said.
A three-judge Bench of Justices Altmas Kabir, Mukundakam Sharma and A K Patnaik later adjourned the matter for further hearing to July 19.
For this, government counsel Wasim Ahmed Qadri said the Centre was willing to overcome the aspect that law and order is a state subject. But he also pointed out that it was ultimately the job of West Bengal to negotiate with agitating leaders.
“We have already provided three companies of the CRPF and are willing to provide additional forces, if required. But since law and order is a state subject, the problem can be taken up adequately only by the state of West Bengal by persuading the heads of the agitating groups,” Qadri said.
A three-judge Bench of Justices Altmas Kabir, Mukundakam Sharma and A K Patnaik later adjourned the matter for further hearing to July 19.
SIKKIM: Queen’s Baton Relay to reach Sikkim on July 16
Gangtok: With the Queen’s Baton Relay for the 2010 Commonwealth Games scheduled to reach Rangpo in Sikkim on July 16, the state level committee for the QBR met for the third time to oversee the preparations.
Chairing the deliberations, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister N K Pradhan appealed to all concerned to contribute sincerely to make the Relay a grand success.
Chief Secretary T T Dorji, who is also the Chairman of the QBR in Sikkim, directed all the officials to co-ordinate with the nodal department and submits the action taken report latest by Wednesday.
Other issues like security planning for the relay, publicity, involvement of various sports associations, cultural programmes and other details were also discussed.
The meeting was attended by President, Sikkim Olympic Association, Special Olympic Association, representatives from various sports bodies besides others.
The QBR reached India via the Wagah-Attari border from Pakistan on June 25 as a culmination of the journey covering a distance of 170,000 km spanning 70 nations for over 240 days.
The baton, in India, will travel 20,000 kilometers for over 100 days covering 400 cities and towns.
source;TOI
Gangtok: With the Queen’s Baton Relay for the 2010 Commonwealth Games scheduled to reach Rangpo in Sikkim on July 16, the state level committee for the QBR met for the third time to oversee the preparations.
Chairing the deliberations, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister N K Pradhan appealed to all concerned to contribute sincerely to make the Relay a grand success.
Chief Secretary T T Dorji, who is also the Chairman of the QBR in Sikkim, directed all the officials to co-ordinate with the nodal department and submits the action taken report latest by Wednesday.
Other issues like security planning for the relay, publicity, involvement of various sports associations, cultural programmes and other details were also discussed.
The meeting was attended by President, Sikkim Olympic Association, Special Olympic Association, representatives from various sports bodies besides others.
The QBR reached India via the Wagah-Attari border from Pakistan on June 25 as a culmination of the journey covering a distance of 170,000 km spanning 70 nations for over 240 days.
The baton, in India, will travel 20,000 kilometers for over 100 days covering 400 cities and towns.
source;TOI
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
TRAVELOGUE: Strolling through the land of happiness
It was one of those moments every parent dreads. The children were sitting under the stars around a campfire with our guide after a long journey from Calcutta. In the cool mountain air we could hear hundreds of Buddhist prayer flags rippling on the hill above our house and the sound of laughter from somewhere across the valley. We had finally made it to the Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim, in north-east India, ready to begin five days of walking, staying overnight in village homestays.
“So,” said Sidarth, our guide. “What can anyone tell me about Buddhism?”
Silence. In England we had borrowed books from the library and talked at length about the Buddha, in an effort to prepare our children (Felix, 12, Maya, 10, and Jago, seven) for their holiday in Sikkim, where the majority religion is Buddhism. All, it seemed, had been in vain.
“OK, let’s start with the wheel of life,” Sidarth said, unfazed by our children’s shameful ignorance.
We shouldn’t have worried. Our holiday would soon be providing a better insight into Buddhism than any book. Twelve hours later we were in Rinchenpong Gompa, a 230-year-old monastery, listening to monks as young as six recite morning prayers.
The idea behind our “village walks” holiday was to give visitors a snapshot of rural life in Sikkim. It was run by Shakti Himalaya, which offers similar trips in Kumaon and Ladakh. We had told our friends that we would be trekking in the Himalayas. In truth, we were strolling in the foothills of South Sikkim, but the scenery was no less impressive.
Bordered by Nepal to the west, Bhutan to the east and Tibet to the north, Sikkim is one of India’s most beautiful states, heavy rains leaving it lush and fertile. But it is the looming presence of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain (28,208ft), that lends the region its defining magic.
As a family in Britain, we often struggle to get everyone out of the house for a good walk. There were no such problems in Sikkim. When we woke on our first morning and saw the snow-capped Himalayas floating high in the sky, it put a certain spring in everyone’s step. And the walking itself, about eight miles a day traversing terraced hillsides through farmsteads, villages and temples, was full of gentle adventure.
It was the homestays that lifted the holiday above the normal trekking experience. The children remember our first house, Sandyang Lee, the most fondly, citing Sidarth’s fireside Buddhist lesson, the discovery of hot-water bottles in our beds and the pots of Marmite and Nutella that graced our outdoor breakfast table.
“Our houses in Sikkim should be seen as nothing more than a local and authentic alternative to camping,” says Jamshyd Sethna, who set up Shakti Himalaya. “We have helped to renovate them to make them cosy, clean and comfortable yet keep their simple charm and maintain the experience of living in a Himalayan village house.”
My own favourite was Radhu Kandu, our second stop. It was a traditional wooden Sikkimese family home perched on a terraced hillside and only reachable on foot. The nearest road was almost a mile away and we had walked a further five hours from Sandyang Lee to get there.
The father of the house taught at the local school. His daughter, Durga, befriended Maya on our first night at Radhu Kandu, where we watched a performance of Nepali dancers and a local man who could play the flute through one nostril.
Early the next morning, Durga took Maya to milk the family cow. Later, we joined them on a walk down to a hillside smallholding, where the children held baby goats, cradled chicks and watched water buffalo being fed.
As we sat looking down on the blue-misted valley, an eagle soaring high above, it was easy to understand why Sikkim in Tibetan means “land of happiness”. Everyone seemed content with their lot. Even the smallest dwellings were immaculately kept, with rows of potted flowers lined up outside.
I’ve no doubt Buddhism has a lot to do with it, but Sikkim is also the beneficiary of big government grants. The state, which only joined the Indian Union in 1975, is a sensitive military area (foreigners need permits, a free formality) and Delhi is keen to maintain its loyalty to India rather than nearby China.
There is no income tax or tax on alcohol. The roads are smooth, there is a ban on plastic bags, the minimum wage is high and organic farming is the norm. No wonder Sikkim is the envy of India. (It has a drink problem, but that’s another story.)
It’s fair to say that we were pretty happy with our lot, too. At Shakti’s suggestion, we had begun our holiday with a stay at the eccentric Tollygunge Club in Calcutta and ended it with a couple of nights of luxury at the Glenburn Tea Estate in nearby Darjeeling.
In Sikkim, we were thoroughly spoilt by our team of seven travelling staff. All of the village houses we stayed at served Indian food cooked by our own Shakti chef. And each afternoon, we crested a hill after a long climb to find tea being served in china cups.
But it was Sidarth who made the holiday. Not only did he teach the children to shout “Kiki Soso! Lyargyalo!” (“May good energy prevail over evil energy”) whenever we reached a summit, and how to suck water from the roots of ferns, but they now have something to say when someone asks them about Buddhism. As Felix said, we’ll go back to Sikkim, in this life or the next.
SOURCE; BARUN ROY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was one of those moments every parent dreads. The children were sitting under the stars around a campfire with our guide after a long journey from Calcutta. In the cool mountain air we could hear hundreds of Buddhist prayer flags rippling on the hill above our house and the sound of laughter from somewhere across the valley. We had finally made it to the Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim, in north-east India, ready to begin five days of walking, staying overnight in village homestays.
“So,” said Sidarth, our guide. “What can anyone tell me about Buddhism?”
Silence. In England we had borrowed books from the library and talked at length about the Buddha, in an effort to prepare our children (Felix, 12, Maya, 10, and Jago, seven) for their holiday in Sikkim, where the majority religion is Buddhism. All, it seemed, had been in vain.
“OK, let’s start with the wheel of life,” Sidarth said, unfazed by our children’s shameful ignorance.
We shouldn’t have worried. Our holiday would soon be providing a better insight into Buddhism than any book. Twelve hours later we were in Rinchenpong Gompa, a 230-year-old monastery, listening to monks as young as six recite morning prayers.
The idea behind our “village walks” holiday was to give visitors a snapshot of rural life in Sikkim. It was run by Shakti Himalaya, which offers similar trips in Kumaon and Ladakh. We had told our friends that we would be trekking in the Himalayas. In truth, we were strolling in the foothills of South Sikkim, but the scenery was no less impressive.
Bordered by Nepal to the west, Bhutan to the east and Tibet to the north, Sikkim is one of India’s most beautiful states, heavy rains leaving it lush and fertile. But it is the looming presence of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain (28,208ft), that lends the region its defining magic.
As a family in Britain, we often struggle to get everyone out of the house for a good walk. There were no such problems in Sikkim. When we woke on our first morning and saw the snow-capped Himalayas floating high in the sky, it put a certain spring in everyone’s step. And the walking itself, about eight miles a day traversing terraced hillsides through farmsteads, villages and temples, was full of gentle adventure.
It was the homestays that lifted the holiday above the normal trekking experience. The children remember our first house, Sandyang Lee, the most fondly, citing Sidarth’s fireside Buddhist lesson, the discovery of hot-water bottles in our beds and the pots of Marmite and Nutella that graced our outdoor breakfast table.
“Our houses in Sikkim should be seen as nothing more than a local and authentic alternative to camping,” says Jamshyd Sethna, who set up Shakti Himalaya. “We have helped to renovate them to make them cosy, clean and comfortable yet keep their simple charm and maintain the experience of living in a Himalayan village house.”
My own favourite was Radhu Kandu, our second stop. It was a traditional wooden Sikkimese family home perched on a terraced hillside and only reachable on foot. The nearest road was almost a mile away and we had walked a further five hours from Sandyang Lee to get there.
The father of the house taught at the local school. His daughter, Durga, befriended Maya on our first night at Radhu Kandu, where we watched a performance of Nepali dancers and a local man who could play the flute through one nostril.
Early the next morning, Durga took Maya to milk the family cow. Later, we joined them on a walk down to a hillside smallholding, where the children held baby goats, cradled chicks and watched water buffalo being fed.
As we sat looking down on the blue-misted valley, an eagle soaring high above, it was easy to understand why Sikkim in Tibetan means “land of happiness”. Everyone seemed content with their lot. Even the smallest dwellings were immaculately kept, with rows of potted flowers lined up outside.
I’ve no doubt Buddhism has a lot to do with it, but Sikkim is also the beneficiary of big government grants. The state, which only joined the Indian Union in 1975, is a sensitive military area (foreigners need permits, a free formality) and Delhi is keen to maintain its loyalty to India rather than nearby China.
There is no income tax or tax on alcohol. The roads are smooth, there is a ban on plastic bags, the minimum wage is high and organic farming is the norm. No wonder Sikkim is the envy of India. (It has a drink problem, but that’s another story.)
It’s fair to say that we were pretty happy with our lot, too. At Shakti’s suggestion, we had begun our holiday with a stay at the eccentric Tollygunge Club in Calcutta and ended it with a couple of nights of luxury at the Glenburn Tea Estate in nearby Darjeeling.
In Sikkim, we were thoroughly spoilt by our team of seven travelling staff. All of the village houses we stayed at served Indian food cooked by our own Shakti chef. And each afternoon, we crested a hill after a long climb to find tea being served in china cups.
But it was Sidarth who made the holiday. Not only did he teach the children to shout “Kiki Soso! Lyargyalo!” (“May good energy prevail over evil energy”) whenever we reached a summit, and how to suck water from the roots of ferns, but they now have something to say when someone asks them about Buddhism. As Felix said, we’ll go back to Sikkim, in this life or the next.
SOURCE; BARUN ROY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, July 5, 2010
Government Urges Private Collectors to Donate Papers of Eminent Indian
Personalities to National Archives of India
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:2 IST
The National Archives of India has a very rich Collection of Private Papers of eminent Indians which have been acquired through gift and donation. These include Papers of Mahatma Gandhi, G.K.Gokhale, Dadabhai Naoroji, MR.Jayakar,Sarojini Naidu and others.
The Department would welcome such private collections having a bearing on Indian history and Culture. All papers received for custody are duly acknowledged, carefully preserved, listed and made available for consultation for scholars and users of Archives.
AD/DB
Personalities to National Archives of India
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:2 IST
The National Archives of India has a very rich Collection of Private Papers of eminent Indians which have been acquired through gift and donation. These include Papers of Mahatma Gandhi, G.K.Gokhale, Dadabhai Naoroji, MR.Jayakar,Sarojini Naidu and others.
The Department would welcome such private collections having a bearing on Indian history and Culture. All papers received for custody are duly acknowledged, carefully preserved, listed and made available for consultation for scholars and users of Archives.
AD/DB
President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil to Inaugurate International Congress of Mathematicians
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17:10 IST
The Hon’ble President of India, Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil will inaugurate the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) at Hyderabad on 19th August 2010. The ICM is by far the biggest and the most prestigious International meeting of Mathematicians. It is a periodic event taking place once in every four years. It is the first time that the Congresss is being held in India (and only the third time in Asia - Japan in 1990 and China in 2002 were previous Asian hosts). About 3000 delegates are expected to gather at Hyderabad during the 9-day meet from 19th August - 27th August 2010.
The Hon’ble President will give away the Fields Medal, the most prestigious global award for mathematical achievement, which is traditionally announced and given away at the ICMs. The Fields medal, named after J.M Fields, a Canadian mathematician, is awarded to promising young mathematicians under the age of 40. Winners of three other prestigious awards - Nevanlinna Prize, The Gauss prize and The Chern Prize will also receive their awards from the President of India.
On the sidelines of the Congress, another attractive event will be the opportunity offered to delegates to play against the World Chess Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand. Anand will play Chess against 40 opponents to be chosen from among the delegates to the ICM at Hyderabad. Vishwanathan Anand is a keen follower of developments in Mathematics and Science as he acknowledges that the methodology of problem solving in chess and mathematics are closely linked.
*****
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17:10 IST
The Hon’ble President of India, Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil will inaugurate the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) at Hyderabad on 19th August 2010. The ICM is by far the biggest and the most prestigious International meeting of Mathematicians. It is a periodic event taking place once in every four years. It is the first time that the Congresss is being held in India (and only the third time in Asia - Japan in 1990 and China in 2002 were previous Asian hosts). About 3000 delegates are expected to gather at Hyderabad during the 9-day meet from 19th August - 27th August 2010.
The Hon’ble President will give away the Fields Medal, the most prestigious global award for mathematical achievement, which is traditionally announced and given away at the ICMs. The Fields medal, named after J.M Fields, a Canadian mathematician, is awarded to promising young mathematicians under the age of 40. Winners of three other prestigious awards - Nevanlinna Prize, The Gauss prize and The Chern Prize will also receive their awards from the President of India.
On the sidelines of the Congress, another attractive event will be the opportunity offered to delegates to play against the World Chess Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand. Anand will play Chess against 40 opponents to be chosen from among the delegates to the ICM at Hyderabad. Vishwanathan Anand is a keen follower of developments in Mathematics and Science as he acknowledges that the methodology of problem solving in chess and mathematics are closely linked.
*****
DR. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Calls for Integrating All Developmental Initiatives towards a Common Mission and to Make them Result Oriented
The Former President Identifies 5 Areas Where India has a Core Competence for Integrated Action
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19:1 IST
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, has said that the need of the hour is the evolution of sustainable systems which act as ‘enablers’ and bring inclusive growth and integrated development to the nation. Delivering this year’s Annual NCM Lecture on the topic ‘Sustained development mechanism will bring prosperity to all’ here today at the Constitution Club, Dr. Kalam said that one such sustainable development system is the mission of Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas ( PURA). It means that:
1. The villages must be connected with in themselves and with main towns and metros through by good roads and wherever needed by railway lines. They must have other infrastructure like schools, colleges, hospitals and amenities for the local population and the visitors. This is physical connectivity.
2. In the emerging knowledge era, the native knowledge has to be preserved and enhanced with latest tools of technology, training and research. The villages have to have access to good education from best teachers wherever they are, must have the benefit of good medical treatment, and must have latest information on their pursuits like agriculture, fishery, horticulture and food processing. That means they have to have electronic connectivity.
3. Once the Physical and Electronic connectivity are enabled, the knowledge connectivity is enabled. That can facilitate the ability increase the productivity, the utilization of spare time, awareness of health welfare, ensuring a market for products, increasing quality conscience, interacting with partners, getting the best equipment, increasing transparency and so in general knowledge connectivity.
4. Once the three connectivities viz. Physical, Electronic and knowledge connectivity are ensured, they facilitate earning capacity leading to economic connectivity. When we Provide Urban Amenities to Rural Areas (PURA), we can lead to upliftment of rural areas, we can attract investors, we can introduce effectively useful systems like Rural BPOs, Micro Finance.
The number of PURA for the whole country is estimated to be 7000 covering 600,000 villages where 700 million people live, the former President said.
In his typical philosophical way Dr. Kalam gave his visualization of India during the year 2020 as follows:
1. A Nation where the rural and urban divide has reduced to a thin line.
2. A Nation where there is an equitable distribution and adequate access to energy and quality water.
3. A Nation where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony.
4. A Nation where education with value system is not denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination.
5. A Nation, which is the best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists, and investors.
6. A Nation where the best of health care is available to all.
7. A Nation where the governance is responsive, transparent and corruption free.
8. A Nation where poverty has been totally eradicated, illiteracy removed and crimes against women and children are absent and none in the society feels alienated.
9. A Nation that is prosperous, healthy, secure, devoid of terrorism, peaceful and happy and continues with a sustainable growth path.
10. A Nation that is one of the best places to live in and is proud of its leadership.
The former President of India said that to achieve the distinctive profile of India, we have the mission of transforming India into a developed nation. He said that 5 areas have been identified where India has a core competence for integrated action: (1) Agriculture and food processing; (2) Education and Healthcare; (3) Information and Communication Technology; (4) Reliable and Quality Electric power, Surface transport and Infrastructure for all parts of the country; and (5) Self reliance in critical technologies. These five areas are closely inter-related and if progressed in a coordinated way leading to food, economic and national security, Dr. Kalam said.
Dr. Kalam called upon every Indian to have an introspection about the social awakening needed for the national development. Every civilized society exists not for day-to-day, but lives with a clear perception for the future and the generations to come. The former President said that such a situation would pre-suppose that each individual in such a society would cherish and translate into practice noble ideals of constructive tolerance, positive fellow-feeling and a total commitment to live and let live. Albert Einstein could not have expressed this better, when he said: “Laws alone can’t secure freedom of expression; in order that every man presents his views without penalty, there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population”.
Dr. Kalam said that we have to evolve a society that will respect differences and celebrate differences. He also suggested a number of Missions for the National Commission for Minorities to make it more effective.
The Annual NCM Lecture is organized by the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) to mark the importance of the constitution of the first statutory Commission on 5th July 1993. The NCM was set up to safeguard the rights of Minorities and to protect their interests. It became a statutory body under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
The Former President Identifies 5 Areas Where India has a Core Competence for Integrated Action
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19:1 IST
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, has said that the need of the hour is the evolution of sustainable systems which act as ‘enablers’ and bring inclusive growth and integrated development to the nation. Delivering this year’s Annual NCM Lecture on the topic ‘Sustained development mechanism will bring prosperity to all’ here today at the Constitution Club, Dr. Kalam said that one such sustainable development system is the mission of Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas ( PURA). It means that:
1. The villages must be connected with in themselves and with main towns and metros through by good roads and wherever needed by railway lines. They must have other infrastructure like schools, colleges, hospitals and amenities for the local population and the visitors. This is physical connectivity.
2. In the emerging knowledge era, the native knowledge has to be preserved and enhanced with latest tools of technology, training and research. The villages have to have access to good education from best teachers wherever they are, must have the benefit of good medical treatment, and must have latest information on their pursuits like agriculture, fishery, horticulture and food processing. That means they have to have electronic connectivity.
3. Once the Physical and Electronic connectivity are enabled, the knowledge connectivity is enabled. That can facilitate the ability increase the productivity, the utilization of spare time, awareness of health welfare, ensuring a market for products, increasing quality conscience, interacting with partners, getting the best equipment, increasing transparency and so in general knowledge connectivity.
4. Once the three connectivities viz. Physical, Electronic and knowledge connectivity are ensured, they facilitate earning capacity leading to economic connectivity. When we Provide Urban Amenities to Rural Areas (PURA), we can lead to upliftment of rural areas, we can attract investors, we can introduce effectively useful systems like Rural BPOs, Micro Finance.
The number of PURA for the whole country is estimated to be 7000 covering 600,000 villages where 700 million people live, the former President said.
In his typical philosophical way Dr. Kalam gave his visualization of India during the year 2020 as follows:
1. A Nation where the rural and urban divide has reduced to a thin line.
2. A Nation where there is an equitable distribution and adequate access to energy and quality water.
3. A Nation where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony.
4. A Nation where education with value system is not denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination.
5. A Nation, which is the best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists, and investors.
6. A Nation where the best of health care is available to all.
7. A Nation where the governance is responsive, transparent and corruption free.
8. A Nation where poverty has been totally eradicated, illiteracy removed and crimes against women and children are absent and none in the society feels alienated.
9. A Nation that is prosperous, healthy, secure, devoid of terrorism, peaceful and happy and continues with a sustainable growth path.
10. A Nation that is one of the best places to live in and is proud of its leadership.
The former President of India said that to achieve the distinctive profile of India, we have the mission of transforming India into a developed nation. He said that 5 areas have been identified where India has a core competence for integrated action: (1) Agriculture and food processing; (2) Education and Healthcare; (3) Information and Communication Technology; (4) Reliable and Quality Electric power, Surface transport and Infrastructure for all parts of the country; and (5) Self reliance in critical technologies. These five areas are closely inter-related and if progressed in a coordinated way leading to food, economic and national security, Dr. Kalam said.
Dr. Kalam called upon every Indian to have an introspection about the social awakening needed for the national development. Every civilized society exists not for day-to-day, but lives with a clear perception for the future and the generations to come. The former President said that such a situation would pre-suppose that each individual in such a society would cherish and translate into practice noble ideals of constructive tolerance, positive fellow-feeling and a total commitment to live and let live. Albert Einstein could not have expressed this better, when he said: “Laws alone can’t secure freedom of expression; in order that every man presents his views without penalty, there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population”.
Dr. Kalam said that we have to evolve a society that will respect differences and celebrate differences. He also suggested a number of Missions for the National Commission for Minorities to make it more effective.
The Annual NCM Lecture is organized by the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) to mark the importance of the constitution of the first statutory Commission on 5th July 1993. The NCM was set up to safeguard the rights of Minorities and to protect their interests. It became a statutory body under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
When To Pray- Swami Avdhutananda
WHEN TO PRAY
There is a story of a sea captain who in his retirement skippered a boat taking day-trippers to Shetland Islands.
On one trip, the boat was full of young people. They laughed at the old captain when they saw him say a prayer before sailing out, because the day was fine and the sea was calm.
However they weren't long at sea when a storm suddenly blew up and the boat began to roll & pitch violently. The terrified passengers came to the captain and asked him to join them in prayer.
But he replied, "I say my prayers when it's calm. When it's rough I attend to my ship."
Here is a lesson for us......
If we cannot seek God in quiet moments of our lives; we are not likely to find him when trouble strikes. We are more likely to panic.
But if we have learnt to seek him and trust him in quiet moments, then most certainly we will find him when the going gets tough !
There is a story of a sea captain who in his retirement skippered a boat taking day-trippers to Shetland Islands.
On one trip, the boat was full of young people. They laughed at the old captain when they saw him say a prayer before sailing out, because the day was fine and the sea was calm.
However they weren't long at sea when a storm suddenly blew up and the boat began to roll & pitch violently. The terrified passengers came to the captain and asked him to join them in prayer.
But he replied, "I say my prayers when it's calm. When it's rough I attend to my ship."
Here is a lesson for us......
If we cannot seek God in quiet moments of our lives; we are not likely to find him when trouble strikes. We are more likely to panic.
But if we have learnt to seek him and trust him in quiet moments, then most certainly we will find him when the going gets tough !
Vice President Addresses International Conference on
“Geothermal and Other Energy Resources of Ladakh:
Technological and Business Viability” in Leh
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12:28 IST
The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that the national mission to ensure energy security propels us to look seriously at new and renewable energy options with a focus on grid interactive and distributed renewable power, rural and urban applications, and industrial and commercial applications of such renewable power. Addressing at an “International Conference on Geothermal and other Energy Resources of Ladakh : Technological and Business Viability” in Leh (Ladakh) today, he has said that though India has been one of the earliest countries to begin geothermal projects lay back in the 1970s, geothermal energy has not emerged as a significant renewable energy option in the country. The preference, instead, is for wind energy and solar energy presumably on account of their easy availability, lower initial investment and proven technology.
The Vice President has said that despite this, there is a case for a re-look at geothermal energy. It is estimated that there is a technical potential to produce about 10 thousand megawatts of geothermal power in the country. From the point of view of electrification of rural and remote areas, there is even greater potential in terms of the impact of geothermal power where even small projects of 5 kilowatts can significantly change the economic situation and living standards.
Following is the text of the Vice President’s address :
“I am happy to be here today to participate in this conference. Over the years I have had many an occasion to attend conferences and seminars pertaining to the subject of energy. To the best of my recollection, however, none of these were focused on geothermal energy. The default, perhaps, can be attributed to our lack of sufficient awareness of this form of energy. Even the Kirit Parikh Report of August 2006 on Integrated Energy Policy did not seem to dwell on the matter.
This gathering of distinguished experts and business personalities is, therefore, only to be welcomed and the University of Jammu’s initiative is to be commended.
The subject of energy is compelling, even fascinating. It is a recorded fact of history that all civilizations depended for survival and prosperity on their ability to access energy in sufficient quantities in the form of food and fuel. The advancement of the past two centuries highlights this truism. By the same token, anxiety about continued and continuous access to energy in requisite quantities has resulted in irrational reactions ranging from overt pessimism to undue optimism.
Many years back the Russian astrophysicist Nicolai Kardashev propounded his theory about stages of civilizations based on their access to three energy sources. He categorized the latter as planetary, stellar and galactic. Others have calculated that our own planet has up to now only reached the 0.72 level in the first, planetary, category and may take a century or two to marshal energy resources on a planet-wide scale.
I personally would lean on the side of optimism and therefore support the view that technology and human ingenuity would lead us to newer sources of energy as also to better utilization of existing sources and quantities. Hence the relevance of today’s gathering.
Exploiting geothermal energy is not new to humankind. Ancient Romans built elaborate complexes in areas where they came across hot water springs. In our own country, hot water springs were traditionally used for religious and medicinal baths. This desire, to harness for use the enormous reservoirs of energy stored underneath the earth’s surface, has been strengthened by the advancement of technology in our times.
It is universally accepted that per capita energy consumption in a society is a critical element in its development indices. India lags far behind on this count. Our consumption per head is less than a third of the global average. We also face an acute deficit of electric power. Almost half of all Indian households do not have access to electricity and our average annual per capita consumption of electricity is merely about 30 percent of the world’s average.
This, then, is a measure of the distance to be covered if the pace of development is to be accelerated.
Our reliance on fossil fuels and traditional bio-mass adds a complicating dimension to the situation. A projection of requirements two decades hence indicates that even at present levels of consumption, our annual import of oil would go up to 750 million tons and of coal to 1300 million tons. Add to this the pressing global effort to mitigate emissions of greenhouse gases to address climate change.
The national mission to ensure energy security thus propels us to look seriously at new and renewable energy options with a focus on grid interactive and distributed renewable power, rural and urban applications, and industrial and commercial applications of such renewable power.
Among the various new and renewable energy options, geothermal energy is recognized as the cleanest, without smoke or environmental hazards. If a proper well at adequate temperature is identified, the energy source is limitless, available all through the year and with minimal operating costs, unlike the case of wind or solar power.
India has several geothermal provinces characterized by high heat flow and thermal gradients. Subsequent to the oil crisis of the 1970s, the Geological Survey of India generated data of resource assessment for over 300 hot springs in the country. Subsequently detailed geological, geophysical and tectonic studies on several thermal provinces, geochemical characteristics of the thermal discharges and reservoir temperature estimations were carried out by the National Geophysical Research Institute and the IITs, especially at Puga valley in Ladakh and Tatapani in Chhattisgarh.
Though India has been one of the earliest countries to begin geothermal projects way back in the 1970s, geothermal energy has not emerged as a significant renewable energy option in the country. The preference, instead, is for wind energy and solar energy presumably on account of their easy availability, lower initial investment and proven technology.
Despite this, there is a case for a re-look at geothermal energy. It is estimated that there is a technical potential to produce about 10 thousand megawatts of geothermal power in the country. From the point of view of electrification of rural and remote areas, there is even greater potential in terms of the impact of geothermal power where even small projects of 5 kilowatts can significantly change the economic situation and living standards.
In this context, the experience of some of the Asian countries holds great relevance in developing geothermal energy, overcoming deployment challenges and technical and non-economic barriers.
Geothermal energy accounts for 21 per cent of total primary energy supply in Philippines and 3 per cent in the case of Indonesia. In terms of contribution to electricity generation, geothermal energy constitutes 17 per cent in Philippines and 5 per cent in the case of Indonesia. Both countries have developed geothermal energy as a key element of their energy matrix by targeted policy decisions that included the following:
First, both countries have adopted specific medium and long-term renewable energy targets, with a separate focus on geothermal energy. Indonesia has enacted Law no. 27 of 2003 that promotes sustainable development of geothermal energy. The country also has set a 5 per cent target for geothermal energy for its energy mix for 2025. The Philippine Energy Plan has articulated a goal for Philippines to become the world leader in geothermal energy. These efforts have led to the evolution of a stable and integrated policy framework to attract investments and private sector participation.
Second, their policy framework supports renewable energy targets through financial incentives and non-economic support structures. These include feed-in-tariffs where utilities pay a premium for electricity from renewable energy sources that is delivered to the electric grid. Last year, the Indonesian government announced setting of a higher price for electricity produced by new geothermal power plants. The Philippines has also established the National Renewable Energy Board tasked with studying the feed-in-tariff for renewable energy. Both countries also grant income tax and value added tax incentives for geo-thermal projects and exempt geo-thermal exploration equipment from import duties.
Third, the governments in both countries have made significant efforts in removing economic and non-economic barriers. These include aligning National Energy Policies in favour of renewable energy, reducing the bias in the energy market in favour of conventional fossil fuels, broad-basing energy subsidies provided by the government to include renewable energy, enhancing public awareness of renewables, facilitating electric grid connection and flexible price mechanism for small power producers, encouraging renewable energy for rural focused off-grid applications and improving overall policy and regulatory predictability in the renewable energy market.
The Himayalan region is one of the most promising geothermal areas. It contains about 100 thermal springs and falls in one of the most tectonically active zones. In the 1980s, the first pilot binary 5 kilo watt power plant was successfully operated by the Geological Survey of India at Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh which proved the power producing capability there.
The Puga Valley geo-thermal field in Jammu and Kashmir has been estimated to have a temperature of 240 degree centigrade at a depth of 2000 meters. This makes evident its potential and I am confident that this conference would debate ways and means of involving all stakeholders to make this the first viable and operational geo-thermal power plant.
It is also to be hoped that the regulatory and policy environment governing renewable energy in general and geo-thermal energy in particular would evolve, to enable us to realize the existing potential in Ladakh and deploy it for the public good.
I thank Prof. Varun Sahni for inviting me to inaugurate this international conference and wish your deliberations all success. ”
SK
“Geothermal and Other Energy Resources of Ladakh:
Technological and Business Viability” in Leh
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12:28 IST
The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that the national mission to ensure energy security propels us to look seriously at new and renewable energy options with a focus on grid interactive and distributed renewable power, rural and urban applications, and industrial and commercial applications of such renewable power. Addressing at an “International Conference on Geothermal and other Energy Resources of Ladakh : Technological and Business Viability” in Leh (Ladakh) today, he has said that though India has been one of the earliest countries to begin geothermal projects lay back in the 1970s, geothermal energy has not emerged as a significant renewable energy option in the country. The preference, instead, is for wind energy and solar energy presumably on account of their easy availability, lower initial investment and proven technology.
The Vice President has said that despite this, there is a case for a re-look at geothermal energy. It is estimated that there is a technical potential to produce about 10 thousand megawatts of geothermal power in the country. From the point of view of electrification of rural and remote areas, there is even greater potential in terms of the impact of geothermal power where even small projects of 5 kilowatts can significantly change the economic situation and living standards.
Following is the text of the Vice President’s address :
“I am happy to be here today to participate in this conference. Over the years I have had many an occasion to attend conferences and seminars pertaining to the subject of energy. To the best of my recollection, however, none of these were focused on geothermal energy. The default, perhaps, can be attributed to our lack of sufficient awareness of this form of energy. Even the Kirit Parikh Report of August 2006 on Integrated Energy Policy did not seem to dwell on the matter.
This gathering of distinguished experts and business personalities is, therefore, only to be welcomed and the University of Jammu’s initiative is to be commended.
The subject of energy is compelling, even fascinating. It is a recorded fact of history that all civilizations depended for survival and prosperity on their ability to access energy in sufficient quantities in the form of food and fuel. The advancement of the past two centuries highlights this truism. By the same token, anxiety about continued and continuous access to energy in requisite quantities has resulted in irrational reactions ranging from overt pessimism to undue optimism.
Many years back the Russian astrophysicist Nicolai Kardashev propounded his theory about stages of civilizations based on their access to three energy sources. He categorized the latter as planetary, stellar and galactic. Others have calculated that our own planet has up to now only reached the 0.72 level in the first, planetary, category and may take a century or two to marshal energy resources on a planet-wide scale.
I personally would lean on the side of optimism and therefore support the view that technology and human ingenuity would lead us to newer sources of energy as also to better utilization of existing sources and quantities. Hence the relevance of today’s gathering.
Exploiting geothermal energy is not new to humankind. Ancient Romans built elaborate complexes in areas where they came across hot water springs. In our own country, hot water springs were traditionally used for religious and medicinal baths. This desire, to harness for use the enormous reservoirs of energy stored underneath the earth’s surface, has been strengthened by the advancement of technology in our times.
It is universally accepted that per capita energy consumption in a society is a critical element in its development indices. India lags far behind on this count. Our consumption per head is less than a third of the global average. We also face an acute deficit of electric power. Almost half of all Indian households do not have access to electricity and our average annual per capita consumption of electricity is merely about 30 percent of the world’s average.
This, then, is a measure of the distance to be covered if the pace of development is to be accelerated.
Our reliance on fossil fuels and traditional bio-mass adds a complicating dimension to the situation. A projection of requirements two decades hence indicates that even at present levels of consumption, our annual import of oil would go up to 750 million tons and of coal to 1300 million tons. Add to this the pressing global effort to mitigate emissions of greenhouse gases to address climate change.
The national mission to ensure energy security thus propels us to look seriously at new and renewable energy options with a focus on grid interactive and distributed renewable power, rural and urban applications, and industrial and commercial applications of such renewable power.
Among the various new and renewable energy options, geothermal energy is recognized as the cleanest, without smoke or environmental hazards. If a proper well at adequate temperature is identified, the energy source is limitless, available all through the year and with minimal operating costs, unlike the case of wind or solar power.
India has several geothermal provinces characterized by high heat flow and thermal gradients. Subsequent to the oil crisis of the 1970s, the Geological Survey of India generated data of resource assessment for over 300 hot springs in the country. Subsequently detailed geological, geophysical and tectonic studies on several thermal provinces, geochemical characteristics of the thermal discharges and reservoir temperature estimations were carried out by the National Geophysical Research Institute and the IITs, especially at Puga valley in Ladakh and Tatapani in Chhattisgarh.
Though India has been one of the earliest countries to begin geothermal projects way back in the 1970s, geothermal energy has not emerged as a significant renewable energy option in the country. The preference, instead, is for wind energy and solar energy presumably on account of their easy availability, lower initial investment and proven technology.
Despite this, there is a case for a re-look at geothermal energy. It is estimated that there is a technical potential to produce about 10 thousand megawatts of geothermal power in the country. From the point of view of electrification of rural and remote areas, there is even greater potential in terms of the impact of geothermal power where even small projects of 5 kilowatts can significantly change the economic situation and living standards.
In this context, the experience of some of the Asian countries holds great relevance in developing geothermal energy, overcoming deployment challenges and technical and non-economic barriers.
Geothermal energy accounts for 21 per cent of total primary energy supply in Philippines and 3 per cent in the case of Indonesia. In terms of contribution to electricity generation, geothermal energy constitutes 17 per cent in Philippines and 5 per cent in the case of Indonesia. Both countries have developed geothermal energy as a key element of their energy matrix by targeted policy decisions that included the following:
First, both countries have adopted specific medium and long-term renewable energy targets, with a separate focus on geothermal energy. Indonesia has enacted Law no. 27 of 2003 that promotes sustainable development of geothermal energy. The country also has set a 5 per cent target for geothermal energy for its energy mix for 2025. The Philippine Energy Plan has articulated a goal for Philippines to become the world leader in geothermal energy. These efforts have led to the evolution of a stable and integrated policy framework to attract investments and private sector participation.
Second, their policy framework supports renewable energy targets through financial incentives and non-economic support structures. These include feed-in-tariffs where utilities pay a premium for electricity from renewable energy sources that is delivered to the electric grid. Last year, the Indonesian government announced setting of a higher price for electricity produced by new geothermal power plants. The Philippines has also established the National Renewable Energy Board tasked with studying the feed-in-tariff for renewable energy. Both countries also grant income tax and value added tax incentives for geo-thermal projects and exempt geo-thermal exploration equipment from import duties.
Third, the governments in both countries have made significant efforts in removing economic and non-economic barriers. These include aligning National Energy Policies in favour of renewable energy, reducing the bias in the energy market in favour of conventional fossil fuels, broad-basing energy subsidies provided by the government to include renewable energy, enhancing public awareness of renewables, facilitating electric grid connection and flexible price mechanism for small power producers, encouraging renewable energy for rural focused off-grid applications and improving overall policy and regulatory predictability in the renewable energy market.
The Himayalan region is one of the most promising geothermal areas. It contains about 100 thermal springs and falls in one of the most tectonically active zones. In the 1980s, the first pilot binary 5 kilo watt power plant was successfully operated by the Geological Survey of India at Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh which proved the power producing capability there.
The Puga Valley geo-thermal field in Jammu and Kashmir has been estimated to have a temperature of 240 degree centigrade at a depth of 2000 meters. This makes evident its potential and I am confident that this conference would debate ways and means of involving all stakeholders to make this the first viable and operational geo-thermal power plant.
It is also to be hoped that the regulatory and policy environment governing renewable energy in general and geo-thermal energy in particular would evolve, to enable us to realize the existing potential in Ladakh and deploy it for the public good.
I thank Prof. Varun Sahni for inviting me to inaugurate this international conference and wish your deliberations all success. ”
SK
CLARIFICATION ISSUED - Government clears air around service tax
The government has issued clarifications on the service tax on real estate and air fares proposed in the Budget.
According to the Thursday clarification, if you bought an immovable property (residen- tial or commercial) before 1 July, you don't have to pay any service tax. If you booked a house which has not been constructed yet, your payment before 1 July is not taxable. However, any subsequent payment will come under the tax net.
The Budget proposed to levy a service tax of 10.3% on the purchase of any property, on 33% of the gross value of the property.
But the government clarified that the service tax will be levied only on 25% of the gross value if it includes cost of land.
Subsequently, you need to pay stamp duty and registration charges.
However, you will be shelling out more for your house. The increase this time would be 2.58% compared to the earlier proposal of 3.3%.
The government has also widened the scope of the phrase “competent authority“ in real estate. Now even an ar- chitect, chartered engineer or a licensed surveyor can issue you a completion certificate. This would speed up the process of issuance.
“Linking service tax liability with issuance of completion certificate would thus also pose practical difficulties,“ said San- tosh Roongta, national president, Confederation of Real Es- tate Developers' Association of India. “The date difference be- tween construction activities, date of payment and date of agreement will lead to the con- fusion over issuance of com- pletion. But the widening would remove the bottleneck of bureaucratic hurdle of issu- ance.“
Also, according to the notifi- cation, if an agreement is en- tered into or any payment is made for sale of a complex or an apartment before the issu- ance of completion certificate, service tax will be levied on such transactions.
In case of air tickets, the ser- vice tax will apply on bookings done after 1 July. So if you booked before 1 July for a flight after 1 July, you will not be pay- ing any service tax if you are travelling domestic, or in the economy class of an interna- tional flight.
For domestic air tickets bought after 1 July, the service tax is 10% of the gross air tick- et--exclusive of passenger ser- vice fee and user development fee--up to a maximum of Rs100. For international econo- my class, too, the service tax is 10% with a ceiling of Rs500 for tickets bought after 1 July.
You pay this tax for each sec- tor that you fly. So everytime you embark on a flight, you will have to pay a service tax. How- ever, journeys to and from the North-East have been exempt from service tax.
The service tax of around 12% on business class and first class seats in international flights will continue as before.
deepti.bh@livemint.com
The government has issued clarifications on the service tax on real estate and air fares proposed in the Budget.
According to the Thursday clarification, if you bought an immovable property (residen- tial or commercial) before 1 July, you don't have to pay any service tax. If you booked a house which has not been constructed yet, your payment before 1 July is not taxable. However, any subsequent payment will come under the tax net.
The Budget proposed to levy a service tax of 10.3% on the purchase of any property, on 33% of the gross value of the property.
But the government clarified that the service tax will be levied only on 25% of the gross value if it includes cost of land.
Subsequently, you need to pay stamp duty and registration charges.
However, you will be shelling out more for your house. The increase this time would be 2.58% compared to the earlier proposal of 3.3%.
The government has also widened the scope of the phrase “competent authority“ in real estate. Now even an ar- chitect, chartered engineer or a licensed surveyor can issue you a completion certificate. This would speed up the process of issuance.
“Linking service tax liability with issuance of completion certificate would thus also pose practical difficulties,“ said San- tosh Roongta, national president, Confederation of Real Es- tate Developers' Association of India. “The date difference be- tween construction activities, date of payment and date of agreement will lead to the con- fusion over issuance of com- pletion. But the widening would remove the bottleneck of bureaucratic hurdle of issu- ance.“
Also, according to the notifi- cation, if an agreement is en- tered into or any payment is made for sale of a complex or an apartment before the issu- ance of completion certificate, service tax will be levied on such transactions.
In case of air tickets, the ser- vice tax will apply on bookings done after 1 July. So if you booked before 1 July for a flight after 1 July, you will not be pay- ing any service tax if you are travelling domestic, or in the economy class of an interna- tional flight.
For domestic air tickets bought after 1 July, the service tax is 10% of the gross air tick- et--exclusive of passenger ser- vice fee and user development fee--up to a maximum of Rs100. For international econo- my class, too, the service tax is 10% with a ceiling of Rs500 for tickets bought after 1 July.
You pay this tax for each sec- tor that you fly. So everytime you embark on a flight, you will have to pay a service tax. How- ever, journeys to and from the North-East have been exempt from service tax.
The service tax of around 12% on business class and first class seats in international flights will continue as before.
deepti.bh@livemint.com
Fashion Street in Gangtok
Gangtok, July 4 (PTI) : A half a kilometer stretch will be developed into a state-of-the-art ‘Fashion Street’ in Sikkim on the NH-31A here at a cost of nearly 17 crore.
The Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD) will transform the stretch between Sisha-Golai, Pani House and the tri-junction towards Nam-Nang into a combination of branded showrooms, extravagant restaurants, beauty parlours, saloons and high-end shops, Additional Chief Engineer, UDHD, C Zangpo told PTI.
“We plan to develop the area as a congregation point for all to meet, shop, relax and enjoy,” he said.
The department has started consultancy for developing the stretch of NH-31A as a trendy shopping destination for visitors to Gangtok, which would also decongest the MG Mall, he said.
Gangtok, July 4 (PTI) : A half a kilometer stretch will be developed into a state-of-the-art ‘Fashion Street’ in Sikkim on the NH-31A here at a cost of nearly 17 crore.
The Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD) will transform the stretch between Sisha-Golai, Pani House and the tri-junction towards Nam-Nang into a combination of branded showrooms, extravagant restaurants, beauty parlours, saloons and high-end shops, Additional Chief Engineer, UDHD, C Zangpo told PTI.
“We plan to develop the area as a congregation point for all to meet, shop, relax and enjoy,” he said.
The department has started consultancy for developing the stretch of NH-31A as a trendy shopping destination for visitors to Gangtok, which would also decongest the MG Mall, he said.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Scintillating Sikkim
by KAUSALYA SANTHANAM
Take in the mesmerising Khangchendzonga, the celebrated monasteries, and everything else East Sikkim has to offer.
“Khangchendzonga”or Kanchenjunga, the radiant one. Golden when the rays of the Sun fall on her. We could have spent our entire holiday just gazing at her mesmerising form, now visible, now lost in the gossamer draperies of mist. Like most tourists, we make it a point to pull ourselves out of bed at dawn to gaze at these snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas.
The flight from Kolkata to Bagdogra takes an hour. And from there, we climb up to Gangtok, a five-hour drive, passing by the town of Siliguri on the banks of the Mahananda, and the beautiful terracotta ware in the wayside stalls at Matigara. Tall and slender trees line the route. The Sun throws patterns of light through the trees. The river Teesta gurgles over rocks and boulders, and we can sight her as we journey up the hills.
Along the way, we treat ourselves to freshly-plucked corn roasted on coals and dusted with chilli, salt and lime. Luscious litchis, complete with twigs and leaves, are carried by vendors in baskets, giving us a taste of this fruit-rich State.
Monkeys clamber on parapet walls on the roadside. Across the bridge and the check post, and it is “Welcome to Sikkim.”
At Rangpo, the entry point, we stop at the guest house with its white Pomeranian mascot. Beautiful pictures of Nehru and Indira Gandhi with the late Chogyal and his family line the walls. Sikkim, an erstwhile monarchy, became part of the Indian Union in 1975.
The call of the lights
It is almost dark when we arrive at Gangtok. The hillside is flecked with lights, and our first impression of the capital of Sikkim is of a sloping sky filled with stars. Next morning, we are off to see the sights.
Tourism is a priority in the hills, and at the Bhanjhakri Falls, the Shamans, the tribal medicine men and women, are showcased. There are images and masks to represent them at the park. Tourists preen in the beautiful native dress of the Bhutia community and take photographs. The majority of the Sikkimese are Hindus or Buddhists.
The romantic Silk Route lures us the following day, and we are on our way to the Nathu La (Pass) on the Indo-China border. It is a perilous climb, and the heart operates its own traffic lights each time we look down — coming to an almost complete stop at the red light of the bends where there is often a sheer drop of a thousand feet. One can't help saluting the skill of jeep drivers who make these trips so many times a week during the season.
Mountain streams eagerly rush to meet the Teesta far below. We come to the sacred Lake Tsomgo, a placid grey green now, but an icy sheet of white in winter.
There are gaily-decorated yaks with scarlet saddle cloths and brightly-coloured woven threads covering their horns. The animals walk along with “Am-I-not-looking-ever-so-dainty” expressions while tourists snap their pictures or take a ride. Higher, and we come to the mountain beyond which, we are told, lies China.
We reach the spot where a memorial has been erected for Harbhajan Singh, a sepoy who went missing while patrolling the border. It is now a shrine for those praying for the recovery of loved ones who are ailing.
At the Rumtek monastery the next day, we are in for a lovely surprise. The balconies are filled with devotees and viewers. In the impressive courtyard, the annual Chaam dance is in progress. The performing monks wear brocade robes and colourful masks, and in a slow, stately rhythm, twirl around while the red clad monk-musicians play on pipes and other musical instruments.
We feel we can stay here forever, so hypnotic and calming is the dance. But time is short and we make our way to the 200-year-old Enchey monastery and the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology set up by the late Chogyal, which has an interesting collection of Tibetan literature and artefacts.
In the evening, a short stroll on the Mahatma Gandhi Marg in Gangtok offers a blissful, undisturbed shopping experience, as it is completely closed to traffic.
The price of development is visible in Sikkim as in all hill stations, with too many multi-storeyed structures clustered together.
Sikkim's handicrafts are on display at the State emporium. The dragon-patterned, small tables in scarlet and blue make one pause, but the panic stricken “How do we transport them?” cry from the family reluctantly makes one turn aside.
East Sikkim is all we can manage in four days. There is so much of the State left unexplored.
Flowers grow in abundance here and the rhododendron festival is a highlight of the calendar. Sikkim is an adventure lover's delight with the scope for rafting and trekking. But that is for “braver souls”, we add sotto voce.
Even our farewell is sweet as we bite into rich plums bought at the wayside stalls of the local market on our way down. And, sold by local girls whose peaches and cream complexion seems to bounce off the fruit in their baskets.
by KAUSALYA SANTHANAM
Take in the mesmerising Khangchendzonga, the celebrated monasteries, and everything else East Sikkim has to offer.
“Khangchendzonga”or Kanchenjunga, the radiant one. Golden when the rays of the Sun fall on her. We could have spent our entire holiday just gazing at her mesmerising form, now visible, now lost in the gossamer draperies of mist. Like most tourists, we make it a point to pull ourselves out of bed at dawn to gaze at these snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas.
The flight from Kolkata to Bagdogra takes an hour. And from there, we climb up to Gangtok, a five-hour drive, passing by the town of Siliguri on the banks of the Mahananda, and the beautiful terracotta ware in the wayside stalls at Matigara. Tall and slender trees line the route. The Sun throws patterns of light through the trees. The river Teesta gurgles over rocks and boulders, and we can sight her as we journey up the hills.
Along the way, we treat ourselves to freshly-plucked corn roasted on coals and dusted with chilli, salt and lime. Luscious litchis, complete with twigs and leaves, are carried by vendors in baskets, giving us a taste of this fruit-rich State.
Monkeys clamber on parapet walls on the roadside. Across the bridge and the check post, and it is “Welcome to Sikkim.”
At Rangpo, the entry point, we stop at the guest house with its white Pomeranian mascot. Beautiful pictures of Nehru and Indira Gandhi with the late Chogyal and his family line the walls. Sikkim, an erstwhile monarchy, became part of the Indian Union in 1975.
The call of the lights
It is almost dark when we arrive at Gangtok. The hillside is flecked with lights, and our first impression of the capital of Sikkim is of a sloping sky filled with stars. Next morning, we are off to see the sights.
Tourism is a priority in the hills, and at the Bhanjhakri Falls, the Shamans, the tribal medicine men and women, are showcased. There are images and masks to represent them at the park. Tourists preen in the beautiful native dress of the Bhutia community and take photographs. The majority of the Sikkimese are Hindus or Buddhists.
The romantic Silk Route lures us the following day, and we are on our way to the Nathu La (Pass) on the Indo-China border. It is a perilous climb, and the heart operates its own traffic lights each time we look down — coming to an almost complete stop at the red light of the bends where there is often a sheer drop of a thousand feet. One can't help saluting the skill of jeep drivers who make these trips so many times a week during the season.
Mountain streams eagerly rush to meet the Teesta far below. We come to the sacred Lake Tsomgo, a placid grey green now, but an icy sheet of white in winter.
There are gaily-decorated yaks with scarlet saddle cloths and brightly-coloured woven threads covering their horns. The animals walk along with “Am-I-not-looking-ever-so-dainty” expressions while tourists snap their pictures or take a ride. Higher, and we come to the mountain beyond which, we are told, lies China.
We reach the spot where a memorial has been erected for Harbhajan Singh, a sepoy who went missing while patrolling the border. It is now a shrine for those praying for the recovery of loved ones who are ailing.
At the Rumtek monastery the next day, we are in for a lovely surprise. The balconies are filled with devotees and viewers. In the impressive courtyard, the annual Chaam dance is in progress. The performing monks wear brocade robes and colourful masks, and in a slow, stately rhythm, twirl around while the red clad monk-musicians play on pipes and other musical instruments.
We feel we can stay here forever, so hypnotic and calming is the dance. But time is short and we make our way to the 200-year-old Enchey monastery and the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology set up by the late Chogyal, which has an interesting collection of Tibetan literature and artefacts.
In the evening, a short stroll on the Mahatma Gandhi Marg in Gangtok offers a blissful, undisturbed shopping experience, as it is completely closed to traffic.
The price of development is visible in Sikkim as in all hill stations, with too many multi-storeyed structures clustered together.
Sikkim's handicrafts are on display at the State emporium. The dragon-patterned, small tables in scarlet and blue make one pause, but the panic stricken “How do we transport them?” cry from the family reluctantly makes one turn aside.
East Sikkim is all we can manage in four days. There is so much of the State left unexplored.
Flowers grow in abundance here and the rhododendron festival is a highlight of the calendar. Sikkim is an adventure lover's delight with the scope for rafting and trekking. But that is for “braver souls”, we add sotto voce.
Even our farewell is sweet as we bite into rich plums bought at the wayside stalls of the local market on our way down. And, sold by local girls whose peaches and cream complexion seems to bounce off the fruit in their baskets.
Orchids under threat from infrastructure projects in Arunachal
PTI
Arunachal Pradesh, home to 570 species of orchids, half the number available in the country, is facing problems because of numerous hydro projects, roads, airports and other infrastructure coming up under the Prime Minister’s package.
Over 80 species of orchid, including some rare ones, have been relocated by the forest department in the same climatic zone from the project area of the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri hydro power project being constructed at Gerukamukh by the CPSU major NHPC, Forest Department sources told PTI.
Earlier at least 250 species of orchids, disturbed by landslides, timber activities and infrastructure projects were taken for cultivation in nurseries and sanctuaries run by the department, the sources said.
Relocation of orchids will be required on a massive scale if international conventions and the environment laws are to be respected because of the construction of 107 hydro-projects with a total capacity of 40,000 MW for which the state government has signed MoU and MoA with several companies including some large private players, the sources said.
It is also true for the trans-Arunachal road being constructed under the PM’s package, which will run 1,800 km through the state. Several other border roads to crisscross the state have also been sanctioned.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Fauna and Flora (CITES) stipulates protection of orchids in their natural habitat and prohibits their export.
Even tourists are not allowed to disturb orchids habitats, which is is punishable under law.
PTI
Arunachal Pradesh, home to 570 species of orchids, half the number available in the country, is facing problems because of numerous hydro projects, roads, airports and other infrastructure coming up under the Prime Minister’s package.
Over 80 species of orchid, including some rare ones, have been relocated by the forest department in the same climatic zone from the project area of the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri hydro power project being constructed at Gerukamukh by the CPSU major NHPC, Forest Department sources told PTI.
Earlier at least 250 species of orchids, disturbed by landslides, timber activities and infrastructure projects were taken for cultivation in nurseries and sanctuaries run by the department, the sources said.
Relocation of orchids will be required on a massive scale if international conventions and the environment laws are to be respected because of the construction of 107 hydro-projects with a total capacity of 40,000 MW for which the state government has signed MoU and MoA with several companies including some large private players, the sources said.
It is also true for the trans-Arunachal road being constructed under the PM’s package, which will run 1,800 km through the state. Several other border roads to crisscross the state have also been sanctioned.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Fauna and Flora (CITES) stipulates protection of orchids in their natural habitat and prohibits their export.
Even tourists are not allowed to disturb orchids habitats, which is is punishable under law.
MASS MIGRATION FROM HIMALAYAS-FORCAST
Global warming to cause catastrophic water shortages in Himalayas
Himalayan river basins in China, Bangladesh, India and Nepal will face massive water depletion within 20 years, leading to a decline in food and mass migration, a research group warned Monday.
Due to natural reasons like glacial melting, the four countries would lose almost 275 billion cubic metres of annual renewable water in the next two decades, more than the total amount of available water in Nepal at present, India-based Strategic Foresight Group said in a report.
“What we are looking at here is a major catastrophe ... going to happen in 20, 25 years,” the group’s president, Sundeep Waslekar, told a seminar at the Singapore International Water Week.
Water scarcity and effects like desertification and soil erosion would bring rice and wheat yields in China and India down by as much as 50 per cent by 2050, the report said. “China and India alone will need to import more than 200 to 300 million tons of wheat and rice,” it said.
“This will create havoc in the global food market ... for people everywhere, because the prices will go up substantially,” Waslekar said.
Water depletion in the river basins would displace millions of people in the four countries by 2050, he said.
“We are looking towards a disaster of more than 100 million migrants,” he said, “and conflicts within and between countries.” The report called for more cooperation between the four nations in the management of the river basins.
It the basins of the rivers, including the Yellow River and the Yangtze in China and the Ganges in India — are home to 1.3 billion people.
Himalayan river basins in China, Bangladesh, India and Nepal will face massive water depletion within 20 years, leading to a decline in food and mass migration, a research group warned Monday.
Due to natural reasons like glacial melting, the four countries would lose almost 275 billion cubic metres of annual renewable water in the next two decades, more than the total amount of available water in Nepal at present, India-based Strategic Foresight Group said in a report.
“What we are looking at here is a major catastrophe ... going to happen in 20, 25 years,” the group’s president, Sundeep Waslekar, told a seminar at the Singapore International Water Week.
Water scarcity and effects like desertification and soil erosion would bring rice and wheat yields in China and India down by as much as 50 per cent by 2050, the report said. “China and India alone will need to import more than 200 to 300 million tons of wheat and rice,” it said.
“This will create havoc in the global food market ... for people everywhere, because the prices will go up substantially,” Waslekar said.
Water depletion in the river basins would displace millions of people in the four countries by 2050, he said.
“We are looking towards a disaster of more than 100 million migrants,” he said, “and conflicts within and between countries.” The report called for more cooperation between the four nations in the management of the river basins.
It the basins of the rivers, including the Yellow River and the Yangtze in China and the Ganges in India — are home to 1.3 billion people.
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