Defence exchanges not suspended, says China
by Ananth Krishnan
Chinese Foreign Ministry has said it is serious about developing military ties with India.
China’s Ministry of Defense said on Saturday defence exchanges between China and India had not been suspended in the wake of the visa row, adding that India had not notified China of any decision to stop military exchanges.
On Friday, Indian officials said the Indian government had denied two Chinese Army officials permission to attend a defence course in India in retaliation for China's decision to refuse a visa for the Army’s Northern Command chief Lt. Gen. B.S. Jaswal for a planned high-level visit this month, effectively suspending defence exchanges.
Officials at the Foreign Ministry here have been tight-lipped over the row, refusing to answer questions from The Hindu on Friday and Saturday. The Chinese Ministry of Defense, however, in a statement on Saturday denied that defence exchanges had been suspended, insisting that the military relationship was on track.
“China has not suspended military exchanges with India, and nor has it received any notification from India of any such suspension,” said a statement from the Ministry’s press office, which was sent to the Reuters news agency. “China takes seriously developing military ties with India, and we are confident that both sides will stay focused on the broader picture of bilateral ties between our two countries, acting in a spirit of consultation and unity to promote the healthy development of military ties.”
No word on row from Chinese media
The Chinese media have, so far, not reported on the defence row. A source at an official government newspaper said the State-run media have been instructed to play down the issue, and to wait for guidelines from the government on how to report on the row.
The visa row is the latest of a series of recent differences the two countries have had over China’s policies with regard to Kashmir.
Both countries have had a series of high-level bilateral exchanges this year, starting with the visit of External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna in April, and following with President Pratibha Patil’s State visit in May, and National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon’s visit to Beijing in July as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy.
During the series of talks, Indian officials said they had impressed upon their Chinese interlocutors the need for both countries to be more sensitive to each others’ “core interests”, if the relationship was to move forward.
However, Indian officials say while India has made it a point to be increasingly mindful of Chinese sensitivities on Tibet, a core interest of Beijing’s, recent Chinese policies towards Kashmir have strained relations.
China has, in recent months, proceeded with investing in infrastructure projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, ignoring Indian protests over its involvement in the disputed region. Last month, shortly after Mr. Menon’s visit concluded, China signed a $ 525 million-deal to build two highways in PoK.
Last year, India also voiced objections to China’s issuing of stapled visas to Indian citizens from Jammu and Kashmir, a move seen by Indian officials as China questioning India’s sovereignty over the state.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Take a Horses-for-Courses Approach
By Dhirendra Kumar
Aug 27, 2010
Constructing your mutual fund portfolio is an important issue. In fact, for most investors, it is possibly the most important thing they could understand about investing.
Interestingly, there is a stage before this that all investors must go through in order to understand the logic of portfolios. And that stage is to understand what a portfolio is. A portfolio is actually a leather bag, a type of briefcase. No, seriously. The original meaning of the word is simply a bag designed to carry documents in. It became associated with investments because in the early 20th century, stockbrokers would keep each client's share certificates in a separate portfolio. From there, the word gradually came to mean any kind of collection of documents. In finance, it specifically means the investments held by an investor.
However, in personal finance the word's meaning has evolved a great deal. At Value Research, we no longer like to use the word to just refer to a collection of all of someone's investments. A portfolio is a lot more than a collection. For individuals, the best way to plan their investments is to have a separate portfolio for each financial goal. Different mixes lead to different risk levels and different gain expectations. Most people find it difficult to match these to what they want. If you're asked, “What is your risk level?”, you'll probably give an answer of some sort but it will just be a gut feel thing.
However, if you think of specific financial targets and think of the money needed for them, then you will be able to answer questions about risk and returns very precisely. For example, you'll need money for your daughter's higher education after three years. You'd like to buy a house at least ten years before retirement. You'd like to go on a vacation to Europe after two years. You'd like Rs.2 lakh to always be available for emergencies.
Each of these goals is very precise. The risk you can take with it, as well as the amount of money needed can be quantified quite precisely. Therefore, it is relatively easy to decide what kind investments should be made for each of them. In the Value Research way of thinking, there is no concept of an individual's portfolio. Instead each individual must have many portfolios, one for each financial goal. Only then can you tune each portfolio's level of conservativeness or aggressiveness to the right level.
The other thing is that a portfolio is not simply a collection. It has different parts that fit together in specific roles and complement each other. There could be three funds that provide gains and two stability. In hindsight, it'll later appear that you could have stuck with one or the other but both types played a role.
And those are the big takeaways that you should have as a reader of this website. Each portfolio plays a role and inside it, each investment plays a role. As the investor, you need to be clear about exactly what that role is, instead of just hoping for the best.
source:Valueresearch
By Dhirendra Kumar
Aug 27, 2010
Constructing your mutual fund portfolio is an important issue. In fact, for most investors, it is possibly the most important thing they could understand about investing.
Interestingly, there is a stage before this that all investors must go through in order to understand the logic of portfolios. And that stage is to understand what a portfolio is. A portfolio is actually a leather bag, a type of briefcase. No, seriously. The original meaning of the word is simply a bag designed to carry documents in. It became associated with investments because in the early 20th century, stockbrokers would keep each client's share certificates in a separate portfolio. From there, the word gradually came to mean any kind of collection of documents. In finance, it specifically means the investments held by an investor.
However, in personal finance the word's meaning has evolved a great deal. At Value Research, we no longer like to use the word to just refer to a collection of all of someone's investments. A portfolio is a lot more than a collection. For individuals, the best way to plan their investments is to have a separate portfolio for each financial goal. Different mixes lead to different risk levels and different gain expectations. Most people find it difficult to match these to what they want. If you're asked, “What is your risk level?”, you'll probably give an answer of some sort but it will just be a gut feel thing.
However, if you think of specific financial targets and think of the money needed for them, then you will be able to answer questions about risk and returns very precisely. For example, you'll need money for your daughter's higher education after three years. You'd like to buy a house at least ten years before retirement. You'd like to go on a vacation to Europe after two years. You'd like Rs.2 lakh to always be available for emergencies.
Each of these goals is very precise. The risk you can take with it, as well as the amount of money needed can be quantified quite precisely. Therefore, it is relatively easy to decide what kind investments should be made for each of them. In the Value Research way of thinking, there is no concept of an individual's portfolio. Instead each individual must have many portfolios, one for each financial goal. Only then can you tune each portfolio's level of conservativeness or aggressiveness to the right level.
The other thing is that a portfolio is not simply a collection. It has different parts that fit together in specific roles and complement each other. There could be three funds that provide gains and two stability. In hindsight, it'll later appear that you could have stuck with one or the other but both types played a role.
And those are the big takeaways that you should have as a reader of this website. Each portfolio plays a role and inside it, each investment plays a role. As the investor, you need to be clear about exactly what that role is, instead of just hoping for the best.
source:Valueresearch
Men can deliver too
DR. GAURI RAJAT
Pregnancy-related advice usually focuses on the woman. But the man can do his bit too.
A husband's role in child birth is not just limited to rushing his screaming wife to the hospital and pacing nervously before the labour room awaiting the baby's first shriek; and for the doctor to say that both the mother and child are hale.
The husband should be involved in the pregnancy by actively participating in the process all through to feel responsible and proud as a father. Here's a quick checklist to guide you through pregnancy.
P for PREGNANCY TEST: When the initial pregnancy test is positive, rejoice and make your wife feel special and most-wanted. Give her a warm hug and this could motivate her to gain confidence and prepare for the trauma attached to motherhood.
R for REGULAR CHECK UPS: Ensure that you take the to-be-mother for regular check ups. And make sure of your presence every time, without making excuses, so that you can be a part of it. Hearing the baby's heartbeat for the first time even as he/she is in the womb is an once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Remember the check up dates and expected date to let your partner know that you are not mentally and physically absent.
E for EMOTIONS: Don't forget that there will be tons of emotional changes during pregnancy. and your wife could probably not be herself. An expectant mother can have several mood swings including heightened anxiousness and could sometimes find her confidence wavering. It is the man's responsibility to assuage her confidence and bear with a smile even if she throws tantrums.
G for GEAR HER UP: When she starts throwing up all that she eats, try not to leave her unattended. She might not be weak physically but she certainly needs her strength by way of your attention and not to mention the timely medicines.
N for NUTRITION: This helps not just the mother but also the baby in her womb. Ensure that your wife eats a balanced nutritious diet and see that she does not skip meals. There have been days when she has prepared the three course meals for you, now is the time to show that you care.
A for ABDOMEN FEEL: The touch and feel of the baby moving in the womb is an exhilarating experience. It is important for a husband to see how the abdomen expands as months pass by. The kick of the baby inside between the 16 and 22 week may look like popcorn popping but it is an endearing experience because the baby is perhaps knocking to let you know how much he/she loves you.
N for NAPPIES: It is a completely different experience to clean baby poop and change diapers. Dads should learn to change diapers to strengthen the bond between him and the baby. Not all dads freak out while changing diapers but this could be a huge help to your wife
C for CARE: Several experts feel that a cool to-be-father inside the labour room with his wife may increase the production of oxytocin, which helps the process of labour. So it is imperative that the wife gets utmost care and attention during her delivery.
Y for YOWL: Be with her and hold her hand while she yowls in pain. Holding her hand at this crucial moment could be momentous for any wife.
source; The Hindu
DR. GAURI RAJAT
Pregnancy-related advice usually focuses on the woman. But the man can do his bit too.
A husband's role in child birth is not just limited to rushing his screaming wife to the hospital and pacing nervously before the labour room awaiting the baby's first shriek; and for the doctor to say that both the mother and child are hale.
The husband should be involved in the pregnancy by actively participating in the process all through to feel responsible and proud as a father. Here's a quick checklist to guide you through pregnancy.
P for PREGNANCY TEST: When the initial pregnancy test is positive, rejoice and make your wife feel special and most-wanted. Give her a warm hug and this could motivate her to gain confidence and prepare for the trauma attached to motherhood.
R for REGULAR CHECK UPS: Ensure that you take the to-be-mother for regular check ups. And make sure of your presence every time, without making excuses, so that you can be a part of it. Hearing the baby's heartbeat for the first time even as he/she is in the womb is an once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Remember the check up dates and expected date to let your partner know that you are not mentally and physically absent.
E for EMOTIONS: Don't forget that there will be tons of emotional changes during pregnancy. and your wife could probably not be herself. An expectant mother can have several mood swings including heightened anxiousness and could sometimes find her confidence wavering. It is the man's responsibility to assuage her confidence and bear with a smile even if she throws tantrums.
G for GEAR HER UP: When she starts throwing up all that she eats, try not to leave her unattended. She might not be weak physically but she certainly needs her strength by way of your attention and not to mention the timely medicines.
N for NUTRITION: This helps not just the mother but also the baby in her womb. Ensure that your wife eats a balanced nutritious diet and see that she does not skip meals. There have been days when she has prepared the three course meals for you, now is the time to show that you care.
A for ABDOMEN FEEL: The touch and feel of the baby moving in the womb is an exhilarating experience. It is important for a husband to see how the abdomen expands as months pass by. The kick of the baby inside between the 16 and 22 week may look like popcorn popping but it is an endearing experience because the baby is perhaps knocking to let you know how much he/she loves you.
N for NAPPIES: It is a completely different experience to clean baby poop and change diapers. Dads should learn to change diapers to strengthen the bond between him and the baby. Not all dads freak out while changing diapers but this could be a huge help to your wife
C for CARE: Several experts feel that a cool to-be-father inside the labour room with his wife may increase the production of oxytocin, which helps the process of labour. So it is imperative that the wife gets utmost care and attention during her delivery.
Y for YOWL: Be with her and hold her hand while she yowls in pain. Holding her hand at this crucial moment could be momentous for any wife.
source; The Hindu
Standardize Products to Boost Wellness Tourism: Kumari Selja
The Minister for Tourism and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja has said that her Ministry is working on a incentive/subsidy scheme to encourage setting up of budget accommodation through adoption of PPP mode. She said, this will address the core issue of non availability of land and high establishment const. Kumari Selja said, we have been requesting the state governments to create land banks. She said, we have also been advocating the enhancement of floor area ratio (FAR) for hotels and encouraging mixed usage of plot area. She was addressing the Annual Convention of Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India in Agra today.
She said, while India has positioned itself as a chosen destination for the ultra top end luxury travelers, there still exists a gap between supply and demand and to bridge this gap more hotel rooms are needed. She said, we need to address the mid-segment and budget travelers also. The Minister said, the main issue which needs to be tackled is the shortage of safe, secure and clean accommodation all over the country, especially in the budget category. She said, the exorbitant cost of land forces hotels to operate under higher Star categories in order to make them commercially viable.
Referring to the theme of the convention “Health and Wellness” she said, tourism potential of our wellness systems, developed indigenously through centuries of wisdom, is yet to be fully tapped. She said, we have to be position the Indian way of life as integral and inclusive of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha Naturopathy and spiritual philosophy. We have to position this product as a comprehensive approach for body, mind and soul. She said, tourists world over revere the Indian system of wellness as among the most pristine and authentic forms. They yearn for opportunities to experience these systems. She said, we need to work towards tapping this huge market. She said, we need to identify and network the existing wellness experiences, develop wellness tourism standards and work towards collaborative marketing. The Minister said, to make our facilities internationally competitive, we have to standardize the products.
The Minister for Tourism and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja has said that her Ministry is working on a incentive/subsidy scheme to encourage setting up of budget accommodation through adoption of PPP mode. She said, this will address the core issue of non availability of land and high establishment const. Kumari Selja said, we have been requesting the state governments to create land banks. She said, we have also been advocating the enhancement of floor area ratio (FAR) for hotels and encouraging mixed usage of plot area. She was addressing the Annual Convention of Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India in Agra today.
She said, while India has positioned itself as a chosen destination for the ultra top end luxury travelers, there still exists a gap between supply and demand and to bridge this gap more hotel rooms are needed. She said, we need to address the mid-segment and budget travelers also. The Minister said, the main issue which needs to be tackled is the shortage of safe, secure and clean accommodation all over the country, especially in the budget category. She said, the exorbitant cost of land forces hotels to operate under higher Star categories in order to make them commercially viable.
Referring to the theme of the convention “Health and Wellness” she said, tourism potential of our wellness systems, developed indigenously through centuries of wisdom, is yet to be fully tapped. She said, we have to be position the Indian way of life as integral and inclusive of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha Naturopathy and spiritual philosophy. We have to position this product as a comprehensive approach for body, mind and soul. She said, tourists world over revere the Indian system of wellness as among the most pristine and authentic forms. They yearn for opportunities to experience these systems. She said, we need to work towards tapping this huge market. She said, we need to identify and network the existing wellness experiences, develop wellness tourism standards and work towards collaborative marketing. The Minister said, to make our facilities internationally competitive, we have to standardize the products.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Financial Assistance to NE States for Technical Institutions
The All Indian Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has received a total 191 applications during 2009-10 from North-Eastern (NE) States for granting financial assistance to upgrade their technical institutions. The proposals were processed as per laid down procedure. Financial Assistance of Rs.3004.03 lakh were sanctioned to the suitable proposals under various scheme such as Modernization and Removal of Obsolescence (MODROBS), Staff Development Programme (SDP) and Seminar Grant.
Also, under the scheme of Sub-Mission Polytechnics under Coordinated Action for Skill Development, 7 proposals were received from North Eastern States. Out of which financial assistance of Rs.10.00 lakh each has been sanctioned to five polytechnics as per details given below:
(i) Advanced technical Training Centre, Bardang, Sikkim.
(ii) Central for Computers and Communication Technology, South Sikkim Namchi
(iii) Jowai Polytechnic, Ladthalaboth, Jowai, Meghalaya
(iv) Tura Polytechnic, Cherengre, Meghalaya
(v) Government Polytechnic, Kohima, Nagaland.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Smt. D. Purandeswari, in written reply to a question, in the Rajya Sabha today.
MV/SKS/Hb
The All Indian Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has received a total 191 applications during 2009-10 from North-Eastern (NE) States for granting financial assistance to upgrade their technical institutions. The proposals were processed as per laid down procedure. Financial Assistance of Rs.3004.03 lakh were sanctioned to the suitable proposals under various scheme such as Modernization and Removal of Obsolescence (MODROBS), Staff Development Programme (SDP) and Seminar Grant.
Also, under the scheme of Sub-Mission Polytechnics under Coordinated Action for Skill Development, 7 proposals were received from North Eastern States. Out of which financial assistance of Rs.10.00 lakh each has been sanctioned to five polytechnics as per details given below:
(i) Advanced technical Training Centre, Bardang, Sikkim.
(ii) Central for Computers and Communication Technology, South Sikkim Namchi
(iii) Jowai Polytechnic, Ladthalaboth, Jowai, Meghalaya
(iv) Tura Polytechnic, Cherengre, Meghalaya
(v) Government Polytechnic, Kohima, Nagaland.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Smt. D. Purandeswari, in written reply to a question, in the Rajya Sabha today.
MV/SKS/Hb
Mukesh Ambani elected to World Economic Forum Foundation Board
PTI
The Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum has elected Reliance Industries’ Chairman and Managing Director, Mukesh Ambani, to its Board.
Others elected to the Board are Alcatel-Lucent’s CEO, Ben J. Verwaayen and Zhu Min, Special Adviser, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a former Deputy Governor, People’s Bank of China, a press release issued here today stated.
World Economic Forum’s Founder and Executive Chairman, Klaus Schwab, said, “we are honoured to have three distinguished new Members of the Foundation Board. Mukesh Ambani will bring an extraordinary level of business acumen and his commitment to the ideals of the Forum. He has played a key role, especially related to the integration of India into all our activities.”
“Ben Verwaayen has been a committed Member of the Forum for many years. His insightfulness and energy will be invaluable to the board. Zhu Min’s experiences at the highest level of Government and the financial sector will be similarly a great asset,” he said.
The Foundation Board is composed of leaders from business, politics, academia and civil society who strongly identify themselves with the Forum’s mission to improve the state of the world and who make a valuable contribution to this mission through their involvement.
PTI
The Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum has elected Reliance Industries’ Chairman and Managing Director, Mukesh Ambani, to its Board.
Others elected to the Board are Alcatel-Lucent’s CEO, Ben J. Verwaayen and Zhu Min, Special Adviser, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a former Deputy Governor, People’s Bank of China, a press release issued here today stated.
World Economic Forum’s Founder and Executive Chairman, Klaus Schwab, said, “we are honoured to have three distinguished new Members of the Foundation Board. Mukesh Ambani will bring an extraordinary level of business acumen and his commitment to the ideals of the Forum. He has played a key role, especially related to the integration of India into all our activities.”
“Ben Verwaayen has been a committed Member of the Forum for many years. His insightfulness and energy will be invaluable to the board. Zhu Min’s experiences at the highest level of Government and the financial sector will be similarly a great asset,” he said.
The Foundation Board is composed of leaders from business, politics, academia and civil society who strongly identify themselves with the Forum’s mission to improve the state of the world and who make a valuable contribution to this mission through their involvement.
3400 crores as agents commission in insurance business in one quarter
ENTERPRISE: Insurers Pay Rs 3,400 cr as Agent Commission
Commissions paid to insurance agents in the first quarter of 2010-11 dropped to 5.81 per cent of the total premium collection against 6.34 per cent previous year due to the cap on charges put by insurance regulator last year. In the March 2010, agents’ commission accounted for 6.72 per cent of the total premium collection.
According to data released by Life Insurance Council, a body of life insurance companies, Rs 3,398 crore was paid as commission to agents in April-June 2010 compared with Rs 2,995 crore paid in the corresponding period a year ago. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) had capped the net reduction in yield from unit-linked insurance plans (ULIPs) at 3 per cent.
The Life Ins
urance Council said in a statement that the full year’s impact of the cap would be felt in the current year and commissions would further come down with new regulations coming into force from September 1, 2010. Under the new norms, the net reduction in yield for policies with term less than or equal to 10 years should not be more than 3 per cent at maturity; for policies with term above 10 years, the net reduction in yield at maturity should not be more than 2.25 per cent.
Meanwhile, new business premium in April-June 2010 increased by 76.76 per cent to Rs 25,571 crore compared with Rs 14,466 crore a year ago. New business premium for linked products increased by 101 per cent to Rs 13,941 crore from Rs 6,935 crore previous year. New non-linked premium collection increased by 54.42 per cent to Rs 11,630 crore from Rs 7,531 crore.
Single-linked premiums showed a significant growth of over 220 per cent with premium collections going up to Rs 7,945 crore as against Rs 2,479 crore in the last fiscal.
Renewal premiums of linked-products grew 12.40 per cent to Rs 7,945 crore in June quarter as against Rs 7,047 crore last financial year. “This can be mainly attributed to the uncertainty that prevailed due to the ULIP controversy, prompting policyholders to defer there payments,” Life Insurance Council said.
Total renewal premium of the industry was, however, flat due to stagnation in renewal premiums of traditional policies where LIC is a dominant player.
Total premium of the industry grew by 24 per cent to Rs 58,508 crore during the first quarter against Rs 47,173 crore in previous year.
Commissions paid to insurance agents in the first quarter of 2010-11 dropped to 5.81 per cent of the total premium collection against 6.34 per cent previous year due to the cap on charges put by insurance regulator last year. In the March 2010, agents’ commission accounted for 6.72 per cent of the total premium collection.
According to data released by Life Insurance Council, a body of life insurance companies, Rs 3,398 crore was paid as commission to agents in April-June 2010 compared with Rs 2,995 crore paid in the corresponding period a year ago. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) had capped the net reduction in yield from unit-linked insurance plans (ULIPs) at 3 per cent.
The Life Ins
urance Council said in a statement that the full year’s impact of the cap would be felt in the current year and commissions would further come down with new regulations coming into force from September 1, 2010. Under the new norms, the net reduction in yield for policies with term less than or equal to 10 years should not be more than 3 per cent at maturity; for policies with term above 10 years, the net reduction in yield at maturity should not be more than 2.25 per cent.
Meanwhile, new business premium in April-June 2010 increased by 76.76 per cent to Rs 25,571 crore compared with Rs 14,466 crore a year ago. New business premium for linked products increased by 101 per cent to Rs 13,941 crore from Rs 6,935 crore previous year. New non-linked premium collection increased by 54.42 per cent to Rs 11,630 crore from Rs 7,531 crore.
Single-linked premiums showed a significant growth of over 220 per cent with premium collections going up to Rs 7,945 crore as against Rs 2,479 crore in the last fiscal.
Renewal premiums of linked-products grew 12.40 per cent to Rs 7,945 crore in June quarter as against Rs 7,047 crore last financial year. “This can be mainly attributed to the uncertainty that prevailed due to the ULIP controversy, prompting policyholders to defer there payments,” Life Insurance Council said.
Total renewal premium of the industry was, however, flat due to stagnation in renewal premiums of traditional policies where LIC is a dominant player.
Total premium of the industry grew by 24 per cent to Rs 58,508 crore during the first quarter against Rs 47,173 crore in previous year.
Mother Teresa: a remembrance
Mother Teresa: a remembrance
by Navin Chawla
This day marks the birth centenary of a simple nun who, through her work among the poorest of the poor, became the conscience-keeper of her century.
Today, August 26, 2010, the birth centenary of Mother Teresa will be marked with celebration and thanksgiving in many parts of the world. This simple nun with her unique brand of faith and compassion was able to alleviate loneliness, hunger and destitution by reaching out through a worldwide mission to millions of abandoned, homeless and dying destitutes, irrespective of their religion, caste, faith or denomination. In the process she became, indisputably, the conscience-keeper of her century.
As one who was associated with her for 23 years and became one of her biographers, it is not easy to encapsulate her remarkable journey. Born in Skopje, a city in the folds of the Balkans, then as now a crucible of many religions and races, she was the youngest of three children of deeply Catholic Albanian parents. Her father died when she was seven; her mother struggled to feed her family and turned increasingly to the local church for spiritual sustenance. Young Agnes (as she was then known) encountered uncertainty and adversity early in life. The lessons of diligence, discipline, frugality and kindness were imbibed in these early years.
Today, when teenagers often have difficulty making up their minds as to which course to study and where, Agnes had decided, at the age of 14, to serve as a missionary, not in her local church, but in faraway India, then a world apart, of which decision the only certainty was that she would never return home.
A new life opened in Calcutta in 1929. She had joined the Loreto Order as a novice aged 19. Here she would take her religious vows and teach for almost 20 years. In 1948, in an even more cataclysmic turn of events, again entirely of her own making, she left the convent doors behind her for a vision of the street. She had realised that this was where her true vocation lay, and she pursued this goal with diligence, even obstinacy. This she did till the Vatican made her its first exception in several hundred years, permitting her to step out of the Loreto Order, but with her vows intact. She would remain a nun but without belonging to an established Order of the Church. These were early signs of spirit and will power, together with prayerfulness and faith, laced with not inconsiderable charm, which would provide the propulsion for the quite incredible journey that lay ahead.
The early milestones lay in recognition within her adopted country – first by the legendary Chief Minister of West Bengal Dr. B.C. Roy, to be followed by national recognition when Jawaharlal Nehru was instrumental in India awarding her the Padma Shri in 1962. Later, another redoubtable Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu, was to provide her his unstinted support.
By 1965, she had set up a vast network of service across India. The time had come for her to move her mission overseas. She saw need everywhere; there were plenty of the poor and hungry in divisive societies in each continent, in desperately poor and prosperous societies alike. And so she set up feeding centres and leprosy stations in Africa, AIDS hospices in North America, community programmers in the Australian outback, and a host of services that helped lift the most marginalised, hungry and lonely from a desolate life in streets and slums of Africa, Asia and the West.
“God loves a cheerful giver” was a refrain I would often hear as I walked with the smiling Sisters of her Order among sullen faces under London's Waterloo Bridge, serving them their only hot meal on a wintry night; in the process I saw where they spent their nights: coffin-sized cardboard boxes, their only homes. In San Francisco and Los Angeles, I talked to young AIDS sufferers in her hospices, knowing that I would never see them again. In Madrid, I met the aged and the destitute, wracked by a disease called loneliness, which Mother Teresa called the “leprosy of the West”. And then the final triumph, a centre carved in the heart of Catholicism itself, in the shadow of St. Peter's in the Vatican, handed over by a Polish Pope to an obedient but persistent nun. She appeared a frail figure against the rigid hierarchy of the Church, some of whose members frowned in private that the Vatican had hardly any space let alone for a soup kitchen. Yet, in my eyes, Mother Teresa and John Paul II had, at one stroke, demystified a thousand years of sometimes rigid Papal tradition, in an understanding of the deepest Christian ethic that they shared.
Although she herself remained fiercely Catholic, her brand of faith was not exclusive. Convinced that each person she ministered to was Christ in suffering, she reached out to people of all religions. The very faith that sustained her infuriated her detractors, who saw her as a symbol of a right-wing conspiracy and, worse, the principal mouthpiece of the Vatican's well-known views against abortion. Interestingly, such criticism went largely unnoticed in India, where she was widely revered.
She was criticised for conversion. Yet in all the 23 years I knew her she never once whispered a suggestion regarding conversion. However, I asked her if she did convert. Without a moment's hesitation, she said, “I convert. I convert you to be a better Hindu, a better Muslim, a better Protestant, and a better Sikh. Once you have found God, it is up to you to do with him as you wish.” While she never deviated an inch from her path and was a religious, not a social worker, she was quick to realise that in India, Catholicism was practised by a small segment, and the 19th century proselytising approach could not be sustained.
From her humblest beginning in the slums and streets, she reached out to alleviate the problem she encountered by the simplest and most straightforward means available to her. Her thinking was both simple and complex: when asked how she could touch a leprosy sufferer and clean his sores, she said she could do it because for her that man was the suffering Jesus. “I would not clean him for all the money in the world,” said an observer. “Nor would I,” Mother Teresa replied, “but I would do it for love of Him.”
She could multi-task. She had to be a administrator par excellence to set up a multinational organisation that spread to 123 countries by the time she died, with the help of about 5,000 members of her Order, and countless millions volunteers. Her hands were always full, but comforting one individual at a time was more important than “getting lost in numbers”; it had to be that way, because each individual was a divine manifestation, each to be comforted, held, rescued, fed and not allowed to die alone.
I once called her the most powerful woman in the world. Mother Teresa replied: “Where? If I was, I would bring peace in the world.” I asked her why she did not use her undeniable influence to lessen war. She replied: “War is the fruit of politics. If I get stuck in politics, I will stop loving because I will have to stand by one, not by all.”
She had her critics. There was criticism about her taking money from dubious sources. I once asked her about it. She said without a moment's hesitation. “I accept no salary, no government grant, no Church assistance, nothing. But how can I refuse anyone who chooses to give money in an act of charity. How is this different from the thousands of people who each day feed the poor? My task is to give peace to people. I would never refuse.” Yet she never asked for funds or even permitted fund-raising. Mother Teresa depended on providence. She believed if the work was intended, the money would come. If money did not come, the reverse held true.
What would happen to her mission when she passed on, I once asked her. She did not answer but instead only pointed her finger towards heaven. But I persisted. She laughed and said: “Let me go first.”
I asked her the third time and this time she replied: “You have been to so many of our missions in India and abroad. Everywhere our Sisters wear the same saris, eat the same kind of food, do the same kind of work. But Mother Teresa is not everywhere. Yet the work goes on.” Then she added: “As long as we remain committed to the poorest of the poor and do not end up serving the rich, the work will prosper.”
(Navin Chawla is the former Chief Election Commissioner of India and the biographer of Mother Teresa.)
by Navin Chawla
This day marks the birth centenary of a simple nun who, through her work among the poorest of the poor, became the conscience-keeper of her century.
Today, August 26, 2010, the birth centenary of Mother Teresa will be marked with celebration and thanksgiving in many parts of the world. This simple nun with her unique brand of faith and compassion was able to alleviate loneliness, hunger and destitution by reaching out through a worldwide mission to millions of abandoned, homeless and dying destitutes, irrespective of their religion, caste, faith or denomination. In the process she became, indisputably, the conscience-keeper of her century.
As one who was associated with her for 23 years and became one of her biographers, it is not easy to encapsulate her remarkable journey. Born in Skopje, a city in the folds of the Balkans, then as now a crucible of many religions and races, she was the youngest of three children of deeply Catholic Albanian parents. Her father died when she was seven; her mother struggled to feed her family and turned increasingly to the local church for spiritual sustenance. Young Agnes (as she was then known) encountered uncertainty and adversity early in life. The lessons of diligence, discipline, frugality and kindness were imbibed in these early years.
Today, when teenagers often have difficulty making up their minds as to which course to study and where, Agnes had decided, at the age of 14, to serve as a missionary, not in her local church, but in faraway India, then a world apart, of which decision the only certainty was that she would never return home.
A new life opened in Calcutta in 1929. She had joined the Loreto Order as a novice aged 19. Here she would take her religious vows and teach for almost 20 years. In 1948, in an even more cataclysmic turn of events, again entirely of her own making, she left the convent doors behind her for a vision of the street. She had realised that this was where her true vocation lay, and she pursued this goal with diligence, even obstinacy. This she did till the Vatican made her its first exception in several hundred years, permitting her to step out of the Loreto Order, but with her vows intact. She would remain a nun but without belonging to an established Order of the Church. These were early signs of spirit and will power, together with prayerfulness and faith, laced with not inconsiderable charm, which would provide the propulsion for the quite incredible journey that lay ahead.
The early milestones lay in recognition within her adopted country – first by the legendary Chief Minister of West Bengal Dr. B.C. Roy, to be followed by national recognition when Jawaharlal Nehru was instrumental in India awarding her the Padma Shri in 1962. Later, another redoubtable Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu, was to provide her his unstinted support.
By 1965, she had set up a vast network of service across India. The time had come for her to move her mission overseas. She saw need everywhere; there were plenty of the poor and hungry in divisive societies in each continent, in desperately poor and prosperous societies alike. And so she set up feeding centres and leprosy stations in Africa, AIDS hospices in North America, community programmers in the Australian outback, and a host of services that helped lift the most marginalised, hungry and lonely from a desolate life in streets and slums of Africa, Asia and the West.
“God loves a cheerful giver” was a refrain I would often hear as I walked with the smiling Sisters of her Order among sullen faces under London's Waterloo Bridge, serving them their only hot meal on a wintry night; in the process I saw where they spent their nights: coffin-sized cardboard boxes, their only homes. In San Francisco and Los Angeles, I talked to young AIDS sufferers in her hospices, knowing that I would never see them again. In Madrid, I met the aged and the destitute, wracked by a disease called loneliness, which Mother Teresa called the “leprosy of the West”. And then the final triumph, a centre carved in the heart of Catholicism itself, in the shadow of St. Peter's in the Vatican, handed over by a Polish Pope to an obedient but persistent nun. She appeared a frail figure against the rigid hierarchy of the Church, some of whose members frowned in private that the Vatican had hardly any space let alone for a soup kitchen. Yet, in my eyes, Mother Teresa and John Paul II had, at one stroke, demystified a thousand years of sometimes rigid Papal tradition, in an understanding of the deepest Christian ethic that they shared.
Although she herself remained fiercely Catholic, her brand of faith was not exclusive. Convinced that each person she ministered to was Christ in suffering, she reached out to people of all religions. The very faith that sustained her infuriated her detractors, who saw her as a symbol of a right-wing conspiracy and, worse, the principal mouthpiece of the Vatican's well-known views against abortion. Interestingly, such criticism went largely unnoticed in India, where she was widely revered.
She was criticised for conversion. Yet in all the 23 years I knew her she never once whispered a suggestion regarding conversion. However, I asked her if she did convert. Without a moment's hesitation, she said, “I convert. I convert you to be a better Hindu, a better Muslim, a better Protestant, and a better Sikh. Once you have found God, it is up to you to do with him as you wish.” While she never deviated an inch from her path and was a religious, not a social worker, she was quick to realise that in India, Catholicism was practised by a small segment, and the 19th century proselytising approach could not be sustained.
From her humblest beginning in the slums and streets, she reached out to alleviate the problem she encountered by the simplest and most straightforward means available to her. Her thinking was both simple and complex: when asked how she could touch a leprosy sufferer and clean his sores, she said she could do it because for her that man was the suffering Jesus. “I would not clean him for all the money in the world,” said an observer. “Nor would I,” Mother Teresa replied, “but I would do it for love of Him.”
She could multi-task. She had to be a administrator par excellence to set up a multinational organisation that spread to 123 countries by the time she died, with the help of about 5,000 members of her Order, and countless millions volunteers. Her hands were always full, but comforting one individual at a time was more important than “getting lost in numbers”; it had to be that way, because each individual was a divine manifestation, each to be comforted, held, rescued, fed and not allowed to die alone.
I once called her the most powerful woman in the world. Mother Teresa replied: “Where? If I was, I would bring peace in the world.” I asked her why she did not use her undeniable influence to lessen war. She replied: “War is the fruit of politics. If I get stuck in politics, I will stop loving because I will have to stand by one, not by all.”
She had her critics. There was criticism about her taking money from dubious sources. I once asked her about it. She said without a moment's hesitation. “I accept no salary, no government grant, no Church assistance, nothing. But how can I refuse anyone who chooses to give money in an act of charity. How is this different from the thousands of people who each day feed the poor? My task is to give peace to people. I would never refuse.” Yet she never asked for funds or even permitted fund-raising. Mother Teresa depended on providence. She believed if the work was intended, the money would come. If money did not come, the reverse held true.
What would happen to her mission when she passed on, I once asked her. She did not answer but instead only pointed her finger towards heaven. But I persisted. She laughed and said: “Let me go first.”
I asked her the third time and this time she replied: “You have been to so many of our missions in India and abroad. Everywhere our Sisters wear the same saris, eat the same kind of food, do the same kind of work. But Mother Teresa is not everywhere. Yet the work goes on.” Then she added: “As long as we remain committed to the poorest of the poor and do not end up serving the rich, the work will prosper.”
(Navin Chawla is the former Chief Election Commissioner of India and the biographer of Mother Teresa.)
INDIA-ASEAN Services & Investment Agreement Negotiations Reviewed:
Anand Sharma Meets Asean Trade Ministers
Shri Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce and Industry met trade/Commerce Ministers from the ten ASEAN Member States at Da Nang, Viet Nam today to review, among other matters, the India-ASEAN Services & Investment Agreement negotiations. The ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and the Minister of Commerce and Industry of India met at the Eighth AEM-India Consultations meeting. The Ministers reviewed the progress in the negotiations on services and investment and directed that the talks need to be accelerated. Indian Minister urged that both Parties should finalize the services text and concurrently complete negotiations on the schedules of commitments on the basis of the mandate of the Leaders given in Framework Agreement of 2003 for substantial sectoral coverage and GATS-plus agreement. He hoped that ambitious and commercially meaningful offers be exchanged between the parties. The Ministers also called for intensification of negotiation on core issues in investment. The Ministers underscored the importance of trade in services and investment negotiations to complement the trade in goods agreement, in order to further enhance the economic integration of ASEAN and India.
In this respect, Ministers tasked the negotiators to step up their engagement with a view to completing negotiations by March 2011. The Ministers emphasised that the challenges encountered in the services and investment negotiations could be overcome through greater understanding and flexibility among the parties to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion.
The Ministers also exchanged views on the global economic environment, noting with satisfaction that emerging economies in Asia were leading the recovery in the global economy. India’s economy is poised to expand by 9.4% in 2010, while ASEAN’s real GDP is expected to be over 5%, much higher than the 1.5% recorded in 2009. In 2009, ASEAN’s trade with India remained high at US$41.2 billion and India was ASEAN’s seventh largest trading partner. They expressed confidence in the strengthening economic ties between the two sides, further boosted by the implementation of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement in 2010. The Ministers encouraged the full implementation of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement by all countries within 2010 so that the private sector could reap benefits offered by the Agreement. In line with the transparency requirements of the WTO, ASEAN and India have notified the ASEAN-India FTA agreements to the WTO under the Enabling Clause on 23rd August 2010.
The Ministers also took the opportunity to review progress of the Doha negotiations, remaining convinced that a strong multilateral system based on mutually beneficial outcomes in agriculture, NAMA and services are key to a stable and progressive global trading system.
Anand Sharma Meets Asean Trade Ministers
Shri Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce and Industry met trade/Commerce Ministers from the ten ASEAN Member States at Da Nang, Viet Nam today to review, among other matters, the India-ASEAN Services & Investment Agreement negotiations. The ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and the Minister of Commerce and Industry of India met at the Eighth AEM-India Consultations meeting. The Ministers reviewed the progress in the negotiations on services and investment and directed that the talks need to be accelerated. Indian Minister urged that both Parties should finalize the services text and concurrently complete negotiations on the schedules of commitments on the basis of the mandate of the Leaders given in Framework Agreement of 2003 for substantial sectoral coverage and GATS-plus agreement. He hoped that ambitious and commercially meaningful offers be exchanged between the parties. The Ministers also called for intensification of negotiation on core issues in investment. The Ministers underscored the importance of trade in services and investment negotiations to complement the trade in goods agreement, in order to further enhance the economic integration of ASEAN and India.
In this respect, Ministers tasked the negotiators to step up their engagement with a view to completing negotiations by March 2011. The Ministers emphasised that the challenges encountered in the services and investment negotiations could be overcome through greater understanding and flexibility among the parties to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion.
The Ministers also exchanged views on the global economic environment, noting with satisfaction that emerging economies in Asia were leading the recovery in the global economy. India’s economy is poised to expand by 9.4% in 2010, while ASEAN’s real GDP is expected to be over 5%, much higher than the 1.5% recorded in 2009. In 2009, ASEAN’s trade with India remained high at US$41.2 billion and India was ASEAN’s seventh largest trading partner. They expressed confidence in the strengthening economic ties between the two sides, further boosted by the implementation of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement in 2010. The Ministers encouraged the full implementation of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement by all countries within 2010 so that the private sector could reap benefits offered by the Agreement. In line with the transparency requirements of the WTO, ASEAN and India have notified the ASEAN-India FTA agreements to the WTO under the Enabling Clause on 23rd August 2010.
The Ministers also took the opportunity to review progress of the Doha negotiations, remaining convinced that a strong multilateral system based on mutually beneficial outcomes in agriculture, NAMA and services are key to a stable and progressive global trading system.
ENTREPREURSHIP: Queen of orchids for queen of hills – one lakh cymbidiums to bloom in mirik by 2012
Siliguri, Aug. 26: Around one lakh plants of cymbidium, known as the queen of orchids, are set to bloom in Mirik in two years, thanks to an export-oriented project by a private company.
The biggest venture of orchid cultivation in the northeastern part of India was initiated by Darjeeling Gardens Private Limited on a two-acre plot at Rato Mate busty in Mirik with the help of 10 small farmers.
“Cymbidiums require low temperature and high humidity, a rare combination that is difficult to be found in other hill towns. Mirik valley provides the optimum requirement of temperature and humidity and is the best place to cultivate cymbidium. Floriculturists in Mirik were growing orchids on a smaller scale. But we have been growing one lakh cymbidiums at our nursery since May last year with the latest technical knowhow,” said Rajesh Chowdhury, the director of Darjeeling Garden.
The ultimate aim of the project is to enable small growers to start large-scale production of the cymbidium to export the flower.
“Although we have engaged 10 local cultivators, technical assistance was provided to more than 100 small farmers. In case we start exporting orchids, we need a regular supply, say 5,000 to 10,000 sticks a week. As the yield in our nursery will not be sufficient to meet consistent demands, we plan to engage the farmers and buy orchids from them so that exports can be continued without any shortage in the supply. The farmers, too, will be apprised of the demand, the desirable yield and the prices their produce would fetch in international markets,” said Chowdhury.
The cymbidium, the most popular orchid worldwide, is beautiful and comes in a variety of colours like white, green, pink, red and mixed shades of yellow and red, and pink and white.
Grown in countries like Australia, New Zealand and Holland, the cymbidium is known to have a long vase life ranging from two to three weeks. The longer vase life gives the flower high ornamental value.
Darjeeling Gardens signed a memorandum of understanding with the Centre For Agro-Business and Floriculture Management (COAFM) of North Bengal University in December to provide technical assistance to the nursery.
Ranadhir Chakraborty, the project manager of the COAFM, said cymbidiums grown in Mirik were of export quality. “However, as the plants are grown on small scale, enough flowers are not available for the export. Darjeeling Gardens is the first grower to start the mass cultivation of the cymbidium in the northeastern part of India. We give the nursery technical assistance in terms of monitoring nutrition requirements, light, temperature, humidity control and pest control,” he added.
Chakraborty said the cymbidiums had a thriving market in Japan, Dubai and European countries for ornamental purpose.
Ten poly-houses have been erected at Rato Mate, 52km from here, to grow the orchids under conditions prescribed by the COAFM.
The saplings are mostly of the Australian and New Zealand variety of cymbidiums and they were purchased from a tissue production centre in Gurgaon. With a gestation period of three-years, the orchids are expected to be in full bloom by October 2012.
“We have already planted over 75, 0000 saplings and 25,000 more will be planted in the coming month. Japan has the biggest market in the world for orchids and we are in talks with a floriculture company there for the exports. We are trying to develop market linkages in Mumbai and Bangalore where the cymbidium is in demand. At present, the cymbidiums fetch Rs 150 to Rs 200 per stick in the international market and less than Rs 100 in the domestic market,” said Chowdhury
SOURCE; THE TELEGRAPH
Siliguri, Aug. 26: Around one lakh plants of cymbidium, known as the queen of orchids, are set to bloom in Mirik in two years, thanks to an export-oriented project by a private company.
The biggest venture of orchid cultivation in the northeastern part of India was initiated by Darjeeling Gardens Private Limited on a two-acre plot at Rato Mate busty in Mirik with the help of 10 small farmers.
“Cymbidiums require low temperature and high humidity, a rare combination that is difficult to be found in other hill towns. Mirik valley provides the optimum requirement of temperature and humidity and is the best place to cultivate cymbidium. Floriculturists in Mirik were growing orchids on a smaller scale. But we have been growing one lakh cymbidiums at our nursery since May last year with the latest technical knowhow,” said Rajesh Chowdhury, the director of Darjeeling Garden.
The ultimate aim of the project is to enable small growers to start large-scale production of the cymbidium to export the flower.
“Although we have engaged 10 local cultivators, technical assistance was provided to more than 100 small farmers. In case we start exporting orchids, we need a regular supply, say 5,000 to 10,000 sticks a week. As the yield in our nursery will not be sufficient to meet consistent demands, we plan to engage the farmers and buy orchids from them so that exports can be continued without any shortage in the supply. The farmers, too, will be apprised of the demand, the desirable yield and the prices their produce would fetch in international markets,” said Chowdhury.
The cymbidium, the most popular orchid worldwide, is beautiful and comes in a variety of colours like white, green, pink, red and mixed shades of yellow and red, and pink and white.
Grown in countries like Australia, New Zealand and Holland, the cymbidium is known to have a long vase life ranging from two to three weeks. The longer vase life gives the flower high ornamental value.
Darjeeling Gardens signed a memorandum of understanding with the Centre For Agro-Business and Floriculture Management (COAFM) of North Bengal University in December to provide technical assistance to the nursery.
Ranadhir Chakraborty, the project manager of the COAFM, said cymbidiums grown in Mirik were of export quality. “However, as the plants are grown on small scale, enough flowers are not available for the export. Darjeeling Gardens is the first grower to start the mass cultivation of the cymbidium in the northeastern part of India. We give the nursery technical assistance in terms of monitoring nutrition requirements, light, temperature, humidity control and pest control,” he added.
Chakraborty said the cymbidiums had a thriving market in Japan, Dubai and European countries for ornamental purpose.
Ten poly-houses have been erected at Rato Mate, 52km from here, to grow the orchids under conditions prescribed by the COAFM.
The saplings are mostly of the Australian and New Zealand variety of cymbidiums and they were purchased from a tissue production centre in Gurgaon. With a gestation period of three-years, the orchids are expected to be in full bloom by October 2012.
“We have already planted over 75, 0000 saplings and 25,000 more will be planted in the coming month. Japan has the biggest market in the world for orchids and we are in talks with a floriculture company there for the exports. We are trying to develop market linkages in Mumbai and Bangalore where the cymbidium is in demand. At present, the cymbidiums fetch Rs 150 to Rs 200 per stick in the international market and less than Rs 100 in the domestic market,” said Chowdhury
SOURCE; THE TELEGRAPH
Survey shows alarming levels of obesity among Indian children
by Ramya Kannan
18% of children below seven years of age are obese or overweight
Here is yet another survey with sobering conclusions about the state of health of the nation: Obesity is setting in earlier than the adolescence phase for Indian children.
A pan-Indian survey on physical fitness of urban school children, conducted by the Bangalore-based EduSports found that 25 per cent of children above eight years are obese and overweight. Worse still, 18 per cent of children below seven years are obese or overweight. Since we are talking figures, let us pack this in: 23 per cent of the children between five and 14 years had a high body mass index. The abnormal BMI also reflected lower flexibility, muscle strength and endurance levels of the children.
EduSports undertook the survey to identify the overall fitness levels of children in Indian schools, believing that this would be a key indicator of the child's performance. According to Saumil Majumdar, director, Edusports, the survey was taken up to identify the gaps in physical education for children. “Our educational system favours academics over everything else, compromising the overall development of children.”
The study was conducted among 4,098 children in 21 schools across National Capital Region, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Mangalore, Lucknow, Indore, Raipur, Madurai, Mohali, Baroda, Amritsar, Panipat and Moga. This included three schools in Tamil Nadu - two in Madurai, and one school in Chennai. This was done during the 2009 – 2010 academic year.
Five factors measured
All children were in the 5-14 years age group and the factors that were measured included Body Mass Index, aerobic (walk/run) and anaerobic (sprinting) capacities, muscle strength, endurance and flexibility.
Srinivasa Rao, cricket coach, Santhome Higher Secondary School, says not all schools are keen on physical education, and even in those schools that have active sports teams, only a small percentage of the kids are involved. “Maybe 70-80 students in an entire school are keen on sports, in a group of say 2,000- 3,000 children. These other kids get one or two hours of P.T. in a week. Sports should be made compulsory for all children and the best place to do so would be the school.”
However, there is good news too. Start young is the motto: stepping up activities right from the KG classes will make a huge difference, the second phase of the study showed. “With a nine-month, in-curriculum physical education programme introduced in three schools, there was a significant improvement over the above five criteria for these children,” Mr. Majumdar says.
Post the nine-month period, they found endurance of children went up by over 17 per cent; abdominal strength increased by 37.5 per cent; the percentage of children with the right BMI increased to 67.72 per cent. As for flexibility, it went up by almost four per cent.
by Ramya Kannan
18% of children below seven years of age are obese or overweight
Here is yet another survey with sobering conclusions about the state of health of the nation: Obesity is setting in earlier than the adolescence phase for Indian children.
A pan-Indian survey on physical fitness of urban school children, conducted by the Bangalore-based EduSports found that 25 per cent of children above eight years are obese and overweight. Worse still, 18 per cent of children below seven years are obese or overweight. Since we are talking figures, let us pack this in: 23 per cent of the children between five and 14 years had a high body mass index. The abnormal BMI also reflected lower flexibility, muscle strength and endurance levels of the children.
EduSports undertook the survey to identify the overall fitness levels of children in Indian schools, believing that this would be a key indicator of the child's performance. According to Saumil Majumdar, director, Edusports, the survey was taken up to identify the gaps in physical education for children. “Our educational system favours academics over everything else, compromising the overall development of children.”
The study was conducted among 4,098 children in 21 schools across National Capital Region, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Mangalore, Lucknow, Indore, Raipur, Madurai, Mohali, Baroda, Amritsar, Panipat and Moga. This included three schools in Tamil Nadu - two in Madurai, and one school in Chennai. This was done during the 2009 – 2010 academic year.
Five factors measured
All children were in the 5-14 years age group and the factors that were measured included Body Mass Index, aerobic (walk/run) and anaerobic (sprinting) capacities, muscle strength, endurance and flexibility.
Srinivasa Rao, cricket coach, Santhome Higher Secondary School, says not all schools are keen on physical education, and even in those schools that have active sports teams, only a small percentage of the kids are involved. “Maybe 70-80 students in an entire school are keen on sports, in a group of say 2,000- 3,000 children. These other kids get one or two hours of P.T. in a week. Sports should be made compulsory for all children and the best place to do so would be the school.”
However, there is good news too. Start young is the motto: stepping up activities right from the KG classes will make a huge difference, the second phase of the study showed. “With a nine-month, in-curriculum physical education programme introduced in three schools, there was a significant improvement over the above five criteria for these children,” Mr. Majumdar says.
Post the nine-month period, they found endurance of children went up by over 17 per cent; abdominal strength increased by 37.5 per cent; the percentage of children with the right BMI increased to 67.72 per cent. As for flexibility, it went up by almost four per cent.
PM's address at the Annual Conference of DGPs
August 26, 2010
New Delhi
“I am very happy to once again address this annual gathering of heads of police organizations in India. Let me begin by congratulating those officers who have been awarded the President’s Police Medal for distinguished service and meritorious service today.
The officers participating in this conference represent important years of accumulated wisdom and experience in matters relating to policing. This interaction is, therefore, a valuable opportunity to enhance our understanding of matters relating to our internal security and to build a consensus on what new strategies can be devised to meet the challenges facing us. Many useful ideas like the Police Mission, have emerged from this conference in the earlier years. Many have also been acted upon with good results.
Policing in our country has become increasingly complex over the years. Social tensions, religious disputes, growing economic disparities and regional, linguistic and ethnic differences have long been major challenges to effective policing in India. But of late the growing presence of non-state actors, fundamentalist groups & leftwing extremists has further complicated matters. The growing inter-linkages of the destabilizing and criminal forces, across states and across our borders, call for far greater vigilance and coordination between the security agencies than ever before. Therefore, over the past decade, we have institutionalized deliberations and structured interactions at various levels. This conference has been a time-tested mechanism for enhanced coordination but given the changing circumstances I believe the time has perhaps come for it to reinvent itself. Perhaps this year onwards you could set for yourself some quantifiable goals to be achieved in the coming year. The actual achievement against these goals could be reviewed in the subsequent conference.
Ladies and gentlemen, I believe this conference should also pursue its agenda of making available the considered professional consensus on important police matters in a more focussed manner. I have been told that several countries have similar fora that continuously deliberate upon issues of police relevance and bring out papers on suggested best practices and standard operating procedures for various situations and purposes. In one of many earlier addresses to this very gathering, I had proposed the setting up of a Standing Committee of DGPs to provide policy inputs. I would like such a Standing Committee to begin work in right earnest.
After a relative lull in 2009, the challenges to our internal security seem to have re-emerged in more virulent forms. While we have made good progress in terms of recruitment and setting up of better institutional arrangements for intelligence, investigation, coastal security and counter-terrorism, the problems we face remain daunting. We need to do much more to meet the challenge of Naxalism. Training of our officers and men engaged in this theatre should particularly engage yours systematic attention. Here I would like to pay tribute to the officers and men of our security forces who have made the supreme sacrifice in fighting Naxalism and other anti-social elements. I would also like to repeat what I said in my speech on independence day. We recognize that the Naxalites are our own people and are ready to talk to them provided they abjure the path of violence. We also stand committed to making special efforts to develop the areas affected by naxal violence, many of which are inhabitated predominantly by our tribal brothers and sisters.
Despite the curtailment of militant activities in Jammu & Kashmir, the public order dimension in the state has become a cause for serious concern. We need to revisit standard operating procedures and crowd control measures to deal with public agitations with non-lethal, yet effective and more focused measures. We also cannot have an approach of one size fits all. For instance, I understand that instead of a single standard sequence for the use of force, other countries have put in place procedures that vary according to the specific needs in different situations. Similarly, the experience begun successfully by the Rapid Action Force for non-lethal crowd control needs to be examined for being followed by other police forces as well. I hope these aspects would engage your attention. I would request the Hon’ble Home Minister to establish a high-power task force to come out with a set of recommendations on these issues in the next 2 / 3 months.
In the North East, the situation in general is better today than it was in the recent past, but some areas of concern still remain. In Manipur, for example the Naga-Metei divide has accentuated. The unfortunate growth of identity based assertiveness in the North East, particularly in Manipur and the North Cachar Hills needs well thought-out and sensitive handling. In other areas of the North-Eastern part of our country, we need to consolidate the gains of the past while at the same time ensuring that new problems do not arise and it can be controlled when they do. The situation in Darjeeling hill area also needs a careful watch. The writ of the State should be firmly established in all these areas. The State police and the central paramilitary forces should take firm action against those who take the law into their own hands.
We also need to be continuously remain vigilant against the rise of communal tensions.
Modern means of communications have enabled adversarial forces to mount powerful and convincing propaganda. Our response to this development needs to be improved. We have to challenge disinformation, often masquerading as objective third party expert opinion, not through suppression or in position of censorship, but by ensuring the availability of better and informed opinion to public at large. I look forward to your views on the steps that need to be taken in this area.
Over the past decade, the Central Government has sought to assist states in addressing their manpower requirements through financial support for India Reserve battalions, Special Police Officers, and the setting up of village defence committees. But, it appears that recruitment to the regular State police forces has not yet picked up as effectively as it should. Although effort has been made in the last two years to address this issue, the backlog remains pretty large. The quality of recruitment also remains an area of concern. The Ministry of Home Affairs has already circulated a template for a transparent and objective recruitment process but most States are yet to adopt this.
Within the police forces, the current system of promotion is based essentially on seniority. It needs to be suitably recalibrated to catalyse better performance and motivation. For example, a successful stint in an extremism-affected district, should result in greater career benefits to the officers.
Procurement of equipment is another area where speed and quality remain areas of concern. We perhaps need to take a re-look at procurement procedures and examine ways of creating adequate testing capacities, coupled with databases of certified equipment, empanelled suppliers and benchmark prices. This if acted upon will save a lot of time and effort in procurement.
I am happy that both the Central and State Governments have taken steps to ensure greater inclusiveness in the police forces. The extent of reservation for appointment in Central paramilitary forces for candidates from areas affected by insurgency, militancy and naxalism was increased from 20% to 40% five years back. A number of States have also raised battalions from such areas. I think we need to take this further. This will reduce the feeling of alienation that might exist among the population in certain parts of our country.
We also need to build up capacities for gathering intelligence in various Indian languages. The intelligence agencies of the Centre and States could draw upon police persons and also incentivize officers to acquire and use relevant local language skills.
Significant improvement is called for in training of policemen and officers. The best officers are not posted to the police training institutes. The Thirteenth Finance Commission has provided significant funds to augment their training capabilities. These need to be utilized expeditiously. Only a highly trained and highly motivated police force can rise to the formidable internal security challenges that face the country.
I have touched upon only a few issues that I thought were really important. I am sure the conference would deliberate upon other key areas like modernization, research, forensic capabilities and raising of specialized forces. I wish this conference all success in its deliberations. I also wish the participants all the very best in their professional and personal lives.”
August 26, 2010
New Delhi
“I am very happy to once again address this annual gathering of heads of police organizations in India. Let me begin by congratulating those officers who have been awarded the President’s Police Medal for distinguished service and meritorious service today.
The officers participating in this conference represent important years of accumulated wisdom and experience in matters relating to policing. This interaction is, therefore, a valuable opportunity to enhance our understanding of matters relating to our internal security and to build a consensus on what new strategies can be devised to meet the challenges facing us. Many useful ideas like the Police Mission, have emerged from this conference in the earlier years. Many have also been acted upon with good results.
Policing in our country has become increasingly complex over the years. Social tensions, religious disputes, growing economic disparities and regional, linguistic and ethnic differences have long been major challenges to effective policing in India. But of late the growing presence of non-state actors, fundamentalist groups & leftwing extremists has further complicated matters. The growing inter-linkages of the destabilizing and criminal forces, across states and across our borders, call for far greater vigilance and coordination between the security agencies than ever before. Therefore, over the past decade, we have institutionalized deliberations and structured interactions at various levels. This conference has been a time-tested mechanism for enhanced coordination but given the changing circumstances I believe the time has perhaps come for it to reinvent itself. Perhaps this year onwards you could set for yourself some quantifiable goals to be achieved in the coming year. The actual achievement against these goals could be reviewed in the subsequent conference.
Ladies and gentlemen, I believe this conference should also pursue its agenda of making available the considered professional consensus on important police matters in a more focussed manner. I have been told that several countries have similar fora that continuously deliberate upon issues of police relevance and bring out papers on suggested best practices and standard operating procedures for various situations and purposes. In one of many earlier addresses to this very gathering, I had proposed the setting up of a Standing Committee of DGPs to provide policy inputs. I would like such a Standing Committee to begin work in right earnest.
After a relative lull in 2009, the challenges to our internal security seem to have re-emerged in more virulent forms. While we have made good progress in terms of recruitment and setting up of better institutional arrangements for intelligence, investigation, coastal security and counter-terrorism, the problems we face remain daunting. We need to do much more to meet the challenge of Naxalism. Training of our officers and men engaged in this theatre should particularly engage yours systematic attention. Here I would like to pay tribute to the officers and men of our security forces who have made the supreme sacrifice in fighting Naxalism and other anti-social elements. I would also like to repeat what I said in my speech on independence day. We recognize that the Naxalites are our own people and are ready to talk to them provided they abjure the path of violence. We also stand committed to making special efforts to develop the areas affected by naxal violence, many of which are inhabitated predominantly by our tribal brothers and sisters.
Despite the curtailment of militant activities in Jammu & Kashmir, the public order dimension in the state has become a cause for serious concern. We need to revisit standard operating procedures and crowd control measures to deal with public agitations with non-lethal, yet effective and more focused measures. We also cannot have an approach of one size fits all. For instance, I understand that instead of a single standard sequence for the use of force, other countries have put in place procedures that vary according to the specific needs in different situations. Similarly, the experience begun successfully by the Rapid Action Force for non-lethal crowd control needs to be examined for being followed by other police forces as well. I hope these aspects would engage your attention. I would request the Hon’ble Home Minister to establish a high-power task force to come out with a set of recommendations on these issues in the next 2 / 3 months.
In the North East, the situation in general is better today than it was in the recent past, but some areas of concern still remain. In Manipur, for example the Naga-Metei divide has accentuated. The unfortunate growth of identity based assertiveness in the North East, particularly in Manipur and the North Cachar Hills needs well thought-out and sensitive handling. In other areas of the North-Eastern part of our country, we need to consolidate the gains of the past while at the same time ensuring that new problems do not arise and it can be controlled when they do. The situation in Darjeeling hill area also needs a careful watch. The writ of the State should be firmly established in all these areas. The State police and the central paramilitary forces should take firm action against those who take the law into their own hands.
We also need to be continuously remain vigilant against the rise of communal tensions.
Modern means of communications have enabled adversarial forces to mount powerful and convincing propaganda. Our response to this development needs to be improved. We have to challenge disinformation, often masquerading as objective third party expert opinion, not through suppression or in position of censorship, but by ensuring the availability of better and informed opinion to public at large. I look forward to your views on the steps that need to be taken in this area.
Over the past decade, the Central Government has sought to assist states in addressing their manpower requirements through financial support for India Reserve battalions, Special Police Officers, and the setting up of village defence committees. But, it appears that recruitment to the regular State police forces has not yet picked up as effectively as it should. Although effort has been made in the last two years to address this issue, the backlog remains pretty large. The quality of recruitment also remains an area of concern. The Ministry of Home Affairs has already circulated a template for a transparent and objective recruitment process but most States are yet to adopt this.
Within the police forces, the current system of promotion is based essentially on seniority. It needs to be suitably recalibrated to catalyse better performance and motivation. For example, a successful stint in an extremism-affected district, should result in greater career benefits to the officers.
Procurement of equipment is another area where speed and quality remain areas of concern. We perhaps need to take a re-look at procurement procedures and examine ways of creating adequate testing capacities, coupled with databases of certified equipment, empanelled suppliers and benchmark prices. This if acted upon will save a lot of time and effort in procurement.
I am happy that both the Central and State Governments have taken steps to ensure greater inclusiveness in the police forces. The extent of reservation for appointment in Central paramilitary forces for candidates from areas affected by insurgency, militancy and naxalism was increased from 20% to 40% five years back. A number of States have also raised battalions from such areas. I think we need to take this further. This will reduce the feeling of alienation that might exist among the population in certain parts of our country.
We also need to build up capacities for gathering intelligence in various Indian languages. The intelligence agencies of the Centre and States could draw upon police persons and also incentivize officers to acquire and use relevant local language skills.
Significant improvement is called for in training of policemen and officers. The best officers are not posted to the police training institutes. The Thirteenth Finance Commission has provided significant funds to augment their training capabilities. These need to be utilized expeditiously. Only a highly trained and highly motivated police force can rise to the formidable internal security challenges that face the country.
I have touched upon only a few issues that I thought were really important. I am sure the conference would deliberate upon other key areas like modernization, research, forensic capabilities and raising of specialized forces. I wish this conference all success in its deliberations. I also wish the participants all the very best in their professional and personal lives.”
Massive solar storm to hit Earth in 2012 with ‘force of 100m bombs’
Melbourne, Aug 26 (ANI): Astronomers are predicting that a massive solar storm, much bigger in potential than the one that caused spectacular light shows on Earth earlier this month, is to strike our planet in 2012 with a force of 100 million hydrogen bombs.
Several US media outlets have reported that NASA was warning the massive flare this month was just a precursor to a massive solar storm building that had the potential to wipe out the entire planet’s power grid.
Despite its rebuttal, NASA’s been watching out for this storm since 2006 and reports from the US this week claim the storms could hit on that most Hollywood of disaster dates – 2012.
Similar storms back in 1859 and 1921 caused worldwide chaos, wiping out telegraph wires on a massive scale. The 2012 storm has the potential to be even more disruptive.
“The general consensus among general astronomers (and certainly solar astronomers) is that this coming Solar maximum (2012 but possibly later into 2013) will be the most violent in 100 years,” News.com.au quoted astronomy lecturer and columnist Dave Reneke as saying.
“A bold statement and one taken seriously by those it will affect most, namely airline companies, communications companies and anyone working with modern GPS systems.
“They can even trip circuit breakers and knock out orbiting satellites, as has already been done this year,” added Reneke.
No one really knows what effect the 2012-2013 Solar Max will have on today’s digital-reliant society.
Dr Richard Fisher, director of NASA’s Heliophysics division, told Reneke the super storm would hit like “a bolt of lightning”, causing catastrophic consequences for the world’s health, emergency services and national security unless precautions are taken.
NASA said that a recent report by the National Academy of Sciences found that if a similar storm occurred today, it could cause “1 to 2 trillion dollars in damages to society’s high-tech infrastructure and require four to 10 years for complete recovery”.
The reason for the concern comes as the sun enters a phase known as Solar Cycle 24.
Most experts agree, although those who put the date of Solar Max in 2012 are getting the most press.
They claim satellites will be aged by 50 years, rendering GPS even more useless than ever, and the blast will have the equivalent energy of 100 million hydrogen bombs.
“We know it is coming but we don’t know how bad it is going to be,” Fisher told Reneke.
“Systems will just not work. The flares change the magnetic field on the Earth and it’s rapid, just like a lightning bolt. That’s the solar effect,” he added.
The findings are published in the most recent issue of Australasian Science. (ANI)
Melbourne, Aug 26 (ANI): Astronomers are predicting that a massive solar storm, much bigger in potential than the one that caused spectacular light shows on Earth earlier this month, is to strike our planet in 2012 with a force of 100 million hydrogen bombs.
Several US media outlets have reported that NASA was warning the massive flare this month was just a precursor to a massive solar storm building that had the potential to wipe out the entire planet’s power grid.
Despite its rebuttal, NASA’s been watching out for this storm since 2006 and reports from the US this week claim the storms could hit on that most Hollywood of disaster dates – 2012.
Similar storms back in 1859 and 1921 caused worldwide chaos, wiping out telegraph wires on a massive scale. The 2012 storm has the potential to be even more disruptive.
“The general consensus among general astronomers (and certainly solar astronomers) is that this coming Solar maximum (2012 but possibly later into 2013) will be the most violent in 100 years,” News.com.au quoted astronomy lecturer and columnist Dave Reneke as saying.
“A bold statement and one taken seriously by those it will affect most, namely airline companies, communications companies and anyone working with modern GPS systems.
“They can even trip circuit breakers and knock out orbiting satellites, as has already been done this year,” added Reneke.
No one really knows what effect the 2012-2013 Solar Max will have on today’s digital-reliant society.
Dr Richard Fisher, director of NASA’s Heliophysics division, told Reneke the super storm would hit like “a bolt of lightning”, causing catastrophic consequences for the world’s health, emergency services and national security unless precautions are taken.
NASA said that a recent report by the National Academy of Sciences found that if a similar storm occurred today, it could cause “1 to 2 trillion dollars in damages to society’s high-tech infrastructure and require four to 10 years for complete recovery”.
The reason for the concern comes as the sun enters a phase known as Solar Cycle 24.
Most experts agree, although those who put the date of Solar Max in 2012 are getting the most press.
They claim satellites will be aged by 50 years, rendering GPS even more useless than ever, and the blast will have the equivalent energy of 100 million hydrogen bombs.
“We know it is coming but we don’t know how bad it is going to be,” Fisher told Reneke.
“Systems will just not work. The flares change the magnetic field on the Earth and it’s rapid, just like a lightning bolt. That’s the solar effect,” he added.
The findings are published in the most recent issue of Australasian Science. (ANI)
Now, make phone calls from Gmail
PTI
G mail will roll out the new feature to US-based Gmail users over the next few days and is working on making it available globally, Xinhua reported.
Google is all set to allow its users to make phone calls from its e-mail service, Gmail. The move will intensify competition in the Internet telephone space.
With the new facility, Gmail users will be able to make landline as well as mobile phone calls from their e-mail accounts.
“Given that most of us don't spend all day in front of our computers, we thought, wouldn't it be nice if you could call people directly on their phones? Starting today, you can call any phone right from Gmail,” Google said in a blog post.
The Internet giant's offering would take the competition directly to Skype, which is one of the most successful Internet telephone service providers. Going by estimates, Skype has around 560 million registered users, and out of them, over eight million are paid customers.
Currently, Google offers free voice and voice calls for Gmail users. The entity launched its call management programme, Google Voice, this year.
“Calls to the U.S. and Canada will be free for at least the rest of the year and calls to other countries will be billed at our very low rates,” the blog post noted.
Users have to shell out as little as two cents a minute for calls to countries such as the U.K., France, Germany, China and Japan.
According to Google, Calls to India would be charged at six cents a minute.
For using the facility, users have to click ‘Call phone' option in the Gmail chat list and then enter the contact number.
Google has been testing the new feature internally and found it to be useful in many situations, “ranging from making a quick call to a restaurant, to placing a call when you're in an area with bad reception,” the blog post said.
PTI
G mail will roll out the new feature to US-based Gmail users over the next few days and is working on making it available globally, Xinhua reported.
Google is all set to allow its users to make phone calls from its e-mail service, Gmail. The move will intensify competition in the Internet telephone space.
With the new facility, Gmail users will be able to make landline as well as mobile phone calls from their e-mail accounts.
“Given that most of us don't spend all day in front of our computers, we thought, wouldn't it be nice if you could call people directly on their phones? Starting today, you can call any phone right from Gmail,” Google said in a blog post.
The Internet giant's offering would take the competition directly to Skype, which is one of the most successful Internet telephone service providers. Going by estimates, Skype has around 560 million registered users, and out of them, over eight million are paid customers.
Currently, Google offers free voice and voice calls for Gmail users. The entity launched its call management programme, Google Voice, this year.
“Calls to the U.S. and Canada will be free for at least the rest of the year and calls to other countries will be billed at our very low rates,” the blog post noted.
Users have to shell out as little as two cents a minute for calls to countries such as the U.K., France, Germany, China and Japan.
According to Google, Calls to India would be charged at six cents a minute.
For using the facility, users have to click ‘Call phone' option in the Gmail chat list and then enter the contact number.
Google has been testing the new feature internally and found it to be useful in many situations, “ranging from making a quick call to a restaurant, to placing a call when you're in an area with bad reception,” the blog post said.
The single-minded pursuit of fast GDP growth of the Manmohan Singh government involves encouraging manufacture of more and more of ever increasing number of products by creating demand for all such products by getting banks to make available to consumers cheap money virtually on demand and giving huge tax concessions to businesses like the IT industry to enable them to leave very high levels of disposable incomes in the hands of their employees. No wonder that all major international car manufacturers have set up shop in the country and are flooding the roads of urban India with large automobiles which generally carry only one or if there is a driver two people, throwing pedestrians out of the roads and polluting the environment with exhaust gases, dust and noise. In Mumbai the number of BEST buses on the roads has been conveniently reduced to make room for more and more cars.In that city circulation of air has been considerably hampered and the health and quality of life of people living on both sides of the roads affected by the large number of fly-overs constructed to help the car owners and thereby the car industry. It would seem that for our rulers common people no longer count. Should we be proud of such a democracy? One wonders.
from: K.Vijayakumar
Posted on: Aug 25, 2010 at 20:45 IST-Hindu
from: K.Vijayakumar
Posted on: Aug 25, 2010 at 20:45 IST-Hindu
CATCH is a momentous, historic and path breaking initiative
Programme on free annual health checkup for Sikkimese launched
by Pravin Rai
Gangtok, August 26: Aiming to change the mindset of all from disease to health, to provide systematic and comprehensive health check up and in order to make Sikkim, one of the healthiest State of India by 2015, a programme Comprehensive Annual & Total Checkup for Healthy Sikkim (CATCH) was formally launched by the State Health Department.
CATCH is a momentous, historic and path breaking initiative and first of its kind in India, a priority health commitment of Sikkim Government, informed the State Health Minister Mr DN Thakarpa.
The Chief Minister Mr Pawan Chamling – under whose aegis the programme was launched – said, “CATCH Sikkim is community owned programme where the community takes action together with care provider for change for comprehensive health”. He further emphasized that such an initiative is the first of its kind of its in the entire globe providing community based intensive comprehensive, annual and total health checkup and care free of charges close to their doorsteps.
He also made an appeal to peoples from all walks of life to join hands to achieve success for the said programme.
The mission of the programme intended in providing systematic and comprehensive health checkup, which is promotive and preventive to all Sikkimese citizens on annual basis, so as to enable them to maintain good health and early diagnosis of potential risk factors and diseases in their early stages and to provide curative and rehabilitative health care and collectively take up appropriate individual and community interventions to work towards making Sikkim one of the healthiest state.
During the function that was held to mark the inauguration of CATCH, announcement was made to distribute ‘Health Card’ to all the citizens of Sikkim.
Certain kilometers of road around the capital city, Gangtok was also dedicated to Late Mother Teresa that will be tagged as Mother Teresa road from today in view of paying homage and respect to Mother Teresa on her 100th birth anniversary.
10 bedded new emergency unit at STNM hospital, Gangtok was also inaugurated by the Chief Minister Mr Pawan Chamling.
The new emergency block has been upgraded from the old one with several new features including large number of beds, from ordinary beds to fowler bed better and modern equipments and other aesthetic amenities like ventilators, defibrillator, portable x-ray machine, cardiac monitors and like wise. The total cost incurred on civil works was 28.28 Lakhs and equipment inventory cost 34.71 Lakhs.
Source: Haal Khabar | www.haalkhabar.net
by Pravin Rai
Gangtok, August 26: Aiming to change the mindset of all from disease to health, to provide systematic and comprehensive health check up and in order to make Sikkim, one of the healthiest State of India by 2015, a programme Comprehensive Annual & Total Checkup for Healthy Sikkim (CATCH) was formally launched by the State Health Department.
CATCH is a momentous, historic and path breaking initiative and first of its kind in India, a priority health commitment of Sikkim Government, informed the State Health Minister Mr DN Thakarpa.
The Chief Minister Mr Pawan Chamling – under whose aegis the programme was launched – said, “CATCH Sikkim is community owned programme where the community takes action together with care provider for change for comprehensive health”. He further emphasized that such an initiative is the first of its kind of its in the entire globe providing community based intensive comprehensive, annual and total health checkup and care free of charges close to their doorsteps.
He also made an appeal to peoples from all walks of life to join hands to achieve success for the said programme.
The mission of the programme intended in providing systematic and comprehensive health checkup, which is promotive and preventive to all Sikkimese citizens on annual basis, so as to enable them to maintain good health and early diagnosis of potential risk factors and diseases in their early stages and to provide curative and rehabilitative health care and collectively take up appropriate individual and community interventions to work towards making Sikkim one of the healthiest state.
During the function that was held to mark the inauguration of CATCH, announcement was made to distribute ‘Health Card’ to all the citizens of Sikkim.
Certain kilometers of road around the capital city, Gangtok was also dedicated to Late Mother Teresa that will be tagged as Mother Teresa road from today in view of paying homage and respect to Mother Teresa on her 100th birth anniversary.
10 bedded new emergency unit at STNM hospital, Gangtok was also inaugurated by the Chief Minister Mr Pawan Chamling.
The new emergency block has been upgraded from the old one with several new features including large number of beds, from ordinary beds to fowler bed better and modern equipments and other aesthetic amenities like ventilators, defibrillator, portable x-ray machine, cardiac monitors and like wise. The total cost incurred on civil works was 28.28 Lakhs and equipment inventory cost 34.71 Lakhs.
Source: Haal Khabar | www.haalkhabar.net
Cabinet gives nod Direct Taxes Code Bill
PTI
New Delhi August 26, 2010, 18:12 IST
In a move that could leave more money in the hands of people, the government today proposed to raise exemption limit on income tax from the present Rs 1.6 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
The Cabinet approved the much-awaited Direct Taxes Code (DTC) Bill, which is likely to be tabled in Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon session and thereafter it may be referred to a select committee of members of both houses of Parliament.
The Bill also seeks to remove surcharge and cesses on corporate tax, which could provide relief to business houses.
When asked what will be the limit of exemptions for income tax, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters after the Cabinet meeting that it is proposed to be raised to Rs 2 lakh from the current Rs 1.6 lakh.
"The whole objective is that a plethora of exemptions will be limited. (Income) tax slabs will be three. Rate of taxes will be taken in the schedule so that they need not be changed every year," he said.
On the corporate tax, he said it is sought to be retained at the present level of 30 per cent, but there will not be any surcharge or cesses on it.
According to sources, the DTC Bill is likely to be tabled in Parliament on Monday. Thereafter, it will be referred to the select committee, they added.
When asked what the new income tax slabs would be, Mukherjee said, "That will be discussed in Parliament."
Sources, however, said income between Rs 2-5 lakh is likely to attract a rate of 10 per cent, 20 per cent for Rs 5 -10 lakh bracket and 30 per cent above Rs 10 lakh.
For senior citizens and females, the tax slabs are likely to be relaxed further, they added
When contacted, senior officials in the Finance Ministry declined to comment on the slabs.
At present, income between Rs 1.65 lakh and Rs 5 lakh attracts 10 per cent tax, while the rate is 20 per cent for the Rs 5-8 lakh bracket and 30 per cent for income above Rs 8 lakh.
The first draft of the Bill had suggested 10 per cent tax on income between Rs 1.60 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, 20 per cent on income between Rs 10 and Rs 25 lakh and 30 per cent beyond that.
However, finance ministry officials had later said those slabs were just illustrative.
The Bill, approved by Cabinet today, also seeks to impose minimum alternate tax (MAT) at 20 per cent of the book profit, compared to 18 per cent at present.
The first draft had proposed to impose MAT on assets, which drew strong criticism from the industry. The MAT on book profit has been maintained in the revised draft as well.
The first draft had also proposed to tax long-term savings like provident funds at the time of withdrawal. However, the revised draft exempted them, after the first draft drew flak.
"Concerns were expressed for shifting from EEE (exempt, exempt, exempt) to EET (exempt, exempt, tax)," the Finance Minister said.
PTI
New Delhi August 26, 2010, 18:12 IST
In a move that could leave more money in the hands of people, the government today proposed to raise exemption limit on income tax from the present Rs 1.6 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
The Cabinet approved the much-awaited Direct Taxes Code (DTC) Bill, which is likely to be tabled in Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon session and thereafter it may be referred to a select committee of members of both houses of Parliament.
The Bill also seeks to remove surcharge and cesses on corporate tax, which could provide relief to business houses.
When asked what will be the limit of exemptions for income tax, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters after the Cabinet meeting that it is proposed to be raised to Rs 2 lakh from the current Rs 1.6 lakh.
"The whole objective is that a plethora of exemptions will be limited. (Income) tax slabs will be three. Rate of taxes will be taken in the schedule so that they need not be changed every year," he said.
On the corporate tax, he said it is sought to be retained at the present level of 30 per cent, but there will not be any surcharge or cesses on it.
According to sources, the DTC Bill is likely to be tabled in Parliament on Monday. Thereafter, it will be referred to the select committee, they added.
When asked what the new income tax slabs would be, Mukherjee said, "That will be discussed in Parliament."
Sources, however, said income between Rs 2-5 lakh is likely to attract a rate of 10 per cent, 20 per cent for Rs 5 -10 lakh bracket and 30 per cent above Rs 10 lakh.
For senior citizens and females, the tax slabs are likely to be relaxed further, they added
When contacted, senior officials in the Finance Ministry declined to comment on the slabs.
At present, income between Rs 1.65 lakh and Rs 5 lakh attracts 10 per cent tax, while the rate is 20 per cent for the Rs 5-8 lakh bracket and 30 per cent for income above Rs 8 lakh.
The first draft of the Bill had suggested 10 per cent tax on income between Rs 1.60 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, 20 per cent on income between Rs 10 and Rs 25 lakh and 30 per cent beyond that.
However, finance ministry officials had later said those slabs were just illustrative.
The Bill, approved by Cabinet today, also seeks to impose minimum alternate tax (MAT) at 20 per cent of the book profit, compared to 18 per cent at present.
The first draft had proposed to impose MAT on assets, which drew strong criticism from the industry. The MAT on book profit has been maintained in the revised draft as well.
The first draft had also proposed to tax long-term savings like provident funds at the time of withdrawal. However, the revised draft exempted them, after the first draft drew flak.
"Concerns were expressed for shifting from EEE (exempt, exempt, exempt) to EET (exempt, exempt, tax)," the Finance Minister said.
Union Cabinet approved Direct Tax Code (DTC)
Direct Tax Code gets nod
Paving the way for radical reform and simplification in the Direct Tax system the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the much-talked about Direct Tax Code (DTC) Bill proposing to provide more Income Tax relief to salaried class.
The DTC Bill, which seeks to replace the archaic Income Tax Act, 1961, proposes to raise the Income Tax exemption limit from existing Rs 1.6 lakh to Rs Two lakh, highly placed sources said. The Income Tax exemption limit for senior citizens is proposed to be raised to Rs 2.5 lakh.
Under the moderate tax slab suggested in the DTC Bill the government proposes tax rate of
10 per cent for income between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 5 lakh,
20 per cent for income between Rs 5 lakh - Rs 10 lakh
30 per cent for income over Rs 10 lakh.
Currently the Income Tax rate is 10 per cent on income above Rs 1.6 lakh and upto Rs 5 lakh, 20 per cent on income above Rs 5 lakh and upto Rs 8 lakh and 30 per cent on income above Rs 8 lakh.
The first draft of the DTC bill had suggested
10 per cent tax on income between Rs 1.60 lakh and Rs 10 lakh,
20 per cent on income between Rs 10 and Rs 25 lakh and
30 per cent beyond that.
The DTC Bill proposes to levy Corporate Tax at 30 per cent and there will be no cess and surcharge on it, sources said. The DTC Bill will be introduced in the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament.
The Cabinet at its hour-long meeting chaired by the Prime Minister discussed at length various provisions of the DTC Bill, which will seek to bring about radical reforms and simplification in direct tax structure including the Income Tax rates and exemptions.
The overall thrust of the DTC Bill will be on bringing about simplification of direct tax system including personal Income Tax and Corporate Tax with “an in-built bias” in favour of moderation of tax rates, sources close to the preparation of draft legislation said.
Provisions of the DTC Bill stipulating the tax rates in direct tax front including Income tax and Corporate Tax will come into effect once it the legislation is approved by both houses of Parliament.
The government plans to implement various provisions of the DTC Bill with effect from April One 2011.
It is learnt that the government is likely to introduce the DTC Bill either tomorrow or next Monday in both houses of Parliament. After its introduction the draft DTC will be sent to Select Committee of both houses for scrutiny.
After examining the recommendations of the Select Committee the government will move the DTC Bill for approval of Parliament in the Winter Session.
Later, talking to newspersons, the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, “The whole objective is that a plethora of exemptions will be limited. (Income) tax slabs will be three. Rate of taxes will be taken in the schedule so that they need not be changed every year,” he said. The Finance Ministry submitted the draft DTC Bill for consideration of the Cabinet after examining responses from various stake holders including trade, industry and corporate sector.
Source: Deccan Herald
Direct Tax Code gets nod
Paving the way for radical reform and simplification in the Direct Tax system the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the much-talked about Direct Tax Code (DTC) Bill proposing to provide more Income Tax relief to salaried class.
The DTC Bill, which seeks to replace the archaic Income Tax Act, 1961, proposes to raise the Income Tax exemption limit from existing Rs 1.6 lakh to Rs Two lakh, highly placed sources said. The Income Tax exemption limit for senior citizens is proposed to be raised to Rs 2.5 lakh.
Under the moderate tax slab suggested in the DTC Bill the government proposes tax rate of
10 per cent for income between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 5 lakh,
20 per cent for income between Rs 5 lakh - Rs 10 lakh
30 per cent for income over Rs 10 lakh.
Currently the Income Tax rate is 10 per cent on income above Rs 1.6 lakh and upto Rs 5 lakh, 20 per cent on income above Rs 5 lakh and upto Rs 8 lakh and 30 per cent on income above Rs 8 lakh.
The first draft of the DTC bill had suggested
10 per cent tax on income between Rs 1.60 lakh and Rs 10 lakh,
20 per cent on income between Rs 10 and Rs 25 lakh and
30 per cent beyond that.
The DTC Bill proposes to levy Corporate Tax at 30 per cent and there will be no cess and surcharge on it, sources said. The DTC Bill will be introduced in the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament.
The Cabinet at its hour-long meeting chaired by the Prime Minister discussed at length various provisions of the DTC Bill, which will seek to bring about radical reforms and simplification in direct tax structure including the Income Tax rates and exemptions.
The overall thrust of the DTC Bill will be on bringing about simplification of direct tax system including personal Income Tax and Corporate Tax with “an in-built bias” in favour of moderation of tax rates, sources close to the preparation of draft legislation said.
Provisions of the DTC Bill stipulating the tax rates in direct tax front including Income tax and Corporate Tax will come into effect once it the legislation is approved by both houses of Parliament.
The government plans to implement various provisions of the DTC Bill with effect from April One 2011.
It is learnt that the government is likely to introduce the DTC Bill either tomorrow or next Monday in both houses of Parliament. After its introduction the draft DTC will be sent to Select Committee of both houses for scrutiny.
After examining the recommendations of the Select Committee the government will move the DTC Bill for approval of Parliament in the Winter Session.
Later, talking to newspersons, the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, “The whole objective is that a plethora of exemptions will be limited. (Income) tax slabs will be three. Rate of taxes will be taken in the schedule so that they need not be changed every year,” he said. The Finance Ministry submitted the draft DTC Bill for consideration of the Cabinet after examining responses from various stake holders including trade, industry and corporate sector.
Source: Deccan Herald
Direct tax code gets Cabinet nod
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a new set of direct tax rules that proposes to raise income tax exemption limit from 1.6 lakh to 2 lakh, leaving more money in the hands of individuals, and a lower tax rate for companies.
The much-awaited Direct Taxes Code, or DTC, Bill, which seeks to replace the nearly 50-year-old income tax law, is likely to be introduced in Parliament on Monday and may then be referred to a select committee of members of both houses of Parliament.
The basic exemption limit is proposed to be raised to 2 lakh from the current 1.6 lakh and corporate tax rate for both domestic and foreign companies proposed is at 30%, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said after the meeting of the Union Cabinet.
Senior citizens and women will enjoy a higher exemption of up to 2.5 lakh. There will be no surcharge or cess on companies, thereby bringing the corporate tax rate to 30% from present 34%.
The new code proposes three income tax slabs—income of up to 2-5 lakh will face 10%, 5-10 lakh will attract 20% and income over 10 lakh will face tax at the rate of 30%. The housing loan exemption of 1.5 lakh would also be available to individual taxpayers on the interest component.
“The whole objective is that a plethora of exemptions will be limited. Income tax slabs will be three. Rate of taxes will be taken in the schedule so that they need not be changed every year,” Mr Mukherjee said.
“Once the tax rates are part of the code itself, it would provide guidance and stability as to short to mid-term tax rates vis-a-vis current situation wherein tax rates could undergo a change on a year-on-year basis,” said Vikas Vasal, executive director, KPMG.
The new changes in the tax rates, expected to come into effect from April 1, 2011, could lead to some loss in revenue and raise the government’s deficit.
However, the government proposes to raise the minimum alternate tax (MAT) on book profits to 20% from current 18%. The move will be a big blow for Reliance and a host of IT and infrastructure companies that pay MAT.
Ficci general secretary Amit Mitra welcomed the proposal. “We are assuming that this rate of tax is a proposed cap and corporate tax would not exceed 30%. Any cess or surcharge should be subsumed within this 30%,” he said. He further added that at this rate, the Indian corporate tax is moving closer to the rate prevailing in Asean countries, which is again a positive direction for direct taxes.
However, some industry honchos were not happy as they expected much lower rates if exemptions are being withdrawn.
Jindal Stainless vice-chairman & MD Ratan Jindal said the proposed rate of 30% is good, but the industry was looking for lower rates of around 25%.
“Hopefully the government will consider bringing down corporate tax at about 20-25 % in the coming years. If more money is put in the hands of the industry, it can be ploughed back for further investment and expansion purposes.”
Under the current regime, the effective tax rate for corporates is 22.78%, including MAT companies.
The government has given a go-by to original proposal of MAT on gross assets after drawing strong criticism from the industry. It had also proposed to tax long-term savings like provident fund at the time of withdrawal. The revised draft that was made public some time ago exempted them.
“Concerns were expressed for shifting from EEE (exempt, exempt, exempt) to EET (exempt , exempt, tax),” Mr Mukherjee said.
Securitities transaction tax will remain as the current regime is being continued for the capital market transactions, said a senior cabinet minister who attended the meeting. Dividend distribution tax rate of 15% remains unchanged .
The finance minister, who seeks to phase out profit-linked incentives for corporate sector, has given relief to the developers of special economic zones and units located in them by dropping the original proposal of withdrawing all tax benefits once the code comes into effect. SEZs may be able to enjoy tax sops for two more years.
Rahul Garg, Leader, Direct Tax practice, PwC said: “The specific provisions for grandfathering the tax exemptions as proposed in the revised draft would help companies in transition”.
The government had announced its intention to introduce a revised and simplified Income-Tax Bill while presenting the Union Budget for 2005-06. Subsequently, work was undertaken on drafting the code to replace the current Income-tax Act, 1961 and the Wealthtax Act, 1957.
A draft direct taxes code was placed in the public domain in August, 2009. It was revised and substantially diluted after a large number of proposals faced sharp criticism
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a new set of direct tax rules that proposes to raise income tax exemption limit from 1.6 lakh to 2 lakh, leaving more money in the hands of individuals, and a lower tax rate for companies.
The much-awaited Direct Taxes Code, or DTC, Bill, which seeks to replace the nearly 50-year-old income tax law, is likely to be introduced in Parliament on Monday and may then be referred to a select committee of members of both houses of Parliament.
The basic exemption limit is proposed to be raised to 2 lakh from the current 1.6 lakh and corporate tax rate for both domestic and foreign companies proposed is at 30%, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said after the meeting of the Union Cabinet.
Senior citizens and women will enjoy a higher exemption of up to 2.5 lakh. There will be no surcharge or cess on companies, thereby bringing the corporate tax rate to 30% from present 34%.
The new code proposes three income tax slabs—income of up to 2-5 lakh will face 10%, 5-10 lakh will attract 20% and income over 10 lakh will face tax at the rate of 30%. The housing loan exemption of 1.5 lakh would also be available to individual taxpayers on the interest component.
“The whole objective is that a plethora of exemptions will be limited. Income tax slabs will be three. Rate of taxes will be taken in the schedule so that they need not be changed every year,” Mr Mukherjee said.
“Once the tax rates are part of the code itself, it would provide guidance and stability as to short to mid-term tax rates vis-a-vis current situation wherein tax rates could undergo a change on a year-on-year basis,” said Vikas Vasal, executive director, KPMG.
The new changes in the tax rates, expected to come into effect from April 1, 2011, could lead to some loss in revenue and raise the government’s deficit.
However, the government proposes to raise the minimum alternate tax (MAT) on book profits to 20% from current 18%. The move will be a big blow for Reliance and a host of IT and infrastructure companies that pay MAT.
Ficci general secretary Amit Mitra welcomed the proposal. “We are assuming that this rate of tax is a proposed cap and corporate tax would not exceed 30%. Any cess or surcharge should be subsumed within this 30%,” he said. He further added that at this rate, the Indian corporate tax is moving closer to the rate prevailing in Asean countries, which is again a positive direction for direct taxes.
However, some industry honchos were not happy as they expected much lower rates if exemptions are being withdrawn.
Jindal Stainless vice-chairman & MD Ratan Jindal said the proposed rate of 30% is good, but the industry was looking for lower rates of around 25%.
“Hopefully the government will consider bringing down corporate tax at about 20-25 % in the coming years. If more money is put in the hands of the industry, it can be ploughed back for further investment and expansion purposes.”
Under the current regime, the effective tax rate for corporates is 22.78%, including MAT companies.
The government has given a go-by to original proposal of MAT on gross assets after drawing strong criticism from the industry. It had also proposed to tax long-term savings like provident fund at the time of withdrawal. The revised draft that was made public some time ago exempted them.
“Concerns were expressed for shifting from EEE (exempt, exempt, exempt) to EET (exempt , exempt, tax),” Mr Mukherjee said.
Securitities transaction tax will remain as the current regime is being continued for the capital market transactions, said a senior cabinet minister who attended the meeting. Dividend distribution tax rate of 15% remains unchanged .
The finance minister, who seeks to phase out profit-linked incentives for corporate sector, has given relief to the developers of special economic zones and units located in them by dropping the original proposal of withdrawing all tax benefits once the code comes into effect. SEZs may be able to enjoy tax sops for two more years.
Rahul Garg, Leader, Direct Tax practice, PwC said: “The specific provisions for grandfathering the tax exemptions as proposed in the revised draft would help companies in transition”.
The government had announced its intention to introduce a revised and simplified Income-Tax Bill while presenting the Union Budget for 2005-06. Subsequently, work was undertaken on drafting the code to replace the current Income-tax Act, 1961 and the Wealthtax Act, 1957.
A draft direct taxes code was placed in the public domain in August, 2009. It was revised and substantially diluted after a large number of proposals faced sharp criticism
House divided over autonomy for J&K
by Aarti Dhar
Amid heated debate over the Jammu and Kashmir situation in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Union Minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah reiterated that Kashmiris – including from the PoK and the areas with China now – wanted to be with India.
Kashmiris want to stay with India: Farooq
Raised tempers and emotional speeches marked a discussion on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the Lok Sabha on Thursday with the Opposition parties expressing concern at the happenings in the Valley and the government's handling of it, but there were clear division over granting of autonomy.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was strongly against grant of autonomy and “azadi,'' the Left parties favoured political and economic package including “broadening of framework of autonomy within the sovereignty of the Indian Constitution.''
Need of the hour
However, it was Union Minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah who stole the show by reiterating that Kashmiris – including from the Pakistan occupied Kashmir and the areas with China now – wanted to be with India.
“Those demanding independence do not realise the consequences of their demand,'' he said, while making a passionate appeal for winning over the hearts and minds of the Kashmiris.
Autonomy, Dr. Abdullah said, was the need of the hour and would strengthen the Indian federal system. “Soon all States will demand autonomy and this will be a healthy way to strengthen the Centre.''
Rejecting the demand for more autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir, Murli Manohar Joshi (BJP) said the government should tell the people of Kashmir bluntly that demands for “independence or autonomy are not acceptable.”
Source; Hindu
by Aarti Dhar
Amid heated debate over the Jammu and Kashmir situation in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Union Minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah reiterated that Kashmiris – including from the PoK and the areas with China now – wanted to be with India.
Kashmiris want to stay with India: Farooq
Raised tempers and emotional speeches marked a discussion on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the Lok Sabha on Thursday with the Opposition parties expressing concern at the happenings in the Valley and the government's handling of it, but there were clear division over granting of autonomy.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was strongly against grant of autonomy and “azadi,'' the Left parties favoured political and economic package including “broadening of framework of autonomy within the sovereignty of the Indian Constitution.''
Need of the hour
However, it was Union Minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah who stole the show by reiterating that Kashmiris – including from the Pakistan occupied Kashmir and the areas with China now – wanted to be with India.
“Those demanding independence do not realise the consequences of their demand,'' he said, while making a passionate appeal for winning over the hearts and minds of the Kashmiris.
Autonomy, Dr. Abdullah said, was the need of the hour and would strengthen the Indian federal system. “Soon all States will demand autonomy and this will be a healthy way to strengthen the Centre.''
Rejecting the demand for more autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir, Murli Manohar Joshi (BJP) said the government should tell the people of Kashmir bluntly that demands for “independence or autonomy are not acceptable.”
Source; Hindu
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Making out a case for holistic river water management
BY G. Kishan Reddy
Water, water, everywhere,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, everywhere,
Nor any drop to drink.
(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner)
On August 9 this year, officials heaved a sigh of relief after 19.84 lakh cusecs of water was released into the Bay of Bengal, from the Dowlaisweram barrage near Rajahmundry. With this, the flooding caused by a swollen Godavari was no longer seen as a threat.
But there is the larger picture. This volume of water was the equivalent of more than 170 tmc ft of water. It would be easier to understand what this means when you compare it with what the reservoirs of large dams in India hold. For instance, the reservoir that feeds the Nagarjunasagar dam in Andhra Pradesh is considered to be one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, with a capacity of around 410 tmc ft. The Mettur dam reservoir in Tamil Nadu has a peak storage capacity of 150 tmc ft. The recent dispute between Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh over the Bhabhli Project was over two tmc ft of water. In this context, the volume of water that was allowed to flow out was large.
Integrated flood management
Today, a retroactive approach to flood control is no longer the option. In its report, “Dams and Development”, the World Commission on Dams (WCD) has suggested an integrated approach to flood management, and this was as early as 2000. The three-pronged strategy was through structural and non-structural means, isolating the threat of floods through structural, technological and policy alternatives; and increasing people's capacity to cope with floods.
An integrated flood management approach must look at river basins as a whole and not as individual silos at a State-level. Therefore, it is distressing to note that the latest annual report of the Ministry of Water Resources (published at its website) sanctions 281 projects (worth Rs. 2,425.50 crore) but is silent on even a single project for flood management in the Krishna or Godavari basins. In hindsight, the floods of 2009, caused by the Krishna, which devastated parts of Karnataka and the Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh, and now what happened in August, show the retroactive approach of “flood control” rather than a proactive one of “flood management” being in place.
Integrated Water Resource Management in river basins
The hurdle to an integrated water management strategy is the lack of legislation. Article 246 of the Constitution establishes the federal structure of our Government in enacting legislation. The responsibilities of the Centre are declared through a Union list. In this list, the entry 56 states: the regulation and development of inter-state rivers and river valleys is a core responsibility of the union. As 90 per cent of our rivers flow through States, it is important that there is legislation to protect the rights of all stakeholders.
The United Nations has been trying to ratify the Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses to protect the rights of all stakeholders for rivers with international boundaries. It is important that the legislation enacted in India is based on similar general principles — equitable and reasonable utilisation and participation by all actors, obligation not to cause significant harm, a general obligation to cooperate, regular exchange of data and information and a notification concerning planned measures with possible adverse effects. The WCD report also warns about the risks in legislation that treat water as a finite commodity and which tries to allocate it on a proportional basis. In times of water scarcity, this approach does not give the flexibility needed to meet multiple claims along a river course. In such circumstances, it is helpful to extend sharing agreements to include the benefits, much like the 1968 Columbia Treaty between Canada and the United States.
The other area that requires attention is to move the responsibilities of managing water. There must also be a team of people — termed as the Basin Authority — that involves all stakeholders in the river-basin including governments. This is to manage water, plan future use and leverage benefits to the entire river basin. The use of Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM), as in the Murray-Darling River basin in Australia, can be sensibly applied in India only if certain prerequisites are met. These include establishing a system of licensing and registering groundwater structures, a principle of developing a “user pays, polluter pays” method at the operational level, a rationalisation of electricity pricing and supply policies for agriculture and the creation of legal frameworks to facilitate institutional reform in irrigation systems, urban and rural water supply and sanitation systems.
Other alternatives
Other arid and semi-arid regions of the world have invested heavily in storage creation; Australia, Brazil, China and the U.S. have a per capita storage capacity that is 10-30 times that of India's capacity. In India, it is a mere 200 cubic metre/person, a figure on the decline because of a growing population.
As a country, we must increase our storage to regulate the vast amount of run-off. Some of this storage, especially that created in open basins, such as the Brahmaputra, the Ganga, the Mahanadi and the Godavari, may also need to be transferred to closed basins. For many years, policy makers have been suggesting the National River Linking Project (NRLP) to help sustain India's demand for water. The NRLP plans to transfer surplus waters of the four river basins mentioned, to water scarce basins in the southern and the western parts.
For all the rhetoric for and against the NRLP, it may become necessary that we plan inter-basin water transfers to meet future needs. However, we need to ensure that there is focus on policies that concern artificial groundwater recharge, a pragmatic approach to rain water-harvesting techniques that do not compromise on downstream flows, improvement in crop productivity and agriculture diversification along with looking at alternate sources for fresh water that include the setting up of desalination plants along our coastline.
Long-term Plan: Year 2050
According to the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the total demand for water in India will have increased by 22 per cent by 2025, and a further eight per cent by 2050 due to population increase and lifestyle choices. It will be fuelled by industrial and domestic use even though agriculture use for irrigation is set to fall.
The challenge of increased industrial usage means that industry discharges need to be treated and reused. Policy making and planning around water resources management is complex and multi-disciplinary in nature. This work cannot be done in isolation and co-operation must ensue between disciplines.
In spite of a mandate to meet every quarter, the Committee of Environmentalists, Social Scientists and other Experts on Inter-Linking of Rivers last met in March 2010, after seven months.
It is time that the government ensured that a concrete policy evolves that aims at transforming India into a ‘Sujalam' (richly-watered), ‘Suphalam' (richly-fruited), ‘Sasya Shyamalam' (richly-harvested) country.
(G. Kishan Reddy is the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Andhra Pradesh and the floor leader of the BJP in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. The statistical, data and research inputs were provided by Yudofud Public Strategies, www.yudofud.com)
BY G. Kishan Reddy
Water, water, everywhere,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, everywhere,
Nor any drop to drink.
(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner)
On August 9 this year, officials heaved a sigh of relief after 19.84 lakh cusecs of water was released into the Bay of Bengal, from the Dowlaisweram barrage near Rajahmundry. With this, the flooding caused by a swollen Godavari was no longer seen as a threat.
But there is the larger picture. This volume of water was the equivalent of more than 170 tmc ft of water. It would be easier to understand what this means when you compare it with what the reservoirs of large dams in India hold. For instance, the reservoir that feeds the Nagarjunasagar dam in Andhra Pradesh is considered to be one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, with a capacity of around 410 tmc ft. The Mettur dam reservoir in Tamil Nadu has a peak storage capacity of 150 tmc ft. The recent dispute between Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh over the Bhabhli Project was over two tmc ft of water. In this context, the volume of water that was allowed to flow out was large.
Integrated flood management
Today, a retroactive approach to flood control is no longer the option. In its report, “Dams and Development”, the World Commission on Dams (WCD) has suggested an integrated approach to flood management, and this was as early as 2000. The three-pronged strategy was through structural and non-structural means, isolating the threat of floods through structural, technological and policy alternatives; and increasing people's capacity to cope with floods.
An integrated flood management approach must look at river basins as a whole and not as individual silos at a State-level. Therefore, it is distressing to note that the latest annual report of the Ministry of Water Resources (published at its website) sanctions 281 projects (worth Rs. 2,425.50 crore) but is silent on even a single project for flood management in the Krishna or Godavari basins. In hindsight, the floods of 2009, caused by the Krishna, which devastated parts of Karnataka and the Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh, and now what happened in August, show the retroactive approach of “flood control” rather than a proactive one of “flood management” being in place.
Integrated Water Resource Management in river basins
The hurdle to an integrated water management strategy is the lack of legislation. Article 246 of the Constitution establishes the federal structure of our Government in enacting legislation. The responsibilities of the Centre are declared through a Union list. In this list, the entry 56 states: the regulation and development of inter-state rivers and river valleys is a core responsibility of the union. As 90 per cent of our rivers flow through States, it is important that there is legislation to protect the rights of all stakeholders.
The United Nations has been trying to ratify the Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses to protect the rights of all stakeholders for rivers with international boundaries. It is important that the legislation enacted in India is based on similar general principles — equitable and reasonable utilisation and participation by all actors, obligation not to cause significant harm, a general obligation to cooperate, regular exchange of data and information and a notification concerning planned measures with possible adverse effects. The WCD report also warns about the risks in legislation that treat water as a finite commodity and which tries to allocate it on a proportional basis. In times of water scarcity, this approach does not give the flexibility needed to meet multiple claims along a river course. In such circumstances, it is helpful to extend sharing agreements to include the benefits, much like the 1968 Columbia Treaty between Canada and the United States.
The other area that requires attention is to move the responsibilities of managing water. There must also be a team of people — termed as the Basin Authority — that involves all stakeholders in the river-basin including governments. This is to manage water, plan future use and leverage benefits to the entire river basin. The use of Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM), as in the Murray-Darling River basin in Australia, can be sensibly applied in India only if certain prerequisites are met. These include establishing a system of licensing and registering groundwater structures, a principle of developing a “user pays, polluter pays” method at the operational level, a rationalisation of electricity pricing and supply policies for agriculture and the creation of legal frameworks to facilitate institutional reform in irrigation systems, urban and rural water supply and sanitation systems.
Other alternatives
Other arid and semi-arid regions of the world have invested heavily in storage creation; Australia, Brazil, China and the U.S. have a per capita storage capacity that is 10-30 times that of India's capacity. In India, it is a mere 200 cubic metre/person, a figure on the decline because of a growing population.
As a country, we must increase our storage to regulate the vast amount of run-off. Some of this storage, especially that created in open basins, such as the Brahmaputra, the Ganga, the Mahanadi and the Godavari, may also need to be transferred to closed basins. For many years, policy makers have been suggesting the National River Linking Project (NRLP) to help sustain India's demand for water. The NRLP plans to transfer surplus waters of the four river basins mentioned, to water scarce basins in the southern and the western parts.
For all the rhetoric for and against the NRLP, it may become necessary that we plan inter-basin water transfers to meet future needs. However, we need to ensure that there is focus on policies that concern artificial groundwater recharge, a pragmatic approach to rain water-harvesting techniques that do not compromise on downstream flows, improvement in crop productivity and agriculture diversification along with looking at alternate sources for fresh water that include the setting up of desalination plants along our coastline.
Long-term Plan: Year 2050
According to the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the total demand for water in India will have increased by 22 per cent by 2025, and a further eight per cent by 2050 due to population increase and lifestyle choices. It will be fuelled by industrial and domestic use even though agriculture use for irrigation is set to fall.
The challenge of increased industrial usage means that industry discharges need to be treated and reused. Policy making and planning around water resources management is complex and multi-disciplinary in nature. This work cannot be done in isolation and co-operation must ensue between disciplines.
In spite of a mandate to meet every quarter, the Committee of Environmentalists, Social Scientists and other Experts on Inter-Linking of Rivers last met in March 2010, after seven months.
It is time that the government ensured that a concrete policy evolves that aims at transforming India into a ‘Sujalam' (richly-watered), ‘Suphalam' (richly-fruited), ‘Sasya Shyamalam' (richly-harvested) country.
(G. Kishan Reddy is the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Andhra Pradesh and the floor leader of the BJP in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. The statistical, data and research inputs were provided by Yudofud Public Strategies, www.yudofud.com)
Radio Misty Sikkim is official Radio Partner to IPSC football Tournament
source:THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE]
Tashi Namgyal Academy, where Indian soccer captain Bhaichung Bhutia blossomed as a promising footballer two decades ago, will host the Indian Public Schools’ Conference Football Tournament from September 1 at Gangtok. Radio Misty Sikkim 95 fm is the official Radio Partner of this event.
Established in 1939, the IPSC is a conglomeration of public schools in the country. “The Indian Public School should not be confused with a large number of schools, which liberally adopt ‘Public School’ with its name,” reads a media release of the IPSC. The government of India recognises only such institutions as Public Schools which are members of IPSC, it says. Currently, 78 public schools, including TNA, are members of the IPSC.
Bhaichung, as a student of Class X, had led TNA to win the IPSC soccer tournament on consecutive occasions in 1990 and 1991. In fact, he had been declared the best player of the tourney at Mayo College, Ajmer, in 1991.This year, 15 school teams from across the country are participating in the five-day tournament being organised by the TNA faculty and the TNA Alumni Association.
Apart from TNA, the other teams are — Birla Public School (Pilani), Donyi Polo Vidya Bhavan (Itanagar), Mann Public School (Delhi), Modern School (Delhi), Motilal Nehru School of Sports (Sonipat), Phoenix Public School (Karnataka), Raj Kumar College (Rajkot), Sainik School (Goalpara), The Daly College (Indore), Hyderabad Public School (Ramanthapur), Lawrence School (Himachal Pradesh), Scindia School (Gwalior) and Yadavindra Public School (Patiala).Mann Public School is the defending champion of the ISPC football tournament 2009 hosted by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Baroda, last year.
Says Nishant Mittal, Chief Executive Officer, “Radio Misty we are proud to be associated with this prestigious tournament. We will create a buzz around this event giving updates of players and matches”.
source:THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE]
Tashi Namgyal Academy, where Indian soccer captain Bhaichung Bhutia blossomed as a promising footballer two decades ago, will host the Indian Public Schools’ Conference Football Tournament from September 1 at Gangtok. Radio Misty Sikkim 95 fm is the official Radio Partner of this event.
Established in 1939, the IPSC is a conglomeration of public schools in the country. “The Indian Public School should not be confused with a large number of schools, which liberally adopt ‘Public School’ with its name,” reads a media release of the IPSC. The government of India recognises only such institutions as Public Schools which are members of IPSC, it says. Currently, 78 public schools, including TNA, are members of the IPSC.
Bhaichung, as a student of Class X, had led TNA to win the IPSC soccer tournament on consecutive occasions in 1990 and 1991. In fact, he had been declared the best player of the tourney at Mayo College, Ajmer, in 1991.This year, 15 school teams from across the country are participating in the five-day tournament being organised by the TNA faculty and the TNA Alumni Association.
Apart from TNA, the other teams are — Birla Public School (Pilani), Donyi Polo Vidya Bhavan (Itanagar), Mann Public School (Delhi), Modern School (Delhi), Motilal Nehru School of Sports (Sonipat), Phoenix Public School (Karnataka), Raj Kumar College (Rajkot), Sainik School (Goalpara), The Daly College (Indore), Hyderabad Public School (Ramanthapur), Lawrence School (Himachal Pradesh), Scindia School (Gwalior) and Yadavindra Public School (Patiala).Mann Public School is the defending champion of the ISPC football tournament 2009 hosted by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Baroda, last year.
Says Nishant Mittal, Chief Executive Officer, “Radio Misty we are proud to be associated with this prestigious tournament. We will create a buzz around this event giving updates of players and matches”.
Overuse of devices may lead to brain fatigue
by Matt Richtel
When people keep their brains busy with digital input, they are forfeiting down time that could allow them to better learn and remember information.
It is 1 p.m. on a Thursday and Dianne Bates (40) juggles three screens. She listens to a few songs on her iPod, then taps out a quick e-mail on her iPhone and turns her attention to the high-definition television.
Just another day at the gym.
As Ms Bates multitasks, she is also churning her legs in fast loops on an elliptical machine in a downtown fitness centre. She is in good company. In gyms and elsewhere, people use phones and other electronic devices to get work done — and as a reliable antidote to boredom.
Cell phones, which in the past few years have become full-fledged computers with high-speed Internet connections, let people relieve the tedium of exercising, the grocery store line, stoplights or lulls in the dinner conversation.
The technology makes the tiniest windows of time entertaining, and potentially productive. But scientists point to an unanticipated side effect: When people keep their brains busy with digital input, they are forfeiting down time that could allow them to better learn and remember information, or come up with new ideas.
Ms Bates, for example, might be clearer-headed if she went for a run outside, away from her devices, research suggests.
At the University of California, San Francisco, scientists have found that when rats have a new experience, like exploring an unfamiliar area, their brains show new patterns of activity. But only when the rats take a break from their exploration do they process those patterns in a way that seems to create a persistent memory of the experience.
The researchers suspect that the findings also apply to how humans learn.
“Almost certainly, down time lets the brain go over experiences it's had, solidify them and turn them into permanent long-term memories,” said Loren Frank, assistant professor in the department of physiology at the university, where he specialises in learning and memory. He said he believed that when the brain was constantly stimulated, “you prevent this learning process”.
At the University of Michigan, a study found that people learned significantly better after a walk in nature than after a walk in a dense urban environment, suggesting that processing a barrage of information leaves people fatigued.
Even though people feel entertained, even relaxed, when they multitask while exercising, or pass a moment at the bus stop by catching a quick video clip, they might be taxing their brains, scientists say.
“People think they're refreshing themselves, but they're fatiguing themselves,” said Marc Berman, a University of Michigan neuroscientist.
Regardless, there is now a whole industry of mobile software developers competing to help people scratch the entertainment itch. Flurry, a company that tracks the use of apps, has found that mobile games are typically played for 6.3 minutes, but that many are played for much shorter intervals. One popular game that involves stacking blocks gets played for 2.2 minutes on average.
Today's game makers are trying to fill small bits of free time, said Sebastien de Halleux, a co-founder of PlayFish, a game company owned by the industry giant Electronic Arts. “Instead of having long relaxing breaks, like taking two hours for lunch, we have a lot of these micro-moments,” he said. Game makers like Electronic Arts, he added, “have reinvented the game experience to fit into micro-moments.”
Crossing the street from a grocery store to his car, David Alvarado pushed his two-year-old daughter in a cart filled with shopping bags, his phone pressed to his ear.
He was talking to a colleague about work scheduling, noting that he wanted to steal a moment to make the call between paying for the groceries and driving.
“I wanted to take advantage of the little gap,” said Mr. Alvarado (30), a facilities manager at a community centre.
For many such people, the little digital asides come on top of heavy use of computers during the day. Take Ms Bates, the exercising multitasker at the expansive Bakar Fitness and Recreation Centre. She wakes up and peeks at her iPhone before she gets out of bed. At her job in advertising, she spends all day in front of her laptop.
But, far from wanting a break from screens when she exercises, she says she couldn't possibly spend 55 minutes on the elliptical machine without “lots of things to do”. This includes relentless channel surfing. “I switch constantly,” she said. “I can't stand commercials. I have to flip around unless I'm watching Project Runway or something I'm really into.”
Some researchers say that whatever downside there is to not resting the brain, it pales in comparison to the benefits technology can bring in motivating people to sweat. “Exercise needs to be part of our lives in the sedentary world we're immersed in. Anything that helps us move is beneficial,” said John J. Ratey, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School and author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.
But all things being equal, Mr. Ratey said, he would prefer to see people do their workouts away from their devices: “There is more bang for your buck doing it outside, for your mood and working memory.” —
New York Times News Service
by Matt Richtel
When people keep their brains busy with digital input, they are forfeiting down time that could allow them to better learn and remember information.
It is 1 p.m. on a Thursday and Dianne Bates (40) juggles three screens. She listens to a few songs on her iPod, then taps out a quick e-mail on her iPhone and turns her attention to the high-definition television.
Just another day at the gym.
As Ms Bates multitasks, she is also churning her legs in fast loops on an elliptical machine in a downtown fitness centre. She is in good company. In gyms and elsewhere, people use phones and other electronic devices to get work done — and as a reliable antidote to boredom.
Cell phones, which in the past few years have become full-fledged computers with high-speed Internet connections, let people relieve the tedium of exercising, the grocery store line, stoplights or lulls in the dinner conversation.
The technology makes the tiniest windows of time entertaining, and potentially productive. But scientists point to an unanticipated side effect: When people keep their brains busy with digital input, they are forfeiting down time that could allow them to better learn and remember information, or come up with new ideas.
Ms Bates, for example, might be clearer-headed if she went for a run outside, away from her devices, research suggests.
At the University of California, San Francisco, scientists have found that when rats have a new experience, like exploring an unfamiliar area, their brains show new patterns of activity. But only when the rats take a break from their exploration do they process those patterns in a way that seems to create a persistent memory of the experience.
The researchers suspect that the findings also apply to how humans learn.
“Almost certainly, down time lets the brain go over experiences it's had, solidify them and turn them into permanent long-term memories,” said Loren Frank, assistant professor in the department of physiology at the university, where he specialises in learning and memory. He said he believed that when the brain was constantly stimulated, “you prevent this learning process”.
At the University of Michigan, a study found that people learned significantly better after a walk in nature than after a walk in a dense urban environment, suggesting that processing a barrage of information leaves people fatigued.
Even though people feel entertained, even relaxed, when they multitask while exercising, or pass a moment at the bus stop by catching a quick video clip, they might be taxing their brains, scientists say.
“People think they're refreshing themselves, but they're fatiguing themselves,” said Marc Berman, a University of Michigan neuroscientist.
Regardless, there is now a whole industry of mobile software developers competing to help people scratch the entertainment itch. Flurry, a company that tracks the use of apps, has found that mobile games are typically played for 6.3 minutes, but that many are played for much shorter intervals. One popular game that involves stacking blocks gets played for 2.2 minutes on average.
Today's game makers are trying to fill small bits of free time, said Sebastien de Halleux, a co-founder of PlayFish, a game company owned by the industry giant Electronic Arts. “Instead of having long relaxing breaks, like taking two hours for lunch, we have a lot of these micro-moments,” he said. Game makers like Electronic Arts, he added, “have reinvented the game experience to fit into micro-moments.”
Crossing the street from a grocery store to his car, David Alvarado pushed his two-year-old daughter in a cart filled with shopping bags, his phone pressed to his ear.
He was talking to a colleague about work scheduling, noting that he wanted to steal a moment to make the call between paying for the groceries and driving.
“I wanted to take advantage of the little gap,” said Mr. Alvarado (30), a facilities manager at a community centre.
For many such people, the little digital asides come on top of heavy use of computers during the day. Take Ms Bates, the exercising multitasker at the expansive Bakar Fitness and Recreation Centre. She wakes up and peeks at her iPhone before she gets out of bed. At her job in advertising, she spends all day in front of her laptop.
But, far from wanting a break from screens when she exercises, she says she couldn't possibly spend 55 minutes on the elliptical machine without “lots of things to do”. This includes relentless channel surfing. “I switch constantly,” she said. “I can't stand commercials. I have to flip around unless I'm watching Project Runway or something I'm really into.”
Some researchers say that whatever downside there is to not resting the brain, it pales in comparison to the benefits technology can bring in motivating people to sweat. “Exercise needs to be part of our lives in the sedentary world we're immersed in. Anything that helps us move is beneficial,” said John J. Ratey, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School and author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.
But all things being equal, Mr. Ratey said, he would prefer to see people do their workouts away from their devices: “There is more bang for your buck doing it outside, for your mood and working memory.” —
New York Times News Service
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Climate change behind Leh cloudburst?
PTI
Scientists have attributed the cloudburst in the region to prolonged winters which may be due to climate change.
Based on a detailed analysis of weather data of the last five years in Leh, scientists have attributed the recent cloudburst in the region to prolonged winters which may be due to climate change.
“After going through the sequence of events of the weather that led to the cloudburst on August 6, it has been reinforced that the catastrophe was due to prolonged winters being witnessed in the region,” a source at the Leh-based Defence Institute for High Altitude Research (DIHAR) told PTI.
The analysis by the research institute under the Defence Ministry was done to look into the reasons that triggered the cloudburst in the Leh region on Ladakh, which is usually considered unnatural because it is a rain shadow area.
On condition of anonymity, the source said at a recent meeting on “Evaluation of climate change in Ladakh sector and causes of Cloudburst in Leh,” the scientists at DIHAR had analysed the weather data of the last five years in terms of monthly temperature, rainfall, humidity and snowfall.
The study indicated that increased temperature and hot summers in the plains lead to increased evaporation and subsequent cloud formation in the hills. “This in turn, led to increased duration of snowfall in Ladakh when compared to previous years.
“The winters in Ladakh were found to be prolonged,” the experts concluded though they felt the phenomenon could not be directly associated with climate change given the short range of data.
The region was witnessing unusual phenomenon of bright sunshine in June and July causing melting of snow and high relative humidity (72 per cent) as compared to previous years (50 per cent), the source said. Tracing the change in weather on the basis of the data available, the source pointed out “since snow absorbed the latent heat also, the monthly maximum and minimum temperature remained low and did not shoot up as compared to previous years (2006).
“The low temperature and high relative humidity lead to formation of dense low clouds in the valley. Since the vapour content in the clouds were high and on trying to cross the glaciers, the vapours further condensed.
“The clouds could not retain the water droplets that lead to the cloudburst. Since the rainfall was absent on August 3, 4 and 5 and was negligible on August 7, 8, and 9, the theory of occurrence of a cloudburst in Leh due to prolonged winters may be reinforced,” the meeting said on the sequence of event.
The cloudburst, which led to flash floods and mudslides, claimed about 180 lives and injured about 400 people besides causing widespread damage to public and private property.
The Defence establishment has also initiated research towards preventing soil erosion in case of heavy rains in the area in future in view of climate change
PTI
Scientists have attributed the cloudburst in the region to prolonged winters which may be due to climate change.
Based on a detailed analysis of weather data of the last five years in Leh, scientists have attributed the recent cloudburst in the region to prolonged winters which may be due to climate change.
“After going through the sequence of events of the weather that led to the cloudburst on August 6, it has been reinforced that the catastrophe was due to prolonged winters being witnessed in the region,” a source at the Leh-based Defence Institute for High Altitude Research (DIHAR) told PTI.
The analysis by the research institute under the Defence Ministry was done to look into the reasons that triggered the cloudburst in the Leh region on Ladakh, which is usually considered unnatural because it is a rain shadow area.
On condition of anonymity, the source said at a recent meeting on “Evaluation of climate change in Ladakh sector and causes of Cloudburst in Leh,” the scientists at DIHAR had analysed the weather data of the last five years in terms of monthly temperature, rainfall, humidity and snowfall.
The study indicated that increased temperature and hot summers in the plains lead to increased evaporation and subsequent cloud formation in the hills. “This in turn, led to increased duration of snowfall in Ladakh when compared to previous years.
“The winters in Ladakh were found to be prolonged,” the experts concluded though they felt the phenomenon could not be directly associated with climate change given the short range of data.
The region was witnessing unusual phenomenon of bright sunshine in June and July causing melting of snow and high relative humidity (72 per cent) as compared to previous years (50 per cent), the source said. Tracing the change in weather on the basis of the data available, the source pointed out “since snow absorbed the latent heat also, the monthly maximum and minimum temperature remained low and did not shoot up as compared to previous years (2006).
“The low temperature and high relative humidity lead to formation of dense low clouds in the valley. Since the vapour content in the clouds were high and on trying to cross the glaciers, the vapours further condensed.
“The clouds could not retain the water droplets that lead to the cloudburst. Since the rainfall was absent on August 3, 4 and 5 and was negligible on August 7, 8, and 9, the theory of occurrence of a cloudburst in Leh due to prolonged winters may be reinforced,” the meeting said on the sequence of event.
The cloudburst, which led to flash floods and mudslides, claimed about 180 lives and injured about 400 people besides causing widespread damage to public and private property.
The Defence establishment has also initiated research towards preventing soil erosion in case of heavy rains in the area in future in view of climate change
NE tourism stakeholders to brainstorm at Gangtok for responsible tourism code
SE Report
GANGTOK, August 24: A two day regional consultation on ‘responsible tourism’ in the Northeastern region of India organized by Shillong based NGO, Impulse in collaboration with Equations, Bangalore and supported by UNGIFT is scheduled to be held at Gangtok on August 26 and 27.
The regional seminar held with the theme ‘Talk for change for making tourism sustainable, equitable and just’ is being organized with the objective of initiating a process of dialogue and developing a perspective on responsible tourism for the Northeastern region in order to influence tourism policy and practice in the region.
Tourism secretaries of the Northeastern States, members of UNODC,
NGOs, media houses, North East Hoteliers Association, Association of Tour Operators of North East, labour secretaries, director general of each Northeastern State and North Eastern Council representatives are participating in the two day brainstorming exercise.
“Through this consultation, we seek to create a platform between government officials, civil society organizations, media and people engaged in the tourism industry (both from the mainstream and community based tourism initiatives) to discuss the critical issues and impacts in tourism in the North East within the framework of current policies and legislations”, said the organizers in a press statement.
The main objective of this consultation is to draft a State policy for safe and responsible tourism which will be sent subsequently to all the Northeastern States and be discussed in a series of State consultations, the organizers said.
“Then the final draft will be formulated and sent to the Central government for approval. This is done in the first phase, the second phase would involve creation of code of conduct for the tourism industry to prevent exploitation of women and children”, said the organizers.
The Impulse pointed out that many Northeastern States have developed tourism and ecotourism policies in the past few years due to policies including ‘Look East’ policy launched to stimulate tourism for economic benefits to the region.
Assam implemented its tourism policy in 2008 while an eco-tourism policy was created in 2004 by Tripura. The governments of Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram have also followed suit in the past few years.
All the policies have clauses on responsible tourism regarding exploitation of women and children, said Impulse adding that it wants to ensure that all the North Eastern States have tourism policies which include a section on responsible tourism that protects women and children from exploitation.
“While all policies speak of the economic benefits that tourism accrues, little is spoken on the negative impacts of tourism –questions on who really benefits from tourism, issues on environmental degradation and the impact on society. None of these policies have clauses on responsible tourism regarding exploitation of women”, the
Impulse said.
The NGO also highlighted another critical issue of the impact of tourism on children – child labor, child sexual abuse and the trafficking of children. The consultation will focus on these issues in the specific context of the region, it said.
The organizers are incorporating the Code of Conduct on ‘Safe & Honorable Tourism’ adopted by the Government of India in their draft policy to avoid any duplication.
source; sikkim express-
SE Report
GANGTOK, August 24: A two day regional consultation on ‘responsible tourism’ in the Northeastern region of India organized by Shillong based NGO, Impulse in collaboration with Equations, Bangalore and supported by UNGIFT is scheduled to be held at Gangtok on August 26 and 27.
The regional seminar held with the theme ‘Talk for change for making tourism sustainable, equitable and just’ is being organized with the objective of initiating a process of dialogue and developing a perspective on responsible tourism for the Northeastern region in order to influence tourism policy and practice in the region.
Tourism secretaries of the Northeastern States, members of UNODC,
NGOs, media houses, North East Hoteliers Association, Association of Tour Operators of North East, labour secretaries, director general of each Northeastern State and North Eastern Council representatives are participating in the two day brainstorming exercise.
“Through this consultation, we seek to create a platform between government officials, civil society organizations, media and people engaged in the tourism industry (both from the mainstream and community based tourism initiatives) to discuss the critical issues and impacts in tourism in the North East within the framework of current policies and legislations”, said the organizers in a press statement.
The main objective of this consultation is to draft a State policy for safe and responsible tourism which will be sent subsequently to all the Northeastern States and be discussed in a series of State consultations, the organizers said.
“Then the final draft will be formulated and sent to the Central government for approval. This is done in the first phase, the second phase would involve creation of code of conduct for the tourism industry to prevent exploitation of women and children”, said the organizers.
The Impulse pointed out that many Northeastern States have developed tourism and ecotourism policies in the past few years due to policies including ‘Look East’ policy launched to stimulate tourism for economic benefits to the region.
Assam implemented its tourism policy in 2008 while an eco-tourism policy was created in 2004 by Tripura. The governments of Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram have also followed suit in the past few years.
All the policies have clauses on responsible tourism regarding exploitation of women and children, said Impulse adding that it wants to ensure that all the North Eastern States have tourism policies which include a section on responsible tourism that protects women and children from exploitation.
“While all policies speak of the economic benefits that tourism accrues, little is spoken on the negative impacts of tourism –questions on who really benefits from tourism, issues on environmental degradation and the impact on society. None of these policies have clauses on responsible tourism regarding exploitation of women”, the
Impulse said.
The NGO also highlighted another critical issue of the impact of tourism on children – child labor, child sexual abuse and the trafficking of children. The consultation will focus on these issues in the specific context of the region, it said.
The organizers are incorporating the Code of Conduct on ‘Safe & Honorable Tourism’ adopted by the Government of India in their draft policy to avoid any duplication.
source; sikkim express-
1st ‘Thekong Ambassador of Unity’ Award to Sikkim CM
CM conferred with 1st ‘Thekong Ambassador of Unity’ Award
Status of the Kings of Sikkim would be installed in the days to come:
Chamling
GANGTOK, August 24: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling was today conferred with the first ‘Thekong Ambassador of Unity’ Award on the occasion of Pang Lhabsol celebration held here today.
Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh who attended the celebration as the chief guest handed away the gold plated medal to the Chief Minister. The Award, instituted by the Pang Lhabsol Celebration Committee will be given only once every 10 years.
While addressing the gathering, Governor Singh said the unique festival of Pang Lhabsol enhances unity and brotherhood. “This festival which promotes peace and unity should be continued,” he said adding “Sikkim shows best example in maintaining communal harmony and brotherhood”.
The Chief Minister while expressing his happiness on being conferred with the award said, “There are few self-vested people, who always make an issue of every award I get”. He said these people should rather focus on development and constructive works. “We have to maintain peace, unity and communal harmony for a happy and prosperous Sikkim,” said the Chief Minister.
He also appealed the Bhutia Lepcha community to keep away from the people who are trying to mislead the people on the basis of communal hatred. He said according to 1978 survey Bhutia Lepcha land has increased in the State and BL Community are leading the Sikkimese society to the path of development. The Chief Minister also announced that statues of the kings who ruled Sikkim would be installed in the days to come stating that it would be a peculiar example in the country.
“Sikkim is one of the States where the Government has succeeded in maintaining peace, unity and communal harmony which the civil society requires,” he further said.
Thukchuk Lachungpa, the president of Pang Lhabsol Committee (Statue of Unity) presented a brief report on the celebration. He said Pang Lhabsol Committee in Gangtok has completed its 15 years of existence.
The award, Mr. Lachungpa said was presented to the Chief Minister for his untiring effort to maintain peace, unity and communal harmony in the State. He said no communal clashes have ever occurred under the governance of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.
Earlier the Governor and the Chief Minister offered prayers at the ‘Statues of Unity’.
On August 23, the State HRD Minister NK Pradhan inaugurated the traditional food joint set up by Sikkim Hotel and Restaurants Association at Titanic Park.
Pang Lhabsol was also celebrated at Rongli,w here monks and devotees gathered to offer peace prayers. At Ringhem Gompa, in North Sikkim, prayers were led by Rinpoches and Bongthings followed by Kawang and distribution of Cho (offerings).
source; sikkim express
Status of the Kings of Sikkim would be installed in the days to come:
Chamling
GANGTOK, August 24: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling was today conferred with the first ‘Thekong Ambassador of Unity’ Award on the occasion of Pang Lhabsol celebration held here today.
Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh who attended the celebration as the chief guest handed away the gold plated medal to the Chief Minister. The Award, instituted by the Pang Lhabsol Celebration Committee will be given only once every 10 years.
While addressing the gathering, Governor Singh said the unique festival of Pang Lhabsol enhances unity and brotherhood. “This festival which promotes peace and unity should be continued,” he said adding “Sikkim shows best example in maintaining communal harmony and brotherhood”.
The Chief Minister while expressing his happiness on being conferred with the award said, “There are few self-vested people, who always make an issue of every award I get”. He said these people should rather focus on development and constructive works. “We have to maintain peace, unity and communal harmony for a happy and prosperous Sikkim,” said the Chief Minister.
He also appealed the Bhutia Lepcha community to keep away from the people who are trying to mislead the people on the basis of communal hatred. He said according to 1978 survey Bhutia Lepcha land has increased in the State and BL Community are leading the Sikkimese society to the path of development. The Chief Minister also announced that statues of the kings who ruled Sikkim would be installed in the days to come stating that it would be a peculiar example in the country.
“Sikkim is one of the States where the Government has succeeded in maintaining peace, unity and communal harmony which the civil society requires,” he further said.
Thukchuk Lachungpa, the president of Pang Lhabsol Committee (Statue of Unity) presented a brief report on the celebration. He said Pang Lhabsol Committee in Gangtok has completed its 15 years of existence.
The award, Mr. Lachungpa said was presented to the Chief Minister for his untiring effort to maintain peace, unity and communal harmony in the State. He said no communal clashes have ever occurred under the governance of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.
Earlier the Governor and the Chief Minister offered prayers at the ‘Statues of Unity’.
On August 23, the State HRD Minister NK Pradhan inaugurated the traditional food joint set up by Sikkim Hotel and Restaurants Association at Titanic Park.
Pang Lhabsol was also celebrated at Rongli,w here monks and devotees gathered to offer peace prayers. At Ringhem Gompa, in North Sikkim, prayers were led by Rinpoches and Bongthings followed by Kawang and distribution of Cho (offerings).
source; sikkim express
Appointment of Lokayuktas
The States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and NCT of Delhi have Lokayuktas. The Union Government is not considering to issue Advisory to the States not having Lokayukta to appoint them.
The Lokayukta at the State level falls in the domain of the State Governments. Therefore, it is for the State Government concerned to take a view in the matter. The jurisdiction, terms and conditions of Lokayuktas vary from State to State. While government servants are under the purview of all Lokayuktas, only some cover elected representatives.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Shri Prithviraj Chavan in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
The States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and NCT of Delhi have Lokayuktas. The Union Government is not considering to issue Advisory to the States not having Lokayukta to appoint them.
The Lokayukta at the State level falls in the domain of the State Governments. Therefore, it is for the State Government concerned to take a view in the matter. The jurisdiction, terms and conditions of Lokayuktas vary from State to State. While government servants are under the purview of all Lokayuktas, only some cover elected representatives.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Shri Prithviraj Chavan in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
SILIGURI: Study to spot structures for heritage tag
The entrance to Jalpaiguri Palace built 500 years ago.
Siliguri, Aug. 24: The West Bengal Heritage Commission has decided to identify and document historic buildings and sites in five districts of north Bengal.
The commission today signed a memorandum of understanding with North Bengal University to carry out the study that will cover Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Jalpaiguri districts.
A 16-member committee comprising representatives of the varsity, the commission and the five districts has been constituted for the project.
Anand Gopal Ghosh, the head of the history department at NBU and the co-ordinator of the project, said structures and sites which were more than 100 years old, would be considered as heritage properties. “Archaeologists and historians in the country choose monuments and sites that are more than 100 years old as heritage sites and we shall also follow the same criterion. A good example of a historic site is the King Sahib’s ghat in Jalpaiguri built in 1808. At that time, there was no road to connect the Dooars with Jalpaiguri and people had to cross the Teesta by boats and streamers from the ghat,” said Ghosh.
Commission chairman Barun De said the project would be the first of its kind to be taken up by them in north Bengal.
“We have made a lot of progress in the identification and the documentation of heritage sites in south Bengal, but this is the first venture by us in north. The NBU is a repository of knowledge in archaeology and that is why we have decided to team up with them,” he said. “The commission does not exactly define a criterion for heritage sites and the committee should work with a broad view.
De added that Malda had been excluded from the project as old monuments and sites in the district had already been documented by Pradyut Ghosh, a professor at Malda College.
Sukumar Samanta, the commission secretary, said temples, mosques, churches, zamindari baris (ancestral properties of the zamindars) and houses of famous personalities or freedom fighters could be considered as the historical sites. “Landscapes like old tea gardens, forests and riverine tracts can also be considered for heritage status,” he added.
source; the telegraph
The entrance to Jalpaiguri Palace built 500 years ago.
Siliguri, Aug. 24: The West Bengal Heritage Commission has decided to identify and document historic buildings and sites in five districts of north Bengal.
The commission today signed a memorandum of understanding with North Bengal University to carry out the study that will cover Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Jalpaiguri districts.
A 16-member committee comprising representatives of the varsity, the commission and the five districts has been constituted for the project.
Anand Gopal Ghosh, the head of the history department at NBU and the co-ordinator of the project, said structures and sites which were more than 100 years old, would be considered as heritage properties. “Archaeologists and historians in the country choose monuments and sites that are more than 100 years old as heritage sites and we shall also follow the same criterion. A good example of a historic site is the King Sahib’s ghat in Jalpaiguri built in 1808. At that time, there was no road to connect the Dooars with Jalpaiguri and people had to cross the Teesta by boats and streamers from the ghat,” said Ghosh.
Commission chairman Barun De said the project would be the first of its kind to be taken up by them in north Bengal.
“We have made a lot of progress in the identification and the documentation of heritage sites in south Bengal, but this is the first venture by us in north. The NBU is a repository of knowledge in archaeology and that is why we have decided to team up with them,” he said. “The commission does not exactly define a criterion for heritage sites and the committee should work with a broad view.
De added that Malda had been excluded from the project as old monuments and sites in the district had already been documented by Pradyut Ghosh, a professor at Malda College.
Sukumar Samanta, the commission secretary, said temples, mosques, churches, zamindari baris (ancestral properties of the zamindars) and houses of famous personalities or freedom fighters could be considered as the historical sites. “Landscapes like old tea gardens, forests and riverine tracts can also be considered for heritage status,” he added.
source; the telegraph
Vast solar system ‘discovered’ 127 light years away
Astronomers have discovered what they claim is a vast solar system of seven planets, orbiting a sun-like star, 127 light years away from Earth.
An international team has confirmed the presence of the five planets and have tantalising evidence of two more in the planetary system which is believed to be the largest ever detected beyond the sun.
The distance of the planets from their parent star follow a regular pattern, similar to that seen in our own solar system, say the astronomers.
“We have found what is most likely the system with the most planets yet discovered. This remarkable discovery also highlights the fact that we are now entering a new era in exoplanet research: the study of complex planetary systems and not just of individual planets.
“Studies of planetary motions in the new system reveal complex gravitational interactions between the planets and give us insights into the long-term evolution of the system,” Dr Christophe Lovis, who led the European Southern Observatory scientists, was quoted by ‘The Daily Telegraph’.
The parent star, known as HD 10180, lies in the southern constellation of Hydrus 127 light years away. The astronomers patiently studied it for six years using a planet-finding instrument called the HARPS spectrograph, attached to ESO’s 3.6 metre telescope at La Silla, Chile.
From 190 individual HARPS measurements, they were able to detect tiny wobbles in the star’s motion caused by the gravitational tugs of its planets.
The five strongest signals corresponded to planets with Neptune-like masses, between 13 and 25 times that of the Earth. These planets, with orbit periods ranging from six to 600 days, are separated from their star at 0.06 to 1.4 times the distance between the Earth and sun.
Dr Lovis added: “We also have good reasons to believe that two other planets are present. One would be a Saturn-like planet (with a minimum mass of 65 Earth masses) orbiting in 2,200 days. The other would be the least massive exoplanet ever discovered, with a mass of about 1.4 times that of Earth.
“It is very close to its host star, at just 2 per cent of the Earth-sun distance. One ‘year’ on this planet would last only 1.18 Earth days.”
The planet would be rocky, like the Earth, but probably far too hot to sustain life. With at least five Neptune-sized planets circling inside an orbit equivalent to that of Mars, the HD 10180 system has a more populated inner region than our solar system.
So far astronomers have found 15 systems containing at least three planets. The last record holder was 55 Cancri, which has a total of five planets including two gas giants.
The findings have been submitted for publication to the ‘Astronomy and Astrophysics’ journal.
source PTI-HINDU
Astronomers have discovered what they claim is a vast solar system of seven planets, orbiting a sun-like star, 127 light years away from Earth.
An international team has confirmed the presence of the five planets and have tantalising evidence of two more in the planetary system which is believed to be the largest ever detected beyond the sun.
The distance of the planets from their parent star follow a regular pattern, similar to that seen in our own solar system, say the astronomers.
“We have found what is most likely the system with the most planets yet discovered. This remarkable discovery also highlights the fact that we are now entering a new era in exoplanet research: the study of complex planetary systems and not just of individual planets.
“Studies of planetary motions in the new system reveal complex gravitational interactions between the planets and give us insights into the long-term evolution of the system,” Dr Christophe Lovis, who led the European Southern Observatory scientists, was quoted by ‘The Daily Telegraph’.
The parent star, known as HD 10180, lies in the southern constellation of Hydrus 127 light years away. The astronomers patiently studied it for six years using a planet-finding instrument called the HARPS spectrograph, attached to ESO’s 3.6 metre telescope at La Silla, Chile.
From 190 individual HARPS measurements, they were able to detect tiny wobbles in the star’s motion caused by the gravitational tugs of its planets.
The five strongest signals corresponded to planets with Neptune-like masses, between 13 and 25 times that of the Earth. These planets, with orbit periods ranging from six to 600 days, are separated from their star at 0.06 to 1.4 times the distance between the Earth and sun.
Dr Lovis added: “We also have good reasons to believe that two other planets are present. One would be a Saturn-like planet (with a minimum mass of 65 Earth masses) orbiting in 2,200 days. The other would be the least massive exoplanet ever discovered, with a mass of about 1.4 times that of Earth.
“It is very close to its host star, at just 2 per cent of the Earth-sun distance. One ‘year’ on this planet would last only 1.18 Earth days.”
The planet would be rocky, like the Earth, but probably far too hot to sustain life. With at least five Neptune-sized planets circling inside an orbit equivalent to that of Mars, the HD 10180 system has a more populated inner region than our solar system.
So far astronomers have found 15 systems containing at least three planets. The last record holder was 55 Cancri, which has a total of five planets including two gas giants.
The findings have been submitted for publication to the ‘Astronomy and Astrophysics’ journal.
source PTI-HINDU
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