INDIAN REPUBLIC RETIRING AT 61 ?

Retiring a 61-Year Old (Republic)

By Sanjeev Pandiya | Mar 12, 2011

The table below is my own perception, not researched ‘fact’ about where we stand on economic governance vis-à-vis the major nations of the world. Looking at this, one would think that we share the bottom of the table with the US, without, of course, having seen their (prior) economic success. So we have the unique distinction of being indigent like the rich, without of course, being anywhere close to rich.

Japan does better than expected, because its problems are not completely of its own making. Their demographic problem is not strictly because of governance, and its record on employment is not really so bad. China comes closest to the pass mark, but it has to pay the price of driving fast when (world) traffic is slowing down.

Originally, I started writing this article two months back, to argue that I saw no reason to be excited about India, and no reason to justify the huge premium our markets were commanding, regardless of underlying fundamentals. The markets woke up finally, and here we are, down 15 per cent already and looking down the chasm to see whether we have got halfway to the bottom.





Three freedoms
Civil society is duty-bound to give three fundamental freedoms: political freedom, social freedom, and economic freedom.
Most definitions of governance would cover any, some or all of these. Where countries differ is in what gets covered, in what sequence, and with what depth. All this, of course, provided personal freedoms (i.e. right to life, property, security, rule of law, etc) are taken for granted; since we are discussing the major nations (and not Idi Amin’s Uganda), I am ignoring this, the most fundamental of freedoms.
If we take a snapshot of Asia, including the Middle East, we will find different amounts of emphasis on the different freedoms, in different countries.
Let us start with India. Post-Independence, we started in the sequence laid out above, with much higher levels of political freedom than even social freedom (the caste system and untouchability were big crosses to bear). When it comes to economic freedom, of course, we are still far behind the rest of Asia. What we take for granted is the enormous amount of political freedom available in a country that does not allow you to decide what to produce and where. But you can make secessionist speeches in the heart of Delhi and get away with it, provided you strike the right political chords.
China has been exactly the reverse: high on economic freedom, even perhaps social freedom, but almost nowhere on political freedom. Outside commentators who predict implosions would do well to remember that the build-up of revolutionary emotions is a function of the ‘expectations gap'. In Asia, if economic freedom is available, political freedom is not sought very aggressively. Singapore, Korea, Japan and Malaysia are all examples of this. India is considered lower down the pecking order, mainly because its economic management has failed its people.
There are, of course, the ‘failed states’ like Pakistan, Afghanistan and to a lesser extent, Burma and Cambodia, which have failed on all three. These may be ripe for revolution; the Middle East has many such cases, Yemen being one. The elites that dominate the polity of such nations have misappropriated both economic and political power, creating tensions between the haves and the dispossessed. These tensions are surfacing now, and we can see the contagion spreading across those states that have similar governance standards, i.e. Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Yemen and, maybe, Saudi Arabia.
There have been some whispers about India facing similar threats of revolution, because of its pathetic governance. I worry a little more than the others, because I care more about the effects of global warming, its impact on the Indian monsoon, and the fact that our pathetic efforts at water and agriculture management will be our ‘fatal flaw'. Otherwise, judged on the metrics outlined above, we only need to improve our economic management, which is squarely in our hands. The major factors in India are income inequality/ redistribution and structural reforms, especially in food and basic infrastructure.
History, especially European history, teaches us that the Church has to move out of the political sphere (i.e. separate religion from politics), and the State out of the social and economic spheres (“business is the job of Business”). In a very perverse manner, that may even be typically Indian, a scam (a.k.a. evidence of misgovernance) breaks out at the precise point in time when the State moves out of an economic sub-sector, telecom being a prime example. Other scams round the corner are the PPPs in infrastructure, or energy, where space is being vacated for solar, etc.

Glass half full
I tried to argue in a previous column that the net economic effect of corruption is marginal. It had a violent effect on some of my readers. While I stand by what I said, let me now make a fine distinction: the net (economic) effect of misgovernance is not marginal. It is not my case that India is not misgoverned, quite the opposite. It is just that I want to judge India’s journey as part of a historical process: to dwell on how far India has come, rather than how far it has to go.
Casteism and regionalism are much less the forces they used to be. And barring a few festering cases like Kashmir, secessionism has died down (remember Khalistan, Hyderabad, Jamnagar, Tamil Nadu, even Assam) and the integration of Indian nationality is complete.
So you be the judge. The crimes of Indian (mis)governance are neither few nor small, but they seem mostly clustered around its economics. Given the ferment that the (Indian) system has tolerated, is it likely that our peculiar elephantine pace will evolve a jugaad which absorbs the inherent (political) pressures of managing this continent called India? Or will global warming, a failed monsoon, gargantuan mismanagement in water and agriculture infrastructure, food prices and maybe famine achieve what Pakistan (and Richard Nixon) could not?
Remember, revolution is always and everywhere a political phenomenon. Its final expression has to be through the vox populi. It bursts out only when the vox populi is throttled. If the final enabling condition for revolution is not met, how likely is it?


SOURCE:VALUERESEARCH

Joseph Tame, 33, a digital media producer from England, who has been living in Tokyo for four years, describes the quake.

I have been in plenty of earthquakes in Japan and never experienced anything like this and we were not even close to the epicentre. It must have been horrendous there. The earth just keeps on shaking. I can feel it as I am speaking.

I was getting off a train at Shibuya station in central Tokyo and the platform started to move. I assumed it must be the train moving and it was only as I walked down the platform that everything really started. They said over the loudspeaker that it was a huge earthquake and we had to evacuate the building.

The most frightening thing was that all the roof panels were shaking like crazy. Everyone was looking up at the ceiling thinking it was going to cave in.

I was walking down a set of big stone steps while they wobbled underneath me. You have got these concrete buildings and it's as if they are made of jelly. It's in your mind that the building could collapse at any moment. Friends who were in skyscrapers said being on higher floors was terrifying because they were swaying so much.

Opposite the station itself they are building a new skyscraper, already maybe 40 storeys high, with two huge construction cranes on top. It was shaking and swaying from left to right with the cranes swaying.

Seeing a huge skyscraper flexing like that, wondering whether the crane was going to come down from the roof [you realise] the people who designed these buildings are incredible. That they withstood this is a tribute to the architects and builders.

Everyone was in shock. Some people were crying and no one really knew what was happening. The first thing everyone wanted to do was call their relatives, but the phone lines went down immediately, although data was getting through.

I was with a group of office workers watching live TV and everyone was aghast at the images of the tsunami. Absolutely shocked.

But what struck me was how calm everyone stayed even while it was happening. I was in a crowded station but no one was screaming. There has been no panic. People were prepared for it because of the earthquake drills in schools and so on. We know the big Tokyo earthquake is yet to strike.

Our neighbour says our house has basically been trashed [but] we are walking home now. There's a river of people. All the railways have shut down; the only public transport is buses. You have people queuing for hundreds of metres. People are going to be camping out in their offices or in public halls and schools that have opened [as shelters]. Shops are being stripped of food. The shelves are empty. People are buying anything.

When the Earth wobbled- An Earthquake in Japan-8.9quake

Data source: Fortune 500

COFFEE & STROKE & WOMEN

Ladies, please note -- drinking a couple of cups of coffee everyday is actually good for you, as a new study has claimed that the drink reduces one’s risk of a stroke.

And, women who don’t drink coffee at all may actually be increasing their risk for stroke, the study has warned.

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, who carried out the study, have also found evidence that drinking more than a cup of coffee a day can help ward off diabetes and liver cancer in women.

“Some women’ve avoided coffee because they thought it is unhealthy. In fact, evidence indicates moderate consumption may decrease the risk of diabetes, liver cancer and possibly stroke,” lead researcher Dr Susanna Larsson said.

“Even small amounts of coffee may reduce the risk of stroke,” she added.

The findings are based on an analysis of a 10-year research involving 35,000 women aged 49 to 83 in Sweden after another survey found coffee reduced men’s risk of a stroke, the media reported.

The researchers found women who drank more than a cup a day saw their stroke risk fall by between 20 and 25 per cent compared with those who drank little or none. This held true regardless of their weight, smoking and drinking habits, or whether they had a family history of diabetes.

The study also revealed that drinking coffee lowered the risk of other diseases like diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity and having other beneficial effects.

The findings have been published in the latest edition of the ‘Stroke’ journal.

Regulations are not, by and large, deterrents to corruption, but a source of it. -The Economist says

Corruption in India

A rotten state

Graft is becoming a bigger problem—and the government should tackle it

Mar 10th 2011 | source:The Economist

INDIANS’ anger over rising corruption has reached feverish levels. What people are calling a “season of scams” includes the alleged theft of billions by officials behind last year’s Commonwealth games in Delhi; $40 billion in revenues lost from the crooked sale of 2G telecoms licences; and over $40 billion stolen in Uttar Pradesh alone from schemes subsidising food and fuel for the poor. Foreign businessmen, who have slashed investment over the past year, rank graft as their biggest headache behind appalling infrastructure. Now India’s anti-corruption chief has been forced out over, well, corruption (see article).
Graft is hardly new in India: the Bofors scandal brought down the government in 1989. But there seems to be more of it about than ever, if only because India is getting richer fast, and the faster the economy grows, the more chances arise for mind-boggling theft. The government says that in the next five-year plan period, which starts next year, $1 trillion will be spent on roads, railways, ports and so on, with billions more on re-equipping the armed forces and welfare. Add in an insatiable appetite for scarce land, water and minerals and a monsoon of bribes is forecast.
Some are inclined to shrug their shoulders. After all, corruption does not seem to be stopping India from growing. Yet imagine how much better the country would be doing without it. Corruption raises costs not just to Indians, but also to the foreigners whose capital India needs. Thanks in part to those scandals, India’s stockmarket was the worst-performing outside the Muslim world over the past year.

•  the government has begun to take action against powerful individuals. Maharashtra state’s chief minister was forced out over a property scandal. Police have quizzed Suresh Kalmadi, the politician who ran the Commonwealth games. Most strikingly, Andimuthu Raja, the cabinet minister who oversaw the 2G telecom licences, was arrested.

A 2005 act giving the right to information is welcome, as are auctions for public goods, such as last year’s lucrative sale of the 3G telecom spectrum. Technology is helping. In some states, bids for state contracts are being run online, allowing anti-corruption bodies to monitor them. Gujarat does this for all contracts over 500,000 rupees ($11,000). It also puts land records and death certificates online, cutting down on one form of petty graft. Websites, led by ipaidabribe.com, reveal the cost of graft by publicising the sums demanded for everything from registering a baby to fixing a broken water supply.
The central government should now implement a plan for a universal, computerised ID scheme. It would allow welfare payments to be paid into individuals’ bank accounts, hindering theft by state workers.
The licence Raj lives on
Most of all, India must redouble its efforts to liberalise. The state could outsource official tasks, cut red tape and sell wasteful and corrupt state-owned firms (why does the government make watches?). For all that the “licence Raj” was supposedly scrapped two decades ago, it can still take nearly 200 days to get a construction permit and seven years to close a business. Regulations are not, by and large, deterrents to corruption, but a source of it.

President Pratibha Patil at the Bagdogra air force station on Wednesday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

Pawan Chamling and Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia

Gangtok: The annual plan of Sikkim for 2011-12 has been raised to Rs.1400 crore, which is a 19.15% hike compared to last year’s plan size. The declaration was made following a meeting of Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling and his team with Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia and other Commission members at Yojana Bhawan, New Delhi, on Wednesday March 9.

At the outset, Deputy Chairman welcomed the Chief Minister and his delegation to the meeting. The Deputy Chairman said that the Planning Commission has been preparing an approach document to the 12th Five Year Plan for which the experience of vast administrative experience of Dr. Chamling as the longest serving Chief Minister would be taken into consideration before finalizing the document. He further said, the Planning Commission considers infrastructure development in the North East requires focused attention. Sikkim has been a good performing State where many of the things were taken up first that are now being followed in other states too. He then requested the Chief Minister to make his presentation.

The Chief Minister opened the discussion from the State side by pointing out that the State Government has been on an aggressive pace of development both for long term and short term. The priority areas were thus been followed with focused attention.

The Deputy Chairman requested the other Members of the Planning Commission to give their observations and comments. Mr. B.K. Chaturvedi, Member, applauded the performance of the State in several areas as outstanding. He made specific mention that the initiative of the State in organic farming, floriculture, environment, health, power sectors etc. are now being taken up by other States. In this respect, he thanked Sikkim Chief Minister for being the torchbearer for many of the States. However, he cautioned that the population growth of the State was higher than the national average. Therefore, the State needed to generate its own resources in the long run to grow, he said. Mr. Chaturvedi specifically requested and sought for the suggestions of the Chief Minister which would be included in the approach document to the 12th Plan both in the context of North East development and the national level.

Dr (Mrs.) S.Hameed, Member, congratulated the Hon’ble Chief Minister for the noble CATCH program under health sector introduced in the State as well as for winning 1st Nirmal Rajya Puraskar in the Country. She appreciated the good work done through the Aganwadi workers and the ICDS schools. She however wanted to know the status of the coverage under Hepatitis B vaccination program launched in 2001. She however expressed that the State had to do something to reduce the anemia level in the reproductive age group of 15-49 amongst women.

Plan body members, Mr. Arun Maira and Dr. K. Kasturirangan also spoke in the meeting. Dr. Kasturirangan congratulated the Chief Minister for doing an excellent work in organic farming, bio resource management and bio-technology park etc. which have been “unique initiatives of the State Government”. Glacier Commission constitution was another area of praise, he noted. He suggested to the State Government to increase forest cover from the present level of 40-45 percent.

Mrs. Sudha Pillai, Member Secretary of the Commission, praised the performance of the State Government in decentralization and devolution to the panchayats and stated that this was the great statesmanship and wisdom of the Chief Minister. She suggested other areas of skill development to be also looked into. The Chief Minister was accompanied to the meeting by the Chief Secretary, Mr. TT Dorji, Additional CS-cum-Development Commissioner, Mr. Karma Gyatso, Principal Secretary, Finance, Mrs. R. Ongmu, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Shri RS Basnet, Principal Resident Commission, Delhi, Mt. Arvind Kumar, Secretary Power, Mr. P. Wangchen and other officials of Planning and Finance Departments, Government of Sikkim.

(FROM SIKKIM REPORTER / EDITED BY ASHOK CHATTERJEE)

Sikkim to shut down its three sick industrial units

FROM HAALKHABAR.IN

Gangtok, March 10: The state government has decided to shut down its three sick industrial units namely The Sikkim Time Corporation (SITCO), Sikkim Jewels Limited and Sikkim Precision Industries Limited (SPIL) which had become non profitable due to marketing problem since a year. While employees working for these companies will be provided Golden handshake or Volunteer Retirement Scheme in where they would avail a reasonable retirement benefits.

Secretary of Commerce and Industry, MG Kiran today informed of a cabinet committee meeting on March 2 which has resolved to shut down these industries on the recommendation of the government committee on grounds of heavy losses and marketing crisis.

“The market demands of the products manufactured from these companies were very low thus resulting in heavy loss”, he added.

Kiran further informed that inspite of the notification of Finance Commission which is being implemented by the central government mentioning that all governmental companies that are undergoing loss had to be shut down, state department of Commerce and Industries had decided to privatize these companies thereby sending a notification for tender at the national level.

“Five private companies had shown interest in bidding for these three companies but owing to the non fulfillment of the laid criteria mentioned in the tender, the bidders could not qualify to run these companies”, he underlined.

The SITCO was established in 1976 and deals in assembling of Mechanical watches for HMT. The company then expanded their business into manufacturing of mechanical watch crown, semiconductors and manufacture of digital & analog watches in its own brand name.

However, the Sikkim Fruit Preservation Factory at Singtam would now be undertaken by the state government itself. The factory will now be upgraded as the department has decided to not to shut down this factory owing to chances that it may fall onto daily commodities.

Sikkim Jewels Limited was established in 1972. It manufactures the watch Jewels and Cup Jewels. Similarly, the Sikkim Precision Industries Ltd. (SPIL) at Boomtar – Namchi, was first concieved on 1998 for the industrial development and generating employment for the South & West districts. Later on, a high tech project for state was identified and it was decided to establish the new public sector company as to undertake the project. Thus the Sikkim Precision Industries Ltd. (SPIL) was set up.

source:MINT

LIBYA BURNS

source:equitymaster

Sprinkling water using Chandraprabha rain gun

M. J. Prabu

  T+  

Annasaheb with his raingun

The system can irrigate an acre in about one and half hours

Unlike the knowledge and awareness of the present day, about 25 years ago farmers never knew the effectiveness of water conservation and the need for preserving groundwater by using tubes and buckets for irrigating their crops.

But in that phase, Annasaheb Udagavi, from Sadala village of Chikkoditaluka in Belgaun district, North Karnataka, developed a sprinkler system that covers as much as 140 feet radius to irrigate sugarcane crops.

“To save my betel-vine orchard from acute scarcity of water, I fitted PVC pipes used in electrical fittings, after making perforations using nails. I spent Rs. 30,000 to cover two acres of betel-vine two decades ago for irrigation,” he says.

Poor prices

By irrigating it for an hour every day, he successfully maintained the orchard for seven years.

But poor prices for betel leaf and labour problems made him switch to other crops.

He then started cultivating tobacco for a few years and changed over again to sugarcane for better returns.

“But the irrigation problem continued,” he says. “Salinity and difficulty in irrigating the dense crop made me search for an alternative. And then the sprinkler irrigation system started taking shape.”

According to Mr. Annasahib, washing down aphids and white flies using a high-pressure water spray is the best method to save crops from pests. By studying the conventional sprinkler irrigation system, the farmer designed a new one to suit the sugarcane crop.

Further improvement

After installing it in the field, he further improved the design by providing a groove for nozzles of different sizes to shoot water to different lengths according to the need.

Further, he introduced a locking system to prevent the sprinkler head from throwing water into neighbouring fields and named it Chandraprabha.

“Two ‘Chandraprabha rain gun’ sprinkler heads are enough to irrigate an acre of sugarcane.

“The cost of one sprinkler head is priced at Rs. 3,500 and the per acre installation cost comes to Rs. 15,000 inclusive of the installation of three inch PVC main pipeline and riser pipe,” he explains.

It can irrigate an acre in about one and half hours.

Since the system is made using a three inch pipe and a wide nozzle, even composts such as biogas slurry can be applied to the crop through it. It does not even need additional pipelines because of its large coverage, according to him.

Three in one

Mr. Annasaheb also designed a machine to plant, apply manure, and stubble shave sugarcane crops.

“Manual methods of operations such as planting, applying manure, and stubble shaving takes about 30-35 man-days/hectare/day for each operation. Tractor drawn rotovators in the market did not give a shaving effect on the ratoon crop and manual cutting failed,” he explains.

The output of the machine is 0.4 hectare/hour and can apply about 105 kg of fertilizer in the same time. The height of the stubble shaving can be adjusted upto two inches from the ground using a nut-bolt arrangement on the side.

Cost

It requires one person to operate it and consumes less diesel, thereby reducing operational costs, emissions, and pollution.

The current model costs Rs 40,000, according to Mr. Annasaheb. The innovator filed a patent for this innovation and is using it for many years.

For more details contact Mr. Annasaheb Bhavu Udagavi, Pattan Modu thotta, Examba Road, Sadalge, Chikodi, Belgaum, Karnataka 591239, mobiles: 08330- 251676, 09342212732.

SIKKIM: NHPC issues raised by CM to Union Power Minister

Gangtok: Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling called on Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde, Union Power Minister Monday, March 7, to call his attention to disquieting issues arising of NHPC project work in the State.

1. The NHPC should implement the Memorandum of Understanding with the State Government in letter and in spirit.

2. Local persons employed by NHPC should be regularised and paid at par with the other regular employees of the NHPC without any distinction in their salary structure.

3. He pointed out the problems faced by the people of different areas where NHPC works are in progress which have resulted in damages to the land and housing properties of the villagers. The vibrations have caused many of the areas to sink down. In this connection, he made a pointed reference to the severe damages faced by the people of Dipudara village in East Sikkim due to water leakages and seepages along the Tunnel and surge shaft area of NHPC Stage V resulting in land slippage, land cracks and building sinking and damages. The Primary School building at Dipudara though constructed by NHPC had again cracked and now being run in a rented building. These speak of the severity of the damages. The Chief Minister requested for the early acquisition of land of the people of Dipudara village and by making an early payment of land and building compensation to them so that these villagers could be appropriately resettled in some other place. 4.The Union Minister Mr. Shinde gave a positive response to all the points raised by the Chief Minister and directed his Ministry officials to expeditiously deal with these issues to resolve them in a most favourable manner.

(FROM SIKKIM REPORTER / EDITED BY ASHOK CHATTERJEE)

BAGDOGRA: Upgrade draft ready for IAF – Northeast airfields part of modernisation plan

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

BY AVIJIT SINHA

President Pratibha Patil at the Bagdogra air force station on Wednesday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

Bagdogra, March 9: The IAF’s modernisation plan includes an upgrade of the communication and tracking system and the airfields in the east and the Northeast, the Chief of Air Staff said here today soon after the President reminded the nation that a strong defence and an effective deterrence were essential for peace.

A “perspective plan” to make the Indian Air Force capable on its own has already been drafted.

“As part of this plan, it has been decided to upgrade the airfields in eastern and north-eastern parts of the country and also improve the advanced landing grounds we have in the region,” said Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik.

“When it comes to communication and tracking system, radars play a key part. We have found that due to mountainous terrain in the Northeast, normal radars could not function properly. The IAF is in the process of installing mountain radars or LLLWRs (low level light weight radars),” he said.

Naik was at the Bagdogra air force station, 15km from Siliguri, this morning to participate in the presentation of the President’s Standards to a squadron and a helicopter unit. He said the IAF would also buy a host of new aircraft and helicopters to enlarge its fleet.

“We will shortly sign a commercial deal for supply of MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) and have already entered into an agreement with Russia for obtaining Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft. By 2017, our target is to obtain 200-250 such aircraft,” he said.

Earlier in the day, President Pratibha Patil awarded the Standards to the Nagpur-based 44 squadron and the 110 helicopter unit based at Kumbhigram in Assam. She also inaugurated a first day cover and brochure on the occasion.

The standards or the colours are conferred to squadrons or formations which have completed 18 years in the IAF or have won the President’s appreciation for outstanding performance in operations.

“A strong defence and an effective deterrence are essential to preserve peace. No nation can prosper without its borders being secure. Though as a nation we are firmly committed to peace, we will not hesitate to use all our might to safeguard the sovereignty of our nation,” the President said.

“Our armed forces, exemplified by the men and women who stand before us, reflect our determination to protect our interests. We do not wish to encourage conflict, but should it be thrust upon us, I am confident that our armed forces will form a fortified wall against the adversary, and keep the Indian flag flying high.”

She appreciated the two IAF units for their service. “They have been extending yeoman service whenever called upon, during natural calamity, or during attacks by anti-national elements.” The President left for Imphal around 12.15pm.

source; The Economist

Yuvraj Does it again

India had one very big incentive as they lined up for the national anthem - to win the game to top 'Group B'. Photo: S. Subramanium

Rs 1,400 cr annul plan for Sikkim

Ahluwalia finalises Rs 1,400 cr annul plan for Sikkim

New Delhi, Mar 9 (PTI) The Planning Commission today approved Sikkim�s annual plan of Rs 1,400 crore for 2011-12.
The annual plan was finalised here at a meeting between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Chamling.
Commenting on the performance of the state, Ahluwalia said that the performance of the state is quite satisfactory and appreciated its efforts to improve horticulture and ginger production.
He said continued focus on physical and social infrastructure development together with urbanisation would catalyse tourism and other income generating activities.
He also appreciated the initiatives taken to make Sikkim first organic and green state in the country. Priorities in the sector need to work out accordingly.
Ahluwalia said the state should embark upon a path of sustainable economic development by concentrating upon its abundant natural resources.
He asked the state to pay attention to the existing educational infrastructure and higher education.
In the health sector, the state was asked to emphasise on the achievement of the health indicators as envisaged in the Plan document. Thrust will also be given to provision of clean drinking water and proper sanitation facilities in both rural and urban areas.
The Chief Minister said the thrust of Plan was upon the inclusion of the Common Minimum Programme of the UPA and inclusion of various Flagship Programmes, with particular emphasis on Human Development.

POETRY AND PERFORMANCE: Roja Kannan (left) and Priya Murle at the Supper Theatre. Photo: R. Ravindran

Antibiotic challenges, dilemmas, policies

by K. S. Jacob

India faces the challenge of inappropriate use of antibiotics while Bharat copes with poor access to treatment, resulting in a policy conundrum and inaction.

India was recently in the news for the wrong reasons. The serious threat posed by the newly discovered microbe, NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo--lactamase-1), resistant to many antibiotics, triggered alarm and panic. Predictions that the country will not meet the millennium development goal for child mortality caused dismay. They highlighted the nation's paradox. The country faces two conflicting challenges. The urban rich with their easy access to medical treatments often receive inappropriate antibiotic therapy. On the other hand, the rural poor, with their lack of basic medical facilities, find it difficult to obtain such medication. The former results in microbial resistance, while the latter in preventable deaths. The official reactions to both these problems and their implications were denials. However, after the short-lived indignation and outrage, it is back to business as usual, the old inertia with its deceptive calm.

Microbial resistance
Resistance of microbes to standard antibiotics is well known. Hospital-acquired infections, in circumstances where the use of antibiotics is high, are common. The development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is natural and occurs due to adaptation to hostile environments. However, the rapidity of its development and increased prevalence of such resistance documented in many tertiary hospitals reflect a serious problem. In addition, the life-threatening nature of many infections, a limited availability of existing antibiotics and the absence of new ones in the drug development pipeline are causes for alarm. This is true for many bacteria, including those causing tuberculosis. It indicates the emergence of new and lethal dimensions for old diseases, which had effective and affordable cures. The increase in antibiotic resistance in community-acquired infections compounds the problem. It suggests that resistant microbes, usually found in hospital environments, are now prevalent in the community.

The misuse and abuse of antibiotics by physicians is serious. Inadequacy of training in prescribing rational antibiotic therapy is a major lacuna. Prescribing antibiotics for simple viral infections to prevent possible secondary bacterial infections is common practice among physicians, despite good clinical trials showing no value of such prophylaxis. Absence of sentinel surveillance and regular guidance for prescribing also makes practice difficult. Indiscriminate prescription of newer antibiotic medication while allowing for recovery in individual patients, risks development of microbial resistance.

The generally safe profile of antibiotics, their minimal side effects and short duration of the course of medication are factors that lend themselves to abuse. The pharmaceutical industry contributes to the problem by promoting the sale of antibiotics independent of patient need. Pharmacists readily dispense antibiotics without a doctor's prescription. A widely prevalent belief among the general population that all infections respond to antibiotics also perpetuates inappropriate use. Many fail to realise that the majority of fevers are due to viral infections, which do not respond to antibiotic therapy.

Poor access
The lack of surveillance of microbial resistance at primary and secondary hospitals and the absence of guidance in prescribing encourages the use of newer broad-spectrum drugs in situations were older medication would have sufficed. The poor state of the public health care system, the private sector with its focus on profits and deficiencies in the regulation and sale of antibiotics also muddy the waters.

While NDM-1 grabs the headlines, the true magnitude of the problem of antimicrobial resistance to common antibiotics remains unknown. Widespread multi-drug resistance essentially implies a return to the pre-antibiotic era and represents a major crisis in health. On the other hand, the lack of affordable access to basic medical facilities for the poor in Bharat complicates the issues. Pneumonia, an acute respiratory infection, is the leading cause of child deaths in the world and a common cause of under-five mortality in India. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that less than a quarter of children with pneumonias receive antibiotics, resulting in significant mortality. Similarly, mortality in adults with bacterial infections is also a major concern. The absence of adequate and timely antibiotic therapy due to a lack of access to affordable medical care (for the vast majority of the rural population in the country due to the urban-centric nature of our health care delivery system) contributes to preventable deaths.

The way forward
Urban and rich India, with its inappropriate use of antibiotics, requires strict practice guidelines, tighter regulation and an audit of antibiotic utilisation. On the other hand, poor and rural India needs improved access to antibiotics and affordable health care.

Rational antibiotic therapy prevents the development of resistant micro-organisms, superbugs and untreatable infections. Rational use will also result in a massive reduction in the cost of health care. High-income countries have managed to decrease the rate of antimicrobial resistance through a multi-pronged approach. Their well-regulated health-care systems allow for monitoring of antibiotic consumption and resistance, prescriber and consumer education and regulation of use.

Fighting antibiotic resistance in India with its inadequate public health care infrastructure, unenforced regulation and poor health education is a major challenge. Continuing physician education, guidance on prescribing and monitoring practice is necessary. Regulating the sale of antibiotics and microbial surveillance are mandatory.

India should start sustainable action to contain antibiotic resistance. It should raise awareness using the mass media. Hand washing routines, to prevent the spread of infection within hospitals, are observed more in the breach in most health facilities. These need to be made mandatory. Antibiotic sensitivity patterns, minimum inhibitory concentrations and a strategy of de-escalation of an antibiotic regimen should guide therapy in tertiary hospitals. The latter mandates a change to an appropriate “older” antibiotic rather than continuation of a newer broad-spectrum drug, after obtaining information on microbial sensitivity.

The formation and functioning of hospital infection control committees are obligatory. They should monitor hospital-acquired infections at surgical sites and secondary to the use of intravenous access, urinary catheters and ventilators. The committee should compile sensitivity patterns, recommend prescribing guidelines, audit practice and educate health professionals. Specialist hospitals should have consultants in infectious diseases who should advice in making rational choices for complex clinical situations. Modern technology allows for support in prescribing, tracking of antibiotic use and in containing the spread of resistance. In fact, it should be mandatory for hospitals to make public their rates of hospital-acquired infections and microbial sensitivity patterns, to allow for informed choice for patients.

The surveillance of microbial resistance should not be restricted to tertiary hospitals, as currently practiced. It should also involve primary and secondary care centres to identify local and regional patterns. The people of Bharat need a different surveillance network and practice guidelines tailored to meet their specific needs. Sentinel centres in primary and secondary care hospitals, with regional coordinating facilities, should be set up to help smaller hospitals. National and regional databases and advisory councils are mandatory. The implementation of such systems is the challenge facing the country.

The solution to improve access to basic health care for poor and rural constituencies may lie in a different set of practice guidelines. Regulation of antibiotic use for this sector must be balanced by adequate availability and access to such treatments. Antibiotic policies should factor in different microbial resistance profiles. Simplified antibiotic prescribing protocols for use by highly trained paramedical workers and nurse practitioners have been found to be useful in many low-income countries. Such strategies merit consideration for increasing access and availability in rural and remote parts of the country.

Another cause for concern is the use of antibiotics in the agriculture-food industry (e.g. poultry, pig, fish farming and in honeybee hives) where these drugs are used as growth promoters. Policies for rational use in this sector are also urgently required.

A decade has passed since the flagging-up of concerns about antibiotic resistance and increased mortality due to untreated infections. The divergent and complex demands of the different segments of the country have resulted in inertia and inaction. There is an urgent need to put in place suitable policies and mechanisms for reductions in antibiotic resistance and yet provide easy access to antibiotics in areas with poor penetration of health-care services. The challenges for India and for Bharat are different and demand different solutions. The country is yet to have a comprehensive antibiotic policy. Implementation plans remain on paper. The country needs carefully tailored strategies to meet the dissimilar challenges of its diverse contexts.

(Professor K.S. Jacob is on the faculty of the Christian Medical College, Vellore.)

source;Hindu

Export Awareness Workshop to discuss export prospects for Sikkim held

source: Sikkim Now
by AMEET OBEROI

GANGTOK, 08 March: The Federation of Indian Export Organisations [FIEO], Eastern Region organised an Export Awareness Workshop [Scope and opportunities from North Eastern States of India] at Chintan Bhawan, today. The workshop was sponsored by Ministry of Commerce, Government of India in association with Department of Commerce & Industries, Government of Sikkim, Office of the Zonal Joint Director General of Foreign Trade, Kolkata, Export Credit Guarantee Corporation, Exim Bank of India and Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority [APEDA].

Speaking as the chief guest, Minister for Commerce & Industries Department,Neeru Sewa,while welcoming the delegates stated that there was need for such a workshop to be held in the state. Sikkim has been declared an agri-export zone by the Government of India and is well known for its ginger, cherry pepper [Dalle], large cardamom, orchids and medicinal herbs, which can be exported, she said.
On the other hand, the handloom and handicrafts [Thanka paintings, carpets] of Sikkim are world famous and are in much demand, but need proper looking into so that they too can be made exportable items from the state, she added.

Under the able leadership of the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling red carpet welcome is being accorded to investors, whereby many Pharma Companies have come to the state and opened shop here. Promotion of agriculture, horticulture and floriculture is also being emphasized as Sikkim is rich in flora and fauna, she said. The state has earned Rs. 3000 Crores through investments and more than 6500 local people have been absorbed into these companies.

The future road map for the state was also being worked upon by the government, while capacity building programmes on different aspects for the youth are being held in all the four districts of the state. Meanwhile, specific programmes are being given to the youth at the State Institute of Capacity Building [SICB], she further added.

In the end, she also requested the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India to look into the list of items for export through the Nathula Trade as most of the items were either obsolete or were not wanted by the traders and thus revenue was being lost by the government. This she added could be done on priority basis.
A policy session and a technical session was also held in the afternoon which was addressed by various resource persons attending the workshop.

Along with the Minister also present on the dais were MG Kiran [Secretary, Commerce & Industries Department, Government of Sikkim], GP Upadhyaya [Secretary General, FIEO], Ram Lakhan [Under Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India], P Halder [Zonal Joint Director General of Foreign Trade, Kolkata], TV Rao [Director, Eximus Centre, Exim Bank], B Baruah [AGM & Regional Manager, APEDA] and Tapasi De [DGM & Regional Manager, ECGC].

'Life is like melted butter....once things cool down, it can be reshaped!'

THOUGHTS AND WORDS CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND OR WORST ENEMY! 

Your words, your dreams, and your thoughts have power to create conditions in your life. As you think so you become. What you think and speak about, you can bring about.

If you keep thinking and saying you can't stand your job, you might lose your job.
If you keep thinking and saying you can't stand your body, your body can become sick.
If you keep thinking and saying you can't stand your car, your car could be stolen or just stop operating.
If you keep thinking and saying you're broke, guess what? You'll always be broke.
If you keep thinking and saying you can't trust a man or trust a woman, you will always find someone in your life to hurt and betray you.
If you keep thinking and saying you can't find a job, you will remain unemployed.
If you keep thinking and saying you can't find someone to love you or believe in you, your very thought will attract more experiences to confirm your beliefs.
If you keep thinking and talking about a divorce or break up in a relationship, then you might end up with it.

Turn your thoughts and conversations around to be more positive and power packed with faith, hope, love and action.

Don't be afraid to believe that you can have what you want and deserve .

Watch your Thoughts, they become words.
Watch your Words, they become actions.
Watch your Actions, they become habits.
Watch your Habits, they become character.
Watch your Character, for it becomes your DESTINY.

 

The minute you settle for less than you deserve , you get even less than you settle for. 

 

In the search for Me, I discovered Truth, Love and GOD. 

And in this discovery, I have found Everything. 

Watch how your circumstances and situations begin to change when you change the way you think and  speak .

'Life is like melted butter....once things cool down, it can be reshaped!' 

Data Source: CMIE

source;Mint

Data source: Economic Survey 2010-11

Data source: US Bureau of Census estimates
* Growth from 2010 to 2015

source:mint