Jyoti Amge, 18, stands on a chair during a news conference in Nagpur on December 16, 2011. Amge was officially announced by the Guinness World Records on December 16 the world's 'shortest woman living (mobile)
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Anna prevails
Anna prevails
There can be no reason to keep out the Prime Minister, CBI or lower bureaucracy from the Lokpal's ambit.
From the looks of it, the Government and the Opposition seem inclined to meet most of the contentious demands relating to the Lokpal Bill that the movement led by Anna Hazare has been raising. The Government, already beleaguered by deepening economy-related troubles, is left with little choice. Having been cornered badly, the only option is to concede defeat gracefully. The Opposition, on its part, has sensed the mood on the ground. From the BJP to the BSP and the CPM, there is now virtual unanimity on bringing the Prime Minister, the lower bureaucracy and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the Lokpal's purview. The finer details of their inclusion may not be clear yet, but the fact that the Congress-led Government has eventually had to bend to public opinion goes without saying. Till recently, the Congress appeared to have forgotten the lessons from the past, especially the ease with which V.P. Singh had, in the mid-1980s, united the Opposition on the issue of corruption. The popular perception that it does not want a law providing for an effective anti-graft ombudsman is something the ruling party would definitely want to change. And it may not be too late for a Government that has, after all, taken credit for enacting a complementary Right to Information legislation enabling greater interface between ordinary citizens and public authorities.
That raises the question as to why the Government has been so reluctant in agreeing to the inclusion of the Prime Minister, the lower bureaucracy or the CBI under the Lokpal's jurisdiction. If the Lokpal is intended to tackle corruption, there is no justifiable reason to keep them out. The only issues remaining for resolution, then, are the exceptions. These can be determined fairly easily, at least for the Prime Minister in matters of national security and other strategic sectors. As far as CBI goes, the issue is really about guaranteeing its autonomy and protecting the investigating agency from being used selectively to target those not aligned to the ruling regime's interests. Whether this is best done by bringing its prosecution wing under the Lokpal is, again, a matter of detail.
Where the so-called Class C and D employees are concerned, since they are the face of the government and also the immediate oppressors of the common man, there is no question of exception at all. Although corruption from high-level deals is important, it is the persistent levies made by clerks and other employees, engaged in delivering services that ought to be a matter of right, which truly bothers the aam aadmi and has drawn him to Anna Hazare's campaign. The argument that monitoring millions of employees is impossible misses the point that the idea here is to give people an instrument and authority to which they can take their complaints to. The very fear of getting punished, if caught, can itself be a powerful deterrent. (source: Hindubusinessline)
There can be no reason to keep out the Prime Minister, CBI or lower bureaucracy from the Lokpal's ambit.
From the looks of it, the Government and the Opposition seem inclined to meet most of the contentious demands relating to the Lokpal Bill that the movement led by Anna Hazare has been raising. The Government, already beleaguered by deepening economy-related troubles, is left with little choice. Having been cornered badly, the only option is to concede defeat gracefully. The Opposition, on its part, has sensed the mood on the ground. From the BJP to the BSP and the CPM, there is now virtual unanimity on bringing the Prime Minister, the lower bureaucracy and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the Lokpal's purview. The finer details of their inclusion may not be clear yet, but the fact that the Congress-led Government has eventually had to bend to public opinion goes without saying. Till recently, the Congress appeared to have forgotten the lessons from the past, especially the ease with which V.P. Singh had, in the mid-1980s, united the Opposition on the issue of corruption. The popular perception that it does not want a law providing for an effective anti-graft ombudsman is something the ruling party would definitely want to change. And it may not be too late for a Government that has, after all, taken credit for enacting a complementary Right to Information legislation enabling greater interface between ordinary citizens and public authorities.
That raises the question as to why the Government has been so reluctant in agreeing to the inclusion of the Prime Minister, the lower bureaucracy or the CBI under the Lokpal's jurisdiction. If the Lokpal is intended to tackle corruption, there is no justifiable reason to keep them out. The only issues remaining for resolution, then, are the exceptions. These can be determined fairly easily, at least for the Prime Minister in matters of national security and other strategic sectors. As far as CBI goes, the issue is really about guaranteeing its autonomy and protecting the investigating agency from being used selectively to target those not aligned to the ruling regime's interests. Whether this is best done by bringing its prosecution wing under the Lokpal is, again, a matter of detail.
Where the so-called Class C and D employees are concerned, since they are the face of the government and also the immediate oppressors of the common man, there is no question of exception at all. Although corruption from high-level deals is important, it is the persistent levies made by clerks and other employees, engaged in delivering services that ought to be a matter of right, which truly bothers the aam aadmi and has drawn him to Anna Hazare's campaign. The argument that monitoring millions of employees is impossible misses the point that the idea here is to give people an instrument and authority to which they can take their complaints to. The very fear of getting punished, if caught, can itself be a powerful deterrent. (source: Hindubusinessline)
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Cost of Remittances
source:The Economist
Global remittances are expected to total $483 billion this year and forecast to grow to $593 billion by 2014. In the third quarter of this year, sending $200 abroad, including fees and exchange-rate margins, cost $18.60 on average, an increase of almost 5% on a year earlier. India and China are the largest remittance-receiving countries. They are expected to receive $58 billion and $57 billion respectively this year, according to the World Bank. But depending on the migrant workers’ country of residence, the cost of sending money home varies significantly. Japan is the most expensive from which to send money to India or China, followed by France. Sending money from America and Britain however is much cheaper.
source:The Economist
Global remittances are expected to total $483 billion this year and forecast to grow to $593 billion by 2014. In the third quarter of this year, sending $200 abroad, including fees and exchange-rate margins, cost $18.60 on average, an increase of almost 5% on a year earlier. India and China are the largest remittance-receiving countries. They are expected to receive $58 billion and $57 billion respectively this year, according to the World Bank. But depending on the migrant workers’ country of residence, the cost of sending money home varies significantly. Japan is the most expensive from which to send money to India or China, followed by France. Sending money from America and Britain however is much cheaper.
Don't lose your cool
Source: The Hindu
TAKE A DEEP BREATH Yoga is a popular way of beating stress. Photo: Special Arrangement
A lot of bad things that happen to one's body can be blamed on stress. Tackle it head on, says Sheila Kumar
Stress raises adrenaline levels which boost cytokine levels which, in turn, inflame blood vessels. This makes it easy for cholesterol to clog arteries. You fall ill; gain weight; get depressed. You are perennially stressed. And the circle is complete.
But there are ways to break that cycle. Read, absorb, and imbibe some of these pointers.
Don't sweat over the small stuff; manage it. When you feel overwhelmed, use all that negative energy in a positive way. Sit down and make lists and accomplish tasks, moving from small ones to large ones. Tie up the loose ends, rather than have them pile up to become one monster mountain.
Learn to recognise what triggers your stress attacks and then, effectively counter the provocateurs. Learn to let go of stuff you cannot control, manage or change. Control, manage and change what you can.
Learn to accept stress as something inevitable but something that you can cope easily with. It's about a Zen frame of mind. Acquire a certain amount of inner calm and that becomes a potent weapon with which to defeat stress.
If aromatherapy oils or fragrance candles work for you, use them freely. Cinnamon, clove, basil, eucalyptus and rose help relax both the body and the mind.
Fifteen minutes of meditation in a quiet environment can help control stress levels. If you aren't into meditation, settle down and unspool a montage of healing, peaceful thoughts in your mind.
Like all other tenets of healthy living, combating stress requires healthy eating. Don't binge on fatty/fried/sweet foods. But don't stress over the occasional binge, either. Indulge in some of your favourite foods, the feel-good feeling you get is all for the good. Eat dessert. Eat mint, smell cinnamon.
When you feel your stress level peaking, drop what you are doing and go for a walk. Walking is a major stress buster. Go for a long ramble or a short, brisk stroll, whatever works best for you.
Exercise regularly, even 10 minutes a day will help. The rush you get from a workout helps deal with most everyday stress.
Find out the time your body is most alert and work to the maximum then. If you regularly fall victim to the afternoon slump, if you are an owl who doesn't function too well till late in the morning, don't fight your timeline, just go with it.
Never underestimate the powers of a sympathetic ear. Alongside a sympathetic pet, a sympathetic friend is an invaluable stress buster. Surround yourself with friends… the noise, laughter and talk serve as stress-repellers.
Give yourself some me-time. Dress up. Go for a facial. Look good = feel good.
Take it easy. That really has been, is, and will be the best policy.
If you must lose your cool, time yourself and call a halt after a while. Letting off steam, in small doses, is good. Don't go on and on, though…that is upping your stress level.
Make a list of pros and cons after every adversity you face. Read the list, absorb and learn. Know what to do the next time. After which, destroy that piece of paper. You are done with it.
When your boss points out things you did wrong, agree with calm sincerity. The first few times you will be faking it, the acceptance and the calm demeanour. After a while, you really will take criticism the best way.
Turn off the cell phone. Take time off from the computer. Switch off the TV and read a book instead.
Indulge yourself. Play a slow song. Sleep more/less.
Stop worrying. Stop doing stuff you don't need to do. The world will not stop or fall to pieces if you shrug.
Do one thing at a time… with your full focus on it. The rush from a job well done can never be underestimated.
Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare went on a daylong fast at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Sunday and Opposition leaders joined him in a two-hour debate. In the photograph are (from left) Brinda Karat of the CPI(M), Yerran Naidu of the TDP, the BJP’s Arun Jaitley, Team Anna member Kiran Bedi and A.B. Bardhan of the CPI. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt
Sunday, December 11, 2011
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