Chennai youth gets UN award for work on sustainability

Saleem Khan, a Biotechnology post-graduate from Chennai has received UN Award for work on environmental sustainability. 

More on this news on the blog where I found it.

Students may do courses in parts in institutes of their choice

University Grants Commission (UGC) had set up a committee on academic reforms. It has suggested a slew of reforms. Its recommendations on credit accumulation and transfer will help students to perrsue courses in segments in universities as per their choice. As per the system, students can also do courses in parts in different departments within a n university. 

The recommendations have come at a time when UGC is planning to launch a scheme to facilitate M. Phil and PhD students to do part of their coursework outside the university where they are persuing studies.

The committee also suggested universities to take feedback from students about peformance of teachers.

Radio by dalit women for dalit women

Algol Narasamma, a dalit woman in Andhra Pradesh (India0 with two children is a normal farm labourer. She is also bulletin producer and reporter of the first ever radio 'by dalit womne, for dalit wome'. Every night at 8pm '904. FM Dalit Mahila Sangam Radio' (Downtraodden Women Union Radio) is tuned in. From daily news, local interviews and informal chats, folk songs to agriculture, health advises, traditional medicines, education etc etc. 90 minutes move very fast. Narsamma had talked to somebody in the mornign. Those people and their kiths and kins are all ears to listen their voices on radio. Many people have purchased mobiles with FM to listen to thsi radio. Network of about hunderd salf-help womens' groups of Deccan Development Society initiated this radio movement. Many activists are very optimistic about this idea. Domestic violence is not a news but if a woman comes out in the open through this radio then it may have a great impact. Current repsonse to this radio indicated how a small innovative experiment can play a big social roal.

Satyajit Ray's unseen film 'Sikkim' to be screened

In 1971, the then Chogyal (king) of Sikkim and his wife had commissioned Satyajit Ray for this documentary. The film earned censorship both from them and from indian government after Sikkim's accession to India in 1975. All the prints were reported to be destroyed subsequently. Howeve a print was discovered in the archives of British Film Academy in 2003 and it is being restored digitally. The rights of the film at present rest with a trust which has given informal consent and a formal intimation of permission is exected.
The film will be screened at the 14th Kolkata Film Festival to be hed between 10th to 17th November, 2008.
The restoration project is executed by Paul Lindner who is attending the festival with a package of 5 Ray fims digitally restored. These are 'Parosh Pathar', 'Teen Kanya', 'Joy Baba felunath', 'Two' and 'Aparajito'.

UN urges faster transfer of clean energy technology

      Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, said that it is esential that industrialized countries speed up transfer of clean energy technology to poorer nations to tackle global warming. There is lot of talk about targets of carbon emissions but not about means to achieve that. Switzerland has suggested funding technology transfer by levvying 'carbon tax' per ton of greenhouse gases produced by the countries, with poorer nations paying less. 

      China produced a policy document last month stating that it will attempt to reduce emission of greenhouse gases, but it needs help from developed nation for transfer of clean energy technology. China also admitted that its emission levels have reached that of world's biggest producer of greenhouse gasses, USA.

Chinese Premierr Wen Jiabao urged developed nations to take main responsibility for addressing climate change, including its citizens changing their 'UNSUSTAINABLE WAY OF LIFE'. 

Prime Minister of India pegs for humanities

Eminent Kashmiri poet Rahman Rahi was honured with prestigious Jnanapith Award by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. PM was speakin at this function.
Though schools and colleges focus on providing with the meansto go forward in life and become responsible citizens, we may not be paying enough attentio to humanities which will help youngsters become better human beings. Even as youths learns skills for employment they should not deprived of access to literature, poetry and other forms of creativity. No society can consider itself complete if it has no room for creativity.
Accepting the award, 82 years old Mr. Rahi said that Kashmiri language has repository of rich poetic and prose literature.

Rail link to Sikkim

Sikkim is going to be connected with rest of India with broadgauge rail link.  The 52.7 km rail line from Rongpo to Sivak in Sikkim will cost Rs. 1300 crores and is  planned to completed by 2015-16. This project has been approved as National  Project by CCEA headed by PM. Work will start before end of this finacial year. This will be tenth national froject in the northeastern region.

ISOR to launch GIS based maps

ISRO will soon launch 'Bhuvan', which will provide online maps based on GIS in line of Google Earth and more precise. It will provide latest information on India's natural resources.  The service is likely to be commenced in coming six months. ISRO Chairman said that with this service they will have mapping of entire earth, both in terms of the upper land surface and the exotic minerals down below.

Proyaash helping Assam serial balst victims

Members of Proyaash, a charity  organisation, based on the ideals of helping the needy and working towards all round development of Assam, distributed food to the victims of recent serial blasts.

Proyaash means 'an initiative' in Assamese. This NGO has basic objective of helping the people of Assam, to improve their socio-economic condition and to present Assam in a better way in global scenario. According to an active member, Proyaash includes members include Assemese students and professional spread accross the world, who basically met online bounded by soft corner and concern towards their homeland. It was initiated on 1st March, 2008 by a single scrap on Orkut vowing all pocketmoney for the downtrodden.

Ganga (Ganges) to be declared as national river

Government of India has decided to declare Ganga as a National River and also to set up a high powered Ganga river Basin Authority to protect the ancient river from pollution and other degradation. The proposed authority will be headed by Prime Minister himself and will have as its members Chief Minsiters of all states through which Ganga flows. The details will be worked out. A PMO release said that there is a need for integrated approach that sees the river as an ecological antity and addresses issues of quantity in terms of water flows along the issues of quality.

Workers by thier closed company

Garaware Nylons Ltd (at Ahemdanagar, Maharashtra, India) was closed down 12 years ago due to excessive losses. The company had a 9 acres (more than 36,000 sq. meters) land near Ahemnadnagar. Bombay High Court declared to auction the land. Worker decided to paticiapte in the auction under the collaborative 'Saamaanya Janatechi Aagaadi' (सामान्य जनतेची आघाडी ) (which is a phrase in vernacular marathi language and it means a social collaborative of common people). 210 workers offered all their money. The auction was won by the collaborative for 61 million INR. After paying the whole amount the workers now officially own the land. This carries a very special improtance as this is a first instance in the country where a close down company was taken over by the workers. It is expected that the collabortive will start a manufacturing plant for making corrugated boxes used in packaging.
It is not known about the source of this huge finance as well as antecendets of the social collaborative and its leaders.

Special Diwali Issues in Marathi

Maharashtra has a wonderful tradition in marathi literary scene. Almost all daily, weekly and monthly publications take out special issues for Diwali. This offers a widest variety of writing of accomplished, renowned as well as of new and upcoaming writers and poets to be available at one time. This tradition has completed its century this year.

It might be worth an idea to urge local libraries to procures some issues. This year these are typically priced at indian Rs 60 to Rs100 each.

Now there are some online issues too. Some of those are www.manogat.com, www.upakram.org, www.mayboli.com.  This is a good opportunity for marathi readers who are living outside maharashtra and do not have easy access to printed marathi matter. 

Incease in population of One Horn Rhinos in Kaziranga

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has cleared Single Horn Rhinocers, found in Assam and Nepal,  from 'Endangered' catagory to 'Precious' catagory. Humpback Whales and African Elephants have been similarly upgraded. This was decided in the recent IUCN meeting in Spain. IUCN has commended officials of Kaziranga Reserve Forest. Chief Forest Conserverator of Kaziranga Mohanchandra Malakar has said that the population of very few in 1925 has increased to over 1800. In spite of this upgradation by IUCN there will not be any negligence in the protection of rhinos, he assured. 

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) has another perspective. Poaching in Kaziranga has increased in last two years. In such a scenario these rhinos are more in danger, feels WTI.

According to International Rhinoe Foundation, there are only 2619 of these rhinos in the world. 

Company Law modified

Present company law is more than 50 years old. Many of its clauses have long become obsolete and needed to be changed. This has fianlly happened by the Company Bill 2008 introduced in parliament. It is supposed to make the complete regulatory processes from forming a company to winding up easy.

The bill was presented today in parliament without prior distribution. I will post the details of the bill as I get those.

Tiger population on rise in Perriyar forest

In the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Iduki district of Kerala the tiger population has risen from 22 to 38.  It is noteworthy that 25% of this population consists of cubs.  Periyar Tiger Reserve has 925 sq. km. area. 

This survery was carried out by conservation biologist M Balasubramaniam and ecologist A Veeramamni of Periyar Tiger Foundation. The survey used capture-recapture technique using camera traps. The tiger population was estimated using sampling methods on observations.

Mr. Balasubramaniam said that 5400 local families were actively involved in the conservation project, under Eco-cosnervation commitees formed ten years back by the forest department.

Elections to recall panchayat presidents

In India, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh states have legislations whereby panchayat presidents can be recalled through a process of elections. In Chhattisgarh, two years after a president is elected the process of recall can be initiated. Three fourths of elected representatives can apply to a designated government official. After varification he can recommend state govt. to go ahead. Elections are then conducted through Election Commission to see whether people want the recall. If the recall is voted for then a new president is elected by the normal process. Such a election was conducted in some panchayats in Chhattisgarh and four presidents were recalled.

This is not a foolproof process. It too is spewn with dangers and potential misuse by vested interests. It may also not be applicable on a larger scale or for larger constituencies like assembly or parliament. But it is one of  the ways of exploring modalities to ensure that elected representatives do their work or get voted out of office. It once again incite people to think and get involved in timely evaluation of their elected representatives.

Elections declared in Jammu and Kashmir

Elections have been announced for J&K assembly. Those will be carried out in four phases spanning Nov and Dec 2008. Higher altitued locations will have polls first.

There had been considerable debate among political outfits for favouring the polls and oppsoing. There were differences of opinions even within the Election Commission. EC has taken note of all these differences and has come out with a common formula.

One of the most intresting aspects of this exercise is the frank admission by the EC that differences exist and that EC is taking a kind of 'risk' in going ahead with schedule. It hopes that by the election time there will be more consencus and political parties will be able to invite more support from people towards particiatopn

Financial Inclusion

Indian central bank (RBI) issued financial inclusion directives in 2006. Within a span of two years No-Frill accounts have increased thrity times from 0.5 million to 15 millions.

Sutainable Development Model in Australia

'Pig Face Point' is a place near Liverpool in New South Wales, Australia. This is self-sufficient and ecofriendly model. It was initiated by Ted Trener. Mr Trener has used his huge inherited wealth for effective and sutainable model. Energy is generated by windmills, building are built out of local sand and bricks, food is produced there itself. Everything is made out of recylcing and is recyclable. 

Mahatma Gandhi's quote is boldly displayed there:

LIVE SIMPLY AND LET SIMPLY LIVE

News Broadcasters Standards Authority

Thrity news broadcasting channels of thirty media companies in India have come together to form News Broadcasters' Association (NBA).  This Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October they have initiated a body regulate and standardise their contents and to form self -authority for complaints and disputes redresal. It will be called News Broadcasting Standards (Disputes Redresal) Authority. This is the first time India and such a self regulatory initiative needs to be lauded. False sting operations, insensitive coverage, cheap coverages etc will be talked against in genral public, Supreme Court and even in media itself. Hence this arrangement has taken place. This authority will be headed by former Chief Justice J S Varma. There will four editor representativesas also Nacom's Kiran karnik, Social scientist Deppankar Gupta, Economist Nitin Desai. Anybody can file a complaint against a channel by paying 1000/- Rs fee. If this arrangement works effctively then the need for government regulation and intervention will be averted. It may take some time for all things to evelove. Website of this authority will be started soon. Till then if anybody wants any ifnormation The Secretary, NBA can be contacted on nbanewdelhi@gmail.com

Do Not Call Registry

DNC came into existence in India on 12th Oct, 2007.  After that there has been considerable reduction in telemarketing calls. In last six months there were 81000 complaints against telemarketing companies. 79000 of these complaints have been resolved. This is a very great percentage in Indian scenario. 

Currently there are 18million customers registered on it. 

Online dictionary in north east india's regional languages

XOBODO is an organisation of volunteers spread across the world. They are developing an online dictionary between english and north-east india's regional languages. Thei vision is to demolish language barriers and thereby fuel mutual friendship and cooperation among the peoples of entire region. They are looking for volunteers in languages like Khasi ,Dimasa,Bodo, Karbi, Nagamese, Garo, Ao, Mizo (Lushai) ,Mishing, Tanii (Apatani) ,Monpa, Tai, Meitei-lon, Bishnupriya, Chakma, Kok-Borok, Kuki etc. Anybody can become member and contribute words, check spelling, meanings etc.

This online dictionary is brainchild of Bikran Baruah, a petroleum engineer, now in Dubai. Buljit Buragohain, an IITan, is the Publicity Secretary.

Already there are more than 17000 words in Assamese, more than 10000 in English besides number of words in various NE regional languages. Dictionary is updated daily.

Mountain marathon

Local mountain marathon was conducted near Pune in Sahyadri mountains. Total distance was about 45 kms. It was conducted by a young enterpreneur. This is an unique effort and highlighted by participation of people nearing their forties.

For those who are familiar with Sahyadris, the route was as follows: Start from Bhaajaa caves near Malavali, Lonavala. Climb up Visapur fort, climb down other side, climb up and down Lohagad fort, go (through mountianous terrain) to Tikon Fort, and return down to Pavana dam. 

I will post more details if I get those.

Social collaboration for saving jungles

In September of 1983 villagers and local governments in North Canara district of Karnataka created a history. They took out a 8 km long protest march to protest against tree cutting in the dens gree jungles surrounding their area. Men-women-children, people from all classes and strata followed this march me covering the jungles and prevented tree cutting. At times they hugged the trees to protect those from being cut. This was going on for three months.
Then the agiatation spread to South Canara, Chikmangaloor and Shimoga districts too. In 1950 82% of this area was under forest cover. This is also one of the 16 Bio-diversity Hotspots in the world.
Their movement is called Appiko (अप्पिको ). These activists say that they are not against developement. Developement and protection of forests go hand in hand. Earnings can be generated even without cutting trees.
Veteran activists say they are feeling the pressures of commercialization. Youngsters riding on the wave of globalistion do not realize the importance social needs. But the activists are deermined to carry forward the cause they have initiated their work for.

Bishnoi tradition of Rajasthan and शमी tree

Bishnois can be called first eco-friends of India. Following the teachings of Guru Jambhashwarji since 1485, they are living in the Thar desert. Tradition of not killing animals and not cutting green trees are being strictly followed by them even today. It is said that in the Khejadli village in 1730, a lday named Amrutadevi sacrificed her life to save a tree from king's men. 363 people followed her and sacrificed their lives till the king ordered this massacre to stop and apologised to Bishnois.
The village is called Khejadli because Khejad or Shami (शमी ) trees are seen there in abundace. This Shami tree has mention in Mahabharat too. In Maharashtra , this tree is being overused and very few are remaining now. This year Social Afforestation department fo Maharashtra has made 80000 saplings of this tree and are making those available at mere five rupees each through students of National Green Brigade (राष्ट्रीय हरित सेना ). Tying rakhees to old tree on rakhi-paurneema, planning to distribute one lakh Neem trees are other projects being undertaken by the Social Afforestation Department

First Sharing of Good News

This is saring by Ranjana Sardesai, Pune, India:

Inflation is poised to come down to single digit soon - official

A single pill, named 'polypill', is being developed. This single pill will be useful for all heart problems (including broken heart. An AIIMS doctor is reported to have repaired a broken heart).

It is expected that AIDS vaccine will be out very soon.

First Post

Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) are being held in Pune from 12th October, 08. The work of infrastructural development was way behind schedule. Puneites were convinced that their city will have to face the embarrassment of welcoming participants with half finished works. Participants will need to walk a while for going from anywhere to anywhere. But suddenly miracle happened. Officials of Pune Municipal Corppration took it upon themselves to make impossible happen. What could not happen in four years, happened in four weeks. Officials worked day and night, work continued non-stop. This is an evidence of what our officials are capable of doing when decide to!

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India is launching its unmanned lunar mission on 22nd octber, 08. India is planning to launch its maiden manned space mission by 2015.

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India's first tribal university started at Amarkantak, M.P. Its aim is to promote higher education among Scheduled Tribes.

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TCS buys Citigroup Global Services for $305 mn

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Landowners whose land was being acquired for Reliance MahaMumbai SEZ. After an intense struggle history was made. Maharashtra government agreed to conduct a referendum. It is not improtant here to go into what results it got out, or to go into pros-and-cons of this SEZ etc. What is improtant here is that probably for the first time in independent India government went ahead and conducted a referendum to judge the opinion of people being affected by a project. It is a huge step in democratic movement and in people's right to be party into decision making of their fates, atleast in the projects affecting them.

Share all that is good.

I open my eyes and look around

media everywhere, media all around

breaking news, flashing news

broken hearts and bleeding bodies

wars and famines and quakes and fires

fires all around and fires within hearts

not a water, not soothing to quench

I close my eyes, and open my hearts

my heart sprinkles water

my hearts sends soothing breeze

my heart opens my eyes

into lovely greens and blues and pinks

my heart prods me

keep looking around and share the shades of love.

So friends, here I am, 

looking into all the goodness

that is around and within

and sharing love in goodness

and my friends, here I am,

asking you to do the same in goodness.