Descrimination Commission in J&K

Omar Abdullah, the new Chief minister of Jammu & kashmir, India has proposed forming of Descrimination Commission. He said that all the three regions of the state, viz. Kashmir valley, Jammu, and Leh-Ladakh feel that they are being discriminated against. He said that would like to remove these feelings and get all the regions together for betterment of J&K. He said he would like to the commission to be headed by a retired Chief Justice of Supreme Court and preferably should be from outside of J&K.
He also referred to the Amranath Yatra Land Transfer agitation and said that he would like to get people to talk and resolve the issue. He would like to come traders from both Jammu and valley to come together and work out mutually benefitial ways.
He said he would be leading a coalition government and is aware of realities of sucha situation. In addition, he said, he is aware that he would have to deal with the strong oppostion with diametrically opposite views, PDP on one hand and BJP on the other.

All in all the new young chief minister seems to be deeply routed in ground and at the same time having courage to state his dreams and vision. What he is actually able to deliver we are yet to see. Lets all wish him all the luck and cooperation from all factions.

Measles dying?

WHO has announced that measle deaths has come down by 74% since 2000. There has been major contribution from eastern mediterranean region including somalia, afganistan, pakistan. There has been a big success in measles vaccination.

Bio-Happiness and 'Evergreen Revoultion'

Noted agricultural scientist Swaminathan was addressing the 96th Indian Science Congress in Shilong. He underlines the need for conserving the rich bio-diversity of the north-east region of India and called for ushering revolution in the region. He gave thrust on soil health care, harvesting, efficient use of water, technology and appropriate inputs, credit and insurance, and assured renumerative marketing. The north-est region is one of the 12 mega-biodiversity regions in the world. He emphasised on linking bio-diversity, biotechnology and business in mutually reinforcing manner. he called for saving genes for posterity. Loss of every species and genes limit our options for the future. Cultural traditions of tribal people have important role in understanding bio-diversity conservation and management issues. Efforts should be directed at promotion of bio-happiness among tribal people.

Woman of Steel

On 26.11.2008 Dayamani Barla was awarded Chingari Award for Women Against Corporate Crime 2008. This award iitself is instituted by two women who took on UC after Bhopal Tragedy. They, Rasheeda Bee and Champa Devi Shukla, won Goldman Environmental Prize in 2004.They put the prize money into a trust which would choose every year a woman working for the same cause.

Dayamani Barla is 44 years old tribal dalit woman, born to an extremely poor landless laborer and wen on to become journalist and activist. She is leading the fight against the giant steel plant coming up in Jharkhand, because she belives that the prices tribals will have to pay when they are displaced from their land can not be compensated by a few jobs or money.

Through her writting, Dayamani has set a standard for the kind of relevant journalism that is rare at a time when celebrity and sensation dominates media.

In Jharkhand, as in other tribal dominated states, local people are organising resistance gaisnt giant industrial and minning projects. The outcomes of these struggles may well shape the economics and politics of our country. These battles actually represent opportunities to devise developement that is inclusive, participative, sustainable, respects limited availability of natural resources.

It is with help of women and men like Dayamni Barla that governments and administrations are being forced to consider alternatives to their immediate limited perspective and vestsed interests. Only in the availability of such space for view and counterview, to offer and accept that democracy can survive, let alone flourish.

My salute to all these crusaders because of whom we can express whatever we wish to.

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.