Stage set for Election in two states

The states of Himachal Pradesh and the state of Gujarat are undergoing final stages of the state elections. Candidates are making promises to their potential voters.Candidates are appealing to the younger first-time voters--promising employment and development in their own states. There is promise of industrialisation--"we will open more industries and make you prosper".Industries offer jobs to outsiders and the prosperity from industries go their owners and not to the people. The simple people of Himachal Pradesh depend on tourism; they open small industries in their homes  making handicrafts and they try to make a living. They are asking the electioneering candidates questions, "why is the cost of living so high" Simple answers are not available for the simple people. But there is a  promise--"if you elect me, cost of living will go down" The poor people are ready to believe anyone. People are asking for "good roads, railways, colleges, jobs and good hospitals" Unemployment rate is very very high here.The men of the mountainous Himachal Pradesh are forced to leave their home state seeking employment in the army and allied organisations--they search for employment anywhere and everywhere. The hardworking women of Himachal Pradesh live out their lives in harsh conditions; they educate their children and hope that life would be kinder to their children. All are educated, willing to work hard and positive thinking and politically aware people.Can these aspiring politicians understand the problems of the people? They cannot. There is negative campaigning which is detestable.All time in wasted in mud-slinging(slandering each other), and in making un-realisable promises.The real issues are ignored. The election fever is clearly visible, the empathy for the people is entirely missing. In the abode of God Shiva, the snow clad Himachal is looking for real life leaders who will save them. People of Himachal, God loves you, whether politician care or not, it doesn't matter. Lord Shiva will answer their  prayers.

World wide sharing of knowledge

Internet is offers an environment for invention; it brings latest knowledge to the students here and updates them on latest developments. There are new problems which may arise in controlling the net which government wants to do. When the government cannot control the Internet itself, it tries to regulate it. While consulting with Internet platforms, government was advised that they cannot be held liable to third party content and that self-censorship will reduce free flow of information. What the government does not realize is that internet cannot be controlled. It is too vast. Government does not need to fear the internet, as internet reflects the state of affairs here and it can help in creating a solution to the problems we have. Laws were proposed for controlling the Internet. Like the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules 2011. Copyright Amendment Bill aspires to get rid of operational problems and find solutions to newer exigencies. At many times terms cannot be defined properly, like—“sensitive issues” or “grossly harmful” which are used to describe objectionable content. The Internet companies are located outside India and need not follow our rules. Rules cannot put pressure on the intermediaries to mange content or monitor what the users write about. New challenges pose new problems for the government and any apprehension in dealing with them shows incompetence. When people coming from the state of Assam were rushing back to their state, Government tried to stop the reverse migration by stopping social networking sites. But the speed of the Internet was beyond control. Government was too slow to stop people. Fears in the mind of the people cannot be dispensed of by turning the light off. Wrong methods were used, to control people’s movements. Instead by blocking, government could have used the Internet to give the people confidence and assure them that there is no threat to their lives. 
Truth is that government wants an excuse to block. There is no way truth can be hidden. Newspapers say it all; TV channels also reflect reality and these mediums are more explicit. Freedom of speech and expression just cannot be controlled.

Cabinet reshuffle--last bet

Twenty two ministers were sworn in yesterday. Many have been given different ministries from they were working in. Younger ministers have important roles now. Great amount of planning has gone into selection of the minsters and change of portfolios, because this is the last chance. Elections will come in two years; and within the next two years these minsters have show shat they can do. Only then the party will get re-elected.
Those who had performed well last three years were given more important ministries than before. Their merit was recognised. We need stable ministries. Any show of instability means they cannot get reelected. Young  persons were chosen, so that there is fresh way to approach the exigencies. The older political class has tarnished its image by itself. With so many scams, we distrust aged political leaders.Bringing in the young means giving them a chance to prove that they can manage in a modern manner.This is a big change. As a people, we have respect for the elderly and trust for their experience. But now we want to give youth, some power. We have faith in modernism.Moreover young voters will have faith in the young leaders more.Leaders from the Southern states were given important ministries; the South may vote for them in the coming elections. The Northern states may not vote them back. There was thus dominant reason for the changes were with the intention of putting a good show for the coming elections. These were calculated behind the scenes, and thus resulted in the present reshuffle. Lets see what these can do for Nation's betterment.     

Privacy Policy is yet to be made

A Parliamentary Committee has been constituted to study and report on making of 'Privacy Policy' in India. It has come up with several recommendations which will be considered by DOPT(Department of Personnel and Training) ;and it may be drafted by DOPT and adopted to be made into a law. When bio-metric fingerprinting is taken for Aadhar cards or any organization, we have an option to 'opt-out'.While financial status is taken by a bank or DNA profiling is done by a health insurance firm, significant data is collected from the Indian citizen.Does the citizen know that his profile is being made? Does the average Indian know that he has a right to privacy and that he must know what purpose this information is used and whether data is secure? He must now educate himself.
Article 21 of our Constitution has given right to privacy the status of  a fundamental right. It is not discussed in any other section. Only RTI Act on right to information discusses this right. It defines 'which information can be given' and which information the individual seeking is 'entitled to get'.We need a separate department to monitor policy on the right to privacy. Disclosure should not be allowed.Why should anyone know everything about everyone?The degree or proportionality of how much information can be found out without privacy rights being violated. Individual privacy is not be not to be interfered with.  There should be protection to the individual and the rights of others involves should be considered also. And we need a tribunal to settle disputes as a course of action to those who feel that their right to privacy has been violated. Or he may go to court (it takes too long). Or there may be an identity theft, in which case law will dictate course of action.If  someone collects information on the individual, he must know what information is being collected, what are the safeguards, must/should he give the information, and how this information is being used.Collection of data  from the individual should to be limited to the purpose of that particular collection only; for example, a bank can collect only so much information as to open an account, it should not ask more questions.For evaluation of taxes, the bank should not ask questions. Any institution cannot ask personal questions like on religion, on martial status and so on. Sometimes firms ask questions to find out the financial status, for commercial purpose  they want to create a demand by offering shares and so on. So a statutory framework is required on what information can be given and what need not be give.Technologically, we live an age of computers where policies have be sound and modern enough to meet current exigencies. Newer interpretations of 'what is privacy right' is on the make;and the newer definitions have to be integrated with the present day advanced technology(latest). Sharing of data and having no data security laws pose new threats of manipulation of data.While giving our data we must consider  'how personal data is shared'.Social networks in future may spawn litigatory nightmares for users.
There should be privacy law which should cover both government sector and private sector. Choice and consent must be considered by the individual while giving data; if the data is transferred to a third party, the data should be protected. Personal information like medical records cannot be made public.The individual does not know 'what' is detrimental to his privacy. Written rules must be made and it should be publicised. Individual should be given the choice to 'opt-out' if he does not wish to share personal information or data. UIDAI of 2010 is not compulsory,individuals can 'opt-out' and still receive benefits of social welfare schemes.Public Data Portal will give access to its data. National Data Sharing Accessibility Policy 2012, will give access to anoymised data sets generated by UIDAI.
All information cannot be shared. When data is involving historical research or scientific research, it can be shared by all.There are however, limits. For instance media takes undue privileges in interfering with privacy of individuals.Journalistic adventurists love sting operations and frequently indulge in phone tapping. Officially, 'phone tapping'  is dictated by Supreme Court's guidelines;it can be done for sixty days and not beyond eighty days. But there are cases when journalists have tapped phones for year and that too based on an anonymous letter.Court approval should be made mandatory for such interference. Making public a persons name can tarnish a person's reputation, so there is a law saying that names of victims are not to be disclosed in press. But cunning journalists disclose all other aspects of the person(the school, the friends, and locality of the victim) as if pinpointing to the suffering victim tormenting him/her further. To check the arbitrary powers of the press and stop the press from violating privacy rights of the individual, making of privacy policy is most urgent now.This invasion into lives of the individuals must be arrested and privacy rights must be re-defined.
The Indian psyche does not identify "the self" as a distinct identity which has to be kept secret.Our cultural setup evokes groupism and non identification of the distinct "self" or the individual personality.Our traditional mental makeup does not "see" the individual,literally. We are not individualistic in outlook like the Westerners. So the "rights of the individual' is very very new to us.We have yet to comprehend the idea as it is beyond our cultural definitions.We give up our privacy easily, and do not really "recognize" that our identity has to be closely guarded. Modern technology, the Internet, has brought new spheres where our privacy is constantly being invaded. Laws on this have not been evolved yet. A law dealing with our individual rights  of identity is essential otherwise we will be tied up in litigation(fighting over rights and their interpretations) making progress impossible.State interferes with our lives too much, our personal data is not safe with it.Census Act of 1948, does not disclose data, it is not open to inspection.Citizenship Act of 1955 provides for acquisition and determination of Indian citizenship and Citizenship Rules of 2009 do not discuss invasion of privacy. While Centralised Identity Data Register (of UIDAI) does no propose compulsory giving of biometric data, it was coupled with NPR and made mandatory. Now citizens are caught in a vicious web.There is no need for National Population Register which may use biometric technology, originally only a written register was to be kept.NPR is also linked to national intelligence grid, national counter terrorism Centre, draft human DNA profiling Bill, Radio Frequency Identification(transport ministry) and Land titling Bill (rural Development Ministry), Public Information Infrastructure for Innovation, World Bank's eTransform forum and NATO's identification policy. Data bases created are shared with private companies(which actually make them) The act of using the human body as a data, and using personal information as a commodity or resource is unthinkable. But it is being done.We are allowing ourselves to become modern slaves in a potential police state. So let us learn about our rights, and find ways to safeguard them.

Social Security numbers issued

UIDAI or Aadhar platform had been started as a pilot scheme in the state of Rajasthan. In the last two years 210000000 numbers have been issued. Now these will be implemented for various social security schemes. 230000000 have been enrolled and are in the process of being issued. APL(above poverty line) families and BPL(below poverty line) households will be covered under this platform.Cash subsidies will be made instead of Public Distribution system(PDS). Pension for retired, for elderly and for disabled will be made via this number. Even the rural employment scheme(MGNREGA) will be disbursing the payment using this number. Aadhar platform will be used to transfer payments, for workforce(wages) and for scholarships through bank accounts. Mobile alerts will be sent too. But in rural India, there are no Banks, no ATMs as there is no electricity or Internet connectivity, then what? They will not be getting a number?
Making the identity card is complicated. Finger printing is done, irises(eyes) are scanned, and photos are taken to make the card. Poor workers have lost their fingerprints as they work hard with their hands. Many have damaged irises(eyes) and photogrphs can be manipulated. A mobile number is needed, but all may not have mobile phones. Some are given password and a mobile. Instances of false identity cards are rare, this is going to be the biggest biometric database ever made. PDS card is needed for Aadhar card. Bank account is needed. Not all persons have these, so new bank accounts will be opened.
The need for this scheme to become successful is urgently felt, as it can stop leakages. It can arrest corruption. The subsidy can really reach the people instead of being confiscated by the intermediaries. Moreover with this card, people of India can have an identity. And it can connect the government with its people.
Schemes like Annasree will be integrated with Aadhar platform. In the Annasree scheme 200000 families are provided Rs. 600 for food grains. Other subsidies will be linked too.
OK, if government gives away the national wealth so easily and systematically, its treasury will become empty fast. And then it would complain about fiscal deficit, inflation and economic crisis and so on. Even Lord Krishna was stopped by giving away  his wealth to Sudhama.And he was God whose wealth could not be depleted. What will happen when we have nothing to give away?Best thing that the government should do is to provide employment for its people. So that they can buy their food themselves. Now if people do not get their free money, they will revolt and that would become totally unmanageable.

Small scale sellers

Unorganized sector workers have now a social security Bill, Street Vendors Bill of 2012. It has been known that the poor migrants sell small items in the streets to make a living. They need protection from crime and their livelihoods have to be protected. Many urban centers have given licenses to sell to the registered hawkers/street vendors. In Delhi more than 120000 persons have applied for registration, but none have received licenses.In Mumbai,220000 persons have be noted selling in the streets. The municipal commissioners(mayors) make their own rules on whether to recognize the street vendors or not. Grievances redressal committee has to investigate why the commissioners do not pay attention to these poor persons.There is pressure to recognize these persons by the central government. Many make rules to cancel the vendor's licenses. There is no regulation for protection of street vendors. There is no mandate,so there were no rights given to the vendors.Rules were on the make, fine of Rs. 2000 will be charged if vendor sells without a  license. When a license is made, the identity details are noted; often nothing can be found, they have no homes, they come from far off places, they sell negligible items, balloon, cotton candy, ice cream, popcorn or street foods.Those who have been selling for a long time will get priority. Migrants resort to street vending as the last resort. With no identity, how can a license be made? With no valid address, they are truly lost people.
Many like to shop items sold by street vendors. Vendors supplement the shops and are not a competition to the shops. Often shop keepers bribe the policemen to chase away the vendors. When we visit monuments, the street vendors rush to us selling memorabilia or souvenirs at cheap prices. At once we feel that the poverty is result of monumental mistakes made by the government. The ancient monument is as ancient as poverty. Poverty is live and the stone monument is dead.Poverty depresses us and the marvels of the ancient monument is immediately forgotten.
That is why the National Advisory Committee has drafted the Street Vendors Bill. These poor sellers form the natural market. They should be given space. Otherwise they find their own locations which are viable. Poor children are mostly selling in the streets. They should be allowed after school hours to sell and make a living. Some social security must be given to the street vendors. When women sell, they have to encounter violence in the streets(remarks too). Some credit may be given so that they have a fixed way of living. Some insurance is needed as their wares are easily lost or confiscated by thieves or policemen. Mainly policemen confiscate or ask for a bribe if wares are to be returned.
Which zones would be given for them to sell? May be a layout plan be made. ID cards may be issued to the vendors.If vendors cannot be located to a new zone, they should be given some money as compensation.Often violent persons confiscate the wares of the vendors, even the police confiscates.Then what?Their zones should fixed and they should not be evicted, they should be given education on their rights. Their vending sites should be identified. They are the informal economy, they should be given supporting space.When we complain that our economy is not doing well, did we ever think how these street people live?

Food Security?

Food Day was celebrated with view of creating awareness about cooperatives. Activity of farming involves cooperation among many persons. And as farmers, we know this. Some of the Indian states have succeeded well in making effective cooperatives like the state of Maharashtra. Some states have made very good milk cooperatives, like the state of Gujarat. All cooperatives do not work out well in all states. Sometimes government's interference is not always fruitful. Autonomous cooperatives are better in giving better outputs and in creating satisfactory sharing relationships among farming community. We have progressed well in helping the farming communities. National Cooperatives Development Cooperation(NCDC) has made farming highly profitable. From weather to market trends, from seeds to harvests, farmer gets assistance. ICT services are available to the farmer, MMS or mobile calls are sent to help the farmer, Internet has helped the farmer in a big way.NCDC was established by an ACT of Parliament in 1963. Recently SRI system  was used for intensive rice cultivation, and ICRISAT has helped farmers farm better. We have success stories like NAFED which is a cooperative. IFFCO was made in 1975 to distribute fertilisers to the farmers.AGROMET is effective in bringing technology to the people. In the state of Arunachal Pradesh, eArik is highly effectual; there is hope more success stories will emerge.
As long as we keep the farmer central in farming there is hope for more and more development. By bringing in FDI in farming sector, there is coporatation of agriculture. Easily multi million companies will buy out the farmer.We cannot outsource the farmer, because we are a nation of farmers. Agriculture is not a  business, it is a way of life for the people of India. If small and marginal farmers do no cooperate, then Public Private Partnership models may take over their lands and weaken the farming community.  At first PPP(Public Private Partnership) might make the farmer a partner in progress, but later on, they would get rid of the farmer in their business.Strength of the farmer lies in their unity--united in cooperatives.Thus awareness must be created among farmers to realise their position in these precarious times. Participatory organisations will emerge among the rural people,somehow.
Food Security Bill has been proposed and is yet to be passed. Alterations in the Bill may make it less effective. And its intentions have become diluted. Standing Committee is determined to make it into a legislation. Meanwhile, large amount of grains lie rotting in government's storehouses. Sometimes trains dump the grains as there is no place to store it in. There was bumper crop this year, but food prices are rising instead. While we buy grains like rice and wheat in ever increasing costs, the produce of the land goes wasted.And the real poor go hungry, their children are malnourished. Distribution policies are ineffective, and management of food grains is poor. This has resulted in a loss of 1.3 billion tonnes of grains,down the drain...while millions go without food. Government is grossly mismanaged. We cannot outsource them! So we have food security because granaries are full. But we cannot secure food for the poor because the government is inefficient. These are our thoughts on World Food Day today--October 16

Why is India still backward?

We were always dependent on the belief that we will get newer technology from Western countries which would fuel our growth. But that has not happened. We should spend on research on developing our energy potentials and on making better computer applications, and on developing new disease resistant plant species and so on. Western countries do not help India constructively. In the name of “help” they dump old technologies here, while keeping the latest discoveries, inventions and innovations to themselves. This further hampers our progress. We would always be lagging behind if we wait for Western countries to help us. We must do research and development ourselves, and arrive at new methods and develop technologies ourselves for our betterment. We must spend on research so that we can efficiently use our natural resources and distribute its benefits evenly to our people. Foreign powers would only invest projects in which they would get returns while giving an impression that they are helping us. When giving aid, they look down upon us as if doing a very big generous deed, while just discarding old stuff. When farmers in the West were told to use organic manure, Indian farmers were told to use fertilizers and chemical pesticides. It was known that it would create health hazards for our people.

We must develop energy reserves by effectively using our natural resources. We must assess global energy security, and develop that which we cannot be bought from outside at cheap rates. For instance we must see how volatile oil price is, or how cheap coal is available outside India, whether developing our gas reserves would be costlier than getting from outside. We must ensure cheap energy to our people, and guess their demands; we must learn how to give energy to our people more efficiently.For instant making power stations which would take greater loads and distribute power more efficiently. Make substations where the load is too great, and avert power grid failures.No one can do this for us. We must also teach our people to efficiently diligently use our resources. We must always remember that nobody can innovate for us, we must innovate for ourselves.
There were native species of rice which were highly suitable to diabetics. We did not know this and we took new species of rice from outside India. This caused the incidence of diabetics to shoot up in our population.So,we should not copy or imitate others.

We are a big country with plentiful mineral wealth and fertile land.We do not have shortages of resources, we need better governance and more dedication towards our country and more compassion towards our people. This will bring us out of backwardness and ensure good life for our future generations.

Plight of the girl child

International Day of the Girl Child was observed( last week) with concerted efforts to eradicate child marriage but it is meaningless in India. Here a member of Parliament proposed that the minimum legal age of marriage should be reduced from 18 years to 16 years so that crimes like gang rape do not take place.During past month more than 15 rapes had taken place in the state of Haryana and when questioned the Committee member or spokesperson had said that 90% of rapes are consensual. These persons must know what crime is before they speak on it.A gang rape was recorded and sent as MMS clip further propagating such crimes; the victim had committed suicide as she could not overcome the trauma. Even a policeman stood as guard while the recording was going on. This is the state of the law here This is outrageous! We call ourselves the oldest living civilisation. We should call ourselves oldest in uncivilised people. Political class makes capital of of this issue too, instead of finding ways to resolve it.
There is lack of education on this subject among the people. Victims suffer much.When no proper prosecution is made, there is no strict legal action.  This is the state of the law here.How to cope with these crimes? Conviction rate is low as this gives bad name to the victim and her family. Law enforcers are not trained enough to know what is crime or what is wrong behaviour. The NCW(National Commission for Women) should be more empowered. More organisations have to be created; so that there is more awareness among the people on rights of the girl/women. May be the Goddess to whom the people pray to,'Durga Devi' will help in giving power to the women to overcome terrible evils.
On the part of the government, as it is there is much effort needed in providing food and water to the people. Then come needs of housing, development, health and education. But now controlling crime seems to be more urgent than meeting all other needs.

Jan Satyagrah has won

More than 50 thousand protesters (members of Jan satyagrah movement) were marching towards New Delhi demanding their rights; they were stopped at Agra(nearby Delhi) and their demands were agreed upon.  Jan satyagrah protesters had started from Orissa, they were marching through Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Bihar, Andra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. These people were from rural India  they were agricultural laborers, landless farmers and those who had lost their lands. All they had needed a small strip of land to make their homes and little land to farm. They have nothing and they are fighting for rights over their 'Jal Jamin and Jungle' (water land and forests)
This movement had started in 2007 with 25 thousand persons. It was called Ektha Parishad and it was started at Gwalior  Madya Pradesh. Later it was called Jan Sandh in 2008. And now it has started again as Jan Satyagrah, now it has succeeded at last. If it was not resolved now, it would have become a very big issue since it got media's attention, and political class would be held responsible for not caring for its people.
Ten of the demands made by the Jan Satyagrah were agreed upon and a pact was signed.The Union Minister (for Rural Development) has promised them that 10 cents of land would be given to every landless farmer for making a homestead. Firstly, within six months, land policy would be made (drafted).Accurate land records could be made as early as possible. Now we have the technology to make this. Computerization of land records is highly valuable now. Existing land of SC and ST would be protected too.
Many tribal people had lost rights over their land completely. This was because government wanted to please the investors and acquired  lands of the poor people for huge projects. People were promised jobs and investors were invited.Rights of the people were always overlooked, jobs were never given.Government must be responsible for its people's welfare first.People should have their share of land and its resources, before allocating to industrialists. Secondly fast track tribunal courts must be made so that pending cases on disputes over property rights. Eleven lakh cases are still pending in courts for over five decades.Legal aid would be given to needy.
What 'kind of land' should be acquired should be decided upon; because extremely fertile land is taken away for projects and this is a big waste.Even when law had allocated land to tribal population, they were denied rights.Implementation is flawed.
Common laws should be made for whole of India. If it is left to the states, then there is possibility that different policies would be made and that would not benefit the farming people.Some states give bigger concessions to  investors and overlook the rights of the people.Some states have a political angle and want to use land policy to suit their electoral requirements.Will promises be kept? Or will they be just 'misses'. They were happy that they were able to express their problems and they are sure that their needs will be met.
Thus the demands of the land protesters were at last heard. And this renews our faith in our country--we are going towards a better future....  

Ecological Crisis is here

It is not economic crisis or political crisis that threatens India's future, it is ecological crisis that is leading us to disaster. There is water scarcity, and different states are fighting over water rights. When the Supreme Court has given orders to release water from dam(in Karnataka) to an adjacent state(Tamil Nadu) which has no rivers and water problem, it is not carried out. On Monday, water was stopped against orders. States claim to be little republics on their own as if the Indian Union means nothing to them.
The rivers are the real life lines of India. Human settlements formed where there was supply of water--on river banks. The population of the settlement indicated the supply of water in the lakes or rivers nearby. Wells were dug and small villages or hamlets grew around them. The steady flow of water sustained the people there. And people took only the water which they needed and thus kept the flow of the river in a steady speed. But with greater industrialisation, we could no longer be content; and we reduced the flow of the river--stagnating it in dams, storing for agriculture and used it for generating electricity. Drainage system of mainland India cannot sustain a large population.Water from the perennial rivers and streams cannot supply water for all year round. Now rivers are reduced to sewage drains. Water Pollution Control Board was established in 1974, it can do nothing to control pollution for it has no power. River cleaning projects are given crores and crores of Rupees but no river has been cleaned and restored. Many rivers have completely dried up(like Tamiraparani) and have disappeared altogether. Along with the river, the legends--essence of our culture, also disappears. Rivers are encroached upon. Sand is mined and taken away for construction activities.
 Water policies do not matter anymore, it is people's will that is a hurdle to progress. Nobody allows water to be given to a neighbouring state which has dried up rivers.Competitive rights are unsustainable; people are going against the law of the land to evade sharing water rights. There is need to change the mindsets of the engineers--we should store the water in the ground water table itself and take it when needed. Dams and en catchments do not work out on the long run.Projects for generating electricity do not turn out well as they were planned to be They produce 20% of the capacity they were meant to produce. When the flow is gone, then how will electricity be produced? Yamuna's 22 km(which is 2% of it total length) stretch accounts for 70% of pollution in it. What regulatory measure can take to stop this pollution?Sewage treatment plants do not work, as there are no regulatory bodies to control and regulate its activities. To save rivers, we have to keep it flowing. So we do not have living rivers(only legends of rivers last).We live in the land of dying rivers where desertification has begun. Originally we had 14 major rivers, 44 medium size rivers and 55 minor rivers--we were once a country full of rivers. Our civilisation took root in their banks.Now where will we go without water in our rivers?

Saving-Our Land our Water and Biodiversity

Contaminated land can be restored of its fertility. And water in rivers and streams can be purified. Riparian zones can be made on river banks and soil can be conserved. Riparian zone is the area between the land and the river ---25 feet to 100 feet on either banks. If plants which act as filters are grown here,they can improve the water quality and de-nitrify nitrates and phosphorous from the pesticides and fertilizers from the adjoining fields. Even the ground water can be purified. The de-nitrification can turn the contaminants into biomass which would increase the fertility of the soil.When shallow ground water moves through the riparian buffer zone micro organisms change nitrate into gaseous nitrogen. Thus poorly aerated soil under anaerobic conditions develop micro organisms which turn nitrous oxide into nitrogen gas.This is de nitrification process taking place at the level of roots--interaction between environment at ground below and the vegetation above. This magic of riparian buffer takes place at a quite narrow zone, but goes on the whole year around constantly revitalising the soil. as the vegetation removes nitrogen and phosphorous,the nutrients are absorbed into herbaceous plants and thus recycled constantly.The buffer zone protects the river thus reduces sedimentation. Possibility of floods and landslides is reduced, we must give the river space to swell as per rainfall or snow melt.We have to just plant the native vegetation and a  new biome comes into being. Riparian zone allows water to soak into ground in filtered form, recharging the ground water table while cleansing the water. New ecological cycle would be formed with an aquatic food web evolving side by side. Fish stocks can be restored and fodder for livestock can be farmed. Indian scientists have found that a wild weed named parthenium can increase bio-mass several folds, other grasses like Carex or Juncus can be planted.All chemicals in soil can be removed by different plant species, and soil restored of its fertility.Chemicals in water and air can be thus be turned into bio-mass.We can reclaim land contaminated by chemicals from factories,we can clean the polluted water too. Mine reclamation can be done.Ground water can also be purified of pesticides and fertilizer residues.There is one limit and that is that nuclear waste cannot be removed from the soil, water or air. So if people are protesting that no nuclear plant should be made near their homes, there is a valid reason for that--we are poisoning our own land and water. Just like a fish out of water, we have to live panting without a clean environment(air and water). And that means death to us and fishes.....

 

Protests and people's questions

Protests are now going on every where, there are more than 50 thousand farmers marching towards New Delhi because they have no livelihoods; there are those who are standing at seasides on the ocean  protesting against nuclear power plant at Kudankullam; there are those who are protesting against rising cost of living; there are those who are asking the central government why they do not have any allocation for development in their state. Some want river water to be shared and the Supreme Court has given orders to do so. But others protest that water should not be given when the order has already been executed. Now what?All are raising questions. Some want answers from government on why prices are high? Others like the economic reforms as it would bring in money from foreign countries; non-resident Indians are eager to invest in India, their homeland. Protesters want job in their state from projects in their own state(Noida,UP) Some want explanation on why the son-in-law of the Nation's leader has accumulated immense wealth. Speculations are many. This is one of the rare times that the newspaper reporters have lot to write about. 

Economic reforms as political capital

At once many many economic reforms have been made at a very high speed, Foreign direct Investment has been raised to 49% in Pension bill,there will be a regulatory authority of the government.Foreign Direct Investment in insurance sectors has been made 49%, from 26%. A bill has been made to amend the Forwards Contracts(Regulation) Act to strengthen future markets. This is an agreement to buy and sell goods (food stuffs or metals) on a future date but the price would be set at the present.More amendments were made like that one on Companies Bill which is meant to overhaul corporate governance norms. This amendment would make directors more accountable and give shareholders more power.The strategy is that, if these reforms are opposed, then the government can say we tried to bring reforms but he opposition did not help us.These are the same reforms that the present ruling government had opposed when it was in the opposition. We are now bombarded by reforms. With election coming, they have to prove that they are not under the syndrome "policy paralysis" Reforms are  a form of capital that it is investing upon to get good election results.
While all these reforms are taking place, there is constant exposures or scams.They cause disillusionment among the people. Where is country heading towards? People do not know what to agree with or what to disagree with. Now women have united themselves to lower the prices of gas(cooking gas and diesel) Can the government do that now, with the economy in a bad condition?
 

How do Indians make a living?

The Indian government does not provide employment to the masses of people living in India. The livelihood of the average people depends on simple needs of life. The average Indian (who has not inherited large properties) buys and sells vegetables. If he makes a little more money than his immediate needs, he buys a pushcart and sells more varieties of vegetables in bigger towns. He will try hard and earn little more by selling in more neighbourhoods. If he makes a little profit, he may rent a little room and convert it into a shop selling grains pulses, tea and soaps. Some Indians start a little tailoring unit; hiring a few persons, they make garments and market them. Some make leather goods like shoes or bags in a small factory. Some buy recycled plastics and mould new marketable items like chairs or shelves, on a small scale basis. With these small profits which they make,they can buy few food stuffs with  which they live. If large industries invade India, and if large retail shops offer items at lower rates, then these small businessmen will have no way of making a living.
With the state of the simple persons in India being so delicate, greater thought must go into making policy decisions in bringing in FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) which would encourage the growth of chain stores.
Lifestyle of consumerism has not hit India yet. People live life in a simple manner. Coming of large chain stores and advertising new lifestyles will bring in consumerism in a big way. This will alter our culture and way of life. What will the change in culture do to India? Do we want that change? These implications are never thought of. Capitalism and Western lifestyles are here and we cannot walk away from them. We continue being Indian and have already changed our economic outlooks. If this continues, what would future be like?

National Holiday

Mahatma Gandhi was born 143 years ago today, and he taught us how to fight for independence from foreign rule. He is the Father of our Nation.All schools and colleges observed a National Holiday, youth are aware of his values. His life, his principles and quotes from his writings are remembered by all. Even today his ideals are relevant.He is still our role model, he wanted to reform society but he was selfless and did not seek power. His values of simplicity, compassion and love for humanity are timeless.Good Indian families teach their children hard work patience, silent protest, love for ones country and its people. Unfortunately, many of us start worshipping his idol and forget his teachings. Many of the misled do not give hardworking people dignity which they deserve; instead, we give respect only to the wealthy. We are in perpetual crisis because we live on values of falsehood and pursue materialism.Our country has grown very very big since Gandhi's times. We live in an age of web networks, which is very very big too;we should become more knowledgeable. We have hope that the young people of India will remember his values and bring about a more just society in the future.