This is the typical mind-set of any human being. Unless people learn to take a little risk - the level of risk which people always take at their workplaces or during traveling to the work places – no developmental work to improve the living conditions can take place in the country. The West Bengal government always remained anti-industry, causing the industrialists to shift their industries to the more obliging states.
Now, the agitation is to stop nuclear power plants coming in Haripur of East Midnapore. Every one knows that unlike fossil-fuel based thermal power plants, the nuclear power plants do not pollute the environment. Radiation dose received by population living around the plants get negligibly radiation dose. India has considerable expertise in managing nuclear plants safely. Then, why the resistance? The benefits out-weigh risks.
It looks it is only a political issue. The affected persons are likely to be rehabilitated; they will get jobs, get supporting small businesses and of-course the much needed electricity for developmental activities. Like Nandigram, story will be repeated at Haripur. It will again be loss to Bengal.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
India leads - 140,000 road mishap fatalities in 2007
It is indeed shocking and shameful news for every Indian! Human error has been identified as the single largest cause of road accidents. There are very issues to be tackled to reduce this number. The very first reason is the procedure for granting driving license is not at all stringent. Other important reasons are: non-availability of immediate medical care to the accident victims due to red-tapism; use of mobile phones and earplugs while driving; improper road furniture, driving after consuming alcohol, inadequate traffic control measures, etc. Added to this, corruption is rampant in this sector.
The India government should take immediate measures to curb this trend and ensure road safety. There are too many vehicles on the city roads. Unless the existing laws are strictly enforced, the situation is not likely to improve. Who cares?
The India government should take immediate measures to curb this trend and ensure road safety. There are too many vehicles on the city roads. Unless the existing laws are strictly enforced, the situation is not likely to improve. Who cares?
Monday, October 5, 2009
Swine flu in India – An update
As per the SIFY news quoting union health ministry, four new swine flu deaths, all of them from Maharashtra State, were reported this Sunday, taking the country's toll due to the contagious virus to 344. With these deaths, the toll in Maharashtra has gone up to 139, the highest among the states in the country. The state sees 7% rise in H1N1 cases in September. The medical officer (epidemic) of the state health services said that throat swabs of only severely ill patients are being tested for the virus since mid-August.
At least 164 fresh infections were reported taking the total number of cases in the country to 10,894. Among the states, Maharashtra has maximum number of cases with 3,024, closely followed by Delhi where around 2,800 people have been infected by the influenza A (H1N1) virus. A study carried out in New Delhi indicated that surgical masks are as good as the costly N95 respirators recommended for preventing the infection.
WHO is actively monitoring the progress of the pandemic through frequent consultations with the WHO Regional Offices and member states and through monitoring of multiple sources of data. As of 27 September 2009, worldwide there have been more than 343,000 laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 and over 4100 deaths reported to WHO. All pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza viruses analyzed to date have been antigenically and genetically similar to A/California/7/2009-like pandemic H1N1 2009 virus.
Everyone is waiting for an effective and safe vaccine to control the spread of the virus.
At least 164 fresh infections were reported taking the total number of cases in the country to 10,894. Among the states, Maharashtra has maximum number of cases with 3,024, closely followed by Delhi where around 2,800 people have been infected by the influenza A (H1N1) virus. A study carried out in New Delhi indicated that surgical masks are as good as the costly N95 respirators recommended for preventing the infection.
WHO is actively monitoring the progress of the pandemic through frequent consultations with the WHO Regional Offices and member states and through monitoring of multiple sources of data. As of 27 September 2009, worldwide there have been more than 343,000 laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 and over 4100 deaths reported to WHO. All pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza viruses analyzed to date have been antigenically and genetically similar to A/California/7/2009-like pandemic H1N1 2009 virus.
Everyone is waiting for an effective and safe vaccine to control the spread of the virus.
Monday, September 7, 2009
India’s annual inflation rate continues to be negative week after week!
The government has again reported negative inflation rate for the week ended on 22 August 2009. The inflation rate is based on the Wholesale price index. The government’s view is that the wholesale price index is more closely tracked than consumer-price gauges for economic analysis, as it captures prices of a higher number of products and is released weekly. How the WPI can be negative when the prices of food items at retail level have gone up over 20%?
Union Finance Minister announced that 2004-05 as the base year for the calculation of inflation rate based on wholesale price index (WPI) series in the country. Replying to a question on price indices in the Lok Sabha, the minister said the WPI series is being upgraded with base year 2004-05 in lieu of the existing one with base year 1993-94. He said that the index would provide a better picture of the current scenario of prices.
On the other hand, the consumer price index, which is released on a monthly basis, rose 11.89 percent in July from 9.29 percent in June, as per the government data. The basket in consumer price index measures prices of logically used items by the common man. This index takes into account prices for house rentals, toiletries, phones and school fees.
There are some realistic recommendations made by DNA Analysis, viz., WPI is the least reliable barometer of the price behavior and hence should not be used as a yardstick to express inflation affecting the common man. Consumer price index should be made more comprehensive and should be used, calculated on a monthly basis.
The present arrangement of calculating the inflation rate based on WPI is faulty and should not be used for the calculation of any compensations or allowances.
Union Finance Minister announced that 2004-05 as the base year for the calculation of inflation rate based on wholesale price index (WPI) series in the country. Replying to a question on price indices in the Lok Sabha, the minister said the WPI series is being upgraded with base year 2004-05 in lieu of the existing one with base year 1993-94. He said that the index would provide a better picture of the current scenario of prices.
On the other hand, the consumer price index, which is released on a monthly basis, rose 11.89 percent in July from 9.29 percent in June, as per the government data. The basket in consumer price index measures prices of logically used items by the common man. This index takes into account prices for house rentals, toiletries, phones and school fees.
There are some realistic recommendations made by DNA Analysis, viz., WPI is the least reliable barometer of the price behavior and hence should not be used as a yardstick to express inflation affecting the common man. Consumer price index should be made more comprehensive and should be used, calculated on a monthly basis.
The present arrangement of calculating the inflation rate based on WPI is faulty and should not be used for the calculation of any compensations or allowances.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
World Water Crisis
In 1992, the UN General Assembly designated March 22 as "World Water Day" to draw international attention to the critical lack of clean, safe drinking water worldwide. World Water Day is celebrated since 1993. Nearly 1.1 billion people (roughly 20% of the world’s population) lack access to safe drinking water. The lack of clean, safe drinking water is estimated to kill almost 4,500 children per day. Water is essential to the treatment of diseases, something especially critical for children and aged people.
The amount of water in the world is finite. The number of us is growing fast and our water use is growing even faster. This problem isn’t confined to a particular region of the world. A third of the world's population lives in water-stressed countries now. By 2025, this is expected to rise to two-thirds.
The world water crisis is created by a confluence of factors including climate and geography, lack of water systems and infrastructure, and natural and man-made pollution of water resources. The crisis is worst in developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Countries depend only on rains for drinking water. The lack of clean water, coupled with the lack of basic sanitation and a dearth of hygiene education, is one of the largest obstacles to progress and development in these regions and across the world. Time has come to use hi-tech for the production of pure drinking water.
Let all the citizens of the world get sensitized about the world water scarcity which may lead to one of the largest public health issues of our time. World media should wake up to this reality.
Save Water. Do not pollute water. Consume less water. Water is precious.
The amount of water in the world is finite. The number of us is growing fast and our water use is growing even faster. This problem isn’t confined to a particular region of the world. A third of the world's population lives in water-stressed countries now. By 2025, this is expected to rise to two-thirds.
The world water crisis is created by a confluence of factors including climate and geography, lack of water systems and infrastructure, and natural and man-made pollution of water resources. The crisis is worst in developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Countries depend only on rains for drinking water. The lack of clean water, coupled with the lack of basic sanitation and a dearth of hygiene education, is one of the largest obstacles to progress and development in these regions and across the world. Time has come to use hi-tech for the production of pure drinking water.
Let all the citizens of the world get sensitized about the world water scarcity which may lead to one of the largest public health issues of our time. World media should wake up to this reality.
Save Water. Do not pollute water. Consume less water. Water is precious.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Reliance – Washing the dirty linen in public
The Reliance Group of companies of Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani together is the largest corporate house in India today. They together can make or break India’s economy. Under such circumstances, in the public and national interest, India government should mediate immediately to sort out the differences rather than supporting one group or the other. The route-cause of the issue should be identified and rectified at the earliest and remedial measures should be taken by the ministries concerned at the intervention of the Prime Minister. The country is being taken for ransom by the irresponsible brothers and this should not be tolerated.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Aquaguard system from Eureka Forbes
There are at-least four models right now being used by consumers for purification of water for drinking purpose. I use Compact System where it is claimed that water is going through a 3-stage purification system and by e-boiling, every drop is as pure, as safe as water boiled for 20 minutes. It is also claimed that some Electronic Eye continuously scans water to give 100% pure water or no water. I have a few genuine doubts which could not be cleared by the company representatives.
It is high time that the mushrooming companies selling water purification systems are regulated by the Indian government so that the gullible customers are not taken for a ride by so-called marketing executives.
1. Without water testing results how the company can claims that the individual user is drinking 100% pure water? Free water testing, on quarterly basis, should be part of the Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC).
2. How the company ensures that water flow rate doesn’t exceed 1 l.p.m as given in the technical specifications. The sales executives visiting houses are not technically competent enough to satisfy the customers.
3. In AMC, only twice a year the compact cartridge (sediment cum activated carbon) is changed. Whether it is adequate?
4. I suspect the role and effectiveness of the UV system used by the company.
5. Does the customer get his money’s worth? The Compact system costs over Rs.7500/-.
5. Whether all the models sold by the company are equally good in giving the necessary results?
Can somebody answer these questions?
It is high time that the mushrooming companies selling water purification systems are regulated by the Indian government so that the gullible customers are not taken for a ride by so-called marketing executives.
1. Without water testing results how the company can claims that the individual user is drinking 100% pure water? Free water testing, on quarterly basis, should be part of the Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC).
2. How the company ensures that water flow rate doesn’t exceed 1 l.p.m as given in the technical specifications. The sales executives visiting houses are not technically competent enough to satisfy the customers.
3. In AMC, only twice a year the compact cartridge (sediment cum activated carbon) is changed. Whether it is adequate?
4. I suspect the role and effectiveness of the UV system used by the company.
5. Does the customer get his money’s worth? The Compact system costs over Rs.7500/-.
5. Whether all the models sold by the company are equally good in giving the necessary results?
Can somebody answer these questions?
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