I used to spend 20 hours in office when I was a bachelor, spent mostly on browsing, blogging, reading blogs and work with Photoshop, sometimes I do work(believe me guys). Now as per my family commitments, I wake up at 6:30am to get milk from milk store(I never seen 6:30 am when I was in delhi) and I rush to my house before 7pm, after then we used to go for purchasing for our daily survival.
Yesterday I was carrying one bag full of provisions in one hand and in another I was carrying vegetable bag, infact my wife also carrying a bag in street. Its a pleasant thing that fulfilling the commitments.WOW, this is the first time I felt that I am a family man, though I was with my parents I never felt that. Bachelors! make a note,I am a satisfied family man....
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Have a hangover? Try extract from cactus, study suggests
When I am going through one of a health website, I found a good report that says the remedy for handover. see a part of the report.
An extract from the prickly pear cactus helps relieve nausea, dry mouth and appetite loss when taken ahead of time, according to a study published Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The risk of severe hangovers was cut in half.
However, there was no statistically significant improvement in headache, soreness, weakness, tremulousness, diarrhea or dizziness.
Depending on their body weight, volunteers drank between five and 10 drinks of vodka, gin, rum, bourbon, scotch or tequila. Those who drank liquor containing more impurities, such as bourbon, had worse hangovers than those who drank clear booze, such as vodka, with fewer impurities.
Hangovers are believed to be caused by poor sleep, dehydration and the body's immune response to something in the alcohol, perhaps the impurities. It appears prickly pear interferes with this immune response, said lead researcher Dr. Jeff Wiese of Tulane Health Sciences Center.
The study included 64 adults aged 21 to 35. Hangover symptoms were rated on a 0-6 scale, with 6 the worst. For example, volunteers who took prickly pear rated their nausea an average of 1.0, while those who took a placebo rated it 1.8. The total score for all nine hangover symptoms was 14.9 in the placebo group and 12.2 in the prickly pear group.
The study was funded by the manufacturer of HPF Hangover Prevention Formula, an extract of the fruit of the prickly pear cactus.
Prickly pear extracts are available in some health supplement stores. The brand used in the study, HPF, is available on the internet or by calling (800) 720-2970. It costs $24.95 for 10 capsules; it takes one capsule for each 130 pounds of body weight.
Researchers acknowledged concerns that making hangovers less miserable might encourage binge drinking. However, hangovers have "never been shown to effectively deter alcohol consumption," they wrote.
And the best cure, they added, is to not drink in the first place.
An extract from the prickly pear cactus helps relieve nausea, dry mouth and appetite loss when taken ahead of time, according to a study published Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The risk of severe hangovers was cut in half.
However, there was no statistically significant improvement in headache, soreness, weakness, tremulousness, diarrhea or dizziness.
Depending on their body weight, volunteers drank between five and 10 drinks of vodka, gin, rum, bourbon, scotch or tequila. Those who drank liquor containing more impurities, such as bourbon, had worse hangovers than those who drank clear booze, such as vodka, with fewer impurities.
Hangovers are believed to be caused by poor sleep, dehydration and the body's immune response to something in the alcohol, perhaps the impurities. It appears prickly pear interferes with this immune response, said lead researcher Dr. Jeff Wiese of Tulane Health Sciences Center.
The study included 64 adults aged 21 to 35. Hangover symptoms were rated on a 0-6 scale, with 6 the worst. For example, volunteers who took prickly pear rated their nausea an average of 1.0, while those who took a placebo rated it 1.8. The total score for all nine hangover symptoms was 14.9 in the placebo group and 12.2 in the prickly pear group.
The study was funded by the manufacturer of HPF Hangover Prevention Formula, an extract of the fruit of the prickly pear cactus.
Prickly pear extracts are available in some health supplement stores. The brand used in the study, HPF, is available on the internet or by calling (800) 720-2970. It costs $24.95 for 10 capsules; it takes one capsule for each 130 pounds of body weight.
Researchers acknowledged concerns that making hangovers less miserable might encourage binge drinking. However, hangovers have "never been shown to effectively deter alcohol consumption," they wrote.
And the best cure, they added, is to not drink in the first place.
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Bill Gates could join the ranks of bloggers
Yes, the world's richest man may start his own blog, one of those online diaries that have been the rage among techies for the past three or four years
David Gristwood has posted on his blog- 21 Rules of Thumb – How Microsoft develops its Software 21 Rules of Thumb on how MS develops its software. Pretty interesting stuff, particularly the focus on teamwork and the need for continuous assessment. Quite an interesting read for anyone in dev or in tech mgmt.
David Gristwood has posted on his blog- 21 Rules of Thumb – How Microsoft develops its Software 21 Rules of Thumb on how MS develops its software. Pretty interesting stuff, particularly the focus on teamwork and the need for continuous assessment. Quite an interesting read for anyone in dev or in tech mgmt.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Why BPO jobs?
Call center and ITES renovated Indian IT market better in the last year. I found a article which shows how BPOS jobs are better(?!) to join, with my comments.
First, ten reasons why you should join a BPO.
1).One can earn a quick buck and lots of it. The companies provide excellent remuneration packages compared to other industries. Freshers get anywhere between Rs 8,000 and Rs 18,000 per month depending on how much he/she can negotiate with the HR. Salaries sky rocket from Rs 10,000 to anywhere above Rs 35,000 if one decides to stick for three to four years
2) No technical qualification required (here fresh graduates fits and get jobs)
3) No investment needed to upgrade yourself unlike many other professions.
4) One’s communication skills can be greatly improved. Many shysters end up as articulate dudes.The call centres run Personality Development Programmes free of cost along with regular product and voice training. If you want to do it on your own, it will cost you at least Rs 8000.
5) You can actually imbibe a lot of knowledge depending on the industry you are working for, i.e insurance, finance, accounting, telecom, auto, computer hardware etc. The companies also provide international certifications for the industry trained in.(to show to their clients that they have qualified people)
6) You may be made to undergo the six-sigma and other quality control programmes hugely in demand in the corporate world.
7) You get good food for free and lots of recreational activities like gym, swimming pool, billiards, Internet for free. Also, one gets free home pick up and drops in AC cabs.(away from rush and sweating in bus travel, dont want to loose perfume smell till office)
8) The work environment of most of the international call centres is truly world class. Also, most of the international BPO firms insure their employees for free. Plus, there are parties and get togethers at excellent hotels and discs on weekends all paid by the company. Camping tours are also arranged by the companies at hill resorts. (to enjoy the youth)
9)There open feedback sessions during training which help you to know your strengths and weaknesses. You also learn team building skills and management.
10) Working in a BPO also helps while applying for a Visa to a foreign country . It gives you added points and helps if you are planning to immigrate as you are already familiar with their culture.
Yes, I know it sounds too good to be true
10 reasons why you should not work in an international call centre-
1) The calls become monotonous after some time and you cease to enjoy your work. It gives little value addition to one’s personality after some time.
2)The life cycle gets topsy turvy. It becomes very difficult to adjust the body clock if one has worked in the night shift for over an year. If the shift is changing on a weekly basis, it is yet more difficult to adjust. One may develop several health problems which may persist over a long period((I dont like night shifts, as Call center operated mostly in night time accordingly to US day time)
3)Culture is totally changing to western model, loosing our traditional, dating are very casual in these profile(I give more importantance)
4) Along with training for a foreign accent, the trainers also encourage you to mould yourself into a particular culture. This may create deep psychological imbalance. It is difficult to lead a dual existence without uprooting oneself from the past.
5) One may get used to a foreign accent absolutely. It may sound vague and funny if spoken outside. Peers may think you are showing off and even worse if you are going for an interview in some other sector. (pete vidathan)
6) Experience in a call centre counts for little in other industries. One may find it difficult to change careers or even pursue higher studies.
7) The increasing pressure to achieve targets along with the changing body clock may develop long term stress and hypertension.
8) Easy money without any technical qualification may crush the impulse to educate further. This may create difficulty while trying to change industries. The easy money also makes one accustomed to a luxurious lifestyle.
9) The racial discrimination and abuses experienced from foreigners during calls may seriously affect one’s ego. (only for who works in call center for inbound and outbound calls)
10) A worst thing we are taking someone's job in US or UK for our survival :(
Call center and ITES renovated Indian IT market better in the last year. I found a article which shows how BPOS jobs are better(?!) to join, with my comments.
First, ten reasons why you should join a BPO.
1).One can earn a quick buck and lots of it. The companies provide excellent remuneration packages compared to other industries. Freshers get anywhere between Rs 8,000 and Rs 18,000 per month depending on how much he/she can negotiate with the HR. Salaries sky rocket from Rs 10,000 to anywhere above Rs 35,000 if one decides to stick for three to four years
2) No technical qualification required (here fresh graduates fits and get jobs)
3) No investment needed to upgrade yourself unlike many other professions.
4) One’s communication skills can be greatly improved. Many shysters end up as articulate dudes.The call centres run Personality Development Programmes free of cost along with regular product and voice training. If you want to do it on your own, it will cost you at least Rs 8000.
5) You can actually imbibe a lot of knowledge depending on the industry you are working for, i.e insurance, finance, accounting, telecom, auto, computer hardware etc. The companies also provide international certifications for the industry trained in.(to show to their clients that they have qualified people)
6) You may be made to undergo the six-sigma and other quality control programmes hugely in demand in the corporate world.
7) You get good food for free and lots of recreational activities like gym, swimming pool, billiards, Internet for free. Also, one gets free home pick up and drops in AC cabs.(away from rush and sweating in bus travel, dont want to loose perfume smell till office)
8) The work environment of most of the international call centres is truly world class. Also, most of the international BPO firms insure their employees for free. Plus, there are parties and get togethers at excellent hotels and discs on weekends all paid by the company. Camping tours are also arranged by the companies at hill resorts. (to enjoy the youth)
9)There open feedback sessions during training which help you to know your strengths and weaknesses. You also learn team building skills and management.
10) Working in a BPO also helps while applying for a Visa to a foreign country . It gives you added points and helps if you are planning to immigrate as you are already familiar with their culture.
Yes, I know it sounds too good to be true
10 reasons why you should not work in an international call centre-
1) The calls become monotonous after some time and you cease to enjoy your work. It gives little value addition to one’s personality after some time.
2)The life cycle gets topsy turvy. It becomes very difficult to adjust the body clock if one has worked in the night shift for over an year. If the shift is changing on a weekly basis, it is yet more difficult to adjust. One may develop several health problems which may persist over a long period((I dont like night shifts, as Call center operated mostly in night time accordingly to US day time)
3)Culture is totally changing to western model, loosing our traditional, dating are very casual in these profile(I give more importantance)
4) Along with training for a foreign accent, the trainers also encourage you to mould yourself into a particular culture. This may create deep psychological imbalance. It is difficult to lead a dual existence without uprooting oneself from the past.
5) One may get used to a foreign accent absolutely. It may sound vague and funny if spoken outside. Peers may think you are showing off and even worse if you are going for an interview in some other sector. (pete vidathan)
6) Experience in a call centre counts for little in other industries. One may find it difficult to change careers or even pursue higher studies.
7) The increasing pressure to achieve targets along with the changing body clock may develop long term stress and hypertension.
8) Easy money without any technical qualification may crush the impulse to educate further. This may create difficulty while trying to change industries. The easy money also makes one accustomed to a luxurious lifestyle.
9) The racial discrimination and abuses experienced from foreigners during calls may seriously affect one’s ego. (only for who works in call center for inbound and outbound calls)
10) A worst thing we are taking someone's job in US or UK for our survival :(
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Girlfriend
How to make a movie hit, without advertising, press report. Yes! You can in India. Give news to the safron parties that you have a movie is going to be released with "objectionable and against Indian culture." They will do the needful things to make the movie Hit.
check out the report
How to make a movie hit, without advertising, press report. Yes! You can in India. Give news to the safron parties that you have a movie is going to be released with "objectionable and against Indian culture." They will do the needful things to make the movie Hit.
check out the report
Monday, June 21, 2004
Yahoogroups fanclub for SunTV tamil serial "Metti Oli"
I have found many yahoogroups that are dedicated to superhit English serials, mostly comedies, such as Friends, Seinfeld, etc.
Imagine my surprise when I found one yahoogroup run by fans of the superhit Tamil serial in SunTV, that goes by the name of metti oli (the sound of the metti) (metti is a ring-like jewel worn on the index finger of the right foot of a woman, indicating that she is married - this is more of a Tamil tradition)
It features episode summaries, title song download, pictures, links to interviews of cast, polls about future twists in the story, and so on. Recent discussions on what is happening in the story are pretty good. (Due to the constant pestering of one of my room-mates, we are forced to watch this serial without any option between 9 and 9:30 pm every week night.)
I guess tamil serials have finally met the digital age. :-)
You can access the group here.
I have found many yahoogroups that are dedicated to superhit English serials, mostly comedies, such as Friends, Seinfeld, etc.
Imagine my surprise when I found one yahoogroup run by fans of the superhit Tamil serial in SunTV, that goes by the name of metti oli (the sound of the metti) (metti is a ring-like jewel worn on the index finger of the right foot of a woman, indicating that she is married - this is more of a Tamil tradition)
It features episode summaries, title song download, pictures, links to interviews of cast, polls about future twists in the story, and so on. Recent discussions on what is happening in the story are pretty good. (Due to the constant pestering of one of my room-mates, we are forced to watch this serial without any option between 9 and 9:30 pm every week night.)
I guess tamil serials have finally met the digital age. :-)
You can access the group here.
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Interlinking rivers
Drought, made government up and down. My native place people we suffered in shortage of rainfall for past 2years. I read a article of Mr. A Vaidyanathan, The writer is Professor Emeritus, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai. "The belief that interlinking is necessary to ensure adequate and safe water supply to everyone and everywhere is wholly misplaced" he said.
Found that the politics are playing game with this (BJP,Rajni are all used this word in elections, failed though). Just check out the report by him (Courtesy- The Hindu)
THE CONCEPT of interlinking rivers is evidently appealing to considerable sections of the general public and to policy-makers. More than three decades ago, K. L. Rao proposed the linking of the Ganga and the Cauvery. It was followed by Dastur's plan for a garden canal, linking all the major rivers in the country. Both the proposals attracted considerable attention. But due to widespread criticism of their feasibility, desirability and viability, these were shelved.
In the 1990s, the Government appointed a Commission to examine the strategy of water resource development, including the possibility of interlinking rivers. Its report — which is not available to the public — is understood to have given cautious support, subject to a careful examination of all relevant aspects, to the idea of link canals to divert surplus waters from some selected rivers to the water-short basins and regions.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, on a public interest litigation, directed the Centre to draw up and implement by 2015 a programme to interlink major rivers. Subsequently, the Prime Minister announced the Government's decision to act on the court directive and appointed a task force to ensure the implementation of the project by 2015. The task force headed by Suresh Prabhu is now active.
The popular appeal of interlinking rivers is based on the understanding that an enormous amount of water of our rivers flows into the sea and that if only this is prevented, and water transferred from water-abundant rivers to water-deficit areas, there will be adequate supply for everyone in every part of the country. At another level, the project is seen as promoting national integration and a fair sharing of the country's natural water wealth. Both these presumptions are far too simplistic.
Whether the linking of rivers will promote integration or generate more disputes and tensions is a moot question. Besides, several obvious, but prima facie important, questions about the concept, and the feasibility, desirability and viability of the proposal need to be clarified before its implementation can be considered seriously. The belief that interlinking is necessary to ensure adequate and safe water supply to everyone and everywhere is wholly misplaced. Domestic use currently accounts for a mere five per cent of the total use of water harnessed through canals, tanks, wells and tube-wells.
The requirements are no doubt growing rapidly but will still be relatively small compared to those of other uses. Interlinking is hardly justified as the solution for this problem. Even if interlinking were justified for other reasons, it will not be possible to reach the water to all the habitations without huge investments in a centralised distribution network. Decentralised local rain-water harvesting, by reviving and improving traditional techniques, can meet essential requirements for domestic purposes more effectively and at a far lesser cost.
By far, the largest user of harnessed water is agriculture. Currently, more than 85 per cent of water from canals, tanks and wells and tube-wells is used for irrigation. The demand on this account is growing and will continue to be, by far, the biggest claimant on available supplies. There is much scope for increasing the efficiency of the irrigation systems in place by reducing waste and through better water management. Measures needed for this purpose — by way of investment in physical improvements and institutional reform — are not receiving due attention.
The need for irrigation arises in regions and seasons when rainfall is inadequate for raising crops and obtaining optimum yields. The total rainfall is adequate to meet crop water requirements in the kharif season over large parts of the country. Irrigation is required essentially to tide over inadequate soil moisture during dry spells within the season. There are, of course, some areas — especially in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu — which need irrigation during the kharif season. Practically everywhere, including the northwest, irrigation is essential between November and June. So far, these imbalances have been met by constructing storages to store monsoon surpluses for use in the dry season and by exploiting groundwater. Some areas, such as Tamil Nadu, have exhausted the potential for harnessing the surface flows. In several others, the possibilities for constructing storage are limited. Groundwater resources are already under a severe stress. The scope for expansion is limited. In many areas, the problem is to check expansion and contain the rate of exploitation. It is in this context that interlinking is seen as a way out.
A closer examination of the interlinking idea raises several questions: First, it is based on the presumption that there are large surplus flows in some basins and that the physical transfer is feasible in terms of physical engineering, and can be accomplished economically without creating any adverse impact.
On what basis and who determines the surplus basins and the magnitude of the surplus? The volume of flows during the flood season is misleading as a basis for judging surpluses. Nor can the regions where floods occur be considered water surplus. Most of them may have floods in the monsoon but have inadequate water for use in the dry season. Substantial tracts in these regions do not have the benefit of irrigation. Estimates of surplus made by Central agencies such as the National Water Development Agency are hotly contested by the States.
A more serious difficulty arises from the fact that most of the flow in practically all rivers occurs during the southwest monsoon. Published data from official sources show that 90 per cent of the flow in south Indian rivers occurs between May and November. Data on the Indo-Gangetic and Brahmaputra river basins are classified. Being perennial, the proportion of the total flow occurring during these months may be somewhat smaller but not all that much smaller. For instance, over 80 per cent of the annual flow in the Kosi is between May and November; and almost three fourths between June and October.
The monsoon happens to be the season when rainfall in the aggregate is adequate for crop growth. Of course in some regions, such as Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat and the Deccan, even the kharif rain is far too low and variable for productive agriculture. In some others, more water could help switch to more productive crop patterns. These "deficit" regions are far from those considered "surplus" requiring transport over very difficult terrain and long distances.
Moreover, since the surplus occurs in the rainy season and the demand is in the dry season, it is not enough to merely carry the water from one point to another. Large storages will be necessary. One needs to know the quantum of water to be stored, and whether and where potential sites on the required scale are available, and their likely impact on environmentand human displacement.
All we have to go by are some maps published in the media, purportedly from the Hashim Report, indicating from which rivers and at which locations surpluses will be diverted and to which river(s), and at what points in these rivers the divertedwater will be taken. There is no information on the quantum of water to be transferred through different link canals; the extent and location of the area to be benefited at the receiving end; and the distribution system through which water is to be distributed to this area.
The maps and the sketchy accounts in the media and official pronouncements tell us little on these aspects. If these maps accurately reflect the concept of the interlinking projects sought to be implemented, it will only mean that instead of the surplus flows flowing to the Bay of Bengal via the Ganges and the Brahmaputra and the Mahanadi, they will flow to the sea through the Krishna, the Godavari, the Pennar or wherever!
ENTHUSIASTS OF interlinking of rivers tend to be dismissive of the concerns over the environmental and human consequences of the project. They claim that these fears are vastly exaggerated or argue that they are unavoidable costs of "development" and that they should not be allowed to hold back the project. One has to be extraordinarily insensitive not to recognise the consequences of ignoring these aspects in our water resource planning in the past. They are reflected in the callous manner in which displaced persons have been treated, land degradation due to misuse of water, depletion of groundwater and the growing pollution of water sources. The experience of the Indira Gandhi Canal is a stark example of the problems arising in the wake of bringing in vast amounts of water without adequate understanding of and concern for its impact on the fragile desert ecology.
There are also good reasons to be sceptical about the state of preparation for the interlinking projects. Anyone familiar with the planning of projects such as Bhakra Nangal and Sardar Sarovar knows that the detailed investigations and site surveys preparatory to the design and the analyses and studies needed for the actual design take many years of intensive effort and expense by a large body of experts in diverse fields. A mega project of such complexity as interlinking of rivers calls for preparatory work of far, far greater dimensions. Moreover, the quality of preparatory investigations and surveys for many, if not most, of the irrigation and water resource projects leave much to be desired. Inadequate investigations, changes in scope and design, huge cost escalations and inordinate delays in completing projects are all-too-familiar features of irrigation planning in the recent decades.
Under these circumstances, it is difficult to believe that the interlinking programme has been worked out in sufficient detail to qualify for serious examination, leave alone immediate implementation. The best way to counter this scepticism is to make all the studies, analyses and reports available for public scrutiny.
There is little authenticated information on the likely cost of the programme and its various component projects. Figures as high as Rs. 5,600 billion are mentioned but no details are available. This is about 50 times the total allocation for the ongoing water resource development projects in the Tenth Plan.
In a situation of severe resource scarcity, the question of the relative priorities to be accorded to the improvement of existing facilities and the expeditious completion of viable projects on hand as against mega projects based on questionable premises is particularly relevant. This issue ought to be debated seriously. Questions about the sources of funds for interlinking tend to be dismissed cavalierly. The notion that private sources can be attracted is the height of naivete and wishful thinking. A Government already saddled with huge public debt, and whose precarious fiscal situation continues to deteriorate rapidly, can hardly expect the financial institutions to fork out such large sums for a programme, the content and economic viability of which have not been assessed.
There are also important institutional and legal issues to be sorted out. There is no provision for any mechanism to deal with matters concerning inter-basin transfers. The Centre has no legal authority to decide on this and no State will agree to vest the authority with the Centre. There is talk of deciding these matters through consultation and consensus among the States. One can hardly take this seriously, given our experience with the working of existing laws and procedures for dealing with water allocation between the States within the same basin. The allocation of water among riparian States even within a single river basin has so far been determined by law through negotiated legal agreements and treaties, and by judicial and quasi-judicial mechanisms such as tribunals. We know from experience how contentious, prolonged and difficult this process is. The awards themselves have so far been accepted as binding on all the States concerned and the Centre. But the implementation of these awards has given rise to innumerable inter-State conflicts, which the Centre, despite the powers given to it under the law and its financial clout, has been unable to prevent or settle. These disputes and conflicts are the subject of numerous litigations. The courts have been cautious in dealing with these cases and have instead suggested that they be settled through mutual discussion, arbitration, Central mediation and other extra-judicial mechanisms.
This caution is both wise and understandable, given the complexity of the issues involved and the fact that courts have no means to enforce the judgments and the record of compliance by Governments is at best mixed. No judgment or award can satisfy all the interested parties. Indeed, of late, the States are pleading their inability to enforce court judgments on grounds that they are unfair and likely to cause unmanageable law and order problems. Instances of Governments condoning blatant violations of their own rules regarding allocation of uses of water and acquiescing or even permitting the violation of established rules regarding the rights of access and use are distressingly widespread.
These questions are pertinent and basic to a considered assessment of the river-linking programme. In the absence of satisfactory answers, criticisms of the decision to go ahead with the implementation of the project are reasonable and legitimate. The current discussions in the media and on public forums hardly focus on these issues, much less help allay the apprehensions. That would call for a serious, open and informed debate based on facts and analyses. Regrettably, apart from a few sketch maps purported to be taken from the Hashim Commission report, very little information on the specific schemes envisaged, details of their design, environmental impact, displacement, and likely costs and benefits is available in the public domain.
Even the main report of the Commission, though claimed to be a priced publication, cannot be obtained from either the Ministry or the Publications Division. The annexure to the report, in which the details have reportedly been discussed, are considered secret.
Time was when the opinions of the Government's irrigation establishment were accepted without much question. Times have changed. There is much greater awareness now that there is more, much more to water resource development than constructing dams and canals, that the process of scrutiny and appraisal is at once too narrow, too lax and too secretive, and that there is now a sizeable body of knowledge and expertise on water resource management outside the Government. The assessments of the engineering establishments are no longer taken as beyond challenge. Hardly anyone takes seriously, much less accepts, the claim that "the National Perspective Plan (linking rivers) has been drawn up by a scientific and professional organisation, conceptually and technically upheld by the Technical Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Water Resources, the Central Water Commission and the National Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development Plan... " and that "... the studies have been ratified by engineers, sociologists and economists". If this is so, why should the details of these studies and appraisals be a closely-held secret, instead of being made public to facilitate informed discussion?
The least that Suresh Prabhu, head of the task force on interlinking rivers, can do is to make all the relevant reports and documents available to the public and provide an opportunity for various interested "stake holders" to voice their concerns.
Drought, made government up and down. My native place people we suffered in shortage of rainfall for past 2years. I read a article of Mr. A Vaidyanathan, The writer is Professor Emeritus, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai. "The belief that interlinking is necessary to ensure adequate and safe water supply to everyone and everywhere is wholly misplaced" he said.
Found that the politics are playing game with this (BJP,Rajni are all used this word in elections, failed though). Just check out the report by him (Courtesy- The Hindu)
THE CONCEPT of interlinking rivers is evidently appealing to considerable sections of the general public and to policy-makers. More than three decades ago, K. L. Rao proposed the linking of the Ganga and the Cauvery. It was followed by Dastur's plan for a garden canal, linking all the major rivers in the country. Both the proposals attracted considerable attention. But due to widespread criticism of their feasibility, desirability and viability, these were shelved.
In the 1990s, the Government appointed a Commission to examine the strategy of water resource development, including the possibility of interlinking rivers. Its report — which is not available to the public — is understood to have given cautious support, subject to a careful examination of all relevant aspects, to the idea of link canals to divert surplus waters from some selected rivers to the water-short basins and regions.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, on a public interest litigation, directed the Centre to draw up and implement by 2015 a programme to interlink major rivers. Subsequently, the Prime Minister announced the Government's decision to act on the court directive and appointed a task force to ensure the implementation of the project by 2015. The task force headed by Suresh Prabhu is now active.
The popular appeal of interlinking rivers is based on the understanding that an enormous amount of water of our rivers flows into the sea and that if only this is prevented, and water transferred from water-abundant rivers to water-deficit areas, there will be adequate supply for everyone in every part of the country. At another level, the project is seen as promoting national integration and a fair sharing of the country's natural water wealth. Both these presumptions are far too simplistic.
Whether the linking of rivers will promote integration or generate more disputes and tensions is a moot question. Besides, several obvious, but prima facie important, questions about the concept, and the feasibility, desirability and viability of the proposal need to be clarified before its implementation can be considered seriously. The belief that interlinking is necessary to ensure adequate and safe water supply to everyone and everywhere is wholly misplaced. Domestic use currently accounts for a mere five per cent of the total use of water harnessed through canals, tanks, wells and tube-wells.
The requirements are no doubt growing rapidly but will still be relatively small compared to those of other uses. Interlinking is hardly justified as the solution for this problem. Even if interlinking were justified for other reasons, it will not be possible to reach the water to all the habitations without huge investments in a centralised distribution network. Decentralised local rain-water harvesting, by reviving and improving traditional techniques, can meet essential requirements for domestic purposes more effectively and at a far lesser cost.
By far, the largest user of harnessed water is agriculture. Currently, more than 85 per cent of water from canals, tanks and wells and tube-wells is used for irrigation. The demand on this account is growing and will continue to be, by far, the biggest claimant on available supplies. There is much scope for increasing the efficiency of the irrigation systems in place by reducing waste and through better water management. Measures needed for this purpose — by way of investment in physical improvements and institutional reform — are not receiving due attention.
The need for irrigation arises in regions and seasons when rainfall is inadequate for raising crops and obtaining optimum yields. The total rainfall is adequate to meet crop water requirements in the kharif season over large parts of the country. Irrigation is required essentially to tide over inadequate soil moisture during dry spells within the season. There are, of course, some areas — especially in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu — which need irrigation during the kharif season. Practically everywhere, including the northwest, irrigation is essential between November and June. So far, these imbalances have been met by constructing storages to store monsoon surpluses for use in the dry season and by exploiting groundwater. Some areas, such as Tamil Nadu, have exhausted the potential for harnessing the surface flows. In several others, the possibilities for constructing storage are limited. Groundwater resources are already under a severe stress. The scope for expansion is limited. In many areas, the problem is to check expansion and contain the rate of exploitation. It is in this context that interlinking is seen as a way out.
A closer examination of the interlinking idea raises several questions: First, it is based on the presumption that there are large surplus flows in some basins and that the physical transfer is feasible in terms of physical engineering, and can be accomplished economically without creating any adverse impact.
On what basis and who determines the surplus basins and the magnitude of the surplus? The volume of flows during the flood season is misleading as a basis for judging surpluses. Nor can the regions where floods occur be considered water surplus. Most of them may have floods in the monsoon but have inadequate water for use in the dry season. Substantial tracts in these regions do not have the benefit of irrigation. Estimates of surplus made by Central agencies such as the National Water Development Agency are hotly contested by the States.
A more serious difficulty arises from the fact that most of the flow in practically all rivers occurs during the southwest monsoon. Published data from official sources show that 90 per cent of the flow in south Indian rivers occurs between May and November. Data on the Indo-Gangetic and Brahmaputra river basins are classified. Being perennial, the proportion of the total flow occurring during these months may be somewhat smaller but not all that much smaller. For instance, over 80 per cent of the annual flow in the Kosi is between May and November; and almost three fourths between June and October.
The monsoon happens to be the season when rainfall in the aggregate is adequate for crop growth. Of course in some regions, such as Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat and the Deccan, even the kharif rain is far too low and variable for productive agriculture. In some others, more water could help switch to more productive crop patterns. These "deficit" regions are far from those considered "surplus" requiring transport over very difficult terrain and long distances.
Moreover, since the surplus occurs in the rainy season and the demand is in the dry season, it is not enough to merely carry the water from one point to another. Large storages will be necessary. One needs to know the quantum of water to be stored, and whether and where potential sites on the required scale are available, and their likely impact on environmentand human displacement.
All we have to go by are some maps published in the media, purportedly from the Hashim Report, indicating from which rivers and at which locations surpluses will be diverted and to which river(s), and at what points in these rivers the divertedwater will be taken. There is no information on the quantum of water to be transferred through different link canals; the extent and location of the area to be benefited at the receiving end; and the distribution system through which water is to be distributed to this area.
The maps and the sketchy accounts in the media and official pronouncements tell us little on these aspects. If these maps accurately reflect the concept of the interlinking projects sought to be implemented, it will only mean that instead of the surplus flows flowing to the Bay of Bengal via the Ganges and the Brahmaputra and the Mahanadi, they will flow to the sea through the Krishna, the Godavari, the Pennar or wherever!
ENTHUSIASTS OF interlinking of rivers tend to be dismissive of the concerns over the environmental and human consequences of the project. They claim that these fears are vastly exaggerated or argue that they are unavoidable costs of "development" and that they should not be allowed to hold back the project. One has to be extraordinarily insensitive not to recognise the consequences of ignoring these aspects in our water resource planning in the past. They are reflected in the callous manner in which displaced persons have been treated, land degradation due to misuse of water, depletion of groundwater and the growing pollution of water sources. The experience of the Indira Gandhi Canal is a stark example of the problems arising in the wake of bringing in vast amounts of water without adequate understanding of and concern for its impact on the fragile desert ecology.
There are also good reasons to be sceptical about the state of preparation for the interlinking projects. Anyone familiar with the planning of projects such as Bhakra Nangal and Sardar Sarovar knows that the detailed investigations and site surveys preparatory to the design and the analyses and studies needed for the actual design take many years of intensive effort and expense by a large body of experts in diverse fields. A mega project of such complexity as interlinking of rivers calls for preparatory work of far, far greater dimensions. Moreover, the quality of preparatory investigations and surveys for many, if not most, of the irrigation and water resource projects leave much to be desired. Inadequate investigations, changes in scope and design, huge cost escalations and inordinate delays in completing projects are all-too-familiar features of irrigation planning in the recent decades.
Under these circumstances, it is difficult to believe that the interlinking programme has been worked out in sufficient detail to qualify for serious examination, leave alone immediate implementation. The best way to counter this scepticism is to make all the studies, analyses and reports available for public scrutiny.
There is little authenticated information on the likely cost of the programme and its various component projects. Figures as high as Rs. 5,600 billion are mentioned but no details are available. This is about 50 times the total allocation for the ongoing water resource development projects in the Tenth Plan.
In a situation of severe resource scarcity, the question of the relative priorities to be accorded to the improvement of existing facilities and the expeditious completion of viable projects on hand as against mega projects based on questionable premises is particularly relevant. This issue ought to be debated seriously. Questions about the sources of funds for interlinking tend to be dismissed cavalierly. The notion that private sources can be attracted is the height of naivete and wishful thinking. A Government already saddled with huge public debt, and whose precarious fiscal situation continues to deteriorate rapidly, can hardly expect the financial institutions to fork out such large sums for a programme, the content and economic viability of which have not been assessed.
There are also important institutional and legal issues to be sorted out. There is no provision for any mechanism to deal with matters concerning inter-basin transfers. The Centre has no legal authority to decide on this and no State will agree to vest the authority with the Centre. There is talk of deciding these matters through consultation and consensus among the States. One can hardly take this seriously, given our experience with the working of existing laws and procedures for dealing with water allocation between the States within the same basin. The allocation of water among riparian States even within a single river basin has so far been determined by law through negotiated legal agreements and treaties, and by judicial and quasi-judicial mechanisms such as tribunals. We know from experience how contentious, prolonged and difficult this process is. The awards themselves have so far been accepted as binding on all the States concerned and the Centre. But the implementation of these awards has given rise to innumerable inter-State conflicts, which the Centre, despite the powers given to it under the law and its financial clout, has been unable to prevent or settle. These disputes and conflicts are the subject of numerous litigations. The courts have been cautious in dealing with these cases and have instead suggested that they be settled through mutual discussion, arbitration, Central mediation and other extra-judicial mechanisms.
This caution is both wise and understandable, given the complexity of the issues involved and the fact that courts have no means to enforce the judgments and the record of compliance by Governments is at best mixed. No judgment or award can satisfy all the interested parties. Indeed, of late, the States are pleading their inability to enforce court judgments on grounds that they are unfair and likely to cause unmanageable law and order problems. Instances of Governments condoning blatant violations of their own rules regarding allocation of uses of water and acquiescing or even permitting the violation of established rules regarding the rights of access and use are distressingly widespread.
These questions are pertinent and basic to a considered assessment of the river-linking programme. In the absence of satisfactory answers, criticisms of the decision to go ahead with the implementation of the project are reasonable and legitimate. The current discussions in the media and on public forums hardly focus on these issues, much less help allay the apprehensions. That would call for a serious, open and informed debate based on facts and analyses. Regrettably, apart from a few sketch maps purported to be taken from the Hashim Commission report, very little information on the specific schemes envisaged, details of their design, environmental impact, displacement, and likely costs and benefits is available in the public domain.
Even the main report of the Commission, though claimed to be a priced publication, cannot be obtained from either the Ministry or the Publications Division. The annexure to the report, in which the details have reportedly been discussed, are considered secret.
Time was when the opinions of the Government's irrigation establishment were accepted without much question. Times have changed. There is much greater awareness now that there is more, much more to water resource development than constructing dams and canals, that the process of scrutiny and appraisal is at once too narrow, too lax and too secretive, and that there is now a sizeable body of knowledge and expertise on water resource management outside the Government. The assessments of the engineering establishments are no longer taken as beyond challenge. Hardly anyone takes seriously, much less accepts, the claim that "the National Perspective Plan (linking rivers) has been drawn up by a scientific and professional organisation, conceptually and technically upheld by the Technical Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Water Resources, the Central Water Commission and the National Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development Plan... " and that "... the studies have been ratified by engineers, sociologists and economists". If this is so, why should the details of these studies and appraisals be a closely-held secret, instead of being made public to facilitate informed discussion?
The least that Suresh Prabhu, head of the task force on interlinking rivers, can do is to make all the relevant reports and documents available to the public and provide an opportunity for various interested "stake holders" to voice their concerns.
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Indian software giants Infosys Technologies Ltd and Wipro Ltd have been ranked amongst the top 100 infotech companies in the world, according to a BusinessWeek Survey of the world's best IT companies.
While Infosys has been ranked the 27th topmost IT company in the world, Wipro takes the 62nd slot.
http://www.businessweek.com/pdfs/2004/0425_it100.pdf
While Infosys has been ranked the 27th topmost IT company in the world, Wipro takes the 62nd slot.
http://www.businessweek.com/pdfs/2004/0425_it100.pdf
Yahoo & Gmail
Everyone knows that GoogleMail is providing 1 Gb for each users and Gmail got a good response for that, gmail got 1.3 million users till date. As a result Yahoo is trying to convince their users to 100 Mb. I remember, onemonth before Yahoo was providing 30Mb for $10. Now it is the way to competition, anyway users getting more facilities. What Hotmail is going to do as they are providng only 2 mb for their users?
Everyone knows that GoogleMail is providing 1 Gb for each users and Gmail got a good response for that, gmail got 1.3 million users till date. As a result Yahoo is trying to convince their users to 100 Mb. I remember, onemonth before Yahoo was providing 30Mb for $10. Now it is the way to competition, anyway users getting more facilities. What Hotmail is going to do as they are providng only 2 mb for their users?
Monday, June 14, 2004
I like this blog because the way he used chennai slang, also the mentality of a person who writes the blog. Please go through the blog if you know TAMIL
Kosappettai.Kuppusamy
Kosappettai.Kuppusamy
Iskcon Temple
My family really wants to go around some places in Bangalore and so I discussed with one of my close friend for a right place. We planned to go ISKCON (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple and MG Road. We started to temple, which is near to Yeshawantpur (I am not aware of this place before even I didn’t browse before going to this place). Both the couples reached there at 6:30 pm. The first sight of the temple shows this temple is well organized. In the entrance for temple we got a card, which has HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA mantra in multiple languages. Also the card requests us to chant audible to the person itself in each and every step.
Inside temple, we had a look into Prabhupada's history, lot of shops and a big canteen (we have to cross this canteen while exiting the temple), so it insists us to have something after a long walk in temple. As per my concern I feel this temple is well constructed, planned in religious way, the trust want us to know about ISKCON and they want to make money also, which made this temple as a commercial tourism place rather a religious place. Finally they are providing a free prasadham for all(tasty pongal we had on that day)
IndraGandhi Fountain Museum
After ISKCON Temple my friend drove car to fountain museum which is in ALIASKER ROAD, as we postponded MG Raod trip for someotherday. We reached the place at 7:40 and we got ticket, which cost 10Rs per adult. It has 1/2 hr program, 3 shows daily that starts at 7:00 daily. Show started exactly at 8:00 pm as scheduled with vante mataram musical song. Colourfull Water started dancing as per music. WOW it’s really a good experience for me to watch this type of show after a long time. They are playing few kannada songs also. Great place to visit in Bnglr.
My family really wants to go around some places in Bangalore and so I discussed with one of my close friend for a right place. We planned to go ISKCON (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple and MG Road. We started to temple, which is near to Yeshawantpur (I am not aware of this place before even I didn’t browse before going to this place). Both the couples reached there at 6:30 pm. The first sight of the temple shows this temple is well organized. In the entrance for temple we got a card, which has HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA mantra in multiple languages. Also the card requests us to chant audible to the person itself in each and every step.
Inside temple, we had a look into Prabhupada's history, lot of shops and a big canteen (we have to cross this canteen while exiting the temple), so it insists us to have something after a long walk in temple. As per my concern I feel this temple is well constructed, planned in religious way, the trust want us to know about ISKCON and they want to make money also, which made this temple as a commercial tourism place rather a religious place. Finally they are providing a free prasadham for all(tasty pongal we had on that day)
IndraGandhi Fountain Museum
After ISKCON Temple my friend drove car to fountain museum which is in ALIASKER ROAD, as we postponded MG Raod trip for someotherday. We reached the place at 7:40 and we got ticket, which cost 10Rs per adult. It has 1/2 hr program, 3 shows daily that starts at 7:00 daily. Show started exactly at 8:00 pm as scheduled with vante mataram musical song. Colourfull Water started dancing as per music. WOW it’s really a good experience for me to watch this type of show after a long time. They are playing few kannada songs also. Great place to visit in Bnglr.
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
A forwarded mail from my friend, which brings out the greatness of Superstar.
Rajini or Jaya - Who is having more popularity?
There is a popular story saying that wherever you go, you will find a rajinikanth fans
Rajinikanth was bragging to Jayalalitha one day, "You know, I know everyone there is to know. Just name someone, anyone, and I know them." Tired of his boasting, jayalalitha called his bluff, "OK, Rajini
how about Tom Cruise?"
"Sure, yes. Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it." So rajini and jayalalitha fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door, and sure enough, Tom Cruise shouts, "Thalaiva! Great to see you! You and your friend come right in and join me for lunch!" Although impressed, Jayalalitha is still skeptical.
After they leave Cruise's house, she tells rajini that she thinks rajini knowing Cruise was just lucky. "No, no, just name anyone else", rajini says. "President Bush", jayalalitha quickly retorts.
"Yes", Rajini says, "I know him, let's fly out to Washington". And off they go. At the White House, Bush spots Rajini on the tour and motions him, saying, "Rajini, what a surprise? I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let's have a cup of coffee first and catch up."
Well, jayalalitha is very shaken by now, but still not totally convinced. After they leave the White House grounds, she expresses his doubts to Rajini who again implores her to name anyone else. "The Pope", Jayalalitha replies. "Sure" says Rajini "My folks are from Poland, and I've known the Pope a long time." So off they fly to Rome.
Rajini and jayalalitha are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Rajini says, "This will never work. I can't catch the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards so let me
just go upstairs and I'll come out on the balcony with the Pope." And he disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican.
Sure enough, half an hour later Rajini emerges with the Pope on the balcony. But by the time Rajini returns, he finds that jayalalitha had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics. Working his way to jayalalitha' side, Rajini asks her, "What happened?"
Jayalalitha looks up and says, "I was doing fine until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the man next to me asked, "Who's that on the balcony with Rajini?"
Rajini or Jaya - Who is having more popularity?
There is a popular story saying that wherever you go, you will find a rajinikanth fans
Rajinikanth was bragging to Jayalalitha one day, "You know, I know everyone there is to know. Just name someone, anyone, and I know them." Tired of his boasting, jayalalitha called his bluff, "OK, Rajini
how about Tom Cruise?"
"Sure, yes. Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it." So rajini and jayalalitha fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door, and sure enough, Tom Cruise shouts, "Thalaiva! Great to see you! You and your friend come right in and join me for lunch!" Although impressed, Jayalalitha is still skeptical.
After they leave Cruise's house, she tells rajini that she thinks rajini knowing Cruise was just lucky. "No, no, just name anyone else", rajini says. "President Bush", jayalalitha quickly retorts.
"Yes", Rajini says, "I know him, let's fly out to Washington". And off they go. At the White House, Bush spots Rajini on the tour and motions him, saying, "Rajini, what a surprise? I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let's have a cup of coffee first and catch up."
Well, jayalalitha is very shaken by now, but still not totally convinced. After they leave the White House grounds, she expresses his doubts to Rajini who again implores her to name anyone else. "The Pope", Jayalalitha replies. "Sure" says Rajini "My folks are from Poland, and I've known the Pope a long time." So off they fly to Rome.
Rajini and jayalalitha are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Rajini says, "This will never work. I can't catch the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards so let me
just go upstairs and I'll come out on the balcony with the Pope." And he disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican.
Sure enough, half an hour later Rajini emerges with the Pope on the balcony. But by the time Rajini returns, he finds that jayalalitha had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics. Working his way to jayalalitha' side, Rajini asks her, "What happened?"
Jayalalitha looks up and says, "I was doing fine until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the man next to me asked, "Who's that on the balcony with Rajini?"
Monday, June 07, 2004
Jan-15-2002 & Santosh
Santosh! A friend mine who joined with me in Aptech and became so closer very soon. At that time he was so innocent and funny guy. Netians is our group name, (Santosh, Senthil, ILA, Shanker) done our MCSE+CNA course there in coimbatore. His home was very close to my place, so he often comes to my house especially for exams.
On that time I was not eager on preparing for my examinations; he made that and helped me to get CNA which gives way to my profession. Life has it own wave, we went along with it and we used to meet once or twice in a year in Chennai shanker's home. Now I am a computer professional and he is a Medical Transcriptionist/DJ in US.
It’s all about day before my birthday; we started our journey with countable/very less money and lot of expectations. We just gone to the ticket counter and shocked, due to pongal event rush we were unable to get tickets in Counter where train about to start in 10mins. So we decide to talk with TTR for arrangements. We paid (ethics) the fine before starting our journey and started traveling to Salem from Chennai in reserved coupe at 5:00 am, but all the way by standing. We started talking, commenting on others and site viewing. As a human being hungry started torturing us, though we had only 10rs more to spend for us. So we have decided to purchase 2 idly and a vada as breakfast, that’s all we can purchase for 10rs. Obviously, the idly and vada is in budgeted size and no where it is going to fulfill our firing hungry. No other go, we shared it, even though it is not enough for us we satisfied with one idly and 1/2 vada. This is the right time to remember that wonderful journey, I cannot forget it. We got down in Salem and took the bus to my village. When we get down in my village we had only 1.25 Rs in our pocket. Now we are earning in $'s, still that journey made us the unforgettable friend’s journey.
Hats off Santhosh and we really miss you in my marriage. Shanker and senthil also felt that. I am expecting your presence machan....
On that time I was not eager on preparing for my examinations; he made that and helped me to get CNA which gives way to my profession. Life has it own wave, we went along with it and we used to meet once or twice in a year in Chennai shanker's home. Now I am a computer professional and he is a Medical Transcriptionist/DJ in US.
It’s all about day before my birthday; we started our journey with countable/very less money and lot of expectations. We just gone to the ticket counter and shocked, due to pongal event rush we were unable to get tickets in Counter where train about to start in 10mins. So we decide to talk with TTR for arrangements. We paid (ethics) the fine before starting our journey and started traveling to Salem from Chennai in reserved coupe at 5:00 am, but all the way by standing. We started talking, commenting on others and site viewing. As a human being hungry started torturing us, though we had only 10rs more to spend for us. So we have decided to purchase 2 idly and a vada as breakfast, that’s all we can purchase for 10rs. Obviously, the idly and vada is in budgeted size and no where it is going to fulfill our firing hungry. No other go, we shared it, even though it is not enough for us we satisfied with one idly and 1/2 vada. This is the right time to remember that wonderful journey, I cannot forget it. We got down in Salem and took the bus to my village. When we get down in my village we had only 1.25 Rs in our pocket. Now we are earning in $'s, still that journey made us the unforgettable friend’s journey.
Hats off Santhosh and we really miss you in my marriage. Shanker and senthil also felt that. I am expecting your presence machan....
Back to Greencity
comeback to Bangalore after my marriage. Lot of news are there to update.
Thanks to all my friends who wished for my marriage and came from long distance to attend my marriage.
Thanks to Saravanan, Suresh, Satish, Vengi, Balaji, Nana, Basha, Thirumalai, Joe, Shanker, Senthil, Raghu, Punniya Murthi, Thiyagu and surprised from Sutherland Guys(Raghu, sowmi, Arun & Adhi.
I miss Saran and santosh.
comeback to Bangalore after my marriage. Lot of news are there to update.
Thanks to all my friends who wished for my marriage and came from long distance to attend my marriage.
Thanks to Saravanan, Suresh, Satish, Vengi, Balaji, Nana, Basha, Thirumalai, Joe, Shanker, Senthil, Raghu, Punniya Murthi, Thiyagu and surprised from Sutherland Guys(Raghu, sowmi, Arun & Adhi.
I miss Saran and santosh.
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