ISSUES AND CONCERNS

Friends We are truly into 2010, just 10 years away from the ‘Super Power’ status. The dream of our former President APJ Abdul Kalam has the potential of remaining just a dream, with UNICEF formally reporting that India has the highest number of mal nourished children in absolute numbers. Certainly a sad and bad reflection on a country having vision of being a super power. Yes, its good to dream, but dream should not be so facile that it ends up mocking at us. The month of January began with the police arrogance in full display. The long arm of the law, which this apparent arrogance managed to stall for all these years, appeared catching up with the former senior policeman from Haryana S P Rathore. Nineteen long years ago, this man Rathore, misusing his position as a police officer, allegedly molested the young 14 years old Ruchika Girhotra. And for all those 19 years, his uniform and therefore the clout, ensured that the entire system, police, prosecution, judiciary, executive, and the...

Governance Failure & Need for Smaller States What is government? It is a system of administration of the national resources, whether it is aristocracy, democracy or any other form of public administration, including monarchy. Objective of this public administration, or government, is the establishment of a welfare state. But what is welfare state? Word welfa re has wide connotations. It begins with the rule of law or as our scripture says, Dharma. Social equity or equitable distribution of national resources or wealth, produced as well as naturally available, is another foundation stone of government. Spread of education, looking after health and hygiene, fulfillment of minimum need of clothing and shelter for a dignified human living condition to all its people, besides freedom from poverty and injustice are some of the other obligations of government. Of course, the above description may sound as near-uthopian. But the fact is these are eminent possibilities of a human government...

A Book by : Sudhir Venkatesh SERIAL : 17 I met J.T. at seven-thirty the next morning at Kevin’s Hamburger Heaven in Bridgeport, a predominantly Irish-American neighborhood across the expressway from the projects. This was his regular morning spot. "None of these white folks here know me," he said, "so I don’t get any funny looks." His steak and eggs arrived just as I sat down. He always ate alone, he said. Soon enough he’d be joined by two of his officers, Price and T-Bone. Even though J.T’s gang was nearly twice as large as most others on the South Side, he kept his officer class small, because he trusted very few people. All of his officers were friends he’d known since high school. "All right," he began, "let’s talk a little about-" "Listen," I blurred out, "I can’t kill anybody, I can’t sell shit to any body." I had been awake much of the night worrying, "Or even plan any of that stuff! Not me!" "Okay, nigge...

Use RTI To Get Tax Refund Cashing on RTI The Ministry of Finance has instructed the Income Tax Department to issue refunds within four months from the date of receipt of return and dispatch within 30 days from the date of singing the refund order. If you still have not received refunds for one or more earlier years despite reminders, personal visits and grievance-cell applications, use the Right To Information (RTI), says taxguru.in. The RTI application can be filed with any designated post office at a fee of Rs. 10. So far, the success of RTI applications in the IT department is cent per cent. After an RTI application, one gets refund within 30 days and, in case the return is not available, the applicant should submit duplicate copies with indemnity on stamp paper. The application should be for information and not for opinion of the Public Information Officer (PIO) Cutting through the redtape Medicine That Leads to Irreversible Side-effects Worse than effects Metoclopramide, a drug us...

Satellites Reveal India’s Vanishing Groundwater Any foreign hand? Using NASA satellite data, scientists have found that groundwater levels in northern India have been declining by as much as 33 centimeters (about 1 foot) per year over the past decade. Researchers have found the trend alarming because it occurred in years when there was no shortage of rainfall. The results of this research were published in the journal 'Nature'. A team of US hydrologists has found that northern India’s underground water is being pumped and consumed in human activities such as irrigation. The team has also found that more than 108 cubic kilometers of groundwater disappeared from aquifers in areas of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and the nation’s capital territory of Delhi between 2002 and 2008, says nasa.gov. Anyone to check over- exploitation? Decomposed Plastic Harms Marine Life Worse than effects Metoclopramide, a drug used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, has been linked to tardive dyskinesi...

IS CHINA A BUNCH OF BAD GUYS A COPENHAGEN FALLOUT But it isn’t the sole bad guy that the West has made it out to be It is tempting to brand the Chinese as the bad guys of Copenhagen. They vetoed a 50 per cent reduction in global emissions by 2050. they opposed making the cuts binding on everyone. And the world’s biggest carbon polluter even seemed rather arrogant, with media reports of a relatively junior Chinese officer being sent to negotiate with US President Barack Obama instead of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. If one follows the chorus of disapproval towards the Chinese-especially from Europe- the failure of the summit to come up with robust cuts of green house gas emissions was primarily Beijing’s fault. German chancellor Angela Merkel slammed China for being "ridiculous", after it rejected a target for developed nations to cut emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. A top Swedish environment official pinned the blame on the Asian giant when asked who had set up the road blo...

SUPER POWER IN THE MAKING! LIFE IN A METRO: MUMBAI TODAY - Edmond Fernandes RUN ! RUN ! RUN ! all we notice is someone or the other running around for something or the other.Kids run to catch their bus, office goers to catch their trains, buses, all in all, a rat race of the millennium at its peak.This city is rapidly changing its face, the rich segment get richer with each passing day while the poor just advance in their poverty. Darwin’s theory of survival perhaps is best dedicated to Mumbai. I had recently been to Mumbai for a Christmas break after 1 long year. I found myself dazzled in a state of semi-shock. Just a year through & so much has changed! First thing I noticed, rather which flashed to my eyes, was the steep rise in population. The places I once travelled with ease were all overcrowded. Modern high rise have replaced the amateur small shops. More & more people are becoming homeless & taking to the streets. The agony is rising & infinite. My friends, have ...

A landlord’s obligation: maintenance and repairs Generally a landlord must provide and maintain rental property to obey the terms of the rental agreement. The landlord (or his/her representative) must be accessible to the tenant and his obligations vary from state to state, some of which include: a) Keeping the premises as per code or Act b) Maintaining the roof, walls and structural components c) Keeping common areas reasonably clean and safe d) Providing a reasonable programme for the control of pests e) Providing the necessary facilities to supply heat, electricity, and hot and cold water f) Providing reasonably adequate locks g) Maintaining appliances furnished with the rental unit and h) Complying with any duties imposed by local laws Upkeep and Repairs Where there are codes and enactments with details of obligations (as in the US) the landlord must maintain the premises in compliance with those specific building codes and local ordinances. Common areas must be kept clean and saf...

Pakistan lawyer to write book on Sarabjit’s trial Sarabjit: A case of mistaken identity will also raise voice against capital punishment practised in various countries Jaipur: With ‘mercy’ as its theme, the lawyer of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian who is on death row in Pakistan, will pen a book on the prisoner’s life and the case. Awais Sheikh, who has been handling Sarabjit’s case since June last year, in his book ‘Sarabjit: A case of mistaken identity’ will also raise voice against death sentence existing in various countries. "The theme of my book is mercy. I’m searching for a suitable publisher in India due to certain reasons and initial hurdles in Pakistan," Sheikh said. Sheikh, a Pakistani national, said he had seen the case and Sarabjit’s life very closely and had visited his native place in Punjab. "In Sarabjit’s case, we have enough evidence to prove that it is a case of mistaken identity. The previous lawyer had submitted an application in the Supreme Court of Paki...