ISSUES AND CONCERNS ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಕ್ಷಕಿರಣ

Living on borrowed time! Tocreate a global awareness on the impending rising sea levels due to climate change, the government of Maldives did something apparently weird. They conducted a cabinet meeting under water. The islands of Maldives is just 1.5 mtr above the sea level. And by the current levels of rising sea water, by the true of century the sea level is expected to rise by ½ a meter, which really shall mean, it only a matter of time that the entire country of Maldives shall be submerged one day. Maldives is the lowest lying nation on earth. Unless of course, some serious remedial measures are taken to halt and reduce greenhouse gas emission.

Wages on spot for rural jobs Concerned over delayed payments under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), the Rural development Ministry may ask the banks to appoint agents who deliver the wages on the spot. It is exploring the possibility of using for the purpose for ‘correspondents’ who are appointed by the banks for door-to-door collection of deposits and disbursal of loans in the rural area. The idea will be tried first in Orissa. To cut down the corruption, the Ministry has forced opening of the bank accounts of NREGA beneficiaries and the wages are deposited directly to these accounts. Tamil Nadu is the only state that is still doing out the wages in cash, it has now dawned on the ministry that the rural job seekers are shunning the NREGA works as they are not getting money after every days work which is essential for their survival needs. Banks do not have branches in each and every village where the NREGA works are started and as such the disbursal of wages get de...

Kabul Turning into Indian Garrison: Ex-CIA Official WASHINGTON: PAKISTAN believes Afghanistan is developing into an Indian garrison and has been nurturing groups like the Taliban and LeT over the years to counter it, a key US Senate Committee was told. "I am not making any accusations against any given country in the region. All of them are looking out for their vital interests. But India is becoming involved in Afghanistan to an extent that the Pakistanis consider Afghanistan as developing into an Indian garrison," Milt Bearden, ex-CIA Station Chief in Islamabad, told Senators during a hearing. "This is not hysteria. This is a real concern," he said in his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during the hearing on ‘Afghanistan’s Impact on Pakistan. He also noted that China has its own interest in the region and has taken a 25 percent share of a huge copper operation in Afghanistan. "They’re building a major port in Pakistan at Gwadar,"...

UK’s youngest Crime suspect, just 3 A toddler was investigated by the British police over alleged disorder and vandalism London : A three-year-old boy has become the youngest known crime suspect in Britain after being probed by police over alleged disorder and vandalism. Officers from Strathclyde police in Scotland visited the toddler’s home this summer after receiving a complaint of damage to household property.The youngster is one of 10 children aged five and under who were investigated since May for a variety of alleged crimes. The news, which comes amid increasing concern in Britain over criminal behaviour among minors, was described by a leading opposition MP as "a clear manifestation of the first signs of offending"."These instances underline the very deep social problems we have in some parts of the country. It is part of the very complex picture we call broken Britain," said Chris Grayling, the home affairs spokesman for the conservative party.A six-year-old...

WHAT’S THE SOLUTION TO MARXIST THUGGERY? How long is this country to suffer the Maoist ravages perpetrated day after day, with the government showing itself weak-kneed and either unable or frightened to take on the criminals? The latest developments are an insult to the Home Ministry. A senior police officer is beheaded; it is taken as a routine incident. In Gadchiroll district of Maharashtra, 17 policemen get killed by Naxalites. On October 1, sixteen people including five teenagers belonging to the Backward classed are gunned down and Home Minister Chidambaram says it is not the intention of the UPA government to wage war against fellow Indians. An IAF helicopter had come under Naxal fire at Bijapur in Chhatisgarh while it was ferrying electronic voting machines. This kind of devily is becoming endless. In such instances the IAF should have the right to shoot back but Defence Minister A.K. Antony says this is being "examined". The government stand, apparent, is not to use t...

Friends As usual October shall mark the completion of one more year of useful existence of ISSUES & CONCERNS. Yes, we are completing 9 years of our eventful foray into the world of print media. In retrospect, its been indeed very satisfying that despite innumerable hurdles we have been able to sustain and grow. Lot of kind souls reverted back to us with accolades echoing sentiments of participative spirit. Although such kind souls have been many, we will be failing in our duty, if we do not mention by name one such soul who reached out magnificently. We have been sending complimentary copies to lot of prospective readers, with the hope that they may participate as subscribers. Yes, some did early, some did late and some never did. Our Bangalore representative Shri Sanath Kumar Punja, had given us a list of 50 gentlemen from the Bangalore Bunts Directory, which to our good fortune, included the name of retired Honourable Supreme Court Justice Jagannath K. Shetty. His, no holds barre...