A Great Person
You don't have to be president of the United States or even president of your own company. You do, however, have to be the best, most authentic you you can be. Everything about who you are — your character and reputation, your personality and style, your values and even your sense of humor — shapes the message your audience hears when you speak. Don't hide off to the side of the stage in semi-darkness, hoping people will ignore you and look at your PowerPoint slides instead. Position yourself in such a way that you demand people's attention. Speak from your experience without necessarily speaking about yourself. Tell your own story in such a way that it illustrates your audience's experience and aspirations.
A Noteworthy Event
The event — the time and place, the room set up, the schedule, the audience, the occasion and its purpose — can either support and reinforce your message or sabotage it. So pay attention to every detail. Say no to invitations to speak at events that would reflect poorly on you or your organization. Don't simply accept what's being planned. As a leader you have the power and responsibility to make not just your speech, but the event a success.
A Compelling Idea
Content is king. When you're finished speaking you don't want people remembering or commenting on your delivery, your style, or — worse — your PowerPoint slides. You want them thinking about and discussing your ideas. A compelling idea is made up of three components:
Big Idea: Present one — and only one — big idea per speech. Make it clear, bold, and engaging.
Clear Structure: Build your speech on a strong outline, tying the pieces together in a simple, logical way. Remember — if you confuse people, they'll stop listen to you and they'll never do what you ask of them.
Telling Words: Build your speech around nouns and active verbs. When given the choice between longer, more impressive-sounding words and shorter, more concrete ones, choose the latter.
A Masterful Delivery
Delivery involves using your body and your voice to communicate your message. It's not just technique. It's about projecting your authentic self as powerfully as possible. Aim always to use your natural voice and gestures — only be bigger and louder.
You may be a leader or an aspiring leader. You may or may not have the title and position. But you can still use the principles that leaders use when they speak in order to influence and inspire your audiences.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
PRESS COUNCIL OF INDIA
RATIONALE AND VISION: The Press Council of India (PCI) is an autonomous (independent) and regulatory body established to preserve the freedom of the press. It is also meant to maintain and improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies.
The Council was primarily formed to design a code of conduct for newspapers, news agencies and journalists so that they maintain high ethical and professional standards.
The first of the principles were formed by the PCI in 1983-84. These were updated in October 1992. As the PCI came upon and dealt with more and more cases relating to journalistic ethics, the principles were updated, moderated and modified.
In 1995, the then chairman of the PCI Mr Justice P B Sawant further revised and updated the guide to journalistic ethics.
To discharge these functions entrusted to it, the Council has to frame a code of ethics for those engaged in journalism and to enforce it. The Council over the years has built up a code of ethics covering aspects of journalism which came to the fore from time to time.
Whenever there is a dispute or complain about newspapers, or journalists breaching this code of conduct, the Press Council of India adjudicates on it.
There have been some additions to the ethical code on important aspects such as financial journalism and pre-poll and exit poll surveys. The council decided to publish and update code. Besides the ethics, there are also contains references to the provisions of the Constitution and of the various statute laws which have a bearing on the print media.
The PCI is also empowered to hold hearings on receipt of complaints and take suitable action where appropriate. It may either warn or censure the errant journalists on finding them guilty. It did so on 21 July, 2006, when it censured three newspapers — Times of India (Delhi and Pune), Punjab Kesri (Delhi) and Mid Day (Mumbai) — for violation of norms of journalistic conduct. The PCI is protected by the Constitution and its actions may not be questioned unless it is proved to be in violation of the Constitution.
STRUCTURE: The Press Council is headed by a Chairman, who has, by convention, been a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India. The Council consists of 28 other members of whom 20 represent the press and are nominated by the press organisations/news agencies recognised and notified by the Council as all India bodies of categories such as editors, working journalists and owners and managers of newspaper; 5 members are nominated from the two houses of Parliament and 3 represent cultural, literary and legal fields as nominees of the Sahitya Academy, University Grants Commission and the Bar Council of India. The members serve on the Council for a term of three years. The Council was last reconstituted on May 22, 2001.
The Council is funded by revenue collected by it as fees levied on the registered newspapers in the country on the basis of their circulation. No fee is levied on newspapers with a circulation of less than 5000 copies. The deficit is made good by grants by the Central Government, through the Information and Broadcast ministry.
COMPLAINTS, PROCEDURE AND POWERS: The complaint against a newspaper for any publication the complainant finds objectionable and affecting him personally, should first be taken up with the editor or other representative of the publication concerned.
If the complaint is not resolved satisfactorily, it may be referred the Press Council of India. The complaint must be specific and in writing. It should be filed/lodged within two months of the publication of the offending news item in case of dailies and weeklies and four months in all other cases, along with the original/photostat copy of the news clipping The complainant must state in what manner the publication/non-publication of the matter is objectionable, and enclose a copy of the letter to the editor, pointing out why the matter is considered objectionable. The editor's reply thereto or published rejoinder, if any, may also be attached to it. A declaration stating that the matter is not pending in any court of law is also required to be filed.
If a newspaper or journalist is aggrieved by any action of any authority that may impinge on the freedom of the press, he can also file a complaint with the Council. The aggrieved newspaper or journalist may inform the Council about the possible reason for the action of the authorities against him i.e. if it is as a reprisal measure taken by the authorities due to critical writings or as a result of the policy that may effect the freedom of the press. A declaration regarding the non-pendency of the matter in any court of law is also necessary.
On receipt of a complaint made to it or otherwise, if the Council is prima facie satisfied that the matter discloses sufficient ground for inquiry, it issues a show cause notice to the respondents and then considers the matter through its Inquiry Committee on the basis of written and oral evidence tendered before it. If, on inquiry, the Council has reason to believe that the respondent newspaper has violated journalistic norms, the Council keeping in view the gravity of the misconduct committed by the newspaper, warns, admonishes or censures the newspaper or disapproves of the conduct of the editor or the journalist as the case may be. It may also direct the respondent newspaper to publish the contradiction of the complainant or a gist of the Council’s decision in its forthcoming issue.
Similarly, when the Council upholds the complaint of the aggrieved newspaper/journalist the Council directs the concerned government to take appropriate steps to redress the grievance of the complainant.
The Council was primarily formed to design a code of conduct for newspapers, news agencies and journalists so that they maintain high ethical and professional standards.
The first of the principles were formed by the PCI in 1983-84. These were updated in October 1992. As the PCI came upon and dealt with more and more cases relating to journalistic ethics, the principles were updated, moderated and modified.
In 1995, the then chairman of the PCI Mr Justice P B Sawant further revised and updated the guide to journalistic ethics.
To discharge these functions entrusted to it, the Council has to frame a code of ethics for those engaged in journalism and to enforce it. The Council over the years has built up a code of ethics covering aspects of journalism which came to the fore from time to time.
Whenever there is a dispute or complain about newspapers, or journalists breaching this code of conduct, the Press Council of India adjudicates on it.
There have been some additions to the ethical code on important aspects such as financial journalism and pre-poll and exit poll surveys. The council decided to publish and update code. Besides the ethics, there are also contains references to the provisions of the Constitution and of the various statute laws which have a bearing on the print media.
The PCI is also empowered to hold hearings on receipt of complaints and take suitable action where appropriate. It may either warn or censure the errant journalists on finding them guilty. It did so on 21 July, 2006, when it censured three newspapers — Times of India (Delhi and Pune), Punjab Kesri (Delhi) and Mid Day (Mumbai) — for violation of norms of journalistic conduct. The PCI is protected by the Constitution and its actions may not be questioned unless it is proved to be in violation of the Constitution.
STRUCTURE: The Press Council is headed by a Chairman, who has, by convention, been a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India. The Council consists of 28 other members of whom 20 represent the press and are nominated by the press organisations/news agencies recognised and notified by the Council as all India bodies of categories such as editors, working journalists and owners and managers of newspaper; 5 members are nominated from the two houses of Parliament and 3 represent cultural, literary and legal fields as nominees of the Sahitya Academy, University Grants Commission and the Bar Council of India. The members serve on the Council for a term of three years. The Council was last reconstituted on May 22, 2001.
The Council is funded by revenue collected by it as fees levied on the registered newspapers in the country on the basis of their circulation. No fee is levied on newspapers with a circulation of less than 5000 copies. The deficit is made good by grants by the Central Government, through the Information and Broadcast ministry.
COMPLAINTS, PROCEDURE AND POWERS: The complaint against a newspaper for any publication the complainant finds objectionable and affecting him personally, should first be taken up with the editor or other representative of the publication concerned.
If the complaint is not resolved satisfactorily, it may be referred the Press Council of India. The complaint must be specific and in writing. It should be filed/lodged within two months of the publication of the offending news item in case of dailies and weeklies and four months in all other cases, along with the original/photostat copy of the news clipping The complainant must state in what manner the publication/non-publication of the matter is objectionable, and enclose a copy of the letter to the editor, pointing out why the matter is considered objectionable. The editor's reply thereto or published rejoinder, if any, may also be attached to it. A declaration stating that the matter is not pending in any court of law is also required to be filed.
If a newspaper or journalist is aggrieved by any action of any authority that may impinge on the freedom of the press, he can also file a complaint with the Council. The aggrieved newspaper or journalist may inform the Council about the possible reason for the action of the authorities against him i.e. if it is as a reprisal measure taken by the authorities due to critical writings or as a result of the policy that may effect the freedom of the press. A declaration regarding the non-pendency of the matter in any court of law is also necessary.
On receipt of a complaint made to it or otherwise, if the Council is prima facie satisfied that the matter discloses sufficient ground for inquiry, it issues a show cause notice to the respondents and then considers the matter through its Inquiry Committee on the basis of written and oral evidence tendered before it. If, on inquiry, the Council has reason to believe that the respondent newspaper has violated journalistic norms, the Council keeping in view the gravity of the misconduct committed by the newspaper, warns, admonishes or censures the newspaper or disapproves of the conduct of the editor or the journalist as the case may be. It may also direct the respondent newspaper to publish the contradiction of the complainant or a gist of the Council’s decision in its forthcoming issue.
Similarly, when the Council upholds the complaint of the aggrieved newspaper/journalist the Council directs the concerned government to take appropriate steps to redress the grievance of the complainant.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Right To Information
- Sorry after Long time-
RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005 (RTI)
The basic duty of a journalist is to provide his readers with the correct and detailed information. In order to discharge his duty effectively, he has to gather information that enlightens and informs his readers. Apart from journalists, individuals involved in social, political and cultural activism also need information from time to time.
However, more often than not, it is difficult to get or dig out information from those in power or the government authorities. This is because there is always reluctance on the part of the authorities to part with information. It is especially the case when the information is damaging to them or puts them in bad light. In a democracy, the affairs of the government need to be transparent, and suppressing information is like suppressing the truth.
Journalists, activists and interested individuals, who would find it difficult to get relevant information from the government authorities, can now invoke (use) the Right to Information Act to get the information they need. Until recently, the government authorities would do everything within their means or come out with all kinds of excuses to give information. But now under the RTI, it is compulsory for them to do so. However, there are certain modalities and procedures that have to be followed under this law.
The RTI was enacted by the Parliament in June 2005 and came into effect on October 13, 2005. It applies to all states except Jammu and Kashmir (which has a separate law). Till then, disclosure of information was restricted under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) of 1923. The OSA still exists, but the RTI relaxes some of its provisions. According to the OSA, no information can be disclosed by the government authorities in matters relating to security of the State, sovereignty of the country and friendly relations with foreign states.
The RTI Act is applicable to all constitutional authorities, including the executive, legislature and judiciary; any institution or body established or constituted by an act of Parliament or a state legislature. It is also defined in the Act that bodies or authorities established or constituted by order or notification of appropriate government including bodies "owned, controlled or substantially financed" by government, or non-Government organizations "substantially financed, directly or indirectly by funds" provided by the government are also covered in it. The law is not applicable to private bodies/institutions unless they are financed by the central or state government.
Under the Act, every public authority has to computerize records so that it reaches all cross sections of people. It specifies that citizens have a right to:
A) Request any information (only that info defined under the Act)
B) Take copies of documents
C) Inspect documents, works and records
D) Take certified samples of materials of work
E) Obtain information in form of printouts, diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes 'or in any other electronic mode' or through printouts.
WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO GET INFORMATION
The Act specifies that all authorities covered must appoint their Public Information Officer (PIO). Individuals seeking information have to submit a request to the PIO in writing. The PIO is under obligation to provide information to (only Indian) citizens. If the request concerns another public authority (in whole or part) it is the PIO's responsibility to transfer/forward the concerned portions of the request to a PIO of the other within five days. While making the request, citizens need not disclose any information except their name and contact particulars. The Act specifies time limits for replying to the request.
A) If the request has been made to the PIO, the reply is to be given within 30 days of receipt.
B) If the PIO transfers the request to another public authority, the time allowed to reply is 30 days but computed from the day after it is received by the PIO of the transferee authority.
C) Information concerning corruption and Human Rights violations by Security agencies (those listed in the Act) is to be provided within 45 days but with the prior approval of the Central Information Commission. However, if life or liberty of any person is involved, the PIO is expected to reply within 48 hours.
It must be noted that the information has to be paid for and cannot be obtained for free.
If information is not provided within the period specified above, it is treated as refusal. If the refusal is with or without reasons, citizens can file an appeal or complaint. Information not provided in prescribed time, has to be provided free of charge. There is a fee of Rs 10 for filing the request, Rs 2 per page of information and Rs 5 for each hour of inspection after the first hour.
WHAT CONSTITUTES INFORMATION
Under the Act, information has been defined as any material in any form including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body
WHAT CANNOT BE DISCLOSED
• Information which would adversely affect the sovereignty (independence) and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic" interests of the country, relations with foreign nation or lead to incitement of an offence;
• Information which has been forbidden to be published by any court of law or tribunal or the disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court;
• Information, the disclosure of which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the State Legislature;
• Information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, unless the authority is satisfied that larger public interest calls for the disclosure of such information;
• Information received in confidence from foreign government;
• Information which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes;
• Information which would obstruct or stop the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders;
• Cabinet papers including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers, Secretaries and other officers;
• Personal information which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual.
[Note:I have wrote this article (Act) just to share some off my knowledge about RTI if any things miss out or is not up-to-date plz late me know ]
RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005 (RTI)
The basic duty of a journalist is to provide his readers with the correct and detailed information. In order to discharge his duty effectively, he has to gather information that enlightens and informs his readers. Apart from journalists, individuals involved in social, political and cultural activism also need information from time to time.
However, more often than not, it is difficult to get or dig out information from those in power or the government authorities. This is because there is always reluctance on the part of the authorities to part with information. It is especially the case when the information is damaging to them or puts them in bad light. In a democracy, the affairs of the government need to be transparent, and suppressing information is like suppressing the truth.
Journalists, activists and interested individuals, who would find it difficult to get relevant information from the government authorities, can now invoke (use) the Right to Information Act to get the information they need. Until recently, the government authorities would do everything within their means or come out with all kinds of excuses to give information. But now under the RTI, it is compulsory for them to do so. However, there are certain modalities and procedures that have to be followed under this law.
The RTI was enacted by the Parliament in June 2005 and came into effect on October 13, 2005. It applies to all states except Jammu and Kashmir (which has a separate law). Till then, disclosure of information was restricted under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) of 1923. The OSA still exists, but the RTI relaxes some of its provisions. According to the OSA, no information can be disclosed by the government authorities in matters relating to security of the State, sovereignty of the country and friendly relations with foreign states.
The RTI Act is applicable to all constitutional authorities, including the executive, legislature and judiciary; any institution or body established or constituted by an act of Parliament or a state legislature. It is also defined in the Act that bodies or authorities established or constituted by order or notification of appropriate government including bodies "owned, controlled or substantially financed" by government, or non-Government organizations "substantially financed, directly or indirectly by funds" provided by the government are also covered in it. The law is not applicable to private bodies/institutions unless they are financed by the central or state government.
Under the Act, every public authority has to computerize records so that it reaches all cross sections of people. It specifies that citizens have a right to:
A) Request any information (only that info defined under the Act)
B) Take copies of documents
C) Inspect documents, works and records
D) Take certified samples of materials of work
E) Obtain information in form of printouts, diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes 'or in any other electronic mode' or through printouts.
WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO GET INFORMATION
The Act specifies that all authorities covered must appoint their Public Information Officer (PIO). Individuals seeking information have to submit a request to the PIO in writing. The PIO is under obligation to provide information to (only Indian) citizens. If the request concerns another public authority (in whole or part) it is the PIO's responsibility to transfer/forward the concerned portions of the request to a PIO of the other within five days. While making the request, citizens need not disclose any information except their name and contact particulars. The Act specifies time limits for replying to the request.
A) If the request has been made to the PIO, the reply is to be given within 30 days of receipt.
B) If the PIO transfers the request to another public authority, the time allowed to reply is 30 days but computed from the day after it is received by the PIO of the transferee authority.
C) Information concerning corruption and Human Rights violations by Security agencies (those listed in the Act) is to be provided within 45 days but with the prior approval of the Central Information Commission. However, if life or liberty of any person is involved, the PIO is expected to reply within 48 hours.
It must be noted that the information has to be paid for and cannot be obtained for free.
If information is not provided within the period specified above, it is treated as refusal. If the refusal is with or without reasons, citizens can file an appeal or complaint. Information not provided in prescribed time, has to be provided free of charge. There is a fee of Rs 10 for filing the request, Rs 2 per page of information and Rs 5 for each hour of inspection after the first hour.
WHAT CONSTITUTES INFORMATION
Under the Act, information has been defined as any material in any form including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body
WHAT CANNOT BE DISCLOSED
• Information which would adversely affect the sovereignty (independence) and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic" interests of the country, relations with foreign nation or lead to incitement of an offence;
• Information which has been forbidden to be published by any court of law or tribunal or the disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court;
• Information, the disclosure of which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the State Legislature;
• Information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, unless the authority is satisfied that larger public interest calls for the disclosure of such information;
• Information received in confidence from foreign government;
• Information which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes;
• Information which would obstruct or stop the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders;
• Cabinet papers including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers, Secretaries and other officers;
• Personal information which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual.
[Note:I have wrote this article (Act) just to share some off my knowledge about RTI if any things miss out or is not up-to-date plz late me know ]
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Super-bug in MUMBAI
What is Super-bug?
Antibiotic resistance is a type of drug resistance where a microorganism is able to survive exposure to an antibiotic. Genes can be transferred between bacteria in a horizontal fashion by conjugation, transduction, or transformation. Thus, a gene for antibiotic resistance which had evolved via natural selection may be shared. Evolutionary stress such as exposure to antibiotics then selects for the antibiotic resistant trait. Many antibiotic resistance genes reside on plasmids, facilitating their transfer. If a bacterium carries several resistance genes, it is called multi-resistant or, informally, a superbug.
The primary cause of antibiotic resistance is antibiotic use both within medicine and veterinary medicine. The greater the duration of exposure, the greater is the risk of development of the resistance irrespective of the severity of need for antibiotics.
How to Protect Yourself from Superbug MRSA?
1
What to look out for
MRSA appears as a pimple or a spider bite
It quickly turns painful and warm to the touch
May look like a boil on the skin to an open wound
Cover with bandage or band-aid if not sure what sore or cut is
MRSA can enter the body through the smallest cuts or scrapes
You may feel dizzy, warm with fever and headache
Seek medical attention if you are unsure right away if infection is not going away
There are only a few antibiotics that will heal resistant MRSA
2
Where MRSA is spreading
In schools
gyms
locker rooms
health spas
tattoo parlors
day care centers
MRSA started out in hospitals and nursing homes and is spreading quickly through the communities and the world
3
How to prevent getting infections
keep hands clean at all times
do not go near anyone's open sores or cuts
do not share any personal items clothes, cosmetics, makeup, hats, shoes
If you have an open sore cover it as soon as possible, clean wound with peroxide till you get to the emergency room - band aids with silver work best as silver is a natural antibiotic
tell nurses on staff that you may suspect MRSA
if you suspect you have MRSA clean all things that you have touched
sheets, bed covers, clothing, towels
do not share towels with anyone
PLs Read:-
It really is ironic that the only city having a programme, like ‘Clean Up Mumbai’ – targeted for a whole city, is the one which is most polluted. The fault goes both ways – the government as well as the citizens. When a Govt. is taking certain steps for the upliftment of its people, it is also the responsibility of the people to see that these attempts are not futile. They must take initiatives and fulfill their duties as a citizen. Recently, I myself witnessed an outrageous incident in C.S.T bus depot. A person was caught spitting by volunteers of ‘Clean Up Mumbai.’ When he was politely requested to not repeat his action, and pay a fine of Rs. 300, he refused blatantly. This behavior enraged me to no extent. If the citizens do not respond to the campaigns made in their own interests, then there is nothing any government can do. For this purpose, I urge all the citizens of India to please stand up for the proposals that the government is bringing up for their goodwill.
Antibiotic resistance is a type of drug resistance where a microorganism is able to survive exposure to an antibiotic. Genes can be transferred between bacteria in a horizontal fashion by conjugation, transduction, or transformation. Thus, a gene for antibiotic resistance which had evolved via natural selection may be shared. Evolutionary stress such as exposure to antibiotics then selects for the antibiotic resistant trait. Many antibiotic resistance genes reside on plasmids, facilitating their transfer. If a bacterium carries several resistance genes, it is called multi-resistant or, informally, a superbug.
The primary cause of antibiotic resistance is antibiotic use both within medicine and veterinary medicine. The greater the duration of exposure, the greater is the risk of development of the resistance irrespective of the severity of need for antibiotics.
How to Protect Yourself from Superbug MRSA?
1
What to look out for
MRSA appears as a pimple or a spider bite
It quickly turns painful and warm to the touch
May look like a boil on the skin to an open wound
Cover with bandage or band-aid if not sure what sore or cut is
MRSA can enter the body through the smallest cuts or scrapes
You may feel dizzy, warm with fever and headache
Seek medical attention if you are unsure right away if infection is not going away
There are only a few antibiotics that will heal resistant MRSA
2
Where MRSA is spreading
In schools
gyms
locker rooms
health spas
tattoo parlors
day care centers
MRSA started out in hospitals and nursing homes and is spreading quickly through the communities and the world
3
How to prevent getting infections
keep hands clean at all times
do not go near anyone's open sores or cuts
do not share any personal items clothes, cosmetics, makeup, hats, shoes
If you have an open sore cover it as soon as possible, clean wound with peroxide till you get to the emergency room - band aids with silver work best as silver is a natural antibiotic
tell nurses on staff that you may suspect MRSA
if you suspect you have MRSA clean all things that you have touched
sheets, bed covers, clothing, towels
do not share towels with anyone
PLs Read:-
It really is ironic that the only city having a programme, like ‘Clean Up Mumbai’ – targeted for a whole city, is the one which is most polluted. The fault goes both ways – the government as well as the citizens. When a Govt. is taking certain steps for the upliftment of its people, it is also the responsibility of the people to see that these attempts are not futile. They must take initiatives and fulfill their duties as a citizen. Recently, I myself witnessed an outrageous incident in C.S.T bus depot. A person was caught spitting by volunteers of ‘Clean Up Mumbai.’ When he was politely requested to not repeat his action, and pay a fine of Rs. 300, he refused blatantly. This behavior enraged me to no extent. If the citizens do not respond to the campaigns made in their own interests, then there is nothing any government can do. For this purpose, I urge all the citizens of India to please stand up for the proposals that the government is bringing up for their goodwill.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Impact of Technology on Indian Society
In the globalized age where boundaries have been nullified, where technology has made the World a small space, the impact of science and technology needs to be analyzed to get a better understanding of the influence it can create throughout various kinds of people and places. Technology is practically everywhere today-it has changed the way we prepare food, we buy our clothes, and we build our homes. It has changed the way we send our posts, we take our exams, and we fill up our forms and the way we resort to comfort and entertainment. Computers, the most visible impact of technology have come a long way from being huge machines locked up in a room to tiny palmtops with more features added every day. It has all the functions of a calculator, a music player, a home theatre, a video camera and practically a better tool than a pen and a sheet of paper. With more features and functions, computers have led to loss of jobs for millions. In this context, we can look at the impact of technology, in the Indian context.
Computers arrived in India in the 1970s and with the formation of Hindustan Computers Limited (HCL) in 1976; India formally entered the computers club. Interestingly, HCL launched its operations in India a month ago before IBM came to the Indian market. By the 1980s, HCL introduced data operating and processing computers in Indian corporations. However, it was after 1986, when the then Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi took the initiative to lower duty on hardware and software, the Indian computer Industry began to grow. However, this growth was not smooth. In 1992, when Hindustan Computers Limited (HCL) organized a huge launch of their computers in a function at Calcutta displaying the need of every office in the state to use computers; there were huge demonstrations and protests. The reason- people were about to lose their jobs as the work previously done by them would now be done by the computers. This kind of outburst is not rare; every developing country where computers have now become an integral tool has experienced such protests which cannot be termed as baseless.
Now, how much computers have touched the people, barring the urbane remains to be asked. In 2002, in Vardhaman district of West Bengal, the ruling CPI(M) government boasted of modernization in villages and availability of computers in every rural school. That was not merely a claim; the schools were actually provided computers. But the irony is that, in the district, which was declared the most literate district, literacy remains at writing one’s own name without even knowing the alphabets. So computers remained government toys without any objective of being there.
On the other hand, in Kerala, officially the most literate state in India launched a similar programme. There, most of the school kids not only knew why they need to know computers, but their parents also knew the usefulness of learning computers. They have an objective to learn computers-to be more equipped so that they get good jobs.
Now, the difference is clear, technology can become useful tools, only if ones progresses knowing the need to learn that. Just by introducing computers without any objective can prove a loss, both of government money and human resource. The basic infrastructure needs to be developed to a large extent. Basic education must be ensured in each and every place in India, across diverse social groups, if India wants to feel the impact of computers and stay ahead in the race.
The dotcom boom happened in India during 1999-2000, when new media actually picked up pace and made some real impact. However, convergence was yet to follow. We can safely say that Indians were so overboard with the internet revolution, they didn’t quite pay attention to the development of infrastructure and to plan out the basic objectives of learning computers. True that with the rise of the cyber cafes (starting as a coffee shop called ‘Coffee Day Cyber Cafe’ in 1995,in Bangalore, India have come up a long way to popularize the internet movement. Yet, the reluctance of Indian Companies like HCL and Infosys to continue with hardware development still makes it a distant dream for the lower middle class and the lower class to afford computers. Although India now has a huge global share of technology uses, it mostly due to the over populated metros. The economic issue has surely improved, but the infrastructure is still to be looked at more carefully and steps must be taken up to negate the impact of diversity in a huge and multifaceted country like India ; where only three fifth of the people are literate, most of them only able to ‘draw’ their names!
Growth in technology has both positive and negative impacts on the society. IF we consider mobile phones as technology then positive impacts can be.
1. Phone in pocket, nothing can be better than this. Always connected to world.
2. it’s not only voice and SMS, now mobile phones have GPRS 3G etc which have brought internet in our pockets.
Negative aspects
1. Excessive use of mobiles can cause cancer and mental tensions. People using 2-3 mobile phones are reported to be suffering from lack of sleep, restlessness etc.
Again considering Nuclear energy as a technology. Nuclear energy is like cheapest and long lasting source of energy. But an accident can take away life of whole city.
When we discuss the impact of technology, these questions need to be analyzed as they show the weaker side of the revolution. Technological progress cannot be totally successful unless we increase awareness in the grass root level. It shows how far behind we have remained to catch up with the developed nations. We cannot swank about a global village or the world in fingertips unless we show all the people how technological innovations take place. Only then, the impact of technology will come a huge way forward and science and technology can touch lives, all over the country-not just in metros, but in the rural areas too.
Well people can take up any technology and write about its impact for hours. But the conclusion can be like; everything comes with positive and negative aspect to society. It's up to us individuals to make most out of the positive aspect and nullify the negative one of a particular technology.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Save Narmada save people.
As we all know, the Supreme Court of India has passed an adverse acting order regarding the Sardar Sarovar Project allowing for the Narmada dam to be raised. By claiming to curb itself to the issue of resettlement, the court is being obfuscator with regard to the rights of individuals in our society.
The interim order was passed, based partly on the basis of sworn affidavits from the government of Maharashtra which have recently been canceled by the officials who filed the affidavits. The unlucky follower under this official accompanied the people to the ostensible resettlement site & finally agreed that really there were no land available.
Article 21 is one of the most important articles of Indian constitution. It’s a “Right to life”, the right against arbiter arrest. It also gives Right to livelihood- It includes right to clean living conditions. The universal declaration of 3rd generation right was passed in 1986 that are the right to development & right to self-determination. It gives right to the state or the people to say in the discussion of developments on which they are affected.
In India during 1950 to 1988 more than 55milion people have been displaced by the development project & less than 25% had been rehabilitated.
Such details aside, the provisional order, is a significant challenge to what is possibly the most significant social movement in independent India.
The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) plans a massive mobilization of people. While political parties do this on a routine basis to establish sham popularity, eternally broke movements like the NBA. The recent Supreme Court order in the matter of Narmada, has stirred up a discussion among the concerned on the judiciary role in protecting the interests of the deprived & the marginalized in probing the ‘ Public Purpose’ of large projects, & in paving the way for sustainable equitable alternatives. The temporary order, confined the states to rise the height of the dam from 32 meters in 1991 to 61 meters in 1993 monsoon, will result in irreparable damages. A large part of the tribal villages in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat & Rajasthan will be affected in the coming monsoon. This is not a time when state have not done enough to rehabilitate those affected at present nor have any readiness for it in the coming months & years.
In the present time, one can say that this fire is bowed in smoke. Nowadays if you talk about this issue you will hardly find people even interested to know about their today’s conditions. Whereas, if you actually look in to this issue it was another bit of successful movement by the people. They have secured their land but have not yet been rehabilitated by the government.
The interim order was passed, based partly on the basis of sworn affidavits from the government of Maharashtra which have recently been canceled by the officials who filed the affidavits. The unlucky follower under this official accompanied the people to the ostensible resettlement site & finally agreed that really there were no land available.
Article 21 is one of the most important articles of Indian constitution. It’s a “Right to life”, the right against arbiter arrest. It also gives Right to livelihood- It includes right to clean living conditions. The universal declaration of 3rd generation right was passed in 1986 that are the right to development & right to self-determination. It gives right to the state or the people to say in the discussion of developments on which they are affected.
In India during 1950 to 1988 more than 55milion people have been displaced by the development project & less than 25% had been rehabilitated.
Such details aside, the provisional order, is a significant challenge to what is possibly the most significant social movement in independent India.
The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) plans a massive mobilization of people. While political parties do this on a routine basis to establish sham popularity, eternally broke movements like the NBA. The recent Supreme Court order in the matter of Narmada, has stirred up a discussion among the concerned on the judiciary role in protecting the interests of the deprived & the marginalized in probing the ‘ Public Purpose’ of large projects, & in paving the way for sustainable equitable alternatives. The temporary order, confined the states to rise the height of the dam from 32 meters in 1991 to 61 meters in 1993 monsoon, will result in irreparable damages. A large part of the tribal villages in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat & Rajasthan will be affected in the coming monsoon. This is not a time when state have not done enough to rehabilitate those affected at present nor have any readiness for it in the coming months & years.
In the present time, one can say that this fire is bowed in smoke. Nowadays if you talk about this issue you will hardly find people even interested to know about their today’s conditions. Whereas, if you actually look in to this issue it was another bit of successful movement by the people. They have secured their land but have not yet been rehabilitated by the government.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Point of views - No matter
Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India
Somewhere have raised an issue of “Hinduism”, but when it comes to “Hinduism” point of views don’t matter?
India the so called Democratic country, where we have the lengthiest constitution which is followed by few numbers of people, including our political parties. Indian constitution ended with the comprehensible vision to “Restrain on power & assurance of rights”. Whereas according to article 19, which is to some extend connected with article 21, gives right to freedom of expression. [Right of freedom]. And in 1983, under the demand for secession; not protected under freedom of expression, where People’s idea, institution has seen above the constitution. Is it something that the Indian laws are only for Indian?
James Laine in his book has not openly talked about Shivaji but, stories about Shivaji are painted. Stories which are told and developed over centuries. In last fifty year the books on shivaji have much different political and cultural fiction, which are studied by James Laine who tries to explore Shivaji left out of traditional stories. Shivaji challenges the hegemony of Islamic emperor and founded Maharashtra. Shivajis stories have played decisive role in construction of “Islam” and “Hinduism” in Maharashtra.
Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India. It has been inhibited from the Indian souk and barred in Maharashtra, while a scholar was beaten up and the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune ransacked just because of mentions in Laine's acknowledgements. This cleared up the picture of collectivism in Indian political structure, where we have freedom of expression but only for Indians that’s also not for sure……
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