sulabhswachhbharat.com
07 Dhanduka Is Now ODF
‘Tennis4Toilets’ leads to the construction of 105 individual household toilets
10
12
Sanitation in Russia
Abundant Yet Unevenly Distributed Water Resources
Oscar Wilde
Legendary Irish Writer Known For His Biting Wit
24 The Making Of A Legend
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to United States of America POSTAL REGISTRATION NO. DL(W)10/2240/2017-19
RNI No. DELENG/2016/71561
Scan this with your smartphone
A Good News Weekly SULABH JAL IN Sonepur
Vol - 2 | Issue - 51 | Dec 03-09, 2018 | Price ` 10/-
Pocket-Friendly Sulabh Jal To Quench The Thirst Of Sonepur
A Sulabh Water ATM has been installed at famed Harihar Nath temple of Sonepur village to provide purified drinking water to the residents and visiting devotees of Sonepur. Interestingly, the Sulabh Jal is available at just Re 1/litre
02
Cover Story
Dec 03-09, 2018
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, emancipated manual scavengers, widows of Vrindavan, alongwith Public Health Engineering Department Minister Vinod Narayan Jha, Bihar Military Police DG Gupteshwar Pandey, Jesper Vibe-Hansen from Royal Danish Embassy, Claus Stroeeh of Nordic Technologies at Harihar Nath Temple, Sonepur
Swastika Tripathi
“W
hat can you do with just Re 1/-?” people often say the line as a challenging task as they are too confident that next to nothing relevant can be bought with just a rupee.
Quick Glance Sulabh Water ATM has been installed at Harihar Nath Temple of Sonepur The purified Sulabh Jal is accessible at the water ATM at the cost of just Re 1/ltr Sonepur homes many devotees during the mela, Sulabh Jal ensures clean water to them
However, the good news is that water, the most essential element of the Earth, in its purest form is now available for the people living in or around, or visiting, Sonepur village of Bihar. Yes, this has been made possible with the purified ‘Sulabh Jal’ which can be dispensed from the Sulabh Water ATM installed at the famous Harihar Nath Temple at just Re 1 per litre. Minister of Public Health Engineering Department Vinod Narayan Jha, Gupteshwar Pandey, Director General, Bihar Military Police, and Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement, inaugurated the purified drinking water ATM. The water purification machine (Water Kiosk) is from the Nordic Technologies, a Denmark-based company. Shangrila Projects Pvt Ltd and Nordic Technologies, along with the expertise of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, are jointly implementing this project to provide safe and pure drinking water to the
‘CaSTe BY CHOICE’ To Turn around The Lives of 400 women
T
o bring the people from the marginalised section of the society to the mainstream, Sulabh International Social Service Organisation has made many ambitious moves, one of them being the innovative concept of ‘Caste By Choice’. This initiative has had a very positive impact on the society and brought about vital changes. To ensure that the erstwhile
villagers of Sonepur and the nearby villages. Why Sonepur? Sonepur is a city and sub-division in the Indian state of Bihar, situated on the banks of the River Gandak (River Narayani) and River Ganga in the Saran district. Sonepur once famous for its longest Railway Platform is each year host to the world’s largest Cattle Fair, its origin tracing back to the olden times of Chandragupta Maurya, which starts on the full moon day, i.e. the Kartik Poornima. An annual cattle fair that titles to one of the biggest in Asia, ‘Sonepur Mela’
scavengers take dip in the confluence of holy rivers Ganga and Gandak at Sonepur Mela on the sacred Kartik Poornima, Sulabh took help of its ‘Caste By Choice’ initiative. Through this, over 400 women from the Valmiki Samaj will be converted to Brahmins. The historic move by Sulabh, to bring about societal change, will help these women live a life of dignity and start-over. is the pride of northern Bihar. The fair is held on the banks of the sacred river Ganga, where it confluences with its tributary, Gandak. Going by the pattern of the stars, the fair takes place on the auspicious dates of Kartik Poornima in the month of November/ December every year. Some prefer to call this prehistoric fair as Harihar Kshetra Mela. The fair acts as a selling ground of not only cattle, but breeds of dogs, elephants, birds and camels also become part of the attractions. The religious side of the Sonepur Mela brings thousands of Hindu pilgrims and devotees for the sacred dip at the confluence of river Ganga
Cover Story
Dec 03-09, 2018
03 07
Tracing The Roots & Relevance of Sonepur Mela S
“70% of diseases in our nation are impure waterborne. We needed a machine like this (the Sulabh Water ATM) and today I am very delighted to inaugurate it” – Vinod Narayan Jha, Minister of Public Health Engineering Department, Bihar Govt
and river Gandak. It is believed that taking a dip here, particularly at the auspicious time of full moon, purifies oneself from within his inner self. However, the increased level of harmful arsenic in the river Ganga of the region has been a matter of grave concern for long. Many projects, initiatives have taken place over the years. Taking the initiatives to another
onepur Mela has its origins traced back to the times of Chandragupta Maurya, the first ruler of India. Historians believe that the emperor used this fair as an opportunity to make purchases of elephants and horses for his huge army. An annual cattle fair that titles to one of the biggest in Asia, Sonepur Mela is the pride of northern Bihar. The fair is held on the banks of the sacred river Ganga, where it confluences with its tributary, Gandak. Going by the pattern of the stars, the fair takes place on the auspicious dates of Kartik Poornima (full moon day) every year. Some prefer to call this prehistoric fair as Harihar Kshetra Mela. The fair acts as a selling ground of not only cattle, but breeds of dogs, elephants, birds and camels also become part of the attractions. Mythological Narration The cattle fair also beholds a mythological narration about its history. As per the legend, there were two brothers; both utmost devotees of Lord Vishnu enchanted
a magical spell on each other accidentally. As a result, one turned into an honest elephant, while the other a ferocious crocodile. Once during a full moon day, the elephant was enjoying a bath at this very confluence of rivers. Moments later, it was attacked by the crocodile. Sensing the trouble of the elephant, Lord Vishnu had to intervene to push the chariot of victory of the good over evil. Thus, in the present day, Sonepur Mela along with its cattle trading supremacy, holds a religious angle as well. Religious & Historical Sides It is also believed that the Harihar Nath temple was built by Lord Ram on his way to ‘swayamvar’ to Sita. The religious side of the Sonepur Mela brings thousands of Hindu pilgrims and devotees for the sacred dip at the confluence of river Ganga and river Gandak. It is believed that taking a dip here, particularly at the auspicious time of full moon purifies oneself from within his inner self. The fair had its beginning in the
All smiles at the entrance of Sonepur Mela! Emancipated scavengers and widows of Vrindavan with Dr Bindeshwar Pathak and Amola Pathak
Maurya period when the soldiers of the emperor Chandragupta Maurya visited it to buy animals. Later in times it served the same purpose for the freedom fighters of the country. Of Animals, Birds & Handicrafts The Sonepur fair is a heady mix of exciting activities like animals trading, religious beliefs and a culture that has thrived through centuries. Just like Rajasthan speaks about its camels in the Pushkar fair, Sonepur Mela has an extensive range of decorated elephants, all lined up for sale as its star attraction. These giant yet gentle creatures are all made to settle in the Haathi Bazaar (elephant market), where tourists can touch and feed them while the auction is on. Besides, this vibrant fair dominates with different variety of birds, poultries, cattles, the stalls of which all smeared up in the colorful attires of a fancy handicraft store. Stalls at the Sonepur Mela get all loaded with items like agricultural implements, garments, perfumes, handicrafts, utensils in wood and brass. The fair is marked by the presence of international tourists who converge at the place to experience the religious fervour, the animals trading market and cultural shows presented to the delight of the visitors. An arts and craft village put together by the department of industry is captivating too.
02 04
Cover Story
Dec 03-09, 2018
Sulabh Jal: From West Bengal To Delhi To Sonepur
A
n innovative approach of Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement, the ‘Sulabh Jal (Water) ATM’ is India’s cheapest purified safe drinking water, now sold at local levels.
Sulabh Jal is a boon for the residents of nearby colonies, the slum dwellers and also for the poor people who are otherwise deprived of pure potable drinking water and also those who can’t afford to buy bottled water available in the market. Sulabh is engaged in the cleaning and purifying of the Sulabh Jal in two states – one in West Bengal and another in Delhi. In West Bengal the water is being sold at the minimal cost of 50 paise per litre and in Delhi at Re 1/- per litre. Sulabh Jal is one of India’s biggest experiments with bottled, potable drinking water. The water from the ponds, wells and the river Ganges is being treated at districts such as North 24 Parganas, Murshidabad and Nadia of West Bengal and is being provided to the villagers at just 50 paise per litre.
The Sulabh Jal ATM, now a pride of Sonepur village
This is for the first time in India that water sourced from the country’s most sacred river is being purified and sold in bottles. In West Bengal, the underground water is laced with high arsenic content and due to this the residents were suffering various diseases. But, now after they have started using the treated and purified Sulabh Jal there has been marked improvement in the health of the people. The Sulabh Jal spectrum is widening. After West Bengal and Delhi, the purified water is now in Sonepur, Bihar, too at the rate same as that of Delhi as a blessing to the villagers living in and around the village, and also the devotees who visit the Sonepur Mela in large number each year.
Now with Sulabh Jal ATM at Sonepur, a sip of water is a gulp of life
level with purified water that too at such cheap rate, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak stepped forward and hence the Sulabh Water ATM was installed at the famedtemple. Sulabh Jal Is Three Gulps Of Life! Addressing the gathering after the inauguration of the Sulabh Water ATM, Vinod Narayan Jha, Minister of Public Health Engineering Department, Bihar Government, said, “70 per cent of diseases in our nation are impure water-borne. Earlier we didn’t know that Ganga water and the underground water can also be harmful to the health but now we know that they indeed are. It is my duty to ensure clean drinking water to the residents. We needed a
Vinod Narayan Jha, Claus Stroeeh and Jesper Vibe-Hansen hold the Sulabh Jal from Sonepur water ATM with pride
Cover Story
Dec 03-09, 2018
03 05 07
Emancipated Scavengers & Widows Defy Conventions, Take Holy Dip At Sonepur Mela
O
n the occasion of Sonepur Mela, Bihar, on the sacred Kartik Poornima, the full moon day, the fifteenth lunar day of the Hindu month Kartik (November– December), the confluence of the rivers, holy Ganga and Gandak, came alive when the Sulabh-mainstreamed erstwhile-scavenger women from Alwar, Rajasthan, and the widows of Vrindavan took a holy dip together with scores of other devotees. It was a spectacle of sorts when the grand ritualistic bath was accompanied by the chanting of holy verses by the Pandits, the very high-caste Brahmins with whom till recently these women were not supposed to even sit with.
machine like this (the Sulabh Water ATM) and today I am very delighted to inaugurate it. For this, I especially thank Dr Bindeshwar Pathak.” “The Sulabh Water ATM is a boon not only for the devotees but also the residents of Sonepur. Consumption of at least three litres of water is a must for a person to stay healthy. With this machine, people can access the required quantity with just Rs 3
At the centre of the unique event was none other than the social reforms colossus and the founder of Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak. The emancipated scavengers, participating in the religious event, had previously led a life of indignity when they cleaned dry latrines of the town and carried night soil on their head to the contempt of their household-customers. The turnaround in their life came in the year 2003 when Dr Pathak persuaded them to leave their contemptible profession and take respectable and remunerative ones. Once taken off their job of handling and secure their health. There is no cheaper and easier way to stay healthy and safe. Moreover, this machine will also be a good source of income for the temple as well. It is a public service
human waste, Sulabh empowered them, trained them in a variety of vocations and supported them with regular stipend till they achieved self-sufficiency. The society which one saw these erstwhile scavengers as ‘untouchables’, has now accepted them into the mainstream. These women are treated with respect. They are invited to the auspicious occasions, celebrations. Many people took a dip into the holy river with these women, which was impossible till sometime back before Dr Pathak’s interventionist programme transformed their socio-cultural status. Similarly, the widows of Vrindavan,
once known for their destitution, were also liberated from the ageold shackles the society imposed upon them through Dr Pathak’s rehabilitation programme. Till the year 2012, their only source of paltry income was singing devotional songs at the temples of the holy place and alms thrown at them by the pilgrims. Sulabh trained and mainstreamed them to now their joyous participation in the festivals, something that was unthinkable a few years back. Post the holy bath the women offered their prayers at the famed Harihar Nath temple. They rejoiced walking through the Fair, which is known far and wide.
and only Dr Pathak could have done it,” said Gupteshwar Pandey, Director General, Bihar Military Police, who is also the president of Baba Harihar Nath Temple Nyas Samiti. Speaking on the occasion, Jesper Vibe-Hansen,
Head of Commercial Department/ Head of Innovation Centre Denmark, Royal Danish Embassy, briefed about Nordic Technologies. He said that the company has been working on water treatment technology. “We will continue working with Sulabh. Here, the water sample tested shows a lot of bacteria in it. This machine prevents these bacteria from flourishing. In it, the water is treated at three levels. The temperature is set at 12° Celsius so that the bacteria cannot survive,” said Hansen.
“Consumption of at least three litres of water is a must for a person to stay healthy. With this machine, people can access the required quantity with just Rs 3 and secure their health”– Gupteshwar Pandey , Director General of Bihar Military Police
From Taboo To Necessity Recalling the time when even speaking
06
Cover Story
Dec 03-09, 2018
Immersing the pure Sulabh Jal from Sonepur water ATM into the holy rivers’ confluence at Sonepur Mela
of toilets was a taboo, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement, said, “There was a time when people used to think that it was against their religion and beliefs to set up toilets in homes. Today the conditions have changed. Sulabh took up this issue as a challenge and transformed it into a mass movement. Sulabh built over 15 lakh toilets to aware people of the importance of sanitation and cleanliness for their own health. Today people build toilets in their houses.” He also talked about the hundreds of emancipated manual scavengers, who had come all the way from Rajasthan to participate in the event, that they were once considered ‘untouchables’. Today the conditions have changed and these women are sitting in par with their hosts. “They have become Brahmins now.” In the same way, the widow mothers, who came from Vrindavan, have also been mainstreamed by Sulabh. Dr Pathak, who chaired the programme, and his wife Amola Pathak were felicitated with bouquets and shawls. Vinod Narayan Jha, Gupteshwar Pandey, Claus Stroeeh (from Nordic Technologies, Denmark), Jesper Vibe-Hansen, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak and Amola Pathak posed for a memorable photoshoot with the emancipated manual scavengers from Alwar and Tonk and their hosts (the people whose houses these erstwhile scavengers used to visit to clean the nightsoil), widows from Vrindavan and students from Ukhral Training Centre, Jammu & Kashmir, to mark the
historic day. March Against Drug Abuse Later in the day about 200 Sulabhrehabilitated scavenger-women from Alwar and Tonk, Rajasthan, widows from Vrindavan and school students of Sulabh Training Centre, Ukhral, Jammu & Kashmir, took out a protest march against drugs, alcohol and narcotics in Sonepur. The protesters highlighted the perilous health effects of the abuse. The procession was part of an initiative of the Director General Gupteshwar Pandey of Bihar Police. The rallyists started
off from the famous Harihar Nath temple raising anti-abuse slogans and walked towards Sonepur Mela grounds, which is the venue of the traditional fair attracting national and international participants. Now, The Future Is Healthy! Water is an imperative, whether it is human life or any other creature of the world, ranging from flora and fauna to other living beings – we all are well-aware of this fact. If water is polluted, it directly impacts our health. In India alone, every year so many lives fall prey to polluted water, reaching their end. Many abdominal
“There was a time when people used to think that it was against their religion and beliefs to set up toilets in homes. Today the conditions have changed” – Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder, Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement
diseases are caused due to dirty water. Slight carelessness while maintaining cleanliness of water leads to numerous maladies. If water is not clean and pure, it negatively impacts body’s immunity. Bihar’s Harihar-Kshetra Mela (aka the Sonepur Mela) is famous across the world. Every year lakhs of devotees visit this place and cherish worshipping at the Harihar Nath Temple. A lot of people stay here for days while it is very common among devotees to spend an entire day experiencing charms of the fair. In such situation, it is necessary to ensure that these people remain in good health. Therefore, it is much needed to make pure water available for them all. Since most of the visitors are from rural areas, it is also required to keep the water price cost-effective. That is what has turned into a reality. Any devotee-visitor, or in fact the resident of the village and from the villages around, can access the Sulabh Water ATM and ensure a safe and healthy tomorrow for themselves and their families – all at a cost very pocket-friendly!
Sanitation
Dec 03-09, 2018 ODF
Village Dhanduka Is Now Open Defecation Free
A foundation stone was laid to mark the ODF declaration of Dhanduka
D
r Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement, visited Dhanduka, a village in Nuh Tehsil in Mewat District of Haryana, on November 28, along with H.E. Ambassador of Serbia to India, Vladimir Maric, and declared it as ODF – an “Open Defecation Free” village. This was possible with the joint endeavour of Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation and Ambassadors of Serbia to India H.E. Vladimir Maric alongwith H.Es. from Guatemala, Chile and Bosnia & Herzegovina. A doubles charity tennis tournament titled as “Tennis4Toilets” was organized on 16th and 17th April, 2018, by the combined efforts of the embassies of Serbia, Guatemala, Chile and Bosnia & Herzegovina and Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation. A total of 14 sponsors including logistics sponsors also came
H.E. Vladimir Maric presented with a memento by Dr Bindeshwar Pathak forward to make this event a success. The aim was to raise enough money to make one entire Indian village open-defecation free. The funds raised by this tournament were used for the construction of
105 individual household toilets in village Dhandhuka to make the entire village Open Defecation Free. Serbian Ambassador H.E. Vladimir Maric took the lead and he was joined by his tennis mates
03 07
His Excellency Vladimir Maric
H
.E. Vladimir Maric, Ambassador of Serbia to India, is a man of excellence and brilliance. His numerous and extraordinary brilliant academic record and his administrative and diplomatic accomplishments are a testimony to that. After doing his B.A. (with honours) from Georgia State University, Atlanta (USA) and Masters’ degree from the prestigious University of Belgrade, Maric has held with distinction several high-ranking and crucial positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of his country. He began his career with Internship (2002-03) with the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the United Nations’ headquarters in New York. After that he worked at several key positions in the Cabinet of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, besides representing and assisting his country’s embassy in different countries. Before being nominated as Ambassador to India, he was Minister-Counselor as well as Ambassador, Chief of the Cabinet of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia. There are other attractive aspects and achievements of his life and career. Besides having a command on his native Serbian language, he is fluent in English and French, and he was the Outstanding Scholar of the Year 2001 of the University System of Georgia.
and counterpart from Bosnia H.E. Sabit Subasic, Guatemalan envoy H.E. Georges de La Roche Du Ronzet and Chile’s mission head H.E. Andrés Barbé González. They came up with the idea to raise funds by organising a charity tennis match, which they named as “Tennis4Toilets”, for building ecological toilet in this Indian village. The event also promoted tennis as a sport in India. A foundation stone was laid to mark the historic development in the village. School children also spread awareness about the importance of cleanliness for health and environment by holding placards of motivational slogans.
08
Feature
Dec 03-09, 2018 Narayan Seva Sansthan
This NGO Is A Saviour Of The Differently Abled The sole mission of Narayan Seva Sansthan is to ensure that the differently-abled can stand on their own and start earning a livelihood
I
n Archana Sharma
n a small village near Udaipur, the famous lake city in Rajasthan, thousands of physically challenged people are given a fresh lease of life. Not only do they receive corrective surgeries free of cost but, during the course of their treatment, they are also imparted training to repair computers and mobiles or learn the art of stitching to ensure they become self-reliant. The Narayan Seva Sansthan houses in its premises a modern hospital, an orphanage, a smart school, skill imparting institutions, and centres for rehabilitation, physiotherapy and naturotherapy. It is branded as a “smart” village because it has all facilities and means of sustenance for all its inhabitants within the campus, including ATM machines, Internet connectivity and even its own toy train. Set up by Kailash Agarwal ‘Manav’, a recipient of the Padma Shri for distinguished service, the sole mission of the organisation is to ensure that the differently-abled can stand on their own and start earning a livelihood when they leave the campus. The organisation provides medical treatment not only to polio-affected people via corrective surgeries, but also offers surgeries to those suffering “by-birth” disabilities, Narayan Seva Sansthan President Prashant Agarwal told. “Besides caring for the rehabilitation of the poor, needy and differentlyabled people, we also equip them and their attendants with skills through the computer, mobile repairing, sewing and tailoring classes. Over 4,276 people
have benefited from this till date,” Prashant, who is Kailash Agarwal’s son, said. Vinod Kumar, a physically challenged man from Agra with deformities in his limbs, expressed excitement on being trained in mobile repairing. With twinkling eyes, he told, “I want to set up a shop and start earning once I go back to Agra. The best part here is that I am being trained while undergoing treatment.” Asha Devi, who was here to get her grandson operated, said: “Although I am 60, I am enjoying learning to stitch frocks and Kurtis in different designs. No one in our village has this expertise; hence I am confident that I shall earn a decent income.” She said the Narayan Seva Sansthan had promised her a sewing machine when she returned to her village. “As our lodging, food, training and treatment is all free, we treat this place as a temple where all our prayers are heard,” she added. The organisation has also been conducting regular “mass marriage ceremonies” twice a year for young, physically-challenged boys and girls from underprivileged backgrounds. Till date, 1,298 such couples have tied the knot here. Agarwal senior, who set up the organisation in 1985, started working for the cause of humanity after visiting a bloody accident site in Sirohi district in 1976, where seven people lost their lives. “My father was working as a clerk in a post office when he heard about a bus collision in Pindwara, Sirohi. Taking leave from his job, he rushed
to the site and was shaken to see the blood-splattered mess. With help from others, he admitted the injured to the general hospital. He started visiting the hospital daily to look after their needs,” Prashant said. During these visits, he realised how patients battle with daily challenges while also grappling with financial crises. He saw they were hesitant to buy medicines and food as they had no money left with them after incurring medical expenses. “To help such people, he started distributing a few containers, with ‘Narayan Seva’ written on them, among his relatives and acquaintances and asked them to put some flour in it on a daily basis. Every morning, he and my mother used to prepare chapatis out of the flour they had collected and feed the hungry. Even my sister and I helped,” he said. While Kailash Agarwal kept this up on his own from 1974 to 1984, he set up Narayan Seva Sansthan as a non-profit charity organisation in 1985 to serve patients belonging to the poorest of the poor of society. Over time, the organisation grew and is now among the few centres in the world where over 100 corrective surgeries of polio and cerebral palsy are done each day. The institute has given a new lease of life to over 325,000 people with free-of-cost polio corrective surgeries. Not only does it provide treatment to the patients, it also ensures their relatives are taken care of. Once they reach Udaipur, all expenses of patients and their attendants are borne as long
as they are at the institute for treatment. Prashant said the organisation is blessed with a strong team of medical practitioners. “With its headquarter at Udaipur in Rajasthan, the organisation has a 1,100-bed hospital where patients from around the country and abroad make their way for treatment and surgeries,” he said. Irrespective of caste, creed and religion, the organisation serves all -Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, he said. It also runs a Narayan Children’s Academy, with its wellequipped classes, for tribal students residing nearby. It is a delight and surprise to see tribal students studying in e-classes. The organisation runs a school bus which picks up students in the morning. These students are then given breakfast and lunch in school, and dropped to their homes in the evening. This too is a free service. The students are also provided school uniforms and stationery. The organisation also runs a residential school for the deaf and dumb, blind and mentally-challenged children. However, Prashant said this was just a start as there are thousands awaiting their turn to get surgeries done. “Our vision is to spread our wings to ensure that all differently-abled people walk with confidence, overcoming all odds -- be it physical or financial.”
States
Dec 03-09, 2018
09 07
Kolkata
Hope For Kids In Red-Light Areas Child-Friendly Learning and Recreation Centres are bridging the gap for children in Kolkata’s red-light areas by giving them a fighting chance at a better future n Neola DSouza
W
alking through the bylanes of a red-light area can be quite unnerving. It took a while to get to the place as the cab driver checked not once but thrice with me if I had the correct address. He later told me in Bengali: “Madam, this is a red-light area, please be careful.” I politely explained that I was aware, and was visiting a ChildFriendly Learning and Recreation Centre (CFLRC) run by an NGO, World Vision India, located there. What many people fail to realise is that a red-light area is also home to children who are stigmatised by virtue of either being born there or moving there with their mothers. Things have, however, changed since November 2017 in a small part of this big community. “A few months ago, I thought it was my fate to accept my mother’s profession and that I too would be forced to get into the same line. But today things are different. I feel like I can do anything because I’m finally going to school,” says 14-year-old
Riya, who is attending one of the eight CFLRCs in Kolkata’s red-light areas. “Our aim is to stop secondgeneration trafficking by safeguarding children of women involved in commercial sex work from being inescapably drawn into sexual exploitation. Day in and day out children see their mothers soliciting customers on the street and then later entertaining them in their only living room. There is a risk that these children might grow
up accepting it as a way of life,” says Joseph Wesley, who heads World Vision India’s Anti-Child Trafficking Project. Take the case of Riya, whose mother Latika, a mother of two, came to Kolkata after two failed marriages -- one of which was at the age of 13. Left with no options, Latika took up sex work like her elder sister. While Riya’s brother stayed with their grandparents, she stayed with her father for a while and later on with her younger aunt. A few months ago,
Dadra & Nagar Haveli
HIMACHAL PRADESH
Health Care Scheme Set To Roll This will cover all families of the state which are not covered under the central government’s Ayushman Bharat scheme agency he Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has decided to to implement the Himachal Health Care Scheme in the State. The cashless treatment coverage of Rs 5 lakhs per year per family will be provided on a family floater basis, a government spokesperson told. He said the treatment would be provided on the basis of pre-defined package rates in the empanelled hospitals. The hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat will stand automatically empanelled for this scheme. This will cover all families of the state which are
T
not covered under the central government’s Ayushman Bharat scheme. In a major decision, the cabinet also decided to recruit as many as 2,277 school teachers on contract basis in the Elementary Education Department. In another major decision by the Cabinet led
when Riya fell sick and had to be hospitalised, her aunt told her mother to take her back and even suggested she be married off as she was now 14. But Latika did not want Riya to have a similar fate as hers and decided to bring Riya to Kolkata, along with her son, as her parents had passed away. In a red-light area, teenage girls like Riya find it difficult to stay with their mothers, as they are vulnerable to abuse by pimps, customers and other men. Latika was being questioned by the police about Riya’s identity and even the “malik” (owner) who she rents the room from asked for official documents to prove that the child was not trafficked. Latika did not have Riya’s birth certificate and on a look-out for an alternate living arrangements for her daughter. That is when a sex worker (whose son studied in the centre) introduced Latika to the CFLRC. CFLRC is bridging the gap for children like Riya by giving them a fighting chance at a better future through special coaching, activitybased psycho-social support, recreation and nutritious snacks.
by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, an approval was given to establish the Himachal Pradesh Gau Sewa Aayog for preservation, conservation and welfare of cows. The aayog would also be helpful in addressing the problems relating to abandoned cows. The Cabinet also approved the Himachal Pradesh State Urban Solid Waste Management Policy, with an objective to provide directions for carrying out the waste management activities in a manner which is not just environmentally, socially and financially sustainable but also economically viable.
Cabinet Nod For Medical College It will increase the availability of doctors and address the issue of shortage of doctors
IANS
T
he Union Cabinet approved the setting up of a medical college at Silvassa in the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. “The Cabinet has approved a capital cost of Rs 189 crore for the setting up of a medical college, to be incurred in two years -- Rs 114 crore for 201819 and Rs 75 crore for 2019-20,” Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said at a press conference. It will increase the availability of doctors and address the issue of shortage of doctors. It will also enhance medical education opportunities for students and
result in optimal utilization of the existing infrastructure of district hospitals and improve tertiary care facilities, he added. With a yearly intake capacity of 150 students, the project will be completed by 2019-20 and the construction and capital expenditure will be incurred as per the norms of the Medical Council of India (MCI) and extant guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
10
Sanitation
Dec 03-09, 2018 Russia
Abundant Yet Unevenly Distributed Water Resources One-fifth of the world’s fresh water reserves are in Russia, but the uneven distributions of the water amount across the territory and the pollution-spread have weakened the water and sanitation scenario of the nation
n SSB Bureau
T
he Russian Federation has a unique potential of water resources. From the point of view of water resources availability, Russia ranks second in the world after Brazil. Russian renewable water resources (the volume of annual river flow on the territory of Russia) amount to 10 per cent of the world river flow. However, the uneven distributions of the water amount across the territory and the pollution-spread have weakened the water and sanitation scenario of the nation.
Where The Weakness Lies
The main weak point of Russian water resources is in their extremely uneven distribution over the territory of the country. The greatest part of Russian water resources (90 percent) is concentrated in the basins of the
Arctic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, where less than 15 per cent of Russian population live. The greatest shortage of water resources exists in the European part of the country – the basins of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea – less than 10 per cent of the river flow fall on these territories. Shockingly, the central and southern regions of European Russia, where 80 per cent of the country’s population and industry is concentrated, have only eight per cent of water resources. Countrywide, the total water intake for domestic needs is relatively low – some three per cent of the average annual river flow. Nevertheless, in the basin of the Volga River it amounts to 33 per cent of the total Russian water intake and in a number of river basins this index exceeds the ecologically permissible volume of water abstraction.
Quick Glance The weak point of Russian water resources is in their extremely uneven distribution Russia is plagued by pollution problems of the industrial legacy of the Soviet era The Clean Water of Moscow program looks forward to reduce all types of water losses
Unsanitary Standards
Yes, one-fifth of the world’s fresh water reserves are in Russia. But, the country is plagued by pollution problems caused by the industrial legacy of the Soviet era. That is
specifically worrying for Moscow, where the water supply is 70 per cent dependent on surface water. Official regulatory bodies admit that 35 per cent to 60 per cent of total drinking water reserves in Russia do not meet sanitary standards. More than ten million Russians lack access to quality drinking water. Sixty per cent of the country’s population drinks water from contaminated wells, mostly in rural, backwater regions. As a New York Times report from Moscow a few years ago concluded, in Russia “the rich buy bottled water, and the rest boil, hold their noses and drink.” Shorter average life-span of the Russian population, compared to advanced industrial countries, to a large extent results from the consumption of the low-quality water. According to expert data, about 40 percent of surface water sources and 17 per cent of groundwater sources of drinking water supply do not meet the requirements established by the standards. Over 6000 areas of groundwater pollution are found on the Russian territory, and most of them are located in the European part of Russia.
Sanitation Stats
In 2002, the capacity of the wastewater treatment plants was 56.1 million cubic metres a day, which is about the same as the 1995 level. The length of the sewerage network was 118,000 km. The amount of wastewater passing through the plants in 2002 represents 86 per cent of wastewater emitted. Of this, only 28 per cent is treated in accordance with the established
Sanitation
Dec 03-09, 2018
for treatment plants. These include the largest water contract in Russia for the South-West Moscow drinking water plant, which was signed in 2004 with an investment commitment of 220 million US dollars. The French water company Veolia is engaged in Russia through a contract for the Southern Water Treatment Plant signed in 2005. While some of these contracts were awarded through competitive bidding, most were awarded after direct negotiations.
a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract for a water treatment plant was championed by the city governor Valentina Matvienko, but was abandoned in 2013. In the same year, the new city governor Georgy Poltavchenko announced plans to sign a 25-30 year concession agreement including investments of USD three billion. A tender was expected to be launched in 2014 “at the earliest”. However, concessions such as the one planned for Saint Petersburg may not be financially viable because of the national water tariff freeze imposed. In October 2014 the city of Volgograd announced it would launch a bid for a 25-year concession involving investments of USD 500 million.
The Saint Petersburg Project In Russia, where the government often spins off regional waterworks to private operators, a pilot program run by the World Bank funded a treatment plant that has cut in half the amount of raw sewage flowing from the city of Saint Petersburg into the Baltic Sea. In 2003, the Saint Petersburg utility signed a concession agreement for the Southwest wastewater treatment plant with a SwedishFinnish consortium. The project was supported by loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB). The Nordic Environment Finance Corporation owns part of the project company. The idea of a concession for the entire water and wastewater system of Saint Petersburg was first floated in 2005. In parallel, a plan to bid out
The Clean Water Of Moscow The problem of providing the required reliability and environmental safety of Russian urban water supply systems has considerably aggravated as a result of the following factors: transfer to market economy, reforming the housing and utility complex under the conditions of considerably deteriorated and aged engineering life-support systems of Russian cities and settlements, lack of sufficient material and financial resources for the renovation of these systems. As for the capital of Russia – the city of Moscow – in the past few years, the level of water supply in Moscow Water Supply System amounts to some 10-12 per cent of the total water supply. In fact, this is a good achievement, taking into account that the water supply network in Moscow is aging and deteriorating, while the level of its reconstruction
The Saint Petersburg utility signed a concession agreement for the Southwest wastewater treatment plant with a Swedish-Finnish consortium regulations, while the remainder is discharged insufficiently treated into rivers, lakes and the sea. 60 per cent of the wastewater treatment plants are overloaded and 38 per cent have been in operation for decades and need to be reconstructed. The deficit in the capacity of sewerage systems at present is more than nine million cubic metres a day. 9,616 sewerage systems are in operation, but 44 towns (four per cent) and 582 urban type settlements (27 per cent) still had no central sewerage system in 2002. Private Participation As of 2014, there were at least 23 contracts with private companies to manage water utilities or plants with an investment commitment of almost two billion US dollars. 18 contracts cover entire utilities and 5 contracts cover individual plants. Five of these contracts were signed before 2002, 17 in the 20032006 period. Only one contract – a 100 million dollars concession in Voronezh signed in 2012 – was awarded after 2006. Eight of the 23 contracts are held by the conglomerate Alfa Group either directly or through its subsidiary Rosvodokanal. Its Russian competitor Integrated Energy Systems Holding (IES) holds four lease contracts. The largest foreign investor in the Russian water sector is Austrian EVN Group, which holds three contracts
11 07
and replacement is insufficient. The strategy of water loss reduction is based on the implementation of four basic principles for real water loss regulation: 1) Promptness and quality of repair; 2) Active leakage management; 3) Network modernization and reconstruction; 4) Pressure management. “The Clean Water of Moscow” program determines the basic ways for improving the reliability and safety of water-bearing pipelines and correspondingly, the reduction of all types of water losses: •Application of reliable and durable types of pipes and fittings that would efficiently prevent internal and external corrosion, such as pipes made of high-duty spheroidalgraphite cast-iron •Introduction of scientifically substantiated strategy for network rehabilitation and renovation •Increasing the volume of pipeline re-laying and reconstruction, the trenchless technologies being preferable •Application of pipeline technical diagnostics aimed at the assessment and prediction of pipe technical condition - Efficient protection of pipelines against external and internal corrosion •Application of automated systems and information technologies for the control and monitoring of network operation •Network pressure stabilization and monitoring •Development of new (and updating of existing) regulatory and methodological documents and operating regulations that take into account the existing requirements for the reliability and ecological safety of pipelines.
12
International Personality
Dec 03-09, 2018
Oscar Wilde
Legendary Irish Writer Known For His Biting Wit Witty, eccentric, pompous, and mad for attention, Oscar Wilde has been called one of the first modern celebrities. He built his public persona with great care, delivering quotes that became immortalized instantly His well-known legacy pervades his many published essays, plays and his novel ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’. This being his best-known novel created a public outcry when it was published in 1891. The novel’s implied homosexual theme was considered immoral by Victorian society, a society in which homosexuality was considered not only immoral and unnatural, but was also a serious criminal offence punishable by imprisonment.
Formative years
n Urooj Fatima
“T
he world is divided into two classes, those who believe the incredible, and those who do the improbable.” Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde established his place in the pantheon of literary greats with his play, ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ and his novel, ‘Picture of Dorian Gray’ and also his Poems like ‘Panthea’, ‘Symphony in Yellow’, etc. Wilde was witty, charming and flamboyant. He had great conversation skills and people gathered around him to listen to his brilliant wit. Throughout the course of his literary career, Wilde excelled in a variety of literary genres, his work
He was one of the most intriguing people who have ever lived on Earth. A significant storyteller, playwright, erudite and a true 19th century fashion icon often reflecting a close connection between his art and his own life. Early in his career, he wrote fairy tales in which, as in all good fairy tales, the good and pure always triumphed in the end. They differed, however, in one important aspect. Rather than depicting evil as an external force, Wilde chose to reveal the evil within human beings. Written for “children from eight to eighty”, the tales can be read as a representation of Oscar
Wilde’s own inner battle against the evil forces within himself, and of his wish to remain in a world of childlike innocence. While Wilde was a larger-than-life figure in his time, due to his many witticisms and social standing, he is now regarded as one of the greatest producers of Irish literature. His works have always been an essential part of every English course in schools or colleges.
The greatest dialogue writer in the history of English literature, Oscar Wilde, was born on this day on October 16, 1854 in 21 Westland Row (now home of the Oscar Wilde Centre for Irish Writing) and later moved to No. 1 Merrion Square, where his mother, Lady Jane ‘Speranza’ Wilde, held a weekly salon which attracted the best and brightest of Dublin’s intellectuals. The young Oscar was encouraged by both parents to sit among such visitors or amuse adults with his stories, and so began the honing of his skills as a master of conversation. Wilde attended Portora Royal School, Trinity College Dublin (187174) and Magdalen College Oxford (1874-78). In Trinity, Wilde did particularly well in his Classics course, ranking first in his examinations in 1872 and earning a Foundation Scholarship. In 1874, Oscar won the College’s Berkeley Gold Medal for Greek and was awarded a scholarship to Oxford.
The Rise
After completing his education, Wilde settled in London where he continued to write poetry and published his first collection in 1881, ‘Poems’, which received mixed reviews by critics. Later that year, Wilde set out on a tour to America and Canada to deliver lectures on aestheticism, where on his arrival he was famously quoted:
Dec 03-09, 2018
International Personality
13 07
Wilde’s Wittiest Quotes “Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” “It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.” “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.” “What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” “The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, the young know everything.”
“I have nothing to declare but my genius.”
French and had a working knowledge of Italian and Greek. Conversely, he could not speak a single word of Irish.
General theme of his work
A great conversationalist
Oscar Wilde’s overall theme is the aestheticism, which harmonizes with the dominant philosophical and literary streams in West Europe towards the end of the 19th century. Such motives like the controversy of art versus life or the antagonism between the artist and the bourgeois (Victorian) society are typical for his work. A joy as the highest moral, superiority of art over life and art as “the secrecy of life” seems to be his guiding ideas.
Wrote Only One Novel
Despite having a reputation for being a writer, Oscar Wilde only published one novel throughout his life. The Picture of Dorian Gray was met with critical reviews due to its decadence and homoerotic content. Today, the novel is widely taught in schools and revered for its dedication to the aesthetic movement of the nineteenth century.
For The Kids
With two children himself, Oscar Wilde was also an accomplished children’s book author. His short story collection ‘The Happy Prince and Other Tales’ was published in May of 1888. This collection included popular tales such as ‘The Happy Prince’, ‘The Nightingale and the Rose’, and ‘The Selfish Giant’.
Impressive Linguist
After studying Greek for nearly nine years, Oscar Wilde was an exceptional linguist and spoke many languages. He was fluent in English, German,
Bernard Shaw, when asked shortly before his own death what persons he would most like to meet, replied: “I do not want to talk to anybody, alive or dead, but if I craved for entertaining conversation by a first-class raconteur, I should choose Oscar Wilde.” Even George Moore, who hated Wilde with that peculiar intensity which Irishmen reserve for each other, agreed after a dinner where Wilde was present that the latter’s conversation was one of the most delightful things in life. And Yeats, who thought little of Wilde as a writer, was unreserved in his praise of Wilde as a talker.
Fashion & interior design
“Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.” Wilde was well-known for his flamboyant fashion sense – for example, he would often wear green carnations in his jacket lapel when going out. Other than this, he also wanted his home to represent his style in the best possible way, so he would decorate his room with dragons painted on the rich blue ceiling and colourful peacock feathers glued to the walls.
Rock Star of Aestheticism
Wilde was one of the first authors at the time that acknowledged the importance of the so-called “Art for Art’s sake” movement and decided to go on tours around North America, giving lectures on aestheticism to perspective young students. Wilde’s essays, plays, and novels led the
Quick Look…
•Oscar Wilde was one of the first writers of the nineteenth century who started to question the literary structures of Classic and religious literature. •One of his most controversial plays Salome was banned from staging because it allegedly contained anti-biblical references. •He was imprisoned for social indecency. He was first put in Pentonville Prison and then Wandsworth Prison in London where he ruptured his eardrum, a disease that eventually caused his death on November 30, 1900, in Paris. •He lost his half-sisters in a quite peculiar accident •John Lennon often called Wilde one of his biggest poetic role models and, in fact, Wilde even made it to the cover of The Beatles’ aesthetic movement for other artists and he was a prominent example of aestheticism movement for other authors writing in the 19th century.
Photographic memory
It is claimed that, while studying at Magdalen College in Oxford, he was famous for his ability to learn long passages of writing by heart and later effortlessly recall them. This capacity surely helped him be one of the most successful students.
This Seems Interesting
During his time at Magdalen College, Wilde developed an intense interest in Catholicism. He even spoke with several clergymen about converting to the Catholic faith. When his father found out, he disapproved immensely and threatened to cut off his financial support if Wilde became Catholic. Wilde himself, however, was encouraged by his own sense of individualism to call off his conversion. His fascination with Catholicism, however, remained with him for the rest of his life.
No Turning Back
Wilde’s trial for gross indecency led him to being sentenced to two years’ hard labour, but what people don’t
necessarily remember about that trial is that it initially ended with the jury being unable to make up their minds on whether Wilde was guilty or not. The suggestion was made to simply drop the case, as some felt that Wilde was being treated abhorrently by the legal system and the press, but the Solicitor General Frank Lockwood declined to let up on Wilde, as he felt the case was too politicized.
Wilde the Socialist
Another thing that people don’t always remember about Wilde was that he had a great interest in politics. Wilde wrote an essay called ‘The Soul of Man Under Socialism’. Wilde advocated for socialism, as he believed that one’s natural creativity is crushed under capitalism because everyone is too busy to try and solve the social issues which are created in capitalism.
Epitome Of Last Words
Wilde was known to be extraordinarily clever and articulate during his time and despite being ill with cerebral meningitis, his infamous last words were just as witty as his many remarks he made when he was well. His last words are reported to be: ‘My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or other of us has got to go.’
14
Education
Dec 03-09, 2018
Indian Curriculum
Afghanistan To Adopt Delhi’s “Happiness Class” For School Kids Apart from the curriculum, the country is also reforming its education sector by starting capacity-building exercises for teachers and adding more women in the ministry Nivedita Singh
A
fghanistan, which is working to reform its education system, will adopt the Happiness Curriculum devised by the Delhi government with a focus on holistic education -- to bring peace to the mind of children. “I am very attracted with the idea of the Happiness Curriculum. We are living in the same region and so the tension children (suffer), I think, is the same. But I will say the tension in Afghanistan is more than (that in) India because of the conflict situation that we have,” Afghanistan’s Acting Education Minister Mohammad Mirwais Balkhi told, adding that being a conflict zone, children in his country go through a lot of mental trauma. “Sometimes a young child (in Afghanistan) has a tension level of an aged person because of the war. So, the approach can bring peace to the mind of our children so that they can learn in a peaceful environment,” said Balkhi, who was in Delhi to attend the
Asian Summit on Education and Skills organised by the Delhi government. The Happiness Curriculum -introduced in July for government school students between nursery and class VIII -- was started to improve their physical and mental health and to solve problems caused due to negative and destructive emotions like anger, hatred and jealousy. During the 45-minute “Happiness Class”, the students immerse themselves in meditation, value education and mental exercises. The curriculum, designed and prepared by a team of 40 Delhi government teachers, educators and volunteers over a period
of six months, is activity-based and without a formal examination. Balkhi, along with Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia, visited government schools, studied the curriculum and also attended a happiness class. “We have to see how we can adopt and implement that in Afghanistan and localise the text and guide books. Sisodia promised to help us in this regard and also to see how teachers can be trained,” Balkhi said. “Trainers from our country can come to Delhi and can learn from the experience,” he said. Afghanistan, he said, will also work in the field of curriculum development from the Indian experience. Calling the education system in his country “very traditional”, he said Afghanistan is taking steps to overcome challenges and to modernise the system. Apart from the curriculum, the country is also reforming its education sector by starting capacity-building exercises for teachers and adding more
women in the ministry. “Our Education Ministry is very huge. We are also increasing the contribution of the women in the ministry. Already, 37 per cent of the Education Ministry is being run by women. We are working on bringing more women to the ministry from the top to the bottom level,” he said. Through a national test, the country had recruited 8,000 teachers with 50 per cent of the seats reserved for women. “In the coming months, we will conduct another test to recruit 24,000 more teachers with 50 per cent of the seats reserved for women.” Speaking about the challenges, he said the country was facing both the traditional and non-traditional varieties. “Till now, most of our steps (in the education sector) were without any direction. In 2018, we defined the knowledge and skill-based education in the country. We targeted the social and market needs of the country,” he said.
Kanya Utthaan Yojana
Every Graduate Girl In Bihar To Get Rs 25,000 Now Bihar has rolled out ‘Mukhya Mantri Kanya Utthaan Yojana’ opening its coffers for providing ‘universal coverage’ to all girls born in the state SSB BUREAU
T
he Bihar government sanctioned Rs 300 crore for the Mukhya Mantri Balika (Snatak) Protsahan Yojana, under the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Utthaan Yojana, to provide Rs 25,000 to all girls who have passed graduate examinations after April 25 in the current financial year. A decision in this regard was taken
at a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Nitish Kumar. Altogether six agendas were discussed and approved at the meeting. Briefing about the decisions, cabinet secretariat department’s special secretary Upendra Nath Pandey said: “Every girl who passed BA from universities in the state after April 25 will be given Rs 25,000. The cabinet has
approved Rs 300 crore for this purpose for the financial year 2018-19.” In another major decision, the cabinet approved free of cost transfer of 50 acres of land located within the campus of the Bhagalpur Engineering College in Sabour block for setting up an Indian Institute of Information Technology. Pandey said that 119 posts of instructors were created for various
industrial training institutes in the state to enhance employability skills among the students. He said 132 posts were created, including that of a DSP (special crimes) for each district, including rail police district, to ensure proper functioning of various branches of CID (weaker section) under the state home department.
Northeast
Dec 03-09, 2018
15 07
rice bank
swadesh darshan
Two New Tourist Circuits For Arunachal Pradesh Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme government aims to make the Northeast an attractive destination for tourists Raj Kashyap
T
wo tourist circuits have been launched in Arunachal Pradesh as part of the Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Ministry of Tourism. The first circuit will link Bhalukpong-Bomdila-Tawang from the inter-state border with Assam in Sontipur district to the western end of the state which borders China and Bhutan. The second route connects different towns and wildlife sanctuaries like the Nafra-Seppa-Pappu-PasaPakke Valley-Sangdupota-New Sagalee-Ziro-Yomcha. The Centre had sanctioned the development of BhalukpongBomdila-Tawang project in 2015 for Rs 49.77 crore. Under the sceheme, facilities like accommodation, cafeteria, wayside amenities, connectivity, pathways, toilets, multipurpose hall at Jang have been developed. The Sorang Monastery, Lumpo, Zemithang, Bumla Pass, Gritsang TSO Lake, PTSO Lake, Thingbu and Grenkha Hot Spring, Lumla and Sela Lake have also been renovated under the scheme. The other circuit connecting Nafra-Seppa-Pappu, Pasa, Pakke Valleys-SangdupotaNew Sagalee-Ziro-Yomcha was sanctioned for Rs 97.14 crore. The facilities developed under this project include helipad, wayside amenities, trekking trails, rafting centre, log huts, craft bazaar, ecopark, tourist facilitation centres, parking, multipurpose hall and a festival ground. The Swadesh Darshan scheme is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Tourism for development of thematic circuits in the country. Under this scheme, the government is focusing on development of quality infrastructure in the country with the objective of
This Assam College Is Preserving Indigenous Rice Varieties The Silapathar Science College has so far documented and preserved 251 indigenous varieties through its rice bank n SSB BUREAU
A
providing better facilities to visitors which is also expected to create employment avenues and foster economic growth. Similar to some other states in the Northeast, Arunachal Pradesh has shown an upward trend in tourism over the past several years. The Northeast received a total of 1.69 lakh foreign tourists during 2017 as against 1.45 lakh in 2016, registering a growth of 16.7 per cent. During the 11th Five Year Plan, 42 projects were sanctioned by the ministry for Rs 156.02 crore for creation of infrastructure in the state. The development of the two circuits in Arunachal Pradesh is also part of the Centre’s efforts to make the Northeast an attractive destination for tourists. For development of infrastructure in the region, the Ministry had sanctioned 16 projects for Rs 1349.04 crore covering all the states under schemes of Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD. Arunachal Pradesh is one of the least developed states of India according to Raghuram Committee Report (2013). However, the government is
The state has been organising theme-based events like Tawang festival, Ziro festival of music, Arunachal spring carnival, et al of the view that the hill state has immense potential for development of tourism. It is home to as many as 26 major tribes and more than 100 sub-tribes, each one with their own dialects, dances, festivals, tradition and belief system which could be a major tourist attraction. The state has also been organising theme-based events like Tawang festival, Ziro festival of music, Arunachal spring carnival, adventure of Mechuka and Kameng river festival. Arunachal Pradesh was adjudged as the 4th Best Region by Lonely Planet, BBC’s globally circulated magazine in 2012. The state was also voted as the ‘Favourite Upcoming Destination’ by Outlook Traveller readers, based on a survey conducted in 2012 through the magazine and its website in January 2013.
college in Assam has walked the extra mile by not only setting up a rice bank to preserve seeds of indigenous varieties that are losing out to new high-yielding varieties but also encouraging farmers to grow them so that they do not become extinct. The Silapathar Science College, located in Dhemaji district along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, has so far documented and preserved 251 indigenous varieties through its rice bank. Set up in 1996, the college started to work closely with farmers in the district since 2015 and organised a “Rice Mela” to showcase the indigenous varieties grown in the district. “That was the beginning. We have encouraged our students to visit the whole of the district and collect the samples of rice grown by the farmers. Dhemaji used to produce a large variety of rice, but most of these are not available now due to various reasons,” said Ranjit Saikia, principal of the Silapathar Science College. “High-yielding varieties of rice are affecting the indigenous varieties. People have lost interest in growing indigenous varieties as production is less. However, the indigenous varieties are better suited to the local climate and there must be a sustained effort to improve production of the indigenous varieties,” Saikia explained. “This year, we have encouraged some farmers to grow ‘Meleki Bao’, an indigenous variety of red rice. At least 40 farmers have assured they would do so this year. We are working on a plan so that we can buy back the rice from the farmers at a standard price compared to the market,” said Dr Jitu Gogoi, a professor of the college’s botany department. Rice is the staple diet for most of the tribes and communities in Assam and the state produces a huge quantity of it. According to government statistics, Assam produced over 70 lakh tonnes of rice in 2017, compared to 52 lakh tonnes the previous year. Besides the normal rice, Assam also produces different varieties of aromatic rice, locally known as “Joha”; some varieties of soft rice, locally known as “Komal Saul” that needs no cooking; and a huge variety of sticky rice, commonly known as “Bora”.
16
Dec 03-09, 2018
Dr. B.R.Ambedkar
He that plants trees, loves others besides himself
VIEWPOINT
Liberty, Equality And Fraternity
Thomas Fuller
Transperancy From Within!
The cure to corruption is transparency and it must begin from oneself
T
he world has talked tough on corruption for years. It has been the biggest reason for the downfall of most empires and civilizations. Corruption is like a snow-ball, because once it starts rolling, it goes on to get bigger and bigger. We often mistake power as the root cause of the corruption. Power doesn’t corrupt people, people corrupt power. It is the people who have to change. And change comes from within. No big words or push from another person can bring that change to do away from corruption. It is from the within that corruption ends. Corruption may be the worst disease that is facing the world today. But always remember, that diseases can be cured if we are determined to find the solutions. The cure to corruption is transparency. It is transparency that is the need of the hour for corruption has a disproportionate impact on the poor and most vulnerable, increasing costs and reducing access to services, including health, education and justice. Zero Corruption may lead to 100 per cent development. Let transparency begin from within. Say no to corruption!
Editor-in-Chief
Kumar Dilip Edited, Printed and Published by: Monika Jain on behalf of Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation, owned by Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation Printed at: The Indian Express Limited A - 8, Sector -7, NOIDA (UP) Published at: RZ - 83, Mahavir Enclave, Palam - Dabri Road, New Delhi - 110045 (India) Corporate Office: 819, Wave Silver Tower, Sector - 18, NOIDA (UP) Phone: +91-120-2970819 Email: editor@sulabhswachhbharat.com, ssbweekly@gmail.com
Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement and campaigned against social discrimination towards the untouchables
Dr Ambedkar emphasises that political democracy is incomplete without social democracy
I
f we wish to maintain democracy not merely in form, but also in fact, what must we do? The first thing in my judgement we must do is to hold fast to constitutional methods of achieving our social and economic objectives. It means we must abandon the bloody methods of revolution. It means that we must abandon the method of civil disobedience, noncooperation and satyagraha. When there was no way left for constitutional methods for achieving economic and social objectives, there was a great deal of justification for unconstitutional methods. But where constitutional methods are open, there can be no justification for these unconstitutional methods. These methods are nothing but the Grammar of Anarchy and the sooner they are abandoned, the better for us. The second thing we must do is to observe the caution which John Stuart Mill has given to all who are interested in the maintenance of democracy, namely, not “to lay their liberties at the feet of even a great man, or to trust him with power which enable him to subvert their institutions.” There is nothing wrong in being grateful to great men who have rendered lifelong services to the country. But there are limits to gratefulness, As has been well said by the Irish Patriot Daniel O’Connell, no man can be grateful at the cost of his honour, no woman can be grateful at the cost of her chastity and no nation can be grateful at the cost of its liberty. This caution is far more necessary in the case of India than in the case of any other country. For in India, Bhakti or what may be called the path of devotion or hero-worship, plays a part in its politics unequalled in magnitude by the part it plays in the politics of any other country in the world. Bhakti in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul. But in politics, Bhakti or hero- worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship. The third thing we must do is not to be content with mere political democracy. We
must make our political democracy a social democracy as well. Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy. What does social democracy mean? It means a way of life which recognizes liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life. These principles of liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life. These principles of liberty, equality and fraternity are not to be treated as separate items in a trinity. They form a union of trinity in the sense that to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy. Liberty cannot be divorced from equality, equality cannot be divorced from liberty. Nor can liberty and equality be divorced from fraternity. Without equality, liberty would produce the supremacy of the few over the many. Without fraternity, liberty would produce the supremacy of the few over the many. Without fraternity, liberty and equality could not become a natural course of things. It would require a constable to enforce them.
Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy. What does social democracy mean? It means a way of life which recognizes liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life
Dec 03-09, 2018 We must begin by acknowledging the fact that there is complete absence of two things in Indian Society. One of these is equality. On the social plane, we have in India a society based on the principle of graded inequality which we have a society in which there are some who have immense wealth as against many who live in abject poverty. On the 26th of January 1950, we are going to enter into a life of contradictions. In politics we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. In politics we will be recognizing the principle of one man one vote and one vote one value. In our social and economic life, we shall, by reason of our social and economic structure, continue to deny the principle of one man one value. How long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions? How long shall we continue to deny equality in our social and economic life? If we continue to deny it for long, we will do so only by putting our political democracy in peril. We must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment or else those who suffer from inequality will blow up the structure of political democracy which is Assembly has to laboriously built up. These are my reflections about the tasks that lie ahead of us. They may not be very pleasant to some. But there can be no gainsaying that political power in this country has too long been the monopoly of a few and the many are only beasts of burden, but also beasts of prey. This monopoly has not merely deprived them of their chance of betterment; it has sapped them of what may be called the significance of life. These down-trodden classes are tired of being governed. They are impatient to govern themselves. This urge for self-realization in the down-trodden classes must no be allowed to devolve into a class struggle or class war. It would lead to a division of the House. That would indeed be a day of disaster. For, as has been well said by Abraham Lincoln, a House divided against itself cannot stand very long. Therefore the sooner room is made for the realization of their aspiration, the better for the few, the better for the country, the better for the maintenance for its independence and the better for the continuance of its democratic structure. This can only be done by the establishment of equality and fraternity in all spheres of life. That is why I have laid so much Stresses on them. I do not wish to weary the House any further. Independence is no doubt a matter of joy. But let us not forget that this independence has thrown on us great responsibilities. By independence, we have lost the excuse of blaming the British for anything going wrong. If hereafter’ things go wrong, we will have nobody to blame. Except ourselves. There is great danger of things going wrong. Times are fast changing. People including our own are being moved by new ideologies. They are getting tired of Government by the people. They are prepared to have Governments for the people and are indifferent whether it is Government of the people and by Page340 the people. If we wish to preserve the Constitution in which we have sought to enshrine the principle of Government of the people, for the people and by the people, let us resolve not to be tardy in the recognition of the evils that lie across our path and which induce people to prefer Government for the people to Government by the people, nor to be weak in our initiative to remove them. That is the only way to serve the country. I know of no better. (Dr B.R.Ambedkar’s last speech in the Constituent Assembly delivered on November 25, 1949.)
OSHO
OpEd
17
Opinion
He was an Indian godman and leader of the Rajneesh movement. During his lifetime he was viewed as a controversial new religious movement leader and mystic
Why We Need To Become Choiceless
Follow society to the point you feel is needed, but always remain master of your own destiny
B
e choiceless, because if you choose, you become narrow. If a meditator chooses the life of a monk and escapes from the world, he will be poorer for that – because the world has many things to give to you. It is a tremendously beautiful device of existence – to help you grow, to give you challenges, new adventures; opportunities to test yourself, your awareness, your being. If you escape from the world you will be escaping from all these opportunities. Sitting in a cave in the Himalayas you will be very poor –you will not have richness of experience. And by and by you will become stupid. You will become silent – that’s true – because there will be nothing to distract you. But that silence is of the Himalayas, it is not yours. When silence happens in the marketplace, then it is yours – now nobody can take it away. You can remain anywhere; whatsoever the situation, your silence will remain there as a deep substratum to your being. It is inner. Be in the world and yet be beyond it – so that you can have the experiences of the worldly and the otherworldly, both. When both are possible, why choose? Make life as big as possible. Don’t narrow it down. Society is not interested in your bliss; society is interested in its own efficiency. Society is not bothered about whether you are ecstatic or not. Society wants you to be efficient mechanisms, robots. Do the work that society wants you to do, and then society
is finished with you. What you do with your own being is none of its business. In fact, society doesn’t want you to do anything on your own because that can become a distraction from efficiency. A man who is very happy cannot be so efficient. He is so bubbling with happiness that efficiency seems trivial. What does it matter whether you earn one thousand dollars or ten thousand dollars a month? If his needs are fulfilled, a happy man doesn’t bother. He is not obsessed with money. His work is a need he has to fulfill. He enjoys it, but he is not obsessed with it. Only unhappy people are perfectionists; they are obsessed with their work – because that is the only way they can avoid facing themselves. They are continuously working late hours; they are afraid: if they stop work then what to do? Then they are left to themselves and they cannot face themselves. Society is, of course, interested in specialists. And
The specialist goes on dividing, and by and by those divisions take on too much importance. A specialist becomes inhuman
specialists become inhuman, because they know too much about too little. Their whole vision becomes narrow, narrow, narrow. The specialist never sees the tree; he can only see the leaf. The whole is lost in the part. And of course, the part cannot exist without the whole. In fact, all divisions are arbitrary. Everything is in organic unity. The specialist goes on dividing, and by and by those divisions take on too much importance. A specialist becomes inhuman. Society is not interested in your happiness, in your joy. The individual has totally different interests from society, because society has no soul. Follow society to the point you feel is needed, but always remain master of your own destiny.
18
Photo Feature
Dec 03-09, 2018
Ritual Cleansing Of Social Prejudice And Evils Sulabh’s founder,Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, participating in the Sonepur religious carnivals along with emancipated women manual scavengers and Vrindavan widows Photo: MONTU
Dec 03-09, 2018
Photo Feature
19 07
20
Culture
Dec 03-09, 2018
Artfully alive
India Art Festival
80-Year-Old Breathes New Life Into Wilted Flowers “The idea is to show the beauty of nature, give an after-life to plants, and look at nature from a new point of view”
G
n Siddhi Jain
iving a new lease of life to wilted flowers through his pressed flower art, 80-yearold Hari Tandon imbues them with a charm and beauty. Forty exhibits that are on display show how his hands, although shaking because of old age, are firm when it comes to rendering an artful after-life to the pressed flowers. His solo show “Sudhari” at India Habitat Centre (IHC) displayed selected artworks created by Tandon over the past 20 years as his passion for gardening blossomed into an intimate affair with art. “I have always loved plants. I used to do a lot of gardening. The entire process from planting, weeding, waiting for the plant to grow and the first buds to appear, taking pleasure in the flowers, taking out the seeds, drying them and storing them for the next year fills me with excitement. “My familiarity with all parts of flowers and plants -- petals, leaves, tendrils, seeds, stamens -- was instrumental to my taking up this art,” Tandon, whose tryst with art began at 50, said. Despite the trials of a full-time job, Tandon’s appreciation of nature’s beauty and a desire to see nature
“I sometimes use fallen flowers and leaves or on occasion pick them, or use seeds... I use whatever catches my eye, preserve them in a book”
in new light led him to a chance encounter with the art form. “I started creating pressed flower art by chance. One day I came across a patch of wild grass that had flowered and finding it interesting, I pressed it in a newspaper,” he said. About a month later, when Tandon looked at it again they had turned dry and were no longer green. But it was beautiful, he recalled. And so he stuck it on paper and, thanks to its distinct artistic appeal, put it up in the house. This is how the art began and then there was no looking back ever since. How does he preserve and arrange the flowers? “I sometimes use fallen flowers and leaves or on occasion pick them, or use seeds. Sometimes I take them from flowers received as gifts, or used in garlands. I use whatever catches my eye, preserve them in a book or between newspaper sheets and put something heavy on top of it so as to get rid of all the moisture. “I keep checking them and when the colours, textures, shapes seem right I arrange them on a sheet. Once I have decided the general composition I start moving smaller parts into place. I see which flowers can go with which leaves, tendrils etc, shift them into place and stick them with craft glue,” he explained. Tandon, who hopes to see growth in the market and art education around pressed flower art, is happy to simply exhibit his works to more people, outside his circles of family, friends and acquaintances, to whom he regularly gifts his works.
Art Displayed By Tihar Inmates, Disabled There are over 200 inmates who learn painting, and over 20 have mastered it in less than two years
J
n Agency
ust as the Indian art circuit gathered for a domestic art festival at the Thyagaraj Stadium, at least three booths break away from the convention to display works by Tihar inmates, visually impaired children and an artist with hearing disability. The fourth city version of India Art Festival (IAF), presented over 3,500 artworks by 35 art galleries and 550 artists, was inaugurated by Lalit Kala Akademi chairman Uttam Pacharne, Prasar Bharti Additional DG Raj Sekhar Tyagi and Tihar Jail Superintendent Rajesh Chauhan. “It started with four-five Tihar inmates sketching and drawing, when they were spotted by the jail administration. To encourage them, the Superintendent contacted instructors who teach them. “Now, there are over 200 inmates who learn painting, and over 20 have mastered it in less than two years” Suraj, who teaches art at Tihar, told. Pointing to beautifully done Buddha, Ganesha and Saraswati paintings and sketches, Suraj said the artworks are also exhibited in an in-house gallery in west Delhibased Tihar Jail.
“These festivals come handy because it’s important to exhibit the art outside the Tihar gallery,” the former College of Art student said. Another booth catching the eye is one by non-profit trust Inside Me, that has on display drawings and crayon works by young visually-impaired school children. “They have geometry classes, but what a circle and a triangle is, that concept is absent in the children,” arts trainer and the trust’s founder Shivani Bhardwaj told. “Many of them hold crayons for the first time. For drawing faces, they just know we have two eyes and one nose and mouth each. Sometimes, they ask me how eyes look like.” Bhardwaj, who teaches over 40 blind children, uses paper and embossed surfaces for a tactile way of learning. Another participating artist in the fair is Apoorv Om, whose pencil colour works depict Swami Vivekananda, PM Narendra Modi and many Indian architectural marvels. Om, a speech-and hearing-disabled artist can speak faintly. His voice may not stand out among the galore of exhibits, but his zeal does.
Science
Dec 03-09, 2018
21 07
ISRO
India’s Sharp-Eyed HysIS Successfully Lifts Off With 31 Satellites In the process, India has crossed the milestone of lifting and putting into orbit over 250 foreign satellites n SSB BUREAU
I
ndia has successfully put into orbit its own Hyper Spectral Imaging Satellite (HysIS) – an earth observation satellite – and 30 other foreign satellites in text-book style. In the process, India has crossed the milestone of lifting and putting into orbit over 250 foreign satellites. India has till date has put into orbit 269 foreign satellites. The notable aspect of the rocket mission is the placing of the satellites in two different orbits – one at a higher altitude and the others in a lower altitude. After the successful launch, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan said: “Once again Indian space scientists showed their excellence.” The PSLV injected the HysIS first and later the 30 foreign customers’ satellites. The HysIS is a state-of-the-art satellite. The heart of the satellite, the optical imaging chip was designed and fabricated by ISRO. Sivan also said that the next launch
will be of communication satellite GSAT-11 from French Guiana on December 5 which will be followed by GSAT-7A by the Indian rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). At 9.58 a.m. on November 29, the four-staged/engine PSLV-CA rocket, standing 44.4 metres tall and weighing about 230 tonnes, blasted off from the first launch pad. With the fierce orange flame at its tail, the rocket slowly gained speed
and went up enthralling the people at the rocket port while the rocket’s engine noise like a rolling thunder adding to the thrill. More thrilling aspect came in when rocket’s fourth stage/engine was cut/ switched off in just over 16 minutes after the lift-off. A minute later, the Indian satellite HysIS with a mission life of five years was placed in 636 km polar sun synchronous orbit. Following that the rocket was
brought to a lower altitude of 503 km. Post HysIS ejection, the rocket’s fourth-stage was restarted at 59.65 minutes after the lift-off. The primary goal of HysIS is to study the earth’s surface in visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. It will also be used for strategic purposes. The co-passengers of HysIS include one micro and 29 nano satellites from eight different countries. Later, the rocket was switched off and on twice before the final foreign passenger was put into orbit about 112.79 minutes after the rocket’s liftoff. All the foreign satellites were placed in a 504 km orbit. While 23 satellites are from the US, the rest are from Australia, Canada, Colombia, Finland, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Spain. These satellites have been commercially contracted for launch through Antrix Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO. ISRO had earlier carried out a satellite mission spread over two hours in January.
Is Emotional Intelligence New Criteria For Hiring? Emotional intelligence is a person’s capacity to understand, regulate, recognise and manage interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically n IANS
B
esides cognitive skills and personality, assessing a candidates’ level of emotional intelligence is equally important for a job interview, suggests a new study. Emotional intelligence is a person’s capacity to understand, regulate, recognise and manage interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. The study found that emotional intelligence goes hand-inhand with a higher degree of empathy,
openness to others, respect for moral rules and a positive temperament. The more emotional intelligence skills an individual has, the better his or her work outcomes would be. For the study, the researchers from the Universities of Geneva (UNIGE) and Berne (UNIBE) in Switzerland developed the Geneva Emotional Competence Test (GECO) which consisted of four tests for evaluating the different parts of emotional intelligence including understanding and recognising emotions, regulating
one’s own emotions and managing other people’s emotions. They questioned over 40 managers which were included in GECO. Participants were asked to explain diverse situations where they were faced with negative emotions including fear, sadness, anger or inappropriate happiness. More than 1,000 individuals then completed the four tests that make up GECO. Findings showed that women on the whole obtain superior results than men, notably when asked
to interpret non verbal emotional expressions. In addition, a superior ability to regulate one’s own emotions is linked to earning a slightly higher salary. Emotional intelligence is also linked to a person’s well-being and satisfaction with his or her lifestyle, according to Katja Schlegel, researcher from UNIBE. “We also noted that managers who perform well on GECO have better results in standardised leadership tasks and students with higher GECO score get better grades,” added Schlegel.
30 22
Indian Railways
Dec 03-09, 2018
Kumbh Rail Seva
Railways To Use AI For Crowd Control During Kumbh Mela A new mobile App will soon be launched to disseminate information to train users and others travelling to the world’s largest religious event Arun Kumar Das
I
ndian Railways will use technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), in a big way to tackle the massive rush of passengers to this holy city during the upcoming Kumbh Mela -- for which it will deploy as many as 800 special trains. IBM Intelligent Video Analytics will be pressed into service, a first for the Railways, for crowd control at stations and its adjoining areas during the Ardh Kumbh Mela. Kumbh Rail Seva, a new mobile App, will soon be launched to disseminate information to train users and others travelling to the world’s largest religious event, which is expected to attract over 100 million people -- a number higher than the populations of most countries on earth. “We have finalised the action plan for this Kumbh Mela taking all possible factors into consideration,” North Central Railway General Manager Rajeev Choudhury told. With the 2013 stampede fresh in mind, the national transporter is not leaving anything to chance and is focusing mainly on crowd management
E-Toilets are fully unmanned and perform automated operations. Pressure nozzles have also been attached to these toilets to make flushing easier
at the main junction and its adjoining stations. “We will be using the technology in a significant way to facilitate crowd movement in a smooth way,” Choudhury said, adding: “While IBM will provide video analytics service using Artificial Intelligence for crowd control, there will be a large number powerful CCTV cameras to monitor the situation and LED screens for
displaying information.” Besides, social media will be extensively used for keeping the pilgrims updated on a real-time basis. More than 5,000 Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel will be deployed to manage the crowd movement at 10 stations in and around the city, including Allahabad, Prayag, Prayag Ghat, Jhunsi, Naini, Cheoki and
Allahabad City. The Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati rivers, will begin from January 15 and conclude March 4, 2019. According to the state government, 12 million pilgrims are expected on January 15 (Makar Sankranti), 5.5 million on January 21 (Paush Purnima), 30 million on February 4 (Mauni Amavasya), 20 million on February 10 (Basant Panchami), 16 million on February 19 (Maghi Purnima), and 6 million on March 4 (Mahashivratri). Acknowledging the size and grandeur of the congregration, Choudhury said: “It is no doubt challenging to manage the rush at stations but we are confident of making it a successful and smooth event.” Close coordination with state administration is another step that the Railways is pursuing to make the event a success. Work is underway to make operational a new platform, a footover bridge and skywalks, among other infrastructure projects, at the stations to ensure hassle-free movement of passengers.
e-Toilets
Say Goodbye To Washroom Woes On Trains SSB BUREAU
I
ndian Railways installs e-toilets in train coaches. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the national transporter has installed e-toilets in train coaches on the occasion of the World Toilet Day. To ensure hygiene, e-toilets integrate toilet functions electronically, resulting in a simple to operate pressurized flushing. The e-toilets also incorporate several additional functions/system integrations and sensors. For quite some time, e-toilets have been in use in static locations, however, the concept has been tried for the first time in a mobile environment of a railway coach by LTT Depot, Mumbai Division, Central Railways. At present, coach 3A of train number 11013 (LTT
Coimbatore) is being monitored for the performance of e-toilet. Wondering how e-toilets function and what makes them different from the existing toilets in train coaches?
Here are the highlights:
• The toilet pan gets automatically flushed on sensing of the opening of the toilet door, giving a clean hygienic toilet for each use. • Just by pushing a button, an electronically-operated valve ensures easy flushing. Moreover, pressure nozzles integrated with the toilet pans ensures pressurized flushing. • All round flushing is ensured by custom designed Indian pan with integrated, adequately sloped floor. • The floor is automatically flushed clean after five usages.
• Another major characteristic is concealed piping with reduced joints to ensure an increased flow of pressure. • The interiors have been done using plastic recycled crib sheets, which are made after hot pressing, empty tetra packs and a shredded plastic waste of empty toothpaste/cosmetic tubes. • The e-toilets also have improved ventilation system through Venturi Design Window. • They are also compatible with existing Bio-Toilets. In collaboration with Eram Scientific, Kerala, Indian Railways developed e-toilets as retrofittable design to address most toilet issues in railway coaches. The initiative is another step by the national transporter to address toilet cleaning issues in train coaches.
Good News
Dec 03-09, 2018 Cold storage
23 07
Odisha
Health Sector Gets Rs 2,750 cr Investment Commitments The health department also received investment intents of Rs 1,300 crore for affordable healthcare projects at 25 locations
Farmers Can Set Up Cold Storages Through innovations like individual cold storages, the farmers’ income can be increased IANS
I
ndia’s farmers now need not let their farm produce go waste as they will be able to set up their own backyard cold storage units at a meagre cost of Rs 3-4 lakh, according to an expert in the refrigeration industry. Talking to reporters, Chairman of the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE), Pankaj Dharkar, said, “We have some innovative designs where even a small farmer can set up his or her own cold storage the size of a shipment container. “This will cost Rs three to four lakh, which is nominal. Such type of technology is available today and this can bring in a drastic change in how we saving the farm produce.” A typical shipment container measures 7x7x20 cube feet.
According to Dharkar, 30 per cent to 40 per cent of farm produce was wasted for lack of proper refrigeration. “The farmer is at the mercy of the buyer who could also exploit him or her.” “If the farmer is assured about the safety of the produce, he can get the desired value for the produce. The small-scale cold storage will give them that assurance,” he added. Dharkar expressed hope that the Rs 25,000-crore refrigeration and air-conditioning industry, mostly comprising air conditioning with a 20 to 22 per cent share, could grow drastically. “There is a great market out there for refrigeration in the country. The agriculture sector badly needs refrigeration. Through innovations like individual cold storages, the farmers’ income can be increased.”
O
agency
disha’s health sector received investment commitments worth Rs 2,750 crore, while the MSME sector got about Rs 1,177 crore worth of proposals during the third day of the ‘Make in Odisha’ Conclave. The textiles and apparel sector received Rs 137 crore investment intents. Health Minister Pratap Jena said 102 digital dispensaries would be set up across the state with an investment of Rs 90 crore, while Rs 700 crore will be invested for diagnostic and dialysis in all medical colleges and hospitals and other government medical institutions. The health department also received investment intents of Rs 1,300 crore for affordable healthcare projects at 25 locations under publicprivate partnership mode. Care Hospital has proposed to set up a cardiac care at Jharsuguda with an investment of Rs 70 crore under PPP mode, while a comprehensive cancer care programme will be taken
up with the help of Tata Trust at an investment of Rs 600 crore, the Minister said. “The investment of Rs 2,750 crore will be rolled out within the next 2-3 years. The state government is committed to the growth of healthcare infrastructure and assures the investors unmatched facilitation support,” said Jena. The MSME sector received Rs 1,177 crore investment commitments, including Rs 820 crore from Dr. Uday Shankar Sethi, who proposed to invest in the seafood sector. Handloom and Textiles Minister Snehangini Chhuria said Sahi Exports, which has set up an apparel manufacturing unit in Odisha, has proposed to expand it with an additional investment of Rs 51 crore. Earlier, it had invested Rs 50 crore, she said. Besides, the Aditya Birla Group has proposed to invest Rs 66 crore under its Pantaloons brand while Wildlotus Fashions proposed to invest Rs 20 crore in Odisha.
JRD Tata: The Man Who Never Shied Away From Ensuring Cleanliness Inspiration
From cleaning an aircraft toilet to wiping the dirt off an airline counter, JRD Tata has taught lessons of cleanliness SSB BUREAU
“C
leanliness is the Hallmark of perfect standards and the best quality inspector is the conscience” – JRD Tata. Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata is a name well-versed not only in India but across the world. A pioneer of civil aviation in India, Tata introduced the nation’s first commercial airline – Tata Airlines – which was later nationalised into what we popularly know today as Air India. Tata was very committed to
his airline, so much so that he often joined the crew in its maintenance. His love for cleanliness was no lesser. It was to the extent that on an occasion he didn’t shy away from cleaning a dirty aircraft toilet. The crew members were stunned, but learnt a great lesson of cleanliness and modesty that day. In another such incident, Tata once picked up a duster and wiped a dirty airline counter. These incidents have been disclosed in a new book ‘The Tata Group: From Torchbearers to
Trailblazers’, penned by management strategist and researcher Shashank Shah who is also a visiting scholar at the Harvard Business School. “If he saw a dirty airline counter, he would shame everyone by requesting a duster and wiping it himself. On one occasion, he rolled up his sleeves and helped the crew clean a dirty aircraft toilet,” writes Shah. His minute observations and attention to cleanliness are the qualities to be embraced and adopted in one’s life.
24
excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODARdas MODI: the making of a legend”
Dec 03-09, 2018
United States of America Prime Minister Modi addressed a joint meeting of the United States Congress. His historic and iconic speech got an unprecedented eight standing ovations. He covered the historic relationship between the US and India and spoke of the joint responsibility of the world’s largest democracies to anchor peace, prosperity and stability from Asia to Africa and from Indian Ocean to the Pacific
Today, our relationship (Indian and US) has overcome the hesitations of history. Comfort, candour, and convergence define our conversations. Our independence was ignited by the same struggle that fueled your freedom. Martin Luther King was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. Prime Minsiter
Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a joint session of U.S. Congress, in Washington DC, USA on June 08, 2016.
P
rime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a two-day visit of the United States between June 7 and 8, 2016. Due to the Prime Minister’s initiative, some cultural artifacts belonging to India were returned to the nation; the handing over was done to the Prime Minister by United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch in a solemn ceremony. During his visit, Prime Minister Modi interacted with the heads of several key think tanks such as the Brookings Institution, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Center for American Progress, The Atlantic Council, Hudson Institute, Center for National Interest, Global Energy Capital, Carnegie Endowment, The Asia Group, Pew Research Center, The US Institute of Peace, and The Foundation for Defence of Democracies. The aim of the interaction was to understand how they saw emerging global trends and
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying wreath at Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial, in Washington DC on June 06, 2016.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US Attorney General at the ceremony for return of idols, in Washington DC on June 06, 2016.
challenges in the future and to identify the area where the United States and India could work together. Prime Minister Modi also met the then President Barack Obama. The two leaders who enjoy a very cordial professional and personal relationship reviewed the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations and resolved to take it to the next level.
Prior to his visit to Washington, both sides inked an MOU to enhance cooperation on energy security, clean energy and climate change, an MOU on cooperation in gas hydrates, an MOU to enhance cooperation on wildlife conservation and combating wildlife trafficking, an MOU to expedite clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers from India upon arrival in the United States.
Both countries also agreed to an exchange of terrorist screening information. They also agreed to allow the sharing of unclassified information on white shipping between India and the United States as permitted by respective national laws. The objective was to put in place a framework for mutually beneficial maritime information. An information exchange agreement concerning aircraft carrier technologies and a logistics agreement between the defence ministries were also finalised. Prime Minister Modi also delivered a keynote address at the 40th annual general meeting of the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC), where he said the world needs new engines of growth, and added that a reforming India is poised to contribute to this in a big way. The Prime Minister had earlier visited Washington between March 31 and April 1 for the heads of government meeting of the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit.
Dec 03-09, 2018
excerpts from the book: “NARENDRA DAMODARdas MODI: the making of a legend”
25
Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya
Prime Minister Modi and President Zuma paid tribute to the contribution of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela for building a just and free society in their respective countries. The valuable contribution by the people of Indian descent in South Africa and their contribution to the development of South Africa were lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tetea-tete with the President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, at Union Building, in Pretoria, South Africa on July 08, 2016.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the train from Pentrich Railway Station to Pietermaritzburg, in South Africa on July 09, 2016.
P
rime Minister Narendra Modi visited four African nations namely Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya from July 7 to 11, 2016. The tour commenced from Mozambique on July 7, where Prime Minister Modi held bilateral discussions with President Filipe Nyusi. The Prime Minister offered to strengthen cooperation with the African state in areas ranging from agriculture, skill development and
healthcare to defence. The next stop of the Prime Minister was at South Africa from July 7 to July 9. Prime Minister Modi and President Zuma had one-on-one as well as delegationlevel discussions at the Union Building in Pretoria. The spirit of strong friendship and historical links between the two countries was reiterated and re-emphasised. The visit witnessed signing of Memoranda of Understanding on
In Mozambique’s march towards economic prosperity, India will walk every step of the way. We will be a trusted friend in your development. From across the vast Indian Ocean, I bring with me the warm friendship and best wishes of 1.25 billion Indians… Beauty of Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, Urdu and Telugu continues to enrich the fabric of South African society Prime Minister Narendra Modi
ICT; establishment of grassroots innovation in the area of science
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the train from Pentrich Railway Station to Pietermaritzburg, in South Africa on July 09, 2016.
and technology; and on tourism. A programme of cultural cooperation was also mooted. The two sides also discussed ways to intensify collaboration in the sectors of defence, energy, agro-processing, human resource development, infrastructure development as well as science, technology and innovation. President Zuma welcomed the Indian government’s decision to relax foreign direct investment rules. He indicated that the announcement would have a major impact of attracting foreign investment.
26
Off-Beat
Dec 03-09, 2018 Transport Act
Science City
Robot-Waiters At Your Service As part of a feature of the upcoming Robotics Gallery, robots will be serving visitors with food and beverages in the cafeteria in Science city
SSB BUREAU
W
e have read many books or seen films that predict the integration of robots and artificial intelligence into our everyday lives. And more often than not, we brush it aside, leaving the mere thought of it for the sci-fi fans or believe that this idea is too far ahead of its time. But fast forward to November 2018, when you are being served by robots and not waiters. As part of a feature of the upcoming Robotics Gallery, which is 70 per cent near completion, robots will
be serving visitors with food and beverages in the cafeteria set up in Science City. The experiment will be a part of an exhibition based on cuttingedge technology, which will take place simultaneously with the Vibrant Summit in January 2019. Though the set-up will be completely functional next year, a video of the two robots serving tea to guests went viral among residents. The state authorities explained that the video is a demonstration of the robots’ potential to follow commands and execute them. Executive Director of Gujarat Science City SD Vora said
that the robots are built with emotive faces, a command panel on its torso and two hands extended, holding two serving plates. “The robots assess the floor and navigate accordingly on the programmed path,” Vora said. “The idea behind the initiative is to give a peek into what robotics can do,” he further added. The engineers who have worked on these robots explained that they programmed them on path design, based on the room’s layout, due to which, they get the food from the designated spot. They also added that the initial trial runs have been successful as modifications have been made on its Chinese systems for this specific purpose. The serving robots are a part of an interactive gallery at the Robotics Gallery, which will cover an expanse of 10,000 sq metres and will cost Rs 126 crore. The robots will not only serve visitors, but will engage in a conversation with them. The progressive project will also include robots playing games like air hockey, painting, sculpting and even dancing to music.
Evolution of Robotics
To witness how science has reached this point, a gallery will also display the evolution of robotics and how it has changed the course of human life, from medical surgery to space exploration.
Delhi
1,000 Low-Floor AC Buses By October 2019 The Transport Department had sought the Cabinet’s approval to engage 1,000 low-floor CNG-propelled airconditioned buses Agency
T
he Delhi Cabinet granted administrative approval for procuring 1,000 low-floor air-
conditioned buses for the national capital. In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Cabinet set October 2019 as the deadline for arrival of the buses, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told reporters. “The buses will start coming in different lots from July (2019) and by October all the buses will be on the road,” he said.
The Transport Department had sought the Cabinet’s approval to engage 1,000 low-floor CNGpropelled air-conditioned buses. The Delhi government has to augment the city bus fleet of stage carriages to up to 11,000 in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court. As on date, the overall fleet of DTC and Cluster buses stands at 5,460.
Quadricycles Get Go-Ahead For Private Use It was only allowed for transport usage under the Act, but now have been made usable for non-transport also Agency
C
reating a new segment of affordable four-wheelers, the government decided to allow the use of quadricycles -- four-wheelers with less power and lower maximum speed than conventional small cars -- as nontransport vehicles paving the way for their private use. The Road Transport and Highways Ministry issued the notification inserting the item “quadricycle” as a “non-transport” vehicle under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, an official statement said. “Quadricycles were only allowed for transport usage under the Act, but now have been made usable for nontransport also,” it added. Fully covered like a car, a quadricycle weighs almost half as much as an entry-level small car and has an engine like that of a threewheeler, which makes it a cheap and safe mode of transport for last-mile connectivity. Quadricycles have existed for about three decades in Europe and officially became a new class of vehicles known as “low-speed vehicle” in the US in 1998 and in Canada in 2000. With petrol and CNG versions, Bajaj Auto’s Qute, first unveiled in 2012, was one of the first quadricycles manufactured in India. However, it could not be launched due to regulatory and safety concerns. In June, the government allowed quadricycles for commercial use, paving the way for the launch of such vehicles. With the government allowing their use as personal vehicles, other manufacturers are expected to launch similar products sooner than later.
Environment
Dec 03-09, 2018
27 07
Orangutans
Orangutans Are Able To ‘Talk’ About The Past JACINTA BOWLER
D
ogs, cats, or goldfish probably can’t have conversations with each other about times long gone by – it’s a feature we’ve thought was pretty much exclusive to humans. But a new study is shaking up that idea, showing that orangutan mothers wait on average seven minutes after a potential predator is out of sight, before sounding the alarm to warn others. “The results are quite surprising,” Carel van Schaik, a primatologist at the University of Zurich in Switzerland who was not involved in the work, said to Science Magazine. Orangutans have quite a specific alarm call – it sounds kind of like a human kiss noise. Scientists think it helps warn others about danger, but if it’s used, it might also inform the predator that it’s been spotted. The team set out to investigate whether these alarm calls involved any displaced reference - which the team explains is “the capacity to transmit information about something that is not present or about a past or future event”. In the depths of Sumatra’s Ketambe forest, the team began their experiments by donning coloured
Orangutan mothers wait on average seven minutes after a potential predator is out of sight, before sounding the alarm to warn others sheets and crawling on the ground below seven mother orangutans. The scientists ambled around in either a white, spotted, patterned, or tiger-stripe coloured sheet for two minutes, while the mother would sit in the tree above. We can’t help but laugh at the idea of this, but it got the job done. All in all half of the encounters were rewarded with a kiss vocalisation. The tiger-stripe and patterned sheet got most of these responses, but they
found only one of the vocalisations occurred when the ‘predator’ was still visible. The rest were delayed, on average seven minutes after the perceived threat was gone, but up to 20 minutes in the case of one particular older female orangutan. “She stopped what she was doing, grabbed her infant, defecated [a sign of distress], and started slowly climbing higher in the tree,” Adriano Reis e Lameira, one of the researchers,
explained. “She was completely quiet.” “Twenty minutes passed. And then she finally did it.” But then once she started, “she called for more than an hour,” he added. There could be other reasons - not ones to do with displaced reference - why the orangutans were waiting, such as being petrified with fear, but the researchers don’t think this is the case. Instead, the team thinks the mothers might have been waiting to protect their child. “Vocal delay was also a function of perceived danger for another - an infant - suggesting highorder cognition,” they write in the study. “Our findings suggest that displaced reference in language is likely to have originally piggybacked on akin behaviours in an ancestral hominid.” This means that our ability to understand and vocalise about the past may have evolved from an ancient hominid relating to both humans and orangutans. Now this is a big claim, and future research will have to back this up before we rewrite any textbooks. But it’s not the first time orangutans have shown impressive intelligence, and the more we know about these creatures, the more we’ll understand about the history and evolution of our own language abilities.
Tiger Matters
Watch This Documentary! An estimated 3,500 wild tigers remain worldwide and India is home to approximately 65 per cent of them
Agency
I
n an effort to conserve tiger habitats, the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) has launched a documentary detailing the key actions needed to secure the future of tigers and local communities. ‘Tiger Matters’ - a conservation documentary launched together by WCT and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
highlights the critical linkage between tigers, forests, river systems and humans needed to advance our ecological and economic security. “The film details the intricate and interwoven actions to secure the future of tiger habitats and local communities,” WCT said in a statement. An estimated 3,500 wild tigers remain worldwide and India is home to approximately 65 per cent of them. Dr Anish Andheria, President Wildlife Conservation Trust said, “The tiger is a keystone species and its survival is crucial to the ecological as well as the economic security of India. Over 600 rivers originate or are fed by
the tiger bearing forests of our country, which in turn ensures the sustainability of millions of Indians.” “Tiger conservation is nothing but conservation of healthy ecosystems and free-flowing rivers,” he added. The film launch is part of a joint program by WCT and USAID, executed in close cooperation with the forest departments of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. “The programme aims to strengthen protection efforts within and outside the boundaries of tiger reserves through a holistic 360 degree approach to conservation,” a WCT statement said.
“Research, under the programme, showed strong evidence from motion sensor cameras that there is a robust tiger population outside the boundaries of protected areas in need of protection,” it added. Post-screening of the documentary, Dr Mary Melnyk, Environmental Security and Resilience Team Leader at USAID, said, “Tigers are the golden thread of biodiversity in the fabric of all our lives. The journey in conservation is a long one and we are committed to walk every step of this journey with the aim to ensure that generations after us have a healthy environment.”
28
Sports
Dec 03-09, 2018
Mary Kom
The Magnificent Mary Having secured a record sixth World championship title, this Indian boxing legend has now set her eyes on a seventh world crown along with an elusive Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games
INTERESTING! Mary Kom weighed a little over than 48 kgs at the general weigh-in and faced the risk of being disqualified at the 13th Silesian Open Boxing Tournament.
What she did?
From her flight landing at 3:30 and her weigh-in at 7:30, she did skipping for an hour at a stretch and voila! She lost 2 kgs in just 4 hours and went on to clinch that gold.
The Magnificient Mary
A
n SSB bureau
name that needs no introduction, a career that speaks volumes for itself, a list of achievements unmatched in Indian sport – Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom is all that and more. She is a superwoman! A six-time world boxing champion and Olympic bronze medallist who attaches utmost importance to her game, Mary Kom didn’t just achieve the feat with the wave of a magic wand but won it with her grit, determination, and practice.
From Farms Championship
To
World
Mary Kom was born on March 1, 1983, in Kangthei village, Moirang Lamkhai in Churachandpur district of rural Manipur in eastern India. She came from a poor family. Her parents, Mangte Tonpa Kom and Mangte Akham Kom, were tenant farmers who worked in jhum fields. Hailing from a really humble background, Kom had to juggle her career as an athlete and look after her four siblings. The boxing colossus had to fight with her parents to take up boxing who considered the sport
to be too masculine. Staying in the boxing gym till late at night was a common sight for her when she began laying concrete for her humongous career in boxing. Kom started her career as a pugilist in 2000, at the age of 17, and finished runners-up in the following year’s AIBA Boxing Championships. What followed was an unprecedented winning run that saw her dominating the World Boxing Championships with consecutive gold medal finishes for the following years – 2002, 2005, 2006.
Sabbatical & Comeback
A
The moment of crowning glory for her came in 2012, when she became the first Indian woman boxer to win a medal in the Olympics, finishing in the third place in the 51kg category with a Bronze. She also became the first Indian woman boxer to fetch a Gold Medal in the Asian Games in 2014 at Incheon, South Korea. On November 24, 2018, Kom etched her name in history books by winning an unprecedented sixth gold in 48kg category at the Women’s World Championships.
Bang-On One Mary, Many Roles
After her marriage to Karong Onkholer Kom, a former footballer, and following the birth of their twins, Kom took a short hiatus from boxing in 2006. However, thanks to her husband’s constant support and immense sacrifices (he left his career as a football player to become a stayat-home-dad so that Kom can pursue her dreams) post the sabbatical of two years, she returned with a bang, winning her fourth successive World Championship in 2008, a streak which extended to a record fifth World Championship in 2010.
A daughter, a wife, a mother of three – Mary Kom is all these as much as she is a boxing champion. She takes her role at home as seriously as she takes her game. She focuses on her boys whenever possible and loves to cook their favourite meals. The Koms spend as much time together as possible as a family. Not to forget Kom is a Member of Parliament too and diligently delivers what is expected of her. It is fascinating how she plays her multiple roles with such panache. Always calm and composed, her smile spells strength for those who know her.
Nicknamed “Magnificent Mary”, she is the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships. She has to her kitty the Arjuna Award (2003), Padma Shri (2006), People of the Year – Limca Book of Records (2007), Pepsi MTV Youth Icon Award (2008), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (2009) and Padma Bhushan (2013) amongst numerous other honors to her credit for her unmatched achievements. Her autobiography, Unbreakable, co-authored by Dina Serto, was released by Harper-Collins in late 2013. Mary’s eventful career and life inspired the 2014 Bollywood feature film, ‘Mary Kom’ (starring Priyanka Chopra), which won over the critics and the audience alike.
Hanging Boots? No Time Sooner!
Post so many feat, accolades, Kom looks forward to more. Having secured a record sixth World championship title, this Indian boxing legend has now set her eyes on a seventh world crown along with an elusive Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games. “Now that I have won the sixth title I want a seventh one and I also want to win an Olympic gold,” she says. It is evident that Kom does not plan on hanging the boots any time sooner. She is not just an icon for boxing, but a symbol of strength and inspiration for all women, both in India and the world over.
Entertainment
Dec 03-09, 2018
Mohd
29 07
Aziz
A Voice Of Versatility
Syed Mohammed Aziz-un-Nabi was an ardent lover of music since childhood who went on to give Bollywood’s many memorable numbers his voice
Mohd Aziz Playlist
Aye Watan Tere Liye – Karma (1986) Aap Ke Aa Jane Se – Khudgarz (1986) Patjhad Saawan Basant Bahaar – Sindoor (1987) My Name Is Lakhan – Ram Lakhan (1989) Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka – Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka (1989) Kya Karte The Saajna – Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka (1989) Main Teri Mohabbat Mein – Tridev (1989) Imli Ka Boota – Saudagar (1991) Aadmi Zindagi Aur Ye Aatma – Vishwatma (1991) Dil Le Gayi Teri Bindiya – Vishwatma (1991)
T
n SSB bureau
here are a plethora of melodious voices in the Indian film and music industry, but there are only a few whose songs are remembered and touch millions of hearts for decades. Mohammad Aziz, aka Munna, is one such voice. Born in West Bengal’s Ashok Nagar as Syed Mohammed Aziz-unNabi in July 1954, he was an ardant lover of music and Mohammed Rafi since childhood. He started his career as a restaurant singer in Kolkata till he got a singing break in a Bengali film “Jyoti”, before he shifted to Mumbai and sang for the Hindi film “Ambar” (1984). Later, he was spotted by the music director Anu Malik and got his first major breakthrough in Bollywood with the song “Mard Taangewala” (Mard, 1984). Subsequently, he sang for top music directors like Naushad, O P Nayyar, Kalyanji-Anandji,
Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Bappi Lahiri, R.D. Burman, Rajesh Roshan, Ravindra Jain, Raam-Laxman, Usha Khanna, Nadeem-Shravan, Jatin-Lalit, Aadesh Shrivastava and others. Love For Rafi Deeply inspired by the legendary singer Mohammed Rafi, at one point of time Aziz was considered the musical heir to his idol for his versatility and range of singing. Among the popular songs sung by Aziz, ‘Mohmd Rafi Tu Bahut Yaad Aaya’ (Krodh, 1990) is one dear to the hearts of Rafi and Aziz’s fans. The song was highly appreciated by the people. In the song, one could feel Aziz’s pain on Rafi’s demise. Interestingly, the song was very close to Rafi’s signature style of singing. Laxmikant-Pyarelal’s Fav Composing maestros LaxmikantPyarelal were very fond of Mohd Aziz’s voice. He sang ‘Patjhad Sawan Basant Bahaar’ and ‘Naam Sare Bhool Jaaane Lage’ for them.
These were melodious numbers at a time when melody was on the wane. No wonder he was one of the favourite singers of the duet. Duets With Lata Mangeshkar Mohd Aziz had a vast range. He could sing at a staggering pitch. It was a pleasure to hear him hold his own in his duets with the indomitable Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. Lata Mangeshkar and Aziz sang a number of duets in the 1980s and early 1990s including the timeless ‘Patjhad Sawan Basant Bahaar’ of the film ‘Sindoor’ (1987) and ‘Bali Umar Ne Mera Haal Wo Kiya’ of the film Awaargi (1990). Imli Ka Boota To Aap Ke Aa Jane Se Aziz was among those rare few who voiced songs picturised on ‘Tragedy King’ Dilip Kumar. Aziz gave voice to Dilip Kumar’s song ‘Imali Ka Boota’ in the film ‘Saudagar’ (1991). From Dilip Kumar to Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Mithun Chakravorty, Govinda, Anil Kapoor, Sunny Deol and many other leading actors were picturised on the songs sung by Aziz. Aziz-voiced ‘Aapke Aa Jane Se’ (Khudgarz, 1986) which was picturised on actor Govinda is a hit dance number even today. Post this song, he voiced many of Govinda’s
disco songs. Memorable Melodies Besides Hindi, he sung in Bengali, Odiya and other languages during his career spanning nearly threeand-a-half decades. Music composer Rajesh Roshan also gave Aziz some of his career’s bests including ‘Ek Andhera Laakh Sitare’ in ‘Aakhir Kyon’ (1985), the already mentioned ‘Aap Ke Aa Jane Se’ in ‘Khudgarz’. Some of his memorable Bollywood numbers solo and duets include ‘My Name Is Lakhan’, ‘Aap Ke Aa Jaane Se’, ‘Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka’, ‘Dil Le Gayi Teri Bindiya’, ‘Tu Kal Chala Jayege, To Main Kya Karunga’, ‘Patjhad Sawan Basant Bahar’, ‘Tu Mujhe Kubool, Main Tujhe Kubool’, ‘Dil Diya Hai, Jaan Bhi Denge, Ae Watan Tere Liye’ and ‘Behna O, Behna’. In The Heart Of People Not only a talented singer with a mesmerizing voice, Aziz was a great human being above all, who always met people with open arms. One of the top singers of the early 90s, Aziz breathed his last on November 27, 2018, but his eternal voice will remain forever etched in the fans’ memories. Singers like him never die or fade away. They live through generations with their melodious songs in people’s hearts.
30
Sulabh Parivar
Dec 03-09, 2018
Council for Green Job, New Delhi, visited Sulabh Campus on November 28.
of 100 staffs of Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation, Ghaziabad, UP, visited Sulabh Campus on November 27.
A group of four Professors from Saraswati College of Professional Studies, Ghaziabad, UP, a group of eight members from AIZAWA Concrete Corporation & SME Support, Japan and a group
A group of 80 students of class VI to VIII along with their teachers from Delhi Public World School, Ghaziabad, and some other visitors visited Sulabh Campus. They were taken to different units of Sulabh Gram such as Sulabh Public School, Toilet Museum, Models of Sulabh Technology, Biogas Plant, Sulabh Health
The guests visit Sulabh Public School and thereafter saw the Sulabh International Museum of Toilets and felt surprised after seeing some major exhibits. The guests had a interaction with Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh Sanitation Movement and Social Reform, and expressed to have enjoyed the tour
Centre, Water ATM, etc. While departing, they expressed to have enjoyed the tour.
A group of 27 ANM students along with their 2 Coordinators from Institute of Public Health & Hygiene, School of Nursing, Mahipalpur, New Delhi, and Dr Parveen Dhamija, Advisor, Skill A group of 20 students of class IV along with their Coordinators (teacher & parent) from Banyan Tree School, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, and some other visitors visited Sulabh Campus on November 26. They attended the morning assembly where they were formally welcomed in Sulabh traditional way with shawl. The guests were impressed to see various activities of Sulabh Gram. They were taken to the
They saw outdoor museum where Sulabh Technology was explained to them like “Twin-Pit Pour-Flush Compost Toilet” which can be constructed in the forest area, mountain area, etc. They also took keen interest in public toilet based Biogas plant, Sulabh Water ATM, Sulabh Health Centre, etc.
Sulabh Public school where they keenly observed the vocational training students busy with their work.
Story
The Tale Of The Pencil O
nce upon a time, a small boy called Raj was upset because he had done poorly in his English test. Seeing the little boy sad, his grandmother sat with him and gave him a pencil. A puzzled Raj looked at his grandma and said he didn’t deserve a pencil after his performance in the test. His grandma explained, “You can learn a great many things from this pencil because it is just like you. It experiences a painful sharpening,
just the way you have experienced the pain of not doing well on your test. However, it will help you be a better student. “Just as all the good that comes from the pencil is from within itself, you will also find the strength to overcome this hurdle. “And finally, just as this pencil will make its mark on any surface, you too shall leave your mark on anything you choose to.” Raj was immediately consoled and promised himself that he would do better.
Moral of the story:
We all have the strength to be who we wish to be
Events
Dec 03-09, 2018
events & more...
Across 2. In which Indian city would you be if you were crossing the famous Howrah Bridge built across the river Hooghly? 9. Which European country does the Shannon International Airport serve? 12. Which creatures are immune to snake poison? 13. What is the region of origin of the very English tree, Elm? 15. In 1721 Britain’s first Prime Minister took office. How many since then have been Labor Prime Ministers? 16. It was formerly known as Nyasaland. By what name is it now known? 17. Which city in India has the largest population? 18. With which city does the famous highway, the Appian Way built by the ancient Romans, connect Rome? 19. What was Jacqueline Kennedy’s maiden name? 20. In ’53 Winston Churchill won a Nobel Prize for:
DLF Cyber Hub, Ground and First Floor, R-Block, DLF City, Phase 3, Gurgaon December 2 Onwards, Every Sunday | 8:30 PM
SSB crossword no. 51
events
The Copycats – Sunday Unplugged Venue : Hard Rock Café, Gurgaon
SOLUTION of crossword no.50
Shiamak Winter Funk Show 2018 Venure: Sirifort Auditorium, Delhi
August Kranti Marg, Asian Games Village Complex, Gautam Nagar, Delhi December 9 | 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Blue Open Mic Venue : Canvas Laugh Club, Gurgaon
The People and Co., Ground Floor, Cyberhub, Gurgaon December 6 Onwards, Every Thursday | 6:00 PM
1. Capricon
11. Kimono
2. Victoria
12. London
3. Europe
13. Zaire
4. Jahangir
14. Pravda
5. Alphabet
15. Cotton
6. Kusi Nagar
16. Paranar
7. Nakkarah
17. Asbestos
8. Sayonara
18. Steel
9. Green
19. Sikkim
10. Apache
20. Alexander
solution of sudoku-50
Giants of Jazz Vol 4: Max Clouth Clan Venue : The Piano Man Jazz Club,
Delhi Commercial Complex B 6/7-22, Opp Deer Park, Block B6, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi December 8 | 9:30 PM – 00:30 AM
31
Down 1. Folk theatre of Gujarat is called: 3. If all the US states were listed in alphabetical order, which would be last? 4. Which Indian city does the Indira Gandhi International Airport serve? 5. In which Italian City is the Bridge of Sighs? 6. What is the name of the world tree that spans heaven and hell in Norse mythology? 7. Of the four American state whose names begin with ‘A’, which ends in a different letter? 8. The National Fire Service College is located at: 10. Which Indonesian island would you be on if you landed at the Ngurah Rai International Airport? 11. The color of polar bear’s skin is: 14. In which country would you be if you were travelling by a Bullet train?
sudoku-51
Music For The Festive Season by The Lyric Ensemble Venue : The Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Center, Delhi Lodhi Road, Near Sai Mandir, Delhi December 8 | 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
on the lighter side by DHIR
Please mail your solution to - ssbweekly@gmail.com or Whatsapp at 9868807712, One Lucky Winner will win Cash Prize of Rs 500/-. Look for the Solution in the Next Issue of SSB
30 32
Newsmakers
Dec 03-09, 2018
Amal Pushp
Patna Teen Is Royal Astronomical Society’s Fellow Elected at the age of 18 (the youngest age possible), Amal Pushp is arguably India’s next science prodigy
I
ndia may have found its next international science prodigy – Amal Pushp, an 18-year-old “independent researcher” from Patna with a passion for physics and cosmology studying in Delhi Public School. Britain’s world-famous Royal Astronomical Society selected the Patna boy as a Fellow after he earned a nomination from Lord Martin Rees, a top British astronomer and Emeritus Professor at the University of Cambridge, who was amazed by the boy’s “scientific
output”. “I was fascinated with the astronomical phenomenon, such as solar systems and eclipses and developed an interest in the field since childhood,” said Amal. Amal’s journey to fame in the international scientific community began with a paper on black holes he had sent to famous Indian physicist Partha Ghose, an erstwhile professor at the SN Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata. He found the paper “interesting” and gave his endorsement. “It was you who was impressed with my research at first and believed in me without knowing me personally and even gave me [an] endorsement, which I will never forget in my life,” wrote Amal, in an email to Ghose. Responding to this recent development, Ghose told that he had endorsed Amal for the fellowship because of its content, calling him a “special talent”.
Pruthviraj & Prasanna
Electricity From The Power Of Wind & Water Pruthviraj S Sarangmath and Prasanna Kalkoti’s innovation is here to produce 1kW/h
A
n innovation which can generate electricity from moving vehicles on the highways and rainwater, besides recharging water bodies, has come to light – thanks to Pruthviraj S Sarangmath and Prasanna Kalkoti, final year Civil Engineering students from the KCE Society’s CI Munavalli Polytechnic College based out of Hubbali in Karnataka. The project ‘Strategies for enhancing local water bodies with the production of electricity through water and Enlil turbines’ won the first prize over 100 such entries in the Indian International Science Festival in Lucknow. Enlil turbine is originally a vertical axis wind turbine that generates electricity from wind power.
“These are vertical axis turbines, and when wind passes through them, it turns in a circular motion due to which electric energy is produced. The best place for the implementation of Enlil turbines is on highways or roads where vehicular traffic is more,” said Pruthviraj. As per the two students, these turbines can produce 1kW power per hour, which can be stored and later used to power street lights and also provided to nearby The award-winning innovation also ensures that surface run-off water (rainwater) does not merely end up in drains, but through the process of slow sand filtration help recharge water bodies, generate drinking water and further electricity.
Giving Dignity To The Homeless & Abandoned Gurugram-based Earth Saviours Foundation always has its doors open for the homeless
Ravi Kalra
W
hen the single mother could not take care of the mentally-challenged boy Rinku, she brought him to a homeless shelter in Bhandwari village on the outskirts of bustling Gurugram, one of India’s fastest-growing cities and home to scores of multinational companies in glittering glass and steel towers. When the sixmonth pregnant Sarita Devi was abandoned by her husband, she was also sent to this open-to-all shelter by a court. Now both of them have not only found a home, but also new families at the Earth Saviours Foundation (ESF), also called Gurukul. Like them, around 450 other homeless people, including over 300 mentallychallenged persons, found a home at this two-acre site in a rustic setting not far away from Gurugram’s self-absorbed modern urbanity. Reached by a narrow and bumpy road, ESF was founded in 2008 by Ravi Kalra, 49, who was earlier a martial artist, and later went on to work with the US Army in recruiting soldiers from Nepal during the war with Iraq in 2007. Having earned a fair bit of
money, Kalra wanted to give it back to society by doing “seva” (public service). While he always had this urge to do something to improve the lives of the needy, he got his epiphany when he came upon a beggar child scouring garbage along with street dogs on a busy Delhi road. A few months after that incident, he started his foundation and, since then, has dedicated himself to improving the lives of abandoned senior citizens, physically and mentally disabled, victimised women, and people suffering with incurable diseases. At Gurukul, one doctor and three nurses are available between 9 am and 6 pm every day. There are over 450 residents residing in five dormitories -- three have been allotted to women, and two to men. For recreation, there are televisions, books, newspapers and a carrom board. The foundation has also cremated over 5,000 unclaimed bodies so far. Kalra feels “all of them deserve to live with dignity,” and dignity is the gift that Gurukul has given to people like Rinku and Sarita.
RNI No. DELENG/2016/71561, Joint Commissioner of Police (Licensing) Delhi No. F. 2 (S-45) Press/ 2016 Volume - 2, Issue - 51 Printed by Monika Jain, Published by Monika Jain on behalf of SULABH SANITATION MISSION FOUNDATION and Printed at The Indian Express Ltd., A-8, Sector-7, NOIDA (U.P.) and Published from RZ 83, Mahavir Enclave, Palam-Dabri Road, New Delhi – 110 045. Editor Monika Jain