FARMERS BURDENED WITH BUMBER CROP

Dear All

It is the fact, FARMERS in spite of their noble cause of producing FOOD to all are not happy with their activity mainly because they get poor support from the authorities at all levels including: before production, during production & after production. 

One of the key issue of the West Bengal Farmers as reported in Down to Earth (Feb 1-15th 2012) has got the attention of the stakeholders. 

The reflections made by me on this key issue were furnished below as:

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It is the fact that 70% of our population depends on Agriculture....farmer is the king (Ryte Raju)as we are all eating food because of them only...they are the back bone to our nations' development... still, the farmers were not supported well to continue their production activity. Who is creating all these challenges?.... Certainly the non- producers? .....Why the authorities are not understanding these ANNADATAS (who provides food for all).

The farmers all over India do face several challenges like:

Before Production - which includes support for inputs, bank linkages etc.

During Production - water, pesticides etc.

After Production - storage facilities,marketing facilities, poor procurement facilities,   

In spite of all these challenges,still farmers are able to sustain these challenges and continuing production. it is the fact that many of them are migrating to do non-agricultural activities and facing its consequences on medical, social and economical aspects of self and family. When this creates severe vulnerability they commit suicide.  

Knowing that FOOD is the essentially part of our life, still the authorities are not supporting the farmers to do their production. 

It is clearly reflecting in the case of West Bengal Farmers. They are not pulling on with the production mainly due to the storage and procurement facilities. I hope this is the simple measure for the concerned authorities to resolve this farmers issue.    

Let us come out with clear and systematic need based strategies for supporting the farmers all over India so that we all can eat better food for leading better living with sustainability and quality of life (QOL).

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Looking forward to get better solution with support for the FARMERS all over India. 

All the Best      

WITH CHETANA SPECIAL SCHOOL ON 11TH FEB 2012

Dear All

I had a chance of meeting the Parents of Chetana Special School on 11th Feb 2012. This has given a chance of understanding the needs and skills of the students and their parents to put them part of the community with empowerment. This includes understanding the rights, various schemes / benefits and utilization of the same with better effectiveness. 

The photo view of this meet looks as:

  

I will be meeting this group on regular basis with focus of empowering their children for better living with sustainability and quality of life (QOL) as INCLUSION in the community.

At the same time, it also helps the Chetana to build the matching capacities for reaching more such targeted groups with right based strategies and interventions matching to their challenges, skills and vulnerability.  

Looking forward for better sharing and connectivity...

All the Best   

NATIONAL WATER POLICY - DRAFT - COMMENTS

Dear All.

It is the top priority to understand the challenges of WATER which is essential for development and survival it self. It is very difficult to imagine the life with out water???? . In the recently held National Seminar at IPE, Hyderabad, the focus was to understand the challenges of drinking water and opportunities to come out of the crises. I have made a presentation which as published in the form of Book entitled "WATER GOVERNANCE". Also posted the outcome in this blog. 

In addition, Down to Earth made initiation to discuss on this key issue and reflections made by me are as follows:

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WATER is the life saving and most precious natural resource. With the innovative work of King Ashoka like: planted tress, dug wells, constructed ponds.... and our poverty alleviation slogan..roti, kapada and makhan .. never had a problem with water. What happened later is confined to bottled water (rather than catching from taps)in spite of technology. Now, the water crises are at alarming stage and all the stallholders should unite to get sustainable solutions. The comments on the National Water Policy draft have become focus of the day. 

In spite of all these challenges, still we can move forward and some of the observations are as follows:

1. Water should be essential commodity rather than economic good.

2. This issue should be seen in three ways as: Availability, Accessibility and Affordability. 

3. Put control on the consumption of water by the industries and agencies. 

4. Effective monitoring to check the possible ways of pollution

5. Make Rain Water harvesting mandatory for individuals and communities including other establishments.

6. Develop Watersheds including the renovation of the existing tanks / ponds.

If these simple measures can be taken care, hope, we can have better access for the water both qualitatively and quantitatively.      

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Looking forward

All the Best       

GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF DRINKING WATER

Dear All

In continuation to the earlier postings, just completed the National Seminar on the above cited subject by the IPE, Hyderabad. It was good and effective. The excellent part is it brought out the seminar volume in the form of Book entitle "WATER GOVERNANCE" with ISBN number. This is good output and should be continued. At the end, it has concluded with several points which needs to be carrier forward.

1. Effective and need based Regulation on water resources

2. Move towards Social Cost Benefit Analysis (SCBA) in stead of Income based CBA

3. Look for Economic Rate of Return (ERR) 

4. Strengthen CSR

5. Move towards Business to People (B2P) instead of Business to Business (B2B)

6. Look for holistic approach covering: Social, Economic and Political (SEP)

7. Moves towards the model of GMAARSQ ( Governance and Management of water (any resources) with 

   Availability, Accessibility and Reliability with Sustainability and Quality)

8. Understand the SWOT of privatization in Water Sector.    

9. Move to PCP (Public Community Partnership) from PPP

10. Balance Commodity as a fundamental right Vs Demand Response Supply (DRS). 

11. Who needs water should be responsible and accountable. 

The concept of RAIN WATER HARVESTING and WATERSHED MANAGEMENT has already ignited the minds of the stakeholders and we all needs to move forward with need based approaches with better participation and accountability in transparency which leads for sustainability and quality of life.     

Looking forward for better WATER ENVIRONMENT...

All the Best

NIRD HOLDS NATIONAL SEMINAR ON "'ENERGY SECURITY AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR RURAL AREAS'"

Dear All

In continuation to the previous posting, it is to inform you all that NIRD is going to organize National Seminar on "ENERGY SECURITY AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR RURAL AREAS" during March 2012. 

It is the right time to focus on the real challenges of the rural areas in respect of its power sources and to come out with the better alternatives. Certainly, SOLAR, BIOGAS, WIND and other non-conventional types of energies.  

I will be posting more on this key issue. 

Looking forward

All the Best 

SOLAR ENERGY AS A WAY OUT ????????

Dear All

It is the fact that we all are facing the challenges with power at personnel, community and other levels. In spite of the best efforts for the thermal and nuclear type of energies, still there exists wide gap between the demand and availability. Through media, every one is able to understand the reflections form the people against the proposed power generation through the thermal and nuclear basis. In spite of the non acceptance from the larger part of the society, still the process ifs going on to move forward. 

Why we all cannot think about the alternatives? Is it that their is no alternative? ???????????????????????????

It is the known fact that SOLAR is left out as an alternative. The use of SOLAR ENERGY is well developed and effectively utilized with proven case studies. In spite of its well established process which is green, clean and eco-friendly, much thrust has not been given to utilize the vast potential of energy given by the god SUN. 

Can we move towards the effective use of SOLAR ENERGY for all purposes as a mandatory?

The reflections made on this key subject is pasted below as:

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Yes, it is the right solution to solve many of our energy problems. The unfortunate part is that there is no committed action plan in this direction. As indicated, solar energy is green, clean and cost effective. At present,the energy situation in the rural areas is the real challenge both for the production and further for living. In spite of the fact that more that 70% of the people lives in the rural villages and agriculture is the backbone of the nations' development,the availability of solar energy could not be tapped. Knowing the challenges, still, our race is towards the thermal power and nuclear power which affects the people and environments. 

We all needs to understand the way out for the present power problems and SOLAR  energy is the better way of filling the gap with eco-friendly approaches.        

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Looking forward

All the Best 

WATER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE - SALINE ENVIRONMENT

Dear All

In continuation to earlier postings, IPE, Hyderabad is going to organize the National Seminar on Water Resources on 14th & 15th Feb 2012. In this connection, i have chosen the key area of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Saline Environment. The paper on this topic has been accepted and expected to be the part of Seminar Volume. I will be posting more on this during or after the seminar.  

Looking forward

All the Best