Angel Singha- Why are the handicapped missing in the 'Development Agenda'?

We all talk, read, write, hear and walk. What about the ones who can't talk? Hear? See? Walk?

60 years since Independence, we say India is developing. Is it?

With 8% of the total population that is, 6,00,00,000 or even more who are still at the same place where they were 10 years back or even 30 years back. It doesn't make any difference. The 8% referred here is the disabled section of our Indian Society.

Disabled people. That is the blind, the immobile, the deaf & the mentally impaired. We are so busy and insensitive to these people and to the daily chores of our lives that we don't even realize that how do the deaf watch T.V. without even understanding what's going on? How do the blind have access to the computer, the internet which is the reliable source of knowledge with which all our doubts are just a click away, without actually seeing it? And that why aren't the mentally impaired given a chance to work, than be put in a hospital?

Many companies take in people only to fulfill 3% of the quota for the disability group. Most are rejected reason being they are somewhat an alien to them. No. They're not! They're humans!!!

Is it their fault that they're disabled? No. Right? Then answer this, why do they have to fight for their rights? Why do they have to ask the government to have broader doors and comfortable seats for the immobile, interpreters and sign language as an official language for the deaf, Indian accessible website for the visually impaired and a little hope for the mentally impaired? Is it that difficult?

How can then India, our country develop with 6,00,00,000 people helpless??!! Ever wondered how to talk to a hearing impaired person...their medium of communication is Sign Language. How do they study when the deaf school teachers themselves are not well-versed with it!!! How do we move on to being a developed country when a part of us are still in the dumps?! Give a thought to it. They should be provided all the necessities but instead they ASK for it.

Are we that insensitive? Have we forgotten that they are our family?

What happened to " we, Indians, are ONE"? Give a thought to it. That's all I need. That's all THEY need.

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The Author is a I yr BA Programme student and a part of the Webteam of DevelopmentChannel.org

Divya Chanana- The Children of Alcohol Abuse

It was Friday morning and I reached my college late that day. There I saw a group of my friends discussing something really smartly and the scene made me curious to know the topic of discussion. From there I got the inspiration and now take the opportunity to pen down my thoughts and views for the society to read and know. Instead of going for some usual topics for social issues like unemployment, poverty, female infanticide etc, I want to bring a really different story.

A few days back when I was walking back home from the college , somewhere on the road , I read a banner saying if 18 years is the age to vote then why can't the drinking age be brought down to 18? I know there has been a big debate upon it and although I was never interested in touching this issue again, still the impact such issues leave can't be ignored. In our country, India, where the majority struggles to earn a basic livelihood , we see another picture coming up where the male members of the family engross themselves in drinking alcohol without comprehending the impact it leaves over the children and the women in the same household.

On the other side , there's a woman, who is the mother of say four children. Every night she sees her husband returning home late, drunk, devoid of all consciousness and the scene itself makes her despair of her daily life. Still she doesn't complain , gives him food to eat and tries to feed her children and whatever is left over become her meal.

Next morning , with a hope and aspiration for a new day coming ahead , she gets upgoes to work in the neighbouring household as a maid servant and leaves her children back at home with the father , who upon awakening, starts bringing down his frustration on his own innocent children . Children remain crying , waiting for the mother to come and rescue them but when she comes, she herself becomes a victim of the situation , gets caught in the web and forcefully she is left with no option other than to hand over her earnings into the hands of the husband.

What is the crime\ fault of the wife or the children that they have to face this unending torture, throughout their lives. Why can't they get rid of a person who is of no use to them but just a big burden to be sustained ? Whatever may happen to this man later but today the time has been spoiled for the women and children. Even if she approaches the police, NGO, court will she be able to lead a satisfied , happy life , the life that every women aspires after her marriage. What about the kids? How will an illiterate women make a career for her four kids and what if all of them are girls?

This especially effects the children who faced with such an unhappy childhood are themselves unable to make happy families in the future. . It is pointless to demand from the Government for a comprehensive solution, it is we the young generation who can set ourselves as an example and help out all such children who are in need. Then only we can prove to be proper educated, matured and smart citizens of the country and in true senses a complete human on this Earth. We need to understand that everyone on this earth has the right to live his life to the fullest, enjoying every bit with hard work, sincerity, true commitments and lending a helping hand always for others.

With this I end my article hoping that it would ignite a spark in the readers heart to really understand and help those in need…………..

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The Author is a I yr BA Programme student and part of the Webteam of DevelopmentChannel.org

Sharon Ann Philip- The Great Indian Quality Crunch

It’s the mother of all paradoxes plaguing India’s corporate sector today . Our nation has 40 million unemployed people but still there’s a huge talent crunch which is making our knowledge pool look ‘less knowledgeable ‘ than it should be . The problem is immense skill shortage.

Let me first make you familiar with the facts . Our universities churn out 3.6 million graduates every year of whom only 0.9 million are employable . According to the India Science Report, science graduates form 63% of the unemployed graduates .73 million factory workers are required by 2015 , which is 50% more than current figures . Of the 4.5 lakh graduates produced by our 1, 400 engineering colleges ; only 40,000 encompass world class talent and not to forget , there will be a shortage of 500,000 knowledge workers by 2010 .

Having said that , graduate unemployment is on the rise because our university education does not meet employment objectives like language fluency and essential job skills to tackle a competitive environment . The elite of premier institutions like the IITs and IIMs are not enough .Thousands from lesser known institutes need to rise to the forefront and steer growth . The bottlenecks for the same are outdated curriculums in higher education, equally outdated infrastructure and a glaring need for well – qualified faculties .

Some of the solutions to bridge the gap could be increase of job oriented programmes . Companies or factories could seriously consider tie – ups with institutes or vocational educators to offer the required diploma / training . Financial incentives for colleges introducing vocational courses has been advocated by experts too . Universities can offer teachers increased remuneration or sponsor their plans for higher education. Quality should be made directly proportional to the work force at hand . We are a young nation so we can never afford to forget polishing these rough diamonds so that our nation can emerge as a powerhouse , well equipped for the future .

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The Author is I yr BA Programme Student and a Member of the Webteam of DevelopmentChannel.org

Aishwarya Padmanabhan- 21st Century Paradigms: Resource Scarcity & Environment Degradation

Two the most important and dormant problems of the country are scarcity of resources and increase in pollution. These issues although of great importance tend to be put on the back burner by the authorities.

Few in India can deny that India is facing an intense crisis of resources. There is intense competition for the nation's limited natural resources. Our land and water resources are being exploited to the hilt. The exploitation of our mineral resources is threatening our forests, nature reserves, and general ecology. Seventy percent of our energy resources need to be imported putting constant pressure on us to export more or face currency devaluation. Over use of resources is contributing to natural disasters occurring more frequently and with greater devastation. For many Indians, life is a big struggle just to put together the bare essentials for survival, and shortages of resources works most against the poor and underprivileged. Even as sections of India's middle-class struggle with scarcities - it is the poor and vulnerable sections of society who suffer most. It is true that better management of resources could reduce this problem - that states like Gujarat and Rajasthan have neglected traditional water-harvesting methods that could be vital to augment scarce water resources. Others have argued that if the Narmada project were to be completed in some acceptable form, it could alleviate such problems in the future. But even with appropriate development schemes and optimum utilization of scarce resources, it would be hard to argue, that on a per capita basis, India's natural resources are not becoming severely strained.

So far, these resources have been shared in a very unequal way. Some Indians have the luxury of taking long showers twice or thrice a day - even their pets are bathed daily, and their cars scrubbed from top to bottom. Other Indians are lucky if they get to bathe once a week. And many Indians are lucky just to have access to clean drinking water. If in the future, India were to become a more egalitarian nation, and attempt to share its water-resources in a fairer and more just way, it is evident that with projected population growth rates, it is unlikely that every Indian citizen will have access to a reasonable amount of water every day. The same would be true of other precious resources like land, energy and scarce minerals. The focus has thus over the past few years shifted to optimum and efficient utilization of resources so as to save the existing natural resources for the future generations.

India just like China too has serious problem with pollution. Unfortunately not only is the country's economy on a growing trend but also the country's pollution and mostly affected are rivers as they have almost become garbage dumps. About 80 % of urban waste in India ends up in rivers where it destroys river ecosystems and it also makes bodies of water unfit for human use, not to mention the fact that many river species populations are falling rapidly and if this trend continues these rivers could soon become dead rivers. Untreated sewage often ends up in rivers and testing of the water from the Ganges River near Varanasi showed that levels of fecal chloroform, a dangerous bacterium that comes from untreated sewage, were about 3,000 percent higher than what is considered safe for bathing. This is of course causing many illnesses. It also has to be said that India invested lots of money in clean-up efforts, especially in area of New Delhi, but that isn't enough considering the rapid growth of population in India and it hasn't resulted in any cleaner water. The worst fact is that water-borne diseases are India's leading cause of child mortalityAir is also polluted in India almost as much as in China and some experts believe that smog from India and China could even change weather patterns in North America. Even the famous Taj Mahal is becoming more and more yellow because of tremendous air pollution.India is already facing massive environmental damage and environment isn't the only victim of this story. Many deaths and diseases of human population are already caused as the result of air and water pollution and many more will follow unless something is done. But what can be done, what is the right solution? Hard to say, maybe to try lifting ecological conscience and awareness of the population, but that's very hard to achieve among rural and uneducated population. It's really now or never for the Indian government to come up with the plan to save the environment before it goes out of their reach.

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The Author is a I yr Journalism Honours student and part of the Webteam of DevelopmentChannel.org

Mahima Dayal- The Truth of Development

In the era of global economic interdependence, where international relations and technological break through are the issues of utmost importance we tend to forget the basic reality that haunts our country.

Imagine a scenario where over one quarter of the population of a country is oblivious of all the terms, and issues mentioned above. How can we move forth when most of the people are still unaware of their rights, rather what good would these rights be to those who don’t have any material possessions. My point of argument is very simple; in this rat race to survive we have forgotten that a huge gap has emerged between the rich and the poor. To top that, we brag to be the world’s largest democracy with a splendid list of rights bestowed to our citizens. It seems to be a great achievement. But who shall all this affect. Only those who have something to protect or safeguard, would value such rights. The concept of giving rights is a bourgeoisie concept. What happens to the have not’s in this country……..nothing becomes of them …what rights do they need while sleeping on the footpaths. What would a thief rob ‘them’ off!? Worse comes to worse a drunken rich kid might drive his\her car over them but beyond that what rights are they to loose? We live in a system that is made by the rich, of the rich and for the rich. It’s an eye wash.

The system teaches the poor to never stop aspiring… never to stop dreaming………………one day they also, could become like the king khan….who knows … maybe one day…………………….The system makes or forces us to believe in it, to the extent that we stop doubting it. It has been engrained in our minds that the system we live in is the best or the most acceptable. The truth is that not every ‘autowala’ becomes a famous actor and nor does every poor boy finally marry a rich spoilt girl as we have been told endlessly in Bollywood flicks.

I am not suggesting that the system is entirely at fault all I mean to say is that we live in a democracy ie; the rule by the majority, yet why is it that Ratan Tata has a direct hotline with the Prime Minister and I don’t?

My role ends the moment I caste my vote, I go back home and enjoy the holiday. What becomes of that one vote, one can never foretell.

Bottom-line is that we live in an intensely differentiated society, which surely does all the sweet talk about eradicating poverty and stuff from that genre but what I’d really like to know is how many of the people sitting out there making all those fancy policies really know or are aware of the grim reality….The reality that is shouting out loud. Only to go unheard…The truth …Our country cannot survive if we do not start working from the grass root level. The system has forgotten that the people of the country must be given the utmost importance. It is the people who have to be brought up to the level so that we could actually be potent enough to talk about issues such as space exploration, financial meltdown so on and so forth...

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The Author is I year BA Programme student and part of the Webteam of DevelopmentChannel.org

Rohini Ram Mohan- Development & the Media

Communication is a significant component in discourses on development. Daniel Lerner a renowned development theorist once observed that;”no modern society can function without an efficient mass media”. During the 1950’s Social theorists like him across political spectrums have believed that mass media can fasten and ease the process of development by increasing social mobility especially in developing countries like India. India which had chosen the path of industrialization, economic growth and self sufficiency in agriculture was confronted with the task of mobilizing masses, motivating farmers to adopt the new technologies, harnessing labour from various castes and classes, and for forging a national identity. It is not a mere coincidence that movies like Mother India , Do Bigha Zameen, Naya Daur and their depiction of callous money lenders ,landlords and problems of rural India had struck a chord amongst large masses. In a way cinema, radio and newspapers were extensively used to educate people about the rights to land and employment and problems of caste oppression, inform them about development policies and most importantly convey their grievances. Mass media became instrumental in undermining existing social structure and in appealing for a modern, cosmopolitan lifestyle.

However, the concept of development that had guided planners during the initial years of India’s independence came under severe criticism. So, did the role of mass media. Economists began asserting the need for a more participatory approach towards development that involved people from the poorest sections to participate in their own growth. Concerns for human development and not mere economic growth became overriding. This was accompanied by a complete revamp in the approach towards communication. Faults were identified in the content of the media messages, and in the method by which they were disseminated. Media messages had often tended to reach only the rural and urban elites while the poor did not receive messages intended to inform them. Access to cinema , radio and even T.V was unimaginable for the poor who could not afford a two-square meal a day. The mainstream media had been of very less use to them.

Not much has changed as we observe these tendencies even today. With entertainment and advertisement the emphasis of broadcast programming and newspaper reporting a growing disconnect has been observed between masses and the media. More than 512 media representatives were sent to the Lakme fashion week while only a handful of them reported on the farmer suicides in Vidharbha. Poverty is considered to be last on the agenda of mainstream newspapers in a nation of 260 million people below poverty line. Coverage of health issues is restricted to articles on yoga, obesity, and lifestyle related issues than on malnutrition, malaria, tuberculosis and the other diseases which take the life of thousands every year. These examples are just samples of the plethora of areas where the media has just turned a blind eye in a bid to serve more commercial interests.

The need of the hour is to make people conscious of the need for a strong emphasis on development communication. The mass media has to look behind the realm of profit making and serve as a mirror of reality. Not only should it be sensitive towards the requirements of the needy but also champion their cause with persistent campaigning for redressal of their grievances.

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The Author is a IIyr Journalism Honours student and part of the Webteam of DevelopmentChannel.org

Shivon Dhawan- Voting to Change the System

“Over 180 killed in Mumbai serial blasts”

In the wake of the recent blasts and terror strikes, it would only be human to develop, a feeling of deeper disgust, for the apparent “leaders” of the countries. The representatives, it seems, have suddenly been woken from their deep slumbers, as what has come to the attention of the nation is, the weak willed and inefficient “leaders”. The political classes’ inefficiency and aloofness, to both its responsibilities and duties has cost a lot of citizens like , you and me , maybe a friend , a cousin , a mother , a child or just someone , loved and cared for, someone cruelly taken away .

The outrage felt all over the country is not only against the terrorists but also the rot within the system. While the terror bloc maybe seen as the evil attacker, what cannot be ignored is the absolute failure of the political democratic system, not the government alone. Our country being the worlds largest democracy not only sees hurdles in the form of hostile neighbours, but now has to deal with a rotting bureaucratic and political machinery.

Perhaps the most alarming question on everybody’s mind is, “what can we do?”. With the common consensus coming to the sad fact, that no political party has been performing, no politician has any connect with the common public and that no matter how much we scream or protest , the situation is just not going to change on its own. However, the more disturbing developments are the radical ideas being suggested, such as, not paying taxes at all or the possibility of giving up the parliamentary system and coming under military rule. This is a worrisome turn of events.

Here lie the problems of the “others”. We have let our politicians alienate themselves from us. The politically sound, educated urban masses suddenly realise that the democracy they are supposed to be a part of, is not theirs at all. Be it the fact that simple needs of a human being, such as, the need for security are being ignored, leaves this class of Indians confused, angry and distort. Thus, is born the “other”, politicians. Someone who does not represent them, but governs them. .

However doesn’t a society deserve its own politicians? While we hold rallies urging each other not to pay taxes, do we realise that we are heading towards a much bigger problem? Do we realise that the system of democracy that we perceive as failing is the only weapon we have?

So what does a commoner do against the “others”? To think that we are weak or helpless is wrong. What we can do is simple .We bring the awaited change. We change them. We become a part of the process, to clean it, rather than to ignore and suffer. We need to eliminate the feeling of the other, and make the “others” a part of “us”. How? One simple word, vote. One of the most precious weapons, and a much ignored duty, is to vote. As a citizen of a democracy, it is the only way we can bring change. Changing not the machinery, but the rusted parts.

To say that we are lucky to be in a democracy is an understatement, we need to realise and appreciate the rights and freedoms given to us as Indians. Instead of doing that, we too conveniently forget our duty to vote, and then complain about the pathetic political machinery in our country. Thus, to concede defeat, to outer enemies or our own system failures is not an option, but defeating them through the democratic rights of a citizen is.

In the end, as Dorothy Thompson said,
“It is not the fact of liberty but the way in which liberty is exercised that ultimately determines whether liberty itself survives”

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The Author is I yr Journalism Honours student and Head of the Lady Sriram College Webteam of DevelopmentChannel.org

Arpita De- Animal Testing: Think Twice Before Putting On that Lipstick

Animal testing is one of the most cruel and inhuman practices which has continued to scar our world since the seventeenth century. It is estimated that over 50 to 100 million animals worldwide are used annually. The testing can include research such as genetics, developmental biology, behavioral studies, as well as applied research such as biomedical research, drug testing and toxicology tests, including cosmetics testing.

Rabbits are among the most frequent animals used for testing, since they have minimal tear flow as compared to other animals they are often used to test eye irritancy in products like shampoos, conditioners, and creams etc. these tests involve pouring the liquid over the eyes of the rabbit which causes it a lot of pain and can lead to ulceration, cloudiness or make it go blind. Patches are often shaved off the back of rabbits to make them more sensitive, the product is placed on these patches and covered with a gauze for four hours. Researchers then look for signs of redness, inflammation weeping or scabs. This is a method of testing skin irritation. Cats are most commonly used in neurological research which cause them great pain and distress. Dogs are widely used in biomedical research mainly as models for human diseases like cardiology, endocrinology and bone and joint studies. Animals are sometimes also made to eat things like lipsticks before they are rendered harmless. Half the animals are made so sick that they die. They may suffer symptoms such as abdominal pains and cramps, convulsions, vomiting (in some species), paralysis, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, bleeding ulcers and so on.

Recent Studies have shown that effects of chemicals on humans and animals are not the same. In fact their reaction may depend on many factors. Cosmetic testing is banned in countries like Belgium, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. By 2009 the European Union as a whole will ban cosmetic testing. Companies which do not use animals usually have a logo with a bunny in it. In India ‘people for the ethical treatment of animals’(PETA) have demanded a change in government policy on cosmetic tests on animals, stating that these are not just brutal but also results from them are not foolproof. PETA has also written to the Prime Minister, the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister and the Environment and Forests Minister among others to re-look at the policy on cosmetics tests on animals. It is only ethical and humane to discontinue use of products from companies that practice animal testing.

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The Author is I yr History Honours student and a member of the Webteam of DevelopmentChannel.org

Lija John- A Day in the life of an Urban Woman

Eve teasing violates a woman's basic right to live in dignity. Will women forever remain targets and victims of eve teasing? Will their rescuers continue to be unwilling martyrs to a dead cause? Before these questions are addressed, one needs to explore and analyse why, irrespective of the dress they wear, or, their ages, their looks, their educational, professional and marital status, never mind the time or place, women in Delhi and elsewhere are being subjected to all kinds of harassment from obscene telephone calls, stalking, and last but not the least – eve-teasing.

It's the same story every day. You step on the street in the morning and jump out of your skin as a car hurtles towards you and swerves just before smashing you to a pulp. The driver laughs evilly and you're still cursing him under your breath as you pass a group of men standing at the corner, who burst into songs almost on cue. You pretend not to hear and get into an autorickshaw. (Let me not even start about the horrors of traveling in a bus in India and the daily fight against being groped.) The rickshaw driver adjusts his rear view mirror to get a better look at you, and you sit with your files and bag clutched close to your chest as you avoid eye contact with him through the journey. Two men on a scooter peek into the autorickshaw, decide they like what they see and follow you around for a few minutes staring lecherously and giggling excitedly till the autorickaw driver takes pity on you and waves them off.

At the 6:30 p.m. show you get 'completely unintentionally' jostled and felt up. Well, what did you expect? Just another day.

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The author is a BA Programme Iyr student.

Kartik Viswanath- What can I do?

Not all, but many of us sometimes get this feeling in our gut that we need to do something with our life, that change must come within us and around us and because of us. I don’t know if you can identify with this, but if you can then you must know how painful such a feeling is. It might come because of somebody you meet, something you see happening around you, or maybe even just a very powerful movie.

And when this happens, the question we ask ourselves is simple…what can I do?

It’s the answer to that question that’s a bit tough.

I thought my first entry should talk about these very questions, the need to think about social issues, the need to create awareness and a concern about the problems faced by society. It’s only when we take the first step that the rest of the path will unveil itself to us.

Most of us live an insulated life, insulated from the pains as well as the joys in the lives of so many around us. As long as things in our life are going well, good food, good house, good bed, good friends, it takes a bit of an effort to pull out of our cocoon and take a look around to see what the guy next door has to deal with. Such behaviour is perhaps our choice, albeit on a sub-conscious level. The reason being, if we do happen to notice the hardship of another, we’ll then have to worry about him, thus ruining our perfectly good life. All this might sound cynical, but if it is, then that would mean things aren’t as bad as they seem, which is great since that’s what we all want in the end anyway, don’t we?

I’m afraid I don’t have any answers to these questions, and I don’t think any of us really do. Further, I confess that I myself am sometimes one such person, a person who does not want to know about another’s suffering, primarily because I fear it will ruin my sleep. It’s so much easier to just block it all out.

The Mumbai terror attacks had me in confused state of mind. On one hand, I felt sad and angry, helpless yet responsible, but on the other hand I felt like I really didn’t want to hear about all that anymore, that I just wanted to laugh some with my friends, eat some good food and watch some stupid Govinda flicks. The latter sounded so much easier, so much more something I’d like to do.

Working out these two opposing forces will require some thought.

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The Author is a II yr college student and head of the Sri Venkateshwara College Website Team of DevelopmentChannel.org

Nidhi Mehta- Liberating the Indian Woman

I consider myself a woman of the Modern World. I have access to the best education. I have the freedom to express my opinion. There are a plethora of opportunities for me to choose from and no one can dictate my decisions. I am the master of my life.

But this Modern World is just a façade behind which lies a grim and bitter reality.

People say that womens emancipation has been long achieved but the truth is that women are still crippled by social attitudes and orthodoxy. For most women of our country, terms like “democracy” and “gender equality” are a farce.

The Indian Constitution grants women equal rights with men, but strong patriarchal traditions persist, with women’s lives shaped by customs that are centuries old. In most Indian families, a daughter is viewed as a liability, and she is conditioned to believe that she is inferior and subordinate to men.

Where women do not have the discretionary income to invest in their own or their children’s education, where girls’ education is considered frivolous, and where girls are relied on to contribute labour to the household, they miss this unparalleled opportunity to develop their minds and spirits.

Female infanticide, child marriages, poor health and maternal mortality, illiteracy, overwork, mistreatment and trafficking have demeaned the status of Indian women. Of the 15 million baby girls born in India each year, nearly 25 percent will not live to see their 15th birthday . India has the largest population of non-school-going working girls. Working conditions and environmental pollution further impairs their health. The smoke from household biomass stoves within a three-hour period is equivalent to smoking 20 packs of cigarettes. Legal loopholes are used to deny women inheritance rights.

Creating awareness about educating the girl child is a daunting task and a change cannot be brought about unless and until the society changes its outlook towards the fairer sex.

However, it can be achieved by implementing schemes which give incentives for educating girls, using the electronic and print media, community radios as well as organising street plays to spread the message. I feel that making women economically independent is the utmost priority. Though the Govt. has taken initiatives in this regard by launching scemes like Support for Training and Employment Program (STEP) , Balika Samriddhi Yojana (BSY), Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK), etc. but the Government needs to monitor their implementation . Women also need to have greater participation in the decision- making process of the country.

My views are best reflected in this quote by Emmeline Pankhurst-
We have to free half of the human race, the women, so that they can help to free the other half.

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The Author is a IIyr Economics Honours student and an Executive Team Member of DevelopmentChannel.org

Ira Swasti- Where Have all the Women Gone?

You might have noticed the men’s queue at the metro station go on and on till even outside the station, while the women’s line ends less than halfway through!

UN reports second the point and surprisingly….the child sex ratio (no of boys/100 girls, not the usual estimate of per 1000 boys) has increased since 1991! And you thought, education and increased awareness levels would have brought about a change in attitudes.

One of the main factors responsible since then is the development and easy accessibility of sex-selection techniques. So, it is out in the open, that if you know the sex of your child, the majority of India will go for a boy. Now, even though the government has made it a punishable offence to use these techniques, it is only a “don’t-do-this” way of telling a child, which never works. The technique is being used extensively in certain pockets of India (even if illegally).

So why do parents prefer a boy? We have the roots of the problem in the system of a patriarchal society….but then, why specific to India? - Societal upbringing and pressure….that considers a girl child a less fortunate. The financial burdens associated with her (the problem of dowry being closely linked with it)…to carry on the family name and to shoulder the responsibility of the household once the chief bread earner can do so no more. One of the newspapers aptly described the thinking of such families “Eliminate them (girl foetus) now instead of dealing with the problems of raising a girl”. The “cost” of bringing up a girl child is the same as bringing up a boy child, but it is considered a “wasted investment” as the “returns” go to the girl’s “new” family after marriage. Just like any other problem in the country, this one too is based on self-interest.

The government initiative in this regard was to provide Rs 1 lac to each family for a girl child’s education. It almost reeks of a financial deal finalized, we’ll give you money, you provide the country with a girl child!

These solutions are born out of fear (of punishment) or incentives (such as money) to bring about a change which can never lead to long-term success rates.

Well, in most of the Western countries, the trend is that the son or the daughter will leave their parents behind as they turn 18, in search of independence. And so, it doesn’t matter much whether you have a girl or a boy. But, I personally do not profess such a culture, and so we are back to square one.

The obvious solutions that come to mind are women empowerment and their economic independence. But, a survey by Action India of women in Delhi revealed that even highly educated women have resorted to as many as eight abortions to ensure that they only give birth to a son! Infact, the mother’s educational level was directly proportional to an unfavourable sex ratio!! To add to it, there is actually an increase in the sex ratio when we move from rural to urban areas. It’s often a thing to boast the number of sons you have among certain rich elites. So where lies the solution?

A good example set by people that we look up to (maybe a certain Kalam) can change things. We probably need to create an environment, a culture in the society where families feel as proud and fortunate to have a girl child as they are for a boy child. And for that, participation of women themselves in such a movement is imperative! The change has to be conscience driven. For how long can the government keep telling you not to kill your own child?!

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The Author is a IIyr Economics Honours student and an Executive Team Member of DevelopmentChannel.org

Archana Nair- On Poor Progress

Being a country of 1.13 billion people, it is no surprise that India has at least 3 of the world’s richest men, but that the very same figure is inclusive of the many that have no clue from where their next meal is to appear, is perhaps a matter of marvel for us.

If the World Bank’s estimate on poverty is to be held as a bench mark, India has 456 million people, 41.6% of its population, living below the new international poverty line of $1.25. This is no where close to the estimates of our Planning Commission which believes that the percentage of poor in this country is 26% to 27%. Of course that is because we hold a much lower poverty line in terms of our currency and calories.

Much has been debated and discussed about the measures of reducing poverty. This is in view of the high level of poverty in rural India, the income inequalities and the uneven wealth distribution in the country. However one wonders how much of the poverty alleviation programme is actually about the man on the streets who owns nothing and has no one. The government has done credible work by distributing basic commodities at controlled prices, by ensuring employment and by helping the poor attain self sufficiency. But is that satisfactory?

10% of statistical reduction in the poor takes half a century, that too in a country that is showing the brightest prospects of economic development. Given that independent India is a young country, both historically and demographically, given also that our political ideology is progressive, encouraging and dynamic and that ours is the land of thinkers and resources; It is hard to believe that the India that claims 8% growth and has opened her economy with great applause, has been able to accomplish precious little for the least advantaged.

Yet there is hope for a better tomorrow. Present times have seen a steep rise in the stress on education, employment and reservations in public lives. Literacy levels and quality of education are on a visible rise. Above all, there is awareness amongst the people of India.

The growth of voluntary organizations and Non Government Organization and the pressure felt by the administration will surely add polish to the armor we wear to battle poverty. That the vicious circle of poverty is never ending will perhaps be proved as a wrong assumption. If only the able lent so little as a smile to those who seek hope, then perhaps I-who proclaim poverty to be eradicable- shall no more be a reluctant optimist.

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The author is a Iyr Journalism Honours student and a Executive Team Member of DevelopmentChannel.org

Sonali Vij- Dowry: When a Marriage becomes a Business Transaction

We all often talk about being modern, wearing branded clothes, shopping in swanky malls, eating in expensive restaurants etc. but then why is it that we are not able to bring about a change in the way we think as well, why is modernity restricted to only materialistic things? In today’s time of Urbanization, Modernization, Globalization etc. certain social evils like dowry still exist in our society. Well, what started as the girl taking a part of her share in the family property after marriage voluntarily has now become an obligation and compulsion of sorts. Over the period of time dowry has become a widespread evil and it has now assumed menacing proportions but initially dowry was never really a menace and the idea behind it was also not bad.

Marriage is an auspicious ceremony where two individuals are all set to spend the rest of their lives together but it is sometimes considered to be a profitable business deal by the groom and his family. They expect this deal to yield them just about everything from gold, clothes, cars to large sums of cash. They also consider it to be “the opportunity” to extract whatever they can from the bride’s family so that they can ensure a comfortable and luxurious life for themselves. The worst part being that the transaction of dowry often does not end with the actual wedding ceremony as the bride’s family is expected to continue giving gifts. What the groom’s family doesn’t realize is the fact that sometimes by fulfilling all their demands leaves the bride’s family becomes indebted for life. I am not saying that we should totally do away with our traditions, customs and practices but when these practices become a curse we need to do away with them.

Today, the custom of dowry has become a curse in the Indian society. The middle class families are considered to be the worst sufferers of this menace. The brides often face the brunt if their families are unable to fulfill the demands kept forth by her in-laws. Most dowry deaths occur when the young woman, unable to bear the harassment and torture, commits suicide. Sometimes the woman is even killed by setting her on fire. There have also been cases where the brides have been poisoned, recently there was a dowry death reported where a bride of 20 days was killed. In 1995, the National Crime Bureau of the Government of India reported about 6,000 dowry deaths every year. A more recent police report stated that dowry deaths had risen by 170 percent in the decade to 1997. Dowry is not prevalent only in rural areas but in urban areas as well. In Delhi, a woman is burned to death almost every twelve hours. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are the two states where dowry deaths are most common. Every now and then we hear and read about dowry deaths but nothing much is being done in this regard. Most of the cases are not even reported. With a view to eradicate dowry from the Indian society, several laws have been passed but they haven’t been of much help. Someone really needs to take a stand and say that it’s wrong and it must not be practiced or at least they shouldn’t demand or accept it themselves. I must also mention here that few families do consider it as an evil and do not encourage it.

I strongly believe that it should be the wish of the daughter that should matter, whether she wishes to take something from her parents or not. The groom’s side must stay out of it, there should be no obligation or force involved. One of the major reasons for a girl to be still considered a liability and not an asset is because of this social evil and also in several cases it’s because of the fear of inability to give dowry that a male child is still favored over a female child.

Cultural practices such as dowry tend to subordinate women in Indian society and such practices should not be encouraged.

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The author is a IIyr Journalism Honours student and a Core Team Member of DevelopmentChannel.org

Srishti Gupta- The System We All Love to Hate!

When I look around me I feel the upcoming generation will be a socially conscious one. It’s been over one year of college and its an amazing feeling that almost everyone I come across seems to be involved in some socially responsible thing or the other. Citing the example of my own college, there are a few students helping the visually challenged people in the campus, some have taken up the responsibility to teach the under-privileged children or there is also a lot which goes to some village with an NGO regularly to provide any possible help to the poor villagers.

The crux is that even the most fashionable people studying in popular DU colleges not only think about social issues, in fact, they try to do their bit to improve the situation too. Its not about any single university or place. I have friends in various engineering and medical colleges who are associated with voluntary organizations and are doing considerably great things. Youth of the nation seems to be highly aware and motivated. These subtle things I feel have a profound message in them.

But the situation around sometimes defies even my positive anticipations. The country is going through a difficult phase where maladies like corruption, rampant violence etc. are proliferating and consequently prosperity is declining. Probably the reason is that, we feel strongly for things when we are young and not a part of the system that we love to despise and as we grow older, we seem to be swallowed up and become of part of the same system that troubled us in our youth. Perhaps this generation can break this cycle of inevitability.

The time lapse between wanting to change the system and becoming a part of the same is an important one. I am sure that people who constitute the present work force of our country must have had the fervor to change "things" around them in their youth. The fact that the situation is bad now proves a very vital point. We may desire to do great things in life but by the time we are experienced enough to make a difference, our priorities change. There are so many things like career, marriage, family and material goods that begin to become priorities and we prefer to somehow manage with a known evil, rather than enthusiastically attack it. There are many people who have a strong urge to do things in the just and right way but often stop themselves due to the oft-quoted practical constraints of life.

I guess there is a time in everyone's life when you feel very strongly for those little things around you and there is a desire to change things, change the system…But they say the "system changes you". Well, this need not always be the case. If you stick to your ideals, imbibe a social consciousness and are bolstered with determination and commitment, you’ll find that it IS possible to change the system, but sometimes you have to start by changing yourself.

And if my assessment of the current generation is accurate, a change is coming- and the socially conscious new generation will lead this change!

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The Author is a IIyr Maths Honours student and part of the Core Team of DevelopmentChannel.org

Parul Gupta- Environment (vs.?) Development

Ecology and economics are closely related issues. Being a student of economics, I’ve studied that inclusive development is not possible without adequate emphasis on environmental protection. Development and environment need to be seen as complementary, not antagonistic terms. After all, if there is no Earth left, where will development take place?!

Today, when the world is facing the harmful consequences of global warming and depletion of resources, environment conservation has become a topic of global significance, not just an issue with local importance. The matter is of paramount relevance in a developing economy like ours, as environment degradation drastically offsets improvements achieved by economic prosperity, apart from having serious implications for distributive justice.

In my view, the shortcomings are in the design of the policies regarding environment. Although the issue has gained more importance in today’s grave scenario, it is still a neglected sector, with excessive emphasis on ‘growth’ in terms of numbers, without focusing on ‘development’ in terms of quality. Improper implementation of policies, coupled with indifferent attitudes of authorities has accentuated the ineffectiveness of environment strategy in India. This has led to a host of problems like mounting pressures on depleting resources and poor waste management resulting in deplorable conditions and health hazards. Thus it is imperative to frame environment policy with holistic considerations of health, sanitation and overall development of the populace. The following things must be done:

More awareness & sensitivity towards the environment is the key to environmental conservation. A possible measure for this would be to inculcate awareness among students.

Providing infrastructure for waste management, water harvesting and paper recycling in schools and colleges can go a long way in sowing the seeds of environment consciousness in young minds.

Concurrently, it is also crucial for the government and policy makers to ‘walk the talk’ by adopting water harvesting & waste management and using efficient energy sources in government offices, in addition to having laws that reinforce other initiatives; for example, to make a ‘Say no to crackers’ drive by students successful, the government can play an important role to reduce consumption of crackers, possibly by higher taxes.

Thus, positive encouragement for judicious use (concessional rates of solar equipment and efficient appliances) and negative incentives for misuse of resources (higher taxes for inefficient cars and high energy consuming buildings) should be provided.

Apart from this, at the micro level, each one of us can contribute towards the betterment of the environment, simply by living by the principle of “REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE”. Really, it does not take much time or effort to be judicious about the usage of precious resources like electricity, water and paper. Small steps do have a profound impact-and the sooner we realize this, the better it will be for our Earth and our future generations.

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The author is a Final Year student from Delhi University and the Knowledge Centre Coordinator of DevelopmentChannel.org

Anoushaka Chandrashekhar- The Educated Rickshaw Puller

In a technology driven world of the most populous metropolitan city of India, where urbanization is at its prime, the sight of a primitive caravan being pulled by a weary tired man is certainly surprising but not uncommon.

Cycle rickshaws were introduced in Delhi way back in 1940. Their number has increased phenomenally in the last couple of decades. Rickshaws can be seen in large numbers in the National Capital Region – from the roads of Chandini Chowk to the University campus. In the absence of any alternative mode of transport for short distances, the rickshaws emerged as a vital public service. But the rickshaw pullers still have to bear the brunt of low wages and sub-human conditions of living. They migrate to urban areas in search of a better livelihood only to face urban misery in replacement of rural poverty. In addition they face many other problems. The police as well as the commuters abuse them physically and verbally. The policemen harass them, sometimes damaging their rickshaws and they end up paying for the damages.

Since most rickshaw pullers do not own the rickshaws they pull, they have to pay a part of their daily earnings to the owners. Here too they are exploited. They also suffer from a lot of health problems as the job involves a lot of physical work and is particularly difficult for the older persons. Most rickshaw pullers said that they are physically exhausted at the end of the day and they have no energy left to do anything else. The rickshaw pullers earn a very low wage which is not sufficient to even afford their basic minimum necessities. They can hardly afford two meals a day.

These people also have aspirations in life. They want their children to study and do well in life. None of them want their children to be rickshaw pullers. They do long for a better livelihood. A lot of the rickshaw pullers are from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Their families are based there and they have to earn in order to support them.

It would come as surprise to many people that some of the rickshaw pullers are graduates, and still they have not got a better job than pulling rickshaws. Manoj, a differently abled rickshaw puller says, “What can I do? Maybe it is this (his lack of nervous coordination) which is preventing me from moving ahead in life”. Overwhelmed with emotion he continues “though I have completed a six month certificate course in chair making and shoe polishing as well as typing, I am continuously being turned down by various employers”. The plight of this young man seems never-ending despite having the acquired the requisite skills.

The government’s attitude towards them has also not been particularly supportive. The government has used archaic laws to treat people working in this sector as though they are criminals and used the full might of the state to harass, fleece and hound them through bizarre regulations.

So the next time you climb onto a rickshaw, think what it feels like to be driving one all day.
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The author is a IIyr Economics Honours student and a Core Team Member of DevelopmentChannel.org

Rishabh Gulati - Lost in Transmission: The Politics of India's Electricity Crisis

In his Independence Day address on 15th August, 2008, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the nation that to eliminate poverty in India, an annual economic growth rate of 10% had to be achieved and sustained. In the early 1990s, this would have seemed a difficult and perhaps downright fanciful vision, but India has been witnessing an economic boom in recent years. GDP growth for the last 4 years has averaged 9%, peaking at 9.6% in 2006-07, just shy of the visionary mark of 10%.

While fiscal policy and economic reforms continue to be hotly debated, the biggest threat to rapid industrialization and development in India is a lack of power. Power cuts, blackouts and load shedding have been a constant problem in the day to day functioning of business and enterprise. The Maharashtra government this year announced load shedding of up to 16 hours a day in the small scale industrial areas of the state during the peak summer months. India faces a perennial electricity shortage of 7% and a peak time shortage of 11%.

The facts portray a discomforting picture. While economic liberalization and private enterprise have brought us to the threshold of achieving 10% growth, we cannot cross this economic Rubicon if industry is to be starved of power supply.

Similarly, electricity consumption is, no longer a requisite of industrialization alone, it has attracted developmental and aspirational virtues as India has modernized over the decades. It is hard to address to an urban audience how ‘electricity’ could be something to aspire to, but in rural India, electrification is a privilege. Almost 1/3rd of rural India continues to subsist without connections to the national grid. With electricity lies the key to a more comfortable lifestyle with televisions, refrigerators and even air conditioning- that most of the urban conglomerations take for granted. Lack of electrical supply inhibits development by forcing farmers to use expensive diesel fuel to power irrigation pumps and provide lighting.

Due to its developmental and aspirational connections, electricity has become a political tool. Governments at state and centre boast of their achievements in connecting villages to the national grid. This pseudo-electrification, like many other gimmicks utilized in election rallies, is a developmental red-herring. Laying electrical cables to a village without planning for a commensurate increase in power production is a waste of time and copper. How do you distribute electricity if you have none to distribute in the first place?

Politics, however, does not require logical consistencies. Political schemes to provide farmers with ‘free’ electricity during election times is another favoured practice. True to the saying, anything that is free has no value, ‘free’ power leads to rampant wastage and stretches the national grid literally to the ‘tripping’ point. Farmers in turn get the ultimate in free power, no power at all.

Similarly, political compulsions cause urban politicians to turn a blind eye to rampant pilferage of electricity in urban shanties and unauthorized and unplanned colonies. Almost 40% of electricity in the capital New Delhi is lost due to pilferage. This results in increased bills for those who do pay for their share, which has doubtful moral legacies.

Just like the beauty of the Vedas is often lost in translation, so the beauty of economic growth in India is being lost in transmission.

Shoddy and unplanned electricity theft not only strains the electricity mains, but provides a hazard to life and property. Any layman walking down city alleys amidst the mass of convoluted, dangling, exposed wires amongst rickety wooden housing, past oil drums and gas cylinders can only look to the heavens to answer why more short circuit fires, indeed explosions, do not happen. As a child I recall nightly fireworks at the local electricity transformer with a fondness only a child unaware of the dangers can have.

Electricity, in essence, is a key fuel to power economic growth. In addition, as I have pointed out, it has important developmental virtues and aspirational overtones. Then it seems absurdly shocking why electric power generation has been so woefully neglected for decades.

Once more we shall blame our pet peeve, politicians. While politics has compounded problems in electricity supply, it has sought no solution in electricity production. When faced with a shortage of electricity, the government of Uttar Pradesh will simply draw more from the national grid. Haryana will do the same, blame it on Punjab which will blame it on poor rainfall and therefore fall in hydropower generation. Delhi, having hardly any power generation capacity of its own will blame all of the above and twiddle its thumbs while proclaiming great success at achieving nothing. Passing the buck as a survival tactic is fine, but we shall soon play this passing-the-parcel game in darkness, with a flute as musical accompaniment.

What then, is the solution?

Firstly, you need a grand vision of power production in India. It must plan for added power generation for the next 20-30 years, not quick fixes that are readily falling behind the curve. Happily, while the National Electricity Policy of 2005 does contain the usual bombast of ‘power for all by 2012’, it goes into further detail of adding 1 lakh megawatts of power production in less than one decade. This should almost double India’s electricity production to a grand total of over 2.25 lakh megawatts. Even this might not be enough, but it’s a good start.

Secondly, large scale re-vamping of the national grid must be done to upgrade infrastructure and harmonize load distribution. By improving efficiency alone, end-user electricity supply could be improved by as much as 10%.

Thirdly, electric loss due to pilferage must be tackled with a political backbone hitherto missing in Indian politicians since the heroism of the independence struggle. Reducing pilferage not only makes electricity consumption safer, but reduces the cost to all the users which is a long-term political advantage.

Fourthly, environmental and social considerations should be included in the policy process from the beginning, not as cobbled together after-thoughts. India has one of the world’s largest coal reserves and producing thermal electricity is nominally cheaper, almost half the cost per unit when compared to nuclear and wind generation. The cost would, however, attain parity if environmental impacts were computed into project costs. Similarly, displacement of people which has stalled many hydro-power projects such as the expansion of the Narmada dam, must be taken into consideration before, and not after, the project is commissioned. Social campaigners and environmentalists, must therefore be included at the policy making stage to help reduce the societal displacement, instead of dragging them away belatedly from dharna’s on Parliament Street.

Lastly, while private enterprise has been recently instituted in both power generation and distribution, the government’s responsibility is to generate competition to lower prices and not hold private companies to ransom for political compulsions to neithers benefit.
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The author is Assistant Editor, Development Channel