Is Democracy Falling in India?

The Republic of India is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world.The Indian economy is the world's tenth-largest economy by nominal GDP and fourth largest economy by purchasing power parity.According to historians, India's modern age begins variously in 1848, when with the appointment of Lord Dalhousie as Governor General of the Company rule in India, changes essential to a modern state, including the consolidation and demarcation of sovereignty, the surveillance of the population, and the education of citizens, were put in place, and technological changes, among them, railways, canals, and telegraph were introduced not long after being introduced in Europe.India is a federation with a parliamentary system governed under the Constitution of India.Political and bureaucratic corruption in India are major concerns. A 2005 study conducted by Transparency International in India found that more than 45% of Indians had first-hand experience of paying bribes or influence peddling to get jobs done in public offices successfully.Corruption is a global phenomenon .In India the income tax department of India, Central Vigilance Commission and Central Bureau of Investigation all deal with anti-corruption initiatives.People are so anger of this corruption and got agitated by the recent 2G scam,also activated by some people.Lot of people involved in LOKPAL issue without knowing the meaning of LOKPAL and saying JAN LOKPAL. Every bill is passed and made into law by the parliment members only after discussion.Those members are elected by us through democracy[voting]. They represent us.Every act and law is Peoples[JAN].No need to mention it. Why protesting against Government if we respect Democracy.Then why we are voting? If Freedom Fighters are not respecting the democracy, then why They fought for freedom[TO GET DEMOCRACY]. If people[we] wants to say something then people[we] should speak through the member we voted and selected for parliment.That is what every Citizen is doing.If all wants to make laws ,then there are billion versions of same law!.Is this so called second freedom fight?? Why  people are not involving in hundreds of billls passed per year ! India is the biggest  democratic country, but how strong is its democracy? Why can't we find a solution democraticaly?

The flourishing Nation with lacking Nourishment

TORONTO: In this Year of India in Canada, India is making news in the media here - not for the second highest growth rate in the world but for its "absolute poverty'' and failure to "feed its people.'' 

The Canadian media has also likened "the boom in Bihar" to "a whimper". 

Writing under the headline 'Why India can't feed its people,' the country's biggest daily Toronto Star reported from New Delhi Sunday, "Food is an all-consuming crisis here. Waste is only one facet. Agriculture, infrastructure, inflation, innovation and corruption are others. It is a scourge and challenge for this country of 1.2 billion people...'' 

According to it, "40 percent of Indian children remain chronically malnourished,'' with this figure in some parts of India even higher than some sub-Saharan countries. 

Citing reports of hungry children eating mud in parts of Uttar Pradesh , the newspaper story said, "Today, there is less food available for each Indian resident that there was 30 years ago. In 2008, the most recent year for which statistics are available, India produced 436 grams of food grains per person per day, a drop from 445.3 in 2006.'' 

The report said, "As much as 40 per cent of all the fruits, vegetables and food grains grown in India never make it to the market. The country wastes more grain each year than Australia produces, and more fruits and vegetables than the UK consumes.'' 

Blaming the lack of R&D for the crisis in the Indian agriculture sector which has led to 200,000 suicides since 1997, the report said, "While China pumps $3.5 billion into agricultural research - Chinese farmers grew 6.2 metric tons of rice per hectare in 2008, double India's output - India's spends a fraction of that.'' 

In another story from Dharampur Mushahar Toll in Bihar, the national daily Globe and Mail reported Sunday that "the boom in Bihar sounds more like a whimper.'' 

Bihar, which has the lowest literacy rate, the highest child-mortality rate and the lowest life expectancy in India, has become a synonym not for intractable despair, but for turnaround under a new reformist government led by "a pot-bellied, teetotalling socialist engineer named Nitish Kumar ,'' the report said. 

But "to travel in Bihar - in the rural areas or in the capital, Patna, where the streets are choked with garbage and the lights flicker out every couple of hours - is to see both how the place has changed, and how terribly far it has to go. And it is in this, more than anything else, that Bihar is emblematic of India - of its dark side of absolute poverty and exclusion, and how very difficult a task it is to change them,'' the report said. 

"snail-paced Indian judicial system" says TIME

In top 10 abuses of power ,TIME says indian judicial system as snail-paced , regarding the case of Raja. How  the indian judicial wing will respond to this and will they make it true?

How dangerous are artificial sweeteners and antioxidant preservatives we consume?

  We consume  lot of food items that are flavoured,coloured and preserved in our day today life .Here are few things that are to be mentioned about them.

Preservatives

Propyl gallate

  An antioxidant preservative that prolongs the life of fats and oils -- such as in vegetable oil, chewing gum, meat products, and chicken soup base -- propyl gallate may cause cancer. It is often used with BHA and BHT

BHA & BHT

   Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) also delay rancidity in fats, oils, and foods that contain oils, such as cereals, chewing gum, vegetable oil, and potato chips. Some studies have shown that both BHA and BHT cause cancer in rats. Since they can easily be replaced by safer alternatives like vitamin E or packing under nitrogen instead of air, or even be completely left out, there is no reason to take the chance; avoid these chemicals as much as possible.

Sodium nitrite & sodium nitrate

   Sodium nitrite is added to cured meat like cold cuts and hot dogs to keep their color and to give them flavor; sodium nitrate can be used for the same purpose, as it breaks down into sodium nitrite. In addition to their preservative functions, they are used to prevent botulism, a deadly disease transmitted through food.

   Unfortunately, during the digestive process, they form cancer-causing nitrosamines in our intestines. Given this fact, most foods that contain sodium nitrite are also pumped with vitamin C derivatives like ascorbate or sodium erythrobate, as vitamin C prevents nitrosamines from forming. However, if you're still worried, avoid food containing sodium nitrite or eat vitamin C-rich foods -- such as oranges, broccoli, green peppers, and Brussels sprouts -- at the same time.

Artificial Sweeteners

Saccharin

   This sweetener, commercially known as Sweet'N Low, is 350 times sweeter than sugar; it is used in many diet foods and soft drinks, and as a tabletop sugar substitute. Several animal studies have shown that it causes cancer of the bladder, uterus, ovaries, blood vessels, skin, and various other organs. Even a significant study conducted by the National Cancer Institute found that it does indeed cause bladder cancer.

 There has been an ongoing battle between the FDA and the diet-food industry over the past 10 years regarding the ban or use of warning labels on products containing saccharin, but as of 2000, all warnings were removed. However, evidence shows that it is probably safer to stay away from it.

Acesulfame-K

   Acesulfame-K is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar and is used around the world in baked goods, soft drinks, chewing gum, and gelatin desserts. Although early studies showed no health risks, they were not the most reliable experiments. Since then, two separate studies on rats have shown that it may cause cancer. Although further tests are needed, it is recommended to avoid acesulfame-K altogether.

   An added concern is that the breakdown product of acesulfame-K known as acetoacetamide affects the thyroid in rats, dogs and rabbits when administered in large amounts; however, there is no proof that the amounts found in food are dangerous.

Aspartame

   Aspartame is found in the name brands Equal and NutraSweet; it is composed of methanol and two amino acids. Although originally believed to be the perfect artificial sweetener, it caused brain tumors in rats in certain studies conducted in the 1970s.

   Although there was much pressure from different groups for further studies to explore the potential dangers of aspartame, it wasn't until 2005 that a new study was released. It found that even small doses of the sweetener increased the occurrence of lymphoma and leukemia, and occasionally caused brain tumors in rats. Although more research is still needed, avoid it to stay on the safe side.

   However, do not believe the claims that can be found all over the Internet regarding the wide variety of illnesses caused by aspartame; most of them have never been proven.

Artificial Colorings

Blue 1 & Blue 2

   Blue 1 is a coloring used in candy, beverages and baked goods. Although more research is needed, some studies have shown a small cancer risk, so it is wise to steer clear of it.

   Blue 2 can be found in pet food, candy and beverages. It hasn't been proven without a doubt, but studies have suggested that it causes brain tumors in mice.

Red 3

   Used in fruit cocktail cherries, baked goods and candy, there is some evidence that Red 3 causes thyroid tumors in rats. Although it is unclear if this could also be the case in humans, it is a possibility.

Yellow 6

   Found in beverages, baked goods, sausages, candy, and gelatin, Yellow 6 is the third most widely used of all food colorings. It has been shown to cause adrenal gland and kidney tumors, and it contains small amounts of many carcinogens. However, after review, the FDA concluded that it isn't a significant cancer risk for humans, but it may still be wise to avoid it.

Prefer freshness rather than attractiveness

   Although most of these additives have not been proven without a doubt to be dangerous, and there are many more that could be added to this list, it is safer to stay away from the forementioned chemicals as much as possible. Read the labels; if you have a choice between a bag of potato chips that contains BHA and BHT, and one that doesn't, choose the latter. Or better yet, why don't we just go for some fresh things and we'll avoid the processed ingredients altogether.Dont go by advertisements. Here, its our health make no choices.think wise and decide.Accoring to a tamil proverb "கண்ணால் காண்பதும் பொய் காதால் கேட்பதும் பொய் தீர விசாரிப்பதே மெய்"

How many hazardous chemicals do we consume in our daily life?

A shocking report coming soon.................

உயர் கல்வி தரமான கல்வியா???

       மாணவர்களுக்கு அளிக்கும் தரமான கல்வி தான் சமுதாய முன்னேற்றத்தை தீர்மானிக்கிறது என்பதால், புதிதாக அமையவுள்ள அரசு, கல்வியின் தரத்தை உயர்த்த என்னென்ன செய்ய வேண்டும் என பட்டியலிடுகிறார், அண்ணா பல்கலையின் முன்னாள் துணைவேந்தரும், மத்திய அரசு பணியாளர் தேர்வாணையக் குழு முன்னாள் உறுப்பினருமான பாலகுருசாமி.

   கல்வித் தரம் சிறப்பாக உள்ளது என, நம் ஆட்சியாளர்கள் மார்தட்டிக் கொள்கின்றனர். பள்ளிக் கல்வியானாலும், உயர் கல்வியானாலும் கல்வியின் தரம் பாதாளத்தை நோக்கி சென்று கொண்டிருக்கிறது என்பதே உண்மை

தனியார் பள்ளிகளில் குறைந்த சம்பளம்; அதிக பொறுப்புகள்; இதனால் தேர்ச்சி சதவீதம் அதிகம். அரசுப் பள்ளிகளில் அதிக சம்பளம் பெறும் ஆசிரியர்களில் பலர், தங்கள் பொறுப்பை உணர்வதே இல்லை. இன்று கல்வித் தரம் வீழ்ச்சி அடைய, அர்ப்பணிப்பு உணர்வு இல்லாத ஆசிரியர்களே காரணம்.பள்ளியானாலும், கல்லூரியானாலும், ஆசிரியர்களுக்கு திறமைக்கேற்ப சம்பளம், ஊக்க ஊதியம் நிர்ணயிக்க வேண்டும். மதிப்பெண்ணை இலக்காக கொண்ட தேர்வு முறைகள் மாற்றப்பட வேண்டும். நல்ல பண்புகள் இல்லாத கல்வி, வாழ்க்கைக்கு உதவாது. கல்விக்கு ஒதுக்கப்படும் தொகையை செலவாக கருதாமல், முதலீடாக கருதி, உயர்கல்விக்கான பட்ஜெட் ஒதுக்கீட்டை அதிகரிக்க வேண்டும்.தமிழக பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளில் படித்து முடிக்கும் மொத்த மாணவர்களில், 15 சதவீதத்தினர் மட்டுமே வேலைக்கு தகுதியானவர்களாக உள்ளனர். இலவசங்களை அளிப்பதற்கு பதிலாக, கல்வி, மருத்துவ மையங்களின் உள்கட்டமைப்பு வசதிகளை மேம்படுத்தலாம்.வேலை தரும் நிறுவனங்களால் நிராகரிக்கப்படும், பி.இ., பட்டதாரிகள், தனியார் பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளில் குறைந்த சம்பளத்தில் ஆசிரியர்களாக சேரும் அவலம் உள்ளது.

                                                                                                                             இ.பாலகுருசாமி

 

Panel of experts finds credible reports of war crimes during Sri Lanka conflict – UN

A young girl and her mother at a displaced persons camp in Vavuniya, Sri Lanka (2009)

                                  The panel of experts set up to advise Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on accountability issues with respect to the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka has found credible reports of war crimes committed by both the Government and Tamil rebels and calls for genuine investigations into the allegations, according to a report made public today by the United Nations. The decision to release the report, which was submitted to the Secretary-General on 12 April and shared with the Sri Lankan Government, was made as a “matter of transparency and in the broader public interest,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement.
“The Secretary-General sincerely hopes that this advisory report will make a contribution to full accountability and justice so that the Sri Lankan Government and people will be able to proceed towards national reconciliation and peace,” the statement added.
Mr. Ban is carefully reviewing the report’s conclusions and recommendations, “including its disturbing assessment that a number of allegations of serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law committed by both the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka are credible, some of which would amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
Government forces declared victory over the rebel LTTE in May 2009 after a conflict that had raged on and off for nearly three decades and killed thousands of people. The conflict ended with large numbers of Sri Lankans living as internally displaced persons (IDPs), especially in the north of the island country.
The panel found credible allegations that comprise five core categories of potential serious violations committed by the Government in the final stages of the conflict, including killing of civilians through widespread shelling and the denial of humanitarian assistance.
The credible allegations concerning the LTTE comprise six core categories of potential serious violations, including using civilians as a human buffer and killing civilians attempting to flee LTTE control.
The panel’s first recommendation is that the Government of Sri Lanka should respond to the serious allegations by initiating an effective accountability process beginning with genuine investigations.
“The Secretary-General has consistently held the view that Sri Lanka should, first and foremost, assume responsibility for ensuring accountability for the alleged violations,” said the statement, adding that he encourages the Government to respond constructively to the recommendations made by the panel.
Mr. Ban has decided that he will respond positively to the panel’s recommendation for a review of the UN’s actions regarding the implementation of its humanitarian and protection mandates during the war in Sri Lanka – particularly in the last stages – and its aftermath. The modality of such a review will be determined after consultations with relevant agencies, funds and programmes.
“In regard to the recommendation that he establish an international investigation mechanism, the Secretary-General is advised that this will require host country consent or a decision from Member States through an appropriate intergovernmental forum,” the statement added.
The three-member panel of experts was set up following the Joint Statement made by Mr. Ban and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa after the Secretary-General visited the South Asian nation shortly after the end of the conflict.
The members of the panel were Marzuki Darusman of Indonesia (chair), Yasmin Sooka of South Africa and Steven Ratner of the United States. They began their work in September 2010.
Here is the full report
http://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/Sri_Lanka/POE_Report_Full.pdf