KERALA CRICKET FANS CHEER INDIA ICTORY

Kerala Cricket fans cheer India victory

              Delirious cricket fans here took to the streets Wednesday30th March, 2011, to celebrate India's victory over Pakistan in the cricket World Cup semifinal at Mohali Cricket buffs of all ages danced on the main roads, singing songs and celebrating the win Other cities like Kochi and Kozhikode, too, witnessed similar scenes  A number of fans here had painted their faces and waved the Indian flag. Fans also shouted slogans in support of the Men in Blue, especially Sachin Tendulkar 'Even though initially we felt that our score was not enough, things changed soon. When we saw that the ball was keeping low when India was bowling, we knew victory was near,' a cricket fan said here, dancing with a group of youngsters

Prof. John Kurakar

20,000 KERALA EMPLOYEES RETIRED

20,000 Kerala employees retired:

               At least 20,000 Kerala government employees retired Thursday, 31st, March, 2011, the last day of the financial year At least half of them are teachers, with 1,000 policemen and 260 doctors among others, an official of the finance department told IANS on condition of anonymity ‘The total amount to be paid in retirement benefits to these employees would be around Rs.700 crore. The coffers are full, so as and when the final bill is submitted, it would be paid,' said the official Finance Minister Thomas Isaac ruled out apprehensions that the large number of employees retiring will affect the functioning of the government ‘More than 50 percent of these vacancies have been filled up through supernumerary posts and things will not be affected at all,' said Isaac Earlier, the state government employees retired on the day they turned 55.     But the Left government changed the rules to allow them to continue till March 31 of the year speaking to IANS, a college professor said: 'It was a tough time to control emotions. Today we gave send offs to few teachers who were retiring. We had a small party, a meeting and each retiring teacher was escorted to their home by us. It is sad because 55 is not that old

Prof. John Kurakar

MOHALI MEETING

                                       MOHALI MEETING

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani arrive to watch the Indo-Pak cricket World Cup semifinal match in Mohali on Wednesday30th March, Pakistan on Thursday said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh that Kashmir and other longstanding issues have to be addressed “earnestly” and noted their meeting was a “win-win” event  “In short, Mohali was a win-win for the Pakistan-India process of engagement,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said, referring to yesterday’s meeting between Mr. Gilani and Dr. Singh during the thrilling semi-final match  Longstanding issues between India and Pakistan, including the Kashmir issue, have to be “addressed earnestly” by the two sides while they focus on stability and peace in the region, Mr. Gilani was quoted as saying by Ms. Janjua. “Of course, there are longstanding issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, that need to be addressed earnestly with a view to finding a solution that accords with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,

            Mr. Gilani told Dr. Singh.  In response to questions that the two leaders had not referred to the Kashmir issue during their public comments yesterday, Ms. Janjua said that “Kashmir was discussed in the context of bilateral relations Pakistan is looking at the “entire engagement in a positive manner” and the two premiers had provided an impetus to the process, she said  Ms. Januja said Pakistan looks forward to meaningful progress in the ongoing process “We do not under-estimate the difficulties but have faith and confidence in a bright future for the peoples of our region,” Ms. Janjua told a weekly news briefing “Constructive engagement is essential so that we move towards the goal of establishing good neighbourly and cooperative relations                             Prime Minister Gilani assured Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that indeed this was what the government and people of Pakistan desired,” Ms. Janjua saidPakistan and India, as two important states in South Asia, “must endeavour to take ownership for their affairs with a view to advancing the objectives of stability and peace in our region and fulfilling the aspirations of the people” of the region, the premier saidMr. Gilani also stressed that Pakistan wants to “move towards a comprehensive and broad—ranging engagement with India on the basis of equality, mutual trust, mutual interest  and mutual respect

Ref:" The Hindu" 

Prof. John Kurakar

INDIA'S LITERACY LEVEL

                                                  INDIA'S LITERACY LEVEL              

India's literacy level is 74 percent.  It has increased by 9.21 per cent in the past 10 years to reach 74.04 per cent, according to provisional data of the 2011 census released here Thursday, March 31,2011According to the data, literates constitute 74 per cent of the total population aged seven and above and illiterates form 26 per cent The literacy rate went up from 64.83 per cent in 2001 to 74.04 per cent in 2011 showing an increase of 9.21 per cent. Interestingly, females literacy level saw a significant jump as compared to males between 2001-2011  While female literacy in 2001 stood at 53.67 per cent, it has gone up to 65.46 per cent in 2011.           The male literacy in comparison rose from 75.26 to 82.14 per centKerala with 93.91 per cent continues to occupy the top position among states in the field of literacy while Mizoram's Serchhip (98.76 per cent) and Aizawl (98.50 per cent) recorded highest literacy rates among districts Lakshadweep followed Kerala with a literacy level of 92.28 per cent, while Bihar remained at the bottom of the ladder with a literacy rate of 63.82 per cent followed by Arunachal Pradesh at 66.95 per cent. Ten states and UTs viz  Kerala, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Tripura, Goa, Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Chandigarh, NCT of Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar Islands achieved literacy rate of above 85 per cent, the target set by the Planning Commission to be achieved by 2011-12The gap of 21.59 percentage points recorded between male and female literacy rates in 2001 census has reduced to 16.68 percentage points in 2011. Planning Commission has set up target of reducing this gap to 10 percentage points by 2011-12  (from  Manorama)  Prof. John Kurakar

POLIO MAY BE ERADICATED FROM INDIA IN TWO-THREE YEARS

Polio may be eradicated from India

In two-three years

       The crippling polio disease may be eradicated from India within the next two-three years, billionaire-philanthropist Bill Gates said Thursday, 25^th, March, 2011. 'India has made substantial progress towards polio eradication, and the virus should be eradicated within two to three years,' Gates said at a media interaction here.  'In my next two-to-three visits, polio will be done. I am here within less than a year,' the Microsoft co-founder said.

          He said that the focus of his philanthropic Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was on the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, because these states witnessed the maximum number of fresh polio cases in the country.

             Prof. John Kurakar

"MAHATMA GANDHI AND HIS STRUGGLES WITH INDIA"- A CONTROVERSIAL BOOK

Controversial book on Gandhi

    The Maharashtra government Tuesday, 30th, March, 2011, indicated that it would take steps to ban 'Great Soul -   Mahatma Gandhi and his Struggles with India', penned by Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Joseph Lelyveld.  The book, authored by a former executive editor of the New York Times, reportedly has certain objectionable references to Gandhi and portrays the Father of the Nation in a poor light.  Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said he has already spoken to the central government on the issue.  When the issue figured in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Industries Minister Narayan Rane said: 'The government will initiate steps to ensure that the book is not published in the state.'

'              Gandhiji was a respected leader and is known as the Father of the Nation. He led the freedom movement of India,' Rane pointed out, saying the state government would write to the central government seeking a ban on its publication here. Condemning the book, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Manikrao Thakre said it has maligned the image of Mahatma Gandhi.   'This is very serious matter that the author of the book has raised questions about the character of Gandhiji who initiated the non-violence movement. I condemn the book and it should not be made available,' Thakre said.   Council chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh said that the government should enquire into the matter in detail and take appropriate action.

Prof. John Kurakar

ADIVASI MAHASABHA

                                           
                                                            ADIVASI MAHASABHA
  The All India Adivasi Mahasabha, on the first day of its three-day long conference at New Delhi Talkotora Indoor stadium on Monday 28th March,2011. The conference stressed the need to unite the diverse tribal communities from across the country to gain a voice in Delhi, as a starting point to controlling their own destinies- and their land, water and forests.
  In his speech, Meghalaya Governor R.S Mossahary told delegates " Let us unite all tribal groups so that we can compete-this is a competitive world" calling on the creamy layer in the tribal community to understand the aspirations of those less fortunate, he asked them to help fight poverty and illiteracy.
   He said poor administration and corruption in parts of the country had created Maoists, he said" you may be fighting for a good cause but you cannot get any where by killing innocents.Ina democracy, the solutions must come from the peaceful exercise of people's power look at the example of egypt. Referring to the Indian constitution, he said" The Indian constitution is a flexible document-short of independence you can get virtually any thing.
   The conference will focus on issues related to land laws and land alienation, development induced displacement, forest and encroachment and eviction, extremism in Adivasi area, poverty and migration among others. It also plans to look at the different laws enacted in the country for the welfare of the tribal' s and decide how to take advantage of laws such as the Right to information's.

                                 Prof. John Kurakar

CRICKET DIPLOMACY

                                                            CRICKET DIPLOMACY

 Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani's acceptance of Prime Minister Manmohan singh's invitation to attend the World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan in Mohali on Wednesday, 30th March,2011 is welcome. The leaders of both countries should maintain an equilibrium in bilateral relations so that peace and harmony can gradually replace hatred and mistrust.
   Cricket is a force that can truly unite the two countries.Islamabad's decision to pardon Gopal Dass languishing in a Pakistani prison for 27 years, is another positive step. Both nations should feel proud of the fact that they made it to the semi finals ,beating the so-called giants in world cricket.
   What ever happens on the cricket field on Wednesday, there can be no  denying the feel-good factor Dr singh's invitation and the Pakistan presidents reciprocal gesture of pardoning a long in carcerated  Indian prisoner to have caught on the spirit,creating a' Together We shall win 'link that is already celebrating the subcontinent's half a chance at winniing the cup and deciding to cheer together irrespective of which team goes on to Mumbai for the final. Prime Minister Manmohan singh's invitation to his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani, to  which the world cup semi final cricket match at Mohali refelcted India's holistic approach towards friendly relations with Pakistan and it do not mean that India was making any compromise on the issue of terrorism.   India had always been desirous of friendly relations with Pakistan

Prof. John Kurakar

CASE AGAINST P. JAYARAJAN

Case against P Jayarajan

For manhandling Asianet reporter

       Shahjahan, the reporter of Asianet, was on Monday,28^th,March,2011, assaulted by some CPI (M) activists led by MLA P. Jayarajan. The activists assaulted Shahjahan just after the shooting of the political programme named 'Porkkalam', in which he was the anchor, was completed. Shahjahan is the Kozhikode bureau chief of Asianet.   The town police also registered case against CPM district secretary P Jayarajan and 30 LDF activists.   Shajahan said that later P.Jayarajan threatened him over the phone. Meanwhile Jayarajan denied the charge and accused the journalist of taking a partisan stand during the show. Kerala Union of Working Journalists district president Dinakaran Kombilath and secretary OV Mohan Raj registered protest.

(from Mathrubhoomi news)

 Prof. John Kurakar

TIGER POPULATION

                                                                 TIGER POPULATION

    Tiger population in the Kerala state has been found' stable' over the last five years, the Tiger estimate 2010 released on Monday 28th March,2011.
 At the same time, the tiger population in the western Ghats land scape complex had gone up by 122, taking the total to 534 tigers. The upper limit of the tiger population in the Ghats region had been estimated as 568 and the lower limit as 500.
   The population estimation held in 2006 had assessed the number of tiger estimation was carried out by the National Tiger conservation Authority with the support of independent technical experts and institutions in all the tiger reserve states using scientific techniques. The exercise was carried out between December 2009 and December2010.  The 39 reserves in the country, two- the Periyar Tiger Reserve and Parambikulam Reserve-are located in the state. The Report stated that the population trend of tigers in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had increased. The report clubbed Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the western ghats landscape complex for evaluation. The Camera traps yielded photographs of 550 individual tigers. The estimation saw 800 Camera traps being used in the entire exercise covering a total area camera of 10,500 sq km.  Wild life officials in the state said the tiger population in the Periyar reserve was between 35 and 40. In the case of the Parambikulam reserve, the population was estimated to be eight. The Kerala side of the Parambikulam land scape was home to around 20 tigers, senior forest officials said.
    Tiger estimation is done once in four years. Camera trapping was the primary method used for the tiger count, besides the primary data generated by primary patrolling units and analysis of habitat status of tiger forests using satellite data. Tigers were identified from photographs based on their unique stripe patterns and the information was analysis using a scientific frame work. In the Periyar reserve, 20 pairs of digital cameras were placed at 80 locations frequented by tigers. The park mangers of Parambikulam also engaged 20 pairs of cameras to photographs the animals

                                                      Prof. John Kurakar

WIKI PEDIA CELEBRATING 10TH ANNIVERSARY

                             WIKIPEDIA CELEBRATING 10TH ANNIVERSARY

 Wikipedia is written by mostly anonymous internet volunteers who contribute with out pay. Created in 2001, Wikipedia has grown quickly and is to day one of the largest reference websites, with almost 78 million visitors a month. Every day people from all over the world contribute by editing and creating new articles to augment the knowledge held by Wikipedia encyclopaedia.
  Ten years ago Jimmy Wales had an idea of an encyclopaedia on the web. Today Wikipedia have got millions of articles in hundreds of languages. These days about 400 million people a month visit the website.
 Wikipedia is not counted with Wiki Leaks. The project started with the English-Language Wikipedia on January  15,2001, and then by a French edition. Other language followed. Based on information in January 2011, there are 278 language editions of Wikipedia, which together have more than 17 million articles.
   Wikipedia is a multilingual, web based,free-content encyclopaedia project' with its name derived from the word combination of Wiki. Wiki- meaning quick'
    In 2000, Jimmy Wales, founder of Nupedia, and Larry sangar, were thinking of ways to expand Nupedia. After much thought about allowing members of the public to make contributions, the idea of a Wikipedia' was born.It was launched on January 15,2001- which ,for many users. is also called, Wikipedia Day" The Wikimedia foundation,now based in San Francisco was also launched as the parent organisations.
     From May 2001 onwards, a number of multilingual Wikipedia were also launched in Arbia, Chinese, Dutch, Esperanto, French, German,Hebrew,Italian,Japanese,Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish etc.  It is estimated that Wikipedia now gets 78 million visitors every month. there are more than 91,000 active contributors working on more than 17,000,000 articles in more than 270 languages. There are also nearly 3,565,990 articles in English.

                                                                                                                           Prof. John Kurakar

RHINO POPULATION IN AFRICA

Rhino populations in Africa

                   Rhino populations in Africa are facing the "worst poaching crisis for decades," say conservationists.  Over the past three years, gangs are said to have killed more than 800 rhinos for their horns, which can fetch £22,000 per kilo on the black market.  Experts fear the rise in poaching could undermine recent efforts to stabilise black and white rhino populations. They called for greater co-operation between conservationists and law enforcement agencies.

           "Although good biological management and anti-poaching efforts have led to modest population gains for both species of African rhino, we are still very concerned," said Richard Emslie, a scientific officer for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Dr Emslie, a member of the IUCN's Species Survival Commission's (SSC) African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG), said the main threat was from the "increasing involvement of organised criminal poaching networks".  "Unless the rapid escalation in poaching in recent years can be halted, continental rhino numbers could once again start to decline," he warned.

            The Critically Endangered black rhino (Diceros bicornis), which is made up of four sub-species, currently has a population of 4,840 (up from 4,240 in 2007) spread across southern African nations.  The two sub-species of white rhino (Ceratotherium simum), which has a similar distribution as the black rhino, has a population in the region of 20,000 (up from 17,500 in 2007). Despite the high numbers, the white rhino is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. This is a direct result of the high level of poaching, especially in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.It is estimated that 333 rhinos were killed in South Africa alone last year, with a further 70 being shot dead so far this year.  Conservationists suspect that most of the illegally harvested rhino horn are destined for the traditional medicine markets of South-East Asia, and the growing demand and high prices are fuelling the sharp rise in poaching.

                They called for greater co-operation between the various parties involved in projecting the large mammals, including wildlife investigators and law enforcement agencies. Some initiatives, such as the establishment of a National Wildlife Crime Reduction Unit in South Africa, are bearing fruit in the shape of more arrests. But IUCN SSC chairman Simon Stuart said it was important for wildlife agencies to work closely with private and community [land owners].  "In South Africa, a large number of rhinos live on private land," Dr Stuart observed."Rhino management, including control of rhino horn stockpiles and security, needs to be improved and co-ordinated among rhino holders. "This is essential if we are going to face the poaching crisis [head-on]."

Prof. John Kurakar

MEDICAL CARE TO ELDER PEOPLE

                              FREE MEDICAL CARE TO ELDER PEOPLE                                    
                                           (Vayomithram to get 24 -hour helpline)

Accessing healthcare and hospitals is one of the major problem faced by the elderly people. Despite the availability of free health care, the elderly often find it difficult to get to the hospital because of  limited mobility and lack of support systems.
  A scheme to provide medical care to the elderly at the door step, started off by the government a month ago, has thus emerged as a major relief to their homes or who do not have any body to take them to the hospital.
  " Vayomithram, a project of Kerala social security Mission, intends to reach medical care to those above 65 years of age through a 24- hour help line. The project which is being implemented in all corporations and select Municipalities in the state, has been generating good response in the city.


  " The project has three components.One is the setting up of a 24 hour help desk and toll-free help line, which the elderly can call if they require some emergency medical need. The other two components are palliative care home visits and setting up of mobile health clinics".
   The palliative care home visits and mobile health clinics on pre-fixed days and as per pre-fixed routes are going on well. The toll free phone line and the 24-hour help desk is in the process of being set up, inside the city corporation office itself. An ambulance has also been  readied, which will be made available in case any elderly patient requires to be taken to the hospital.
  The NHRM has deployed junior public Health Nurses(JPHNs) with in the corporation area, who with the help of Accredited social Health Activists are been engaged in a survey of the elderly above 65 years in corporation area.



                                                                                                        Prof. John Kurakar

INVEST IN SOCIAL SECTORS- PRIME MINISTER

Invest in social sectors

        Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday,27^th,March,2011, urged Indian industry to invest in social sectors, pointing out there were many business opportunities in keeping a billion Indians well fed, healthy and educated and providing them employment would create one of the world's largest consumer markets.  Delivering the convocation address at the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad, he said there were a number of areas in which industry can work on its own and in partnership with government to advance societal value in its own long-term interest. 'There is much that industry can do both through increased direct investment in education, health, skill development and rural and urban sanitation through corporate social responsibility programmes,' he said.

       'The pace of reform in India will depend on how far our policies meet the test of democratic consensus and take into account the vulnerabilities of different sections of our population. Companies undertaking greenfield projects cannot see their factories and units as oases, cut off from the needs and interests of the community around them. We need to work out more effective mechanisms and principles for the use of land and other resources that reconcile different interests,' he said. He said that 2011 marked the twentieth anniversary of the launch of economic reforms in India. 'I had the privilege of addressing the institute's convocation in 1994 in the early days of our reform process. The path was new; the challenges were formidable; the outcomes were uncertain. But our resolve was strong and our goals were clear,' he said.

          The prime minister said that the economic reforms of 1991 were aimed at unleashing the animal spirits of Indian enterprise and the well-springs of Indian creativity.  'Today, the success of the reforms is evident. We have long since left behind the era of modest savings, low investment and low growth. India is today among the world's fastest growing economies. Our savings and investment rates give us confidence that we can, with prudent policies and sound economic management, achieve sustained double-digit growth,' he added.   Expressing satisfaction at India's resilience to external economic shocks, he said that India was among the best performing economies during the recent economic crisis.  'Our foreign exchange reserves are substantial. Our industry and services sectors have modernized and diversified in an unprecedented manner. We are emerging as a global centre for information technology, research, development and innovation. India has gradually become one of the most preferred global destinations for foreign investors,' he added.

           The prime minister underlined that India's global competitiveness will depend on continued ability to produce top quality manpower at all levels of the knowledge pyramid in adequate numbers. 'The needs are enormous and the government will do its part to facilitate investment in these areas,' he added.

(From Manorma news)

Prof. John Kurakar