Green projects with red results

By Pandurang Hegde
23 May 2011


Mini hydel projects, initially considered by environmentalists as green alternatives for power generation, have become threat to fragile ecosystems. The lure of high returns on investment, in addition to various incentives, created a mad rush among private players leading to destruction of natural forests.

The growth of economy as well as maintaining high GDP growth rate is directly linked to the availability of power. So, successive governments give a push to increase power production.

read more @ http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=1621

The mission unholy

Rina Mukherji
18 May 2011

India has been under attack for more than a millennium. The wicked attempts to destroy its civilization and denigrate the beliefs of the natives continue unabated despite the nation achieving political independence from the Europeans after the painful partition.

For decades, texts and tomes published in the West have been bombarding us with theories that India is primarily made up of distinct ‘Aryan’ and ‘Dravidian’ racial strains, with the ‘tribals’ and ‘dalits’ comprising the other distinct groups.

read more @: http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=1617

We need new system, not laws!

By Kuldeep Ratnoo
06 May 2011

To remove corruption, we need to change the alien system of governance which encourages exploitation of public resources for personal benefits. A new law wouldn't make a big difference unless power is decentralised up to the panchayat level.
In our country, where everything, be it a degree to conduct surgery or fly airplanes, or scientific approval to sell deadly technologies, can be ‘ensured’ for a price, it appears that most ‘aspiring and ambitious’ persons have accepted corruption as a ‘necessary evil’. As success is measured in terms of money earned by a person, corruption has become the highway to ‘growth’ and a ‘better life’. Those, who voluntarily opt to miss the immoral flight to ‘higher levels’, get ridiculed, marginalised and pitied by one and all, including their near and dear ones.

read more @: http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=1601

More frightened than their corrupt masters

By Kuldeep Ratnoo
27 Apr 2011

The mass mobilisation across the nation against corruption has terrified the so-called intellectuals who fear rising influence of people over policy making process would be detrimental to their authority and appeal.
Most people in India were stunned by the huge public support that Anna Hazare led campaign against corruption received. But many more were startled to read and hear disapproval of this mass awakening against corruption, and denunciation of the people behind it by the so-called ‘intellectuals and prominent persons of the civil society’.

read more @: http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=1593

Cities too need 'nirmal' push

By Rina Mukherji

India's success in rural sanitation has to be replicated at the urban level, as the rising migration to cities is leading to serious sanitation and health problems.
India spends crores on flyovers, fancy stadia and intelligent buildings to construct world-class cities. Urban slums and the poor are sought to be removed because they make our cities ugly. But are shanty towns in themselves ugly? Aren’t the unhygienic open drains, human and animal waste that actually make them so?

read more @: http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=1587

Public perpetuates corruption

By Samir Nazareth
13 Apr 2011

Any movement against corruption will not yield results if the citizens refuse to accept their responsibility to oppose it in their daily life. People must realise that if they don't want to sacrifice their personal interests to fight corruption, no law will be effective in curbing it.
t was interesting to see how the so called 'second freedom movement' drew a kaleidescope of people to it. Almost every big city has had a demonstration against corruption and in support of Anna Hazare. Everyone wanted to convert a dream into reality.
read more @: http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=1576

Not willing to learn

By Pandurang Hegde

Are our nuclear power obsessed politicians, industrialists and scientists willing to learn from the crisis in Japan? Or they need more disasters like Fukushima to realize their folly?

read more @: http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=1571