Public Distribution System and Corruption
Corruption in the PDS Can't Be Stopped
A recent news article by the Times of India (Feb 15, 2011) reported that 57% of the population in India still live below the poverty line. Members of the legislative assembley are prepared to make corruption of the PSD a "top priorty".
Two days later (Feb 17, 2011) the Times of India reported that corruption in the PDS was "inevitable" and that "nobody could run a PDS shop profitably if he was honest,"
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/25/india-pakistan-talks-terrorism
This link is to a very recent article about India/Pakistani talks on terrorism. It would appear however that both sides have entrenched themselves quite fiercely and have not been able to concede or reach across the isle, even on some overlapping issues. India blames Pakistan for quietly abetting terrorist attacks geared against India, and doing little to prosecute/investigate the Mumbai attacks. On the other hand Pakistan blames India for supporting Afghani militants pouring into Pakistan, and threatening to disrupt and destabilize Pakistan.
It is sad to see these types of talks reach the same inconclusive results. It slows down any potential progress that can be made between the two states and solidifies negative preconceptions which each state has against the other.
This link is to a very recent article about India/Pakistani talks on terrorism. It would appear however that both sides have entrenched themselves quite fiercely and have not been able to concede or reach across the isle, even on some overlapping issues. India blames Pakistan for quietly abetting terrorist attacks geared against India, and doing little to prosecute/investigate the Mumbai attacks. On the other hand Pakistan blames India for supporting Afghani militants pouring into Pakistan, and threatening to disrupt and destabilize Pakistan.
It is sad to see these types of talks reach the same inconclusive results. It slows down any potential progress that can be made between the two states and solidifies negative preconceptions which each state has against the other.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
"Pakistan has created the Frankenstein. They will have to deal with it. The sickness is there. They have to cure it. They have to root out this evil"
Nirupama Rao blames Pak for failing to curb terror
Here, in this article from the Times of India, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao was reported to have rehashed the events of the Mumbai attacks in 2008 ahead of a scheduled meeting of foreign service officers between the two countries. While she laid blame on Pakistan, she did include an anecdote that notably dismissed the notion that Pakistani citizens were to blame. However, her rhetoric and train of thought made me think about the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, when it emerged that most of the attackers had been Saudi Arabian. With Saudi Arabia being a 'friendly' nation in the eyes of the U.S., no blame was placed on the government and little mentioning of the nationalities of the hijackers took place after that. Here, the Foreign Secretary blatantly waves citizenship in the face of the media, as if by identifying those guilty of the heinous crime as Pakistani passport holders would somehow further legitimize her case.
Here, in this article from the Times of India, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao was reported to have rehashed the events of the Mumbai attacks in 2008 ahead of a scheduled meeting of foreign service officers between the two countries. While she laid blame on Pakistan, she did include an anecdote that notably dismissed the notion that Pakistani citizens were to blame. However, her rhetoric and train of thought made me think about the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, when it emerged that most of the attackers had been Saudi Arabian. With Saudi Arabia being a 'friendly' nation in the eyes of the U.S., no blame was placed on the government and little mentioning of the nationalities of the hijackers took place after that. Here, the Foreign Secretary blatantly waves citizenship in the face of the media, as if by identifying those guilty of the heinous crime as Pakistani passport holders would somehow further legitimize her case.
Food Security in India
A video I found that shows that no matter how India trumpets itself or is modeled in the international community as being sufficient in food production, the problem remains more complex. Food production, coupled with poverty and unemployment create the greater problem of malnutrition, and Indian self sufficiency alone will not put a stop to it.
"...the growth in the number of middle class households will translate into huge demand for the products such as cars, televisions, computers, air-conditioners, microwave ovens and credit cards, he added."
India's middle class population to touch 267 million in 5 yrs
This article I found interesting in regards to India's exponential growth and expanding consumer base. With this expanding base, one will expect to see India needing an impressive amount of raw material to keep this middle-class satisfied. Food security is not explicitly spelled out in the article, however, I find it implied in that India cannot simply sustain such growth without either making large-scale changes in its food production supply chain, or increasing its imports from other countries.
This article I found interesting in regards to India's exponential growth and expanding consumer base. With this expanding base, one will expect to see India needing an impressive amount of raw material to keep this middle-class satisfied. Food security is not explicitly spelled out in the article, however, I find it implied in that India cannot simply sustain such growth without either making large-scale changes in its food production supply chain, or increasing its imports from other countries.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Interesting potential solution for India's Irrigation
http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1655933
The link here takes you to an interesting pdf that talks about an interesting innovation in irrigation technology that some of India's farmers have started implimenting. Many of the standing irrigation systems in India require electricity to operate. Currently there have been shortages in electcity which has led to some disgruntled farmers who have been unable to irrigate their fields owing to the inability for these systems to operate. Times when electricity is available has become erratic and farmers have to remain idle until electricity is diverted to irrigation systems, enabling the farmers to complete their work.
One potential solution may lie in mobile phone technology, something that India has been able to harness quite well. Using their cell phones, Indian farmers are able to send an SMS (text message) to the electric company, and receive details as to times when electricity will be available, allowing farmers to be more effective in their use of time and increase output.
The link here takes you to an interesting pdf that talks about an interesting innovation in irrigation technology that some of India's farmers have started implimenting. Many of the standing irrigation systems in India require electricity to operate. Currently there have been shortages in electcity which has led to some disgruntled farmers who have been unable to irrigate their fields owing to the inability for these systems to operate. Times when electricity is available has become erratic and farmers have to remain idle until electricity is diverted to irrigation systems, enabling the farmers to complete their work.
One potential solution may lie in mobile phone technology, something that India has been able to harness quite well. Using their cell phones, Indian farmers are able to send an SMS (text message) to the electric company, and receive details as to times when electricity will be available, allowing farmers to be more effective in their use of time and increase output.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
India's Water Crisis
The Economist reports how years of destructive farming practices threaten the gains of Punjab's green revolution.
Pakistan, India agree to resume peace talks
Pakistan, India agree to resume peace talks (dawn)
Here is an article from the pakistani news webpage dawn, about the meeting between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan in Buthan.
I thought it would be interesting to read about the issue from a pakistani perspective as well.
Here is an article from the pakistani news webpage dawn, about the meeting between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan in Buthan.
I thought it would be interesting to read about the issue from a pakistani perspective as well.
Videographic: India, Pakistan and Kashmir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rmUiLwy7kI
A Videographic by The Economist Magazine helps to clearly describe a brief history of the Kashmir conflict and better understanding of Pakistan-India relations today.
A Videographic by The Economist Magazine helps to clearly describe a brief history of the Kashmir conflict and better understanding of Pakistan-India relations today.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Valentine's Day has replaced more traditional celebrations of love in India
India's fascination with Valentine's Day (BBC)
Here's an article on the BBC on how traditional Indian expressions of love is changing towards a more Western approach.
Here's an article on the BBC on how traditional Indian expressions of love is changing towards a more Western approach.
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