An interesting article about a successful implementation of Biometrics technology to ensure accountability in the implementation of the recent National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in a mandal in Andhra Pradesh. It's refreshing to see a layer of bureaucratic corruption being eliminated which usually is where most government subsidized funds seem to disappear. Not that this is not going to introduce more sophisticated ways of corruption, but as long as the bad have to work just as hard as the good to earn, it can be considered positive change. Cheers to Technology!
http://www.theotherindia.org/rural/technology-can-save-nrega.html
Friday, July 07, 2006
Saturday, June 03, 2006
A new definition for "Middle Class"
An article I read was asking about what the term "Middle Class" means. I always thought I was middle class. I've never had to worry about basic necessities at home or elsewhere. So I must not be poor. I always thought the rich owned vast amounts of property or successful big businesses. I'm not rich either. By elimination, I'm middle class. Not too far away from Wikipedia's definition perhaps.
Based on purely income levels, the above article argues that I might belong to the Rich category. Although the given statistics could be wrong / under-representative, it still shows a strong possibility that my perception of middle class could be unsound.
A New Definition: Then there is Vinod Mehta's article (Eyes, Ears and Minds Closed, Outlookindia.com), a well-respected journalist in certain circles, who bashes middle class folks for taking an anti-reservation stand (although he claims he does not necessarily support Arjun Singh or the new reservation bill). According to him, if you have ever felt that you were surpassed by someone less deserving during your educational aspirations, or if you felt the government's schemes in helping the poor or discriminated only enriched the rich and powerful and victimized you, then you must be middle class. Is this true? That would definitely make me middle class.
Then we have the middle class defender who argues that the middle class practically did not even exist during the days of "garibi being hatofied". Beyond IMF's regulations about the money spent, the government failed to show any interest or real results in empowering the poor. The relatively little effect it had created the middle class. And who is paying for the tax-funded government schemes now? Neither the super-rich or the rural rich. So another definition is: If you are paying taxes in India, then you are middle class. (Yet another definition according to him: If you voted against a political party in power because the onion prices have risen, then you are middle class).
Which is true?
Based on purely income levels, the above article argues that I might belong to the Rich category. Although the given statistics could be wrong / under-representative, it still shows a strong possibility that my perception of middle class could be unsound.
A New Definition: Then there is Vinod Mehta's article (Eyes, Ears and Minds Closed, Outlookindia.com), a well-respected journalist in certain circles, who bashes middle class folks for taking an anti-reservation stand (although he claims he does not necessarily support Arjun Singh or the new reservation bill). According to him, if you have ever felt that you were surpassed by someone less deserving during your educational aspirations, or if you felt the government's schemes in helping the poor or discriminated only enriched the rich and powerful and victimized you, then you must be middle class. Is this true? That would definitely make me middle class.
Then we have the middle class defender who argues that the middle class practically did not even exist during the days of "garibi being hatofied". Beyond IMF's regulations about the money spent, the government failed to show any interest or real results in empowering the poor. The relatively little effect it had created the middle class. And who is paying for the tax-funded government schemes now? Neither the super-rich or the rural rich. So another definition is: If you are paying taxes in India, then you are middle class. (Yet another definition according to him: If you voted against a political party in power because the onion prices have risen, then you are middle class).
Which is true?
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Water Crisis Around The World
When the whole world is focusing on the rising gas prices and the West is competing with Asian markets for energy, the water problem continues to grow, and gets little attention.
Salon.com has an interview with Diane Raines Ward, author of Water Wars. Ward talks about how the situation in countries that have water is worsening with depleting resources of clean water and those that don't have enough are having the worst droughts ever. The problem has already hit various parts of US, and conflicts over water have entered the realms of bizarre, when Clouds have become a matter of contention.
On the other hand, instead of providing sustainable infrastructure of public water supply to meet the growing need of water in developing countries, privatization of water is steadily growing and becoming a huge for-profit interest. Bottled water sales in the US continue to increase despite having an alternative cheaper source of clean drinking supply through public water supplies. The Mexico World Water Forum 2006 raised concerns about how water companies and other organizations having an interest met together to enhance water supply around the world, but were really looking for more opportunities to expand water markets in developing countries. (Source: Political Affairs Magazine) Water privatization can be detrimental to any developing country's economy whose citizens don't have an alternate means to water, and any incentives to provide such by its government might be thwarted by the interests of bottled water companies.
What's in store for water in future? Water wars of course ...
Salon.com has an interview with Diane Raines Ward, author of Water Wars. Ward talks about how the situation in countries that have water is worsening with depleting resources of clean water and those that don't have enough are having the worst droughts ever. The problem has already hit various parts of US, and conflicts over water have entered the realms of bizarre, when Clouds have become a matter of contention.
On the other hand, instead of providing sustainable infrastructure of public water supply to meet the growing need of water in developing countries, privatization of water is steadily growing and becoming a huge for-profit interest. Bottled water sales in the US continue to increase despite having an alternative cheaper source of clean drinking supply through public water supplies. The Mexico World Water Forum 2006 raised concerns about how water companies and other organizations having an interest met together to enhance water supply around the world, but were really looking for more opportunities to expand water markets in developing countries. (Source: Political Affairs Magazine) Water privatization can be detrimental to any developing country's economy whose citizens don't have an alternate means to water, and any incentives to provide such by its government might be thwarted by the interests of bottled water companies.
What's in store for water in future? Water wars of course ...
Friday, May 26, 2006
Pro-Reservations - more views ...
Here are some interesting views of a Pro-Reservation blogger ...
My Stand on Reservations I
My Stand on Reservations II
My Stand on Reservations III
My Stand on Reservations I
My Stand on Reservations II
My Stand on Reservations III
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Reservations - Government's Only Answer to Helping Disadvantaged Groups?
We have probably come across many news articles about how various organizations are opposing the government's suggestions for certain reservation changes for Dalits, OBCs and other castes. The Reservation Debate is on top of everyone's mind (or at least in the blogs I frequent). Some good places to read some of the differing opinions ...
Does anyone have opinions that they feel strongly about?
Rajat Dua wrote:
>http://yfemumbai.blogspot.com/
>
>Does anyone know how true are the claims of police
>attacking peaceful protestors? If so, is this
>something AID should be getting involved with?
- Debates include the original intention of Reservations and how things need to be different for India as opposed to US style Affirmative Action. But plenty of people abuse the system since 52% of the population are considered OBCs making up a total of 88% of reserved classes leaving only 12% of Forward Class Hindus. The problem is not as much that the open category has become the real victim today, but that absolutely successful second and third generation kids include themselves to take advantage of Reservations in academia or elsewhere, while the really inopportune in dire need miss out. So many people oppose any further revision to Reservation quotas before revising the communities included in the OBC list. So basically the original intention of mixing all castes to rid of the caste system is not so much working out and it now needs to include some clauses about poverty-based or merit-based reservations.
- Some think that something is better than nothing. Although the government keeps using Reservations as a primary campaign to improve conditions for backward classes, many (including me) agree that it's not enough to help them in the first place, and can be counter-productive if not careful. Any intervention on the part of the government to level the playing field for backward classes must also focus on primary education, health clinics, abuse support groups, awareness campaigns, financial help and plenty of other measures that the government can focus on. In my opinion, disadvanteged groups are in much more need of help in basic survival and getting their child up to a higher learning institute (or a private sector job), than they are facing lack of opportunities in them.
- Of course there are positive outcomes from Reservations in all these years. Success stories from reservation based opportunities are plenty. If not all, many successful groups have taken an interest in helping their "kind" come out and into the modern era and seek the pleasures of middle or higher class income groups enjoy. This is the positive result Reservations expected to see and it is actually happening.
- Students protesting introducing reservations in higher education institutions and private sector claim that the Mandal commission's figures are not current, that the numbers are close to 30% today than what the commission's figure claim as 50% since 1931. They want research data before further changes, but government wants to have none of it.
- Some argue that we should continue to have Reservations, but what about merit-based ones? What merit? Does it really exist?
Does anyone have opinions that they feel strongly about?
Rajat Dua wrote:
>http://yfemumbai.blogspot.com/
>
>Does anyone know how true are the claims of police
>attacking peaceful protestors? If so, is this
>something AID should be getting involved with?
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
About This Blog
This AID Atlanta Blog is an attempt by the volunteers of the Atlanta Chapter of AID (Association for India's Development) to raise social awareness on issues related to India, discuss sustainable development efforts of AID and other campaigns.
Your comments and thoughts are appreciated and welcomed.
Thank You.
Your comments and thoughts are appreciated and welcomed.
Thank You.
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