KUDANKULAM - ASSUAGING THE AGITATORS - WHAT ASSURANCE IS NEEDED BY THEM? - LOCATING FUTURE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

KUDANKULAM

ASSUAGING THE AGITATORS 

LOCATING FUTURE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

KUDANKULAM power Plant is being declared as SAFE by all those People who never conducted a test on its Safety. This seems to be the main problem at Kudankulam.

There are safety standards – and precautionary measures - that have been prescribed before the Plant can be operationalised; before feeding the nuclear material into the Power plant for production of Power.

A duly empowered TEAM OF SCIENTISTS  must therefore inspect the POWER PLANT, check whether all these safety measures have been duly carried out and DECLARE OPENLY to all members of PUBLIC,  that – YES, ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS PRESCRIBED HAVE BEEN DULY CARRIED OUT. We have checked the Plant thoroughly, satisfied ourselves – and declare so.

This sort of declaration from the SAFETY checking Scientists Team is what is really and reasonably required – to alleviate Public Fears and apprehensions. No amount of assurances and statements from Politicians can be a substitute for this. The credibility of Politicians’ statements – in the minds of General Public is not that Great, right now – what with all the scams, each outclassing the previous ones.

It is not that- the agitators will be totally satisfied with the statements of the Scientists Team. But, it will be a Big step forward, and perhaps, the MINIMUM ASSURANCE needed, in convincing the agitating Public.

After what has happened in Japan, there is bound to be skepticism in living by the side of a Nuclear Power Plant. Governments must understand that.

Even in simpler matters like Telecom Towers and Cell Phones, Government takes TOO LONG in revising safety Norms. Many Drugs which are banned in many other countries – are still legal here. Our only excuse may perhaps be – that our Neighbours have not banned them! Why can’t we aim for EXCELLENCE in each sphere?

As far as Nuclear Power Plants. are concerned – these will be in Public sector. While this is good - how skills and discipline of the TOP MOST ORDER will be maintained in the Nuclear Power Plants, given their penchant for maintaining certain minimum competency levels, could be a matter of concern for the agitators. So, every effort must be made to make the Plant REALLY, REALLY SAFE and tell the Public – from a knowledgeable, authoritative scientific Team – that, they have carried out all prescribed tests and ensured that the Plant Management has taken all prescribed safety precautions. This demand of the Agitators seems to be well founded - and Government must concede that much.

After Kudankulam, what? Do we really need Nuclear Power Plants? And, how many? 

If Government has more proposals for such Plants, it is essential that such Plants are established in places which are reasonably far away from Populated areas. Government can think of forests, deserts and such isolated areas – for establishing Nuclear Power Plants. At the least, this type of less populated locations will avoid the PUBLIC FEAR and protests that we are witnessing at Kudankulam.

In the mean time – the public Protests at Kudankulam must be handled with greater imagination and understanding of the deep fear in the minds of the villagers.

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JAL SATYAGRAHA - JAI HO ! - ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE SATYAGRAHA - GANDHIJI LIVES ON IN MANY HEARTS STILL!

JAL  SATYAGRAHA

Jai ho !

The Jal Satyagraha by the villagers of Ghogalgaon village in Khandwa district (MP) is Unique in many senses.

1.    51 Villagers – who are actually affected by the raising of water level in the Omkarehswar dam on the Narmada River – stood in Neck-deep waters, which are submerging their livelihood – for 17 long Days, as a FIRST OF ITS KIND Non-violent Satyagraha.

2.   The 17 days of Satyagraha - wasn’t merely lying down in Protest, on a well lit, well-protected stage. It was standing the CRAB BITES, insect bites etc in the river waters – for 17 long days. The protesters had also  developed rashes with their skin peeling off after staying submerged for so long.

3.    The Demand of the villagers was UNASSAILABLE.  Implement our portion of the Supreme Court Order, rehabilitate us and save us first. Who can quarrel with this Demand? India – irrespective of which Government is in Power, is always failing in this one extremely sensitive, humane issue. The Mind-set of Governments must change. Rehabilitate the affected first. Do your development work next. This has to be the Mantra for all progress, for all works.

4.    The Jal Satyagraha went on for 17 days – and would have perhaps gone on indefinitely – if the MP Chief Minister had not realized the folly of keeping silence on such an issue. So – it is not only Anna and Ram Dev – but there are many Satyagrahis in India – who can come up with perfect forms of Non-violent Protest. Mahatma Gandhi’s Soul lives on in this country in many human beings – except perhaps in the hearts of (many of) the Politicians where it should be, in the first instance.

 MP Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said - "We have agreed to bring down the water level of dam to 189 metres and to compensate the farmers' land. It will, however, affect irrigation in 20,000 hectares of land and generation of 120 megawatts electricity," said the Chief Minister.

"The Supreme Court had given the go ahead to increase the water level to 196.5 metres, but we have reduced it for the time being," he said. The MP government has also formed a three-member ministerial panel to look into the matter. Better late than Never. So, MP Government should still be appreciated. At least, there wasn’t a lathi charge in waters! No Police lock-up. No cases on the villagers. This is Un-like many other Governments. We do hope, MP Government will now take the rehabilitation steps with a large and humane heart.

However, it must also be said that - Narmada Bachao Andolan, which launched this Satyagraha, must keep track of the progress of rehabilitation of the Villagers; and also enable Government to finish the developmental works on the Indira Sagar Project on  Narmada – which is important for the development of the state. 

JAI HO!

JAL SATYAGRAHIS!

=Yours Sincerely

v.vijayamohan

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INDIA’S FIRST IMPERATIVE - IN THE N/E SMS SCARE- IS IT A PROBLEM OR AN OPPORTUNITY?

INDIA’S FIRST IMPERATIVE

IN THE N/E  SMS SCARE

IS IT A PROBLEM OR AN OPPORTUNITY?

Are a few SMSs enough to scare away thousands of people to flee their places of stay in their own countries – to their birth state in same country?

Silly. They must ideally be reporting these SMSs instantly to the Police for investigating who is sending them. But, do we all today have the confidence in our Police System – to act on them swiftly, to locate the real culprits and to take prompt action on them? Do we?

Is this system working in other cases – like say, in the Haryana suicide case? Or the Assam Rape case? Or in countless other murder/ rape cases? Media may present a few of them for some time. Then, they also forget, We also forget.

This is the problem in India today. We all need a system, on which we have TOTAL TRUST. We all need a system, which will definitely act on Public intimation –  which, all Public must be able to trust totally – to act swiftly and also not to harass the informing public endlessly for the mere act of giving of such information. Judicial courts also must not call them often and on – at odd times to odd places and countless times – but must treat them with minimum discomfort.

People will come forward happily to face such a friendly organization – instead of hiding from them. If we don’t have such a friendly organization – Public will always be scared to give such Info – even if their life is at stake or even if the national security is at stake. We can carve out such a totally trustworthy, non-corruptible, honest, courageous, humane, nationalistic FORCE – even from the existing Police force or create a new one. The other day, I watched a New commando force formed by the Kerala Government – and it was impressive. We need such exclusive forces – and they must be given exclusive jurisdiction on such important cases.

In the absence of such totally trustable organization - this sort of scare and ensnare –as happened in the case of NE people will continue to happen. Anyone can attack a defenseless person, any time. Anyone can attack a person who FEELS defenseless (even if law is on his side). The attack need not be Physical. This is a sort of psychological bullying. And evidently, it worked.

The latest we hear on this NE scare is – that our Great friendly western Neighbor is likely to be involved. Some TV channels are presently giving such Info. The real facts will come a little late – as always. The scare was not just at Bangalore, as initially thought. It was much more wide spread. And, it was targeted at NE people. This huge rumour-mongering could be the Handiwork of our Great Neighbour – as always.

How long will India seek friendly ties with this great Neighbour? I don’t know. Very recently, news was there of an underground Tunnel across the Border. Obviously, it could be used in peace time – and also in  WAR TIME ( if and when it may happen).

Always, India Baiting and India-harassing – that seems to be the only pastime for a large number of persons with fundamentalist mindset across the Border. Even the Moderate Muslims in Pakistan are tired of these fundamentalists – but are not able to stop them at all.

Be that as it may – if we have chinks in our Armour, others will exploit them. And, Many of our Politicians of all Hues, seem hell-bent on keeping our chinks wide open always. They will never ever allow us to Unite, even when the country is submerging under the Sea. They divide us on caste, religion, region, language, race, sex, state, colour – and all other Possible excuses – but cannot find a single ground to UNITE US under a single banner, at any time. No doubt, we do have honest Politicians too – but – they are too meek and play into the hands of the unscrupulous ones.

They are also not as clear headed as Mahatma Gandhi or Jawahar Lal Nehru. Just mention to me or to yourself the Name of One single Politician of TODAY who has toured entire India like Gandhiji did even in those days of few travel facilities ! How can Nationalism come – if no leader even visits all states and all districts in the Nation and stays there for at least a few Days?

We need  National leaders (in all Parties) who treat all states as their own, who treat all people as their own, and who see poverty and injustice to all with equal consideration – and strive for the welfare of all, at all times.

Such a leader will create institutions which people can trust. Such a leader will himself be such an Institution, whom all can trust. Such a leader will be a great uniting Force.

A call from such a leader will arouse the entire Nation against any foreign forces, and will expose any one on this side siding surreptitiously with such foreign forces. We need at least one such leader in each Political Party.

The scare created by the foreign forces through their SMSs, either by themselves, or using some on our side too – must be tackled with utmost vigour. This is our FIRST, IMMEDIATE IMPERATIVE. This may be a Problem – but, this is also an OPPORTUNITY to reaffirm our Nationalistic spirit and Unity all of us from Kashmir to kanyakumari and Gujarat to Arunachal with one echoing voice.

India must face all such stupid acts of our external villains with full force and show the world how United we are.

This moment in India’s History calls for a show of Great Unity of all of us. This problem –presents before us a Great opportunity too. Do we use it or fritter away in needless Politics needs to be watched.

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HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY -15TH, AUGUST,2012 - WE PLEDGE...TO ACHIEVE...ALL THIS...UNITEDLY...

HAPPY

INDEPENDENCE

DAY

We, the citizens of India, are celebrating 65 Years of India’s Independence today, the 15^th of August, 2012.

We renew unto ourselves our freedom of expression and all other fundamental rights, and pledge to discharge our sacred responsibilities as India’s citizens with utmost consciousness.

We pledge to come together with all other Indians, irrespective of caste, creed, race, Religion, sex, state and all other man-made boundaries, and stay united in achieving a united, prosperous, happy nation.

We Pledge to root out all hatred, bias and favoritism from this sacred land of ours and usher in an era of love, friendship and equal opportunity for all.

We pledge to usher in an era of Excellence – in every field of human Endeavour – banishing all mediocrity from human mind.

We pledge to usher in an era of health, strength and mutual help within India and extend the same to the rest of the world.

We acknowledge that true freedom lies in freeing the mind, body and soul of every individual on this land from all shackles of fear and instilling in each of us hope, courage and motivation for achievement.

We shall face all sorts of attacks on our freedom with wisdom and courage and show the attackers their flaws and mend them  back into  true sense of collective freedom.

May this year be memorable for every  one of us - to undertake and achieve all this - individually and collectively with All other Indians.

=Yours Truly

v.vijayamohan

OLYMPICS - LONDON -2012 - LESSONS FOR INDIA - 10 SUGGESTIONS - TO EXCEL USA & CHINA IN NEXT OLYMPICS - CONGRATS TO WINNERS

OLYMPICS - LONDON -2012

LESSONS FOR INDIA

CONGRATS INDIA!

Congrats to All those INDIAN winners at the London Olympics; Congrats to all those who came so tantalizingly close to winning a Olympic Medal; and finally, Congrats also to those who competed in the Olympics from India with the true Olympic spirit.

At the moment, the following is India’s FINAL TALLY at the London Olympics. India stands at the 55^th spot in the List of Nations with Medals. Of course, we have considerably bettered all of our earlier Olympic records – none of which can however be considered any thing great.

Sport            Gold   Silver  Bronze          Total 

Badminton    0        0        1                  1       

Boxing          0        0        1                  1       

Shooting      0        1        1                  2       

Wrestling      0        1        1                  2

0        2        4                  6       

And, who are our winners? From the INFORMATION, I could assemble, – the details of the winners are as below :-

1.    SAINA NEHWAL – from Hyderabad (AP) ; born on 17/ 03/ 1990, aged 22 (Female); has won the BRONZE MEDAL in Badminton Women’s singles. She has competed already in many international events with many successes; Her coach is Pullela Gopichand. Her Parents are stated to be state Badminton champions earlier in Haryana. She has already received many sporting awards like Arjuna award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and -  Padmasri

2.    CHUNGNEIJANG MERY KOM HMANGTE (Nick Name : Mary Kom); From CHURACHANDPUR  (in Manipur) ;Born on 01/03/1982; aged 29 (Female) – She has won the BRONZE MEDAL in Boxing Women’s Fly (51 kg) - Has twin sons; Athlete, Police Officer, educated at Manipur University, speaks Hindi and English. Her coach is Anoop Kumar from 2000. It is said, she originally trained in Athletics, competing in the 400 m sprint and Javelin.

3.    GAGAN NARANG : From Madras India; Born on 06/05/1983 – age 29; - Has won BRONZE MEDAL in Men’s 10m Air Rifle shooting; He serves in the Army; speaks Hindi and English; His coach is Sunny Thomas, His most memorable achievement is winning 4 Golds in rifle events at the 2010 Common wealth Games in India (Delhi). Awarded Padmasri in 2011 and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. He has participated in Beijing 2008 and Athens 2004 Olympics.

4.    VIJAY KUMAR : From Harsour India ;Born on 19/08/1985 ; aged 26 (Male) ; Has won the SILVER MEDAL in Shooting Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men’s 10m Air Pistol; Serves in the Army. Speaks Hindi and English. Coach – Smirnov Pavel and Sunny Thomas.

5.    SUSHIL KUMAR : Born on 26/05/1983 – delhi ), aged 29, has won SILVER MEDAL in Wrestling; 66 KG Free style; It is said – he works in the Railways and speaks Hindi. He has trained under  Yashvir Singh

6.    YOGESHWAR DUTT : From Delhi; Born on 02/11/1982 ; aged 29; Has won the BRONZE MEDAL in wrestling; Men’s 60 KG Freestyle. works as Police Officer; speaks Hindi and English.

I have watched the WINNING PERFORMANCES of all these winners on TV. Each of them is Fascinating. Each of them displayed the capability of winning over their winner opponents.

There were a Few other Medal Hopefuls too. Like in Archery. Like in Boxing and wrestling.

Of course, the debacle in Hockey is perhaps the worst Indian Performance.

Most of our winners have come from very Humble Back Grounds. Wikipedia gives these details :

Sushil Kumar : belongs to Jat family; comes from the village Baprola in South West Delhi. His father Diwan Singh was a DTC bus driver and mother Kamla Devi a housewife.  His parents other family members are said to be his biggest support and encouragement in his wrestling practices.

Mary Kom :  is a five-time World Boxing champion, and the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships.She is the only Indian woman boxer to have qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics, competing in the flyweight (51kg) category and winning the bronze medal. She has also been ranked as No. 4 AIBA World Women's Ranking Flyweight category. Mary was born in Kangathei, Manipur. Her parents, Mangte Tonpa Kom and Mangte Akham Kom, worked in jhum fields.

Yogeshwar Dutt - comes from Bhainswal village of Sonipat district, Haryana from a Brahmin family and his parents were teachers. He started wrestling from a very young age of 8 years. His inspiration was Balraj Pehlwan who was from his native village and he was trained under the guidance of coach Ramphal. Yogeshwar Dutt won the Gold Medal in the 2003 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship.

Vijay Kumar-  hails from Barsar village of Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh and is presently a serving subedar in the Dogra Regiment (16th Battalion) Indian Army. Vijay Kumar is currently supported by the Olympic Gold Quest initiative. He has been posted at Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) Mhow since 2003 where he is being coached by the Russian Pavel Smirnov.

GAGAN NARANG - was born in Chennai; his ancestors belonged to Samalkha in Panipat district in Haryana. His grandfather then moved from Panipat to Hyderabad. His parents are Bhimsen Narang and Amarjit. Though Gagan Narang was born in Chennai, he was raised in Hyderabad. He touched the gun for the first time at his age of six for shooting down balloons at Chennai Marina Beach carnival. His prowess at shooting was well brought out at that age which he sharpened later.

SAINA NEHWAL - was born in a Jat family to Dr. Harvir Singh Nehwal and Usha Nehwal in the city of Hisar, Haryana and completed first few years of her schooling from Campus School. He later shifted to Hyderabad & so Saina spent her growing years in Hyderabad, India. Her foray into the world of badminton was influenced by her father Dr. Harvir Singh, a scientist at the Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad and her mother Usha Nehwal, both of whom were former badminton champions in Haryana.

From the Details gathered as above -  It seems, Haryana contributed a major share of the Medals tally. Even before Olympics, it was known that Haryana Government was more active in promoting SPORTS. And people had taken to sports like wrestling with great Interest in Haryana. It is Possible and I do hope, Haryana Government plans for a thing like that,– that, in next Plympics, Haryana bags Gold, Silver and Bronze in many wrestling events. Other states must try to compete and beat Haryana and the rest of the world – in true Olympic spirit.

Second Point to note is – the humblest of the humble from India have proved that they can rise to OLYMPIC GOLD LEVEL.  This has been amply proved in this Olympics - by these medalists. Give them the encouragement. Do not divide them on caste and religion basis. Do not tell them – that you are unfit, you have no talent..and nonsensical stuff like that. Unite them. It is INDIA vs WORLD - in the Olympics. Minimise ALL POLITICS in sports.

Promote ALL OLYMPIC SPORTS.  Not one excluded. Every state must produce 10 champions minimum. That is what, US is doing. That is what, China is doing. This time, that is what Britain has done. Why can’t India? It needs, strong, conscious, special, consistent, continuous Planning and proper execution.

Our Emphasis on CRICKET must come down. This is my strong feeling. It produces crores of IDLE watchers – for 11 players. We are becoming a Diabetic, Hypertensive nation with all sorts of Life style diseases, even in those people who have no great Life style to boast. We must get rid of this lazy, sombre, illness producing life styles – and become active players of many sports and games – adopting the olympic theme of "Faster, Higher, Stronger".  I am a fan of cricket myself – but I feel, we must be playing a whole lot of things, in addition to Cricket – not just watching some one else play this Game all day long.

So, how do we go about Planning for Next Olympics? Here are my humble suggestions :

1.    Each state must adopt a minimum of 10 to 15  OLYMPIC SPORTS to excel in. All states of India together must cover at least 80 percent of all Olympic sports. This is what the Central SPORTS MINISTRY must co-ordinate and arrange.

2.    Every state must provide latest equipment to at least one Major school in each district – and reasonably GOOD EQUIPMENT to all Government schools on these sports. A javelin ,  shot put , foot ball, volley ball, badminton equipment etc costs very less. A good swimming pool in each district is essential. Gymnastics training must get introduced in each school. Such Ideas can be implemented very easily in all states.

3.    Every day, a one hour sports period is a must. 5 hours studies plus a one hour sports period must be compulsory. Reduce undue emphasis on Text Book study & Marks. Students must compulsorily Play whatever they like – and whatever they can. The OLYMPIC MOTTO  must be displayed in all CLASS ROOMS in India.

4.    Once in a month – High quality VIDEOS of the performances of the BEST SPORTS PERSONS OF INDIA and the world must be shown to all students for one or two hours.

5.    The Best sports persons in each district must automatically be employed as PHYSICAL EDUCATION teachers – after some training in training Methods. Each school must compulsorily have one or two such physical education teachers.

6.    Where Girl students are also in Good numbers – a Women Physical education Teacher must also be employed in the school.

7.    These must be COMPULSORY -  for both Private, aided and Government schools, including Minority institutions. No exclusions in this must be made for anybody.

8.    The state level champions must train well themselves and also serve as state level coaches. Let their sport be their Life Breath. Ditto, for National level champions.

9.    For our National Champions, let us also get the best international coaches for the time they feel they need them.

10. Every state must build International level Play grounds – for each of the sports chosen by them. There should be good Play grounds in each district. Each village panchayat and town panchayat must immediately set apart available Government Land Sufficiently for a SPORTS COMPLEX – for their village or town. These can then be developed progressively. If not done now – there will be no such land available later. LAND GRABBING is one of the worst diseases in India today.

11. I have listed 10 suggestions. I do hope these suggestions attract the attention of all sport lovers and the Governments of India and of all States. I do hope, they will receive it in the RIGHT SPIRIT. The current SPORTS MINISTER has displayed sufficient ENERGY and ENTHUSIASM  about sports in the past, and I do fervently hope, he will further strive to ensure India’s meteoric rise in all OLYMPIC SPORTS.

With  Congratulations to all WINNERS and Olympic Participants

Yours

(V.VIJAYAMOHAN)

Dt 13-Aug-2012.

PS : Any small errors in the details may kindly be excused and pointed out to me for correction.

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