Commonwealth Games: Perfect Blend of Extravagance, Poor Accountability, Lack of Vision and Mismanaged Resources

South Africa, with all its prior doubts and critics, has written history by hosting a successful world class game. Long period of one month has raised doubts in the minds of all the people whether an African country, into the clutches of Poverty, history of racial wars and AIDS, would be able to host a mammoth game like Football World Cup. But the way they prepared has a great lessons for India which is going to host another major sports event Common Wealth(CW) Games. They started preparing for the event in late 2006 and Stadiums were made ready by 2009. After that only regular daily care was left to done. Hosting such a grand sport event offered advantage in three ways. Firstly it showed the ability of South Africa to host a world class event that puts it at world stature. Secondly it has recognized its hidden potential in a global game like Football. High skilled shown by South Africa team and fantastic display of Ghana till the quarter final was exemplary. This will definitely change the way football was seen in Africa by a common man prior to the World Cup. Thirdly it has proved economically beneficial. Total expenditure in the preparation of the game was approx $ 4 bn ( 20,000 cr), while the revenue generated was approx $ 5 bn (25,000 cr). A clear cut profit of $ 1 bn which is nonetheless huge.

Sensation of successful hosting of World Cup by South Africa has churned Indians as well but in a different way. It has started flurry of questions, doubts and skepticism mixed with pessimism over our preparation of CW Game which is regarded as the 4th gigantic sports event. All these doubts are not mere allegations by the opposition but are concrete. Intelligentsia are seeing some serious flaws in the policies designed for the preparation of games. Initially the money proposed was Rs 1800 cr in 2004. But actually expenditure came out to be mindboggling 80,000 cr, means more than 45 times, by 2010. How could such a huge discrepancy in the approximation of expenditure be possible? It is beyond in the understanding of a common man. If a common man decides to make his own house and money estimation comes out to be 5 lakh, he knows the cost could well rise to around 8-10 lakh or at the most 15 lakh, but it could never be the case when it comes out to be 1 cr or more. How could you spend Rs 80,000 cr, when you are proposing a budget of mere 1800 cr! This shows some serious irregularities and utmost sense (rather non-sense) of non-accountability. Valuable money of the tax-payers is being wasted unabashedly. CW game is a bright opportunity to party for the most corrupt policy makers and the beaurocrats.

In the month of Jan'10, state government of Delhi openly accepted that it did not have 800 cr for the metro project and has asked help from DDA to bear out the expenditure. One of the allegation is that Rs 100 cr was spent in just planning of the expenditure sitting in the AC room which is ridiculous and preposterous. State government of Delhi did not have money to implement Right to Education in its schools also and asked help from the centre. Government did not have 6000 cr for the National I-card scheme, crucial for the security of the nation, and the budget proposed was reduced to 3000 cr. It again shows that the priority is not towards the people, their education, upliftment and security, but towards games. Delhi government claims to have fully prepared infrastructure till Aug'10 which should have been ready 1 year prior to the games. From the RTI it also came out that only Rs 700 cr has been spent directly for the players and their facilities, less than 1% of total budget. Government try to hide its face from the mask of success of Metro and fly overs. But Metro rail and fly overs have only little to do with the preparation of games. Our stadiums are not ready even now. What home-advantage they are going to offer to our own player when they cannot practice there? Metro Rail and most of the flyovers were under the proposed future development of the delhi as early as 1996. And it is mere a co-incidence that CWG came at the same time, giving the government a chance to justify its poor policies and extravagance and hide face.

Pride of hosting the grand event does not lie only in building the infrastructure, but also in the rank in the Medal Tally of the host country. China, which hosted one of the Best Olympics ever in 2008, was on the top of medal tally. Can our players be manage to do the same in CWG? If you are spending only 1% of the total budget on your players, what kind of priority you are showing in the preparation of the game, is it to appease the guests with facilities only or the medal tally you get? Had such a huge money was spent on the players only, or just one fourth of it, we could have come on the top of medal tally in Olympics as well. But Alas! this is not at all the case. Our players are preparing in the same conditions as ever. Even the most basic facilities of Play grounds, nutrition and Coaching is lacking in every town of India. Then where the calibre will be generated. Good players are not imported, rather they are generated with basic facilities, guidance and motivation. Focus has forcibly made shifted towards Metros, flyovers, footpaths, which has nothing to do with hosting a successful game.

So let us hope, mere hope, together of a successful world class games with India arises as a major sports destination with top rank tally. Let us keep our policy makers befool us and spend the precious sweat and blood money of the common man unabashedly. Let us allow to make this CWG a perfect blend of Extravagance, poor accountability,lack of vision and mismanaged resources. And let us show the world that we can neither host a game successfully nor do any good for our own players, forget the rest of the common men and his ever increasing problems.

Myth of Economic Growth: Human Development Report 2009

Since economic reforms of 1991, India has been on the path of continuous economic growth, which many economists call as 'incredible'. And especially in the last decade from 2000-2010, we have made the possibility of double digit growth a possible dream. We have even withstood the global financial downturn with finesse. Even amidst the another European crises many economist have expected Indian economy to grow at 8+ %, which is truly remarkable. It shows India, in the coming decade, is going to acquire the great share of world GDP which will lift its status to a future economic power-house. As world equation has been changing, every single country wants to gain maximum profit out of it, so everyone is looking for the place which offer definite and tangible benefit. India is considered as one such place with biggest market and greatest hidden potential, so great future possibility. This fact is growing India's stature and making it one of the most attractive country.

But let us take a pause and take actual account of the impact of this much talked about Economic Growth on Human development. Here comes the mother of all human development reports, the UNDP's own Human Development Report (HDR) 2009. HDR is a precisely calculative data based on life expectancy, literacy, per capita income and overall health and well being of a certain population over a period of time. It is considered as the best measure of development globally. Latest report 2009 give India the rank of 134, with a score of 0.612, which in no way allow us to boast of our economic growth. Though our score has improved in last 10 years but rank has remained stick to the worst performing countries. Because of the precision and authenticity, HDR is actually a good way to make comparision with our own past years record and with other countries as well. Norway, Australia, Ireland, Iceland etc remained at the top positions with the score of more than 0.965 (near perfect 1). Even many African and less known countries are far better than us like Libiya-0.847, Mauritius- 0.804, Gabon- 0.755, Algeria- 0.754 etc.

Our competitive neighbour China has given spectacular show in the improvement. Here is the a data that shows China's remarkable stride towards human development.

Rank (2009) Score 2009 2000 1975

India 134 0.612 0.577 0.407

China 92 0.772 0.726 0.523

Even from 2008 to 2009 China has jumped 7 rank in the Index and came on 92, while we remained on abysmal 134.

World map indicating the Human Development Index (based on 2007 data, published on October 5, 2009)

0.950 and over 0.900–0.949 0.850–0.899 0.800–0.849 0.750–0.799

0.700–0.749 0.650–0.699 0.600–0.649 0.550–0.599 0.500–0.549

0.450–0.499 0.400–0.449 0.350–0.399 under 0.350 Data unavailable

This is a list of all countries by Human Development Index as included in a United Nations Development

Unfortunately this perfect indicator has been least bothered and least talked about in our country. No media coverage, neither print nor electronic, except 'The Hindu' has given this report its due place. While such an important marker was made elusive, some comparatively insignificant markers like increase in no. of rich people, share market boom etc kept on deceiving us. Infect HDR should have come up in a way that it would become an eye opener to the common man and the policy makers as well. So that must have removed the camouflage of booming India and have shown the naked reality. HDR could have become de riguer in the last election. People would have asked the politicians with greater vehemence to give the account of all the national policies designed to lift the people of India. People could have made the better use of RTI to check the pro-poor policies and the money spent with respect the actual change produced. Infect had this report earned its due respect, we would not have allowed our policy makers go reckless on every other policy next time, neither on implementation temrs nor on accountability.

Though economic reforms helped gaining plethora of foriegn investment which has opened the gates of opportunities for many young Indians. Still true meaning of inclusive growth has yet to be realized. While let not be reluctant towards its significance, yet let not get our politicians befool us and illusioned us with rhetoric talks of growth. We have to scrutinize closely all the pro-poor policies and their impact on HD and take the accountability of the government. 9% of annual growth rate should roughly raise our score by 0.020, which is hardly 4%, means less than half of the economic growth. In this way we can touch the score of 0.800 in the end of this decade which is descent if not laudatory.

INDIA: A Place Which Is Proud Of Its Backwardness

What Khaps are doing to the youth is not new to Indian society which has witnesses innumerable atrocities given to those who deviates from its believes. Giving a close look towards our culture would expose the fact that we are the most insensitive ones towards our own people when they decide to practice their fundamental right of freedom. This rigidness and insensitivity is not out of the greatness and richness of this ancient society, rather de facto a result of its inability to survive in the modern world. Every Indian has been obsessed with the habit of praising our past even to the extent that we have almost forgotten to live in present. As a result of this habit 'khap' like bodies, build by the people of medieval mindset, keep on crushing the dreams of the young blood. And most of the Indians do not see this practice as something contemptible. So any 'Honour Killing' in near future should not be seen as something surprising in twenty first century, atleast in India.

This indicates how easy and obvious it is to kill anybody and bereft the individual of the basic human rights provided by our constitution in India. So this gives an answer to some serious questions frequently asked and talked about by the common mass of this country like:
- Why life of a common man has been made so cheap in India?
-Why Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims had to wait for decades to get justice?
-Why we could not prevent the massacre of 26/11, Godhra, Babri demolition and Anti-sick riots even we had the prior information
-Why no serious attempt is being made by the any government since independence to prevent millions of people from hunger and malnutrition even if we have achieved the targets of food-grains since first green revolution 40 years back?
I think most of these questions will remain unsolvable mysteries unless we do not start realizing the value of individual freedom. Life and happiness of an individual has been sacrificed forcefully innumerable times in the name of pseudo-honour of the family or the society. So in India life of an individual has become almost irrelevent and insignificant. And this common thought among all the Indians has made it a common thought of the society. It has made the life so cheap and useless that it could be taken away anytime on any meagre issue either by the khaps or by any other body.

Actually khaps have got the support by many people over the half-scientific Gotra issue. Even many educated people give their silent support to Khaps unaware of the vital consequences that would encourage these bodies which run parallel to our constitution and do not value the individual freedom. Such support, even silently, would marginalize those people who dare to extricate themselves from the clutches of rotten minded medieval society. Under the sensitive issues of religions and believes we people become so much insensitive that we forget that true sense of religion lies in its individuality. Even Bhagwat Geeta, and our constitution too, states that religion is something individual( so nobody can compel anyone to pratice a certain religion or belief). So much atrocities have been done to our own people in the name of those believes which have failed to make us a vibrant and prosper society.

Indian mindset is obsessed with regression. We keep on imposing the rules and rituals being practiced in the past. We project our past as something highly praiseworthy deserving deep obeisance and encomiums. But we have forgotten the fact that we had been enslaved for about one thousand years (world history's longest slavery). This one single fact is enough to expose the hollowness and the futility of the idea of great Indian cultural values. This 'honour killing' is quintessence of how a senile and eccentric person behave in desperation esp. when world seems going out of its hands.

So let us give a pose when next time we go ahead with those rotten tradition. Budhha states,"life happens in this moment only, so if we miss the very moment we miss the life itself". So lets not waste our time in accepting or rejecting the old things. Let be wise now. We have lived in the old ways for thousands of years and got nothing but abysmal status of abject poverty and slavery. Let us take a new breath in new ways in the new world. We are far behind the others and yet to start our journey towards prosperity and living wise. Lets not waste more time now.

Act of Right To Education: Small Step Towards A Giant Leap

Right to Education (RTE) is one of the most significant development happened in recent months. It is significant not just because it is going to provide education to 9 million poor and underprivileged children, but because it is going to give hope towards a permanent solution of India’s mother of all problems, i.e. illiteracy. Though, its implementation and penetration to the remote areas and different section of society remains a challenge. But atleast we must appreciate and welcome it whole heartedly as no other thing, but education can transform the fate of the society. Union Home minister Kapil Sibal has also added “ lets go beyond free and compulsory education to the Right of Quality education. So we must ensure that quality education is being given to every single child of the country”. The significance of this act could be understood with the fact that Prime minister Mr Manmohan singh has addressed the nation after this act was passed in both the houses. He has ensured the nation that allotment of funds will not be made the reason of non-implementation of the Act.

What RTE actually Means:

Despite all the previous policies and schemes, their pathetic implementation and near failure results, this Act has given a great hope towards a better tomorrow. It has been made effective from April 1, 2010. What it actually means is that it would ensure the Free and Compulsory primary education to every child in the age group of 6-14. It will help all those children who are either school drop-outs or out-of-the-school. The act of finding the school drop-outs and out-of-school children will be left to school managing committees. It will also help reduce the child labour. Every private school has to give 25% reservation to poor children nearby its surrounding. No child could be sacked out of school for non-payment of fee. The implementation will be helped by government’s other schemes as well like mid-day meal schemes, Sarv Siksha Abhiyan, RGNREGA etc.

The states are also expected to lift the school infrastructure, appoint quality teachers and access to the schools to the mass. However the administration of all these things are left to school authority only. States are also expected to give special training of the subjects to the girl students and physically challenged students.

The share of expenditure will be made in the ratio of 55:45 by centre and states resp. The finance commission has allotted Rs 25000 crore, in which centre’s part is 15,000 crore and rest lies on states. But most of the states are feeling uncomfortable with the huge investment involved in the Act and demanded more aid from the centre.

Caution

Before the implementation of the act we must understand the problems that are being faced by the school drop-outs along with its reasons of all those problems. According to the a new survey done in 5 states including Bihar and Rajasthan following are some astonishing points came into light:

1. 1. The biggest reason for the school drop-outs is not the affordability but infrastructure. 70% of the govenment schools do not have electricity. 60% of the school do not have toilets and among 40% of those which have only half of them do not have doors. And also 45% of those which have toilets do not have separate for boys and girls. Many schools do not have proper availability of drinking water. Forget about the issue of sanitation. According to NDTV survey-2008 there are 15000 schools in india which do not have a single teacher, and another 15000 schools have only one teacher. Forget about the quality of education that is being provided there.

Recent The Hindu survey shows we have around 3 lack untrained teachers in India. So we can easily estimate how much harm those untrained teachers have been doing to our children’s future.

2. 2. Second significant reason of drop-out and reluctance to education by the poors is discrimination, esp. by the high cast Hindu teachers, to the dalits and deep rooted silent practice of Untouchability. Condition of dalit girls is far more pathetic.

3. 3. Of course affordability remains a concern for all the BPL families and underprivileged. Because they do have to make a choice between Education and Food. And obviously the preference would be given to Food. Many a times girl child has to drop-out as a sacrifice for her brother. Still majority of the poor put their children into the school on a ray of a little hope for the better future of their children.

But the first two reasons offer such an opaque barrier that their ray of hope could hardly pass through it and they have to drop-out leaving no other choice.

4. 4. Many analysts also consider Roads and electricity as being a significant reason behind the illiteracy and sub-standard education in Indian schools. Non-access to roads is the significant reason for the people of remote areas not sending their children, esp. girl child, to the schools. So many remote villages do not have access of public transport or even if have only 1 or 2 bus-survices are available, and their timings may or may not be suitable for the school children. Electricity also plays an important role as it ensure cool environment in long summer months, it gets the child rid of housefly thus overall comfort and help access of computer education.

Healthy trends and Outcomes

Government has already started its ambitious National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(NREGA) with full enthusiasm, National Rural Health Mission and Mid-day meal program. NREGA is doing very well at most of the places, according to the largest survey done by NGOs with MINT. 3 out of 4 persons are happy with its successful implementation. Around 45% people are getting wages on time, and another 40% are getting a delay of only 15 days. Only 3% people claimed that they did not get the wages at all. It shows the success story of UPA’s boastful scheme.

Mid-day meal scheme has raised the attendance to a significant level. Although some times poor quality of food served has been reported. Some times it has also been reported that the teacher is discriminating on the ground of Dalit and non-dalit. But the scheme is definitely going okey, though not perfect.

So these schemes are silently helping making the poor less vulnerable to the poverty. Which in turn enabling the poor dare to send their children to schools for longer times.

So government of India and the State governments must ensure that the reasons behind the children discontinue the school must be taken care of. Because if these measures are taken care of, esp first two above, majority of drop-outs would spontaniously stop. On the other hand if these measures are not taken into consideration implementation of this act will remain superficial with no actual outcomes. According to America's Noble Laureate Paul Krugman “if you want to define America’s success story in 20^th century in one word, that word is ‘Education’ doubtlessly”. America was the first country in the world which started giving its people ‘mass Primary education’ in late 19^th century. Then it became the first to give its people ‘mass secondary education’ by early 20^th century. And rest is all History. By the mid of the 20^th century it became the dream land of the world where every young blood wants to go to realize its dream. Such is the impact of education. And such should be our aspiration.

This RTE is definitely a small step towards a giant leap of India. This is a long journey. But the best point is that it has started. Lets welcome it whole heartedly and lets not talk about all those stupid talks of corruption and beaurocracy. Lets be sanguine to our future and lets be courageous to face the practical challenges associated with the realization of that future.

Mask Of Approach Of International Standardization In Healthcare In India- A Wake Up Call

India is boasting of its 8% plus GDP growth, and of its resilient economy at the time of global financial crisis. Its pharmaceutical industries are showing their global presence and their colossal rise with uninterrupted pace is being appreciated. India is becoming the preferred destination for the pharmaceutical generation, with low charges of research and development and for the production costs as well. Government of India is increasingly emphasising on the global standards for the R & D of the drugs and is looking very concerned regarding the healthcare conditions in india. It is also increasing its expenditure on healthcare industries and set up of hospitals and dispensaries in remote areas. However this booming pharmaceutical industries and ever-increasing government expenditure is not directly proportional to the improved healthcare conditions in the country.

Our every vaccination program has been proved to be a fiasco. Every campaign for the eradication of Polio or malaria for last 6 decades has been proved inefficient. We bow down to every communicable diseases may be it plague, avian flu, swine flu or HIV/AIDS. Government and the intelligentsia of the country always try to cut the corners by giving very perfuntory solutions to handle the problem. They keep on emphasizing the International standards of healthcare system without taking any learning from past experiences. The idea of ‘international standardisation’ is not bad. But it is more influenced by the pharma- corporate world. They affect the decision makers of the country in two important ways. Firstly, they keep on asking the government about the vaccination program and its efficacy, irrespective of the affordability to the common people, because they get greater profit from it than from any other dosage form. Vaccination is indubitably the most effective way, but it is actually western approach. It is not at all affordable for the mid or lower income countries like ours. Secondaly, they never let the policy makers think of the most important health aspect which is “Sanitation and clean water”. Western world has successfully eradicated polio and malaria because it has world’s best sanitary conditions and clean water even for the poorest people. Every healthcare expenditure or healthcare campaign is bound to fail unless living conditions for the mass are not improved.

According to the WHO, 130 crore people in the world defecate in open, out of which 65 crore are in india. More than half of the population of India do not have access to clean water. More than 50 million people lives in slums under abject insalubrious conditions. Our rivers are most polluted in the world. Under these conditions no country can expect to have a successful healthcare system. Every communicable disease will keep on attacking us in its most lethal ways unless this basic need of improved salubrious condition is not being fulfilled. Vaccinations and every other campaign is effective only if people are living in clean cities and villages.

Another important thing is that inspite of blindly boasting the international standards, we must look at our regional priorities and population. Most of the successful drugs were made by looking at the regional priorities of the western population and not ours. Every developed country including britain, US and japan have their own standards of drug preparation and delivery, and they are least bothered to international standards and world trends. Even neighbouring China has its own methods of drug delivery and healthcare system and is least bothered to WHO and USFDA. And result is before everybody, China has successfully provided primary health to its 80% of population in just 2 decades. But we are stubbornly obsessed with the western way of healthcare system. Our policy makers think alike to pharmaceutical industries which never let them think out of the traditional in-comprehensive approach.

So inspite of spending blindly on giving our healthcare system a western look, its time to take a pause and let us learn whether this approach has sufficiently served us. Let us think out of the box now. Let us be more judicious and more concerned towards our own people rather than propitiating the WHO and USFDA along with pharmaceutical companies. Let us first go to the basics. Improve our living conditions by improving sanitation and providing clean water. Along with it lets spend on the research and development with a special focus on regional population and then move towards the international standards. In that scenario even if we don’t move to international standards, we would have a better healthy population. Because international standards are nothing but local standards of western population. Let our own population enjoy those own local standards and raise those local standards to be counted as internation standards.

World towards Global Integration in 21st Century

Since the advent of great human civilizations, say approx 5,000 yrs, wars have been an important measure of strength of the particular civilization. Roughly, the survival of every society used to be the function of particular society's war capability or its capacity to defend any such attack. In past almost every country has attacked its neighbour country either to annex its land or to loot the wealth or just to display its strength. And advent of science gave the wars its most catastrophic face whose display we have seen in the form of I & II World Wars. After the colossal massacre in the these two wars, humanity started introspecting itself. And a need of some international body, which would handle the international disputes in most unbiased way, was increasingly being felt. Though ideally it was never possible to have such absolutely unbiased body, still it became the need of the hour as the world did not want the succession of horrowing scenes of two world wars.

So as an old adage says 'where there is a will, there is a way', an international body was constituted in 1945 whose initial members were the participants of II world war nations. It was named as United Nations and its prime objectives were to handle the internaional dispute by avoiding war and also to encourage the nations for decolonization.Thus it was the first serious attempt of mankind towards global peace and egalitarian society. But such objectives were obviously not possible to accomplish without world being started coming closer. And this cannot be possible just by having political peace talks. SO later other objectives were also added to the United Nations Objectives like spread of education, health, science and cultures in the form of UNESCO and WHO. To check the human right violation in any part of the world and to give aid during natural calamity were among the other important objectives. So it was unprecedent in the history of human civilization that world came so close to help creat overall peaceful planet.It was the scene of first half of 20th century.

But despite all these there remained innumerable conflicts between different nations and regions. Though no big war of significant magnitude between multiple nations did happen, but small scale wars remained prevalent in almost every region predominantly the poorer ones. But since world came close like never before, mutual economic trades and ties started playing a major role in governing the international equations. Economies of different nations started affecting the economies of other nations in more direct ways because of mutual dependence. Every nation wanted to take benefit out of it. So the concept of globalization was brought into. Although it also involved a lot of challenges, but it gave a bright hope of creation of single world with insignificant national and regional boundaries.

Science also played a major role in promoting globalization. With the first step on moon was defined as 'a giant leap for mankind' and it excited the people of every corner of the globe. Internet also played a major in global integration. It made the world so small to be surfed on a computer screen anywhere, anytime and by anyone irrespective of nationality, race or religion. Sports also helped in accomplishment of this goal. With Olympics was the major sports event with global participation, other smaller level sports activities played a significant role in mutual collaborations between differnt nations. Education also played a significant role as mutual collaborations have happened in large scale across the globe. Student exchange programs, international visiting faculty and UNESCO aid to education to poor countries are prevalent in every region of the world. All these things have helped a lot in brigding the gaps between different societies.

But most important reasons for Global integration are none other than popularly known the biggest challenges before the humanity, i.e. Global terrorism and Global warming. These two menacing threats are actually blessings in disguise. Global terrorism is already doing this job as every responsible country has joined hands to fight against it. 'Fight against terror' war in afganistan has a contribution of more than 40 nations from 6 continents. There is an internation financial ban on any organisation once listed in Terrorist Organisation in the list of UN. Blocking its major ways of international fundings. Whole the world has eyes on major breeders of terrorism. While at one side innovative techniques have been developed to capture terrorists, on the other hand economists, socialists and scientist are looking at the possible causes of evolution of terrorism as a result of social, psychological and economical grounds. Whole the world has accepted it as a major challenge in present and atleast till near future.

Global warming, which has yet to display its direct effects, is considered as the redoubtable challenge. According to some scientists it has already started manifesting itself, but for few others suspicion still remains. But all of them are unanimously considering it as a gigantic threat with global devastating consequences. To tackle it will be an extremely daunting task. No nation or groups of few nations can afford to take the responsibility of tackling it alone. This requires a global initiative beyond being parochial of regional or individual interests. But under some myopic political discussions the issue has been caught in the rut. But in wait of any resolution global warming is not going to stop. And I feel as soon as it start manifesting its itselt in more profound ways, it will force the world to come to a conclusive dialogue and immediate steps. Nothing concrete has been done in last one decade and further abeyance will not be affordable. World is going to realize is very soon. So we can be sanguine about the global initiatives in immediate future.

So for the very first time in human history the dream of global integration, which was earlier of utopian kind, that was first seen in ancient India as 'Vaisudhaiva kutumbakam' meaning 'whole the world is our family', is going to be realized. Humans are known to learn from their past's mistakes. Human civilization is no longer juvenile. Also to remain integrated is in interest of human growth as well as in tackling challenges. So history of great wars is soon going to be 'a history'. 21st century will be a blend of biggest scientific revolutions and of biggest unprecedented challenges, both will make the world closer and integrated.

Genetically Modified Crops: Boon or Bane?

With the recent bitter controvery over the bt-brinjal, which is supposed to be the world's first GM(Genetically modified) vegetable crop, it has been clear that the path for the requisite second green revolution is not easy. Politicians are quibbling about the trivialities and immaturely biased media remarks are further worsening its advancement. It is evident that an increasing need of second green revolution has been felt since a decade. Because first green revolution of late sixties is nt going to serve us endlessly. And especially since last one decade there is a constant pressure on india's food security and its enability to feed its billion plus population.

In sixties when Kalyan sona and Sonalika varieties of wheat,also called dwarf wheat, developed in japan and tested in mexico, were intorduced in indian soil, a major breakthrough in Wheat productivity started to be visualized. As these varieties were more rust resistant, high yielding and adaptable to different soils and climate conditions of the country. From where started india's journey towards wheat self-sufficiency. And within a period of few years only we became a wheat importer to a major wheat exporter. So this led to the path of First Green Revolution of India and this achievement was purely scientific and research based.

India's wheat production in 1966-67 was meagre 11 lack tonne with productivity of 900 kg/hac. While during the year 2001-02 it reached to an audacious 70 lakh tonne with productivity of 2800 kg/hac(almost threefold increase). India exported 30 lakh tonne of wheat, of worth Rs 1400 cr, during 2001-02 and stood second only after China. Similar is the story of other crops like Rice, sugarcane, cotton etc. But with the passage of time in near future india's food capacity will have to face some unprecedented problems like climate change, overdependence on monsoon and excessive ground water exploitation apart from its ever increasing population, improvident use of water in agriculture and depletion of water resources. Our agriculture is increasingly becoming vulnerable towards these problems. So the traditional ways of agriculture which require huge amount of water, especially in rice, will not be affordable to us. And in future we will need those crops which are better adaptable to global warming, untimely rainfall and are more resistant. Also we lose 20% of food grains during storage which is absolutely avoidable. Most of these problems can not be handled with the traditional ways of farming and conventinal seeds. So once again we would have to look at science and at Genetically modified crops. These advanced seeds can offer all the desirable advantages that we need in a crop like high yield, more resistance, adaptablility and ability to be grown in drier soils.

GM cotton has been successfully used in india without much unnecessary fuss neither by politicions nor by media. Though introducution of any new GM seed must pass through proper screening tests and trials. Because it is as much risky as it looks advantageous. So in case of Bt-brinjal, it is must for the government to ensure the suitability and safety of it. Being the first GM seed of the world it helds serious responsibilty because if got successful it may lead the path for the rest of GM crops. So making haste is not wise. Lets not introduce it in haste and make it unpopular because of its unfavourable untested aspects. We should encourage its research and adequate safety trials and suitability measures. For future food safety for 1.35 billion people by 2030, and amidst all climate change uncertainity, only GM crops can assures food for that much huge population for innumerable time. Public concerns must be taken into account and must be handled judiciously and with humility, but let not these things hamper our future food security.