Vaisakh Gopinadhan

റിസർവേഷൻ : സത്യവും മിഥ്യയും

2018-06-16T00:46:00.001-07:00

റീസെർവഷന്റെ പേരിൽ SC/ST വിഭാഗത്തിൽ പെട്ടവരെ പരസ്യമായി അവഹേളിക്കുന്നത് ശ്രദ്ധയിൽപ്പെട്ടു. ജാതി അടിസ്ഥാനത്തിലുള്ള റിസർവേഷൻ വേണമോ വേണ്ടയോ എന്നതല്ല ഇവിടെ ചർച്ച ചെയ്യാൻ ഉദ്ദേശിക്കുന്നത്. മറിച്ചു ശരിക്കു SC/ST വിഭാഗത്തിൽ പെട്ടവർക്കണോ ഈ റിസർവേഷൻ എല്ലാം ലഭിക്കുന്നത്? 50% ജാതി റിസർവേഷൻ ശരിക്കും ആർക്കാണ് കിട്ടുന്നത്. അതാണ് ഇവിടെ പ്രതിപാദിക്കാൻ ഉദ്ദേശിക്കുന്നത്. കേരള PSCയുടെ റിസർവേഷൻ റൂൾസും റോടേഷൻ ചാർട്ടും ആണ് അടിസ്ഥാനം.

കേരള PSC റൊടേഷൻ ചാർട് ആണ് ഇവിടെ ചിത്രത്തിൽ കാണുന്നത്. അത് പ്രകാരം 50% ഓപ്പൺ കോംപെറ്റീഷൻ, ബാക്കി 50% റീസെർവഷൻ.

റീസെർവഷനിൽ തന്നെ ഏറ്റവും കൂടുതൽ ഈഴവ/തീയ്യ വിഭാഗത്തിനാണ് - 14%. തൊട്ടു പുറകിൽ മുസ്ലിം സമുദായം ആണ് - 12% ആകെ ഉള്ള റീസെർവഷന്റെ പകുതിയിൽ അധികം ഈ രണ്ടു സമുദായങ്ങൾക്കാണ് ലഭിക്കുന്നത്.

പിന്നെ ഉള്ളത് SC വിഭാഗം ആണ് 8%. പിന്നീടുള്ളത് ലാറ്റിൻ കത്തോലിക്ക / ആംഗ്ലോ ഇന്ത്യൻ വിഭാഗം - 4%, വിശ്വകർമ, മറ്റു പിന്നോക്ക വിഭാഗക്കാർ എന്നിവയ്ക്ക് 3% വീതവും ആണ്. ST വിഭാഗത്തിന് 2% ആണ് റിസർവേഷൻ ഉള്ളത്. SIUC നാടാർ, ധീവര, ഹിന്ദു നാടാർ, മറ്റു ക്രിസ്ത്യൻ വിഭാഗങ്ങൾ എന്നിവക്ക് 1% വീതം ആണ് റിസർവേഷൻ ഉള്ളത്.

കേവലം 10% (SC 8%, ST 2%) മാത്രം റീസെർവഷൻ ഉള്ള SC/ST വിഭാഗങ്ങൾക്ക് എല്ലാ റിസർവേഷനും ലഭിക്കുന്നു എന്ന പ്രചാരണം സോഷ്യൽ മീഡിയയിൽ സജീവമായ സാഹചര്യത്തിൽ ആണ് ഇത്തരം ഒരു ബ്ലോഗ് എഴുതേണ്ടി വരുന്നത്. അങ്ങനെ പ്രചരണം നടത്തുന്നവരിൽ, Say No to Reservation ക്യാമ്പയിൻ നായിക്കുന്നവരിൽ കൂടുതലും ശരിക്കും റിസർവേഷൻന്റെ ഗുണഫലം അനുഭവിക്കുന്ന സമുദായങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് ആണ് എന്നത് ഒരു വിരോധാഭാസം ആയിരിക്കാം.

വീണ്ടും ഒരു എഞ്ചിനീയറിംഗ് അഡ്മിഷൻ കാലം

2018-06-13T00:06:00.001-07:00

എൻട്രൻസ് എക്സാം എഴുതി ഉയർന്ന റാങ്ക് നേടിയാൽ മാത്രം എഞ്ചിനീറിങ്ങിന് അഡ്മിഷൻ കിട്ടിയിരുന്ന ഒരു കാലം ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. ഇന്നത്തെ പോലെ 170ൽ പരം കോളേജുകൾ ഇല്ലാതിരുന്ന ഒരു കാലം. എന്നാൽ ഇന്ന് സ്ഥിതി മാറി.
സർക്കാർ കോളേജുകൾ 9, എയ്ഡഡ് കോളേജുകൾ 3. ഇവ രണ്ടും ചേർന്ന് 12 കോളേജുകൾ. ഇത്തരം കോളേജുകളിൽ സർക്കാർ ഫീസ് നൽകിയാൽ മതിയാകും.
സർക്കാർ നിയന്ത്രിത സ്വാശ്രയ കോളേജുകൾ സഹകരണ വകുപ്പിന്റെ നിയന്ത്രണത്തിലുള്ള CAPEനു കീഴിൽ 9, IHRDക്കു കീഴിൽ 9, LBSനു കീഴിൽ 2, KSRTC, കേരള സർവ്വകലാശാല, എംജി സർവ്വകലാശാല, കാലിക്കറ്റ് സർവകലാശാല, CCE എന്നിവക്ക് കീഴിൽ ഒന്ന് വീതം, ആകെ 25 കോളേജുകൾ. ഇവിടങ്ങളിൽ മെറിറ്റ് സീറ്റിനു 35000 രൂപയും മാനേജ്‌മെന്റ് സീറ്റിനു 65000 രൂപയും NRI സീറ്റിനു 100000 രൂപയുമാണ് വാർഷിക ഫീസ്. ഇതിനു പുറമെ NRI സീറ്റിൽ അഡ്മിഷൻ എടുക്കുന്നവർ 1.25 ലക്ഷം രൂപയുടെ 4 വർഷ കാലാവധിയുള്ള പലിശ രഹിത ഡിപോസിറ്റ് കൂടി നൽകണം. എന്നാൽ CAPEന്റെ കീഴിലുള്ള 9 എഞ്ചിനീയറിംഗ് കോളേജുകളിൽ ഈ ഡിപോസിറ്റ് നൽകേണ്ടതില്ല.
ഇനി ബാക്കിയുള്ള 138 കോളേജുകൾ സ്വകാര്യ സ്വാശ്രയ മേഖലയിൽ ആണ്. എഞ്ചിനീയറിംഗ് കോളേജ് മാനേജ്‌മെന്റ് അസോസിയേഷൻ സർക്കാരുമായി കാലാകാലം ഉണ്ടാക്കുന്ന കരാർ അനുസരിച്ചാണ് ഇവിടങ്ങളിലെ ഫീസ് ഘടന. എൻട്രൻസ് കമ്മീഷണറുടെ വെബ്‌സൈറ്റിൽ ഓരോ കോളേജുകളും അവരവരുടെ ഫീസ് വിവരവും മറ്റു സൗകര്യങ്ങളും വിശദമായി വെളിപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്.

കഴിഞ്ഞ കുറെ വർഷങ്ങളായി എഞ്ചിനീയറിംഗ് കോഴ്‌സുകളോട് വിദ്യാർത്ഥികൾക്കും രക്ഷിതാക്കൾക്കും താല്പര്യം കുറഞ്ഞു വരുന്നതായി പൊതുവെ കാണപ്പെടുന്നുണ്ട്. കൂൺ പോലെ മുളച്ചു പൊന്തിയ എഞ്ചിനീയറിംഗ് കോളേജുകളേയും അവയിലെ പഠന നിലവാരവും നിയന്ത്രിക്കാൻ സർവകലാശാലകൾക്ക് കഴിയാതിരുന്നതാണ് ഒരു കാരണം. എഞ്ചിനീയറിംഗ് ഒരു പ്രൊഫഷണൽ കോഴ്സ് ആയതിനാൽ സർവ്വകലാശാല പരീക്ഷകൾ പാസ് ആകുന്നതിനോടൊപ്പം തൊഴിൽ മേഖലയിൽ ഉള്ള വൈദഗ്ധ്യം നേടുക കൂടി അത്യാവശ്യം ആണ്. നാസ്‌കോം ഉൾപ്പെടെ പല ഏജൻസികൾ നടത്തിയ പഠനങ്ങളിൽ എഞ്ചിനീയറിംഗ് ബിരുദം നേടുന്നവരിൽ വളരെ ചുരുക്കം ആളുകൾക്ക് മാത്രമേ തൊഴിൽ നൈപുണ്യം ഉള്ളു എന്ന് കണ്ടെത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. സ്വാഭാവികമായും ഇത് ബിരുദധാരികളിൽ തൊഴിലില്ലായ്മ ഉണ്ടാക്കും. ഇതാണ് മറ്റൊരു കാരണം. ബിസിനസ്സ് രംഗത്ത് നിലനിൽക്കുന്ന മാന്ദ്യം ഉൾപ്പെടെ മറ്റ് പല ബാഹ്യ കാരണങ്ങൾ കൂടി ഉണ്ടെങ്കിലും നല്ല പഠന നിലവാരത്തിൽ തൊഴിൽ നൈപുണ്യത്തോട് കൂടി പടിച്ചിറങ്ങുക എന്നത് അത്യന്താപേക്ഷിതമാണ്.

സ്കിൽ ഡെലിവറി പ്ലാറ്ഫോം ഓഫ് കേരള (SDPK), കേരള സ്റ്റാർട്ടപ്പ് മിഷൻ, ICT അക്കാദമി എന്നിവയെ ഉൾപ്പെടെ ഉപയോഗപ്പെടുത്തി കേരള സർക്കാർ ഇതിന് വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളെ സഹായിക്കാൻ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. കേരള ടെക്നോളജിക്കൽ യൂണിവേഴ്‌സിറ്റിയിൽ (KTU) ആണ് ഭൂരിഭാഗം കോളേജുകളും അഫിലിയേറ്റ് ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നത്. നൂതന കോഴ്‌സുകളും മറ്റും തുടങ്ങിയും, കമ്പനികളിൽ സമ്മർ അവധിക്കാലത്ത് 2 ആഴ്ച നീളുന്ന സമ്മർ ഇന്റേർൺഷിപ് നിർബന്ധമാക്കിയും KTUവും ഈ ലക്‌ഷ്യം കൈവരിക്കാൻ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നു.

തമിഴ് നാട്ടിലും മറ്റു സംസ്ഥാനങ്ങളിലും എഞ്ചിനീറിങ്ങിന് ചേരുന്ന കുട്ടികളുടെ അവസ്ഥ ഇതിലും പരിതാപകരമാണ്. വളരെ താഴ്ന്ന വിജയ ശതമാനമാണ് ഇവയിൽ മിക്കതിലും. മുകളിൽ പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്ന യാതൊരു വിധ നൈപുണ്യ പരിശീലനവും അവർക്കു ലഭിക്കുന്നുമില്ല. എന്നാൽ കമ്മീഷൻ വ്യവസ്ഥയിൽ കുട്ടികളെ വലവീശി പിടിക്കാൻ ഏജന്റ്മാരെ ഇറാക്കിയിരിക്കുകയാണ് അന്യ സംസ്ഥാന എഞ്ചിനീറിങ്ങ് കോളേജുകൾ.

ഇനി അല്പം ബിസിനസ്സ് ആകാം അല്ലെ? സർക്കാർ, എയ്ഡഡ് മേഖലകളിൽ ഉള്ള 12 കോളേജുകൾക്കു ഇത് ബാധകമല്ല കാരണം അവരുടെ ചിലവുകൾ വഹിക്കുന്നത് സർക്കാർ ആണ്. ഒരു കോളേജിൽ 60സീറ്റ് ആണ് സാധാരണ ഒരു ബ്രാഞ്ചിൽ ഉണ്ടാകുക. ഇതിനായി AICTE നിഷ്കർഷിക്കുന്ന 1:20 ഫാക്കൽറ്റി സ്റ്റുഡന്റ് അനുപാതം അനുസരിച്ചു 3 അധ്യാപകർ ആവശ്യമായി വരും. ഒരു അധ്യാപകന്റെ ശരാശരി ശമ്പളം 50000 രൂപ എന്ന് കണക്കാക്കിയാൽ, ഇവർക്ക് ശമ്പളം നൽകാനായി പ്രതിമാസം 1.5 ലക്ഷം രൂപയും, പ്രതിവർഷം 18ലക്ഷം രൂപയും വേണ്ടി വരും. 60 സീറ്റിൽ 30 സീറ്റ് മേരിറ്റിലും, 27 സീറ്റ് മാനേജ്മെന്റിലും 3 സീറ്റ് NRIയിലും ആണ് പൊതുവെ ഉണ്ടാകുക. CAPEന്റെ കോളേജുകളിൽ 36 സീറ്റ് മേരിറ്റിലും 21 സീറ്റ് മാനേജ്മെന്റിലും 3 സീറ്റ് NRI യിലും ആണ് ഉള്ളത്. ഒരു സീറ്റിലെ ശരാശരി ഫീസ് 50000 രൂപ എന്ന് കണക്കാക്കിയാൽ അധ്യാപകർക്ക് നല്കേണ്ടുന്ന 18 ലക്ഷം രൂപ നല്കാൻ ചുരുങ്ങിയത് 36 കുട്ടികൾ അഡ്മിഷൻ എടുക്കേണ്ടി വരും. മറ്റ് എസ്റ്റാബ്ലിഷ്മെന്റ് ചിലവുകളും ഇൻഫ്രാസ്ട്രക്ചർ ചിലവുകളും അനധ്യാപക ജീവനക്കാരുടെ ശമ്പളവും മറ്റും കണക്കിൽ എടുത്താൽ ചുരുങ്ങിയത് 45 കുട്ടികൾ എങ്കിലും പ്രതിവർഷം അഡ്മിഷൻ എടുത്താൽ മാത്രമേ ലാഭകരമായി പ്രവർത്തിക്കാൻ സാധിക്കു. എന്നാൽ അഡ്മിഷനിൽ വരുന്ന വരുമാന കുറവ് മൂലമുള്ള സാമ്പത്തിക പ്രതിസന്ധി മറികടക്കാൻ പല സ്വകാര്യ സ്വാശ്രയ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളും

പരിചയസമ്പന്നരായ അധ്യാപകരെയും ടെക്നിക്കൽ സ്റ്റാഫിനെയും ഒഴിവാക്കി ഇപ്പോൾ പഠനം പൂർത്തിയാക്കിയ മുൻപരിചയം ഇല്ലാത്തവരെ കുറഞ്ഞ ശമ്പളത്തിൽ നിയമിക്കുന്ന പ്രവണത കാണുന്നുണ്ട്. പരിചയ സമ്പന്നരായ അധ്യാപകരുടെ അഭാവം അധ്യാനത്തെ ദോഷകരമായി ബാധിക്കും എന്ന് പ്രത്യേകം പറയേണ്ടതില്ലല്ലോ.

എന്നാൽ സർക്കാർ നിയന്ത്രണത്തിൽ ഉള്ള 25 സ്വാശ്രയ കോളേജുകൾക്ക് സർക്കാർ ബഡ്ജറ്റിൽ ഉൾപ്പെടുത്തി പ്ലാൻ, നോൺ പ്ലാൻ ഫണ്ടുകൾ ലഭ്യമായാൽ കുറച്ചൊക്കെ നഷ്ടം നികത്താനാകും. ഇതിന് പുറമെ സഹകരണ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുടെ ലാഭ വിഹിതം കോപ്പറേറ്റീവ് ഡെവലപ്പ്മെന്റ് ഫണ്ട് ബോർഡ് വഴി CAPE കോളേജുകൾക്ക് ലഭ്യമാണ്.

ഈ പറഞ്ഞതിൽ കുറവ് അഡ്മിഷനും ഫീസും ഉള്ള കോളേജുകളുടെ നിലനിൽപ്പ് തന്നെ അവതാളത്തിൽ ആകും. പിടിച്ചു നില്ക്കാൻ ഉള്ള അവസാന ശ്രമമാണ് ഫീസും മറ്റും കുറച്ചുകൊണ്ടുള്ള (സ്കോളർഷിപ്പ് എന്ന ഓമന പേരിൽ) സ്വകാര്യ സ്വാശ്രയ കോളേജുകളുടെ നടപടികൾ.

കേരളത്തിന് അകത്തും പുറത്തുമുള്ള സ്വാശ്രയ മാനേജ്മെന്റുകൾ കണ്ടെത്തിയ മറ്റൊരു വഴി വിദ്യാർത്ഥികൾ ഓപ്ഷൻ കൊടുക്കാൻ പോകുന്ന ഇന്റർനെറ്റ് കഫെകൾ, അക്ഷയ കേന്ദ്രങ്ങൾ എന്നിവയുടെ ഉടമസ്ഥരെയും ജീവനക്കാരെയും കമ്മീഷൻ വ്യവസ്ഥയിൽ സ്വാധീനിച്ചു അവരുടെ അജ്ഞതയെ മുതലെടുത്തു അഡ്മിഷൻ തരപ്പെടുത്തുക എന്നുള്ളതാണ്. പുതിയ അഡ്മിഷൻ എടുപ്പിക്കുന്ന നിലവിലുള്ള വിദ്യാർത്ഥികൾക്കും മറ്റും കമ്മീഷനും മറ്റു പരിതോഷികങ്ങളും നൽകുന്ന കോളേജുകളും നിലവിലുണ്ട് എന്നതിനാൽ ഈ മേഖലയിലെ അപചയം എത്രത്തോളം ഉണ്ട് എന്ന് മനസിലാക്കാം.

ഇത്തരം ചൂഷണങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളെ സംരക്ഷിക്കാനായി സർക്കാർ, എയ്ഡഡ്, സർക്കാർ നിയന്ത്രണത്തിലുള്ള സ്വാശ്രയ കോളേജുകൾ എന്നീ വിഭാഗങ്ങളിൽ പെടുന്ന 37 കോളേജുകളെ അംഗീകൃത ഓപ്ഷൻ ഫെസിലിറ്റേഷൻ സെന്ററുകൾ ആയി ചുമതലപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. അത്തരം അംഗീകൃത ഓപ്ഷൻ ഫെസിലിറ്റേഷൻ സെന്ററുകളിൽ വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളുടെയും രക്ഷിതാക്കളുടെയും സംശയങ്ങളും മറ്റും നിവാരണം ചെയ്യുന്നതിനായി ഉദ്യോയോഗസ്ഥരെ പ്രത്യേകം ചുമതലപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. ഇവിടങ്ങളിൽ മാർക്ക് അപ്ലോഡ് ചെയ്യാനും, ഓപ്ഷനുകൾ കൊടുക്കാനും ഉൾപ്പെടെ എഞ്ചിനീറിങ്ങിന് അഡ്മിഷനുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട എല്ലാ ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട പ്രവർത്തികൾക്കും സൗകര്യം ഉണ്ടായിരിക്കും. ഓപ്ഷൻ ഫെസിലിറ്റേഷൻ സെന്ററുകൾ തീർത്തും സൗജന്യമായി നൽകുന്ന സേവനം പരമാവധി പ്രയോജനപ്പെടുത്തിയായൽ ചതിക്കുഴികൾ ഒഴിവാക്കാം. കേരളത്തിലെ അംഗീകൃത ഓപ്ഷൻ ഫെസിലിറ്റേഷൻ സെന്ററുകളുടെ ലിസ്റ്റ് KEAM വെബ്സൈറ്റിൽ ലഭ്യമാണ്. ലിങ്ക് ഇതാണ് : https://cee.kerala.gov.in/keam2018/help/FCllist.pdf?tk=321c5abf5b2038d4f0293073d086fe7832bf2f7b

ചുരുക്കി പറഞ്ഞാൽ വീടിനു അടുത്തുള്ളതോ ഫീസ് കുറഞ്ഞതോ ആയിരിക്കരുത് കോളേജ് തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കാനുള്ള മാനദണ്ഡം. നിലവാരം തന്നെയാകണം അതിനുള്ള മാനദണ്ഡം. കാരണം ഈ 4 വർഷങ്ങളാണ് ഭാവിയിലെ കരിയർ നിശ്ചയിക്കുന്നത്.
ഓരോ കോളേജുകളും അവരുടെ നിലവാരം ഉയർത്തിക്കാണിക്കുന്ന രീതിയിലുള്ള റാങ്കിങ് ലിസ്റ്റുകൾ ഇറക്കുന്നതിനാൽ അവ ഉപയോഗിച്ച് അഭിപ്രായം രൂപീകരിക്കുന്നത് ശരിയായ രീതിയല്ല. അതിനാൽ വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളും രക്ഷിതാക്കളും കോളേജുകളെ പറ്റിയുള്ള അഭിപ്രായം രൂപീകരിക്കുന്ന വേളയിൽ ആധികാരികമായ സ്രോതസുകളിൽ നിന്നുള്ള വിവരങ്ങൾ മാത്രം സ്വീകരിക്കുക.
1. എൻട്രൻസ് കമ്മീഷണറുടെ വെബ്സൈറ്റ്
http://www.cee-kerala.org/. ഇതിൽ നിന്നും ഓരോ കോളേജുകളിൽ നിലവിലുള്ള അടിസ്ഥാന സൗകര്യങ്ങളുടെ വിവരം ലഭിയ്ക്കും. അത്പോലെ തന്നെ കഴിഞ്ഞ വർഷത്തെ അവസാന റാങ്ക് നിലയും ലഭിക്കും. എവിടെയാണ് അഡ്മിഷൻ കിട്ടാൻ സാധ്യത എന്ന് ഇത് മൂലം അനുമാനിക്കാം.
2. NBA അസിക്രെഡിറ്റേഷൻ ഉള്ള കോളേജുകളുടെ വിവരങ്ങൾ KTU വെബ്സൈറ്റിൽ ലഭ്യമാണ്. https://ktu.edu.in/eu/afn/nbaAccreditedInstitutes.htm?=bUtXCM3SWpzJlhYaB%2BrKA7pMYQ1l1QUWprI%2FPL5sasK%2FHNbHl%2B17PsWrm%2F63vPLM
3. KTU വെബ്സൈറ്റിൽ ഉള്ള Affiliated Colleges എന്ന ലിങ്ക്. https://ktu.edu.in/eu/afn/affiliationInstitutes.htm?=utBOj6QwAcQzRWBOCAp4w%2BYuoHiUf%2FYvRFNGU8435%2F8%2BZ5XMVJgA95NcHjJqJDAp. ഇതിൽ ഓരോ കോളേജുകളുടെ പേരിനു താഴെ ഉള്ള Affiliated Programs എന്ന ലിങ്ക് ക്ലിക്ക് ചെയ്താൽ കഴിഞ്ഞ വർഷങ്ങളിലെ അഡ്മിഷൻ വിവരങ്ങൾ ലഭിക്കും.
4. KTU വെബ്സൈറ്റിൽ ഉള്ള Results ലിങ്ക്. https://ktu.edu.in/eu/res/resultAnalysis.htm?=uKxzB4cOsHwv5ua5o7BPZ9SpJSWiW9DLqwPuwrQV7Cc%3D. ഇതിൽ കോളേജുകളിലെ വിജയ ശതമാനം ലഭ്യമാണ്.

വിജയ ശതമാനവും അഡ്മിഷൻ വിവരങ്ങളും (മുകളിൽ പറഞ്ഞ പോയിന്റ് 4, 3) താരതമ്യം ചെയ്താൽ കോളേജുകളുടെ ഗുണനിലവരത്തെ പറ്റി ഏകദേശ ധാരണ ലഭിക്കും.

എഞ്ചിനീയറിംഗ് കോളേജും കോഴ്‌സും തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുന്നതിനെ പറ്റി നേരത്തെ എഴുതിയിട്ടുള്ളതിനാൽ ആവർത്തിക്കുന്നില്ല. ലിങ്ക് ചേർക്കുന്നു : http://vaisakhg.blogspot.com/2016/06/blog-post.html?m=1

വാൽക്കഷ്ണം: നിങ്ങള്ക്ക് വിലക്കുറവിൽ എന്തെങ്കിലും ലഭിക്കുന്നുണ്ടെങ്കിൽ ഒന്നുകിൽ സർക്കാർ സബ്സിഡി (ധനസഹായം) ഉണ്ടാകണം, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ അതിന്റെ ഗുണനിലവാരത്തിൽ എന്തെങ്കിലും കുഴപ്പം കാണും. പ്രസിദ്ധമായ ഇംഗ്ളീഷ് പഴഞ്ചൊല്ല് പോലെ "There is nothing like free beer"

ചില്ലറ സോഷ്യൽ മീഡിയ ചിന്തകൾ

2018-02-13T19:00:00.001-08:00

സന്ധ്യക്ക്‌ നാമം ചൊല്ലണം,
അതും ഉറക്കെ,

അമ്പലക്കുളത്തില്‍ മീന്‍ പിടിക്കാന്‍ പാടില്ല,
സോപ്പ് ഉപയോഗിക്കാന്‍ പാടില്ല.!

പാമ്പും കാവില്‍ നിന്ന് ഒരു ചുള്ളികമ്പു പോലും ഒടിക്കാന്‍ പാടില്ല.!

ഭക്ഷണം കഴിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ഒരു വറ്റ് പോലും കളയാന്‍ പാടില്ല.!

മുതിര്‍ന്നവരെ ചവുട്ടാന്‍ പാടില്ല,
അഥവാ ചവുട്ടിയാല്‍ തൊട്ടു നെറുകയില്‍ വെക്കണം.!

തുളസി, കറുക, ബ്രഹ്മി..
ഇതൊന്നും നശിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ പാടില്ല.!

ഇതൊക്കെ , എഴുപതുകളില്‍ ,
ഒരു ശരാശരി നാട്ടിന്‍പുറത്ത് കുട്ടികള്‍ കേട്ട് പഴകിയ 'അരുത്'കളാണ്,
നിര്‍ബന്ധങ്ങളും !

വേറെയും ഉണ്ട് ഇതുപോലെ ഉള്ള ആചാരങ്ങള്‍,
മര്യാദകള്‍..

പക്ഷെ എണ്‍പതുകളില്‍ ഇതിനെയൊക്കെ ചോദ്യം ചെയ്യാനുള്ള 'യുക്തി'വാദം മനസ്സില്‍ കയറിയത് പുരോഗമന പ്രസ്ഥാനങ്ങളില്‍ പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുകയും അവരുടെ ക്ലാസുകളില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു തുടങ്ങിയപ്പോള്‍ മുതലാണ്‌.

ഇല്ലെങ്കില്‍?
ചെയ്താല്‍?
എന്തുണ്ടാകും?
എന്നിങ്ങനെ ധാര്‍ഷ്ട്യം കലര്‍ന്ന വെല്ലുവിളികള്‍ ഉയര്‍ത്താന്‍ തുടങ്ങി.

സത്യമാണ്,
നാമം ചൊല്ലാതിരിന്നത് കൊണ്ടു മാത്രം പരീക്ഷക്ക്‌ മാര്‍ക്ക് കുറഞ്ഞൊന്നും ഇല്ല!

അമ്പലക്കുളത്തില്‍ മീന്‍ പിടിച്ചത് കൊണ്ടൊ,
സോപ്പ് ഉപയോഗിച്ചത്‍ കൊണ്ടൊ അപകടം ഒന്നും വന്നില്ല!

പാമ്പും കാവില്‍ നിന്ന് കാരപ്പഴം തിന്നിട്ട് വായില്‍ പുണ്ണും വന്നില്ല..!

മുതിര്‍ന്നവരെ ചവുട്ടിയിട്ടു കാലില്‍
മന്ത് വന്നില്ല.!

പക്ഷെ...!
കുളങ്ങളായ കുളങ്ങള്‍ എല്ലാം മാലിന്യം കൊണ്ടു കൊഴുത്തു ചുവന്നു പോയി!

സന്ധ്യക്ക്‌ എല്ലാവരും ടീവിയുടെ മുന്നിലായി..

പച്ചത്തുരുത്ത് ആയിരുന്ന കാവുകള്‍ വെട്ടി വെളുപ്പിച്ചു!

ഒരു മണി അരി ഉണ്ടാക്കുന്നതിന്‍റെ കഷ്ടപ്പാട് ആരും പറയാതെയായി,
അറിയാതെയായി!

മുതിര്‍ന്നവരോട്
ഒട്ടും ബഹുമാനം ഇല്ലാതെയും ആയി..

തുളസിയും, കറുകയും, ബ്രഹ്മിയും..
നട്ടാൽ മുളക്കാതെയായി..

കാണുന്നത് പരസ്യങ്ങളില്‍ മാത്രമായി..!!

എന്ത് 'യുക്തി' ആയിരുന്നു ഇത്തരം നിര്‍ദോഷ ആചാരങ്ങളെ എതിര്‍ക്കാന്‍ പ്രേരിപ്പിച്ചത് എന്ന്
ഇന്ന് ഓര്‍ക്കുമ്പോള്‍ നിരാശ തോന്നും.

വിശ്വാസങ്ങള്‍ അന്ധമാകാതിരിക്കണം എന്നത് പോലെതന്നെ,
എതിര്‍പ്പുകളും അന്ധമാകാതിരിക്കണം എന്ന് തിരിച്ചറിയാന്‍ വൈകിപോകുന്നത് അത്ര നല്ല ലക്ഷണം അല്ല.

പ്രകൃതിക്ക് ഇണങ്ങുന്ന,
അതിനെ സംരക്ഷിക്കുന്ന
എല്ലാ വിശ്വാസങ്ങളെയും ആചാരങ്ങളെയും അങ്ങിനെതന്നെ നിലനിര്‍ത്താന്‍
കുറച്ചു തീവ്രവാദി ആകുന്നതില്‍ തെറ്റില്ല എന്ന് ഇപ്പോള്‍ തോന്നുന്നു!

ചായ കുടിച്ചു കഴിഞ്ഞ് വലിച്ചെറിയാന്‍ പാകത്തിലുള്ള
ഒരു Disposable ഗ്ലാസ്‌ അല്ലല്ലോ ഈ ഭൂമി!

നമുക്ക് കിട്ടിയ കോലത്തിലെങ്കിലും,
അടുത്ത തലമുറയ്ക്ക് ഇത് കൈമാറാന്‍ നമുക്ക് ഉത്തരവാദിത്വം ഉണ്ട്!

കടപ്പാട്..... ഏല്ലാ പഴമക്കാർക്കും

നിങ്ങളിൽ പലർക്കും ഇങ്ങനെ ഒരു മെസേജ്‌ കിട്ടിയിട്ടുണ്ടാകും. ഇതിനെ പറ്റി ചില നിരീക്ഷണങ്ങൾ.

1. സന്ധ്യക്ക് നാമം ചൊള്ളതതു കൊണ്ടല്ല എല്ലാവരും സീരിയലിന്റെ മുന്നിൽ ആയതു. പണ്ട് ആ ഒപ്ഷൻ ഇല്ലായിരുന്നു. ഇപ്പൊൾ ഉണ്ട്. സീരിയലിന്റെ മുന്നിൽ ഇരിക്കുന്നവർ യുക്തി വാദികൾ അല്ല. പൊതുവിൽ യുക്തിവാദികൾ സീരിയൽ കാണാൻ സാധ്യത കുറവാണ്. കാരണം സീരിയലിൽ യുക്തിക്ക് നിരക്കുന്ന ഒന്നും കാണാനില്ല. നാമം ചൊല്ലാൻ ആളെ കിട്ടാത്തതിന് യുക്തിവാദികൾ എന്ത് പിഴച്ചു.

2. അമ്പലകുളത്തിൽ സോപ്പ് ഉപയോഗിക്കണം എന്നല്ല യുക്തി വാദികളുടെ നിലപാട്, വേറെ കുളങ്ങളിൽ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നു എങ്കിൽ അമ്പലകുളത്തിൽ മാത്രം എന്ത് കൊണ്ട് പാടില്ല? ഒരു കുളത്തിലും ഉപയോഗിക്കരുത് എന്നതതാണ് ശരിയായ നിലപാട്. ഇവിടെയും യുക്തിവാദികൾ എന്ത് പിഴച്ചു?

3. കാവിൽ നിന്നും ചെടി ഓടിക്കരുത് എന്ന് കള്ളം പറഞ്ഞു പഠിപ്പിച്ചത് കൊണ്ടാണ് കാവ് വെട്ടിത്തെളച്ചിട്ടും ഒന്നും സംഭവിക്കുന്നില്ല എന്ന് മനസ്സിലാക്കിയപ്പോൾ അവർ കാവായ കാവോക്കെ വെട്ടി തെളിച്ചതു. കള്ളം പറഞ്ഞു പഠിപ്പിക്കാതെ കാട് സംരക്ഷിക്കേണ്ടതിന്റെ ആവശ്യകത എന്താണ് എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു പഠിപ്പിച്ചിരുന്നെങ്കിൽ എത്ര പ്രയോജനം ഉണ്ടയെനെ. അതാണ് യുക്തിവാദികളുടെ വഴി. അതാണ് ശരിയും.

4. മുതിർന്നവരെ ബഹുമാനിക്കേണ്ട എന്ന് യുക്തി വാദികൾ പഠിപ്പിച്ചിട്ടില്ല. അത് പഠിപ്പിച്ചത് പുരാണങ്ങൾ ആണ്. സ്വന്തം അമ്മാവനെ കൊന്ന ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണൻ ആണല്ലോ മുത്തവരെ ബഹുമാനിക്കണം എന്ന് പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്ന നല്ല ഉദാഹരണം. അതുപോലെ പ്രഹ്ലാദന്റെ കഥ. എന്നിട്ട് പിള്ളേര് ബഹുമാനം തരാത്തതിന് യുക്തിവാദി എന്ത് പിഴച്ചു.

5. അരിമണി ഉണ്ടാക്കാനുള്ള കഷ്ടപ്പാടും യുക്തിവാദികളും തമ്മിലുള്ള ബന്ധം എന്താണ് എന്ന് മനസിലായില്ല.

6. പിന്നെ ഇതിൽ പറഞ്ഞതിൽ ശരിയായ ഒരു കാര്യം, ലോകം നമുക്ക് കിട്ടിയ കോലത്തിൽ എങ്കിലും അടുത്ത തലമുറക്ക് കൊടുക്കണം എന്നാണ്. അതിനു വേണ്ടത് ശാസ്ത്രീയമായ സമീപനവും യുക്തിഭദ്രമായ ചിന്തകളും പ്രവർത്തികളും ആണ്. അല്ലാതെ ഉടായിപ്പ് "അരുത്"കൾ അല്ല.

7. തീവ്രവാദി ആകുന്നതും ആകത്തിരിക്കുന്നതും ഒരാളുടെ വ്യക്തിപരമായ കാര്യമാണ്. തീവ്രവാദി ആകണമെങ്കിൽ അതങ്ങ് ആയാൽ പോരെ? വെറുതെ യുക്തിവാദികളുടെ നെഞ്ചത്തോട്ട് കയറുന്നത് എന്തിനാ?

ബാങ്കുകളുടെ ചൂഷണത്തിനെതിരെ ഒരു ചെറിയ പ്രതിഷേധം

2017-02-03T06:43:00.001-08:00

SBT ഉൾപ്പെടെയുള്ള ബാങ്കുകൾ ഓൺലൈൻ ട്രാൻസാക്ഷനുകൾക്ക് സർവീസ് ചാർജ് ഈടാക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. മൂന്ന് ATM ട്രാൻസാക്ഷനുകൾ മാത്രമേ സൗജന്യമായി നടത്താൻ കഴിയു.
ബാങ്കുകളുടെ ഇത്തരം ചൂഷണങ്ങൾക്കെതിരെ പ്രതിഷേധം ഉയർന്നു വരേണ്ടിയിരിക്കുന്നു. ഒരു വെത്യസ്തമായ മാർഗം പറയട്ടെ?
പുതിയ ഒരു ചെക്ക് ബുക്ക് ഓഡർ ചെയ്യുക. അതിലുള്ള എല്ലാ ചെക്കിലും ഓരോ രുപ വീതം എഴുതി കൗണ്ടറിൽ നൽകി പണം പിൻവലിക്കുക. കൗണ്ടറിൽ ഇരിക്കുന്ന ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥനോട് ഇത് പ്രതിഷേധം ആണ് എന്ന് പറയുക. മാത്രമല്ല ബാങ്കിൽ അപ്പോൾ ഉള്ള മറ്റ് ഇടപാട്കാരോടും ഈ പ്രതിഷേധ രീതിയെപ്പറ്റി പറയുക.
NB: ചെക്കിൽ ഇപ്രകാരം എഴുതാൻ മറക്കരുത് : "Protest against ATM and other charges"

എഞ്ചിനീറിങ് കോഴ്സ്ഉം കോളേജ്ഉം തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുമ്പോൾ

2016-06-27T12:47:00.001-07:00

ഒരല്പം താമസിച്ചു പോയോ ഇതെഴുതാൻ എന്നുള്ള ഒരു സങ്കോചത്തോടെയാണ് ഇതു എഴുതാൻ ഇരിക്കുന്നത്. "Better late than never" എന്ന ചൊല്ലണ് പ്രചോദനം നൽകുന്നത്. സമയക്കുറവു മൂലം ഒരു ചെക്ക്ലിസ്റ്റിൽ ഒതുക്കാം എന്നുള്ള നിഗമനത്തിലേക്ക് എത്തിച്ചേരാൻ അധികം സമയം വേണ്ടി വന്നില്ല.

എഞ്ചിനീറിങ് പഠനം തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കക്കുന്നതിനു മുൻപ് വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളും അവരുടെ രക്ഷിതാക്കളും ചിന്തിക്കേണ്ട ചില കാര്യങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ട്

വിദ്യാർത്ഥിക്ക് എഞ്ചിനീറിങ് പഠിക്കാനുള്ള വാസന ഉണ്ടോ? എഞ്ചിനീറിങ് പഠനം നടത്താനും അതിലുപരിയായി ഇഞ്ചിനീയർ ആയി ജോലി ചെയ്യാനും വളരെയധികം analytical ability ആവശ്യമായി വരും. വിദ്യാർത്ഥിയുടെ കണക്കിലും ഫിസിക്സിലുമുള്ള അവബോധ നിലവാരം ഇതിനുള്ള ഏകകമാക്കാവുന്നതാണ്.
വിദ്യാർത്ഥിക്ക് എഞ്ചിനീറിങ് പഠിക്കാനുള്ള ആഗ്രഹമുണ്ടോ? പലപ്പോഴും എഞ്ചിനീറിങ് കോളേജിൽ എത്തിപ്പെടുന്ന വിദ്യാർത്ഥികൾക്ക് അതിനോട് താല്പര്യമില്ലാതിരിക്കാം. അതു അവർ പഠനത്തിൽ ഉദാസീനരാകാൻ കാരണമാകും. 50 ൽ പരം വിഷയങ്ങളാണ് ഒരു എഞ്ചിനീറിങ് പഠന കാലയളവിനുള്ളിൽ പഠിച്ചു പാസ്സാകേണ്ടത്. താല്പര്യമില്ലാത്ത വിദ്യാർത്ഥികൾക്ക് ഇതു തീർത്തും ദുഷ്കരമായിരിക്കും.
മുകളിൽ പറഞ്ഞ രണ്ടിനും അതേ എന്നാണ് ഉത്തരമെങ്കിൽ അതു ഇവിടെ പഠിക്കണം എന്നുള്ളതാണ് അടുത്ത ചോദ്യം.

പഠിക്കുന്ന കോളേജിന് നല്ല നിലവാരം വേണം. പ്ലേസ്‌മെന്റ് സൗകര്യങ്ങൾ വേണം. സർക്കാർ കോളേജുകളും സർക്കാർ എയ്‌ഡഡ്‌ കോളേജുകളുമാണ് ഒന്നാമതായുള്ള ഓപ്ഷൻ. പക്ഷെ അവയിലെ സീറ്റുകൾ വളരെയധികം കുറവാണ്. പിന്നീട് വരുന്നത് സർക്കാർ നിയന്ത്രണത്തിലുള്ള CAPE, IHRD, LBS, KSRTC, Continuing Education തുടങ്ങിയ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുടെ കോളേജുകളാണ്. പിന്നീട് പൂർണമായും സ്വകാര്യമായ സ്വാശ്രയ കോളേജുകളാണ്. സ്വാശ്രയ കോളേജുകൾ തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുമ്പോൾ ചില കാര്യങ്ങൾ ശ്രദ്ധിക്കേണ്ടതായുണ്ട്.

സ്വാശ്രയ കോളേജ് നടത്തുന്നത് ലാഭത്തിനു വേണ്ടിയാണ്. തന്റ്റെ കൈവശമുള്ള ചരക്കു കുറഞ്ഞ വിലക്ക് വിൽക്കാൻ ശ്രമിക്കുന്ന ഒരാളുടെ കൈവശം ഇരിക്കുന്ന ചരക്കു നിലവാരം ഉള്ളതായിരിക്കില്ല. സ്വാശ്രയ കോളേജുകൾ തന്നെ കൊടുത്ത വരവ് ചിലവ് കണക്കുകൾ അനുസരിച്ചു ആണ് ഫീസ് നിശ്ചയിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നത്. അതിൽ കുറഞ്ഞ ഫീസ് വാങ്ങി കോളേജ് നല്ല നിലവാരത്തിൽ ലാഭകരമായി നടത്താൻ കഴിയില്ല. അത്തരം കോളേജുകൾ ഒഴിവാക്കുക.
പകുതിയിൽ താഴെ മാത്രം കുട്ടികൾ ചേരുന്ന കോളേജുകൾ ഒഴിവാക്കുക. കാരണം മുകളിൽ പറഞ്ഞത് തന്നെ. നിലവാരമുള്ള സൗകര്യവുമായി അവ ലാഭത്തിൽ നടത്താൻ കഴിയാത്തതിനാൽ നിലവാരം കുറക്കുക മാത്രമാണ് അവരുടെ മുന്നിലുള്ള വഴി.
കോളേജിൽ ഇപ്പോൾ പഠിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കുന്ന വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളുമായി ആശയവിനിമയം നടത്തി സ്വകാര്യ കോളേജുകളുടെ ആകർഷകമായ പരസ്യങ്ങളിൽ പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നത് ശരിയാണെന്നു ഉറപ്പുവരുത്തുക.
നിലവാരമുള്ള ഒരു കോളേജും നിങ്ങളെ അഡ്മിഷൻ എടുക്കാൻ വേണ്ടി വിളിക്കാറില്ല. അങ്ങനെ വിളിക്കുന്നു അഥവാ മറ്റേതെങ്കിലും മാർഗത്തിൽ അഡ്മിഷൻ എടുക്കാൻ പ്രേരിപ്പിക്കുന്നു എങ്കിൽ അതു അവർക്കു വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളെ കിട്ടാത്തതുകൊണ്ടാണ്. അതിനുള്ള കാരണം നിങ്ങൾക്കു ഊഹിക്കാവുന്നതേയുള്ളു.
ഇപ്പോൾ കേരളത്തിലെ ഏകദേശം എല്ലാ കോളേജുകളും APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) യുടെ നിയന്ത്രണത്തിലായതിനാൽ അവരുടെ website സന്ദർശിച്ചാൽ കഴിഞ്ഞ പരീക്ഷയിലെ പാസ്സ് പെർസെന്റജ് അറിയാവുന്നതാണ്. ലിങ്ക് ഇതാണ്. https://ktu.edu.in/eu/res/resultAnalysis.htm. അല്ലെങ്കിൽ https://ktu.edu.in/eu/res/viewResults.htm.
നിങ്ങൾക്കു ശരാശരിയിൽ താഴെയുള്ള റാങ്ക് ആണെങ്കിൽ, നിങ്ങൾക്കു സ്കോളർഷിപ് തരാം എന്നു ആരെങ്കിലും പറഞ്ഞെങ്കിൽ ഉറപ്പിച്ചോളു അതു നിങ്ങളെ വഞ്ചിക്കാനാണ്. ഇപ്രകാരം വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളെ വലവീശിപ്പിടിക്കുന്നതു സ്വകാര്യ സ്വാശ്രയ കോളേജുകളുടെ ഒരു സ്ഥിരം പരിപാടിയാണ്.

ഇത്തരം കാര്യങ്ങൾ ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചു വേണം എഞ്ചിനീറിങ് അഡ്മിഷൻ നേടാൻ.

(കുറഞ്ഞ ചിലവിൽ വിദ്യാർത്ഥികൾക്ക് നിലവാരമുള്ള വിദ്യാഭ്യാസം നൽകുന്ന സർക്കാർ നിയന്ത്രണത്തിലുള്ള CAPEൻറെ പത്തനാപുരം എഞ്ചിനീറിങ് കോളേജിൽ അസിസ്റ്റന്റ് പ്രൊഫസർ ആണ് ലേഖകൻ.)

Corruption - Who's responsible?

2015-04-04T20:31:00.001-07:00

Corruption is something which all talk against in public and only a few respond against in their life. Who's really responsible for the wide spread of corruption in practically any sect of our day to day life.
I had an experience yesterday which I would like to share with you. I was in need of transporting wood frames from my wife's house in Tamil Nadu to my home in Kerala. The wood is intended for the construction of my home at Piravanthoor.
My father in law had obtained a certificate from the village officer stating that the wood is from our own property and no sale is involved. This is to get exemption from paying sales tax on entering Kerala, in the normal case of purchasing goods from other states.
Once they reached the check post, they were not permitted to enter. This was because the documentation required was not furnished with regard to the construction of the home, like building permit and approved plan. I asked them to go back and we will transport after making the necessary documents.
I met the Investigating Assistant Commissioner of commercial taxes department at Kottarakkara and he explained me about the required documentation.
I made available all the documentation and reached the check post with the goods. The officer in charge asked me to come to the back door of the building. I was sure he was asking me to bribe. I met the officer. He offered me a chair and asked me to sit down. He verified the papers and gave me suggestions regarding the submission of documents. He asked me to complete e deceleration formalities. I did so and he gave me the permit. No bribe was asked for. I said thanks and no one else in the checkpoint asked me bribe.
The same thing happened when I applied earlier for the building permit from Piravanthoor Panchayath and possession certificate and location sketch from Piravanthoor village office.
No one ever asked me bribe and I never gave. It is we who tempt the officials to do us undue favors by paying bribes. Next time when you say "The system is all corrupted", please keep in mind that I had the experience of dealing with a couple of good officers.
As jesus said, those who hadn't bribed anyone, but was asked bribe, it is your turn to throw stones.

NB: There can be exceptions. Exceptions should be considered as exceptions.

Lack of Substance: A Dangerous Portend

2014-10-03T00:29:00.002-07:00

Prime Minister Modi's visit to New York and Washington on the occasion of addressing the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) turned out to be, as the PTI reported, of the nature of a "rock star celebrity". His speeches at the Madison Square Garden and the annual rock star ritual that takes place every year on the occasion of the UNGA at New York's Central Park confirmed once again that the mindset of a continuing Indian election campaign has not yet been discarded by Prime Minister Modi. Commenting on his first address to the Nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, this column had noted that the election hangover appears to continue. We had suggested that the PM should be politely told that the elections are over and people expect him to start "walking the talk". But the talk continues and after Tokyo has now reached New York. `Walking' has yet to begin as far as we, Indians, are concerned.

It has by now become a habit to regularly comment on the Prime Minister's global interactions in this column. After his visit to Tokyo and his interactions with the Chinese President in India, it is now the turn of his visit to the US. The PM's global itinerary has been so crowded that we could not squeeze in comments on his visits to Nepal, Bhutan and interactions with the Australian Prime Minister in New Delhi. The irony of all this lies in the fact that he is scrupulously following the global interactions whose pace was set by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Yet we are being told ad nasuem that PM Modi has set himself the task to "liberate" India from the "paralysis" of the government under former PM Manmohan Singh!

Lest the PM is accused of ignoring the travails of the Indian people, we are now being bombarded by official advertisements informing that the Prime Minister will address the nation on October 3. The official propaganda is that this address is on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti that falls on October 2. But October 3 is Vijaya Dashami - Dussera. Recollect that the RSS, since its foundation, always hoisted the saffron flag on Vijaya Dashami accompanied by the ritual of the RSS Sarsanghchalak addressing the Swayamsevaks (read the Nation in today's context) annually. By choosing to address the Nation through the Doordarshan and the All India Radio (who have graciously announced that the `electronic feed' of this address will be available freely to all other media outlets to broadcast), is PM Modi seeking also simultaneously to don the mantle of the RSS chief and, thus, remove the hairline distinction between the RSS and the BJP - the latter functioning as the political arm of the former?

As we go to press, the much awaited Indo-US Joint Statement has been released. Apart from a general reassertion of the continuing strategic relationship between India and USA, eight separate statements on - health cooperation; continuing strategic consultations; development cooperation;
deepening security partnership; civil space and technological cooperation; promoting women's empowerment; on energy and climate change; and on deepening cultural ties between India and USA have been released.

While there has been nothing substantial in terms of any advance from the agreements already reached between India and the USA on all these aspects, the running thread appears the increasing pressures by the USA to draw India more into its loop of advancing US strategic interests in all these spheres. The objective of this was clearly articulated by Nicholas Burns in the
Washington Post (September 28, 2014), "In strategic terms, there are few countries more important to Washington than India, the dominant power in the Indian Ocean region and, with Japan, the most important US partner in Asia seeking to limit Chinese assertiveness in the region". The US strategic objective since the end of the Cold War, articulated officially in its
documents, has been the "containment of China". President Obama is pursuing this objective, aggressively, on the basis of the assessment of the Washington Post, "One of his (PM Modi's) primary ambitions is to renew relations with Washington".

This appears to have been endorsed by the so-called Joint Vision Statement that appeared as a joint editorial by President Obama and PM Modi in the Washington Post titled `Chalein Saath Saath: Forward together we go'. Ominously, Chaleinge Saath Saath is the Hindi translation of a line from the famous anthem of African Americans popularized by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. `we shall overcome'. It is ominous because this Hindi translation which was popularized by the Left was hijacked and elevated to the level of an anthem in India by Sanjay Gandhi during the period of internal emergency, the abrogation of democracy, democratic rights and civil liberties.

During his various speeches, the Indian PM highlighted India's commitment in fighting terrorism and that India makes no distinction between "bad terrorism" and "good terrorism". Soon after came his one to one meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu! The criminal anti-human Israeli attacks on the Palestinians and the killing of innocent people,women and children, are all justified by such definitions of fighting "terrorism" that continues to deny the Palestinians their basic fundamental right to a homeland for over six decades. Once again, an ominous signal.

Those expecting the Indo-US Joint Statement to be a significant advance from the past were forewarned by the spokesman of India's Ministry of External Affairs who said that the Indo-US Summit interaction "had three major components - connecting with each other, vision for the ties and cooperation in various areas".

Clearly, therefore, what was envisioned is the deepening of the Indo-US strategic partnership where India would be drawn deeper as a strategic subordinate ally in implementing the US global vision. The vision statement says that India and USA shall "together seek a reliable and enduring friendship that bolsters security and stability, contributes to the global economy, and advances peace and prosperity for our citizens and throughout the world".

As far as the main objective of this visit - attending and addressing the UNGA - is concerned, Indian PM's speech marked no significant advance or contribution. Media reports, "the first ever UN address of Mr. Modi was in danger of being marred by a possible `hot mic' moment in which the President and Co-Chair of the General Assembly, apparently unaware that they could be heard over the PA system, appeared to allude to a lack of courtesy by the Indian delegation as it departed from the podium perhaps too abruptly for the accompanying protocol personnel to keep up with them. ...The relevant segment of the audio, which The Hindu has obtained (reported on September 29), was not particularly clear, yet in it UNGA President Sam Kutesa of Uganda could be heard saying what sounded like, "Let them settle a bit," then adding, "Making a racket," and "You have to have a little courtesy to wait over there" and finally "But I think.India consider itself.."
(unprintable, we presume).

Similar Indian media commentaries have suggested that the discussions between PM Modi and President Obama were an exhaustive "laundry list" of all agreements between both sides from knowledge partnerships and renewable energies to nuclear issues. "However, it lack significant progress, or breakthrough in various issues the two nation's face".

Significantly, defence cooperation is slated to increase further with the Indian government already approving the purchase of US attack and heavy lift helicopters. US has, thus, become India's largest supplier of arms in the past five years, overtaking Russia. India is also the largest purchaser of Israeli armaments amongst all countries in the world, thus, the largest financier of Israeli military attacks on the Palestinians!

The highlight of this visit was the subtle but an important change that the Indian PM made in his formulations. In the Red Fort speech, he spoke of making India an industrial hub by advancing the slogan of "Made in India". In the US, he spoke repeatedly of "Make in India". The former should have meant the strengthening of India's domestic industrial production base while the latter is an open invitation for foreign investments, particularly US investments, whose main objective is profit maximization and not augmenting India's productive capacities. For this purpose, India appears ready, much to the glee of India Inc., to further liberalise its economy to foreign capital both speculative (FII) and FDI. Such an opening up of Indian market, resources and cheap labour for foreign profit maximization is the surest recipe for imposing further hardships on the Indian people.

In sum, therefore, this visit of PM Modi to the US may well result in deepening the status of India as a subordinate ally of US imperialism and its global strategic concerns. This does not auger well for India's independent foreign policy which marked its special place in international relations and amongst the comity of Nations in the world. It is not in India's interests to sacrifice good neighbourly relations to advance US strategic interests. Of course, the concerns of India's sovereignty and security will always remain non-negotiable. While maintaining this, India's independent relations with all countries in the world is an important element in the creation of a world of multi-polarity following the end of the bipolar Cold War era. By this visit and its outcome, the danger is of India cementing itself as a subordinate strategic ally of US designs for a Uni-polar world under its hegemony. In India's interests, this drift to disaster must not be allowed.
(Courtesy: Marxist India)

Aftermath of Delhi Election 2013

2013-12-16T21:50:00.001-08:00

The results of the Delhi elections 2013 is interesting. I seriously doubt whether someone anticipated such a situation. Though BJP become the largest party, they are not having enough seats to form a government. So is the case of AAP. Congress is already out of the scene.
AAP were left with two options. First is to go for the reelection along with the upcoming polls to the parliament. Second is to form a government accepting the support offered by either Congress or BJP.
AAP have now decided to accept the unconditional support offered by the Congress and to form a government. Even Kejrawal is doubtful about their decision. That is why they are going for referendum. Even if they form a government, they may find it difficult to perform the day to day activities and implement their much awaited policies because of the contrasting political views of the Congress and the AAP.
AAP is calling for a change which the people of the country in general and particularly those in Delhi are longing for. People are convinced and believed in their propaganda. The same lies as a burden on them. Now that they are in power, people expect them to make the change. To make change is no easy business as calling for a change.
To change a system, you have two options. First is to overpower it and establish a new one. Second is to go into the system and change it from inside. Mavoists, Naxals and such groups are trying the former and political parties like CPM and AAP are trying the later.
When you go into a system to change it, there are certain danger in it.
Firstly when you try to change the system by going into it, the system may change your cadres, as happened to the CPM.
Secondly the structure of AAP is more like a NGO with voluntary involvement. With a structure that is unconventional to a political party it will be difficult to keep the integrity once you go into power.
Thirdly the political view of AAP is restricted to only a certain aspects like Lokpal and corruption. Views on diverse aspects of governance and policies are yet to be evolved.
And the last is that it will be very difficult to rule under constraints offered by federal system, executive, judiciary and the press. It will be further more complicated with the 'unconditional' support from the Congress. There will be the constraints of available resources including financial resources.
Now is the time that AAP is about to face its test of time which is so important to its existence. If they are able to conjure something to overcome the hurdles and rise up to the expectations of the mob they represent, they'll be there in power in the centre in say 10 years. If not they will be in the dustbin of Indian political history.

Causation and correlation

2013-10-04T01:21:00.000-07:00

I was a little confused when one of my friends warned me that I am confusing correlation and causation in response to my post on Facebook. It was in my mind for quite a few months now. In fact I was trying to find an answer whether I was actually confusing. When I thought of correlation, the first thought that came to my mind was that of good old school days. The weather was not so deceiving those days. Whether the school reopens on first, second or third of June, the beginning of the rainy season exactly coincides with the reopening of schools and we will be all soaked in rain on that evening. But we used to enjoy the first rain of the season and the first day of the school year on the same day. So we can easily draw out a correlation between the two. The same is repeated every year. But does it actually imply that one of them caused the other? I should say, we cannot conclude that one of them caused the other. Let us consider another example. Every time I switched on the switch my lamp glows. As in the previous case, we may derive a correlation between the two events. Here I can definitely conclude that switching on the switch causes the lamp to glow. So how can I ascertain whether the correlation derived can be verified to be the cause?

Generally, if one factor (A) is observed to only be correlated with another factor (B), it is sometimes taken for granted that A is causing B, even when no evidence supports it. This is a logical fallacy because there are at least five possibilities: First possibility is that A may be the cause of B. Second one is B may be the cause of A. Third possibility is some unknown third factor C may actually be the cause of both A and B. The next possibility is there may be a combination of the above three relationships. For example, B may be the cause of A at the same time as A is the cause of B (contradicting that the only relationship between A and B is that A causes B). This describes a self-reinforcing system. The fifth one is that the "relationship" is a coincidence or so complex or indirect that it is more effectively called a coincidence (i.e. two events occurring at the same time that have no direct relationship to each other besides the fact that they are occurring at the same time). A larger sample size helps to reduce the chance of a coincidence, unless there is a systematic error in the experiment.

Since the 1950s, both the atmospheric CO2 level and obesity levels have increased sharply. If we conclude atmospheric CO2 causes obesity or vice versa, it is a false conclusion. Richer populations tend to eat more food and consume more energy. The two are having no impact on one another. If a person having an ailment is taking medicine and praying and got cured, if you conclude that the cure is due to praying is a false conclusion since not all people pray are not cured. The conclusion that the cure is because of taking medicine is a more logical one. However, since not all people taking medicine are cured, there might be other factors which are important.

Consider a weight suspended by a string. If you cut the string, the weight will fall down. If you repeat the experiment again and again, the same will happen. So we can conclude that the action of cutting the string cause the weight to fall down. The cause of the event is established beyond doubt. Now let us examine the event again. If the string is not cut, the weight will not be falling down, which means cutting of the string is the cause. But even if the string is cut, if gravitational force is absent, if would have remained in its position which leads us to the conclusion that the gravitational force is the cause. Again if you observe the act of cutting the string, the string is cut because we applied a force, which means that the application of force is the cause. Even if you apply the force, if the knife was not sharp, the string would have remained intact and that renders the sharpness of the knife as the cause. Again we were able to cut the string with a sharp knife because the knife is harder than the string. In short the perspective of the person observing the event also is crucial. It will be illogical to conclude any one of the above as the cause of the event. A more logical conclusion is to acknowledge all of the above as the cause of the event.

Another example is the observation that as ice cream sales increase, the rate of drowning deaths increases sharply. Therefore, ice cream consumption causes drowning. The example fails to recognize the importance of time and temperature in relationship to ice cream sales. Ice cream is sold during the hot summer months at a much greater rate than during colder times, and it is during these hot summer months that people are more likely to engage in activities involving water, such as swimming. The increased drowning deaths are simply caused by more exposure to water-based activities, not ice cream. The stated conclusion is false.

Much of scientific evidence is based upon a correlation of variable – they are observed to occur together. Scientists are careful to point out that correlation does not necessarily mean causation. The assumption that A causes B simply because A correlates with B is often not accepted as a legitimate form of argument. However, sometimes people commit the opposite fallacy – dismissing correlation entirely, as if it does not suggest causation. This would dismiss a large swath of important scientific evidence.

In conclusion, correlation is a valuable type of scientific evidence. But first correlations must be confirmed as real, and then every possible causative relationship must be systematically explored. In the end correlation can be used as powerful evidence for a cause and effect relationship between a treatment and benefit, a risk factor and a disease, or a social or economic factor and various outcomes. But it is also one of the most abused types of evidence, because it is easy and even tempting to come to premature conclusions based upon the preliminary appearance of a correlation.

The Water Bomb

2011-12-11T11:05:00.000-08:00

Mullaperiyar Dam is a masonry gravity dam on the Periyar River. It is located 881 m (2,890 ft) above mean sea level in Idukki District of Kerala. It was constructed between 1887 and 1895 by the British Government to divert water eastwards to Madras Presidency area (the present-day Tamil Nadu).

The Mullaperiyar Dam is a gravity dam made with limestone and surkhi (a mixture of crushed brick, sugar and quicklime). Gravity dams use their weight and the force of gravity to support the reservoir and remain stable. The main dam has a maximum height of 53.6 m (176 ft) and length of 365.7 m (1,200 ft). Its crest is 3.6 m (12 ft) wide while the base has a width of 42.2 m (138 ft). It consists of a main dam, spillway on its left and an auxiliary dam (or "baby dam") to the right. Its reservoir can withhold 443,230,000 m3 (359,332 acre·ft) of water, of which 299,130,000 m3 (242,509 acre·ft) is active (live) storage.

On 29 October 1886, a lease indenture for 999 years was made between the Maharaja of Travancore, Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma and the British Secretary of State for India for Periyar Irrigation Works, after 24 years negotiation between the Maharaja and the British. One may wonder how can a lease agreement of 999 years be made for a dam with a design life of 50 years. The lease indenture granted full right, power and liberty to the Secretary of State for India to construct make and carry out on the leased land and to use exclusively when constructed, made and carried out, all such irrigation works and other works ancillary thereto to. The agreement gave 8000 acres of land for the reservoir and another 100 acres to construct the dam. The tax for each acre was INR 5 per year. The lease provided the British the rights over "all the waters" of the Mullaperiyar and its catchment basin, for an annual rent of INR 40,000.

Mullaperiyar dam was constructed to provide water to the rain shadow region of Madurai which was in dire need of a greater supply than the small Vaigai River could give. The dam created the Periyar Thekkady reservoir, from which water was diverted eastwards to via a tunnel to augment the small flow of the Vaigai River. The Vaigai was dammed by the Vaigai Dam to provide a source for irrigating large tracts around Madurai. As per the original lease agreement, the dam waters were used only for the irrigation of 68,558 ha (169,411 acres). Later, the Periyar Power Station in the lower Periyar, Tamil Nadu was built which generates hydro-electricity (175 MW capacity) from the diverted waters in the Periyar Power Station constructed in 1956. This was the first violation of the original lease agreement.

In 1947, after Indian Independence, the lease agreement expired. After several failed attempts to renew the agreement in 1958, 1960, and 1969, the agreement was renewed in 1970 when C Achutha Menon was Kerala Chief Minister. It was a blunder to renew the agreement due to two reasons.

The design life of the dam was 50 years. The dam constructed in 1895 has already served the cause for 75 years.
Tamil Nadu has already violated the original lease agreement by generating electricity from the the diverted water since 1956.

Instead of canceling the agreement and negotiating a new one, the Government of Kerala accepted the agreement as such with minor modification in the lease amounts.

According to the renewed agreement, the tax per acre was increased to INR 30, and for the electricity generated in Lower Camp using Mullaperiyar water, the charge was INR 12 per kiloWatt per hour. Tamil Nadu uses the water and the land, and the Tamil Nadu government has been paying to the Kerala government for the past 50 years INR 2.5 lakhs as tax per year for the whole land and INR 7.5 lakhs per year as surcharge for the total amount of electricity generated. The validity of this agreement and several other issues are under dispute between the States of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The matter is currently pending before a Division Bench of the Supreme Court.

The dam is an 'endangered' scheduled dam under the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2006. The dam and the river are owned by and located in Kerala. But the dam is controlled and operated under a period lease by Tamil Nadu state. The safety of the dam has been a matter of concern. Control and safety of the dam and validity and fairness of the lease agreement have been points of dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu states.

After the 1979 Morvi Dam failure which killed up to 25,000 people, safety concerns of the aging Mullaperiyar dam's and leaks and cracks in the structure were raised by Kerala Government. Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS), Thiruvananthapuram found out that the structure would not withstand an earthquake above magnitude 6 on the Richter scale. The dam was also inspected by the Chairman of Central Water Commission. On the orders of the CWC, the Tamil Nadu government lowered the storage level from 142.2 feet to 136 feet, conducted safety repairs and strengthened the dam. Strengthening measures adopted by Tamil Nadu PWD from 1979 onwards include cable anchoring of the dam's structure and RCC backing for the front slope. The mistakes in the strengthening works carried out by Tamil Nadu damaged the masonry of the dam.

Current safety concerns hinge around several issues. Since the dam was constructed using stone ruble masonry with lime mortar grouting following prevailing 19th century construction techniques that have now become archaic. Seepage and leaks from the dam have caused concern. Moreover, the dam is situated in a seismically active zone. An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale occurred on June 7, 1988 with maximum damage in Nedumkandam and Kallar (within 20 km of the dam). Consequently several earthquake tremors have occurred in the area in recent times. These could be reservoir-induced seismicity, requiring further studies according to experts. CESS, IIT Roorkee and IISc have reported that the dam cannot withstand earthquakes above 6 point on the Richter scale.

Kerala did not object giving water to Tamil Nadu. Their main cause of objection is the dams safety as it is as old as 116 years. Increasing the level would add more pressure to be handled by already leaking dam. Tamil Nadu wants the 2006 order of Supreme court be implemented so as to increase the water level to 142 feet (43 m).

In September 2009, the Ministry of Environment and Forests of Government of India granted environmental clearance to Kerala for conducting survey for new dam downstream. Tamil Nadu approached Supreme Court for a stay order against the clearance; however, the plea was rejected. Consequently, the survey was started in October, 2009. On Sept. 9, 2009 stated it had already communicated to the Government of India as well as to the Government of Kerala that there is no need for construction of a new dam by the Kerala Government, as the existing dam after it is strengthened, functions like a new dam. This is in fact the first water dispute which does not involve dispute on the quantity of water supplied.

What we should do next?

Precautionary Principle is a philosophical approach to risk prevention by taking protective measures against specific environmental or safety hazards in order to avoid or reduce environmental or safety risks. This approach was subsequently adopted in various International agreements. Precautionary Principle must be invoked

Where the scientific evidence for safety is insufficient, inconclusive or uncertain.
Where preliminary scientific evaluation suggests that effects on the environment, health or safety may be unacceptable and/or inconsistent with the chosen level of protection.
Precautionary principle may be applied without waiting for the reality and seriousness of those risks to become fully apparent.

This principle was laid down in the Rio de Janeiro Declaration on Environment and Development of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (1992), in which India is a signatory. The due jurisprudence implied in the Rio instruments are international in impact and it cannot be violated by signatories like India.

Moreover, a number of important international conventions have incorporated this principle, including conventions on Climate Change and Biological Diversity. The Periyar National Park in Thekkady, a Protected area of Kerala, is located around the dam's reservoir, the 26 sq. km (10 sq mi) Periyar lake. 62 different kinds of mammals have been recorded in Periyar, including many threatened ones. Periyar is a highly protected tiger reserve and elephant reserve. There are an estimated 53 tigers (2010) in the reserve. The elephant number around 900 to 1000 individuals. Other mammals found here include gaur, Bison, sambar (horse deer), barking deer, mouse deer, Dholes (Indian wild dogs), mongoose, foxesand leopards. Also inhabiting the park, though rarely seen, are the elusive Nilgiri tahr. Four species of primates are found at Periyar - the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, the commonlangur, and the Bonnet Macaque. According to a report by the Kerala Forest Research Institute, the protected area surrounding the dam and reservoir is classified as a biodiversity hot spot.

“States....must not wait for proof of harmful effects before taking action” (1984 Bermen Ministerial Declaration of the International Conference on the Protection of the North Sea)· “The parties should take precautionary measures to anticipate, prevent or minimize the causes of climate change and mitigate its adverse effects. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing such measures” (1992 Framework for Convention of Climate Change, Art 3(3)).

Former Judge of Supreme Court Sri. V.R. Krishna Iyer, a great humanist, had invited the attention of the nation through an article in Hindu daily published in last year. In that article he pointed out that “Mullaperiyar is a classic instance where the precautionary principle of action cannot wait for a public calamity to happen. The nation as a whole must raise its voice against a possible natural calamity involving Mullaperiyar.”

He also cited a recent judgment of Supreme Court of India in M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (AIR 2004 SC 4033): “In such matters [involving actions that pose a threat of serious or irreversible damage], many a time the preferable option is not clear. If an activity is allowed to go ahead, there could be irreparable damage to the environment; if it is stopped, there could be irreparable damage to economic interests. In case of doubt, however, protection of environment should take precedence over economic interest. The Precautionary Principle requires anticipatory action to be taken to prevent harm. This harm can be prevented even on a reasonable suspicion. It is not always necessary that there should be direct evidence of harm to the environment.”

Nothing in life is entirely risk free, and indeed science cannot demonstrate freedom from risk, particularly from as yet known risks, because ‘absence of evidence’ is not ‘evidence of absence’! There are situations where engineers may disagree with one another. Some experts may consider the condition of a dam to be marginally safer than what others say it is. But nature has its own way, and experts’ expectations and calculations may go awry. Once there is reasonable apprehensions about the imminent danger and the possibility of a risk, the state should not take any chances.

Boyds Corner Dam is the first concrete dam built in USA in 1872. In 1980s, after the collapse of Tenton Dam, it was decided to review the condition of that dam. There was divided opinion on the safety of the dam. Some strongly believed that it was safe while others believed that it was unsafe. Despite opposition, the Government of USA decided to construct a new dam and the Boyds Dam was demolished and rebuilt in 1990.

Decommissioning of Old Victoria dam in Australia is an example of how a century old unsafe dam of almost the same age and built using similar technology as that of Mullaperiyar dam was treated in a developed country. This dam was constructed in 1891 with lime concrete like Mullaperiyar dam in 1895. In 1966, the Dam witnessed lot of seepages, which is also the case in Mullaperiyar dam. Certain strengthening measures were carried out to the Victoria dam, which were found to be inadequate in 1988. Therefore the authorities concerned decided to decommission the dam in April 1990. In its place, a new Victoria dam has already been constructed, which now supplies drinking water to the city of Perth.

The water bomb started ticking long back. The question is whether it is now or later. We have no time to debate. Act wisely. Use precautionary principles. Decommission the dam. It is pretty old. Let it retire. And construct the new dam as early as possible. And let the people down stream have a peaceful life.

Courtsey:
1. James Wilson, Assistant Executive Engineer (Civil), Kerala State Electricity Board. (Presently working as a member of the Mullaperiyar Special Cell, Government of Kerala on deputation. Associated with Mullaperiyar case since 2006.)
2. Wikipedia

Jaitapur - A guinea pig for untested reactor?

2011-05-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

The Japanese are the world’s experts in earthquake-resistant designs. Japan is a country that has a very good disaster management organisation throughout their nation. They often rehearsed working team to handle such emergencies. In contrast, in India, we are most disorganised and unprepared for the handling of emergencies of any kind of even much less severity. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board’s (AERB’s) disaster preparedness oversight is mostly on paper and the drills they once in a while conduct are half-hearted efforts.

In case of earthquake engineering, the strategy of Nuclear Power Corporation is to have their favourite consultants cook up the kind of seismic data which suits them, and there is practically no independent verification of their data or design methodologies. A captive AERB, which reports to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), makes the overall nuclear safety management in India worthless. Today, the AERB merely serves as a lap dog of the DAE and the prime minister’s office (PMO).

When that happens, dangerous species of radioactive fission products in the gaseous and micro-dust and droplet form could spread over large areas, depending on wind conditions. Even a millionth gram of some of these substances, if ingested or breathed in, could seriously raise the cancer risk for individuals, especially in children and infants.

It is true that it is unlikely that the kind of a devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan may strike any of the Indian nuclear plants. But the earthquake-resistant designs and tsunami abatement measures we have taken in our nuclear plants need a high-level, in-depth review by an independent expert group, predominantly consisting of non-DAE, non-NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited) experts. Ever since the UPA government has taken over in 2004, the collusion between the PMO, the DAE, NPCIL and the various corporate houses in India and abroad has substantially increased. This closeness was deliberately engineered by the PMO, initially to bring home the Indo-US nuclear deal, but afterwards the continuity of this closeness between the corporate business houses interested in nuclear power and the concerned supervisory government agencies is distorting and damaging independent government decisions to be taken in the public interest, whether it be in the choice of import of reactors and their cost, the environmental impact of such imported reactors, or their potential deficiencies and dangers. This is certainly fast leading this country towards large economic losses and a sharp increase in the potential for hazardous reactor accidents in India.

India has built 18 Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) on our own. We have mastered the design through carefully learning from the mistakes of the past, and are currently moving on to build 700 MWe units of this type. We have three generations of Indian engineers who are familiar with the PHWR. If we need more nuclear power, the safest route is to consolidate and expand on our PHWR experience, import natural uranium, and build more PHWRs. Instead, the government is scattering our energies and talent in getting imported reactors like the French EPRs in Jaitapur, of which neither Indians nor the French know much about. If, in a PHWR, a major accident occurs, we have Indian engineers and scientists who are totally familiar with the details, who can jump in and rapidly bring the situation to normal. For Indian engineering teams to react in a similar timely and effective manner against an accident in one of the planned imported reactors will be next to impossible for at least few decades to come.

The first objection is that the Evolutionary Pressurized Reactors (EPRs) to be built in Jaitapur, having not been commissioned anywhere in the world, is a non-existent reactor whose potential problems are totally unknown even to Areva, its developer, let alone India’s Nuclear Power Corporation. A reactor has to be physically built and then only it can be tested, and the EPR is therefore a totally untested reactor, even if Areva claims they have combined various best design features on paper in conceiving the EPR. The reliability and safety of EPR will be extremely low and unknown until, through different stages of operation and testing over years, all indicated problems are rectified.

Why should people of Jaitapur be subjected to the high risk of providing an unknown reactor in their backyard? This decision of the government is all the more perplexing when we know that India has already built about 18 PHWRs on its own over the last four decades and has perfected its design through extensive years of operation, and we can continue to expand nuclear power in India by setting up more 700 MWe PHWRs of our own design.

Secondly, the promoters (NPCIL & Areva) are totally silent about the serious problems that India, and especially the local community, has to face after operations start and the spent-fuel starts accumulating at the site. The higher burn-up spent fuel from EPRs has its own unique hazards at the storage and transportation stages, unlike in the case of current LWRs, which use lower burn-ups. Besides, the reprocessing of such fuel will be extremely complex, the per MWh production of usable plutonium from this plant will be notably low, and these two reasons combined will make EPRs least useful as plutonium producers for India’s move through indigenous thorium-based fast breeders for the future.

Thirdly, we are buying into all these high risks at an enormous cost to the tax payers. An EPR will cost no less than Rs. 20 crore per MWe, if the government does not hide much of the costs through invisible subsidies. As against this, an Indian PHWR will cost at the most Rs. 8 crore per MWe. Why not purchase natural uranium alone from abroad and multiply the number of 700-1000 MWe PHWRs, for which India does not require any technology imports?

Even in the evaluations and negotiations of cost, the safety and liability of imported reactors, the official nuclear agencies today are operating hand-in-glove with their friends in the corporate houses and federations. Under the circumstances, these government agencies must be visibly de-linked from corporate influences first and made truly independent, before the public can be expected to believe any of their assertions.

Courtsey: Dr A Gopalakrishnan, former chairman, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Government of India

For Further reading:

Endosulfan Banned???

2011-05-01T05:59:00.000-07:00

The Conference of Parties to the Stockholm Convention in Geneva on last Friday approved the recommendation for elimination of production and use of endosulfan and its isomers worldwide, subject to certain exemptions. The actual decision is to list technical endosulfan and related isomers in Part I Annex A to the Convention with specific exemptions for production as allowed in the Register of Specific Exemptions and/or use on crop-pest complexes as listed with the decision. This would require 173 countries, which are parties to the Convention, to take steps for a ban on production and use of endosulfan. However, exemptions will be available for five years, extendable for another five years. The listing takes one year to be effective.

Exemptions will be available for application of endosulfan against 44 pests in 22 crops — cotton, jute, coffee, tea, tobacco, cowpeas, beans, tomato, okra, eggplant, onion, potato, chillies, apple, mango, gram, arhar, maize, paddy/rice, wheat, groundnuts and mustard. The pests include aphids in most of the exempted crops, bollworms, jassids, whiteflies, thrips and leafroller in cotton, Bihar hairy caterpillar and yellow mites in jute and berry borer and stem borer in coffee. For tea, application of endosulfan is allowed for a host of pests including caterpillars and tea mosquitoes. Endosulfan will be allowed to be used against hopper and fruit fillies in mango and several pests in tomato. In rice, use will be permitted against white jassids, stem borer, gall midge and rice hispa and in wheat against termites and pink borer, besides aphids.

Many of these crops are commonly cultivated in India. Nevertheless, we do not have control on the use of the pesticides. It is impossible in a country like ours to track down the use of the pesticides. Even though the ban is in force, on the use of this pesticide on other crops, we will not be able to have control on its use. In this circumstances, the ban remains only procedural. It is required to have an immediate and complete ban of Endosulfan.

Civil Engineering Notes

2011-04-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

Hi,
The Notes on Engineering Mechanics and Design of Steel Structures posted here is moved to an independent blog for Civil Engineering Notes. You can access the contents using the link : http://ce-notes-vg.blogspot.com/ .
Please follow the link to access the blog : Civil Engineering Notes by Vaisakh G .

THE LEANING TOWER

2010-11-26T10:13:00.000-08:00

The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Torre pendente di Pisa) or simply the Tower of Pisa is the campanile (freestanding bell tower) of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa. It is situated behind the Cathedral and is the third oldest structure in Pisa's Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo) after the Cathedral and the Baptistry. The height of the tower is 55.86 m (183.27 ft) from the ground on the low side and 56.70 m (186.02 ft) on the high side. The width of the walls at the base is 4.09 m (13.42 ft) and at the top 2.48 m (8.14 ft). Its weight is estimated at 14,500 metric tons (16,000 short tons). The tower has 296 or 294 steps; the seventh floor has two fewer steps on the north-facing staircase.

Construction of the tower occurred in three stages across 177 years. Work on the first floor of the white marble campanile began on August 8, 1173, during a period of military success and prosperity.

Due to a mere three-metre foundation, set in weak, unstable subsoil, a design that was flawed from the beginning, the tower began to sink after construction had progressed to the third floor in 1178. The tower would almost certainly have toppled if the construction was not halted for almost a century, because of continuous battles. This allowed time for the underlying soil to settle.

In 1272 construction resumed under Giovanni di Simone, architect of the Camposanto. In an effort to compensate for the tilt, the engineers built upper floors with one side taller than the other. Because of this, the tower is actually curved. Construction was halted again in 1284, due to the defeat of Pisans in the Battle of Meloria. The seventh floor was completed in 1319. It was built by Tommaso di Andrea Pisano, who succeeded in harmonizing the Gothic elements of the bell-chamber with the Romanesque style of the tower. There are seven bells, one for each note of the musical major scale. The largest one was installed in 1655. The bell-chamber was finally added in 1372. In 1987 the tower was declared as part of the Piazza del Duomo UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the neighbouring cathedral, baptistery and cemetery.

A multinational task force of engineers, mathematicians and historians gathered on the Azores islands to discuss stabilization methods. It was found that the tilt was increasing in combination with the softer foundations on the lower side. Many methods were proposed to stabilize the tower, including the addition of 800 metric tonnes of lead counterweights to the raised end of the base.

On January 7, 1990, after over two decades of stabilization studies, the tower was closed to the public. The bells were removed to relieve some weight, and cables were cinched around the third level and anchored several hundred metres away. Apartments and houses in the path of the tower were vacated for safety. The final solution to prevent the collapse of the tower was to slightly straighten the tower to a safer angle, by removing 38 cubic metres (50 cu yd) of soil from underneath the raised end. The tower was straightened by 18 inches (45 centimetres), returning to its 1838 position. After a decade of corrective reconstruction and stabilization efforts, the tower was reopened to the public on December 15, 2001, and was declared stable for at least another 300 years.

Prior to restoration work performed between 1990 and 2001, the tower leaned at an angle of 5.5 degrees, but the tower now leans at about 3.99 degrees. This means that the top of the tower is displaced horizontally 3.9 metres (12 ft 10 in) from where it would be if the structure were perfectly vertical.

In May 2008, after the removal of another 70 metric tons of earth, engineers announced that the Tower had been stabilized such that it had stopped moving for the first time in its history. They stated it would be stable for at least 200 years. After a phase (1990–2001) of structural strengthening, the tower is currently undergoing gradual surface restoration, in order to repair visual damage, mostly corrosion and blackening. These are particularly pronounced due to the tower's age and its exposure to wind and rain.

Two German churches have challenged the tower's status as the world's most lop-sided building: the 15th-century square Leaning Tower of Suurhusen and the 14th century bell tower in the town of Bad Frankenhausen. Guinness World Records measured the Pisa and Suurhusen towers, finding the former's tilt to be 3.97 degrees.

In June 2010, the Guinness Book of World Records certified Capital Gate as the “World’s furthest leaning man-made tower.” The new record shows that the Capital Gate tower has been built to lean 18 degrees westwards; more than four times that of the world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Investigation and evaluation, which was made by a Guinness appointed awards committee, started in January 2010, when the exterior was completed.

Capital Gate’s construction commenced in September 2007; the tower’s completion is scheduled for late 2010. From its foundations right through its pinnacle, Capital Gate is a unique building and among the most technically challenging engineering projects in the world. Some key features stand out amongst others are (i) It’s gravity-defying 18 degree lean, widely believed to be the most inclined in the world (ii) The continuous twist of its form which ensures that the tower looks different from every angle (iii) The unique nature of the floor plate, each floor is unique

The foundation contains an incredibly dense mesh of reinforced steel that sits above 490 piles, drilled 30 meters underground to accommodate gravitational, wind and seismic pressures.

The core of the building is a pre-cambered, ‘slanting’ core that pulls in the opposite direction to the lean. It straightens as the building grows, pulled into a vertical position by the change in the centre of gravity of the building as concrete was poured onto subsequent floors.

The floor plates up to the 12th level are stacked vertically over one another. Between levels 12th and 29th the floor plates stagger over each other, in relation to the lean and twist of the shell, by between 800 to 1400mm and then back to 900mm. Between the 29th storey and the top storey, the range is between 900 and 300mm in relation to the line of the façade.

Capital Gate’s shell comprises a super-strong exo-skeleton called the diagrid, that provides a clear, unobstructed floor plate, using much less steel than a conventional structural frame.

Guinness appointed awards committee found the Capital Gate surpassed the Pisa tower in its slant. However that tower has been deliberately engineered to slant is not able to shadow the glory of the “real” leaning tower.

Vaisakh G.

Why "NO" to BT Brinjal

2010-03-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

Let us evaluate WHY we sholud say "NO" to BT Brinjal.

Effective non-pesticide pest management and Integrated Pest Management exists and is being practised by farmers.
The question of internal destruction of pests is dangerous to the health of the consumer. The integrated pest management systems, in combination with good farming practices, are the only healthy solution to good crops. A healthy farm ecosystem is the key to pest management. This includes selection of good seeds, appropriate irrigation system and improving soil quality.
The experiences with a few other GM crops released in India and other parts of the world, especially Bt cotton, shows that over a period of time the total pesticide usage in GM crops has gone up due to increased secondary pest attacks and in some cases due to tolerance developed by the target pest. The Nagpur case study of the pest attack on Bt cotton plants shows that Bt does not have a foolproof mechanism to remove pest threat.
Controlling pests with single toxic molecules either produced in factory or plant cell is an unscientific way of managing pests. Pests should be managed, not killed.
The studies on non-target pests at best were inadequate and inaccurate. The studies have been focused on a limited number of insects and for only a limited period of time.
The studies were also done with a surrogate protein and not with the modified Cry1Ac used in Bt brinjal.
As Bt brinjal is created to produce the Cry1Ac toxin in every cell, the 'pesticides' have actually moved from exterior to the interior of brinjal, and this cannot be removed by washing as in the case of the usual pesticide at present.
The studies on soil microflora were for a very short period. The impact of the break down products of the protein Cry1Ac on soil micro flora has not been conducted.
India is a centre of origin and diversity of brinjal which has been cultivated here for over 4000 years. There are about 2000 varieties grown across India.
The transgene transfer to local and hybrid varieties of brinjal will effectively destroy our brinjal diversity. As a general rule GM crops should not be cultivated in the center of origin as it could lead to the loss of original varieties by transgenic cross pollination.
Inadequacy of tests:No third party or independent tests have been conducted so far on the Bt impact on human health.
The longest study has been a 90 day sub-chronic test on a healthy adult rat. This does not address the possible health impact on humans of Bt brinjal as brinjal is a regularly eaten vegetable.
Significant chronic toxicity studies including carcinogenicity studies have not been conducted.
Brinjal itself has an inherent property of allergenecity which may be enhanced further in the Bt variety.
When pesticides were first introduced and promoted, they were said to be harmless to human health. However, tough lessons have been learnt since then about the actual effects of pesticides. Genetic Engineering will have huge and as yet unknown implications for human health
Brinjal in India is often eaten lightly cooked. In traditional medicine brinjal is used in its raw form. In its raw form the Cry1Ac toxin in the Bt brinjal is active and extremely dangerous.
The human digestive system is mildly acidic only in the stomach, where the food resides briefly before it passes to the duodenum. The medium then changes from mildly acidic to alkaline to aid the working of the digestive enzymes of tryptase, amylase and lipase. The rest of the human alimentary canal remains alkaline till the end. Hence if the Cry1Ac toxin is active in alkaline medium, there will be a high absorption of the toxin into the human system leading to high toxicity in the human body.
While India at present lacks a labeling and liability regime, there are also concerns that it will not help even if we have a labeling law in place as only a miniscule quantity of Brinjal or, for that matter, any vegetable is packed and sold.
Studies on the accumulation or wash-out time span on this specific endo-toxin in Bt. brinjal
have not been done. Historically the absorption and accumulation of the endo-toxins can be carcinogenic to humans.
The existing assessments have completely overlooked the impact of Bt brinjal on the Indian systems of medicine. Given that brinjal and related plants are used in Ayurveda, Siddha and so on this is a significant lapse. It is not clear, therefore, whether the entry of Bt brinjal could make Indian systems of medicine/practices ineffective or even toxic, with regard to use of brinjal.
In Ayurveda around 14 varieties of the brinjal are being used for medicinal preparations. Each one differs in its medicinal properties. Any intrusion in the basic nature will alter the Rasa (Taste), Guna (Property), Veerya (Potency), Vipaka (End Taste) and Prabhava (Synergetic Property) of the drug. These properties are coded for each drug and according to these codes the physicians are able to select a particular drug for a specific ailment. Transgenic changes would alter these properties and create a new plant with unknown coding. While doing agronomic studies Bt brinjal has not been compared with best agricultural practices like non- pesticide management or integrated pest management practices being successfully undertaken in the country.
Majority of the farmers in India are small and marginal farmers, so the possibility for maintaining isolation distances is inexistent. There is no guarantee that the prices will actually go down. On the contrary increased input costs could increase the price of Bt brinjal. The Bt cotton example shows that the seed cost increases substantially with GM crops thereby increasing the input costs.
Organic farmers would be at risk as there would be no mechanism by which contamination by the transgene could be stopped. This would lead them to lose their certification and markets. This is evident from the examples from what happened in the case of Bt cotton.
While Mahyco shared the truncated gene cry1Ac construct they developed with the public sector research institutions, there are conditions in the MoU stopping these institutions from developing their own hybrids or having a free hand in marketing of the OPVs.
None of the public sector products would reach the market for another two years as they are yet to complete their trials. By then Mahyco, who have their GM brinjal hybrids ready, would completely dominate the markets. Thus the technology sharing is just a Trojan horse to get their product

These are not my arguments, but those i found in the website of Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India (http://moef.nic.in)

Say "NO" to B T Brinjal

2010-02-28T06:29:00.000-08:00

We have been discussing about BT bringal for quite a few days now. The latest breaking news is that former Monsanto MD says no to BT Brinjal. Scientists in huje majority asking for a ban on BT Brinjal now. Now, the former Monsanto India Managing Director Mr. T.V. Jagdishan joined them. Plans for introducing BT Brinjal in India was oposed from the very begining itself by Green Peace India. People joined them in tons to protest in every part of the country.

No one is aganist the advancement of biotechnology. At the same time authorities has to ensure that the recent devolopment should not interfere with the biological chain as well as the biodiversity of the world. More over, before going for farming, it should be tested properly and assurance has to be made that it is safe. But here, the Government of India is trying to make India a lab to test Monsanto's newly devoloped BT Brinjal. While discussing BT Brinjal, we should extend our discussion to BT Cotton which made the life of farmers more misserable.

Now we should ensure that a moratorium will not lead to the back door entry of BT Brinjal or the other 55 food crops in different stages of trial in the country. Stringent monitoring measures should be put immediately in place to ensure that no releases of GM crops happen and a strong message should be sent out by making the GM devolopers liable for accidental or illegal releases. Moratorium is a good step towards charting the path of sustainable agriculture and food security for our country.

Inveiw of the recent negative growth of our agriculture sector, we could no longer allow anyone to handicap our agriculture sector. Now Science and Technology minister Mr. Prithviraj Chavan is trying to change the rule of the game. He infact copied word by word from studies by biotech seed companies including Monsanto. He is presenting and undemocratic GM bill to ease the legalisation of BT Brinjal, rice and more crops which may affect the agricultural sector in India.

So please sign the pettition here: http"//greenpeace.in/safefood/chavan-petition/ to join the others already on the move and try to educate the society about the dangers of GM food.

Study & Struggle

2010-01-12T06:41:00.000-08:00

An article written by me in June 2007

Texts say that India is Democratic state; with most efficient system of Democracy that world had ever seen. Here citizens have a lot of rights and privileges. Unfortunately here there are no such democratic rights in the Indian college campuses (?). Here comes the new verdict upon this issue from the High Court of Kerala. Yes, India is becoming a country, where even the speech becomes crime. Every court verdict is carrying a new face and phase of prohibition and restriction to the society. Prohibition of union, speech, protest, politics… so and so. Judiciary is doing its work in framing a culture and a society, which surrenders before the ideology of dominating classes in the era of globalisation.This is the other side of the corporate business. The attempts for ‘apoliticalization’ of the students had started even during the periods of British Raj. Because rulers know education is the source of power. So it is there, where the unions and protests must be oppressed. It is in the campuses, where the active and thoughtful youth are present; who respond and protest without any chains and restrictions; who vigorously explode against unjust. Yes, the duty of campuses is to create revolution. A student is ‘a disturber of the status quo’!The rulers always feared campuses. A student society, who get involved in the studies, just like book-worms; where pain and pressure builds up outside, had never evolved here. These students had always experienced the greatness of politics, which shared their brotherhood with unknown person, which taught to light the candle of mercy, which showed how one’s personal defeat got dissolved in the everybody’s victory. Now we see the prohibition of this sky of feelings.As we early said, these attempts had a long history. Even during post-independence era, when the school politics got prohibited, we said, “Good, why these kids need politics?”Then, they separate the pre-degree course from the colleges and make it plus two in the schools. Thus they succeeded in sending ‘broiler chickens’ to the college campuses. Now it is turn of college politics. Why? Why these men are collapsing the ‘rising democratic India? We have to turn our fingers towards the new world order, new economic order, and new social order. Here courts are not recognizing the real issue of this order.But it is the duty of the students to recognize this issue. Now we can go for an appeal. But keep our powder dry. If we don’t do it, it means we give up politics. It we have an idea; we will fight for it. If we don’t have any these, then it is better to give up politics. Because, this freedom, not to get recognised by the courts. It is a Constitutional Right. And if Constitution does not allow this, it is a Human Right, which has to get asserted. This is the freedom struggle.If we want to be slaves, if we like invasion, then it will be better. If India is determining to be a intellectual colony, a cultural colony, an economic colony, then present policies are enough. Like that, if students want to be slaves, then there is no need of union and politics. Unless you have the urge for freedom, there would not be a fight for freedom!

“ You will say that a man has to live not as numbers or as columns, but as man. They will wear you handcuffs. We are free. To get arrested, jailed and even to get hanged.”“Hasta la Victoria Siempre!!!”

VAISAKH G.

Was Buddha an atheist?

2010-01-12T06:32:00.000-08:00

Buddha (about B.C. 560-480) The Hindu Moralist Gautama, who came to be known as Buddha (the enlightened one).[He] is chiefly interesting to us from the fact that, though the religion which now goes by the name Buddhism is a crass and to a great extent corrupt mass of superstitions, he was an atheist. It is admitted that he was educated in the Sankhya philosophy, which was atheistic. Brahmanism had become so andtract a religion while the mass of the people clung to the grossest myths, that there was a wide spread of atheism at that time. Gautama decided to devote his life to a purely humanist and very simple preaching of ideals of conduct among the people. The few writers of any weight who doubt his position are content to argue, very feebly, that he may have believed in God but never mentioned him. That is not the way of moralists. But the chief authorities are positive. The highest is Professor T. Rhys Davids who both in his lectures at Cornell (published as Buddhism) and his Life of Buddha says that Buddha "denied the existence of any soul" (cosmic or human). Professor N.W. Hopkins (Religions of India, 1895) says that he cast off not only gods but soul (p. 298), and the same in his Ethics of India. Professor Vincent Smith says that "without denying the existence of a Supreme Being he ignored it." In the Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics Professor Macdonell (professor of Sanskrit at Oxford University) says in his article "Indian Buddhism" that he denied the existence of a world soul and individual soul"; yet the same encyclopaedia, which always keeps an eye on the churches (as all encyclopedias do), entrusts its article on Buddhism to one of the clerical writers who hold that Buddha must have believed in God. These sophists first argue that atheism is inconsistent with high ideals and then that any man whose ideals they cannot deny must have been a theist. The real authorities agree that Buddha was an atheist.Source: http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/joseph_mccabe/dictionary.html

Some quotes --- Buddha (verses from the Bhûridatta Jataka)
If the creator of the world entireThey call God, of every being be the LordWhy does he order such misfortuneAnd not create concord?

If the creator of the world entireThey call God, of every being be the LordWhy prevail deceit, lies and ignoranceAnd he such inequity and injustice create?

If the creator of the world entireThey call God, of every being be the LordThen an evil master is he, (O Aritta)Knowing what's right did let wrong prevail!

Source: http://www.buddhistinformation.com/buddhist_attitude_to_god.htm

Six-Sigma in Higher Education

2010-01-08T05:54:00.000-08:00

Introduction
Six-Sigma is a business management strategy originally developed by Motorola. It enjoys widespread application in many sectors of industry, although its application is not without controversy. Six-Sigma seeks to improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects (errors) and minimizing variability in manufacturing and business processes. It uses a set of quality management methods, including statistical methods, and creates a special infrastructure of people within the organization ("Black Belts”, “Green Belts", etc.) who are experts in these methods. Each Six Sigma project carried out within an organization follows a defined sequence of steps and has quantified targets. These targets can be financial (cost reduction or profit increase) or whatever is critical to the customer of that process (cycle time, safety, delivery, etc.).
Historical overview
Six-Sigma originated as a set of practices designed to improve manufacturing processes and eliminate defects, but its application was subsequently extended to other types of business processes as well. In Six-Sigma, a defect is defined as any process output that does not meet customer specifications, or that could lead to creating an output that does not meet customer specifications. Bill Smith first formulated the particulars of the methodology at Motorola in 1986. Six Sigma was heavily inspired by six preceding decades of quality improvement methodologies such as quality control, TQM, and Zero Defects, based on the work of pioneers such as Shewhart, Deming, Juran, Ishikawa, Taguchi and others. Like its predecessors, Six Sigma doctrine asserts that:

Continuous efforts to achieve stable and predictable process results (i.e. reduce process variation) are of vital importance to business success
Manufacturing and business processes have characteristics that can be measured, analyzed, improved and controlled.
Achieving sustained quality improvement requires commitment from the entire organization, particularly from top-level management.

Features that set Six Sigma apart from previous quality improvement initiatives include:

A clear focus on achieving measurable and quantifiable financial returns from any Six Sigma project.
An increased emphasis on strong and passionate management leadership and support.
A special infrastructure of "Champions," "Master Black Belts," "Black Belts," etc. to lead and implement the Six Sigma approach.
A clear commitment to making decisions on the basis of verifiable data, rather than assumptions and guesswork.

The term "Six Sigma" comes from a field of statistics known as process capability studies. Originally, it referred to the ability of manufacturing processes to produce a very high proportion of output within specification. Processes that operate with "six sigma quality" over the short term are assumed to produce long-term defect levels below 3.4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO). Six Sigma's implicit goal is to improve all processes to that level of quality or better. Six-Sigma is a registered service mark and trademark of Motorola Inc. As of 2006, Motorola reported over US$17 billion in savings from Six Sigma. Other early adopters of Six Sigma who achieved well-publicized success include Honeywell (previously known as AlliedSignal) and General Electric, where Jack Welch introduced the method. By the late 1990s, about two-thirds of the Fortune 500 organizations had begun Six Sigma initiatives with the aim of reducing costs and improving quality.
In recent years, some practitioners have combined Six Sigma ideas with lean manufacturing to yield a methodology named Lean Six Sigma
Myths

Only concerned with reducing results
Only for engineering and manufacture.
Cannot be applied for engineering activities.
Difficult to understand statistics.
Six-sigma is just training.

Benefits

Generates sustained profits.
Sets a performance goal for everyone.
Enhances value to customer
Accelerate the rate of improvements.
Execute strategic change

Six-sigma tells us

We don’t know what we don’t know.
We can’t do what we don’t know.
We won’t know until we measure.
We won’t measure what we don’t value.
We won’t value what we don’t measure.

Methods
Six Sigma projects follow two project methodologies inspired by Deming's Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle. These methodologies, comprising five phases each, bear the acronyms DMAIC and DMADV. DMAIC is used for projects aimed at improving an existing business process. DMADV is used for projects aimed at creating new product or process designs.
DMAIC
The DMAIC project methodology has five phases:

Define the problem, the voice of the customer, and the project goals, specifically.
Measure key aspects of the current process and collect relevant data.
Analyze the data to investigate and verify cause-and-effect relationships. Determine what the relationships are, and attempt to ensure that all factors have been considered. Seek out root cause of the defect under investigation.
Improve or optimize the current process based upon data analysis using techniques such as design of experiments, poka yoke or mistake proofing, and standard work to create a new, future state process. Set up pilot runs to establish process capability.
Control the future state process to ensure that any deviations from target are corrected before they result in defects. Control systems are implemented such as statistical process control, production boards, and visual workplaces and the process is continuously monitored.

DMADV
The DMADV project methodology, also known as DFSS ("Design For Six Sigma"), features five phases:

Define design goals that are consistent with customer demands and the enterprise strategy.
Measure and identify CTQs (characteristics that are Critical To Quality), product capabilities, production process capability, and risks.
Analyze to develop and design alternatives, create a high-level design and evaluate design capability to select the best design.
Design details, optimize the design, and plan for design verification. This phase may require simulations.
Verify the design, set up pilot runs, implement the production process and hand it over to the process owners.

Implementation roles
One key innovation of Six Sigma involves the "professionalizing" of quality management functions. Prior to Six Sigma, quality management in practice was largely relegated to the production floor and to statisticians in a separate quality department. Six-Sigma borrows martial arts ranking terminology to define a hierarchy (and career path) that cuts across all business functions. Six-Sigma identifies several key roles for its successful implementation.

Executive Leadership includes the CEO and other members of top management. They are responsible for setting up a vision for Six Sigma implementation. They also empower the other role holders with the freedom and resources to explore new ideas for breakthrough improvements.
Champions take responsibility for Six Sigma implementation across the organization in an integrated manner. The Executive Leadership draws them from upper management. Champions also act as mentors to Black Belts.
Master Black Belts, identified by champions, act as in-house coaches on Six Sigma. They devote 100% of their time to Six Sigma. They assist champions and guide Black Belts and Green Belts. Apart from statistical tasks, they spend their time on ensuring consistent application of Six Sigma across various functions and departments.
Black Belts operate under Master Black Belts to apply Six Sigma methodology to specific projects. They devote 100% of their time to Six Sigma. They primarily focus on Six Sigma project execution, whereas Champions and Master Black Belts focus on identifying projects/functions for Six Sigma.
Green Belts, the employees who take up Six Sigma implementation along with their other job responsibilities, operate under the guidance of Black Belts.
Yellow Belts, trained in the basic application of Six Sigma management tools, work with the Black Belt throughout the project stages and are often the closest to the work.

Metric for Six-Sigma
Metric in six sigma terminology is the units in which the all the data are analyzed.

Primary metric.
Secondary metric – by product of the primary metric.
Consequential metric – caused by the corrective action taken.

Origin and meaning of the term "six sigma process"
Graph of the normal distribution, which underlies the statistical assumptions of the Six Sigma model. The Greek letter σ (sigma) marks the distance on the horizontal axis between the mean, µ, and the curve's inflection point. The greater this distance, the greater is the spread of values encountered. For the curve shown above, µ = 0 and σ = 1. The upper and lower specification limits (USL, LSL) are at a distance of 6σ from the mean. Due to the properties of the normal distribution, values lying that far away from the mean are extremely unlikely. Even if the mean were to move right or left by 1.5σ at some point in the future (1.5 sigma shift), there is still a good safety cushion. This is why Six Sigma aims to have processes where the mean is at least 6σ away from the nearest specification limit.

The term "six sigma process" comes from the notion that if one has six standard deviations between the process mean and the nearest specification limit, as shown in the graph, practically no items will fail to meet specifications. This is based on the calculation method employed in process capability studies.
Capability studies measure the number of standard deviations between the process mean and the nearest specification limit in sigma units. As process standard deviation goes up, or the mean of the process moves away from the center of the tolerance, fewer standard deviations will fit between the mean and the nearest specification limit, decreasing the sigma number and increasing the likelihood of items outside specification.
Role of the 1.5 sigma shift
Experience has shown that in the long term, processes usually do not perform as well as they do in the short. As a result, the number of sigmas that will fit between the process-mean and the nearest specification limit may well drop over time, compared to an initial short-term study. To account for this real-life increase in process variation over time, an empirically-based 1.5 sigma shift is introduced into the calculation. According to this idea, a process that fits six sigmas between the process mean and the nearest specification limit in a short-term study will in the long term only fit 4.5 sigmas – either because the process mean will move over time, or because the long-term standard deviation of the process will be greater than that observed in the short term, or both.
Hence the widely accepted definition of a six sigma process as one that produces 3.4 defective parts per million opportunities (DPMO). This is based on the fact that a process that is normally distributed will have 3.4 parts per million beyond a point that is 4.5 standard deviations above or below the mean (one-sided capability study). So the 3.4 DPMO of a "Six Sigma" process in fact corresponds to 4.5 sigmas, namely 6 sigmas minus the 1.5 sigma shift introduced to account for long-term variation. This is designed to prevent underestimation of the defect levels likely to be encountered in real-life operation.

Sigma levels

The table above gives long-term DPMO values corresponding to various short-term sigma levels. Note that these figures assume that the process mean will shift by 1.5sigma towards the side with the critical specification limit. In other words, they assume that after the initial study determining the short-term sigma level, the long-term Cpk value will turn out to be 0.5 less than the short-term Cpk value. So, for example, the DPMO figure given for 1 sigma assumes that the long-term process mean will be 0.5 sigma beyond the specification limit (Cpk = –0.17), rather than 1 sigma within it, as it was in the short-term study (Cpk = 0.33). Note that the defect percentages only indicate defects exceeding the specification limit that the process mean is nearest to. Defects beyond the far specification limit are not included in the percentages.
Quality management tools and methods used in Six Sigma
Within the individual phases of a DMAIC or DMADV project, Six Sigma utilizes many established quality-management tools that are also used outside of Six Sigma. The following is an overview of the main methods used.

5 Whys
Analysis of variance
Business Process Mapping
Cause & effects diagram (also known as fishbone or Ishikawa diagram)
Chi-square test of independence and fits
Control chart
Correlation
Cost-benefit analysis
CTQ tree
Quantitative marketing research through use of Enterprise Feedback Management (EFM) systems
Design of experiments
Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
Histograms
Quality Function Deployment (QFD)
Pareto chart
Process capability
Regression analysis
Root cause analysis
SIPOC analysis (Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, Customers)
Taguchi methods
Thought process map

Six-Sigma in Higher Education
Institutions of higher education are facing challenges on several fronts; low graduation rates, apprehension among students that may be ill prepared for real life challenges upon graduation, rising questions of relevance of college education for public good etc. Six-sigma is a transformative approach to tackle these challenges. It is articulated that six sigma can improve the performance of all repetitive activities. It can be applied to improve the performance all activities from student enrolment to graduation, including all process in between. Institutions of higher education are facing multiple challenges like high drop off rates, not contributing effectively as leaders of intellectual process. Rather they are often criticised of falling prey to market. The explosion of higher education with wide spread private and cross border providers has intensified this concern. These of course are complex issues requiring decades of concerted effort by many segments of societies. However, six-sigma is a suitable framework with which substantial progress may be made and ought to be pursued. When this is done, defect rate tumble, customer satisfaction skyrockets, and all the benefits of six-sigma accrue. It is not just right for improving the performance of higher education operations but also for transforming higher education itself.
Six-sigma is all about enhancing customer satisfaction; it should make sense that we begin with our exercise to identify who the customers are. Sometimes the answer is obvious and other times, it is not. Having identified who the customers are, the next step is to find out what is important to customer, called customer CTQ (Critical to Quality) in six sigma jargon. The lack of competent teachers in the college is an example for CTQ. There can be other CTQs. This is a critical step to success with six-sigma because the supplier (college) perspectives on what is important to the customers (students/parents) can often carry substantially. A statistical tool to carry out customer voice translation to academic quality is QFD (Quality Function Deployment). The results of the QFD exercise is the set of prioritised CTQs and the list of strongly correlated outcomes which when improved with six-sigma will enhance the CTQs. The approach therefore is to implement six-sigma on the outcomes of work process identified in the QFD one at a time.
With a specific work process selected for six sigma implementation, it is now the right time to prepare the project charter. The project charter is a short document that outlines what problem or problems that the customers are having giving rise to dissatisfaction. It lists the outcome requiring improvement, states the project goal, identifies the project sponsor and the six sigma team who will work on the project, and provides the start and end dates for completion.
Improving existing processes with six sigma
College education necessarily involve a large number of repetitive work processes like (a) Admission, (b) Registration, (c) Academic advising, (d) Semester-long study process that gets repeated till the end of the academic programme, (e) Graduation, and (f) Placement. In addition to these, there are numerous support processes on the college campuses. They include libraries, information technologies services, lodging, catering, transportation, parking, financial aid and many others. Efficiency of the educational experience depends not only on the resources at hand (faculty, laboratories, physical facilities etc.) but also on how well these myriad of repetitive work processes are operated.
In order to provide a simple illustration for the methodology, we select three outcomes for the higher education work processes which contribute to performance. (a) Fraction of incoming students who graduate. (b) Graduation time in years. (c) Cost of obtaining the Degree. For illustrative purposes, let us say that data for the past 5 years suggest the average 4 year graduation rate is 40% with a standard deviation of 10%. To achieve improvement, the average would have to be moved in a favourable direction (increased) and the standard deviation reduced. Now the outcome (graduation rates) is definitely impacted by causes. If these causes could be found and they are found with six-sigma, performance could be improved. However some of the defects will be due to causes that of uncontrollable within the scope of the project under scrutiny. In other words, 100% graduation rate on average is not possible. Some of the sources of defect will be due to the causes that are discoverable. Six-sigma will uncover these causes and when they are eliminate or set at the correct values as appropriate, the average graduation rate will increase, the standard deviation will go down and the benefits of six sigma will accrue.
When six-sigma is deployed on the enrolment to graduation process chain as well as on the support processes in colleges, it will be possible to claim that the college operations are being operated in the best possible manner. Further improvement will be possible only with design changes and through improvements in the upstream process (high school processes). It is theoretically possible to continue with improvement by tackling the high school process and all upstream processes with six-sigma until constraints imposed by nature (e.g. parents) are encountered. No further improvement is possible once these constraints are reached.
This case emphasises that the extent of natural variability present due to uncontrollable causes in any process becomes known only after six-sigma has been deployed. Thus, if a college opines that the performance of its higher education work process cannot be improved, it is implying that the entire variability (defects) is due to uncontrollable causes. This of course is an untenable assertion. Improvement with six sigma will lightly result in every case, the extent of improvement from one institution to the next and from one nation to another however will vary because extend of natural variability in all these cases is different.
Transforming higher education with six sigma
Six-sigma offers institutions of higher education a powerful mechanism with which to examine the efficiency of their offerings and to improve them. Once six-sigma has been successful deployed on all existing process of our college campus, the next task is to determine how well the outcomes of these existing work processes align with the justifiable needs and requirements of the society. If they do not, serious thought must be given to revising the work process so that they do. To assist with the needs for revision, prioritised list of the expectations of the society of college graduates need to be developed. This exercise too can be undertaken with the QFD technique, requiring stratified sampling of the heterogeneous population. Once the societal CTQs are determined, the outcomes therin must be aligned with the outcomes of the existing work processes giving a path forward what processes would have to be revised. Having mastered six sigma concepts with existing work processes will make it possible to put together these “new” work processes so that once implemented will give rise to few defects. Transforming higher education will be significant effort spanning a decade or more requiring involvement and support of many segments of societies.
Quality assurance management criteria and procedures
The higher education institution must be affiliated with one of the highly recognised and accredited domestic of foreign higher education institutions. Every academic institution and program is mandated to have international accreditation. Management of the quality of the higher education institutions is dependent on procedures and protocols.

Interesting fact